Review: Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3) by Laini Taylor

In 2014 I discovered an amazing series. It began with Daughter of Smoke and Bone, which created an entirely unique world and intriguing story to with it. It was then followed by Days of Blood and Starlight, which managed to keep exactly the same tone, world and characters yet still advance the plot in new, exciting ways. Then comes Dreams of Gods and Monsters. Sigh. You'll see.

Plot summary: Common enemy, common cause. When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. 

It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves. But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ...something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world. 

What power can bruise the sky? From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theatre that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy. At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

I was desperate to read this book. I'd fallen completely in love with the first two books in the series and had high hopes for this installment. After all, it's usually the second book that disappoints readers in a series - the third, the finale, is usually a safe bet. Thus I allowed myself to get excited - I knew it would be good. 

It's not. It's actually pretty horrendous. I expect that it only seems so horrific to me because it's had to fall so far from my lofty expecations, but let's just say that it's landed with a hefty thud. 

The world has lost none of its power, however. Dreams of Gods and Monsters features the same detail and ingenuity that made its precessors so great. Even the story itself, for the majority of the novel, is interesting. There's action, tension, new twists... it's pretty great. Perhaps slightly too much wandering around, but only slightly.

However, a new set of people are introduced in Dreams of Gods and Monsters and play quite a large part in the story, but they're brought in far too late for such a big role and I just didn't care about them. Every time the narrative switched over, I got irritated and just wanted to go back to Karou. The story of the war and her dream for a better life was surely the point of the entire series and it seemed to get a little lost. 

At 95% of the way through, I loved where the story was going. There was a new twist that was absolutely fascinating and a perfect way to resolve the issues between the Seraphim and the Chimaera. I absolutely could not wait to see how it all worked in the next book, as it was just too much to deal with in the remaining 5%.

So I finished the book, googled the released date of the next book and... there isn't one. Just an announcement on Laini Taylor's blog about how happy she is to have finished a trilogy.

What? No. It's not finished. It just ends. Alright, so the war has been wrapped up, but a new storyline is introduced that's dark and interesting, but then it just... stops. I don't understand. It wasn't even necessary to introduce the new twist for the original story to be resolved, so why bother if you're not going to do anything with it? 

I know it sounds like I'm sat here going 'Waahhh, I wish there were more books!' but that's not it at all. I can't actually explain how much of the story is missing unless you've read the book and suffered through it for yourself.  It honestly reads like the author came up with all these great new ideas but then couldn't be bothered to explain or develop them, so just shrugged her shoulders, shoved them in anyhow and patted herself on the back for 'finishing' the series.

I put down this book genuinely upset - I'd invested a lot into these series but then I was completely let down. I had that tight 'denied' feeling in my stomach as it's just... not good. 

This book was:

• The Most Disappointing Book of 2014

 Read another review of Dreams of Gods and Monsters at Love is Not a Triangle.

Review: Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor

Well folks, I've done the unthinkable. I've actually caught up to my reviews. In August I was scrabbling to put together reviews from two months previous, but I've made a concerted effort throughout Autumn (helped in part by the lack of reading brought on by The Pickwick Papers) and now I have the luxury of writing about books that I can actually remember. Perish the thought. However, as it's December, you're likely to be subjected to the millions of second/third books of series I want to finish before New Year, but you can't have everything.

Plot summary: Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.
 
Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope. But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

Those of you who stalk me and my blog (and please stop sending photos of me sleeping) will remember the super-shock announcement that I loved the first book in this series, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, which I read on a whim despite not really being that interested. It was amazing - the world-building was great, the characters were likeable and the concept was completely unique. I was pretty much blown away.

Days of Blood and Starlight is more of the same. It absolutely does not suffer from Second Book Syndrome. You know the type... nothing really happens, there's a lot of walking about and usually a huge cliff-hanger at the end. I suppose it helps that this series shouldn't be marked down as YA at all and I have no idea why it is. There's rape, torture and violence in quite graphic detail - to the extent that I wouldn't want my young teenager reading it. Don't get me wrong; it's necessary to the plot but it's not exactly pleasant.

My point was that this book is completely necessary to the series, not a filler book shoved in to make money. You're thrown straight into the action and it just doesn't stop. No walking, no planning, no rambling. Just pure and wonderful story. I loved learning more about the revenant-creating process - how Karou uses the teeth and where they come from. It's something I've never seen done before in fiction and I could happily have sat there all day and learned more about it.

It's clever enough to retain what was great about the first book - the tone, the world, the mythology and the same characters, yet still advancing the plot in new and creative ways. Sequels so often alter what worked previously by introducing new people or a new plot point, but this feels more of an excellent advancement of Daughter of Smoke and Bone. 

The world is so immersive. I know I keep saying this but I've never seen anything like it. That story is real, damn it. You never struggle to remember who's who, or which race is fighting that other race. It just makes sense. Such a simple plot but so masterfully done.

I also really liked how there's almost no romance in this book. I don't object to a love story but I do prefer it to not take over the entire story, which does happen occasionally. In this book, it wasn't necessary or relevant... so it wasn't shoved in. ARGH I LOVE THIS BOOK. 

I think you get the idea. Daughter of Smoke and Bone didn't fall into the usual traps of a fantasy series and Days of Blood and Starlight doesn't have the stereotypical faults of a middle book. It's written well, the plot is unique and I don't want to stab the female main character. Seriously, why haven't you read this already? 

Read my review of Daughter of Smoke and Bone here. 

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

I admit to low expectations for Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I actually only ended up reading it because I was bookless in Sheffield and the library had nothing else that I even vaguely wanted to read, so I grudgingly picked it up... yeah, this book is actually pretty great.

WARNING for somewhat inappropriate language.

Plot summary: 'Errand requiring immediate attention. Come.'

The note was on vellum, pierced by the talons of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. 'He never says please', she sighed, but she gathered up her things.

When Brimstone called, she always came.

In general, Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand, she's a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in 'Elsewhere', she has never understood Brimstone's dark work - buying teeth from hunters and murderers - nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn't whole.

Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought.

It's obvious to me that what really makes Daughter of Smoke and Bone so great is the world-building. I was hooked before I'd even finished reading two pages just because I was desperate to know what the teeth were used for, how the chimaera came to exist and what those strange handprints were. It's clear than an awful lot of effort and planning went into creating this level of detail, as it was completely engrossing and somehow real. I actually wished the background story went on for longer before the action started, and that's something I never thought I'd say!

When the answers were finally revealed though... I was nearly blown away. It's clever and unique, to the point where I can't really tell if this book is meant to be an adult book or YA. The prose is quite picturesque and conveys a distinct atmosphere of tattered luxury carpets and dusty portraits - it's beautiful. There were some fairly dark aspects to this novel and the only thing that made me lean towards the latter was the romance.

It's not awful, not really. At least, there's a reason for the relationship and it is essential to the plot. It's just that there's a long-ish portion in the middle where they're not doing much but floating around staring at each other. I don't like Akiva much - again, he's not awful as a potential fictional love interest, but I'm not thrilled with one of the choices he made. Self-righteous little prick. *coughs*  

All the blurbs of this book talk about angels vs demons, death, etc etc. It's actually nothing like that at all. There are seraphim, who are usually God's special assistants, but their only connection to any non-fictional religion is the name. Both the chimaera and the seraphim have their own belief system and rites, so there's no reference to any God that we would recognise. I do wonder why Laini Taylor made the decision to call them that, but it's possible that it will become relevant in later books.

Speaking of, after I finished Daughter of Smoke and Bone, I immediately had to get my phone out and Google what happened in the next book, Days of Blood and Starlight. I absolutely needed to know the answer to certain questions before I could even think about reading it. It's that kind of book.

I really do recommend this book as it far exceeded my expectations. It would make a great movie but in the meantime I'll have to content myself with the unique plot, dark conclusions and mostly likeable characters.

Read Hannah's review of Daughter of Smoke and Bone at Once Upon A Time.

Review: Blue Bloods (Blue Bloods series #1) by Melissa de la Cruz

I read this series back in 2010; I loved it, but had to stop reading after the fourth book because, well, the rest hadn't been written yet. Since 2013 seems to be the Year of Rereading and I desperately wanted a comfort book, it seemed like a good idea to return to the world of Schulyer Van Alen. I then finished this book and immediately ran out (literally, the same day) to purchase all the installments I was missing, just so I could sit here and completely engross myself.

Plot summary: Within New York's City's most elite familieis, there lurks a secret society of celebrated Americans whose ancestors sailed on the Mayflower. They are the powerful and the wealthy—and in fact, they are not human. They are the Blue Bloods, an ancient group of vampires. 

Schuyler Van Alen has never fit in at Duchesne, her prestigious New York City private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapidated mansion. Schuyler is a loner—and happy that way. 

But when she turns fifteen, Schuyler’s life changes dramatically. She has a mosaic of blue veins on her arms, and craves raw meat. The death of a popular girl from Duchesne is surrounded by a mystery that haunts her. And strangest off all, Jack Force, the most popular boy in school, is showing a sudden interest in her. 

Schuyler wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger? 

I love these books. I would happily sit here and devour them day after day until I'd read every single one of them (which I pretty much ended up doing). It's possible to completely lose yourself in the world of the Blue Bloods, as Melissa de la Cruz has painted such a brilliant depiction of their society. It's actually almost believable. The glamour and eliteness of Duchesne seeps from the page to the point where I can still see it in my head, days later.

The author has a real talent for world-building. There's just something about these books that make them stay with you. The plot itself is cleverer than first meets the eye as it works on three levels: a) young, snooty vampires facing a myserious danger; b) their passage throughout time as various historical characters; and c) the fascinating mythological aspects.

It works so, so well. Interspersed with the story are letters from the travellers on The Mayflower in the 1620s. These provide a little bit of something extra and it's interesting how the story keeps linking back to the actual history of Roanoke, the 'lost settlement.' It's not an age I know a great deal about, but it was still a nice addition to an already unique story.

So that's great. Unfortunately there is a pretty big flaw with Blue Bloods, and there isn't any getting around it. Just keep in mind that I adore these books regardless.

They're written horrendously. I've read these before, not that long ago, and I didn't notice then so I'm assuming the prose and dialogue get better in later books. In this one though... yeah, it's not good. Like, the story suddenly halts so that you can be told in detail what everybody is wearing, or a character will ask a rhetorical question, and then the narrative feels the need to point out that the character just asked a rhetorical question. People really obviously mumble things under their breath in a non-subtle plot point - "Oh yes. Mmm... Should be starting around now... Strange that there's no... Mmm." You know, like Hagrid in the first Harry Potter film?

The funny this is, I'm usually the first person to slam down a book in disgust due to bad writing. But here, the plot and atmosphere are so amazing that I can actually get past it. This is rare for me, but I can't emphasise enough how these books are definitely worth putting up with a little bit of clunkiness for a while.

So yeah, you've probably got the idea by now, but read these books. Even if you don't like vampires, or you don't like YA or you're morally against... I don't know, pearls, or something. The Blue Bloods series is so full of atmosphere and uniqueness that there really is something in them for everybody.

Visit Melissa de la Cruz's website, or find her on Twitter.

Review: Bound by Sarah Bryant

Isn't it strange when you keep picking up books with the same themes without you realising? I recently read The Brides of Rollrock Island, a beautiful book about the legend of seal-women, and what happens in Bound? Conversations about selkies. And that's not even considering the obvious theme of angels, like in another book I recently read, Fury. It didn't even click that this would be my second book on this theme in a fortnight. Anyway, to cut my babbling short, I really loved Bound although it wasn't what I was expecting.

Plot summary - There are no such things as monsters, Sophie told herself. No demons, no witches, no ghosts...

Except that all of her life, Sophie has been seeing things - wraith-like apparitions which freeze her blood, and which no-one else can see. She's managed to convince herself that they're all in her imagination - to live a normal life. But then she meets the alluring Sam, who seems to see them too, and her life goes from strange to terrifying. Sophie's search for answers lead to a dreadful question: What happens when an angel falls?

I'm not sure why, but it didn't really 'click' that Bound was an angel story. I mean, yes, I'm aware of the angel statue on the cover and the big writing in capital letters on the top that may as well say 'THIS IS AN ANGEL BOOK.' But it still didn't seem to permeate, so... shut up! I just don't think the above summary does this book any justice - it makes it sound like some generic paranormal YA story, possibly complete with melodramatic angst and Sneaky Vampires.

Thankfully it's nothing like that - instead it's a dark tale of a young girl slowly realising that she isn't who she always thought she was. When she accepts a waitressing job in Scotland to escape her divorcing parents, she discovers a little village where the inhabitants introduce her to the history that didn't make it into the books.

I'm not sure whether it's the story or the atmosphere that really make Bound what it is, as both are exceptional. Moronically, as I mentioned above, I didn't expect this book to be as angel-centered as it was. I've recently had a less-than-perfect experience with angels (Fury) so I wasn't sure what to expect with regard to quality. Thankfully, it's got a great plot, complete with twists, revelations and action. Sarah Bryant has taken the angel mythology and given it a whole new meaning.

As for the atmosphere, it draws you in from the start. In first scene, Sophie visits the pub where she's to work, and I swear it feels as real as the room I'm in now. The homely cheerfulness seems to completely envelop the reader and it's almost possible to hear the chatter and bustle of the patrons. From dark alleys to mysterious towers, the scene always seems to jump off the page.

Sophie herself is... acceptable, as a protagonist. While not particularly needy, selfish or any of the remaining plethora of irritating traits that usually accompany female main characters in YA novels, she's just a little too accepting. I know she grew up seeing things that nobody else could, but it's a fair cry from the revelations she eventually comes to and nobody in their right mind would accept them as easily as she does. I can't say it affected my enjoyment to a huge extent though, to be fair - more of a minor niggle.

The ending felt a little rushed, despite the intense build-up. The atmosphere increases and increases until there's a sudden, final scene... and I just think the situation could have been resolved in a better way. And that's as uncryptic as I can get without being spoilery, folks! It also never really explains the significance behind Sophie turning 18 - it just kind of seemed like a twee, unnecessary plot device. 

Long story short, Bound isn't without its faults but I loved it regardless. It's original, well-written, clever and I really, really want to read the sequel. Thankfully we don't have long to wait. The release date for Riven is set for Summer 2012 and for me, it can't come soon enough! I'm desperate to know what happens to Sophie after that enticing epilogue.

Visit Sarah Bryant's website here, or find her on Twitter.