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this savage songWhat: This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity #1) by Victoria Schwab

Who: Greenwillow Books

When: June 7th 2016

How: A copy of this novel was provided by HarperCollins for review via Edelweiss.

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.

A unique, fast-paced adventure that looks at the monsters we face every day—including the monster within.

4cats2Holy. Dooly.

I don’t even really know what to write in this review because This Savage Song is the kind of book you should 100% go into knowing as little as possible. Because of that, I’m just going to list some amazing things about this book, while trying to be vague but enticing all at the same time. Here we go:

  1. August

August, my darling dear. My tortured little monster boy. My gorgeous musician.

August Flynn is one of those characters that just makes you feel. The whole time I just wanted to reach in and give him a cuddle, and reassure him, and make him feel better about himself. He is so wrought with self doubt and self loathing, and it’s just like: August, no, you are gorgeous and loved. By me.

His sass is also incredibly on point, and I loved how complete dead-pan some of the things he said were. These were probably my favourite August moments.

  1. Kate

Now, I was pretty unsure of Kate throughout almost the entire book, but she is still a fantastic aspect of This Savage Song. She undergoes a lot of character development throughout, and character development is something that I am always on board for. And her character was also incredibly heart-achey. Kate wants so much to be her father’s daughter – ruthless and cunning – and thus gain his respect. Even though I was just like: ew, no, Kate, your father is a massive douchecanoe … I felt for her because it was what she wanted.

Kate, under her bravado, was a lot more emotional than she would like everyone to believe. And it was these emotional scenes and aspects of her personality that eventually made me love her.

  1. The Uniqueness

I mentioned it at the beginning of the review, but This Savage Song would have to be one of the most unique books I have read in quite some time. And that is so exciting, and special, and just all ‘round amazing. I love discovering a story that is completely and absolutely unlike anything else I have read because it just introduces this wonderful newness to the experience, which gets all the kudos from me.

  1. The Lack of Romance

I was so, so, so glad that there was no romance between August and Kate in this book. It was so nice to see a guy and a girl form an incredible bond through FRIENDSHIP. And, surprisingly, I didn’t want them to have any romantic attachment to each other (surprising because this is me and I love romance) because I absolutely adored their relationship exactly how it was written. That they were super connected and cared about each other and that was that. I really hope it stays the same way in the sequel because it was perfect, in my opinion.

  1. It Was Morally Grey

When I read Vicious, one of my favourite aspects was the questioning of good and evil and right and wrong. This Savage Song brings some of those same questions into it, and I adored it. It was more ‘what does it mean to be human’ than anything else, but there was a lot of talk about sinning and killing and it was GLORIOUS.

~

Overall, I adored This Savage Song. I freaking need the next book already. Like … now. ASAP. Pronto.

© 2016, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

trigger warning: murder, attempted murder, suicide, death via car crash, torture physical assault, and domestic violence in this novel

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Posted on: July 8, 2016 • By: Chiara

12 Responses to Five Fantastic Things About This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

  1. Prima says:

    No romance?? What is that? I swear every single YA has the girl and the boy falling in love, it’s like different genders can’t even be friends which is just so wrong. Hmmm this has got me really intrigued on this book, thank you for the recommendation :D

    • Chiara says:

      I know, right! I thought I would miss it because I am quite a big romance fan, but I was actually so happy with their relationship. It was gorgeous. Ah, no problem! I hope you like it if you ever get around to reading it, Prima :D

  2. I’m so glad to hear there isn’t a romance. I think too many books add it in when it would be SO much better without. I still really want to read this one. I need to read something by this author in general, though I own like two of her books already. haha I like that it’s morally gray and makes you think!

    -Lauren

    • Chiara says:

      It was wonderful to read the lack of romance! I loved the bond the characters shared without any kind of romantic attachment. I hope it stays that way, too! Lauren, you definitely should! I have only read two of her books but I have loved them both so I know I need to get around to them all at some point. Ah, yes, I LOVE morally grey characters and books – some of my favourites!

  3. I absolutely loved VE Schwab’s Vicious, so I am so glad to hear that this one met your expectations. I’m definitely going to have to give it a try. Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! <3

    • Chiara says:

      Same! And This Savage Song has some of the same things as Vicious did, which was all kinds of fabulous. Ah, I’m so glad you’re going to try this one, Zoe! I hope you like it :D No problem, lovely, and thank you <3

  4. I really hope I get the chance to read this one day! I loved Victoria’s writing and Vicious and have been meaning to get to more of her stuff ever since. I’m so glad you enjoyed it :D

    • Chiara says:

      Yes, Bec! Ask your library to order it in or something because it is amazing. There are some parallels between this and Vicious so even more reason to read it ;D Me, too!

  5. Emily Mead says:

    No romance? NO ROMANCE? Heck yes, I’m so glad you mentioned that. Now I want to read this even more! And I’m always up for a unique read :)

    • Chiara says:

      When I wrote that part of my review, I was just like: Emily is going to be so happy XD I really hope you like this one when you get around to reading it! It is super awesome.

  6. Romi says:

    Aah, I definitely, definitely need to read some V. E. Schwab. And you know, I don’t actively have any on my tbr but I know I want to read her work. And I just don’t know why I haven’t, yet, because it’s relevant and sounds wonderful and she toys with ideas I love and write about myself. So I’m all there. THERE IS NO REASON WHY I’M ACTUALLY NOT THERE YET. And this one sounds just as tempting and tantalising and entrancing as her other books and your review is 109% lovely and I loved it and you wrote about everything and SO PRETTY AND AMAZING and I’m just excited and feeling very passionate about this book and reading right now. Which is always okay, even if it means random capsing appears.

    August sounds like a really interesting, lovely and pained character, and I so want to meet him and love him and be there for him. And I hope other characters prove that THEY’RE there for him and he becomes happier during the course of this novel. Also the sassiness sounds wonderous. I like that a lot.

    I am also saying all the “yes”es to the lack of romance, because characters being friends and not immediately needing to start making out, just being friends and that being enough, it’s something that is far too rare and the rarity only seems to make people believe you can’t be friends with someone who you could potentially be romantic with. But anyway. Even if Kate and August DO form a romance at some point, I’m happy it starts on friendship. *cheers exuberantly*

    Also, A++ on using the word douchcanoe. I am just applauding you so intently right now.

    • Chiara says:

      To be honest, I would rather you start with Vicious, if you are finally diving into the reading world of V.E. Schwab. Because it is much more so about the good and bad and right and wrong debate, and Victor Vale <3 But YAY I am glad that I convinced you to read this book because it is super good, and I think you would enjoy it!

      He isssss. August is such a tortured soul, and everything that happens in this book just makes me want to swaddle him. Like a bebeh.

      I am so hoping that Kate and August don't have a romance, but I also feel it coming on. I am happy they start as friends, though, because that is a good romance trope. But to have a guy and a girl just BE friends and love each other without the need to be romantic or anything would actually be glorious.

      Thank you, thank you. ;)

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