The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury. 311 p. Scholastic Press/ Scholastic Inc., February 24, 2015. 9780545819732.
Publisher synopsis: Seventeen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she's engaged to the prince, Twylla isn't exactly a member of the court.
She's the executioner.
As the Goddess embodied, Twylla instantly kills anyone she touches. Each month, she's taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love a girl with murder in her veins. Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to Twylla's fatal touch, avoids her company.
But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose easy smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he's able to look past Twylla's executioner robes and see the girl, not the Goddess. Yet Twylla's been promised to the prince, and knows what happens to people who cross the queen.
However, a treasonous secret is the least of Twylla's problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies, a plan that requires a stomach-churning, unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?
First line: Even when there are no prisoners, I can still hear the screams.Page 56: This exchange is script for us; we play our roles by rote at each meeting. For someone who is revered in part for her voice, I don't have much chance to use mine, so coming here is a pleasure - a chance to talk, as well as sing - and the king is gentle and happy company when it's he and i.
That first line is intense! The 56 makes me a little sad. I don't think it sounds like the narrator is particularly happy and I wonder what's going on in her life that prevents her from using her voice.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a complicated fairy tale that I'd enjoy reading. The Page 56 excerpt is nicely written.
ReplyDeleteMy Friday post features CHRISTMAS CRACKER.
Nice cover, but I don't like screams. :)
ReplyDeleteI hope you like it.
Have a great reading weekend.
Elizabeth
Silver's Reviews
My Book Beginnings
Haunting beginning! I love it! Looks like a great read!
ReplyDeleteHappy weekend!
I hope to start this one soon. So far, I've heard mostly good things about it. The beginning and blurb are good samples of the writing. I'm thinking I'll enjoy this one.
ReplyDeleteMy 56 - http://fuonlyknew.com/2015/02/20/the-friday-56-53-the-unseen/
This isn't a book I'd go out of my way to read, but it does sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteThe Picture.