Wicked Saints
In Emily A. Duncan’s Wicked Saints, a centuries-long war forces a girl who can speak to the gods, a prince in constant danger, and a boy with monstrous secrets to cross paths in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light.
Religion is a major part of the first book in Duncan’s Something Dark and Holy trilogy. The discussions between Nadya, a devout believer in the gods, and Malachiasz shed light on modern conversations about religion. I like how Duncan handled these conversations. She didn’t try to make them insulting or degrading to one viewpoint or the other. As someone who has a faith-based background, it was refreshing to see these viewpoints written respectfully.
Although Nadya is judgemental of Malachiasz’s lack of faith in the beginning, her views change the further we get into the story. Her relationship with the gods changes and she’s forced the question everything she thought she knew about the gods and the magic she thought they had given her. As Nadya discovers just how powerful she is, we see her looking at Malachiasz’s beliefs in a new way. I’m excited to see where Duncan takes Nadya’s journey in the next book.
I immediately liked Nadya, but within a few chapters I knew High Prince Serefin of Tranavia was my favourite of the three leading characters. This powerful blood mage initially comes off as a terrifying enemy, but readers quickly learn that there’s more to Serefin than just a ruthless prince. He’s been fighting in the war between Tranavia and Kalyazin since he was a teenager and that has left its scars. His self-medication through alcohol and his trust issues reveal a boy who is tired of putting on an act.
I can’t get through this review without discussing Duncan’s marvellously done enemies-to-lovers-to-possibly-enemies-again romance between Nadya and Malachiasz. Despite the blood and darkness, Wicked Saints is an incredibly romantic book and Nadya’s complicated relationship with Malachiasz was beautifully written. I could feel Nadya’s temptation and confusion in my own heart. Like Nadya, I so desperately wanted Malachiasz to be honest with her and not go down the dark path he chose, but love is complicated and I’m sure we’re going to see a lot more drama and betrayal and confusion before the series is over.
Duncan’s dedication to creating her gods and goddesses for this book, with their own lore, was marvellously done. I loved reading the little snippets she included at the beginning of chapters. I’m interested to see what more we learn about these beings – and whether they are actually gods or demons or something else entirely – in Ruthless Gods.
Wicked Saints is a dark, bloody, romantic fairy tale about a girl, a prince, and a monster and the dangerous choices they make.
Wicked Saints Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Link
Buy on Indigo
Buy on Amazon
Religion is a major part of the first book in Duncan’s Something Dark and Holy trilogy. The discussions between Nadya, a devout believer in the gods, and Malachiasz shed light on modern conversations about religion. I like how Duncan handled these conversations. She didn’t try to make them insulting or degrading to one viewpoint or the other. As someone who has a faith-based background, it was refreshing to see these viewpoints written respectfully.
Although Nadya is judgemental of Malachiasz’s lack of faith in the beginning, her views change the further we get into the story. Her relationship with the gods changes and she’s forced the question everything she thought she knew about the gods and the magic she thought they had given her. As Nadya discovers just how powerful she is, we see her looking at Malachiasz’s beliefs in a new way. I’m excited to see where Duncan takes Nadya’s journey in the next book.
I immediately liked Nadya, but within a few chapters I knew High Prince Serefin of Tranavia was my favourite of the three leading characters. This powerful blood mage initially comes off as a terrifying enemy, but readers quickly learn that there’s more to Serefin than just a ruthless prince. He’s been fighting in the war between Tranavia and Kalyazin since he was a teenager and that has left its scars. His self-medication through alcohol and his trust issues reveal a boy who is tired of putting on an act.
I can’t get through this review without discussing Duncan’s marvellously done enemies-to-lovers-to-possibly-enemies-again romance between Nadya and Malachiasz. Despite the blood and darkness, Wicked Saints is an incredibly romantic book and Nadya’s complicated relationship with Malachiasz was beautifully written. I could feel Nadya’s temptation and confusion in my own heart. Like Nadya, I so desperately wanted Malachiasz to be honest with her and not go down the dark path he chose, but love is complicated and I’m sure we’re going to see a lot more drama and betrayal and confusion before the series is over.
Duncan’s dedication to creating her gods and goddesses for this book, with their own lore, was marvellously done. I loved reading the little snippets she included at the beginning of chapters. I’m interested to see what more we learn about these beings – and whether they are actually gods or demons or something else entirely – in Ruthless Gods.
Wicked Saints is a dark, bloody, romantic fairy tale about a girl, a prince, and a monster and the dangerous choices they make.
Wicked Saints Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads Link
Buy on Indigo
Buy on Amazon