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Karou is a 17-year-old girl living in Prague. She paints and goes to school. She has a dear best friend and a good for nothing ex-boyfriend. Karou is different. She has tattoos on her palms and an air of mystery about her. She knows magic and was raised by a loving foursome of demonic creatures. By night she runs strange errands for one of the creatures, Brimstone. Karou helps Brimstone collect human and animal molars and incisors that he strings together into ropes of charms. Where does Karou come from? Is Brimstone her father? And what does Brimstone do with all of those teeth? No matter how much she asks Brimstone refuses to answer Karou’s questions. On one of her errands Karou meets the beautiful Akiva and secrets are unveiled along with a  star crossed love. Will Karou live to regret the truth about herself? 

"Daughter of Smoke and Bone" is different - Laini Taylor sets the book apart from other young adult titles by creating an original world and fascinating characters. The brilliantly constructed fantasy is told backwards and the reader learns Karou’s past along with Karou. Short, action packed chapters raise questions about good and evil, the nature of hope, the futility of war and the enduring power of love. The descriptions in the book are beautifully written and there is a great satisfaction in learning Karou’s past the moment that she does and an equal amount of  frustration when Taylor leaves Karou’s future in question (obviously to be addressed by a sequel). 

In an article dated August 19th, 2011. The Wall Street Journal listed "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" as one of the books that publishers are hoping will court the Harry Potter audience and appeal to both adult and  young adult readers. The book is a pleasure to read – it draws you in and keeps you hoping for more.  

Review by Wendy Ward

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Hardcover)

By Laini Taylor

$18.99

ISBN-13: 9780316134026
Availability: Usually Ships in 1-5 days
Published: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 10/2011

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