Karou, who lives in Prague in the Czech Republic, has no family except a group of Chimaera, beings that take on a combination of various animal and human forms. Karou struggles with loneliness and trying to figure out who--indeed, what--she really is. For generations in a kind of parallel world, the Chimaera have been at war with the Seraphs, beings that have wings and look like angels. Brimstone, Karou's caretaker and father figure, is a sorcerer and leader of the Chimaera. He regularly sends Karou on errands to various parts of the world through portals that take her anywhere in a matter of seconds. These errands usually require Karou to fetch teeth from various "dealers" and deliver them to Brimstone. (The purpose of the teeth is shockingly revealed toward the end of the book.) During one of these errands, she comes in contact with Akiva, a Seraph, and the two find themselves mysteriously drawn to each other.
This is a wonderful book! It is a blend of reality, fantasy, romance, adventure that will appeal to many. We identify with Karou as she struggles with her loneliness, trying to remain connected to the only family she has known--creatures that look like combinations of snakes, lions, jackals, etc. The mystery of her background and her connection to Akiva is one of the driving forces of the book.
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