Blog Tour: Seven Faceless Saints by M.K Lobb

Hi and hello, happy Friday.

Today I come to you as part of the blog tour for Seven Faceless Saints by M.K Lob. This is an anticipated release of mine so I was very happy that I was accepted for the ARC, and even happier when I ended up really enjoying it and I can’t wait to share my reactions!

Publication Date: February 7th 2023

In the city of Ombrazia, saints and their disciples rule with terrifying and unjust power, playing favorites while the unfavored struggle to survive.

After her father’s murder at the hands of the Ombrazian military, Rossana Lacertosa is willing to do whatever it takes to dismantle the corrupt system—tapping into her powers as a disciple of Patience, joining the rebellion, and facing the boy who broke her heart. As the youngest captain in the history of Palazzo security, Damian Venturi is expected to be ruthless and strong, and to serve the saints with unquestioning devotion. But three years spent fighting in a never-ending war have left him with deeper scars than he wants to admit… and a fear of confronting the girl he left behind.

Now a murderer stalks Ombrazia’s citizens. As the body count climbs, the Palazzo is all too happy to look the other way—that is, until a disciple becomes the newest victim. With every lead turning into a dead end, Damian and Roz must team up to find the killer, even if it means digging up buried emotions. As they dive into the underbelly of Ombrazia, the pair will discover something more sinister—and far less holy. With darkness closing in and time running out, will they be able to save the city from an evil so powerful that it threatens to destroy everything in its path?

Shocked and bamboozled

“By the time he realized he was dying, it was far too late”

“Whoever killed [redacted] had taken his eyes with them”

“She waited for an answer that never came. Then she bled”

“But like the rest of them, she died nonetheless”

Me falling in love with Roz …

“Rossana Lacertosa detested crowds”

“Staring is free,” she told him cooly, flickying her knife out in a single, smooth motion. “But touching costs a finger”. The man reared back, ruddy face reddening further, and nearly tripped over his own feet “Filthy whore.” His voice was a slur. Roz tsked. “Should I take that tongue, instead?”

“You don’t have to be part of the group being mistreated to know what’s happening to them is wrong”

“[…] she and Vittoria had hidden out here at night, swapping kisses […]”
BISEXUAL MAIN CHARACTER

… and me falling in love with Damian

“Damian Venturi was weary of death. In fact, he was weary in general”

“Damian didn’t have any proof that someone was targetting the elected disciples, but the idea of it was nearly as horrifying as the idea he was failing at his job”

“He needed to sleep, before his attempt to be vigilant verged on paranoia”

“I have to say, I’m surprised. I didn’t think you were the type to have a crush. You’ve never seemed interested in anyone” “I’m not”, Damian admitted. “Not usually. I don’t know how to explain it, but … I don’t feel anything until I know someone well. Really well.”
DEMISEXUAL MAIN CHARACTER

My falling in love with Roz and Damian being in love with each other

“Roz only smiled sweetly, Damian’s tired face contorted in a scowl. The look didn’t suit him. Almost every memory Roz had of Damian was smiles, one of his incisors slightly, charmingly crooked. Now though, she found it difficult to imagine he ever smiled at all”

“That was the first night she’s kissed him. The first night she’d kissed anyone, in fact. She was certain, afterward, that she hadn’t done it wrong. Not given the way he’s responded – as though she were a reckless flame, and he all too willing to burn with her”.

“He’d known he loved Roz from the time he was twelve – at least, he was certain as one could be at that age – but the fear of ruining their friendship was always sobering enough that he’d never acted on it. If they were best friends forever, that was fine. He would take as much of Roz as he could get”.

“She was beautiful in an ethereal way. Untouchable. For the span of a breath Damian forgot she hated him. Forgot he didn’t trust her. When he remembered, the weight of it crushed him”.

“If what they’d had was love then being loved by Roz Lacertosa was like standing in the eye of a hurricane”.

“I’ll admit, I didn’t think this was how our first experience with handcuffs would go” “What is that supposed to mean?” Damian asked hotly. Roz rolled her eye. “It’s a sex joke, Venturi”.

“Everything that reminded me of home – everything that reminded me of happiness – centred around you”.

Me and the names:

Ok I loved a lot of things about this book, but two character names always distracted me: Leonzio, a name my brain just couldn’t figure out how to pronounce, and also Battista, which only made me think of the man, the myth, the legend, Dave Bautista – the greatest professional wrestler turned actor.

So those were my main reactions to this novel. I had a really good time with this book, it kept me enthralled, I fell in love with our main characters and was totally invested in their friends-to-lovers-to-enemies dynamic. It also kept me guessing til the last possible moment which was a lot of fun.

I highly recommend checking this book out if you haven’t read it already. If you have read this book though, I’d love to know your thoughts and feelings! Thanks for reading :))