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Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1)

Laini Taylor

Start date: December 11, 2011

Finish date: December 30, 2011

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What Members Thought

Nov 09, 2019 Midu Hadi rated it liked it

Shelves: read-in-2019, read-in-november, series-completed, person-on-cover, want-physical-copies, magick, series, magical-objects, serial-killers-and-other-murderers, young-adult

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
I liked Karou's character. She was kind but not spineless. When she showed vulnerability, it only made me like her more. But that was pre-Akiva, of course.

For instance, how her relationship began with Akiva showed that it was rooted in just physical attraction. After being in a relationship with a good-looking asshole, it seemed weird that she would let herself be drawn to someone based on just their appearance. She began to act like an idiot from the moment Akiva showed his sparkly self and tri
I liked Karou's character. She was kind but not spineless. When she showed vulnerability, it only made me like her more. But that was pre-Akiva, of course.

For instance, how her relationship began with Akiva showed that it was rooted in just physical attraction. After being in a relationship with a good-looking asshole, it seemed weird that she would let herself be drawn to someone based on just their appearance. She began to act like an idiot from the moment Akiva showed his sparkly self and tried to kill her. Sound familiar? Thought it would!

Akiva is the same skeevy much-older hero that many YA novelists like creating. He stalks a teenager, follows her home, and then watches her sleep. Yeesh!

Madrigal, I couldn't find a believable character at all. Your race has been fighting a war for centuries. Out of all the seraphs you have seen butcher your people, you pick one, and then decide to let him live? Why didn't you do this for others if you claim to believe in peace and all? Also, why are you so good and flawless? And if a high human aspect is the standard of beauty, doesn't that make you a hypocrite?

The main issue I had with this book was that its two halves present as two different stories. The first one is written in melodious language and had the potential to turn into something unique! The second half feels as if written hastily and has no surprises in it. I really really didn't want Karou to be Madrigal *sigh* but the visions clued me in as to how the second half would go.

Karou lost even more of her charm in the second half. How could not know what Akiva had done? The portals exploded; Kismish (by the way, in Urdu that word means raisin lol) burned himself to cinders right in her hands, and all of this only started when Akiva came to town.

For a war general, the White Wolf, seemed to act like a horny teenager too. He ranted in front of one of the enemy, telling him the biggest secret that was keeping the Wolf's race alive. After being used to war and subterfuge, how can anyone be this dense?

I could nitpick some more but I think you get the idea. Let's see what happens in the second one! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

May 22, 2012 Erika rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, owned-books

Just an amazing, beautifully written book. So many details that all came together at the end. Amazing!! Can't wait to read the sequel! ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Jan 04, 2013 Morgan rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, young-adult, paranormal, five-star-reads, demons, angels

I'm not crying. You're crying.

Shut up. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Aug 28, 2012 Aimee added it

Shelves: favorites

After the first 30 pages I'm like....

excited photo: ^___________^ excited.gif

This book is a re-telling of the infamous classic Romeo and Juliet with a YA paranormal/fantasy twist. Now we all know that Romeo and Juliet is such a classic love story and the romance is undying. Many YA stories try but just fall flat but Lani Taylor nails it on the head.

One thing Taylor is very good about is keeping head readers on the edge of their seats!She will build and build preparing us for a big reveal and then.... nothing! She waits until the ...more

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Mar 21, 2013 Vicky rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fantasy, setting-europe, favorites, series-read, zz-cover-color-blue, zz-cover-color-black, z-author-american-usa

I wasn't sure what to expect of Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I'd heard good things about it, but I'm also wary of books with a lot of hype (and a PG13 movie deal).

It exceeded my expectations, this is definitely a book that straddles the line and can be enjoyed both by young adults and adults.

The world-building was unique and well designed. Laini Taylor takes the basic idea of Angels and Demons and turns it on it's head to create Eretz - a world rich with mythology, filled with seraphs and chime ...more

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