Literally all the stars. I loved this. Roz and Damian own me. I loved the plot, I didn't see the reveal coming. And the events that happened at the end have me full of concern for Roz and Damian and questions about everything. I cannot wait for book 2.

i feel distinctly misled by the blurb and that will be affecting this review.

seven faceless saints promises a “dark fantasy with a murder mystery twist,” but a potentially interesting plot is left on the back burner to focus on the second-chance romance between the two MCs. the pacing is so uneven, with major events resolved in just pages in order to linger on every interaction between roz and damian.

roz and damian’s relationship will definitely appeal to fans of YA/NA romantasy, and even i didn’t mind it. neither of them are particularly memorable characters on their own (both fall into archetypes that are currently popular in YA fantasy with little to distinguish them from dozens of other similar characters), but their dynamic was enjoyable enough.

i just wish lobb had balanced the romance and the plot more evenly, because i was intrigued by the religion-based magic system, the political divide, and the holy war at the border. i hope those elements are explored further in the sequel.

In this war-torn world, its citizens are descended from seven saints. Some are born with magic or may develop it later in life. These people become disciples and enjoy many privileges and luxuries. Those without magic, the unfavored, are at the bottom of the food chain and struggle with poverty. They’re also considered expendable and sent to war to fight for a country who gives them practically nothing.

As children and into their teens, Damian and Roz were best friends who fell in love. Both were unfavored until Roz developed magic as an early teen. Being a disciple isn’t something she wanted – she doesn’t believe in the saints or the society they built. It’s an unfair world. Damian was sent to war for three years and is still emotionally scarred from his experiences there. Fortunately, his father holds a powerful position in government and is able to secure Damian the position of captain of Palazzo security upon his return. Damian broke Roz’s heart while he was away by cutting off communication with her even after her father was brutally killed when she needed him most. Now she can’t stand the sight of him (but not really), and he can’t stop thinking about her. After several murders, the two of them team up to find the killer. It should be mentioned that the first couple of murder victims were unfavored – and no one cared. When a disciple is killed, finding the culprit becomes a priority.

In between the snippy quips, apologies, angst, declarations of love, and everything that comes with the romantic drama between prickly Roz and guilt-ridden Damian, I enjoyed the mystery. I had my suspicions, but the identity of the killer came as a surprise to me. There’s a mountain of conflict between Roz and Damian – she works with the rebels and he’s a cop, his father was responsible for her father’s death – and they have pretty big hurdles to overcome.

Reviews have been mixed for this novel, but with a mystery that keeps you guessing, likeable characters, complex world-building, and brisk pace, it gets a thumbs up from me. I’ll definitely be looking out for the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a really cool book. Loved the lore, the world-building, the setting, and the fact that it was dual pov friends-to-hate-to-lovers. There was so much to love! The start felt just a little slow, but overall it was a really wonderful debut. I can't wait for the sequel!

DNF @ 25%. Unfortunately I’m struggling with the large info dumping, and think I might be the wrong reader for this book. *sad face* I definitely think readers should try this one for themselves though as I’ve heard it has incredibly “Holy war but make it queer” rep!

This is an amazing debut novel! MK Lobb's writing is detailed, dark, and full of surprises! I love the scenery that she painted for us and I adored many of the characters. This is a dark fantasy but is YA so the darker aspects are age appropriate while still being enjoyable by a wide range of ages.

I felt like the religious aspects paired with the world building and the power system were all very unique and I enjoyed them immensely.

I can't wait to read what M.K Lobby writes next and she will 100% be an auto buy author for me!

Seven Faceless Saints was an interesting fantasy murder mystery.

Once, there were seven saints, but after the first war of saints the people removed every trace of Chaos and his disciples, now they worship only six.
When the Disciple of Death is found dead in his chambers Damian is tasked with finding his killer, or else he’ll be shipped back to the second war of saints, which he barely survived. Ros’ father was killed for desertion, and now she works against the very system that she benefits from as a disciple, but when she crosses Damian’s path things become more complicated than she could have imagined.

I enjoyed the mystery of Seven Faceless Saints. I like thrillers as well as fantasy, and this had that kind of murder-mystery feel to it. The magic system was interesting, and seeing the class system it has created from two different (and unusual) perspectives gives us a more rounded view of the world.

The city felt rich and well imagined, as did the main characters we encountered throughout. I enjoyed the unravelling of the mystery, and the way they went about it.

Overall, Seven Faceless Saints was an interesting YA fantasy novel, and I will continue the series in the future.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the chance to read this in advance. My apologies for the late review.

Initially I was really intrigued by the concept of this book and the cover is gorgeous. However, I quickly realized that it reads like a police procedural dressed up as an urban fantasy — and unfortunately the costume is too small. The characters are not entirely credible as teenagers, even on the older end, so to me it truly does read like an adult book that’s been tweaked to fit the genre.

Additionally, the language was so contemporary that it kept taking me out of the story. Was I reading a fantasy? Or a cop drama in Italy? I was curious to learn more about the saints and the first war but the rest of it was so different from what I’d expected and not to my taste. This is all subjective, of course, but I’m still left feeling like this book does not quite fit the genre or category it was published in. It is mostly written well (though there’s an argument to be made that it’s overwritten at parts) but the language, and even some character quirks, were occasionally repetitive.

I’m sure there will be readers who relate to the characters’ struggle with Religion As Oppressive Institution, but I found it a surface-level and over simplified evaluation of personal deconstruction that barely grapples with what losing your faith or belief system means for your identity and what it looks like. All in all, this just wasn’t for me on almost every front, sorry to say.

I got wrapped up in this story very quickly and really enjoyed the premise of disciples of various saints, including Patience, Mercy and Death. Damian and Roz both had heartbreaking stories and I felt deeply for each of them. I definitely didn't guess who the murderer was and was kept engaged in the story right until the very end. I will definitely be continuing with this series!

M.K. Lobb's Seven Faceless Saints is a solid YA fantasy debut.

I personally find the story pretty predicable, but then again, not all the stories need crazy twists to be enjoyable.
I mean, this book has former lovers cynical girl Roz and sad boy Damian turn enemies then to lover again. They were forced to work together to investigate creepy ritualistic murders in the city. It's clear where the story is going from the get go, but I enjoyed the chemistry between Roz and Damian.

That said, while there is magic involved, it didn't play a huge part in the story, and I wish it did. The seven saints have disciples with different powers, and the story would be more interesting if more magical powers are wielded IMO. I'd also love to get more backstory of the saints, and maybe that will come in the next book.

I think the book ended in a good place, no crazy cliffhanger at the end, but I'd still like to find out what will happen to Roz and Damian next. Would recommend this book to people who enjoy YA fantasy.

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Books for the free e-ARC in exchange of my honest review.

"Seven Faceless Saints" is a decent book that offers an interesting premise. The story revolves around a group of individuals who possess extraordinary abilities and are tasked with saving the world from an impending disaster. The action sequences are well-written and provide a sense of excitement and tension. Additionally, the book's themes of sacrifice and teamwork are commendable and add some depth.

SEVEN FACELESS SAINTS reminded me quite a bit of some of my favorite books — Nevernight, Shadow and Bone, The Winter of the Witch, and Wicked Saints. Not so much in terms of storyline, but in terms of fantastic characters in dark and atmospheric worlds with a war of faiths at the center of it all.

In this world, everything revolves around seven saints and their disciples. Anyone without magic is considered unfavored and are subsequently treated as second-class citizens. Quite a number of unfavored hold fast to their beliefs in the saints and look upon the disciples with reverence, but there’s a good portion of the unfavored who want change and the only way to do that is by letting go of their faith. There’s a threat of rebellion hanging over Ombrazia, and the rebels and the rebellion play a big part in the storyline.

The mystery starts early on when one of the disciples is found murdered in the Palazzo. Head of security Damian is tasked with solving the murder, but things get complicated when odd things start happening and more people are murdered. He’s supposed to ignore the murdered unfavored, but Damian knows that somehow these murders are connected. Roz, disciple of Patience and once-best friend of Damian, is also trying to solve the murders, only her focus is on the unfavored. Damian and Roz are different in that way — he’s unfavored and steadfast in his faith, complacent in the ways of the Palazzo, whereas Roz is a disciple who let go of her faith long ago and couldn’t give two figs about the saints and disciples, despite being one herself. Reluctantly, they team up to try and solve the murdered, but what they uncover is far bigger than anything they could have imagined.

Aside from a fantastic murder mystery, there’s also a romance brewing right under the surface of everything. Roz and Damian were, once upon a time, childhood sweethearts who loved one another. Time has been cruel to them both, and whatever fond memories they’ve had of the other have soured due to…circumstances. Each one has endured trauma, each one has endured tremendous loss, and it was such a joy seeing them work through their own personal demons while finding their way back to each other. Another thing I loved about Damian and Roz is despite their personal views on faith, they want the same thing — equality and fair treatment, irrespective of magical abilities.

Bottom line — I absolutely loved this book. The characters grabbed me by the heart and wouldn’t let go. If you’re a lover of dark storylines, conflicted characters, and wars of faith, this is one you should definitely pick up.

"All manner of vicious things are made more feasible by the dark, are they not? It provides a stage upon which to peel back the mask of morality donned beneath the wretched sun."

In the city of Ombrazia, a serial killer is stalking the streets, killing non-magic users, so Roz Lacertosa reluctantly teams up with her former childhood best friend to try and track them down, and, all in the meanwhile, a rebellion is brewing.

Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb paints a captivating venetian-inspired fantasy crime thriller that's steeped in shadows.

I think first and foremost I really loved the world in this one. Here magic-users are descendants of the original saints, and each line has their own unique power. For instance, Roz is descended from Patience and has the ability to manipulate metal. However, on the flipside of that, occasionally a descendant doesn’t inherit their saint’s powers and is seen as a disgrace. This is the case for male lead, Damian, so he finds himself constantly trying to prove his worth to his father.

While I adored the worldbuilding, I feel like the plot and the characters' inner dialogue needed more focus in this one. For instance, the two MCs' horny thirst thoughts during their murder investigation gave me tonal whiplash and felt out of place at times. The rebellion subplot is also too often forgotten despite its importance to the plot. This felt like a missed opportunity to me because it would have added even more tension and conflict--especially since Damian is a security captain working for the state.

Overall, despite some flaws, this was still an enjoyable read for me since I'm a hopeless sucker for murder mysteries and fantasy influenced by Catholicism.

Thank you, NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for this eARC to review.

5/5 stars!

Y'all I am absolutely obsessed. This book was a dark, twisty ride from start to finish, and I absolutely loved the dynamics and dual POV between Roz and Damian. Roz's ferosity and vigilante vibes were the perfect mix with Damian's self-torture and righteousness/purity. I feel like the world and "religion" system were perfectly fleshed out without being too wordy or needlessly complex, and enough was left unanswered to leave some mystery and us wanting more in the sequel. I was completely shocked to find out who was the real culprit alongside Chaos in the end! It was very easy to get attached to all of the side characters throughout the story, and you could feel every emotion they were feeling. Nothing felt "told" instead of "shown", and there were so many funny moments throughout the story! I also weirdly appreciated that the author/publisher realized that the word "f*ck" was not mutually exclusive to use in adult novels or by adults, and that it's actually quite the favorite curseword for adolescents as well! This was so well done for a debut novel, and I'll be anxiously awaiting the sequel!

I received this book as part of the blog tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours. Special thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars!

This was a strong YA/NA fantasy thriller debut that I really enjoyed! Unfortunately, I read this during a tumultuous time in my life so it took me an uncharacteristically long time to read it; however, I'm 100% certain that if I had read this at any other time, I would've flown through it one sitting because it had that unputdownable quality that made me want to keep reading to learn the truth! Though not all the twists were entirely surprising, they did keep me on my toes and eager to see if my theories proved correct. That said, while this story balances being plot and character driven very well, it was the characters who, IMO, made this great! I already can't wait for the next book because I need to know what happens next—dark things are definitely coming their way and I can't wait to see just what it turns out to be.

This was a fast-paced murder mystery and I really enjoyed Lobb's writing. It was descriptive enough to get a good sense of the story's atmosphere and the author did a great job of ramping up the tension as more truths are revealed the further we progress. It's set in the city of Ombrazia and there's a bleakness to it that sets quite an eerie and sombre mood that fits with the oppressiveness of this society where the saints blessed are rewarded and the unfavoured are expendable. I liked the glimpses that we get into the history of Ombrazia, the lore of the seven saints, and the blessings they bestow, but I wanted more. I wouldn't say it was 'info dumping' at the start but the world-building wasn't consistent and it was very surface-level when we could've got more detail about the way the world works (rather than, let's say, the more romantic aspects)! I also wasn't entirely sure if this had a more historical or modern setting as it wasn't very clear.

Even though I would've liked to know more about the world, it didn't present too much of a problem for me because where the author really excelled was in the characters and their relationships with themselves, each other, and society. Told in alternative perspectives, I love how we really get to understand both Roz and Damian throughout the story, and there is something about the way they're written that made them feel so real and their connection so personal. While they might not always be entirely likeable, I think they're both very easy to empathise with and root for. Roz, the more morally grey of the two, presents a much tougher murderous exterior because she wears her anger and grief like a shield around her. She's not just thirsty for revenge but to dismantle the oppressive system that keeps the unfavoured down. I think her character was pretty straightforward in her motives but I thought Lobb did a fantastic job portraying her journey with grief and coming to terms with the anger and love that she warrs with internally. As much as I liked Roz, it was Damian who I thought was the more nuanced and interesting character with his crisis of faith, his daddy issues, and his PTSD from the war. He's always been the good devout son who does everything by the book, even when it ends up hurting others. He was admittedly a bit of a drone in the first few chapters but that changes the minute Roz re-enters his frame and he starts to question his faith, all while he struggles with his actions in the war. He had such a soft and kind (albeit misguided) heart in this bear of a package and I'm a sucker for those kinds of characters!

I absolutely LOVED the yin-yang of Roz and Damian's chemistry. I was constantly wondering if they were gonna kill each other or maybe hug it out. And that's not to say that their physical chemistry wasn't there because they had it in spades! They were so well-balanced as she would make him question his unquestioning subservience and he would soften her sharp edges. I really loved these two together and there were moments when my heart was in my throat with worry, and honestly, did the ending of this book really change that? READ THE BOOK TO FIND OUT! 😂 But seriously, they also had so much romantic chemistry! This is peak friends-to-lovers-to-enemies-to-frenemy lovers and if you love a simp, then you'll definitely love Damian. His simphood energy was off the charts cos he worshipped at the altar of Roz and some of the things he said really had me melting. 🥹 Safe to say, the author has me *invested* in these two!

Other than these two and their very alive chemistry, there was quite a big cast of side characters from both sides. Sadly, both groups of secondary characters were one-dimensional and interchangeable as nothing about them stood out, especially with Damian's fellow guards at the palazzo. I think if these characters were a little bit more developed it would help to increase the tension and stakes of the story as there would be more people to care about. As it is now, I don't particularly care if anything were to happen to them. Overall though, I thought that this was a great debut and I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens next.

Rating 4/5⭐️
"She was his universe, his sun, the atmosphere from which he drew breath."
For a debut novel, M.K. Lobb hit it out of the ballpark. This book is action-packed, page turning, murder mystery fantasy with a dash of a lovers to enemies back to lovers love story.
The story was well written and easy to follow. The cast of characters was amazing. The female MC was a badass rebel who wouldn't take no for an answer, and I love seeing that in books. I can't wait for the next book to come out.

I went into Seven Faceless Saints completely blind. I knew it was a dark YA fantasy that involved a murder mystery. This being said, I was pleasantly surprised! The story follows Roz and Damian (our narrators), two childhood best friends who are reconnecting after a war tore them apart. Together again, the two are reluctant to trust each other, until a common enemy thrusts them together to solve a murder mystery. The story is fast-paced, compelling, and had me guessing the entire time! However, where it truly shines is in world-building.

World Building/Plot

The world-building in Seven Faceless Saints is exceptional. M.K. Lobb did a fantastic job crafting the city of Ombrazia. In this intricate world, disciples (individuals decedent from the esteemed seven saints) unjustly rule. Those without saintly powers are considered the dregs of society. They can be sent off to war at the drop of a hat. I found the disciples to be especially interesting. Each saint’s descendants possessed different skills that essentially keep the city of Ombrazia running. Due to the integral role they play in the city’s upkeep, citizens hold them in high esteem, despite their less-than-admirable treatment of the second-class citizens.

The world is as intriguing as it is creepy. I found myself wanting to learn more about the saints and their disciples while being grateful that I will never have to encounter them in real life! I also appreciated how the world continued to build and develop in ways I wasn’t expecting! If you like books with dark, eerie fantasy settings, this one’s for you!

Seven Faceless Saints is fast-paced and difficult to put down! Not once did I feel bored. M.K. Lobb’s writing style is gripping and she certainly keeps you guessing. Seven Faceless Saints is marketed as a murder mystery story, which it is. However, it is so much more. Our two main characters do work together to uncover a string of murder mysteries. However, through this process, they uncover the dark secrets of their city, the seven saints, and their selves.

Characters

Roz Lacertosa is a disciple of the saint known as Patience. However, her power developed later than most. Fed up with the society ruling Ombrazia, she is a member of the local rebel organization plotting to overthrow systemic injustice. Roz is a determined and passionate heroine who pushes people away. She comes off as cold and self-serving, but deep down she has a huge heart and cares deeply for those she loves. I enjoyed Roz’s character. It was beautiful to see her grow and open up throughout the story! Also, Roz is bisexual which I was very happy to see! I didn’t know this book had queer representation when I started, so it was a nice surprise!

Damian Venturi is chief of security at the Palazzo (where high-ranking disciples live and rule). I adored his soft and sweet personality. Throughout the story, Damian is grappling with trauma from the war he survived. Damian’s journey is one of self-discovery and overcoming profound grief. I loved seeing him grow and discover his self-worth. Plus, Damian is Demisexual. Yay for more queer rep! He was my favorite character and I can’t wait to see where he goes in book two!

Damian and Roz’s relationship starts out rocky (it gives slight enemies-to-lovers vibes). However, they soon discover their shared feelings for each other and it turns into more of a second-chance romance! Roz’s harsh exterior mixed with Damian’s soft heart is a match made in Heaven!

Final Thoughts

M.K. Lobb’s exceptional debut delivers an eerie murder-mystery fantasy story. I would recommend Seven Faceless Saints to anyone who loves dark, upper YA fantasy with beautiful world-building and creepy fast-paced plots

This was a fun YA fantasy and I loved the exploration of religion through the saints and their followers. The characters have their faith put to the test and must reckon with the extent of their beliefs in the grand scheme of a war.

Most probably a 3.5 but I’m rounding up.

Ofcourse I’m vain and get enamored with gorgeous things, so when I first saw this stunning cover, I knew I had to read it. I was quite excited when I got the opportunity to participate in this blog tour. And it turned out to be quite a complicated read.

Firstly, I have been having a tough time reading for months now, so I had to take it slow with reading this one and maybe my health issues have affected the joy I otherwise might have felt while reading this book. But I still hope I’m able to do justice to it. This book had some great plot, interwoven with the world, horrific murder mystery elements seamlessly written into this fantasy. I can’t say it totally surprised me but I do enjoy some predictability sometimes, so this was a cool read.

The world building is a bit complicated though and it took me a while to get into the groove and understand what was going on. I still don’t think I remember all the saints and their respective powers, or who signifies what in their disciples minds - but it was an interesting secondary world religion, exploring ideas like the perils of extremism especially towards the end, which felt very relevant to our current world scenario and the issues we seem to be facing everyday with religious extremism.

But ultimately it’s what the author tells through the characters is I feel the beating heart of the story. Roz is powerful and angry at the world and hates what power has done to the society, how oppression is ingrained and no one questions that faith. Damian on the other hand is a soft boy with immense faith in his saints and believes in his duty as a guard(or cop) but is disillusioned by his experiences in war, and has to grapple with the actual ground reality of his faith and duty. Their past relationship in the story leads to a lot of yearning but I still think I appreciated them more as individuals than feeling invested in their relationship. I also think they both sometimes felt like archetypes present to further explore the themes in this story than individuals with more personal motivations.

However, in the end, this was a fun YA fantasy with a bit of a rough start but a pretty cool ending. Roz’s unbending anger, Damian’s internal struggles and the world full of forgotten saints whose disciples don’t necessarily engage in any saintly endeavors - this is an enjoyable book you can try, especially if you are looking for a YA fantasy which you can read quickly. And it’ll look gorgeous on your bookshelf too.

Not sure how to feel about this one. On one hand, once I properly got into the book, I absolutely flew through it, but on the other, it did take quite a while to understand and become entrenched in the writing.

The characters were interesting but possibly not unique enough to truly become new favourites of mine – though I did love Damian, my little soft demi boy. And Roz was certainly the stabby bi girl that was promised, but I only really started to like and warm to her towards the ending, which was disappointing. However, the world building with the different saints and magic etc was really interesting! While I got nowhere near comprehending which saint was associated with which power, much less which colour, I still enjoyed the new world, and I think the author and this series have definite potential.

I can definitely see how the author will weave the characters and overarching story into something bigger later on in the series, but I did appreciate how this book had it’s own completed storyline as well. I’m glad I read this, though not sure I’ll continue the series. Nonetheless, I thank the author, publisher and TBR & Beyond Tours for the review opportunity :).