Daughter of Smoke & Bone (Daughter of Smoke & Bone, #1) in Shut Up & Read

Sep 10, 2012 Carrie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1st-in-a-series, you-want-me-to-read-what, fantasy, young-adult, urban-fantasy, part-of-a-series, re-read, rrrc, demons, kickass-spirited-strong

Dec 13, 2018:
Just as good as the first time around.

I really liked this book, original and different. The second half dragged a little for me. But over all the story was great. REALLY looking forward to the next book.

Karou isn't a normal teenager, she is talent artist, speaks multiple languages and was raised by what we call "demons". She constantly feels like there is something missing and alone. Until she meets Akiva, a handsome yet deadly angel, a solider, and enemy. As the pieces fall into pl ...more

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Jul 11, 2015 a_tiffyfit rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: re-readable, 2015-reviewed, 2015-favorites

Everyone was raving about this book and the sequels a couple years ago and for some reason I never jumped on the bandwagon. I had been meaning to read this and for some reason I just kept ... NOT. Man, no wonder everyone raved about this book. I am so eager to jump to book two but didn't want to start it while at work because I know what would happen: I would continue reading throughout the day and not get any work done. And then I'd get fired which would result in no more book money.

I snapped ...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Marla rated it liked it

Shelves: girl-power, series, romance, young-adult, recommended-to-me, paranormal, fantasy, demons, angels, magic

3.5 stars. I wished that I could peruse Karou's sketchbooks so I could see pictures of Issy & Brimstone. I liked the world, but it was a slow read world building until the last 1/4.

Likes:
* Doors to other places
* Zuzana, Karou's human friend
* Great world building
* Great creatures
(view spoiler) ...more

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Oct 05, 2012 Angie Taylor rated it it was amazing

This book was pretty much awesome. I loved the world building throughout and the depth of love. I didn't love the very first part, with the art classes, and taint of crassness. But the writing was compelling and mysterious enough that I kept going. This story is a totally different approach to the idea of angels and demons among us. I really loved the characters and the intensity and feeling of emotions portrayed. It's a totaly fantasy book, so if fantasy isn't your thing, don't read it. But if ...more

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Oct 27, 2013 Sarah-Jayne Briggs rated it really liked it · review of another edition

(This review may contain spoilers).

I saw this book in one of my local supermarkets and purchased it for two reasons - firstly because it was cheap; secondly because it looked like it might be entertaining.

Both of those things turned out to be true, even though - I have to say - I think angels are getting really over-used in fiction. And particularly angel romances.

Karou was an interesting character and I liked her relationship with the chimera. They were entertaining and particularly likable as (This review may contain spoilers).

I saw this book in one of my local supermarkets and purchased it for two reasons - firstly because it was cheap; secondly because it looked like it might be entertaining.

Both of those things turned out to be true, even though - I have to say - I think angels are getting really over-used in fiction. And particularly angel romances.

Karou was an interesting character and I liked her relationship with the chimera. They were entertaining and particularly likable as characters as well.

The concept of the wishes was a really interesting one, as was the relationship between magic and pain. I suppose most people would willingly use magic if the cost came from people they didn't know or care about.

I was really hesitant about Akiva and Karou at first. I'm not a fan of love at first sight stories at all and although the characters were likable, I rolled my eyes a whole lot when the l-word started being bandied about. (In some ways, it made sense, with Akiva's upbringing, for him to fall for someone so quickly; but it didn't make sense from Karou's perspective). In many ways, when Karou's identity was revealed (I did see that coming), things did make more sense - but even then, the romantic feelings developed far too quickly to seem real enough.

I think my favourite character was probably Issa. I would have liked to see more of her and the other chimera. I would have also liked to see more of Akiva's brother and sister and his interactions with them.

I was kind of disappointed to, yet again, see God written as 'god'. Personal belief aside, it's still a name - and I doubt most writers would write a character's name with the first letter in lower case. In my opinion, it makes the writing look sloppy.

I liked the way the chimera and seraph viewed each other. I would be very interested in reading about their origins as two species and where humans fit into it all.

I would definitely be interested in reading the next book in this series - at some point, anyway. ...more

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Jan 09, 2013 Shanyn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorite-characters

This book starts out a little bit like it's central character. 17. Dithering and silly and a little irritating. But it grows up fast into a gorgeous tale of love and loss and hope.

Laini Taylor's dialogue is smart and sharp and her characters are relatable and honest.

I fell madly in love with the realm I was taken to several times throughout the book and was maddened by it as well.

Highly recommended... ...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Madhuri Pavamani rated it it was amazing

"Once upon a time an angel and a devil fell in love. It did not end well." Taylor's writing is rich and captivating; you cannot help but get sucked into the worlds of Karou and Akiva. Unfortunately, this also means you spend endless hours reading both books currently available in the trilogy and are forced to wait (an ungodly amount of time) for the conclusion. Please Laini, don't make me wait too long! ...more

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