I came to THE SIN EATER’S DAUGHTER with high expectations – there’s the great reviews, the charismatic author and that simply gorgeous cover of course. A little part of me wondered if the contents of this book could possibly live up to the frenzy that surrounds it, but – guess what – it did.
Twylla is a deadly weapon, killing those that betray the crown with a single touch, like an angel of death. Because of this she is kept locked away at the palace, protected from those who may wish to harm her and from those who may be harmed by her deadly touch. While her ties to the crown become deeper and more involved, a new guard is the first person unafraid to approach her and she finds herself intoxicated by this closeness, both physical and emotional, the consequences of which can only be extremely dangerous for them both.
From the very first moments of the novel we are plunged into the dark beauty of Salisbury’s utterly complete world, where opulence and savage beauty meet to create a whole new mythology which is utterly spellbinding from the get-go. Without the need for long explanatory paragraphs or unnecessary backstory, her characters spring to life. The rules of her world are simple and utterly clear, as well as being richly detailed and complex. We are welcomed in as somebody already familiar with the way things work here, and indeed somehow that quickly becomes the case. Truly savage villains, a complex heroine, hints at a mythology and a history that goes far beyond the pages of this novel, sensory detail and description that lift off the page and surround you as you read, THE SIN EATER’S DAUGHTER is an addictive and spellbinding read.
So, in summary, to misquote Public Enemy: do believe the hype. An addictive, darkly beautiful, mesmerising trip into a world that will terrify you, but that you’ll never want to leave.