Song of Sorrow - Book Review

 

Song of Sorrow (Sorrow #2)

by Melinda Salisbury

What is it about:

Sequel to STATE OF SORROW by best-selling fantasy author Melinda Salisbury.

Sorrow Ventaxis has won the election, and in the process lost everything...

Governing under the sinister control of Vespus Corrigan, and isolated from her friends, Sorrow must to find a way to free herself from his web and save her people. But Vespus has no plans to let her go, and he isn't the only enemy Sorrow faces as the curse of her name threatens to destroy her and everything she's fought for.

What did I think of it:

I loved the first book in this duology, although I had my suspicions who of the two love interests would end up with Sorrow, so I preordered this book, only to let it turn into an TBR Orphan. After reading Hold Back the Tide last month I decided I finally needed to pick this book up.

And my fears were justified!

The book starts out strong and I was invested. Then the following thing happened: Sorrow needs to do this one important thing, but she doesn't have the time, because there are so much things she needs to do! So she decides to take a trip into the country...

What? You can't do this one important thing that might solve your problems, but you can go for a trip into the country?!

From that point on the story lost me for a while. Things happened that I couldn't suspend my disbelief about. Add the fact that slimy 'I'm so witty and smart' indeed turns out to end up with Sorrow and I had a hard time continuing.

The ending did pull itself together a bit and saved the book from complete failure for me. 

I will read more by Salisbury in the future, but this book won't be a reread.

Why should you read it:

It's an entertaining YA Fantasy read.

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Hold Back the Tide - Book Review

Hold Back the Tide
by Melinda Salisbury

What is it about:
Everyone knows what happened to Alva's mother, all those years ago. But when dark forces begin to stir in Ormscaula, Alva has to face a very different future - and question everything she thought she knew about her past...

What did I think of it:
Yes, I know. I still need to read book two in the Sorrow duology, but the kindle version of this book was on sale for less than a Euro so I was impulsive, bought it, and started on it. (Seems the US kindle version won't release for a while)

And once I started this book was hard to put down. It was twistier than I expected.

Alva lives with her father outside of town. She knows her father killed her mother, even though the body was never found. She's working on a way to escape and start a life of her own.

Sounds like it will be a suspenseful story with maybe a surprise reveal somewhere along the way, right? Think again! This story continued to throw new things at me, and I loved it. From a historical thriller it turned into something more sinister and paranormal, even skirting the edges of horror. I was totally engrossed and needed to find out what was going on.

And the ending! OMG! What the? What!? I tell you , you need to read this book! It left me reeling and wanting more. You bet I'll dig up my copy of Song of Sorrow soon!

Why should you read it:
It's a twisty and cool Paranormal YA read.


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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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