Ruthless Gods

Gr 9 Up–Duncan’s sequel to Wicked Saints is dark and beautiful. Months after the horrific events at the cathedral, Nadya is trapped in Grazyk with Serefin, King of Tranavia, while Malachiasz lurks in the Salt Mines. As Nadya struggles to understand the black scar on her palm, Serefin tries to stop the voice in his head and garish visions. After visits from the witch Pelageya, the three learn that in order to put an end to what was started, they must enter the realm of the divine. The king and the cleric, along with the monster and their allies, encounter fallen ancient gods, now awake with mad and hungry power. Readers will be quickly pulled back into the strangely intertwined lives of Nadya, Serefin, and Malachiasz—the continued development of these characters is a testament to Duncan’s powerful writing style and vivid imagination. The monsters, gods and goddesses described in this book are transfixing, and the pace is clipped, with plot twists and surprises to keep readers engaged and eager for the third volume in the trilogy.