Book Review | Monsters of Verity by Victoria Schwab

This Savage Song 
(Monsters of Verity #1)

by Victoria Schwab

There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.

Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.

Our Dark Duet 
(Monsters of Verity #2)
by Victoria Schwab

THE WORLD IS BREAKING. AND SO ARE THEY.

KATE HARKER isn't afraid of monsters. She hunts them. And she's good at it.

AUGUST FLYNN once yearned to be human. He has a part to play. And he will play it, no matter the cost.

THE WAR HAS BEGUN.

THE MONSTERS ARE WINNING.

Kate will have to return to Verity. August will have to let her back in. And a new monster is waiting—one that feeds on chaos and brings out its victims' inner demons.

Which will be harder to conquer: the monsters they face, or the monsters within? 

___________________________________

“She cracked a smile. "So what's your poison"

He sighed dramatically, and let the truth tumble off his tongue. "Life."

"Ah," she said ruefully. "That'll kill you.” 

― Victoria Schwab, This Savage Song

This was a decent read if that was the only thing I could say about these books. I guess it was because I was expecting more (oh boy, here I go again), and it just didn't cut it for me.

The story actually had a lot of potential - a world full of monsters that come alive from humanities own horrendous actions. There are the Malachai, vampire like creature who feed on blood, the Corsai, shadowy creatures who feed on flesh, and the Sunai, who feed on the soul. What used to be the United States have been re divided, and the territory of Verity is where are story revolves. 

We are first introduced to Kate Harker, the trouble maker daughter of North Verity. She's gone through schools, burning her way if necessary, just to be able to get back to Verity and prove to her father that she is as tough as him. I honestly did not like Kate all that much. She's a spoiled little rich girl who has daddy issues. Even her so called "fighting skills" fell flat. I was expecting some Lara Croft moves but I didn't see that. Then we have August, the adopted son of Henry Flynn of South Verity, a Sunai who wants to be human. He came across to me as a little soft perhaps. He wanted to be in on the action just like his brother Leo (another Sunai who has no qualms about taking life), so August was set to attend the same school as Kate Harker when the Flynns found out she was back. He was supposed to spy on Kate but that didn't happen much.

Good news. There was no cheesy angsty romance. Sure Kate and August were probably attracted to each other and they even shared a kiss in the 2nd book but it wasn't dragging. Thank goodness! It's become a pet peeve of mine when the romance between teenagers becomes too sappy. Like they only exist because of their love for each other. Yeesh. 

So before I reveal any more huge spoilers, I'll leave my rating. I need to find a book that has the right balance of adventure, action, romance, etc.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐