Days of Blood & Starlight [Review]

**3.5 stars**

Stats:
#2 in Daughter of Smoke & Bone series
528 Pages [Kindle]
Published 6 November 2012
ASIN: B0076DCLF6
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Synopsis:
Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?
 

My Thoughts:
[Highlight to view spoilers]
I was head-over-heels in love with Daughter of Smoke and Bone, but I didn't feel the same way about the sequel. Karou [is now aware that she is Madrigal and she makes her way to Eretz. She starts assembling new chimaera for the White Wolf - even though she doesn't trust him, he is acting completely different than he did before. He is kind to her and gentle. Akiva is in a bad place because Karou found out what the angels did to her race and he is now her enemy.]

This book was quite slow for a good chunk - about midway through it picked up and I was hooked. Zuzanna takes more of a primary character status and part of the story is told from her point of view. I really love her personality and sections of the book.

Most of all, [Issa is back!!! I am so so glad that Karou gets a piece of her family back. Issa is such an incredible character anyways!]

Looking forward to what will happen in the third installment. :)

Previous Review:
The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima  [here]

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