The Sin Eater’s Daughter (The Sin Eater’s Daughter #1)
by Melinda Salisbury
Publisher – Scholastic Press
Release Date – March 1st 2015
Buy – Amazon | Book DepositoryI am the perfect weapon.
I kill with a single touch.Twylla is blessed. The Gods have chosen her to marry a prince, and rule the kingdom. But the favour of the Gods has it’s price. A deadly poison infuses her skin. Those who anger the queen must die under Twylla’s fatal touch.
Only Lief, an outspoken new guard, can see past Twylla’s chilling role to the girls she truly is.
Yet in a court as dangerous and the queen’s, some truths should not be told…
This book really got me out of my reading funk. I really had no idea what I was in for with this book and I can tell you, that I adored it from page 1. How I think of is Princess Fiona (Shrek) meets Throne of Glass (Sarah J. Maas) and the Grisha series (Leigh Bardugo). Your probably thinking what a weird combination but that what makes it a kick-ass fantasy novel from debut author Melinda Salisbury.
Twylla is an untouchable weapon of the kingdom, the perfect source to keep the people, and castle guarded by what habits inside. Her mother, a Sin Eater, performs a ritual when someone has died to clear them of their sins before they pass on, call it a feast of sins, if you like, she eats whatever lays on top of their coffin. Twylla, has learned to be a Sin Eater when her time has come, but the Queen of Lormere had other ideas in mind. When Twylla passed seven harvests (seven years old) she made a choice to be essentially the Queen’s executioner, but how did she know at such a young age that choice, could be the biggest consequence of her life. Now, her hand drip with poison at every touch she consumes to the guilty. One touch could kill you, but one touch can set you free.
In the beginning you are intrigued by what Twylla could possibly be. She goes back to the day that she killed her best friend because he was sentenced for treason. For us the readers, I want to know how she became a poison, how an innocent girls who can’t lead a normal life has to witness the fear of people’s eyes on a daily basis. Like I said in the beginning paragraph, Twylla is like a princess in a tower and a guard or prince saves her from eternity being trapped. I imagine her like one of the Voltouri in the Twilight films with red mist emulating from her fingertips. I was very torn with her character, I pitied her, I’m not a fan of pitying characters when you always find people say ‘I don’t want your pity’ silly, but it’s what I live by. Twylla is all but a shell of a character and it’s only when her guard Leif and his toothy grin that she starts to feel human again.
Leif is such a character, he seems a bit of clown if I’m honest because of how different he is and he completely turns the book around completely. At times there wasn’t only just Leif but the Prince who Twylla is betrothed too. So you can see there is in hindsight a love-triangle. I wasn’t really that bothered I sort of disliked the Prince from beginning. Subjecting Twylla to a life like this and watching it was something I wasn’t willing to like in his favour. Whilst I was reading this with Donna we both had different characters we were rooting for; I was Team Leif and she was Team Prince. The romance between said character, (no spoilers), was just right and I loved how Twylla unraveled because of him and in end it gave her strength to see what’s real and what isn’t.
Miss Salisbury writing was phenomenal, I couldn’t fault it. So easy to read and to just let yourself go. You know when you have a fantasy novel that is nothing but descriptions, it gets boring, I think I may have mentioned it in my review of The Winner’s Curse, in my eyes, a fantasy YA novel needs a balance, and this certainly is a kick ass balance. The plot line is something I’ve never really read before, maybe because I don’t really read very much fantasy YA. But I undoubtedly would recommend an easy, connectable, magical rendition of a cracking plot line and characters. I hear that there will be a sequel but from another POV…looking forward to that immensely.
Rating – 4.5
I am really curious about this one. The whole sin eater idea sounds fascinating. Thanks for sharing1
-Lauren
That's what got me the plotline. It was such a great read. Can't wait to see what you think!
Sounds like you really enjoyed this one, Emma! I am intrigued with the Princess Fiona/Throne of Glass/ Grisha parallels which you drawed. I'm looking forward to reading this one! Great review.
Yes the parallels sort of just popped into my head at the time. Strange ones but to true I think. Hope you enjoy it! Thank you! π
Ooh I'm really excited to read this – it looks fantastic! π Great review!
I hope you enjoy it Kyra! π
I'm glad you enjoyed this. I've read mixed reviews so I was a bit hesitant to buy it but after reading your review I can't wait to finally get my hands on it!
Lovely, review. π
Aww. That's good. I'm glad your going to buy it I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! π Thank you, Veronika! π
I adooore this one too! The world building was amazing and I love the character growth that Twylla undergoes in this book!
Cannot wait for the sequel!!
It was soooo good. Characters, plotline, romance, everything. Great. Me neither! Long time to wait though. π
I'm not the biggest fantasy reader and there were mixed reviews on this, so I have not tried it yet. Is the romance .. triangular? It sort of sounds that way. I think I'll request at the library and give it a try!
Thanks so much for stopping by! Jen @ YA Romantics
I'm not a big fan of fantasy either. I'm a bit picky if I'm honest. Triangular, possibly. It depends on the reader I think and how you interpret it. I didn't have much of a problem with it if I'm honest. Thank you for stopping by too! π
I'm really glad that you were able to enjoy this one Emma, I think my mood at the time just made it such a difficult book to get into, but I think picking it up at the right time, it could be a book that I could really enjoy! Great review! π
I hope you pick it up again. I think you would really enjoy it. Thank you, Jasprit! π
I am so happy you liked this as much as I did! I know not everyone did so it is a relief that you did. I can't wait for book two!
Yay! I didn't really see what people saw of the book. So I went in totally surprised and loving it. Can't wait for book 2 neither.
Nice! I always get excited about a book that is able to pull someone out of a book funk.
Me too! Brilliant book. Usually its romance that bring me out of my funk. But glad it was this one that did! π
i'm so happy you enjoyed this one! You're enjoyment of it is definetly what makes me want to pick this one up π
I hope you do pick this one up. I loved it. Can't wait to see what you think of it! π
I want to read it cos of the cover alone *looks at blog header* hehe, and the story! Good save π
I cared about the characters in this novel and tore through it. When it ended, I wanted more! I wanted to see what happened next. I wanted to know that everyone's lives changed in more ways. In short, I didn't want it to end.
Mariz
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