The Sin Eater's Daughter

Actual rating: 4.5 stars

Rounded up because the world-building is intriguing and the mythology is lovely. Some of my friends have been saying that the heroine, Twylla, is rather passive and dumb, but I have to disagree. If anything, I found Twylla very realistic. She's not saintly kind or nice. She makes terrible decisions which she'd only regret later, but she admits her mistakes and her reactions—in my opinion—is very natural considering the situation she's in.

The summary only covers about half of the story. In the second half of the book, the scope broadens to reveal many plot twists hidden beneath Twylla's days as an executioner. Some of them I saw coming (like Lief's real objective), but some of the revelations really surprised me. The romance is lovely—in a twisted way. Both love interests are broken in their own ways, and I'm really curious about the direction they're going at the end of the book.

For those wondering if this story is like Shatter Me—no, it's not. Not at all. The Sin Eater's Daughter is intense, with thick political tension and a slightly religious tone. The elements of the story are beautifully woven together, and the writing style is so easy to follow that I read most of the book in one sitting. It's fascinating. I'm definitely looking forward to the next volume and Melinda Salisbury's future works.