Skin Hunger

Skin Hunger
Author: Kathleen Duey
Series: Resurrection of Magic
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
How Received: library
Summary from Barnes & Noble's website.

Sadima lives in a world where magic has been banned, leaving poor villagers prey to fakes and charlatans. A "magician" stole her family's few valuables and left Sadima's mother to die on the day Sadima was born. But vestiges of magic are hidden in old rhymes and hearth tales and in people like Sadima, who conceals her silent communication with animals for fear of rejection and ridicule. When rumors of her gift reach Somiss, a young nobleman obsessed with restoring magic, he sends Franklin, his lifelong servant, to find her. Sadima's joy at sharing her secret becomes love for the man she shares it with. But Franklin's irrevocable bond to the brilliant and dangerous Somiss traps her, too, and she faces a heartbreaking decision.

Centuries later magic has been restored, but it is available only to the wealthy and is strictly controlled by wizards within a sequestered academy of magic. Hahp, the expendable second son of a rich merchant, is forced into the academy and finds himself paired with Gerrard, a peasant boy inexplicably admitted with nine sons of privilege and wealth. Only one of the ten students will graduate — and the first academic requirement is survival.

Sadima's and Hahp's worlds are separated by generations, but their lives are connected in surprising and powerful ways

Skin Hunger was a surprising and interesting fantasy novel set in a unique world. I liked both Sadima and Hahp's stories, though normally I don't like two different character stories that bounce back and forth during the book.

Sadima, though an interesting, seemed... weak? She gave up everything she had for Franklin - because he was the only person she had met who was like her, so I understand that - and could have just killed Somiss - but she doesn't like killing, so that's okay - and was a bit gullible in believing everything Franklin said - though I suppose it was true - and, despite defying Sommiss at different points, still seemed... weak willed. I don't know. Maybe it's just me.

I do want to read the next in the series - my interest is peeked to see what happens!

Overall Rating & Final Comments: 8.5/10. I wouldn't buy it for my collection, but I did enjoy reading it, and I do want to see what happens next.
Cover Comments: I like this cover more after reading teh book - it actually connects to the book in a few ways, which makes me happy.

~ Nicole