This Savage Song // Book Review

November 15, 2016

This Savage Song // Book Review

Hey everyone! It's time for another book review!

Today I'm reviewing This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab.

I was sent this book by SocialBookCo in exchange for an honest review. SocialBookCo is a great website that features hundreds of brilliant books at affordable prices. They help bookworms like us to find the books we love at prices that we can afford from places such as Amazon, Waterstones, Book Depository and many other websites, all in one place. That way we can compare the prices and find the books that we want!

I recently signed up to SocialBookCo's Book Review Programme, they send us books in exchange for our honest reviews. I am so, so happy to be a part of this programme and very grateful that they sent me such an amazing book!

At the end of this review I'll be sharing the link to where you guys can find this book at a great price!

Anyway, let's get on with the review!

Title: This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab

Format: Paperback

Pages: 407

Published by: Titan Books

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Paranormal

Goodreads page here.

'There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from 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.

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.'

I've been wanting to read this book for quite a long time now, after seeing so many good reviews for it online. I've been on a mission to read more fantasy books recently, so I was very excited to read this. I love the book cover, it definitely caught my attention when I saw it in photos. I didn't realise until today that the illustration on the cover actually has something to do with the story, the black liquid being the monster's blood. So the cover discreetly gives a small insight to the story without the reader knowing, as this book does involve a lot of blood... Also, I love the title of this book. It describes the story so well, without giving anything away.

This story is told from two perspectives - Kate Harker's and August Flynn's. They are both heirs to a city called Verity. A city split into two. Violence is a daily occurrence and monsters run free.

Kate is the only daughter of a man that makes his citizens pay for their safety, a man that cares only about himself. He is in control of all of the monsters in his city, he even has one as a "pet".

August is the adopted son of a man that is trying his hardest to keep his city together. He does all he can to keep the violence out.

One day, August and Kate's paths cross. You'd think they'd be arch enemies, but when they become friends it makes their lives even more complicated. Especially when Kate finds out that August has a secret.

There are three types of monsters in this book, the blood drinking Malchai, the flesh eating Corsai and last but not least, the most powerful of them all, the soul stealing Sunai.

“Corsai, Corsai, tooth and claw,
Shadow and bone will eat you raw.
Malchai, Malchai, sharp and sly,
Smile and bite and drink you dry.”
“Sunai, Sunai, eyes like coal,
Sing you a song and steal your soul.”

These monsters are wild and desperate to be free. They're eager to kill. However, unlike the others the Sunai don't just eat any old person, they choose their dinners carefully. Only stealing the souls of those with the shadows, the shadows that show that they have committed a sin and killed others.

You'd think this story is a war between monsters and humans, but it's just as much a war between humans and humans. With the Flynns and Harkers fighting for what they want.

“It's a monster's world.”

Kate Harker is a rebellious teenager that will do everything she can to get what she wants. At the beginning of the story she behaves quite childishly, causing havoc to get her father's attention. However, by the end of the story she grows into a more mature person, that learns to look out for others rather than herself, she learns how to care for people and show emotion. She learns how to be human.

August Flynn is a quiet guy that just wants everything to be peaceful. He adores playing his violin and has been home schooled for all his life, so when he gets the opportunity to attend a school, he grabs it with both hands and learns how to live life like Verity's typical teenager. August holds a big secret, one that only his family and a couple of friends know. It's his job to not let anyone else find out.

“He wasn't made of flesh and bone, or starlight.
He was made of darkness.”

Isla Flynn is such a beautiful character that I have to talk about, she is August's sister and she is so poetic and lovely. She cares far more about others, spends her days inside to avoid the violence on the streets (and because she too also holds a big secret...).

Leo Flynn is August's brother. I really disliked this character, although he has those movie star good looks, he is just way too head strong and boisterous. He wants to fight, he wants the truce between the divided city to break so he can go to war. For him, violence is the only solution.

Callum Harker is another character that I disliked, one that every reader should hate. I genuinely feel sorry for his daughter Kate, no one deserves such an awful parent. He enjoys seeing people and monsters in pain, he thrives off taking money from those who need it and loves power. He really is just as bad as the monsters.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed this book. Although I found the beginning slightly confusing (mainly because the writer was introducing us to this new world and monsters) it soon picked up and I just couldn't put it down! It was full of drama, suspense and action. Also, this book contains no romance, at all! Which is pretty amazing for a Young Adult fictional book. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy reading romance novels but it's nice to read a book that is based on friendship rather than romance.

V.E. Schwab's writing is fantastic. This is the first book that I've read by her and I am hooked, I will definitely be reading this book's sequel *squeals* and her other books.

I was actually quite sad when this book ended, I had become so attached to the storyline and the fantastic characters that I just wanted to step into their world and be with them. But not literally, because who would want to live with deadly monsters? No, thanks.

So, I have given this book a strong four out of five stars. You must read it. Please. Not only will you be unable to put the book down, you will be left shocked with how amazing it is. And who doesn't want that?

If you'd like to buy this book and see just how cheap it actually is (I'm tempted to buy more copies, to make my bookshelf all pretty and nice), then here is the link to where you can find a great deal -

Click here for the link.

Or here for the URL - http://www.socialbookco.com/book/9781785652745/this-savage-song?rid=243