REVIEW: There Are No Saints by Sophie Lark

In There Are No Saints by Sophie Lark, Sculptor Cole Blackwell has never been called a good guy and he is completely fine with that. If people knew the truth behind just how far he will go to control those around him–and to rid San Francisco of those not worth living another day–they would be horrified. But Cole has learned to hide his real self from the world. Until he literally stumbles across starving artist Mara Eldritch and sees firsthand just how much she can endure and overcome. And it fascinates him. To the point that Cole becomes obsessed with Mara, following her and devising plans to draw her into his world. But when he begins to actually care for her, that’s where he might have to draw the line.

‘This is the singular factor separating me from everyone else in the world: I choose what to feel. They’re puppets to their emotions. I’m master of mine.’

Mara is used to what most people would consider to be a meager living, with too many part time jobs and too little money to show for it. But she’s determined to make a name for herself in the art world–if she could just get one little (or big) break. Mara never dreamed that after she was left for dead in the middle of nowhere, she’d find herself on a path to success, but that’s exactly what happens. And most of it is due to artist Cole Blackwell. She’s not sure if it’s a good thing or not that he’s stepped into her life. But Mara does know that she’s oddly drawn to him, even if it could mean her undoing. After a lifetime of being mistreated and forgotten, though, she’s not going to back down any longer. No matter how much Cole could potentially mean to her.

“I don’t want to be taken care of. I want to be seen.”

A sinfully, sexy dark romance with morally gray characters who were as compelling as they were dangerous, THERE ARE NO SAINTS was the explosive first half of Sophie Lark’s Sinners Duet.

‘Predator and prey, hunter and hunted…it’s not always obvious which one is which.’

CW: View Spoiler »Murder, abduction, graphic torture & assault, attempted murder, stalking, voyeurism, child abuse/neglect (historical). « Hide Spoiler

I’ll mention two things right away. First, this Sinners Duet is a dark romance, through and through, so it will likely have triggers some readers might want to avoid. (See the Content Warning if you’re sensitive to certain subject matter) And secondly, THERE ARE NO SAINTS didn’t have a cliffhanger ending per se, but it did leave off at a pivotal moment. So you’ll want to have book two, There is No Devil, nearby–because you’ll probably just *have* to know how it all ends.

Having said all that, I will be honest that I was worried when I first started reading how author Sophie Lark could take an antihero like Cole Blackwell and a feisty, stubborn heroine like Mara Eldritch and form a relationship, let alone a romance, between them. But that’s exactly what happened by the end.

When we first got to know Cole, he truly seemed like a calculating, despicable guy. Aside from his obvious talent as an artist, he didn’t really have any redeeming or likable qualities. Mara changed (some of) that. Cole was still manipulative and willing to do depraved things to get his way, but he went from being almost wholly emotionless to experiencing jealousy, fondness, and rage thanks to Mara being in his life.

I’m not going to lie: what happened to Mara toward the first third of the book was horrific. And tough to read where she didn’t have many people in her life to care for or about her. But she was a survivor. Mara was made of tough stuff, and I might possibly have cheered every time she stood up to Cole. (lol) She made some sketchy decisions here and there, but overall, she did what she had to do to carry forward. Something that Cole (and I) admired in her.

QOTD: Are you a dark romance fan? If so, have any favorite authors or books in the genre?

Book Info:

Publication: October 3rd, 2023 (First published: October 20th, 2021) | Bloom Books | Sinners Duet #1

She knows he’s no saint, but she has no idea she’s dancing with the devil.

Cole Blackwell values control. He’s the hottest sculptor in San Francisco―wealthy, successful, and respected. His only weakness is the dark impulse he carefully conceals. In truth, he’s a predator, and the city is his hunting ground.

Mara Eldritch is a nobody. Broke and damaged, she works three jobs while creating paintings no one will ever see. When a chance encounter throws Mara into Cole’s path, her escape from certain death fascinates Cole. More than that―it fixates him. He begins stalking her, discovering there’s more to the struggling misfit than he would have guessed. She makes him feel things he never thought he could feel. Want things he thought he’d never want. He doesn’t know if he should protect her at all costs or destroy her before she ruins him. He’s losing control, breaking the rules that have kept his true nature hidden from the world.

Mara knows he’s dangerous, but Cole is the only person who’s ever recognized her talent, and it leads her heart astray, straight into the dark. Cole can teach her to get what she wants…but what might this vicious killer want in return?

Content: serial killers, blood, dubious consent, graphic murder, graphic violence, mentions of child abuse, kidnapping, stalking, emotional abuse, self-harm, sexual assault, alcoholism, torture.