

Serefin, having died and been resurrected, is now king of Travania, thanks to the dramatic events that resulted in his father’s death. Our story picks up pretty much exactly where the first novel left off – as Nadya tries to process both Malachaisz’s betrayal and the loss of her connection with the divine pantheon that has always guided her life. All we do know is that these three people’s lives are intertwined on what feels like a cosmic level and as they try to stop the horrors they all see coming, they seem to accomplish little besides making things worse. The trilogy follows the story of three main characters – Nadya, a cleric who talks to gods she can no longer hear, Serefin, a prince whose country has long been at war with Nadya’s and Malachiasz, a deeply disturbed boy who either wants to destroy the gods or become one, we’re still not quite sure on that point. It clocks in at nearly five hundred pages and you’ll still be hard pressed to put it down once you start. It’s not particularly hopeful, it’s distinctly gory in a way that few YA offerings of its kind are willing to even attempt and its trio of “heroes” are often anything but. The novel is a complex, messy story of betrayal and heartbreak, war and death. Ruthless Gods is the second installment in what is titled the “Something Dark and Holy” trilogy, and it basically takes everything readers loved about the first book and just turns it up to the most disturbing of elevens. Duncan’s Wicked Saintswas one of the most original YA fantasies released last year, a dark and disturbing tale of blood magic, vengeful gods and tortured relationships.

Duncan’s chilling Wicked Saints deserves – even darker, bloodier and even more complicated.Įmily A. By Lacy Baugher 3 years ago Ruthless Gods is every bit the sequel that Emily A.
