The Sin Eater's Daughter

Author: Melinda Salisbury
Published: February 5, 2015
Source: Purchased

Summary from Goodreads: 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?

Rating: êêêêê

Review

This book was captivating and enchanting. The first thing that struck me was the opening sentences; you can tell from those 2 sentences that this is going to be amazing. The next thing I noticed while reading this book was the effortless world building. I was engrossed in the world, yet I was curious; if Twylla is the executioner, who left her life and training as the Sin Eater's daughter and the book centered around Twylla's new life and role at the castle, why was the book titled The Sin Eater's Daughter? Well, the more I learned about Twylla's life and role at the castle and the the more I learned about her mother's Sin Eating, the more intrigued I was.

I loved characters. Each was well developed and served their role perfectly. I found myself emotionally invested in them. I expected there to be a love triangle, based on the hints from the summary, but what I got was not at all what I expected. There is a complex story here which is linked to the complex history and mythology of the world in which our characters live. The details were intricate. The story moves at a perfect and consistent pace. I found myself reading late into the night with no interest of stopping to sleep. There is a phenomenal twist that I didn't see coming and the ending was surprising. I was left speechless, and feeling greedy for more.