Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor

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. 

Ar 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?

I have to admit that it took me a bit to get into the book. Not because anything was lacking but because I was trying to catch up in my mind as to what had happened before. Yes, this is a series that must be read in order and also not too far apart. I just think you'd be able to get into the book quicker that way.

Oh but when I did... I really didn't want to put down this book. I was worried that it would lack as some second books do, but when I dreamed of scenes in this book at night, I knew there was nothing lacking here. Her words are as lush as the first one and the scenes they invoke are as interesting as the first. In some ways more so since we are ever so much more invested in these characters.

There were parts of this book that are heartbreaking and twists and turns I never saw coming. As soon as you thought things would do as planned HUGE wrenches would be thrown in and your heart twists at the outcome. There were times I wanted to throw the book and yell... NO! It can't be and then hold my breath to see if I was right. And although I will never have that same feeling again when I reread this book, I just know that eventually I'll be reading this series more than once.

Oh I give this book 5 stars. It ends in a bit of a cliffie, but nothing you can't handle. I think I'd be more upset if I had to leave this world after this book than knowing I'll be back hopefully soon. I recommend this to the older YA and adult crowd who enjoys adventure, fantasy and a lot of twists in a story that keep you on the edge of your seat. Oh I do think Laini Taylor has a fan in me!

I received this eARC from Little Brown Books and no compensation for my review was given.