by Emily A. Duncan
Release Date: April 2, 2019; Wednesday Books
About the book:
When Nadya prays to the gods, they listen, and magic flows through her veins. For nearly a century the Kalyazi have been locked in a deadly holy war with Tranavian heretics, and her power is the only thing that is a match for the enemy’s blood magic. But when the Travanian High Prince, and his army invade the monastery she is hiding in, instead of saving her people, Nadya is forced to flee the only home she’s ever known, leaving it in flames behind her, and vengeance in her heart.
As night falls, she chooses to defy her gods and forge a dangerous alliance with a pair of refugees and their Tranavian blood mage leader, a beautiful, broken boy who deserted his homeland after witnessing his blood cult commit unthinkable monstrosities. The plan? Assassinate the king and stop the war.
But when they discover a nefarious conspiracy that goes beyond their two countries, everything Nadya believes is thrown into question, including her budding feelings for her new partner. Someone has been harvesting blood mages for a dark purpose, experimenting with combining Tranavian blood magic with the Kalyazi’s divine one. In order to save her people, Nadya must now decide whether to trust the High Prince – her country’s enemy – or the beautiful boy with powers that may ignite something far worse than the war they’re trying to end.
Advanced Praise for WICKED SAINTS:
“Prepare for a snow frosted, blood drenched fairy tale where the monsters steal your heart and love ends up being the nightmare. Utterly absorbing.” --Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen
"Full of blood and monsters and magic—this book destroyed me and I adored it. Emily is a wicked storyteller, she’s not afraid to hurt her characters or her readers. If you’ve ever fallen in love with a villain you will fall hard for this book." --Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval
Rating: 4 of 5 stars
I.. honestly don't know where to begin. And I have no idea what to write because What. Even. Are. Words.
This review has been in the works for weeks and I still don't know what to say. (I swear I know words.) So to keep my sanity, I decided to just give a list of all the things I love about this beautifully savage, bloody book. (Don't take too long reading this. Honestly I'd suggest you just skip this and start the book. Lol)
- My first thought reading Wicked Saints was "What the actual fuck is happening?!" Seriously. The beginning immediately thrusts us into this bloody, brutal, people-killing-people world that I absolutely don't know anything about and it was just so.. so.. I CAN'T THINK OF A WORD. But damn it. I LOVED IT.
- The magic system was different and unique and wonderfully written. It actually kind of reminded me of Everless. Only this time it's more bloody (literally) and quite gruesome. The way that the author wrote about blood magic was both terrifying and beautiful. I LOVED IT.
- The Vultures. I don't care what you say, they're super badass. I won't say too much because spoilers but I LOVED IT.
- The most slowburn, torturous, frustrating, swoony romance I've come across. I kept thinking WOULD YOU TWO JUST KISS ALREADY!? I am shipping this so bad. So. Bad. The banter and the theological arguments were EVERYTHING. I LOVED IT.
- Nadya. She's steadfast and loyal and selfless. Going thru the journey with her was unforgettable. I LOVED IT. I LOVE HER.
- Malachiasz. I would very much like to know what goes on in that beautiful, tormented, lovable head of his. (Maybe in book two?!?) I. LOVE. HIM.
- Serefin. Now I didn't expect to love him as much as I ended up feeling but love him I do. Anyone who knows me knows I have a certain weakness for tormented princes. Serefin crept into my heart and I never want him to leave. I LOVE HIM.
- The unexpected humor. For a book with a dark and sinister overall feel to it, it was, surprisingly, quite funny. I LOVED IT.
Wicked Saints is one of those things you have to experience for yourself to truly grasp how utterly magnificent it is. A word of caution? Prepare to be left breathless.
- The magic system was different and unique and wonderfully written. It actually kind of reminded me of Everless. Only this time it's more bloody (literally) and quite gruesome. The way that the author wrote about blood magic was both terrifying and beautiful. I LOVED IT.
- The Vultures. I don't care what you say, they're super badass. I won't say too much because spoilers but I LOVED IT.
- The most slowburn, torturous, frustrating, swoony romance I've come across. I kept thinking WOULD YOU TWO JUST KISS ALREADY!? I am shipping this so bad. So. Bad. The banter and the theological arguments were EVERYTHING. I LOVED IT.
- Nadya. She's steadfast and loyal and selfless. Going thru the journey with her was unforgettable. I LOVED IT. I LOVE HER.
- Malachiasz. I would very much like to know what goes on in that beautiful, tormented, lovable head of his. (Maybe in book two?!?) I. LOVE. HIM.
- Serefin. Now I didn't expect to love him as much as I ended up feeling but love him I do. Anyone who knows me knows I have a certain weakness for tormented princes. Serefin crept into my heart and I never want him to leave. I LOVE HIM.
- The unexpected humor. For a book with a dark and sinister overall feel to it, it was, surprisingly, quite funny. I LOVED IT.
Wicked Saints is one of those things you have to experience for yourself to truly grasp how utterly magnificent it is. A word of caution? Prepare to be left breathless.
'When he shared his own name , she couldn’t help feeling as if he was pulling her under into some dark depth from which she would never escape.'
'Truth is never kind.'
“We’re all monsters, Nadya. Some of us just hide it better than others.”
I received an e-arc via Netgalley to read and review. Quotes cited may change in the final print.
EMILY A. DUNCAN works as a youth services librarian. She received a Master’s degree in library science from Kent State University, which mostly taught her how to find obscure Slavic folklore texts through interlibrary loan systems. When not reading or writing, she enjoys playing copious amounts of video games and dungeons and dragons. Wicked Saints is her first book. She lives in Ohio.
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