Universal Nabs Rights to 'Daughter of Smoke & Bone' Adaptation

Universal Pictures has swooped in to acquire the rights to Laini Taylor’s young adult fantasy novel Daughter of Smoke & Bone.

The novel was a hotly sought-after title, with at least four companies in the mix as many execs were gripped in what one called “Twilight fever” and hoped to catch the next YA phenom. Some reports had pegged Paramount as the home of the book but they were clearly jumping the gun and proven wrong.

Universal, in bagging the rights, touted the book’s many honors, which include Amazon Ten Books of 2011, Amazon’s #1 Teen Book of 2011, a Publishers Weekly Best Books 2011, a Huffington Post Top 10 YA Book of 2011, and a New York Times Notable Children's Books of 2011. 

The first installment of a trilogy, published in September by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, tells the tale of a 17-year old art student whose father occasionally sends her on errands around the world, collecting human teeth for a mysterious purpose. The young woman gradually becomes aware that she is part of ancient struggle between devils and angels and finds herself in a forbidden romance with a warrior angel.

Taylor is repped by Jane Putch of Eyebait Licensing & Management and attorney Peter Nelson.