Review: Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

Title: Muse of Nightmares Series: Strange the Dreamer #2 Written by: Laini Taylor Published: October 2, 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep.  Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice—save the woman he loves, or everyone else?—while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the muse of nightmares, has not yet discovered what she's capable of.  As humans and godspawn reel in the aftermath of the citadel's near fall, a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, and the mysteries of the Mesarthim are resurrected: Where did the gods come from, and why? What was done with thousands of children born in the citadel nursery? And most important of all, as forgotten doors are opened and new worlds revealed: Must heroes always slay monsters, or is it possible to save them instead?  Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Strange the Dreamer.

I don't think I can coherently explain my thoughts and feelings about this book even after waiting a day to write this review. Strange the Dreamer was my first Laini Taylor book and it is what convinced me she is a master storyteller who writes beautifully unique worlds. This book absolutely showed that.

One of the things I liked the most about this book was the world. Laini is definitely a master at crafting engaging and unique worlds. In Strange the Dreamer we were first introduced to the Mesarthim and the Godspawn and here we learned even more about them. Laini took us back and we got to see some of them in action and they were just as dark and complex as I expected. Through the course of that we also got to learn about some new powers and see them in action. I love books with magical systems like this and I found these ones truly fascinating. But being that this was Sarai's book there were also some really great parts where she explored her powers and what they mean now. But the best thing about the world of this book was how it relates on a larger scale. I am so glad that I read the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy because there was some connection to that series and it keeps doors open for future series within this world which I am very excited about.

Also, I really loved about this book is the characters. I feel like this is going to be my theme for the month, but this was a book full of dark characters doing bad things for good reasons. I don't think I was expecting that from this book but I was expecting complex characters which is what I found. Lazlo and Sarai were are our main characters here and I definitely fell in love with them in the first book in the series. And while the first book was more about Lazlo, here it is very much Sarai's opportunity to take the lead. Sarai is the kind of character who is kind and supportive but has this terrible power that can very easily be used for evil. I loved getting to explore that more. But being that we got more of Sarai we also got more of the rest of the Godspawn which was amazing. We learned a lot more about Minya here which was so fantastic because she is definitely the complex and dubious character that I love reading about.

But I think the reason the characters in this book are so good is because the heart of this story is about family. There are so many concepts about family and love explored in Muse of Nightmares. I love books that deal with that, especially books that explore the idea of found family and that's what we Sarai has only ever know the Godspawn as her family and now having her real father in the picture that is changing. Lazlo has never really had a family and finding people who he is related to he now has that for the first time but navigating that can be difficult. And then there are these really great flashbacks between Nova and Kora who are sisters that get separated and it added a lot to these themes and the plot in general.

And the plot here was really good but again I felt like it lacked a little cohesion. I guess I'm just realizing that this is just how Laini writes. There are always a ton of perspectives and a ton of people who have different agendas. In the end everything ties together well but along the way it just seems confusing and muddles. I felt like with Muse of Nightmares you had two different storylines. You had the Kora/Nova storyline and you had the Minya storyline. We were already invested in the Minya stuff because of Strange the Dreamer so it took awhile to get into the second one. I knew they had to be connected somehow so I was looking for them which made me engaged in that portion of the book but I think for a lot of readers that is going to be a bit frustrating. But thing that was more annoying for me was the way it ended. It knew this was a duology so when we reached the ending I was ready for it to be over. And it had a really satisfying conclusion. Then suddenly we get a prologue with a backdoor to return to the series. And while I would love to go back, it kind of soured things a bit for me. If you are going to end it, end it, don't leave me wanting more and then say... maybe you'll it one day.

But all in all, this was a really fantastic book. it had a unique and engaging world, fantastic and complex characters, and a plot full of mystery and adventure. It was a great conclusion to the series which is absolutely one of my favorite YA fantasies now.

I give Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you loved Strange the Dreamer you definitely need to read this one. It was just as good as the first book and I loved the direction the story took. If you are looking for a new YA fantasy and you haven't read this, change that immediately.

Have you read Muse of Nightmare? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

Title: Dreams of Gods and Monsters Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3 Written by: Laini Taylor Published: April 8, 2014 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Two worlds are poised on the brink of a vicious war. By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera's rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her.  When the brutal angel emperor brings his army to the human world, Karou and Akiva are finally reunited - not in love, but in a tentative alliance against their common enemy. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves.  But with even bigger threats on the horizon, are Karou and Akiva strong enough to stand among the gods and monsters?  The New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy comes to a stunning conclusion as - from the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond - humans, chimaera, and seraphim strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

I am so glad that I took the time to marathon this series in September. I know so many people love this series and I totally understand why. The writing is beautiful, the characters are likable, and the plot is thrilling.

One thing that continues to blow me away about this book is the world-building. With each book the world gets bigger and more interesting and this one was no exception. Here we learned even more about Eretz and the supernatural entities that inhabit it. Here I think the focus was much more on the Seraph. We learned more about their history and some of their forebearers which I found completely fascinating especially because there were some big reveals and surprises. We also learned more about the Stelian, a race of Seraphs that we have only heard mention of before owing to the fact that Akiva is half-Stelian. They were really interesting as well and it added even more depth to an already fantastic world.

But the biggest thing about this book I can say is that the stakes were incredibly high. This one definitely felt like the final book in a series. It had that “if we don’t say the day then the world will surely end” thing going for it. I know it’s a bit cliche but I really love that. It makes for a plot full of action and the high stakes environment always have me on the edge of my seat terrified about what is going to happen. Laini definitely wrote a thrilling plot here and I loved that.

The only thing however is that the pacing was a bit rough for me. It’s not that this book didn’t built to an exciting climax, clearly you can tell that it did. The problem is that it reach what I expected to be the climax and then it didn’t end. There was like 100 more pages left and it felt like there was just too much falling action. Either that or there were too many plot points that needed to be closed up. Either way, it just jumbled up the ending and I found myself losing interest and wondering why the book wasn’t over.

The thing that kept me reading however was the characters. I am so in love with the characters in this series. Karou and Akiva are amazing protagonists. They are complex and likable and I loved seeing their development throughout the series. It has always been really easy to root for them and being the heroes of this story, that did not change. Rooting for Zuze and Mik was also really easy. They are super adorable and I love them so much. The character who surprised me the lost however was Liraz. She is the character who by the end I think was my favorite. She seriously had some amazing development. She’s seriously badass and has a surprise heart of gold. But all the characters here are so good.

I honestly really loved this series more than I thought that I would. I shouldn’t be too surprised based on how beloved it is within the YA Fantasy Blogger community. It is a really great series and had a good conclusion.

I give Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I really loved this series and if you haven't read it and are a fan of YA fantasies then definitely read this one. It's creative, thrilling, and has great characters. It's beautifully written. Read it.

Have you read Dreams of Gods and Monsters? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylore

Title: Days of Blood and Starlight Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone Written by: Laini Taylor Published: November 6, 2012 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.  This is not that world.  Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.  In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.  While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.  But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

I know everyone loves this series and I wasn't really planning on reading it but I read the first book on a whim and totally getting the hype. Thus continues my marathon of the audiobooks in this series. I really loved this book, the series is getting so good.

One of the best things about this book is the world building and setting. If like me you were more of a fan of the second half of Daughter of Smoke and Bone then you are going to love the world of this book. Here we get to go to Eretz and learn much more about the chimera and the work of their resurrection. I was way more fascinated by the chimera in Daughter of Smoke and Bone so I really enjoyed learning more about them in this book. We got to explore where they are from including Loramendi and the Kirin Caves where Madrigal's people were from. Laini's amazing writing really did a great job in making these locations come to life with her descriptive and beautiful writing. I could completely visualize everything and usually for me everything is kind of just a blur when it comes to settings and characters.

Speaking of characters, the characters here were completely amazing. I am thoroughly impressed by the character developent in this series and it was very evident in this book. First and foremost you have Karou and Akiva. In the first book in the series I became really attached to them and their story. After Daughter of Smoke and Bone they have been separated and while their ultimate goals align they are also in conflict which made their personal development really interesting. Karou in particular is in a really dark place. It was easy to root for her and want her to succeed over the books antagonists. Who by the way are amazing. On both sides of the conflict you had some truly heinous characters. With the seraphim you had Jael, Akiva's uncle, and with the chimaera you had Thiago. Both are scheming and power hungry, doing truly terrible things to our main characters. And that was only the beginning of the amazing secondary characters. Zuzanna and Mik were amazing as always, and Liraz and Hazael were so good in this book. They are quickly becoming some of my favorite characters.

But I think the part I liked the most about this book was the plot development. I thought the first book in the series was a bit slow in the plot department but here that was not the case. There was so much action and adventure. The stakes were very high with the war between the seraph and chimaera and the threat of impending doom on Earth. There were tons of surprises and I was absolutely on the edge of my seat for a lot of the book. By the end of it I was so emotionally invested in the outcome which is really the best outcome yo could expect.

I really loved Days of Blood and Starlight. I felt like it had everything I loved about Daughter of Smoke and Bone with some of the things I was hoping that book would have. It had a fascinating world, amazing characters, and a thrilling plot.

I give Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. I am really enjoying marathoning  this series and definitely recommend that if you like YA Fantasy and have not read this series you check it out. The audiobooks are fantastic and you should definitely listen to it.

Have you read Days of Blood and Starlight. What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Review: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Title: Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series: Daughter of Smoke and Bone #1 Written by: Laini Taylor Published: September 27, 2011 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Around the world, black hand prints 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 grows dangerously low.  And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherworldly 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 beautiful, haunted Akiva fixes fiery 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?

I'll be honest, I never really planned to read this series. I know so many people love it but I just didn't think it was my thing. But I loved Strange the Dreamer and I heard this audio was really good so I decided to pick it up on an Audible sale ages ago. And finally this month I decided to give it a try (in secret in case I hated it) and I am so glad I did because it was amazing.

One thing I really loved about this book was the world-building. Laini Taylor is definitely the master of building a world that draws you in. Her writing is beautiful in the way it establishing a mysterious and atmospheric setting. In this series you first have the backdrop of Prague which in and of itself is unique and compelling, but then you add the underground of the magical creatures. I am not usually a fan of books about angels however I think here it worked. I think because I often forget that we were talking about angels. The seraphim just felt like one more magical creature that this world was built about. Speaking of magical creatures, the more interesting ones were the chimera. I was fascinated by characters like Brimstone and Issa, then eventually Madrigal in the flashback. It gave the book a really subtle Urban Fantasy feel to it which I really enjoyed.

As far as the plot goes, this definitely felt like it had some pretty serious first book syndrome. A lot of the book was just exposition. It seemed like it's main goal was to set up the future books. Which is fine for me because I decided to marathon the series but overall I think the book misses out on something because of that. I have heard some criticism from people about how they lost interest when the book began focusing on the flashbacks, but for me that was the best part. That was the part that interested me because that was the part that had plot implications for the series. But overall it did feel like two different stories, both of which were important but gave the book a disjointed feel.

But I think what redeemed things a bit for me was the characters. I really enjoyed the characters in this Book. First and foremost we had Karou. Karou is smart and quick-witted in the best possible way. She's tough and stands up for herself and the people she cares about in ways that will make you laugh and root for her at the same time. She's the kind of character that I always love reading about because she's so charming. But she's also mysterious. A lot of this book is about her figuring out who she is and how she fits into this world of chimera and seraphim. I was more than happy to figure that out with her.

The secondary characters however were maybe even more amazing. Karou's chimaera family were so interesting and I wanted to learn more about them which really drew me into the plot. I also really like Akiva. He's got a tortured past that could easily become cliche but it never does. And while I'm not fully committed to their relationship yet, I don't hate it. The idea of falling in love with an angel however star-crossed that love may be isn't something I usually enjoy but here I like the way it is developing at least. But the best character, without a doubt, is Zuzanna. Zuze is a tiny and fierce spitfire who is there for Karou no matter what and as a reader who is there as well she's very relatable. Plus she's just a total bright spot in what might otherwise be a pretty bleak book.

All in all, Daughter of Smoke and Bone was a fantastic read. I can see why so many people love this series and I am glad I took the time to read it. It has all the things that I love about YA fantasy. There's a unique and compelling world, interesting and likable characters, and a good story of personal development. I do wish there had been less exposition though.

I give Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy/Borrow. If you have wanted to read this series and like me you have been dragging your feet, stop waiting and go read it. Also I would definitely recommend the audio if you are fans of audiobooks.

Have you read Daughter of Smoke and Bone? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Waiting on Wednesday: Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: Muse of Nightmares Series: Strange the Dreamer #2 Written by: Laini Taylor Published: October 2, 2018 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: In the wake of tragedy, neither Lazlo nor Sarai are who they were before. One a god, the other a ghost, they struggle to grasp the new boundaries of their selves as dark-minded Minya holds them hostage, intent on vengeance against Weep. Lazlo faces an unthinkable choice—save the woman he loves, or everyone else?—while Sarai feels more helpless than ever. But is she? Sometimes, only the direst need can teach us our own depths, and Sarai, the muse of nightmares, has not yet discovered what she's capable of. As humans and godspawn reel in the aftermath of the citadel's near fall, a new foe shatters their fragile hopes, and the mysteries of the Mesarthim are resurrected: Where did the gods come from, and why? What was done with thousands of children born in the citadel nursery? And most important of all, as forgotten doors are opened and new worlds revealed: Must heroes always slay monsters, or is it possible to save them instead? Love and hate, revenge and redemption, destruction and salvation all clash in this gorgeous sequel to the New York Times bestseller, Strange the Dreamer.

 
Why I'm Waiting:

I have to admit that I was a bit late to the party when it came to Laini Taylor. I had heard really good things about her first series but I wasn't super interested in it. But then I saw this series and that the audiobook was narrated by Steve West. Anyways, I listened to the audio and I seriously loved it and not just because Steve West makes me feel things I shouldn't feel just by hearing a voice.

But everything about Strange the Dreamer was amazing, The world was fantastic and thrilling, the writing was beautiful and lyrical, the characters were likeable and complex. It was one of my favorite books of last year. I would definitely be excited about this be excited about this book anyway, but the way that the last book ended was so heartbreaking and just knowing the title of this books makes me want to read it even more.

I got an advanced copy of this at ALA and I was so excited to meet Laini and to talk to her about how much I loved the audiobook for Strange the Dreamer. I am hoping to read it but if I am being entirely honest I may end up waiting and listening to the audiobook.

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on Muse of Nightmares along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Audiobook Review: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Title: Strange the Dreamer Written by: Laini Taylor Series: Strange the Dreamer #1 Narrated by: Steve West Published: March 28, 2017 by Little Brown Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: A new epic fantasy by National Book Award finalist and New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy.  The dream chooses the dreamer, not the other way around--and Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian, has always feared that his dream chose poorly. Since he was five years old he's been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep, but it would take someone bolder than he to cross half the world in search of it. Then a stunning opportunity presents itself, in the person of a hero called the Godslayer and a band of legendary warriors, and he has to seize his chance to lose his dream forever.What happened in Weep two hundred years ago to cut it off from the rest of the world? What exactly did the Godslayer slay that went by the name of god? And what is the mysterious problem he now seeks help in solving?  The answers await in Weep, but so do more mysteries--including the blue-skinned goddess who appears in Lazlo's dreams. How did he dream her before he knew she existed? and if all the gods are dead, why does she seem so real?  In this sweeping and breathtaking new novel by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor, author of the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, the shadow of the past is as real as the ghosts who haunt the citadel of murdered gods.  Fall into a mythical world of dread and wonder, moths and nightmares, love and carnage.  Welcome to Weep.

When a book you want to read has an audiobook narrated by Steve West, you listen to the audio no questions asked. That's exactly what happened for me with this book and I'm glad I did because not only was this a fantastic read but it was a great audiobook.

First things first, we have to talk about Laini Taylor's gorgeous writing. I didn't know what to expect from the author because despite everyone raving about it, I have not read Daughter of Smoke and Bone and after reading this, I am regretting that decision. Because Laini definitely has a way with works. Her prose has a way of creating a captivating atmosphere and an enthralling world. It's not overly flowery but it has a distinct lyrical quality that draws you in and keeps you reading. These are the kinds of books that work really well as audios and that was definitely the case here.

The other great thing about Laini's writing is the plot development. This is definitely a book with a great plot that had me engaged from beginning to end. It's one of those books that slowly builds to a thrilling conclusion that has you totally really and desperately needing the next book in the series. It's also one of those books that is full of mystery and surprises. I definitely figured out one of the major twists but this was still a book full of mystery. Even when it was over I was left with all kinds of questions and curiosities. 

But I will say, I did still have some complaints about the plot and the pacing. In general it had a good flow and there wasn't a point where I wanted to stop reading but I did want them to get back to certain aspects of the story. It did drag in parts and this is a longer book that feels like a long book. I think my main issue with the plot and pacing was the focus on the romance about two-thirds of the way into the book. It's not that I didn't like the romance, I just felt like it took away from some of the larger plot development. But you know me, I'm romancephobic.

Although I do understand that the romance was a necessary part of the character development and I really enjoyed the characters. First there is Lazlo our title character. Lazlo was instantly likable and easy to root for. He is an orphan who has to earn every ounce of respect he has. But he is also a dreamer who believes in magic and wants more for himself and to explore Weep, a place of legend. He was the perfect main character for this book and I was absolutely rooting for him. The other main character is Sarai, she is Godspawn, the daughter or a "God" who can invade people's dreams and change them. She is feared throughout Weep because of her mother and is known as the Muse of Nightmares. But she could not be more different. She's sweet and caring. I wanted to see Sarai get her way and rooted for her just as much. There are also plenty of great secondary characters that I hope we get to learn more about in future books.

And finally, I really enjoyed the world building of this book. I read a lot of YA fantasy and sometimes they can feel very similar and like they're the same old same old. And while I did get some vibes of other books that I enjoy, I found Strange the Dreamer totally unique and interesting. It was a world full of magic and mystery. There were clear rules and an interesting magic system that I think we have only just begun learning about. 

I really enjoyed Strange the Dreamer. It's a great start to what I'm sure is going to be an amazing series. It's got gorgeous writing, an engaging plot, likable characters, and an atmospheric world. Basically everything all good fantasy should have. 

I give Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor 9.5 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I know this was a totally hyped up book when it came out last month but it is deserving of that hype. It's a great read of you haven't picked by up you should. Check this book out, especially if you like audiobooks.

Have you read Strange the Dreamer? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and happy reading.