DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE

Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Author: Laini Taylor

Genre: YA Fantasy

Rating: * * * 1/2

Publishers Date: Sept 27, 2011

Hardback: 544 pages

ISBN: 0316196193

FTC Disclosure: Won a copy

Around the world, black handprints 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 grown dangerously low. — And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly 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 one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored 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?

Normally, I’m not a big fan of the angel/demon romance but this is a horse of a different color. I think what I loved best about this book was the world Taylor created. The world, the creatures, and the dark twisty tale combines for a story of unbelievable power and magic. I loved the idea of teeth being traded for wishes and that there were doors that could open in Prague, Paris, or Marrakech. This book captured my attention for the first 2/3’s but I can’t say the last third was as interesting. I think this was because I didn’t feel the romance between Karou and Akiva. It felt forced. I will, however, read the next book as I must know what happens.