Jaime Reviews ~ This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1) by Victoria Schwab
By Victoria Schwab
Published on July 5, 2016
Published by: Greenwillow Books
Source: Edelweiss/ Around the World ARC Tours
Published by: Greenwillow Books
Source: Edelweiss/ Around the World ARC Tours
There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from acclaimed author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books, This Savage Song is a must-have for fans of Holly Black, Maggie Stiefvater, and Laini Taylor.
Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives. In This Savage Song, Victoria Schwab creates a gritty, seething metropolis, one worthy of being compared to Gotham and to the four versions of London in her critically acclaimed fantasy for adults, A Darker Shade of Magic. Her heroes will face monsters intent on destroying them from every side—including the monsters within.
This Savage Song...
I adored The Archived and The Near Witch. Both spoke to what an amazing writer Ms. Schwab truly is. So of course I jumped on the chance to read and review This Savage Song. The author, and the added bonus of Monsters? Yes, please! Yet when I started, there wasn't an immediate connection and I almost gave up, but I held out, and then all of a sudden, it sucked me in so hard and fast I almost got whiplash. THAT's why I try my best not to DNF. THAT MOMENT when the magic happens, and it just CLICKS! (sorry for the all caps moments. I will try to rein it in!)
A building burns so a girl can get home. And she does get to go home, to North City where her father rules the dark side. Where he offers protection to the humans from the monsters, for a price. All she wants is to prove that she is a Harker, her fathers daughter. Ruthless, calculating, capable of standing by his side.
There is a boy who wants to be more. He wants to offer himself up to protect the city. His city, South Side, ruled by his father. Kind and gentle, Henry Flynn wants to save the city, return the monsters to where they came from. August, and his brother and sister are his secret weapons. He wants them safe, so he keeps them hidden. Until now. August finally has a mission... It is NOT what he had in mind.
I won't say too much more about the story, since we are a ways from its release date, but I will say that I loved this book. Initially, it did take some time for me to become invested, but once I did that was all she wrote. I think the beginning, me struggling to get interested, was definitely ME, not the story, so don't let that scare you away. This Savage Song is full of action. The darkness is full of teeth and eyes as red as blood. The characters full of loss and bone deep pain, fear and anger and worry. They are strong, and weak at the same time. Struggling to find themselves, to figure out who they really are. Kate and August are stunningly wrought characters, full of life. I couldn't help but follow their stories, individually and apart, with all of my attention.
The story is full of dark things, monsters and emotions, people... but it is full of life and song and so much hope for something better. I adored it. The mundane school days, and the nights on the run. I adored it. And the ending ripped my heart out. I don't know how in the world I am going to be able to wait a full year to continue this wonderful story, wondering.....
I adored The Archived and The Near Witch. Both spoke to what an amazing writer Ms. Schwab truly is. So of course I jumped on the chance to read and review This Savage Song. The author, and the added bonus of Monsters? Yes, please! Yet when I started, there wasn't an immediate connection and I almost gave up, but I held out, and then all of a sudden, it sucked me in so hard and fast I almost got whiplash. THAT's why I try my best not to DNF. THAT MOMENT when the magic happens, and it just CLICKS! (sorry for the all caps moments. I will try to rein it in!)
A building burns so a girl can get home. And she does get to go home, to North City where her father rules the dark side. Where he offers protection to the humans from the monsters, for a price. All she wants is to prove that she is a Harker, her fathers daughter. Ruthless, calculating, capable of standing by his side.
There is a boy who wants to be more. He wants to offer himself up to protect the city. His city, South Side, ruled by his father. Kind and gentle, Henry Flynn wants to save the city, return the monsters to where they came from. August, and his brother and sister are his secret weapons. He wants them safe, so he keeps them hidden. Until now. August finally has a mission... It is NOT what he had in mind.
I won't say too much more about the story, since we are a ways from its release date, but I will say that I loved this book. Initially, it did take some time for me to become invested, but once I did that was all she wrote. I think the beginning, me struggling to get interested, was definitely ME, not the story, so don't let that scare you away. This Savage Song is full of action. The darkness is full of teeth and eyes as red as blood. The characters full of loss and bone deep pain, fear and anger and worry. They are strong, and weak at the same time. Struggling to find themselves, to figure out who they really are. Kate and August are stunningly wrought characters, full of life. I couldn't help but follow their stories, individually and apart, with all of my attention.
The story is full of dark things, monsters and emotions, people... but it is full of life and song and so much hope for something better. I adored it. The mundane school days, and the nights on the run. I adored it. And the ending ripped my heart out. I don't know how in the world I am going to be able to wait a full year to continue this wonderful story, wondering.....
Jaime Lynn
