Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Author: Laini Taylor
Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1
Pages: 432
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5/5

Summery:
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 otherwordly 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?


Review:

Wow.  Just wow.  I can't believe I waited so long to pick this book up. It's amazing.  It is 432 of pure joy to read.

Really the best word to describe every little bit of this book is amazing: amazing writing, amazing story line, amazing characters, amazing idea, amazing action, amazing everything.  This book is just amazing.  The writing was perfect, flowing together effortlessly and it really draws you in.  The story line was really good.  All the events flowed together perfectly and there was great staging.  Even though it was a bit slow at times it is one of the best story lines I have seen in a long time.  I loved the cast of characters because they all contributed to the story so much.  And the way Taylor created this whole new world was amazing.  She explained it in such detail that you felt like it was real.

Like I said, I adored this cast.  I haven't seen a truly strong female character in quiet some time, so I was super excited when Karou became just what I was looking for.  She ranks up there with Yelena and Avry (both from Maria V. Snyder books).  She is strong, kick-ass, and can totally take care of herself.
And, of course, there is the swoon-worthy man in the story: Akiva.  While I do really like him, I don't love him.  I think that of all the characters he is one of the least developed.  We got to know Karou really well but not really Akiva.
I also really liked Brimstone.  He was the father that Karou never had, and he was just so caring and he really took very good care of Karou, which I think is great.

One more thing before I sign off.  I don't usually pay attention to titles when I read books, but this one is amazing.  It goes perfectly with the story.  It really describes it perfectly, and I think everyone will realize that when they read this amazing book.

Review: Fever

Author: Lauren DeStefano
Series: The Chemical Garden Trilogy #2
Pages: 341
Format: Hardcover
Rating: 5/5

Summery:
Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind. 

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness. 

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.


Review:

I must admit, I didn't come into this book thinking I would like it.  I read Wither a while ago and it was okay for me, but this book...this book is something special.

I loved it.  Loved loved loved it.  The writing, the story line, the characters, everything, it was all perfect.  Although it was boring at some times, I still really loved the series of events that lead to the climax, which is what should happen in any book.  The adventure was great, and the writing topped everything off and really made this book wonderful.

In the first book I wasn't really a big fan of Gabriel.  Well, I am now.  Love love love love him.  He's so sweet and caring and sexy and just PERFECT!  Why oh why can't he be real!?
I also really really liked Rhine.  She was such a strong character, one of the strongest I've ever read about.  She was smart, kick-ass, and strong.
And, of course, I have to mention the little cute baby in this book, Maddie.  I really liked her.  Although she couldn't speak she had personality, and I think DeStefano did a great job developing her.

Before I sign off I have to say one more thing.  I hate this cover.  It looks like she drugged out.  After the amazing cover that was Wither this one really disappoints.  But, that isn't a big enough thing to make me hate this amazing book! :p