There once was a young artist called Karou who drew tales of monsters and demons that delighted and enthralled those around her.
But she has a secret, a secret that ties her to a dusty subterranean chamber, where her beloved guardian brokers dark deals in a place that is not here. A place that is Elsewhere.
Living with one foot in each world, Karou has never really known which one is her true home.
Now the doors to Elsewhere closing . . .
I have fallen in love – with a book!
With this book specifically.
I have had a look at some of the notes I had written while I was reading. They are:
Elegant
Beautifully written
I love this book!
After that there were no more notes because this book demands your full attention.
Set mostly in Prague my favourite city that I have never visited (yet but soon…) Daughter of Smoke and Bone is the story of Karou and the start of her journey of discovering who she is and where she comes from.
Angelic beings, demonic creatures (Chimaera), ex boyfriends and endles errands across the world all vie for her attention as do friends, art classes and the attempt to live as normal life as possible. Daughter of Smoke and NBone is the first book in a trilogy and for this I am so so happy – if i was being melodramatic (and no I am not above that) I would have said that I wept after I finished the book as it truly is a thing of beauty. This is not just Karou’s story although she is the protagonist it is also the story (I hope) of brimstone, Issa, Akiva and the story of a millenia old battle that is being fought in a world that is not our world but that has influenced our myths and beliefs.
I am pretty sure that Daughter of smoke and Bone will draw comparisons to some of Neil Gaiman’s Sandman, the multi-layered anrrative, the drawing in of myths and creatures that exist in stories and fable. It is very much its own story and what a story it is!
The story is such that I want to experience it again with no foreknowledge, to have that sense of wonder and delight as my eyes devour each page.
Ultimately this is a novel about love, self-discovery, magic and family wrapped up in adventure, magic and war!
Once you have picked up a copy of Daughter of Smoke and Bone you will find it very hard to put down but remember to hurry because the doors to elsewhere are closing!
WIN a copy of Daughter of Smoke and Bone with Teen Librarian. To enter leave a comment in the form of rhyming verse as to why you should win in the comments field. Competition will run for a week and is open in the UK & abroad. Winner will be chosen by me (Matt) on basis of humour and ability to rhyme.
