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A review by theespressoedition
This Savage Song by V.E. Schwab
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
It's been such a wild ride, reading Schwab's books over the past few years. I've stuck to no particular order, which has made each book a completely new experience - ranging from oh my gosh I'm obsessed (Addie LaRue and ADSOM) to wow, I really didn't care for that (The Near Witch). I feel like my overall thought when it comes to her writing is this: she's truly an artist and there's no one quite like her.
This Savage Song was no exception. Once again, I was blown away by the creativity and stunning style of writing. Monsters who use music to kill? An almost Romeo-and-Juliet kind of relationship (with actually very little romance, now that I think about it)? Dystopian cities and power-hungry leaders? There is so much going on in this book and not a moment to even consider becoming bored. Something is always happening!
From the beginning, you feel as though you may not like Kate. She's brash and reckless and has little care for others. You also feel as though you'll love August. He's quiet and caring and really just wants peace. However, as you continue reading, you begin to realize Kate's depth and August's faults. There's a lot more to these characters than what meets the eye! I think the turning point for me would be in the cabin. I won't say more than that because I would give away far too much, but I truly began to see the way the characters blended together and how much they had learned and grown during those chapters.
I mention that there's little romance. It fascinated me because I began the book thinking "okay, total Romeo and Juliet dystopian tale here" but despite the protagonists spending so much time together throughout the book, there was hardly anything romantic about their relationship. It was as though they were drawn to one another for a bigger purpose and yeah sure, you kinda wanna say "and now, KISS!" at a few different parts, but really, there's not something missing without the fluffy feelings. I'm typically someone who prefers a decent amount of romance in my books, but the plot was so good in this one that I never found myself desperately wishing for more passion.
Since it's part of a duology, I know my thoughts aren't completely finished. I still have to read Our Dark Duet to get a full grasp of the story. I look forward to picking it up soon and learning what happens next!
This Savage Song was no exception. Once again, I was blown away by the creativity and stunning style of writing. Monsters who use music to kill? An almost Romeo-and-Juliet kind of relationship (with actually very little romance, now that I think about it)? Dystopian cities and power-hungry leaders? There is so much going on in this book and not a moment to even consider becoming bored. Something is always happening!
From the beginning, you feel as though you may not like Kate. She's brash and reckless and has little care for others. You also feel as though you'll love August. He's quiet and caring and really just wants peace. However, as you continue reading, you begin to realize Kate's depth and August's faults. There's a lot more to these characters than what meets the eye! I think the turning point for me would be in the cabin. I won't say more than that because I would give away far too much, but I truly began to see the way the characters blended together and how much they had learned and grown during those chapters.
I mention that there's little romance. It fascinated me because I began the book thinking "okay, total Romeo and Juliet dystopian tale here" but despite the protagonists spending so much time together throughout the book, there was hardly anything romantic about their relationship. It was as though they were drawn to one another for a bigger purpose and yeah sure, you kinda wanna say "and now, KISS!" at a few different parts, but really, there's not something missing without the fluffy feelings. I'm typically someone who prefers a decent amount of romance in my books, but the plot was so good in this one that I never found myself desperately wishing for more passion.
Since it's part of a duology, I know my thoughts aren't completely finished. I still have to read Our Dark Duet to get a full grasp of the story. I look forward to picking it up soon and learning what happens next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Torture, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail