Book Review - Days of Blood and Starlight (JS)

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Review by Jacqui Slaney

This is the second in this series, and I have had to hold back from jumping straight into read it, as I knew that once read, there is the inevitable delay to read the next in the series. But having enjoyed ‘Daughter of Smoke and Bone’ so much, I could not hold out any longer.

This is the description:

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a new way of living - one without massacres and torn throats and bonfires of the fallen, without revenants or bastard armies or children ripped from their mothers' arms to take their turn in the killing and dying.

Once, the lovers lay entwined in the moon's secret temple and dreamed of a world that was a like a jewel-box without a jewel - a paradise waiting for them to find it and fill it with their happiness.

This was not that world.

This story starts from just after the events of the end of book 1, Karou has remembered her past life, has realised what Akiva has caused to happen and so has left her life as a human and has gone to see if she can help what is left of the Chimaera.

The light hearted tone of the start of the first book is gone, this one is much darker with pain and death everywhere and atrocities now being committed by both sides of this war. Where also book 1 was more about sketching the outlines of these different worlds and characters, with book 2 she is able to start filling in the details.

Akiva’s world is more developed, you find out that there are different races and the reader understands what the Misbegotten are, and see that even amongst the Angels there is division and hatred.

You can see that the authors skills have developed with this book, the writing is more skilful and there is much more depth. The characters are more rounded and you feel for Karou as she is forced to work with Thiago. This is quite hard to imagine as his character is repellent, but you understand Karou’s behaviour as the story goes on.

There are lighter moments given by Karou’s friends: Zuzana and Mik, which is a good thing as without them, the whole story could have become a little too depressing. These two are great characters though, and the scene with them at the start with Karou’s ex boyfriend is excellent.

Other characters from the first book are also developed more such as Akiva’s brother and sister Hazael and Liraz, but instead of just using the familiar, the author also creates a sprinkling of new characters as well.

This story is believable and has some well crafted twists and turns in the different sub plots, which keeps your interest throughout the book. This is not a standalone book so you need to read book 1 before you indulge in this series, but trust me, it’s really worth it.

9 out of 10