Dickens & Rumi
Cover of DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT

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DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT

Age rating, content warnings & parent guide

Laini Taylor

Is DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT appropriate for your child? See the reviewed age guidance, content cautions, positive themes, and supporting evidence below.

In this sequel to “Daughter of Smoke and Bone,” Karou must decide how far she will go to avenge her people.

Ages 16+Book 2 · Daughter of Smoke and BoneSource checked

Why this age? Mature YA themes include war, mass death, resurrection, slavery, torture-like threats, grief, graphic killing, and an attempted rape. The complex plot and emotional intensity also suit older teens. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

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10-second decision

Is this likely to fit your family?

Age guidanceAges 16+
Strongest cautionsDeath of a character 5/5 · Violence 5/5 · Frightening scenes 4/5
Strongest positivesCourage & resilience 4/5 · Creativity & curiosity 4/5
Series positionBook 2 · Daughter of Smoke and Bone
Recommendation3.5/5

Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

This is the quick scan. Open the evidence and methodology below for the basis behind each rating.

Quick context

What parents should know

Mature YA themes include war, mass death, resurrection, slavery, torture-like threats, grief, graphic killing, and an attempted rape. The complex plot and emotional intensity also suit older teens. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ. Courage & resilience; strongest caution: death of a character.

Readiness snapshotAge guidance: 16+Main watch-out: Death of a character 5/5
Recommendation 3.5/5

Editorial rating

How this review was built

Dickens & Rumi editorial
Source checkedPublication method
16Scored categories
16Evidence notes
0Explicit 0/5 checks
Nov 4, 2026Last updated

Dickens & Rumi describes what is present; families decide what matters to them. Community reactions are kept separate from official content ratings.

How ratings workReport a rating or series issue
Review depth16 scored categories16 evidence notes
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At a glance

Recommended age16+

Strongest cautions

  • Death of a character5/5
  • Violence5/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Diverse representation3/5

Reading order

Series progression

All known volumes are shown. Reviewed books include age guidance and cautions; books still being reviewed are clearly marked.

  1. Book 1 · DAUGHTER OF SMOKE AND BONEAges 14+
    Death of a character5/5Frightening scenes4/5Romance4/5Violence4/5Graphic injury3/5Religious themes2/5Sexual content & nudity2/5Strong language2/5Alcohol or drugs1/5
    Starting point
  2. Book 2 · DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHTAges 16+
    Death of a character5/5Violence5/5Frightening scenes4/5Graphic injury3/5Religious themes3/5Romance3/5Sexual content & nudity3/5Alcohol or drugs1/5Strong language1/5
    About the same

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Lower cautionsTry something gentlerLIGHTLARK SAGAOpen review →Similar fitCompare another titleEONACompare →Keep browsingSearch for another bookUse age, interests, vibe, or content preferences.Search →

Similar, with lighter cautions

Want something gentler?

These reviewed titles have overlapping age guidance and a lower total caution score than DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT. Open each review for the details.

LIGHTLARK SAGAAlex AsterAges 14+10 points lighter on published cautionsBOOKThe SingingAlison Croggon · 2008Ages 13+9 points lighter on published cautionsHADESAlexandra AdornettoAges 14+8 points lighter on published cautionsHALOAlexandra AdornettoAges 13+8 points lighter on published cautions

What’s in it?

Death of a character5/5
Why this rating?

Death is a central theme; numerous secondary and significant characters die throughout the war, including some graphically.

Graphic injury3/5
Why this rating?

Includes descriptions of physical trauma, infection, and resurrection processes involving body parts and surgery-like themes.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

The supplied passages include mature terms related to violence and sexual assault but no profanity or slurs. A small amount of mild language may occur elsewhere.

Religious themes3/5
Why this rating?

Angels, holy imagery, souls, a cathedral, thuribles, and religiously framed political propaganda are significant elements.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

Karou and Akiva's love and separation are important, alongside courting, jealousy, and emotionally complicated relationships.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Threats, captivity, mass death, frightening chimaera and angel armies, soul manipulation, and danger to loved ones create sustained tension.

Sexual content & nudity3/5
Why this rating?

An attempted rape is a major traumatic event. The excerpt does not indicate explicit consensual sexual activity or sexualized nudity.

Alcohol or drugs1/5
Why this rating?

Occasional references to substances in a fantasy context, but not a central focus.

Violence5/5
Why this rating?

Frequent fantasy war violence, including combat, stabbings, throat slitting, and death, some of which is described in visceral detail.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

Characters repeatedly face armies, grief, captivity, oppression, and personal danger to protect others and oppose tyranny.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

Its imaginative world-building features chimaera, seraphim, soul vessels, resurrection, portals, and inventive magical strategies.

Diverse representation3/5
Why this rating?

Represents a broad range of unique species and identities within the fantasy setting.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Incidental lessons in empathy and social dynamics, but not primarily educational.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Characters rescue the injured, protect friends, show loyalty, and help oppressed people, though kindness competes with cruelty and war.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

The story emphasizes resisting tyranny, protecting others, confronting oppression, loyalty, sacrifice, and seeking peace despite devastating costs.

Good role models3/5
Why this rating?

Characters show loyalty, courage, compassion, and resistance, but some make morally dangerous choices and use severe violence.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. How did the story approach death or loss? What helped the characters cope?
  3. Which choice in DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT, and what caused that change?
Discuss this title with other parents

Community perspective — separate from editorial ratings

What families noticed

Community signal

Community ratings and written reactions are a separate layer. They do not automatically change Dickens & Rumi’s official age guidance or content scores.

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Related by age fit, format, and catalogue context.

You’re hereDAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT
EONAAlison GoodmanAges 14+EONAlison GoodmanAges 13+HALOAlexandra AdornettoAges 13+CEMETERY BOYSAiden ThomasAges 14+

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

Something wrong with this guide? Report age, caution, series, cover, or title issues.