Review: This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

Posted by Jessi (Geo) on June 3, 2016 | 3 Comments


Review: This Savage Song by Victoria SchwabThis Savage Song by Victoria Schwab
Series: Monsters of Verity #1
Published by Greenwillow (6.7.2016)
Format: eARC, 464 pages
Source: Edelweiss


4 Stars

The city of Verity has been overrun with monsters, born from the worst of human evil. In North Verity, the Corsai and the Malchai run free. Under the rule of Callum Harker, the monsters kill any human who has not paid for protection. In the South, Henry Flynn hunts the monsters who cross the border into his territory, aided by the most dangerous and darkest monsters of them all—the Sunai, dark creatures who use music to steal their victim’s souls.

As one of only three Sunai in existence, August Flynn has always wanted to play a bigger role in the war between the north and the south. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate Harker, daughter of the leader of North Verity, August jumps on it.
When Kate discovers August’s secret, the pair find themselves running for their lives and battling monsters from both sides of the wall. As the city dissolves into chaos, it’s up to them to foster a peace between monsters and humans.

My thoughts

Victoria Schwab is such a pro at writing interesting and unique stories! This one was brilliant, and unlike anything I’ve ever read before. I loved the concept so much!

In North City, Harker and his monsters. In South City, Flynn and his humans.

I had a little trouble grasping the sides of the city at first. I was confused because our main character, August, as well as his brother and sister (who were monsters too), was on Flynn’s side and he was, in fact one of the monsters. But it was Harker that controlled the majority of the monsters (the Malchai, at least). It took me a long time to understand how the city worked, as well as the layout. I think if there had been a map I would have been a lot less confused. (Maybe there’s a map in the finished copy?)

He wasn’t made of flesh and bone, or starlight. He was made of darkness.

I liked August, but I loved Kate. She was snarky and fiesty, but not excessively. She reminded me a lot of Kat from the White Rabbit Chronicles! (Which is to say, awesome.) The romance between them didn’t do much for me, though. That was the only drawback this book had as I was reading, but thankfully it wasn’t the main focus of the story.

“I don’t want to be a monster.”

I loved the monsters so much! It was freaking brilliant and gave the book this gloriously dark, slightly disturbing feel to it. I was especially interested in the Sunai. The Malchai and Corsai were terrifying, but I was vastly intrigued by the Sunai. View Spoiler »

This series has lots of potential and I’m excited to see where it goes in the next installment! It’s hard to talk about this book without giving anything away, so the main thing I will say is this: YOU NEED TO READ IT.

 

 

Overall Assessment

Plot: 4/5
Premise: 5/5
Writing style: 4/5
Originality: 5/5
Characters: 3.5/5
World-building: 3.5/5
Pace: 4.5/5
Feels: 3/5

Jessi (Geo)

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3 responses to “Review: This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

  1. Niiiice! I think this one sounds awesome!! I’ve already ordered my copy! I don’t think I’ve really read a “monster” book before. The creatures have always been so specific before, so this one just sounds freaking awesome!! Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Great review!

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