Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Happy Release Day! Book Review and Giveaway: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor.


Daughter of Smoke & Bone is the latest novel of National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor. It’s a young adult book. It’s a magical and intriguing fantasy. It’s a love story.
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 grows dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
The jacket copy is intriguing and it could be just another paranormal story, but Laini  Taylor exemplifies why she is a National Book Award finalist. She takes us into the world of Karou, the seventeen-year-old art student with the ultramarine colored hair—yes. It grows out of her head that color—and her most unusual family. They’re monsters, their anatomy consisting of a patchwork of varying creatures. Karou lives the life of an average student—when she’s not running errands for Brimstone—the closest thing Karou has for a father. Human arms and torso, a ram’s head and claws for hands—that’s what Brimstone consists of. He sends Karou on missions to collect the teeth that he needs. She slips in and out of doors that lead to all parts of the world and all these doors lead back to her family—back to Elsewhere—that is nowhere and everywhere. Karou has tried to make sense of these creatures that have loved and cared for her as long as she could remember. And there lies the problem. Karou knows there are missing components of her life. It’s like waking from a dream and parts fade away like mist, into the ether of the atmosphere, leaving a lingering flavor of a greater substance that is now obscured.
Taylor writes with a lush use of words. They’re lyrical and sweeping. The characterizations are layered and full-bodied. She’s created a fanciful, but intense mythology. Karou shows us what she’s made of right from the start. She deals with an ex-boyfriend in ways that will make you laugh and clearly shows the depth and determination of her character. You know this is a girl that’s not going to give up and the reader is fully engrossed in her journey and her world and what a picturesque and rich world it is. The author has traveled to lush and exotic locales. She has a colorful, quirky spirit and shocking pink hair of her own! Her luxuriant descriptions and original turns of phrase are clear evidence of her creative sensibility.
This is a tale of star-crossed lovers. Karou’s connection to Akiva, the beautiful warrior is a mystery. The truth is shocking. The conclusion of this tale will leave you with a gaping mouth. It must be continued. And will be in the sequel!
The publisher sent me the Arc and the hardcover. I'm undecided as to which one I'm giving away. I'll figure it out by the time the giveaway ends. If you're open to receiving either one and you'd like to enter the giveaway, leave a comment that answers this question: Do you believe supernatural creatures exist? Why or why not? Don't forget to include your email. That is all.
The giveaway is open to residents of the US only this time. If I do decide on the hardcover, that book weighs a ton and I need to watch the postage, folks. I haven't even decided when the giveaway ends. I guess it'll end when I say it does...lol...we'll see. You can enter until I'm ready to pick a winner. I'm telling you. You're going to love this book. It's awesome.
Toodles!

19 comments:

  1. Wow! Your review really makes me want to read this!!

    Thank you for the contest!

    inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I don't believe supernatural creatures exist although it would be cool if they did.

    snifflykitty@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for the review! I'm so looking forward to reading this book!

    There's no harm in believing supernatural creatures exist. I think the world is still a mystery despite our (technological) advances.

    -Len of Musings of a Reader Happy
    maidenveil(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Why not? The loch ness monster could be out there, and who knows what is in the middle of all the jungles?
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have a hard time not believing in supernatural creatures. Most logic says that no one has seen one so therefore they do not exist. But there are plenty of things we believe in that no one has actually "seen". So I am reserving judgement. I don't feel that it can be proven one way or another that supernatural creatures exist.

    jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com

    sorry - forgot my email the first time.

    ReplyDelete
  6. As much as I love to read about supernatural characters I do not think they exist. Unfortunately I don't think it can be proven one way or the other.

    ~Kayla
    kcrochet002@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. You sweet thing...you know that this magically appeared on my Kindle today...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Yes I do believe in them just because we don't see them doesn't mean they don't exist ;) thanks for sharing your thoughts I love how you put them all together it's truly exciting,fascinating and interesting! I'd like to read this XD

    Many thanks!Take care & God bless

    kimyunalesca(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Gah!! Why must it be such a hard question???!?! I guess I have to say it depend on what the supernatural creature is.

    Roshinibd@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I believe they did exsist at one time...great review! Book sounds cool.
    Viajeradelmar@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I would love to think that they exist, but my more practical mind tells me no. It is probably my scientific studies that make me so skeptical and my love of fantasy that makes me hope I am wrong.

    jlynettes @ hotmail . com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Oh I definitely believe supernatural creatures exist. There are too many stories about them for them NOT to exist. They're out there, and someday we'll have a Sookie Stackhouse moment and they'll all come out of the closet.. someday.

    Anna
    literaryexploration@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I believe in the supernatural- too many things exist to make me not think it could be a twist of supernatural

    great giveaway
    follow via gfc
    drakebdog@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Well, this one is tough to answer, considering my favorite tv shows are Supernatural and Buffy the Vampire Slayer...but I think ghosts and aliens are real...vampires, werewolves, mermaids? Not so much. Too bad, though. Sure would be interesting.

    mcrs_venin(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Nah I really don't believe supernatureal creatures exist. I think if they did we would've captured one by now :)

    themgowl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I don't think that supernatural creatures exist, but wouldn't it be super cool if they did?! Ah! I know that I would totally love to be a witch or something like that. :)

    Sophia
    mashimaro401[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm one of those weird ones that believe they do exist! I really want them to be real. How fun is that??? Knowing that during full moons that some people will transform into werewolves and that people are dying because of a vampire sucking all their blood (it'd be a sad situation, but really cool!)

    x
    Sierra(:
    ittssierraily{at]yahoo{dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Nah, I don't believe they exist cause in this day and age, with the technology out there, they wouldn't be able to remain undetected.


    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete

I enjoy reading what you have to say. Seriously!