I read and reviewed this book on my book blog on February 28. My full review is over the maximum characters limit, first I tried to just cut a bit of it and include the link of the full review, but unfortunately, I had get rid of too much, so I decided to just include the link hee instead of some of the review and then the link. Blame it on the web developers who put a character limit less than 8000 or even put a character limit at all. So, here's the link to my review: http://www.nazishreads.net/magic/daughter-of-smoke-and-bone-book-1-by-laini-taylor To read more reviews: nazishreads.net

I know I'm a little late to the party with just having read this one last month but I was extremely hesitant to give Daughter of Smoke & Bone a try due to all the hype surrounding the book. I don't know about you but when a book gets too hyped up I kind of shy away from the book in question for feat that I'll be the odd one out and not like it at all. Luckily, Daughter of Smoke & Bone turned out to be one of the better YA novel's I've read in a the last few years and although I was mostly nervous about the hype surrounding the book in terms of my hesitation I also didn't give it a try before because it just didn't sound like my type of book. I thought the way that Laini Taylor told the story of Karou was awesome. It's about time readers experienced such a strong female lead with a good head on her shoulders and a bold spirit. For me Karou is one of my favourite female heroines now because of all her flaws which I found to be the most likable thing about her besides her personality. The overall story was a really unique and it took place in a variety of settings that you don't often see represented in young adult novels which I found to be really refreshing because the author wrote the story in such a way that no matter the setting the story is currently in it's as if you're there watching the story play out in front of you and are experiencing the sights and sounds of Prague, Marrakesh or wherever else Karou might be on her journey through the novel. Daughter of Smoke & Bone brought a lot to the table. Both the primary and secondary characters were well developed and all had their own little parts to play in the story and for once I didn't have a problem with any of the characters except Karou's annoyingly obnoxious ex-boyfriend who appears a few times in the book. I liked the fact that the author wasn't afraid to put herself out there creating some really awesome characters like those of Akiva, Brimstone and Karou. Each brought something new, refreshing and fun to what is becoming a really bogged down genre in YA fiction. I really enjoyed the tone of the novel. For once it was a YA novel that was dark and not just a little bit either. There are many a scene in the novel that is quite dark and somber and as odd as it sounds I enjoyed those parts almost as much as the joyous parts between Akiva and Karou. Which brings me to another plus about the book. The romance between the beautiful angel boy and the blue haired artistic girl with the hamsa tattoos on her hands was damn near perfect. At first I thought it would be a dreaded case of the blasted insta-love sort but thankfully those fears were misplaced as the story went on. The chemistry between the two of them was remarkable, but not to the point that it was inappropriate for the younger reader, just subtle enough with the passion to appease the older readers. Overall Daughter of Smoke & Bone was a fantastic read. Dark and unsettling on the one hand and beautiful and elegant on the other. The characters development was wonderful, the story was fun, unique and completely and utterly sucked me in to the point that I finished it withing a few hours of starting it. Laini Taylor delivered a refreshing young adult read for the young adult fantasy genre giving readers a female heroine that while flawed represents strength, courage and determination. I loved the world that much of the novel takes place in and cannot wait to return to it and see some favourite characters again in the second book. I would highly recommend this novel to anyone. It's unfortunate that it took me so long to read and review the novel because I was afraid it might not live up to the hype but I really do suggest giving it a go if you're nervous borrow it from your local library. This is one series that I hope continues for a while.

Originally posted at http://lostatmidnightreviews.blogspot.ca/ Daughter of Smoke and Bone was one of the most buzzed about books late last year. And I completely understand why. This book is like nothing I've ever read before. Seriously. I've said that a few times in reviews, but this book is so unique it negates me ever using that phrase. I really wasn't sure that to expect when I picked the novel up, and even if I had a guess, it never would have been able to describe Daughter of Smoke and Bone. This book was filled with the fantastical, and I was completely fascinated by it. All the different creatures, each with their own motive and plotline, kept the story flowing and kept my eyes darting across the page. I was desperate to find out the mystery surrounding Karou, and what Brimstone did with all those teeth. I wanted to find out as much as I could about Elsewhere, and was on the edge of my seat waiting for the other shoe to drop. I loved the characters in this book. Karou, Brimstone, and Akiva particularly found a special place in my heart with their courage and strength. All the characters were very layered and unusual (many of them being mythical monsters) but they all still maintained an essential human element. For some it was pain, others it was revenge, and for a select few it was hope. And that little pocket of hope was one of the brightest, and most inspiring things in this novel. Hope made this dark, wicked tale glow. The one real issue I had with the book was how dense it was. There was a TON of information thrown at you in this first installment, which is understandable. The world Karou lives in is a mix of Elsewhere and reality, and there's lots of complexities to it. I found that the information went on overload during the middle, and had me blinking in bewilderment. I also was not a fan of the shift in the last half of the story. I understood the need for a developed back-story, but I felt that it was much too long and unnecessarily detailed. It really cut the flow of the story for me, and although I enjoyed having many questions answered, it felt choppy and left me unsatisfied. Now, that's not to say I didn't like the story. I loved it actually. Such a new, fresh, creative idea that swelled with enchantment and wonder. Laini Taylor is a brilliant novelist, and her world created in Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a testament to her skill. I want to be wrapped back in that world as soon as possible (hopefully without the confusion this time). Overall, this is a strong book that wobbled slightly near the end, but packed a powerful punch of creativity and passion. I cannot wait to get my hands on the sequel, and to dive back into a world of faery tales, monsters, and that persistent little thing called hope.

Rating: ★ ★ ★ ☆ (3.5/5 stars) To her best friend at school, Karou is just a regular girl with blue hair, fills her sketchbook with amazingly imaginative drawings and often disappears on mysterious errands with no notice. What Zuzana doesn’t realize is just how different Karou’s life really is. When Karou is sent to Marrakesh on one of her errands, she finds herself in the middle of some commotion that breaks out and comes face to face with Akiva, a stranger with a fiery intense stare. The chaos in the market is part of a larger war among worlds that is about to begin, and Karou finds herself caught up in the middle of this battle and slowly realizing that her closest ally is also one she has been brought up not to trust. What a beautifully written book. Taylor’s style is so poetic and descriptive, elegant and eloquent. The depictions of all the characters and the setting of Prague makes you feel like you were walking the streets with Karou. However, it might have been too descriptively written for me – so much so that it distracted me from focusing on the story itself. I felt myself lost in all the beautiful language and imagery to really follow the plot at times. A story about angels & demons, Daughter of Smoke & Bone has a nice twist, allowing those lines to be blurred of who or what is considered good or evil. The story has a very old-world feel to it and I often found that it was actually set in an older time until mentions of technology brings me back to the present day. Approximately the last 1/4 of the book feels like a completely different novel. Understandably, this portion is to tie up and explain a lot of what was going on but it felt so disconnected from the rest of the book that you almost forget what had happened before. That being said, I do acknowledge and appreciate the imaginative story and wonderful narrative that Taylor has created. Of all the beautiful things written in these pages, one particular quote stood out to me. It is such a profound line that really made me stop & reflect on the truth of that for so many people. “You really think joy is easier to come by than pain? What have you had more of?” For me, this book was a 3-star up until the latter part of the book where things were coming together, bumping it up half a mark. I like a good, interesting reveal. This, and other reviews can be found on my blog JustALilLost.com

Mysterious Karou lives a double life that borders on the impossible. On one hand she's a normal teenager that takes in the simple pleasures of life in Prague - attending art school, eating in café's with her best friend Zuzana and trying to get over her recent heartbreak. But by night she turns away from all that to slip into the dark world of supernatural creatures to do their bidding, which takes her around the world and smack dab into danger. If that striking blue feathered mask on the cover doesn't catch your attention, the intrigue in the synopsis will. This is one of those books where the cover isn't just purely for aesthetics - it's a part of the story, you'll just have to read to find out how though. The book starts by introducing us to the very snappy Karou and taking us through the basics of her normal life: her recent breakup, and her art. In this beginning she seemed like any other teenager, and when she shows her art book filled with all these fantastical creatures I really had a hard time believing that any of them might be real. I was as fooled as her closest friends. But it isn't until her ex shows up, and she starts taking us on a crash course of her younger years that were riddled with magic and creatures known as chimaera that I started believing in this fantastical world. Karou is definitely a strong character, she's been taught to be self reliant, she can defend herself and she's clever. She's also got a few little tricks up her sleeve that put power behind the phrase "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned". But she's also been irritatingly content with not asking about her past and it isn't until a chance encounter with the striking Akiva that unravels her life, that makes her start digging. Starcrossed lovers seem to be a big theme recently, there's just something about a love that transcends time itself that captivates an audience. Daughter of Smoke and Bone follows the usual formula of love and loss, but it was still an amazing journey to find out what the story behind it all was. This is one of those books where it's impossible to speed read through it. Trust me, I tried and my brain would just get tangled up in the descriptively poetic and languidly phrased sentences that Taylor crafts, or I'd completely miss a crucial plot point buried in the descriptions. It's a book that needs to be slowly appreciated for all the meticulous details that go into describing Prague and all the locales Karou visits. Taylor's world building is top notch and makes the book come to life, I could definitely feel the hustle and bustle of a Marrakesh market or the unique décor of Karou's favourite haunt. Taylor takes us on a whirlwind adventure of self discovery that takes the reader into this incredible fantasy world that focuses on the old theme of the war between Angels and Demons. I loved the huge reveal at the end and that it connected to the hints Taylor dropped throughout the beginning of the book. But the ending left me a bit stunned by suddenly dropping the biggest part of the story and leaving it to drift in the wind in order to build suspense for the next novel.

The Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a beautifully written, yet haunting tale of a girl raised by monsters, in a world where so many secrets are kept about things right in front of you, and behind locked doors. The girl, Karou, is a very intriguing young woman who is an art student and has a love of oddly colored hair, tattoos, and making interesting wishes. I like that she is not afraid to stand up for herself (and a kick a little ass) but it's also nice to see that's she is not perfect, and has made bad dating choices in her life (because hey, haven't we all?). This makes her a very realistic teenage girl character, and I found it so enjoyable readying about her and her friend Zuzana. I think one of the ironic, and best parts of this book, is the fact that the monsters themselves (the ones who raised Karou) don't seem all that "monsterly". The are kind, caring and compassionate as you would expect (or hope) a family to be toward their child. They do have to keep secrets from Karou often, but that is to protect her from the dangers of their world. “It is a condition of monsters that they do not perceive themselves as such. The dragon, you know, hunkered in the village devouring maidens, heard the townsfolk cry 'Monster!' and looked behind him.” The settings in this story are amazing! I mean Prague! Oh yes please! And that little place they are always eating at, that has the coffins and skeletons everywhere? That is totally my type of place. Can I tell you I secretly want to be Karou right now! Eat at cool places, take art classes in Prague, change may hair color and tattoos with a single wish, step through a door that takes me to the opposite side of the world...but I digress... There wasn't much I didn't like about this book, especially the first act let's call it. It had a somewhat tense, yet romantic, Romeo and Juliet type feel, made even more vibrant by the beautiful flow of the author's lyrical writing. A real love for an ages, a perfect definition of a love that knows no boundaries, not even time. “Your soul sings to mine. My soul is yours, and it always will be, in any world. No matter what happens. I need you to remember that I love you.” As much as I understand the need to only feed your reader's a little at a time, I did feel some of the secrets were kept too long. I mean, as interesting as the whole underlying of what the teeth represented, I think we could have been told a little sooner... I was also, not really upset with, but slightly irritated by the break in the book toward the end. I almost feel like maybe it could have been spattered throughout the book as told through Akiva's eyes instead of re-enacted completely, in the past, almost like a separate novel. It really through me out of my special little reading zone. And of course...the end... Typical cliffhanger of DOOM! Not amused...November...where are you? I guess I will have to wait for Days of Blood and Starlight!

I found this book kinda slow for the first half of the book. (Pg. 200) but after that it gets really good. Also I found it really confusing to know what was what, who was who, and who did what. Stuff like that. Though after the first half everything seemed to become clearer. The characters were out of this world. The plot was totally amazing and so out of this world along with the characters. It's amazing that the author could come up with this! :D

Awesome, awesome, awesome book! Intriguing and different for a teen novel. It had a lot of plot points I wasn't expecting. Although it does have common themes as in other teen books these days (angels for example) it is done in an original and interesting way. Great book!

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. For more reviews check out: www.lostinthelibrary.com

Multiply creativity by a million and you have this book! It's beautiful, breathtaking, and the kind of novel that makes you wonder, "How can one author be so clever?" I loved it! I picked this book up from the hype alone and I'm so glad I did! Daughter of Smoke and Bone takes originality to a whole new level — with its teeth-collecting devils, devious angels, and a world so beautifully twisted that I couldn't help but be entranced. Along with having such gorgeous prose, Laini Taylor's characters came to life like magic in a circus! They were wild and magical and enchanting to the core. It wasn't only our fantastic, artistic, and artfully clever heroine, Karou (with her peacock blue hair and sly smile), but the secondary cast too! Issa, Zuzana, Brimstone, AKIVA (♥)... Prepare to fall in love! I loved that the line between good and evil wasn't so clear; I loved that you could never really predict what was going to happen next. I didn't love how some parts felt dragged on, but my adoration for everything else almost completely overpowered that. Beautifully written and perfectly crafted, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is undoubtedly one of the best takes on the angels-versus-demons feud out there! Watch out, everyone, because Laini Taylor is going to take this world by storm! :) BUY or BORROW?: Once upon a time, I had money in my wallet. Then I found this book... and I didn't. x) Definitely a book I love having on my shelf! Buy it for sure!