Days of Blood and Starlight
| Company type | Novel |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | November 2012 |
| Founder | Laini Taylor |
| Products | Young adult fantasy novel |
| Parent | Little, Brown and Company (Hachette Book Group) |
Days of Blood and Starlight is a young adult fantasy novel authored by Laini Taylor, released in November 2012 through Hachette Book Group, under the Little, Brown and Company imprint. It serves as the second installment in the trilogy, succeeding Daughter of Smoke and Bone and preceding Dreams of Gods and Monsters.
The story picks up where the initial book left off, centering on Karou, who discovers her true identity as Madrigal, a chimaera brought back to life by Brimstone. After Brimstone’s demise at the hands of seraphim, Karou returns to the chimaera stronghold to resume the vital task of resurrecting fallen comrades to rebuild their forces.
Plot
Karou leaves Earth for Eretz, the domain inhabited by chimaera and seraphim, where the chimaera have suffered defeat. She takes over Brimstone’s role as resurrectionist, restoring deceased chimaera to bolster their army against the seraphim. Karou blames Akiva for igniting the conflict; meanwhile, Akiva believes Karou is dead and trains alongside his half-siblings Hazael and Liraz to control his turmoil. On Earth, Karou’s friends Zuzana and Mik delve into her disappearance after receiving mysterious messages tied to a ghostly girl who steals teeth.
Thiago, son of the Warlord and newly appointed commander of the chimaera army, courts Karou during her resurrection duties, frequently offering himself as part of the tithing ritual. He instructs her to enhance resurrected chimaera by increasing their size, strength, speed, and granting them wings. This approach begins shifting momentum in their favor. Thiago also assigns Ten, a wolf chimaera, to accompany Karou on her missions; however, she remains cautious around him.
Meanwhile, Sveva and Sarazal—centaur-like chimaera who have escaped slavery—are on the run; Sarazal suffers from an infection caused by manacles used during captivity. Rath, a saber-toothed tiger-headed Dashnag chimaera, assists them by taking Sarazal to a Caprine settlement for treatment. When seraphim led by Akiva pursue them, Akiva diverts their attention.
Zuzana and Mik decode Karou’s clues and find the chimaera sanctuary. Upon discovering Karou’s identity as Madrigal and her role in resurrection, Zuzana insists on aiding her; Karou refuses, stressing urgency in leaving. Their arrival boosts morale among the chimaera.
Thiago sends an army including Ziri—Madrigal’s “little Kirin shadow”—on a mission disguised as aid but intended as an assault. The force is decimated except for Ziri, who rescues souls before launching a counterattack against angels. After healing Ziri, Karou learns that Akiva used birds to enable Kirin escape.
Razgut, a fallen angel once attached to Izîl’s back, arrives in Eretz and informs seraphim about Karou’s resurrection efforts with the chimaera. Akiva and his siblings plan to assassinate Emperor Joram and his brother Jael to bring about peace. Akiva delivers a thurible containing Issa’s soul to Karou. Despite Thiago’s protests, Issa remains to help with resurrection.
During a council meeting with Joram, Akiva kills the emperor upon discovering that Joram murdered his mother Festival. Jael then kills Japheth to claim leadership and orders distribution of white robes and harps to frame chimaera as invaders threatening the human world. Jael’s forces attack Akiva’s group; Hazael is killed and Akiva entrusts his body to Karou.
Tensions escalate as Ten threatens Karou over Zuzana and Mik’s safety. Karou teaches them invisibility techniques for escape; they flee to Morocco. A recollection reveals that Brimstone sealed thousands of souls in a cathedral after Loramendi’s fall—potentially retrievable for resurrection—but Thiago refuses assistance. Bast warns that supporters Amzallag and Shadows That Live were executed in the pit. When confronting Thiago about this, he attempts to assault Karou; she fatally injures him and reclaims souls of those executed.
Akiva and Liraz arrive; without Hazael’s soul thurible they cannot perform resurrection. Thiago and Ten attack but are killed by Ziri, who then sacrifices himself so his soul can inhabit Thiago’s body for infiltration purposes. Akiva awakens imprisoned alongside Liraz; he plans to destroy portals blocking Jael’s invasion but discovers it is already underway—too late to prevent it.
Critical reception
Days of Blood and Starlight received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, which highlighted the book's "captivating" universe and Taylor's "brilliant" prose, emphasizing the strong element of suspense. Entertainment Weekly gave the novel an "A" rating, describing it as "vividly crafted and engrossing." While Kirkus Reviews provided a more nuanced critique, it acknowledged the story's "distinctive characters and expressive language," despite a pacing that slowed to focus on healing after intense battles. Booklist characterized the work as "dark," "harsh," "bitter," and "violent."
Following in the footsteps of its predecessor, Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Days of Blood and Starlight was selected as one of Amazon.com's Best Books of the Month for November 2012 and secured the #10 spot on Amazon.com's Best Teen Books of 2012 list.