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Daughter of Smoke and Bone
On sale
27th September 2011
Price: £49.99
Errand requiring immediate attention. Come.
The note was on vellum, pierced by the talons of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. ‘He never says please’, she sighed, but she gathered up her things.
When Brimstone called, she always came.
In general, Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand, she’s a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in ‘Elsewhere’, she has never understood Brimstone’s dark work – buying teeth from hunters and murderers – nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn’t whole.
Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought.
The note was on vellum, pierced by the talons of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. ‘He never says please’, she sighed, but she gathered up her things.
When Brimstone called, she always came.
In general, Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand, she’s a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in ‘Elsewhere’, she has never understood Brimstone’s dark work – buying teeth from hunters and murderers – nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn’t whole.
Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought.
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Reviews
A mesmerising novel on an epic scale.
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is that rare beast: a novel that takes the familiar and makes it appear startling and new. Taylor has embraced the mythology of angels and reworked it in an extraordinary form, so that by the end of this lyrical, haunting book, I wanted to believe in the existence of these violent, tormented beings. I can hardly wait for the next installment.
Laini Taylor's imagination is vivid.
A beautifully written novel, reminiscent of Neil Gaiman . . . It is a wonderfully realised world, with fantastic but completely believable characters . . . It is sure to be a huge, and deserved, success.
This fantastical novel is Twilight with a twist.
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is a magical and engrossing book that is still going through my mind days later. Laini Taylor has created something different and exciting and I predict that it's going to be HUGE. It certainly deserves to be. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is easily the best book I've read all year and I'm sure it will remain a favourite for years to come.
The writing in this book is exceptional. The language is evocative and beautifully done. The scenes are gorgeously realised . . . I was swept away by DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE. It was compelling, addictive and utterly superb. I expect nothing in your diaries on the 29th September, except to buy a copy of this book.
I absolutely adored every second of it!
The world created in this book is so uniquely strange and, whilst uncomparable, if I were to compare it I would point at Phillip Pullman's Dark Materials . . . Definitely one of the best books I have read this year . . . keeps you hooked from page one.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a wonderful read and beautifully written . . . I look forward to more.
Laini Taylor has created a world of magic and wonder, and I was so absorbed in it I almost felt as if I had fallen through the pages . . . Compelling - I could not put the book down . . . Daughter of Smoke and Bone . . . is a book that everyone needs to read. Pre-order it, borrow it, beg for it, whatever. Just read this book.
The big question is: does it live up to the hype? I can now tell you with absolute certainty that it does, in fact it may even have exceeded my expectations! I don't even know how I will begin to do this book justice here in my review, but if I could sum this book up in one word it would be: magical. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the book you will feel like you've waited your whole life for, it's the kind of book you want every book to be like, and once you've read it you know that nothing else could possibly compare. It's been a long time since I've loved a book so much that I've savoured every word and read it as slowly as I possibly could, fighting against my need to find out what happens next.
I have fallen in love - with a book! With this book specifically. I have had a look at some of the notes I had written while I was reading. They are: Elegant. Beautifully written. I love this book! After that there were no more notes because this book demands your full attention... The story is such that I want to experience it again with no foreknowledge, to have that sense of wonder and delight as my eyes devour each page . . . Once you have picked up a copy of Daughter of Smoke and Bone you will find it very hard to put down but remember to hurry because the doors to elsewhere are closing!
Captures the imagination, more so than any supernatural novel I've read in a long time.
'So imaginative and original... fantastically spooky and dark.'
'Constantly confounds your expectations.'
'Fantastical, creepy, inventive.'
'Reminds me of Pan's Labyrinth.'
'I'm keenly awaiting the next installment.'
Brillant. Read it if you enjoy superlative prose, complex characters, surprising plots and fantasy that raises the bar.
An epic romantic fantasy about destiny, hope and the search for one's true self. Taylor's greatest strength lies in her ability to seize the often ordinary nature of human experience.
Thrillingly fresh and new. The smartly plotted, surprising, and fiercely compelling read will hook you from its opening pages. (Seriously, cancel all plans once you begin; you won't want to put it down.)
It's the first in a trilogy and I can't wait for the next instalment.
This fabulous fantasy tale is dressed up in several layers; at first you think its one type of story, then as you peel off another layer something totally different and even more amazing is revealed. Taylor has created a highly engaging twist on the eternal war between good and evil while leading you to question your perception of what is good or evil.
You'll be mesmirised by the twists and turns of the first in this new trilogy.
A mesmerising read
The world-building descriptions and language stop your heart and then, like a defibrillator, start it up again.
You don't want this book to end . . . it's cancelling-weekend-plans, stay-up-all-night addictive.
For once the frenzy over a teen novel is justified. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor is one of those books that blots out reality, so consumed do you become in its fantasy world of chimeras and angels . . . inevitably there is an epic romance but Taylor is a talented writer; this is aeons apart from the usual angels and werewolves dross.
Laini Taylor's imagination is vivid
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is a magical and engrossing book that is still going through my mind days later. Laini Taylor has created something different and exciting and I predict that it's going to be HUGE. It certainly deserves to be. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is easily the best book I've read all year and I'm sure it will remain a favourite for years to come.
I absolutely adored every second of it!
Laini Taylor has created a world of magic and wonder, and I was so absorbed in it I almost felt as if I had fallen through the pages . . . Compelling - I could not put the book down . . . Daughter of Smoke and Bone . . . is a book that everyone needs to read. Pre-order it, borrow it, beg for it, whatever. Just read this book.
Captures the imagination, more so than any supernatural novel I've read in a long time.
The big question is: does it live up to the hype? I can now tell you with absolute certainty that it does, in fact it may even have exceeded my expectations! I don't even know how I will begin to do this book justice here in my review, but if I could sum this book up in one word it would be: magical. Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the book you will feel like you've waited your whole life for, it's the kind of book you want every book to be like, and once you've read it you know that nothing else could possibly compare. It's been a long time since I've loved a book so much that I've savoured every word and read it as slowly as I possibly could, fighting against my need to find out what happens next.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a wonderful combination of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, with an amazing heroine and unique secondary characters. A new and refreshingly original world - a fantastic beginning to a new trilogy. I will definitely be continuing this series and wait with bated breath for the next instalment... A uniquely drawn novel, rich and creative.
One word for you: Wow! Seriously. I thought this book sounded good when I read the blurb, but I never expected to find what I did within it's pages. And all I can say is wow!... It is epic. It's so much more than I imagined it could be. I am simply amazed at the imagination of Laini Taylor to come up with such a full and awe-inspiring world (worlds?) and story! It's just fantastic... I absolutely cannot recommend this book enough. I can't even fathom why anyone wouldn't like it. It's perfect. Bring on book two!
A mesmerising novel on an epic scale.
Sat up half the night reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Hooked.
Taylor has created an inventive and highly imaginative new addition to the crowded but popular market of young adult paranormal fiction.
This story has everything - there's passion, danger, friendship and anguish.
This fabulous fantasy tale is dressed up in several layers; at first you think its one type of story, then as you peel off another layer something totally different and even more amazing is revealed. Taylor has created a highly engaging twist on the eternal war between good and evil while leading you to question your perception of what is good or evil.
'Everything you've heard about
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE - it's all true. It's one of the best novels I've read this year... So what makes this story so magical? Well first of all, there's the writing - lyrical, yet hugely readable. And then there are the characters - creatures with animal aspects, angels with broken hearts, puppeteers - so vivid that you almost expect them to walk into the room. But most of all, there's Laini Taylor's imagination. She's taken old ingredients, swirled them together and created a novel that will linger in your mind days after you've finished the book. Sometimes I groan when authors spin out trilogies, but on this occasion I was ecstatic to find out there'll be sequels because it means Karou's worlds will continue to exist. All I can suggest is - read this book!'
If you're a loyal Twilight fan, this review comes with a warning - you might not like what I'm about to say. Don't get me wrong, Twilight is my guilty pleasure but - and this is where Team Jacob and Team Edward might both get a bit prickly - I've just found something better.... There are a number of reasons why this novel is so devourable. For starters, it's original... The novel is also beautifully written.... Finally, this book is a bit more grown up than Twilight. There's no will-they-or-won't-they storyline. The love in this book isn't fairytale, it's rough around the edges and it cuts.
Northern Lights and Pan's Labyrinth in one.
Trust us, it's brilliant
You don't want this book to end . . . it's cancelling-weekend-plans, stay-up-all-night addictive.
A masterful mix of reality and fantasy with cross-genre appeal. Exquisitely written and beautifully paced.
A beautifully written novel, reminiscent of Neil Gaiman . . . It is a wonderfully realised world, with fantastic but completely believable characters . . . It is sure to be a huge, and deserved, success.
The writing in this book is exceptional. The language is evocative and beautifully done. The scenes are gorgeously realised . . . I was swept away by DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE. It was compelling, addictive and utterly superb. I expect nothing in your diaries on the 29th September, except to buy a copy of this book.
Easily the best book I have read since I first picked up Harry Potter years ago . . . Laini Taylor's writing is phenomenal and even the most mundane of sentences felt magical.
I LOVED it so so much . . . it is going to be HUGE.
I LOVED it so so much . . . it is going to be HUGE.
The fantastic storytelling, amazing world building and original story is bound to captivate readers and have them begging for more, just like it did me.
This was such a treat, I cannot believe the amount of imagination a person must have to write this kind of story.
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is a wonderful read and beautifully written . . . I look forward to more.
Laini Taylor has created a world of magic and wonder, and I was so absorbed in it I almost felt as if I had fallen through the pages . . . Compelling - I could not put the book down . . . DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE . . . is a book that everyone needs to read. Pre-order it, borrow it, beg for it, whatever. Just read this book.
This story has everything: hideous, benevolent creatures, beautiful demons, self-righteous angels and complex loyalties. There's passion, danger, friendship and anguish... Karou's self-doubt and yearnings have universal appeal and the wild rumpus of her journey is among the best of this year's fantasy crop
Remarkable and beautifully written . . . The opening volume of a truly original trilogy.
Mesmerising.
Northern Lights and Pan's Labyrinth in one.
Trust us, it's brilliant
A masterful mix of reality and fantasy with cross-genre appeal. Exquisitely written and beautifully paced.
A beautifully written novel, reminiscent of Neil Gaiman . . . It is a wonderfully realised world, with fantastic but completely believable characters . . . It is sure to be a huge, and deserved, success.
The writing in this book is exceptional. The language is evocative and beautifully done. The scenes are gorgeously realised . . . I was swept away by DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE. It was compelling, addictive and utterly superb. I expect nothing in your diaries on the 29th September, except to buy a copy of this book.
The writing in this book is exceptional. The language is evocative and beautifully done. The scenes are gorgeously realised . . . I was swept away by DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE. It was compelling, addictive and utterly superb. I expect nothing in your diaries on the 29th September, except to buy a copy of this book.
The world created in this book is so uniquely strange and, whilst uncomparable, if I were to compare it I would point at Phillip Pullman's Dark Materials . . . Definitely one of the best books I have read this year . . . keeps you hooked from page one.
Easily the best book I have read since I first picked up Harry Potter years ago . . . Laini Taylor's writing is phenomenal and even the most mundane of sentences felt magical.
I LOVED it so so much . . . it is going to be HUGE.
I LOVED it so so much . . . it is going to be HUGE.
This was such a treat, I cannot believe the amount of imagination a person must have to write this kind of story.
Laini Taylor has created a world of magic and wonder, and I was so absorbed in it I almost felt as if I had fallen through the pages . . . Compelling - I could not put the book down . . . DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE . . . is a book that everyone needs to read. Pre-order it, borrow it, beg for it, whatever. Just read this book.
This story has everything: hideous, benevolent creatures, beautiful demons, self-righteous angels and complex loyalties. There's passion, danger, friendship and anguish... Karou's self-doubt and yearnings have universal appeal and the wild rumpus of her journey is among the best of this year's fantasy crop
Everything you've heard about Daughter of Smoke and Bone - it's all true. It's one of the best novels I've read this year . . . So what makes this story so magical? Well first of all, there's the writing - lyrical, yet hugely readable. And then there are the characters - creatures with animal aspects, angels with broken hearts, puppeteers - so vivid that you almost expect them to walk into the room. But most of all, there's Laini Taylor's imagination. She's taken old ingredients, swirled them together and created a novel that will linger in your mind days after you've finished the book. Sometimes I groan when authors spin out trilogies, but on this occasion I was ecstatic to find out there'll be sequels because it means Karou's worlds will continue to exist. All I can suggest is - read this book!
An epic romantic fantasy about destiny, hope and the search for one's true self. Taylor's greatest strength lies in her ability to seize the often ordinary nature of human experience.
'This enchanting story just captivated me and dragged me in - I believed every single vivid detail of the world it created, the writing unfolds the story at a steady pace which never once felt too slow or too fast, and an event in the middle shines the whole story in a very new light.
This all creates a beautifully written story full of twists - it would be impossible to not fall under its spell and I for one can't wait for book 2!'
Thrillingly fresh and new. The smartly plotted, surprising, and fiercely compelling read will hook you from its opening pages. (Seriously, cancel all plans once you begin; you won't want to put it down.)
You'll be mesmirised by the twists and turns of the first in this new trilogy.
For once the frenzy over a teen novel is justified. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE by Laini Taylor is one of those books that blots out reality, so consumed do you become in its fantasy world of chimeras and angels . . . inevitably there is an epic romance but Taylor is a talented writer; this is aeons apart from the usual angels and werewolves dross.
Laini Taylor's imagination is vivid
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is a magical and engrossing book that is still going through my mind days later. Laini Taylor has created something different and exciting and I predict that it's going to be HUGE. It certainly deserves to be. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is easily the best book I've read all year and I'm sure it will remain a favourite for years to come.
The world created in this book is so uniquely strange and, whilst uncomparable, if I were to compare it I would point at Phillip Pullman's Dark Materials . . . Definitely one of the best books I have read this year . . . keeps you hooked from page one.
I was smitten from page one. Reading this book is like falling through the rabbit hole alongside Alice into Wonderland.
Captures the imagination, more so than any supernatural novel I've read in a long time.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone will be on my list of top 12 books for 2011. It is beautiful, unusual, charming and has such a strong voice, I still think about it months after reading it for the first time. It's a keeper and a re-reader.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a wonderful combination of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, with an amazing heroine and unique secondary characters. A new and refreshingly original world - a fantastic beginning to a new trilogy. I will definitely be continuing this series and wait with bated breath for the next instalment... A uniquely drawn novel, rich and creative.
A mesmerising novel on an epic scale.
Sat up half the night reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Hooked.
Daughter of Smoke and Bones will leave you absolutely floored
Taylor has created an inventive and highly imaginative new addition to the crowded but popular market of young adult paranormal fiction.
This story has everything - there's passion, danger, friendship and anguish.
'Everything you've heard about
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE - it's all true. It's one of the best novels I've read this year... So what makes this story so magical? Well first of all, there's the writing - lyrical, yet hugely readable. And then there are the characters - creatures with animal aspects, angels with broken hearts, puppeteers - so vivid that you almost expect them to walk into the room. But most of all, there's Laini Taylor's imagination. She's taken old ingredients, swirled them together and created a novel that will linger in your mind days after you've finished the book. Sometimes I groan when authors spin out trilogies, but on this occasion I was ecstatic to find out there'll be sequels because it means Karou's worlds will continue to exist. All I can suggest is - read this book!'
If you're a loyal Twilight fan, this review comes with a warning - you might not like what I'm about to say. Don't get me wrong, Twilight is my guilty pleasure but - and this is where Team Jacob and Team Edward might both get a bit prickly - I've just found something better.... There are a number of reasons why this novel is so devourable. For starters, it's original... The novel is also beautifully written.... Finally, this book is a bit more grown up than Twilight. There's no will-they-or-won't-they storyline. The love in this book isn't fairytale, it's rough around the edges and it cuts.
This is fantasy of with a beautiful weirdness quite acceptable in two worlds elsewhere from the world of humans. A beautifully written book.
WOW. I wish I had written this book.
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is that rare beast: a novel that takes the familiar and makes it appear startling and new. Taylor has embraced the mythology of angels and reworked it in an extraordinary form, so that by the end of this lyrical, haunting book, I wanted to believe in the existence of these violent, tormented beings. I can hardly wait for the next installment.
Laini Taylor's imagination is vivid.
A beautifully written novel, reminiscent of Neil Gaiman . . . It is a wonderfully realised world, with fantastic but completely believable characters . . . It is sure to be a huge, and deserved, success.
This fantastical novel is Twilight with a twist.
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is a magical and engrossing book that is still going through my mind days later. Laini Taylor has created something different and exciting and I predict that it's going to be HUGE. It certainly deserves to be. DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is easily the best book I've read all year and I'm sure it will remain a favourite for years to come.
The world created in this book is so uniquely strange and, whilst uncomparable, if I were to compare it I would point at Phillip Pullman's Dark Materials . . . Definitely one of the best books I have read this year . . . keeps you hooked from page one.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a wonderful read and beautifully written . . . I look forward to more.
I was smitten from page one. Reading this book is like falling through the rabbit hole alongside Alice into Wonderland.
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is a wonderful read and beautifully written . . . I look forward to more.
I have fallen in love - with a book! With this book specifically. I have had a look at some of the notes I had written while I was reading. They are: Elegant. Beautifully written. I love this book! After that there were no more notes because this book demands your full attention... The story is such that I want to experience it again with no foreknowledge, to have that sense of wonder and delight as my eyes devour each page . . . Once you have picked up a copy of Daughter of Smoke and Bone you will find it very hard to put down but remember to hurry because the doors to elsewhere are closing!
Captures the imagination, more so than any supernatural novel I've read in a long time.
'So imaginative and original... fantastically spooky and dark.'
'Constantly confounds your expectations.'
'Fantastical, creepy, inventive.'
'Reminds me of Pan's Labyrinth.'
'I'm keenly awaiting the next installment.'
Brillant. Read it if you enjoy superlative prose, complex characters, surprising plots and fantasy that raises the bar.
It's the first in a trilogy and I can't wait for the next instalment.
This is fantasy of with a beautiful weirdness quite acceptable in two worlds elsewhere from the world of humans. A beautifully written book.
If you have always loved Narnia or The Golden Compass, this magical novel is for you.
You don't want this book to end . . . it's cancelling-weekend-plans, stay-up-all-night addictive.
Big things are expected of this, the first in a new fantasy trilogy, and we can see why . . . Imaginative and sexy, we couldn't put this down.
Big things are expected of this, the first in a new fantasy trilogy, and we can see why... Imaginative and sexy, we couldn't put this down.
Northern Lights and Pan's Labyrinth in one.
Easily the best book I have read since I first picked up Harry Potter years ago . . . Laini Taylor's writing is phenomenal and even the most mundane of sentences felt magical.
'I was smitten from page one. Reading this book is like falling through the rabbit hole alongside Alice into Wonderland.
'This was such a treat, I cannot believe the amount of imagination a person must have to write this kind of story.
A masterful mix of reality and fantasy with cross-genre appeal. Exquisitely written and beautifully paced.
It's the first in a trilogy and I can't wait for the next instalment.
A beautifully written, compellingly powerful novel, one which draws you from page to page, chapter to chapter, with action and mystery and magic. Highly recommended.
One word for you: Wow! Seriously. I thought this book sounded good when I read the blurb, but I never expected to find what I did within it's pages. And all I can say is wow!... It is epic. It's so much more than I imagined it could be. I am simply amazed at the imagination of Laini Taylor to come up with such a full and awe-inspiring world (worlds?) and story! It's just fantastic... I absolutely cannot recommend this book enough. I can't even fathom why anyone wouldn't like it. It's perfect. Bring on book two!
This is a beautifully written book and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Utterly fantastic!
A fantasy novel in which blue-haired artist Karou lives in Prague . . . but between two worlds.
For once the frenzy over a teen novel is justified. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is one of those books that blots out reality, so consumed do you become in its fantasy world of chimeras and angels . . . inevitably there is an epic romance but Taylor is a talented writer; this is aeons apart from the usual angels and werewolves dross.
'Daughter of Smoke and Bone hooked me right from the start and I was soon invested in Karou's life. She's a brilliant, layered character with a lot to say, and I loved her... [Laini Taylor's] lovely, descriptive writing makes this book stand out in a crowded market and her characterisation is pretty much faultless . . . I absolutely loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone... I can't wait for the sequel in 2012 . . . It's got a permanent place on my shelf and I hope it will have one on yours!'
Is it worth all the praise? I should say so! . . . Wonderfully rich and vibrant, and was a joy to step into each time I picked the book up to read a bit more... It was also packed full of wonderful characters, even the secondary and minor characters were a joy to meet and learn a little about . . . I'll be picking up the sequel just as soon as I can!
What's not to love about a blue haired teen, who was raised by mysterious creatures, goes to art school in Prague, has a fitting sense of revenge and longs to fly?Poetic and enthralling - I resented having to go out mid-story.
'This enchanting story just captivated me and dragged me in - I believed every single vivid detail of the world it created, the writing unfolds the story at a steady pace which never once felt too slow or too fast, and an event in the middle shines the whole story in a very new light.
This all creates a beautifully written story full of twists - it would be impossible to not fall under its spell and I for one can't wait for book 2!'
Laini Taylor has created an incredibly rich and satisfying world, and woven within it a compelling tale.
Is it worth all the praise? I should say so! ... Wonderfully rich and vibrant, and was a joy to step into each time I picked the book up to read a bit more... It was also packed full of wonderful characters, even the secondary and minor characters were a joy to meet and learn a little about.... I'll be picking up the sequel just as soon as I can!
This mystical story of a girl travelling the world to carry out errands is now being made into a major film.
A mesmerising novel on an epic scale.
Everything you've heard about Daughter of Smoke and Bone - it's all true. It's one of the best novels I've read this year . . . So what makes this story so magical? Well first of all, there's the writing - lyrical, yet hugely readable. And then there are the characters - creatures with animal aspects, angels with broken hearts, puppeteers - so vivid that you almost expect them to walk into the room. But most of all, there's Laini Taylor's imagination. She's taken old ingredients, swirled them together and created a novel that will linger in your mind days after you've finished the book. Sometimes I groan when authors spin out trilogies, but on this occasion I was ecstatic to find out there'll be sequels because it means Karou's worlds will continue to exist. All I can suggest is - read this book!
If you have always loved Narnia or The Golden Compass, this magical novel is for you.
You don't want this book to end . . . it's cancelling-weekend-plans, stay-up-all-night addictive.
A beautifully written, compellingly powerful novel, one which draws you from page to page, chapter to chapter, with action and mystery and magic. Highly recommended.
Big things are expected of this, the first in a new fantasy trilogy, and we can see why . . . Imaginative and sexy, we couldn't put this down.
Big things are expected of this, the first in a new fantasy trilogy, and we can see why... Imaginative and sexy, we couldn't put this down.
Northern Lights and Pan's Labyrinth in one.
Easily the best book I have read since I first picked up Harry Potter years ago . . . Laini Taylor's writing is phenomenal and even the most mundane of sentences felt magical.
'I was smitten from page one. Reading this book is like falling through the rabbit hole alongside Alice into Wonderland.
'This was such a treat, I cannot believe the amount of imagination a person must have to write this kind of story.
The fantastic storytelling, amazing world building and original story is bound to captivate readers and have them begging for more, just like it did me.
A masterful mix of reality and fantasy with cross-genre appeal. Exquisitely written and beautifully paced.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone will be on my list of top 12 books for 2011. It is beautiful, unusual, charming and has such a strong voice, I still think about it months after reading it for the first time. It's a keeper and a re-reader.
It's the first in a trilogy and I can't wait for the next instalment.
This is a beautifully written book and I cannot recommend it highly enough.
Utterly fantastic!
A fantasy novel in which blue-haired artist Karou lives in Prague . . . but between two worlds.
For once the frenzy over a teen novel is justified. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is one of those books that blots out reality, so consumed do you become in its fantasy world of chimeras and angels . . . inevitably there is an epic romance but Taylor is a talented writer; this is aeons apart from the usual angels and werewolves dross.
Daughter of Smoke and Bones will leave you absolutely floored
'Daughter of Smoke and Bone hooked me right from the start and I was soon invested in Karou's life. She's a brilliant, layered character with a lot to say, and I loved her... [Laini Taylor's] lovely, descriptive writing makes this book stand out in a crowded market and her characterisation is pretty much faultless . . . I absolutely loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone... I can't wait for the sequel in 2012 . . . It's got a permanent place on my shelf and I hope it will have one on yours!'
Is it worth all the praise? I should say so! . . . Wonderfully rich and vibrant, and was a joy to step into each time I picked the book up to read a bit more... It was also packed full of wonderful characters, even the secondary and minor characters were a joy to meet and learn a little about . . . I'll be picking up the sequel just as soon as I can!
What's not to love about a blue haired teen, who was raised by mysterious creatures, goes to art school in Prague, has a fitting sense of revenge and longs to fly?Poetic and enthralling - I resented having to go out mid-story.
Laini Taylor has created an incredibly rich and satisfying world, and woven within it a compelling tale.
Is it worth all the praise? I should say so! ... Wonderfully rich and vibrant, and was a joy to step into each time I picked the book up to read a bit more... It was also packed full of wonderful characters, even the secondary and minor characters were a joy to meet and learn a little about.... I'll be picking up the sequel just as soon as I can!
This mystical story of a girl travelling the world to carry out errands is now being made into a major film.