Wicked Saints: Something Dark and Holy, Book 1
By Mandie Caroll,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Provocative but bloody Gothic fantasy trilogy starter.
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What's the Story?
Nadya, WICKED SAINTS' main character, is the sole surviving Kalyazi cleric whose magic is granted by a pantheon of gods she can talk to. She is Kalyazi's only hope of winning a century-long war against the godless, blood magic-practicing Tranavians, who've hunted down and killed all other clerics who have access to the gods' magic. Before Nadya's magical and religious training are complete, however, the Tranavian high prince -- a powerful blood mage named Serefin -- tracks her down at the remote monastery where she was hiding. She just barely escapes as the prince's army destroys the only home she's ever had. As Nadya flees for safety, she connects with Malachiasz, a Tranvian defector with hidden motives. Nadya is pulled into his plot to assassinate the Tranavian king and finds herself developing romantic feelings for the dangerous, mysterious boy from the enemy kingdom. As the three main characters' stories converge, a bloody and horrifying conclusion raises thorny questions about the nature of faith, power, and responsibility.
Is It Any Good?
This bloody fairy tale, set in a darkly gorgeous world and told in alternating points of view, is a gripping though at times uneven read. The main characters of Wicked Saints shine, and -- along with their supporting allies -- they make a likable, if morally compromised, bunch. Strong and resilient Nadya is also full of self-doubt. Serfin and Malachiasz are alternately cruel, vulnerable, and caring. Ostyia is loyal, confident, and can defeat even the stealthiest of attackers. Token characters of color Parijahan and Rashid are friends from a neighboring country who are depicted as full, admirable people with interesting backstories.
The story begins and ends with intense, violent action, but the middle, where the trilogy's brutal, beautiful world is being built, can feel slow. That said, an alarming attempt to murder Nadya as she journeys to Tranavia and the believable (and alluring) enemies-to-lovers romance do manage to pull readers through, and the cliffhanger ending is quite satisfying. Sadly, Nadya never quite develops into the fearsome magical lead that the tagline on the cover ("Let them fear her") promises: She's held back by the conflict of blind faith and her growing feelings for Malachiasz. Only at the very end does she begin to claim control of her life from the many gods and people who've sought to use her for their own ends. Luckily, readers have two more books in this trilogy to see just how powerful Nadya can become.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Wicked Saints. How much is necessary to the story? Is it consistent with the amount of violence in other YA fantasies?
The book's world is dark and brutal. How do the characters cope with such difficult life circumstances? How does the author bring light or hope to this story?
Why do you think many fantasies written as a trilogy or a series? Does this first installment make you want to continue reading?
Book Details
- Author: Emily A. Duncan
- Genre: Fantasy
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Wednesday Books
- Publication date: April 2, 2019
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 14 - 18
- Number of pages: 385
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Last updated: April 8, 2020
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