Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor - Book Review

Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Author: Laini Taylor

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Publication Date: September 2011

Pages: 418

Format: Paperback
Genre: Paranormal

Source: Bought Copy

Around the world, black hand prints 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? (Goodreads Synopsis)


When this book first came out, I heard nothing but rave reviews and I was keen to read it. After finally buying a copy the other week, I actually saw some less positive comments, but I was still interested to see what it would be like.

I must say that I agree with the positive reviews. Karou is a fabulous character, flawed and yet endearing, and I was immediately caught up in her story. The premise of the piece was original and interesting and the plot flowed at a good pace, featuring plenty of action, excitement and nail-biting.

I liked Taylor's writing style, in particular the way she expressed the characters, and I appreciated the fact there was an instant connection between hero and heroine without resorting to droopy-eyed love at first sight. I was on the edge of my seat by the end and I am certainly looking forward to finding out what will happen to Karou in book two later this year.

This is a great YA paranormal/fantasy story and I can highly recommend it to other readers.