Sunday 7 August 2011

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor (ARC Review) and Giveaway! *CLOSED*

Genre: Paranormal
Number of Pages: 432
For ages 14+

"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 otherworldly 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?" -Goodreads

I was definitely excited to read this book because a lot of people were raving about it. When I first began to read I was getting a little bit discouraged because it wasn't interesting me as much as I though it would. I kept getting reassurance from people that it did get better. And in fact, it did!

Karou was a strong character whose personality stuck to you like glue. She was a character that didn't take "crud" from other people. Plus, she could kick anyone's butt! She was, without a doubt, a unique character. She didn't blend in with the normal forgettable YA characters.

One thing I was worried about was the lack of romance. I was more than 100 pages in before it got to the romance which, isn't my sort of thing, but oh well. Finally, though, there was romance. And boy, was it worth reading all those pages. Akiva and Karou are like the perfect couple in the not-so-perfect way.

This book was so complex that it blew my mind. That's right, it blew my mind! Sometimes, I couldn't even rap my head around the story line of this book. Sometimes I did get confused, but other times I would have to just put the book down and pull my jaw up from being on the floor.

I really loved this book. When it comes out in September I'll probably be reading it again because there were so many important details that I may have missed by being distracted. Because, unfortunately, I got very distracted while reading this book. Like I am getting distracted now by listening to the theme song of Wow Wow Wubbzy.

I can not wait for this book to come and have everyone read this book. This book has all of my loves in it: paranormal, romance, demons, angels, hot guys, you know, the usual. I give this book 4 out of 5 diva crowns, just because I didn't REALLY get into it until the 100s.













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Now, you're probably wondering, "What's this special surprise??" Well, the special surprise is, I am ALSO going to be giving this book away!

I decided that I would give my new followers from the last giveaway a chance to become the "old followers" and get more points for this ARC. Unfortunately, this book is not signed. But still! You get a chance to read this AWESOME book before it comes out!

All the same rules apply, but for the new comers, it's +1 for new followers and +2 for old! You can also earn points by....

*Sharing my giveaway/review on your blog or twitter. +2 (Leave a link or tag me in your tweet, @SparkleJewelz)

*In the book Karou has a necklace with beads that she can make wishes on. So answer this in a comment, If you had a necklace like Karou, with only one bead left, what wish would you make? +1

Then total it all up in your comment.

Make sure to leave me your email address so I can contact you if you win. Because if you win, and you didn't leave your email, then you may not know that you won!

This giveaway IS international. I feel bad for not having my last one international, so this one will be! :D

The deadline will be two weeks from now, just like my last giveaway. So, the deadline is, August, 21, 8:00 am Central time.

Good luck to everyone who enters and please share!


16 comments:

Yolande said...

Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!

I am an old follower +2

I tweeted :) +2 https://twitter.com/#!/YolandePLL/status/100317710377947136

If I only had one bead left to wish with, I'd probably wish for.. more beads! :P haha! Or, like most people, world peace! +1

Thank you! I've been entering alot of contests for this because it seems like a great read!

-Yolande
candycane16 @ roadrunner . com

Theresa Milstein said...

If you were hooked, I'm sure I will be too.

+ 2 for Old Follower. I'll also share on Facebook.

tmilstein at gmail dot com

Brett @ Demons Read Too said...

+1 for new GFC Follower: Brett G
demonsreadtoo(at)gmail(dot)com

If had one bead left, I'd wish for a credit card where I'd never have to pay the bill.

Shelbie, Amanda and Jenni said...

This is awesome. I can't wait to read this one!

Amanda
wolfbauer3(at)gmail(dot)com

I tweeted (@MortalsLibrary)

Also, if I had one wish I would definitely wish for all the people I love to be 100% happy. Cheesy, I know, but a good wish.

Aleeza said...

yay! what an awesome giveaway.

+2 for old follower

+2 for tweeting: http://twitter.com/#!/aleezarauf/status/100341520397369344

+1 for my answer: ummm. man, i really don't like this question. it's too hard! buuuut i guess i'd have to go with something like world peace, or at least self-peace, hehe :D

Jessica said...

i'm an old follower so +2 for me :)

my +1 answer is this: if i had one wish, i would wish for the ability to apparate & disapparate. MAN, i wish i could do that!

jessicaborash at the gmails

Krispy said...

You're awesome! Totally excited about this book too! Thank you!!!

+2 Old follower
+2 Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/kangaru/status/100970559168446465
+1 Wish: Other than coping out and wishing for more wishes, I'd wish to be braver.

Total: 5

Email: nudging.along[at]gmail.com

linda said...

Ooh, awesome giveaway!

+1 new follower
+2 tweet: https://twitter.com/#!/wistfullylinda/status/101127357162733568
+1 wish: Is it cheating to wish for the power to change and control reality? I guess that's kind of like wishing for more wishes...

total: 5, gmail account: wistfullylinda

Melissa Hurst said...

Thanks for having this giveaway!

+2 I'm an old follower.

+2 I tweeted about the giveaway here: https://twitter.com/#!/MelissaHurst_/status/101758780517253120

+1 I'd wish for unlimited funds in my bank account:D

5 points total

melissahurst03@gmail.com

no said...

So excited to read this! I am an old follower (kreagsheehan) so +2 and if I had one wish left it would be that I was immirtal and so were all my friends and family. + 1. So 3 entries total! Thanks so much!!! kreagsheehan@yahoo.com

Cass said...

Wow I'm so excited to read this! Thanks for the opportunity to win.

+2 Old follower
+1 I'd wish for super-speed. I'd have said invisibility but I already know I'd use that for so much evil...

cc932005 at hotmail dot com

mendy said...

Yay! I'm super excited to read this :D

+2 Old follwer
+2 shared on sidebar: enchantedreads.blogspot.com
+1 I'd wish to stop the destruction of the Amazon rainforest

mendyha26@gmail.com

Kristen said...

+1 I'm a new follower: Kris-10
+2 I tweeted about the giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/kmichelle_10/status/102435019984871425
+1 I would wish for all the books my heart desired!!! <3 lol

Kristen said...

I forgot to leave my email address:
kristen10horses@yahoo.com

Z. Taco said...

Can't wait to read this book! Thanks for the giveaway. :)

+2 Old GFC follower: Zareen T
+2 Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/ShiningStar786/statuses/104323415242051585
+1 I'd wish for a way to increase world literacy rates.

mizzbookworm@gmail.com

Chen Yan Chang said...

What an awesome giveaway!

+2 Old GFC: cyc
+2 Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/nodizzies/status/104982342778626048
+1 I'll wish for any books I want (including future books) to appear whenever I want to read them!

jadedlittlegirlx [at] gmail [dot] com