Blog Tour Review: Wicked Saints (Something Dark and Holy #1) by Emily A. Duncan

Book info:

Title:  Wicked Saints
Author:  Emily A. Duncan
Series:  Something Dark and Holy #1
Genre:  YA Fantasy
Release Date:  April 2nd, 2019
Publisher:  Wednesday Books
Source:  E-galley from publisher which did not influence my opinion
My rating:  4  stars

Synopsis:

“Prepare for a snow-frosted, blood-drenched fairy tale where the monsters steal your heart and love ends up being the nightmare.” - Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen
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. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy.
“This book destroyed me and I adored it.”- Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

BUY LINK:

https://static.macmillan.com/static/smp/wicked-saints/

My Review:

So, it took me a few chapters to really get into this.  But once I did, I was very intrigued by this world, and their use of magic, and their gods.  This story was so complex and there was so much to follow and learn about as I read.  It took me a little longer to read because of that, but then a fantasy story like this always does as you get the world-building going.  Of course we know that Nadya is our good side, the one we are rooting for, but it is also easy to wonder if her fighting for her gods is something that maybe she does need to take a step back from. Her travels and tenuous truce with Malachiasz to work together towards their supposedly common goal were full of so many twists, and especially once they reached the capital city in Grazyk, it almost gave me whiplash, like watching a tennis match, wondering who was really the bad guy.  Who could Nadya really trust, who was really on her side, were the feelings she was developing for an assumed enemy ones that could be trusted, or was she being tricked? 

The monsters that we were worried about at the beginning became allies.  And those that Nadya thinks are allies may be the true monsters, more than she even realizes until it is too late.  But I could see a bit of redemption or want of redemption even in our monster at the end, and I look forward to another book for this story, to see just what is real and what is not.  That's a warning for you, that while this isn't a cliffhanger really, it doesn't end in a way that things are all wrapped up.  We must have more.  Hopefully when the next one comes out, I'll be lucky enough to get a copy to read and have plenty of time to read it.

When you start, just know that this image below of the pronunciation guide will be very helpful.  It definitely helped me as I was reading.

Other Reviews:

“Prepare for a snow frosted, blood drenched fairy tale where the monsters steal your heart and love ends up being the nightmare. Utterly absorbing.” - Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen

"Full of blood and monsters and magic—this book destroyed me and I adored it. Emily is a wicked storyteller, she’s not afraid to hurt her characters or her readers. If you’ve ever fallen in love with a villain you will fall hard for this book." - Stephanie Garber, New York Times bestselling author of Caraval

"This is the novel of dark theology and eldritch blood-magic that I’ve been waiting for all my life. It’s got a world at once brutal and beautiful, filled with characters who are wounded, lovable, and ferocious enough to break your heart. A shattering, utterly satisfying read." - Rosamund Hodge, author of Cruel Beauty and Bright Smoke, Cold Fire

“Wicked Saints is a lush, brutal, compelling fantasy that is dark, deep, and bloody—absolutely riveting! With a boy who is both man and monster, mysterious saints with uncertain motives, and a girl filled with holy magic who is just beginning to understand the full reaches of her power, this gothic jewel of a story will sink its visceral iron claws into you, never letting go until you’ve turned the last page. And truthfully, not even then -the explosive ending will haunt you for days! ” - Robin LaFevers, New York Times bestselling author of the His Fair Assassin trilogy

“Dark, bloody, and monstrously romantic. This is the villain love interest that we've all been waiting for.” - Margaret Rogerson, New York Times bestselling author of An Enchantment of Ravens 

"Seductively dark and enchanting, Wicked Saints is a trance you won’t want to wake from. Duncan has skillfully erected a world like no other, complete with provocative magic, sinister creatures, and a plot that keeps you guessing. This spellbinding YA fantasy will bewitch readers to the very last page." - Adrienne Young, New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep 

 

About the Author:

EMILY A. DUNCAN works as a youth services librarian. She received a Master’s degree in library science from Kent State University, which mostly taught her how to find obscure Slavic folklore texts through interlibrary loan systems. When not reading or writing, she enjoys playing copious amounts of video games and dungeons and dragons. Wicked Saints is her first book. She lives in Ohio.

 

Website: https://eaduncan.com/
Twitter: @glitzandshadows
Instagram: @glitzandshadows
Tumblr: http://glitzandshadows.tumblr.com/

Lisa's Looking Forward To #10 - April 2nd, 2019

Third week I'm posting this on a Wednesday, and last week I did join in with the Waiting on Wednesday Posts, and the Can't Wait Wednesday posts hosted by Wishful Endings.  There are quite a few books coming out next week that I've got listed in my planner. So here we go!

This one I was really excited for, and so disappointed to not ever get a physical ARC, but I did get the e-galley to read, so will post a review tomorrow actually! This was promoted as a type of Joan of Arc retelling, which is what grabbed me with my love of retellings.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:


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. Wicked Saints is the thrilling start to Emily A. Duncan’s devastatingly Gothic Something Dark and Holy trilogy..

Sound good?  Add to Goodreads HERE.

Between that amazing cover and the awesome synopsis below, how could I not want to read this one?

Here is the synopsis from Goodreads:
Branches and stones, daggers and bones,
They locked the Beast away.

After the death of her sister, seventeen-year-old Violet Saunders finds herself dragged to Four Paths, New York. Violet may be a newcomer, but she soon learns her mother isn't: They belong to one of the revered founding families of the town, where stone bells hang above every doorway and danger lurks in the depths of the woods.

Justin Hawthorne's bloodline has protected Four Paths for generations from the Gray—a lifeless dimension that imprisons a brutal monster. After Justin fails to inherit his family's powers, his mother is determined to keep this humiliation a secret. But Justin can't let go of the future he was promised and the town he swore to protect.

Ever since Harper Carlisle lost her hand to an accident that left her stranded in the Gray for days, she has vowed revenge on the person who abandoned her: Justin Hawthorne. There are ripples of dissent in Four Paths, and Harper seizes an opportunity to take down the Hawthornes and change her destiny-to what extent, even she doesn't yet know.

The Gray is growing stronger every day, and its victims are piling up. When Violet accidentally unleashes the monster, all three must band together with the other Founders to unearth the dark truths behind their families' abilities—before the Gray devours them all. 

Sound good?  Add to Goodreads HERE.

So, I love when we expand on stories of any characters, and of course I loved Aquaman, although that may have been because of Jason Momoa as opposed to the actual story itself.  And I do love the author as well.  I did get an ARC of this, but I guess it is more of a graphic novel than just a story, so I probably won't end up reading it.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
From Danielle Paige, the New York Times best-selling author of Stealing Snow, comes a Mera and Aquaman origin story that explores Mera's first steps on land as well as her first steps as a hero or a villain, forcing her to choose to follow her heart or her mission to kill.

Mera is teenage royalty, heir to the throne of Xebel, the other not-so-lost colony under the sea. But Mera is destined to wear a different crown, that of Atlantis. When the inhabitants of Xebel plot to overthrow their homeland of Atlantis, Mera is sent to kill the heir to the throne, Arthur Curry. As the unrest between their colonies grows, Mera and Arthur unexpectedly fall in love...will Arthur Curry be the king at Mera's side in Atlantis, or will he die under her blade?

Mera by Danielle Paige is an astonishing story that explores themes of duty, love, heroism and freedom, all through the eyes of readers' favorite undersea royalty.

Sound good?  Add to Goodreads HERE.

Not exactly sure why I added this one. Although it does sound humorous, and being on a college campus in the 90s is when I was there, so probably I thought I'd relate in some way.

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
It’s the nineties, and Tosh Livingston, straight-A student and superstar athlete, is living the dream—he’s made it out of upstate New York and into the incoming freshman class at Harvard University. But after an accident blows up his basketball-playing hopes, he discovers a new purpose in life—to win the frenzied competition for a spot on the staff of the Harvard Harpoon, the school’s legendary humor magazine.

Along with Lao, his pot-smoking roommate from China, their friend Meera, a passive-aggressive science major from India, and Zippa, a Jamaican student-activist with a flair for cartooning, Tosh finds that becoming a member of the Harpoon is weirder and more dangerous than anyone could have imagined. Success requires pushing themselves to their limits and unearthing long-buried secrets that will rock their school and change all of their lives forever.

With its whip-smart humor and fast-paced narrative, Around Harvard Square will appeal to readers of all ages interested in exploring the complicated roles that race and class play in higher education.

Sound good?  Add to Goodreads HERE.

This one just sounded really unique, and another cool cover!

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
Katina King is the reigning teen jujitsu champion of Northern California, but she's having trouble fighting off the secrets in her past.

Robin Thornton was adopted from an orphanage in Kolkata, India and is reluctant to take on his future. Since he knows nothing about his past, how is he supposed to figure out what comes next?

Robin and Kat meet in the most unlikely of places — a summer service trip to India to work with survivors of human trafficking. As bonds blossom between the travel-mates, Robin and Kat discover the healing superpowers of friendship.

At turns heart-wrenching, beautiful, and buoyant, Mitali Perkins' new novel explores the ripple effects of violence — across borders and generations — and how small acts of heroism can break the cycle.

Sound good?  Add to Goodreads HERE.

So, I loved Geekerella, you can read my review of that one HERE.  And I really want to read this one as well!  I mean if I had it in my hands, it would be the perfect read before Comicon this coming Saturday.  And I might be getting it through a trade, fingers crossed. 

Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
The Prince and the Pauper gets a modern makeover in this adorable, witty, and heartwarming young adult novel set in the Geekerella universe by national bestselling author Ashley Poston.

Imogen Lovelace is an ordinary fangirl on an impossible mission: save her favorite character, Princess Amara, from being killed off from her favorite franchise, Starfield. The problem is, Jessica Stone—the actress who plays Princess Amara—wants nothing more than to leave the intense scrutiny of the fandom behind. If this year's ExcelsiCon isn't her last, she'll consider her career derailed.

When a case of mistaken identity throws look-a-likes Imogen and Jess together, they quickly become enemies. But when the script for the Starfield sequel leaks, and all signs point to Jess, she and Imogen must trade places to find the person responsible. That's easier said than done when the girls step into each other's shoes and discover new romantic possibilities, as well as the other side of intense fandom. As these "princesses" race to find the script-leaker, they must rescue themselves from their own expectations, and redefine what it means to live happily ever after.  

Sound good?  Add to Goodreads HERE.




Final Thoughts:
Quite a few books come out next week. I think as we get closer to summer, this is probably going to be the way.   Only got to read one, a few I wish I could read soon!  How about you?  Have you read any of these yet?  Are they on your TBR?  And hey, while you're here, you should go try to win some of my ARCs from Cleaning Up My TBR Post HERE.

Top 10 of 2018: Books I'm Looking Forward to in 2019 with Giveaway

Technically this post is for tomorrow, but since I already have a post planned for tomorrow, I decided to go ahead and do it today.  This is hosted by Kimberly Faye Reads, so thanks to her, I have a group to join in with.  Now, here are the top 10 books I'm looking forward to next year, in no particular order:

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

No title or cover yet, but still excited for it!


7.

8.

9.

10.

The first three are by the same author, she's on a roll this year!  I have an ARC already of the 4th one. The last one was supposed to be out in 2018, but the author is still working on it, and I'm still eagerly awaiting it!

Below is today's giveaway.  But I've also got 5 giveaways from last week for you to go enter:  Top 10 Favorite Books, Top 10 Favorite Covers, Top 10 New to Me Authors, Top 10 Book Boyfriends, and Top 10 Books I Meant to Read in 2018.  All of these giveaways will run until midnight December 31st, 2018!  That's tomorrow night!

Giveaway:
One winner will get their choice of book from The Book Depository for up to $12.  Second prize will be a $5 gift card to Amazon.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway