Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Summary:

"Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.
Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?"

Plot: Uhm, can this book receive the MOST Unique Book Plot of 2011 Award?!  Enough Said. 

Characters: I absolutely adored Karou's Character, and Madrigal's grew on me and I just liked Akiva. I did and I didn't understand Zuzana's Character though (she is Karou's best friend) Unless, in the next book.. (there will be a next book right?) she is like Madrigal's sister Chiro. That is  a thought that just hit me. Brimstone and the other Chimeara are written well, that you feel the same way towards them as Karou does.. you like them, there is this sense of home and family, but you know there is secrets and darkness too.

Pros: beyond unique plot, fast chapters

Cons: For me I felt a lack of connection between Karou and Akiva.. I just couldn't BELIEVE it. 

Final Thoughts:  I began reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone and I was a little disappointed cause I wasn't as sucked in as everyone has been claiming to be with this book, but the books chapters are so short and story moves along so quickly that soon I was caught up in Karou's Story. Which is why when it switches to Madrigal's story I was a little thrown off, I wanted more of Karou. Madrigal's story gets more intriguing and hearing her story is absolute key to the story, but I think it was a combo of me only getting to read her story in bits and pieces since I have been busy and just wanting Karou's Story. Over all though, I beyond enjoyed the book, especially the last 20 pages! This is a must read for the YA community. It isn't your normal paranormal.. I can't even say it is Paranormal... it is almost fantasy. Oh, I don't know.. it is just plain AWESOME. I guarantee you haven't read this story yet.