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Author: Melinda Salisbury
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publishing Date: February 24, 2015
A startling, seductive, deliciously dark debut that will shatter your definition of YA fantasy.
16-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she's engaged to the prince, no one speaks to her. No one even looks at her. Because Twylla isn't a member of the court. She's the executioner.
As the goddess-embodied, Twylla kills with a single touch. So each week, she's taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love her. Who could care for a girl with murder in her veins? Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to her touch, avoids her.
But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose playful smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he's able to look past Twylla's executioner robes and see the girl, not the goddess. Yet a treasonous romance is the least of Twylla's problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies-a plan that requires an unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?
First and foremost, a big huge thank you to Scholastic for sending me an ARC of The Sin Eater's Daughter! And several months ago Stacee at Adventures of a Book Junkie lent me her ARC so I could read it, so again, thank you! I appreciate it so much!
Now, let me start with this.
(Obviously, I have emotions.)
From the moment I first heard about The Sin Eater's Daughter, I wanted to read it so bad that my mouth was watering. It sounded ridiculously good. So for a few months I was pretty much just all GIVE IT TO ME NOW. In other words, I really hyped myself up for this book, which is/was one of my most anticipated books of 2015. And sometimes hype can be a real monster.
The Sin Eater's Daughter didn't really have many faults. It may have been a bit slow for a part or two, but it started off well and then it hit a point where I felt like I needed many status updates to express the insanity I was feeling (see: above). This book's biggest issue isn't something it can help: it's the hype monster. I was so excited for this book that once I got it and began reading, it didn't take long for that stupid hype monster to step in and take things down a level. Now, don't get me wrong--I definitely liked this book. But I think this is something worth noting. (Stupid hype monster, I hate you.)
But let's forget about all that so I can tell you about this book. If this review was a video, I'd just be staring at the screen with a look. When I finished this book at five in the morning I tweeted the author letting her know I kind of hated her. (Not seriously, by the way. All fun! Don't freak!) Because OH MY GOSH, this book was like a roller coaster and going here and there and everywhere. So you get in the car/seat thingy. It slowly goes up an incline as the story progresses, you reach the top and bam!--the story takes off. And boy, does it go up and down and up and down and play with your FEELS. I mean, again, look at my status updates. I wanted to pull my hands down my face all the time because WHY, BOOK, WHY?
Oh, right. What's it about? The Sin Eater's Daughter follows the story of Twylla, a girl who has been dubbed Daunen Embodied--basically, a gift from the gods. She left her mother, with whom she was training with to be the next Sin Eater, to go to the castle and represent her role. As Daunen Embodied, Twylla's touch will kill anyone who isn't also divine--like the King, Queen, and Prince. So her job is to be a monthly executioner of traitors to the crown and show the people that she will do as the gods want. (I think I got that right.)
Because of Twylla's gift she's kind of a loner by default, so we don't get to meet a whole lot of characters. I really liked Twylla, though. She hates her job, and we got to see some character growth from her. I could really care less about Prince Merek--though he had some nice moments--but Lief was excellent. I know it may seem kind of like Throne of Glass, with a killer and a prince and a guard, but it definitely differentiates itself enough. (And I think fans of the Throne of Glass series will like this.) Anyway, the ship is so totally Lief and Twylla. I don't care if she's betrothed to the stupid prince. The king was okay--interesting to see a king who doesn't wear the pants of the throne. But it was the queen who really stood out, because I really hated her (she's an evil bitch). Let me put it this way: I ship her with that Bastard King of Adarlan in Throne of Glass.
Let me tell you what's in this book: Romance. A tale called The Sleeping Prince (which I really want to know more about). A Sin Eater, who is someone who, when a person dies, eats food that represent certain sins. Villainry (for serious and hardcore). Major shockers (I swore A LOT). Swoons (hence the shipping). Magicness. Twists and turns and the possible desire to throw the book (not recommend for eBook users). So, basically everything. And oh! You know that feeling you get sometimes when you read a book, kind of like a hum? (No? What in the hell am I talking about? Just me, then.) Yeah, I got that here. Everything just starts to hit you like an attack of birds and just OH MY GOSH. I had to send some texts about my freaking out to Stacee (who let me borrow the book). And of course, once again, all my status updates.
In the end, I don't think The Sin Eater's Daughter was disappointing. I think the hype was. It's certainly a good, unique story, and really well written. I care about the characters, and I feel very strongly about a ship, which is always a good sign. And SO MANY THINGS happen and it is so, so wonderful (and painful and stressful and frustrating). And I always love it when a book causes physical, potty-mouthed reactions. Don't you just love it when everything's going your way in a book and then suddenly it isn't? *Glares at book* And THE ENDING. EVERYTHING. I basically JUST and that is just about it. And the worst thing about reading this so early is that I have to wait even longer for the sequel and that's really not nice. Also, I must be a masochist because I like when books put me in pain. (In other words, read The Sin Eater's Daughter and panic with me!)
Did I like it? Yes!
16-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she's engaged to the prince, no one speaks to her. No one even looks at her. Because Twylla isn't a member of the court. She's the executioner.
As the goddess-embodied, Twylla kills with a single touch. So each week, she's taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love her. Who could care for a girl with murder in her veins? Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to her touch, avoids her.
But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose playful smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he's able to look past Twylla's executioner robes and see the girl, not the goddess. Yet a treasonous romance is the least of Twylla's problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies-a plan that requires an unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?
Book in One Word: MYGOSH.
First and foremost, a big huge thank you to Scholastic for sending me an ARC of The Sin Eater's Daughter! And several months ago Stacee at Adventures of a Book Junkie lent me her ARC so I could read it, so again, thank you! I appreciate it so much!
Now, let me start with this.
(Obviously, I have emotions.)
From the moment I first heard about The Sin Eater's Daughter, I wanted to read it so bad that my mouth was watering. It sounded ridiculously good. So for a few months I was pretty much just all GIVE IT TO ME NOW. In other words, I really hyped myself up for this book, which is/was one of my most anticipated books of 2015. And sometimes hype can be a real monster.
The Sin Eater's Daughter didn't really have many faults. It may have been a bit slow for a part or two, but it started off well and then it hit a point where I felt like I needed many status updates to express the insanity I was feeling (see: above). This book's biggest issue isn't something it can help: it's the hype monster. I was so excited for this book that once I got it and began reading, it didn't take long for that stupid hype monster to step in and take things down a level. Now, don't get me wrong--I definitely liked this book. But I think this is something worth noting. (Stupid hype monster, I hate you.)
But let's forget about all that so I can tell you about this book. If this review was a video, I'd just be staring at the screen with a look. When I finished this book at five in the morning I tweeted the author letting her know I kind of hated her. (Not seriously, by the way. All fun! Don't freak!) Because OH MY GOSH, this book was like a roller coaster and going here and there and everywhere. So you get in the car/seat thingy. It slowly goes up an incline as the story progresses, you reach the top and bam!--the story takes off. And boy, does it go up and down and up and down and play with your FEELS. I mean, again, look at my status updates. I wanted to pull my hands down my face all the time because WHY, BOOK, WHY?
Oh, right. What's it about? The Sin Eater's Daughter follows the story of Twylla, a girl who has been dubbed Daunen Embodied--basically, a gift from the gods. She left her mother, with whom she was training with to be the next Sin Eater, to go to the castle and represent her role. As Daunen Embodied, Twylla's touch will kill anyone who isn't also divine--like the King, Queen, and Prince. So her job is to be a monthly executioner of traitors to the crown and show the people that she will do as the gods want. (I think I got that right.)
Because of Twylla's gift she's kind of a loner by default, so we don't get to meet a whole lot of characters. I really liked Twylla, though. She hates her job, and we got to see some character growth from her. I could really care less about Prince Merek--though he had some nice moments--but Lief was excellent. I know it may seem kind of like Throne of Glass, with a killer and a prince and a guard, but it definitely differentiates itself enough. (And I think fans of the Throne of Glass series will like this.) Anyway, the ship is so totally Lief and Twylla. I don't care if she's betrothed to the stupid prince. The king was okay--interesting to see a king who doesn't wear the pants of the throne. But it was the queen who really stood out, because I really hated her (she's an evil bitch). Let me put it this way: I ship her with that Bastard King of Adarlan in Throne of Glass.
Let me tell you what's in this book: Romance. A tale called The Sleeping Prince (which I really want to know more about). A Sin Eater, who is someone who, when a person dies, eats food that represent certain sins. Villainry (for serious and hardcore). Major shockers (I swore A LOT). Swoons (hence the shipping). Magicness. Twists and turns and the possible desire to throw the book (not recommend for eBook users). So, basically everything. And oh! You know that feeling you get sometimes when you read a book, kind of like a hum? (No? What in the hell am I talking about? Just me, then.) Yeah, I got that here. Everything just starts to hit you like an attack of birds and just OH MY GOSH. I had to send some texts about my freaking out to Stacee (who let me borrow the book). And of course, once again, all my status updates.
In the end, I don't think The Sin Eater's Daughter was disappointing. I think the hype was. It's certainly a good, unique story, and really well written. I care about the characters, and I feel very strongly about a ship, which is always a good sign. And SO MANY THINGS happen and it is so, so wonderful (and painful and stressful and frustrating). And I always love it when a book causes physical, potty-mouthed reactions. Don't you just love it when everything's going your way in a book and then suddenly it isn't? *Glares at book* And THE ENDING. EVERYTHING. I basically JUST and that is just about it. And the worst thing about reading this so early is that I have to wait even longer for the sequel and that's really not nice. Also, I must be a masochist because I like when books put me in pain. (In other words, read The Sin Eater's Daughter and panic with me!)
Did I like it? Yes!
Did I love it? Not quite.
Would I reread it? I feel like this book would be even better the second time around, and even if it wasn't, yesss.
Would I purchase it? Um, YES.
Who would I recommend it to? If you like fantasy novels, books filled with twists, and not-your-average-royal-family royal families, then yeah, you might like this.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and that in no way sways my opinion of the book.
Melinda Salisbury lives by the sea, somewhere in the south of England. As a child she genuinely thought Roald Dahl’s Matilda was her biography, in part helped by her grandfather often mistakenly calling her Matilda, and the local library having a pretty cavalier attitude to the books she borrowed. Sadly she never manifested telekinetic powers. She likes to travel, and have adventures. She also likes medieval castles, non-medieval aquariums, Richard III, and all things Scandinavian. The Sin Eater’s Daughter is her first novel, and will be published by Scholastic in 2015. She is represented by the amazing Claire Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge and White.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, and that in no way sways my opinion of the book.
Melinda Salisbury lives by the sea, somewhere in the south of England. As a child she genuinely thought Roald Dahl’s Matilda was her biography, in part helped by her grandfather often mistakenly calling her Matilda, and the local library having a pretty cavalier attitude to the books she borrowed. Sadly she never manifested telekinetic powers. She likes to travel, and have adventures. She also likes medieval castles, non-medieval aquariums, Richard III, and all things Scandinavian. The Sin Eater’s Daughter is her first novel, and will be published by Scholastic in 2015. She is represented by the amazing Claire Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge and White.
She tweets. A lot.
I cannot wait to read a copy of this book!
ReplyDeleteOkay I love your review and your Goodreads updates are scaring me hahah! I'm on page 80 right now and love it sooooo much! I definitely think it will appeal to lots of fantasy fans, including Throne of Glass, Seven Realms, and yes, Game of Thrones. I'm so glad the marketing doesn't mention it but there were enough situations and feelings that reminded me of reading the first ASOIAF book. Which, LOVE. The queen is so horrible. My goodness. Ahhh I'm super excited to finish this book! Ironically I don't think I've heard a ton of hype going in, except that a lot of people want to read it so my opinion hasn't been colored that much. So glad you liked it! Thanks for the giveaway too, I'd love to have a physical copy :D Might have to buy my own anyway if I don't win hehe.
ReplyDeleteSo Excited for this book!!
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ReplyDeleteWow! Well after that review, how can I resist reading the book? :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your first book Melinda! Looks like it's going to be an awesome read!
ReplyDeleteGreat review! You've now made me want to buy this book even more, and with that cover, how can I resist?
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