Daughter of Smoke & Bone blew us away;
Days of Blood & Starlight
didn’t disappoint; and now we’re anxiously awaiting Laini Taylor’s
third and final installment of her celestial epic, which we’ve learned
is called
Dreams of Gods & Monsters (out Spring 2014).
Dreams starts where
Days left off, with Karou and
Akiva discovering each other alive — although Karou is still not ready
to forgive Akiva for killing the only family she’s ever known. And now,
through an act of staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the
chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from
dead-end vengeance. When Jael’s brutal angel army trespasses into the
human world, 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 – maybe even toward love. But there are bigger
threats than Jael in the offing. 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.
If you can’t wait for the conclusion, you’re absolutely not alone!
Taylor’s fans are particularly vocal and involved, and to celebrate that
enthusiasm, Taylor has hosted a contest for a fan-made trailer for
Days of Blood & Starlight. See the winning video by Christine Tyler below, plus a few words from Taylor herself!
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What can fans expect from Dreams of Gods & Monsters?
LAINI TAYLOR: Dreams of Gods & Monsters picks up where
Days of Blood & Starlight
leaves off, and you can expect to see: seraphim in the human world
(which will never be the same again), scientific excavation of “the
pit”, enemy armies trying to fight side by side, the possibility of love
rekindling, and … new threats that make Jael seem but a minor nuisance.
At the barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of?
What inspired you to host a contest?
I was blown away by fan talent in the wake of
Daughter of Smoke & Bone, when readers sent me extraordinary art and videos, and even a really good rap! With
Days of Blood & Starlight coming out, I wanted to recognize that incredible pool of creativity.
Days
is a book about an otherworldly war, inborn hatred, rebel armies, and
an unlikely spark of love that might change everything. There’s so much
imagery to play with—chimaera and teeth, tattooed hands, a decrepit
kasbah, Karou’s blue hair, seraph legions on the move — I couldn’t wait
to see the visuals that people would come up with, and I’m thrilled with
the results!
How did you choose?
First prize goes to the amazing entry by Christine Tyler, who created an
entire resurrectionist’s workshop, along with a hauntingly lovely
narration and chill-inducing ending. It’s gorgeous; I was agog the first
time I saw it, and each time since. She captures the book’s balance of
beauty and horror perfectly, and makes Karou’s workshop feel real. Thank
you Christine! The humor prize goes to Lindsay Eager for imagining
Zuzana’s resurrection of Mik. It’s adorable. Lastly, I was so impressed
by the two Bitter Productions entries that I decided to add a second
prize for their gorgeous and stark entry #2.
