Author: Laini Taylor
Narrated by: Khristine Hvam
Format: Audiobook
Run time: 12 hours 31 minutes.
Release Date: September 29th 2011
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Synopsis
Taken from Audible
"Errand requiring immediate attention. Come."
The note was on vellum, pierced by the talons of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. 'He never says please', she sighed, but she gathered up her things. When Brimstone called, she always came.
In general, Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. On the one hand, she's a 17-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in 'Elsewhere', she has never understood Brimstone's dark work - buying teeth from hunters and murderers - nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn't whole.
Now the doors to Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought.
Review
It would be possible to track the beginning of the school term by taking a look at the back-posts of my blog. What with marking, planning, drinking red wine and generally being a miscreant around my classroom, I've managed to find very little time to keep the blog updated. It came down to a choice between rediscovering my social life, or blogging. Don't get me wrong, I love blogging. I guess I just needed me some time to get my schedule in order.
So! This is where y'all say a great big "Welcome Back!" and send me cyber hugs!
...awaits hugs...
Back to business as usual then! And I'm glad that business can begin with this amazing book! In fact, I think it would be fair to say that I'm only returning to the blogosphere because of Laini Taylor. I am seriously considering asking this woman's brain out on a date... would that be weird?
I listened to this on audiobook courtesy of my beautiful monthly membership to Audible. It was astonishingly good. The prose was colourful, imaginative and sophisticated. There were moments when I found my brain chewing over a dazzlingly brilliant metaphor or simile that just left me reeling in a post-literary glow. I don't even care how dodgy that sounds.
I am in love not only with Taylor (who has very pink hair, by the way), but with her wonderful protagonist, the tattooed, blue-haired Karou. She was a girl who lived between worlds and who knew just how to sharpen the pointy-end of a witty one liner. I am in love with all of Taylor's characters. Akiva (a swoon-worthy Seraph) was a fairly typical male interest who was rather predictable. Nonetheless, he was a literary hottie. Karou's best buddy, a tiny Czech girl by the name of Zusana kept me giggling throughout.
The characters were beautifully drawn, the setting made me want to hop on the next plane to Prague and Taylor's writing made me want to keep chipping away at the dense old block that is my skill at crafting words. I don't want to write too much about the plot here as I wouldn't want to give the game away. I will, however, say that the structure of Taylor's narrative was, if not a breath of fresh air, then a good old spritz of Fabreeze to the somewhat stale and tattily-woven fabric of some YA reads.
Review
It would be possible to track the beginning of the school term by taking a look at the back-posts of my blog. What with marking, planning, drinking red wine and generally being a miscreant around my classroom, I've managed to find very little time to keep the blog updated. It came down to a choice between rediscovering my social life, or blogging. Don't get me wrong, I love blogging. I guess I just needed me some time to get my schedule in order.
So! This is where y'all say a great big "Welcome Back!" and send me cyber hugs!
...awaits hugs...
Back to business as usual then! And I'm glad that business can begin with this amazing book! In fact, I think it would be fair to say that I'm only returning to the blogosphere because of Laini Taylor. I am seriously considering asking this woman's brain out on a date... would that be weird?
I listened to this on audiobook courtesy of my beautiful monthly membership to Audible. It was astonishingly good. The prose was colourful, imaginative and sophisticated. There were moments when I found my brain chewing over a dazzlingly brilliant metaphor or simile that just left me reeling in a post-literary glow. I don't even care how dodgy that sounds.
I am in love not only with Taylor (who has very pink hair, by the way), but with her wonderful protagonist, the tattooed, blue-haired Karou. She was a girl who lived between worlds and who knew just how to sharpen the pointy-end of a witty one liner. I am in love with all of Taylor's characters. Akiva (a swoon-worthy Seraph) was a fairly typical male interest who was rather predictable. Nonetheless, he was a literary hottie. Karou's best buddy, a tiny Czech girl by the name of Zusana kept me giggling throughout.
The characters were beautifully drawn, the setting made me want to hop on the next plane to Prague and Taylor's writing made me want to keep chipping away at the dense old block that is my skill at crafting words. I don't want to write too much about the plot here as I wouldn't want to give the game away. I will, however, say that the structure of Taylor's narrative was, if not a breath of fresh air, then a good old spritz of Fabreeze to the somewhat stale and tattily-woven fabric of some YA reads.
A rare 5 stars for this and a whole lot of bated breath for the sequel!
Lx
I can't wait to get to this. I have it on hold at the library but they don't have the audio version so I'll have to read it.
ReplyDeleteWow! Five stars. I'm so glad you loved it so much.
ReplyDeleteGreat review...much, much fun :)
great review! I can only imagine how amazing this book was to listen to as it was mind blowing reading it! :D
ReplyDelete