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A review by jyeetreads
Wicked Saints by Emily A. Duncan
2.0
3/5 stars
This book is the definition of "first half almost had me not gonna lie..."
(as in, almost dnf-ed, then it did kinda got me hooked)
Let's start with the pros:
- Very UNIQUE and ENTERTAINING plot/concept/world that builds on slavic folklore. The world building is pretty good!
- All the mysteriousness of everything, and the way the characters question the very things the reader is questioning was a nice "meta" touch that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
- I also appreciate the unique characters with each their own little quirks and moral grey-ness... they surprised me in a good way :)
and now the cons:
- Though I thought the plot/world/concept were super cool, I feel like the execution definitely could have been better. The plot and character development, as others have mentioned, is kinda spotty and weird.
- Those noticeable plot holes or weird pacing were most evident at the beginning of the book. I understand it is Duncan's debut novel and that it's a YA with YA tropes/mishaps, but dang I was close to dropping the book after reading the first 120 or so pages.
- At first, I also felt that the mc's were rather unconvincing and hard to get behind (particularly our protagonist Nadya), as well as the relationships that were forming (the main romantic development is a lil random/rushed imo). Spotty, spotty, spotty.
HOWEVER, as everything continued to develop, I can say that it did GET BETTER and somehow, I managed to look past the spottiness. Then, the book became quite entertaining and had me on the edge of my seat, thoroughly invested. Despite all the cons, I soon developed a soft spot for the characters, and now I HAVE to get that second book to know of their fates.
If you can get over the YA cheese and the fact that it is an imperfect debut novel, and you like slavic folklore and the sound of a "unique and dark fantasy world with interesting leitmotifs", then I think you'll enjoy this book and all it's twists and turns!
This book is the definition of "first half almost had me not gonna lie..."
(as in, almost dnf-ed, then it did kinda got me hooked)
Let's start with the pros:
- Very UNIQUE and ENTERTAINING plot/concept/world that builds on slavic folklore. The world building is pretty good!
- All the mysteriousness of everything, and the way the characters question the very things the reader is questioning was a nice "meta" touch that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
- I also appreciate the unique characters with each their own little quirks and moral grey-ness... they surprised me in a good way :)
and now the cons:
- Though I thought the plot/world/concept were super cool, I feel like the execution definitely could have been better. The plot and character development, as others have mentioned, is kinda spotty and weird.
- Those noticeable plot holes or weird pacing were most evident at the beginning of the book. I understand it is Duncan's debut novel and that it's a YA with YA tropes/mishaps, but dang I was close to dropping the book after reading the first 120 or so pages.
- At first, I also felt that the mc's were rather unconvincing and hard to get behind (particularly our protagonist Nadya), as well as the relationships that were forming (the main romantic development is a lil random/rushed imo). Spotty, spotty, spotty.
HOWEVER, as everything continued to develop, I can say that it did GET BETTER and somehow, I managed to look past the spottiness. Then, the book became quite entertaining and had me on the edge of my seat, thoroughly invested. Despite all the cons, I soon developed a soft spot for the characters, and now I HAVE to get that second book to know of their fates.
If you can get over the YA cheese and the fact that it is an imperfect debut novel, and you like slavic folklore and the sound of a "unique and dark fantasy world with interesting leitmotifs", then I think you'll enjoy this book and all it's twists and turns!