Dickens & Rumi
Cover of WICKED SAINTS

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WICKED SAINTS

Emily A. Duncan

After fleeing an invasion of the monastery where she is hiding, Nadya joins forces with two refugees of her enemies. (Ages 13 to 17)

Ages 15+Source checked

Why this age? Dark fantasy violence, blood magic, torture-like peril, death, religious extremism, war, and emotionally intense themes make this better for mature teens than younger readers. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age15+

Strongest cautions

  • Religious themes5/5
  • Death of a character4/5
  • Frightening scenes4/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Positive messages3/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character4/5
Why this rating?

Characters face frequent peril, and significant deaths occur as part of the conflict.

Graphic injury4/5
Why this rating?

Graphic descriptions of magical consequences, bodily mutilation, and battlefield carnage occur throughout.

Strong language2/5
Why this rating?

Occasional strong language used in tense moments, consistent with the YA fantasy genre.

LGBTQIA characters2/5
Why this rating?

Contains queer-coded elements and secondary characters, reflecting the author's inclusive style.

Religious themes5/5
Why this rating?

Invented religious systems, gods, worship, religious authority, heresy, and faith-based conflict are central to the plot.

Romance3/5
Why this rating?

Romantic tension is present between main characters, though the focus remains primarily on the plot.

Frightening scenes4/5
Why this rating?

Features dark atmospheres, disturbing occult magic, and threatening supernatural entities.

Sexual content & nudity1/5
Why this rating?

Very minor references to intimacy; no explicit sexual content.

Alcohol or drugs2/5
Why this rating?

Characters consume alcohol, though it is not a focus of the story.

Violence4/5
Why this rating?

Includes frequent fantasy combat, blood magic, and depictions of war-related injuries and supernatural threats.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

The protagonists show significant bravery in the face of overwhelming odds and divine threats.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

Elaborate world-building, distinctive gods and magic systems, political tensions, and inventive supernatural imagery strongly encourage imaginative engagement.

Diverse representation2/5
Why this rating?

Features a diverse cast typical of contemporary YA fantasy.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Reflects themes from history and folklore, though primarily for entertainment.

Kindness & empathy2/5
Why this rating?

Compassion, loyalty, and protecting others appear, but they compete with betrayal, coercion, cruelty, and wartime survival.

Positive messages3/5
Why this rating?

Explores power, fanaticism, sacrifice, autonomy, moral compromise, loyalty, and the danger of treating beliefs as justification for harm.

Good role models2/5
Why this rating?

Characters show loyalty and courage but also make dangerous, compromised, and sometimes harmful choices; examples are morally mixed.

Family discussion

Talk about it

Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. What beliefs or religious ideas appear in the story? How do they influence the characters?
  3. Which choice in WICKED SAINTS would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in WICKED SAINTS, and what caused that change?
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Dark Lord of DerkholmDiana Wynne Jones · 1998Ages 14+A Forest DividedErin Hunter · 2015Ages 14+Drowned Ammet (Dalemark Quartet, Book 2)Diana Wynne Jones · 1977Ages 12+Cart and Cwidder (The Dalemark Quartet)Diana Wynne Jones · 1975Ages 12+

These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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