Laini Taylor is a very popular American young adult and adult fantasy writer. The writer is best known for Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy and the first book titled the same was chosen by Amazon as the Best Teen Book of 2011. There are talks about an upcoming film as well.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone takes place in couple of locations, but mostly Prague and Marrakesh. It is about an orphaned girl – art student Karou – who shows an incredible talent and tries to avoid an annoying ex-boyfriend. At least that is what others see from the outside.
Karou also happens to run errands for a mysterious magical creature, who raised her as his own child, although he never really let her into on the secrets of his magic or her parents. The girl visits all sorts of mystical places around the world through magical doors. But what happens if there comes a time, when she isn’t able to get through? What if the doors are not there anymore?
It is very hard to describe this book, it seemed like a mixture of Twilight, Chronicles of Narnia and some more fantasy. It had a little bit from everything and I’m not sure if that’s a good thing.
I thought that the main character was alright, but I didn’t have any strong connection with her. She was sharp, smart, strong, but at the same time not too invincible. The character I really wanted to know more about was Brimstone. He is a classic father figure, who doesn’t let any secrets out and sits in his little ‘office’ being grumpy,. Yet I really liked him and would like to know more about the character, his feelings, thoughts and history. And he is a big reason why I want to read the next book rather sooner than later – not the plot development, but Brimstone. I hope that the author will not disappoint in that regard.
The writing… I actually don’t remember, if I noticed any particularly peculiar things that I thought should be mentioned. But the chapters seemed a bit ‘jumpy’ – meaning that a scene would jump from a fight to a romance that would drag for a couple of pages (and in my opinion that is already too much) and then turn to some drama or jokes. It was confusing and I didn’t really like that.
I have never been to Czech Republic (Actually… I might be wrong – I think I’ve been there once), but what I most enjoyed was Morocco. I’m going to Morocco in about a week, so all the descriptions of souks and people, peppermint tea and sweets was familiar, because I’ve already done a lot of research about the trip, the place and what to see and do. And this book was a bit like an intro to my trip, which seems a bit of a shame. It would have been so cool, if I would have read it on the plane and then realised that it partially takes place in the place I’m going to! Anyway, those parts were especially alive in my imagination, because of that bit of fresh extra information in my mind.
Overall I really don’t know at all if I liked it or not, it almost seems like maybe I thought it’s a ‘meh’ book, but with some surprises and good intriguing aspects. I haven’t made the decision, so if you have any comments on that, please let me know, it might help me to shift in one or the other direction, because I don’t want to start on the next book, before I fully form an opinion about the current one.
So the novel was confusing. I am not entirely sure, if I liked it or not, but I know that I will read the next one, because I want to know, if my predictions will be correct and I also want a bit more of Brimstone – the most magical and secretive of all the creatures in the book.
This book received three stars from me on my goodreads page and I think it might be a good introduction for teenage girls into the fantasy genre.
Oh and I think that I have to mention that this book taught me something. I even liked a quote from it, which I am not sure, if people who haven’t read the book would really understand, but… yes, that made me put down the book and think about the good and the bad, the true and the false.
October 8, 2016 at 13:14
I hear a lot of mixed reviews of this one. Still think I’m going to pick it up at some point though. Have fun in Morocco!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 9, 2016 at 11:18
I think that the next one will determine how I feel about the series, because now I feel like I didn’t mind reading it, because it was easy, but I didn’t really love it either.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 8, 2016 at 13:20
I read this book for my book club a while back and thought it was okay, despite not really liking fantasy as a genre. Don’t think I’d read the second book though… Have you read any of the other books in the series? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 9, 2016 at 11:19
No, I haven’t, but I will. I am in the middle it was an easy read, but I didn’t really particularly enjoy it, yet I didn’t hate it either. 😀 So, I think the next book will determine my thoughts about the whole series.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 9, 2016 at 16:34
I’ve heard that the second book is much better than the first but I haven’t read any others in the series either! 🙂
LikeLike
October 8, 2016 at 17:04
Reblogged this on The Vanishing Writer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 8, 2016 at 19:20
Can I ask what led you to choose this book to read in particular? Have you read her previous (Daughter of Smoke and Bone) series that was successful?
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 9, 2016 at 11:21
This is the first book in Daughter of Smoke and Bones series and the only book I have read from this author. I read it mostly because one of the booktubers I enjoy watching, has been really head over heels about this book. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 8, 2016 at 20:29
I remember enjoying it, but not really being compelled to read the sequel. Definitely interesting, but not amazing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 9, 2016 at 06:25
Oh no! Damn i’ve picked this up after so many great reviews and since then I’ve only seen not so excited reviews 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 9, 2016 at 11:24
For me, it seems like the next book will give me clearer idea about the series and my opinion. I didn’t hate it, it was quick and easy read, but I didn’t love it. So, the next book will tip my thoughts to one or other site. 🙂 Hope you love it though!
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 9, 2016 at 11:56
I may have to give it an attempt before deciding. Though I’m tempted to see what you think of the next book.
LikeLike
October 9, 2016 at 08:23
Read this!😁
LikeLike
October 9, 2016 at 22:54
I bailed on this one. Like you, I found it meh. There is so much amazing YA fantasy being published today that I am kind of spoiled in that genre. I decided to switch to something more compelling and unique. 😊
LikeLike
October 14, 2016 at 08:34
I really liked this one while I was reading it, which was last year. But now I can hardly remember a single thing from the first book. So, maybe I didn’t like it as much as I thought because I usually remember my books LOL. But I’ve bought the second book, so maybe I still have some hope for it. I don’t know. I see a pretty book and I buy it. No questions asked haha 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
October 15, 2016 at 12:09
I’m quite similar, if the cover is nice, I am more likely to buy it even if I don’t care about the description. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person