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bribri944's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
aceinit's review against another edition
2.0
V.E. Schwab can do some masterful things. “Vicious,” her take on super-powered human beings, is one of my favorite reads, and “A Darker Shade of Magic” has some absolutely phenomenal worldbuilding that juggles four very different versions of London.
But, for the life of me, I don’t think I was given the same copy of “This Savage Song” as everyone else, because the universe seems to be raving about this book, whereas I never truly felt connected to anything going on.
The worldbuilding is wonderful. Schwab excels at that kind of thing. Set in a very different version of the US, an event called the Phenomenon has left our world full of monsters who are very literal remnants of the aftermath of violent crimes; creatures given sentience and a desire to inflict harm on humanity.
But the characterizations never did it for me. Kate Harker is a typical Strong Female Character (TM). The difference between a Strong Female Character (TM) and a strong female character is at the former spends entirely too much time trying to prove both to the audience and the other characters that she is Strong Female Character, and the latter just buckles down and gets things done without throwing it in everyone's face.
Kate spends so much time with a chip on her shoulder and trying to prove to everyone that she is a Strong Female Character that comes off as being overly in-your-face and utterly unsympathetic. She’s so busy trying to show how tough she is, either by burning down her school (so edgy! so badass!) bullying her fellow students in effort to “rule the school” (if this is not a direct quote from the text, it’s damn close) or by trying to force her way into her father’s favor by proving she isn't "weak" like her mother (you heard me), that any real aspects of personality come too little too late. She is a brat and a bully and utterly unlikable.
Her counterpart in the novel, August Flynn, is one of the previously-mentioned monsters who is struggling to be human. August has an interesting set-up: he’s a literal monster born from a tragic act of violence, he doesn’t want to be a monster, and he can play music so sweet that it can steal your soul and kill you. He and his “siblings,” Leo and Ilsa, are the most interesting concept the books has to offer, but in the end we are given very little about any of them.
In the end, neither August nor Kate felt fully realized, and because of this the rest of the book didn’t really have a chance. I had so many interesting premises, but in the end the story felt flat and dull. It’s hard to enjoy a read when neither of the leads, who alternate narration perspectives, connects with you.
For me, this book was always on the verge of doing something fantastic, but it was so bogged down in clichés and typical YA angst that it never quite got there. Kate is the Bad Girl. August is the Loner Who Wants to Fit In, and by the time they grow out of these tropes and into real characters, the book was 2/3 finished and I just wanted it to be over.
Yet, despite its mediocrity, and despite the fact that it didn’t resonate with me the way it seems to with everyone else, I’ll be around for the sequel. Schwab set up some great lead-ins to the next installment, and somehow, I am intrigued enough to hang around.
But, for the life of me, I don’t think I was given the same copy of “This Savage Song” as everyone else, because the universe seems to be raving about this book, whereas I never truly felt connected to anything going on.
The worldbuilding is wonderful. Schwab excels at that kind of thing. Set in a very different version of the US, an event called the Phenomenon has left our world full of monsters who are very literal remnants of the aftermath of violent crimes; creatures given sentience and a desire to inflict harm on humanity.
But the characterizations never did it for me. Kate Harker is a typical Strong Female Character (TM). The difference between a Strong Female Character (TM) and a strong female character is at the former spends entirely too much time trying to prove both to the audience and the other characters that she is Strong Female Character, and the latter just buckles down and gets things done without throwing it in everyone's face.
Kate spends so much time with a chip on her shoulder and trying to prove to everyone that she is a Strong Female Character that comes off as being overly in-your-face and utterly unsympathetic. She’s so busy trying to show how tough she is, either by burning down her school (so edgy! so badass!) bullying her fellow students in effort to “rule the school” (if this is not a direct quote from the text, it’s damn close) or by trying to force her way into her father’s favor by proving she isn't "weak" like her mother (you heard me), that any real aspects of personality come too little too late. She is a brat and a bully and utterly unlikable.
Her counterpart in the novel, August Flynn, is one of the previously-mentioned monsters who is struggling to be human. August has an interesting set-up: he’s a literal monster born from a tragic act of violence, he doesn’t want to be a monster, and he can play music so sweet that it can steal your soul and kill you. He and his “siblings,” Leo and Ilsa, are the most interesting concept the books has to offer, but in the end we are given very little about any of them.
In the end, neither August nor Kate felt fully realized, and because of this the rest of the book didn’t really have a chance. I had so many interesting premises, but in the end the story felt flat and dull. It’s hard to enjoy a read when neither of the leads, who alternate narration perspectives, connects with you.
For me, this book was always on the verge of doing something fantastic, but it was so bogged down in clichés and typical YA angst that it never quite got there. Kate is the Bad Girl. August is the Loner Who Wants to Fit In, and by the time they grow out of these tropes and into real characters, the book was 2/3 finished and I just wanted it to be over.
Yet, despite its mediocrity, and despite the fact that it didn’t resonate with me the way it seems to with everyone else, I’ll be around for the sequel. Schwab set up some great lead-ins to the next installment, and somehow, I am intrigued enough to hang around.
higglebee's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
VE Schwab is a genius of story telling. It was so easy to see this story as it progressed. I loved every minute of this world unfolding in front of my eyes. Such an original story. I can't wait to read the next one!
angelaxdang's review against another edition
5.0
cool concept, didnt think i would like it this much
theb00kelf's review against another edition
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? It's complicated
4.0
mrdemon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
njb_53's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
sonpaichan's review against another edition
5.0
A masterpiece.
I listened to it on audiobook and I loved every second of it. The plot is fantastic and the narration is very good and fits perfectly. Would highly recommend picking it up.
I listened to it on audiobook and I loved every second of it. The plot is fantastic and the narration is very good and fits perfectly. Would highly recommend picking it up.
e_j_cook's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75