Teaser Tuesday: Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

It's been such a long time since I did my last TT post!

This weekly bookish meme is host by MizB @ Should Be Reading

To participate you:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn¡¦t give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
5. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers

***

This week I choose Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

Damn.

Shaking. Pressure building. The sting behind her eyelids, and all of it out of her control.

Damn damn damn.

Add Dreams of Gods and Monsters on Goodreads:

Night of Cake and Puppets: Review

Synopsis:

In Night of Cake & Puppets, Taylor brings to life a night only hinted at in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy—the magical first date of fan-favorites Zuzana and Mik. Told in alternating perspectives, it’s the perfect love story for fans of the series and new readers alike. Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her “rabid fairy,” her “voodoo eyes” are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or “Violin Boy,” her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to meet him, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It’s a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter’s night before finally leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy’s not going to know what hit him.

***

Night of Cake and Puppets is one of the very few books that I consider it cute and beautiful at the same time. If you like Zuzana and Mik, this is one that you won't want to miss.

Laini's words are always beautiful, but this time it has a kittenish streak in it which makes the book really cute. I can't stop grinning the whole time I read this book. The book is told in dual point of views (Zuzana's and Mik's), which makes things infinitely better. I couldn't get enough of Violin Boy's point of view. 

Zuzana's personality is remarkable. She is really creative with the treasure hunt for Mik and her tricks are real good (like a fairy :D). She has this kindred spirit that it's hard not to like her. She really stands out this time. I also like that even Karou is doing her business, they are best friends no matter what. Oh and Karou is the cheerful girl we met in Daugher of Smoke and Bone again. Perfect :)

Fun and quick. If you like the couple, you won't want to skip this.

Rating: 8/10

Teaser Tuesday: Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor

This weekly bookish meme is host by MizB @ Should Be Reading

To participate you:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) teaser sentences from somewhere on that page
4. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
5. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

***

This week I choose Night of Cake and Puppets (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2.5) by Laini Taylor

"Caught it," Karou repeated. "And where do grandfathers catch... undead fox Cossacks?"

"In Russia, of course."

"Of course."

Add Night of Cake and Puppets on Goodreads:

TBR #5: Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor

A Daughter of Smoke and Bone novella by Laini Taylor! And guess what? The novella features Zuzana and Mik, two of my favorite characters! Oh yeah this is gonna be good :)

Synopsis:

In Night of Cake & Puppets, Taylor brings to life a night only hinted at in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy—the magical first date of fan-favorites Zuzana and Mik. Told in alternating perspectives, it’s the perfect love story for fans of the series and new readers alike. Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her “rabid fairy,” her “voodoo eyes” are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or “Violin Boy,” her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to meet him, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It’s a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter’s night before finally leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy’s not going to know what hit him.

Publication date: November 26, 2013

(Oh yeah, November. Yet another month of craziness)

Synopsis Reveal: Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

Aren't you excited? After the name reveal, we finally have a blurb of Dreams of Gods and Monsters, the third and the final installment of Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy by Laini Taylor!

Synopsis:

Dreams starts where Days left off, with Karou and Akiva discovering each other alive — although Karou is still not ready to forgive Akiva for killing the only family she’s ever known. And now, through an act of staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance.

When Jael’s brutal angel army trespasses into the human world, Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves – maybe even toward love. But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera, and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

***

This. Is. Gonna. Be. Nuts. I think I will like this book! It's going to be awesome!

Dreams of Gods and Monsters will be released at... April 2014?! It's too far away! 

Name, Cover Reveal

Names and covers. Always and forever my favorite. And we have a bunch of awesome things here:

1. Cover Reveal: The Runaway Queen (The Bane Chronicles Part 2) by Cassandra Clare and Maureen Johnson

Now I know what Cassie means by "The Bane Chronicles' cover will be a combination of a little bit of each cover"! And really gorgeous hand... for a warlock XD

 Synopsis:

Magnus Bane has a royal role in the French Revolution—if the angry mobs don’t spoil his spells. One of ten adventures in The Bane Chronicles.

While in France, immortal warlock Magnus Bane finds himself attempting to rescue the royal family from the horrors of the French Revolution—after being roped into this mess by a most attractive count. Naturally, the daring escape calls for invisible air balloons…

This standalone e-only short story illuminates the life of the enigmatic Magnus Bane, whose alluring personality populates the pages of the #1 New York Times bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices series. This story in The Bane Chronicles, The Runaway Queen, is written by Maureen Johnson and Cassandra Clare.

The Runaway Queen will be released on May 21, 2013

***

2. Name Reveal: Taken #2 by Erin Bowman

Actually I just see the name by accident. But then, it's a nice name. Although I wonder what that means... here's it:

Frozen

Interesting...
 
Frozen will be released in 2014 (no more accurate information about the release day, sorry)

***

3. Name Reveal: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3 by Laini Taylor

The popular sequel of Days of Blood and Starlight finally has a name. Truth to be told, I'm quite pissed when I found out this book isn't released until April 2014. But finally the name is here and... aww, it is a beautiful name:

Dreams of Gods and Monsters

See that? This is surely one of my favorite book names in this year! Does that mean angels and demons can co-exist without constantly irking each other? Because that will be the best news for not just Karou and Akiva, but also us!

And just for a tease, here's the not-so-much-of-a-cover cover with the book's name on it:

I have a feeling this will be a gorgeous cover! I wonder who will be behind the words (probably Karou) and how he/she will dress...

***

The nicest part of hell breaks loose today...

Days of Blood and Starlight: Review

Summary:

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?

***

You know what? This book is cool and not cool at the same time.

The cool part is that the book is a hell of a ride. All the Thiago threats, Karou trapped in the sandcastle, Akiva's devastation, they all swing my emotions like hell. Especially the Karou part. Speaking of her, what the heck is wrong with her? Why such hatred? Yeah, I completely understand that Akiva killed many chimaera and her family. But Akiva didn't want it. He was devastated. I don't expect her forgive Akiva. But what is with her attitude? And she keeps trying to bury her emotions when no one actually cares she is the Angel-Lover. Never once in my life did I get so angry and hate a female character so much. Yeah, you heard me, HATE. And her bleakness is really annoying. 

But Days of Blood and Starlight isn't all good. Hate to say it, because at some point I admire Laini Taylor's writing skills. But this book is far too long. I mean, what's with 84 chapters? Not to mention that I have to read it for DAYS to finish it. And you know what? I have to prepare for my exams(sorry, this is not an excuse, but I just wanna say the book is so FREAKING long). This book is long, and at some point I thought I was gonna drop the book in the middle.  

The book ends with Karou and Akiva's reunion, happy. Good ending, right? Yeah, it kind of does, because I'm so sick at Karou being so cold on Akiva. But there's a problem about the ending. I mean, Karou's hate for Akiva had gone so deep throughout the book and the lack of mention of Akiva in Karou's pov is proof for me. Even though with Issa's reassurances and conviction, I'm still so surprised that Karou actually get back to Akiva. Don't you think that's odd when one's hatred for another is so deep that he or she cannot bear the sight of the another, but suddenly he or she go "it's alright, I love him/her."

Yes, Days of Blood and Starlight is a really good book considering the author's spectacular writing skills and the setting is just unique and awesome. But I'm still considering whether to read the third book or not because I'm kinda sick of the mention of Karou now and I think the book can be so very long.


Rating: 6.5/10

Daughter of Smoke and Bone: Review

Another worldwide bestselling series! Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Summary:

Around the world, black hand prints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grows dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

***

Well, I think this book is quite good, actually. Weird, but great.

Okay, so the storyline sets in Czech Republic, which is quite remarkable because Czech Republic is not exactly the most famous countries around the world. And I guess there are so dark myths in Czech that is very worth writing. I won't dwell on it. But I think the setting of the storyline is quite fresh.

So there's Karou, which is a goodhearted sort-of-devil-girl. Not the typical heronie, because she still got her really girlish-hateful side. Well, not that "hateful", but still. Which is another "fresh" start considering my recent reads are all about dystopian novels or adult novels.

And there's Akiva, which is quite weird because he is not your typical goodhearted seraphim either. I mean, he's not a bad guy, obviously. But he's not that good either. And he loves a devil before, which is quite WTF because they are enemies in NATURE, okay? But he is not flawless, which is good because I'm so done with too-flawless boys.

What I like the most is the whole relationship. Basically, from what I read in the past, devils are not capable of love, remorse, or any emotions other than want, hatred, anger, greed, etc. And they DON'T have souls. But in this world, devils are... well, not that evil actually. I mean, obviously there are plenty up into no good, but there are good ones like Madrigal and Brimstone which is CAPABLE of love. Very astonishing, I have to say. It totally overthrow my long-last strategy of devils from TMI and TID.

And there's the multiple point of view thing, which is... very strange. And honestly, not always a good thing. Well, let's see. The book starts in Karou's point of view, which is... normal. And then without any warning, it suddenly switches to Akiva's point of view and then their povs crossed for about half a book. Relatively normal. But there's the whole time jumping thing, and this is quite annoying. Sometimes the storyline is set 17 years ago, and sometimes it's about now. And the whole part of Madrigal pov is... I can't say annoying, because it's a main part of the story. But I'm a little pissed at the Madrigal pov thing.

The world is quite new to me, with all the love-capable-devils and not-so-good angels and all the very messy stuff.

Rating: 7.5/10