Friday, March 6, 2015

ARC Review: The Sin Eater's Daughter ♥ by Melinda Salisbury

Friday, March 06, 2015



The Sin Eater's Daughter
Melinda Salisbury
  • Publisher: Scholastic (February 5, 2015)
  • ISBN-13: 978-1407147635
  • Genre: Fantasy
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Nobles

Source: e-ARC was sent free of charge via Edelweiss.

Image and video hosting by TinyPic Synopsis: 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?


  • This novel is quite popular right now in the blogosphere world, so of course I had to check it out for myself. Our protagonist, Twylla is a seventeen year old teenager, she resides in the Court, although, she's the executioner. She has the power to kill people simply by her touch. She is used by the Queen to fulfill executions at the court, it's not like she wants to do it. She's forced by the Queen otherwise the Queen will target her family.. One day, she's appointed a new guard named Lief and soon everything begins to change.
  •  Well, I love the cover - it's just STUNNING, I love the colors that are used. I had to read this novel right after seeing that cover and skimming through the synopsis. The girl looks looks like as if she's caged, and she has accepted her fate .. This novel reminded me a high fantasy novel of Shatter Me - but I enjoyed reading The Sin Eater's Daughter. 
  • : Twylla is an excellent character, she's human, but she's apparently a reincarnated goddess. She might seem a bit like a doormat who doesn't fight back, but she's vulnerable, oppressed, and lonely so I can understand her. She is flawed, but her character is so real.. I couldn't help but like her. I did like that she took a risk by falling for the guard, you go girl! Her character grew as the novel continued, not every heroine can be fearless. She's the opposite of what a lot of readers like such as kickass heroines like Katniss Everdeen. Although, I highly love and admire Katniss, but I do realize real people usually aren't like Katniss, they're more like Twylla. She's not as strong since she doesn't fight back, but I don't believe she's any less than Katniss. They both are brave enough to sacrifice their own lives to save their family. 
  • I wasn't feeling much of the romance on this novel, it was kind of boring when the guard Lief wanted to play "rescue" with the "damsel in distress." I did not like him at all, like honestly, you're a guard, it's not really your place to tell your superiors on what to do.. unless they ask. You don't see me telling my boss how to live and how to make decisions. I'm not sure if being blunt to Tywlla is going to help your case, it's kind of annoying and controlling actually. I did like the prince more, but sometimes he seemed stupid as well. There is a love triangle as most novels do nowadays, but it's not as serious. Lief is mainly the main focus. The male leads didn't work out for me, the romance is a miss.. Although, I was eagerly waiting to read what's in store for the characters.
  • I really did love the world-building plot of this novel, it was fantastic! The ending was just shocking - It wasn't predictable at all, and I never expected that .. at all. There are so many great twists and turns in this novel, I was hooked on it from the beginning. The book did get better and better as I read it, the beginning is just depressing hearing Twylla's sob story.. I would hate doing things I disliked as well, but it's survival mainly. I did like the "Sin Eater" aspect of it, I haven't heard of that in novels before so it was rather unique, it's actually a real concept. However, in the novel that's not the main topic which kind of contradicts the title. I would have liked more details about it. Overall, it seems as if every book lately is part of a series, what happened to stand alone novels? They're just as great! I want to rate this novel 3.5 flowers. It is a generous rating, because the romance did not work out in my favor and there's no actual "sin eating"..  I do like this novel though, I feel like it could have been four butterflies, but it's not quite there yet. I look forward to the next installment in the series of The Sin Eater's Daughter, hopefully it get's better.

Recommended for fans of Shatter Me, After, and Graceling.

  • Shukran for reading this! Leave your blog links in the comments & I'll be sure to check them out & follow :) Stay in tuned pretty creatures.. 

    “Never forget what you are, for surely the world will not. Make it your strength. Then it can never be your weakness.” —George R.R. Martin 
    femmmefatalee@gmail.com

56 comments:

  1. Stand-alone novels for the win! I've been eyeing this for ages and cannot wait until i get my hands on a copy (if not for that cover alone because GAHHH)

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    1. I love stand alone novels, this novel is pretty great though :)

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  2. I loved Twylla, she seemed very much real, which I usually don't get that when it comes to Fantasy, maybe because this is more of a character driven Fantasy? Yeah, I didn't like Lief or the romance too much in the beginning, but then they both grew on me, haha. So can't wait for the next one, whoo! :D

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    1. Yes, Twylla was a lovely character and many people can relate to her - I'm glad one of us liked the romance though! Excited for the next installment as well :)

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  3. Not only do I love the cover but I love the gif too! *snickers*

    Standalone novels are things of yesterday! And I totally agree with you....I think I would have one amazing book than one subpar one, you know?? I think if the romance had been better you might have given it a 4.5 rating? But I'm glad you were able to still find enjoyment in the story overall! Fabulous review Benish!!! *wink*

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    1. Haha thanks Christina<3 I do love the cover as well, it's seriously amazing. All fantasy covers I've seen pretty much are to die for .. & Yes, if the romance was better it could have been more on the 4.5 to 5 flowers.

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  4. I'm sorry the romance is not great but I'm still looking forward to reading this book, hopefully this month! :)

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  5. YAY, I am so glad you liked it! I LOVE this book! And because of exactly what you said- Twylla is so REAL, and the twists were insane! I think I liked the romance a bit more (at times) than you did,which is probably why it was a 5 star for me, but I am really glad you liked it! Now, we just have to wait a million years for whenever the sequel comes out, GAH! Great review!
    Shannon @ It Starts At Midnight

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    1. Aw, I'm glad one of us could enjoy the romance! It was pretty okay though, I just didn't get their connection. However, due to that epic ending - I really would like to know what happens next :)

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  6. I want to read this one, and it sounds like a pretty good debut novel! I think that the world building is an important element to any fantasy novel, and I know I would love it if it's done well. Also, realistic characters are a plus. And I wasn't the biggest fan of Katniss >>

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    1. You should check it out for yourself, I think by knowing your tastes in books - you might enjoy this one :) The plot was wonderful & my favorite part of the novel x

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  7. Noo, I had huge expectations toward the romance and hearing that it was the weakest point of the novel sucks. And I hate love triangles, more so if they're just thrown in for the sake of it... like this sounds to me. Anyhow, the other parts of the story sound awesome so I can't wait! :)

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    1. The romance was weird, I didn't like the male leads .. but the plot was pretty great :)

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  8. Oh gosh! I've been dying to read this book since last month! Awesome review! I'm glad Twylla's character is different than the typical female heroine. Awesome review, Benish!

    P.S. Love the GIF at the end. Hah!

    Blessie @ Mischievous Reads

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    1. Haha thank you Blessie ♥ Hope you enjoy this read x

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  9. I've been wanting to read this one since I've heard about it. I'm hoping to snag it soon! Great review!

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    1. Hope you find time soon, thank you ♥

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  10. This one is on my TBR list, mainly because it has such a pretty cover and I'm a bit shallow about books sometimes :) it's a pity the romance aspect wasn't great, but I'm glad you enjoyed the rest of it!

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    1. Aw, I agree - The cover is usually what catches my eye the most or the title!

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  11. I can't wait to read this. I think it's fascinating she has a Rogue/Xmen thing going on. I can only imagine how powerful ppl will want to use Twyla!
    Sometimes I wish they'd leave romance out.
    We don't always need it, do we?
    Lol

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    1. Yes, sometimes the romance isn't necessary, however, in this book - it's a main aspect of the novel, the plot couldn't really happen without the male.

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  12. Sorry the romance didn't work for you, but I'm glad you liked the book overall. I agree with you that sometimes we want these amazingly strong and incredible heroines, but they aren't necessarily the most realistic. I appreciate a character who starts out a bit weaker and grows throughout a book or series.

    Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction

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    1. The character growth of the heroine was pretty amazing, I would recommend you check this novel out :)

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  13. I cannot wait to get my hands on this one! It sounds so neat, I am ok with the romance not being amazing as long as the plot was awesome!
    Missie @ A Flurry of Ponderings

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    1. Hope you enjoy this one then, waiting for your thoughts on it :)

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  14. Great review, Benish! I am a little bit on a fence with this one. Because even though idea of great unique plot appeals to me, I really am not a fan of love triangles...

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    1. Thank you Lucia ♥ The love triangle is alright, it's not that bad.

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  15. I'm planning to read this book at some point too, because the premise sounds very interesting. I don't think I'll enjoy the romance much based on the reviews I've read so far, but I love twists and imperfect characters, so I'm still looking forward to reading it.

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    1. Hope you end up liking this one Vlora ♥ Waiting for your thoughts on it soon :)

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  16. Man, I need to check blogs a lot more because this is the first I've heard of this book! I agree, I love the cover! It's so gorgeous! Also, I'm intrigued by the premise and the heroine does sound real even if she's not as badass as Katniss. Since this is a series, I feel like her character will develop as it progress, just like Juliet from Shatter Me. Eek, come to think of it her powers are almost the same too! Anyway, I will definitely try this book out. I haven't read YA in awhile and your review got me curious, even if the romance/interest is a bit lacking. Lovely review Benish! :)

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    1. I agree, the cover is really BEAUTIFUL<3 & Thank you for dropping by Amir! I really did like The Sin Eater's Daughter overall, the main heroine and the concept was amazing, I quite liked it, although the romance part was a let down..

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  17. happy to see you enjoyed this book, I'm planning to read it very soon :) the story is similar to the Shatter Me but with different world :)

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    1. YES, it's very similar to Shatter Me - hope you enjoy this one ♥

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  18. I know, right? That cover is so beautiful, but I did prefer version #1 with the flowers around the rims and all. Well, that's too bad - for the romance. But I'm glad this ended up being enjoyable anyways, since I have it to read. Also, well, I don't know, I kinda prefer series, but standalones are okay too... it's just that I REALLY prefer series; you don't have to let go of the characters too soon! Great review, girl :D

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    1. Aaah.. YES, THE COVER IS STUNNING<33 I love the colors of it overall, & aw, yes I agree. Sometimes, series can be great but most of the time - standalone novels work fine for me.

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  19. I was just sent a copy of this from the Aussie publisher, and after seeing your review, I'm super excited to read it now Benish. More often than not, the romance doesn't add much to the storyline for me anyway, unless it's really well written. But seeing how much you enjoyed it despite that, I'll be moving it right up to the top of my reading list now. I loved the Shatter Me series, so fingers crossed I enjoy this just as much.

    Wonderful review Benish <3

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    1. Thank you love! ♥ I really hope you enjoy reading this novel as much as I have, it does have a great concept & plot overall :) Good luck reading this x Waiting to hear your thoughts on it soon <3

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  20. I love the sound of Twylla's character, it's not often we read the pov of a reincarnated goddess! I like how she has a strength about her too. A shame about the romance and the male lead you couldn't connect to, but as a whole I think I'll give this one a shot! Great review Benish.

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    1. Hope you like this one Jeann.. Twylla is a really great character, I'm excited to read about your review on this soon :)

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  21. I miss standalones too. I also like heroes that aren't the most brave and strong. Sometimes we have to have average heroes.

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    1. Stand alone novels are my favorite .. I wish they would come back more.

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  22. It's a real shame that this one got really boring at times--especially with the romance. I actually just got this one in the mail and I really want to meet this Twylla character!

    Lovely review <33

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    1. I think you might love the character Twylla and the plot overall, waiting to hear your thoughts on it soon :)♥

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  23. I loved this one! Especially that cover, I would just own it based on its cover. I felt like there was a lot of info dumped on us in the start of the novel but after a while it wasn't so bad, it was the necessary world building info. Great review!

    Amber @ The Book Bratz

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    1. Thank you Amber, happy to hear you enjoyed it as well :)

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  24. I love this cover, it is so darn pretty!
    The storyline certainly captured my interest, I just need to find room for it somewhere in my reading life!!

    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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    1. You should so read this one! I did love the story line :)

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  25. Ahhh this one just sounds so amazing! I'm glad the characterization is superb. Twylla seems great :) Yikes, sorry the romance wasn't on point for you. I heard something about a prince? I hope there's no love triangle :0 I'm glad the ending was wonderful and unexpected though. Lovely review <33

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    1. Twylla is a nice character, I find many people can relate & understand her :) & Yes, she's betrothed to the prince, there is a love triangle :/ Although, it's not extreme because we know who her choice really is! Thank you Rachel :)

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  26. I actually didn't like this book at all! It was pretty bad, for me. We should compare reviews! I hated the romance as well, and I actually found the ending quite predictable. I probably won't be reading the next book.

    Have a great weekend, Benish!

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

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    1. I understand what you mean, this was one difficult for me to rate - I didn't like neither one of the romances. I did like Tywlla's character and the ending though. Hopefully the next book gets better :)

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  27. This is finally at my library and I will be borrowing it tomorrow! I'm actually more excited about the world building and how the plot will be executed, so I'm hoping the romance won't bother me much. Hopefully :) Awesome review Benish!!! Again.

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    1. I really do hope you enjoy this one, I thought the concept and the plot twist was wonderful - the romance not so much .. thank you Val :) ♥

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  28. Hmm, I bought this book mainly because I love the cover and the promise, but all I've heard are mixed things. At least the world-building and ending are good! I think I'll feel the same way about the romance, but Twylla sounds great :D

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    1. I think you might enjoy it for the most part, the plot & characterization is wonderful :)

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