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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was immediately drawn to Wicked Saints because of the unique sounding magical system and talk of political intrigue. Those two things are delivered fantastically in this debut. The book starts off fast and really doesn’t let up. I was caught up in the story and characters very quickly.
The book is told through two points of view, Nadya and Serefin. They both play important roles on opposing sides of an epic war. I found the feud between the countries and religions very interesting. I loved that Nadya was able to grow and become a bit more understanding as the story goes on. I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface on Serefin’s character. I can’t wait to learn more about him.
There’s a pretty fantastic slow burn romance in Wicked Saints. I was definitely invested in that story line! I loved Malachiasz! He was probably my favorite character in the book. The bad boy attitude and air of mystery made him very captivating. I bet you will love him too.
My favorite element of the book was the magic. It seems hard to find a unique take on magic in YA fantasy these days. Wicked Saints is one of the most unique I’ve came across in years. Nadya communes with her Gods and Goddesses and they lend her their power. Serefin is a remarkable blood mage who uses his blood and spell books to achieve great magic. So basically, Emily A. Duncan has created two amazing magic systems in one book!
Wicked Saints was an exceptional debut. The world building and magic left me in awe. It’s going to be a long wait for book two!
The book is told through two points of view, Nadya and Serefin. They both play important roles on opposing sides of an epic war. I found the feud between the countries and religions very interesting. I loved that Nadya was able to grow and become a bit more understanding as the story goes on. I feel like we’ve only scratched the surface on Serefin’s character. I can’t wait to learn more about him.
There’s a pretty fantastic slow burn romance in Wicked Saints. I was definitely invested in that story line! I loved Malachiasz! He was probably my favorite character in the book. The bad boy attitude and air of mystery made him very captivating. I bet you will love him too.
My favorite element of the book was the magic. It seems hard to find a unique take on magic in YA fantasy these days. Wicked Saints is one of the most unique I’ve came across in years. Nadya communes with her Gods and Goddesses and they lend her their power. Serefin is a remarkable blood mage who uses his blood and spell books to achieve great magic. So basically, Emily A. Duncan has created two amazing magic systems in one book!
Wicked Saints was an exceptional debut. The world building and magic left me in awe. It’s going to be a long wait for book two!
i listened to the audiobook for this story, and it was perfect. absolutely amazing.
i am so heartbroken because i haven't been able to find the next book anywhere to borrow, audio, e-book, physical, NONE.
nadya is a bad*ss, literally obsessed i tell you!
malachiasz stole my heart and then shattered it but i think i might still love him i'm not sure yet sgjsdg
i need to read the rest of this series before i lose my mind i swear.
highly highly highly recommend. please read this story!
i am so heartbroken because i haven't been able to find the next book anywhere to borrow, audio, e-book, physical, NONE.
nadya is a bad*ss, literally obsessed i tell you!
malachiasz stole my heart and then shattered it but i think i might still love him i'm not sure yet sgjsdg
i need to read the rest of this series before i lose my mind i swear.
highly highly highly recommend. please read this story!
Edit: 17 April 2020
Audiobook Review
CW/TW: self-harm, imprisonment, ableist slurs, abuse, war, blood, death, starvation, murder
Someone might wonder why I read this after DNFing it (3 times already, lol) but my heart couldn't let go, I just needed to know. Each time I stopped reading and read a couple more things, my heart, my soul, would draw me back to this book.
The first time I DNF'd this was because I wasn't enjoying, like at all. It was one of my most anticipated reads and it disappointed me so hard I couldn't carry on, so I stopped.
The second time I DNF'd was coz it said the sun goddess was Alena and I remembered how much Alina disappointed me at the end of Shadow and Bone and I couldn't detach from that, so I had to stop. And before anyone says anything, I know Alina Alena, but still!
The third time I DNF'd was coz I didn't really know what the heck was going on anymore and I wanted it to stop, so I just stopped. I was on Chapter 8 and I really thought I was going, but nope, I wasn't.
But whooop, here were are again!
What I can say is that it's not...... great. It's not particularly....... good either, but it's something. From like 50% to 70/80% it actually gets interesting and I actually wanted the characters to succeed in their plans, but then it kept going and then I didn't care anymore. When it got to the last few chapters I just wanted to be done because I didn't care for the characters anymore.
Usually I fear what'll happen to the characters, especially when it seems they're about to meet their inevitable end, but with these poor babies I just didn't give one eff. They could've died and I would've just been thought okay, and moved right along. I feel like I wasn't given the right kind of something that would make me love these characters and make me want to see them succeed and be hurt if they got hurt. I just felt meh about them. For a while I really did care about Serefin but then even he slips from my heart by the end. I just— it didn't matter by the end, they didn't matter.
And I didn't care about Nadya and Malachiasz, like at all. Every time they so much as got romantic I wanted to fast forward because I wasn't given the right motivation to love them. Usually with enemies to lovers, there's this *thing* where you see it building up slowly and you're losing your shit because you want them to finally just kiss and stop your torture. This one didn't have that. There wasn't really any enemies-to-lovers here. They just hated each other because they were from opposite ends of the war and that's that.
Naturally I was expecting it to be Nadya and Serefin, especially considering the first two chapters of the book. That would've been more realistic to me, and the entire time I was reading I was expecting it to happen. And I feel that I would've lived them more knowing what kind of character Serefin is (sweet misunderstood baby, I still love you I lied!).
I feel like Duncan wanted so badly to have the girl fall on love with the dark princling that she didn't really care how it happened. I'm not saying I know her thought processes or anything, but that's how it feels. I feel like the romance was half hazadly done despite it being one of the things that Duncan spoke so much and that it could've been done a lot better.
I just feel a raging disappointment over the whole relationship because it could've been glorious. I feel cheated of a greater story for a fanfiction of Kylo-Ren-meets-the-Darkling. I feel like Serefin and Nadya would've done some epic things as a couple. I know it's done often and a lot, but we aren't tired of it. If she'd wanted Darkling vibes she couldve for sure used Serefin, he had the potential. But I guess I can kind of get it, wanting the girl to fall in love with the darkest of the dark. But meh.
This is probably one of my most disappointing reads, and it probably had to do with how hard I was anticipating it when Duncan was talking about it on Twitter. I got hyped for it and I was so ready to love it and have it completely ruin me. But then it didn't do that, instead it just disappointed me so much that, I don't know, by the end I didn't care at all.
A shame.
I don't understand the epigraphs. Maybe, okay, maybe I wasn't paying attention right? That's why they don't make sense to me. Sometimes I felt like the epigraphs were just there to make it fancy. I know that's not it, but it felt like it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DNF 20%
CW: self-harm, ableist slurs
Its not going to happen. I've tried reading this 5 times now and I keep stopping and having zero desire to keep going, so I'm going to stop trying. Maybe I'll try again next year, but I'm done for 2019.
And the saddest thing is that I was so excited for this up until I wasn't.
Audiobook Review
CW/TW: self-harm, imprisonment, ableist slurs, abuse, war, blood, death, starvation, murder
Someone might wonder why I read this after DNFing it (3 times already, lol) but my heart couldn't let go, I just needed to know. Each time I stopped reading and read a couple more things, my heart, my soul, would draw me back to this book.
The first time I DNF'd this was because I wasn't enjoying, like at all. It was one of my most anticipated reads and it disappointed me so hard I couldn't carry on, so I stopped.
The second time I DNF'd was coz it said the sun goddess was Alena and I remembered how much Alina disappointed me at the end of Shadow and Bone and I couldn't detach from that, so I had to stop. And before anyone says anything, I know Alina Alena, but still!
The third time I DNF'd was coz I didn't really know what the heck was going on anymore and I wanted it to stop, so I just stopped. I was on Chapter 8 and I really thought I was going, but nope, I wasn't.
But whooop, here were are again!
What I can say is that it's not...... great. It's not particularly....... good either, but it's something. From like 50% to 70/80% it actually gets interesting and I actually wanted the characters to succeed in their plans, but then it kept going and then I didn't care anymore. When it got to the last few chapters I just wanted to be done because I didn't care for the characters anymore.
Usually I fear what'll happen to the characters, especially when it seems they're about to meet their inevitable end, but with these poor babies I just didn't give one eff. They could've died and I would've just been thought okay, and moved right along. I feel like I wasn't given the right kind of something that would make me love these characters and make me want to see them succeed and be hurt if they got hurt. I just felt meh about them. For a while I really did care about Serefin but then even he slips from my heart by the end. I just— it didn't matter by the end, they didn't matter.
And I didn't care about Nadya and Malachiasz, like at all. Every time they so much as got romantic I wanted to fast forward because I wasn't given the right motivation to love them. Usually with enemies to lovers, there's this *thing* where you see it building up slowly and you're losing your shit because you want them to finally just kiss and stop your torture. This one didn't have that. There wasn't really any enemies-to-lovers here. They just hated each other because they were from opposite ends of the war and that's that.
Naturally I was expecting it to be Nadya and Serefin, especially considering the first two chapters of the book. That would've been more realistic to me, and the entire time I was reading I was expecting it to happen. And I feel that I would've lived them more knowing what kind of character Serefin is (sweet misunderstood baby, I still love you I lied!).
I feel like Duncan wanted so badly to have the girl fall on love with the dark princling that she didn't really care how it happened. I'm not saying I know her thought processes or anything, but that's how it feels. I feel like the romance was half hazadly done despite it being one of the things that Duncan spoke so much and that it could've been done a lot better.
I just feel a raging disappointment over the whole relationship because it could've been glorious. I feel cheated of a greater story for a fanfiction of Kylo-Ren-meets-the-Darkling. I feel like Serefin and Nadya would've done some epic things as a couple. I know it's done often and a lot, but we aren't tired of it. If she'd wanted Darkling vibes she couldve for sure used Serefin, he had the potential. But I guess I can kind of get it, wanting the girl to fall in love with the darkest of the dark. But meh.
This is probably one of my most disappointing reads, and it probably had to do with how hard I was anticipating it when Duncan was talking about it on Twitter. I got hyped for it and I was so ready to love it and have it completely ruin me. But then it didn't do that, instead it just disappointed me so much that, I don't know, by the end I didn't care at all.
A shame.
I don't understand the epigraphs. Maybe, okay, maybe I wasn't paying attention right? That's why they don't make sense to me. Sometimes I felt like the epigraphs were just there to make it fancy. I know that's not it, but it felt like it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DNF 20%
CW: self-harm, ableist slurs
Its not going to happen. I've tried reading this 5 times now and I keep stopping and having zero desire to keep going, so I'm going to stop trying. Maybe I'll try again next year, but I'm done for 2019.
And the saddest thing is that I was so excited for this up until I wasn't.
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
tense
I really liked this story 4.5 stars.
Yes, there were some issues with the story details, but I thought it was a very nice debut novel.
I'll be reading the next book.
Yes, there were some issues with the story details, but I thought it was a very nice debut novel.
I'll be reading the next book.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. *
cw/tw: self-harm (blood magic), alcohol abuse/addiction
I went into this book already halfway in love with the characters thanks to the months of gushing and dialogue teasers I had seen on Twitter. I won't lie to you all, I was so worried I would be disappointed-- like I was overhyping. So, I went into it cautiously.
Well, caution and hesitation didn't last long because these characters wouldn't accept less than my full attention and affection.
Is it different than I originally thought it would be like? Totally, but I was so down for this story.
Let me start with talking about the main characters who gripped my heart. Friends, I love morally grey characters-- ones who feel real instead of archetypes. They all have their own problems, their own darkness, and goals for improving the world.
Nadya is a spitfire and I adore her. I love how she was struggling with her faith. I'm not religious at all, but there was a time I did try, so seeing how she had doubts felt very real. She's knows her own mind though, even with the gods talking to her. She's strong, willing to bend and learn, and her dialogue is fantastic. As much as I like Nadya, I really feel like she gets lost. I love her scenes with Malachiasz, but the more I think about it, the more I worry that most of her chapters revolve around him. I think this will change though as she grows through the series. She has a lot of space to grow, to fully believe in herself and her gift, and I'm excited to see how she matures.
Serefin might be my favorite main character... maybe. He's so done with politics and the war and he just doesn't know exactly who he is or how to be himself. He has expectations thrown at him and his parents are pretty horrible to him. His friendship with his two guards Ostyia and Kacper is what allows him to just... be. They are like a family and their scenes are so comfortable.
Then we have Malachiasz. It is hard NOT to like him. He's... he's quiet and loud at the same time. Devious, witty, and a monster, but broken. For more of the book he was my favorite character -- I mean, he was my favorite before I even started the book. I was surprised that we don't get a chapter from his perspective. I hope we get more from him in the sequel.
Before I move on to more thoughts on the actual plot, let me also mention the side characters. They are awesome and we actually learn more about them. They seem pretty flushed out and important, allowing us to grow fond of them as well. I think with a cast with this many great characters the most difficult thing for me is that I want them all to get more dialogue, more page-time, more... everything. I do hope we get more from these side characters :)
As for the romance... I feel like it went a bit too fast for me. It is an enemies-to-lovers trope, but I wasn't truly convinced Nadya hated him enough or for long enough. At the same time, I totally love them. They are my JAM. I have no idea what will happen with them now, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want them to work as a couple.
Okay, storywise... look, I was hooked by this book from page one. I didn't want to stop reading. I needed to know everything! And the magic systems!! Magic from the 'gods' magic from blood-- but done with blood on spell pages? This book felt so new and fresh to me. Yeah, probably won't to those of you who have played DND, but I haven't, I've just read the handbooks.
The writing here is on point and things flowed so well.
Although, I will admit there were times I stepped back and went 'that's it?'. There isn't a ton of action on page and some things could feel a bit anti-climatic. Yet? I'm giving this book 5 stars?
YES! Because I don't see how events could have been done differently without feeling too cliche. I will say the ending felt... weird? it really seemed out of left field, but I mean... that might just be me. I swear for the last like 15-20% I was going "Wha... what?! Wait... no... WHAT?!" So, yes there is a bit of a cliffhanger.
So, I love this book, but I'm not calling it a favorite... yet. AS the series goes, I might call it a favorite, we will see. It is THAT close. I definitely recommend this one to people who play DND, like deeper fantasy novels, and don't need constant action in their books.
I very much am looking forward to the next book in the series.
cw/tw: self-harm (blood magic), alcohol abuse/addiction
I went into this book already halfway in love with the characters thanks to the months of gushing and dialogue teasers I had seen on Twitter. I won't lie to you all, I was so worried I would be disappointed-- like I was overhyping. So, I went into it cautiously.
Well, caution and hesitation didn't last long because these characters wouldn't accept less than my full attention and affection.
Is it different than I originally thought it would be like? Totally, but I was so down for this story.
Let me start with talking about the main characters who gripped my heart. Friends, I love morally grey characters-- ones who feel real instead of archetypes. They all have their own problems, their own darkness, and goals for improving the world.
Nadya is a spitfire and I adore her. I love how she was struggling with her faith. I'm not religious at all, but there was a time I did try, so seeing how she had doubts felt very real. She's knows her own mind though, even with the gods talking to her. She's strong, willing to bend and learn, and her dialogue is fantastic. As much as I like Nadya, I really feel like she gets lost. I love her scenes with Malachiasz, but the more I think about it, the more I worry that most of her chapters revolve around him. I think this will change though as she grows through the series. She has a lot of space to grow, to fully believe in herself and her gift, and I'm excited to see how she matures.
Serefin might be my favorite main character... maybe. He's so done with politics and the war and he just doesn't know exactly who he is or how to be himself. He has expectations thrown at him and his parents are pretty horrible to him. His friendship with his two guards Ostyia and Kacper is what allows him to just... be. They are like a family and their scenes are so comfortable.
Then we have Malachiasz. It is hard NOT to like him. He's... he's quiet and loud at the same time. Devious, witty, and a monster, but broken. For more of the book he was my favorite character -- I mean, he was my favorite before I even started the book. I was surprised that we don't get a chapter from his perspective. I hope we get more from him in the sequel.
Before I move on to more thoughts on the actual plot, let me also mention the side characters. They are awesome and we actually learn more about them. They seem pretty flushed out and important, allowing us to grow fond of them as well. I think with a cast with this many great characters the most difficult thing for me is that I want them all to get more dialogue, more page-time, more... everything. I do hope we get more from these side characters :)
As for the romance... I feel like it went a bit too fast for me. It is an enemies-to-lovers trope, but I wasn't truly convinced Nadya hated him enough or for long enough. At the same time, I totally love them. They are my JAM. I have no idea what will happen with them now, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't want them to work as a couple.
Okay, storywise... look, I was hooked by this book from page one. I didn't want to stop reading. I needed to know everything! And the magic systems!! Magic from the 'gods' magic from blood-- but done with blood on spell pages? This book felt so new and fresh to me. Yeah, probably won't to those of you who have played DND, but I haven't, I've just read the handbooks.
The writing here is on point and things flowed so well.
Although, I will admit there were times I stepped back and went 'that's it?'. There isn't a ton of action on page and some things could feel a bit anti-climatic. Yet? I'm giving this book 5 stars?
YES! Because I don't see how events could have been done differently without feeling too cliche. I will say the ending felt... weird? it really seemed out of left field, but I mean... that might just be me. I swear for the last like 15-20% I was going "Wha... what?! Wait... no... WHAT?!" So, yes there is a bit of a cliffhanger.
So, I love this book, but I'm not calling it a favorite... yet. AS the series goes, I might call it a favorite, we will see. It is THAT close. I definitely recommend this one to people who play DND, like deeper fantasy novels, and don't need constant action in their books.
I very much am looking forward to the next book in the series.