Also published as The Space Between
Published by: Simon & Schuster UK, January 5th 2012
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Mythology (sorta - it's Biblical lore)
Pages: 368
Format: Paperback
Source: Gift
Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?
Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped - and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.
I started this book hoping that Brenna Yovanoff wasn't one of those authors where I only love one of their books. I hoped I loved all of her books as much as The Replacement but feared I wouldn't. I shouldn't have worried.
Smoulder - or The Space Between - is a dark and gritty story of recovery and self-discovery. It explores the lengths people will go to for those they love, even if they don't really know what love is. I loved this book. It had a definite spark of the magic that I found in The Replacement, even if I didn't fall as hard for this book as I did that.
I loved the characters the most - Daphne was naive but brave, and I found her obliviousness and ignorance of earth things pretty cute. But Truman - he reminded me so much of Cole St Clair, one of my favourite characters ever. Truman is self destructive, careless with his life, and utterly broken. He's not quite as sharp around the edges as Cole, and has a definite gentleness, but that only made me love him more. The ending almost killed me. The supporting characters were great too - even Moloch (I naturally hate and suspect Molochs but he managed to gain my trust and affection) and a demon child.
This book is a great mix of contemporary issues and paranormal danger. The magic felt so natural, like it belonged in this world, and the threats were pretty horrifying (poor Obie!) but I was much more invested in Truman's recovery. My precious sunshine child. And don't even get me started on the romance, which was just perfect for these characters. Basically I loved everything about this, and it's only not an absolute favourite because I didn't entirely fall in love with it. It's purely an emotional rating.
Characters ★★★★★
Setting/world building ★★★★☆
Writing ★★★★☆
I've loved every single one I've read of hers (though I do still have to read The Replacement and Fiendish). I still don't understand the ending though, haha.
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