Review: Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor

Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor (Daughter of Smoke and Bone, book 3)

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Source: Borrowed from library

Synopsis from Goodreads:By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. 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. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy. 

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

I love, love LOVE these books and I feel bereft and a little devastated that the series has ended! I so badly want Eretz to be real! I absolutely love this world and these characters- they have captured my heart and finishing this book is like saying goodbye to old friends. 

The whole series has been phenomenal- the writing is consistently so beautiful and lyrical, and the worlds described are so vivid. I adore the characters, especially Zuzana and Mik who add a quirky sense of fun to a situation, even in the midst of a devastating war. And Karou and Akiva are a modern day Romeo and Juliet (but better!). Plus, it's just a great story, brilliantly told. 

I would thrust these books into the hands of anyone who loves fantasy or fairytales, anyone who loves a good tale of good versus evil, wonderful characters and vivid characters. As I was reading I knew that this book had the potential to break my heart- I was fervently hoping for a nice ending, and that after all they have fought for and gone through, that Karou and Akiva would get their moment. It is a tense, thrilling, desperate read the whole way through!

I don't want to post any spoilers so I will just say that I loved this book! It's a beautiful book and one that I will re-read again. A war between Angels and Chimaera, unlikely alliances, unexpected betrayals, romance, despair, and all the emotions and drama in between- if that can't get you to read this series I don't know what will! If you've read it already you'll know why I'm fangirling so much, if you haven't read it yet- what are you waiting for?!