by Melinda Salisbury
Publisher: Scholastic
Release: 5th February 2015
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Source: Received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
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?"
Review
The Sin Eater’s Daughter was a book that I was really looking forward to reading in 2015. As soon as I read the synopsis I was sold and wanted to know more. I started reading this when I was after some much needed escapism and it did exactly that. I was swept away to a world of betrayal, sin and poison.
Twylla is daughter to the two Gods of Lormere. She’s immune to all poison and regularly ingests morningsbane so that her skin becomes venomous to touch. Twylla serves her kingdom by using her gift to execute traitors. She’s invaluable to the Queen and is betrothed to her only son, Prince Merek. But Twylla is all too familiar with the cost of sinning and being the palace executioner weighs heavy on her shoulders. Twylla accepts her life as the Gods will until she’s given a new guard, Lief, who challenges everything she thought she knew about fate and love.
My favourite thing about The Sin Eater’s Daughter was the rich Fantasy world that Melinda Salisbury has created. There are so many unique layers to this story from Twylla’s gift, to the beliefs and politics of the kingdom, to sin eating – a final banquet where the kingdoms sin eater feasts upon the sins of the deceased in order for them to move on to the afterlife. I was so intrigued by this world and the more I learned about it the more captivated I became.
My favourite character to read about was actually the villain of this story the Queen. She was so well developed and is the best antagonist that I’ve come across in a while. She surprised me with her ruthlessness and cruelty but at the same time I did believe that she was doing what she thought best for Lormere. She could certainly give Cersei Lannister a run for her money!
There were so many twists in this book that I didn’t see coming that really changed the direction of this story. The pacing of the book was well timed and I thought the ending was really strong whilst also sparking my curiosity for book two.
The Sin Eater’s Daughter was a rich mystery driven Fantasy that’s sure to keep readers enthralled with its surprising twists and unique world. Recommended.
