Days of Blood & Starlight

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor is the second book in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series.

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought.  She knows who she is- and what she is.  But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people.  Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

The Breakdown:
1. Taylor continues her amazing story in this book. She does not lose any of the magic in the second book, and her imagery is second to none. From the kabash in the Moroccan desert to the Serphim capital city, she brings the places to life.  Plus I love the additional minor characters she brings in to help tell the story.

2. There are many times in this book  that I just want to shake Karou and demand to know what she is thinking allying herself with Thiago.  Chick, you did not even like him really before he beheaded you.  I get that she is hurt by Akiva actions, but she does not even take the time to look at it from his point of view, after all when he acted, he thought the Chimera had killed her because she dared to love.  When she finally starts to see Thiago's true color, I practically leap for joy and screamed it is about time.

3. Speaking of Thiago, I did not like the little taste of him given in Daughter of Smoke & Bone, but this book really made me despise him. He is suppose to be some great champion of his people, but he leaves them vulnerable in order to carry out revenge.  He is cruel, and a sociopath.

4. I was so proud of Akiva's reaction to everything.  He makes a stand to start the dream of peace that he had with Madrigol. My heart breaks for him because of Karou's treatment of him when he loves her so much.

5. I really grew to like Hazael in this book.  He has an easy going charm to him, and more than once he shows he has a kind heart.

6. Wow, the last third of this book is so packed with important developments that really set the stage for the last book.  A division among the Serphim ranks, and Karou makes her stand for what she believes in.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
The Kingmakers
by Clay Griffith & Susan Griffith