This is a spoiler free review.
Wicked Saints
Written by Emily A. Duncan
Written by Emily A. Duncan
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: April 2, 2019
Pages: 385
Source: Library
Source: Library
Places to Get this Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository
Recommended Age: 13 and up!
Summary:
A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.
A prince in danger must decide who to trust.
A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.
Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.
In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy..
(Summary from Goodreads)
Review:
Wicked Saints is a book that I've seen all over the blogosphere with many mixed reviews, but I decided to attempt to go into it blind. This book is filled with a fast-paced, a lush Russian inspired setting, lyrical writing and morally characters that I already love.
COVER
A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.
A prince in danger must decide who to trust.
A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings.
Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.
In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy..
(Summary from Goodreads)
Review:
Wicked Saints is a book that I've seen all over the blogosphere with many mixed reviews, but I decided to attempt to go into it blind. This book is filled with a fast-paced, a lush Russian inspired setting, lyrical writing and morally characters that I already love.
COVER
I like the cover and how it is fairly simple but gives us the Russian setting with the castle and the darker colors that remind me of winter.
WORLD-BUILDING
Wicked Saints is a Russian and Polish-inspired fantasy and we get to see two countries in it. The Russian inspired country is called Kalyazin, and the Polish inspired country is called Tranavia. There is also another land called Akola, but we don't get to explore it that much in this first book. The Kalyazi can contact gods sometimes, and they consider the Tranavian's magic (which is blood magic) to be unholy. This has caused the nations to go to war, which has been going on for awhile. The two POVs shown in this book are the strongest Tranavian character and the strongest Kalyazi character. The author shows how religion is viewed for both countries and how both nations are willing to do whatever it takes in the name of their beliefs. The world of Wicked Saints is very expansive, and though we didn't get to explore all the places in the first book, I have a pretty good idea of the world.
Then there are the characters. (This book is told in two POVs)
NADYA
Nadya is a cleric who can speak with all the gods, and is on the run from a cruel prince and everyone else from the enemies' side. Nadya is gifted with a connection to the Gods, and yet, that isn't what makes her likable. She's intelligent and knows when to use her brain and when to use her heart. Her powers were often overshadowed by Malachiasz but as the book progressed, she began to learn how to be herself. However, she is also morally grey like many of the other characters and you aren't sure exactly what her true motives are.
SEREFIN
MALACHIASZ
Malachiasz is the dark, mysterious monster boy who is harboring secrets that no one will be able to uncover. He is dangerous, and of course despite this, Nadya chooses to trust him. He is strong and powerful and can easily overpower many of the other characters. I thought his character was reminiscent of many other characters in YA books however he still had his own original characteristics.
Wicked Saints is a Russian and Polish-inspired fantasy and we get to see two countries in it. The Russian inspired country is called Kalyazin, and the Polish inspired country is called Tranavia. There is also another land called Akola, but we don't get to explore it that much in this first book. The Kalyazi can contact gods sometimes, and they consider the Tranavian's magic (which is blood magic) to be unholy. This has caused the nations to go to war, which has been going on for awhile. The two POVs shown in this book are the strongest Tranavian character and the strongest Kalyazi character. The author shows how religion is viewed for both countries and how both nations are willing to do whatever it takes in the name of their beliefs. The world of Wicked Saints is very expansive, and though we didn't get to explore all the places in the first book, I have a pretty good idea of the world.
Then there are the characters. (This book is told in two POVs)
NADYA
Nadya is a cleric who can speak with all the gods, and is on the run from a cruel prince and everyone else from the enemies' side. Nadya is gifted with a connection to the Gods, and yet, that isn't what makes her likable. She's intelligent and knows when to use her brain and when to use her heart. Her powers were often overshadowed by Malachiasz but as the book progressed, she began to learn how to be herself. However, she is also morally grey like many of the other characters and you aren't sure exactly what her true motives are.
SEREFIN
Serefin is a prince whose father is eager to sacrifice him for power and he uses blood magic. He doesn't show many emotions but he is a very cunning and is usually able to find a way out of anything. He also has a visual impairment and can't see out of one of his eyes. His character ends up being very likable as you start to see that he has flaws just like any other character.
Malachiasz is the dark, mysterious monster boy who is harboring secrets that no one will be able to uncover. He is dangerous, and of course despite this, Nadya chooses to trust him. He is strong and powerful and can easily overpower many of the other characters. I thought his character was reminiscent of many other characters in YA books however he still had his own original characteristics.
FRIENDSHIP/FAMILY
Nadya doesn't have a family and we don't learn too much of her past, however, we do get to see a little bit of Serefin's relationship with his father. Serefin's father sent him away to war and it's clear that the two don't have a very close relationship, as they spend most of the book arguing. Serefin's father uses his son as a maritial pawn and uses him to ensure his power doesn't get taken away from him.
We do get to see some of the character's friendships with each other. Serefin has a close relationship with two of his guards/partners-in-crime: Ostyia and Kacper and I loved their relationship with each other.
Nadya doesn't have a family and we don't learn too much of her past, however, we do get to see a little bit of Serefin's relationship with his father. Serefin's father sent him away to war and it's clear that the two don't have a very close relationship, as they spend most of the book arguing. Serefin's father uses his son as a maritial pawn and uses him to ensure his power doesn't get taken away from him.
We do get to see some of the character's friendships with each other. Serefin has a close relationship with two of his guards/partners-in-crime: Ostyia and Kacper and I loved their relationship with each other.
PLOT
Wicked Saints is set in a world with two countries and different magic systems. The book starts out with a girl named Nadya, who has been hidden in a monastery for her whole life. Nadya is able to hear the voices of all the gods, and they all grant her power when she asks and this puts a target on her head. However, despite this, her people hope to not only restore the faith of the gods, but bring them back into power. Yet there are also people who are willing to do anything to make sure the gods stay silenced forever.
One night, Nadya's monastery is brutally attacked by an enemy prince - a dangerous blood mage - and she and her friend barely escape with their lives, while everyone else stays behind in order to give them time to get away. The prince notices that Nadya is not among the dead and is determined to find her. Nadya is willing to do anything to live, even if it means getting help from a powerful rebel mage, who is harboring many secrets that make him unknowingly dangerous to Nadya and her cause.
Wicked Saints is set in a world with two countries and different magic systems. The book starts out with a girl named Nadya, who has been hidden in a monastery for her whole life. Nadya is able to hear the voices of all the gods, and they all grant her power when she asks and this puts a target on her head. However, despite this, her people hope to not only restore the faith of the gods, but bring them back into power. Yet there are also people who are willing to do anything to make sure the gods stay silenced forever.
One night, Nadya's monastery is brutally attacked by an enemy prince - a dangerous blood mage - and she and her friend barely escape with their lives, while everyone else stays behind in order to give them time to get away. The prince notices that Nadya is not among the dead and is determined to find her. Nadya is willing to do anything to live, even if it means getting help from a powerful rebel mage, who is harboring many secrets that make him unknowingly dangerous to Nadya and her cause.
ROMANCE
I really liked the romance, and I liked how it took a backseat to the characters, letting us explore some of the characters more. The main romance in this book is an enemies to lovers romance with equal parts tension and banter which was done very well. Since this is the first book in the series, we didn't get to completely explore the relationship but I liked what we got and I am excited to see what is coming.
WRITING
I loved Emily A. Duncan's writing. The writing manages to encompass every emotion and setting while developing the story. You never know what a character is going to do or when there is going to be a new twist. Despite the alternate POVs, they are executed really well so both characters feel very developed.
I really liked the romance, and I liked how it took a backseat to the characters, letting us explore some of the characters more. The main romance in this book is an enemies to lovers romance with equal parts tension and banter which was done very well. Since this is the first book in the series, we didn't get to completely explore the relationship but I liked what we got and I am excited to see what is coming.
WRITING
I loved Emily A. Duncan's writing. The writing manages to encompass every emotion and setting while developing the story. You never know what a character is going to do or when there is going to be a new twist. Despite the alternate POVs, they are executed really well so both characters feel very developed.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Wicked Saints is a book filled with morally grey characters, powerful magic, political plots, and plot twists that you could never predict. I am so excited to see what the sequel holds because this book blew me away.
Quotes from the Book:
“We're all monsters, Nadya, some of us just hide it better than others.”
“You could be exactly what these countries need to stop their fighting. Or you could rip them apart at the seams.”
“How does a human girl become something divine and feared by the gods that gave her the power she wields?”
“She would bring this country to its knees.”
Wicked Saints is a book filled with morally grey characters, powerful magic, political plots, and plot twists that you could never predict. I am so excited to see what the sequel holds because this book blew me away.
Quotes from the Book:
“We're all monsters, Nadya, some of us just hide it better than others.”
“You could be exactly what these countries need to stop their fighting. Or you could rip them apart at the seams.”
“How does a human girl become something divine and feared by the gods that gave her the power she wields?”
“She would bring this country to its knees.”
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns
