“Anyone who follows my reviews on Goodreads most likely noticed I added brief statements to my updates while reading this book. Simply, because Daughter of Smoke and Bone deserves every bit of praise it can possibly get. I can honestly say that this might be the most original book I have read since ... well, since a very long time. I'm thinking Hunger Games right now. I doubt there has been a book this good since then.
It's so original, gut-wrenchingly sad but also joyful, it was a rollercoaster ride. I loved the way the book is set up, when Karou finally understands how everything fits together Taylor played with time, choosing not to use a chronological way of showing us what transpired. And there was so much! I usually don't like too much plot in a book, too much happening at once, but here it felt so right. Everything was done just right, nothing was explained too briefly or not shown early enough, or, or, or. I know this will be little more than a simple gushing review, but even if I can only convince another single person to read this book, I will be satisfided. Although this book obviously deserves a humongous following because it's just this good. It's on par with Forbidden and If I Stay (Yes, I know they're of different genres) and Divergent is definitely being challenged for best book of 2011 in my opinion.
The book starts with Taylor showing us Karou's routine, with all the high and low points in her days, her life so to speak. Very expertly done. Even though it was a routine, which is normally boring to read, I loved every single description and the opinion Taylor has of Prague (or at least how it's portrayed) is spot on. Prague is just as beautiful and mysterious as the author successfully makes the reader believe. Maybe it was easier to convince me of the feel of Prague since I have been there a couple of times, but ... I can't believe that's the reason. Laini Taylor is definitely in the right profession, I adore her writing and I can't wait to read her other books.
I feel like I need to say something about the love part of this novel. But it does contain the biggest spoiler possible, so read at your own risk! This part will not be included in the reviews I'm posting on Goodreads, Shelfari and LibraryThing. (The writing is white, so you need to select the next passage!)
Follow this link to read it: http://30nightsinsomniac.blogspot.com/2012/02/review-daughter-of-smoke-and-bone-by.html”
Jibar wrote this review Friday, February 17, 2012.
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