#1 New York Times Bestseller * An Amazon Best Book of the Year
There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from acclaimed author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake.
The first of two books, This Savage Song is a must-have for fans of Holly Black, Maggie Stiefvater, and Laini Taylor.
Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music.
When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.
In This Savage Song, Victoria Schwab creates a gritty, seething metropolis, one worthy of being compared to Gotham and to the four versions of London in her critically acclaimed fantasy for adults, A Darker Shade of Magic. Her heroes will face monsters intent on destroying them from every side—including the monsters within.
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"The Main Characters August and Kate may come from enemy families but they are no romeo & juliet.For one thing, no love at first sight here. If you like slow development of friendship, then this is the book for you. It won't take you long to see that August & Kate do not wear their hearts on their sleeves. So it makes sense that any relationship involving them would develop slowly.As for the setting, I understand that a lot of readers might be tired of dystopias. But I think a lot would be delighted to learn that it came about from the literal creation of monsters caused by lethal use of violence.And depending on the degree (from brutal beatings to murder to genocide), different types of monsters come into being.I really like this idea.I would recommend this for teens and young adults. Kate and August's interactions are my main draw to this title. And given how their characters and worldview develops throughout this book, I'm definitely looking forward to the next book.My only complaint is that I find the plot twists to be predictable. So it might put off some prolific readers who have read similar reveals."
— NMP (4 out of 5 stars)
“The pacing is fast, the narrative enthralling, but it is the depths of the novel—its acuteness of moral imagination and perception—that will stay with you…My highest recommendation.”
— San Diego Union-Tribune“A darkly precise narrative that feels like a shiver down the spine.”
— Booklist (starred review)“Readers looking for a dangerous and engrossing new world to fall into will find it with this fast-paced, frightening read.”
— Publishers Weekly“A postapocalyptic urban fantasy with a Romeo and Juliet theme…Kate and August both undergo an impressive amount of character development, and fans will like them despite their flaws.”
— School Library Journal“Explores the natures of justice and humanity in an assuredly built world with compelling settings.”
— Horn Book“The world is fascinating…the characters complicated, and the political machinations and emotional depths both charged and compelling…Crackling with energy.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Therese Plummer’s charged narration brings to life this fantasy tale of dread and terror…Whether voicing defiant Kate or introspective August, Plummer projects an element of fear, reminding listeners that the truce between the two parts of the city is fragile—and that monsters lurk around every corner. As the action of the audiobook speeds up, Plummer matches her pacing to keep listeners engaged through every violent turn of events.”
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V. E. Schwab is the author of several books, including the New York Times bestselling Vengeful and A Conjuring of Light. Her young-adult book The Near Witch was named by Entertainment Weekly as one of the best YA books of the decade.
Victoria Schwab is the acclaimed author of more than a dozen novels for readers of all ages. Visit her online at www.victoriaschwab.com.
Thérèse Plummer is an actor, award-winning voice-over artist, and counselor. She has won eighteen AudioFile Earphones Awards and has been a finalist for the prestigious Audie Award for best narration. She has appeared in a variety of television and film roles. As a counselor for adolescents, she spent five years using drama therapy techniques in individual and group settings.