Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, a series in which multiple characters are experiencing events parallel to one another. The book switches back and forth between Nadya and Serefin. It’s a tall order given that the Tranavian High Prince Serefin Meleski is hot on her heels. When the war literally ends up on Nadya’s doorstep, she must flee and stay alive at all costs. However, Nadya patron in Kalyazin’s pantheon is Marzenya, who happens to be the goddess of magic, sacrifice, and death.

Each god has distinct personalities and not all of them are as willing to grant Nadya their blessings. When she wants to commune with them, she touches the bead and reaches out to them. Around her neck, she wears beads that bear the symbol of each god. Nadya has the power of the gods and it’s fucking awesome. Nadezhda “Nadya” Lapteva was left to be raised in a monastery, hidden away until the time is right to help Kalyazin end the war. Kalyazin is the opposite it’s a devout polytheistic country but its magic users have been hunted down and rooted out during the course of the war. The Travanians are ruled by blood magic and have cast out the gods. The countries of Kalyazin and Tranavia have been immersed in a century-long war, though the Tranavians have become increasingly aggressive in invading Kalyazin lands. If buying this as a physical copy is within your budget, I highly recommend that you do so. The end pages have a gorgeous filigree design and there’s a map. Beneath the jacket, the book is blood red and the cover is embossed with “Let them fear her” in white lettering.

It took some time to familiarize myself with the world and the mythology, but Wicked Saints was an atmospheric, creepy ride that met my expectations.īefore we get into the book, I really want to note how beautiful this book is in person. There are some issues that are common in first books of a fantasy series. Seriously, if you have a thing for anti-heroes, dark magic, and things that are simply metal as fuck, this book is for you. Wicked Saints is a young adult fantasy debut and it’s a goth kid’s dream. TW/CW: Warnings for graphic violence, self harm, and child abuse. Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult

Wicked saints book