“Corsai, Corsai, tooth and claw,
Shadow and bone will eat you raw.
Malchai, Malchai, sharp and sly,
Smile and bite and drink you dry.
Sunai, Sunai, eyes like coal,
Sing you a song and steal your soul.”
V.E.Schwab, also known for Vicious, and her Shades of Magic series once again delights fantasy novel fans with her darkest tale yet.
August Flynn is a monster, a Sunai burdened by who he is and with a deep longing to be human. Kate Harker wishes she could be as monsterous as her father, who provides safety to their cities citizens at a cost. So what could go wrong should the two collide as an unsteady truce begins to crumble?
Once again, Schwab’s world-building is so flawless – it’s so gripping and detailed, and yet the text seems to flow effortlessly. The world she’s built is so vast, and she manages to also include political divisions between the city our two main characters are set in and other cities that are (so far) unknown to us.
The characters in this text are absolutely wonderful, especially the two main characters. August is a monster, hating the weight of what he is and the physical signs of it, marked by tallies on the skin, and by the hunger for human souls – ones that can only be brought to him by his music. He’s such an original character with such an amazing premise – if not just for the soul stealing violin alone. He’s so sweet, genuine and lovable, which is why his monstrous side is especially chilling.
Kate Harker was an absolute gem to read – burdened with her fathers legacy, she longs for his attention and approval, and seeks to get it by trying to be as violent and cruel as he is. While she plays the part of cold and calculating (and she is exceptionally intelligent), she has a lot of heart to her, and a lot of emotions linked to her childhood and trauma. She was so interesting to read, and her inner conflict was beyond fascinating.
All of the supporting cast of characters were fantastic aswell, from the cold Callum Harker and the Holier-Than-Thou Leo, to the students August befriends at Colton. However, audiences will fall head over heels for August’s sister Isla. Trapped inside the base where August lives with his two adoptive parents and heads of the FTF (Flynn Task Force), she’s gentle, sweet and holds a great deal of power. She’s a complete fairy tale princess trapped in a tower character, but with a terrifying twist hiding under her skin.
The whole story carries itself incredibly well, with this gorgeous imaginative world where monsters born from violence and shadows stalk regular people after dark. The three breeds of monster displayed in this book are such unique and terrifying creations – you won’t be comfortable looking at your shadow for a very long time.
This book cannot receive enough praise – Schwab displays incredible talent as she builds this wonderful world, inhabited by new monsters, and some you might recognise yourself. Schwab does an amazing job of showcasing both sides of the war in Man vs. Monster, using a descriptive and diverse cast of characters.
The adventure you’re taken on with August and Kate is thrilling, emotional, and at times, uncomfortably brutal. It’s her darkest book yet, and I highly recommend fantasy lovers pick this up for a read – just keep an eye on the dark corners in your room once you’re done.
