one of the best books I read in 2023, every time i see the cover my heart twists with a bittersweet wish that I could read it again for the very firstone of the best books I read in 2023, every time i see the cover my heart twists with a bittersweet wish that I could read it again for the very first time...more
this is a solid fantasy, though it took a while to get into the pacing and characters. Bastien is not that interesting and I wish Sabine was the main this is a solid fantasy, though it took a while to get into the pacing and characters. Bastien is not that interesting and I wish Sabine was the main focus. ...more
I missed Dani as a narrator, okay? I wasn't expecting Carmen and that change was a bit jarring. I also kind of wanted more of the scenes from Dani beiI missed Dani as a narrator, okay? I wasn't expecting Carmen and that change was a bit jarring. I also kind of wanted more of the scenes from Dani being a spy that we didn't get because everything was set with Carmen.
and while I enjoyed some of the rebellion aspect, the plot just felt messy. the mole felt obvious and i don't think the ending wrapped up with a decisive real victory. I was happy for Carmen and Dani and their arc and ending. but sometimes, the plot for them felt very melodramatic.
this borders on middle grade, with a very young narrator and naive voice that lends itself to a younger audience. Still, it was a romp of a read with this borders on middle grade, with a very young narrator and naive voice that lends itself to a younger audience. Still, it was a romp of a read with high stakes, the sweetest cast of family and a hateable villain. Not so much a pirate fantasy as a medieval kingdom, magical lore & kidnapping adventures. ...more
okay it had a really cool premise but the Star Court was actually really boring (sorry!) and the pacing was very slow for most of the middle part of tokay it had a really cool premise but the Star Court was actually really boring (sorry!) and the pacing was very slow for most of the middle part of the book....more
this was everything I want in a YA fantasy - sapphic, magic, magic, magic, gay girls, witches, and a complete story. Also, did I went sapphic witches?this was everything I want in a YA fantasy - sapphic, magic, magic, magic, gay girls, witches, and a complete story. Also, did I went sapphic witches???...more
okay, this was AMAZING - incredible characters, with alot of political intrigue and mythical worldbuilding. Also enemies to possible lovers to enemiesokay, this was AMAZING - incredible characters, with alot of political intrigue and mythical worldbuilding. Also enemies to possible lovers to enemies again? and HIGH STAKES WE STAN...more
Oh my goodness, loved this! Eva is such a great character, she's spunky and loyal and I really enjoyed her development as a person.
Also, the discussiOh my goodness, loved this! Eva is such a great character, she's spunky and loyal and I really enjoyed her development as a person.
Also, the discussions on colonialism and family and history are AWESOME. and the magic system? Really perfectly fascinating. Definitely looking forward to the sequel. ...more
I am almost positive this book could have just been part of Everless. They really didn't need to drag the story out into two books. Will I write a lonI am almost positive this book could have just been part of Everless. They really didn't need to drag the story out into two books. Will I write a longer review? probably not, because this story was rather dull. Should I write a longer review? yes. *sigh*
I am incredibly disappointed with this sequel. Honestly, it could have more fluidly and better fit in with Everless if this story was just one book.
One, I felt like the character growth was stagnant. Jules still made impulsive mistakes and never truly experience consequences for her foolish decisions. Liam was still in love with her, which was much more established in this book as a fact. This was far too sudden and there was no growth in their relationship, other than insta-love.
And then the plot was just disappointing. It became a mystery journey plot, and the magical science of the first book was really missing. The ending felt very cliche.
Overall, this entire series could have been improved if it was just one book. The plot could have been compressed, the character growth actually put into place, and the insta-love made more realistic. ...more
okay, bloody birds and an epic twist on the chosen one trope, yes i'm in loveokay, bloody birds and an epic twist on the chosen one trope, yes i'm in love...more
oh, I can't wait to review this book! (does that mean i'll sit down and do it right now? nope, I gotta go take a nap since I stayed up all night to reoh, I can't wait to review this book! (does that mean i'll sit down and do it right now? nope, I gotta go take a nap since I stayed up all night to read this) but seriously, Wicked Saints is one of a kind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I was immediately drawn into the world of Wicked Saints. A peasant girl who can talk to gods? Countries who’ve been at war for hundreds of years? The very powerful prince who uses dark magic? A mysterious boy on the run from powerful magicians? A magic wielding contest??? YESSSS, this is my jam!!!
Wicked Saints immediately pulls you in with intense action. There’s a war, and suddenly all the characters find themselves on the front lines.
Nadya, has spent her life secluded in a monastery. Why? because she’s a simple girl who can communicate with all the gods. And when Nadya asks the gods, she can wield magic.
Terrifying right? Well, Nadya’s not the only one who can wield magic. Her country is fighting Blood Mages, people who use their blood to cast spells. Serefin, the High Prince of Tranavia is hunting the rumored magical cleric. Just when Serefin thinks he can catch the girl, he’s called home. Because he’s not just any prince, he’s an unmarried prince.
Nadya is still running, when she stumbles across Malachiasz, a powerful blood mage from Tranavia. The two of them need each other to escape Serefin, and even more dangerous blood mages, the Vultures. Together, Nadya and Malachiasz pledge to end the war – by killing the king of Tranavia. Nadya will do whatever it takes to kill the king, including joining the Blood Mage competition to become Serefin’s future Queen Consort.
Let’s chat about the characters:
Nadya, my Gryffindor Cleric – Nadya is fervent in her trust and belief in the gods. I LOVE HER. As someone who grew up in a religious household, I understand her implicit trust in the gods. She needs the pantheon’s approval and craves their guidance. At the same time, she is nervous about ever doing anything outside the gods’ will. What a predicament! All her choices are an illusion, because without the gods’ approval, she’s void of her magic. Yet, she will constantly run into choices that make her question the gods, and doubt their hold on her life.
Serefin, the awkward mage prince – This precious boy! I love his character!!! He’s powerful, yet constrained about using his power. He’s been fighting on the frontlines of the war since he was 16 – and he knows the only reason he’s at the front is that his dead kind of might want him dead.
At first, you might think Serefin is just evil? I mean, he’s using blood magic, torturing people, and wants to kill the rumored magical cleric. But he’s a cinnamon roll, okay? i like Serefin.
Malachiasz, of the dark and twisted past – Malachiasz is the darkling we all don’t really deserve.Read this book for this tortured soul. Also, his feelings? KEPT ME DANGLING ON A TIGHTROPE. Seriously, he is something else.
I also really, really like all the other characters who help complete the setting, plot, and cast. Ostyia is blind in one eye, and flirts with every girl she meets. Goals. Zaneta is a powerful blood mage, who happens to be Serefin’s childhood friend, and she definitely aims to win that blood magic contest. Iconic Queen. Rashid and Parijahan are two plucky souls who stole my heart. I’m reading the NEXT book for ALL THESE FOLKS.
Wow, the plot kept me GUESSING SO MUCH. I thought I knew who was evil, who was going to maybe do some betrayal, who might try to kill everyone. But i was wrong. And that’s part of why I genuinely loved this book?
► Nadya was constantly second guessing herself and deciding who she should trust.
► Serefin had to decide if his dad was really trying to kill him.
► Malachiasz had so many layers, I’m still processing all of his motives and goals. Though, I still don’t know what he wants and i finished the book. So there’s that.
I also liked the romance – because it felt genuine and the characters falling for each other happed to hate the fact that they were falling in love. And there was definitely some enemies to lovers back to enemies vibe and I LIVE FOR ALL THAT, okay?
Roshani Choksi says this book is for anyone who shipped the Darkling and Alina, and yes, it is exactly that, except not so abusive or manipulative. And have I mentioned all the religious conversations and internal conflict??? I briefly touched on this earlier but I really felt Nadya’s internal conflict. She was nervous to ask questions but she wanted to ask questions and I was here for her searching for answers. I feel like she’s going to get into even deep questions in the second book, and YES.
Also Malachiasz and Nadya had the best conversations about why they believed what they believed. I mean, sometimes, he could be mocking or kind of a jerk about her devotion to the pantheon of gods. But the way they talked about it! So great!
And the religious narrative fed directly into the war – and how war affects the average people. Serefin really cared for his country and it drove him into finding a way to end the war. My political icon Serefin.
I’ve heard this book referenced as a magical Joan of Arc storyv and YES THAT’S EXACTLY RIGHT! the action scenes are intense and Nadya is a fighter. I actually reread several of the fight scenes because they were just so gripping and I wanted to experience them again.
It reminds me of the time I read the best fight scene I’d ever come across – Molly Weasley’s take down of Bellatrix Lestrange. I reread that final battle scene over and over again, because it just consumed me. And I’m absolutely comparing the fight scenes in Wicked Saints to The Battle of Hogwarts. Because they were THAT well-written.
And before I finish chatting about this book, let me just mention the humor. It was on point and helped keep the story from being overwhelmingly dark.
One quick example, Serefin had to climb 4,000 steps to attack the monastery, but when he comes back to court, he notes that he’s winded after climbing a winding staircase. HE’S SO ANNOYED THAT ONE WEEK HOME FROM WAR AND A FEW STAIRS ARE ALREADY TIRING HIM OUT. And it’s just so funny? and maybe that doesn’t sound funny, but trust me reading the story, it’s quite humorous.
Now, before everyone goes rushes the stores to buy this amazing book, a quick trigger warning this book is graphic. I mean, there’s blood magic, which involves cutting oneself and lots of blood. And there’s death, and dark magic. While Wicked Saints is sold as Young Adult,I really feel like this story is much more New Adult, or at least much older YA. ...more