A dark murder mystery, full of death, grief, anger, and coated in religion and power, magic, and those who have neither. Add in a touch of rebellion and madness, a nod to Romeo and Juliet/enemies to lovers, and the good people are chased by the darkness. A good story but the characters are somewhat frustrating in their flaws that lead them from one dilemma to the next. Character flaws become plot devices and somehow, somehow the two main characters end up together solving a murder mystery and fighting evil. ( )

Fantastic debut for a new young adult fantasy series!

Seven Faceless Saints is the first book in author M.K. Lobb’s new YA fantasy series of the same name, grabbing me from the start and never letting go until its tease of an ending! Ombrazia has been embroiled in the Second War of Saints for decades, and the downtrodden populace has had enough of being fodder for the prolonged fight with Brechaat. The book is an intriguing high fantasy with a compelling backstory starting with the First War of Saints and leading up to the simmering civil unrest within the country’s main city.

I enjoyed the premise of the seven saints of old and that only some of the members of their bloodlines inherited their ancestor’s magical traits. Those so gifted are known as disciples and lead lives of privilege. However, there are apparently some drawbacks to their lifestyle, such as working in the temple, which are only explored briefly through the eyes of the main heroine, Rossana “Roz” Lacertosa. Those individuals skipped in the genetic lottery are referred to as the unfavored. Their existence is much more difficult, and they seem to disappear into the unwashed masses, forgotten and disenfranchised.

The story unfolds in alternating chapters through the viewpoints of Roz, a disciple, and her former childhood friend, Damien Venturi, unfavored but the son of the leading general in Ombrazia. Their budding romance as teenagers was interrupted when Damien was sent north to fight in the war with Brechaat. The fallout from the war results in tearing the couple apart, setting them on opposing paths in the future, and creating huge conflicts for them to overcome when they must work together to solve a series of murders. They are both damaged people, and I rooted the entire story for them to have a second chance and to heal with each other at their side.

The author has a wonderful writing style: descriptive yet easy to read. The dialogue flows well throughout the novel and is one of the author’s strong suits. Exchanges between characters felt natural, even under tense or unnatural circumstances. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

With its wonderfully imaginative fantasy world, compelling plot, and endearing main characters, I recommend SEVEN FACELESS SAINTS to readers who enjoy high fantasy, magic, and stories with a second chance romance.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advanced Review Copy from the author or publisher through TBR and Beyond Book Tours. ( )

Borrowed the audiobook and book from the library. I saw the cover and I was immediately intrigued. This was something new for me, in terms of dark fantasy. Death and chaos play a key role in the story. The main protagonist, Damian, (a soldier turned detective), is tasked to investigate a murder. And Rossana, childhood friend and love interest, thinks there’s more to it, and it’s actually a series of murders. The plot twists and turns, and there are elements of psychological thriller. I thought the story was going to go in one direction, but completely went 180. There were some elements that I predicted, and some I didn’t; and so that was good. A lot of the book was world building, which is important; especially if there are potential sequels. I kind of want to see where the MC goes on his journey, and I really hope it’s what I think it will be. ( )

This was a fun listen... I enjoyed this audiobook on Audible (not a paid-for endorsement) and to be honest, I truly enjoyed every minute spent in this dark yet (possibly) hopeful world. There was a lot of scheming and machinations and a unique magic system. There was also reconnecting old bonds, rekindling old loves (??), and what zealot-steeped story featuring rebellion and betrayal would be complete without a smattering of murrrrderrr??

dum dum dummmm.

Well, this story sure didn't skimp on the stabby stabby (or other creative types of homicide)... they even had a hint of the macabre thrown in for good measure. The characters (especially our 2 MCs) were fleshed out quite well and if you were ever worried that you were a bad dad... fear not, this jerk of a dad has you beat... by a mile... unless

*** SOME SPOILERS HERE ***

your dad hog-tied you and put you on a ship to serve on the front lines of a war you don't condone as fodder because you have zero magical ability and you struggled to solve some murder cases that your dad was actively sabotaging.

*** END SPOILER ***

Overall:
This audiobook had it all... it checked every box, and it even had two proficient orators to boot. The narrators chosen did a great job bringing this gritty whodunit to life. The backdrop was rich, dirty, and full-bodied. It was easy to get lost in the natural ebb and flow of the story and honestly, escaping within a well-written/nicely acted out yarn happens to be my sought-after happy place. IMO it's the best way to spend some late-night insomnia-laden hours. I'm excited to see what happens next... although with my poor memory, I am hoping that book #2 doesn't take forever to release. Oh, the woes of having Mind Mush (that's the technical term... I swear).

~ Enjoy ( )

What seems like cowardice and disinterest to one, may really have been pain, shame and guilt to another. It's this divide that exists when you first meet Rossana and Damian, once best friends and maybe more. Now, she's a late blooming magic user and he's a battle scarred captain of security for the Palazzo where the magic users representing six of seven saints live and practice. When the disciple representing Death is found dead, it is the beginning of a very dark and strange journey. It forces the two former friends to work together while still keeping many things from one another. As the killings increase and a budding rebellion builds, they must find a way to clear the air, or risk losing all. What comes after the first killing makes for a very satisfying reading experience, with an epilogue that sets you up for more. ( )