Book Review The Sin Eaters Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

Synopsis

I am the perfect weapon.
I kill with a single touch.

Twylla is blessed. The Gods have chosen her to marry a prince, and rule the kingdom. But the favour of the Gods has it's price. A deadly poison infuses her skin. Those who anger the queen must die under Twylla's fatal touch.

Only Lief, an outspoken new guard, can see past Twylla's chilling role to the girls she truly is.

Yet in a court as dangerous and the queen's, some truths should not be told...

My Musings

Kept seeing this gorgeous cover on Instagram and was immediately drawn to it so was glad the book lived up to expectation! Twylla has been chosen by the Gods to marry the prince but before they come of age she is the Queen's executioner carrying poison in her skin and with one touch can kill. 

Twylla is complex, she is proud to be chosen but is isolated and when the Queen orders her to kill her only friend for being a traitor she becomes more withdrawn and begins to doubt her role and life. 

Her new guard Lief is suddenly the only one guarding her as no one else dare take the job. He also happens to be both hansome and charming. They form a close friendship as the Queens rule becomes more and more cruel so when her betrothed, Prince Merek starts to reacquaint himself with her it forms the obligatory love triangle, or does it? 

This book has a way of keeping you off balance all the way through. The plots, the characters, the very essence of the book keeps you guessing and on the edge of your seat. The plot is fascinating and complex twisting and turning up until the very end. 

This is also a much darker book than I expected. Melinda's interesting use of the old fairy tale the Pied Piper and the smattering of historical reference nodding to certain Royal family's incestuous marriages to keep the blood line pure certainly added an extra edge to the story.  It has real depth of character and I was totally taken aback by the ending. No Spoilers but I didn't see it coming at all! Was actually quite shocked by the turn of events and yes, a little upset. However even though you are left on a major cliffhanger there is hope for Twylla and I can't wait to see what happens next. 

Official website for Melinda Salisbury

www.melindasalisbury.com

Her Twitter Account

AHintOfMystery

Film Review Mortal Instruments, The City of Bones

Film Mortal Instruments, City of Bones Review

 

Synopsis
When her mother disappears, Clary Fray learns that she descends from a line of warriors who protect our world from demons. She joins forces with others like her and heads into a dangerous alternate New York called Downworld.

My Musings

I was really looking forward to mortal Instruments, I 'd really enjoyed the book even though there are continual whispers of plagiarism. Well as far as I'm concerned all writers and artists take inspiration from something and Clare makes this world her own. I really liked the casting . It is set up nicely with Lilly Collins playing Clary when she discovers she is a Shadow Hunter and holds the secret to where the Mortal cup is hidden which everyone is searching for. The Action is fast and furious and the growing romance builds in knowing looks between Clary and Jace much to the distress of Simon her BF. The look of the film is great, totally OTT with Gothic rock looks abounding. Bowers poses well and looks like he spent longer in the hairdresser than Clary. (I wasn't complaining) However it is the directing that lets the film down ultimately. It's a little fragmented which is not surprising as these are BIG books to put on to screen. The story isn't told clearly enough of the different worlds. The action as i said is goood but can border on the childish.

The WORST part though is the werewolves. Such great characters int he books but OMG. I though the ones in Twilight were bad but these make Michael J Fox in Teen Wolf look up to date. The actors also acted like they new it was embarrassing. I am not sure if the director could decide to go for the Harry Potter children's audience or Twilight teen audience so it was a bit of a mish mash.  I feel it could have been al ot darker but don't want to lose the humour as Jace especially has some great lines thought the books.  Jonathan Rhys Meyers makes a great baddie, altho a little young for the book character. I did feel he wasn't used enough, just popped up at the end for a great fight scene and also I feel he was slumming it a teenie bit and hopefully if they do the next film he will believe in himself a bit more.  Also looking forward to seeing more of Magnus Bane , great looking actor but may need acting lessons before next one. (nothing that can't be fixed:))

Disappointed also in the recreation of the kissing scene on Clary's birthday in the flower garden. I loved that part of the book but they made it look like a Disney movie when it should have been breathtakingly romantic.

All in all i understand why it didn't set the box office alight as it tryied to be all things to all people. However i really hope it does well enough that they will do another. They should start filming this month so the signs are good.  But they should build on the darker edgier element and leave the silly childish monsters alone. Make the editing tighter and more caustic humour would be great. There are some interesting relationship to build on and This is pure escapism and if this genre has past it's peak i really think there is still room for this series. I am on the 3 rd book and the plots and twists are great. Can't wait!

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