Dreams of Gods & Monsters

by Laini Taylor

Overview

In this thrilling conclusion to the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, Karou is still not ready to forgive Akiva for killing the only family she's ever known.

When a brutal angel army trespasses into the human world, Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat--and against larger dangers that loom on the horizon. They begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves--maybe even toward love.

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera, and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780316285285
Publisher:	Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	04/08/2014
Series:	Daughter of Smoke and Bone Series , #3
Pages:	624
Sales rank:	589,922
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.55(d)
Lexile:	860L (what's this?)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Laini Taylor is the New York Times bestselling author of the Printz Honor Book Strange the Dreamer and its sequel, Muse of Nightmares. Taylor is also the author of the global sensation the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy and the companion novella Night of Cake & Puppets. Taylor's other works include the Dreamdark books: Blackbringer and Silksinger, and the National Book Award finalist Lips Touch: Three Times. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, and their daughter, Clementine. Her website is lainitaylor.com.

Editorial Reviews

★ 03/24/2014
In the final book of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, Taylor revives the strong interweaving of reality and fantasy that gave the first story such cross-genre appeal. When a seraphim army with a terrifying message arrives in Rome, fittingly taking up residence at the Vatican, humanity is brought face to face with the chimaera and seraphim universes. Meanwhile, Karou and Akiva, now in control of their respective armies, doggedly pursue their dream of forging an alliance between their enemy races and themselves. The opening scene introduces a new character, a scientist with a secret past; her story builds in satisfyingly intricate pieces to culminate in a pivotal role. The twists and turns of the dense plot deepen the complexity and the danger, leading to a potential apocalypse. Delivering less blood and gore than Days of Blood & Starlight and more yearning—for love, for peace, for a home—than both preceding books, the story is borne along by an increasingly strong undercurrent: the hope of overcoming embedded prejudices and instinctual hatreds to create a more harmonious world. Ages 15–up. Agent: Jane Putch, Eyebait Licensing & Literary Management. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

New York Times Bestseller Series List—-


*"In the final book of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, Taylor revives the strong interweaving of reality and fantasy that gave the first story such cross-genre appeal."—Publishers Weekly, starred review


*"Though readers will be loath to leave this world behind, the trilogy ends with a sweet buffet of just deserts; the best balm for the bereft may be to start the series again from the beginning."—The Bulletin, starred review


*"The conclusion promises resurrection, renewal, and long-postponed love happily resolved, and that should satisfy even the most meticulous fans."—School Library Journal, starred review


"[An] ambitious, gorgeously edgy drama lit up by its coruscating characters and prose."—Kirkus


"New revelations, characters, multiple love stories, and constant plot twists and suspense will not disappoint Taylor's many fans."—Booklist


"For all the well-made trappings of fantasy and horror, the patchwork amalgamation of myth and legend, the machinations of plot, and the colorful menagerie of ensemble characters, this story remains, at heart, a romance-clear-eyed, tender, and satisfying."—The Horn Book

From the Publisher

2014-01-29
Destiny and love commingle despite, it sometimes seems, the author's best efforts to prevent them in this culmination to the 1,000-year war between angelic beasts and bestial angels. Taylor takes up the tale where it left off in Days of Blood and Starlight (2012). Mad, scarred angel Jael leads a shining, 1,000-strong Dominion to this world in search of the human weapons that will at last exterminate the despised chimaera. Meanwhile, back on parallel Eretz, blue-tressed Karou and winged Akiva concoct a desperate scheme to unite the remnants of the chimaera army with the Misbegotten—rebel seraphim. The teeming welter of betrayals, anguished sacrifices, abrupt reversals and revelations entails gut-wrenching choices ("Uncomplicated," remarks Karou at one pass. "What's that like?"). Despite this, not only does a fragile peace seem possible—albeit expedited by a previously clandestine third power bearing news of a much older, larger conflict—but the author metes out just deserts to the despicable characters while consummating the central romantic relationship (and several secondary ones) in discreet but fully satisfactory ways. Furthermore, the author's gift for poetically intense language is on display everywhere, from chapter titles ("The Abyss's Mad Gawk") to general description: "Her heartbeat felt like cannon fire—doomful and deep and reverberating through her entire body," etc. Delicious. Despite being speeded to resolution, an ambitious, gorgeously edgy drama lit up by its coruscating characters and prose. (Fantasy. 13 & up)

Kirkus Reviews