Book #209 of 2018: Muse of Nightmares by Laini Taylor (Strange the Dreamer #2) A lovely conclusion to the story set up in Strange the Dreamer, especially for how it resolves that wicked cliffhanger from the first book. Author Laini Taylor’s fantasy storytelling and rich mythic worldbuilding is as terrific as ever (with even more …
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Book #193 of 2018: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (Strange the Dreamer #1) I love this book, and I think my review from when I first read it in 2017 still stands: “A gorgeously-written fantasy novel about a boy raised in a library, who spends his early life chasing down obscure references to the …
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Book #107 of 2018: Night of Cake & Puppets by Laini Taylor Laini Taylor is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers, thanks to the gorgeous emotional landscapes that her lyrical prose always ends up painting for me. In this short book, she uses that gift — and the help of actual illustrations from her …
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Book #30 of 2018: Dreams of Gods & Monsters by Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #3) I’m satisfied by the conclusion of this trilogy, but I do find it a tad underwhelming after that excellent middle volume. There’s a lot of attention given to a brand-new viewpoint character of dubious importance to the …
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Book #253 of 2017: My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories edited by Stephanie Perkins This collection of holiday love stories from twelve YA writers makes for some cute seasonal fun. “It’s a Yuletide Miracle, Charlie Brown” by editor Stephanie Perkins was the clear highlight for me, but Holly Black’s “Krampuslauf,” Laini Taylor’s …
Book #241 of 2017: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2) The first novel in this trilogy grew on me as it went along, its early Twilight trappings of a high school girl falling in love with a beautiful inhuman stranger giving way to something rich and dark …
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Book #205 of 2017: Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1) My feelings about this book are all over the place! I ended up really liking it, and I can’t wait to read the rest of the trilogy, but it was sort of a rough journey to get …
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Book #114 of 2017: Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor (Strange the Dreamer #1) A gorgeously-written fantasy novel about a boy raised in a library, who spends his early life chasing down obscure references to the faraway city whose name was removed from the world by magic. It’s a bit reminiscent of The Kingkiller Chronicle, …
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