Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, #3) by Laini Taylor

What a satisfying conclusion to this excellent trilogy by Laini Taylor. I’ve previously reviewed the other two stories on this blog and I was so excited to see how the author was going to conclude her complex and beautiful account of monsters versus angels.

In this book the angels finally cross from their world, Eretz, through the portal into Earth, where Karou and her band of surviving Chimera have been slowly rebuilding their strength and numbers. The angels seek human weapons in order to finally annihilate the Chimera race (and perhaps the human race as well). Karou and Akiva’s previously rival armies must reach a tentative truce in order to join forces and face the threat the angels pose not only to humans, but to the future of Eretz. Meanwhile, Karou and Akiva’s relationship is slowly improving, but many doubts and questions remain which have the potential to prevent their true happiness.

Taylor also manages, in this 600 page novel, to introduce (and conclude) another sub-plot, that of the mysterious race of angels known as the Stelians, as well as explaining much of the history of Eretz, the world which has been so beautifully constructed by the author.

I’d highly recommend this series. Taylor has concluded it neatly, yet left the door slightly ajar for a potential new series in the future. We’ll just have to wait and see!


Caitlin @ Balwyn Library.



What now?

• Add your thoughts about in the comments below.
• Go to the catalogue and reserve it.
• Borrow it as an ebook.
• Review a book yourself.

Post movie blues... Part 3

Have you seen Divergent yet? Whilst I loved reading the trilogy over many weeks, a movie only lasts for a couple of hours. How will we overcome the post movie blues?

Here's part 3 of a series of posts giving you some ideas to get you through this challenging time....

Idea no. 3: Read some other excellent series! What's that you say? Not interested in Dystopian novels? That's OK, how about some of these other excellent series, from sci-fi, to fantasy to everything in-between: 

• The Daughter of smoke and bone trilogy by Laini Taylor. An excellent fantasy series which is so well written, the third book in the trilogy will be published this year. We've reviewed the first book here !
• The Old Kingdom Chronicles by Garth Nix. Garth Nix is an absolutely amazing writer (did I mention he's Australian?) and this fantasy trilogy will never leave you. Join Sabriel as she journeys amongst the living and the dead in the Old Kingdom, whilst just over the border human life exists as normal. Brilliant! 
• The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare. we'd be suprised if you hadn't already seen this series. It has been ridiculously popular. Fantasy. Addictive. Read it. Oh, and we've reviewed at least
  
  one of the books here.
• The Inheritance series by Christpher Paolini. High fantasy, dragons, elves, extremely long and compelling books. Pretty much everything you could want in this genre. Check out this review.
• The Chaos Walking trilogy by Patrick Ness. This series blew me away with its sheer originality and highly original prose. Why have I never reviewed it? I have no idea! Still, go on an adventure and read this futuristic, off-world, post-apocalyptic series.
• How about this one? The Diviners series by Libba Bray. Historical / paranormal / crime thriller / fantasy, super entertaining, set in 1920s New York. I CAN'T WAIT for book #2 to be released this year. Yep, I've reviewed this one here.
• Want some rollicking good fun, witty plot, excellent writing and a series that will keep you going for quite some time? Read the Skulduggery Pleasant series by Derek Landy. I'd love to meet this author in real life - even the dedications he writes at the start of each book are awesome! We've reviewed one book in this excellent series here.

Don't forget, if you can't get these titles off the shelf, check our ebook collection too!

Caitlin @ Balwyn Library.


What now?

• Add your thoughts about in the comments below.
• Go to the catalogue and reserve it.
• Borrow it as an ebook.
• Review a book yourself.

Days of blood and starlight (Daughter of smoke and bone #2) by Laini Taylor

The second book in the Daughter of smoke and bone trilogy, this story was perhaps more riveting than the first. If you haven’t heard about the first novel, read our review here.

The second book picks up a period of time after the events of the first novel where the angels have discovered the secret of the chimera race - which is their ability to glean souls from the dead to allow them to reincarnate. Thus the chimera race has been decimated and only Karou can help to restore them. This sees her teaming up with Thiago, a chimera Karou loathes, and whose agenda in the recovery of the chimera race clashes with her own.

The writing is excellent and the story original and compelling.  Highly recommended.

Caitlin @ Balwyn Library.

What now?

• Add your thoughts about in the comments below.
• Go to the catalogue and reserve it.
• Borrow it as an ebook.
• Review a book yourself.