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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
4.5. Bloody stunning. Damn beautiful prose, unique worlds, seductively dark romance. I am going to have to revisit Daughter of Smoke and Bone.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I think I enjoyed this book almost equally for the freshness of it's formatting as much as the writing itself. This is a trio of stories; none connected except for the conceit of a kiss being a changing point in the characters' lives.
Each story is prefaced with dialogue-less graphic novel type depictions of an important backstory for the characters before the narrative begins.
I loved trying to guess what the graphic novel parts meant, and then going back and looking at them with new understanding after reading the stories.
The first story is the weakest, in my opinion, of the three. However, it contains the snappiest dialogue (high school girl funnies) and most enthralling (to my taste) characters. It's a modern day high school girl with a strange family who enounters a dangerous new boy at school. While the characters were compelling, the kiss and the ending were entirely unsatisfactory.
The second story is set in India. While I enjoyed the story of a girl cursed to kill everyone within hearing if she speaks, the characters themselves did not come as alive as the first story for me. The kiss and the ending, however, felt more complete and less rushed.
The third story was the most interesting for mein terms of world-building. Again, set in modern times, it features a races of shape-shifting immortals called the druj who steal human children. The characters all have depth, the druj are a fresh approach to this immortals trope, and the ending is satisying. I almost wished for this particular story to go on further into full length novel.
All in all a very good read.
Each story is prefaced with dialogue-less graphic novel type depictions of an important backstory for the characters before the narrative begins.
I loved trying to guess what the graphic novel parts meant, and then going back and looking at them with new understanding after reading the stories.
The first story is the weakest, in my opinion, of the three. However, it contains the snappiest dialogue (high school girl funnies) and most enthralling (to my taste) characters. It's a modern day high school girl with a strange family who enounters a dangerous new boy at school. While the characters were compelling, the kiss and the ending were entirely unsatisfactory.
The second story is set in India. While I enjoyed the story of a girl cursed to kill everyone within hearing if she speaks, the characters themselves did not come as alive as the first story for me. The kiss and the ending, however, felt more complete and less rushed.
The third story was the most interesting for mein terms of world-building. Again, set in modern times, it features a races of shape-shifting immortals called the druj who steal human children. The characters all have depth, the druj are a fresh approach to this immortals trope, and the ending is satisying. I almost wished for this particular story to go on further into full length novel.
All in all a very good read.
I'm sorry to say I didn't like this one nearly as well as the Dreamdark series. But, to be honest, I'm not and probably never will be a fan of short stories. And this was no exception.
I love Laini Taylor's writing. It's so imaginative, and you can really feel the depth and beauty of it. I even liked the ideas for these stories. I just felt like they were build-ups for real stories (novels) and left me feeling a little unsatisfied. The third story in particular felt like a lot of world building, especially for a short story.
This is not to say that I wouldn't recommend this book. If you like short stories, these are wonderful. It's like reading fairy tales like they're meant to be (not the Disney versions): dark, scary, not entirely happily-ever-after. I'm just not a short story person, no matter how much I love the writer.
I love Laini Taylor's writing. It's so imaginative, and you can really feel the depth and beauty of it. I even liked the ideas for these stories. I just felt like they were build-ups for real stories (novels) and left me feeling a little unsatisfied. The third story in particular felt like a lot of world building, especially for a short story.
This is not to say that I wouldn't recommend this book. If you like short stories, these are wonderful. It's like reading fairy tales like they're meant to be (not the Disney versions): dark, scary, not entirely happily-ever-after. I'm just not a short story person, no matter how much I love the writer.
I liked that this was a collection of three completely different fantasy stories. The first two were very well done and the third although not my favorite was still a worthy read.
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Laini Taylor's writing should be studied in schools.
Goblin Fruit: 3 stars
Spicy Little Curses: 3 stars
Hatchling: 3 stars
Spicy Little Curses: 3 stars
Hatchling: 3 stars
WOW!!!! This was the only Laini Taylor book I hadnt read yet and omg it is a new fave!
This is a short story collection of 3 stories featuring the lure of monsters.
One story is about fitting in, and the deliciousness of forbidden goblin fruit.
One story is about the devil bitch an adversary for the humans who trades and bargains for our souls and ends up cursing one girl with the voice of death.
One story is about the soulless fae, unable to experience human live, emotions and touch. Where an ice queen rules and one human girl might be possessed.
If you love demon lore and the beauty of monsters. If you are obsessed with Laini's writing style as I am. And cannot get enough of her husband's art then you will eat up this delicious book like the forbidden fruit it is.
This is a short story collection of 3 stories featuring the lure of monsters.
One story is about fitting in, and the deliciousness of forbidden goblin fruit.
One story is about the devil bitch an adversary for the humans who trades and bargains for our souls and ends up cursing one girl with the voice of death.
One story is about the soulless fae, unable to experience human live, emotions and touch. Where an ice queen rules and one human girl might be possessed.
If you love demon lore and the beauty of monsters. If you are obsessed with Laini's writing style as I am. And cannot get enough of her husband's art then you will eat up this delicious book like the forbidden fruit it is.