This book was one of my most anticipated reads of the entire year. After reading A Darker Shade of Magic earlier this year, and comepletely falling in love with Victoria’s writing, I just knew this would be one to watch out for. Holy shit, was I right. It was AMAZING.

“Monsters, monsters, big and small,
They’re gonna come and eat you all.
Corsai, Corsai, tooth and claw,
Shadow and bone will eat you raw.
Malchai, Malchai, sharp and sly,
Smile and bite and drink you dry.
Sunai, Sunai, eyes like coal,
Sing you a song and steal your soul.
Monsters, monsters, big and small,
They’re gonna come and eat you all!”

This Savage Song follows Kate Harker and August Flynn, two seemingly polarized characters who come together in an unexpected way.

They live in Verity, a city split in two and ruled by each other’s fathers. So they’re kind of natural enemies, right? Kate has a long history of self-destructive and just plain destructive behavior, acting out in order to get expelled from every school leaving her no options but to return to home in Verity, the one place she wants to be. Her father rules the half the city that is full of monsters and corruption, where you’re only safe if you buy your protection from her father. August is a monster, technically, one of the three kinds that are starting to take over the city. His “father” rules the south part of the city, where he and his siblings and the Flynn Task Force keep the monsters in check, while delivering justice to those who commit horrible crimes. They are brought together when August is sent to get close to here, undercover to the private school she is now attending in Verity.

Kate is trying to be just as tough and ruthless as her father is, including around everyone at school and in front of his father monster’s at home. She is tired of running, and is ready to establish her identity as Harker’s daughter, through and through.

August is obsessed with becoming human, and shies away from every part of himself that is sunai. He has the power to use his music to steal a soul- not only does he possess this ability but he must feed on souls to survive. And he HATES it. Regardless, he is constantly trying to find the human in himself.

“It was a cruel trick of the universe, thought August, that he only felt human after doing something monstrous.”

See? opposites. Kate is soft trying to appear hard on the outside, while August is trying his best to be soft, but can’t escape his monster identity.

These characters, just wow. I could go on and on and on for days about how wonderful they are. That was probably my most favorite part of this story (and really, ALL of Victoria’s books). These characters shine. They are so interesting and dynamic, sometimes taking you by surprise, and are always always growing and developing.

I loved how August was quiet and bookish. His room overflowed with books, and he loved getting lost in their stories. At one point he takes in a cat (named Allegro, like awe), and it’s just so cute seeing him and Allegro. When I think of August, I think of music and books and cats and such a sweet heart, despite being a monster.

After someone tries to stage an attack to ignite the war between north and south Verity, August and Kate find themselves on the run. They’re running away from their city, and the corruption and monsters that lurk around every corner. The political corruption runs deep, and the monsters run freely. I can’t even wrap my head around everything that happens by the end of this book, it’s utterly thrilling.

After, and during, this book I really did find myself thinking about what it means to be human and what it is that makes us monstrous. The supporting characters are just as dynamic as the lead characters, and all of them make me think twice about previous notions of good and evil, human and monster.

I can’t express my love for this book enough. The characters, world building, and story were intricate and incredibly well written. I am amazed by Victoria Schwab. She proves again and again that she writes fantastic, thought provoking stories that surpass my expectations. Her characters are feel human and her worlds feel so real. If you’re looking for a book with fantastic characters, great writing, that gives you a significant amount of thrill, this book if definitely for you. Especially if you enjoy unlikely friendships and books that keep you guessing.