Life Doesn’t Need Magic to be Magical (but a little bit sure doesn’t hurt)

~Night of Cake & Puppets~
Daughter of Smoke & Bone
Book 1.5
Written by Laini Taylor
Illustrated by Jim Di Bartolo
Amazon ~ Powell's

Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her "rabid fairy," her "voodoo eyes" are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or "Violin Boy," her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to make the first move, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It's a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter's night before leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy is not going to know what hit him.

I had no idea the author & artist of the book are married. That just makes me feel even warmer and fuzzier <3<3

Featuring one of my favorite characters of Laini Taylor's books, I was completely entranced by this adorable first date. Taking place during the last quarter/third of the previous book, Daughter of Smoke & Bone, while Karou is off hunting down stronger wishes, I think this should be considered 1.5 instead of 2.5. Then again, I think there's enough backstory that this could be read on its own...though there are a couple spoilers for the 1st book...

Still, if you're in the mood for the cutest YA/NA first date, set in the wintry wonderland of Prague, with puppets, music, and a little magic thrown in for good measure, then you MUST pick up this story. The artwork is new to me (having only read the text version before the print came out), but adds even more whimsy to the tale (though reading on my phone made the art a bit bulky). I absolutely love all of Laini Taylor's books (so far), and cannot recommend this one enough. Whether you've read Daughter of Smoke & Bone, or are just looking for a quick nibble of sweetness, I can't think of any reason not to read this wonderful novella.

Magic and Will - Smoke and Bone

~Daughter of Smoke & Bone~
Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Book 1
By Laini Taylor
Amazon ~ Powell's

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 grows 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 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?


It's impossible for me to start out with anything other than how much I loved this book. So there, I said it. I went into this one not knowing anything other than the gorgeous cover, that it had nearly topped Amazon's Best Books of 2011 list, and that it was (most likely) YA fantasy. It took me maybe 5 chapters before I was completely hooked, and maybe just a few more before I knew I loved it.