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carlisajc's review against another edition
5.0
Days of Blood and Starlight is the second book in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. Like the first, I loved it. Taylor has such a way of building this beautiful, yet horrible world. Normal yet fantastical. Familiar yet entirely new. And the second one didn’t disappoint
I love the mixing of the normal and the fantastic. I talked about this in my review of DoSaB, but it rings true in this novel as well. Which is interesting to me because this novel is much, much more “fantastical.” I can’t think of a better word than fantastical, so I’m going to keep using it. Taylor uses Karou’s friends from Prague, Mik and Zuzana, to bring this sense of normal and real. And I love them. Zuzana might honestly be my favorite character. Anyways, these two are present so that we (since we’re humans and not mystical beasts or angels) can relate to the story in a deeper way. Also, the involvement of Zuzana just shows how truly important friendship is to this story. Zuzana was friends with Karou long before any of this craziness started happening. And they’re friends despite that. And I like that. I like that despite the madness and war and betrayal and torment, friendship is remembered and the small, secondary characters aren’t just forgotten. This was my only quip with the first, that I didn’t see Zuzana more, so I’m so glad she had a more important role in the sequel.
Along with Zuzana, Taylor also uses small characters to personalize the war. It’s literally a war of terror between the chimaera and the seraphim. Children and farmers are being slaughtered. And Taylor gives these small, brief moments from their perspective and it’s beautiful. Hauntingly beautiful, but beautiful nonetheless. I think this really helped me connect with the story. It also shows that there isn’t really good or evil. There’s good people on both sides, innocent people on both sides. But there’s also malicious and evil people on both sides. These moments of changing-perspective really give the reader that glimpse into the innocence of both chimaera and seraphim. If it was just a story about a war, I don’t know how much I would have liked it, connected with it. But I read from the perspectives of these small characters being affected by the war. And that affected me.
I think I mentioned this in my review of DoSaB too, but, oh well. Taylor’s pacing is perfection. Literally she knows just how long each chapter should be. Right when to switch perspectives. The very moment she should end a chapter or part of the book. She knows all how to do all of these things to make the reader want to keep reading…which is a good thing because these books are getting longer and longer.
I don’t even have anything bad to say about it. I just really, really liked it. And I’m already reading the third so prepare yourself for that review!
I love the mixing of the normal and the fantastic. I talked about this in my review of DoSaB, but it rings true in this novel as well. Which is interesting to me because this novel is much, much more “fantastical.” I can’t think of a better word than fantastical, so I’m going to keep using it. Taylor uses Karou’s friends from Prague, Mik and Zuzana, to bring this sense of normal and real. And I love them. Zuzana might honestly be my favorite character. Anyways, these two are present so that we (since we’re humans and not mystical beasts or angels) can relate to the story in a deeper way. Also, the involvement of Zuzana just shows how truly important friendship is to this story. Zuzana was friends with Karou long before any of this craziness started happening. And they’re friends despite that. And I like that. I like that despite the madness and war and betrayal and torment, friendship is remembered and the small, secondary characters aren’t just forgotten. This was my only quip with the first, that I didn’t see Zuzana more, so I’m so glad she had a more important role in the sequel.
Along with Zuzana, Taylor also uses small characters to personalize the war. It’s literally a war of terror between the chimaera and the seraphim. Children and farmers are being slaughtered. And Taylor gives these small, brief moments from their perspective and it’s beautiful. Hauntingly beautiful, but beautiful nonetheless. I think this really helped me connect with the story. It also shows that there isn’t really good or evil. There’s good people on both sides, innocent people on both sides. But there’s also malicious and evil people on both sides. These moments of changing-perspective really give the reader that glimpse into the innocence of both chimaera and seraphim. If it was just a story about a war, I don’t know how much I would have liked it, connected with it. But I read from the perspectives of these small characters being affected by the war. And that affected me.
I think I mentioned this in my review of DoSaB too, but, oh well. Taylor’s pacing is perfection. Literally she knows just how long each chapter should be. Right when to switch perspectives. The very moment she should end a chapter or part of the book. She knows all how to do all of these things to make the reader want to keep reading…which is a good thing because these books are getting longer and longer.
I don’t even have anything bad to say about it. I just really, really liked it. And I’m already reading the third so prepare yourself for that review!
yulie's review against another edition
5.0
I absolutely loved this book and the direction that Laini Taylor has taken the series in! The worlds are so rich and beautifully described, and the story is also absolutely mesmerizing.
It's a really great book, and I wish I didn't have to wait for the next book! I read the book non-stop for four hours, devouring it just like the first book. With how great the second book is I would definitely go back and adjust my rating for the first book to 5 stars. I had initially thought this series would take a much different route which didn't include such thorough world-building and such compelling characters.
The only thing I didn't care about for in this book was
All the other characters were wonderful, though, especially
I also enjoyed the potrayal of Thiago and how cunning he was, since I expected him to be a let-down that Karou could easily overcome (since she had such a great secret to reveal and she was the main character, and that's how it's been going in books such as City of Immortals, Divergent, blah blah blah). I really did not see the end coming where both Akiva and Karou failed in their coup, so to speak. What happened with Kiri was also heartbreaking, and I can't believe it, but I really want Karou to love Kiri and Akiva at the same time! :( And not in a Bella/Edward/Jacob angsty way, but in a way that... well, both characters deserve her love differently, and under different circumstances, either pair would've been perfect. It's not that they both actively vie for her attention, it's simply that they both deserve it, I think. I can't quite put it into words.
You should definitely read this book if you are looking for a beautifully-crafted world, vibrant characters and a very epic overarching story. Don't read this book if you are expecting a simple romance with a lot of angsty drivel and no common sense or logic in the female or male's actions within the romance! Everything Karou and Akiva undertake has real thought and calculation and sacrifice within them, and they place their own well-being as secondary for greater causes. As such, their romance becomes secondary to the plot... which is a very, very great thing. I am so glad that Laini Taylor decided to do this, rather than depict two characters so hopelessly in love that they make the stupidest decisions ever. If you're going to be upset at the lack of romance between the pair, maybe don't read on. The universe that Laini Taylor has created is greater than just one simple romance, and that's the way more books should be!
Spoiler
The despair Karou and Akiva feel is absolutely palpable throughout the books, and despite the fact that they aren't always the main focus of the story, the book is very much the better for it. The other characters and their motivations are depicted incredibly well, and you really understand both sides of the war and what's at stake for everybody. You can feel the weariness of all the characters, and how fed up they become with bloodshed and what moments make them doubt their choices and their moralities.It's a really great book, and I wish I didn't have to wait for the next book! I read the book non-stop for four hours, devouring it just like the first book. With how great the second book is I would definitely go back and adjust my rating for the first book to 5 stars. I had initially thought this series would take a much different route which didn't include such thorough world-building and such compelling characters.
The only thing I didn't care about for in this book was
Spoiler
Zuzana and Mik, to be totally honest. I found it wildly absurd when they were in the kasbah alongside the rebellion and their presence really took me out of the story, and I actually rushed over all their lovey-dovey scenes, reading inbetween them for glimpses of the chimaera interactions and Karou's thoughts. I understand that they were a plot point for bringing out the lighter side of some chimaera, but it was just too much for me. I suppose that means I won't be reading the extra "2.5" novel of this trilogy!All the other characters were wonderful, though, especially
Spoiler
Kiri, Rath, Liraz, Hazael, the two deer-girls... pretty much everyone else! The building of the relationship between the Misbegotton was incredible, though, since I hadn't expected to see it fleshed out and had only expected Hazael and Liraz to be portrayed as two-dimensional chimaera-killers with no development. Boy, was I wrong, and I am so glad I was wrong. I cried when Hazael died.I also enjoyed the potrayal of Thiago and how cunning he was, since I expected him to be a let-down that Karou could easily overcome (since she had such a great secret to reveal and she was the main character, and that's how it's been going in books such as City of Immortals, Divergent, blah blah blah). I really did not see the end coming where both Akiva and Karou failed in their coup, so to speak. What happened with Kiri was also heartbreaking, and I can't believe it, but I really want Karou to love Kiri and Akiva at the same time! :( And not in a Bella/Edward/Jacob angsty way, but in a way that... well, both characters deserve her love differently, and under different circumstances, either pair would've been perfect. It's not that they both actively vie for her attention, it's simply that they both deserve it, I think. I can't quite put it into words.
You should definitely read this book if you are looking for a beautifully-crafted world, vibrant characters and a very epic overarching story. Don't read this book if you are expecting a simple romance with a lot of angsty drivel and no common sense or logic in the female or male's actions within the romance! Everything Karou and Akiva undertake has real thought and calculation and sacrifice within them, and they place their own well-being as secondary for greater causes. As such, their romance becomes secondary to the plot... which is a very, very great thing. I am so glad that Laini Taylor decided to do this, rather than depict two characters so hopelessly in love that they make the stupidest decisions ever. If you're going to be upset at the lack of romance between the pair, maybe don't read on. The universe that Laini Taylor has created is greater than just one simple romance, and that's the way more books should be!
hmtayem's review against another edition
4.0
If I had to summarize this book it would be “the world ends because two people who actually loved each other couldn’t figure out how to communicate effectively”. That’s not to say the book wasn’t great. I have very strong emotions for all the characters in this series. They all have such depth and each one shines. Again I listened to this one on audio. I would have liked the his and her POV’s to be done by different readers. Only because there was no clear indication of where or with whom you were visiting from one chapter to the next. Beautifully read by Kristine Hvam though.
robynnehood's review against another edition
4.0
Much better than the second, once the overwhelming romance was out of the way to focus on the world!
theincrediblehallk's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
3.0
inessova's review against another edition
5.0
I find no words to describe the beauty of this book.
I loved the way it went from one POV to another. I got to know the characters, their personalities, their thoughts, their fears and their hopes. They are so many and yet by the end of the book you could name each one of them. My heart broke so many times. This book described the awfulness of war, the loss each side feels be cause they had to follow a "leader" they don't agree with. Then the thoughts of uprising, the doubt, the HOPE.
I can't wait to start the third book.
I loved the way it went from one POV to another. I got to know the characters, their personalities, their thoughts, their fears and their hopes. They are so many and yet by the end of the book you could name each one of them. My heart broke so many times. This book described the awfulness of war, the loss each side feels be cause they had to follow a "leader" they don't agree with. Then the thoughts of uprising, the doubt, the HOPE.
I can't wait to start the third book.
widgetygrub's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
I will never know why it took me so long to continue this series, I already know this is going to become one of my favourite series I've ever read.
Days of Blood and Starlight absolutely exceeded my expectations. Liani Taylor is a 5* writer and I could not put this book down. The characters, world building, descriptions and beautifully written prose come together to craft an intricate tale of war which leaves the reader equally heartbroken and angry at both sides and territorial over the characters she has crafted.
The last 100 pages of this book were an absolute whirlwind of twists and turns that I did not see coming at all and I am equally excited and scared to dive into the third and final instalment!
Days of Blood and Starlight absolutely exceeded my expectations. Liani Taylor is a 5* writer and I could not put this book down. The characters, world building, descriptions and beautifully written prose come together to craft an intricate tale of war which leaves the reader equally heartbroken and angry at both sides and territorial over the characters she has crafted.
The last 100 pages of this book were an absolute whirlwind of twists and turns that I did not see coming at all and I am equally excited and scared to dive into the third and final instalment!
flamepea's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 Rating
Dnf’d this book will write a review later explaining why REALLY wanted to enjoy this series! (only counted as read to rate and review)
I know no one is going to like this review since it is such a beloved series but it just felt like the first book and still constantly reliving memories. I understand we still have a lot of world building and past to learn about but NOTHING was happening in the present time other than White Wolf drama.
I thought I would enjoy this series like everyone else but I couldn’t push myself to a book I didn’t enjoy- I know I probably dnf’d before it got exciting but even the blurb for the final book looked boring and not for me!
Dnf’d this book will write a review later explaining why REALLY wanted to enjoy this series! (only counted as read to rate and review)
I know no one is going to like this review since it is such a beloved series but it just felt like the first book and still constantly reliving memories. I understand we still have a lot of world building and past to learn about but NOTHING was happening in the present time other than White Wolf drama.
I thought I would enjoy this series like everyone else but I couldn’t push myself to a book I didn’t enjoy- I know I probably dnf’d before it got exciting but even the blurb for the final book looked boring and not for me!
archaeomancer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0