Book Review: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2

Published by: Little Brown Books
Rating: 5/5

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.

Once upon a time there was an angel and a devil who fell in love and dreamed of a world of peace and where they could be together openly. So they fought hard and the day finally came where there were no more massacres or torn throats, and no more children taken from their mothers. Their dreams of happiness made in the moon's secret temple had come to pass and they lived happily ever after.

This is not that world and this is not their story.

This is a story of revenge, betrayal, deceit, of love lost and rivers of blood. But it also a story of hope and dreams of a better future.

 
I love this series. Laini Taylor is a wonderful story effortlessly weaving together the story of two worlds and two races at war. Days of Blood and Starlight explores the result of the choices Akiva and Karou made at the end of Daughter of Smoke and Bone and it's not pretty. Rivers of blood run through Eretz with both sides killing mercilessly and without remorse, targeting innocents as well as the soldiers. Karou has become the chimera's resurrectionist taking over from her mentor and father-figure Brimstone. But life under Thiago is not easy and his endgame unclear. Akiva has rejoined the ranks of the Misbegotten, attempting to uncover the truth of the thurible he found in the Kirin caves while undermining the orders or Joram. Who can they trust? Who is on their side?

So many twists and turns take place in this book and just when you think you know where it’s going Taylor throws another spanner in the works. I gave up trying to work out what will happen and just enjoyed the ride. It was fun, exciting, gasp-worthy and endearing; I ran the whole gamut of emotions making my way through this book.

The characters in this book are something special. Karou was heart-breaking to read, following her as she broke under Thiago only to find the courage to keep going, and when her friend was returned. Her despair over Akiva and the shame she burdened herself with was probably the hardest of all to read as through all the pain and anger she couldn’t help but love him, all the while knowing that it could never be again. Akiva can’t stop wanting her and through all the nasty words thrown at him he will do anything for her. I really want these two to get back together; I could feel their longing and their pain and just wanted everything to get better for them. Unfortunately, I feel Taylor is not one to give fans a happy ending just for the sake of it and fear that these two will never get to be together. But it wasn’t just these two that made the story. The secondary characters were just as amazing and quite a few had surprising development. I do not think there was a single character that I did not feel something for.

This is a dark and horror filled book where deeds of great evil are done but if you look beyond the surface there is friendship, love and hope. Fans of Daughter of Smoke and Bone will not be disappointed.


And as the angel and demon looked at each other from across the fire they knew the wall between them built from the events of the past could not be breached easily, if at all. But despite this their shared dream lived on. It would be a hard path and one that was different to that they first imagined. However, they still hoped and dreamed.

All the while the traitor king sat on his throne ordering blood to be spilt, and dreaming of being god.