Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Book 1

Book review by Carrie R. Wheadon, Common Sense Media
Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Book 1 Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 14+

Dynamic writing sets intense angel romance apart.

Laini Taylor Fantasy 2011
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 2 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 15 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that the publisher targets Daughter of Smoke & Bone as young adult (12 and up), but it is really mature young adult fare: 14 and up, mostly due to sexual themes such as the loss of virginity (and regret of it) and a forbidden, intense relationship that includes sex (though it's not described in any detail). There are sad deaths, fighting with knives resulting in stab wounds, a beheading, and the description of a never-ending war between angels and chimaera with many dead. Readers get much food for thought on the power of hope and the cost of war.

Community Reviews

CSMContentDefault
CSMContentDefault Adult
November 27, 2013
age 16+

Loved this book

I was pre-reading for my 12 year old when I read this book which I fell in love with. It is, however, not for 12 year olds. The main character is 17 and engages in typical 17 year old behavior, including losing her virginity and regretting it, and is basically on her own, without parents. Other than that part of the story, I can see younger (girls) really enjoying this book. It has many twist and turns. This is a story about an angel and a human who has been raised by chimera (demons?). They fall in love and have to deal with otherworldly influences on their forbidden relationship. It is a very interesting book and sucked me right in. The storyline is so complex that when I read the sequel, I should have gone back and re-read book 1. I will definitely do that before starting the last book in the trilogy. It's not a religious story in any way. Oh, and the cover is the most beautiful illustration ever.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
abbacus
abbacus Adult
October 13, 2013
age 14+

I would recommend....

When I picked up this book I was just thinking it was going to be another story about angles and good vs. bad and I wasn't expecting anything spectacular out of it. Well let me just say that I was very pleasantly surprised! Daughter of S and B was actually very good! While I didn't really fall in love with any of the characters, I found it pretty easy to connect with most of them. The writing style was the first thing I noticed when I was reading that I really enjoyed. The plot line was very good. The story in general was just very interesting and cool. The pacing was good for the majority of the book (at certain points it was hard to quit reading), but some parts in the second half of the book were a little repetitive. It's kind of hard to explain but the story kept going back to a certain event in the past over and over again. It got a little tedious for me. Overall a quite enjoyable read! I am giving the book 4 and a half out of 5 stars. Probably best for ages 15 and up but I think mature younger teens could enjoy it also. There is some violence and scary or darker themes and some sex. Hardly any language, though (maybe a "d-mn" or two).

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much violence
Too much sex
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Seventeen-year-old Karou is living in two very different words. In one she's at art school in Prague with her own apartment and the unwanted attentions of a gorgeous but shallow ex-boyfriend. But when she passes through a portal she's in a shop run by the chimaera monsters who raised her. The shop is filled with teeth of all kinds and the portal opens out to places around the world where Karou can "run errands" to get more teeth from some rather shady brokers who are paid in wishes. The purpose of the teeth is a mystery to Karou, as is where she really came from. Then she's cornered and stabbed near the portal in Marrakesh by a warrior seraphim named Akiva. And worse yet, the portals suddenly burn up, closing her link to her adopted family. She's determined to find a way back to them, but when Akiva finds her in Prague, her plans get sidetracked. Why are they so drawn to each other? The truth they discover is both beautiful and heart-wrenching.

Is It Any Good?

Readers are treated to descriptions of Prague that are almost as compelling as the unfolding story, and the writing is really quite good. YA romantic fantasy seems to be the gateway for many inexperienced writers who often get by on the same formula: too-perfect otherworldly hunk courts average teen girl with lots of longing and intensity. Here we have the too-perfect-looking angel and the intensity, but the girl is far from average (she knows kung fu, for starters) and a total mystery. And there's layer upon layer of other mysteries besides. Each goes in a direction the reader often never expects.

The author is a National Book Award finalist for her short story collection Lips Touch: Three Times, so it's not a surprise for her fans. The last page has a "... to be continued," so expect more refreshingly well-written romantic fantasy to come.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about angels and their succeeding the vampire as the next heartthrob. What's similar about Akiva and say, Edward from Twilight? What's different?

  • Families can also talk about the creation story told from the angel's perspective and the chimaera's. How is prejudice woven into both? Can you think of well-known stories in our world that have clear prejudices?

  • How is this view of angels different from what religious traditions tell us? How is it the same?

Book Details

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Themes & Topics

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