I've heard nothing but amazing things about Victoria Schwab's books from bloggers and youtubers so when *This Savage Song (£7.99, paperback) arrived from the super lovely people at Titan Books, I was so excited to give it a go and it didn't disappoint. Although now I want to read everything she has written, sorry bank balance!
The book follows rule breaker and badass, Kate Harker, who is the daughter of the powerful and ruthless Callum Harker, the ruler of North City and August Flynn, a shy and complicated teen with a powerful and unnatural secret who is the son of Harry Flynn, the ruler of South City. Cities are falling apart, fighting for survival is a daily struggle and a tenuous truce is about to crumble, oh and monsters are real. Yeah.
As I've never read anything by Victoria Schwab so I didn't know if I would get on with her writing style but it was apparent from the first few pages that I loved her writing and the story. Her writing style is so incredibly easy to read, follow and I finished the book in just over a day; it wasn't an over complex storyline and her writing just flows so easily as you read.
The story is action packed, fast paced and engaging. I loved most of the characters, especially August and I loved the monsters too! I did like Kate, although I found her a bit annoying at times. The world and the characters felt familiar to me even though I haven't really read anything like this and the types of monsters was a unique point about the book. I though the abilities the monsters have was such an interesting point and different to anything I've read before. I cannot wait for the second book as the ending did leave questions unanswered and I want a certain two characters to get together (even though I have no idea how that would work).
I don't know if this is going to make sense but I thought the book would be potentially complex, such as The Bone Season, but it isn't; the world, the characters and the storyline is like a breathe of fresh air! There is a refreshing clarity to her writing that not only makes you want to read on but it pulls you into the story and the struggles of the characters with such ease and simplicity, you feel like you've been in the world before and you want to know more. Overall rating: ★★★★★, 5/5.
Have you read This Savage Song or anything else by V.E Schwab? What are you currently reading?
