Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?
Hardcover: 432 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (September 27, 2011)
ISBN: 9780316134026
Audiobook: 10 CD's
Author Bio:
Laini Taylor is the author of the National Book Award Finalist Lips Touch: Three Times, as well as the novels Blackbringer and Silksinger. She lives in Portland, Oregon with her husband, illustrator Jim Di Bartolo, and their daughter.
My Opinion:
There was so much hoopla surrounding this book that I knew I had to get a copy, so when the audiobook was available I jumped all over it.
So glad I did too, although I aim to find a hard copy to re-read.
I was fascinated by the Kymara creatures in the story. Being half beast and half human you immediately want to know what their purpose is, and quickly you learn, so the story becomes very exciting.
I love stories with a strong female lead character too, and this one fit the bill entirely. Karou is one interesting, strong lady and fit my expectations totally.
As I said before, I can't wait to read it again and absorb every word.
4/5
Recommend? Yes, but get a print copy.
~I received a copy from Hachette Book Group. I was not compensated for my opinion.~
Even though I don't usually read YA, I need to get ahold of this one. It just sounds so unique and Karou seems like an awesome character.
ReplyDeleteI like the synopsis of this one. The mystery of who she is intrigues me.
ReplyDeleteSo you say you read the book as an audiobook? Are you sure about the spelling of the halfman-halfanimal creatures? You spelled it "Kymara" and I wondered if it is any relation to a "chimera".