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A review by the_library_of_mary
Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I had picked up the first book in this trilogy kind of on a whim. I had seen it recommended and it was available at my library at the time. Ever since, I have been digging the Angels vs Devils "Chimera" setting and this world separate but near the human one.
Karou is a narrator that you want to give a glass of cold water to and tell her to just Breatheeeee. Poor girl is so stressed out in this book and is constantly exhausted, being threatened, or in pain. Or all 3 at once! She is desperately trying to fit in with the Chimera and atone for her crimes but its really hard. They need her and her skills, but they don't want her to be a part of them again. It pulls my heartstrings.
Overall, this felt like a good setup book for the grand finale. Knowing that this is a trilogy ( and having the 3rd book already borrowed from the library) the cliffhanger felt good and dramatic. I'm eager to break into the next book and see how the series ends.
I have a new favorite character in Ziri, protect this boy at all costs. He's so sweet, and I'm kinda rooting for Karou and Ziri to end up together ( but i'm not confident that will happen).
Thiago..........it's on sight.
EDIT: I dropped down a star. I wrote this review right after finishing the book and then started the third one right after. After I thought about it, I realized that this book was...meh. It was a setup for the last book, giving just enough to interest you but then it couldn't hold it. I really want to like Karou as a character, and I DO!. But hearing her and yearn ( in a non sexy way) and lament about their forbidden love got really old. I'll give you a teeny tiny spoiler, that vibe continues into the next book. I'm at a point where the world itself and the events taking place are super interesting, but the romance aspect is getting annoying.
Thiago is such a DICK. For like a millisecond in the very beginning I really did think he was trying to help Karou and then every scene he was in he got worse and worse. Happy the dude is dead. Sad that Ziri is in his body though. Like that trauma for Karou is one of the main reasons why I don't think they will end up together. Also the fact that Akiva is literally standing right there.
Zuzana, what a little spazz. Love that girl. The chaotic loyalty is charming and brought some much needed lightness to the book.
With the book ending with the literal APOCALYPSE, I gotta see what happens. If there is any group you can turn into devoted soldiers its the catholic church.
Karou is a narrator that you want to give a glass of cold water to and tell her to just Breatheeeee. Poor girl is so stressed out in this book and is constantly exhausted, being threatened, or in pain. Or all 3 at once! She is desperately trying to fit in with the Chimera and atone for her crimes but its really hard. They need her and her skills, but they don't want her to be a part of them again. It pulls my heartstrings.
Overall, this felt like a good setup book for the grand finale. Knowing that this is a trilogy ( and having the 3rd book already borrowed from the library) the cliffhanger felt good and dramatic. I'm eager to break into the next book and see how the series ends.
I have a new favorite character in Ziri, protect this boy at all costs. He's so sweet, and I'm kinda rooting for Karou and Ziri to end up together ( but i'm not confident that will happen).
Thiago..........it's on sight.
EDIT: I dropped down a star. I wrote this review right after finishing the book and then started the third one right after. After I thought about it, I realized that this book was...meh. It was a setup for the last book, giving just enough to interest you but then it couldn't hold it. I really want to like Karou as a character, and I DO!. But hearing her and yearn ( in a non sexy way) and lament about their forbidden love got really old. I'll give you a teeny tiny spoiler, that vibe continues into the next book. I'm at a point where the world itself and the events taking place are super interesting, but the romance aspect is getting annoying.
Thiago is such a DICK. For like a millisecond in the very beginning I really did think he was trying to help Karou and then every scene he was in he got worse and worse. Happy the dude is dead. Sad that Ziri is in his body though. Like that trauma for Karou is one of the main reasons why I don't think they will end up together. Also the fact that Akiva is literally standing right there.
Zuzana, what a little spazz. Love that girl. The chaotic loyalty is charming and brought some much needed lightness to the book.
With the book ending with the literal APOCALYPSE, I gotta see what happens. If there is any group you can turn into devoted soldiers its the catholic church.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Violence, and War
Moderate: Sexual violence, Slavery, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence