Night of Cake & Puppets (Daughter of Smoke & Bone)

This is a cute little story that stems from the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy. I recommend reading it if you're reading those books and have read Days of Blood and Starlight. It's a shorter story, but sweet and just as exciting as the trilogy.

Awesome book! I love these characters - they are the best part of the whole series! And the person who did the audiobooks for this series does an excellent job voicing Zuzana; she makes me love this character even more.

Written in Zuzanas fun and sarcastic voice, Night of Cake and Puppets is a romantic adventure that doesn’t go as planned. The novel that this short story is from is Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Daughter of Smoke and Bone goes from Mik and Zuzana not talking to being a couple and it was nice to have the gaps filled in by this short story. More fun with scuppy (small) magic that we only got to see a small part of in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I wouldn’t call it a page turner or amazing or anything but it was a cute, fun read

Laini Taylor I just love you. If you liked Zuzana in The Daughter of Smoke and Bone then this is a novella for you. It has the same beautiful language that Laini Taylor brings to all of her work and the zinginess that is Zuzana.

Told from both Zuzana and Mik’s perspectives it is all about the treasure hunt Zuzana thought up to meet Mik. With the help of a few scuppies supplied by best friend Karou, Zuzana is on a mission.

- Me, sweep him off his feet? I know. The laws of the jungle and romance novels would have it the other way around, but I’m not going to wait one more second for that. ---Zuzana

I love Zuzana’s tenacity and creativity in creating the moment that she can finally talk to Mik. Zuzana might be small but her personality is larger than life and any love story beginning for her would have to have some semblance of a fairy tale woven into it.

Mik was adorable and had a few tricks up his sleeve too. I loved seeing how nervous he was to talk to her as well. It was great to get his impression of the little spitfire and see how intimidated by Zuzana he was.

- The eye’s perception of texture is pale compared to the lips’, and I didn’t know what velvety was until I knew it with my lips.

Even though Karou is away searching for wishes there is texting and the cute banter that always exists between the best friends.

This is a fun and quick read and while not necessary for the overall storyline of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy it is well worth the read time to see the beginnings of these favorite characters.

I want more side stories and even "origin" stories of minor characters! Definitely Brimestone, Twiga, Issa, the Kirin people, but even Kaz and Thiago.
It was delightful how Taylor gave voice to Zuze and Mik!!!

This is the story of Mik and Zusana told with Laini Taylor's signature flair. It's a wonderful addition to the Daughter of Smoke and Bone universe. You'll probably want to start with the books, though.

I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this, and I was very pleasantly surprised by everything. It was so sweet and adorable and if something like this happens to me in the future, my life will be complete.

This is a very sweet and lovely short book sketching in the romance between two of the sub-characters in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone books. Very creative - it made me feel much closer to these characters than in the initial books.

Guess I didn't really see the point of the book. I like the characters well enough in her other books. The "treasure hunt" was a good idea. I think the real problem is that I don't think a person like Mik could actually exist with the proper X-Y chromosome combination, so fleshing him out even more in a super-romantic, magical context takes my suspension of disbelieve to an off-the-charts level.

This is the "cute", sickeningly sweet, extraordinarily twee story of how Zuzana and Mik get together. It's completely superfluous to the main storyline and really in a way detracts from the gravitas of the main trilogy, but if you want to see a "cute" happily ever after, here ya go.

I am probably a horrible person, but unlike many other reviewers/readers/purveyors of this trilogy, I do not find Zuzana to be cute. The more I read about this character, the more I liken Zuzana to a small toy dog - such as a Pomeranian or a Chihuahua. These dogs think they are big and tough and then spend half an hour barking at their own shadow - meanwhile a Rottweiler or a Great Dane stares at them bemused as they go around jumping at bugs. I recall a neighbor who had a teeny tiny Dachsund - the cutest thing ever, but it barked at everyone it passed. If you read the book with that in mind, it completely changes Zuzana's bloated opinion of herself - rabid fairy indeed!

The fact is, Zuzana makes no sense. We learn early on she's a virgin and, more bizarre than that, she somehow hit 17 without even kissing a boy! How the flying frak does that happen?! It's not like Zuzana was shut in a basement or lived on a farm far away from other guys or was asexual or hyperreligious - why has she never been kissed?! So the bonus points Taylor made in DoS&B with allowing Karou to be sexually experienced fly away as, once again, we have this virginal "never been kissed" female character. Fortunately, unlike most other female characters of her type, Zuzana does want sex and kissing, but the way she goes about getting it is a little creepy. She basically stalks Mik but can't talk to him (why? Isn't she supposed to be a rapid fairy?!), then devises this intricate plan to woo him. And yes, girls and boys, when a woman stalks a man, it's just as creepy as when a man stalks a woman.

But I will admit that it is refreshing is to see a woman start the instigating in a romantic relationship. Zuzana has a sex drive and does something about it. We definitely need to see more women in fiction not afraid to say, "Hey, I like you, let's do the dirty!" So that part of the book gets the stars.

That said...still creepy she sets up this treasure hunt for Mik without even once talking to him. Not even a "Hi, my name is Zuzana!" What if he didn't get the clues? What if he had other plans - like tending a sick grandmother? What if he wasn't interested in her or creeped out by the random, anonymous notes? She only just knew his name and that he was hawt - it's a little creepy to have this person whom you've never talked to just suddenly give you this treasure hunt out of the blue. (Good thing he also liked her - but was also completely impotent about doing anything other than gawping at her.) Does no one think this scenario sounds like something that would end up on a real crime show?

And Mik - good lord, Mik! Mik is what women think men sound like - he basically sounds like a mildly tamer version of Zuzana. Equally quirky and hipstery and totes okay with Zuzana's bizarre and creepy treasure hunt. And constantly coming down on his "guy side" (the side that wants to have sex with Zuzana). Because yeah - wanting sex with a hot girl? That's your "guy side" and wrong.

(NOTE: This is just saying "That person is hot and I'd like to have sex with him/her" not "That person is hot, and I WILL have sex, regardless if it is wanted". Just thinking, not doing.)

Overall - eh. It was okay. Way too twee and sappy, sickly sweet for my tastes - now, I'm envisioning the Manic Pixie Dream Girl of all MPDGs, Zooey Deschanel, playing Zuzana and possibly Joseph Gordon Levitt playing Mik with sappy music and snow. (Purely coincidence that the two played a couple in 500 Days of Summer. They were just the actors that came to my mind, for better or worse.) The fortunate thing is - this is easily skippable in the main story. I personally recommend that unless you love really sappy cute romances (which is 180-degree departure from the epic romance of the main trilogy), that you skip this. It's definitely not worth $2.99 on Kindle, lemme tell you that.

***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***

Night of Cake & Puppets by Laini Taylor
Book 2.5 of the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: September 12, 2017
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

In this stand-alone companion to the New York Times bestselling Daughter of Smoke & Bone series comes the story of Mik and Zuzana's fantastical first date—as a gorgeously illustrated gift edition with bonus content included.

Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her "rabid fairy," her "voodoo eyes" are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or "Violin Boy," her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to make the first move, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It's a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter's night before leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy is not going to know what hit him.

New York Times bestselling author Laini Taylor brings to life a night only hinted at in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy—the magical first date of fan-favorites Zuzana and Mik. Originally published as an ebook, this new print edition will include breathtaking black and white illustrations, plus bonus content in a gorgeous package perfect for new and current fans of the series.

What I Liked:

This novella originally published in November 2013 as a ebook exclusive, somewhat of a bridge between books two and three of this series. It is the story of the first date of Mik and Zuzana, and it is the cutest thing. I mildly regret not reading the novella four years ago, but I loved having the chance to read it now. I think it is a fantastic move by the publisher to publish the novella in hardcover format, especially with the added bonus of many gorgeous illustrations by Jim Di Bartolo (Laini Taylor's husband!).

The novella takes place in one night, which is pretty neat considering it is nearly 200 pages in length. Zuzana wants to go on a date with Mik, and she isn't going to wait around for him to notice her. What she doesn't know is that he already noticed her, but he himself wasn't sure if she was interested in him. Isn't that cute?

Zuzana is a fiery, fierce girl who goes after what she wants - in this case, it's Mik. She has had a crush on him and wants him to notice her, and it's going to happen. She may have been nervous about coming face-to-face with him, but her plan for getting him to do so is clever and adorable. Did I mention that she is a marionette, a puppeteer? It's very cool. Her puppets are wild.

Mik is quiet and maybe a bit shy, prone to slight blushing, according to Zuzana. He is a musician: a very talented violinist. When he plays for Zuzana, my heart wanted to burst. So much cute!

But I get ahead of myself. Zuzana leaves a note for Mik - well, it's more of a treasure map. He follows the clues in order to find her. Zuzana uses scuppies (little bits of magic) to make the clues and the scenery a tiny bit magical, which is enchanting and fascinating. By the time the pair meet face-to-face, they are only a little nervous, but probably halfway in love with each other.

Even though it's a story of only one night, the romance is so cute and you couldn't not ship these two. What a perfect first date! So many things could have gone wrong but several crises were averted. I loved how magical and beautiful the scenes were, how rich and lush the storytelling was. The romance was beautifully set up, as were the characters, the setting, the backdrop of the story being a break-off of the main story (involving Karou and Akiva).

There are a few Karou cameos! Over text message though - Karou is busy traipsing all over the world. Karou is a sweet, supportive friend, and an anchor for Zuzana.

This novella was a masterpiece! The story itself, yes, but also the illustrations. The galley copy doesn't have all of the illustrations, but it has many, and they are so lovely. The artist is extremely talented, and his work really adds to the story. Turning this novella into a hardcover book of words and illustrations was a fantastic idea!

What I Did Not Like:

Nothing specific that I didn't like! I can't wait to see the final version with all of the illustrations - but that's my problem for reading the early ARC. I'm excited!

Would I Recommend It:

If you read the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series but not this novella, you should read this! It'll be a lovely addition to the collection (the hardcover, I mean), and the story is so sweet and uplifting, a change compared to the other books. I don't usually read novellas because they generally don't add too much to the main story, but I think this novella was perfect. Think of it more as a companion novel set in Zuzana and Mik's alternating POVs! With it being ~200 pages, it very well could be!

Rating:

4.5 stars. I highly recommend this novella, and even more so in hardcover format. At the very least, check it out from the library or take a peek at a bookstore. I will definitely be doing that! I am sure the hardcover will be absolutely stunning. Props to Little, Brown for contracting this project, and to Laini and Jim for making it real!

This was one of the worst stories I have received from the Kindle Singles. The writing is part and particle; by that I mean it is here and there in my opinion. I did not enjoy it one bit; and could only take reading about half of it. IF it got better after half way through then great, but it is poorly written and a ridiculous story to follow, in my opinion

Prior to reading this absolutely wonderful novella I had never picked up anything by Laini Taylor. An early copy of it arrived in the mail ages ago and I kind of forgot about it which was my loss because I loved it so, so much! I now NEED to pick up the series that it belongs to ASAP!

The story filled me with such happiness. It was adorable and reminded me of being a teenager, trying to deal with a huge crush and just ending up being dorky. The story revolves around Zuzana, a girl who has made it her mission to attract the attention of her crush, Mik. I absolutely adored Zuzana! She’s a bit strange, lover of all things dark and magical and small for her age. She totally embraces who she is and I thought that was wonderful. I also enjoyed her interactions with Mik, which were awkward and had me smiling ear to ear. These two were so darn cute together! My heart just melts thinking about it.

This particular version also featured very cool illustrations by taylor’s husband, Jim Di Bartolo. While not all completed in the ARC that I received, they were perfect for the story and characters. It was great to see the characters and the magical world that they inhabit come to life as I turned the page. I really need to pick up a finished version because I’m very curious to see how they turned out.

This short story was simply magical from start to finish! Whether you are a fan of Taylor’s work or want a taste of her writing, this novella is one that you must read. I just bought a copy of Daughter of Smoke & Bone (the first in the series that this novella belongs to) and can’t wait to start reading it. I need more of Zuzana and Mik right now!!!!

"I am a rabid fairy. I am a carnivorous plant. I am Zuzana.
And violin boy's not going to know what hit him."

Petite though she may be, Zuzana is not known for timidity. Her best friend, Karou, calls her "rabid fairy," her "voodoo eyes" are said to freeze blood, and even her older brother fears her wrath. But when it comes to the simple matter of talking to Mik, or "Violin Boy," her courage deserts her. Now, enough is enough. Zuzana is determined to make the first move, and she has a fistful of magic and a plan. It's a wonderfully elaborate treasure hunt of a plan that will take Mik all over Prague on a cold winter's night before leading him to the treasure: herself! Violin Boy is not going to know what hit him.

The primary reason I bought the book is because I'm aesthetically driven and boy howdy does this book have aesthetics!

- One: the cover art. A gorgeous blend of bright cyan and magenta and she's wearing...a gas mask. (Did I say I was a fan of off-the-wall stuff, too? Cuz I am.)

- Two: the hardback. If you remove the dust sleeve, on either side is a gorgeous illustration of Zuzana (front, magenta) and Mik (back, cyan).

- Three: accompaniment illustrations. My favorite probably being the rabid fairy, back of Mik with his violin bumper sticker, the rolled up treasure map, the treasure map itself, and the origami butterflies. (Can I get a tattoo of these origami butterflies? Because they're seriously amazing.)

- Four: titles and POV transitions. Absolutely drop-dead gorgeous snowflakes. It really captures the "magic" of the snowfall that's happening while we follow both Zuzana and Mik to their first meet.

All books should have this much eye candy.

I haven't read the Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy so I don't actually know how these two function in their verse. However, considering it's a short story of them meeting, I felt when I picked this up that it might not be necessary (though I'm sure I would have derived more enjoyment out of it if I were already shipping them because their dynamic was a little odd to me).

The description leaves no mystery of what the short is about. It delivers exactly as it says it does. Obviously, there was a bit of learning curve as I haven't read the series (scuppies, Kishmish) but I got the gist.

What I liked? Zuzana has a fascinating headspace.

"I feel liquefied, like a cucumber forgotten in the crisper drawer, and I want to hold myself at arm's length and carry me to the trash. Who is this sack of slush masquerading as me? It's intolerable. If Karou can sally forth to track down the most awful people in the world and steal wishes from them, then I can meet a damned boy."

What I didn't like so much? I can't exactly put a finger on it...but what I find cute and endearing in Zuzana I just don't in Mik. And maybe that's the problem...I was introduced to Zuzana first and Mik feels like a duplicate copy (except as a guy).

"How pathetically passive, waiting for her to do the talking. That's not who I want to be. I want to be the guy in a movie who's, I don't know, out walking his rabbit on a leash (I don't have a rabbit) and knows exactly how to strike up a quirky, compelling conversation. Though maybe if you're walking a rabbit on a leash, you don't even have to speak; the rabbit does the work for you."

If they're both this way in the trilogy I'm not sure if I would have shipped them. I like variance in couples! But I digress. The pretties more than makes up for it in this cute companion novel.

Recommended for Shadow & Bone enthusiasts and/or anyone that wants shelf candy.

Laini Taylor is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers, thanks to the gorgeous emotional landscapes that her lyrical prose always ends up painting for me. In this short book, she uses that gift -- and the help of actual illustrations from her husband Jim Di Bartolo -- to revisit a side story from the first novel in her Daughter of Smoke & Bone trilogy, sharing the magical first date between two of its minor characters. Taylor brilliantly captures the excitement and wonder as Zuzana and Mik come together one night in the snow-swept streets of Prague, and although the character voice is more quirky and irreverent than what the author usually writes, it's every bit as warm.

The whole book is pretty much an extended deleted scene, and it's in no way essential to anything in the rest of the trilogy. It's just one isolated moment between two new lovers, and it could probably even be read by someone who didn't know the context of the larger story. But if you've read and loved the series already, this companion novella is definitely worth seeking out.

My GUSH Review...

Night of Cake & Puppets is the novella that follows the 2nd book in The Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy which happens to be one of my TOP FAVE trilogies of all time! also the reason why I’ll read anything Laini Taylor writes….EVER! I first read this novella a few years back after reading the trilogy & still remember how much I ADORED it to pieces. When I heard through the Bookish Grapevine of an illustrated edition I knew I had to read in physical format. I’m so very happy to have received this ARC from the publisher, the illustrations by Jim Di Bartolo are ON POINT! he captures the humor & quirk of this beloved character & gives the best scenes in this novella an extra dose of magic. Di Bartolo is Laini’s husband & that perhaps makes him pretty much the perfect person to illustrate this story since I’m guessing he’s had some time to get to know these characters very well. I thoroughly enjoyed his illustrations & would love to see more of this collabo :)

Night of Cake & Puppets is a novella is set in Prague, home to Karou and her BFF Zuzana. While Karou is off on a mission (no spoilers for the DOSAB trilogy) Zuzana is on a mission of her own: to capture the heart of Mik the Violinist or at the very least his kiss!

Zuzana was an instant fave character for me because of her eccentricities, whenever I think of her the quote “Though she be little, she is fierce!” comes to mind. Just like her grandfather, Zuzana designs puppets that are very life-like as well as a bit creepy. She is a lover of all things strange, dark, and magical which makes her a perfect BFF to Karou who is all of these & more. It also manages to catch Miks attention who is working in the same stage play as Zuzana. Before Karou went off on her adventure aka scavenger hunt, she blessed Zuzana with 5 scuppies which will grant her 5 small wishes. With her scuppies for back-up, Zuzana sets out to plan the most romantic night ever sprinkled with a touch of magic.

Mik is one of the few male characters in YA that I LOVE & as such, the next time I get asked on a tag to choose a book BF (terrible memory), my pick will ALWAYS be MIK! <3 <3 <3 he’s that person, the one that wishes they had a more exciting life & is just waiting for THE night that will catapult him into said life. When he first sees Zuzana, he admire her fierceness from afar but couldn’t bring himself to talk to her. Their awkward almost encounters started to increase & he was genuinely intrigued by the mystery surrounding her.

Zuzana concocts this plan for the night she’s chosen to make her feelings known to Mik but it’s going to take some participation & effort on his behalf as well lol. I was completely knocked off my feet, left smitten on the floor (not an easy feat) with this magical night from start to finish. Taylor pulls you in for the night taking you through the streets of Prague while it snows & these two complete opposites take part in their own scavenger hunt. I honestly think Laini Taylor’s pen is infused with magic & whatever she writes is destined to come to life on the page & the readers mind. Highly recommending Night of Cake & Puppets to everyone! although it would be ideal to have read the first two books in the Daughter & Smoke trilogy, it is not a pre-requisite. You will however probably end up wanting to know more about Zuzana’s mysterious friend Karou & how she comes about these magical scuppies haha! Also…there’s Cake ;)

*HUGE Thanks to The NOVL/Little Brown Books & Laini Taylor for the Night of Cake and Puppets ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much to Little Brown/The Novl for sending a copy for review. It was a pleasant surprise and I couldn’t believe it when it showed up on my door! I am a huge fan of Laini Taylor & her Daughter of Smoke and Bone series, and I’d never had the chance to read this short story. So it was a wonderful experience to get to read it and see some of the illustrations in this special edition!

Mik and Zuzana had been one of my favorite parts of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series – so getting to see their origin story, how the two of them started dating was adorable and magical. The illustrations brought the story to life, and made me feel even moreso like I was part of the story. Some of the images were missing and I am extremely curious to see what the finished copy looks like.

We get POVS from both Mik and Zuzana in this – and I absolutely adored both of their voices. Zuzana’s sass and Mik’s humble persona brought a smile to my face as I plowed through the story. And despite it being summer time, I felt like I was in a magical winter wonderland in Prague – on Zuzana’s treasure hunt to her heart.

It’s been a long time since I read the DOSAB trilogy and it was a treat to be able to get sucked back into this world as if I never left. If you’ve never read the series, this novella might be a little confusing, but I don’t think you need to read DOSAB to enjoy a cute little love treasure hunt between two characters.

This comes out soon – early September, and I myself will be getting a copy to see the completed illustrations. There’s even a sneak peak at the DOSAB graphic novel in the back, as well as extra images. They are absolutely beautiful and well drawn, Jim DiBartolo is an excellent artist, and brings a fresh new feel to Laini’s series. Thank you again to Little Brown for providing me with a copy for review!

Okay, this was plain adorable. I listened to the first 2/3 as an audiobook, and at first I found the girlish tone and implausibly cute accent of the female narrator annoying (Mik is also Czech, but his narrator didn't amp it up nearly as much), but then it grew on me. Still, for whatever reason the library kept taking it back before I was done, so when I finally broke down and got a hard copy.

GUYS. IT IS HEAVILY ILLUSTRATED. BY LAINI'S HUSBAND. I did not know this, or I would have been reading it all along. Just like Leigh Bardugo's short story collection, The Language of Thorns, the illustrations enhance the magical feeling of the book. Like--sooooo much charm. And then in the acknowledgements, Laini thanks her husband for helping her with the kissing research so she can write romantic scenes, and my tired old heart about burst with delight.

So why only four stars? Well, it's about two young people playing a game and falling in love. That is the entire plot. It's delightful, but frothy, with very little substance. Still, Taylor is a consistently brilliant writer. This is some of the best fluff ever.

Ok nice, simple and sweet just a sidebar story that branches off from book one of the Smoke and Bone series Laini Taylor does a fabulous job of fleshing out her characters so that you understand all aspects of their lives I feel she really loves this suzanna character the rabid fairy anyway a small romantic sidebar enjoyable that adds a feeling of depth to an already multi-layered cake of a story. What do I do now that I've read all the smoke and bone stories and this one as well it's like the season finale of Game of Thrones OMG! Is that the end? Will there be another season? Another Chapter? How does this end? Don't let this be the end! I want to know what happened in Russia? how did she get shot? What happens if those creatures breach the dimensional wall does the war continue? Don't leave us like this please we want more!

4.5 Romantic Stars....Zuzana and Mik are two characters who long to connect but fear the interaction...in order to create the moment, Zuzana decides to utilize her puppet making skills and creates an intricate treasure hunt with her as the grand prize...in the beautiful and breathtaking landscapes of a Prague, Zuzana takes Mik on a magical adventure leaving clues to solve in order to move closer to their first words spoken...Mik, however, begins to take matters into his own hands and lends his musical talents to the show ...with moments of humor, vulnerability, insecurities, and yes, a little magic, these two finally get to experience the real treasure in their first kiss... this novella brought out the romantic in me...I loved going on this extraordinary journey with these two unique and brilliant characters...a sweet addition to this addicting series:)

This is a short story about Zuzana and Mik from the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy and how their first interaction went.
Zuzana has been admiring Violin boy, aka Mik, from a distance without daring to actually talk to him. But no more, now he will notice her for better or for worse.
She has planned a treasure hunt for Mik and if he decides to play her game he will eventually find the treasure, Zuzana.
Even though Zuzana still hasn’t figured out what to say to him if he decides to finish the treasure hunt she is hoping for a kiss before the night ends.

This was exactly wat I expected, an adorably fun and magical romance story.
This takes no time to get through and along with the cute story come just as cute illustrations that make this book that much more fun to read in my opinion.
If you like the Daughter of Smoke and Bone books you will definitely have a great time reading this as well.

I have loved Zuzana from the very first book, she is such a fantastic character and I love the fact that no matter what happens she always has Karou's back. I can never get enough of strong female friendships and theirs has been a favourite since the beginning. I also completely and utterly adore Mik, it's so nice to come across a fictional guy who isn't an overbearing alpha who wants to control everything his girlfriend does. Mik couldn't be further from that if he tried, he's sweet, sensitive, laid back and able to cope with whatever Zuze throws at him. He's ready to roll with the punches and although he may not be a fighter he would do anything to make Zuze happy. The two of them together have given me some of my highlights of the whole series so I couldn't have been more excited to discover Laini Taylor had written an extra story that focuses entirely on them.

We've come to know them quite well as a couple throughout the series but until now we never got to see their first date and how they ended up getting together in the first place. This story fits into the series timeline somewhere during Daughter of Smoke and Bone so can be read at any point after you've read the first book. I'm going to deliberately keep this review pretty vague because I would hate to ruin the magic of it for anyone who is yet to read it. Just trust me, Laini Taylor fans will LOVE this story, it has everything you would expect from this author - beautiful writing, wonderful characterisation and more than a touch of magic.

Zuze is such a quirky character so I'm sure you wouldn't expect her to go on any kind of normal, boring first date but the adventure she plans for Mik is nothing short of magical. In fact, it's perfect for them and Laini Taylor has captured this couple so brilliantly that I feel like I know them in real life. Without a doubt this is my favourite ever fictional first date and I just wish we could have had a whole book starring these two characters. It's not often I give a novella 5 starts but Night of Cake and Puppets was utterly perfect and it deserves every single one of them.

Holy crow! I loved this book so much. If you are a fan of Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy you should love this one.

It's about Zuzanna and Mic but Karou is in the book as well.

I absolutely love the way this book looks. The dust jacket. The hardcover under the dust jacket and the inside front and back pages. I will add some pictures. But you will have to see the inside illustrations yourself when you read the book =)

The book is also full of amazing illustrations! This book was a sweet treat!

Happy Reading!

Mel ♥

Review originally posted on The Book Addict's Guide

First of all… If you’re at all invested in this series, read this novella! Amy instantly gifted it to me via the store after we finished reading DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT (or were we even done at that point??) because she said it was a must-read and so incredibly cute and YES. Every part of that is true! I opened this on my Kindle as soon as I could and read it in one sitting.

Zuzana and Mik are two of my favorite characters. I love the little rabid fairy that is Zuzana and frankly, I just want her to be my best friend. She reminds me so much of my own friends pretty much all of the time and as my favorite character of the series, it was so exciting to read a novella from her point of view and in first person versus Laini Taylor’s usual third person that we see in the full-length novels.

The story that we see in NIGHT OF CAKE & PUPPETS is how Zuzana and Mik finally meet and end up talking for the first time, which actually turns into their first date (that Zuzana sets up). We get a glimpse of this story in DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT and I’m SO glad that Laini Taylor wrote this novella so we could experience it first hand because it really was a magical night for Zuzana and Mik!

I love how ferocious Zuze is but how Mik pretty much turns her to a sappy, love-stricken girl. Isn’t that so true? I know I’ve found myself being so much sappier in a relationship than I ever thought I would allow myself to act and I have no shame about it at all! Zuzana is bold, creating a treasure map for Mik to follow (keeping in mind that she hasn’t even actually talked to him yet) with the treasure being… her. Haha! Oh, she’s just so darn cute. She also uses a bit of Karou’s magic in the form of wishes to help her make the treasure hunt extra special! I’m also really glad that we got to see Mik’s point of view here too because you can see how strong his affection for Zuze was right off the bat and it just made me fall in love with their relationship even more!

If you’re a fan of this series, do yourself the favor and read NIGHT OF CAKE & PUPPETS. It’s absolutely adorable and I can’t see how you would be disappointed! If you’re not a novella person, you might be after this one!

In a novella from Laini Taylor, author of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, comes the story of a romance between Zuzana, Karou's human best friend, and Mik, the violin player. For those that have read the first two books in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone trilogy, you will have met Zuzana and Mik, but for those that haven't discovered this series yet, this short story is a great place to learn about two secondary characters, that deserve a story of their own.

I listened to the audiobook of both Daughter of Smoke and Bone and Days of Blood and Starlight and was absolutely mesmerized by Khristine Hvam's narration. Zuzana leaps off the pages of the books and practically springs out of my ipod with her energy and I loved every second of her scenes. When I heard she was getting a novella of her own I was excited - although I'm pretty sure she thinks she deserves a entire book!! The reason I love Zuzana so much is that she has a fantastic friendship with Karou. She is there for Karou through thick and thin and believes in Karou. More than the romantic angles of both of their lives, I love the friendship between Zuzana and Karou. Karou plays a mild part in this story, via text messages, but this story is all Zuzana. And Mik of course!

The story is romantic and fun and tells of Zuzana and Mik really meeting for the first time and finding each other and a first date of sorts. It is so romantic and it made me want to run out and seize the world as Zuzana and Mik do.

I LOVE Khristine Hvam's narration of these characters. I haven't listened to her narrate any other series yet but I plan to soon. She's narrates Zuzana and Karou so perfectly and I couldn't imagine anyone else doing the narration. I recently finished listening to Kevin T Collins narrate Beautiful Creatures so it was interesting to hear him narrate Mik, which is a completely different accent. He does a great job of narrating Mik's feelings as he goes on a treasure hunt of sorts for Zuzana. Kevin T Collins' is definitely on my radar of narrators to listen to more in the future.

Recommended for urban fantasy fans and readers that are looking for something a little different, but still romantic.

Night of Cake & Puppets is a novella in Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke & Bone series. It is the story of how Zuzana and Mik became a couple. It is a sweet and romantic fairytale and I loved it! Ms. Taylor does an excellent job at capturing the feeling of a crush on the verge of love:

"Our eyes meet. And...it's like all my life I've been this tower standing at the edge of the ocean for some obscure purpose, and only now, almost eighteen years in, has someone thought to flip the switch that reveals that I'm not a tower at all. I'm a lighthouse. It's like waking up. I am incandescent."

"My face responds without authorization from my brain, so the resulting smile feels like the biggest, most unguarded, goofiest smile I've ever unleashed in my entire life. I didn't even know my face could do this. It's like there were hidden zippers in my cheeks. Jesus."

Karou is incorporated into the story as Zuzana's supportive friend, but the story is written in Zuzana and Mik's alternating perspectives. It's been a while since I read either of the existing books in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone series but this novella has me motivated to reread the series in preparation for the third and final installment due to release in April, 2014. It can't come soon enough!

#1: Daughter of Smoke & Bone
#2: Days of Blood & Starlight
#2.5: Night of Cake & Puppets (novella)
#3: Dreams of Gods & Monsters (April, 2014)

My favorite quotes:
"No, I have to lure him out, like a will-o'-the-wisp, tease him deeper and deeper into the forest until he is lost and doomed. Without the forest or the doom - just the luring. Like a Venus flytrap that says I am a delicious flower come taste me and then snap! Devour. Without the devouring. Well, maybe a little devouring."

"Close your eyes and music paints light vines and calligraphy on the darkness within you."

"...holy hell the chocolate is so intense and pure it should be named an element and given a spot on the periodic table. It would be Ch, which isn't even taken."

“Life doesn’t need magic to be magical.”

Oh, Laini Taylor. Writing so breathtaking and beautiful. I have no qualms about stating that she is one of my favorite authors ever. I lack the words to describe her prose without resorting to hyperbole. Taylor is magical, with a mind full of wonder, and her writing so evocative, it makes my brain weep.

This is hardly a spoiler, since it's a novella, but this tells the tale of Zuzana and Mik's first date. As the story goes, they both were attracted to each other, but being 17 and relatively inexperienced with dating, were too shy to directly approach each other and completely unaware of the other's interest. Mutual unrequited crushes. Until Zuze came up with a plan to profess her crush to Mik via a treasure hunt that took him all around the city seeking his prize - her.

The way this was written really took me back. The way she described their first kiss, how tentative, awkward and shy, made me feel like I was in it. It's ridiculous how well Taylor can capture human emotions. It's especially impressive when you consider how time erases the clarity of those feelings. Everything becomes a bit fuzzy over the years and you forget the innocence and optimism of it all. This book somehow managed to recapture those sensations to perfection. It was a treasure.

All hail Laini Taylor. How I love her so.

Zuzanna and Mik have to be the best couple in all of YA literature. It is no wonder they got their own little novella side to the main trilogy, and I couldn't wait to read it. It is about a short event, prolific in the characters' meeting, but one not really explored in the main trilogy. I question if this is actually an off-cut from the main series and turned profitable by releasing it as a side story of sorts.

Nonetheless this is a fantastic, romantic read. Mushy, over-the-top, sweet, heart-warming? Yes to all, but told in alternating viewpoints of both girl and boy, which makes it more accessible to both sexes. The fantasy elements of bringing the puppets slightly to life is ingenious, and it really captures that butterfly moment when you have a crush on someone and the prospect of it becoming real is discovered. Teenage love addicts will devour this in one sweet gulp.

Oh, how I missed Laini Taylor's writing! I truly am in love with her writing style. It's so creative and unique and beautiful. I didn't realize how much I missed it before I picked up this little story. I cannot wait for Dreams of Gods & Monsters!

I thought "Night of Cake & Puppets" was so good. A great addition to the series for sure! This story is cute and romantic and creative and imaginative and unique and beautiful.

I love Zuzanna as a character. And this story made me love her even more. What a creative, romantic, and magical first date she had! I love Zuzanna and I loved this story. For someone who doesn't have any romantic history, she sure has one hell of a romantic first date!

I also think it's worth mentioning that the alternating POVs were done very well. Both Zuzanna and Mik had completely unique and distinct voices. There was no confusion at all. It seems that Taylor is good at everything!

This was cute. I should have liked it more, because the writing and storytelling is fantastic, but I am not a huge fan of Mik and Zuzana in general. I'm not saying I don't like them as a couple, I just get bored out of my mind when they have scenes in the Daughter of Smoke & Bone books.

I spend the whole time thinking "Okay, can we get back to Karou or Akiva now please?"

So I must confess I haven't read Daughter of Smoke and Bone and the good news is you really don't need to in order to enjoy this novella. There are certainly references to major incidents in that series, but this is really about a magical and dreamy first date between two people who have barely spoken to each other. It's so charming and wonderfully illustrated that I kept smiling as I read it.

This is perfection.

Zuzana and Mik were some of my favorite parts of the original series and getting to see how the date happened was everything I could have wanted. The artwork was a fantastic addition and I can't wait to see the added pieces that weren't in the arc.

Now I reaaaaally want to reread DoSaB.

**Huge thanks to The Novl for providing the arc free of charge**

Night of Cake and Puppets was so cute that I can't even! Seriously! I always adored Zuzanna, and thought she and Mik were cute together, but this? It goes beyond just cute! In this novella, we get to witness Mik as he follows the treasure map Zuzanna made for him to initiate their first meeting. Those two had been sharing longing glances, but neither had the nerve to talk to the other, but now with the help of a little magic, they are finally coming face to face. It was just so sweet and adorable and magical and I loved it! This story was much needed after the disaster that was the final book (yes, I read that one first), and reminded me why I loved this series so much. It was everything I could ask for in such a short story and more!

This novella follows Karou's best friend Zuzana as she tries to win "Violin Boy" Mik's heart with a scavenger hunt and a few magical wishes.

I loved the frantic phone calls between Karous and Zuzana even though Karou wasn't a huge part of the story it was nice to see her small cameos and see how deep the friendship between the two girls runs.

Overall, this is a super cute novella that is very well written (as everything by Laini Taylor usually is) and while it is not necessary to the overall storyline it is one I wouldn't skip. I really enjoyed seeing more of Zuzana and Mik!

Night of Cake and Poppets is an adorable little novella. It feels completely different from the main books in the series because it’s told from Zuzana’s POV. It’s fun and quirky, just like she is! If you’re a fan of the series, I highly recommend this addition! (4/5 Stars)

This one is a short sweet romance novella of Zuzana and Mik's first date, mentioned briefly in the previous installment. The idea behind their first date and how Zuzana had orchestrated it was very special and so like her. I really enjoyed her character as a side character in the previous installments of the series so it was nice being inside her head but also interesting getting for the first time Mik's POV and finding out how actually alike they are in the special way they see things.

But as you can see from my rating - 3 stars - though I thought it was sweet I had my issues with it, mainly that we got 90% of being inside their heads and 10% of something really happening. It was too descriptive and too detailed I often felt lost in their train of thoughts and waited for something to happen between them and not just in their heads and very little did because most of this short novella they are apart thinking about wanting each other.

I have to say this is still the best first date ever! But it felt too immature, not really because of Zuzana not even kissed a guy before, but because it was too much contemplating the small staff grown ups don't even pay attention to. I don't know if I'm succeeding in explaining myself here.. Just saying thinking and thinking and thinking about how much they want to kiss each other - god damn it! Grab the guy/gal and be done with it! ;)

Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult

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Such a cute back story about Karou's best friend Zuzana and how she and Mik aka Violin Boy got together.
Love how Zuzana aka the “rabid fairy” is so fierce and yet so shy.

It is well worth the read if you like the rest of the series, and especially these two secondary characters.

This additional story made me grin like a madwoman after eating a pink frosted cupcake. What a perfect little gem of a romantic story. So fun, quirky, and sparkly. A welcome respite from all the wounded, tortured and heroic people facing impossible odds I love to read about. Some times it is nice to have a sweet bit of magic by moonlight.

Night of Cake & Puppets is a dreamy, adorable short chronicling the first night of Zuzana & Mik's romance, which only makes me more impatient for the next book. The narration is perfect, as always, and the story is charming and fun. While you could probably enjoy this without having read Daughter of Smoke & Bone, I recommend devouring the entire series in its proper order.

Five stars.

AHHH. Just reading this book is making me sad. I miss all these characters so much and especially Karou and Zuzanas friendship. Their friendship is the most perfect thing I think I've ever found in any book. reading about how Mik and Zuzana have their first date/encounter/adventure, whatever you want to call it, is so heartwarming. Expect the same writing you love if you've read books 1 and 2

If Dreams of Gods and Monsters was the icing on Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy, then this little novella is the fun sprinkles. It's just a very short sweet story about the beginnings of first love. I listened to the audio version and it took a few chapters for me to get used to the narration but after that I'm glad I chose the audio book.

A fun little story of how two delightfully quirky people finally meet and fall in love. I think it would more accurately be considered Daughter of Smoke & Bone 1.5 rather than 2.5, but maybe I'm quibbling. If you've enjoyed Laini Taylor's series thus far, you should definitely check this one out.

This was the icing on the cake of the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series. Zuzana and Mik are among my top favorite characters and I found this important snippet of their story to be highly delightful. Bravo!

I wasn't so sure about buying this one because I was more interested in reading more about Karou and Akiva
but I'm really glad I read it, it is a really sweet and romantic story and I honestly didn't pay much attention to Zuzana
in the books and this helped me get to know her better

The characters from Daughter of Smoke and Bone...Night of Cake and Puppets had a terrific mix of whimsy, romance, adventure, but not on a saccharine level. This was a word cake of creamy decadence. Rich and heady, leaves one longing for the next bite.

Laini Taylor is a superb writer. This novella was funny, charming, delightful. It's so different from the trilogy, which was grim and angsty. Highly recommended, especially to people who have read the trilogy.

I only read this story because a friend of mine insisted. I've never read any of this series or anything else by the author. But it was perhaps one of this most unique, adorable stories I have ever read. Having the point of view change a few times between the two characters was great. The tale was very believable and yet at the same time incredibly fanciful. Not a sickening romance, but rather sweet and refreshing.
Highly recommended.

Some lines were a bit contrived but it is a YA romance novella so I will forgive it. I am so glad Laini wrote this companion novella. It was so magical to read about the romance of Mik and Zuzana, a romance that so many young girls and women want, but settle without. This kind of YA novel (and
The entire companion series) is so much more worth striving for than any Twilight or 50 Shades storyline.

It was a fun story but too fairy tale-ish with no ghouls or monsters. I thought it was going to be darker and have a twist at the end, I guess the twist was that there was no twist? I don't know, but it was cute.

I wasn't so sure about buying this one because I was more interested in reading more about Karou and Akiva
but I'm really glad I read it, it is a really sweet and romantic story and I honestly didn't pay much attention to Zuzana
in the books and this helped me get to know her better

After reading the original series, i was in love with these books. When i heard of this stand alone, I knew I had to read it. I'm so glad I did, sweet, yet funny, absolutely magical, and impossible to put down. Read the whole thing in an evening, and only regret there isn't more.

The characters from Daughter of Smoke and Bone...Night of Cake and Puppets had a terrific mix of whimsy, romance, adventure, but not on a saccharine level. This was a word cake of creamy decadence. Rich and heady, leaves one longing for the next bite.

Laini Taylor is a superb writer. This novella was funny, charming, delightful. It's so different from the trilogy, which was grim and angsty. Highly recommended, especially to people who have read the trilogy.

I only read this story because a friend of mine insisted. I've never read any of this series or anything else by the author. But it was perhaps one of this most unique, adorable stories I have ever read. Having the point of view change a few times between the two characters was great. The tale was very believable and yet at the same time incredibly fanciful. Not a sickening romance, but rather sweet and refreshing.
Highly recommended.

Some lines were a bit contrived but it is a YA romance novella so I will forgive it. I am so glad Laini wrote this companion novella. It was so magical to read about the romance of Mik and Zuzana, a romance that so many young girls and women want, but settle without. This kind of YA novel (and
The entire companion series) is so much more worth striving for than any Twilight or 50 Shades storyline.

It was a fun story but too fairy tale-ish with no ghouls or monsters. I thought it was going to be darker and have a twist at the end, I guess the twist was that there was no twist? I don't know, but it was cute.

I loved Zuzana & Mik in THE DAUGHTER OF SMOKE & BONE. Their romance is delightful and heartfelt. Reading how they came together is a delight.

A read for a quiet day to pass in hope and love.

After reading the original series, i was in love with these books. When i heard of this stand alone, I knew I had to read it. I'm so glad I did, sweet, yet funny, absolutely magical, and impossible to put down. Read the whole thing in an evening, and only regret there isn't more.