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A review by sylvilel
Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
4.0
As is usually the case with YA debuts, I was a little put off by the introducing chapters. To little ground was laid for the reader to initially grasp the concept and the characters, and the stakes put on by the opening sequence.
Luckily for this reader I’m already invested in many of the concepts presented in this book, and after a clumsy start, things really started to roll.
Duncan is constantly unraveling, subtly foreshadowing and adding vital little details, and best of all: She doesn’t waste our time.
A lot of YA writers spend a looooooot of time telling and over-explaining, and spending veritably pages upon pages getting to one single point that the reader already got five pages ago. One thing I hate as a reader is being underestimated.
Duncan on the other hand, just sets the pace, assumes the reader to follow, and it’s THRILLING.
Another favorite aspect is the dynamic between the characters; always in flux, never taking anything for granted. The pain and the darkness mixed with hope and pure humanity is exquisite and utterly heart-wrenching.
It took me a lot longer to read this book than I’d anticipated, mostly because I spent so much time re-reading paragraphs and revelling in the nuances.
And of course; what is a dark fantasy without the proper amount of blood and gore? That’s another thing I often miss in today’s YA. Too often writers are frightened of stepping into the grittier dimensions of their universes, which I feel robs the story of integrity and realness. Duncan takes this to a satisfyingly high and horrific level.
All that’s left to say is that this was just what I needed right now, and I love it, and I can’t wait for the continuation!
Luckily for this reader I’m already invested in many of the concepts presented in this book, and after a clumsy start, things really started to roll.
Duncan is constantly unraveling, subtly foreshadowing and adding vital little details, and best of all: She doesn’t waste our time.
A lot of YA writers spend a looooooot of time telling and over-explaining, and spending veritably pages upon pages getting to one single point that the reader already got five pages ago. One thing I hate as a reader is being underestimated.
Duncan on the other hand, just sets the pace, assumes the reader to follow, and it’s THRILLING.
Another favorite aspect is the dynamic between the characters; always in flux, never taking anything for granted. The pain and the darkness mixed with hope and pure humanity is exquisite and utterly heart-wrenching.
It took me a lot longer to read this book than I’d anticipated, mostly because I spent so much time re-reading paragraphs and revelling in the nuances.
And of course; what is a dark fantasy without the proper amount of blood and gore? That’s another thing I often miss in today’s YA. Too often writers are frightened of stepping into the grittier dimensions of their universes, which I feel robs the story of integrity and realness. Duncan takes this to a satisfyingly high and horrific level.
All that’s left to say is that this was just what I needed right now, and I love it, and I can’t wait for the continuation!