All the Crooked Saints by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 3 of 5 stars This is definitely not written in the usual Marissa Meyer style. There's a difference in tone and a difference in how the information is presented that I cannot quite put my finger on. Someone far more scholarly than me would be able to tell you exactly what the difference is… All the Crooked Saints follows the Soria family of saints. The current Saint Daniel and his cousins Beatriz and Joaquin are the youngest of the group and have a pirate radio station. The family itself has a compound in the desert where modern day pilgrims come to find their miracles. Daniel, as the resident Saint, can assist with the first miracle but you must find a way to the second miracle on your own. Everyone has something they wish for and something they fear. Each character's motivations are laid bare for you as you read this story and while there is an incredibly basic plot, the story still feels deep and intricate in the ways in which it is woven together. Equal parts practical and fantastical, this story is never dull. I never found myself knowing what was coming next as the characters worked towards resolution. One of the things that I liked best about the story line was the peppering of the old stories and the new. We're not left to wonder why they adults behave as they do, we're told why. We're treated to the hopefulness of youth and the cynicism of aging and the never ending cycle that flows in between the two. While this stand alone is not my favorite Meyer novel, it's certainly one of her best. View all my reviews
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