Max's grandfather was a monster. He hides behind walls in New Orleans. Liberte is sorceress swon to kill him...

Love Max and Liberte. An unique world with interesting magic system. Love the suspense. The enemy to lovers was done right.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

The Saint and the Sorceress is such a cool mix of dark academia, Southern Gothic magic, and slow-burn romance. The story takes place in New Orleans. With its witchcraft, church secrets, and thick, haunted atmosphere, the lore feels rich, immersive, and surprisingly authentic to the city’s culture. You can almost smell the incense and magnolia air while reading.

I also loved the dynamic between the priest-in-training (Max) and the sorceress he’s drawn to. It’s a perfect blend of curiosity, danger, and forbidden desire, complicated with the whole faith vs. magic angle simmering underneath.

Because it’s a novella, some parts feel a bit compressed. I definitely would’ve loved more time to explore the world and characters. But honestly, it still hits the exact mood I was hoping for and left me wishing it were longer (always a good sign). Though, it seems like there'll be a sequel.

This will be posted on Goodreads on 10/22/25.

Just finished The Saint and the Sorceress by Jennifer Thea Barthe and all I can say is thank God it's trilogy because it just couldn't stop like this. I am rating it 4.5 ⭐. I found the book alright until chapter 7 and then I was hooked and couldn't look away. I devoured this (very short) book. The story is beautiful and full of New Orleans imagery, but also very thought provoking.
I cannot wait for Unholy Chemistry to come out.

The Saint and the Sorceress is a dazzling, deeply satisfying novel that stands out in the crowded fantasy romance genre. This book isn't just a story; it's a meticulously crafted tapestry of light and shadow, duty and desire, that kept me glued to the pages from the breathtaking first chapter to the emotional, resonant conclusion.

The author's worldbuilding is another high point. The author vividly paints a society where magic is both revered and reviled, where the sanctity of the Church clashes violently with the wild freedom of the arcane arts. The pacing is pitch-perfect, balancing exhilarating action sequences—full of stunning elemental magic and tense, clandestine meetings—with moments of quiet introspection that allow the characters' complicated inner lives to unfold.

The Saint and the Sorceress is a moving novel that explores the cost of choice, the nature of belief, and the universal truth that sometimes, the greatest devotion is to your own heart.

Highly, highly recommended!

Thank you to Jennifer Thea Barthe, Victory Editing, and NetGalley for this ARC!

⭐️-Worldbuilding
I love that we get a lot of history both within Africa and Germany to help us understand the two cultures clashing and/or coming together, as well as to understand how these two lives intertwine after generations of terrible history. I would’ve loved even more magic in alchemy as a reader, but I’m glad it was mentioned nd used as a turning point/realization, even if I did hate the main character.

⭐️-Plot
The plot was fairly good, though I’m not a fan of a woman of color having to change the perspective of a white Christian man because he can’t have these full realizations of open mindedness and personhood on his own. That being said I loved the other characters and the story otherwise.

⭐️-Character Development
I hate Max. I think I mostly hated him because I was forced to think similarly to him, especially using St. Augustine’s words as a weapon against myself and others when I was in Catholic school. I will admit however I love Liberté and love how she is far more Catholic than he will ever be because she embodies love, compassion, intellect and consideration that Max just doesn’t have. She’s too good for him.

⭐️- writing
I think there are so many good points about colonization, science used as a pursuit of evil by evil people, criticism of the Catholic Church and its teachings as well as other themes and concepts but it all gets overshadowed by the love story and Max’s asshole nature. I would’ve loved to see these themes explored more!

Thank you again for this ARC, it was a pleasure.

“He lay awake, tracing the faint curve of her shoulder in the dark, while his pulse raced against his priest’s training. What had to be the fever of a century ravaged his body—but it paled compared to the heat of his thoughts.”

I’m sorry, but slow burn romance is where it’s at! So hot. I’d much rather things have tension than have full-out details or insta-love. This novella was a treat! I really enjoyed the plot too. It leaves you with so much to think about.

“Yes,” Max said, “Knowledge without wisdom…it’s a perilous thing.”

This truth hits daily in modern America.

Thank you to NetGalley for this eARC. It gave me some entertainment on a gloomy Sunday.

Spoiler Free Review — The Saint and The Sorceress

This short novella left me wanting so much more in the best possible way. Set against the hauntingly beautiful backdrop of New Orleans, this story blends forbidden love, witchery, generational magic, and dark academia aesthetics into a delicious, atmospheric bite of romantasy.

We follow an aspiring man of the cloth who finds himself irresistibly drawn to a Creole sorceress—an absolutely tantalizing pairing. Their chemistry is forbidden, dangerous, and magnetic from the very first moment.

Despite its length, the author builds a world full of mystery and shadows, touches on generational binds, and layers in enough magical intrigue that I was completely hooked. I could easily read a full-length novel (or even a series!) set in this world.

If you love forbidden romance, magic steeped in culture and history, and moody, gothic New Orleans vibes, this novella belongs on your radar.