Reviews with content warning for Gore - This Savage Song

I really liked the book, I feel it was totally interesting and exciting. But the first half was a ñeh, the second half is where the action and the plot are.

The characters are interesting, but I think Victoria Schwab has made some much better and more complex than these. They were still interesting to me in the second half, we see how their characters break down, face their biggest fears and their dark past. Kate instantly interested me, she is a girl who longs for her father's approval; and August began to interest me more while I was reading, he is a teenage monster who just wants to be normal even if that can destroy him.

I found the whole monster thing interesting and generates good tension over the course of the book and is genuinely unsettling.

The only problem I see with the book is the slow start and that there are characters that I would have liked to know more about, like August and Sloan's brothers, I guess we will see more of them in the next book.

⚠️ SPOILERS ⚠️

I liked Kate in the first paragraph, she seems like a strong girl, but she is a teenager and has a lot of weight on her shoulders. I also feel some vibes of I am not like other girls from her, but I hope it is just my imagination.

I didn't found August very interesting, but I progressed through the book and I saw more of his character. The fear of what he may do is genuine and he is really confused because he does not know exactly who he is. I also liked the relationship with his family, especially with his sister Ilsa.

Now, I liked the relationship between Kate and August, I feel that I always hope that the books I read have a lot of romance and that the protagonists kiss at least at the end of the book, but little by little I am removing that idea, more when the protagonists are teenagers and they are going through difficult times, the last thing they should think about is romance. Also August and Kate are untrusting protagonists who are not very affectionate, if they want to show that they care about someone they do it with actions, such as Kate taking care of August when he was hungry and had high levels of fever, or like August when he gave himself to the shadows but managed to control himself and not hurt Kate.

I loved the action in the book and will definitely read the second to see how this story closes.

Content Warnings

creepypiespice's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

allielueck's review against another edition

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4.5

TW: gore

Overall: 4.5 stars
I have struggled to pick up another fantasy book for months, but this one grabbed my attention immediately. My attachment to this book is rooted in the characters, especially August and Isla. The concepts of V-City and the three breeds of monster blew my mind due to the sheer creativity. Schwab's writing is magical yet human, and I cannot wait to pick up Our Dark Duet, the sequel to This Savage Song.

Setting: 4 stars
I initially had a hard time understanding or visualizing V-City, but I do really like the general concept of feuding halves of a city. I loved how Kate and August met at Colton and pretended to be normal teens for a scarce few days. The Flynn Compound and the Harker Hall were two of my favorite locations.

Characters: 5 stars
August Flynn is so precious I want to protect him forever. Despite being a Sunai, he is so incredibly relatable, and I found myself smiling when he did. I also really grew to like Kate, and even though I disagreed with some decisions she made, I understood why she acted in that manner. Isla was probably my second favorite character after August because of her emotional depth and physical power. The friendship between August and Kate attempted to mend my broken heart as August struggled with his identity. Schwab developed each of the characters so seamlessly that it felt like getting to know new friends.

Plot: 4.5 stars
World-building is the hardest part of reading fantasy novels for me, but this one did not pose too much of a problem. Schwab's basis for the monsters, especially the Sunai, is so well thought out. Throughout the story, I had no idea what was coming next, which was almost like a breath of fresh air since I so often predict events. The various plot twists kept me reading way longer than I intended some days.

Writing: 5 stars
I have heard so many people rave about Schwab's writing, so I came in with relatively high expectations. She did not disappoint! The development of the plot and characters remained relatable despite the story focusing on monsters fighting over a city. Schwab's ability to depict human emotions is so impressive. I cannot wait to read more of her work.

Content Warnings