SuitabookWicked Saints
Emily A. Duncan
- Reading
- Before reading, discuss whether the premise’s combination of gods, war and forbidden romance sounds appealing. During reading, pause to consider how trust changes and whether the characters’ aims conflict.
- Themes
- Trust under pressure: A prince in danger must decide whom to trust while the characters pursue a dangerous political goal. The premise makes trust central, but does not show whether particular choices are rewarded, criticised or vindicated.
- Power, sacrifice and identity: Nadya can speak to gods and must save her people without destroying herself; another boy has a monstrous secret. The premise places personal cost and hidden identity alongside responsibility, without establishing whether either is treated positively or negatively.
- Romance within conflict: A forbidden romance threatens to affect the balance between dark and light during the effort to stop a long war. Romance is presented as consequential to the central struggle, but its dynamics and treatment cannot be assessed from the premise.
- Worth knowing
- Expect references to an effort to assassinate the king, spilled blood, a centuries-long war and a monstrous secret, alongside danger and romantic tension. The extent, detail and emotional impact of these elements are not established.