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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I had high hopes before diving into this book, but I was sooo disappointed. I was not intrigued after the first few chapters, but it is quite a short book so I've decided to finish it. However, when I've already read 250 pages or so and I've come to hate the story, I realize I have to dnf it.
The store unfolds in the conflict-ridden land of Ombrazia, where lacking magical abilities at birth is akin to a fatal verdict. Modeled after medieval Italy, the nation is divided among guilds, each associated with one of seven crafts, each with its own revered patron saint. Those tracing their lineage to such a saint may inherit some of their magical prowess and are known as disciples. These individuals, gifted with crafting abilities, hold significant value in the economy and enjoy societal favor. Meanwhile, the remaining populace is consigned to perilous warfare over trade routes, battling heretics who broke away by venerating the discredited seventh saint.
Hate is a strong word, so I will say I disliked both main characters and the romance. Roz is full of anger, and it didn't strike me at all as a good match with Damian, who was, in one word, pathetic. Damian was just a puppy following his father's orders, always afraid to make choices of his own. He was so infatuated with Roz, so lost in the past, where the two of them were happy, that he didn't want/ care to acknowledge the mad, crazy woman that was before his eyes. I love a strong, angry FMC, but Roz was angry at the wrong person. She was so mad because of what happened with her father, that she unleashed her anger on Damian, who simply stopped writing her letters (I know that for her, that meant he chose her father's side, but she never cared to have a discussion with him after he returned in Ombrazia. If I'm not mistaken, they came across one other a year after he returned).
In conclusion, I am upset that my first read of the year was a dnf, but I will not read a book that I dislike any longer. However, this is my opinion, so don't let it stop you from enjoying this book.
This was... odd. It's not a bad book, but then, it's not exactly good, either.
I really enjoyed the first couple of chapters, but then, after that, it all felt rather repetitive and predictable.
The worldbuilding was sparse and there was a lot of detail about how it all worked missing. I had many questions by the time I reached the end of the book.
The plot was serviceable, but so predictable. I think I had 90% of the plot figured out within 50 pages and there was nothing left that surprised me. Not to mention the fact that everything worked out for the characters - plans didn't implode, bad luck never happened, there were no stakes, no tension.
Everything about the world, about how characters thought and acted and how ideas, concepts and morality were presented were very black and white, there were no shades of grey, none of the complexity of reality.
I liked Roz's anger - I really felt that, but as a character she had no growth, she didn't learn anything through the story and she was always right about everything, which was more annoying than anything else.
Damian was just a guilt and trauma and nothing else - I don't get why the soldiers under his command had such faith in him because we never really saw much of them together to give us any reasons why other than it was what the plot needed. I found his chapters dragged because he thought about the same things constantly. There was little to growth for him by the end.
And that romance did nothing for me. Other than the fact that YA is supposed to have romance in it, I could see no reason why the main characters were into each other. They had no chemistry and that was a problem seeing as how the book kept finding really creaky reasons for them to be forced together.
I know there was the epilogue, but so much of the plot got nicely wrapped up by the end - so much so that I'm genuinely wondering where all the adults are. Apart from a few who were plot devices and nothing more, there didn't really seem to be any other than the chief magistrate and the general. No other figures of authority - no there magistrates, no soldiers of lower rank, no staff, no religious leaders from the various sects/guilds/whatever they were.
There was a good idea, something interesting in all of this, but I think it needed more room to be explored and expanded.
I really enjoyed the first couple of chapters, but then, after that, it all felt rather repetitive and predictable.
The worldbuilding was sparse and there was a lot of detail about how it all worked missing. I had many questions by the time I reached the end of the book.
The plot was serviceable, but so predictable. I think I had 90% of the plot figured out within 50 pages and there was nothing left that surprised me. Not to mention the fact that everything worked out for the characters - plans didn't implode, bad luck never happened, there were no stakes, no tension.
Everything about the world, about how characters thought and acted and how ideas, concepts and morality were presented were very black and white, there were no shades of grey, none of the complexity of reality.
I liked Roz's anger - I really felt that, but as a character she had no growth, she didn't learn anything through the story and she was always right about everything, which was more annoying than anything else.
Damian was just a guilt and trauma and nothing else - I don't get why the soldiers under his command had such faith in him because we never really saw much of them together to give us any reasons why other than it was what the plot needed. I found his chapters dragged because he thought about the same things constantly. There was little to growth for him by the end.
And that romance did nothing for me. Other than the fact that YA is supposed to have romance in it, I could see no reason why the main characters were into each other. They had no chemistry and that was a problem seeing as how the book kept finding really creaky reasons for them to be forced together.
I know there was the epilogue, but so much of the plot got nicely wrapped up by the end - so much so that I'm genuinely wondering where all the adults are. Apart from a few who were plot devices and nothing more, there didn't really seem to be any other than the chief magistrate and the general. No other figures of authority - no there magistrates, no soldiers of lower rank, no staff, no religious leaders from the various sects/guilds/whatever they were.
There was a good idea, something interesting in all of this, but I think it needed more room to be explored and expanded.
Book Review of Seven Faceless Saints
Author: M.K. Lobb
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:
Author: M.K. Lobb
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:
I don’t think this book was really for me. The writing was fine and I liked the dual POV, but I found it pretty boring. I personally just prefer more fantasy in my fantasy books, this read more like a cop murder mystery and also there’s some magic and political intrigue. I also found myself wanting more from the romance aspect of the book. Friends to enemies to lovers is what drew me to the book but it just fell flat for me. I could absolutely see this being someone else’s favorite book, though. 2.5/5 ⭐️’s
slow-paced
This book was fine. It was very slow to me though. Even though I physically got through it quickly it felt like the plot was just slogging along from one plot point to another. I won't be continuing this series, but if I decide I'm curious I'll just google the second one's ending.
Easily one of my best reads of the year.
MK Lobb is an incredible storyteller. The inspiration behind this world is so clear, but also new and fresh at the same time. She envelopes readers with lush visuals and beautiful language, but it’s never too much. It doesn’t detract from the storytelling itself. And oh, the quotable moments. I could fill this review just with beautiful quotes if I wanted to. And not just beautiful, but striking. Witty. A few that made me set down the book just for a moment and groan because she thought of it first.
Truly, this is a book 16yo me would’ve been desperate for. Not just the murder mystery and swoony, grief-stricken romance, but the sheer honesty of it. The difficult topics tackled. The unabashed way that the characters got to be messy. They got to question things characters don’t usually get to question in Young Adult. I would’ve devoured this book as a teenager and that’s so important.
I would’ve felt so seen by Roz, who though she was misguided at times, was allowed to be angry. She was allowed to feel all of her feelings and make hormonal, reckless decisions for and about those she cared about. As someone consumed by lack of control and grief through my childhood, Roz would have been a beacon to me. So many young girls and woman are simply not allowed to be angry. They wouldn’t be likable. Roz refuses to fit into that neat box—her feelings are too big for it. Her grief too deep.
I’m so thankful for this story, and I can’t wait for the rest of the duology! I have so many theories and I can’t wait to see if they’re right and what journey Roz and Damian take us on next time. I feel like I won’t be ready all the same.
MK Lobb is an incredible storyteller. The inspiration behind this world is so clear, but also new and fresh at the same time. She envelopes readers with lush visuals and beautiful language, but it’s never too much. It doesn’t detract from the storytelling itself. And oh, the quotable moments. I could fill this review just with beautiful quotes if I wanted to. And not just beautiful, but striking. Witty. A few that made me set down the book just for a moment and groan because she thought of it first.
Truly, this is a book 16yo me would’ve been desperate for. Not just the murder mystery and swoony, grief-stricken romance, but the sheer honesty of it. The difficult topics tackled. The unabashed way that the characters got to be messy. They got to question things characters don’t usually get to question in Young Adult. I would’ve devoured this book as a teenager and that’s so important.
I would’ve felt so seen by Roz, who though she was misguided at times, was allowed to be angry. She was allowed to feel all of her feelings and make hormonal, reckless decisions for and about those she cared about. As someone consumed by lack of control and grief through my childhood, Roz would have been a beacon to me. So many young girls and woman are simply not allowed to be angry. They wouldn’t be likable. Roz refuses to fit into that neat box—her feelings are too big for it. Her grief too deep.
I’m so thankful for this story, and I can’t wait for the rest of the duology! I have so many theories and I can’t wait to see if they’re right and what journey Roz and Damian take us on next time. I feel like I won’t be ready all the same.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
4.25 - I really enjoyed this story!
I thought the mystery was well crafted, the characters nuanced and easy to root for, the romance compelling, and the overall writing to be really solid.
My only real gripe is with the world building, which I thought was very underdeveloped. One of my favorite character motivations in religion, so I was disappointed to see how little of a role religion/religious structures really played in this. I would have also liked to have learned more about how other Disciples live, I felt like the magic system wasn’t very fleshed out.
I thought the mystery was well crafted, the characters nuanced and easy to root for, the romance compelling, and the overall writing to be really solid.
My only real gripe is with the world building, which I thought was very underdeveloped. One of my favorite character motivations in religion, so I was disappointed to see how little of a role religion/religious structures really played in this. I would have also liked to have learned more about how other Disciples live, I felt like the magic system wasn’t very fleshed out.