Dreams of gods & monsters

What power can bruise the sky?
Two worlds are poised on the brink of a vicious war. By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera's rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her.
When the brutal angel emperor brings his army to the human world, Karou and Akiva are finally reunited--not in love, but in tentative alliance against their common enemy. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people. And, perhaps, for themselves.
But with even bigger threats on the horizon, are Karou and Akiva strong enough to stand among the gods and monsters?
The New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy comes to a stunning conclusion as--from the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond--humans, chimaera, and seraphim strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

Author Notes

Laini Taylor was born in Chico, California in 1971. She received a degree in English from UC Berkeley in 1994. She also studied illustration at the California College of Arts and Crafts. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a travel book editor, a bookseller, a waitress, and an illustrator/designer. Her works include Blackbringer, Silksinger, Lips Touch: Three Times, and the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. In 2014 her title Dreams of Gods and Monsters made The New York Times Best seller list.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews 3

School Library Journal Review

Gr 9 Up-Eliza Jones, a research fellow at Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, wakes from a recurring nightmare to the discovery that angels have appeared in the sky above Uzbekistan. Unbeknownst to Eliza, she is the linchpin upon which the salvation of worlds depends. The battle is well and truly on in this finale to the "Daughter of Smoke and Bone" trilogy (Little, Brown). Star-crossed lovers Karou and Akiva have fleeting moments together as their worlds threaten to implode in a power struggle hemmed by uneasy alliances and surprise players. Jael, the psychopathic emperor, has made good on his threat to invade the human world, and human authorities, ecclesiastical and political, struggle to make sense of the shining angels negotiating for human weapons of mass destruction. With the soul of Karou's friend Siri sealed into the body of chimaera leader Thiago, the slim possibility of alliance and survival exists. Revelations and betrayals, multitudinous characters and fulfilled prophecies speed past in a blur of action and intensity. The introduction of Eliza this late in the game is convenient but useful, since she provides the knowledge that gives victory to the rebellion. Characterizations serve the plot and do not achieve any notable depth, but the momentum is more than enough to keep the pages turning. The obstacles between Karou and Akiva multiply exponentially and finally dissipate. The conclusion promises resurrection, renewal, and long-postponed love happily resolved, and that should satisfy even the most meticulous fans.-Janice M. Del Negro, GSLIS Dominican University, River Forest, IL (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publisher's Weekly Review

A mesmerizing conclusion to this popular fantasy trilogy will leave fans utterly satisfied. A band of angels descends to Earth, and humanity is brought face to face with the chimaera and seraphim universes. Meanwhile, Karou and Akiva, now in control of their respective armies, doggedly pursue their dream of forging an alliance between their enemy races and themselves. The Romeo and Juliet-esque love affair between Karou and Akiva is described in well-balanced tender moments with a backdrop of battles, terror, and various life-threatening situations. The narration is tight and skillful, giving listeners heart-stopping action as well as a deftly paced backstory. Taylor's often-poetic prose is translated with incredible voice talent, balancing lyricism and brutality with masterful skill. Short musical interludes complement Hvam's performance and add to the atmosphere of the book as a whole. For new listeners, this isn't a story that one can jump into, with a multitude of characters introduced in the beginning. A Little, Brown hardcover. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Booklist Review

In Taylor's third and final installment in her Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, Karou and Akiva's dream of peace and a life together comes tantalizingly close, only to be repeatedly thwarted by their peoples' separate and conflicting histories, both mystical and real. Joined by angels and chimaera, Karou and Akiva lead their armies and fight side by side to prevent the apocalypse by banishing Jael, captain of the Dominion of Seraphim, from the earth he is determined to destroy. New revelations, characters, multiple love stories, and constant plot twists and suspense will not disappoint Taylor's many fans, who will also appreciate the novel's subtle philosophical undercurrents about racial harmony and the profound difficulty of making choices that reconcile duty, the greater good, and personal happiness. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Angels! Chimaera! Seraphim! Marketing plans and fans' online discussions have been ramping up for months in anticipation of this best-selling series finale.--Bradburn, Frances Copyright 2014 Booklist

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