Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Release Day Review: The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

Title: The Sin Eater's Daughter
Author: Malinda Salisbury
Series: Book One in the Sin Eater's Daughter Series
Published By: Scholastic (February 24, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Fantasy
My Rating: 4 Stars!


Book Description:
Seventeen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she’s engaged to the prince, Twylla isn’t exactly a member of the court.

She’s the executioner.

As the Goddess embodied, Twylla instantly kills anyone she touches. Each month she’s taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love a girl with murder in her veins. Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to Twylla’s fatal touch, avoids her company.

But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose easy smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he’s able to look past Twylla’s executioner robes and see the girl, not the Goddess. Yet Twylla’s been promised to the prince, and knows what happens to people who cross the queen.

However, a treasonous secret is the least of Twylla’s problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies, a plan that requires a stomach-churning, unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love? 






I have to start by saying that before I picked this up, there was a lot of hype about it going around. Mostly good and for whatever reason, that usually scares me more than the bad. After all, it is hard not to be excited about  a book that so many are loving and then fearing that you will be the one that doesn't. That it will dash your hopes and leave you sad because of it. 

I would be lying if I said this didn't do a little bit of both, both live up to my expectations, and not quite live up to them at the same time.

Let me explain.

I loved the world building, it was fantastic. Everything laid out nicely without dumping info on the reader but instead transporting them into Twylla's world, right into Lormere. You could see it, smell it and imagine living in it. I didn't once feel lost of have questions about how things came to be, it was beautifully done. 

The characters were fantastic, every single stinking one of them in different ways. The villains were villainous and evil (and some times down right horrifying) so much so that you couldn't not hate them. You couldn't not want to reach through the pages and get rid of them for those that were fighting for good. Fighting for the good guys.

 The good guys were really good, and the really good guys, swoon worthy. And those that you weren't sure about and those that you thought you were sure about, by the end, left me scratching my head wandering what the heck just happened as my opinions about them were changed and I wasn't sure up from down anymore.

It was a page turner. Hard to put down. Imaginative. Action packed. Swoon worthy. Everything I love in a good solid read.

But, of course there were the things I didn’t love. The love triangle (don't worry this is only a sort of triangle) and the cliffhanger ending. The last few chapters of this book were intense. I was on edge never knowing what was going to happen. Anything, truly, was becoming possible and I wasn't quite sure how I felt about it. My heart was pounding and I wanted to scream and shout and demand justice. 

But all good things right? 

Were the triangle and the cliffy enough to make me hate this read or rate it lower? Heck no. I still loved every single minute of it and was pretty upset that I didn't already have book two in my hands. I was not ready for this to be over. The ending of this book, was what truly made it. Those last few chapters made this a totally stand out read for me. 

I needed more, I still need more and I am not happy about that, but that unhappiness is in the best way possible because it leaves me super anxious for the next book and me here, even now hours alter as I am writing this review, still thinking about it, still trying to imagine what will happen. Still trying to think up what the author could possibly throw at us next. 




*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*

44 comments:

  1. When I saw the words "love triangle" my eyes popped out, but I'm thankful to know it's not really that way! Rashika loved this one and I can't wait to dive into it myself. It's really something when you read a book and immediately hunger for the sequel, just like what happened to me and The Queen of the Tearling. Thank god it's the 24th today because I will be able to get this one ASAP :D

    Faye at The Social Potato

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  2. I'm glad you loved this one, Ali. I had some minor issues with the character development in that I wanted more than what was being offered, but it was so addicting to read. I'm excited to see where the story heads to next.
    Lovely review!

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  3. I'm really excited for this one Ali, even with the pseudo love triangle and the cliffhanger. I've just come to accept cliffhangers I think, I'm sort of numb to them now and I'm just going with the flow. This world is too intriguing for me to pass up, so I'm glad to know the above issues didn't detract from your overall enjoyment!

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    1. I know what you mean about cliffhangers, it does seem they are in almost everything now doesn't it?

      I think you will really like this Jenny!

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  4. Ugh love triangle and cliffhanger. Still I am reading some positive things for this one and I have added it to my last, but I am going to wait until closer to book two.

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    1. The love triangle isn't bad at all I promise and I actually think you will end up liking this Heidi.

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  5. Argh...the love triangle is putting me off right now, like seriously putting me off because I have read soooo many YA books lately with that as the romantic plot and it is driving me up a wall. Freaking do something else jeezuz!! And yes I hate cliffhangers. I was thinking of reading this week but I may need to take a few weeks off from YA until I cool down.

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    1. Cliffhangers and lots of angst in the romance department are never a good thing and sadly the YA genre has tons of both! This really wasn't that bad though as far as either of those things goes. I do hope you try this at some point in time. :)

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  6. Great review Ali, I hate reading hyped up books too. It's almost never comes out good. I'm glad this one didn't disappoint!

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  7. It does sound awesome, but since you warned me about the cliff hanger I'll wait until the series is done. Don't worry I'll read it. That you can be sure of.

    Anna from Shout with Emaginette

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  8. Great review. You felt rather similar to how I did. I really did enjoy the book, but the romance aspect probably was what bought it down to a 4/5. Plus that ending killed me a little bit.

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  9. It's been getting so many polarizing reviews lately. So I'm kind of worried. I actually by passed this book on my bookshopping jaunt today.

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    1. I know there have been a lot of positive and negative for it but I did like it, despite its faults. ;)

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  10. I am glad you enjoyed this, I adore the cover. I may hold off since my tbr pile is bursting and it ends in a cliffy. :)

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  11. oh wow, I mean, by your review, this looks AMAZING and I want to read it right na na na. now (it just sounded better with the singing). Hope a can manage the cliff though, although I usually love those, if they're wicked but in a good way. And I can't wait for the villains, because I feel like I haven't read about many latter :/ Great review, Ali!!!

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  12. I'm glad you enjoyed it! I will check it out this book myself now :) Lovely Review

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    1. So glad you are going to take a look at it. :)

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  13. I'm not a love triangle snob, thank you very much. So that doesn't bother me. lol. Honestly, I haven't seen the hype for this. But oh, the characters sound delicious!

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    1. It was a fun read, more than I was hoping for in some areas and weaker in others but overall definitely worth it.

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  14. Wonderful review, Ali! I really enjoyed this story (I can gaze at the gorgeous cover all day) but, I felt the same about the romance and ending. Still a great read though. : )

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    1. It really does have a gorgeous cover. I want to add it to my shelf just for that alone!

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  15. I love when an author can really take you to the place in their book. Where you can smell and feel the world they have created. Too bad about the love-triangle though.

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    1. She did do a pretty good job with the world building for sure. :)

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  16. Hmmm . . . I pre-ordered this months ago, but now I'm thinking I might want to wait until the next book before reading it . . . Are you unhappy and needing more b/c cliffhanger, or b/c book love?

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    1. Both! Ha, I know, I am no help at all am I? The ending chapters were by far the best part of this story.

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  17. I've heard various thoughts on this book. It seems pretty good. I might try it out. Great review!

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    1. Yeah, I think you either love it or hate it kind of thing.

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  18. Love triangles and cliffies usually make me want to skip a book, but I'm glad to hear they didn't affect your enjoyment too much, and that the love triangle isn't really bad. Lovely review!

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    1. Thanks Lauren! Really neither were bad, just there and a part of the story, but they both worked too which was nice.

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  19. I didn't see hype for this one but I did see it for cheap on preorder so it was preordered and I realized yesterday that it was delivered finally. YAY! I'm looking forward to reading it one of these days.

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  20. I love the cover & it sounds like a pretty cool story. Reminds me of Rogue from XMEN who suffers because her touch kills ppl.
    What would one do if only 1 person were immune to their toxic touch?
    I can imagine the Queen wants to use her as mass weapon of destruction.
    I may grab this one from Amazon..

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    1. I hope you do and that you end up really liking it too Bella!

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  21. hii, I'm a new follower! :3

    I got in the mail yesterday and I'm sooo excited to read it!! *-*

    Ps. If you'd like to, stop by my blog and say hi <3

    Frannie @ In clouds of pages
    http://frannieinthepages.blogspot.com/

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    1. So happy you have this to read, I really hope you end up loving it!

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  22. I'm glad you enjoyed this one. I know what you mean about fearing all the hype and yes I was that one that was disappointed in this book. I liked it, but it wasn't all I'd hoped for. Maybe the sequel will be better. *fingers crossed*

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