Book Review: The Daughter of Smoke and Bone

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Published September 27 2011 by Little Brown & Co.

Reviewed from personal copy

Summary

   Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. 
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low. 
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. 
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out. 
When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

My Thoughts

   I wasn't sure throughout this book who to "cheer" for. Usually the good guys and the bad guys are easy to spot and although I rooted for Karou (the protagonist) I didn't have a clue which side she was truly on. I think that's one of the things I loved about this book. I was kept guessing...and after reading it...I'm still guessing.

We know there are two sides The Seraph and the Chimera. They are at war behind the scenes, in another place not visible to humans. Each side thinks they are right, each side only remembers war as a way of life. Both sides contain aspects of good and evil and Karou is surrounded by choices she must make that seem to effect everyone. I adored Karou but my favourite character is Brimstone. Everything about him...his appearance, mannerisms, his occupation make you think of evil, but he cares for Karou like a father and I loved him for it. 

I loved The Daughter of Smoke and Bone, though I'll admit that it was a slow start for me. It is a complicated and intertwined story and  If it hadn't been for a number of friends raving about it, I might not have continued reading. I am grateful that I did as it ended up being an exceptional read. It also served as a good reminder that some books are meant to be "digested" slowly, the different parts savoured as they come together in the end. Highly Recommended.