Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor Review + Giveaway

Format: ARC Paperback
Pages:420
Published: 29th Sept 2011
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Genre: YA Fantasy
Buy On Amazon: UKI US


Description:
Featuring necklaces made of wishes; an underground shop dealing in teeth; magical tattoos; a wishbone on a cord, DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONE is a thrilling story about Karou and her secret life as an apprentice to a wishmonger. Karou manages to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand, she is a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to an inhuman creature who deals in wishes and is the closest thing she has to family. Her life is surrounded by mysteries she is desperate to unveil.

Review:
Everyone and their grans have been so excited for this book. It has been the buzz of the book world for what seems like forever. So when I got a chance to actually review the UK arc OMG you should have seen me the day it came through. I was so tempted to read it weeks ago but I stayed strong and waiting to closer to the release date. I finally started it last week. And in total honesty, the book was was good but I was slightly disappointed.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone tells the story of Karou a young girl who is brought up in two world. The regular world and a world that is filled with magic, mystery and inhuman creatures. Karou is trying to balance her two lives. However, when she meets Akiva her world and everything she thought she knew about herself is blown apart and who is she is revealed.

Karou is a really interesting character. I am actually on the fence on whether I liked her or not. She is a strong character and is very unique but sometimes she comes across quite immature. But there is no denying the fact that she is never boring. She is also quite funny. I really like that about her. I guess I did warm up to her more when she gets to Akiva, the chemistry behind them is wonderful and draws you into the story.

I really did struggle alot of with this book. It took me about a week to read it. And it kinda annoyed me because it was slow then picked up then when slow again then picked up again. The start of this book for me was pretty dull and didn't really get interesting until we are introduced to Akiva. However, it does drag on for a good bite with alot of world building. Now I like world building in books I do. But there is ALOT in this that it kinda put be off. And it could go pages without any of the characters actually having a conversation. I am one of those people who like alot of conversations between the characters in a book.

HOWEVER, and this is a big however. The last 100 or so pages were OMG, explosive, exciting, freaking amazing! It totally made up for the rest of the book. When I was reading it I set myself a reading goal before bed to only read a little bit but I was completing drawn in to the book and the characters stories that I ended up sitting finishing the book and was left breathless with how the ending turn out.

So overall, I was slightly disappointed in the book but the ending was awesome enough that I can't wait for book two and see how this series develops and what's in store for Karou.






Rate: 3/5
PhotobucketPhotobucketPhotobucket




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Giveaway
UK and Ireland Only!




16 comments :

  1. It's a shame you didn't like it more but least you were honest with your review. Hopefully, I will still like it when I get around to reading it. :) - Donna

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the chance to win this book =)

    ReplyDelete
  3. It sounds like it needed a stricter editor, to tighten the fluffy bits. I get annoyed when I feel that a good book is hidden in something I'm reading, so many YA writers are being promoted as the next big thing without getting the opportunity to develop their skill set for writing - a good editor could help this development.
    ps: i would still like to win a copy ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. thank you for the review, im sorry you didnt really like it til the end, it sounds like something i will like :)

    thanks for the chance

    ReplyDelete
  5. Would love to give it a read!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'm with you I prefer more conversations with the characters. A five page description of the road they're traveling on gets boring to me.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Lets hope book 2 is much better then, I would still love to read the first though, x x

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks so much for the giveaway! I cant wait to read it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Love your review. I'm still working on this one...been on the same page for three days - due to un-book related circumstances - but it does have its slow spots (I am at one now). I recommend being able to sit with this book for somewhat lengthy reading periods (like an hour) or you won't build enough concentration/momentum.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi :) Thanks for the giveaway! Great review, just made me want this book even more now!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh no, please delete my entry as I did not see the geographical limits. Thanks for the lovely balanced review

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thank-you for doing this giveaway. This book looks interesting.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Awesome giveaway,
    I can't wait to read this =)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Awesome review!! Thank you for the chance to win the book! :D

    ReplyDelete
  15. A great honest review, sounds like a good read x

    ReplyDelete
  16. It's a pity that you were disappointed and didn't love it as much as you hoped. As for me I LOVED this book! Very original and amazing prose.

    A great honest review. :)

    ReplyDelete

// This Pinterest Hover Button is brought to you by bloggersentral.com. // Feel free to use and share, but please keep this notice intact.