Book Review: Saints & Sinners by Rina Kent
As a long-time fan of Rina Kent’s work, I found myself buzzing with excitement when I picked up her latest novel, Saints & Sinners. After devouring her previous books, I couldn’t wait to dive into the world she created this time. However, I’m here to share that my experience was rather different from what I had hoped. With a paltry 1.5 stars, let’s unpack what went wrong and why.
From the outset, I was drawn in by the premise of Ascendants and Celestials, concepts bursting with potential for conflict and emotional depth. However, this very foundation wobbled like a poorly built house. The characters felt more like sketches than fully realized individuals. Grace, the protagonist, was meant to be the heart of the story—but her motivations remained all but a mystery. I kept searching for a glimpse into her emotional landscape, but I mostly encountered surface-level reactions that left me feeling disconnected from her journey.
The romance that was supposed to ignite the pages frankly fell flat. Hunter and Grace’s relationship is introduced as an intense and forbidden connection, yet the chemistry was almost nonexistent. Without a solid buildup or emotional grounding, I found myself questioning why I should care about their love story at all. I expected to be swept away, but instead, I was left feeling bewildered.
And then came the writing itself. Honestly, it felt unpolished and awkward. Repetitive dialogue stood out glaringly, especially Hunter’s incessant use of "idiots." Rather than charm the reader, it came off as a lazy writing choice. Some moments were so cringy, like a bizarre tampon scene that felt out of place, pulling me right out of the narrative. It’s almost as if the author experimented with shock value without considering its relevance.
Worldbuilding is one of my absolute favorite aspects of fantasy novels, and here it was disappointingly inconsistent. The universe laid out in Saints & Sinners had glimmers of creativity, but vague explanations muddied the waters. What did it even mean to be an Ascendant? How do the world’s laws apply? Questions piled up without answers. The baffling contradictions, such as characters using smartphones one moment and then reverting back to physical maps the next, made the world feel tenuous at best.
The climax, a chaotic series of twists, left me feeling cheated rather than thrilled. I craved foreshadowing and depth, but it felt more like the author pulled plot points from a hat—an unsatisfying “twist” that robbed the narrative of earning its stakes.
In summary, Saints & Sinners had solid bones; the premise was intriguing, and Rina Kent’s talent is undeniable. Unfortunately, the execution lacked the clarity and depth needed for the story to resonate. If you’re drawn to complex worlds and layered characters, you might want to wait until Rina’s next outing. For those who revel in the exploration of unpolished early works from beloved authors, this book might still have its charm.
Ultimately, while this book didn’t hit the mark for me, I’m hopeful about Rina’s trajectory as an author—I believe there’s brilliance ahead! For now, I’ll tuck Saints & Sinners back on my shelf, a reminder that sometimes, even our favorite authors stumble.
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