Overall: š¢š¢š¢
Storyline:
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World-building:
“‘Love is a Luxury.‘ ‘No. Love is an element.‘“
Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
The Story:
She wasn’t a normal girl, from her blue hair and tattoos to the fact she was always disappearing randomly to reappear hours or days later. But to Karou this was just how her life is. She was the Wish Mongers adoptive daughter and grew up with chimera as family. Since finally being trusted enough to live in the human world alone, Karou goes to art school in Prague and still goes on whatever errands her adoptive father asks of her. Which was usually to go collect teeth from brokers all across the world. Just another day to Karou when all she really wants to wish for is a single normal day.
On one of her trips though, Karou starts to see scorched handprints on the very doors she uses to travel the world. And then catches the attention of someone clearly not from this world.
Akiva is supposed to be focused on his job: rid the world of the evil Chimera race, starting with Brimstone. Yet all he can think about is retribution at last. However, when a blue haired woman shows up, things start to get both bloody and possibly hopeful. It might be more than he could wish for.
Is it so difficult to wish for a world were everyone could get along and blood doesn’t have to be spilt? Or is that only for those who wish for Hope?
Key Elements:
Young Adult, Fantasy, Angles, Demons, Teeth, Magic, Wishes
Others in the Series:
Book 2: Days of Blood & Starlight
Book 2.5: Night of Cake & Puppets
Book 3: Dreams of Gods and Monsters
Why This Rating?
This was a good book for any who wish to find something to fill your reading time in between stories. It was one of those stories that you find more conflict and distress happening than a happy story. That didn’t make me want to turn away from reading it but rather made it even more interesting. Most books I pick up tend to follow a straightforward rhythm ending in a happy ending – of some sort. Which I am all for and I always want the characters I’ve become invested in to be happy whether that be at the end of the book or series. That being said, Laini Taylor’s story makes you want to wish for something a good to finally happen a majority of the time. Then the story sidesteps and smirks while watching you walk on by with your silly, distracted grin. And the ending leaves you with just enough hook to get you into the next one, sort of. I haven’t decided if I will continue this series yet.
The creativity of characters for this world was amazing! I haven’t seen many chimera used in books and here is one where there is a whole race of them. There are so many different styles of them too! From wings, hooves, and horns to scales, fur, and leathered skin, the melding of the different critters of our world into their species was brilliant. It was a bit overwhelming trying to picture how some of the creatures looked like even with Taylor’s descriptions. Then the seraphs with their blazing eyes and wings of fire – gorgeous! I loved the concept that even if hidden from view, their wings could still be ‘felt’ by people and seen in their shadows. I do wonder though, are their eyes always glowing? I don’t remember Taylor describing them any other way but blazing or glowing with that inner fire the angle species has. That I think would be very annoying if they are always shinning with light. But a great reasoning to never need a flashlight, Ha!
Also, speaking of their eyes glowing, what is up with how nonchalant everyone from these magical places are towards the fact that the world (Earth) was seeing people with wings, flying, and on FIRE?? The humans at least were reacting normal – end of the world and repent while you can type deal. But I didn’t see any repercussions for those with powers and wings. Just saying, if there isn’t any punishments what is there to stop others from coming over since it is clear that they can get through somewhere now. I felt that this could have been better flushed out or at least explained what would happen by exposing themselves to humans could be. If the chimera can behave then the angles need to learn to behave too.
I love the entire structure of wishes. It is beautiful and wonderfully done! Yes, I do wish I could also get some wishes too. Don’t know where I would get the teeth as payment, but thats a thought for later. Who doesn’t want to be able to speak 28 languages! That would be a brilliant thing to wish for! I don’t think it would be a waste of a wish at all. Languages are super useful, perfect for those difficult moments when trying to communicate with another, and just a fun thing to be able to do. Can you imagine the amount of books that would open up if you could read that many different languages? It would be endless! There are a lot of other little wishes I would probably do too, but languages would definitely be at the very top of what I’d want.
As a whole this book had really good moments that I enjoyed experiencing right along with Karou. Then I did have times where I was getting frustrated at how much information was being withheld from the main character and in turn us as readers. And a majority of the time, those moments felt like it wasn’t necessary to withhold the information. More suspense and tension in the story than needed. That being said, this was a good book and if you want a bit different story then the usual happy go lucky ones, I would suggest this one!
Time to get lost in the next story!
