Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (7th Jul 2015)
Blurb:
What power can bruise the sky?
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 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?
But with even bigger threats on the horizon, are Karou and Akiva strong enough to stand among the gods and monsters?
I was completely taken by Laini Taylor’s first two books in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy and I knew I had to get my mitts on the final book in the trilogy as soon as I flipped the last page of Days of Blood & Starlight because I just had to find out what happens next and how the entire trilogy ends. Reading Daughter of Smoke & Bone and Days of Blood & Starlight had left me drunk on beautiful, lyrical prose as well as the feeling of dread to finish a book and leave the fictional world that I very hoped was real.
I was debating with myself, whether I should read Dreams of Gods & Monsters the moment I got it, because what with choir practice every single night, I was afraid that I wouldn’t have the time to fully immerse myself in Laini Taylor’s richly built universe where seraphs and chimaera were preparing for an age of war. At the same time, I didn’t want to start on it because I didn’t want the trilogy to end. So there I was, feeling a cocktail mix of dread, excitement and longing before starting on the thickest book in the trilogy. A whopping 613 pages!
Dreams of Gods & Monsters started off with a chapter, introducing a new character that left me wanting to know more about her. It picks off where Days of Blood & Starlight left off and I was immediately taken back to the world of angels and demons and magic and fiery wings. I really don’t want to spoil it for you if you haven’t had the chance to read the previous books so I’ll leave this part out. Heh.
What I really enjoyed from reading Dreams of Gods & Monsters was the dynamics in the story because even though Karou and Akiva were the central characters in the previous books, and they still are in the final book, but I loved the fact that Laini Taylor expanded the scope of the book and introduced new characters and further explored the universe. I enjoyed getting to know more of the entire universe which was frankly, quite mindblowing and how it all linked back to the new character, Eliza. The book also features the history of Eretz and the surrounding universes in the story and I thought it was well-written and it kept me interested until the very end because I kept guessing what Eliza’s role was in the complex and beautifully weaved tapestry that is the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy.
Godstars, indeed. Dreams of Gods & Monsters is the kind of epic conclusion every reader needs in their lives. I loved the build up to the entire war and how Karou and Akiva planned to defeat Jael and his Dominion. If you were riding on the ship, expecting a blossoming romance between Karou and Akiva, I would have to warn you that their romance takes a backseat in Dreams of Gods & Monsters to make way for another budding relationship which was just too cute and rewarding and incredible. One of the reasons why I loved the previous books was Karou’s best friend, Zuzanna who is sharp, sassy and all kinds of awesome and I was so impressed that Laini Taylor gave her a bigger role in the final book of the trilogy.
Dreams of Gods & Monsters is a vintage Laini Taylor novel because it encompasses everything I love in a fantasy romance novel and it’s just glorious. From the rich, delicious prose to the beautifully lush descriptions and stunning turn of phrase, I fell in love with the trilogy again and again. It’s an amazing, rewarding conclusion the trilogy deserves and reading all 613 pages of it was just pure bliss.
Dreams of Gods & Monsters is out now. Heck, the entire trilogy is complete. What are you waiting for?
I really loved the first two books, and yet somehow I never did get this one (and I was looking forward to it so much, too!) Part of it could be because I was scared the third book might disappoint; part of it was because I wanted to have a book by Laini Taylor that I haven't read. Now that she has a new book coming out this year, I guess I ought to read this one. I'm glad to see that all the reviews I've read so far are positive! :D
ReplyDeleteThat's one of the reasons why I took so long to read Dreams of Gods & Monsters after finishing Days of Blood & Starlight. There wasn't much action in this one but it was a really good conclusion of the trilogy.
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