This Savage Song (Monsters of Verity, #1)by V.E. Schwab
Published by Titan Books
Paperback (purchased)
Adult/Young Adult, Fantasy
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.
Schwab is one of the best authors to create brilliant settings. The world-building in this was absolutely brilliant, and I loved the idea how monsters are created by violence, and the type of monster one becomes depends on the type of violence done. It's unique and genius, and that alone made me love the story - because of how different it is.
The other thing that I absolutely love in Schwab's books are the characters, and how Schwab does not shy to show the dark side of humanity and, well, monsters. Or in some cases, the capacity of good the monsters have. Basically how the lines are blurred and it's not easy to pinpoint what is evil and monstrous and what isn't - just like the real life is. This Savage Song exploited that theme brilliantly; that being a monster or a human isn't about what you're born into but what you choose to do. I really loved August, which surprised me. I'm not really into the trope of monsters wishing to be humans and yearning for it, but August was so precious and sympathetic that I just loved him despite the trope. I also liked the family dynamic in August's family, and I liked all of them because they were so different from each other but still so relatable - all of them. Kate, well, she was an enigma in a way but I had problems with her. She was all human but she tried to be hard and bad just because her father was, and she wanted to show him that she can be just like him. The problem was that I didn't feel like Kate really wanted it, and she really didn't try her best to be bad or evil, so it felt a bit forced all the way. However, she grew on me despite that she felt a bit fake with her motives and choices. In the end I rooted for her even if I didn't end up loving her as much as I loved August.
Overall, This Savage Song was brilliant. Maybe not the most action packed but the world-building and the characters were so good that I didn't even care. And there's a possibility that the sequel has a lot more action going on so the tiny lack of action packed plot in this one wasn't bad at all. I'll be eagerly waiting for the sequel!
4 of 5 stars.
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