Special thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing a digital ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review!
Seven Faceless Saints (Seven Faceless Saints #1)
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: 7 February 2023
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Thriller
Panda Rating:
(4 pandas)
📖 SYNOPSIS
In the city of Ombrazia, saints and their disciples rule with terrifying and unjust power, playing favorites while the unfavored struggle to survive.
After her father’s murder at the hands of the Ombrazian military, Rossana Lacertosa is willing to do whatever it takes to dismantle the corrupt system—tapping into her powers as a disciple of Patience, joining the rebellion, and facing the boy who broke her heart. As the youngest captain in the history of Palazzo security, Damian Venturi is expected to be ruthless and strong, and to serve the saints with unquestioning devotion. But three years spent fighting in a never-ending war have left him with deeper scars than he wants to admit… and a fear of confronting the girl he left behind.
Now a murderer stalks Ombrazia’s citizens. As the body count climbs, the Palazzo is all too happy to look the other way—that is, until a disciple becomes the newest victim. With every lead turning into a dead end, Damian and Roz must team up to find the killer, even if it means digging up buried emotions. As they dive into the underbelly of Ombrazia, the pair will discover something more sinister—and far less holy. With darkness closing in and time running out, will they be able to save the city from an evil so powerful that it threatens to destroy everything in its path?
Discover what’s lurking in the shadows in this dark fantasy debut with a murder-mystery twist, perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Kerri Maniscalco.
⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS
Various types of violence (shooting, poisoning, beheading), graphic descriptions of blood/bodies, death of parents/ friends/ siblings, a parent depicted with memory loss/confusion, PTSD and flashbacks, descriptions of war, prejudice, religious intolerance, hallucinations, paranoia, alcoholism, and mentions of self-harm.
📚 BUY A COPY
Note: I was meant to read this for the blog tour last week until I went on hiatus because I wasn’t reading anything. I’m glad that I finished this book because it was a fantastic debut!
TL;DR: This was a strong YA/NA fantasy thriller debut that I really enjoyed! Unfortunately, I read this during a tumultuous personal time 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. While this story balances being plot and character driven very well, it was the characters who, IMO, made this a great read! I already can’t wait for the next book because I need to know what happens—dark things are definitely coming their way and I’m so keen to see just what it turns out to be.
Read More »
dinipandareads 