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stuckinafictionaluniverse's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Minor spoilers for the first book, but nothing big.
I wouldn’t say this book suffers from second book curse, but rather falls under the category ’’It’s not you, it’s me’’.
This sequel will surely take some hesitant readers by surprise, make hardcore fans even more dedicated
and leave others, like me, disappointed.
Where Daughter of smoke and bone was captivating and unlike any other fantasy book, Days of blood and starlight wasn't as entertaining or intriguingl, and left a lot to be desired.
The first book told a beautiful tale of mystery, magic and forbidden love, without crossing the line and making it cheesy or confusing. Sometimes I caught glimpses of this magic in Days of blood and starlight. Sadly they didn't last long, and the novel returned to have the feeling that there was something missing.
Most of my issues with the book purely have to do with my personal preferences. For an example; slow pacing doesn't bother me, as long as it keeps me interested and has some variety once in a while. It bothered me here, and it felt like it didn't add anything to the story.
One of Daughter of smoke and bone's best attributes include how the author mixed the real with the surreal into an effortless and balanced blend, making both of the worlds fascinating for different reasons.
A European setting is something way too rare in this genre and age group, and I loved every second spent in Prague. Same goes for the magical world, which had a slightly hazy and dreamy feel to it.
This sequel is nearly exclusively set in Eretz, a world at war where the struggle for power is constant. Brutal tricks are played, blood is spilled.
Reading about war and conflict is interesting in small doses, and if it's well done. Here the author does a good job at portraying the hatred and revenge boiling between the two sides. However, it completely took over the story, and this ended up feeling more like a filler-book to me; a chance to show the background of it all, but failing in developing the story further.
There was also a bit of an info-dump in the beginning, with all the new locations, characters and other supernatural things.
And there I was, longing back to the cobblestoned streets of Prague where things were so much less complicated.
It's silly, I must admit. Like a kid who doesn't want to grow up, stubbornly holding onto to their kindergarten years without realizing that they'll be gone before they know it.
I'm all for change, but was this really one for the better?
Is it possible to feel nostalgic over a book when you have the continuation in your hands? I say it is. *glares at [b:Insurgent|11735983|Insurgent (Divergent, #2)|Veronica Roth|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1325667729s/11735983.jpg|15524542] and [b:Allegiant|18710190|Allegiant (Divergent, #3)|Veronica Roth|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395582745s/18710190.jpg|15524549]*
Karou, oh dear Karou. I don’t know what I think of her. She is such a composed and resourceful heroine. Normally that would make her a favorite of mine, but she feels so cold and distant. The lovely writing keeps her from sounding robotic, and yet her character is just at the edge sometimes. We rarely ever see her perfect facade crack, and it creates a distance between the reader and the character. She is too smart, too flawless, too surreal.
The big question asked in the synopsis for the first book is, ''Who is she?''
Two books have passed, and I’m still not sure.
Several new characters are introduced in this book, and they were fairly interesting, although Ziri was the only one I grew attached to.
I wonder if I am immune to pretty angel boys, because Akiva hasn't managed to charm me yet. Just like with Karou, I find it hard to connect with him. He is a warmer character than Karou, but still feels out of reach.
I feel like I’m giving this book less credit than it deserves, so here’s the praise: It is enjoyable, and this series definitely stands out to me. If you haven't read the first installment, go do so immediately.
The last 100 pages of this are of better quality than the other 400, and made me feel as if I had missed out on something truly special. Was this really the sequel to my beloved gem, the one that made my love for fantasy and spectacular prose grow even more?
Nonetheless, miss Taylor’s writing remains one of the most beautiful ones I’ve had the chance to read, and she is master at storytelling. I hope the final installment will have more to offer, and am looking forward to reading it.
Final verdict:
One of my most anticipated reads of this year turned out to be a big disappointment that feels weak compared to the fantastic whirlwind of a book that was Daughter of smoke and bone. Despite its flaws, this is a good story. It just wasn't what I wished for.
Minor spoilers for the first book, but nothing big.
I wouldn’t say this book suffers from second book curse, but rather falls under the category ’’It’s not you, it’s me’’.
This sequel will surely take some hesitant readers by surprise, make hardcore fans even more dedicated
and leave others, like me, disappointed.
Where Daughter of smoke and bone was captivating and unlike any other fantasy book, Days of blood and starlight wasn't as entertaining or intriguingl, and left a lot to be desired.
The first book told a beautiful tale of mystery, magic and forbidden love, without crossing the line and making it cheesy or confusing. Sometimes I caught glimpses of this magic in Days of blood and starlight. Sadly they didn't last long, and the novel returned to have the feeling that there was something missing.
Most of my issues with the book purely have to do with my personal preferences. For an example; slow pacing doesn't bother me, as long as it keeps me interested and has some variety once in a while. It bothered me here, and it felt like it didn't add anything to the story.
One of Daughter of smoke and bone's best attributes include how the author mixed the real with the surreal into an effortless and balanced blend, making both of the worlds fascinating for different reasons.
A European setting is something way too rare in this genre and age group, and I loved every second spent in Prague. Same goes for the magical world, which had a slightly hazy and dreamy feel to it.
This sequel is nearly exclusively set in Eretz, a world at war where the struggle for power is constant. Brutal tricks are played, blood is spilled.
Reading about war and conflict is interesting in small doses, and if it's well done. Here the author does a good job at portraying the hatred and revenge boiling between the two sides. However, it completely took over the story, and this ended up feeling more like a filler-book to me; a chance to show the background of it all, but failing in developing the story further.
There was also a bit of an info-dump in the beginning, with all the new locations, characters and other supernatural things.
And there I was, longing back to the cobblestoned streets of Prague where things were so much less complicated.
It's silly, I must admit. Like a kid who doesn't want to grow up, stubbornly holding onto to their kindergarten years without realizing that they'll be gone before they know it.
I'm all for change, but was this really one for the better?
Is it possible to feel nostalgic over a book when you have the continuation in your hands? I say it is. *glares at [b:Insurgent|11735983|Insurgent (Divergent, #2)|Veronica Roth|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1325667729s/11735983.jpg|15524542] and [b:Allegiant|18710190|Allegiant (Divergent, #3)|Veronica Roth|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1395582745s/18710190.jpg|15524549]*
Karou, oh dear Karou. I don’t know what I think of her. She is such a composed and resourceful heroine. Normally that would make her a favorite of mine, but she feels so cold and distant. The lovely writing keeps her from sounding robotic, and yet her character is just at the edge sometimes. We rarely ever see her perfect facade crack, and it creates a distance between the reader and the character. She is too smart, too flawless, too surreal.
The big question asked in the synopsis for the first book is, ''Who is she?''
Two books have passed, and I’m still not sure.
Several new characters are introduced in this book, and they were fairly interesting, although Ziri was the only one I grew attached to.
I wonder if I am immune to pretty angel boys, because Akiva hasn't managed to charm me yet. Just like with Karou, I find it hard to connect with him. He is a warmer character than Karou, but still feels out of reach.
I feel like I’m giving this book less credit than it deserves, so here’s the praise: It is enjoyable, and this series definitely stands out to me. If you haven't read the first installment, go do so immediately.
The last 100 pages of this are of better quality than the other 400, and made me feel as if I had missed out on something truly special. Was this really the sequel to my beloved gem, the one that made my love for fantasy and spectacular prose grow even more?
Nonetheless, miss Taylor’s writing remains one of the most beautiful ones I’ve had the chance to read, and she is master at storytelling. I hope the final installment will have more to offer, and am looking forward to reading it.
Final verdict:
One of my most anticipated reads of this year turned out to be a big disappointment that feels weak compared to the fantastic whirlwind of a book that was Daughter of smoke and bone. Despite its flaws, this is a good story. It just wasn't what I wished for.
emilyb_chicago's review
3.0
Similar to the first, this ramped up slowly. I’ve continued to enjoy the world of angels and demons created here. The main romance is really well drawn and unlike so many crossed lovers, I understand why they aren’t just confessing their love.
suzyvee91's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
jordongmc's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the first book in this series but I had my issues with it. This one on the other hand was much much better in my opinion. It felt more grown up.
I cannot wait to read the final book in this series.
I cannot wait to read the final book in this series.
rebelliousflare's review against another edition
2.0
God this installment was all over the place. Laini Taylor can write, so why the fuck did she keep bouncing from flashbacks to present IN THE SAME CHAPTER????? I don't have much to add- I'll think on it and write more later- but holy fuck this was a mess. I don't care for Akiva like I did book 1 and I miss Kaoru's spunk/ stubbornness. She felt... whiny and dumb. Ziri has my entire heart though for sure
rachachisaur's review
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Zuzana and Mik are my favorite couple. They were so critical in adding some levity to an otherwise incredibly heavy book.
While most YA books tend to steer away from the absolute dreary awefulness of war in day to day life, this book really embraces the reality of having no good choices. I do wish Karou had kept the fire and strength that gave her life in the first book, as it would have carried through some of the slower parts a little better.
A lot of people dislike the distance between Akiva and Karou in this one, but I think it was really necessary in taking this story where it’s going.
Once again I absolutely love the author’s sentence-level work and voice, as well as the settings of the book.
While most YA books tend to steer away from the absolute dreary awefulness of war in day to day life, this book really embraces the reality of having no good choices. I do wish Karou had kept the fire and strength that gave her life in the first book, as it would have carried through some of the slower parts a little better.
A lot of people dislike the distance between Akiva and Karou in this one, but I think it was really necessary in taking this story where it’s going.
Once again I absolutely love the author’s sentence-level work and voice, as well as the settings of the book.
asreadbykat's review against another edition
4.0
True Rating: 3.75-4/5 Stars
Content/Trigger Warnings: Torture, Violence, Murder, Sexual Assault (not completed, not explicitly graphic but given enough detail), mentions of rape, suicide (not graphic), talk of/attempted genocide, discussions of war crimes
My Thoughts
"Mercy breeds mercy as slaughter breeds slaughter. We can't expect the world to be better than we make it."
I was cautious going into this sequel. I gave "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" 3.5 stars because while I enjoyed the first half of the book, I was less than impressed with the second half. I had been hoping that this book would give me more of what I wanted: Karou, her present world, and Zuzana. I'm happy to say that while this book definitely wasn't perfect, I definitely enjoyed it more than the first book.
In this book, Karou is trying to deal with the knowledge that the man her past self loved killed the family her current self had been raised by, and thousands of her kindred. Akiva, for his part, is dealing with his own guilt at his actions. Both of them are trying to figure out how to make things right, while dealing with their respective tyrants and traumas.
First off, this book isn't perfect. My least favorite aspect was how Karou acted. I wanted a Karou who was more action-oriented, who was scared but still willing to do what she thought was right. The girl we met at the beginning of the first book. What we got instead was a girl who was allowing herself to drown in undeserved guilt for actions she hadn't remembered in a long time, and didn't try too hard to stand up for herself or what she knew was right. She just moped. And said some things only to walk them back. She allowed others to dictate her actions, when in the beginning she held all the power. It was a wasted opportunity.
I was also SO SICK of the guilty pining. I didn't expect Karou and Akiva to be all "happy ever after", there is obviously a lot of guilt and trauma to work through. But it just never ended in this book. I literally almost shouted "FINALLY" when a certain character says something to Karou about it because I wanted her to actually think.
However, this was still a very interesting read. I really did enjoy seeing the world of Eretz and the Seraphim themselves fleshed out -even though this is very obviously a 2010s YA novel because the angels are evil and (most of) the "monsters" are good. It was also interesting to learn more about some of the different chimaera, how they don't get along together quite as well as we were led to believe (with there being some friction between predator and prey types), and learning of other kingdoms. The ruler of one particular kingdom mentioned has won my undying love and I REALLY hope we get to meet them in book 3.
I also appreciated how Taylor took the time to show how the war was affecting everyone. We don't just stay in Karou or Akiva's POVs, we also get some short excerpts from other characters on different sides of the war that add some depth. Taylor didn't shy away from the violence and trauma that comes with war, the way so many YA novels do, and it was nice to see even if it was difficult to read.
Speaking of difficult to read: I am not kidding when I mention a content warning for sexual assault. The scene covers about 1 page (front and back), and while I've read more detailed ones in fanfiction, it's still very difficult and disturbing, as it should be. But Taylor also takes care later to show the trauma this event can cause.
This book has its ups and downs, and it is definitely not an easy read simply because of the content, but it was infinitely better than the first one -and not least because I got to see a lot more of Zuzana, who is officially my queen.
Content/Trigger Warnings: Torture, Violence, Murder, Sexual Assault (not completed, not explicitly graphic but given enough detail), mentions of rape, suicide (not graphic), talk of/attempted genocide, discussions of war crimes
My Thoughts
"Mercy breeds mercy as slaughter breeds slaughter. We can't expect the world to be better than we make it."
I was cautious going into this sequel. I gave "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" 3.5 stars because while I enjoyed the first half of the book, I was less than impressed with the second half. I had been hoping that this book would give me more of what I wanted: Karou, her present world, and Zuzana. I'm happy to say that while this book definitely wasn't perfect, I definitely enjoyed it more than the first book.
In this book, Karou is trying to deal with the knowledge that the man her past self loved killed the family her current self had been raised by, and thousands of her kindred. Akiva, for his part, is dealing with his own guilt at his actions. Both of them are trying to figure out how to make things right, while dealing with their respective tyrants and traumas.
First off, this book isn't perfect. My least favorite aspect was how Karou acted. I wanted a Karou who was more action-oriented, who was scared but still willing to do what she thought was right. The girl we met at the beginning of the first book. What we got instead was a girl who was allowing herself to drown in undeserved guilt for actions she hadn't remembered in a long time, and didn't try too hard to stand up for herself or what she knew was right. She just moped. And said some things only to walk them back. She allowed others to dictate her actions, when in the beginning she held all the power. It was a wasted opportunity.
I was also SO SICK of the guilty pining. I didn't expect Karou and Akiva to be all "happy ever after", there is obviously a lot of guilt and trauma to work through. But it just never ended in this book. I literally almost shouted "FINALLY" when a certain character says something to Karou about it because I wanted her to actually think.
However, this was still a very interesting read. I really did enjoy seeing the world of Eretz and the Seraphim themselves fleshed out -even though this is very obviously a 2010s YA novel because the angels are evil and (most of) the "monsters" are good. It was also interesting to learn more about some of the different chimaera, how they don't get along together quite as well as we were led to believe (with there being some friction between predator and prey types), and learning of other kingdoms. The ruler of one particular kingdom mentioned has won my undying love and I REALLY hope we get to meet them in book 3.
I also appreciated how Taylor took the time to show how the war was affecting everyone. We don't just stay in Karou or Akiva's POVs, we also get some short excerpts from other characters on different sides of the war that add some depth. Taylor didn't shy away from the violence and trauma that comes with war, the way so many YA novels do, and it was nice to see even if it was difficult to read.
Speaking of difficult to read: I am not kidding when I mention a content warning for sexual assault. The scene covers about 1 page (front and back), and while I've read more detailed ones in fanfiction, it's still very difficult and disturbing, as it should be. But Taylor also takes care later to show the trauma this event can cause.
This book has its ups and downs, and it is definitely not an easy read simply because of the content, but it was infinitely better than the first one -and not least because I got to see a lot more of Zuzana, who is officially my queen.