Thank you Netgalley, and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

There are no saints is a dark serial killer romance that draws you in from the first page. It was well written, and made me feel.

You have a possessive male main character, and a female main character that has been through a lot. She's good at always picking her self up, and keeps going. They are both artists, and this is a big part of the story.

Unfortunately there was something in this that just wasn't for me, and I'm not sure what it was, but something felt off. With that being said, the ending of the book did make me interested in what would happen next, and I'm not sure where this will go.

2,5⭐️

<b><i><u>please note that the trigger warnings and topes/themes may contain spoilers</b></i></u>
<i><u>I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. </i></u>
<b>HEA:</b> yes-ish. cliffhanger
<b>spice:</b> several open door scenes
<b>TWs:</b> murder, torture, stalking, dubious consent, moderately non consentual scene, non consensual tattoos, parental abuse, attempted murder, kidnapping, past self harm,
<b>standalone:</b> book 1 in Sinners Duet
<b>final thoughts</b>: so many mixed emotions for this book – I loved it, it was dark and crazy with great characters, but that cliffhangery ending took away so much of the emotional development! The MC is very morally grey and the illustrations added to the book’s excitement. It had a lot of moments that reminded me of “You” where he’s obsessed with the girl and wants to kill her and bang her and he’s not sure which one to choose. I felt like the FMC caved a liiiiiite too quickly into her like for someone who is clearly not good for her but whatever that’s fiction and I still loved it

read this book if you love

🔀 opposites attract
💓 slowburn
❓ mystery
😡 grumpy/sunshine
😬 angst
👮 blue collar MMC (artist)
🤫 hidden secrets
🔫 serial killers
☠️ “touch her and die”

An incredibly fast paced and for me a very different sort of read. I learned that serial killers aren’t for me but that’s ok! This was, as always, really well done. The double POV is always my favorite way to tell stories and Sophie is always exceptionally good at showing both sides. This just wasn’t speaking to me and that’s a me thing not an issue with the book at all!!

4.5/5 ⭐️
3/5 🌶️
5/5 🎧

Sophie is a one click author for me and I’ve been wanting to read this book forever. I’m so glad I finally got to it!! I didn’t even read the blurb because I knew if she wrote it I’d love it 😅

This was a serial unalivers book with so many twists and turns that I couldn’t stop listening to it. I was up until 1 am finishing the audio. Both the narrators did such a good job with their narration. I was engrossed from the beginning in the story and loved the dual POV.

I thoroughly enjoyed learning about Cole and the way his mind worked. I love an MC that’s stalkerish and obsessive about the FMC and Cole did not disappoint! Mara and Cole are insane and I was slack jawed half the time I read this book! As crazy as Cole was, I really liked how he took care of Mara and how he knew her so well even more than she knew herself.

The ending was wild and I honestly can’t wait to dive into book 2 of the duet!!

3.5⭐️

I smashes through this book in less than 24 hours. Lark's writing style is so easy and pleasant to read.

While I like the idea and execution of the dueling serial killers and their prey caught in the middle, I didn't entirely buy the romance. A mistake I think a lot of authors make is that they never make it out of the enemy phase if enemies to lovers. I didn't quite buy Mara and Cole's attraction to eachother since they continuously expressed their distate for the other. In this case, the sexual tension was the only part of the romance that was well-executed.

The images and playlist incorporated into the text added another level of immersion as well. The art isn't quite my style but I appreciate it anyway.

Anyway, I'll be picking up the sequel as I'm really interested in the serial killer subplot.

Fitting for the season, I have been on a kick of serial killer reads, and rival serial killers is definitely catching my attention. Unlike my recent binges, this is two rival serial killers with their sights on the same woman.

Despite the situation that the FMC was put into, she maintained a strong will and I’m excited to see the evolution of her character as we progress into the second book. The revenge power move? Exquisite. An icon. I’m utterly obsessed with her character. She’s not just a victim that lets the world happen to her.

Sophie Lark is phenomenal, an author to watch for. I can’t wait to get my hands on book two and have added her to my autobuy list.

Sophie Lark knows how to hook a reader! Sexy, suspenseful, and special. Have read several stalker romances but none quite like this. It’s perfectly balanced story of spice, action, and plot. Looking forward to discovering more answers and I want to see more from both Cole & Mara too! But a great start to the duet, for sure!

⚠️Read CW/TWs⚠️

This is my first read from Sophie Lark, and I am a fan! If you are looking for a "cutesy lovie dovie" story, just keep walkin', because this is not the book you are looking for. I have always liked dark books, and this is that my friends. There Are No Saints is also very intense. The romance is... unique. I couldn't put this book down! TANS does end on a cliffhanger!

Thank you to Netgalley and SourceBooks for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Sophie Lark is queen of dark romance and I am here for it. I have enjoyed reading her books throughout the years and this series is no exception.

"I shouldn’t like you now,” she says. “But I do.” I shouldn’t like her, either. But I do.

I was reluctant to read this book in the beginning because the blurb made it sound like there's a third person involved in the relationship but then the temptation became hard to resist so I took a chance. Turns out this was the craziest and stupidest serial k*ller book I've read lol. It's not really a slow burn but the pacing was very slow and sometimes the plot sucked but the writing made up for it. The book was dark and sometimes I felt disgusted but it kept me on the edge of my seat. The H & h's relationship was cute but I just wasn't feeling it tbh. I'm going to read the next book to find out how it ends though.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

There Are No Saints is my first dark romance book and I was quite surprised by how into the story I was.
Mara is a broke and struggling artist. Cole is a rich and struggling artist, and also a serial killer. Cole spots Mara from across the room at an art show and is instantly intrigued by her, but believes he would be bad for her and pursues her from afar.
Without giving much away, this story does get dark and steamy, and as it is part of a duology, leaves you wanting more at the end. Sometimes the wording of the story was a bit dry for me, and the story gets a bit too unbelievable but I still needed to see what happened next.
Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Blooks for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sophie Lark for this ebook in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 3.5 / 5 Stars

I was super into majority of this book but the last bit was hard for me to get through. Still a great read!

The first 3/4 of this book was addictive, and I struggled to put it down. Idk what changed but the last 1/4 for me felt so slow and I just didn't care.

I would've liked the effects of the kidnapping spoken about more, as otherwise to me it serves no purpose other than to introduce the two main characters. Something that significant felt really brushed over. It would've been nice to see more emotional development between the two characters as for me it just reads that Cole saw Mara and was like yep, mine.

The writing felt a bit childish/YA which is fine but did affect how much I enjoyed reading it.

I'll probably read the next book but I'm not rushing to get to it.

Filing this away as not for me. I just can't get on board with the literal killing of people and I couldn't empathize with a psychopath with zero empathy.

Let’s fall in love with a murderer tonight.



There are are few things going on in this book, first, artistic rivalry between Shaw, the darling and Cole, the elusive. Both have talent and both have a dark secret, they are murderers! This is first page material, not a spoiler. 



Shaw believes he and Cole are the same, equals. However Cole, to the infuriation of Shaw, believes he is superior in all areas. 



Then enters Mara. Unlucky enough to catch the eye of both Shaw and Cole. She is the definition of “hot mess”. Both men often don’t even “get” why they can’t look away. 



The whole book we are taken on the messed up journey of will Mara get Murdered? And which guy will do it? This book is the first of a duet or a duology so there is a cliff hanger/awkward ending.



I would recommend this book to people that like to get spanked and tied up; or in the very least, like to read about it. Also, those that are not too sensitive to the idea of consent/lack of concerning slight body modification. It's in the heat of the moment so it's forgivable, right guys?

What just happened and why did I like it??

Clearly nothing triggers me at all because holy sh!t I just fell in love with a serial killer?????

I don't understand it either and honestly I don't know if I want to. My own personal crisis aside, I genuinely did enjoy There Are No Saints. It was twisted, it was messy, it was dirty, it was slightly (definitely 1000%) psychotic, and it had me engrossed to the point I finished it in just a few hours. And I loved watching our hero (anti-hero? villain? His name is Cole let’s just call him that) get twisted and turned upside down when he met the heroine, Mara. I'm so confused but also so happy I read it. What a freaking trip.

I cannot wait for book 2. Send help because my love is only going to get worse, I can feel it.

I will start my review by saying search for the trigger warnings before reading this book.

In this first book in a duology, we follow Mara, an artist, as she tries to live her life the best she can. She gets kidnapped and tortured, and she makes it out alive, trying to remember who got her.

She meets Cole, a handsome billionaire, who helps her with her art.... and with her other needs.
Their romance seemed a bit forced, but, my guess is that the author tried to give us the spice faster.

I love the dual POV and I've been a fan of Lark's writing ever since I read 'Brutal Prince'.

This book is a dark, spicy, and stalker romance and it might make you question some things.

I will be reading the next one.

This was recommended to me through none other than the current BookTok community long before I saw it available to review on Netgalley, and after a disappointing read with a previous series, I was super hesitant to start, but I'm now finished with the series, and I'm glad I took the chance. The writing was well done, and the plot, while dark, was crafted nicely in comparison. I didn't hate either of the MC's, and of course I always enjoy books set in a place I'm familiar with (I was born and raised in the SF bay area), and the art aspect brought in a twist I didn't expect but that fit well with the story itself. Sophie has earned herself a fan in me, and I'm curious what's next for her!

"There Are No Saints” is the first book in the Sinners Duet. Reader be warned: this is a dark and steamy serial killer romance that will take you on a journey through the twisted mind of an artist on the brink of madness.

Not my kind of book but I recognize that some people would really enjoy it.

The Sinners duet has been on my TBR for a long while now. This is one of the most dark romances I have ever read. I will be honest there were elements I enjoyed, and others that I just did not jive with.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
Characters: Mara and Cole are the main characters of this duology. When we meet Mara she is a struggling artist, who happens to catch the eye of rich artist Cole. Due to his infatuation with Mara, one of Cole’s rival serial killers takes an interest in her too. Oh yes, Cole is a serial killer but has seemingly only killed bad men. While his rival has a taste for young women. I found that I was not getting attached to either character as I just kept not agreeing with the choices they kept making.
Setting: This story is set in San Francisco and depicts the affluent art scene. Much of the books take place at art galleries or feature scenes of the characters painting, sculpting, and of course the art of serial killing. The wider cast of characters in the San Francisco art scene did very little to hook me, and I found myself caring more about reading scenes with the two leads together.
Pacing: Both stories have breakneck pacing, especially the first book. I flew through it because I kept needing to know more about the completely bonkers plot.
Romance: So I will admit to growing slightly invested in Mara and Cole figuring things out. The first book was not so much for me, as I was more taken aback by some of his actions while he was initially fascinated with Mara, but had not made a move yet. There are countless hot and heavy sex scenes throughout the book and the art is such a perfect accompaniment.