The Savior's Sister

By: Jenna Moreci

Narrated by: Emma Tigan

Length: 19 hrs and 45 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the thrilling companion to one of Book Depository’s Best Books of All Time, experience the peril and heart-stopping romance through Leila’s fresh perspective.

Leila T. Salvatíraas, Savior of Thessen and magical Queen of Her realm, is worshipped by all.

Except Her father. He wants Her dead.

The Sovereign’s Tournament - a centuries-long tradition designed to select The Savior’s husband - is days away, but Brontes’ plan to overthrow his daughter ignites, shifting the objective of the competition from marriage to murder.

With the help of Her sisters and some unexpected allies, Leila must unravel Brontes’s network and prevent Her own assassination. But as the body count rises, She learns the deception runs far deeper than She imagined.

When She finds Herself falling for one of the tournament competitors, Her father finds himself another target for murder.

Can Leila save Herself and Her beloved, or is their untimely end - and the corruption of Her realm - inevitable?

Trigger warnings: This book contains graphic violence, sexual situations, physical abuse, adult language, and references to suicide.

©2020 Jenna Moreci (P)2021 Jenna Moreci

A Good story but hear me out

It was a good story but basically the same as The Saviors Champion just from Laila's perspective. I was truly hoping for a continuation from her first book. But all artist do have their the bigger picture in mind and I'm sure Jenna Moreci has a plan for the next installment in The Saviors story. I look forward to hearing what becomes of Tobias, his family, Laila, Delphi, and Pippa.

excellent partner to the 1st book

just as great as the 1st book, cant wait to see what happens next. keep em coming

Unnecessary

I give 5/5 because of the enthusiasm for this story. I personally feel that it shows in the writing.

But focusing on the story and how it's crafted from its characters to form its plot, as well as the plot itself, this story is a one star.

Instead of this book existing, it could have been written alongside The Savior's Champion. It feels that half of the book is literally copied from the other so that we can get Leila's point of view, when the stories could have been put together and given us different views by rotating between the two main characters when they were apart and taking turns focusing on who was the lead in whatever scene they were in together.

But given that half or more of the story is them together (I'm now including TSC in the overall storytelling to reflect this review), then we could just pick one as the main. Which would be Leila because she's The Savior, and still get Tobias' view from the tournament when necessary. When and why would it be necessary? I'm not fully sure for when, but the why would be because us readers would like to know The Savior's chosen champion as she discovers love. Which is necessary to in Leila's character to show that she wants to be more than a prisoner and more than a goddess.

But going into their relationship: I was for it, but now I don't care much for it. I can forgive that they’re both a little simpish because of their ages and backgrounds. I can forgive that it's a little rushed for the same reason, as well as forgive that Leila gets way too jealous when Tobias did nothing wrong. Also because it builds a start for their characters and relationship to develop for the better, or for them to grow apart as they develop in their own way. What makes this unforgiving is (as others have said before), they're both too perfect and things work out too often for them because world building only applies when Jenna wants it to. And, in short, what I mean by that is that Tobias would be dead. And I honestly feel the relationship depth and character depth for Leila would be better had this story told in two books gone that way. (Unless it went the way I reccomend in the paragraph below.)

As for the villainous plot: Since it's more or less stated and we're left to conclude that politics prevents Leila's father from executing his plan while she was only an infant, the plot would have been better had he raised her under his thumb and manipulated her to use her for her powers. Also, Brontes could have hired all twenty men to be assassins if he wanted her dead so badly, but then Tobias gets in by mistake. Or maybe not. Maybe he joined on purpose to well informed that he is an assassin that must kill The Savior, gets accepted because he's in physical shape and doesn't have a lot to lose (according to the people that hire him), but he is overcome by the real person he is- one that is not an assassin. And it comes through even more how he realizes he's made a mistake when he falls for The Savior. Viola. The forbidden romance trope that Jenna loves so much. This also could tie in with my suggestion from just a moment ago- that Brontes tries to control Leila while he plots to kill her. Why does he still try to kill her if she's obedient? Because he knows he'll lose control over her one day, or at least fears it if the scenario turns to be that she's completely brainwashed, because brainwashing is worse the younger it starts and he's had her since she was an infant. But he could fear that it'll happen as she comes into power because it's her legal right. Not know that it will happen, just fear. So he's dumb enough to hire twenty assassins and everything falls apart when an Artist wins over his daughter and helps her open her eyes.

For the plot to be as it is now, it's a YA novel, as unintentional as it is. I still really like both books so far, but I have to give a low rating (I'll be updating my review I gave on TSC) because it didn't meet what Jenna was going for. Had she went ahead and put these two stories together (Maybe add points of view from other characters as well), and written this as an intentional YA novel, I think it would be better.

As for the narration: Emma was a great fit for telling the story, but something was still off in her delivery. Same with the last one. I don't know if it's them or the writing or both, but with both stories, I listened at ×2 speed at the minimum.

The Savior's series has such potential, it's just poorly executed. But I still like it because of the enthusiasm.

Conclusion: TSS is 1/5. TSC is 3/5 and the two of them together is 2/5.

But don't let me stop you from making your own opinion about it.

The narration was the best part

*Warning, may include spoilers!!*
First off the narrator, Emma Tigan, literally MAKES this book. If I didn't have her in my ear giving depth and personality to the characters, nothing else would have. If I would have been reading this book in traditional format, I would've had a hard time finishing or DNF'd all together. She singlehandedly carries the story with her eloquent telling and I will be looking for more books that she's narrated in the future.

I noticed from the very first chapter that I had no idea what the characters looked like. Even when you do get 1 or 2 snippets of character appearance description, by the time you get another one for the same character you've forgotten the first. The only exception to this rule is th MC's love interest. Who is CONSTANTLY described in way more detail than anyone else. Another thing is, the world building is completely flat. It takes near 3/4 through the tale to even have the slightest idea of how the world, even in the fortress and castle that is the main setting, works. Same goes for the magic, the curse on the land, and the history of the world. All witch are hinted at but never explained beyond one or two sentences. On that note, the characters too are very two dimensional. All their thoughts, feelings and actions seem to only revolve around the MC and her needs. And even the MC is insufferably boring. Even though the Author tries to throw in homicidal streaks to contrast her virginal prudish-ness. It comes off as forced because we never see her have any emotions other than "shy virgin", " love", and "murderous righteousness". She constantly flip flops between these, at break neck speeds sometimes, with no deeper human emotions to back them up. The MC's love interest is even worse. He has 2 settings. Angry and lustfully in love. Don't even get me started on her allied sister, she's about as one note as they come. Her other sister though actually has just as much or more real emotion and character arc as the MC. But she's the only one. The " big baddie" of this story is no different. Disney Villains have more depth of character than he does. He is portrayed as a "evil for the sake of evil" kind of moustache twirling megalomaniac psychopath. Like, his over arcing goals make no sense. I won't say anything to ruin it. But they just don't. Not with how important the MC is to the world.

This could have been a better book. I am actually really glad I listened to it instead of reading it because the narration has been the only thing that made it bareable. The only thing that gave the characters personalities and emotions. This could have been a better book if it were fleshed out a bit more. maybe if you would have added another 20-40k words. Or cut some of the filler and replaced it with world and character building. As a writer I love Jenna Moreci's YouTube videos. They are very helpful and informative. But this book needed more outside critique before being published. Or maybe she got a ton of critique, she just didn't follow it. I don't know, but I expected a lot more from one of the biggest "AuthorTube"-ers. C'est la vie. Those who cannot do, teach.

Nothing New. Nothing Changed

Literally a retelling of The Saviors champion, with no new story or story line. There’s probably about a half hour worth of new information in this longer-than-a-day production. I was hoping this book would be from a different perspective and focus more on the political situation, but no.

INCREDIBLE

I thought, "surely it couldn't get better". Then I read the second book. I'm weeping! The scandals, the intrigue, the mystery, the romance. The only issue I have is that the book didn't continue for another 20hrs!

Thank you Jenna!!

AND subscribe to her YouTube

Captivating

A great tale of political espionage working in tandem with it's companion piece. An amazing romance story, bloody and thrilling, and a protagonist that stands out.

Sheer Genius

This is a retelling of the Savior's Champion from the Savior's perspective instead of Tobias's (bk 1s protagonist) perspective. The Savior's Sister fills in an entirely new side of the series Tobias and the reader never get to see.

In this behind the scenes telling of how the hiarchy of the rhealm interacts in the shadows everything, The Savior's Champion, foreshadows pays off in a big way. All the major players and subplots become clear and detailed.

This book is a win-win, even if you haven't read book 1. Although, I highly suggest you read book 1 before reading, The Savior's Sister. You won't be disappointed.

I can't wait for book 3, The Savior's Army.

GRIPPING!

A fantastic companion to The Savior's Champion! Emma Tigan's narration brought life to Jenna Moreci's incredible characters.

The story is full of political intrigue, death, and romance. It is all spearheaded by a young woman who desperately wants to trust those around her, but who has been hurt too many times. She has been denied true love for so long, that when it comes to her, she holds it with two shaking hands.

Brilliant

I love how actions and consequences are interwoven no matter how small. Most memorable moment was Layla's dream of her sisters betrayal just brilliant. Narrator does Layla justice. I would love to hear a public reading of both narrators.

Absolutely Brilliant!

Firstly, Jenna Moreci's storytelling is first class. I loved the Character's, the plot, the sub-plots everything. She kept me guessing about every detail until the moment of reveal. She takes you on an emotional journey full of ups and downs that make you full in love with her story.

Secondly, I love Emma Tigan for this story, I normally struggle to get carried away with a audio book story, because I struggle with chronic pain but this amazingly talented woman had my attention from the first sentence, she took me away with the story and I was fully immersed in the tale thanks to her talent and skill in bringing this novel and characters to life. Her performance is 5 stars, she is perfect at bringing the characters to life and I'll be recommending both this novel and Emma to everyone I know who love Dark Fantasy because Jenna Moreci wrote a wonderful novel filled with everything I love and Emma Tigan brought it to vivid life. I am going to be anxiously waiting for the next book in the series.

Great companion novel, but audible performance a bit distracting

Loved the book when I read it. Appreciated seeing things from Leila’s perspective. 4 stars only because Leila flip flops between juvenile school girl and merciless killer inexplicably. I appreciate the performance the voice actress did, with good attempts at all the different voices. BUT, for me, her accent was distracting at times. Her vowel sounds were agonisingly elongated to the point where the words sounded mispronounced. For example, words like “palm” and “calm” sounded with “o” sounds. “Glower” was spoken like “lower”, whereas I’ve always heard it said with emphasis on the “ow”. These are more prominent examples, as these words were overused throughout. I know these seem like minor details, but it really took me out of the story. It’s a shame because the voice over performance almost made me all but forget and then one of those words would crop up again and pull me back to reality again. It’s a shame, because her timbre is so perfect, but it just detracted from the overall story telling. Preferred The Savior’s Champion audible performance.

The marvellous, interesting story

I was excited to listen to the Savior's Sister.
I liked the way that the Savior must fight for her throne as well her life, which especially, she doesn't know who to trust.
Oh, I wanted to punch a certain red-haired person for being annoying.

I'm sorry

I really wanted to like this book. But it's just not worth your money. The whole serie smells of fanfiction. It has potential, and it is on a path to becoming something I would have read (after all, I read the full first book), but I would not recommend this one to anyone. I'm so sorry. I know how much work is behind it, and I really wanted to love it as much as I love Jenna Moreci.

Love the Narrative

I loved The Saviour’s Champion and I was so excited for this instalment! I thoroughly enjoyed this book and Emma did a great job!

My only (very minor!!!) complaint is that some pronunciations of words totally threw me through a loop and jarred me out of the narrative but I would very quickly be swept back up in the story. Word examples: ants was pronounced like ‘aunts’ (in the english pronunciation not the american), “in my stead” where stead was pronounced ‘steed’ such as one might address a horse. Again, very minor complaint and it happens so rarely that it didn’t detract too much from my enjoyment!

didn't add much

I was listening to so much of the same scene and wasn't really enough to really love it all of the added scenes where obvious.