Night of Cake and Puppets by Laini Taylor

Type of Read:
Novella, Fantasy, Romance

Plot Summary:
This little story takes place in between the first and the second Daughter of Smoke and Bone books. It centers around Zuzana, a small yet feisty artist, and her soon-to-be-boyfriend, Mik. This is the story of how the two of them officially met (although they had been admiring from afar for quite a while) and had their first date.

Strengths:
This is an incredibly cute story. I normally don't go for romances, but this one is chaste and sweet, with a touch of quirkiness. The best part is being able to see into these two minor characters' minds. They are adorable and funny. They each have distinct personalities that mesh perfectly. They just belong together!

Also, there is the thrill of the chase. Even though I knew they ended up together, it was still exciting to see how everything unfolds. These two are like a fairy tale couple (this statement comes into play in the final installment of the main series, but not saying anymore so I don't spoil it!)

Weaknesses:
It was short. Like less than 100 pages. Yes, I realize that it's a novella, but I love Mik and Zuzana! If you've read Laini Taylor's entire series, you know how cute and perfect they are together, but without being mushy and annoying. I wish there were more stories staring the two of them. (hint, hint!)

Also, this is not a stand alone book and it's not a good place to start if you are thinking of jumping into Taylor's world.  It's a good idea to have at least read the first book in the Daughter of Smoke and Bone series before reading this novella. Zuzana is a very quirky character and while Karuo (the main character of the main series) doesn't appear much in this story, knowing her background helps.

Opinion and Recommendation:
I really love the way Taylor writes. It is like poetry without really being poetry. Everything just flows. Although this story had a different voice, the details and the inner dialogue still had a magical feel to it as does everything else Taylor writes. She captured both the character's quirky voices and made you wish all first dates went this well. I managed to check this novella out at the library, but I would buy it in a heat beat if it ever came out in print. (Not that there is anything wrong with e-books, but I really enjoy seeing my favorites sitting prettily on the shelf. I sometimes brush my fingers over their spines and whisper "my precious". Creepy? Don't lie. You do it too!)