Dreams of Gods & Monsters By: Laini Taylor Review

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So here is the last book in yet another YA trilogy. There is definitely an over abundance of YA trilogies right now in literature. Nowadays if I know it's a trilogy I always hesitate to read it. However I keep breaking down and reading them anyway. I have read my fair share of YA trilogies (and series in general), but I find that I don't like how a lot of them END. I come across a lot of YA series that the first one is fabulous, but the rest of the books suck. Or the series starts out great then slowly declines with each book until I get to the last one and it sucks so bad I want to hit myself in the head for starting the damn series in the first place.

This is NOT one of those trilogies. 

The last book is AMAZEBALLS. Just freaking fabulous!!! THE ENDING!!! OMG!!!!!

I am so happy after finishing this series. Laini Taylor did not let me down on the last book and I am so grateful for that. The Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy has definitely become one of my favorite series of all time. 

When Dreams of Gods & Monsters started off with Jael coming into the human world I was a little bit worried how the book would go. I didn't want a whole angels VS. humans thing to ensue and then other plots get pushed aside. Luckily I didn't need to worry because the book was still focused mainly on the Seraphim and Chimaera. 

I just can't get over how good this was. By the time I ended the book I couldn't even move. I was stunned by all the feels I was having. 

This is one of those series that when you finish you have to take a little time afterwards to just sit and think about it. The ending was so satisfying and the love story just completely left me in awe. I love Laini Taylor's writing. She has excellent and well fleshed out characters, crazy good world building, superb plot lines, and unique ideas. We need more YA trilogies/series like the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series.

My only complaint....


It's very minor and it didn't change my star rating... but....


I was not to pleased with all the Stelians, Scarab, and Eliza things that were happening in this book. I feel like there was a LITTLE bit of a lead up for the Stelians in the last book, but it seemed like Scarab and all the barriers of space and time crap just came out of left field. Then Eliza just popped up out of nowhere. It was a little too thrown in last minute for me, but by the end of the novel I was able to accept it and enjoy the book.

Overall Dreams of Gods & Monsters had me like----

I recommend the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series to EVERYONE. Yes, this series is THAT good.

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Daughter of Smoke & Bone By: Laini Taylor Review

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WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I really wish I had read Daughter of Smoke and Bone earlier. Thank you to my Facebook friends for recommending I get with the program and read this one. I feel like a bit of a dummy now for having put it off for so long. If  the summary sounds even somewhat intriguing then take my advice and

Black handprints begin to appear scorched onto doorways by winged creatures all over the world...

Karou lives in Prague and she is an art student with blue hair, blue hair that grows out of her head that way. She draws monsters in her sketchbook and she is always running mysterious "errands." On one of these "errands" Karou meets Akiva and things get really interesting after that. Karou doesn't know who she really is, but she's about to find out!  Daughter of Smoke and Bone is filled with fantasy, magic, mystery, angels, a star-crossed love and some very unique creatures. 

I CAN'T get over how good this book is. To start off, the setting in Prague is different and perfect for the story. The description of Prague and the characters are so BEAUTIFUL. I found it very easy to imagine everything and get swept into the story. Daughter of Smoke & Bone is a book that I want to crawl inside. I want to burrow myself in between the pages and live in the world Laini Taylor created.

I must say I was shocked to find such an original and enchanting novel. I really didn't know what exactly the book was about when I started reading it. I'm so glad that I didn't know what to expect because everything was such a pleasant surprise. (Which is why I am trying not to give too much away here!) Daughter of Smoke & Bone is a breath of fresh air in the YA/Fantasy genre. Sadly this is a genre where there are too many books that just don't bring anything new to the table.  

Also, the characters in this book are just SO GOOD. I love the relationships! The relationships between Karou and her bestie Zuzanna, Karou and Brimstone, and of course Karou and Akiva. The relationships really got me right in the feels.

 #awww 

Especially Karou and Akiva and how they couldn't NOT touch each other. 

#awww

The writing is just off the charts! I was blown away by the entire novel. After finishing this book I just can't stop thinking about it. My heart is still feeling for the characters and my mind is still trying to figure out what's going to happen next. I can't wait to go buy the next two books when I have the money. Seriously, I can't recommend this book enough.  Daughter of Smoke & Bone is one of the best YA/fantasy books I have read in a long time. The last time I was this excited about a YA/Fantasy series it was the Throne of Glass series. Daughter of Smoke & Bone has EVERYTHING. I'm definitely going to have a hard time getting into my next read after this one, that's for sure. 

Just do yourself a favor: 

Stop reading this and immediately go read Daughter of Smoke & Bone if you haven't already! 

I recommend this for EVERYONE, EVERYONE, and EVERYONE. 

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What's Next? -- Daughter of Smoke and Bone By: Laini Taylor

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I have heard so many good things about the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series. I have many friends on Facebook and Goodreads that keep telling me I need to read it. I think it's time I finally read the first one. I want to see what all the fuss is about! I'm going to be starting it tomorrow or Monday, so if anyone would like to read along with me and discuss the book, then please do! Whether it's your first time reading it or you've been needing to re-read it, it doesn't matter. I would love to read the book and discuss it with people as I go along. I could even start a group on Goodreads for it if you like. Let me know if you are interested! You can look up the blurb on Goodreads in case you want to see what it's about. It has an average rating of 4.06 on Goodreads with 162,364 ratings right now. So surely it will be a good one!!

I did make a group on Goodreads here is the link. Daughter of Smoke and Bone Read-a-long

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