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alicebme's review against another edition
4.0
Snail Mail Book Club #2! Heavy. Dark. Too scary to bring camping. Moved by Liraz's growth.
janagaton's review against another edition
3.0
this was so difficult to focus on & it's honestly such a me problem but i think we can all agree that the first one is superior. i really hope this series ends well, and i can't wait to read the novella because zuzana and mik are still my favorite of all time
alialu's review against another edition
5.0
2023 reread:
YA'd me all you want, but this is EXQUISIT. I remembered only scraps of it, and it was fantastic for a reread. Love its characters. Love the plot. Love the angst, because it feels real.
Love, love love Love.
Let's get a little bit more into it.
I think at this point I have to claim that Laini might me my favourite writer. The ambiences she creates have no paragon for me.
This book is easy to read. Putting aside the few "reversed time" chapters, that could be a bit confusing (but that I loved, it made it so interesting), it can be a fast an easy read. But every step of it is so filled with magic, witchlight (hmhm yes quoting Strange hmhm), pain, and HOPE. So much hope.
The romance is not central, even if it's the engine of everything that happened. Mik and Zuze are a ray of sunshine in a Castle of Monsters.
This is the book where everything gets built for the endgame. And it is awesomeeeee.
And for what I can remember the third one was even better?
Aaaaa.
Review on first read:
Awesomtistic.
My Gods, I don't know what it is with Laini. I don't know how it is that it is always while reading her books that I find myself with no time to read and take months to finish the book, but still, coming back at it even after weeks, after a single page I'm glued to the story for the little time I have.
Every damn part of her writing is worth it, and this second book was so much better than the first one in my opinion, DoS&B seemed only like the introduction to this marvel.
Can't wait to see what she does with the third one (also I am terrified)
YA'd me all you want, but this is EXQUISIT. I remembered only scraps of it, and it was fantastic for a reread. Love its characters. Love the plot. Love the angst, because it feels real.
Love, love love Love.
Let's get a little bit more into it.
I think at this point I have to claim that Laini might me my favourite writer. The ambiences she creates have no paragon for me.
This book is easy to read. Putting aside the few "reversed time" chapters, that could be a bit confusing (but that I loved, it made it so interesting), it can be a fast an easy read. But every step of it is so filled with magic, witchlight (hmhm yes quoting Strange hmhm), pain, and HOPE. So much hope.
The romance is not central, even if it's the engine of everything that happened. Mik and Zuze are a ray of sunshine in a Castle of Monsters.
This is the book where everything gets built for the endgame. And it is awesomeeeee.
And for what I can remember the third one was even better?
Aaaaa.
Review on first read:
Awesomtistic.
My Gods, I don't know what it is with Laini. I don't know how it is that it is always while reading her books that I find myself with no time to read and take months to finish the book, but still, coming back at it even after weeks, after a single page I'm glued to the story for the little time I have.
Every damn part of her writing is worth it, and this second book was so much better than the first one in my opinion, DoS&B seemed only like the introduction to this marvel.
Can't wait to see what she does with the third one (also I am terrified)
snakeboba's review against another edition
4.0
It basically took me a month to read this book simply because the first half does not have the magic Daughter of Smoke and Bone has until each piece of several different stories come together to allow it all to make sense.
nicjmorrow's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
brendalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Whew! I just finished this, and it might take me a minute to recover. This book absolutely gutted me.
But let's start at the beginning. I so wish I had either re-read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, or read a summary or something. Because I feel like it would have been so helpful to have remembered everything that happened in book one. I wouldn't have started off feeling so lost and not really into Days of Blood and Starlight.
But then I settled into the story, and I was caught up enough to be present in this story, and not lost. And I was blown away. I can't tell you how many times I cried. Or how many times I said aloud, to myself, "this is killing me". This book made me feel so much, and that is a sign of a really good book. I do not want to have to wait for the next book, but I think I will do myself a favor, and re-read at least this one when the next comes out. Laini Taylor is something special, for sure.
But let's start at the beginning. I so wish I had either re-read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, or read a summary or something. Because I feel like it would have been so helpful to have remembered everything that happened in book one. I wouldn't have started off feeling so lost and not really into Days of Blood and Starlight.
But then I settled into the story, and I was caught up enough to be present in this story, and not lost. And I was blown away. I can't tell you how many times I cried. Or how many times I said aloud, to myself, "this is killing me". This book made me feel so much, and that is a sign of a really good book. I do not want to have to wait for the next book, but I think I will do myself a favor, and re-read at least this one when the next comes out. Laini Taylor is something special, for sure.
solieri's review against another edition
3.0
This book started off very well, but then kinda went downhill for me. The story is pretty engaging, but Karou and Akiva just do not do it for me at all, and I struggled to get through Akiva's chapters at all. Akiva only seems to exist to fawn over Karou, and look out for what's best for her, and doesn't have much of a personality otherwise... which is a little strange in a series with otherwise pretty well built characters. Some of the flowery language bothered me again, as well, but I'm already two books in... hoping the third will blow me away.
saritaroth's review against another edition
5.0
Favorite Quote Of The Book - "It is grotesque to imagine that killing and mutilation and terror could ever deliver to us a life worth living. They will bring what they always have: more killing, more mutilation, more terror."
This book continues Karou's story. She has essentially been kidnapped by the chimaera army and is being forced to resurrect horrific monsters who will do battle against the angel army in the war. This is a very confusing time for Karou as she is in essence creating monsters who will be fighting against her one true love, Akiva, a member of the seraphim army. She is playing a hand in perpetuating his seemingly inevitable destruction.
At first, I was disappointed by the story. Akiva and Karou rarely appeared together in the same scenes. The author basically told the stories of them as individuals and what they were going through in their separate lives rather than what they were forced to endure as a couple. Then, with Akiva temporarily out of the picture and with the chimaera Ziri's appearance, I saw the potential for a new love interest on the horizon. I know the idea of star-crossed lovers may be appealing to some readers and I must admit it generally intrigues me as well. In this instance, however, Ziri's love for and devotion toward Karou is palpable and heart-wrenching and it keeps me riveted to the story. I do usually root for the underdog and, in this case, Ziri is the epitome of an underdog, considering Karou seems to have no interest in him and is still pining for Akiva. Not to mention that, if Karou and Ziri got together, there would be fewer obstacles keeping them apart, since they are both chimaera. (Well, Karou is chimaera-adjacent; her chimaera soul formerly known as Madrigal has been resurrected in Karou's human form . . . but close enough.) Now keep in mind I said "fewer obstacles"; there is still one big obstacle standing in the way of Ziri's and Karou's. I just don't want to spoil the ending for those of you interested in reading the book. And, despite the promising relationship between Ziri and Karou, the roadblocks in Karou's and Akiva's relationship do keep us reading after all. And that's what it's all about!
This book continues Karou's story. She has essentially been kidnapped by the chimaera army and is being forced to resurrect horrific monsters who will do battle against the angel army in the war. This is a very confusing time for Karou as she is in essence creating monsters who will be fighting against her one true love, Akiva, a member of the seraphim army. She is playing a hand in perpetuating his seemingly inevitable destruction.
At first, I was disappointed by the story. Akiva and Karou rarely appeared together in the same scenes. The author basically told the stories of them as individuals and what they were going through in their separate lives rather than what they were forced to endure as a couple. Then, with Akiva temporarily out of the picture and with the chimaera Ziri's appearance, I saw the potential for a new love interest on the horizon. I know the idea of star-crossed lovers may be appealing to some readers and I must admit it generally intrigues me as well. In this instance, however, Ziri's love for and devotion toward Karou is palpable and heart-wrenching and it keeps me riveted to the story. I do usually root for the underdog and, in this case, Ziri is the epitome of an underdog, considering Karou seems to have no interest in him and is still pining for Akiva. Not to mention that, if Karou and Ziri got together, there would be fewer obstacles keeping them apart, since they are both chimaera. (Well, Karou is chimaera-adjacent; her chimaera soul formerly known as Madrigal has been resurrected in Karou's human form . . . but close enough.) Now keep in mind I said "fewer obstacles"; there is still one big obstacle standing in the way of Ziri's and Karou's. I just don't want to spoil the ending for those of you interested in reading the book. And, despite the promising relationship between Ziri and Karou, the roadblocks in Karou's and Akiva's relationship do keep us reading after all. And that's what it's all about!
swampbooks's review against another edition
5.0
Karou and Akiva are here to remind you that in a relationship, COMMUNICATION is KEY.
I was worried that Akiva was gonna be a useless sack of sadness throughout this book after the finale of the first, but my boy really pulled through! He said I can be sad AND useful and I respect him for it, that isn’t easy.
The big scene between Thiago and Karou was... upsetting and uncomfortable. Reading through it was not fun but the end results I can live with.
I really feel for Karou’s inner turmoil and confusion through loving someone she hates but also hating someone she loves. Our girl is struggling and I just want her to be happy goddammit.
But I LOVE when she came to the conclusion of “fuck everyone, I can help myself through this” because that’s my daily thought process and it was just nice to read ok. Friendship is strength and yadda yadda yadda but realizing your own strength and believing in your own capabilities just hits home for me. It’s a struggle that so many people go through and reading it was inspiring.
“Be your own place of safety”
Yes ma’am!
The entire book had humor sprinkled throughout it that made me genuinely laugh out loud without being overbearing, but the beginning of the epilogue REALLY got me. “I’ll do what you ask but I’m going to be petty about it” it basically all of humanity summed up and I’m glad to know that the habitants of Eretz also follow that code.
I was worried that Akiva was gonna be a useless sack of sadness throughout this book after the finale of the first, but my boy really pulled through! He said I can be sad AND useful and I respect him for it, that isn’t easy.
The big scene between Thiago and Karou was... upsetting and uncomfortable. Reading through it was not fun but the end results I can live with.
I really feel for Karou’s inner turmoil and confusion through loving someone she hates but also hating someone she loves. Our girl is struggling and I just want her to be happy goddammit.
But I LOVE when she came to the conclusion of “fuck everyone, I can help myself through this” because that’s my daily thought process and it was just nice to read ok. Friendship is strength and yadda yadda yadda but realizing your own strength and believing in your own capabilities just hits home for me. It’s a struggle that so many people go through and reading it was inspiring.
“Be your own place of safety”
Yes ma’am!
The entire book had humor sprinkled throughout it that made me genuinely laugh out loud without being overbearing, but the beginning of the epilogue REALLY got me. “I’ll do what you ask but I’m going to be petty about it” it basically all of humanity summed up and I’m glad to know that the habitants of Eretz also follow that code.
a_reader_obsessed's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not going to lie. This book hurt. A lot. Ever present are feelings of guilt, shame, longing, and grief. The suffering these characters go through? Unbelievable. I hurt most of all for Akiva and Ziri; at times I hated Karou. I can't say I liked reading this book but it definitely stirred more in me than the first. If you want to be tortured with a shit ton of angst, then this fits the bill. In not being a complete downer, there is also the pervasive theme of hope throughout and Zus and Mik definitely add light and humor when it's most needed.