A Gothic Fantasy for Fans of Hannah Whitten and Caitlin Starling. Congratulations on such a spectacular release Cate Baumer!
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.
REVIEW:
The Faithful Dark is an NA and gothic fantasy read that I really enjoyed. Csilla and the heretic are two characters that I liked. The story was easy to follow and I liked the pace of the plot. The fantasy aspect is my favorite part as Csilla can wield magic and help find the killer. Readers will love this story and I highly recommend it! This is a slow burn and enemies to lovers story.
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.