Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Author: Laini Taylor
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1
Genre: Fantasy, Romance
Release Date: September 27, 2011

Summary: Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. In a dark and dusty shop, a devil’s supply of human teeth grows dangerously low. And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal other wordly war. Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real, she’s prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands", she speaks many languages - not all of them human - and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she’s about to find out. When beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Review: . . . WOAH!! Daughter of Smoke and Bone was incredible! I cannot believe that it has taken me so long to discover this book and all of the wonderfulness that it contains. From page one I was drawn in by Taylor's impeccable writing style as well as world-building. She weaved the details of Karou's world in just right. I never felt weighted down because of an abundance of detail at any certain point. I knew it was only going to get better . . . I just didn't realize how much better! The beginning is the very very tip of the iceberg. An insanely breath-taking, heart-stopping iceberg that is! As soon as I started to relax and feel more comfortable with Karou's world, Taylor would highlight another detail that would leave me at the edge of my seat.

Don't be fooled! Daughter of Smoke and Bone has been so meticulously and tenderly compiled that you absolutely won't be able to skip ahead and/or skim or you may miss out on some incredible scenes. OH MY!! And when I found out what they do with the teeth! I was all:

This novel has everything! Romance, adventure, mystery, and a jaw-dropping ending that left me in desperate need of Days of Blood and Starlight to try and tame my hunger!

A definite "must-read" in my opinion!