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Days of Blood & Starlight Audiobook
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(4.00) - 14,040 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
An art student and monster's apprentice must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people in this riveting sequel to the mesmerizing, acclaimed book Daughter of Smoke & Bone by National Book Award finalist Laini Taylor -- now with a gorgeous new package!
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?
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"Days of Blood & Starlight is the eagerly anticipated sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Although it follows the conflict of Smoke and Bone very closely, the novels are very, very different. Smoke and Bone was poetic, beautiful, humorous and romantic. Blood & Starlight is dark, violent and complex. Once again Author Laini Taylor brilliantly uses the power of words, this time to illustrate how long held hatred destroys the ability of both the angels and the demons to think rationally or set goals that are in the best interest of their communities. The angels and demons of Blood & Starlight are each under the leadership of despot who doesn't care what happens to his subjects, only that they are capable of killing the enemy. The demons are on the verge of extinction after the bloody genocide attempted by the angels. Instead of protecting the few demons that are left, their leader pursues revenge killings. Both the demons and the angels have been brainwashed over hundreds of generations to believe they are the innocent victims of the other. Karou is conflicted. She desperately wants to believe she is fighting a noble war, but she sees the pain and carnage being inflicted on an already defeated demon world and wonders, "Why continue?" Akiva witnesses so many bloody deaths among his family, and he too wonders "Why continue?". Luckily, Karou and Akiva are not the only two disillusioned and heartbroken by the war. Voices of revolt are starting to rise in both communities."
— Beverly (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“Any book that opens with ‘Once upon a time’ is inviting high expectations. It’s a phrase that inevitably evokes fairy tales and leather-bound classics about epic adventures, setting up the anticipation that readers will discover worlds filled with magic…In this case, the story that follows…is a breath-catching romantic fantasy about destiny, hope, and the search for one’s true self that doesn’t let readers down. Taylor has taken elements of mythology, religion, and her own imagination and pasted them into a believably fantastical collage.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Taylor continues to build an irresistible fantasy world in this grim sequel to her masterful Daughter of Smoke & Bone…Taylor’s dazzling writing and skill at creating suspense are strong as ever; fantasy lovers will gobble up this book with satisfaction.”
— Publishers Weekly -
“Taylor builds a thoroughly tangible fantasy world wherein a complex parallel universe competes with far-flung geographic locales for gorgeously evoked images. Karou herself is a well-rendered character with convincing motivations…The suspense builds inexorably, and the philosophical as well as physical battles will hold action-oriented readers. The unfolding of character, place, and plot is smoothly intricate, and the conclusion is a beckoning door to the next volume.”
— School Library Journal -
“Taylor’s world is lush, sensual, and wonderfully original, featuring flawed characters and emotionally fraught decisions sure to resonate with readers…Issues of redemption, salvation, love, war, and morality make this novel perfect for classroom or book club discussion. Taylor manages to make a five-hundred-page epic read at a breakneck speed that will have readers struggling to finish in one sitting…Will paradoxically satisfy readers’ desire for more of Karou’s story while leaving them begging for the third installment.”
— VOYA -
“Beautifully written.”
— Children’s Literature -
“Emotionally intense…Well-endowed with memorable characters and turns of phrase.”
— Kirkus Reviews
Awards
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A New York Times bestseller
Days of Blood & Starlight Listener Reviews
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" I loved this book even more than the first. I cannot wait for the third to come out "
— Rebecca, 1/25/2014 -
" When this book began I thought..oh, no...they author had nothing left for this book. Got past the first few chapters and...again...I did not want to put the book down. There will be a 3rd. I am so ready. "
— Marsha, 1/14/2014 -
" I was really dissapointed. :( "
— Shmemadoo, 1/13/2014 -
" This storyline makes you never want to put this book down!!! Good job to the author on that! I wish that the third book was already out though cause I just want to keep on reading!!! "
— Kayleen, 1/12/2014 -
" I need time to write this review. But the writing... oh, the writing is such a beautiful and fragile thing. LOVED every word "
— Lucia, 12/29/2013 -
" awesome followup can't wait for the next one! "
— Madrigal, 12/8/2013 -
" Loved this book. Satisfying follow-up to Daughter of Smoke and Bone. "
— Mary, 11/5/2013 -
" This book is getting better and better! Can't wait to see what happens! Seriously though, he loves her and they should be together! "
— Kaitlyn, 11/5/2013 -
" This was amazing! I can't wait for the third book! I can't think of anything else to say besides this was an awesome book. "
— Jenna, 11/1/2013 -
" I still am really enjoying this series, but this second installment took me longer to get into than the first. And by nature of the story, this sequel is darker and less hopeful than the introduction to the series. Either way, I'm sure I'll be eager for the third when it releases. "
— Brynn, 7/20/2013 -
" a great continuation of the series - which ends on a cliffhanger. I can't wait for the next book. "
— Marie, 6/16/2013 -
" Dang, a whole year for the final book? That is not good! "
— Sabra, 5/24/2013 -
" Words to savor, yes indeed. Rich and true-spoken. Absolutely brilliant. "
— Grace, 3/2/2013 -
" Days of Blood and Starlight was a wonderful sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone. It is a heartbreaking story that the characters live in but the theme of hope finally resurfaces. "
— Jennifer, 1/18/2013 -
" This was an amazing sequel. It's pretty hard to find a sequel that is most likely better then the the first book. I can't wait for the next book "
— Astley, 10/14/2012
About Laini Taylor
Laini Taylor is the author of several novels, including the multiple award-winning Strange the Dreamer and the National Book Award finalist Lips Touch: Three Times as well as the New York Times bestseller Days of Blood & Starlight, among others.
About Khristine Hvam
Khristine Hvam has won several AudioFile Earphones Awards, placed three times as a finalist for the prestigous Audie Award, and won the Audie Award for Best Narration in 2012 and 2013. She studied acting for the theater and film, and her voice can be heard in Pokémon, World of Warcraft, and in various television and radio commercials.