The Sin Eater's Daughter

Originally, this next post should have been about Middlesex, but I've just not been able to settle into it, so I will try again in a few weeks, however, I've had a few particular books sat on my shelf that I have only recently started itching to read.... and The Sin Eater's Daughter was one of those books.

 

Title: The Sin Eater's Daughter
Author: Melinda Salisbury
Date started: 03/03/16
Date finished: 04/03/16
Star Rating: 4 out of 5
Thoughts and Quotes:
Being a fan of the film 'the sin eater' which stared the late Heath Ledger, I was already familiar with the concept of a sin eater, one who 'consumes' the sins of the dying or recently deceased in order for that person's soul to pass on to the afterlife or heaven or where ever it is believed that we mortals go after death. I expected this novel to be about the family of whomever performs that role, and perhaps their training to be the next replacement, which to an extent, was the life of Twylla, the 17 year old protagonist of The Sin Eater's Daughter, before she learned she was destined to be Daunen Embodied, the living incarnation of the daughter of the two gods worshipped in the kingdom of Lormere. The Daunen Embodied is the queen's own executioner, only the royal family are immune to her touch, as within her skin, a deadly poison resides.

Twylla does not enjoy her role, but performs her duty in order to keep her queen happy and her family provided for, waiting for the day to arrive when she will marry the crown prince, Merek. Lormere has it's own rich history of myths and legends, one in particular, the sleeping prince, is reminiscent of the pied piper of hamlyn, with a grizzly twist, and folk songs, sung by Twylla at the court. A few of the lyrics appear in the book, appearing to follow the same tune as the sung version of "Annabel Lee" by Edgar Allen Poe. The only welcome distraction from Twylla's lonely life, is her new personal guard, Lief.

**Potential Spoiler Alert**








Lief helps Twylla see past what she believes is her destiny, and encourages her to choose a new future for herself....with him. Whilst the prince is a likeable character once we get to know him, I'm still team Lief, as he was the one that showed Twylla that she could indeed love as others do, as well as being a rather attractive piece of forbidden fruit.

I rather enjoyed reading The Sin Eater's daughter, which is the first in a trilogy, and I have the second book in the series, The Sleeping Prince, ready to go. I would have liked to have seen the queen get her comeuppance,  as her punishment is only hinted at in the book, as well as a little more detail into how deep her madness runs, of which it must run pretty deep as she wanted to marry her own biological son after her second husband had usurped her one time too many.

The cover art is beautiful, and I hope the third book will match, as the second book does, and I found the pacing to be quite steady, then speed up a little towards the third part of the book, where in all the major drama occurs. There are a few deaths along the way, and  several titbits of information as to what foods should be served to the sin eater for the eating of sins, such as crow should be served for a murderer.

I do not want to go into more detail as that would spoil the story for anyone who has not read it yet. This is a YA title, and suitable for anyone over the age of 13 due to mature themes.