This is the third and concluding volume in a trilogy. I’m not sure I can actually review it without spoiling some of the previous books, so if you haven’t read them, skip this for now. Do check out the previous two books, though, as they are YA fantasy at its best. Book 1, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is reviewed here, and book 2, Days of Blood and Starlight is here. I can also heartily recommend the companion novella Night of Cake and Puppets for those who have read the first two books, but possibly not discovered this delightful interlude giving us the first date of Zuzanna and her Violin Boy.
“Once upon a time, an angel and a devil pressed their hands to their hearts and started the apocalypse.”
The last book, which was surprisingly dark and grim all the way through, considering how whimsical, mysterious and quite light the first book was. It certainly ended in a pretty dark and foreboding place, and the beginning of book three doesn’t exactly promise puppies, kittens, sweetness and rainbows.
The rest of the review is on my blog, so as to avoid any hint of spoilers for the unwary.
The ending really was incredibly tragic and poignant, and really, sadly, all too reflective of human history. I’ve been waiting to see your reaction. Great review!
Thank you.
I’m only 2/3rds of the way through and I adore Laini Taylor. I want her to be hugely successful and will definitely eagerly await whatever she chooses to write about next. And thus it is with great reluctance that I admit using my tiniest whisper voice…
I’m not loving this. The pacing is slow, there are many chapters where the plot doesn’t seem to progress much, and the “war is bad” message is simply relentless. Truthfully I felt this described the 2nd book but wrote it off to middle-book-in-a-trilogy syndrome. I figured it was the calm before the storm but I’m still waiting for the storm. I hate to admit this, like I’m speaking ill of a friend behind their back and I so want to love Angels and Demons.
But so far Karou has had little to do, Zuze has a few snappy lines, everybody’s all angsty and none of this ads up to much of a storm. Last 1/3rd to go so here’s hoping the finish (which apparently is tragic – oh no!) will turn things around for me.
I’m sorry if the sequels aren’t living up to your expectations. One of my friends found Daughter of Smoke and Bone absolutely unbearable, and couldn’t understand why the rest of us loved it so much. She has promptly refused to read any of the sequels.
Personally, the pacing and plot of this book worked very well for me. I can understand why it might not for others, though. I hope you’re not too disappointed in the end.