Thursday, June 13, 2013

Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1) by Laini Taylor


Daughter of Smoke & Bone  (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1) by Laini Taylor
 
This is a new adult paranormal romance novel (Rated R)
 
 ♥♥♥1/2
(Three and a Half Hearts)
 
 
Book Summary

Around the world, black handprints 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 otherwordly 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?



My Review

First let me say that the writing in this story is excellent. Additionally, the world building in this story that happens far too late is excellent as well. So, my rating on this story is mostly based on my enjoyment.
So let’s get to it. The first chapter in this one is promising. I was really excited to read. Then after that it fizzles into nothing. We follow a selfish Karou around through her daily life not understanding what makes her special. I think that’s the killer for me. Karou is selfish (until things revealed late). Everything she does it at her pleasure and curiosity without care to others. And really she has no reason for that. She grew up loved.  I don’t have to like a character to enjoy a story, but my dislike better have basis in the story. Here it does not. She’s just selfish.
Now, the story really drags. And I know the author is trying to create some suspense but it doesn’t work here, at least for me. I was able to put the book down and make it as a DNF (did not finish).  Finally, I came back and let me say, I’m happy I borrowed an audio download copy through overdrive in partnership with my state library. I would have been unhappy if I paid for it.
Okay, so around the 75% mark, things got a whole lot more interesting. Personally, I think a reorder of the story might have made this a more interesting read. I think if we got more the past earlier or started from the beginning, I would have been caught up with the story. Instead we spend time following Karou to class and bargaining for teeth, quite boring.
Overall, I will read the next one. I just won’t jump out and get it. Karou only made me hate her more for the ending and how she treated a certain person after nearly vowing she wouldn’t. Why she blamed that person when his act had been out of caring, I don’t know. And I’m not in the mood to rush out to read more blah to fill a page until she comes to her senses.
So there you have it. Unfortunately, I borrowed the book. So my picture will be of how this person was conjured in my head. He may not have the specific characteristics of the actual character.
My book boyfriend Akiva.



 
View all my reviews

*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.

3 comments:

  1. I had the opposite reaction you had - I loved the part where she was going to class, bargaining for teeth and the introduction into her strange world, and was really bored with the book when it started to delve into the past - at this point, I also put it down and took awhile to get back to it. Not quite sure if I want to continue with the series or not...I'm looking forward to seeing what you think of her next one!

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    Replies
    1. I'm not gun hoe about moving forward, but I guess I will read it eventually.

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