March reading round-up!

Another month is over, and I'd like to share with you all the books I've read this month. I've read 1 book on my kindle, and 6 paperbacks - a total of 7 books. I haven't read as much as I wanted to this month, because of family stuff - but hopefully I'll pick it back up next month. I'm still 2 books ahead of schedule for my reading challenge!

The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury - the first book in the trilogy, Twylla has a gift from the Gods - the power to kill people with one touch of her poisonous skin. Beautifully written, one of my favourites of 2015 so far! 5 out of 5 stars

Benjamin Buckingham and the Nightmare's Nightmare by Gregory Gerschwin - nine year old Benjamin goes on a quest to restore people's ability to dream and stop nightmares from taking over. 4 out of 5 stars

Burn for Burn by Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian - three girls become unlikely friends as they get revenge on the people who have made their life hell - but how far will they go? first in the trilogy. 5 out of 5 stars

Murder Most Unladylike by Robin Stevens - the first case for the Wells and Wong detective society is a gruesome murder of the science mistress at their school. such a gripping read, I love Robin's writing style! 5 out of 5 stars

The Last Leaves Falling by Sarah Benwell - Sora is dying from ALS, but his new friends are giving him a new life. They may make Sora forget, but no amount of friends will stop fate. a wonderful debut! 5 out of 5 stars

Hook's Daughter by Heidi Schulz - when the infamous Captain Hook is finally defeated by the Neverland crocodile, his daughter Jocelyn runs away from finishing school to avenge his death. 4 out of 5 stars

Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neill - freida is an eve, designed to one day fulfill a purpose, either as a companion, a concubine or a chastity. as the Ceremony approaches, the pressure to be perfect builds. 4 out of 5 stars 

The Sin Eater's Daughter - Melinda Salisbury

I'd bought this to read about a month ago, but I'd been reading as many books as I could for the UKYA Extravaganza. But when I saw all the positive reviews and recommendations on a recent UKYA Chat, that Melinda was a guest author on, I knew I had to put down everything else I was reading and read it straight away!

This will not be a biased review, because I genuinely loved the book, but I think I need to put it out there that I love Melinda Salisbury! She sends me useful articles for my university dissertation, gives me a present at her event, and is all-round a wonderful friend and author.

The Sin Eater's Daughter follows Twylla, a young girl who is living in the castle of Lormere, as an executioner for those who have committed treason. She can kill these criminals with just her touch, because she is Daunen Embodied - a girl chosen by the Gods to represent their daughter on earth. To prove she has this divine quality, she must swallow a vial of poison, called Morningsbane, and prove that it does not kill her. This makes her skin poisonous, and only those with divine right - the Royal family - can touch her and survive.

Had Twylla not been chosen by the Gods, she would still have a destiny. Instead of killing people, she would conduct the ritual known as Sin Eating, like her mother before her. This involves consuming a feast upon the coffin of the deceased, an item of food for each sin they committed. It is of paramount importance to the ceremony that each sin is Eaten, or else the dead person's soul could not be committed to the afterlife, for their uneaten sins would not have been forgiven.

But Twylla gave up this destiny when she decided to go with the Queen to Lormere, be Daunen Embodied and become betrothed to marry Prince Merek soon. Once she is Queen, she will no longer be Daunen Embodied, and she will no longer have to cruelly take people's lives, which she hates. Twylla left behind her mother, the Sin Eater, and her sweet little sister, who would become the next Sin Eater in her place.

One day Twylla is given a new guard, Lief, a job not many choose to accept given her dangerous skin. Lief sees her as a person rather than a poison, and treats her as such. Theirs is a friendship of equals, something unheard of between a guard and his lady, despite the fact that Twylla is to be the next Queen of Lormere.

How can Twylla be happy with a life she has had no control over? Is everything as it seems? (Trying not to spoil anything, so I'm sorry if my review is vague!)

This book had be gasping audibly as I read it, there were so many twists I wouldn't have guessed, and it was written beautifully. Melinda has created an amazing world, and I don't want the characters I love being taken from me in the next book. I'm so glad this is going to be a trilogy, I'm too invested in it to be a stand-alone novel.

Seriously, if you haven't read it yet, why haven't you?! Read it now!!

Verdict: 5/5 <3