Daughter of Smoke & Bone

Laini Taylor

Sept 2011 · Sold by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

About this eBook

The first book in the New York Times bestselling epic fantasy trilogy by award-winning author Laini Taylor

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 otherworldly 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?

Ratings and reviews

Laini Taylor’s "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" is easily one of my favorite reads of the year. The paranormal genre is flooded with vampire and shifter stories and the like, making Taylor’s fantastical creation a refreshing addition to the genre. “Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not go well.” (book jacket) If the above passage from the jacket doesn’t drive you to the bookstore to get a generous helping of Karou’s life and the world she lives in, then I have no clue what will. The use of the famed phrase “Once up on a time” adds a fairytale feel to this enchantingly dark, yet hopeful, story. Taylor blends the dark aspects of the plot very well with the romantic aspect. As far as characters go, I absolutely adored Karou. She is larger than life: serious, witty, and laugh-out-loud funny—giving you more than enough reason to keep flipping through the pages. Brimstone, the father-like figure in Karou’s life, is a character I can only describe as mysterious with a capitol “M.” I wanted to know more about him and that, sadly, just didn’t happen. Taylor’s descriptions of the characters bring them to life in a vivid and colorful way, giving them each personalities that make them unforgettable. This is the perfect read for readers of fantasy and paranormal. If you haven’t read Laini Taylor’s work, I strongly recommend you grab this book and devour it. You’ll be glad you stepped into her creation.

This was a fascinating and well-told story. It is nice to see a confident and mature female protagonist and it never hurts to have a dreamy love interest. Karou's and Akiva's epic romance will touch your heart. The novel is especially impressive because of Taylor's beautiful use of poetic language and imagery. As the first book in a planned series, I am excited to see where Taylor will take her readers. I am certainly along for the ride!

It's weird, because when I read her writing I get caught up in the worldbuilding, and the way she explains things, I can relate with it because I can see the world painted in a similar way, like the tin type photograph. Otherwise, the strange thing that seperates her writing from others is that I get so caught up in her writing, but when im outside of it I feel confused on how to feel, did I like it or did I not like it? Strange, huh. I definately reccomend this book to people who want something original.

About the author

Laini Taylor is the New York Times bestselling author of the Printz Honor Book Strange the Dreamer and its sequel, Muse of Nightmares. Taylor is also the author of the global sensation the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy and the companion novella Night of Cake & Puppets. Taylor's other works include the Dreamdark books: Blackbringer and Silksinger, and the National Book Award finalist Lips Touch: Three Times. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, and their daughter, Clementine. Her website is lainitaylor.com.