Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
“Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well.”
The Basics
Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1)
Author: Laini Taylor
Published: 2012 (originally published 2011)
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company — Hachette Book Group
Pages: 418
Format: Paperback
Genres: Fiction — Fantasy, Urban fantasy, Paranormal, Young adult, Young adult fantasy, Fantasy romance, Paranormal romance
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Book Synopsis
From the blue hair that grows out of her head to her non-human, adoptive family, Karou has always been a bit of an enigma – even to herself. She has never known where she came from or who her family is. All she knows is that she was raised by Brimstone, a part-animal being, in his shop of wishes that is located in another realm and connected to this world through a series of magical portals. When scorched handprints begin appearing on the doors to these portals, a series of events begins to unfold that not only brings her face to face with a hauntingly familiar male angel but also ultimately, reveals her true identity.
My Review & Overall Thoughts
TLDR: A refreshingly original, riveting fantasy.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone has everything that a well-crafted fantasy should have: an intricate world, strong characters, a captivating story, and of course, a swoon-worthy romance. Reading this book was an experience, for while I read it, I felt transported to another realm. I was able to easily imagine myself within the story, because everything – from the species to the layout of the cities – was so well described that it felt real. I also loved all of the small details that were provided, such as the hierarchy of wishes (which how cool of a concept is that).
The characters, however, are the stars of the show. They are meticulously crafted, multi-dimensional, and perhaps most importantly, flawed. Karou, the book’s protagonist, is particularly well-penned, as she is given an intricate backstory and grows over the course of the story. The secondary characters, especially Brimstone and Zuzana, are equally laudable.
Complementing the characters is an imaginative, highly engrossing plot. I often found myself finishing a chapter, only to read another so that I could see what happened next. I particularly enjoyed the forbidden, star-crossed romance between Akiva and Karou. Initially, I thought that their feelings for one another were too strong too soon, but their dynamic made sense as I continued to read and learn more about both of their pasts. Another aspect of the story that I liked is how seemingly small details came to have significance later in the book. I love when an author does this, as it demonstrates complete mastery over the story. It shows that they fully thought through the story before setting pen to paper.
Taylor brings the story home with her masterful writing. The dialogue is wonderfully written, capturing a range of emotions. Moreover, the descriptions strike that perfect balance between being descriptive yet concise: people and places are brought to life without ever becoming bogged down in superfluous detail. There is also just enough mystery in the story that you do not truly know what will happen until the very end of the book. Even then, you are left on a bit of a cliffhanger. Lastly, although the majority of chapters are written from the point of view of Karou, a decent amount are from the perspective of Akiva, which is nice in that it allows you to gain insight into not only Karou’s but also Akiva’s mindset.
The not so good
If I had read Daughter of Smoke and Bone shortly after it had been published, I might have been annoyed by its cliffhanger ending, as I would have had to wait an indeterminate amount of time for its sequel. Fortunately for me, I didn’t, and I can start reading the sequel now.
Overall
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is my favorite type of book: escapist. While I read it, I momentarily left the monotony of my daily life behind and journeyed to another world filled with magic and intrigue. All in all, it is a wonderful book, and I look forward to starting the next one in the series.
Have you read Daughter of Smoke and Bone? If so, let me know what you thought of it in the comments section below!
