In the streets of Prague there wanders a girl whose blue hair is only the tip of the iceberg. Karou's an incredible artist, speaks a dozen languages and may or may not have been raised by a bunch of monsters. You never can quite tell if she's serious about all those stories. Regardless, her life is not...ordinary.
And while she skips between worlds, running errands for the creature that raised her, a solid emptiness reminds her that something is missing, something that might involve nasty old teeth, scorched hand prints on doorways and an alarmingly beautiful creature that seems familiar in a way that he should not.
Soon enough, Karou realizes how much more there is to her own strange upbringing than even she knew and it isn't long before she is aware of the battle that is raging right under her nose.
OH MY WORD. Can I just say how refreshing it is to read a book that I never wanted to let out of my hands? A book that filled me with new ideas with a poetically fresh way of writing and characters that had my heart? I love how strong and yet aware Karou is, how loyal and loving. The fantasy world of this novel was spectacular - I never would've thought that I could feel so invested in non-human creatures. And LOVE in all that? Some wonderful love, let me tell you.
Angels and demons, monsters and humans - all are, whether they know it or not, embroiled in a conflict that I couldn't easily pick sides in, and THAT is some good writing. To truly help me as a reader to feel sympathetic for both sides in a war is a serious accomplishment - and what's wonderful about that is that she helped me remember that really, in the end, it doesn't matter who started it or who is most in the wrong. What matters is one person deciding that peace is a goal with making change for.
And somehow she gets this message across without being cheesy or flippant. All I really want is to know how it ends, darn it, so just be aware that there is going to be more. I'd just like it now, please.
note: if you're interested in the content of the books I read, please go to http://ratedreads.com
2 comments:
This book is way outside of my comfort zone but it seems everyone who's read it loves it. I need to get over myself and give it a tray.
oh, I ADORE Laini Taylor's writing. If you get a chance, check her other books out. You won't be disappointed. (oh, and I love her art, too.)
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