If I don't read 2nd book soon after 1st does it bring you back up to speed or should I read it soon after?

[Todd]

I was a little surprised by Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Started off interesting. Slowed down. Then I thought the last third was amazing. Lots of twists and turns. Reviews from some people didn't care for the final third, I found it to be the best part of the book to really set up the second book to go in any direction imaginable. Reviews have been pretty great for the most part, but there is the occasional "I hated the second book due to..." Without spoilers, thoughts on the second, worth reading, etc. And, do I need to read it soon while the first one is fresh in my mind or can I wait a bit. Does it bring you back up to speed with where the first one left off? This community has been great with any question I have asked btw, and I want to thank everyone for that.

[Becky]

i enjoyed it thoroughly. it explored more of Karou/Madrigal's past and explained a lot of the Chimera vs. Seraphim. I personally read the second book about three weeks after the first but that was only due to the fact that I discovered the first book three weeks before the second was released.

[Lisa]

I would try to read it soon. I read it a year ago and details that might not seem important at the time play a role in the sequel, so I was confused.

[Maddie Tiare]

I think you should try to read it soon. Some of the details of the ending of Daughter of Smoke and Bone slipped my mind, and I had to go back and reread the last couple of pages of that before I started on this one.

Some people might not like this one as much because its a little bit darker, and has quite a few point of view switches between Karou and Akiva. (which bothered some people)

[Linda]

Read it soon...I forgot soooo many things from the first and consequently couldn't get into the second book.

[Amira]

There are definitely some key things from Daughter of Smoke and Bone that open the door to the 2nd book. Without those pieces, the book makes a lot less sense. You can probably get away with just skimming the first book so you remember who all the major characters are and how the world works, but definitely don't let the whole thing slip from your mind before trying to read Days of Blood and Starlight.

[Todd]

I started the second. So far I actually really like it. I read one quick John Green book in between but thanks for the advice on not waiting. There are already some parts I had to go back and look over in the first part because I couldn't remember exactly what happened at the end of the book. Even though it is more of a "girl" read(imo), it's pretty entertaining. I'll just never admit to anyone that I am reading it.

[Amira]

Noooo! You have to be brave and tell people how great it is! I'm a pretty firm believer in the idea that there are no "girl" books or "boy" books - as long as they're well-written and compelling, why shouldn't you shout their virtues from the rooftops?

[Todd]

Well most of my friends don't read. Not that they are uneducated, they just don't have any desire to pick up a book and read. I used to be that way, but once I started I couldn't/can't stop. I don't think they would understand me reading a book about all the awesomeness that dos&b was about. I coudn't even do it justice with a description. So far actually liking the second book more. But there will be no shouting from rooftops anytime soon. The only book I have read that would make me come close to that was Ready Player One. That is a book I try to get EVERYONE to read. Only three actually took me seriously, but three is better than zero, so I'll take it.

[Amira]

I loved Ready, Player One as well! Not quite as much as DOS&B but it was definitely awesome. So cool to read a book about a world-immersive video game.

[Todd]

RPO was right up my alley. Having seen the movies mentioned in the book and then seeing a character in the book be able to act those parts out, wow, brought back some memories. Speaking of wow(world of warcraft), having played the game before there were so many subtle parts of the book referring to the game I was worried that most readers might not get what he was saying or understand an "instance" etc. It was the epitome of an uber-nerdy book, but imo worthy of "well-written and compelling, why shouldn't you shout their virtues from the rooftops". Not to steal a quote, but it was a pretty damn good one.

[Amira]

A lot of the references didn't make it past me, but the story was really engaging. I didn't play a ton of video games when I was younger, but I played a fair few, and reading that book was pretty much like reading a video game. It was quite a creation. And please, feel free to propagate that line all you want!

Happy reading!

[Kathy]

Finished Days of Blood and Starlight, loved it most the time, wanted to throw it at the wall at other times. You know the girl falls in love with guy, girl pushes guy away, girl really loves guy, but keeps letting him slip through her fingers, same old stuff. But, the story around the girl/guy stuff was AMAZING! I was so impressed how the author kept the story moving and kept me invested in wanting more. And now I must wait for a longggg time for Book 3. PLEASE any suggestions for another great can't put down page turner?

[Susan]

I read the first book again and then read second immediately after. There is soooo much beautiful detail and it is so complex a story that I would definitely recommend reading the first again. Changed my Goodreads rating from a 4 to a 5! Amazing, amazing, amazing story. Cannot wait for third! SOOOOOOOOO LOOOOOONG to wait.

[Jessica]

There is a lot of detail in these books. I would read them closer together.

[Preethi]

Todd wrote: "I was a little surprised by Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Started off interesting. Slowed down. Then I thought the last third was amazing. Lots of twists and turns. Reviews from some people didn..."

That's funny...I thought the opposite. I thought that the first 30% was ridiculously boring and everything after that was awesome :)

And btw, I read the first book a few months, maybe half a year ago. As long as you remember the what happened (like, just the major stuff. Ex: why Karou should hate Akiva) you'll be fine. Really, the second book reminds you of the major things you have to remember to understand and enjoy the second book.