“Once Upon a Time, an Angel and a Devil Fell in Love.” (“Daughter of Smoke and Bone”)

Hello lovely book lovers! Today I finished “Daughter of Smoke and Bone” by Laini Taylor. It was quite the whirlwind so brace yourselves you’re in for a wild and romantic ride with this one. So take a seat and LET’S GET STARTED

How to explain this book… Okay so this series of novels (as far as I can tell there are three) centers around an 18-year-old girl named Karou who lives and goes to an art school in Prague. She’s established a very mysterious air about herself. Her best friend, Zuzana, knows the bare minimum about Karou. Karou’s developed a habit for telling the truth with a smirk to lead people to believe she’s lying. Like that her hair really does grow out the color blue. Or that the characters in her sketchbook are real creatures that exist in a different universe. There’s a lot more to this story  but I hope that’s enough to get you interested.

I was captivated by this story almost immediately. The author does a wonderful job of telling the reader things in pieces so while you’re reading almost the entire time you’re just like IDK WTF IS GOING ON BUT I LIKE IT. I found myself reading way more than I intended simply because I needed to know what happened next. I also liked that Laini uses terms and creatures I’m familiar with, like Seraph and Chimera, but adding to them and making them feel new. This whole world, whether it truly is or not, felt unique and new.

Another thing I thought the author did well was develop romance quickly. Typically authors are scolded for throwing characters together too quickly. I think it makes it seem inorganic. And although Karou and her love interest, Akiva, fell in love nearly at first sight it didn’t feel forced or wrong. Just like the characters I accepted that what they felt was true.

I’m so excited to get more into this story and see what happens with Karou and her Chimera family.

Oh sidenote I was wondering the whole time I was reading this why tf no one has ever talked about this book series??? At least not that I’ve seen. Like why did no one tell me!??