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quippeThe Blurb On The Back:
There once was a young artist called Karou who drew tales of monster and demons that delighted and enthralled those around her.
But she has a secret, a secret that ties her to a dusty subterranean chamber, where her beloved guardian brokers dark deals in a place that is not here. A place that is Elsewhere.
Living with one foot in each world, Karou has never really known which one is her true home.
Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing …
Karou’s a student at the Art Lyceum of Bohemia in Prague where her drawings of monsters and demons earn her the admiration of others, including her best friend Zuzana. They think that Karou’s stories about the people she draws together with her stories of travelling around the world are harmless fantasies. But Karou’s stories are true. Raised by the ram-horned Brimstone in a place that is Elsewhere, Karou now runs errands for Brimstone, travelling through the doors that exist between the real world and Elsewhere to bring him the teeth that he needs for his work.
When an errand brings Karou into contact with Akiva, a beautiful winged man who ‘normal’ people can’t see, Karou discovers not only the truth about her past but also the nature of Brimstone’s work and why the teeth are so important. Karou’s discoveries may be too late, however, for the doors to Elsewhere are closing, cutting her off from the only people who can help her discover where she belongs …
Laini Taylor’s novel (the first in a YA trilogy) is a stunning work of fantasy, filled with sumptuous imagery and vivid description.
Karou is a spirited heroine. I admired the way Taylor depicts the tension that Karou’s secrets create within her and the impact they have on her relationships – particularly with Zuzana who cares about Karou but is tired of being excluded from her life. Karou’s frustration with Brimstone’s refusal to discuss his work, why he needs his teeth or to answer her questions about her own past is coupled with love, particularly evident in the scenes between Karou and snake-bodied Issa who mediates between them.
Although the book’s beautifully written and I liked the characters, there’s little actual plot. Instead the story’s predominantly set up, complete with a lengthy chunk of backstory dropped in right at the end. I didn’t so much mind the set-up as it’s well drawn and I believe there’ll be a pay-off in later books, but the backstory felt as if it was there to give weight to the romance between Akiva and Karou, but Akiva is too underdeveloped here for me to believe in him (little more than a beautiful man with a tragic past).
Notwithstanding the lack of plot, there’s enough good writing here for me to want to see where Taylor takes her characters next, not least because of the cracking cliff hanger ending.
The Verdict:
Laini Taylor’s novel, the first in a YA trilogy, is beautifully written and filled with vibrant description. However, there’s more set-up and backstory here than actual plot and I didn’t really believe in or care about the relationship between Karou and Akiva (recounted as it is in large chunks of expositional backstory). That said, the cliff-hanger ending coupled with the feeling that the set-up is going to lead to a great pay-off and the brilliant quality of the writing means that I’m very interested in reading on.
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE was released in the UK on 29th September 2011. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the ARC of this book.
There once was a young artist called Karou who drew tales of monster and demons that delighted and enthralled those around her.
But she has a secret, a secret that ties her to a dusty subterranean chamber, where her beloved guardian brokers dark deals in a place that is not here. A place that is Elsewhere.
Living with one foot in each world, Karou has never really known which one is her true home.
Karou’s a student at the Art Lyceum of Bohemia in Prague where her drawings of monsters and demons earn her the admiration of others, including her best friend Zuzana. They think that Karou’s stories about the people she draws together with her stories of travelling around the world are harmless fantasies. But Karou’s stories are true. Raised by the ram-horned Brimstone in a place that is Elsewhere, Karou now runs errands for Brimstone, travelling through the doors that exist between the real world and Elsewhere to bring him the teeth that he needs for his work.
When an errand brings Karou into contact with Akiva, a beautiful winged man who ‘normal’ people can’t see, Karou discovers not only the truth about her past but also the nature of Brimstone’s work and why the teeth are so important. Karou’s discoveries may be too late, however, for the doors to Elsewhere are closing, cutting her off from the only people who can help her discover where she belongs …
Laini Taylor’s novel (the first in a YA trilogy) is a stunning work of fantasy, filled with sumptuous imagery and vivid description.
Karou is a spirited heroine. I admired the way Taylor depicts the tension that Karou’s secrets create within her and the impact they have on her relationships – particularly with Zuzana who cares about Karou but is tired of being excluded from her life. Karou’s frustration with Brimstone’s refusal to discuss his work, why he needs his teeth or to answer her questions about her own past is coupled with love, particularly evident in the scenes between Karou and snake-bodied Issa who mediates between them.
Although the book’s beautifully written and I liked the characters, there’s little actual plot. Instead the story’s predominantly set up, complete with a lengthy chunk of backstory dropped in right at the end. I didn’t so much mind the set-up as it’s well drawn and I believe there’ll be a pay-off in later books, but the backstory felt as if it was there to give weight to the romance between Akiva and Karou, but Akiva is too underdeveloped here for me to believe in him (little more than a beautiful man with a tragic past).
Notwithstanding the lack of plot, there’s enough good writing here for me to want to see where Taylor takes her characters next, not least because of the cracking cliff hanger ending.
The Verdict:
Laini Taylor’s novel, the first in a YA trilogy, is beautifully written and filled with vibrant description. However, there’s more set-up and backstory here than actual plot and I didn’t really believe in or care about the relationship between Karou and Akiva (recounted as it is in large chunks of expositional backstory). That said, the cliff-hanger ending coupled with the feeling that the set-up is going to lead to a great pay-off and the brilliant quality of the writing means that I’m very interested in reading on.
DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE was released in the UK on 29th September 2011. Thanks to the Amazon Vine Programme for the ARC of this book.
