This book was a slight let down, but yet elements of it I did like. I find it fails at being dark and edgy, that maybe fixed with going deeper into the saints, the world, the war, etc., in the next book. The main characters were supposed to be 19, but came off more like 16. I am a sucker for rebellions, and the magic system is unique yet draws on used concepts that I like. The book needed a better balance between plot and romance for me. It was romance heavy and not really an enemies to lovers scenario like it promoted itself as. I am curious to know more about Chaos and to see where the author takes the story. I do think some elements happened a bit too fast and I hope the second book is better paced. I can’t quite decide what I think, as such I will give it four stars.

CW:
violence
shooting
poisoning
beheading
graphic descriptions of blood/bodies
death of parents/friends/siblings
depictions of memory loss/confusion
PTSD and flashbacks
descriptions of war
prejudice
religious intolerance
hallucinations
paranoia
alcoholism
self-harm

Thank you, M.K. Lobb, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley, for this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

One of my most anticipated young adult books this year, a fantastic debut full of angst, mystery, and murder with a friends-to-enemies trope. This pulled on my heartstrings in all the right ways. It was the story I didn’t know I needed. This is a duology, not a standalone, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the second.

A solid debut that sets up a dark, stunning world with more to come.

This YA fantasy will give you Grishaverse vibes amongst the backdrop of a murder mystery. With alternating POVs between the two main characters, along with single chapters of the murder victim's final moments, I guarantee you'll be entranced from the beginning.

Following security officer, Damian, and rebel, Roz, the two ex-best friends must come together again in order to solve the series of murders plaguing their city. I loved following along their journey as they reconnected, revealed their deepest emotions, and attempted to solve the crime together. While they were each frustrating to read at times, I think Lobb does a great job of making her characters feel real and authentic.

Lobb is a beautiful writer, with sweeping prose and rich settings, and not to mention characters you're equally rooting for and wanting to smack across the face. She sets the scene perfectly for the second book, and I can't wait to read it!

My favorite element of Seven Faceless Saints is tied between the characters and the themes. I knew from the beginning I'd love Rossana, her anger, her hatred of her power, and her determination. She was a character I knew from the premise alone that I would love. And I did. She makes difficult decisions in a system that so clearly doesn't care about the lives of those lost. And even though she has power now, she can see the ways in which power only cares about power.

Whereas Damian has been so thoroughly convinced that his sacrifices are just a natural part of the system. That it's his duty, his responsibility, his fate. And sometimes we need someone to shake us out of that mindset. Because that's the mindset that keeps the wheels of power and inequality turning.

Seven Faceless Saints is the story of Roz and Damian, two characters that live in a world with a broken system, where children have to go to war, and the ones without powers suffer the struggles while the disciples (the ones with powers) live comfortably.

This book had a chokehold on me since the very first page. I love how the writing makes the story both fast-paced and very easy to understand everything that's going on, while also explaining how the whole world works in like, the first 8% of the book. I found very refreshing the way everything is set up, how you get to know the details of their lives very fast, reserving only some details for the rest of the book. It goes straight to the mystery, we don't have to wait to long before we get involved in a web of lies and secrets to find out what's going on.

The world itself and how the magic works is something I found very interesting. I really wanted the story to show more about what the other disciples with different powers could do, but I'm sure that's something we'll be getting in the second book!

Now, the characters. I adore them. I adore how Damian lives and breathes for Roz, and how Roz is the tough one in the relationship. I love how their traumas are treated in the story, and how they are never diminished by anyone in the story. I love their love! Their relationship is so unique, but also so pure, coming from their childhood. I love how this is a friends to lovers to people who hate each other to allies to ?!?!?!? because their dynamics are always changing. That, for me, made their relationship even more believable. I also liked how Damian's faith was challenged all the way through the story, it's just fair after everything he had gone through.

If you are looking for a fantasy with some political and religious elements, a revolution, and great main characters that carry heavy loads on their backs (and hearts), I really recommend this book!

PS: Roz is bisexual. A bisexual main character? EXTRA POINTS

First ARC of the year did not disappoint! There are so many things I loved about this book, Roz and Damian (who is demisexual by the way!!) were fantastic main characters, narrators and I am obsessed with their lovers-to-enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Their love story felt like a tradgedy with a happy ending ... at least for now anyways.
I was so caught up in the murder mystery aspect of the story which I'm happy to say I figured out but not until an appropriate time. I gasped and then gasped again when my theory was proven right.
While I didn't always understand the magic system I did love the overall idea of it. I will 100% be continuing on with this series!

𝘚𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘍𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 follows Damian Venturi, son of the city's head of security, who's accused of nepotism for saving his life and an old love, Roz, but she's no longer the girl he recognises. Now she's stronger, sharper and absolutely hates him. But there's no time to dwell on what once was for the city with death's too complex and gruesome, rebellions and the rising of a long gone evil.
- ~ -

Look it's not a bad book by any means and if you want to give a chance, go ahead.
But I will say, the world building fell flat. The plot is rather slow and it's much less thrill enducing than I anticipated.

The dialogue's also too repetitive which made me lose interest.
And Roz was stabby for like 90% of the time so that just grated on my nerves.

Damian's character has some quality of justice to him so that's good. But aside from that no one character, was well developed.

- ~ -

3.41 / 5✩

𝘛𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘓𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦, 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯 𝘉𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘠𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘕𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩 𝘐 𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸𝘦𝘥. 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘰𝘸𝘯.

wasn't as good as I had expected but for a multiple POV book, the narrative was fresh, and the romance was nevertheless the sweetest thing I've ever read.

I really wanted to love this one. It has everything I love. Villainous gods. A murder mystery. Magic.
But it all fell really flat. I had trouble connecting with the characters right off the bat. And then while the world had been a draw in the description, it felt really underdeveloped in the story. A lot of the world building elements weren’t fully fleshed out. I know the saints and their disciples all have specialties in their power but we really only briefly learned what Patience and Chaos’s disciples could do. It felt like I had were blinders on for the setting and world for most of the book.

I also didn’t really understand a lot of the conclusions the characters were jumping to in solving the mystery….there didn’t seem like much thought behind it on their part and I wasn’t hooked by the mystery. The actual review was extremely unsatisfying.

Overall I loved the idea of this story but the actual execution was so lackluster.

Man, I'm just having a mediocre beginning to my reading this year. Not that I've read so much this year, since this is the fifth book I've read so far, but still.

Anyway, I was enjoying this at the beginning before it slowly slipped away to annoyance and confusion. The writing tends to repeat the character's thoughts over and over again, and the worldbuilding was surface-leveled and left much to be desired Like, why aren't the disciples the soldiers? I understand it's a parallel, that the lives of those considered holy are put above the mundane, but the disciples have magic. Very useful magic. Roz and other Patience disciples' metal-bending skills alone would be exploited by their government if the officials were actually smart enough to do it. Throwing people without magic into battle when you have people who could do that doesn't make sense. Roz doesn't use her magic often, which is fine for her character, but we never get a deep dive into the magic system other than what is told in exposition dumps.

The plot also lacked the focus it needed. The focus wasn't so much on solving the murder mysteries but more so on Roz and Damien's romance, which wasn't even that good, to be honest. I like angry women in my stories, but Roz was annoying because her sole desire for revenge was so one-dimensional and made her so boring. I felt as though she always had to be the 'right' one. Her viewpoint is never seriously challenged (Damien doesn't count because he's a wet napkin equivalent of a character), and she never tries to understand any other perspectives because she's the main character! She doesn't need to! And Damien's constantly whining about the guilt he feels is also grating. An arc where a character loses faith in his religion and its system has been done good in other works, but just not here. These two together just did nothing for me. The chemistry might has well been a fart in the wind.

Overall, very disappointed read, as this was one of my most anticipated of the year.

Wow, this was an AMAZING book to read. It has a sequel to it but it does NOT, I repeat NOT, end on a cliffhanger and for that I am grateful. I can wait for the next book without dying 🤩. This was a beautifully woven fantasy, murder, and mystery story set in the city of Ombrazia where we see two parties fighting for their right to rule amidst a brewing rebel movement. If you like the Prison Healer trilogy by Lynette Noni, this is the perfect book for you >:3

Thank you to netgalley for the amazing eARC

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advanced copy of the Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb.

A friend recommended this book, and I was excited to read something a bit different than my usual choices of romance or thrillers. The Seven Faceless Saints ended up blending the two genres with the added splash of fantasy. The story revolves around Roz, a grief-stricken citizen of the corrupt city of Ombrazia, and Damian, the newest captain of the guard freshly returned from war.

A series of murders draw Roz and Damian, old childhood sweethearts, together into a mystery involving class, religion, and magic. As their relationship heals, they are drawn closer and closer to an unknown danger and the possible destruction of their very world.

i really enjoyed the Seven Faceless Saints once I got oriented in the world. It started a bit slow to build Roz and Damian's worlds, but as the mystery unfolded, Lobb did a great job escalating the tension and keeping me guessing. The book also set up the next book in the series without ending in a cliffhanger, which I really appreciate.

CW - Graphic descriptions of murder and war

I enjoyed this book quite a bit. It had mysterious vibes, and I thought the writing really leaned into crafting that ambiance well. The atmosphere felt dark and foreboding, and honestly, it wasn't a world I'd want to live in. However, it was a compelling place to visit through the safety of the book's pages. The pace was steady, and I never found myself bored, even in the quieter moments. In fact, I rarely put the book down once I began and finished it much quicker than I anticipated.

The setting was fascinating, and I enjoyed learning about the history of the saints and how they impacted the development and history of this society. There were obviously secrets I won't spoil here. So, I won't say too much more about the magic and world, but I did really like it. I just wish there was a bit more of it. The story focused heavily on the characters and took place in only a few locations within the same city. The author did a fantastic job of setting the scene in those places, but it just felt a bit cramped at times. We didn't get to see most of the types of magic first-hand, and there is still so much more about this world that I want to know. I guess that could either be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. I loved it enough to be drawn in and want more! It helped that the available world-building was tailored to the story and accomplished its purpose well of moving the plot forward and revealing new things about the characters.

I love a good murder mystery, and this story hooked my interest from the very first chapter. I enjoyed following the two main characters as they unraveled the clues. Although, I did figure out the identity of the killer much earlier than they did. I didn't find any of the twists surprising, but I did think it was plotted well even if some of the clues gave things away too early, at least to me. The only thing I think could have been an improvement was if the killer had been a larger part of the story. The reveal made it out to be a huge betrayal, but I never felt like we got enough interaction between the killer and the main characters to make me believe it.

As for the characters, both Roz and Damian were really compelling individuals to follow. Roz was consumed by rage and a need for vengeance after the death of her father. She was determined to bring down the corrupt system that used its second-class citizens as cannon fodder even though she benefited from the system as a disciple with magical abilities. Roz had no qualms with using whatever means necessary to meet her goals, including subterfuge and violence, and she was pretty bad ass. Damian was wracked with guilt and suffering from PTSD after returning from war. His job as the chief of security and his faith in the saints meant it was his duty to protect the established order, even if he wasn't lucky enough to be blessed by the saints with magic. The two end up re-uniting after several years apart when they both were trying to find the mysterious killer. Their dynamic was volatile but full of chemistry, and I loved their second chance, childhood friends to enemies to lovers romance. It was all made more complicated because Damian had ghosted Roz after his father killed her father for military desertion. Needless to say, they had a lot of issues to process, and the author did a great job of showing the characters growing through their grief, guilt, and pain.

There were also so many timely and fascinating themes explored in the story. The relationship between Roz and Damian was a great representation of two people with diametrically opposed views working together to bring about successful change. Their conversations were one of my favorite things about this book because the arguments were so relevant to today's world while also still being grounded in the story, characters, and their world, as well. Damian's journey also displayed a crisis of faith and illustrated how much of someone's resistance to societal change is likely tied to that change being a threat to their very identity or how they view themselves. It explored how to overcome those feelings of fear about losing yourself when everything you thought you knew changes around you. Finally, Damian's job allowed for the critique of policing as a system that can uphold systemic injustice, while also humanizing the officers who truly wanted to help others and illustrating ways policing can work for the good of the people. It was a difficult balance to strike, but I think the author did a good job overall. There are other themes explored, as well, including classism, economic inequality, and religious persecution, but I'd be here all day if I talked about everything. Needless to say, there's plenty to sink your teeth into despite this being a fairly easy read.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The setting, themes, and characters were all compelling, and the murder mystery kept me turning the pages even though I figured out the killer pretty early on in the story. I'm definitely curious to see where the story goes next. Therefore, I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

I am LOVING this book. The vibes and voice are gripping, the characters are flawed and compelling and multi-faceted, and the murder mystery has me hooked. I'm here for the abundance of recent novels (especially YA) where the protagonists wrestle with oppressive religious systems that look eerily similar to real life deconstruction. If you liked This Vicious Grace, pick up Seven Faceless Saints!

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for the eARC.

The concept of Seven Faceless Saints reminded me of Wicked Saints and This Vicous Grace, so I am very excited to have an arc of this book!

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!

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

I really liked this one! For some reason, my mind had conflated it with Wicked Saints, so I was wary of it. Thankfully, this was worlds better than Wicked Saints.

Partly because of the time spent on worldbuilding. The lore regarding the Saints was SO well done. It was atmospheric and bewitching, and I can't wait to explore more of it in the next book. I had my theories regarding the murders and the way the Saints played in was so well done.

I also really enjoyed the dynamic between Roz and Damian. Friends->enemies->lovers is one of my favorite progressions because you get all the tension present in enemies to lovers with some extra spice because the characters have old attachments. This was even better because it was true slowburn.

As for the mystery, I enjoyed it too. Normally mysteries aren't my thing, but Seven Faceless Saints wove it so masterfully in with the plot that I found it intriguing. I'm proud that I guessed one of the main twists, but the other took me by surprise.

After thoroughly enjoying this one, I can't wait for Book 2! The Saints are so intriguing, and I want way more of them. I'd recommend this!

Thanks to TBR Beyond Tours for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

YA murder mystery fantasy set in an Italian inspired world controlled by guilds. The people are separated into two groups: disciples, those that have been favoured by the saints and have powers, and the unfavoured. Major themes include politics, classism, poverty, rebellion.

Damian is the standout character for me. He is living with PTSD, guilt and grief but is working towards being a better person, even with the hand he was dealt. Roz is very singular focused and filled with rage. I found her to be hard to read sometimes and somewhat flat. MCs are late teens and also quite horny so likely more of an upper YA read. One fade to black scene, but brief descriptions prior to the fade.

The first half read slow for me, I believe due to the more passive narrative voice. It did pick up 50% in and I overall enjoyed it enough to want to read book two. This one wraps up most major plots but leaves some questions open for the sequel.

3.5 rounded up.

I loved this book. The more I learned about Roz and Damian, the more I wanted them to be together. The things that came between them were heartbreaking, and I really enjoyed watching them overcome something even though something else would then arise. I really liked the world building. It was interesting and layered into the book very well. I was not expecting the twist at the end, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

Thank you so much TBR and Beyond Tours, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, M.K. Lobb, and Netgalley for sending me an eARC to read and give an honest review!

"You don't recover - you only grow stronger. You find a way to rebuild yourself, even with crucial pieces missing."

*2.5 stars*

I want to say how disappointed I was by this book. I REALLY wanted to love it because it was one of my top releases of this year. However, the terrible pacing, undeveloped magic system, and lack of focus on the actual plot made me want to DNF this book MULTIPLE times. It's honestly embarrassing that this was pitched as "for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kerri Maniscalco." Additionally, for some reason, I thought this book might be like Nevernight by Jay Kristoff (maybe because the girl on the cover looks like Mia Corvere) which probably didn't help matters.

First of all, the pacing was absolutely terrible. The first 60% (or so) dragged. Was this due to the fact that the main characters (especially Roz, the FMC) kept repeating things they had already said, or the fact that they didn't start working together to solve the murder until, like, 40% through? The only time this book was paced correctly was the last 30%. Honestly, the author probably could've gotten away with just publishing the second half of the book.

Secondly, the magic system lacked development. The reader was told how each saints' Disciples had a specific type of magic, but they were not told the exact type or the limits of their power. It felt like it was just thrown in by the author to make it more "fantasy". The guild system idea was a good one, just executed poorly.

Thirdly, Lobb obviously wanted to write a romance but instead thought it'd be fine if the story mainly focused on the romance versus the murder the characters were supposed to be solving (which (view spoiler)) as long as there were still some elements of the mystery in it. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE a good romance, but it's frustrating when the book is supposed to be about one thing and the author focuses on some other element of the story. Additionally, the supposed-to-be-major twist of who the murderer was didn't SHOCK me like it was supposed to.

In regards to the characters . . . Roz was a TAD annoying. As another reviewer put it, she had a "self-righteous holier-than-thou attitude". Even sweet Damian was one-dimensional.

All that being said, this might be a case of "it's not the book, it's me," and I sincerely hope others who read this book enjoy it more than I did. The last 30% was the main redeeming quality of this book (earned it two stars at the very least). I will also more than likely pick up the second book to see where Roz and Damian's story goes after that cliffhanger of an ending (that part gave this the extra half-star).