Book Review – This Savage Song

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Reading ‘This Savage Song‘ made me so unexpectedly happy!

First of all, can we talk about the cover?
It is so stunning😍

“I mean, most people want to escape. Get out of their heads. Out of their lives. Stories are the easiest way to do that.”

The story is set in Verity, a city overrun with monsters. The Northern part of the city is ruled by Callum Harker, who buys protection for people living there, and gives them a locket to ensure their protection from the monsters. He trades with those monsters, while Henry Flynn governs Southern part of the city and runs a task force to stop the monsters inhabiting his part of the city.

In the midst of the city at the brink of war, August Flynn, son of Henry Flynn and Kate Harker, daughter of Callum Harker cross paths. And it takes them on an adventure fighting monsters, uncovering lies and the dark secrets that will change the future of their city forever!

Such a unique world, with beautiful main characters, a good plot, and some thought-provoking messages with this story and its characters. An interesting take on the monsters and human’s dystopian world. I loved it.

I think that’s the charm of Victoria Schwab’s books, the stories aren’t overly grand or extraordinary. Instead, they offer a simple take on unique concepts or tropes (like the parallel Londons in the Shades of Magic series, or now a dystopian world where different kinds of monsters live among humans). With likable main characters, a slow start, and an adventurous second half, her books are beautifully written. The elements are well-crafted, making it easier for readers to understand her world.

The one thing I missed most in the Shades of Magic series was the in-depth growth and struggle of the characters. While it was present there, This Savage Song handles it much better.

Characters: This was a character-driven book for me. Our main protagonists, August Flynn, who is a Sunai monster, the deadliest one of the three kinds present in Verity, and Kate Harker are both well-rounded characters. Kate reminded me of Alaska Young from Looking for Alaska, feisty, bold, adventurous and constantly fighting her inner battles. Kate has anxiety, and I felt good when that was acknowledged in the book. I was annoyed by her at first but as the story progressed we got to see Kate’s inner struggles and beliefs, and my opinion changed.

And let’s talk about my babe, August Flynn! Please, he’s such a softie for a monster. But that’s not the only reason I love him, it’s his will to hold on to his humanity. His internal struggles between morality and his true monstrous nature: which one to embrace?

I could relate to him on a whole different level and really understand his perspective. (Yes, I could relate to a monster’s thought process 😭.) It was so refreshing to see this side of a monster. He feels fragile and moral, but also brave and deadly when he needs to be. Kate described him perfectly here!

This wasn’t the boy from the bleachers or the one folded in on himself in her car. This wasn’t the one coughing black blood onto the pavement or tied to the half-constructed wall. This was a different August Flynn. Confident. Mesmerizing.

And their chemistry was so soft…? Does that even make sense? Haha! What I mean is, they were really heartwarming together not in a mushy way, but more like a genuine, friendly bond.

I think it’s because they connect through their shared strangeness and detachment from the world around them.

It hurts,” he whispered. “What does?” asked Kate. “Being. Not being. Giving in. Holding out. No matter what I do, it hurts.” Kate tipped her head back against the tub. “That’s life, August,” she said. “You wanted to feel alive, right? It doesn’t matter if you’re monster or human. Living hurts.”
(my babies🥺)

Plot: Honestly, while reading the first few chapters, I thought, “Shit! Is this going to be another high school story with an investigation subplot?” Ugh — I didn’t want that. The cover looked so appealing, and I expected a more mature story, especially since it involved monsters.

And damn, we did get that, a dark, dystopian fantasy. It had a slow start, but it was totally worth it. I also really liked how the storyline involving the monsters was structured, simple, yet interesting.

Monsters, monsters, big and small,
“They’re gonna come and eat you all.
Corsai, Corsai, tooth and claw,
Shadow and bone will eat you raw.
Malchai, Malchai, sharp and sly,
Smile and bite and drink you dry.
Sunai, Sunai, eyes like coal,
Sing you a song and steal your soul.
Monsters, monsters, big and small,
They’re gonna come and eat you all!

The plot twists were actually quite predictable, which is why I’m knocking off one star. I literally guessed who was behind it all from the beginning, every clue pointed right at them. So, I wasn’t all that surprised by the big revelations.

That said, the main characters and their storyline still kept me fully engrossed.

I honestly can’t imagine not loving this book. There’s just something so special about this one;) 

This Savage Song wasn’t some extraordinary book with intricate world-building or overly complex lore. In fact, it was pretty simple and that’s exactly what made it so impactful. An absolutely enjoyable read!