The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E Harrow
★★★★★
Spoiler Free
You’ll Love This Book if You Enjoyed:
Overview:
The Six Deaths of the Saint by Alix E. Harrow is a dark, lyrical tale about a young girl who is chosen by a mysterious god to become a weapon in a brutal war. As she rises to legend, the story explores the cost of sacrifice and the burden of destiny. With haunting prose, it delves into the nature of devotion, power and war - and the fragments of humanity left behind.
World Building, Writing and Lore:
A compact and richly crafted story, Harrow constructs a haunting, war-torn world with an economy of language that makes every detail resonate. The world building in The Six Deaths of the Saint almost borders on historical fiction - minimalist yet evocative, alluding to a vast and brutal kingdom with just a few deft pages.
The prose is lyrical and sharp, balancing beauty with brutality in a way that feels both intimate and mythical. I thoroughly enjoyed the immersive writing style, utilising an almost legends of old poetic tone but without being overwrought—every sentence carrying weight and purpose. I loved how authentically ancient the story felt and so refreshingly abstract, with plot points being hinted at rather than over-explained, adding depth without slowing the pace.
Characters
Though we never actually find out the name of our protagonist, this by no means detracted my attachment from her grit, resilience and introspection throughout the story. Her continual pendulum swing between penitence and zealotry regarding her choices and actions, along with the way in which her character arc so naturally navigates the events of act one, two and three made her painfully resonant and relatable.
Romance
I will resist delving too deep into the minor romantic sub plot in The Six Deaths of the Saint so as not to spoil anything, as I can safely say going into this book as bling as possible will reap the most reward!
All I will say is that within the span of thirty pages, Alix E Harrow weaves one of the most beautifully organic and sincere romances I’ve read in such a long time. I truly didn’t see it coming but the romance arrived so naturally within the plot, and became such a pivotal anchor to the turn of events at the end of the book.
Final Thoughts:
It’s safe to say I inhaled this book on my lengthily morning commute to work. Even at thirty pages long, this may well be one of my top reads of this year - if of all time. This, I think, is a testament to Alix E. Harrow’s ability to craft such a phenomenal narrative within the confines of a mere 30 pages. I simply adored this.