This Savage Song, published in 2016, written by Victoria Schwab, New York Times Bestselling Author, was my choice for the “recommended to me” challenge for Borrowathon. It’s been twelve years since The Phenomenon – when something strange started happening; if someone did a bad thing their shadow would take on a life of it’s own, turning their soul red, and creating monsters.

The story begins with our strong female lead character, Kate Harker, burning down the chapel at St. Agnes Academy – her sixth school in five years. She’s the daughter of Callum Harker – Governor of the North Verity City.

It’s been six years since the truce between North and South in Verity City. Four years since August, the Sunai monster, woke up.

Sunai, Sunai, eyes like coal,
Sing you a song and steal your soul

August, with marks on his body, counting the days since he’s killed, wants nothing more than to be good. He, his brother, and his sister, are all monsters who work with Henry Flynn, the “governor” of South Verity City.

I thought it was creative to have the book divided into verses:

Monster, May I?
Monster See, Monster Do
Run, Monster, Run
Face Your Monsters

This story reminded me of Romeo & Juliet – except less romance and more monsters. While reading it I thought to myself, “this would make a great movie”. After “googling” it, I learned that Sony bought the rights to make the movie and casting is currently underway. I quite enjoyed this read, and will definitely check out the next book in the series.