Title: This Savage Song
Author: Victoria Schwab
Series: Monsters of Verity (Book 1)
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Genre(s): Young Adult, Dystopian, Thriller, Horror, Supernatural Fantasy…
Number of pages/length: 464 pages
Price: $10.36 (Amazon hardcover)

Rating: .5    {4.5 stars/5 stars}

This was my first ever book experience with Victoria Schwab. I am unbelievably impressed. I applaud the originality of this dystopian novel. Scwab’s creation of V-City smokes out all other recent dystopian novels I have read.

Let’s start from the beginning though. I was immediately smacked in the face with the personalities of each character. First you have Kate Harker, the human and badass rebel, trouble maker. (And the label trouble maker is definitely being generous to Kate’s hostel character). I truly thought I was going to hate Kate. I definitely am never one to root for the headstrong female character. However, we quickly discover there is much about Kate that is misunderstood. She’s fighting and battle to a Kate she thinks people want.

Then you have August. The sweet and sensitive monster. Yes, he is certainly an oxymoron. I immediately was in love with August. He’s my all time favorite! My love for him just grew and grew throughout the novel. An A++ character in my book – pun intended.

One of the reasons I did not give this book a complete 5 was because I was not completely captivated in the beginning. I felt it took my a bit longer than usually to really be wrapped up in the novel. But when I was…. I was hooked. I believe a bit of the problem was that I had definitely understanding the real geography and set-up of this world. I found myself longing for a map of the city, including a key with area zones.

With that being said, I loved the depictions of each race of monster. Each were equally creative and unique from each other, as well as any other that I have ever come across. There are three types of monsters: Malchai, Sunai, and Corsai. Each type exampled simply by the song sung by characters throughout the novel.

“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 novel later dives into more detail about how this dystopian world has evolved. It does take place in the future and it is exampled whereabouts the book takes place in the United States. It is also explained how the monsters are created.

I have also got to see. I actually didn’t see that ending coming. I was ripped apart. Sad and disappointed by…. well, you’ll see when you read it.

I would highly, highly recommend this book to readers who crave dystopian novels. There is somewhat of a romantic element, however, it is not the main focus. I definitely cannot wait to see what happens next and if we will get to see more of August and Kate’s journey.