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starrydreamer's review against another edition
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jessicajessica101's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
3.75
A story of love and death, of rebirth and sorrows.
This book was a strong first instalment for the Daughter of Smoke and Bones trilogy. Full of mystery, the story unveiled the world slowly as Karou navigated through what was happening and learned more about the world she kinda lived in, and the one she was half immersed in all her life. The first 75% of the book was really strong, with a lot of things happening, but from there, the book became a bit slow and lost momentum. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, I expected a massive betrayal, and I though Akiva's actions, in context, were not unreasonable at the time he did those. I get the betrayal aspect, but also I get why Akiva did what he did.
This book was a strong first instalment for the Daughter of Smoke and Bones trilogy. Full of mystery, the story unveiled the world slowly as Karou navigated through what was happening and learned more about the world she kinda lived in, and the one she was half immersed in all her life. The first 75% of the book was really strong, with a lot of things happening, but from there, the book became a bit slow and lost momentum. I was a bit disappointed by the ending, I expected a massive betrayal, and I though Akiva's actions, in context, were not unreasonable at the time he did those. I get the betrayal aspect, but also I get why Akiva did what he did.
crystalstarrlight's review
3.0
Bullet Review:
NOTE: I received this copy as part of the Amazon Vine program, but then I bought the book anyway, so I could probably remove this note but eff it, here it is.
HOLY SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS am I kinda PISSED. I adored this book back in the day, but rereading took the hype blinders off and made me see how, even though this is BEAUTIFULLY written, it's nearly the EXACT SAME Mary Sue romance fanfic I've come to dread from YA.
Sorry if that pisses people off, but I cannot change how I feel - that said, I am keeping up my initial 5-star review for people to read and laugh at me.
Full review to come when I'm done being made at the Chiro-shaming. Eff you Madrigal for pretending to be a friend until a hot set of abs tantalized your panties!!!
New Review:
Hooo boy, I am NOT looking forward to reviewing this one this time around! Why? Because instead of being captivated and enthralled, like a tourist in a foreign country, this time I'm painfully aware of all the flaws - the Mary Sue "too perfect to believe" characters, the dragging plot, the 180-plot transition, and the melodrama that you find all too often in Young Adult fiction.
I'm sure many of you disagree with these sentiments, and I respect that. So if you do love this book, you can open my spoiler-tag at the bottom to see my previous glowing review and focus on that, instead of this new one. Deal?
The story is about a sparkly Mary Sue character, Karou. Don't believe me?
+ She's 17, going to an art school
+ She naturally grows "azure" hair
+ She has multiple tattoos
+ She is trained in martial arts
+ She is "creamy and leggy" with "eyes of a silent movie star"
+ "Beyond merely pretty, her face was vibrantly alive, her gaze always sparking and luminous"
I'm sorry, but if that is not a Mary Sue descriptor, I don't know what is.
She lives in her own studio with a dear friend who loves her a lot (and should be played by Judy Greer, so "wingman" is the character), not having to struggle daily with a crappy job to make money, getting to exclusively study art in a specialty school, surrounded by multiple people who adore her and love her - but she's "sorrowful" and "lonely" and "wants to be loved".
Cue hot set of abs, Akiva, (the Marty Stu to her Mary Sue), and you have a perfectly melodramatic story, where characters stare Meaningfully into each other's eyes and fall dramatically to the ground when revelations are about to be made.
I feel like this review is mostly going to try to explain why my views have changed so much from previously instead of the merits of this book. Because I find it more interesting that I once put this on my "Simply the Best" shelf with 5 glowing stars with a gushy, fangirly review that now I find utterly repulsive and unhelpful as f@#$.
Laini Taylor is a master of words and can create some beautiful scenes. But having two people fall into lust because they are effing gorgeous does not a story make. Yes, I can see how the story calls back to old-timey fairytales. Yes, I know fiction =/= reality. But I have NEVER been a fan of Mary Sue fiction. I don't care for the "perfect girl and perfect guy" story.
So why was I gaga over this?
There's an awful lot of hostility towards Twilight in my previous review, so I imagine that with that close in my memory, this does look good (though calling Karou "independent" is a bit of a stretch - she still falls instalust with Akiva, not once but TWICE; and while some may not register it at instalust, I cannot, for the life of me, see WHY the two ever "fell in love" because they had barely spoken to each other before pounding away at the horizontal tango). Yes, Karou has a female friend, but please, Zuzana is a cute "manic pixie" token friend who, after just seeing Akiva's abs for the first time, is like, "YOU TOTALLY NEED TO BANG HIM". Even though he tried to KILL Karou. Or what about Chiro, Madrigal's jealous, horrible, weak-willed friend whose soul can easily be pushed aside for Mary Sue2?
Ignoring these flaws is my fault; somehow, I just didn't see them the first reading. Was it Twilight and its mediocre clones? Was it all the hype and all my friends posting their 5-star gushing reviews that whisked me away? Was it just time and experience and my continued jaded view of young adult?
Will I ever know and most importantly: who cares?
The fact is, this book has LOADS of fans who adore it endlessly, who place it high up on their "Top Books" lists. And that's great. I don't begrudge them at all. I just personally am not bewitched by the "magic". The writing and world are fantastic (though why prestige is given to human-aspect chimera is beyond me), and for that, I can very much appreciate Laini's skill, which stands out far above most other young adult. I also like how she's pretty damned gritty and while she doesn't have explicit sex scenes, her characters don't oogle each other and make excuses for not "doing the dirty". But the characters are the exact archetypes I despise, and while the story has threads of interesting bits, far too much focus is on the love story, which isn't very extraordinary in my view.
To each her own...amirite?
OLD REVIEW:
Karou is a teenaged girl, raised by chimaera, Brimstone. But there is much about herself that Karou doesn't understand. Where does she come from? Where are her parents? What is beyond Brimstone's backdoor? And why are black handprints appearing on Brimstone's portals?
I've been seeing rave reviews for this book amongst my friends, who were saying how unique and ingenious this book is. I love urban fantasy (particularly young adult), but let's be honest: it's gettin' to be kinda a boring, lifeless, stereotypical genre, isn't it? Seems like most authors are going:
1 Female protagonist
2 Male Love Interests
A dash of Vampires/Mermaids/Angels/Dystopias
Blend until a pudding texture. Serve lukewarm.
Thank GOD for Laini Taylor and "Daughter of Smoke and Bone"! There is so much win in this book, it is at the top of my "BUY IT IMMEDIATELY WHEN IT COMES OUT!!" List! (And yes, even though I got this as an ARC, I did go out and buy in hardcover!)
Firstly, let's talk protagonists. Karou is our protagonist and from the VERY FIRST CHAPTER, she rocks. You see, she has this deadbeat ex-boyfriend, Kazimir, who just won't leave her alone. Does she run and hide? Does she stick with him until Love Interest #2 appears? Does she go back and forth between him and Love Interest #2?
Nope, Karou deals with Kazimir on MULTIPLE occasions herself, not relying on her future boyfriend to rescue her from his clutches, nor succumbing to Kazimir's despicable behavior. And there, not even 5 pages into the novel, Taylor has won a fan.
TAKE THAT, BELLA SWAN!
Of course, that is just the tip of the iceberg of the character that is Karou. She has interests, likes, dislikes, friends outside of the paranormal world she lives in (whom she even opens up to on occasion), and a story that goes beyond "Which drop dead sexy boyfriend should I bump uglies with?" She is practical, she fights for herself, she is smart...Karou is AWESOME!
The other characters are equally well sketched. Brimstone is a favorite, what with his aloofness and secret-keeping. And yet, he obviously cares for Karou, in his own quiet way, that is really touching--particularly near the explosive end. Zuzana is a kick in the pants, a true friend. I could almost imagine a younger Kristen Chenoweth playing her. Akiva is a great character, a great love interest. He does NOT try to butt in and take control of Karou's life (such as trying to chase Kazimir off), which TOTALLY makes me fall in love with him. Here is a man that truly is trying to think out for someone and NOT be a control freak.
The world-building is absolutely awe-inspiring. Taylor paints a beautiful portrait of Morocco, of Prague, of Eretz that was a joy to read, almost like being there myself. Her world of seraphim and chimaera is fascinating, removed from the typical Christian mythology and now a part of their own. I particularly enjoyed the separate creation myths that the seraphim and chimaera had; it was fascinating to compare and contrast, to see how similar they were (both tended to paint the other race as "evil") and yet how similar. I love how neither side is good, neither side is bad, how each side is populated with both.
And the story! Gah, the story! It's just as unique and special and jaw-droppingly amazing as the characters and setting. It is NOT your stereotypical romance. It is NOT your stereotypical "Which boy should I choose" story. It is a fascinating tale of peace, of hope, of magic, of friendship, of love, and of perseverance. I could probably say a lot more, but I might be a bit more revealing into the plot than I should, and YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK, so no spoilers, sorry!
There were times when I thought the book got a bit long winded in some places. ^The biggest problem I had with the story was the "insta-love". When Karou first meets Akiva, she feels an instant connection to him and thus begins their romance. The second half explains this "insta-love"--with yet another "insta-love" scenario. There are a few things I just don't care for: Romantic Triangles, wimpy female protagonists, and Love at First Sight. I realize this is somewhat of a fairy tale, and Love at First Sight is commonplace in fairy tales. And this was done pretty well, as insta-love goes. But it is still there, and it still did irk me a bit.
In one book, Laini Taylor has brought to my world of urban fantasy what Karou brings to Brimstone: Hope. Hope that urban fantasy can be something new, unique, and clever, that doesn't have to rely on overused tropes (okay, so it still uses insta-love) and silly plotlines in order to pad out the page count. This is a book I'm proud to have on my shelf, and one that I canNOT recommend enough.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Brief, mild language.
Discreet sexuality (Karou is sexually experienced, but nothing graphic). There is a scene with a nude model (nothing graphic).
Quite a bit of violence--battlefields, open shoulder wounds, a guillotine, etc.
NOTE: I received this copy as part of the Amazon Vine program, but then I bought the book anyway, so I could probably remove this note but eff it, here it is.
HOLY SHIITAKE MUSHROOMS am I kinda PISSED. I adored this book back in the day, but rereading took the hype blinders off and made me see how, even though this is BEAUTIFULLY written, it's nearly the EXACT SAME Mary Sue romance fanfic I've come to dread from YA.
Sorry if that pisses people off, but I cannot change how I feel - that said, I am keeping up my initial 5-star review for people to read and laugh at me.
Full review to come when I'm done being made at the Chiro-shaming. Eff you Madrigal for pretending to be a friend until a hot set of abs tantalized your panties!!!
New Review:
Hooo boy, I am NOT looking forward to reviewing this one this time around! Why? Because instead of being captivated and enthralled, like a tourist in a foreign country, this time I'm painfully aware of all the flaws - the Mary Sue "too perfect to believe" characters, the dragging plot, the 180-plot transition, and the melodrama that you find all too often in Young Adult fiction.
I'm sure many of you disagree with these sentiments, and I respect that. So if you do love this book, you can open my spoiler-tag at the bottom to see my previous glowing review and focus on that, instead of this new one. Deal?
The story is about a sparkly Mary Sue character, Karou. Don't believe me?
+ She's 17, going to an art school
+ She naturally grows "azure" hair
+ She has multiple tattoos
+ She is trained in martial arts
+ She is "creamy and leggy" with "eyes of a silent movie star"
+ "Beyond merely pretty, her face was vibrantly alive, her gaze always sparking and luminous"
I'm sorry, but if that is not a Mary Sue descriptor, I don't know what is.
She lives in her own studio with a dear friend who loves her a lot (and should be played by Judy Greer, so "wingman" is the character), not having to struggle daily with a crappy job to make money, getting to exclusively study art in a specialty school, surrounded by multiple people who adore her and love her - but she's "sorrowful" and "lonely" and "wants to be loved".
Cue hot set of abs, Akiva, (the Marty Stu to her Mary Sue), and you have a perfectly melodramatic story, where characters stare Meaningfully into each other's eyes and fall dramatically to the ground when revelations are about to be made.
I feel like this review is mostly going to try to explain why my views have changed so much from previously instead of the merits of this book. Because I find it more interesting that I once put this on my "Simply the Best" shelf with 5 glowing stars with a gushy, fangirly review that now I find utterly repulsive and unhelpful as f@#$.
Laini Taylor is a master of words and can create some beautiful scenes. But having two people fall into lust because they are effing gorgeous does not a story make. Yes, I can see how the story calls back to old-timey fairytales. Yes, I know fiction =/= reality. But I have NEVER been a fan of Mary Sue fiction. I don't care for the "perfect girl and perfect guy" story.
So why was I gaga over this?
There's an awful lot of hostility towards Twilight in my previous review, so I imagine that with that close in my memory, this does look good (though calling Karou "independent" is a bit of a stretch - she still falls instalust with Akiva, not once but TWICE; and while some may not register it at instalust, I cannot, for the life of me, see WHY the two ever "fell in love" because they had barely spoken to each other before pounding away at the horizontal tango). Yes, Karou has a female friend, but please, Zuzana is a cute "manic pixie" token friend who, after just seeing Akiva's abs for the first time, is like, "YOU TOTALLY NEED TO BANG HIM". Even though he tried to KILL Karou. Or what about Chiro, Madrigal's jealous, horrible, weak-willed friend whose soul can easily be pushed aside for Mary Sue2?
Ignoring these flaws is my fault; somehow, I just didn't see them the first reading. Was it Twilight and its mediocre clones? Was it all the hype and all my friends posting their 5-star gushing reviews that whisked me away? Was it just time and experience and my continued jaded view of young adult?
Will I ever know and most importantly: who cares?
The fact is, this book has LOADS of fans who adore it endlessly, who place it high up on their "Top Books" lists. And that's great. I don't begrudge them at all. I just personally am not bewitched by the "magic". The writing and world are fantastic (though why prestige is given to human-aspect chimera is beyond me), and for that, I can very much appreciate Laini's skill, which stands out far above most other young adult. I also like how she's pretty damned gritty and while she doesn't have explicit sex scenes, her characters don't oogle each other and make excuses for not "doing the dirty". But the characters are the exact archetypes I despise, and while the story has threads of interesting bits, far too much focus is on the love story, which isn't very extraordinary in my view.
To each her own...amirite?
OLD REVIEW:
Spoiler
Karou is a teenaged girl, raised by chimaera, Brimstone. But there is much about herself that Karou doesn't understand. Where does she come from? Where are her parents? What is beyond Brimstone's backdoor? And why are black handprints appearing on Brimstone's portals?
I've been seeing rave reviews for this book amongst my friends, who were saying how unique and ingenious this book is. I love urban fantasy (particularly young adult), but let's be honest: it's gettin' to be kinda a boring, lifeless, stereotypical genre, isn't it? Seems like most authors are going:
1 Female protagonist
2 Male Love Interests
A dash of Vampires/Mermaids/Angels/Dystopias
Blend until a pudding texture. Serve lukewarm.
Thank GOD for Laini Taylor and "Daughter of Smoke and Bone"! There is so much win in this book, it is at the top of my "BUY IT IMMEDIATELY WHEN IT COMES OUT!!" List! (And yes, even though I got this as an ARC, I did go out and buy in hardcover!)
Firstly, let's talk protagonists. Karou is our protagonist and from the VERY FIRST CHAPTER, she rocks. You see, she has this deadbeat ex-boyfriend, Kazimir, who just won't leave her alone. Does she run and hide? Does she stick with him until Love Interest #2 appears? Does she go back and forth between him and Love Interest #2?
Nope, Karou deals with Kazimir on MULTIPLE occasions herself, not relying on her future boyfriend to rescue her from his clutches, nor succumbing to Kazimir's despicable behavior. And there, not even 5 pages into the novel, Taylor has won a fan.
TAKE THAT, BELLA SWAN!
Of course, that is just the tip of the iceberg of the character that is Karou. She has interests, likes, dislikes, friends outside of the paranormal world she lives in (whom she even opens up to on occasion), and a story that goes beyond "Which drop dead sexy boyfriend should I bump uglies with?" She is practical, she fights for herself, she is smart...Karou is AWESOME!
The other characters are equally well sketched. Brimstone is a favorite, what with his aloofness and secret-keeping. And yet, he obviously cares for Karou, in his own quiet way, that is really touching--particularly near the explosive end. Zuzana is a kick in the pants, a true friend. I could almost imagine a younger Kristen Chenoweth playing her. Akiva is a great character, a great love interest. He does NOT try to butt in and take control of Karou's life (such as trying to chase Kazimir off), which TOTALLY makes me fall in love with him. Here is a man that truly is trying to think out for someone and NOT be a control freak.
The world-building is absolutely awe-inspiring. Taylor paints a beautiful portrait of Morocco, of Prague, of Eretz that was a joy to read, almost like being there myself. Her world of seraphim and chimaera is fascinating, removed from the typical Christian mythology and now a part of their own. I particularly enjoyed the separate creation myths that the seraphim and chimaera had; it was fascinating to compare and contrast, to see how similar they were (both tended to paint the other race as "evil") and yet how similar. I love how neither side is good, neither side is bad, how each side is populated with both.
And the story! Gah, the story! It's just as unique and special and jaw-droppingly amazing as the characters and setting. It is NOT your stereotypical romance. It is NOT your stereotypical "Which boy should I choose" story. It is a fascinating tale of peace, of hope, of magic, of friendship, of love, and of perseverance. I could probably say a lot more, but I might be a bit more revealing into the plot than I should, and YOU NEED TO READ THIS BOOK, so no spoilers, sorry!
There were times when I thought the book got a bit long winded in some places. ^The biggest problem I had with the story was the "insta-love". When Karou first meets Akiva, she feels an instant connection to him and thus begins their romance. The second half explains this "insta-love"--with yet another "insta-love" scenario. There are a few things I just don't care for: Romantic Triangles, wimpy female protagonists, and Love at First Sight. I realize this is somewhat of a fairy tale, and Love at First Sight is commonplace in fairy tales. And this was done pretty well, as insta-love goes. But it is still there, and it still did irk me a bit.
In one book, Laini Taylor has brought to my world of urban fantasy what Karou brings to Brimstone: Hope. Hope that urban fantasy can be something new, unique, and clever, that doesn't have to rely on overused tropes (okay, so it still uses insta-love) and silly plotlines in order to pad out the page count. This is a book I'm proud to have on my shelf, and one that I canNOT recommend enough.
Dialogue/Sexual Situations/Violence:
Brief, mild language.
Discreet sexuality (Karou is sexually experienced, but nothing graphic). There is a scene with a nude model (nothing graphic).
Quite a bit of violence--battlefields, open shoulder wounds, a guillotine, etc.
nightwithbooks's review against another edition
Какво мисля за книгата можете да видите на :
https://nightwithbook.wordpress.com/2017/08/19/%d0%ba%d0%bd%d0%b8%d0%b3%d0%b0-%d0%bf%d0%be-%d0%b2%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%bc%d0%b5-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%bc%d0%be%d0%bd%d1%82/
https://nightwithbook.wordpress.com/2017/08/19/%d0%ba%d0%bd%d0%b8%d0%b3%d0%b0-%d0%bf%d0%be-%d0%b2%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%bc%d0%b5-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%bc%d0%be%d0%bd%d1%82/
weisstars's review
5.0
i didn't think i would love this book, let alone like it. the beginning is a trick: it tells you a mundane experience of life, albeit in a pleasant writing style, but it immediately turned me off. i thought it was going to just be some strange, modern book about a horrible man for a love interest. i was wrong.
this book tricked me, as i said. it gave me all these mundane things, things i trivialized and underestimated in my head, and then suddenly it was like, "now let me tell you how all of that was actually magic." there was mystery after mystery, magic after magic, unraveling throughout the story through karou's life and all of what makes her who she is that makes the story beautiful. i became addicted. i did not expect the depth or layers of the writing, and then suddenly i had stepped forward, and plunged into the deep of it. it was a beautiful story.
everything that the book talks about eventually comes full circle, clasping hands together. people, places, things, and experiences that you didn't think would matter so much, all matter. i think what makes this book especially wonderful is the fact that everything that is written within it is like... ethereal, a piece of reality? like, it takes a real thing that happens: the way that there's all these tiny threads in our real lives, and then how those threads magically intertwine into being our destiny, our fate, our past, our future. i don't know how to express something like that, but that's what this book is, to me.
now is this book literary fiction? no. is this book beyond flaw? also no. for example, the epilogue is unnecessary and i hated it. you didn't need that to end the story. is this book going to change everyone's life? not everyone's, but it might change a bit of you, a special part of you, if it is in the right time and place to be changed.
but this book is beautiful in spite of all that. i loved all of the supernatural and ethereal content offered to me. i felt so rich with all of the information and beauty that it bestows to me with every single word. hell, and this is just based on the story, the plot, the characters. i haven't even told you yet that the writing itself is gorgeous. there are lines that tell you of skin being sugared for others to taste, or of how you offer a person diamonds, only to be given death and smoke.
i'm not sure how the next books will be (i haven't read them yet). but this book? this book, i can say, is beautiful.
this book tricked me, as i said. it gave me all these mundane things, things i trivialized and underestimated in my head, and then suddenly it was like, "now let me tell you how all of that was actually magic." there was mystery after mystery, magic after magic, unraveling throughout the story through karou's life and all of what makes her who she is that makes the story beautiful. i became addicted. i did not expect the depth or layers of the writing, and then suddenly i had stepped forward, and plunged into the deep of it. it was a beautiful story.
everything that the book talks about eventually comes full circle, clasping hands together. people, places, things, and experiences that you didn't think would matter so much, all matter. i think what makes this book especially wonderful is the fact that everything that is written within it is like... ethereal, a piece of reality? like, it takes a real thing that happens: the way that there's all these tiny threads in our real lives, and then how those threads magically intertwine into being our destiny, our fate, our past, our future. i don't know how to express something like that, but that's what this book is, to me.
now is this book literary fiction? no. is this book beyond flaw? also no. for example, the epilogue is unnecessary and i hated it. you didn't need that to end the story. is this book going to change everyone's life? not everyone's, but it might change a bit of you, a special part of you, if it is in the right time and place to be changed.
but this book is beautiful in spite of all that. i loved all of the supernatural and ethereal content offered to me. i felt so rich with all of the information and beauty that it bestows to me with every single word. hell, and this is just based on the story, the plot, the characters. i haven't even told you yet that the writing itself is gorgeous. there are lines that tell you of skin being sugared for others to taste, or of how you offer a person diamonds, only to be given death and smoke.
i'm not sure how the next books will be (i haven't read them yet). but this book? this book, i can say, is beautiful.
fantine525's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Listen, I know that the love story was literally the centre of the plot, but I just think, that the book would’ve been soooo much better without it. I’m sorry, it was just too insta-love, and I’m not talking about Akiva and Karou, because for them it was their souls knowing each other or something, but even the romance between Akiva and Madrigal had no tension, they did not fight their feelings. Also, I don’t like Akiva, in sorry, I can’t help it. I cannot even think of him as attractive, because after his description I could only imagine some buff gym bro.
I liked Karou as a character, she was cool, but then the romance came and she no longer did badass things, not really.
The plot twist at the end improved the overall story, but also it just annoyed me more. Laini Taylor just CANNOT let her characters be happily in love. I’m speaking from experience. When I was 9 or something like that, I read “Strange the Dreamer” and loved it, until the ending destroyed my life (I’m not going to tell you how, but reading this book resulted in me being bullied in school for some time). And now this happens again??
The first half of the book was really cool and I had fun, but once the characters started lovingly staring into each other’s eyes and mentioning how much they way to kiss one another every other sentence, I began to feel bored. It got a bit more interesting towards the ending, but then more romance came. And then there was the time skip in the epilogue… ok Laini, I guess you just didn’t feel like writing a bit more about how they found the portal, or what happens in that room in Marrakesh.
Will I be reading the next book?? I truly don’t know. I need to give it some thought, maybe I’ll come back to this matter later. If I do read the rest of the series, I really hope it will be more interesting, some more action and less romance.
I liked Karou as a character, she was cool, but then the romance came and she no longer did badass things, not really.
The plot twist at the end improved the overall story, but also it just annoyed me more. Laini Taylor just CANNOT let her characters be happily in love. I’m speaking from experience. When I was 9 or something like that, I read “Strange the Dreamer” and loved it, until the ending destroyed my life (I’m not going to tell you how, but reading this book resulted in me being bullied in school for some time). And now this happens again??
The first half of the book was really cool and I had fun, but once the characters started lovingly staring into each other’s eyes and mentioning how much they way to kiss one another every other sentence, I began to feel bored. It got a bit more interesting towards the ending, but then more romance came. And then there was the time skip in the epilogue… ok Laini, I guess you just didn’t feel like writing a bit more about how they found the portal, or what happens in that room in Marrakesh.
Will I be reading the next book?? I truly don’t know. I need to give it some thought, maybe I’ll come back to this matter later. If I do read the rest of the series, I really hope it will be more interesting, some more action and less romance.
ohtrisarahtops's review
5.0
This review can also be found here.
Oh My God! Have you ever read a book and during it you were like "Hmm I don't know how I feel about this book" and throughout the whole thing you still didn't know and by the end you finally realised you loved it? Well that was this book for me. Everything about this book is amazing, from the writing to the characters and the storyline. I need the second book right now!
I loved Karou. Throughout the whole story she was searching for who she really was. Although who she ended up being took on a magical quality isn't that what we all search for throughout our lives? She was a kick-butt character who didn't take nonsense from anybody, not her ex-boyfriend Kazimir and definitely not catepillar eyebrow girl Svetla. She was leading two different lives, one where she lived in the "normal" world alongside humans and the other where she did errands for the "monsters" who raised her.
And the "monsters" who raised her? Loved them too! From Brimstone the wishmonger all the way to Kishmish. They were all so well developed and took care of their own. They really show you that it's not what you look like on the outside but what you are on the inside that really counts.
Then there is Akiva. I loved him. I really don't think I should discuss him too much since it will give away too much of the story.
The places that the story take place in are stunning. From Prague and Morocco all the way to the city of the chimaera. The descriptions really draw you in and you can almost imagine that you are there right alongside of Karou on her many adventures.
Seriously, the writing in this book is fantastic. The whole story just flows and there is never a dull moment. And the words the author used, finally someone who believes that young adults can understand things beyond words with four letters that are repeated over and over again. Plus she makes up her own words, how awesome is she?
Do I recommend this book? YES! Go out and read it right now. You will not be disappointed. This book breathes a breath of fresh air into the Young Adult genre.
Oh My God! Have you ever read a book and during it you were like "Hmm I don't know how I feel about this book" and throughout the whole thing you still didn't know and by the end you finally realised you loved it? Well that was this book for me. Everything about this book is amazing, from the writing to the characters and the storyline. I need the second book right now!
I loved Karou. Throughout the whole story she was searching for who she really was. Although who she ended up being took on a magical quality isn't that what we all search for throughout our lives? She was a kick-butt character who didn't take nonsense from anybody, not her ex-boyfriend Kazimir and definitely not catepillar eyebrow girl Svetla. She was leading two different lives, one where she lived in the "normal" world alongside humans and the other where she did errands for the "monsters" who raised her.
And the "monsters" who raised her? Loved them too! From Brimstone the wishmonger all the way to Kishmish. They were all so well developed and took care of their own. They really show you that it's not what you look like on the outside but what you are on the inside that really counts.
Then there is Akiva. I loved him. I really don't think I should discuss him too much since it will give away too much of the story.
The places that the story take place in are stunning. From Prague and Morocco all the way to the city of the chimaera. The descriptions really draw you in and you can almost imagine that you are there right alongside of Karou on her many adventures.
Seriously, the writing in this book is fantastic. The whole story just flows and there is never a dull moment. And the words the author used, finally someone who believes that young adults can understand things beyond words with four letters that are repeated over and over again. Plus she makes up her own words, how awesome is she?
Do I recommend this book? YES! Go out and read it right now. You will not be disappointed. This book breathes a breath of fresh air into the Young Adult genre.
zepeng's review
5.0
SECOND READ - 4.5 stars
After a long reading hiatus, 2021 marks the year where I am determined to finally complete this series. I've read the first book in 2016 and still remembered bits and pieces, but not the storyline as a whole. And wow, this books slaps so much in my opinion.
First thing first, can we appreciate how awesome Karou is? We have our main girl who is strong, independent, quirky and realistic. Finally, we have a character that does not run, but sprints away after a mysterious angel attacks her. She is so cool and I want her to be my spirit animal.
While I understand that most readers feel the switch up is too much, as well as the insta-love between our MCs, I think it does not irk me that much. While Akira's personality is a bit one-dimensional, I think he is fine.
This is more of a world building book for the next book, and I am hoping for more awesome action scenes. I can't wait for the next book!
After a long reading hiatus, 2021 marks the year where I am determined to finally complete this series. I've read the first book in 2016 and still remembered bits and pieces, but not the storyline as a whole. And wow, this books slaps so much in my opinion.
First thing first, can we appreciate how awesome Karou is? We have our main girl who is strong, independent, quirky and realistic. Finally, we have a character that does not run, but sprints away after a mysterious angel attacks her. She is so cool and I want her to be my spirit animal.
While I understand that most readers feel the switch up is too much, as well as the insta-love between our MCs, I think it does not irk me that much. While Akira's personality is a bit one-dimensional, I think he is fine.
This is more of a world building book for the next book, and I am hoping for more awesome action scenes. I can't wait for the next book!