Breakdown of Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

ONE Sentence summary:  Seventeen-year-old Karou is an apprentice to a sorcerer chimaera but falls in love with an angel seraph even though the two races are enemies of a war that began a thousand years ago.

TWO Things I would have done differently: I would have made a clearer connection between Karou and Madrigal (anagram maybe? Or the meaning of Madrigal be explained) and more details about the hasmas tattoos (origin, how to make them etc). Although both of these may be explained in later novels.

THREE Titles that if you liked...you will like this:
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (read it, loved it)
Paradise Lost by John Milton (read parts of it, loved it)
Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause (read it, loved it)

FOUR Reasons to care:
1.) It has an a-linear plot, so it tests your memory and your attention span.
2.) It has some interesting biblical parallels, but nothing preachy.
3.) It’s going to become a movie. I know! Shocking! I swear I don’t look for books that will soon become movies...
IMDB Smoke and Bone
4.) Part of a Trilogy, which means just because the book is finished, doesn’t mean the plot ends.

FIVE Facts about the author:
1.) Laini Taylor has pink hair. Where I Found It
2.) She’s educated and is a reader. Where I Found It
3.) She’s funny, values art, and likes traveling. Where I Found It
4.) Taylor has a pretty cool blog, which makes her accessible as an author - always a plus to be able to connect with authors. Laini Taylor's Blog
5.) Taylor also made ornaments and greeting cards, but she set this aside in favor of writing. Where I Found It

SIX Emotions I felt while reading:
Curious, baffled, amused, worried, inspired, passionate

SEVEN Thoughts:
1.) Is resurrection possible?
2.) Where does magic come from? How much does it cost?
3.) Is pain more powerful than hope or love?
4.) To what point is a love an element or an emotion
5.) When does the soul end and a body begin? (Or how does one influence the other?)
6.) Are peace or total destruction the only ways to end a war?
7.) What is the difference between wishing and hoping?

EIGHT Buzzwords:
love, life, hope, wish, war, peace, death, hate

NINE Plot device/writing techniques/tools/tricks:
1.) Delayed release of information
2.) Flashbacks, memories, thought processes
3.) A-linear plot
4.) Changing points of view
5.) Chekhov's Gun Rule (Wishbone)
6.) Returning to memories from a different point of view to release different information
7.) Name meanings
8.) Sentence structure, repetition, diction used to creative emphasis
9.) Animals as symbolism

TEN Point plot summary:
1.) We meet Karou’s normal teenage life and watch it intertwine with her apprenticeship for Brimstone.
2.) We see Karou’s interest in art, her affection for her best friend, and her exasperation with her ex-boyfriend.
3.) Karou makes a few wishes.
4.) Karou goes on a few errands and wonders about her past and the mysteries in Brimstone’s house.
5.) Meanwhile, portals all around the world are being marked for destruction by Akiva (angel/seraph) who takes a liking to Karou.
6.) Karou wanders into another world and Brimstone kicks her out.
7.) Akiva searches for her while thinking about his past, eventually finds her and they spend some time together to explore their feelings even though they are enemies.
8.) Akiva realizes who Karou is, but his angel buddies are not happy to see him fraternizing with the enemy.
9.) Akiva and Karou determine a meeting spot and meet up several days later.
10.) Akiva reveals Karou’s true self and makes a confession regarding the marked portals.  The plot leaves off here with “to be continued...