Skin Hunger a dark tale of survival

Throw away your pre-conceived notions about magic because if you’re expecting the light humor and quirky characters like those in the Harry Potter series, Skin Hunger, by Kathleen Duey, might leave you a little shell-shocked. In the alternating stories of Sadima and Hahp, magic is anything but light-hearted, as two plots weave together in a dark tale of the lost practice of magic and the sacrifice its resurrection necessitates.  Sadima, who has known from a young age that she can read the thoughts of animals, leaves her solitary life on a farm and seeks Franklin, the boy she fell in love with three years before, but what she finds is more than she bargains for. The power-hungry and cruel Somiss, whose goal is to restore the practice of magic, manipulates both Franklin and Sadima, reeling them deeper into his twisted agenda. And out of his own selfish ambition and skewed vision for the future, he will never allow Franklin and Sadima the happiness they deserve. Trapped in an impossible love and an impossible situation, Sadima must choose to stay in her new life and suffer tremendous heartache or leave Franklin, knowing that he and others will suffer in her place.  Centuries later, a boy named Hahp is abandoned by his cruel father at an academy controlled by wizards, an academy filled with dark corridors where making friends is strictly forbidden. However, in order to survive, Hahp, along with his roommate, Gerrard, soon discover that helping each other may be the only way to survive at all.  If you are looking for lighthearted and fun, a story you can simply read and put down with little thought, perhaps this is not the story for you. However, if you are looking for a compelling novel that will leave you with goosebumps days later, I guarantee that Skin Hunger is just the read you are looking for. The story of Sadima and Hahp is profound and compelling, revealing all the confusing emotions and instincts that lead us to protect the ones we love, help those who are helpless, and find the will to survive in even the most lost and hopeless of times.  Skin Hunger is dark, dangerous, and mildly depressing, but I completely devoured it. Duey’s writing is magic in and of itself, and through her unforgettable characters, she has captured the disturbing aspects of humanity in a way that will chill you to the bone. Skin Hunger is a National Book Award Finalist and is the first installment in Duey’s A Resurrection of Magic series.  The next book in the series, Sacred Scars, will debut in August. I have no doubt that Sacred Scars will prove every bit as compelling as Skin Hunger and look forward to what is in store for Hahp and Sadima–then again, maybe I’m a little afraid for them, too. Highly recommended read!