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book_recs_by_maddie 's review for:
Seven Faceless Saints
by M.K. Lobb
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.