Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

The mind is a palace with room for many guests

Why I read this book

It's been a while since I liked a series this much, including the companion novella. While I was a bit sad to finish the trilogy I was also very eager to know what was going to happened with everyone.

What the book is about

This is a review for the third and last book in the series, so there might be some spoilers from the previous books. The book walks through the arrival of Jael to Earth portraying himself as a saviour angel. Meanwhile on Eretz the Chimera army is learning to work with the "misbegotten". Akiva and Karou are putting their own wishes on hold to save both worlds, but it would seem that there is an even bigger threat than Jael's expedition.

First impressions

The book opens with new and intriguing characters that made me want to read (listen) faster. Taylor's writing is, as always, involving and fast paced and Khristine Hvam is an amazing narrator giving everyone a voice perfectly toned for the story.

Final thoughts

Oh my, oh my, this was a hard read (chapter 29 was particularly hard to go through, you will see). So many things happening at the same time, which is normal during a war, and so I kept finding moments to sneak in a couple of minutes more of listening.

I've already said how much I liked the world building Taylor presented in this series; in this particular installment the mythology that brings all worlds together, including the Far Isles is beautiful and terrible at the same time. Terrible in a scary way I would like to clarify. Beautiful because the whole tissue weaved out of this mythology brings every character into a whole different perspective and left me wanting more at the end.

This is not a love series; sure there is love and the relationship between Zuz and Mik is just adorable, but the main thing carrying the story is the confrontation between Seraphs and Chimera. In this one, Taylor also adds the effect of human beliefs and fears to the "supernatural" and unknown.

The only problem I had with this book is that I wanted more of this story to read. I am very satisfied with how most of the stories were rounded up, but the thing is dearest reader, that there were A LOT of doors opened in this one.

I would recommend this series all over town!

Life is only a thread tethering soul to body 

Night of Cake & Puppets by Laini Taylor

Life doesn’t need magic to be magical. But a little bit sure doesn’t hurt

Why I read this book

Ever since I started reading the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy I've likes Zuzana. She is a fun character to read and to hear, since I am doing this series in Audio. So when I learn that there was a tiny novella dedicated to her I had to read it.

What the book is about

Taylor gives us in this book the story of Zuzana's and Mik's first date. With a bit of help from Karou and a lot of input from her own unique persona, Zuzana finally makes the first move and marvels Violin Boy with a wonderful night in Prague.

First impressions

Independent of the magic in this story, this is such a lovely first date. Two people that have liked each other all along, but cannot gather the guts to ask each other out finally getting the little push they needed.

Final thoughts

While the reason why I like Daughter of Smoke and Bone so much is because it doesn't revolve solely on a lovey dovey couple but mostly in effect difference and ignorance can affect everything, this novella was sweet without being sickeningly so.

It showed a side of Zuzana that was endearing without losing her strength, which happens so often, like you have to choose between one and the other. And Mik is adorable; the way he talks (Kevin Collins does a wonderful job impersonating him), the way he expresses himself, is absolutely charming. The fact that the story is told from both POVs is a plus, and when it finally merges it is…well, I don’t like to say perfect, but I guess for this two it was.

Listening to this novella, right before going through Dreams of Gods and Monsters gave me a whole new light for their relationship as well as the one between Karou and Zuzana. Almost 3 hours of delightful charm and sassiness.

I want to build spires in their minds and dance shadows through like marionettes, chased by whispers and hints of the unspeakable.

Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor

 

 

Death souls dream only off death. [...] Small dreams for small men; it is life that expands to fill worlds, life is your master or death is

Why I read this book?

This is the sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone, a book I really enjoyed last year. Thanks to a gift from Audible I was able to get this one right before finishing the first and continue the story of Karou and Akiva

What's the book about?

The book takes place mostly in Eretz, the world of the Chimaera and the Seraphim. After Karou has learnt that her family is dead she goes back here to find and join the rebel army and helps them in the only way she knows: taking Brimstone's place. On the other side of the story we have Akiva, trying to deal with guilt and emptiness while trying to explain his new point of view to his brother and sister.

First impressions

The first thing I have to say is Oh boy do I like Khristine Hvam as a narrator!.I have no problem whatsoever following the story and her different characters voices are spot on.

Now, as for the story, I liked the jump between characters so we could see the story from several POV; the story starts on a grim tone, which is just normal considering how the last book ended. The descriptions of new chimaera were exiting and the images of Eretz in my head were very nicely painted.

Final thoughts

I'm wondering if the third book is going to talk about more about the Far Isles and the Stelians. Since the world building was so interesting in this installment I can only imagine how this part of Eretz will be like.

I have to say I quite enjoyed this book. It was not love story oriented, we do not get to see a lot of interaction between the main characters at the beginning and this was a good thing, exploring cruder sides of both main characters and the interactions with their respective sides. You could feel the pain, both physical (sometimes a bit too much) and psychological that Karou feels while getting into her new life and you can start to understand both Hazael and Liraz.

Zuzana and Mik are my favorite couple in a long time. Not only because of her, being funny and witty, but their relationship is sweet and feels...real of some sorts, like how I remember my teenage relationships (minus the traveling without apparently any money problems, but ignore that) all adoring and all over each other. And they have sex! Most of the YA books I've read have people kissing and that's pretty much it. Is not like this is a romance YA novel, that is not the focus of the story obviously, but it is nice to see a YA couple enjoying their sexuality.

I have nothing but disgust for the characters of Joram and Jael, but I will not elaborate much on this point not to give away spoilers.

I think the fact that I like the most about this book and the series in particular is that although it has 2 main characters the story is not necessarily weaved solely around them. Showing side characters caught in the war gives a different perspective and it evolves into a book that touches war, politics slavery and racism in a heartfelt way. It is not a love story, albeit there is love between couples, friends, communities, but the story of two groups forced to remain at war by leaders that know nothing but war.

I am looking forward the third book and I will read the novella since, as I stated before, I am a Zuzana fan.

There is intimacy in pain. Anyone who has confronted it or suffered it knows how it 

 

 

 

 

 

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

It is a condition of monsters that they do not see themselves as such.

Why I read this book?

I got a very nice gift from Audible...a 10$ credit. This book turned out to be under that price and I've heard a lot of nice things for this series, so I figure let's give it a try!

What's the book about?

Set in Prague the story begins with Karou, a 17 year old artist that has a particular family...a family of chimeras. She knows about the world beyond, she believes in magic and she has seen some dark things in her life. But things are going to get weirder when she starts noticing hand shaped burnt marks in the portals that she uses to do her errands. What or who is doing this she doesn't know but this will change the way she sees herself from now on.

What about the characters?

I LOVED Zuzana as a side character, her humor, her expressions and her art was something I would love to see in real life. As for Karou, she had "typical" rebellious teenager attitudes which can be annoying at sometimes but it was compensated by her interactions with Brimstone and Zuzana, in general with the people she loves.

I liked the sense of being lost, so constant in Karou's attitude, even when she tried to hide it from her friends. I realize it is a weird think to like, but this made her more relatable to me, being a teenager is very easy to not be sure where you are going and why you are doing what you are doing, and in her particular case, the fact that half of her life takes place in a supernatural world makes that feeling even deeper.

Final thoughts

The first half of the book is romance free, which I actually liked; it lets you get to know the main character. You want to learn about her back story and about the world her family comes from.

The second part is set in the chimaera world, Eretz. This part was beautiful to imagine!. The creatures described and the whole world were incredible in my imagination. I cannot talk much about it without giving away spoilers, but I will tell you that I enjoyed the descriptions and settings a lot.

The end caught me a bit by surprise; I was so concentrated into the wrld building I honestly didn't see that turn of events coming. But luckily for me, I already downloaded the second book, ready to start on 2014! 

Khristine Hvam is an amazing narrator. The pace and tones were just perfect to each moment of the story, and I found her voices ideal for each character. Every time she talked as Razgut I got chill down my spine, that's how good she was.