Audiobook Review : Days of Blood and Starlight

” . . . Whatever went on in the ash fall landscape and blood crusted world of war where her creations went forth to do violence.  It wasn’t her concern. She conjured the bodies. That was all. What more could she possibly do ?“

“It was the deed that matter not words. Do the thing. Kill the monster. Change the world”

– Laini Taylor, Days of Blood and Starlight

• Release Date: January 16th 2013

• Length : 15 Hours 25 Minutes
• Genre: Fantasy
• Publisher : Hachette Audio

Synopsis: An 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. . . 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?

 Laini Taylor’s  Days of Blood and Starlight is the stunning continuation of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone story. I started this audio book the day it came out and I seriously did NOT want to finish it. Taylor’s beautifully written sequel continues the tumultuous tale of war, love and hope.

Placed on different  sides of a thousand-year-old war, Karou and Akiva have made their choice and now must  find some way of peace for their people, but a war this old doesn’t die so easily. Resurrections must continue, war must continue, but is their a place in this world for the  hopes and dreams of two lovers ?

Days of Blood and Starlight  is one of the most epic love stories you will read. Initially I was caught of guard by the insta-love in the first book, but the conflict and obstacles faced by Akiva and Karou will have you constantly wondering if love can prevail.

The characters in this novel are exceedingly dynamic. Akiva and Karou are constantly questioning their own decisions and  motives. I like how they aren’t selfish enough to believe that being with each other is all that matters. They have obligations and passions outside of each other.

However this book has so much more than a love story going on. Taylor flexes her character-building muscles by introducing us to a new set of characters to loathe and root for. I’ve started to notice how Taylor builds her world through the eyes of characters and not with descriptions.

Taylor’s dream-like and beautiful story telling make for a perfect audio book. The audio performance  adds something to the story that I don’t think quite comes cross when reading it. Khristine Hvam stretches her range in this book, and at over 12 hours long she handles it pretty well for being the only narrator. I especially like the zeal she adds when she reads Taylor’s acknowledgements.

Without spoiling this book, what really impressed me about this novel is that there is a certain subject matter that has gotten a lot of heat in YA novels .Taylor handled well in this novel. Did anyone else get that feel ?

If you have never listened to an audio book I highly suggest you start with this series. The fantastic story of love, war, angels and demons will certainly become one of your “top three reasons for living” !

I’m always interested in whether books are marketed as YA or Adult in the UK. This is one of those books that  is not marketed as YA in the UK. I think it would have great cross-over appeal in the U.S. Also the film adaptation has a writer !