Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Release date: September 27, 2011
Publisher: Little, Brown
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 418
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
Ebook available from: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Around the world, black handprints 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 grown 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?

Where to start? I had a completely different idea of what Daughter of Smoke and Bone was going to be in my head when I began. I don't really know what that was, but it seemed awesome. Why my brain didn't pick up on the angel and demon clues, I do not know. BUT, when we got into that I groaned inwardly. While I honestly deeply enjoyed Laini Taylor's completely original and unrelated to practically all things angels and demons, I couldn't get that niggling idea that they WERE angels out of my mind. And I'm just tired of angels. So tired I couldn't even get past the prologue of Torment. I think a rereading of Daughter of Smoke and Bone, knowing what I'm going into will help me a bit, but at the same time, I really did enjoy it. Am I making sense?

The most striking and, honestly, the most enjoyable part of the book is Laini Taylor's genius writing. Her descriptions of the streets of Prague made me feel like I was there, walking along with Karou, experiencing the sights and sounds of the city. The atmosphere was ridiculously spot on throughout the whole book, and I always felt like my disposition was perfectly suited to the action. There's something almost macabre about the way the book is visualized, but it's beautiful. She brings out the darkness of the world through her settings and through her story. Reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone was a treat for my good writing denied mind.

I also found Karou to be a very compelling protagonist. She has lived this extraordinary life the people around her wouldn't imagine in their wildest fantasies. She has been shot, deals with the scum of the earth bartering for teeth, grew up with amalgam animals that are the stuff of fairy tales, and knows that wishes do honestly come true. At the same time, she's lived with more mystery in her life than anyone around her. She's not told what the teeth are for, where wishes come from, or even the origin of her chimera friends. Just that is fascinating by itself. Added in with the adventure Karou finds herself in, we are in for a riveting read.

In addition, I found that every character was there for a purpose. In a ridiculous number of books, aside from the integral players--in this case, Karou, Akiva, Brimstone, and Thiago, basically--anyone else is really not treated as important. This is completely untrue here. I adored Zuzana and laughed out loud several times in any scene she was in, and could tell she was a true friend to Karou. At the same time, that was not all she's around for in the book. She's a fleshed-out person, one who has a life aside from her dealings with Karou, though those are integral. This is my point. So many times we have characters thrown in just to serve as information spouts or as an obligatory friend, so someone doesn't seem like a total loser, and they fall flat. None of Laini Taylor's characters were like this, and for that I salute her.

Yes, it sounds like I'm raving. And there's a lot to rave about. But (yes, a BUT!) I couldn't help but feel that it suffered from the oft noticed lack of a developed romantic relationship. Sure, they're lovely looking people, but love and a relationship so world-moving as Akiva and Karou's tries to be should be based on a little more than attraction. Something more is alluded to in the story with Madrigal, but it didn't convince me. His life is saved, hooray. She did something out of the norm, hooray. But all he notices is her beauty and that she saves him. She notices his beauty and saves his life. Ta da! Love. This is really my only hangup, and why I gave it four stars. I'm hoping a sequel fixes this complaint and can earn five stars from me. I really want to, but, alas, cannot in good conscience.

Risk a paper cut? This is really a cut above many, if not most, crazily hyped books out there right now. I don't think anyone could regret reading it and don't worry about the angel thing. Not a problem. :)

I'm Cleaning Out My Shelves. Who Wants Some Free Books?

I've posted a new tab at the top of the page! On it, I've listed over 40 books that I'm looking to be rid of. Rather than bringing them to the secondhand bookstore I never go to (where the lady would hate me) I'm giving you all the chance to get them. They're a little random, but whatever.

All of the books except for some of the nonfiction ones are in good shape. I take good care of my books. :)

If you're interested in any of them, all you have to do is email me at papercutsblog@gmail.com and tell me which ones you want. I'm only asking that you pay for the shipping!

So please check out the books, and I'll have a few new reviews up this week! Happy New Year!!!

Top 10 of 2011: Characters

Welcome to my fourth post of "Top 10 of 2011", hosted by Rachel at Fiktshun, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic,  Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, and  Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books.. Every day this week various bloggers will be posting their top 10 lists. I think this is a great way to wrap up such a great year!


Whew! Today is the next to last day of this. Today we're talking about our top characters, and I decided to do a bit of a variation on this. I'm going to be a little different and do my favorite sidekicks of the year. This applies to most anyone who helps out the protagonist (or antagonist!), whether they're someone they meet in the course of their story, are their best friend, or are their cousin's sister's boyfriend. I just know this is going to make it harder... I suppose I'm up to the challenge. So the list is not quite accurate, three times I have two characters from the same book, and I guess I'm counting them as one and a third... The counting only goes to nine, but there are actually twelve characters in my list. Confusing, I know. :)


9. Angie & Ethan from Forbidden 

I don't know if it's sad that I enjoyed the two main character's friends more than I enjoyed the main characters. Angie and Ethan were everything their friends Levi and Hannah were not: driven, passionate, interesting, exciting. I don't need to go on. Even though we weren't really following them, I found myself much more invested in their story than I did Levi and Hannah's. Can the next book be about them please?


8. Harley from Across the Universe 

Harley is wonderfully artistic and faithful to the girl he loved. He was a great friend to Elder, and though his story had a tragic ending, he was the most memorable character in Across the Universe to me.


7. Lily from Hourglass

We didn't see much of Lily in Hourglass, which was disappointing to me. But in the little of her we did see, I found her to be the perfect best friend to Emerson. She was so supportive, understanding, and compassionate towards her best friend, all qualities that should be essential in friendship, though it's common that they're missing.


6. Skylar & Bethany from Every Other Day

Both Skylar and Bethany surprised me in more ways than one. Bethany seems to be the quintessential popular girl, the one who could care less about anyone but herself, yet she has a whole lot more depth. She cares that Kali saved her life and cares about what her family is involved in. Skylar is tiny and seemingly helpless, but she has surprising strength and buckets of loyalty.


5. Mrs. Northe from Darker Still

Mrs. Northe is not your normal kind of sidekick. She's much older than Natalie, yet takes her under her wing. She protects Natalie, but also helps propel her towards what really is her destiny. She encourages her to break out of the shell she's put herself into and helps her gain the courage to do what has to be done. She may be a different kind of friend, but she's definitely one of the best a girl could have.


4. Pamela from Dearly, Departed

Pamela is so cool. She badly wants to be a rich, proper lady but has a bit of a ruthless side to her. She does what has to be done to protect the ones she loves, including her best friend Nora. I don't think I've read about too many girls who killed a zombie with a parasol, have you? Everything she does, though, is to help her friends and family. She isn't at all selfish and does what she needs to, despite the cost. Definitely a best friend to keep around.


3. Roar & Cinder from Under the Never Sky

Roar and Cinder are too vastly different characters. Roar is fiercely loyal, compassionate, and loving. He fights for the ones he loves and for the helpless, and isn't afraid to sacrifice himself. Cinder is much more closed off. He has suffered hardships the other characters do not understand, but is still hopeful. He holds a power more vast and dangerous than anything they've seen, but desperately hates to hurt others except in the most dire of circumstances. Both are given precious little time in the book and I hope to read more about them in the second, and maybe move them up on my list next time! 


2. M from Warm Bodies

M is in no way, shape, or form a character I expected to like. When we meet him, we get the idea of the kind of person he was before he was a zombie, and still is. He is lustful and irreverent and doesn't seem to care for much beside food and getting his jollies. But as the story progresses, we learn that he is a very loyal friend to R, in whatever sort of friendship two zombies can form. He follows R in his journey and earns the same ending, showing he has the same kind of heart. Both, even dead, have the capacity to love and to change and to hope for greater things in life.


1. Bovril from Goliath

Yep! My favorite sidekick of 2011 is indeed a perspicacious loris. Bovril was such a fascinating creature to read about and he felt much more like a human character than an animal. He had a way of figuring things out way before the humans did, and always provided for some comic relief in his repetitions. Lorises are definitely creatures I wish I had one or two of, though I may love Bovril the most.

Alright! There you have it! My favorite sidekicks of the year. Do you agree with my picks? Or did I leave someone glaringly off the list? I was going by books I read this year, but is there some sidekick I just HAVE to read about? I'd love to hear opinions, and I'll see you guys again tomorrow for my final top 10 post! :)

Top 10 of 2011: Book Boyfriends

Welcome to my third post of "Top 10 of 2011", hosted by Rachel at Fiktshun, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic,  Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, and  Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books.. Every day this week various bloggers will be posting their top 10 lists. I think this is a great way to wrap up such a great year!


So today is our top 10 book boyfriends, and I have a feeling this is going to be the hardest list of the week. There are so many characters I love, so this should be interesting... :) This comes from books I've read this year, and not just ones that have come out this year. Tally ho!

10. Caleb from Eve: I love how he utterly disproves all Eve has ever learned about men, at least in some cases. I loved reading about his ruggedness and the fact that he wasn't just utterly beautiful. That made him more appealing to me. And I still can't get over what he did at the end. Swoon.

9. Alec from Fateful: So cute. He doesn't care about his situation in life in comparison to Tess', which I love. He also broke my heart, only to repair it quite nicely shortly after.

8. Marco from The Night Circus: Such a beautiful story, encasing a lovely romance between Marco and Celia. His determination and fierce love made me love him more every time he popped up.

7. Perry from Under the Never Sky: Yes, this comes out next year, but I read it this year. And loved it. A big part of this was Perry. He had such a capacity for love and such a determination to protect those he loved, even to a fault. Even as he fought love, he found it, and I found it too. :)

6. Cas from Anna Dressed in Blood: Oooooh Cas! I love his wit and his toughness. He is by far the most fierce seventeen year old I've read about recently, and easily the guy I'd like to be protecting me above just about anyone else.

5. Adam from Shatter Me: Part of my love of Adam stems from Juliette's narration, coupled with just his awesomeness. The way she describes how she feels about him and how she feels when they're together made me swoon a bit. Plus who can resist a guy who's been pining after the girl he loves for years??

4. Tucker from Unearthly: Is there any girl who's read Unearthly that hasn't fallen in love with Tucker? I mean the birthday present thing just gets me over and over. To me, he's the most realistic guy on this list and therefore even more irresistible.

3. Bram from Dearly, Departed: Not the first zombie I've loved, but definitely amazing. His unique condition makes his relationship with Nora all the more touching and lovely. They honestly believe love can cross uncrossable boundaries, and I love that.

2. R from Warm Bodies: No, he's not number one! :) R was the first zombie I fell in love with this  year. He's separated from the world he belongs to by his "illness" but fights for love and fights for a life beyond the end of the world as we know it. Almost nothing more irresistible than that. Plus he's a hopeless romantic. I mean listening to Sinatra records in an old plane? Adorable.

1. ASH ASH ASH (from any one of the Iron Fey novels, though especially The Iron Queen and The Iron Knight): I don't think anyone can unseat Ash from his throne as the most irresistible fictional guy in my book. The boy gives up his immortality and his throne for the girl he loves. He travels to unimaginable lengths for a chance to be with her. He risks his life time and time again to save her. He has some of the most romantic lines I've ever read or heard. In my mind, he's perfect.


So that's them. It's a pretty swoon-worthy list, if I do say so myself. I know people will probably least agree with my two (Yes, two!) zombies, but I stand by them. They were two of the most appealing and lovable male characters I read about all year, and that is why they're on the list. I'd have included other forms of mutated (I guess that's how I could put it...) humans if they stacked up, but no one really did. :) I'd love to hear it you agree with me! Or tell me why zombies are detestable, though I warn you, I will argue to the grave. Hehehe. Check back tomorrow read about my top 10 characters of 2011! I don't know how I'm going to do that one, but I think it'll be some kind of specific type... We'll see!

Top 10 of 2011: Book Covers of 2011

Welcome to my second post of "Top 10 of 2011", hosted by Rachel at Fiktshun, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic,  Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, and  Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books.. Every day this week various bloggers will be posting their top 10 lists. I think this is a great way to wrap up such a great year!

Today we're posting our top 10 covers! These are all books that have been released this year, and luckily don't have to be books we've actually read. I was very strict in what I considered to be one of my favorite covers, and it took a while to choose. There are tons of covers that I've loved, but these are covers that really struck me. Most of them I wanted to or want to read the book based almost solely on their cover. I could care less what they're about. For the ones that I read, they just happened to be great books as well. :)

10. Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay: I have yet to read this one, but every time I am in the book store I find myself gravitating towards it. I am somehow mesmerized by the girl sitting on the rock next to a roiling sea. I want to know why she's there, and in such a lovely dress. I'll be reading this one for sure, and honestly can't remember what it's really about.

9. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake: Yes, this was one of my favorite books I read this year as well as one of my favorite covers. I just love the black and white. It makes such a striking picture and really makes the red stand out. It's a lovely book inside and out, and I really can't recommend it enough.

8. Luminous by Dawn Metcalf: I have not read this one either, but the butterflies are what catch my eye. Their colors and variety are eye-catching and I can't seem to look away from the cover. I hope it's a good read as well.

7. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater: This conclusion to the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy didn't live up to my high standards in terms of story, but the cover completes a beautiful set. Just like the other two, it's a scene in the woods, created with only one color in silhouettes. While I may not be rereading the book time and time again, I've already found myself staring at the cover for stretches of time.

6. Darker Still by Leanna Renee Hieber: I am really not quite sure why this cover hits me the way it does. I've recently become strangely attracted to purple, so that could be part of it. But I also just love the dress the girl is wearing, and the image of her stepping into the frame whilst looking back at us. It fits the book very well, and makes for a good first impression.

5. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare: Story time! I originally read City of Bones by Ms. Clare, many years ago, because my friend Lily had shown me the cover. We thought it was weird, but the synopsis was intriguing. So she bought it, loved it, and had me read it, and I loved it too. Since then, I've become a bigger and bigger fan of her book's covers. Clockwork Prince is my favorite to date. I certainly can't get enough Jem!

4. The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman: I actually bought this books as a Christmas present for my mom, who loves reading as much as I do, and has the same rabid book-buying habit I do. :) While I haven't quite decided whether I will be reading it or not, I have spent a lot of time caressing and staring at the cover, both for it's captivating picture and for it's smooth feel. The girl on the cover is easily the most intriguing cover model I've seen all year, and really the only reason I picked up the book in the first place.

3. Possession by Elana Johnson: This is the perfect example of what flawless cover art can do. So simple, so clean, and so beautiful. I only mildly enjoyed this book, but could not get over the cover. I still look at it droolingly, though I don't ever think about the story.

2. Hourglass by Myra McEntire: This summer I was utterly obsessed with this cover. Utterly. I went into raptures over it. I ended up loving the book, but honestly I probably would've had to have a copy of it even if I'd hated it. It leaves such an enthralling first impression.

1. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin: I may be biased in this decision, sorta. I entered Michelle's preorder contest for Mara Dyer and actually won an archival print of the cover art, just the photo. The photo just blows my mind. I can't tell if he's pulling her up or down, but don't care. I love the ambiguity and mystery of it. It's definitely a photograph I would've bought had I seen it, well, anywhere. This is what makes it my favorite cover. 


So that's it for today! That was quite a bit harder than yesterday's post, though I anticipate tomorrow's will be easy. Hehehe. We'll be talking about book boyfriends! I know you'll definitely want to check that out. :) I'd love to hear if you all agree with me or why you don't! Have a lovely Tuesday!

Top 10 of 2011: Top 10 Books I've Read

Welcome to my first post of "Top 10 of 2011", hosted by Rachel at Fiktshun, Jessica from Confessions of a Bookaholic,  Lisa from A Life Bound By Books, and  Jaime & Patricia from Two Chicks on Books.. Every day this week various bloggers will be posting their top 10 lists. I think this is a great way to wrap up such a great year!


Today we're posting a (relatively) easy list: our top 10 books of the year. This is not necessarily books that came out this year, just ones that we read. I'm going to count down, and these are definitely in order. :) So without further ado...

10. The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa: This is really a mention for all of the Iron Fey novels. I read all four this year, but The Iron Knight was the best of them all. Julie Kagawa ended her series perfectly. There is no way I could imagine it any differently and would never want it to be different.
My review

9. Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson: Ultraviolet was so different from what I expected it to be that I didn't know what to think while reading. I figure some people will find and have found it hard to swallow, but the story is such a good one. The writing is spot on, but the story and emotions are also perfect.
My review

8. Bossypants by Tina Fey: I didn't give Tina Fey's book five stars when I read it earlier this year, and I probably still wouldn't, but it was definitely a highlight of my reading year. I've always loved Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock, but reading her stories made me appreciate her wry humor even more. Rarely do I laugh out loud when reading, but Bossypants had me in stitches.

7. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro: I read this book in January, but it has stuck with me through the whole year. The ideas and warning expressed in Never Let Me Go are poignant and very true, but presented in a way and in a story that makes them easy to swallow and a great read. A very timely tale.

6. Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake: I am a very hearty fan of happy things, things that don't make me fear the dark and empty places, but Anna Dressed in Blood was an exception to this rule. Anna is not a character one expects to love, but learning her story wins you over until you're as invested in the outcome as the characters.
My review

5. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi: There was a whole lost of buzz surrounding Shatter Me, and while I know others who didn't love it, I found Tahereh Mafi's distinctive style and idea to be perfect. I loved the almost stream of consciousness narration and thought the strikeouts were perfect to show Juliette's mindset.
My review

4. Delirium by Lauren Oliver: I've got a thing for dystopians. I love almost every one I read, but most of them don't capture my mind the way Delirium did. Between Oliver's fantastic writing and the well-developed world, I was hooked. The ending did me no favors in my haste for the second book, either.
My review

3. Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta: I read several Melina Marchetta books this year, and loved them all, but Jellicoe Road was the best. Her characters are always among the most realistic that I've read, but the ones at Jellicoe Road were fully realized and lovable.
My review

2. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern: The Night Circus was easily the best experience I had reading a book all year. The world created is utterly engrossing. I had a hard time pulling my mind away from it and getting on with my daily life, and certainly didn't want to.
My review

1. Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion: I seriously cannot recommend this book enough, if no one has noticed this year. I found Warm Bodies to be the most original and engaging book I read all year, with an unlikely hero that wins you over even though he's rotting. Isaac Marion has a very distinctive style that is at once beautiful and enigmatic.
My review



Well that's it!! I'll see you all tomorrow for another top 10 post! I'd love to hear in the comments what books you guys loved this year! Anything you think I should've mentioned?

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Release date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 400
Format: Egalley
Source: Publisher provided through Netgalley
Buy the book: Barnes & Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository
Ebook available from: Barnes & Noble | Amazon

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction.

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions.

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.

I have been excited for Under the Never Sky since the first time I saw it in the Winter 2012 Catalog from HarperCollins a few months ago. The cover is striking, with the streaks in the sky and the intense girl walking towards us. The synopsis is fascinating, with its mix of advanced technology and archaic tribes, and main characters that are the children of both. I am so happy to say I was not disappointed in the least.

It took me a good while to acclimated to the world of Under the Never Sky. With Dwellers living in Pods, and Outsiders living in tribes, many of which are mentioned, it was hard to get a handle of who was who and what was where. Once I did, I was set, but it was disorienting. We were also introduced to five people in quick succession in the first three pages, two of which held no bearing on the story, and I actually had to read the first few pages twice. There were also words that people used, the Outsiders mostly, that were never explained. They were obviously tweaked English words, but it was hard to tell how they were being used. I can only recall one time when a word was remotely identified, and it was Aria guessing about how a word was supposed to be taken.

After I got over my confusion, I really got into the story, though. I expected a whole lot more time spent in the Pods, understanding the life Aria lived, but very quickly she was out in the Death Shop (A phrase I loved). Quite a lot went on, and I found myself devouring the book at a rate that actually surprised me. I felt like each chapter something new and exciting and interesting happened or was revealed, and I was like a kid in a candy store.

I believe Under the Never Sky is very much a story of growing up for Aria and Perry. Each starts off their journey very set in their ways and their beliefs. They're both quite sure their opinions on things are correct, but each soon learns they are very wrong. What they have grown up believing is not what it seems, and the people they thought they could trust are not so trustworthy. As they grow closer and begin to understand the other's worldview, they learn the power and transforming power of love grown out of trust and companionship.

I adored Aria and Perry's relationship. It had a very real, unrushed quality to it. They start off their time together hating one another, thinking there is nothing worse in the world than the other. But as they learn each other's strengths and realize they're not so different, they fall in love in a very natural and sweet way.

Not even counting Aria and Perry, there are loads of interesting characters. Roar, first off, is hilarious and a lovely lighthearted relief in many of the serious parts. At the same time, he has his own woes and deepness, and I can't wait to hear more of his story, especially involving Liv. Cinder also piqued my interest, and though we don't really see him much, he plays an important role in the story and, I believe, in what's to come. He's an intense and sorrowful character that I want to know more about.

Under the Never Sky was more of a visceral experience than many books I've read recently. If you can get past the beginning and get into the world, Aria and Perry's journey will touch you and leave you screaming for more. (Especially after that ending!!)

Risk a paper cut? Get past the first few chapters, and Under the Never Sky is worth at least one cut on every finger. Indeed.