Book Review - Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Often times I come across books that I like so much, I just have to tell someone right this minute. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor is one such example. During the last year, I have stayed away from young adult paranormal romance. I was tired of the same mythological creatures being paired together in every combination one could imagine (Fairies! Vampires! Werewolves! Witches! Angels! Zombies! Oh my!). I was also tired of the love triangles and the endless examples of wimpy female protagonists. When I met new characters, I want to be able to actually believe in their decisions and emotions, not have an overwhelming desire to march into the middle of the story and shake them until their teeth rattle around in their empty little heads. So, I cut back.

I was at this point when I picked up Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I knew it got great reviews in all the literature, which goes a long way towards convincing me it's worth a read. I was not disappointed. Although the author does use the words 'angel' and 'devil' in the opening lines of her book, the actual beings the author has created are very far removed from the typical Christian mythology. The 'devils', or chimera, in particular are as fantastical as my little fantasy loving heart could wish, evoking visions of the creatures from Pan's Labrinth and the darkest fairy tales. Additionally, the main female protagonist is the perfect blend of capable and vulnerable. True, she gets embroiled in a star-crossed romance, but she's no wilting flower. She fights just as hard for her family and her own future as she does for her man. She also (dare I utter the words) has interests and passions outside of her relationship. Pinch me, I'm dreaming. In short, Daughter of Smoke and Bone is a paranormal romance that I can recommend with enthusiasm. I will also be blogging about the book in December via the King County Library blog, Book Talk. See my draft review below and check this book out!

"'Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love...it did not end well.'

With that cryptic opening line, readers are swept into the Gothic, romantic world of modern day Prague in winter. We meet Karou, a beautiful young art student with blue hair, who draws fantastical creatures that look like something out of a dark fairy tale. She often tells her friends that her hair grows blue naturally and the beings that she draws are real, but of course no one believes her.

Unbeknownst to her friends, Karou is telling the truth. She has lived a double life for as long as she can remember. Some of the time she lives the life of a student with a mysterious past and the rest, she runs errands for her magical adopted family. More specifically, Karou is sent all over the world to collect teeth for her guardian, Brimstone - a creature that is half-man and half-ram. Brimstone buys teeth in exchange for wishes, some small and some very large indeed. Karou loves the creatures, called chimera, who brought her up, but she has always been curious about her past. What made these fantastical beings adopt and care for a human infant? Who and what is Karou?

Karou begins her journey to find the answers when she encounters Akiva. Akiva is a seraphim, a winged creature of fire. Akiva and his followers have been leaving burning hand prints on the magic doors that Karou and her family use to travel the globe. The two forge an instant connection that leaves them wondering if they have ever met before. With Akiva's help, Karou will indeed discover the key to her past, but the answers that she finds may prove to be impossible to bear.

Taylor writes a fantastical, romantic adventure, filled with beautiful descriptions and a whole new take on the mythology of 'angels' and 'devils'. Readers should absolutely check this book out, but be warned, it is the first in a trilogy - we have a bit of wait time until the next book comes out!"

Librarian Vocabulary -- "the item is a product of its time"

I often find myself using this particular bit of librarian lingo. As I spend much of my time interacting with co-workers and other library students (I know you're very surprised) I forget that this is not something that people use in everyday conversation.

I will most often use this phrase when discussing books that were written in the past. Basically what it means is that the item in question will have images, phrases, words or ideas that are considered anything from rude to outright offensive and even perhaps bigoted. In spite of this, the item in question is not without merit. I know the idea that a book may contain both offensive material and an excellent story or other good points may be odd to think about, but consider the following example.

The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé.
Children always clamor to read this series of comics and I don't blame them. The illustrations dynamic and colorful -- and so are the characters. Tintin himself is everything I wanted to be when I grew up. He is many things, among them clever, curious, interesting, talented, adventurous, a reporter, a detective and a friend. Tintin is a more relatable type of Indiana Jones -- adventuring with his ever-present companions Snowy the dog and Captain Haddock rather than lovely women. Tintin and the rest of Hergé's cast of characters solve mysteries in every conceivable locale across the globe. The volume within this series that causes the most controversy is "The Adventures of Tintin in the Congo" and rightly so. The African people that Tintin encounters within this adventure are presented in a manner that is incredibly offensive (see image below for a more descriptive example).

A frame from the comic "Tintin in the Congo"

I would use the phrase "this series is a product of its time" in this case to make sure that patrons knew that this volume was a part of the series and to be aware that it had some offensive material in it. Hergé began writing and illustrating this adventure in the early 1930s. Does that excuse the offensive material? No, but readers need to be aware of how common these views were. Does this series still have merit? Well, as always, it must be a personal decision, but I believe so. And so, for that matter, do Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson, who are making an animated movie of one of Tintin's adventures that is coming to theaters in December 2011. Read the comics before you see the movie!