Book Review

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Now, as The Sin Eater’s Daughter begins to emerge into the wild, I feel a burning pride every time I see someone tweet or write about it. The feeling that comes with, ‘MY FRIEND HAS WRITTEN A BOOK!!’ and a book that I have been waiting to read for months and months.

Twylla is seventeen years old, betrothed to a prince, and lives in a castle. She’s also an executioner: the moment she touches someone, they die. Twylla is the Goddess Embodied and each month is forced to lay her hands on the treasonous prisoners in the Lormere castle cells.

It’s not often you read a book, particularly with fantasy, with a character that is very rounded and you get to see every side of them. Salisbury isn’t afraid to show how genuine Twylla is – her emotions are portrayed so realistically that it’s as if you are experiencing them yourself. I loved seeing her vulnerable moments and her character development as the book progressed was enjoyable to read about. I loved her!

Salisbury is informative without being info-dumpy; complex whilst still being understandable; and has so much depth. Something unusual that I was pleased to see was that the plot of The Sin Eater’s Daughter can stand on its own, and whilst we begin to see plot strands leading to the bigger picture of the trilogy, I wasn’t left feeling like all the action would be left until the final book. I loved it and I wish it were something that happens more in trilogies; it makes them so much more exciting!

I loved the theme of faith and religion and how it tied into the mythology within the world. It was brilliant!

I really, really, really can’t wait to read the next book in the trilogy. I’m so invested already in the characters and the world, and the ending left me crying about the yearlong wait. Hurry up please, Mel!

BOOK IN A TWEET: READ IT RIGHT NOW.

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I feel like The Last Leaves Falling is a friend I’ve watched grow up. I’m so incredibly excited for Sarah and the release of it because I loved it and I know so many of you will too!

The Last Leaves Falling tells the story of Sora, a boy with ALS, a neurodegenerative disease that means he is going to die. The novel is so much more than that though – it’s a tale of friendship and discovery, as well as acceptance.

Whilst I loved The Last Leaves Falling, I found some scenes very painful for me to read because of personal experience. It did bring back some hard memories, but something I think people will be able to relate to is the experience of death and illness that everyone has to go through in their lifetime.

My favourite thing when reading Benwell’s debut novel was the major involvement of Internet culture, which, surprisingly, isn’t something I see a lot of in YA fiction, despite how huge the Internet is in our daily lives.

Something I noticed throughout reading was that this book made me realise exactly what is important to me. In places, it’s deeply philosophical and I began to understand what should be valued.

I enjoyed The Last Leaves Falling a lot and can’t wait to see what Benwell writes next.