Seven Faceless Saints Review (Seven Faceless Saints, #1)

Hello, all!

If you're craving a new fantasy book to put on your TBR, look no further than Seven Faceless Saints by M.K. Lobb. Big thanks to the publisher for the copy!

Pub Date: 2-7-23
YA - Fantasy

In the city of Ombrazia, citizens are separated into two categories: those blessed by the Saints with magical abilities and the unfavored ones who aren't. Rossana "Roz" Lacertosa is one of the disciples blessed by Patience, but she resents her abilities. She doesn't believe she should be treated differently for being granted a power she never asked for. She especially doesn't want to use her powers to aid in the war effort after her father was brutally killed by the Ombrazian military. Roz decides to join the growing rebellion looking to dismantle the corrupt system in place, but to do so, she must team up with the boy who broke her heart.

Damian Venturi went from trying to survive on the front lines of a battle to becoming the youngest captain in the history of Palazzo's security. He's expected to be loyal and serve the saints without question, but the war has left scars deep within and a growing suspicion that something isn't right in Ombrazia. When a murderer starts stalking the citizens, the Palazzo is keen to look the other way-- until a disciple becomes the latest victim. Damian and Roz reluctantly team up to uncover the killer, but their investigations unearth an even more sinister plot. With time running out, will they be able to save their city from a powerful evil that threatens to destroy everything in its path?

I love when fantasy books have a murder mystery element to them, so I couldn't wait to pick this up. The writing was engaging, and nothing about the world-building felt info-dumpy. I liked the magic system and how it tied into all the different saints, with each of their disciples having different abilities. It was interesting seeing how Roz dealt with being one of these disciples. Instead of flaunting her abilities, she would make her powers smaller so people would overlook her. I also enjoyed her dynamic with Damian. It was very friends to lovers-to enemies-to allies-to maybe something more, and I can't wait to see how it develops from here. There were moments where I think Lobb was trying to do too much, but overall, I really enjoyed this and am looking forward to the next book.

Rating: 4/5