Days of Blood & Starlight
(Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2)
by Laini Taylor
ebook, 420 pages
Published November 6th 2012
by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Thoughts:
What can I say? Laini Taylor is truly a master of words and storytelling. I know some readers are disappointed that Karou and Akiva's romance has suffered and that they are both on their separate ways, but what do you expect from a story based on Romeo and Juliet? Happily ever after?
Karou and Akiva are torn by guilt since the Seraphims have succeded in decimating the Chimaeras. Now, a few of the chimaeras are on the run and the unfortunate ones are either taken as slaves or slaughtered. All of Karou's adopted family are now dead and she is desperately taking over Brimstone's duty of resurrecting the dead while hiding out in a kasbah in Morrocco. At the same time, her best friend Zuzana and her boyfriend Mik are still trying to grasp the truth behind Karou's existence and sudden dissapearrance. The human world is now aware that there are angels and demons in their midst and much of that discovery is attributed to the events in first book.
The story also took a darker turn as the horrors of war between the Seraphims and the Chimaeras are put to light. Akiva and his bethren angels Liraz and Hazael are becoming weary of being the Emperor's weapon while Karou is worried for her safety since the chimaeras that she had resurrected are hostile towards her and obediently following Thiago's every order to exact vengeance on the Seraphims.
Only Zuzana and Mik added some comic relief to the whole story as they trek to Morocco to locate Karou and stumbled upon a sand castle filled with all kinds of demons. Several new characters are also introduced to the readers and we finally get a deeper understanding on Akiva's background as a bastard son of the Emperor.All in all, the frenetic pace of the story definitely kept me up all night and I just can't wait for the next book. Seriously, this is certainly THE book to read this year. The myriad of characters, awesome world building and engaging plotline reminded me of The Lord of the Rings. Fans of fantasies definitely cannot miss this amazing series.
Verdict: 5 stars.
Available on: Amazon
Summary from Goodreads:
Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.
This is not that world.
Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is--and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.
In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.
While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.
But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?
Thoughts:
What can I say? Laini Taylor is truly a master of words and storytelling. I know some readers are disappointed that Karou and Akiva's romance has suffered and that they are both on their separate ways, but what do you expect from a story based on Romeo and Juliet? Happily ever after?
Karou and Akiva are torn by guilt since the Seraphims have succeded in decimating the Chimaeras. Now, a few of the chimaeras are on the run and the unfortunate ones are either taken as slaves or slaughtered. All of Karou's adopted family are now dead and she is desperately taking over Brimstone's duty of resurrecting the dead while hiding out in a kasbah in Morrocco. At the same time, her best friend Zuzana and her boyfriend Mik are still trying to grasp the truth behind Karou's existence and sudden dissapearrance. The human world is now aware that there are angels and demons in their midst and much of that discovery is attributed to the events in first book.
The story also took a darker turn as the horrors of war between the Seraphims and the Chimaeras are put to light. Akiva and his bethren angels Liraz and Hazael are becoming weary of being the Emperor's weapon while Karou is worried for her safety since the chimaeras that she had resurrected are hostile towards her and obediently following Thiago's every order to exact vengeance on the Seraphims.
Only Zuzana and Mik added some comic relief to the whole story as they trek to Morocco to locate Karou and stumbled upon a sand castle filled with all kinds of demons. Several new characters are also introduced to the readers and we finally get a deeper understanding on Akiva's background as a bastard son of the Emperor.All in all, the frenetic pace of the story definitely kept me up all night and I just can't wait for the next book. Seriously, this is certainly THE book to read this year. The myriad of characters, awesome world building and engaging plotline reminded me of The Lord of the Rings. Fans of fantasies definitely cannot miss this amazing series.
Verdict: 5 stars.
Available on: Amazon
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