Publishers Weekly
12/12/2022
Magically gifted Roz Lacertosa and soldier Damian Venturi, estranged former sweethearts, join forces to catch a killer in Lobb’s richly textured, medieval Italy–inspired fantasy debut. Though the residents of Ombrazia are all descended from one of seven saints, only those blessed with their patron saint’s magic become disciples, enjoying privileged lives while “unfavored” citizens are sent to war. Roz and Damian were inseparable until Roz developed powers, and both Roz’s father and Damian were drafted. Damian survived his tour, but Roz’s father was executed by Damian’s father, a general, for desertion. Now, Damian heads the disciples’ security force, while Roz conspires with rebels to dismantle Ombrazia’s inequitable system. When two unfavored kids and a disciple are murdered, Damian’s superiors order him to focus solely on solving the disciple’s killing, prompting a furious Roz to seek justice for the kids. Damian suspects the crimes are related, however, leading the two investigations to intersect. Scarcely described but emotionally complex characters, rhythmic writing, and a cunningly crafted mystery distinguish Lobb’s series launch, which balances action and romance with meditations on faith and fate. Roz and Damian’s unresolved feelings and a pinwheeling third-person narrative foster tension throughout. Ages 14–up. Agent: Claire Friedman, InkWell Management. (Feb.)
From the Publisher
"Emotionally complex characters, rhythmic writing, and a cunningly crafted mystery distinguish Lobb’s series launch, which balances action and romance with meditations on faith and fate."—Publishers Weekly
"The genre-bending high fantasy murder mystery concept is intriguing, and the narrative raises some interesting questions about the nature of faith and unquestioning loyalty."—School Library Journal
“A dark and delicious murder mystery. M.K. Lobb has created a fantastical and evocative world, blending the genres of fantasy, romance, and a murder mystery into one epic story. With lush prose, gripping characters, and an intricate lore that will keep you turning the pages, Seven Faceless Saints is an absolute hit.”—Adalyn Grace, New York Times bestselling author of Belladonna
"Seven Faceless Saints is the rich taste of ceremonial wine, stolen kisses at midnight, a gallery lined by shrouded statues, and the flames of a corrupt system as it burns to the ground. M.K. Lobb has crafted an intricate world that is both dark and alluring; the perfect backdrop for the tempestuous romance of the two protagonists."—Lyndall Clipstone, author of Lakesedge and Forestfall
"With an impressive and balanced command of gorgeous prose and compelling pace, Seven Faceless Saints draws its readers into a mystery as intelligent as it is intriguing. I thoroughly enjoyed the richness of Ombrazia, which perfectly complements the fresh, compelling characters Lobb has so artfully woven into this story’s every page. Truly, this is an exceptional debut, sure to find many, many fans."—Ayana Gray, New York Times-bestselling author of the Beasts of Prey trilogy
“M.K. Lobb’s tale of fallen saints and murdered disciples grabs you by the throat from the first dark, edgy, paranoia-induced pages, and never lets go. The world is deeply immersive, the prose sharp and the shadows alive with eerie possibility. Bleak, bloody, and beautifully drawn, Seven Faceless Saints is a book with teeth." —Nicki Pau Preto, author of the Crown of Feathers trilogy
“A dazzlingly sinister tale of magic, mayhem, and murder. Lobb’s debut has truly got it all: exquisitely drawn characters, an opposites-attract romance with top-notch pining, and a world so immersive, you’ll want to wander the Palazzo’s every shadowy corridor and uncover its every horrible secret. Prepare for your next obsession.”—Allison Saft, New York Times bestselling author of A Far Wilder Magic
"M.K. Lobb's debut is enthralling, taut, and utterly immersive. Part richly-imagined fantasy and part eerie murder mystery, I devoured this book in one sitting."—Emily Lloyd-Jones, author of The Bone Houses
"A thrilling mystery that is as full of twists and turns as it is searing romantic tension, Seven Faceless Saints is a heart-stopping saga about a religious elite teeming with corruption and the rebellion that works to bring them down from within.”—Kelly Andrew, author of The Whispering Dark
New York Times bestselling author of Belladonna Adalyn Grace
A dark and delicious murder mystery. M.K. Lobb has created a fantastical and evocative world, blending the genres of fantasy, romance, and a murder mystery into one epic story. With lush prose, gripping characters, and an intricate lore that will keep you turning the pages, Seven Faceless Saints is an absolute hit.
New York Times-bestselling author of the Beasts of Ayana Gray
With an impressive and balanced command of gorgeous prose and compelling pace, Seven Faceless Saints draws its readers into a mystery as intelligent as it is intriguing. I thoroughly enjoyed the richness of Ombrazia, which perfectly complements the fresh, compelling characters Lobb has so artfully woven into this story’s every page. Truly, this is an exceptional debut, sure to find many, many fans.
author of Lakesedge and Forestfall Lyndall Clipstone
Seven Faceless Saints is the rich taste of ceremonial wine, stolen kisses at midnight, a gallery lined by shrouded statues, and the flames of a corrupt system as it burns to the ground. M.K. Lobb has crafted an intricate world that is both dark and alluring; the perfect backdrop for the tempestuous romance of the two protagonists.
School Library Journal
03/01/2023
Gr 9 Up—Since her father's brutal murder, Roz has dreamed of nothing but justice and revenge against the corrupt systems responsible for his death. In her old Italy—inspired city of Ombrazia, only the descendants of the seven saints carry the passed-down magic powers of the saints themselves; though Roz isn't proud of her status as a disciple of Patience, she'll use it to her advantage to serve her own purposes if she can. When a series of murders forces her to team up with her childhood-love-turned-enemy Damian, now a haunted young military captain who has returned from the frontlines of the ongoing war, the pair find themselves faced with an unfathomable evil, forced to confront their most deeply held beliefs about their destinies, the seven saints, and themselves. Though the chemistry between Roz and Damian falls a little flat, the genre-bending high fantasy murder mystery concept is intriguing, and the narrative raises some interesting questions about the nature of faith and unquestioning loyalty. The religious system underpinning the politics and social structure of Ombrazia is not deeply investigated, which may be a feature rather than a bug for readers interested in fantasy vibes minus the minutiae of deeply introspective worldbuilding and character development. Roz is bisexual. VERDICT An additional purchase for libraries where fantasy is popular.—Allie Stevens
Kirkus Reviews
2022-11-16
Ex-sweethearts–turned-enemies Rossana Lacertosa and Damian Venturi work together to find a killer.
In Ombrazia, all disciples descend from the seven faceless saints, but descendants like Damian who do not possess magic are the unfavored. They can’t attend the magical Mercato night market or reside in the opulent Palazzo. Instead, they live in poverty and are drafted into war, like Roz’s father, whom Damian’s general father, a disciple of the saint Strength, killed for deserting. Shortly after, when she was 16, Roz’s magic revealed itself. She became a disciple and a rebel, pledging to use her power to bring about justice. Two years on, Damian has returned from the war. Now 18, his father makes him head of Palazzo security. Then two unfavored children are murdered, and the Palazzo ignores their deaths—yet a disciple’s murder requires Damian’s investigation. Roz confronts him, and Damian agrees to work with her; he, too, suspects all the murders are connected. They rekindle their romance and uncover a web of politics, lies, and power that is anything but holy. This fantasy murder mystery, set in an alternate Italy and laced with romance, is slow to start and sometimes hard to follow, but queer Roz is the saving grace. Layered and authentic in her trauma, anger, and strength, she far outshines Damian. However, both read as much older than teenagers.
Full and detailed worldbuilding, but the characters and plot struggle to compete with it. (Fantasy. 14-18)
