Dreams of Gods and Monsters: The Sunday Times Bestseller. Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy Book 3

As a lover of Taylor's writing, I have been putting off finishing this series for the better part of the year because I was so worried about being disappointed by the ending. This is a really hard review for me to write as I'm very sad to say that I struggled to get through it.I had braced myself for the fact that Taylor's stories are slow-burning, but this was a stage worse that usual. There was an awful lot of sitting around before the Chimaera and the Misbegotten form a plan, and longer still before we see the plan in action. And, even when the story began to move, it felt anti-climatic. This story felt like even more of a middle novel than Days of Blood and Starlight did, even though it is the end of the trilogy. The story flitted between several groups of characters, including some important players that had not been truly introduced until now, and just seemed to be generally lacking in focus.Yet the story was still beautiful. Taylor's prose, while occasionally somewhat purple, is deeply poetic and painted a beautiful view of the worlds. While the story could still be grim at times, it always carried the faint trace of hope and this is what truly kept me reading. No matter what happened, it was easy to share in Karou's feelings and share in her dream that one day Chimaera and Seraphim could live side by side. Even though I struggled to get through the story at times, I did want to keep reading to find if there ever would be happy ending.Yet I was ultimately left feeling disappointed. The threat of Jael's army on Earth is too easily dispatched will and still left 100 pages of the novel after their vague defeat. This gave way to the rise of a new threat - one even more terrible - yet did not give enough time for this danger to truly be addressed or resolved. The result of this was a very rushed and open end to the novel, making me wonder if Taylor has plans in revising this story at some point in the future.In terms of characterisation, the novel was very varied. I felt that Karou's forgiveness of Akiva, though something that has been building for a while, turned into a passion a little too quickly. The vague love triangle with Ziri from the last book was also quick to be swept under the rug. While Ziri's relationship with Liraz came entirely out of left field, it did at least allow Liraz to gain some personal growth and become less of a monster.Yet it was, as always Zuzana and Mik that really stole the show for me. I really loved the way that their characters developed over the course of the novel as it felt very natural, especially as they gained strength after seeing terrible things. I also loved that they both had an important role to play in this story, ultimately becoming instrumental in saving the day despite the fact they were the only two ordinary humans in the tale.Yet my biggest disappointment was the villains. Jael is neutralised far too easily in this story, and Razgut once again largely escapes without punishment. For me, this was a huge disappointment as I really wanted there to be more a climax involving them. Despite the fact that we finally learn who Razgut was before his fall, this ultimately does not have much of an impact on the story.So, all in all, I was left disappointed by this climax. Although I loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone and the Strange the Dreamer series, this novel was just lacking. Still, I am a huge fan of Taylor's writing style and am still excited to see what she will write next.

I've just completed this book, the final of the trilogy. Having had the first book bought for me I bought the rest as I couldn't put the book down. Enjoyed the story from start to finish across all three books and some nights spent an hour or two not being able to stop.My only niggle, and reason for 4 stars, was the ending and the new character. I enjoyed the addition of Eliza in book three but I really felt more time was needed, her story felt rushed and id have liked a little more on her history as Elazael to appreciate her worth, her worth was told to me rather than discovered. The ending also felt quite abrupt (I wont divulge, no spoilers). I liked the end, it wasn't a bad ending, I just needed something more than what it was.Overall, across the three books, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading.

💛📘💛Laini Taylor never ceases to amaze me. Yes her characters are fantastic, yes her writing is beautiful and her settings amazing but its her storylines which really stand out for me.The originality of all of her ideas and how she weaves all the plot lines together leaves you gripped the whole way through until all the final reveals is just pure genius.I love this book, the only (teeny tiny) negative again is how Laini likes her Insta-love however i dont mind it while I'm reading it because she writes so well.. But a good slow enemies to lovers romance would be the only thing i'd ask for in her next books. 🙏 Its clear there is more to come and I can't wait to read Laini's next releases. She's an autobuy author for me now.

It is not often that I am determined to write a review about books, however, after finishing this trilogy I had too.I miss the characters dearly. The story line is truly an epic journey. I felt love and I laughed, I cried, I got angry, and surprised and wishiful and hopeful and...well, what a lovely emotional rollercoaster, just what I love in a book. The lovely way everything - including all the characters, heroes and otherwise - is described made me feel like I was right there in the middle of the action, made me want to be part of it all. Thank you to Laini Taylor for writing these wonderful books. Can't wait to read her other books.

This is probably the best trilogy of books I have ever read. The writer has an amazing imagination and every book holds your attention. Loved the main characters. A fantastic read if you like angels and monsters and mayhem