I really enjoyed this book – it’s got a pretty unique magic system, with a religion that’s actually based on not having gods, and taking good works in your own hands.
The two main characters are Alexei – a priest of this faith, and Kasia, who does tarot readings, and has an interesting past that starts to become clearer through this book. Those of the faith can be marked – the marks help channel magic. But there is a two tiered system – children are tested, and only those deemed worth of marks are actually marked. There are also Nightmarks – marks given by the sorcerers who live outside the faith. Either type of mark can be reversed, and those people go bad. Alexei is charged with seeking them out when this happens.
There’s a lot of world building in this story – it’s got a Slavic feel to it, and the system of magic is promising. I’m definitely interested to see where this goes.
This was a free Kindle book. When I read those, I often go through three or four in a single night before I find that I don’t almost immediately reject. This was the first book I tried the night I started this. I don’t think I’ve ever been able to stick with my first free book. Definitely a pleasant surprise.