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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
3.5
Hard to rate this book because it was better than other 3 stars I've read recently but it wasn't as good as the 4 stars I've been reading.
Hard to rate this book because it was better than other 3 stars I've read recently but it wasn't as good as the 4 stars I've been reading.
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was going so well until she thought the power of love would save them all. Let’s be serious for a second here.
Edit: because of the recent allegations I won't support her anymore
4.5 ⭐ it's been a long time since I've been this invested in a book. I need more
4.5 ⭐ it's been a long time since I've been this invested in a book. I need more
I consider the pinnacle of young adult fiction to be Sarah J. Maas, [b:A Court of Mist and Fury|17927395|A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court of Thorns and Roses, #2)|Sarah J. Maas|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1546406996l/17927395._SY75_.jpg|25126749]. Anything else usually falls short for me. What can I say, I'm obsessed with Rhysand. Who isn't though...
Wicked Saints has a banger beginning, shockingly exciting ending, a gorgeously atmospheric setting and A LOT of potential. Unfortunately, it also has an insta-love romance, a muddled backstory / world-build, and some parts that are just straight up boring.
Part of what makes young adult fantasy excellent for me, is a grittiness. I want to feel like I'm there with the characters, smelling, tasting, getting dirt on my fingers and rain in my mouth. Not in a white-washed or confusing world, where I'm not sure which way is up and which way is down. The problem with Wicked Saints is that I mainly didn't know where I was at any given time, with the characters or with their motivations.
There's also the insta-love bit, which I just despise. I adore a good slow burn (see [a:Sarah J. Maas|3433047|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1269281353p2/3433047.jpg]) or a true enemies-to-lovers trope (see [a:Sarah J. Maas|3433047|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1269281353p2/3433047.jpg]). That way, I feel invested. I feel like I'm breathless right along with the characters. I feel like my heart and mind is changing with theirs. I feel their shock and electrifying excitement when they're first attracted to that person, or the first time they even consider them as a partner / lover. It's so delicious. Wicked Saints doesn't have that and it really ruined the love story for me. I want to be shown that the characters' emotions are changing, not told repeatedly.
Again, there are parts of this that make the book worth reading. It starts off with a jolt, and ends with a lot of satisfying action. It's the middle that holds the issues, and since a book is a journey, the middle is just as important in my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Wicked Saints has a banger beginning, shockingly exciting ending, a gorgeously atmospheric setting and A LOT of potential. Unfortunately, it also has an insta-love romance, a muddled backstory / world-build, and some parts that are just straight up boring.
Part of what makes young adult fantasy excellent for me, is a grittiness. I want to feel like I'm there with the characters, smelling, tasting, getting dirt on my fingers and rain in my mouth. Not in a white-washed or confusing world, where I'm not sure which way is up and which way is down. The problem with Wicked Saints is that I mainly didn't know where I was at any given time, with the characters or with their motivations.
There's also the insta-love bit, which I just despise. I adore a good slow burn (see [a:Sarah J. Maas|3433047|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1269281353p2/3433047.jpg]) or a true enemies-to-lovers trope (see [a:Sarah J. Maas|3433047|Sarah J. Maas|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1269281353p2/3433047.jpg]). That way, I feel invested. I feel like I'm breathless right along with the characters. I feel like my heart and mind is changing with theirs. I feel their shock and electrifying excitement when they're first attracted to that person, or the first time they even consider them as a partner / lover. It's so delicious. Wicked Saints doesn't have that and it really ruined the love story for me. I want to be shown that the characters' emotions are changing, not told repeatedly.
Again, there are parts of this that make the book worth reading. It starts off with a jolt, and ends with a lot of satisfying action. It's the middle that holds the issues, and since a book is a journey, the middle is just as important in my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
3.5 stars
Wicked Saints was set in a gothic, icy, war torn world filled with magic where even gods were not what they seemed. I was swept away by the gorgeously dark aesthetic, intriguing mythology and almost lyrical writing although I felt the plot of the story was quite weak, lessening the overall effect for me.
Trigger Warnings: blood, self-harm, parental abuse
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 4.5/5
The two countries, Kalyazin (inspired by Russia) and Tranavia (inspired by Poland) had been at war for centuries. The Kalyazi people believed in a pantheon of gods and there were clerics who could commune with them to receive magical power. However the people of Tranavia had forsaken the gods and relied on their own blood magic. This difference of beliefs is what triggered the war, no country willing stop until it brought the other to its knees. I loved how all the magic, monsters and gods were all intricately entwined and influenced by Slavic mythology!
Nadya was the last known Kalyazi cleric and could commune with the entire pantheon of gods. She was a shining beacon of hope for her people, the key to winning the war. When Tranavian forces attacked the monastery she lived in, she had to flee to keep that hope alive. Enter Malachiacz (said Mah-lah-kee-ash) a monstrous Tranavian blood mage, shrouded in mystery, who offered to help her.
To be blunt, I don't like Nadya. All along Nadya thought she was scheming and doing everything it took to help her people when it seemed to me like she was just being led by the whims of others and not doing anything of worth at all. Apart from her admirably sarcastic nature there was nothing much to like about her. While it was predictable, I did find her relationship with Malachiacz intriguing because of the way their greatly opposing beliefs clashed. Although I don't like him either, Malachiacz was much more interesting as a character. Mysterious, dangerous and very clever but also awkward and vulnerable in a way that you can never tell if he's being sincere or if it's an act but you want to believe its the former. Honestly though, if Nadya knew what's good for her she'd stay away from him but these book characters never do.
The other point of view character was a Tranavian prince named Serefin and I liked him a lot more. He was called back home after years at war and was trying to make sense of all the odd things going on around him and the secrets his father held. He also had a visual impairment. Serefin's friends- Ostyia and Kacper- were great and I loved the dynamic between the three of them. Ostyia especially was brilliant with her fierce, vivacious personality. I also loved the witch Pelageya and I think she was the only character who had any clue what on earth was going on. And I wished we got to learn more about Parijahan and Rashid.
As I said earlier, the plot was what broke this book for me. I just couldn't see the point in any of it. Even as I sat down to write this review I realised that while I could remember all the characters' names, the places and magic system but I had no idea what exactly happened to them in the book. And then I realised its because the plot was so underwhelming that I couldn't bring myself to care about it enough to remember it.
Wicked Saints was set in a gothic, icy, war torn world filled with magic where even gods were not what they seemed. I was swept away by the gorgeously dark aesthetic, intriguing mythology and almost lyrical writing although I felt the plot of the story was quite weak, lessening the overall effect for me.
Trigger Warnings: blood, self-harm, parental abuse
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 4/5
Writing: 4.5/5
The two countries, Kalyazin (inspired by Russia) and Tranavia (inspired by Poland) had been at war for centuries. The Kalyazi people believed in a pantheon of gods and there were clerics who could commune with them to receive magical power. However the people of Tranavia had forsaken the gods and relied on their own blood magic. This difference of beliefs is what triggered the war, no country willing stop until it brought the other to its knees. I loved how all the magic, monsters and gods were all intricately entwined and influenced by Slavic mythology!
Nadya was the last known Kalyazi cleric and could commune with the entire pantheon of gods. She was a shining beacon of hope for her people, the key to winning the war. When Tranavian forces attacked the monastery she lived in, she had to flee to keep that hope alive. Enter Malachiacz (said Mah-lah-kee-ash) a monstrous Tranavian blood mage, shrouded in mystery, who offered to help her.
To be blunt, I don't like Nadya. All along Nadya thought she was scheming and doing everything it took to help her people when it seemed to me like she was just being led by the whims of others and not doing anything of worth at all. Apart from her admirably sarcastic nature there was nothing much to like about her. While it was predictable, I did find her relationship with Malachiacz intriguing because of the way their greatly opposing beliefs clashed. Although I don't like him either, Malachiacz was much more interesting as a character. Mysterious, dangerous and very clever but also awkward and vulnerable in a way that you can never tell if he's being sincere or if it's an act but you want to believe its the former. Honestly though, if Nadya knew what's good for her she'd stay away from him but these book characters never do.
The other point of view character was a Tranavian prince named Serefin and I liked him a lot more. He was called back home after years at war and was trying to make sense of all the odd things going on around him and the secrets his father held. He also had a visual impairment. Serefin's friends- Ostyia and Kacper- were great and I loved the dynamic between the three of them. Ostyia especially was brilliant with her fierce, vivacious personality. I also loved the witch Pelageya and I think she was the only character who had any clue what on earth was going on. And I wished we got to learn more about Parijahan and Rashid.
As I said earlier, the plot was what broke this book for me. I just couldn't see the point in any of it. Even as I sat down to write this review I realised that while I could remember all the characters' names, the places and magic system but I had no idea what exactly happened to them in the book. And then I realised its because the plot was so underwhelming that I couldn't bring myself to care about it enough to remember it.
Wicked Saints explored themes of religion, power and morality which are really interesting and probably would have been more so if the plot was more interesting too. I'd say it's a novel for anyone who loves books with a dark, gothic and monstrous atmosphere.
Overall, "Wicked Saints" was quite an enjoyable read!
The dark Russian-esque vibes made for a solid backdrop to this YA Fantasy novel. My greatest praise is reserved for the intrigue built around the question, "Who or what are the gods, exactly?" And while this is a praise, it also relies upon the answers that will (hopefully) be revealed in the sequels. My biggest criticism is two-fold. 1) The lack of definition surrounding the magic systems, and 2) the assumed resurrection of Serefin (which goes entirely unexplained and shrouded in mystery).
But overall, a solid debut filled with confused good-girl led astray by bad-boi tropes. Not a bad thing, just a flavor.
The dark Russian-esque vibes made for a solid backdrop to this YA Fantasy novel. My greatest praise is reserved for the intrigue built around the question, "Who or what are the gods, exactly?" And while this is a praise, it also relies upon the answers that will (hopefully) be revealed in the sequels. My biggest criticism is two-fold. 1) The lack of definition surrounding the magic systems, and 2) the assumed resurrection of Serefin (which goes entirely unexplained and shrouded in mystery).
But overall, a solid debut filled with confused good-girl led astray by bad-boi tropes. Not a bad thing, just a flavor.
Umm wow? Why did I wait so long to read this book.
I adored the characters and I loved how much this book kept my on my toes. It was fast-paced, dark, and everything about this book had me completely hooked.
I adored the characters and I loved how much this book kept my on my toes. It was fast-paced, dark, and everything about this book had me completely hooked.
Let me start off by saying, that we are introduced to the characters' names, but not their personalities.
They just seem like random people, citizens with a taste for blood without much depth to them.
Moving on, Kalyazins and Tranavians. If that's supposed to be the fantasy, then first off, these names for groups aren't memorable at all, I had to double-check, and I only remembered the latter, because I have an excellent memory, I know, compared to some people.
I also feel like it's going to be an exhausting read, seeing as I do not believe in deities or the supernatural, and this book has precisely that.
These are the reasons, I will be DNFing it. Sorry.
They just seem like random people, citizens with a taste for blood without much depth to them.
Moving on, Kalyazins and Tranavians. If that's supposed to be the fantasy, then first off, these names for groups aren't memorable at all, I had to double-check, and I only remembered the latter, because I have an excellent memory, I know, compared to some people.
I also feel like it's going to be an exhausting read, seeing as I do not believe in deities or the supernatural, and this book has precisely that.
These are the reasons, I will be DNFing it. Sorry.
Find this review and more on my blog at Worlds Unlike Our Own.
“We’re all monsters, Nadya, some of us just hide it better than others.”
Wicked Saints follows the story of Nadezhda “Nadya” Lapteva who has been raised in secrecy in a secluded monastery in Kalyazin to hide the fact that she is a cleric, someone who can communicate with the Gods and wield holy magic. As the first cleric in thirty years she could potentially end the long raging war between the neighbouring kingdoms in favour of Kalyazin. On the other side of the war is Serefin, the High Prince of Tranavia, and a powerful blood mage, a magic seen as heresy by those who follow the Gods. He was sent off to war at a young age, not only to fight, but also keep him at a distance from his father who is threatened by his power. But there is more to ruling a country than fighting, and Serefin begins to realize that plots are afoot against him at home. When Serefin attacks the monastery and finds Nadya, she escapes and goes on the run, soon joining a group of rebels who aim to assassinate the king of Tranavia and end the war, and as the mission progresses, finds herself beginning to question everything she has always stood for.
I loved how this book starts out with a bang and doesn’t bother getting into the world building until later. This would usually annoy me as I like to have an idea of the world before getting into a story, but in this case, the approach worked very well. The magic system and Nadya communicating with the gods and goddesses through the beads on her necklace sort of reminded me of Angel Mage, another book I really enjoyed this year. The overall feel of the book was also similar to Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, with the saints and the culture surrounding them that Kalyazin is based on. It was also really nice that while on one side we are following Nadya’s journey as she and her new friends make their way into Tranavia, on the other hand, there is no lack of court intrigue and plots on Serefin’s side of things. Wicked Saints is a combination of many YA fantasy elements from magic to monsters to battles, and there is never a dull moment – the surprises never stop with this book!
When it comes to characters, Nadya was not bad, but I personally liked Serefin and Malachiasz much better. Their backstories are far more interesting – for the moment atleast. There is still a lot of Malachiasz’s past to be unveiled, especially considering the revelation of who he used to be. And after that twist at the end, I’m curious to see how the events have changed the two of them, and of course, how the truth of the gods is going to affect things. There are also some very well written secondary characters, and I have my fingers crossed for POV chapters in the sequel.
The major downside I found with this book was that the character names are difficult and hard to both pronounce and remember – especially considering that out of the three main characters, only one is given a nickname (although I hear there is a pronunciation guide for this somewhere). The other thing is that after all of the amazing build up, the climax of this book felt very rushed and vague, and hopefully the sequel will clear up some of this.
This is a book from earlier this year that I’ve been shuffling around on my shelves, moving it between my main TBR and the maybe pile multiple times because I saw such mixed reviews for it. I ended up really liking it however, even if the twist after twist that is thrown out scarcely left me a moment to gather my thoughts and attempt to predict the path of the story – and that was half the fun. Action-packed and engrossing, Wicked Saints was a wonderful read and I’m really glad to have the sequel, Ruthless Gods at hand because there’s no way I could manage to wait until April to know what happens next! This was a strong start to a new series (and also a debut), and I would definitely recommend it.
“We’re all monsters, Nadya, some of us just hide it better than others.”
Wicked Saints follows the story of Nadezhda “Nadya” Lapteva who has been raised in secrecy in a secluded monastery in Kalyazin to hide the fact that she is a cleric, someone who can communicate with the Gods and wield holy magic. As the first cleric in thirty years she could potentially end the long raging war between the neighbouring kingdoms in favour of Kalyazin. On the other side of the war is Serefin, the High Prince of Tranavia, and a powerful blood mage, a magic seen as heresy by those who follow the Gods. He was sent off to war at a young age, not only to fight, but also keep him at a distance from his father who is threatened by his power. But there is more to ruling a country than fighting, and Serefin begins to realize that plots are afoot against him at home. When Serefin attacks the monastery and finds Nadya, she escapes and goes on the run, soon joining a group of rebels who aim to assassinate the king of Tranavia and end the war, and as the mission progresses, finds herself beginning to question everything she has always stood for.
I loved how this book starts out with a bang and doesn’t bother getting into the world building until later. This would usually annoy me as I like to have an idea of the world before getting into a story, but in this case, the approach worked very well. The magic system and Nadya communicating with the gods and goddesses through the beads on her necklace sort of reminded me of Angel Mage, another book I really enjoyed this year. The overall feel of the book was also similar to Leigh Bardugo’s Grishaverse, with the saints and the culture surrounding them that Kalyazin is based on. It was also really nice that while on one side we are following Nadya’s journey as she and her new friends make their way into Tranavia, on the other hand, there is no lack of court intrigue and plots on Serefin’s side of things. Wicked Saints is a combination of many YA fantasy elements from magic to monsters to battles, and there is never a dull moment – the surprises never stop with this book!
When it comes to characters, Nadya was not bad, but I personally liked Serefin and Malachiasz much better. Their backstories are far more interesting – for the moment atleast. There is still a lot of Malachiasz’s past to be unveiled, especially considering the revelation of who he used to be. And after that twist at the end, I’m curious to see how the events have changed the two of them, and of course, how the truth of the gods is going to affect things. There are also some very well written secondary characters, and I have my fingers crossed for POV chapters in the sequel.
The major downside I found with this book was that the character names are difficult and hard to both pronounce and remember – especially considering that out of the three main characters, only one is given a nickname (although I hear there is a pronunciation guide for this somewhere). The other thing is that after all of the amazing build up, the climax of this book felt very rushed and vague, and hopefully the sequel will clear up some of this.
This is a book from earlier this year that I’ve been shuffling around on my shelves, moving it between my main TBR and the maybe pile multiple times because I saw such mixed reviews for it. I ended up really liking it however, even if the twist after twist that is thrown out scarcely left me a moment to gather my thoughts and attempt to predict the path of the story – and that was half the fun. Action-packed and engrossing, Wicked Saints was a wonderful read and I’m really glad to have the sequel, Ruthless Gods at hand because there’s no way I could manage to wait until April to know what happens next! This was a strong start to a new series (and also a debut), and I would definitely recommend it.