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savvyrosereads's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
If you’ve spoken to me in the last couple weeks, you’ve probably heard me screaming about how much I love this series! I think it’s an absolute CRIME more people aren’t talking about it. I also had the absolute best time buddy reading these with my fave feral five (sorry for imploding the buddy read when I just couldn’t stop reading, whoops).
Mini reviews for each book are below, but the main takeaway: READ THESE BOOKS!
Daughter of Smoke and Bone (4.5 stars): The world building was incredible and the characters pulled me in! Also the ending absolutely BROKE ME into a million pieces.
Days of Blood and Starlight (5 stars): Possibly a hot take but this was my favorite of the series! I absolutely loved it, start to finish, and literally could not put it down.
Dreams of Gods and Monsters (4 stars): An amazing conclusion to an incredible trilogy! It wasn’t my favorite ending and I could probably nitpick a lot of things, but overall SO emotional and captivating!
Night of Cakes and Puppets (5 stars): An absolute DELIGHT of a novella spotlighting Zuzana and Mik, who might be two of my all time favorite secondary characters.
Mini reviews for each book are below, but the main takeaway: READ THESE BOOKS!
Daughter of Smoke and Bone (4.5 stars): The world building was incredible and the characters pulled me in! Also the ending absolutely BROKE ME into a million pieces.
Days of Blood and Starlight (5 stars): Possibly a hot take but this was my favorite of the series! I absolutely loved it, start to finish, and literally could not put it down.
Dreams of Gods and Monsters (4 stars): An amazing conclusion to an incredible trilogy! It wasn’t my favorite ending and I could probably nitpick a lot of things, but overall SO emotional and captivating!
Night of Cakes and Puppets (5 stars): An absolute DELIGHT of a novella spotlighting Zuzana and Mik, who might be two of my all time favorite secondary characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, War, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Torture
jadehusdanhicks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I loved this book and was suprised by the revelation of a certain characters what seemed to be demisexuality, after how we’d seen them portrayed previously it was somewhat surprising but I’m so happy that they got their own form of happy ending.
I love the characters and this series with my heart, unfortunately though something just felt unfinished which is why it didn’t get 5 stars. I feel we could’ve had another book exploring what we found out in those last 100 pages with the longer term outcomes of everyone finalised.
I love the characters and this series with my heart, unfortunately though something just felt unfinished which is why it didn’t get 5 stars. I feel we could’ve had another book exploring what we found out in those last 100 pages with the longer term outcomes of everyone finalised.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Grief, Religious bigotry, Violence, War, Injury/Injury detail, Confinement, Blood, Animal death, and Death
lisashelves's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
doodeedoda's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Blood, Death, Grief, and War
Moderate: Violence, Torture, and Colonisation
Minor: Child death, Rape, Child abuse, Classism, Religious bigotry, Slavery, Racism, Sexism, and Bullying
donatio's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Writing style was okay, nothing special. Plot wise I liked the solution and the happy end , but after they had Jael to go back to Eretz the book left me wondering what would happen in the last hundred pages or so. The last plot twist didn't get me because it was solved so fast, like they didn't think much about it.
Characters: my favourite, after Brimstone died in the first book, was definitely Liraz, because she was more relatable than the others and I really do ship her and Ziri, but why does she have to look up when he's in his natural body again? Don't get me wrong, I love that he has his "right" body back, but I'm not a fan of the fact that Liraz was an absolute queen before and now has to look up to somebody and is blushing and all. I thought she was tall. Why can't she be the same height at least? Doesn't seem realistic to me. But well, I ranted enough.
All in all I would say it was a solid read, nothing outstanding though.
All in all I would say it was a solid read, nothing outstanding though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, War, Child abuse, Blood, and Violence
Moderate: Misogyny and Sexism
kirstenf's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Religious bigotry, Grief, Blood, War, and Violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Slavery, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Torture
shoni's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's been so long since I've read a series and been so invested and taken away by it. I've been sitting here not ready to let this world go and just accept that it's over. Laini created such a beautiful world and I love how there is even a logical explanation for the portal and how everything came to be. Honestly, the ending left nothing unanswered and was wrapped up nicely. But also having it show that this isn't the end for the characters, in their life they just finished a chapter and the next one is now beginning. Which just makes me so happy and at the same time want more.
I love how every book we get more POV introduced. Eliza's POV did bother me at first because I wanted to know more about Karou, Akiva, Zuzana, Mik, and Ziri but she did grow on me and I love how her character was introduced and used looking back. It was such a smart choice! especially how the godspend got introduced and brought full circle it was just done so nicely. AND THE END WHEN THE MAIN CREW WERE ESENTIALLY THE CHOSEN GODSEND UGH THAT WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL! The ending just made me so happy but also I wish we got more. I wanted to know where Karou and the chimera's set up camp, I wanted to know how Akiva without knowing fixed the rip, AND I JUST WANT MORE
My favorite will be the way that with the multiple POV we always just continued where the other POV left off with just someone else's. We never had to go through a repeat fully, and even if we took a few steps back to understand how such a scene came to be it was done in such a way that it seemed like a natural thought process and not rushed. I also just love Laini's work building which makes it feel so real and easy to visualize that I just want it to exist and be able to go visit. Because who does not want to be able to see such amazing beings. Like I'm just in awe.
And I said it from the beginning. Zuzana and Mik are amazing and iconic and they are honorary samurai and I love how at the end they played such an important part. And most importantly where Karou's family that she didn't lose. that she got to choose to be here and experience it all with her. Do I still want more to know about the dull but not so dull life of all the characters? Especially Ziri, yes! But sadly no more to be given. But I'm happy I could experience a world and characters that felt so real and so amazing that I want to be friends with them.
I love how every book we get more POV introduced. Eliza's POV did bother me at first because I wanted to know more about Karou, Akiva, Zuzana, Mik, and Ziri but she did grow on me and I love how her character was introduced and used looking back. It was such a smart choice!
My favorite will be the way that with the multiple POV we always just continued where the other POV left off with just someone else's. We never had to go through a repeat fully, and even if we took a few steps back to understand how such a scene came to be it was done in such a way that it seemed like a natural thought process and not rushed. I also just love Laini's work building which makes it feel so real and easy to visualize that I just want it to exist and be able to go visit. Because who does not want to be able to see such amazing beings. Like I'm just in awe.
And I said it from the beginning. Zuzana and Mik are amazing and iconic and they are honorary samurai and I love how at the end they played such an important part. And most importantly where Karou's family that she didn't lose. that she got to choose to be here and experience it all with her. Do I still want more to know about the dull but not so dull life of all the characters? Especially Ziri, yes! But sadly no more to be given. But I'm happy I could experience a world and characters that felt so real and so amazing that I want to be friends with them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
Minor: Islamophobia
epsyphus's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Strong finish for the series; the mixing of the fantasy and the real world was well done I thought.
Content Warnings
Graphic: War, Self harm, Blood, Death, Grief, and Violence
martamae77's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Death
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Rape and Sexual assault
grilledcheesd's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
i fucking love this series so much. i'd love to give a more detailed review but i listened to the audiobook and didn't make a single note. i stand by what i said initially - this book had me gripped in suspense.
i guess my only note is that the audiobook narrator changed how they pronounced some things over the course of the series, sometimes flopping back and forth (i noticed it most with liraz, as the emphasis switched between syllables quite a bit).
okay but i just googled the characters names to see how to spell liraz and honestly i get it now. the spellings are wild compared to how they sound lmfao.
original review:
oh my gOD LAINI TAYLOR RIPPED MY HEART OUT SO MANY TIMES. i was on the edge of my seat for most of the book and i loved it i loved it i loved it. i can't even form a more coherent review right now
i guess my only note is that the audiobook narrator changed how they pronounced some things over the course of the series, sometimes flopping back and forth (i noticed it most with liraz, as the emphasis switched between syllables quite a bit).
okay but i just googled the characters names to see how to spell liraz and honestly i get it now. the spellings are wild compared to how they sound lmfao.
original review:
oh my gOD LAINI TAYLOR RIPPED MY HEART OUT SO MANY TIMES. i was on the edge of my seat for most of the book and i loved it i loved it i loved it. i can't even form a more coherent review right now
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Death, Violence, and War
Minor: Sexual assault and Islamophobia