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lanid's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Minor: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Death, Genocide, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Blood, Trafficking, and War
ran_sophia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Genocide, Racism, Slavery, Torture, and Classism
Minor: Sexual content and Murder
queer_bookwyrm's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is book one in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. This was an interesting twist on the angels and demons story and lore with plenty of romance.
We follow Karou, a blue haired girl going to art school in Prague. Karou has a secret: she was raised by and runs errands for chimera in a different world. But she constantly feels lonely and feels like something about her is missing, that it's something she can't remember. Then black handprints are appearing on portal doors around the world and Karou is dragged into an ancient war between Angels and Chimera. One problem: Akiva the angel seems inexplicably linked to her. We get POVs from Karou and Akiva. Their romance is very sweet.
I really liked the angel and Chimera lore in this and that it wasn't connected to religion. Karou has to learn that magic comes at a price and no one is innocent. Hope was a major theme in the book and how it can be its own kind of magic. Taylor also reminds us of the importance of perspective. To the Angels, chimera are beasts and killers that need to be ruled over. To chimera, angels are cruel and brutal slavers. But the best part is that you can make a new way of life.
I look forward to the rest of the series!
Graphic: Rape, Suicide, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Slavery and Blood
Minor: Self harm
epsyphus's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Slavery, Violence, and War
Moderate: Animal death
navibo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Slavery
jenid8's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Death, Slavery, and Religious bigotry
charliebriggs96's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
⭐️⭐️⭐️.75/5
This book was so close to a 4⭐️ that I could taste it, but as usual I had some issues with it. But first, the positives. What a way to start a series! For one thing, it’s a great opener of a book. The first in a trilogy, it’s sometimes hard to grasp the readers attention like this book did. The characters, for the most part are cleverly crafted, full bodied and memorable. Some did lack in the background, or didn’t age well in terms of readability in the last 10 years since it’s initial release. Which did knock a little half point off of the total score, blame the mc’s friend, not me. However, I immensely enjoyed Karou, she was funny, kind, intelligent although sometimes naive. She and Brimstone and the other Chimaera held this book in place, which made the plot twist all more bittersweet. The reason why this book wasn’t a 4⭐️ was: pacing, the pacing started off strong, then went EVERYWHERE nearing the middle and end. Some of the characters, like I mentioned, haven’t aged well. And I am NOT a fan of ‘insta-love’. Even with the plot twist, it’s still instalove. And I hate it
Moderate: Death, Genocide, Slavery, Torture, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, War, and Injury/Injury detail
bookspaperink's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Violence, and War
Moderate: Gore, Violence, and War
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Slavery, Blood, Stalking, and Fire/Fire injury
littledosesofrandomness's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Sexual harassment, and War
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Alcohol
gingerale06's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Death, Slavery, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Fire/Fire injury