I really enjoyed this. It felt pretty substantial -- especially for a young adult novel -- with interesting characters, decent writing and a story that had some depth. I was kept completely engrossed by Khristine Hvam's narration. I've already downloaded the next book and can't wait to listen!

Very interesting and thought provoking story of prejudice, love and war. There's meat presented here for those who wish to ponder the beautiful and ugly in each soul, but it's wrapped into a pleasing package of fluid and unusual prose. The setting is described in lovely and haunting terms. The performance is very *very* good (brava on the male roles!), though I have given it 4 rather than 5 stars because of some jarring mispronunciations.

The second half of the book lags in a series of flashbacks that - in my opinion - might have been more interesting broken up and scattered more. However, I can see the wisdom behind presenting them as they are, as well, so I have not rated the story down.

Based on a simple overall concept, this is a creative and well written story: a very enjoyable bonbon of a book.

Refreshing, totally unbound, well narrated, and just completely worth it! I quickly bought book 2 ( just couldn't wait for more credits to be added, I paid anyway) I am holding my breath for the next addition. I can't wait to see where this author goes with this!

I loved this audio book! It was engaging and the narrator brought the characters to life

I wish I knew as I loved it

she did a great job separating all of the characters and really making you feel like you knew each of them

yes!! I was obsessed with it, I listen in my car when I commute and I found myself sitting in my driveway when I got home and not wanting to come inside because I was so into it

Love the book and the series keep up the good work. cant wait for the next book. credit well spent

gripping, epic, poetic

character and dialogue

anything with Zuzana

the descriptive writing was phenomenal

I can't wait for #3.

Audio:
The narrator, Khristine Hvam, was absolutely excellent. She read beautifully and the tone of her voice was a perfect fit. All the characters were uniquely portrayed and I found nothing at all to complain about as far as the audio went.

Story:
I was a little apprehensive to read Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Angel reads and I don't always have the most amicable relationship. Also, a few people who's opinion I trust did not fall in love with it. I think because of that I did not let the story fully engulf me until I was about a third of the way through the book. The characters were engaging from the start and the humor aspect was fun but it was a slightly slow start. However, once the story really started to develop it completely grabbed me.

Karou is anything but a typical young woman. She was raised by Chimera, demons ~ though she does not really understand that demons are really what they are. She grew up in a Wish Monger's shop and fetches him teeth whenever he is need. Yes, teeth. Teeth of all kinds, though she knows not what the teeth are for. In exchange he grants her wishes. Minor things, like her hair growing Peacock Blue or the sudden appearance, or disappearance, of tattoos.

Karou is a vivacious art student living in Prague, making up her life as she goes. She doesn't know who her parents were or where she came from. Her life is full of secrets and mystery yet, she is full of life and fun and a hard girl not to like. Though she is also utterly lonely inside the secrets she's forced to hold.

She has a wonderful best friend that warrants mention. Zuzana is a creative character and so, so much fun. She brings an element of lightness and playful cynicism. I adored her and think I would enjoy a book with her as the protagonist.

Karou's life changes entirely when the portals to her Chimera family are closed which coincides with Akiva (angel-boy) appearing in her life...and attempting to kill her.

Akiva will reveal answers to many of Karou's questions. Together they will unravel the mystery that is Karou and it will threaten to break them both.

Taylor writes with such a delicate hand. It has a nearly lyrical flow to it and I was enraptured by it. There were some shifts in points of view that did not always work though. Several times I became almost annoyed at the shift, it felt like we were rehashing too many details and I wanted the story to pick up its pace. I'm impatient that way... There is a ton of story here but there were times when the pacing was just not quick enough for me. Though, I think that may partially be because I couldn't wait to figure out where things were going. Again, I'm impatient that way.

By the end I was fully in love with many of the characters and the story itself. I am very excited to continue the series.

Though I'd seen Daughter of Smoke and Bone everywhere, I think I was avoiding it, assuming it was another one of "those" books: the standard YA fantasy about a high school girl who inexplicably gains the obsessive love of an angel and ends up saving the world or some such thing. And then, in possibly the weirdest book buying decision-maker ever for me, I spotted it on Laini's Pinterest page. Above a board filled with half man, half beast creatures, educated devils (I know this because they were wearing spectacles), spectacular angels, and drawings of all, was a smiling, pink-haired girl declaring simply, "I write fantasy books; my newest is Daughter of Smoke and Bone. My husband has awesome sideburns and my daughter's middle name is Pie." And I thought, maybe I was wrong about this being the same old fairy tale.

Turns out, I was.

At first, I wasn't convinced. But at about a third through, I was hooked. I'll admit there is a bit of that previously mentioned kind of story here, but it is far from same old. The writing is beautiful and characters interesting, nonstandard, and unexpected. The locations are wonderfully "there" and change throughout the story to new and enticing places. It is suspense and the unknown and lovely storytelling, but what really got me were the passages with Karou and Akiva. There were moments so deliciously well done, that I wanted to stop and rewind to listen again. But I couldn't, because I needed to know what happened next. And, in a way that only audiobooks can trap you, I found myself not wanting the trip to end. I was, more than once, simply sitting in the driveway listening because I couldn't bring myself to hit stop. Those "pages" were worth the whole book.

It's hard to tell more of the specifics without spoilers because, like all good books, the unwinding of the story is the best part. But I will say if you're a fan of anything in the genre, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is worth a try. The narration was flawless. And I've already purchased book two.

Let me just say this, these are some hardcore angels! Don't read this book expecting halos and harps. These angels come with swords and fire wings and they are beautiful and terrible and let me tell you it WORKS! And then there where the others. The others give new meaning to lions and tigers and bears-oh my! The tangle of beasts in this books are just as engaging and mysterious as they are monterous-in the physical sense that is. And the stories heroine is a blue haired 17yo artist who amazingly enough ties both worlds together without even knowing it. This is a wonderful book. I enjoyed every bit of it and i look forward to reading the entire series once it is available.
The reader does a wonderful job bringing all these bright and curious beings to life. Well done everyone!

Yes, it's so lovely. Rich pictures are painted, beautiful narration, amazing story, and characters you really care about.

Karou of course! A kickbutt heroine! Very lovable. Flawed, real. I like her.

Wonderful accents, a lovely pitch, good meter. She did great!

"Once upon a time, and angel and a devil fell in love. It did not go well."

Purchased the second book immediately after finishing this one. I couldn't wait to see what happened!