Daughter of Smoke and Bone

By: Laini Taylor

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Length: 12 hrs and 33 mins

Publisher's summary

In a nation on the brink of war, a young art student's star-crossed love begins to bloom in the first book of the New York Times best-selling epic fantasy trilogy by award-winning author Laini Taylor.

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 grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

©2011 Laini Taylor (P)2011 Hachette Audio

love this trilogy

great writing and beautiful world building at most. really love love this trilogy so much

Something New!!

I have read a lot of stories about angels and the creatures they fight, but never one like this!!

This is a must listen to book!

STOP and LISTEN!

STOP and LISTEN! This audiobook is the FULL package! Fantasy, drama, war, love, sex... and that’s without even mentioning the theme - Once upon a time an angel and a devil fell in love!
I don’t know who to kiss... author or narrator! BOTH! XX Laini Taylor and Khristine Hvam!

Not your humdrum Angels and Demons

Very well written and exceptionally well narrated. A story that kept me interested and guessing most of the way through. There were a few places where I wish it had moved just a little faster (3 chapter long flashbacks are jarring. I would have preferred more, shorter flashbacks so we could stay intimate with the main plot). I waited to to get the rest of the series until after I finished this one, so that's telling 😀

Great Story

Great story. It took a little longer than I would have liked to get to the point. Too much build up for too long.

Unexpected Magic

I've seen mixed reviews on this novel so I've left it hanging out in my queue for a long time. I think it's turned out to be the most surprising listen I've gone through this year. I thought this series would be another Mortal Instruments, Crimson Bound or Shades of Magic series.

I think the lighthearted aspect of the lead, Karou, paired with an interesting take on wish-making sucked me in immediately. I like the underworld feeling and when the novel breaks into that magical place, that's the only spot I falter. I had a little bit of a stumble getting into the meaning behind a couple of key aspects and it could have been my own issue in not hearing it.

Regardless, this is a great start to the series and I'll be looking forward to continuing it!

Loved Khristine Hvam

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Yes, even though Khristine Hvam accents are silly some times, I loved it!

Do you think Daughter of Smoke and Bone needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

For me I am fine with how the story ended and I am not sure if I will pick up the next book. I really like the narration and the description of the characters, but I don't really think it needs a second book.

One of the most beautiful stories I've read!

This entire series is written in a way that is just beautiful. It skips back and forth between the past and present as you discover what is going on, but it's done in such a captivating way that I didn't get bored as I often do with flashbacks. I genuinely cared about all of the characters and the narrator did an absolutely perfect job performing. This is one of my absolute favorite books!

Complex, Entertaining and Challenging...but

Laini Taylor weaves a beautiful tale until she gets sidetracked and fails to recover the threads of the story before ending the book too abruptly.

Using simple words, beautiful writing and rich metaphors, Laini Taylor lays down the foundation for an amazing adventure. The witty, quick banter between Karou and her best friend, Zuzana, is light and refreshing. In contrast, Karou's pursuit of teeth on behalf of her "family" of monsters, her questions concerning who she is and how she came to live with them and the fantastic magical doors to different places in the world, is thrilling and exciting. The arrival of Akiva and the marking of the magical doors add to the intensity and complexity of the story.

Once the stage is set, however, the overall flow falls apart. The introduction of the world where Akiva and the “monsters” come from feels rushed. The Karou/Akiva romance feels false and forced. Things get worse when too much time is spent in the "flashback" Akiva/Madrigal story at the cost of further development of the Akiva/Karou story, and then, the book just ends.

Despite the abrupt ending and disappointing overall development, I enjoyed the writing, quotes and metaphors so much, that I plan to give "Days of Blood and Starlight" a try. I hope that Ms. Taylor can salvage a very promising story.

A great Christmas Read

What did you love best about Daughter of Smoke and Bone?

I was able to lose myself in a story I could not put down.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Daughter of Smoke and Bone?

When she flew for the first time it was incredible.

Any additional comments?

I liked how the ending was not just the romance all tied up into a nice package.