Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor (review by Maya V. '17)

Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The last book in its trilogy, Dreams of Gods and Monsters is a warming, heart wrenching, and fulfilling finale. After years of the chimaera and seraphim warring brutally against each other, the two races are devastated. The few chimaera monsters left are being resurrected regularly after losing battles. The seraphim race has split into two armies: one led by the new king, Jael, who plans to invade Earth, and another called the Misbegotten. In this sequel, Karou of the chimaera, the main character of this trilogy, and her love interest Akiva of the Misbegotten unite their races to defeat Jael. With their shared dream of uniting their people forever, they fight to bring harmony to the land of Eretz. This novel completes the epic trilogy with no questions unanswered. Every detail of the characters’ lives, the history behind the land of Eretz, and the mystery of the seraphim’s magical powers are explained magnificently. The interesting look into the side characters’ personalities makes the novel even richer with side stories and backgrounds. However, to thoroughly enjoy and appreciate this novel, it is vital to read the preceding two books. This title is a must-read for young adults! - Maya V. '17

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Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor (review by Maya V. '17)

Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Days of Blood and Starlight does not disappoint. Karou is now in the Middle East, living with the only chimaera left in the land of Eretz. After finding out about her past life and true identity as a part of the chimaera race, she feels that she must take action and save her people in the war against the angels. After her forbidden romance with the enemy, she is completely focused on helping the chimaera army grow stronger. However, she struggles to prove herself worthy to the others, who do not believe she can handle being a leader. She does not know which path to take: Should she continue to fight for power and lead the chimaera army to victory, or should she return to her mundane life as an average teenager? Should she seek help from the enemy, who she once trusted? This novel is a wonderful continuation of the first book in the series. The storyline grows more intense, nerve racking, and addictive after only the first few pages. Having read the second book with the same passion as the first, I can barely wait until the third is released in spring! – Maya V. ‘17

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Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (review by Maya V. '17)

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Daughter of Smoke and Bone tells the story of a teen on a journey to discover her true identity. Karou, a young art student, knocks on a door that can only be opened from the inside. It leads to a house in the middle of an unknown realm; she is not allowed outside this house. Her only family is four chimaera that collect all sorts of teeth. Suddenly, strange handprints start appearing on doors, and before she knows it, she is left alone. Where did her family go? How was she born into that alternate world? Is she even human? Even though the novel is quite lengthy, I can assure you that you will finish the book wishing that it was even longer. Taylor does such an excellent job of foreshadowing events that you will not be able to sleep before finishing the book. If you are a fan of plot twists, fantasy, romance, and violence, this book is definitely for you. – Maya V. ‘17

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