Days of Blood & Starlight

[...] Rating: 5 Stars Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war. This is not that world. That is pretty much an accurate summary. When we left off Karou had just regained her memories of her past time and realized that the man, or angel really, she loved Akiva had done some unspeakable things having thought he had lost her forever. Karou is determined to go to her once home of Eretz to find out what is left of her people, the chimaera. Finding her people all but whipped out and feeling a burning hatred for the angels she volunteers her services, taking her mentor and father-figures place as the resurrectionist to build more monster like chimaera to fight the angels and take back what was taken, even if it means working with the one who killed her in her first life. Akiva is in a horrid place himself having realized the mistake he had made and knowing he had once again lost the love of his life, but this time because of his own actions. Still all he can do at this point is to try and make amends for her and himself as he once more swears off killing the chimaera and instead vows to help as many as he can even as he puts himself at risk of discovery. All the things I loved in the first book, the beautiful writing and the world and all the interesting and fantastical creatures are back and even better. We spend a good portion of the time surrounded by chimaera and large chunks in Eretz. I just adored the world that was built and how intricate everything was but yet simple enough to understand. The first book had a lot to do with wishes which I loved the idea of, who doesn’t, but this one left those out as we have moved past it. Still magic has a price. This is something else I enjoy. I love all types of magic in stories but for some reason the magic that comes with a price, something for something rather than someone having unlimited power always seems more substantial. You can see the price the magic takes on Karou, the pain tithe. First let me just say I’d never do magic I have ZERO tolerance for pain, seriously my vehicle accident at the start of the year broke my pinky finger and I thought it would hurt less to chop it off than to keep bumping it or moving it. I’m a big baby there I know. Karou is still a strong character for me if not a bit pigheaded at times. She goes through each and every resurrection and no matter how hurt she is she keeps going. Karou is fighting her fight in rage and heartbroken but she also has a strong sense of helping her people. She is working with a monster, because it is the best hope for her people. I really enjoyed from both the chimaera camp and the angel side. While I already loved Akiva and the little bit I saw of Hazael and Liraz I loved Hazael he was so funny and charming and easy going I think anyone could love him but Liraz was kind of on my dislike list. However seeing more in depth their life and what they go through as Joram’s bastards the misbegotten and things with Jael she kind of grew on me. I also grew to enjoy Kirin and how he was the last of Karou’s kind to his crush on her as a young boy, awe. Him and Issa are some of my favorite of the chimaera. Two who did not grow on me were Thiago and Ten. I didn’t like Thiago from book one the white wolf and his pomp, entitlement, and rage and Ten is him in female form basically his lapdog. Though to even out the field it was great to see Zuzana and Mik again! I just adored them in the first book Zuzana may be one of my favorite characters with her small stature but fierce none the less. Also in the audiobook version the accents done for the different characters Zuz’s was my favorite. The sweetness between Zuzana and Mik in the middle of the epic war going on played nicely to balance it out. Days of Blood and Starlight is still a very character driven story but there is lots of action happening. There is a war after all. The brutality of war is there as well. There were certain times while listening that I was gripping the steering wheel so tightly that I thought I might break it hoping something wouldn’t or would happen. It was intense. I also was glad to be in my vehicle where I could yell at the characters and not have anyone hear my craziness because oh I was in a full range of emotions for sure! I’m excited to dive into book three but now having read one and listened to one I’m stuck on which format I enjoyed better.

When I was in college, I had this incredibly obnoxious French professor. The woman made us—grown men and woman—sit in a circle and read (in French) basic sentences that would add up to nonsensical stories. Like we were in grade school. The first person would get a slip of paper with the equivalent of, “Jacques went to the door,” followed by something like, “Jacques picked up his keys,” and around we would go until someone got the slip of paper with a single, detested word written on it—Soudain!—at which point a cake would fall on Jacques’ head, or a monkey would jump on his back, etc. The next slip of paper was thankfully the last, saying, “Pauvre, Jacques,” at which time we were all required to make the accompanying sad face, the end. GAH. I hated that woman. But the story is a good illustration. Jacques is going about his business, doing his thang, when SUDDENLY something completely inexplicable happens. Kind of like this book. Do NOT misunderstand me, I love this book, I love this series, but this installment . . . didn’t flow as well as Daughter of Smoke & Bone. In Daughter of Smoke & Bone, I was almost instantly captivated, and nothing else existed until after that last page. In Days of Blood & Starlight, my very first thought was, “how juvenile.” I am of course referring to Zuzana’s determination to fling a urine-filled balloon at Kaz, and yes, I know that using scuppies to give Kaz a cranny-itch in book 1 is not the height of maturity, but it . . . I don’t know . . . wasn’t as distracting. It blended in with the overall picture, whereas this time it stood out like a 15 y.o. boy with his butt hanging out of a car window. But all of the things that I loved about book 1 are still present here. The forbidden love that isn’t just one more idiotic version of Romeo and Juliet, but something new and wondrous. The sense that something EPIC is going to happen any moment. The FEELS that directly connect you to the characters so that you’re desperate to know the outcome, desperate for Karou and Akiva to somehow get their HEA, desperate for this ridiculous war to finally, FINALLY end. Plus now there’s Mik. Zuzana is, by herself, plenty of fun and hilarity, but Mik provides a sometimes droll, sometimes earnest, sometimes insightful counterpoint to her shenanigans. And Mik is necessary now that Karou’s memories have been awakened. She’s no longer a 17 y.o. art student in Prague with nothing more worrisome than whether or not Kaz will be at Poison Cafe on her mind. She performs an essential function in a war against an enemy hell-bent on the annihilation and enslavement of her race. So without Mik, Zuzana would flounder. Instead, the two of them make you wistful for first loves, and provide distraction from Karou’s harsh new reality. It’s a nice touch, I think. And now we get down to the last 10-15% of the book—the SOUDAIN! portion of this program. Just a few vague and ambiguous, non-spoilery statements, and then I’ll drop it. Promise. 1. It’s told in reverse order which is confusing as hell. 2. The extreme level of revulsion exhibited by both pertinent parties is a little bit OTT (over the top, people, OTT!). On the one hand, it lends credulity to the charade. On the other hand, it’s borderline unbelievably OTT. 3. The only thing that keeps this whole situation from being completely preposterous, is that Karou is unable to resurrect the person she’s unable to resurrect. In hindsight, I’m wondering if that was why said person was killed in the first place . . . hmmm . . . So yeah, there were a few issues, but overall, this is a highly satisfactory sequel. And by “satisfactory,” I mean AMAZEBALLS. If you’ve been putting off reading this series b/c of the cliffhanger endings, stop that nonsense, and stop it now! Dreams of Gods & Monsters came out yesterday! The wait is over. Get ‘er done, peeps! This series is an fantasy/UF crossover that is so good, I recommend reading at least the first book to EVERYONE. So. Go forth and read! If not this, than something else. Who cares? Just read!

Few sequels can improve upon their predecessor, especially if such a predecessor was a book of seemingly unsurpassed beauty. DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT by Laini Taylor does just that, it surpasses DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE in the scope of the world, the characters, the sadness, the betrayal, the story, the words... everything. Laini has taken the basis of her fantasy world from book one and created an epic new landscape that breaches our own. I wish that my review could do it justice, but unfortunately, I am not as skilled a writer as Laini. Regardless, I will do my best. (First this: Fair warning to those reading this review. I will try not to spoil the series for you, but needless to say, you shouldn't even be considering DAYS of BLOOD AND STARLIGHT until you have read the first book in the series.) Fast paced and told in snippets of multiple perspectives, creeping along the main plot line one short chapter at a time (there are well over 50 chapters in this book), once you enter the world of DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT you will find it difficult to put the 500+ page tome down. The book begins by laying out all we learned in book one and answering the question, "what happens next?" Oh my, what happens next is an endless series of tragedies, war, suspenseful surprises and misguided actions and misunderstandings, left and right, one right after the other. The daughter of a resurrectionist finds in herself the ability to carry on his legacy. But will she use this ability for good or evil? What would it take to save a whole race of people, perhaps at the cost of another? The tables are turned, and the beaten-down angel, now a hero among his kind for enabling the seemingly total destruction of a people, is dealing with the knowledge that he has betrayed the one he holds most dear. Can hope be found in heroic deeds? Can one man (or one woman) change an entire world? All this and more is explored in just the opening chapters of DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT. We re-enter the world of Eretz and discover what such a place would be like in the aftermath of the angel's "total" annihilation of the chimera. But we also spend much of the book in our own world, in a sandcastle ruled by "monsters". Much is learned about both the angels and chimera, further expanding the fantastical world that Laini introduced in the first book. So much desperation and distrust and an ever-present sense of loss is woven into these pages. A people who have lost all that they have ever known. A world full of lies and deceit, extreme hardship and horrors, and of never-ending death and rebirth. Goodness. You would think that with so many themes abound in one book that things would get confusing. But alas, Laini is a skilled writer. She pulls it off with ease and finesse. Above all else, what makes this book surpass its predecessor are the characters. As we know, and as Karou herself now knows, much was revealed about her origin and true self in book one. She is Madrigal Kirin, the star-crossed chimera lover of the angel, Akiva. Now that she knows this and is essentially continuing her life with all prior knowledge as a chimera, as well as her experiences as a human. We see a seamless combination of both "personalities" in Karou, though, essentially, we also have a much "darker" Karou in this book. She is a young woman haunted by two lifetimes of loss and betrayal, and she is also weighted down with her new responsibilities in Brimstone's wake. Akiva is almost the antithesis of Karou in this entry, seeing as he has already committed his sins in the first book and here he is looking for redemption of sorts. Akiva is a blazing angel is with the hope of a brighter future. I found myself cheering for Akiva on every page - he was much easier to connect with in this entry than he was in the first. But in addition to Karou and Akiva (of which book one was essentially "their story"), DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT is also told from numerous other character's perspectives. This installment is essentially "everyone's story", including that of Karou's best friend, Zuzana, and her lover, Mik, who bring some much appreciated humor into the book. But also there are Akiva's "siblings" who have now joined him on his "quests". Their interactions are touching and admirable portrayals of how morals and individual experiences can alter a lifetime of beliefs. Their scars and tarnished hands betray the very ideology of all that we know about "angels". Then there is the very last chimera of Karou's kind, now a warrior in the White Wolf's army; the Kirin, Ziri, is a surprising -and at times tragic- character who I believe will have a huge impact on where things go in book three. Switching between each of these character's perspectives, DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT provides multiple interlacing plot lines that divide enemy lines and unite others in a story of epic proportions. In the end, no world or living creature is safe. I love how Laini blurs the lines between good and evil in ways that I have not yet seen in YA. Aside from a few exceptions, there is no clear hero in this story, no one is without sin, let no stone be cast by any of the characters. While I do believe that love shall overcome all obstacles, there is no guarantee that love or life will actually survive and conquer all. Laini sets up a climatic scene in the end that promises an epic battle of the likes no one has seen before in YA. I have NO IDEA where her story will take us! And I LOVE THAT! This reader is undeniably enthralled and ready to declare that DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT by Laini Taylor is my #1 read in 2012!

Karou finds herself thrust back into the world of the Chimaera. She works tirelessly to aid the rebels led by the White Wolf. After the treacherous betrayal by Akiva, she has turned her back on love and the chance to build a new world. Now she takes up Brimstone's trade and crafts new soldiers. The war is relentless, bloody and never ending. The battles have taken a cruel twist as the innocents on both sides are slaughtered. This heartless bloodshed is causing warriors, chimaera and seraphim alike to rethink their actions, but the heartless leaders press on and insist on more slaughter. Can there ever be peace? What I Liked: *Once again, I loved immersing back into Laini Taylor's world of chimaera and seraphim. The world building continues to be masterful and astonishing in this series. I am so impressed by the intricate and detailed world Ms. Taylor has crafted and that it continues to stir the imagination. *I am happy to say that this book does not suffer from a second book syndrome. The story in some ways is more engaging and more complex and it is has a number of stunning twists. It is much darker, though and instead of a love story this one plunges you right into the trenches of war. It is dark and sorrowful and a horrific picture of the evils of war. But there is always that shimmer of hope.....that possibly after all the horror, sorrow, bloodshed, heartache and death there can and will be a new world.... *Karou's growth in this novel is tremendous. She has recovered her memories from her former life and she is in the middle of the never ending war. She struggles with the past, knowing she gave her heart to the one who helped destroy her people. She is bitter, sad and determined. She is far removed from the fun, care free, somewhat rebellious teenager we met in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Now she is a fierce woman bent on helping her people, yet her heart bears an enormous burden of sorrow and shame. *I loved that this book gives us a plentiful dose of Mik and Zusanna. The two love birds bring some lighthearted comedic relief to the book, and definitely help to lighten up the mood with their fun and witty banter. I liked how determined Zusanna is to find her friend, even if it means believing the unbelievable. It was also nice to see their romance in full bloom. The pair are a shining beacon of light and love amidst the chaos. *This is one of those books that you need to set aside plenty of time for as it is full of cliffhanger chapter endings. If you pick this up thinking you can read just a couple of chapters, you are wrong. Time and time again, there is a dramatic chapter ending that will have you saying, I can't leave it on that note, just one more chapter....The story line is riveting and there are some big surprises! The plot is also intricate and complex and I was left eager for the next installment. And The Not So Much: *I still cannot figure out why this series is marketed in the Young Adult genre. I had the pleasure of recently meeting Laini Taylor and she admitted that her books are sold as adult books everywhere else in the world. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing in these books that is offensive and there isn't sex, drugs or anything that you would not want a young reader reading. But these books are complex and amazing and their story lines are definitely intricate and I feel that these books are better suited for mature readers. A younger reader may not appreciate the complexity of the story. Furthermore, the writing is mature and again it is best for more seasoned readers. If you have an avid younger reader who likes a good fantasy novel, have no fear you can put this in their hands, the only caution I have is that this installment does have a great deal of violence as its story line is centered on war. I think that placing these books under a YA label may keep them from many adult readers who would certainly appreciate these tremendous books. *I was completely enthralled with the writing in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Many times, passages just took my breath away, so I jumped into this one expecting the same, but the writing wasn't quite as mesmerizing this time around. I think because the book's focus is on the atrocities of war, and let's face it, there isn't much you can say about war that is beautiful. Since this book has a much darker tone, the writing is a bit more subdued. I still loved it, but it just wasn't quite as magical. Plus this time around the story takes place in the desert far away from the beauty of Prague. I really missed Prague! *As I mentioned earlier, this book is full of cliffhanger chapter endings that were a bit frustrating, especially since most of the time the next chapter didn't pick up where its predecessor left off, instead it usually shifted view points leaving the reader in agony. When the story line did finally pick back up, there were many occasions where the story jumped ahead skipping over the dramatic details that left me on edge. Then finally, the events would be recounted to fill you in on what happened. I didn't like that often times it was done by flashbacks, I would have preferred to stay in the moment and live vicariously through it. I felt it just lost a bit of momentum when the story shifted ahead and then looked back. *Finally, this one ends on a bit of a cliffhanger...again, but it isn't as horrendous as the ending of Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I was at least eased by the fact that the book concludes on a more hopeful note after such a lengthy dark journey through the trenches of war. I am most perplexed to see, though, that the next book is not slated for release until 2014! How will I last that long? Furthermore, Laini herself said she has no idea how the storyline is going to go.....I guess it will be a long wait! Without a doubt, The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series has become one of my absolute favorite series ever! The writing is amazing, the world building top notch, and there are riveting story lines and memorable characters. I am stunned at how talented and amazing Laini Taylor is. If you have not yet experienced her work, do yourself a favor and pick up her books immediately! She is a writer you do not want to miss! I can honestly say that I will be on auto buy for anything she writes in the future! Favorite Quotations: "It was one of those dreams that invade the space between seconds, proving sleep has its own physics--- where time shrinks and swells, lifetimes unspool in a blink, and cities burn to to ash in a mere flutter of lashes." "Or...perhaps Fate laid out your life for you like a dress on a bed, and you could either wear it or go naked." "These weren't her folk, but....they were, and maybe that meant that anyone could be anyone's, which was a sort of nice thing to think, with the world falling apart." "The fox solider had been Madrigal's friend once, and her soul was the touch of sunset and laughter, with a bite like the sting of nettles; Haxaya was someone you wanted on your side..." "It is bodies that make us real. What is a soul without eyes to look through, or hands to hold?" "She smelled of the river and trembled like a breeze on a butterfly's wing, and Ziri cradled her as if she were their world's last hope. And maybe she was." "You've always felt the truth in him, then and now. Your heart is not wrong. Your heart is your strength." I purchased a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

Once upon a time, a girl lived in a sandcastle, making monsters to send through a hole in the sky. Delicate Beauty Days of Blood and Starlight was written just as beautifully as the first. However, Karou is not in the same place, mind or body, that she was before. She's living with the remaining Chimeara far away from her best friends Zuzana and Mik and so very alone. She is working beside someone she hates, but doesn't have a choice. I was constantly feeling so bad for Karou and teared up repeatedly while reading. This one is much darker than Daughter of Smoke and Bone yet still full of hope. She's doing this beautiful and important work for the Chimeara, and is treated like the cardboard tube of the toilet paper roll, so necessary but easily discarded. It seemed like as soon as she was given a bright light in the form of a friend and ally, that person would be ripped away for one reason or another. There are two groups in this story, the Seraphim and the Chimeara. As with every group, it's so easy to see that there are both good and evil within on both sides. Akiva is with the Seraphim working from the inside trying to get others of his kind to show mercy and begin living another way. Karou is working tirelessly to bring more kind souls out in the Chimeara and is blocked at every pass. Together they are in parallel during the middle to the end of the story with similar circumstances happening on both sides. It was such a great and poignant read. I absolutely loved the inclusion of Zuzana and Mik and the bouyancy that they brought with them. Black Hands and Splintered Souls Really the only hard part about reading this one for me was how sad it got. I've never enjoyed being sad, and this one definitely pulled on my heart-strings. It was also hard to watch Karou through the beginning of this one because she was so bent on revenge, but at the same time disgusting herself. She is so intensely mad at Akiva for his need for revenge, but reacts in the same way at first. Like Magnets Akiva becomes someone to really get behind, but Karou is heart broken and decides that her instant attraction to him was an incredible mistake. In this one, she questions what she really knows about him and whether she can move past the things he's done. Akiva, however, never wavers in his love for Karou. Zuzana and Mik are the IT couple in this one. They are incredibly adorable together. There is an attempted rape scene as well. Never Seen Stars so Bright Days of Blood and Starlight was full to the brim of conflict, hope for redemption, characters to loathe and characters to adore, incredible story-telling, and an interesting plot with a ton of development from the first one. Very recommended.

First of all, may I just say isn’t this the most gorgeous cover art? I’m not certain who created them, but all three covers (four if you include the novella) in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series are simply stunning. Days of Blood and Starlight is the second in Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy which is a contemporary fantasy based on the themes of Romeo and Juliet. We have the star-crossed lovers from different and opposing sides, faked death, boyfriend goes off the rails. This second instalment is based on the premise of “what if Juliet woke up from her fake death and found, not that Romeo had taken his own life, but that he’d killed all her family and friends?” What I liked The world. The world that Taylor has created is wonderfully rich and detailed. I loved reading about the chimaera and seraphim. We learn more about their world in this book. The themes. The idea of star-crossed lovers is a timeless one. There is a reason that Romeo and Juliet is a classic, and Taylor has done a great job of interpreting that into modern fantasy. Add into this the theme of war and peace and you have a wonderful framework for a story. The characters. It is very easy to become invested in Karou and Akiva and root for them. They are likeable, engaging and you feel for their plight. The supporting characters are also great. Zuzana and Mik add some much-needed levity to the story. The writing style. Taylor’s writing style is poetic and lyrical and is beautiful to read. Go check it out. The audio narration. Once again, Khristine Hvam did a wonderful job - I particularly enjoyed her interpretation of Zuze and Mik. I really should check out the Zuzana/Mik short story Night of Cake and Puppets also narrated by Hvam. What I didn’t like It has to be said, I didn’t enjoy Days of Blood and Starlight as much as Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I found it a little too… depressing. After the events of Daughter of Smoke and Bone neither of our protagonists are in a good place emotionally and when you add to that the escalation of the war between the chimaera and the seraphim it doesn’t make fun reading. Thank goodness for Zuze and Mik! Because of this, I gave Days of Blood and Starlight three and a half stars out of five.

"Have you ever asked yourself, do monsters make war, or does war make monsters?" This quote, taken from Daughter of Smoke and Bone, perfectly sums up the themes found in Days of Blood and Starlight. The first book focused on hope, the power of forgiveness, and the promise of new love. This book focuses on the aftermath of betrayal, when all hope seems lost. It shows us the brutality of war, and the price of vengeance. In the aftermath of the events in the first novel, the Wolf has taken up his father's mantle, and now acts as Warlord, and Karou is his resurectionist. The rebellion is hanging on by a thread. Only sixty Chimera soldiers survived the massacre in their capital city. But Karou has found a way to resurrect the fallen in a more powerful mien. She's building an army for the Wolf, an army that marches under the banner Victory and Vengeance." Gone is the more moderate approach of the former Warlord, now the Chimera seem to exist for one reason alone: vengeance. They have become monsters indeed. Regrettably, the Chimera have yet to learn the age old problem with vengeance: "In the cycle of slaughter, reprisal begat reprisal, forever." Spurred on by the brutal massacre of his people, the Angelic Emperor has sworn to eradicate the life of each and every Chimera in his kingdom. Days of Blood and Starlight focuses on this cycle of slaughter. We are treated to POV chapters for Akiva, Karou, and numerous victims of the war. Together, these chapters paint a bleak picture of war and its cost. At the start of this story, Karou is a shadow of her former self. Something essential in her died alongside Brimstone and the rest of her family. She's angry, and missing hope, strength, and that spark of her essential Karouness. She's a creature of vengeance, and has allowed herself to become a vessel of the Wolf's whims. He treats her like a slave, robs her of her basic freedoms, and she says nothing. If I had to state any complaint with this book, it would be Karou's lack of strength in the first part of the story. While I understood her reasons, are recognize their legitimacy, it was hard seeing her so beaten down, and powerless. Fortunately, it is always the darkest before the dawn, and when Karou's dawn comes, it is epic and very worth the wait. Whereas Karou has lost her way, Akiva's perspective remains clear. I loved his POV chapters. He's gone back to his people, and reclaimed his place in the Angelic army for one reason alone - to destroy his father plans and forge the peace he and Karou dreamed of. While acting obedient, he sows seeds of dissention in the ranks of the Emperor's army, rallies allies, and warns the Chimera villages of upcoming attacks. Fans of the first book, may be shocked to hear this, as love was such a huge part of that story, but there is no romance in Days of Blood and Starlight. Karou and Akiva remain estranged from one another, and the story focuses on their war efforts. The lack of romance doesn't take away from the beauty of the novel, it just leaves more room for other weightier concerns. Days of Blood and Starlight is much darker story than its predecessor. Initially I struggled with that darkness. I found myself wondering, where is the hope? Karou is lost to anger, Akiva is heartbroken, people are dying, and everyone is obsessed with revenge. It all seems so hopeless, yet the through all that darkness, is a thread of light - the message of mercy and its power to turn the tide of hate. If you think back, Smoke and Bone was about Karou and Akiva coming to together, falling in love, and sharing together a hope to change their world, to chart a new course for their people. It was beautiful, seeing them dream together, but dreams do not change the world. Change is comes with conflict, heartbreak, and blood. Days of Blood and Starlight tells us that story. Its message is no less beautiful than that of its predecessor, but its beauty is more subtle, hidden in the brutality. That quite message of mercy, is threaded throughout, so subtle at first, we can barely find it in the story, but growing stronger with every page. At the end, I couldn't tell you which story I liked more. Daughter of Smoke and Bone possessed a dream like quality that made reading it a joy. Days of Blood and Starlight is a harsher tale, it rips your heart out, and stomps on it a few times, before delivering a very satisfying and hopeful ending. There is something so real and vital about this second novel. I don't think it's realistic to expect that peace for the Chimera and the Angels could be bought without a price of blood and sorrow, and this story tells that tale beautifully. It's dark, heartbreaking, and oh so very satisfying. I can't recommend it highly enough.

"Karou saw them with her human eyes, this army she had rendered more monstrous than ever nature had, and she knew what the world would see in them if they flew to fight the Dominion: demons, nightmares, evil. The sight of the seraphim would be heralded as a miracle. But chimaera? The apocalypse." This book did things to me and while it was fantastic in a different kind of way than the first book...it did frustrate me to no end. But before I delve into my major frustration, let me just say, the writing is simply brilliant, it's a compelling story and my imagination was stretch and pulled until it was completely pliable and it was only then that I was transported to another world where the impossible could and did happen. It's a world where the un-explainable exists and it's a world I want to live in, just like Zuzana did. "Mercy, she had discovered, made mad alchemy: a drop of it could dilute a lake of hate." Now for my biggest gripe about this entire story and I want to clearly state that I am a fan of Karou but dear-sweet-baby-jeeeeeeeeeeezus she was relentless in expressing her disappointment and anger towards Akiva! Sheesh! I mean, I get it but enough already!! Hasn't he suffered enough? I'm all about push-and pull but the pull was practically non-existent and frankly, I felt as though Akiva redeemed himself time and time again. Thiago is her "kind" and yet betrayal oozes out of him but Akiva puts himself in the line of fire and NADA. ZIP. ZILCH. Yup, you guessed it, NOTHING. End of rant. "Nothing made you feel so useless as another person's grief." What you'll find in this story is the ugliness of war and while it's in the world of urban fantasy, there is an underlying theme of "hate is taught" (sadly, similar to what's taking place in real life) but it can also be un-learned and I'm not even sure that's even a word but just go with it. Both sides, chimaera and the angels fear and hate the "enemy" but there's a growing group of those who want to find peace because they are tired of the senseless deaths. And I felt the loss every time one died, be it chimaera or angel and I too, was a mess over it. "Once upon a time, a girl lived in a sandcastle, making monsters to send through a hole in the sky." What Laini Taylor brilliantly does in this book is weave the story of opposing sides at war with one another and gives us insight to their heartbreaking vulnerability. The intricate world building continues with powerful imagery and beautiful words no matter how sad and dark the story becomes because there are shreds of hope and lightness. As I continued reading, I realized there are no wrong teams to cheer because they are both good, only evil people on both sides. There's no other way to say it except....I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! I LOVE THIS SERIES!!! "She thought of Akiva, the night he had come to her at the river, the crushing pain and shame in his face, and love, still love - sorrow and love and hope - and she remembered the night of the Warlord's ball, how Akiva had always been the right to Thiago's wrong, the heat to the Wolf's chill, the safety to this monster's menace." The Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series is a MUST read because it's unique and frankly, the word unique is totally inadequate in describing how rich and different this story is. ;) "I am one of billions. I am stardust gathered fleetingly into form. I will be ungathered. The stardust will go on to be other things someday and I will be free."

Violent and visceral and exquisite. These books are simply amazing, well worth reading over and over. I love the way that the expertly crafted world-building stands on its own, yet intersects with our own world in so many ways that feel plausible and terrible and real.

"Days of Blood and Starlight" est la suite du merveilleux Daughter of Smoke & Bone récemment traduit en français. Indisponible en Kindle, j'ai donné de ma personne et j'ai pris ce tome 2 en version papier (au moins 1 kilo facile). Si vous n'avez pas lu le tome 1, je vous déconseille de lire la suite de cet avis... mais je vous conseille avec insistance de lire le résumé de Daughter of Smoke & Bone , un excellent fantasy jeunesse. "Once upon a time, a girl lived in a sandcastle, making monsters to send through a hole in the sky" Cet extrait du tome 2 résume parfaitement le livre. Nous quittons le monde humain avec ses étincelles de magie et de mystère pour plonger dans le monde des chimères et des anges. Certes, il y a plus de merveilleux. Mais on perd beaucoup en mystère. On comprend maintenant ce que Karou fait avec toutes les dents qu'elle collecte dans le monde entier. On comprend le processus de recréation des chimères. On comprend beaucoup trop de choses en fait. Et hélas toutes ces explications font sombrer ce tome du côté des tomes de littérature fantasy jeunesse comme on en lit tant (trop): deux camps s'affrontent (on a le détail avec les gentils, les méchants, les indécis, les traitres et les héroïques). Une héroïne fragile mais soumise (fait intéressant, il est très rare de voir un tome quasi complet où l'héroïne subit tout sans broncher, sans volonté de se rebeller), un héros désespéré mais doté de pouvoirs extraordinaires. Ils vont sauver le monde. Enfin on ne sait pas, çà c'est pour le prochain tome, le tome 3. Le livre se lit facilement et par moments on retrouve la lueur de poésie du premier tome (quand les chimères sont conçues et créées, quand on les imagine dans leur château en ruine...). Malheureusement, on est très loin du quasi chef d'oeuvre du tome 1.

Because this series is in the fantasy genre, I was reluctant to take it up. However, because it is based in modern times, is extremely well written and the characters are very well defined, including the non human ones, I found it most absorbing. I could not wait to find out the rest of this intriguing tale so bought all three in the series and read them one after the other. However, I think there may be more to come and look forward to reading more from this gifted author. I would recommend this series to most of my friends but warn them that they may not be able to stop reading once they have started!

Der Wunschknochen brachte Karou ihre Erinnerung zurück. An ihr Leben in Eretz, an ihr Leben unter den Chimaera. An ihr Leben als Madrigal und an die märchenhaften Wochen mit Akiva, in denen sie so glücklich war wie nie zuvor. Gemeinsam träumten sie von einer anderen Welt, einer besseren Welt ohne Krieg, Blutvergießen und Leid. Doch Akiva betrog diesen Traum. In seinem alles verzehrenden Schmerz brachte er Tod und Verderben über Karous Volk. Nur eine Handvoll der Chimaera überlebte das Massaker der Seraphim, darunter Ziri, der letzte der Kirin, aber auch Thiago, der Weiße Wolf. In einer Wüstenburg voller Staub und Sternenlicht lässt er Karou eine titanische Armee erwecken, um gegen die Engel zu rebellieren. Skrupellos verbreitet er Terror und hebt den Krieg auf eine neue Stufe der Grausamkeit. Karou muss entscheiden, wie weit sie zu gehen bereit ist. Ist Vergeltung tatsächlich die einzige Option? In einer zerstörten Welt ist Hoffnung ein zerbrechliches und kostbares Gut. Können Akiva und Karou sie am Leben erhalten, um Eretz in eine bessere Zukunft zu führen? „Days of Blood & Starlight“ funktioniert nach anderen Regeln als der Vorgänger „Daughter of Smoke & Bone“. Ich war überrascht, als ich zu lesen begann und schnell feststellen musste, dass die einzigartige Magie des Auftakts im zweiten Band ein wenig verloren gegangen war. Nein, seien wir ehrlich. Ich war enttäuscht. Ich begriff nicht, wieso Laini Taylor das Tempo der Geschichte drosselte und die zuvor actiongeladene Handlung kaum Fortschritte machte. Karou residiert in einer Burg aus Sand, umgeben von Chimaera, die sie ausnahmslos für eine Verräterin halten. Der Weiße Wolf isoliert sie (angeblich zu ihrem eigenen Schutz) und so bleibt Karou kaum etwas anderes als ihre Arbeit, um sich von ihren finsteren Gedanken und Gefühlen abzulenken. Ich empfand die Atmosphäre in „Days of Blood & Starlight“ daher als recht bedrückend. Ich konnte Karous Schmerz, ihre Scham, ihren Verlust und ihren Kummer spüren. Sie ist seelisch tief verwundet und lange Zeit nicht sie selbst. Die Realität ihrer Vergangenheit sowie der Gegenwart stürzt mit voller Wucht auf sie ein. Als ich das verstand, als mir klar wurde, in welcher Situation sich Karou befindet, begriff ich auch die Veränderung des Tempos und der Atmosphäre. „Daughter of Smoke & Bone“ ist ein Traum voller Magie und Wunder – in „Days of Blood & Starlight“ reißt Laini Taylor ihre Protagonistin und ihre LeserInnen gleichermaßen auf den harten Boden der Tatsachen zurück. Die Chimaera befinden sich in einem Krieg, der bereits tausend Jahre andauert. Tausend Jahre des Kampfes, tausend Jahres des Blutvergießens, tausend Jahre des Sterbens. Nun stehen sie kurz vor ihrer Auslöschung. Sie sind dabei, zu verlieren. In dieser schonungslosen, brutalen Realität ist kein Platz für märchenhafte Momente. Die wohl durchdachte Handlungspause dieses Bandes ist Laini Taylors Geschenk an ihre Protagonistin. Karou braucht diese Pause. Sie muss sich sammeln und die Scherben ihrer beider Leben zusammen kehren, um die Kraft zu finden, erneut für ihren Traum von einer besseren, friedlichen Zukunft zu kämpfen. Obwohl sich diese Phase der Besinnung definitiv ein wenig auf meinem Lesespaß auswirkte, kann ich jetzt im Nachhinein absolut nachvollziehen, wie wichtig sie für den weiteren Verlauf der Geschichte war. Außerdem möchte ich unbedingt darauf hinweisen, dass meine Kritik Jammern auf hohem Niveau darstellt. „Days of Blood & Starlight“ ist eine hervorragende Fortsetzung, die sehr viel Positives und Überraschendes für die LeserInnen bereithält. Allein die Erweiterung der Erzählperspektiven durch Zuzanas Blickwinkel hat in mir einen Begeisterungssturm ausgelöst, weil sie einfach eine eigene Stimme verdient. Sie ist eine großartige Figur: witzig, unabhängig, loyal und auf ihre ganz eigene, sympathische Weise skurril. Mir hat es unheimlich gut gefallen, durch ihre Augen zu sehen und in ihre Gedankenwelt einzutauchen. Ein weiterer neuer POV-Charakter ist der Kirin Ziri, der mir die Chimaera und besonders Karous/Madrigals Volk ein ganzes Stück näher brachte. Ich schloss ihn sofort ins Herz; sein sanftes, ehrliches Wesen ist einfach liebenswürdig und seine Seele ist rein. Er ließ mich erahnen, wie wunderschön die Kirin in der Blüte ihrer Existenz waren, wild und ungezähmt. Ich trauere darum, dass dieses stolze Volk dem Krieg zum Opfer fallen musste. Dieser Krieg bestimmt das Leben der Chimaera seit so langer Zeit, dass sie sich Frieden eigentlich gar nicht vorstellen können. Ich hatte das Gefühl, dass niemand von ihnen, nicht mal Thiago, tatsächlich daran glaubt, dass die Rebellion erfolgreich sein wird. Der Weiße Wolf versucht nur, sein Leben so teuer wie möglich zu verkaufen. Er glaubt weniger an eine Zukunft für die Chimaera als Akiva. Der Seraphim ist es, der die Wahrheit über die Widerstandsbewegung lange vor den Chimaera und Karou erkennt: der Charakter der Rebellion wird entscheiden, ob es zukünftig in Eretz Chimaera geben wird oder nicht. „Days of Blood & Starlight“ hat eine andere Dynamik als „Daughter of Smoke & Bone“, es ist bedeutungsschwerer und düsterer. Die Handlung entwickelt sich schwerfälliger, was meiner Meinung nach allerdings durchaus berechtigt und angemessen ist. Karou und Akiva müssen unmögliche Entscheidungen für eine ungewisse, beängstigende Zukunft treffen – kaum verwunderlich, dass das auf die Stimmung drückt. Ich rate euch, versetzt euch in ihre Lage; vergegenwärtigt euch besonders Karous Situation, dann werdet ihr verstehen, warum sich die Ereignisse in diesem Band nicht überstürzen können. Ich finde nicht, dass „Days of Blood & Starlight“ deswegen schwächer ist, ganz im Gegenteil. Ich finde, es war ein mutiger Schritt von Laini Taylor, der Handlung die Zeit zu geben, die sie braucht.

That was one of the most amazing book I've ever read! Usually the best book of a trilogy or of a series is the first one, but Laini Taylor succeeded in the goal of writing a second book that was better that the first one. Days of Blood and Starlight was impossible to put down, I think my dentist will be very happy because I continued to crunch my teeth every single page! My heart swelled with joy with Zuzana and Mik wich are adorable! Absolutely the best couple of the story, even more than Akiva and Karou. The way he treats her like a princes and, at the same time, acknowledge that she is a strong and capable woman is exactly like every girl deserve to be treated. I'm so hoping that Ziri's going to have an happy ending, he's such a cute guy! Btw I'm so HAPPY that Ten is dead, she was a f*****g b***h. I can't say how much I cried for Liraz and Hazael, Jesus...Laini I hated you more than a little for thatç___ç I want the next book!