Daughter of Smoke and Bone
by Laini Taylor (website, twitter)
Publication: September 27th 2011 by Little, Brown & Company
copy received from publisher at BEA
pre-order amazon (Kindle, Hardcover) 
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?
This story is unique, it is full of wonderful imagination and characters that are wonderfully awesome and so very different! This is a story of hope, and war and good and evil and how what you seem to know about evil might be wrong and what you believed is good might be wrong too. It is a story about what true love can do, what true love can change – the power of love is indeed very powerful.
Karou (and please, how wonderful is this name? I would name my daughter Karou if I would ever have one!!!) had a very special upbringing. Now, she lives in Praque and attends an artist school. Her drawings are wonderful and very imaginative, full of what you would call a monster. But, those monsters have names and for Karou… they are not monsters at all!
Karou has blue hair she speaks 11 (?) languages without any accent… But, she hasn’t learned any of them, she simply “wished” them and then she could speak and understand them. She can fight and she travels all over the world simply by stepping out of a door. A door that leads her to the monsters she draws, the monsters that raised her, a door that leads to another world entirely.
But then, strange things happens, black handprints appear on doors around the world and otherworldly winged creatures appear that are beautiful beyond words.
One of them is drawn to Karou and he begins to wonder who is that girl? Akiva starts to follow her and then Karou’s world is tunred upside down, even more than it already is – and there is no turning back…
Karou and Akiva are so wonderful that you can’t help but love them, deeply. They seem lost among her own kind and among her family and there is something that haunts them. They are heartbreakingly lonely. Karou is strong but longes for love, she lives on her own in the human world and only comes back to run errants for her “monsters”. She seems so very lost and searching for love. Akiva is not very much different, yet he has different motivations. First he wants to kill Karou but then he feels so drawn to that strange girl and he wants to know more.
One questions remains… : Who is Karou? Will the truth destroy or rescue them?
One thing found extremely wonderful, each bigger Chapter starts with “Once Upon a Time”. I have picked one example for you:
“Once upon a time, an angel lay dying in the mist. –
And a devil knelt over him and smiled”
Mrs Taylor has definitely a way with words and her story telling is beautiful and mesmerizing! I love her writing and I love the story she tells me and I believe what she’s telling me…
Now, of course I’m desperate – I want more, I want to get lost in this story some more. I need and I want answers. I want my heart be put together, but.. I have to wait!
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Wow, a FIVE STAR REVIEW? I'll definitely pick this one up. Although she sounds a bit too powerful and "perfect", the story is intriguing. Thanks for your awesome review!
Tina @ Book Couture
My recent post Epic List of Book Crushes
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Awesome review of an awesome book! Thanks. I can't wait!
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Wow, this is one of those books that makes me so glad I read reviews. I probably would have passed it by because I don't like the cover and the blurb doesn't grab me like crazy, but all of the reviews I've read have been super impressive. The book sounds like it really stands out in the genre. Beautiful review!
My recent post No More Waiting! (5)
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I just got this one this week. I've been DYING to get my hands on it! I LOVE Laini's writing. LOVE! I cannot wait until I can pick this one up. Likely in the next couple days 😉 Glad you loved it so much!
My recent post Book Review and Giveaway: Dark Souls by Paula Morris
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Omg! I seriously have got to read this like… NOW! Great review. You described this book in such vivid detail!
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Omg! I seriously have got to read this like… NOW! Great review. You described this book in such vivid detail!
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I really was going to pass this one by. It has not called to me. But a five plus, I don't know. But do you know how many books release between the 27th and the 29th that I want??? A lot I tell you, a Lot!!! But I think I'll add this one to the list. Everyone seems to like it and well you are gushing!
Heather
My recent post Back to The Books Blog Hop
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Oh Yes definitely 5 plus! I wouldn't say Kayou is too powerful, but I think you do have a point here! Nevertheless, I absolutely loved the way the story was woven and the world that was created here.
My recent post Ultraviolet – a review
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Thank you Annette! You truly have to get this book! so freaking good!
My recent post Ultraviolet – a review
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I know!!! It didn't grab me from the cover and the blurb is kind of cryptic too. But when I saw the copies on BEA I got one.. I couldn't believe it when I started reading that I nearly had missed this awesome story!!
It truly does stand out and I'm looking forward hearing what you think hon!
My recent post Ultraviolet – a review
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I haven't read her previous work, but if you love it so much and since I LOVED and adored this one I might have to get her other books asap:) I'm very excited to hear how you will like it Candace!
My recent post Ultraviolet – a review
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Dont!!!! Don't pass on this one! I know so many books coming out soon, but THIS is one you HAVE to read! (the caps are to emphasize my point lool) Please please read my friend and I'm dying to hear what you think!!!
*hugs*
My recent post Ultraviolet – a review
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Agreed! Have you been trolling other blogs? I can't believe how many 5+ star reviews I've seen. Can't wait for bk 2. This one's gonna blow them all away.
My recent post Halloween, YA Lit Style
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[…] – that is a very tough question. The name that popped into my head immediately was Karou from Daughter’s of Smoke and Bone! I love the sound of this name and even stated I would name my kid like […]
[…] – that is a very tough question. The name that popped into my head immediately was Karou from Daughter’s of Smoke and Bone! I love the sound of this name and even stated I would name my kid like […]
I had to comment on this – even tho it’s an older review because I’m FINALLY READING IT! I could read it in a sitting, but I don’t wanna! I’m making it last – and only reading a couple chapters a night. You’re right, Danny, it IS total wonderment!!!
Kristen recently posted..Review – Bossypants by Tina Fey
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