Seven Faceless Saints

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Kate Brighton’s father committed treason, and she still carries the weight of his crime. She’s trying to start over when she accidentally saves the life of Corwin Tomane—the king’s son and the boy she once loved. As the two reunite to try and solve a mystery involving dragons and court intrigue, they struggle to rebuild their friendship, then their romance. For me, having both Kate and Corwin’s perspectives is key to understanding how their complicated history informs their present interactions.They perceive the events that led to the end of their friendship very differently, and they have wildly different biases. The reader isn’t simply told about these conflicting feelings—they get to see it from both sides. Can you say drama? Rossana Lacertosa doesn’t believe in saints. After her father’s murder at the hands of the Ombrazia military, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to dismantle the corrupt system. Even if she has to pay for it in blood—or face the boy who broke her heart.

While reading your book, I was mulling over the idea of how fascinating it would be to create a cinematic/literary universe of your own or their spin-offs, given the creative liberty that fantasy fiction brings with interconnected storylines. What do you think of this concept?

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The dungeons beneath the Palazzo were quiet as a tomb, currently empty of criminals and deserters. Damian ushered Giada into an interrogation room, all cold stone and grim shadows. She sat, studying him with a mixture of fear and apprehension. Damian remained standing. Paste: What made you want to write Seven Faceless Saints as a YA story versus an adult fantasy? There are some really dark themes here so I feel like it could have gone either way. Everyone believes that Salil Singh killed his girlfriend, Andrea Bell, five years ago—except Pippa Fitz-Amobi. Lobb: I think Roz’s main issue is that she was already on the path to radicalization, and being forced to join what’s essentially the ruling class made everything so much worse. She’s seen how people without magic are treated, because she was one of them for most of her life. She knows what happened to her father, and how those like him are seen as disposable.

Lobb: Honestly, I read more YA than adult SFF, so I think I just naturally gravitated toward that age group! I’d say my writing “voice” lies somewhere between YA and adult, and in this case leaning towards the former made sense—-especially because Roz and Damian were very much older teens in my head. DigiCom on Five SF Visions of Society Free From Rules, Regulations, or Effective Government 29 mins ago That said, I think the message at the heart of the story is one of forging your own path. Of questioning the things you’ve been taught or told to believe, even when it’s difficult. Roz can fight against an unjust system even when it directly benefits her. Damian can change his mind about his convictions when things no longer feel right. I specifically love dual-POV when the two characters have a shared past. Seeing how they remember one another, as well as how the dynamic between them has shifted over time, is one of my favourite methods of characterization. As such, I was a big fan of Onyx and Ivory. Excitement ensues as Karina and Malik plot each other’s downfall, having no idea their own lives are at risk. This leaves the reader wondering how on earth a resolution will come about—especially given Karina and Malik’s growing connection.M.K. Lobb: Roz and Damian are both very much a part of me, and I resonate with both of them in different ways. Roz is angry at the world. She’s very focused on justice, and simply can’t abide [by] what she perceives as arbitrary rules informed by a system of belief that can’t be proven. It’s the same rage I felt as a teen, and it really touches every part of your life. Damian, on the other hand, is struggling with what he’s supposed to believe. He’s beginning to question what he’s been taught, but looking too closely will cause his entire worldview to crumble, and that’s so hard to reconcile. At the same time, he’s filled with an all-consuming sadness he doesn’t quite know how to bear. I know that kind of inner turmoil – I’ve felt it. Paste: Roz is such an interesting heroine for a story like this – usually, the young girl getting powers doesn’t get radicalized by having them! Talk to me a little bit about how you view her evolution as a character and where her journey is headed. reddorakeen on Beyond The Exorcist: Five Movies That Explore Possession From Non-Christian Perspectives 4 hours ago

M.K. Lobb: I always love a vast fictional universe, but I sure don’t want to write one! I think the world I’ve created in “Seven Faceless Saints” could have a number of interesting spin-offs, but I’m the kind of writer who gets bored easily. I’m not sad when it’s time to move on to a new project – I’m usually relieved! I think I just like the excitement of something different. That said, maybe I would reconsider after a few years away from this world. Enzo relaxed at once, dragging a hand through the inky sheen of his hair. He’d been at the Palazzo less than a month, but he and Damian had become fast friends. “ Merda,” he said, attention still fixed on the bed. “He’s really dead, isn’t he?”When it comes to building tension on a character level, I find it a lot easier to do when writing from both perspectives. Especially when the characters have a complicated past the way Roz and Damian do, there’s so much to play with. They have such different perspectives and focus on different elements of the mystery, so while it required a lot of trial and error, it’s definitely satisfying to weave everything together in the end. I’m absolutely obsessed! I love the world and Damian and Roz are *chef’s kiss* perfection as main characters. I know I’m going to be begging the NOVL for an ARC of book two… Don’t miss this one!”

M.K. Lobb: I love this question! I like to think I’d be a disciple of Patience, mainly because I just think it would be cool to make weapons. That said, I’m probably more of an unfavoured rebel at heart (i.e. someone without magic). I would definitely be out there questioning the saints and railing against the system. My only power would be my complete inability to keep my thoughts to myself. This question is the foundation of Seven Faceless Saints , the new YA dark fantasy mystery from M.K. Lobb. 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? Quill on The Secret of the Sul’Dam: Subtle Changes to the Way the One Power Works in The Wheel of Time TV Series 29 mins ago Before we wrap, how’s the sequel, “Disciples of Chaos” coming along? Can you tease anything for us about what we may expect next?

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Damian’s heart sank. If Giada didn’t know what had killed Leonzio, it would be more difficult to come up with a list of suspects. Paste Magazine: Tell us a bit about where the inspiration for Seven Faceless Saints came from. What made you want to tell this story? Releases June 5, 2023 in Spain (Editorial Hidra), Fall 2023 in Poland (Wydawnictwo Poznanskie), Nov. 24, 2023 in Germany (Bastei Lubbe AG | Lyx ), with more to come! M.K. Lobb: When I plot a new book, I always start off by developing my world. As you note, in this case, the city of Ombrazia was inspired by the seven major guilds of Florence, Italy. Historical fun fact: there was a time during which Florence’s economy was more or less run by these guilds. They had their own city watchmen, and the people who weren’t part of a guild lived rather poor lives in comparison. Eventually, this led to unrest and rebellions. I thought this was a really interesting way to set up a city, mainly because of all the potential division and hierarchies I could see arising from it. Of course, Florence was also very heavily religious during this time, which got me thinking about how a strict system of belief might interact with a system like this. I decided to link them directly through my creation of the seven saints, which lent to that vaguely creepy religious aesthetic I’m so fond of.