A Gothic Fantasy for Fans of Hannah Whitten and Caitlin Starling.
Congratulations on such a spectacular release Cate Baumer!
Looking for an engaging fantasy novel with gothic elements? Then you're not going to want to miss out on The Faithful Dark. Imagine being born without a soul, and being made to believe that you are "worthless" because of it. Well, that is Csilla's bit in life. But she could have more
This story starts with Csilla, but it alternates POV between her and a couple other characters. It's a nice touch as it helps to keep readers engaged in the story. Csilla is the main focus of the story as it mostly revolves around her, but she's not alone. There is also Ilan, you're introduced to him pretty quickly. He's a ruthless Inquisitor, but when he fails to bring a murderer to justice...he gets demoted. Looks like those rumors and whispers weren't nothing, huh Ilan? Oops! LOL!
Csilla simply wants to belong, but apparently some people in this book see fit to remind her of how she came to be in their custody. Harsh much? So, it hurts to see her hurt behind cruel and insensitive words. She just wants to belong, but her "soullessness" is apparently going to be exploited to take out someone that the Church deems a heretic.
Yes, there are some religious elements to this book but it doesn't take over the entire story. It pops up where needed and then is allowed to fade into the background. So, readers who aren't fans of "religious" books...calm down and just read this book. It's really good! Plus, it's a murder mystery people! Who doesn't like to read those?
The fantasy element showcases itself in small bouts of magic. It's interesting to see it utilized to expose secrets and when someone is lying. Plus, it is the very magic that is protecting the city, but with every murder (and there have been a LOT) the magic weakens. What is the purpose behind it? Well, that's a secret you'll have to find out for yourself! Intrigued? We sure were!
This is a truly interesting story that brings in a nice twist with the supposed heretic. Of course, these characters are working against the clock and the big question that will dog Csilla and you will be...when Csilla learns the truth...what will she do with it?
This is a fantastic fantasy novel that will wrap you up in it's pages and keep you coming back for more. Don't miss out on The Faithful Dark.
4.5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to the author, Cate Baumer, and R&R Book Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book! We look forward to what comes next!
The Faithful Dark (The Brilliant Soul Duology Book 1)
Publication
Date: April 2, 2024
Genre: Gothic
Fantasy/ New Adult
🖤Gothic
Atmosphere
🖤Dark
Religious Lore
🖤Murder
Mystery
🖤Hot
Priest
🖤Slow
Burn/Enemies to Lovers
🖤Queer
Cast
In a holy city
where sins and blessings can be revealed through consecrated touch,
Csilla – born without a soul – is worthless to the Church that
raised her. But when a series of murders corrodes the magic that
keeps the city safe, the Church elders see a use for her flaw: she
can assassinate their prime suspect, a heretic with divine heritage.
The heretic,
however, makes a counter-offer; clear his name and catch the real
killer, without becoming a target herself, and he’ll use his power
to get her a soul. When their investigation catches the attention of
Ilan, a ruthless Inquisitor demoted for his failure to solve the
case, he reluctantly offers his help in order to earn back his
position. He’ll bring in the murderer— and failing that, Csilla
and the heretic. But as the death toll rises and their hunt pits them
against the Faith, Csilla will find that salvation comes at the cost
of everything she believes in.
Available
on Amazon
About
the Author
Cate Baumer
(she/her) is a fantasy writer who lived half her life in Japan but
currently resides in the heart of Appalachia, a setting that inspires
the lush and haunted worlds of her work. When not writing, she can be
found exploring the woods on horseback, putting her degree in art
history to use at museums and antique shops, or searching for the
perfect cup of coffee.
Cate
Baumer
Tour organized
by @rrbooktours
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