Great book. Will post full review on release day as to avoid spoilers, but thank you so much for letting me review this title. What an excellent book.

A girl who can speak to gods must save her people without destroying herself.

A prince in danger must decide who to trust.

A boy with a monstrous secret waits in the wings. 

Together, they must assassinate the king and stop the war.

In a centuries-long war where beauty and brutality meet, their three paths entwine in a shadowy world of spilled blood and mysterious saints, where a forbidden romance threatens to tip the scales between dark and light. - Goodreads

I didn't know what to expect when I began reading this. Was I going to get a love triangle that would piss me off? Would I get a character that does nothing until the last moment or in a fit of rage? Or most importantly, would I get a book that is so detailed its boring or not enough detail to make it feel lacking?

Here is what I thought of this book . . . it was good.

The best part of the book was Nadya and her ability to talk to Gods. This was the main focus of the novel and it was tastefully done. At first I thought Nadya would be naive and couldn't hold her own. But very quickly the author shows you that isn't the case. Nadya may have been sheltered to a certain extent but knows how to defend herself, she knows how to accept help and she is knowledgeable. 

As much as I would love to tell you about the prince and the monster, I'm not because that would mean there would be spoilers and I am not about that life in this review. But what I can tell you is monsters come in different forms and even though people may not consider themselves a monster it doesn't mean that they aren't, no matter how good their intentions try to be. 

But beyond the main characters, the surrounding characters brought the much needed smiles, laughs and valid points none of the main three were willing to see. The author did a really good job using these characters as fillers and connecting pieces to the story.

Beyond this, the book itself is a slow burn. What kept my attention was Nadya and the monster. The prince. . . well he is something that I can see why people love him but I don't. 

Nothing really major was wrong with this book. It brings a lot of things together such as religion, fantasy, romance, betrayal, war and history. So the author makes sure that she get readers at every end. 

Overall, I am interested in seeing what happens next. 

3 Pickles

I mentioned in one of my status updates that I was swinging back and forth a lot while I was reading this between "Omg I love this so much" to "ehhh I'm not too sure" and think I've ultimately decided on a happy medium between the two.

I was instantly drawn to the premise for this book. Gore, religion, political strife, characters with prophecies, oh my! Specifically the religion and saints is what pulled me in and throughout the book I was really interested in the conversations surrounding that and how the two different countries (territories?) were at war over this. I did find myself getting lost in a few places, and would've liked a little more backstory on, well, everything, because there were times that the more I read the more I felt like I was trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

It also jumped quite a bit and there were times I wished it could just slow down and settle in the moment. Perhaps this is something that will happen more in book 2, since I usually find sequels to books like this to drag a bit more since they have more time to build up to the final book and we are already familiar with the characters/plot/setting/etc.

Additionally, I did really like Nadya's chapters much better than Serefin's, and I wish I could've gotten some chapters from Malachiasz's perspective (again, perhaps this will come in book 2). I found Nadya to be a really interesting character and she goes through a lot throughout the novel, but I did not buy how fast the connection between her and Malachiasz was. It felt so sudden and as a result I was extremely skeptical of them as the plot progressed, though I found him extremely entertaining and interesting too.

Overally, I actually really really enjoyed it, and would be very interested in reading the sequel when it's published (in 2020?). There's a lot of potential with the cliffhanger at the end and I can't wait to see where the characters will end up!

I think this will become a cult favourite. Even though it feels like there have been many Slavic stories, the characters and setting in this one is unique enough that it stands out. It's a dark book and there should definitely be trigger warnings for cutting/self-harm, but it wasn't nearly as violent as I was expecting. I will be recommending this to my more mature students.

4.75 stars.

I really, really liked this book. It reminded me of Leah Bardugo's work, but I confess I preferred this. The story manages to tackle big questions about magic, divinity, and humanity without hamfistedly breaking through its very-well described universe. I could have done without the romance (which is true of most of the YA fic I read), but it wasn't totally out of the blue.

Loved the world building and most of the characters. The story was fun, even with how dark it was. Seferin was by far my favorite character and I always looked forward to his chapters. The very obvious attempt at copying the Darkling and Alina was a massive let down.

I was first told about this book by my friend Signy Cullen, and she told me that it was an amazing dark fantasy read. So I started doing a little research about it, and ended up starting to follow Emily on Twitter. There I discovered that we like a lot of the same music, and that she also went to Kent State University and earned an MLIS. Then Emily mentioned that she had gotten the idea for this book while playing Skyrim and that it was inspired by/influenced by clerics in Dungeons & Dragons.

Pretty much that all spoke to my soul, and I absolutely needed to read it. So, I prepared an e-mail and sent it in to the publisher, hoping to be granted early access to this book. I didn’t care if it was an e-galley or an ARC. (Now that I’ve read it, I really really would like an ARC of this one to keep in my collection). It was my first time actually approaching the publisher; typically I just request books on NetGalley. Thankfully, this time, I can say that my request was answered, and I downloaded this book.

Wow, okay, so two paragraphs in to my thoughts, and I haven’t really said anything about the book, just background details. Sorry.

I tried to take my time with this book, because I knew it wasn’t being released until April. I was reading about 15-20% a day at work. But then I had a day at work where I had a few hours with no work to do…so like any responsible book blogger, I read. And I devoured the last 60% of this book in that one sitting at work. I was so enraptured by this story and these characters that I could not stop reading.

As a little backstory before I make my next point, I play a lot of Dungeons & Dragons, and the primary class that I play is cleric. There’s just something about their divine nature that really appeals to me. Emily’s writing about talking to the deities, and channeling the magic, and just every aspect of the cleric lifestyle was so on point to what I know from all of my characters. So imagine my surprise when I talked to her on Twitter and found out that she has actually never played a cleric in D&D. It is immensely impressive that she so perfectly writes out Nadya’s character. I am honestly just in awe. Of course I can say that Nadya is different from most D&D clerics because she actually can talk to and channel the power from all the deities in the pantheon, not just one. Which is very intriguing to me honestly.

Oh, I suppose I should also put out a possible content warning out there for some of you. There are a number of blood mages in this book, and they cast spells by first cutting themselves and channeling power from the blood. So if cutting/self-harm is a trigger for you, then maybe pass on this book…or at least make sure you are in a good mental health position before you dive in.

But I simply adored the characters in this. There were some revelations in this book that surprised me in the best way possible. Nadya and Serefin and Malachiasz all had different motivations, and I loved seeing how the various relationships amongst the characters developed. If you were a fan of the Darkling in the Grisha trilogy, then you’re probably definitely going to like Malachiasz.

So, writing this review has made me want to read this book again. Let’s just admit that I’m probably going to read it again soon, and then I’ll probably read it again once the final version is printed.

I loved this book so much. That’s all I can really say.

I really loved this book and was so excited when I was approved for an arc. The world is interesting, the characters are interesting and the writing was well done. I enjoyed the pacing and mostly I enjoyed the setting of the story. I feel like there was a good tone overall and written in a way that made me feel the chill of the snow right there with the characters.
I also really enjoyed the interactions and personality of the MC.

This is Emily Duncan's debut novel and it was amazing, I'm so excited for the sequel and I also am pretty in love with the cover artwork as well.

"Wicked Saints" was an absolutely wonderful YA fantasy. We plunge into this world with a holy war- Tranavians against Kalyazins. The Tranavians possess blood magic and do not answer to the gods - they use spell books combined with their blood to cast powerful spells. The most potent blood mages are the Vultures, whose bodies and minds have turned into something darker- and more powerful. The Kalyazins view this as an abomination. They worship the gods, and most of their people are without magic, except the clerics who are given this gift by a patron god.

Nadya is a cleric who has been raised in a monastery. She does not answer to only one god but can call on most- whether and how they answer is up to them. The monastery is under attack by the Tranavians, who are led by their high prince, and the Kalyazins are desperate to save Nadya- she is the only known cleric and their hope for winning this hopeless war. Nadya escapes and encounters other people along the way, two Akolans and a Tranavian who is working against the Tranavian side. Together, they seek to travel to Tranavia and kill the king to end the war. Along the journey, Nadya begins to explore what divinity means and religion, as well as power in its many forms.

In other chapters, we follow Serefin, the high prince, who is a powerful blood mage (not a Vulture though), and who is ready to end this war. He is surprised when his father calls him back to the capitol for a Rawalyk, a ceremony to choose his bride. As Serefin travels back, we learn more about Tranavian politics and even more sinister plots.

This book was impossible to put down and I absolutely loved every second of it. We see the world from both sides of the war and all the complications along with them. This was a fascinating and truly unique story- I don't want to say too much to avoid spoilers, but AHHHHH! There are so many twists and turns and unexpected events, and I loved it! Fans of dark YA fantasy will need to add this to their TBR for sure. I cannot wait for the next one!

As a final note, I will add warnings for self-mutilation/harm (with the blood magic) and also for a bit of a cliffhanger ending. Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I loved this so much! The characters were amazing and the world was fascinating A full review to come in March with the blog tour.

This was quite the book. I'm agog that I got the chance to review it, but I'm especially glad that I did because this was amazing! This is a stellar debut that really sinks its teeth into you and doesn't let go. The world-building is amazing, the POV characters are both distinctively different (which is refreshing), the twists are breakneck and thorough. All in all, this is an amazing story and I highly recommend it to everyone - 2019 is the year of the wicked saint!

Wicked Saints is wicked good! A dark and enthralling tale that all Leigh Bardugo fans should read.

What I loved🖤🖤🖤:
1. Duo POV from two people on the opposite sides of a hundred-year war.
2. The world-building and intricately created magic system with a mythology of gods.
3. Nadya is a cleric who is blessed by the gods...but during her travels realizes that her world isn’t black and white and what she’s been taught isn’t necessarily true. She is constantly reevaluating her beliefs and her purpose.
4. Serefin is a high prince and a powerful blood mage...he knows his father is up to something, he just doesn’t know what. He slowly grew on me, rather like mold.
5. The twists...I’m still reeling in the best way. The last three chapters blew my mind. Definitely set up for sequels that I can’t wait to devour.

If you’re looking for dark, compelling, and beautifully written fantasy, look no further than Wicked Saints.

This book is so richly written that it draws the reader into a whole new world! I appreciated that it was in a different area than most books of a similar genre. the action just kept coming and I didn't want to put it down. I cannot wait for more!

Hi yes I'm here to talk to you about how Emily Duncan ripped my heart out and stuffed it down my throat with a single book. I was a total wreck after finishing this book in the middle of the night, because I have zero chill and had to know how it ended. And how did it end? Amazingly. I would kill for the second book. This is one of those instances where you read the first book of a new author and just know they will be a best selling, chart topping, instant buy author for the rest of your life. Plus, she plays D&D and loves villains. Can we be best friends Emily? Anyway, I know why you're all here so onto the real review. 

Wicked Saints is stated as a thrilling read but let me explain for a second that when you read thrilling you're probably thinking lots of action and a good climax. No, I'm talking heart stopping plot twists over and over and over again so by the time you think your little heart can't possibly take anymore monsters and gods and slow burn romance you are left with your heart in your stomach. The world building of the story alone is something I want to just wrap around me and study and enjoy for a long time. At the beginning of each chapter we get a section from a book within Nadya's world called the Codex of the Divine. You might be tempted to skip these little juicy morsels of info but DO NOT. They are very important and I also would love a little novella of all the actual saints listed together. 

The story itself is very dark and foreboding. I went in knowing this was about war between two countries called Kalyazin and Tranavia and it really hits home on all the morally gray or dark areas of what someone is willing to do for their country. The first book until the very end is dual POV (the ending adds one more POV) between Nadya and Serefin who is a prince and blood mage of her enemy country. It's hard to say who was my favorite as they all hold a special place in my heart but I think ultimately I love Malachiasz most. Malachiasz is also from Tranavia but is accompanied by two outside individuals that are from a third country that typically stays neutral to the war. Malachiasz is unlike anyone I have ever read. He's dark, haunted and driven. (That is ALL I'm going to say.) He meets Nadya when she is on the run in the beginning of the book which leaves you for nearly the rest of the story doubting and wondering if you should trust him. This story is based around gods, magic and the power of oneself. I loved the debates Nadya would have with other characters or even herself as she is trying to navigate a world on the cusp of something. (Again, vague review is vague bc spoilers.) Overall I loved all the dark grittiness of the story and all the characters, they had amazing structure and personalities. 

Since I believe the story is best unfolded as you are reading that's all I'm going to talk about. I highly recommend everyone talk a look at Wicked Saints, you won't be disappointed. Also Emily has rounded up all the amazing fan art for the story on her website and I love all of it!

Content warning: Self harm (blood mages have to use their blood for magic so... it's gonna happen.)

This book is dark, mysterious, unforgiving, and perfectly written. I cannot express just how bloody murderous these main characters are. Told from different views and different sides of very different cultures one gets to see just what is happening in each of their heads. It makes the story that much more intriguing. Enemies to lovers. Enemies to friends. Magical powers given and taken, growth, culture, belief. This book has it all while still being cohesive.

If you are looking for a happily ever after story this is not that. But if you want a compelling read that is so unforgiving in its darkness that you cannot help but fall in love with it then this is the book for you.

I’m going to keep this review v short bc I wasn’t into the story at all and skimmed tf out of it. c:

Things I Liked:
✨- the mc can have conversations with gods! It was so cool because we have a young religious figure just,,,,,chilling with her gods. They have personalities, like charming little friends! It brought a smile to my disillusioned face.

✨- You could feel the effort put into being dark and brutal. The imagery tried to drag my disinterested self to the most horrific, bloody, gruesome scene ever. & you know what! I’ll bet a lot of people will be properly horrified and it’ll be fine.

✨- Everyone is a flawed character! I firmly believe that everyone in this book is mad. Which, combined with the religious theme, was deeply romantic. Lord Byron and Leigh Bardugo, this one’s for youuuuuu

✨- there are alliances! You know how much I love alliances in general.

Things I Wasn’t Into:
✨-for such a fast-paced story, it felt infuriatingly leisurely.

✨-The characters were significantly flat. I felt a constant sense of déjà vu. It’s my least favorite feeling.

✨-The plot wasn’t there for me. I didn’t care if any of these people lived happily. They are free to live however they happen to live.

✨-the aesthetic felt like it was trying to be profound and brutal,,,,,,,,,,but it was accidently cheesy horror film. Which can be a nice aesthetic! But not if it’s accidently like that.

✨- It reminded me of And I Darken. Radu is my least favorite boy in this world bc he’s disloyal and refuses to understand his sister’s weird brand of nurturing.

In the end, this wasn’t for me, but pls note that fantasy is my #1 love/hate relationship. I either obsess ( The Captive Prince series) or I'm bored af.

TW: self-harm, abuse

An ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Ohhhhhh my goodness. I read the first two chapters, put the book down to do things, came back to it later in the week, and spend the day glued to my screen.

Wicked Saints is a book you want to preorder so you can read it the day it comes out.

There seems to be a wave right now of dark YA fantasies where the characters are deciding the fates of their kingdoms—and I'm here for it. All of it. Wicked Saints is on that vein, full of delicious dialogue, characters, and interactions that—woof. Friends, this book is *good*, and I'm so upset I have to wait to read book 2!

From what I understand, this is a Joan of Arc (re?)telling, but not knowing anything about her didn't make the story any less understandable. Emily Duncan's writing is clear and concise, captivating in its simplicity. This is one of the few stories I've read in recent years where I *really* didn't know what was going to happen, beyond a few points—for instance, that the two POV characters would have to meet, at some point—and the twists and turns left me on the edge of my seat. There is love, betrayal that hurts (A LOT, EMILY, IT HURT A LOT), enemies-to-lovers romance that isn't the center of the book but is still steamy as all hell, internal struggles over right and wrong (and whether that's ultimately what matters), and relationships I hope blossom into incredible friendships.

I love the way so many topics are treated in this book—war, religion and faith, duty, love of country being the big things. The characters grapple with how each of these things affect their interactions with each other, both verbally and internally, which adds richness to already complicated characters. No one in simple in this book, and everyone is forced to examine their complicity in great and terrible things in realistic, heart-wrenching ways.

Some books with multiple POVs has me invested in one story more than the other, but I was deeply into both POV characters, their struggles and relationships. Their stories unfold in fascinating way with interesting consequences, and watching the two of them navigate the political landscape of a desolate, war-torn country posed questions each had to grapple with. Each one of their actions had consequences they had to learn to deal with. Nadya is fierce and wonderful, and the way she grapples with her faith becomes so complex in a great way. For the first few chapters, Serefin seems like a brilliant but very alcoholic prince but then shit happens and all I want to do is hug my mage bby. Don't get me started on the Darkin—I mean, Malachiasz. I have too many spoiler-y thoughts.

Things got... weird, towards the end, in ways I wish I could explain but would spoil everything. I wasn't lost in the sense of no longer enjoying the book, but rather, I'm looking forward to the way Books 2 and 3 explore what was introduced and fully explain what's going on. Because it's... weird. I'm here for it.

Anyway, everyone keeps saying "for fans of Leigh Bardugo," and I'm here to say: for fans of Leigh Bardugo, only darker and with more violence and blood. Very much an upper YA. Very much recommended!!

By far the best YA novel I’ve had the pleasure of reading in over a year! Dark and enchanting and positively perfect...

This books literally breathes hope back into the YA genre and the only disappointment is that I’ve turned the last page and a sequel has yet to exist.

Fans of The Grisha series, Nevernight, and Evelyn Skye will likely enjoy this as well.

This was a delicious dark treat. I really had no expectations, even though I’d seen so many good things. I’ve found my tastes are usually far different than many readers’.

This was reminiscent of the Darkling and Alina in so many ways. The entire story gave off Grisha vibes. And that’s not a bad thing. I loved the magic portrayed here. And the idea of the gods and saints.

The book is intense. Lots of action and political schemes. This all mixed in with different types of magic...sometimes it could get confusing. As the story goes on, the things that seem clear aren’t. There’s a good amount of twists and turns among the schemes, so you’re never sure who to trust.

The best part of this, however, is that the guy you’re supposed to hate, Serefin the Prince, was actually someone you were rooting for. He had a volatile relationship with his father, to say the least. And so, while he is initially seen as an antagonist, you begin to like him and hope he lives. And Nadya is likable. From her doubts about all she’s every believed to her will to make things right, she’s someone I actually enjoyed—the opposite of Alina in the Grisha series. As for Malachiasz—he was untrustworthy. But then he’d seem honest about what he was after. He was the hardest to read, and yet I loved him.

The story is action-packed, but the last 20% or so was insanely intense. I couldn’t put it down. I had to find out who was responsible for what plot and why.

This was fantastic. I truly loved it. I think had it been a little easier to understand in the beginning, I’d have given it the full five stars.

This book is unlike everything I have ever read before and left me speechless from page one. Absolutely stunning and marvelous Wicked Saints is going to get under your skin and stay there long after you finish it. Emily A. Duncan masterfully blended Russian and Polish aspects to create a culturally rich world, with characters that you can't help but love.

Kalyazin and Tranavia have been at war for over a century. Where Kalyazin has its divine magic from their Gods, Tranavia has blood magic and blood mages. Neither country can see eye to eye, but it is clear on how to end this war: Kill the Tranavian King. Nadya, the last known cleric in Kalyazin, is living a peaceful life at a monastery when it is attacked by blood mages who are on the hunt for the cleric. Serefin, the prince of Tranavia and a general of the Tranavian army leads this attack, but Nadya manages to escape his grasp. But quickly Serefin is called home to Tranavia with his best guards Ostyia and Kacper, to follow the tradition of finding a wife. Nadya teams up with Parijahan and Rashid two Akolan refugees and Malachiasz who Nadya's sworn enemy. Deciding on who to trust the two groups must find a way to save their kingdoms before it is too late.

My love for these characters just continues to grow. I have a lot to talk about with each character, so I am going to break it down by character rather then making one huge paragraph.

Nadya - I liked Nadya from page one. She is fierce and determined and all she wanted to do was end this war even if it meant sacrificing her life in the process. Duncan did an amazing job of portraying Nadya's growth through out the novel. Nadya goes from being the naive cleric that lived in the monastery to a girl who no long understands the extent of her powers and struggling to embrace them to a complete bad ass. She also has to learn to trust her new partner Malachiasz, a Tranvanian rebel of sorts. But is trusting Malachiasz a smart idea?

Serefin - I think by default I wanted to hate Serefin because he is from Tranavia and he is hunting Nadya. But under his rocky exterior Serefin is really just a Prince who is horribly misunderstood and looking to belong. His dedication to his friends and his country and admirable and he wants to end this holy war just as bad. He copes with the help of alcohol and it isn't immediately addressed in the novel but it is clear to see that Serefin is the alcoholic prince that is referred to in the summary.

Malachiasz - I am head over heels in love with Malachiasz. The beautiful boy from Tranavia said he wants to war to end. But are his intentions as pure as he makes them seem? His characterization is so complex that if I try to explain it I will end up spoiling a huge chunk of the story. But trust me, you are going to quickly fall in love with him.

All the minor characters in Wicked Saints are as amazingly done as the main characters. Duncan didn't spare of description and I felt as if I knew all of her characters pretty well.

The romance between Nadya and Malachiasz was a slow burn and tentative to begin with. There was several parts of Wicked Saints where I kept thinking: "When are they going to kiss?!" It is worth the wait my friends. So worth it. Considering the alliances made and certain events of the novel, I can see a love triangle happening. But I am so down for this because my love for all three of these main characters is huge.

The last 100 pages or so of this book was nonstop action and things that changed the plot in irreparable ways. Once you thought you knew something, suddenly it was changed. Even the most beautiful faces have different sides. The ending of Wicked Saints left me speechless and rethinking everything I read. The betrayal and the heart break and the pain. The epilogue shattered my heart into a million pieces, and I will admit: I cried.

Wicked Saints is 100% unique and thrilling and had me memorized from page one. Emily Duncan's writing is both beautiful and haunting and it is going to leave you wanting more. She crafted a beautiful story that is both timeless and going to be loved by so so so many. I hope my review does this book at least an ounce of justice, because it deserves the highest of praises.