Skin Hunger

Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey is a fantasy novel with two different story lines. The first is about Sadima a poor farm girl whose mother dies giving birth to her and is raised by her brooding father and brother. Sadima discovers that she is able to communicate with animals when she meets Franklin a servant from the city. He encourages her to come to the city when she is old enough. After several years, Sadima heads to the city and discovers a new life living with Franklin and Somiss his master who are secretly working as magicians in a world where magic has become illegal. Somiss is cruel and selfish and Sadima tries to find a way to save both Franklin and herself.

In the other storyline, Hahp is a second child who has been given to the wizards to train in the magical ways. He is taken to the school where the students are forbidden to work together in anyway and they are kept dirty and hungry until they learn to conjure their own food. Many of the boys die of starvation. Hahp resents the wizards and his father for sending his there and vows his revenge.

The connection of the two stories is not revealed until near the end. And the ending leaves the book open for a sequel. In fact, it is the first book of a planned trilogy called A Resurrection of Magic. I can’t wait to read the next book. I hope that the author writes it quickly!