Author: Eliza Crewe
Publisher: Penguin Publications
Year: 2014
ISBN: 9780143332916
Rating:
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“You see, I’m a cold-hearted person. Not as in cruel and mean, but as in, someone who very seldom cries, who’s seldom moved by emotional scenes, and so on. The few things that make me reach such a state aren’t the usual kind of triggers; I don’t shed tears over characters dying, romantic scenes, happy-ever-after moments. In fact, it’s so random I couldn’t even explain what may or may not trigger a reaction, whatever reaction, in me.”
– Meda Melange

Eliza Crewe delivers a gripping and power-packed fantasy novel for young adults who are tired of fantasy novels restricted to vampires and witches.

Meda is a Soul-Eater. Being a half-demon, she thirsts and lives on the souls of humans. But, enter the rather clichéd twist – She only eats the souls of really bad guys (literally, only guys!). She knows she is a monster and acknowledges it. She is now a willful captive at the Crusaders’ school, where they train her to fight demons, who intend to destroy the human civilization and create more demons. She feels increasingly stifled by the Crusaders rules and one day she decides to leave them. What follows is the story of Crushed, the second book in the Soul-Eater series.

What I liked –
What caught my liking to this book, is its blunt narration. Filled with sarcasm, Meda’s character has been built differently. She is a no Miss-Goody-Two-Shoes and she definitely is not one to mess with. She is tough. But that’s a given because for someone who eats Souls, it looks like a pre-requisite! But she is also a bad-ass when it comes to righting the wrong. She doesn’t like rules and she is hot-headed. That’s what makes her different from the regular YA protagonists, where girls are too good to be true. Her anger and frustration with the Crusaders seems rather vain in the beginning but the author craftily brings out the justifications as the plot progresses. Meda and Jo’s friendship also is a unique one. The contrast in their characters, the tension that develops due to their opposing views and their complex relationship is well written. And the story is quite good. You might get a little bored in the beginning but as it progresses, the author has enough twists in the plot to keep you occupied till the very end.

The not so good-
Meda’s character is sometimes too rash and reckless to make her readers side with her or root for her. Though you admire for being a kickass, you also feel that some of her actions lead to unwarranted consequences, leaving you wondering if the author just added these qualities to build a plot that might seem weak under this context. Also, If you haven’t read the first book, you might be left hanging on certain stories like what happened to Meda’s mother, who is uri etc.

The Verdict –
This is not the usual YA novel that one reads but a rather bold and different one. For people who are bored of the regular fantasy novel dulled by the overdose of romance, this book would be a welcome change. But read the first book before you grab this one.

Check out the reviews of this series here and here !

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Vanathi Parthasarathi

Writer at IndiaBookStore

Love to read and have been reading since 5. Amatuer photographer and experimental cook! One of the best things in the world, according to me, is the smell of the pages in a book!

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