I absolutely love Sophie's other series but unfortunately this one just wasn't for me. I really didn't like the main characters and I couldn't get invested in the story at all.

"There Are No Saints" by Sophie Lark is the first electrifying entry in the Sinners Duet, plunging readers into a world of darkness and desire. Through the intertwining lives of three artists in San Francisco's turbulent art scene—one a struggling painter, and two affluent serial killers—Lark crafts a narrative that is as much about obsession and trauma as it is about the transformative power of recognition and acceptance.

Cole Blackwell, a sculptor hiding his predatory instincts beneath a veneer of wealth and respect, is a man of control, both in his art and his darker impulses. When he crosses paths with Mara Eldritch, a seemingly insignificant artist battling her own demons, the connection sparks a fixation that threatens to unravel the tightly held reins on his true nature. Cole's fascination with Mara, a woman who's navigated a life of obscurity and hardship, is as much about her untapped talent as it is about the challenge she presents to his control​​​​.

The novel doesn't hold back in its exploration of the characters' psyches, delving into themes of childhood trauma, anxiety, and the deep-seated need for acknowledgement. Lark's portrayal of these characters, particularly Mara, reflects a deep understanding of human complexity, as they navigate a world that is both cruel and captivating. There are no heroes in this tale; instead, readers are presented with individuals who are deeply flawed, grappling with their pasts and the consequences of their actions​​​​.

Set against the backdrop of San Francisco, the book immerses readers in the city's vibrant art scene, bringing to life both the glittering success and the gritty struggle within the industry. The detailed depictions of artwork and the lives of the characters lend authenticity to the story, making readers feel like insiders in a world that is both beautiful and brutal​​​​.

"There Are No Saints" is a testament to Lark's storytelling prowess, captivating readers with a tale that is thrilling, spine-tingling, and undeniably dark. The narrative is carefully paced to keep the sense of danger ever-present, with moments that demand readers pause to catch their breath. It's a book that doesn't just tell a story—it engulfs the reader, demanding engagement and eliciting a range of emotions from shock to empathy, making it a standout in the realm of dark romance​​​​.

Sophie Lark's "There Are No Saints" is a dark romance that weaves a complex web of danger, passion, and psychological depth. It's a story that stays with you, challenging your perceptions of what it means to be a saint or a sinner. For those who revel in narratives that are as compelling as they are harrowing, this book is a must-read, promising a journey that is both disturbing and irresistible, with an anticipation for the concluding chapter that is almost palpable

This book was insane (in a good way). I definitely enjoyed reading this and I can’t wait to see where it’s going. I’ll be picking up the sequel ASAP!

Don’t know what Sophie put in this book but it is like crack. I absolutely loved this book. It reminded me of Joe Goldberg from the tv show YOU only he doesn’t kill the love interest.

Highly recommended

The premise of this book was pretty unique, but I was intrigued nonetheless.

We have a three-person situation, but it's not romantic between all three. It is solely between Mara & Cole, so there's no love triangle or anything, but Alastor does play a pretty big role in this book, mostly at the beginning and the end. He is the villain, but you could say they are all villains in a way.

Mara has had a messy childhood, but we don't know a lot about her. She is a very poor artist who gets in between Cole and Alastor, both rich artists and serial killers.

I don’t know if I would say I liked the story. Cole and Mara's relationship I would go as far as saying that it’s very unhealthy and messed up, especially in the beginning, but it’s nonetheless fun to read about. It was a slow build, but it delivered what was promised.

It was definitely an open ending, so I'll pick up book two and see where it leads me.

"Sometimes you have to kill what you love."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

2.5 stars

I dunno. I was expecting a little more killer and a little less whatever this was. Though I'm not necessarily super familiar with the dark romance genre as a whole, I definitely think this could have been better and had more of a plot. Alastor was just kind of... there to provide some sort of tension, when ultimately I think having Cole be the only killer would have been far more intriguing. And Mara... is a doormat who really needs to do her laundry or something because that irked me to no end.

I'm hoping maybe that will be rectified in the second installment.

There Are No Saints was originally published in October 2021, and is now republished as of October 2023. Thank you to Sourcebooks Bloom Books, NetGalley and the author for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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.