Karou has two lives. On the one hand, she is a seventeen year old art student living in Prague suffering from a break up with an asshole ex. On the other, she's the ward of a created family of chimeras, travelling the world on the hunt for teeth, a precious bounty for the chimera sorcerer, Brimstone. While on a mission, she's confronted by the angel, Akiva, and her two lives conjoin and skyrocket towards a third one, old and new alike that could bring about the end of the world as she knows it.
This book came recommended by so many different people in my life that I was actually a little nervous to pick it up. If I didn't like it, I'd have a lot to answer to. It didn't prove to be an issue though. Laini Taylor's world building is as close to perfect as anything I've read. The depth and the scope are rich with history and life, with vivid, evocative detail. She has a thrilling lead in Karou too, who's journey is so defined, so perfectly carved out that you really do feel like you've been on it with her.
The supporting characters are pretty terrific too - from serpent Issa to bovine Brimstone, the sweet and snarky Zuzana, even asshole Kaz. It rounds out a story that explores morality and war and child soldiers and the brutality of total power. It's pretty magical.
5 out of 5 lost sketchbooks.
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