State of Sorrow - Book Review

State of Sorrow (Sorrow #1)
by Melinda Salisbury

What is it about:
Sorrow - for that is all she brings us.

A people laid low by grief and darkness.
A cut-throat race for power and victory.
A girl with everything and nothing to lose…

By day, Sorrow governs the Court of Tears, covering for her grief-maddened father, who has turned their once celebrated land into a living monument for the brother who died before she was born.

By night, she seeks solace in the arms of the boy she's loved since childhood. But one ghost won't stop haunting her, and when enemies old and new close ranks against her, Sorrow must decide how far she's willing to go to win...

What did I think of it:
This is a beautiful read.

The story starts with the events that lead up to Sorrow's birth, including the horrible accident that caused the death of her brother Mael. It then skips almost eighteen years: Sorrow grew up in a court dedicated to mourning her brother. There's no music, art (besides portraits to remember the lost heir), games. It's one big mausoleum for her brother. While the ruler of the country is wallowing in his grief the land is at a standstill.

I loved the worldbuilding. I could easily picture the depressing palace Sorrow grew up in and the effects her father's grief and rules have on the land. The mood and atmosphere that is set at the start of the story felt real.

Then close to the eighteenth remembrance day of the death of Mael things get set in motion when Sorrow and the council decide that enough is enough. They plan to dethrone Sorrow's father so the country can start to live again.

The story that then unfolds is full of intrigue, betrayal and danger. Sorrow has to fight for her country and her life. I was rooting for her from the start, and couldn't put the book down. There were some really cool developments and revelations along the way.

If there's one thing that I can say against the story it's that it looks like I'm liking the wrong love interest once again. I'm still holding hope, as there will be a sequel, but I'm afraid Sorrow will eventually end up with a character I didn't much care for.

Apart from that minor setback (for me at least) this is a wonderful story. The ending left me hungry for more, so I'll be keeping an eye out for the next book.

Why should you read it:
It's a beautiful Fantasy read.


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