Laini Taylor’s Daughter of Smoke and Bone (2011; Little, Brown; ISBN: 9780316134026) is one of the most original YA novels to emerge since Taylor’s own Blackbringer, and is sure to appeal to older teens and young adults who enjoy a side of European travel with their urban fantasy.
Daughter of Smoke and Bone: Summary
Taylor’s heroine, Karou, lives the double-life of a superhero; unlike many superheroes, her ordinary side is just as interesting as her supernatural one. As an art student living alone in beautiful Prague, Karou’s classes consist of designing enormous angel wings and sketching nudes. In her spare time, she gathers teeth from bounty hunters in various parts of the world for her "foster father” Brimstone, a sorcerer chimera who lives in a workshop located “Elsewhere.” Brimstone is working towards a mysterious goal, one that relates to Karou’s past. In the tradition of the wise old wizard archetype, he refuses to divulge the details.
At the same time, an angel named Akiva is plotting to destroy the chimera race. When he encounters Karou at Brimstone’s door in Marrakesh, their dramatic battle is captured, amusingly, on amateur video and broadcast around the world. However, an unlikely romance soon develops between the angel and the monster's daughter, which is threatened when the secret of Karou’s past is finally revealed.
Review
Taylor’s writing is both fast-paced and lyrical, a difficult balancing act that eludes most authors working in this traditionally plot-driven genre. The dialogue has a Whedon-esque quality, a fushion of snappy one-liners and coined bon mots. Taylor’s evocation of exotic Old World cities implies a history of extensive travel; through the use of an imaginative plot device (a doorway that opens onto numerous locations), she weaves together disparate settings in a way that never feels contrived or jarring.
The novel’s premise is original, which is sure to appeal to teens tired of “trend” novels (such as the myriad post-apocalyptic epics that have popped up since The Hunger Games). Angels are, admittedly, something of a trend, but Taylor’s take on them is wholly original. Her characterization is nearly flawless – the "monstrous" Brimstone, blue-haired Karou, and Karou's pint-sized best friend Zuzana are particularly well-drawn. Akiva, defined by little else than his relationship with Karou, is the only one-dimensional character (in this, he follows in the footsteps of Edward Cullen and other disappointing YA Romeos).
Daughter of Smoke and Bone is one of the must-read YA books of the year, and is surely a serious contender for the next Printz Award. As the novel contains mature content, it is recommended for older teens.
Heather Fawcett - Heather Fawcett is a Vancouver-based writer and editor. She holds an M.A. in English Literature and specializes in teen fiction, having ...
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