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A review by helwood
Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb
3.0
My rating: 3.5/5 '⭐️s
The Seven Faceless Saints is a good fantasy suspense/murder mystery book. The book revolves around a disciple of Patience FL and a former soldier ML, now the Head of Security at the Palazzo (home of disciple representatives). The story follows the two main leads as they endeavour to identify a serial killer within Ombrazia while they circumnavigate their relationship.
Overall, I would give this book 3.5/5 stars. While I enjoyed the story, it hasn’t been enough to encourage me to invest in the next book of the duology. However, it will not deter me from picking up another M. K. Lobb book in the future. As this was her debut novel, I am more than happy to check back in with her on her next new adventure to see how she develops her skills.
Favourite quotes:
“You don’t have to be part of the group being mistreated to know what’s happening to them is wrong.”
“The best time to show mercy is when someone doesn’t deserve it.”
The Seven Faceless Saints is a good fantasy suspense/murder mystery book. The book revolves around a disciple of Patience FL and a former soldier ML, now the Head of Security at the Palazzo (home of disciple representatives). The story follows the two main leads as they endeavour to identify a serial killer within Ombrazia while they circumnavigate their relationship.
Spoiler
I found it difficult to become invested in this book until nearly halfway through, resulting in this becoming a stop-and-start reading experience. M. K. Lobb kept me reading as I loved her skillful weaving of the suspense/mystery scenes. Some world-building tactics made the book feel more like homework rather than engulfing me in an adventure. I felt the information concerning the affinities of the guilds was divulged in such a way that necessitated documentation to keep pace with who may or may not be the killer. The hot-cold romantic interludes between the LCs early on in the book left me confused, especially when these moments took place during inappropriate moments (i.e. in the morgue over a dead body). As such, the connection between FL & ML felt less genuine. I also found the aspects of the world-building I enjoyed didn’t seem to play a part in the story (i.e. readings from Saints and Sacrifice). I also felt scenes with the FL’s mother could have developed into something more, but instead, were only included to provide evidence of her mental state. Perhaps, this will be further developed in the next book.Overall, I would give this book 3.5/5 stars. While I enjoyed the story, it hasn’t been enough to encourage me to invest in the next book of the duology. However, it will not deter me from picking up another M. K. Lobb book in the future. As this was her debut novel, I am more than happy to check back in with her on her next new adventure to see how she develops her skills.
Favourite quotes:
Spoiler
Death still stalked his every waking moment. It traced cold, malevolent fingers down his spine and hissed garbled nothings in his ear.“You don’t have to be part of the group being mistreated to know what’s happening to them is wrong.”
“The best time to show mercy is when someone doesn’t deserve it.”