Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: In this thrilling sequel to Seven Faceless Saints, Roz and Damian must tackle the ongoing war between Ombrazia and Brechaat while coming head-to-head with the destruction that comes with the seventh saint, Chaos—perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kerri Maniscalco.

Damian Venturi isn't aware of it yet. But as small shifts start to crack the foundations of the Ombrazian power structure after the Rebellion's attack, cracks are beginning to show in Damian's own facade. Uncontrollable anger is bubbling to the surface and can't always be pushed down. Can he keep everyone safe, even from himself?

Rossana Lacertosa should feel victorious. She accomplished everything she set out to do, and more. The Rebellion's attack set countless prisoners free and brought attention to the unfairness in the Palazzo's structure. And Damian is back by her side where he belongs. Yet the war with Brechaat rages on and government officials are hellbent on keeping the status quo.

Then an Ombrazian general arrives from the front lines, and orders dozens of arrests, shipping Roz and Damian's friends up north. Determined to free those who matter most, Roz and Damian set their sights on Brechaat. But on their journey to hell on earth, Roz will need to face the fact that Damian is not just shifting further from the boy she used to know, but down a dark path into chaos.

The complications of love, magic, faith, and war will keep readers eagerly turning the pages as they head towards the gripping conclusion in the Seven Faceless Saints duology.

Review:

The finale in the Seven Faceless Saints duology, where both Roz and Damian must tackle the ongoing war and the power of the saints that lie within them. Damian has barely survived killing his former best friend who turned out to be a killer and now something has awakened in him.... the chaos magic and it's slowly turning him into someone he is not. Rossana "Roz" should be feeling happy, she got the prisoners free, she's back together with Damian and they both stopped Enzo.... but now Damian is slowly losing his grip on reality and the war still rages on. Roz, Damian, and their friends find themselves being sent up north when a new general arrives and arrests them. Roz and Damian have to find a way to end the war while also figuring out to stop whatever is beginning to possess Damian. Yet the price to undo what Enzo did to Damian is high and it might cost Roz everything. Can they end the war and save their romance or were they doomed from the start just as the Saints of Patience and Chaos were? This was a really fantastic series overall and I loved the ending, did it feel a bit rushed at the end? Yeah, but I loved it nonetheless. I loved how much Roz and Damian loved each other, they truly would do anything for the other and that's what made their love story so amazing. I really enjoyed the world that M.K. Lobb created and can't wait to read what she writes next! I would absolutely recommend this series to anyone who enjoys a fantastic fantasy series with war, romance, magic, and more!!

*Thanks Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Fall into the Unique World of Seven Faceless Saints

Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb is a book I didn’t expect to come cross my radar, let alone find myself enjoying amidst the waves of YA fantasy recommendations flooding my feed. I must thank @in_emmas_library for getting this book on my tbr because this read unlocked many ideas and insights into themes and tropes within the YA dark fantasy sphere to delve into. Seven Faceless Saints has a…

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Title: Seven Faceless Saints | Author: M.K. Lobb | Publisher: Titan Books (2023)

2 stars

This book took murder mystery in an Italy-inspired fantasy world with Saints and magic, and made it INCREDIBLY BORING.

Seven Faceless Saints unfortunately never became anything I was interesting. I don't really have much understanding or concept of the world or city, other than there's seven or six sectors. They mentioned something about the disciples keeping the economy going I guess, but how?? Their market is for disciples only, not regular people. Every magic person is a disciple but there's ranks but I don't quite understand how it works. Also they occasionally work at the temple, I guess? I don't know where the Saints came from, maybe they just EXIST like gods but we barely get any kind of information. There was some kind of snippet like Genesis thing but it was really brief and the main character just didn't care.

This book does talk about religion, the Saints are a religion but idk what regular people would GET out of it. The disciples who run the place seem not to give a shit about the regular people. Roz is very against the religion which is perfectly fine but this book almost tries to have this conversation about religion but refuses to make an effort to talk about the other side. The same with the rebellion and injustice, however the characters and the book doesn't really want to delve in to it too deeply. It's like afraid to try to say anything and doesn't want to explore anything.

The main problem was that I couldn't care about the two main characters! Roz especially was just an awful character mostly. I understand her anger and bitterness, but it's not even entertaining or interesting or fun to read. She's so cold and rude. The worst thing is that Roz thinks she's right 100% of the time and the narrative follows through with that too. Like maybe if it let her be wrong or something, it would have been better. I just couldn't STAND her. Damian was just kind of bland to me, I'm sorry. Boy has PTSD from war and he thinks he's a monster and follows the rules. That's about it.

The characters are basically horny for each other and that's it. I really don't understand how they could be in love with each other.

This book just felt really repetitive and then plods along the most boring mundane murder investigation I've had to read. I was not surprised by anything that happened. Not moved by anything either. It's like:

Roz chapter: my MURDERED FATHER, I don't care about being a disciple, Damian didn't write to me why is he hot??, oh yeah INJUSTICE

Damian chapter: the WAR, I haven't slept, I don't wanna go back to the war, Roz hot, oh yeah the murder investigation

And repeat.

Yeah, do not recommend.

YA fantasy set in an Italian-inspired world where the descendents of saints rule with the help of magical abilities

Two childhood-friends-turned-enemies reluctantly ally to explore a serious of sinister murders occurring across the city

Explores rebellion and religious zealotry 

Bisexual female lead, demisexual male lead, M/F romance

ARC Review - Disciples of Chaos

Hello, everyone! Today I’m reviewing Disciples of Chaos by M. K. Lobb, the follow-up to last year’s Seven Faceless Saints. Be sure to check out my review of the first book, as well! Continue reading ARC Review – Disciples of Chaos

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Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb

Continue reading Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb

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Top 5 (books with war/battle) Tuesday

Whoops, sorry, yes so I didn’t post 2 of April’s prompts and then I wanted to do this but then forgot 😄. But it’s here now so let’s go! You know how it is with Meeghan @ Meeghan Reads and her prompts! 📚🚀📚 A Spark of White Fire by Sangu Mandanna (GR/SG/My Review) – The first book in a scifi retelling of the Mahabrahata. When Esmae wins a contest of skill, she sets off events that trigger an…

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FairyLoot Unboxing

Eternal March 2023

This is probably one of the most disappointing boxes I've had from FairyLoot. Normally, they're my favourite subscription company, so it's unusual that this is the worst of the three boxes I received today. The quality is, without question, terrible.

The featured book is "Seven Faceless Saints" by M.K. Lobb. As far as I can tell from my brief internet searches, this is only available commercially in the UK as a paperback. The US edition is hardback, but from the size of the book, I think what they've done here is bound the paperback edition into a hardcase. The dustjacket is not dissimilar to the original cover, but a deep red instead of white. It has a foiled white hardcase, and elaborate stencilled edges, and artwork endpapers. I really like this edition!

The first of the items is a metal bookmark. This is, objectively, a good item - but I've had FairyLoot bookmarks before, and the quality has really gone downhill! This just isn't as sturdy as they usually are! This one is inspired by "Kingdom of the Wicked". But if I didn't know how much better they used to be, I'd be happy enough. This is definitely better than a card or wooden bookmark.

The next item is a tarot pouch. This is designed to hold the collectable tarot cards that come in the FairyLoot boxes every month. The quality is absolutely atrocious. It's cheap fabric, messily sewn, and the embroidery is so sloppy. It looks like something handmade by an amateur, not something professionally produced. I wouldn't even buy this from a marketplace, it's so shoddy.

And next is a ceramic plate. I'll admit, I'm disappointed with this. It's based on the "Winternight" books, but barely. It's such a shame, because it's a really quality item to receive, and if this had had more effort put into it, it could have been great. It's a really pretty design, but there's literally nothing bookish about it, at all. I could have bought something like this at any kitchenware shop. I wish it had a quote or a drawing from the book or something.

Last is a sticker sheet. These have a general "bookish" theme. I might use some of the smaller ones on bookmarks or something, but they're nothing special. They don't seem to follow a theme or anything.

This month's tarot cards feature Elspeth and Ravyn from "One Dark Window".

This was just such a lacklustre box, and I'm disappointed by the lack of effort put into these items. Most of all, the quality of the tarot pouch is just shocking. I'd be embarrassed to give this to someone, it's awful.

Rating: 5/5

Book Blurb: Discover what’s lurking in the shadows in this dark fantasy debut with a murder-mystery twist, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kerri Maniscalco. In the city of Ombrazia, saints and their disciples rule with terrifying and unjust power, playing favorites while the unfavored struggle to survive. After her father’s murder at the hands of the Ombrazian military, Rossana Lacertosa is willing to do whatever it takes to dismantle the corrupt system—tapping into her powers as a disciple of Patience, joining the rebellion, and facing the boy who broke her heart. As the youngest captain in the history of Palazzo security, Damian Venturi is expected to be ruthless and strong, and to serve the saints with unquestioning devotion. But three years spent fighting in a never-ending war have left him with deeper scars than he wants to admit…and a fear of confronting the girl he left behind. Now a murderer stalks Ombrazia’s citizens. As the body count climbs, the Palazzo is all too happy to look the other way—that is, until a disciple becomes the newest victim. With every lead turning into a dead end, Damian and Roz must team up to find the killer, even if it means digging up buried emotions. As they dive into the underbelly of Ombrazia, the pair will discover something more sinister—and far less holy. With darkness closing in and time running out, will they be able to save the city from an evil so powerful that it threatens to destroy everything in its path?

Review:

In a city filled with the disciples and descendants of saints, there are power plays, rebels, and a serial killer on the loose, and two childhood sweethearts turned enemies with a complicated history must find a way to work together if they want to save the city and everyone in it. In the city of Ombrazia, there are seven saints. These saints have disciples and descendants who worship and are blessed with talents related to their saint. Those who are not gifted with abilities are known as the “unfavored” and seen as disposable and made to be sent off to war. Rossana Lacertosa is a disciple of Patience but she absolutely loathes being one and hates the system entirely, especially after her father was murdered at the hands of the Ombrazian military for trying to leave, and on top of that the man who murdered her father just happens to be the father of the boy she loved who broke her heart and never talked to her after her father’s death. Rossana is angry, she joined the rebellion, and she is going to do whatever it takes to get revenge for her father and take down the system. Damian Venturi is the youngest captain in the history of Palazzo security, he is expected to be a ruthless, strong and completely devoted to serving the saints without question... except Damian is haunted not only by his time at the war front but by his sins. Damian is left with the scars of spending three years in a never ending war, filling him with despair, anxiety, and crushing guilt. He can never forgive himself for what he did to Rossana but he knows he still loves her. He is a coward, he’s afraid of facing her and of facing his father, but he is someone who will do what’s right and that means he is going to solve the recent murders and do whatever it takes to bring the murderer to justice... even if it means working with Rossana again after all these years. Damian is torn between guilt for what he did to her and the love he still feels for her, he knows he doesn’t deserve her and he is haunted by all the dark things hes done to survive his time at war. Rossana is forced to face the boy who broke her heart and the pain that come from being near him. With a serial killer on the loose and the body count rising both of them must find a way to confront their past in order to work together and find the killer, but can they survive all their anger and guilt? This was definitely a fun read, I love a murder mystery and the complicated enemies to lovers filled with so much angst between Rossana and Damien was absolutely amazing. This is the first book int he series and the way this ends has me so excited for the next one. I can’t wait to see how Rossana and Damien are in the next book and what it means for their relationship as well as how the mystery will grow!

*SPOILER* The saint of Chaos was banished and scrubbed from history after the horrible power plays done by them, they can manipulate minds and let people see things. Enzo ( Damien’s friend) turned out to be the disciple of Chaos who as killing people and taking their eyes to sacrifice. Damien had notified his father that Rossana’s father deserted because he was worried something had happened to him and it was a huge accident on his part.Damien was racked with guilt and couldn’t face Rossana, but Rossana was worried that Damien was killed or injured. They had spoken in three years but never stoped loving or thinking about each other ( well Rossana got very very angry with him). Rossana was part of the rebels. Damien’s father was killed off and Damien deserted the army only to later then be chosen as the new captain to lead after the whole thing. Rosanna is now leading the rebels and they are both together again. Damien shot Enzo after Enzo showed him a vision of a dead Rosanna and they both left his body down in the temple where he had set up the sacrifice.... and Rossana thinks that Enzo made Damien part of his plan and something else is in store for them (she’s right, Enzo made himself the 7th sacrifice and he is now rising as a saint after Damien killed him). 

*Thank you Netgalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Our new episode is out today and it’s an interview with YA fantasy author M.K. Lobb about her debut novel, Seven Faceless Saints! Tune in to hear us discuss magic, murder, and and angsty romance.

Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb - ARC Review!

Today on my blog I have a review for 'Seven Faceless Saints' by M.K. Lobb. A book I was SO excited for. The description, the comps, everything made it sound like it would be my kind of read but, unfortunately, the execution fell a little flat for me.

In the city of Ombrazia, saints and their disciples rule with terrifying and unjust power, playing favorites while the unfavored struggle to survive. After her father’s murder at the hands of the Ombrazian military, Rossana Lacertosa is willing to do whatever it takes to dismantle the corrupt system—tapping into her powers as a disciple of Patience, joining the rebellion, and facing the boy who…

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New ARC's

this book has been banished to ebay, if you want to do me a solid give it a look and drive some traffic to get it some attention