Written by Mark Jonathan Runte
When you read enough books by an author, you experience their highs and lows. You often also have a fair idea of what to expect from them before embarking on your next read. Mark Jonathan Runte is one such author. Whether it’s his (please bear with me; there are a few books to get through) Midwinter Nights duology (Wolf Prince of Kstovo and Zolushka), the so far standalone Eve (though, expect a review of its sequel, Motherland, early next year), or the Mythos series (of which Never Be a Saint is the latest entry, following Silver and Salt, Bound in Blood, Ash and Faerie Thief), Runte isn’t one to be pigeonholed. Although you can expect a healthy dose of fantasy in his works, with each new book, he brings something new to the table. And while reading so many books shows you their highs and lows, you can also see the author’s evolution. Runte’s evolution is (so far) no better exemplified than it is in Never Be a Saint, a book that, once again, brings something new to the table.
Through novels, a novella, and a short story, the Mythos tales each provide something different to each other. They all have their roots in mythology, but each book offers something different. They are also urban fantasies. However, as much of an urban fantasy Never Be a Saint is, it is also a piece of historical fiction (something the book shares with the Midwinter Nights duology), and Runte’s most literary book yet. I’m hesitant to call it his crowning achievement, if only because he has so many more books to come (don’t believe me? Check the book’s backmatter).
Predominantly set throughout the last third of the eighteenth century, Never Be a Saint is set in the USA’s past, dabbing in Greek mythology, fantasy and visions of the future. The book manages to be both a sprawling epic and an intimate story about its characters. It feels entirely distinct from the other Mythos stories, and yet, it blends seamlessly with the rest of the books, and the world Runte expands upon with every new entry.
At 370 pages in paperback (or an estimated 339 pages on Kindle), Never Be a Saint is a sizeable book that reads faster than its page count suggests. It’s written in a three act structure, with each act being named after one of the Greek Fates, with interludes breaking them up. Through this, Runte tells a story spanning years. Stories set over the course of years can make forming a cohesive narrative difficult. With various gaps in time missing from these stories, they need to work to ensure the plot works without the reader missing any important pieces of the story. Doing this in a way that feels natural is a sizeable challenge, yet the author makes the approach seem easy. The plot flows well, and despite the passage of time, it feels entirely natural.
The novel features a large cast of characters (some of whom you may recognise from other Mythos stories), yet the book doesn’t suffer for it. Each character is clearly defined and a delight to follow. Regardless of whether a character is human or not, they all feel like people, for better and worse. Even the most minor characters feel crucial to the story. Given the setting, the book dabbles in attitudes of the day, and through this, the author includes LGBTQI+ characters and themes, including a trans character. This is done so in a way that feels natural to the book while reinforcing the normalcy of this that so much of the world continues to struggle with today.
A large part of these characters’ success rests in their dialogue. The irdialogue rings entirely true, with each character sounding realistic and distinct, including various regional and class-based dialects. The book is set centuries ago, yet the dialogue sounds fresh without selling out its setting. Conversations throughout Never Be a Saint act as an extension of the prose. The writing is clear and concise, ensuring readers can easily follow along with it. It evokes the world, and serves to insert the reader into the book’s reality, location and period.
The United States during the late eighteenth century is a wonderful setting and was host to a number of world changing events. Runte uses this backdrop expertly, dropping in real world events with the book’s fantasy. Regardless of whether the reader is a history buff or not, the setting enriches not only the book’s world, but Mythos’. I’m a fan of bonus material in books, so discovering the historical information in Never Be a Saint’s backmatter was a delight. History fans will enjoy it, and those unfamiliar with US history from the period will learn something new.
Although Never Be a Saint is the fifth book in the Mythos series, it stands perfectly alone. While it features characters from other stories, these serve as a bonus for readers already familiar with the world, and they are integrated seamlessly for those who aren’t. If you’re new to the series, the book tells you all you’ll need to know.
Part fantasy, part mythological story, part historical tale, Never Be a Saint is a wonderful achievement. Every aspect, whether it’s the setting, the mythological elements, the characters, the dialogue or prose, is keenly developed. In short, it is a wonderful read for all fantasy fans.
Favourite Passage
It was one thing to protest by emptying boxes of tea into the harbor, it was another to reciprocate by tarring and feathering a man for simply doing his job. They were long past words and notices in the broadsheets now, but he was still hoping that peace might be achieved somehow. War could be averted if the colonists were willing to listen to cooler heads but those seemed in short supply of late.
Never Be a Saint: A Mythos Novel, Book Two: “Lachesis”, Chapter Thirty-Six: “Intolerable Acts”
Never Be a Saint: A Mythos Novel was provided by the author for the purpose of an honest review.
Never Be a Saint will be available in both paperback and Kindle, exclusive to Amazon, from 15 January 2024.
Note: I do not post scores for reviews on this website, but do post them on my Amazon and Goodreads reviews:
- Amazon
- Goodreads
You can follow Mark Jonathan Runte online, via:
Interested in purchasing Never Be a Saint?
Please find a link below; please note I do not collect any proceeds from the sale.
Never Be a Saint: A Mythos Novel
wastanley.com 