It has been a while since we have looked at Skin Hunger, part I of the Resurrection of Magic series by award-winning author Kathleen Duey. Now the time has come to present our thoughts on the second instalment of the dark and powerful trilogy: Sacred Scars (2009). Being a tendency observed at the time with few-volume series, the change of moods and shift of attitudes is very likely to occur among the readers who pick up this title. The story gets harsher, perhaps in an attempt to push the boundaries of what is acceptable in Young Adult genre. As much as it stands a chance of earning older readers’ applause, are the younger ones still being minded enough?
Referred to as “left with no meaningful resolution”, the plot gets picked up right where it was dropped, which gives the reader a feeling of relief. It becomes clear right away that the first book was not finished abruptly, but delivered characters to their designated destination point. The said place, being a maze of caves and passages in the mountain, turns out to be the place of action for the next three quarters of the book, consequently for both of the main characters – Sadima and Hahp.
Those who hoped for a simple happy-ending of Sadima’s love story, will only get “ending” part, at least for now. Sadima involuntarily goes through a complete metamorphosis. Stripped off of what she used to be, she becomes what she has to be. From threatened farm girl, she rises to become a leader who the crowd will follow. There is a burden though that lays heavy on her heart, the secret involving magic that cannot be revealed for she lives among the people who condemn it.
For the reason mentioned above and other ones equally disturbing, the propriety of the language chosen and scenes portrayed keeps raising concerns. Even though introduced in a thoughtful manner, some of the messages delivered seem to be inadequate for younger readers. This is true for implications of the sexual content which occurs multiple times throughout the book. Talking so gently and secretly about the rape, masturbation and adultery does not justify touching upon those subjects in the first place. If one is betting on someone’s ability to guess, is there even a point in serving young readers with such veiled descriptions? It proves hard to shake off the feeling that the potential is wasted in all those measures taken to tailor the story for the teenage readers. It could thrive in the full roughness and ugliness of the vivid, not anymore emotionally restrained descriptions, instead of appearing grotesque in its reticence.
Since the Young Adult genre is seen as the modern fairy tale, it has claimed a significant part of the young ones’ collective consciousness, making traditional fairy tales redundant, it only seems right to ask: what’s the moral here? YA books can be pretty predictable; the values emerging usually are love, hope and battle for justice. Sacred Scars has not revealed the lesson to be carried from the series yet. Unless the survival in its roughest form – driven by revenge – is an answer.
There is no other choice but to wait for volume three to come out. The readers have been left hanging for five years now. Allegedly, book three was supposed to come out in February 2014. At this point, neither title nor the cover have been revealed to the public. Will the third instalment bring another skin related title? On her official blog, Kathleen Duey said that “The third book in the trilogy is finished and in the production process now.” It would seem that we will have to wait for the burning questions to be answered.
Visiting Duey’s webpage will also result in finding out some clues regarding book three of the series. In the series of Limori: Book Three, Post #... entitled entries, she unveils tiny bits of what the future may hold for her characters. KEEP CALM AND… Resurrect the Magic.
Find Kathleen Duey on Twitter: @kdueykduey.