THIS SAVAGE SONG

Two for the road

released OUT NOW! 407 pages | Paperback/ebook Author Ve schwab Publisher Titan Books

This Savage Song ends better than it begins, which is a good thing, because to begin with it gives the impression of being yet another “hot, rebellious and supernatural students” story.

August Flynn, adopted son of the leader of one half of a city, and Kate Harker, daughter of the leader of the other half, end up at the same college. However, soon the two are forced to flee for their lives as conspirators try to use them to force the two halves of the city into conflict. The fact that August is a monster just complicates things.

There’s not actually enough exposition in the first part of the novel (and it’s not often you’ll hear us complaining of that). As annoying as exposition can be, VE Schwab has created three unique monster types – Corsai, Malchai and Sunai – that arise from acts of violence, and a little explanation earlier on would have helped quite a bit. Possibly the lack of explanation is there to create tension and a sense of mystery, as the basic plot is standard fare and the villains easy to identify.

At the end of the day, Schwab has created an interesting world, but not a story that does justice to it, which is a shame.

VE Schwab’s A Darker Shade Of Magic is being adapted for television, and Schwab herself is writing the script.