What do you think?
Rate this book
Ruined #1
Ruined
A revenge that will consume her. A love that will ruin her.
Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war. She lacks the powers of her fellow Ruined. Worst of all, she witnessed her parents’ brutal murders and watched helplessly as her sister, Olivia, was kidnapped.
But because Em has nothing, she has nothing to lose. Driven by a blind desire for revenge, Em sets off on a dangerous journey to the enemy kingdom of Lera. Somewhere within Lera’s borders, Em hopes to find Olivia. But in order to find her, Em must infiltrate the royal family.
In a brilliant, elaborate plan of deception and murder, Em marries Prince Casimir, next in line to take Lera’s throne. If anyone in Lera discovers Em is not Casimir’s true betrothed, Em will be executed on the spot. But it’s the only way to salvage Em’s kingdom and what is left of her family.
Em is determined to succeed, but the closer she gets to the prince, the more she questions her mission. Em’s rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.
Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war. She lacks the powers of her fellow Ruined. Worst of all, she witnessed her parents’ brutal murders and watched helplessly as her sister, Olivia, was kidnapped.
But because Em has nothing, she has nothing to lose. Driven by a blind desire for revenge, Em sets off on a dangerous journey to the enemy kingdom of Lera. Somewhere within Lera’s borders, Em hopes to find Olivia. But in order to find her, Em must infiltrate the royal family.
In a brilliant, elaborate plan of deception and murder, Em marries Prince Casimir, next in line to take Lera’s throne. If anyone in Lera discovers Em is not Casimir’s true betrothed, Em will be executed on the spot. But it’s the only way to salvage Em’s kingdom and what is left of her family.
Em is determined to succeed, but the closer she gets to the prince, the more she questions her mission. Em’s rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.
355 pages, Hardcover
First published May 3, 2016
About the author
Amy Tintera
10 books4,752 followersAmy Tintera started writing novels as a kid during her middle school science classes, which probably explains why she has always been very bad at science. She is now the author of several novels for young adults, including Reboot, a Kids Indie Next pick and YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, the Ruined series, The Q, and All These Monsters, a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults selection. Her novels have been translated into 16 languages and sold into more than 20 territories.
She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in media arts/screenwriting from Emerson College. She worked as a talent agency assistant in Hollywood before becoming an author. Raised in Austin, Texas, she frequently sets her novels in the Lone Star state, but she now lives in Los Angeles, where there's far less humidity, but not nearly enough Tex-Mex.
Her first novel for adults, Listen for the Lie, will be published March 5, 2024 by Celadon/Macmillan.
She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M and a master’s degree in media arts/screenwriting from Emerson College. She worked as a talent agency assistant in Hollywood before becoming an author. Raised in Austin, Texas, she frequently sets her novels in the Lone Star state, but she now lives in Los Angeles, where there's far less humidity, but not nearly enough Tex-Mex.
Her first novel for adults, Listen for the Lie, will be published March 5, 2024 by Celadon/Macmillan.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,423 reviews
May 3, 2016
She slipped her hand into his, and when he laced their fingers together, her entire traitor body flushed. She ducked her head, pretending not to notice the bursts of happiness exploding in her chest.
This is absolutely nothing new. Recycled characters and story, with a plot driven by romance.
Yes, part of the problem with this book is that it feels so familiar. Emelina Flores disguises herself as someone else and infiltrates the palace of her enemies (this also happens in some way in Throne of Glass, Shadow and Bone, Red Queen and The Orphan Queen). Despite being hardcore and all about revenge, she quickly gets caught up in definitely not thinking about Cas, and sashaying in front of the mirror in pretty dresses.
But let's forget about all those identical books that have come before this for a second and view Ruined on its own.
Well, firstly, the world-building is incredibly vague. There are four kingdoms in this land and I have no idea where they are in relation to one another, what they're doing, what makes them different, and why everyone wants to kill the Ruined. Seriously, everyone hates them and we are never given a real reason.
Emelina Flores is one of the Ruined and she wants to a) find out where the Lera king is holding her sister captive, and b) stop everyone from killing the Ruined. So she blows in with a sword, murders Princess Mary of Vallos, and assumes her identity so she can marry Prince Casimir of Lera and find the information she needs.
Infiltration!
Badassery!
Revenge!
Oh, wait.... is that a hot prince?
And that's when our sword-wielding warrior heroine's plans come crumbling down beneath the unconvincing romance. For one thing, she goes from hating Cas to being all googly-eyed in almost no time at all. For another, Cas's personality is... virtually nonexistent. He seems to exist simply as a love interest for Emelina and every thought he has is either about her or influenced by what she says.
It's like he never thought anything about anything until she puts ideas in his head. And also, he's a little bit stupid. Emelina is really not that good at being someone else, or at subtly finding out information. It's quite amazing that Cas never thinks something might be up when she openly sympathizes with the Ruined and literally comes out and asks where her sister is being kept. She's basically got "impostor" tattooed across her forehead.
Almost as soon as it is introduced, the plot becomes driven by the romance. Other dramatic discoveries and events are only explored in relation to how this affects the relationship between Emelina and Cas. Side characters remain undeveloped, as do the world and wider politics.
Ruined is a surface story with kissing and sword fights, reminiscent of other, often better, works. The ending is cliffhanger free, but still necessitates a sequel.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube | Store
May 4, 2016
But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.Could be. Would be. Is. You guys know what happens. Without even reading the book, I guarantee you guys know what happens as soon as you read that sentence from the blurb.
This book is not worth reading, if only for the reason that you guys have all read this book before. It is the same as every other pseudo-high-fantasy romance-ridden assassin-who-falls-in-love crap that's ever been published.
It's not even funny anymore, and it's not worthwhile for me to write an actual review.
July 31, 2022
Reread or listen 2022. It’s still good. I mean I’m changing my star from 4 to a 3.5 Stars. I’m unhauling my hardbacks of all three. I have the first from a kindle sale so I might get the other two in a sale if I like them when I reread them.
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
************
I thought this book was bloody brilliant! It starts right off with the killing of some royals. Yay, lets start our revenge early =) I mean if you kill my family you best believe revenge is in your future.
Em, Damien and Aren are on a quest to infiltrate the enemy in order to take said enemy out. Em poses as a princess to marry a prince from the enemy camp and Aren goes as one of her guards.
Em and the crew are Ruined and live in Ruina. Most of the Ruined have special powers. Em, unfortunately didn't get this particular gene but she made up for it in becoming a pretty bad to the bone fighter.
Em is on a quest to find her sister Olivia that was taken when their family was murdered. Olivia is a force to be reckoned with herself.
There was a scene that made me so mad and upset I wanted to set a bomb off on those evil people. Fear of the unknown drives people to do stupid things. The same thing is true when evil people put that fear in you. No side is really right, they are both wrong, but that doesn't mean you slaughter and kill the innocents that had nothing to do with it.
Anyhoo, like I said, Em pretends to be someone else and marries Prince Cas in order to infiltrate the castle and see if she can find her sister and take out the enemy that killed her family. But, things don't all go as planned. Em finds that Cas is nothing like his evil father and they do form a sort of bond. Hopefully it all works out for them.
There is a book bit of planning and killing and I'm afraid of the things that will happen with the rest of the series/trilogy. I hope it all goes well for both sides and they open their eyes and quit being stupid. But alas. . . . . .
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
Mel 🖤🐶🐺🐾
************
I thought this book was bloody brilliant! It starts right off with the killing of some royals. Yay, lets start our revenge early =) I mean if you kill my family you best believe revenge is in your future.
Em, Damien and Aren are on a quest to infiltrate the enemy in order to take said enemy out. Em poses as a princess to marry a prince from the enemy camp and Aren goes as one of her guards.
Em and the crew are Ruined and live in Ruina. Most of the Ruined have special powers. Em, unfortunately didn't get this particular gene but she made up for it in becoming a pretty bad to the bone fighter.
Em is on a quest to find her sister Olivia that was taken when their family was murdered. Olivia is a force to be reckoned with herself.
There was a scene that made me so mad and upset I wanted to set a bomb off on those evil people. Fear of the unknown drives people to do stupid things. The same thing is true when evil people put that fear in you. No side is really right, they are both wrong, but that doesn't mean you slaughter and kill the innocents that had nothing to do with it.
Anyhoo, like I said, Em pretends to be someone else and marries Prince Cas in order to infiltrate the castle and see if she can find her sister and take out the enemy that killed her family. But, things don't all go as planned. Em finds that Cas is nothing like his evil father and they do form a sort of bond. Hopefully it all works out for them.
There is a book bit of planning and killing and I'm afraid of the things that will happen with the rest of the series/trilogy. I hope it all goes well for both sides and they open their eyes and quit being stupid. But alas. . . . . .
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
June 22, 2018
Can Em teach me how to be as kickass as her please?? I want to slice and dice bitches with a sword too. 😍 This book was so fun!!
Emelina Flores witnessed the brutal murder of her parents and her sister being kidnapped by the enemy kingdom, Lera. Her people, the Ruined are killed and hunted down every day for their magic and while she doesn't have magic herself, that doesn't make her any less powerful!! Wanting to rescue her sister and seek revenge, she forms a plan that includes marrying Prince Casimir, next in line for Lera's throne. Too bad he's hot.
I liked this book, but honestly?? the plot line felt too familiar. Assassin/killer sent to butcher up someone or spy but ends up falling in looooove with who they're supposed to kill. I don't remember the exact titles, but there are definitely a lot of YA books with a similar plot out there.
●Our main character Emelina is such a badass. Get yourself a girl who knows her way with a sword and isn't afraid to slice up a bitch!!! She's so strong and kickass. The best part about it? It feels so natural and we aren't told 20 million times how badass she is. Her strength is shown in the action scenes and when she's training/practicing. Not only is she a kickass bitch, but she's nice, understanding, clever, smart and just not an asshole??? Which is so rare in YA. And we also have other kickass female warriors!!!
●This book is really fast paced and easy to read. The writing is simple and enjoyable and kept me hooked.
●Though the story is VERY familiar, it was actually pretty enjoyable??? I don't want to say to much because it'll become spoiler-y, but there is sort of a twist that took me by surprise and that's when shit went down and I was all like !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The action scenes were intense and had me screaming.
●There's also a lot of murder and death and tbh, it's always appreciated in books for me!!!
●I DIDN'T LIKE THEIR ROMANCE!!!! I know!!! It is supposed to be a romance, I mean, it literally says that in the blurb, but I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE WELL WRITTEN!!! It wasn't!!!!!! Their romance felt boring and I felt like there was 0 chemistry?? It just happened suddenly, idk felt bland. I don't really ship them, they're just such a boring couple together, ngl.
●THE FIRST HALF WAS REALLY BORING.
Overall, it was a fun book and the second half of this book really woke me up and had me hooked. Despite my problems, I enjoyed it and will definitely continue on with the series.
3.5 stars
What's it about???
Emelina Flores witnessed the brutal murder of her parents and her sister being kidnapped by the enemy kingdom, Lera. Her people, the Ruined are killed and hunted down every day for their magic and while she doesn't have magic herself, that doesn't make her any less powerful!! Wanting to rescue her sister and seek revenge, she forms a plan that includes marrying Prince Casimir, next in line for Lera's throne. Too bad he's hot.
I liked this book, but honestly?? the plot line felt too familiar. Assassin/killer sent to butcher up someone or spy but ends up falling in looooove with who they're supposed to kill. I don't remember the exact titles, but there are definitely a lot of YA books with a similar plot out there.
THE GOOD THINGS!
●Our main character Emelina is such a badass. Get yourself a girl who knows her way with a sword and isn't afraid to slice up a bitch!!! She's so strong and kickass. The best part about it? It feels so natural and we aren't told 20 million times how badass she is. Her strength is shown in the action scenes and when she's training/practicing. Not only is she a kickass bitch, but she's nice, understanding, clever, smart and just not an asshole??? Which is so rare in YA. And we also have other kickass female warriors!!!
●This book is really fast paced and easy to read. The writing is simple and enjoyable and kept me hooked.
●Though the story is VERY familiar, it was actually pretty enjoyable??? I don't want to say to much because it'll become spoiler-y, but there is sort of a twist that took me by surprise and that's when shit went down and I was all like !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The action scenes were intense and had me screaming.
●There's also a lot of murder and death and tbh, it's always appreciated in books for me!!!
THE BAD THINGS!
●I DIDN'T LIKE THEIR ROMANCE!!!! I know!!! It is supposed to be a romance, I mean, it literally says that in the blurb, but I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE WELL WRITTEN!!! It wasn't!!!!!! Their romance felt boring and I felt like there was 0 chemistry?? It just happened suddenly, idk felt bland. I don't really ship them, they're just such a boring couple together, ngl.
●THE FIRST HALF WAS REALLY BORING.
Overall, it was a fun book and the second half of this book really woke me up and had me hooked. Despite my problems, I enjoyed it and will definitely continue on with the series.
3.5 stars
May 14, 2018
**3.5 stars**
I hate to spoil, but needs must.
This is a plot and character driven book told in a simple and linear manner.... unfortunately. Sequential in it's telling, I could easily plot a graph of the story as each milestone and arc were unveiled
√ Revenge plot. That'll be point one on said graph
√ Infiltrate enemy's camp. Point two
√ Discover the nice-looking boy who is an integral part of the enemy's camp
√ Reconnaissance
√ Develop feelings for said boy
√ Begin to doubt the rationale for the revenge plot
√ No chance of backtracking despite newly developed "feelings"
√ Attack
√ Escape
√ Double back to complete the first part of the mission with help of a certain good-looking boy
√ End of story.
I haven't read a lot of dystopian books, so that might explain my ambivalence toward Ruined. It was tough getting invested in the story and not until I'd picked it up and set it aside a few times did it finally reel me in. Emelina Flores, a Ruina princess, is out to avenge the death of her parents in addition to rescuing, Olivia, her abducted sister. After a year of planning, she succeeds in infiltrating the enemy's camp by posing as the young Prince Casimir's -of Lera- intended bride.
This is where I deducted a half star from my rating.
For such an elemental part of this story, the ease with which Em could slip into the enemy's camp was unbelievable. That no one questioned her lack of- female- travel companions makes me wonder in which time period this was set. Regardless, it should have been expected that a princess would arrive with at minimum, one female maid/or equivalent. Another half point deducted.
The author attempted to build the world of four kingdoms comprising Ruina, Lera, Vallos and Olso and while I didn't expect worldbuilding on the scale of say, Ketterdam in Six of Crows, I still would have appreciated a better description of the ambiance and atmosphere. Deduct half point.
The characters were developed enough, with Em portrayed as the cold calculating strategist and, Cas, the naive and insulated prince. The characterizations were authentic as neither protagonist was given too many unusual powers or authority.Cas was still very much a boy albeit one with extensive sword and fighting skills while Em was, intermittently, subject to bouts of fear and doubt. These rang true and gave the author room to explore future growth.
Now on to the plot. Ruina is a kingdom of people where some were born with special powers. Due to fear, prejudice, and ignorance, the kings of the other kingdoms colluded to eliminate the RUINED, leaving in their wake a grieving kingdom bent on revenge. I agree this theme/premise has been tackled successfully in other Dystopian/Fantasy books but much like the contemporary romance genre, I do believe an overused theme still has many ways in which to spin it, which the author did quite well, IMO.
Overall, I liked the story and expect book 2 will have the author throwing in more intrigue, suspense, and other interesting characters.
Shelved as 'dnf'
May 30, 2016I quite liked the author's previous SF duology, so it's disappointing to find this one so lacking in world-building and solid characterization. The book starts off with decent fight scenes, but otherwise there isn't much else that interested me in the beginning. I also can't quite grasp the tone; I think it's supposed to be slightly humorous? But I'm not sure. It felt very off-kilter and sort of silly (reminiscent of a lite dystopian bestseller that shall not be named), and the combination of modern/mannered-for-fantasy's-sake language felt awkward to me.
DNF around 65 pages. Honestly, I guess I should've known better when I saw the setting is in a place called "Ruina." Here's hoping the author goes back to science fiction after she finishes this series...but who knows, there's definitely an enthusiastic audience for this sort of thing. But it's not me.
A finished copy was provided by the publisher for this review.
DNF around 65 pages. Honestly, I guess I should've known better when I saw the setting is in a place called "Ruina." Here's hoping the author goes back to science fiction after she finishes this series...but who knows, there's definitely an enthusiastic audience for this sort of thing. But it's not me.
A finished copy was provided by the publisher for this review.
February 21, 2023
But...
But...
This book is so freaking good!
Good writing, incredible setting and world building and absolutely lovable characters.
If you look at it like a period drama, you're in for a ride, but the fantasy factor is a bit weak. Complots and lies, on the other hand, you'll find plenty.
It's still a very entertaining read, no matter how you look at it.
I adore Em like crazy but Cas is my favorite.
The way he always cracks his knuckles reminds me of how Gansey brushes his lower lip with his thumb. It's one of those repetitive gestures that make the character so real.
I love Cas sooooo much, he's a literal piece of sunshine and his friendship with Galo is one of the best relationships in the whole book.
ACTUAL RATINGS 4.5/5
But...
This book is so freaking good!
Good writing, incredible setting and world building and absolutely lovable characters.
If you look at it like a period drama, you're in for a ride, but the fantasy factor is a bit weak. Complots and lies, on the other hand, you'll find plenty.
It's still a very entertaining read, no matter how you look at it.
I adore Em like crazy but Cas is my favorite.
The way he always cracks his knuckles reminds me of how Gansey brushes his lower lip with his thumb. It's one of those repetitive gestures that make the character so real.
I love Cas sooooo much, he's a literal piece of sunshine and his friendship with Galo is one of the best relationships in the whole book.
ACTUAL RATINGS 4.5/5
July 7, 2018
Full Review
Any book that has me shook at how fast I read them, deserves 5 stars.
What I liked
- As I mentioned in one of my updates, I loved the trope represented in this: Girl (Em) hates boy (Cas) because of what boy and his family did to her family. Girl pretends to be the person betrothed to boy. Girl marries boy in order to destroy his country from the inside. Girl realizes boy is not bad. Girl falls for boy. Girl doesn’t know what to do next
- This book was fast-paced. I started reading and before I knew it, I was already like halfway done lol. There was never a dull moment.
- I liked the characters. From the main ones to the side characters and I loved seeing them interact with each other
- I loved the romance!! I love how it was kinda slow-burning but not too slow lol.
“ kind, reasonable, thoughtful. It wasn't love or an admission of wild, passionate feelings, but he realized he liked her three words more”
In some books I read, I often wonder why a girl likes a boy or vice versa, especially when it isn’t obvious (if the love interest is annoying) so I loved how Em actually said her reasons instead of just declaring her love, and I agreed with them!!
- I liked how this book had a different spin on the “she’s one of a kind” trope. Em is part of a kingdom that has people known as “ruined’. These people have special abilities. There is a subsection of these people, known as “useless”. Although they have ruined blood in them, they have no abilities. Em is one of these people but what she lacked in ability, she gained in swordsmanship.
Overall, I loved this book and I recommend it to everyone 😊
Any book that has me shook at how fast I read them, deserves 5 stars.
What I liked
- As I mentioned in one of my updates, I loved the trope represented in this: Girl (Em) hates boy (Cas) because of what boy and his family did to her family. Girl pretends to be the person betrothed to boy. Girl marries boy in order to destroy his country from the inside. Girl realizes boy is not bad. Girl falls for boy. Girl doesn’t know what to do next
- This book was fast-paced. I started reading and before I knew it, I was already like halfway done lol. There was never a dull moment.
- I liked the characters. From the main ones to the side characters and I loved seeing them interact with each other
- I loved the romance!! I love how it was kinda slow-burning but not too slow lol.
“ kind, reasonable, thoughtful. It wasn't love or an admission of wild, passionate feelings, but he realized he liked her three words more”
In some books I read, I often wonder why a girl likes a boy or vice versa, especially when it isn’t obvious (if the love interest is annoying) so I loved how Em actually said her reasons instead of just declaring her love, and I agreed with them!!
- I liked how this book had a different spin on the “she’s one of a kind” trope. Em is part of a kingdom that has people known as “ruined’. These people have special abilities. There is a subsection of these people, known as “useless”. Although they have ruined blood in them, they have no abilities. Em is one of these people but what she lacked in ability, she gained in swordsmanship.
Overall, I loved this book and I recommend it to everyone 😊
November 28, 2017
"No one feared Emelina Flores, the useless daughter of the most powerful queen Ruina had every known.
But they would."
I randomly stumbled across this book in my local Dymocks store and I had honestly never heard of it before. I thought the cover looked cool and I decided to read the blurb. I thought it sounded pretty cool so I bought it and I haven't touched it for about a month. However, I was on instagram two days ago and Amie Kaufman (co author of Illuminae) was talking about book recommendations. She mentioned this book and I went 'hey I have that book! I'll read it next' and now the rest is history.
In Ruined we follow Em, whose entire family was taken from her and her people are being murdered and she is out for revenge. Sounds pretty typical doesn't it? Well it is. Nothing about this book is necessarily new or unique but it was honestly incredible . This has definitely got to be one of the most fast paced stories I've ever read and I was honestly hooked from page one and I could not put this book down. It took me a whole day to watch a 40 minute lecture for University because I kept getting distracted by this book. This was honestly me reading this:
Like I said before, we follow Em who is out for revenge after the murder of her parents and the abduction of her younger sister, Olivia. In light of these events, Em decides to murder the princess of Vallos, Mary, who is about to marry the Prince of Lera, Casimir. So, Em kills her and takes her place instead and infiltrates the castle and ends up actually marrying Cas. Her plan is simple: kill the entire royal family so the Ruined can return to power with the help of the Olso people. However, Em soon realises that Cas isn't as bad as she expected.
Sounds pretty cliche but BEAR WITH ME. What makes this story so incredible is the characters and the DIALOGUE! Also, the way this book is executed is just amazing. The writing is fast paced and flows - even when the POV changes mid page it makes so much sense and you can't get confused. Honestly, my only problem with this book is that there was no map. I like maps. I like to gauge distances that characters travel and I also like to visualise where these events take place. But that's such a tiny complaint! I've never read about characters so dang sarcastic. It's a dual POV of both Cas and Em and I honestly adored seeing both sides of their story.
"If you take off his blindfold, hell kill us all."
"Probably not. I'd say there's only like a sixty perfect chance I'll kill you all."
It's a dual POV of both Cas and Em and I honestly adored seeing both sides of their story. I also adore seeing how each individual character reacts to each other and how their feelings slowly grow separately. I just love a dual POV ok.
"My wife didn't smother me with a pillow! Must be love!"
Em's inner monologue is absolutely hilarious. She meets someone and acts all polite but really she's plotting how to kill them and how long it would take for her to murder and quickly escape. Meanwhile. Cas is a precious darling and I love seeing him slowly understand that the way his mother and father rule is so wrong. However, I also loved that no one was fully right in the way they go about things. If that makes sense. Basically, everyone is a bit morally grey. Em preaches that murder isn't needed, but Cas always reminds her that she has done those things herself. I just really enjoy politics in books.
Both characters are ridiculously lovable and they're just as good together as they are apart. Also I loved how the author built so much angst by pretty much always interrupting their intimate moments with someone TRYING TO KILL ONE OF THEM!! The dance at their wedding was probably my favourite scene and I honestly couldn't stop squealing.
"I tried so hard not to fall for you and failed miserably."
Overall, this book is fantastic. One of the best I've read in a while. It's stabby and brutal (legit someones HEART IS RIPPED RIGHT OUT OF THEIR CHEST WITH MAGIC - fucking incredible) while also being adorable and sarcastic. This is honestly such a hidden gem and if you trust my recommendations in anyway, please do yourself a favour and read this book.
But they would."
I randomly stumbled across this book in my local Dymocks store and I had honestly never heard of it before. I thought the cover looked cool and I decided to read the blurb. I thought it sounded pretty cool so I bought it and I haven't touched it for about a month. However, I was on instagram two days ago and Amie Kaufman (co author of Illuminae) was talking about book recommendations. She mentioned this book and I went 'hey I have that book! I'll read it next' and now the rest is history.
In Ruined we follow Em, whose entire family was taken from her and her people are being murdered and she is out for revenge. Sounds pretty typical doesn't it? Well it is. Nothing about this book is necessarily new or unique but it was honestly incredible . This has definitely got to be one of the most fast paced stories I've ever read and I was honestly hooked from page one and I could not put this book down. It took me a whole day to watch a 40 minute lecture for University because I kept getting distracted by this book. This was honestly me reading this:
Like I said before, we follow Em who is out for revenge after the murder of her parents and the abduction of her younger sister, Olivia. In light of these events, Em decides to murder the princess of Vallos, Mary, who is about to marry the Prince of Lera, Casimir. So, Em kills her and takes her place instead and infiltrates the castle and ends up actually marrying Cas. Her plan is simple: kill the entire royal family so the Ruined can return to power with the help of the Olso people. However, Em soon realises that Cas isn't as bad as she expected.
Sounds pretty cliche but BEAR WITH ME. What makes this story so incredible is the characters and the DIALOGUE! Also, the way this book is executed is just amazing. The writing is fast paced and flows - even when the POV changes mid page it makes so much sense and you can't get confused. Honestly, my only problem with this book is that there was no map. I like maps. I like to gauge distances that characters travel and I also like to visualise where these events take place. But that's such a tiny complaint! I've never read about characters so dang sarcastic. It's a dual POV of both Cas and Em and I honestly adored seeing both sides of their story.
"If you take off his blindfold, hell kill us all."
"Probably not. I'd say there's only like a sixty perfect chance I'll kill you all."
It's a dual POV of both Cas and Em and I honestly adored seeing both sides of their story. I also adore seeing how each individual character reacts to each other and how their feelings slowly grow separately. I just love a dual POV ok.
"My wife didn't smother me with a pillow! Must be love!"
Em's inner monologue is absolutely hilarious. She meets someone and acts all polite but really she's plotting how to kill them and how long it would take for her to murder and quickly escape. Meanwhile. Cas is a precious darling and I love seeing him slowly understand that the way his mother and father rule is so wrong. However, I also loved that no one was fully right in the way they go about things. If that makes sense. Basically, everyone is a bit morally grey. Em preaches that murder isn't needed, but Cas always reminds her that she has done those things herself. I just really enjoy politics in books.
Both characters are ridiculously lovable and they're just as good together as they are apart. Also I loved how the author built so much angst by pretty much always interrupting their intimate moments with someone TRYING TO KILL ONE OF THEM!! The dance at their wedding was probably my favourite scene and I honestly couldn't stop squealing.
"I tried so hard not to fall for you and failed miserably."
Overall, this book is fantastic. One of the best I've read in a while. It's stabby and brutal (legit someones HEART IS RIPPED RIGHT OUT OF THEIR CHEST WITH MAGIC - fucking incredible) while also being adorable and sarcastic. This is honestly such a hidden gem and if you trust my recommendations in anyway, please do yourself a favour and read this book.
July 3, 2022
started off a little rocky, overall was pretty boring, but ultimately i didn't hate this?
i will say though, i do not at all understand why the author thought it was a good idea to not tell us what the fuck the Ruined are/do. i mean i guess we know they have magic but what a weird choice. and also the point in the narrative where this story starts? i appreciate the lack of info dumping but there is something to be said for decent exposition which was definitely missing.
i will say though, i do not at all understand why the author thought it was a good idea to not tell us what the fuck the Ruined are/do. i mean i guess we know they have magic but what a weird choice. and also the point in the narrative where this story starts? i appreciate the lack of info dumping but there is something to be said for decent exposition which was definitely missing.
February 5, 2018
If you ask me-
This book is not as bad as the negative reviews are saying.
It's also not nearly as good as the positive reviews claim.
Which lands Ruined squarely in the mediocre category.
Emelina, our heroine, is the powerless heir to the fallen kingdom Ruina, which was once filled with the prideful magic users called the Ruined. Their neighboring kingdom Lera conspired to assassinate Em's family, kidnap her sister, and hunt as many remaining Ruined as possible.
Em makes a daring plan to impersonate the betrothed of Lera prince Casimir in order to save her sister and exact revenge. Things go south when she (rather predictably) falls head over ass in love with Cas.
Em is the big positive in the book - she's a refreshing main character. Self-reliant and ruthless, she doesn't waste time pondering the past. Nor does she have qualms about doing whatever it takes to win back her kingdom. In the very first chapter, Em murders a princess then wears the clothes off her dead body. Talk about a power woman.
The biggest letdown of the book was the predictability. There are no surprises to be found in the plot. In dystopia-fantasy YA bingo, this book takes the cake.
Dead parents? Check.
Prince as love interest? Yep.
Disadvantaged heroine with an impossible mission? Uh huh.
People with special powers? Got it.
Pseudo-fascist regime? You betcha.
Star-crossed lovers trope? Ohhhh yes.
Along with the unoriginal story comes the ridiculous ease with which Em executes her mission. She impersonates some princess, and no one in Lera bothers to check whether the princess is who she say she is??? None of the royal family has even seen this woman before the literal wedding day. I find that hard to believe.
Then Em starts acting very suspiciously; openly defending the Ruined, constantly asking after her sister's whereabouts, publicly making friends with enemies of Lera. Nobody inquires after her strange actions because, apparently, they're all too enamored with her presence?
I don't buy it. In any realistic world, the jig would have been up within seconds.
This book is not as bad as the negative reviews are saying.
It's also not nearly as good as the positive reviews claim.
Which lands Ruined squarely in the mediocre category.
Emelina, our heroine, is the powerless heir to the fallen kingdom Ruina, which was once filled with the prideful magic users called the Ruined. Their neighboring kingdom Lera conspired to assassinate Em's family, kidnap her sister, and hunt as many remaining Ruined as possible.
Em makes a daring plan to impersonate the betrothed of Lera prince Casimir in order to save her sister and exact revenge. Things go south when she (rather predictably) falls head over ass in love with Cas.
Em is the big positive in the book - she's a refreshing main character. Self-reliant and ruthless, she doesn't waste time pondering the past. Nor does she have qualms about doing whatever it takes to win back her kingdom. In the very first chapter, Em murders a princess then wears the clothes off her dead body. Talk about a power woman.
The biggest letdown of the book was the predictability. There are no surprises to be found in the plot. In dystopia-fantasy YA bingo, this book takes the cake.
Dead parents? Check.
Prince as love interest? Yep.
Disadvantaged heroine with an impossible mission? Uh huh.
People with special powers? Got it.
Pseudo-fascist regime? You betcha.
Star-crossed lovers trope? Ohhhh yes.
Along with the unoriginal story comes the ridiculous ease with which Em executes her mission. She impersonates some princess, and no one in Lera bothers to check whether the princess is who she say she is??? None of the royal family has even seen this woman before the literal wedding day. I find that hard to believe.
Then Em starts acting very suspiciously; openly defending the Ruined, constantly asking after her sister's whereabouts, publicly making friends with enemies of Lera. Nobody inquires after her strange actions because, apparently, they're all too enamored with her presence?
I don't buy it. In any realistic world, the jig would have been up within seconds.
July 14, 2016
2.5
Really enjoyed the beginning, then it was just to samey samey.... hmmm.
This is my rating, it may change once I properly think about it!
Really enjoyed the beginning, then it was just to samey samey.... hmmm.
This is my rating, it may change once I properly think about it!
April 18, 2017
So, turns out I'm super shitty at getting to those "review to come" reviews. Oops? Almost two weeks later I am here to write this review and my brain is still completely exploded from this book. Do you ever read a book and honestly have no clue how to put your opinions in words?
That is me @ Ruined.
A kickass main character, a beyond awesome plotline and an even better romance. Honestly, I adored this book. When a character is willing to murder someone in the opening pages I am on board.
There's honestly not a lot I can say about this book without giving it away. There is no love triangle. There is murder. There is amazing characters. I beg you to pick it up. The writing is easy and quick to get through. I honestly couldn't put this book down. Highly recommend it and highly recommend Caitlin in general for recommendations because she is the book queen, lets be real.
That is me @ Ruined.
A kickass main character, a beyond awesome plotline and an even better romance. Honestly, I adored this book. When a character is willing to murder someone in the opening pages I am on board.
There's honestly not a lot I can say about this book without giving it away. There is no love triangle. There is murder. There is amazing characters. I beg you to pick it up. The writing is easy and quick to get through. I honestly couldn't put this book down. Highly recommend it and highly recommend Caitlin in general for recommendations because she is the book queen, lets be real.
May 14, 2016
Actual rating: 2.5 starsMake people fear you, Emelina. Her mother’s words echoed in her head. Stop worrying about what you don’t have and start focusing on what you do. Make people tremble when they hear your name. Fear is your power.
Sorry to disappoint you Mom, but, well, fear and Emilina are not compatible. One moment the girl's a highly trained assassin, the next moment she's an uncertain girl who barely knows what to do with her body. This constant state of ambivalence got on my nerves quickly: when you can't understand what the MC is made of and changes faces quicker than you can blink. I really tried to understand Em, but she barely understood herself if at all. It's not a case where a person is trying to find her true self, no, it's the case where author gave her character a personality but forgot to concretize how that personality operates. In other words: underdeveloped. The only thing I liked about Em is how every time she entered a room, she counted ways to kill people in it:There was one knife on the tray, and Em studied it, trying to judge how sharp it was. Three quick steps across the room and she could reach around Davina for the knife to jab it in her throat before she knew what was happening. Five seconds, tops.
But in the context of the book, this skill looks like a joke, because it feels like characters are playing games they don't understand. Kids got swords and knives and they are plunging them into enemies' (?) bodies, but it looks like kids are playing war in a sandbox. They don't really understand what they are doing, they simply have fun, because it's hilarious.
Cas - the hero of the book is a blank page anyone can fill as they wish. He doesn't have a personality; he acts regarding other people's wishes. He doesn't have an opinion about a war that is raging on in his Kingdom for years now. When Em appears and starts to sympathize with the enemy, Cas doesn't think it's suspicious. He easily gives her secret military information, because he trusts her. Seriously? The prince is supposedly the best swardman in the Kingdom, but it seems he never made a step out of his sandbox. Again, I blame this on author and the lack of character development.
The romance was... dull. I want to blame insta-love, but I've encountered insta-love in books before and in some of those book it was processed quite believably. Here everything is so rushed (not only romance but action either) I didn't have time to feel anything toward characters or notice when and how they developed feelings for each other. Whether they die or live, I don't care.“You could at least pretend to be excited.”
I tried, I really did. This book was on my list of highly anticipated releases, and I was sure I'll like it. But when there's no depth to plot or characters, it's hard to make oneself feel. This book is simply generic: been there, done that. Nothing new. It's not bad either (compared to my disappointment with ACOMAF, everything is better), there were nice moments, when it felt like one more page and I'll like the book. Alas, I reached the end but that feeling never came. I blinked, closed the book and forgot about the story.
September 3, 2017
This book was very hard to put down and I read it in one sitting. While it's filled with a lot of the typical YA fantasy tropes I found it highly entertaining and action packed. It also had my all time favorite trope where two enemies are forced into a political marriage. So cue the angst.
March 9, 2019
“Always figured there was punishment waiting for me after death. Your face is my punishment, isn’t it?”
This book is not the least bit funny,hell, it's borderline sad but I found this dialogue too good to not put it in.
I'm kind of mad that some really godawful books keep gravitating towards me when books like these are so hard to find.
Anyway, I loved it. I really loved it. The sad part is that I didn't think I'd like it enough to continue the series so now I kind of have to get the other parts and that's too much of an effort (the one I'm willing to make though)
This book is not the least bit funny,hell, it's borderline sad but I found this dialogue too good to not put it in.
I'm kind of mad that some really godawful books keep gravitating towards me when books like these are so hard to find.
Anyway, I loved it. I really loved it. The sad part is that I didn't think I'd like it enough to continue the series so now I kind of have to get the other parts and that's too much of an effort (the one I'm willing to make though)
Want to read
August 11, 2016I am EXTREMELY hopeful about this one. I'm only a few pages in, and MC and crew have already slaughtered a royal caravan so MC can replace the princess. *sing songs* Awwwwwwwwsome.
April 12, 2017
2.5
Buddy read with Tweety!!
One word to describe Ruined: Boring
I was literally bored the entire time I was reading this. I couldn't connect to any of the characters (except Cas, he's a cutie) and the plot. I just wasn't invested at all. I sat there reading and just wanting it to end. I hate DNFing books and I always have hopes they'll pick up, but unfortunately Ruined didn't pick up. I'm probably a minority because a lot of reviews I read were praising how fast it was. Who knows. Might be because of my damn slump. But basically, I was going to cry at how boring it was.
Ruined offered nothing new to YA genre, but I didn't really care about that. When you read too many books, you always get to a point where books are somewhat repetitive. Also, there's more to a book than its plot. There's the writing, the characters, the pacing, the execution...
--> Writing: Pretty simplistic and easy to follow, despite being a tad confused at first with the world building. (too many names!)
--> Characters: Like I stated before, I couldn't connect to any of them except Cas. I just didn't care. Cas was adorable and he's basically one of two reasons I didn't rate this lower. Our MC, Em was indeed a badass, but I also couldn't care less. I liked the relationship between Cas and Em, there was angst and insta-love. Again, as I have stated many times before in many of my reviews: I don't mind insta-love if it isn't over the top. Cas and Em's wasn't really extreme, but I was hoping it took a little more longer to develop.
--> Pacing: Like I said before, boring.
--> Execution: Good despite not having anything special or new.
I'm still going to read the second book when it comes out because I think it has the potential to become really good. I'm curious to see where things will go.
Buddy read with Tweety!!
One word to describe Ruined: Boring
I was literally bored the entire time I was reading this. I couldn't connect to any of the characters (except Cas, he's a cutie) and the plot. I just wasn't invested at all. I sat there reading and just wanting it to end. I hate DNFing books and I always have hopes they'll pick up, but unfortunately Ruined didn't pick up. I'm probably a minority because a lot of reviews I read were praising how fast it was. Who knows. Might be because of my damn slump. But basically, I was going to cry at how boring it was.
Ruined offered nothing new to YA genre, but I didn't really care about that. When you read too many books, you always get to a point where books are somewhat repetitive. Also, there's more to a book than its plot. There's the writing, the characters, the pacing, the execution...
--> Writing: Pretty simplistic and easy to follow, despite being a tad confused at first with the world building. (too many names!)
--> Characters: Like I stated before, I couldn't connect to any of them except Cas. I just didn't care. Cas was adorable and he's basically one of two reasons I didn't rate this lower. Our MC, Em was indeed a badass, but I also couldn't care less. I liked the relationship between Cas and Em, there was angst and insta-love. Again, as I have stated many times before in many of my reviews: I don't mind insta-love if it isn't over the top. Cas and Em's wasn't really extreme, but I was hoping it took a little more longer to develop.
--> Pacing: Like I said before, boring.
--> Execution: Good despite not having anything special or new.
I'm still going to read the second book when it comes out because I think it has the potential to become really good. I'm curious to see where things will go.
May 18, 2018
Could have been executed a lot better, but also a lot worse. All in all, a bit underwhelming, but it definitely sets the series up nicely, and I'm excited to see where it goes!
rtc. (Or not. Who even knows at this point.)
rtc. (Or not. Who even knows at this point.)
April 10, 2017
Buddy read with my big sista, juanna bc we haven't buddy read in forever and that tragedy ends now
“You were born useless, but you don’t have to be helpless”
This book has me VERY confused on how I feel about it.
On one side, it followed a cliché plot but at the same time, I stayed up till 12:30 so I could finish it !! (I DON’T STAY UP PAST 10:30pm OKAY)
Sooooo, in conclusion, I enjoyed the book even though it contained MANY overused tropes. I will most definitely be anticipating the release of the second book!!!
Nice isn’t high on my list of priorities.
3.5 stars!!!
“You were born useless, but you don’t have to be helpless”
This book has me VERY confused on how I feel about it.
On one side, it followed a cliché plot but at the same time, I stayed up till 12:30 so I could finish it !! (I DON’T STAY UP PAST 10:30pm OKAY)
Pros:
- the characters are v v loveable – you just can’t help rooting for them
- the writing is very easy to follow
- the beginning is fast paced which helps keep the book moving
- Cas
- Kicka*s heroine
- slowburn-ish
- I stayed up 2 hours beyond bedtime to read it #rebel
- enemies to lovers trope (which is my fav so)
Cons:
- clichéd plot, clichéd idea, feels very similar to many books I’ve read (Falling Kingdom, Winner’s Curse, Throne of Glass #1 etc)
- while the writing is easy to read, it’s pretty juvenile – there aren’t metaphoric descriptions or heart racing quotes
- I thought the pacing was too fast
Sooooo, in conclusion, I enjoyed the book even though it contained MANY overused tropes. I will most definitely be anticipating the release of the second book!!!
Nice isn’t high on my list of priorities.
3.5 stars!!!
May 26, 2016
THE REVIEW
Why this book?
This sounded awesome
What I thought
This book was amazing it was full of action, love and loyalty. It was captivating and the writing is riveting. The plot was fast paced and had some surprising twists and turns. The characters are well written and well developed. Em is a kick ass heroine who is ready for revenge. I absolutely loved Cas he has a beautiful heart and doesn’t believe what his father is doing is right. The romance was bittersweet, and it was a slow burn, no insta love in sight. I ship it with all my heart! I loved every minute of this book. I highly recommend it.
Why this book?
This sounded awesome
What I thought
This book was amazing it was full of action, love and loyalty. It was captivating and the writing is riveting. The plot was fast paced and had some surprising twists and turns. The characters are well written and well developed. Em is a kick ass heroine who is ready for revenge. I absolutely loved Cas he has a beautiful heart and doesn’t believe what his father is doing is right. The romance was bittersweet, and it was a slow burn, no insta love in sight. I ship it with all my heart! I loved every minute of this book. I highly recommend it.
June 2, 2022
A revenge that will consume her. A love that will ruin her.
Yeah right🤨
This book is fucking mess
Its an irritating, replica of famous books
This book was supposed to be fantasy...but except for like 2-3 instances, magic was never used!
The story of Ruined..
There are 2 types of people - Ruined are those who have magic and are covered in tattoos.(The more powerful u are,the more tattoos uhve). And then uhve the normal humans who we don't care about!
Our MC, Em is a Ruina without powers(ik it doesn't make sense😐). She has a master plan to save her sister Olivia, kill a random princess, take her place, marry the crown prince of Lera and then kill him.
Plot twist! She falls 'in love' with him. Who saw tht cmng?🙄
The world-building was poor.
Ig there are like 3-4 kingdoms in this book. I never knew who were the good guys, so I was confused for like half the book..
The characters have no personality whatsoever.!!
The side characters have more personality than Em and Cas
This piece of bread has more personality than Em and Cas combined.
I'm sorry that is an insult to this white bread
Em was okay..She killed like 2-3 people. She loves her sis.
She was all badass and savage until she met Cas. She falls in love with Cas who has like no personality😣😣
That girl I'm telling you is stupid. She became an idiot as soon as she met Cas. She's like OMG HE"S SO HOT AND KIND AND SWEET AHH
SHE FANGIRLS OVER HIM. ADSKJFLCSJBKA
She is supposed to be an assassin. An assassin means
one who murders a politically important person either for money or from fanatical adherence to a cause
NOT
one who was supposed to kill the prince but ends up 'falling' for him after 2 convos
Let me tell u about Cas..
This is one of the few books where I did not like the male lead. He was just soo stupid and stupid and stupid. Yes,he was kind. But he was only a distraction to Em. He became soo sad when he learned the truth. He was upset tht Em didn't 'love' him(even tho they knew each other for like 2 weeks?)
He literally has no backbone. He just goes along with whatever others tell him. The urge to punch him in his stupid princely face is too much
I would have been suspicious of Em if she kept asking me about the Ruined.
But he was like
"Umm...why is this girl whose parents were killed by the Ruined and who kills them for fun caring about them? Probably because she is sweet, lovable, and caring. I'm in love with her even tho I barely know her😍!!!"
*screams*
Dont get me wrong, I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers! I adore that trope. But this is just stupids to a couple of stupids . There is nothing I hate more than shallow romances.
The plot was stupid. Cas finds out the truth halfway through the book. You might think, what happens in the rest?
NOTHING. Cas and Em pine for each other. And when they finally meet each other again, they make out.
Ummm....arent you supposed to be angry at each other???????
To quote Nikki Maxwell from the dork diaries....
"Are we having fun yet?"
I dnt HATE this bookmayb i do...it's just not for me!
Im planning on reading the 2nd book bcz I wanna see more abt Olivia who rocked the ending with her awesome skills (***applause***)
I wish Em was the one who was kidnapped and Olivia was the one rescuing. Then Olivia would have killed Cas and we could celebrate
UPDATE: I DNF'ed the 2nd book. I couldn't do it! I love myself too much to do this
The reason the book gets 2 stars is bcz of Olivia and the side characters!
This is my review for Ruined
Byee!
Yeah right🤨
This book is fucking mess
Its an irritating, replica of famous books
This book was supposed to be fantasy...but except for like 2-3 instances, magic was never used!
The story of Ruined..
There are 2 types of people - Ruined are those who have magic and are covered in tattoos.(The more powerful u are,the more tattoos uhve). And then uhve the normal humans who we don't care about!
Our MC, Em is a Ruina without powers(ik it doesn't make sense😐). She has a master plan to save her sister Olivia, kill a random princess, take her place, marry the crown prince of Lera and then kill him.
Plot twist! She falls 'in love' with him. Who saw tht cmng?🙄
The world-building was poor.
Ig there are like 3-4 kingdoms in this book. I never knew who were the good guys, so I was confused for like half the book..
The characters have no personality whatsoever.!!
The side characters have more personality than Em and Cas
This piece of bread has more personality than Em and Cas combined.
I'm sorry that is an insult to this white bread
Em was okay..She killed like 2-3 people. She loves her sis.
She was all badass and savage until she met Cas. She falls in love with Cas who has like no personality😣😣
That girl I'm telling you is stupid. She became an idiot as soon as she met Cas. She's like OMG HE"S SO HOT AND KIND AND SWEET AHH
SHE FANGIRLS OVER HIM. ADSKJFLCSJBKA
She is supposed to be an assassin. An assassin means
one who murders a politically important person either for money or from fanatical adherence to a cause
NOT
one who was supposed to kill the prince but ends up 'falling' for him after 2 convos
Let me tell u about Cas..
This is one of the few books where I did not like the male lead. He was just soo stupid and stupid and stupid. Yes,he was kind. But he was only a distraction to Em. He became soo sad when he learned the truth. He was upset tht Em didn't 'love' him(even tho they knew each other for like 2 weeks?)
He literally has no backbone. He just goes along with whatever others tell him. The urge to punch him in his stupid princely face is too much
I would have been suspicious of Em if she kept asking me about the Ruined.
But he was like
"Umm...why is this girl whose parents were killed by the Ruined and who kills them for fun caring about them? Probably because she is sweet, lovable, and caring. I'm in love with her even tho I barely know her😍!!!"
*screams*
Dont get me wrong, I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers! I adore that trope. But this is just stupids to a couple of stupids . There is nothing I hate more than shallow romances.
The plot was stupid. Cas finds out the truth halfway through the book. You might think, what happens in the rest?
NOTHING. Cas and Em pine for each other. And when they finally meet each other again, they make out.
Ummm....arent you supposed to be angry at each other???????
To quote Nikki Maxwell from the dork diaries....
"Are we having fun yet?"
I dnt HATE this book
Im planning on reading the 2nd book bcz I wanna see more abt Olivia who rocked the ending with her awesome skills (***applause***)
I wish Em was the one who was kidnapped and Olivia was the one rescuing. Then Olivia would have killed Cas and we could celebrate
UPDATE: I DNF'ed the 2nd book. I couldn't do it! I love myself too much to do this
The reason the book gets 2 stars is bcz of Olivia and the side characters!
This is my review for Ruined
Byee!
June 25, 2024
✅ Arranged marriage
🆗 World-building
🆗 Characters
🆗 Pace
🆗❌ Predictable and convenient plot
❌ Romance
❗️❗️ Trigger warnings: imprisonment, murder, and torture
I'm sad to give this book 2 stars. This is the kind of story that I could have really liked: revenge, romance, magic, and mixed feelings... But the story was not as good as expected. I might have been able to enjoy it more a few years ago when I was younger and before I started reading so much YA fantasy. but now I can't help but be disappointed and compare it to other series and books I've read.
The world-building is quite ordinary and underdeveloped. We know almost nothing about the four countries, except that Ruina's people have magic and that there was a war two years ago. We have to grasp bits and pieces of information throughout the book to get a clear picture of the setting, and even when we get a clearer picture, it remains very simple and basic. No intricate politics or intriguing history here.
Then there are the characters. They are not bad, but they are also quite ordinary and bland. The romance between Em and the love interest is so boring and easy. They go from "I hate you, I want nothing to do with you" to "Oh stop smiling like that I can't concentrate" or "stop playing with your hair, you're so gorgeous" in a matter of a few weeks, with little on-page development, and that bothered me. I get it, the guy's handsome, and the girl kicks ass, but even when I knew they would end up falling in love, I was expecting it to take more than 2 weeks, and a little more work and effort. Other than that, I did not get attached to them very much. Some characters die, I think it was meant to add some drama and emotional punch to the story, but again, we didn't have the chance or the time to grow attached to these characters so their deaths were kind of pointless and didn't have the desired effect for me.
Finally, the thing that really made this book a disappointment was the fast pace and the fact that everything was sooooooo easy for Em. She kills a princess, takes her lace (and conveniently, nobody knows what this princess is supposed to look like), meets the prince, marries the prince, learns important information, and flees. Without any real obstacle. I get it, arranged marriage and all, nobody had seen the bride-to-be, but in a matter of days, they are married. In a matter of weeks (and I mean 2 or 3 weeks), he is in love with her and tells her everything she needs to know, even sensible information his father clearly told him not to tell... Then when things start to get more complicated and the royal family discovers that Em is not who she pretends to be, Em learns all about it before she can get arrested, and before anything even happens to her, she flees. Just like that. Easy peasy.
Again, I'm sad because I really hoped this book would meet my expectations, the ideas are there, and the story is there, but everything else is too simple and too fast for this book to be exciting. You know from the very beginning what will happen. There are no surprises and no struggles for the main character. It's just the usual YA tropes packed on top of each other with little to no development, and very few original ideas in between.
Follow me on Instagram 🙂
🆗 World-building
🆗 Characters
🆗 Pace
🆗❌ Predictable and convenient plot
❌ Romance
❗️❗️ Trigger warnings: imprisonment, murder, and torture
I'm sad to give this book 2 stars. This is the kind of story that I could have really liked: revenge, romance, magic, and mixed feelings... But the story was not as good as expected. I might have been able to enjoy it more a few years ago when I was younger and before I started reading so much YA fantasy. but now I can't help but be disappointed and compare it to other series and books I've read.
The world-building is quite ordinary and underdeveloped. We know almost nothing about the four countries, except that Ruina's people have magic and that there was a war two years ago. We have to grasp bits and pieces of information throughout the book to get a clear picture of the setting, and even when we get a clearer picture, it remains very simple and basic. No intricate politics or intriguing history here.
Then there are the characters. They are not bad, but they are also quite ordinary and bland. The romance between Em and the love interest is so boring and easy. They go from "I hate you, I want nothing to do with you" to "Oh stop smiling like that I can't concentrate" or "stop playing with your hair, you're so gorgeous" in a matter of a few weeks, with little on-page development, and that bothered me. I get it, the guy's handsome, and the girl kicks ass, but even when I knew they would end up falling in love, I was expecting it to take more than 2 weeks, and a little more work and effort. Other than that, I did not get attached to them very much. Some characters die, I think it was meant to add some drama and emotional punch to the story, but again, we didn't have the chance or the time to grow attached to these characters so their deaths were kind of pointless and didn't have the desired effect for me.
Finally, the thing that really made this book a disappointment was the fast pace and the fact that everything was sooooooo easy for Em. She kills a princess, takes her lace (and conveniently, nobody knows what this princess is supposed to look like), meets the prince, marries the prince, learns important information, and flees. Without any real obstacle. I get it, arranged marriage and all, nobody had seen the bride-to-be, but in a matter of days, they are married. In a matter of weeks (and I mean 2 or 3 weeks), he is in love with her and tells her everything she needs to know, even sensible information his father clearly told him not to tell... Then when things start to get more complicated and the royal family discovers that Em is not who she pretends to be, Em learns all about it before she can get arrested, and before anything even happens to her, she flees. Just like that. Easy peasy.
Again, I'm sad because I really hoped this book would meet my expectations, the ideas are there, and the story is there, but everything else is too simple and too fast for this book to be exciting. You know from the very beginning what will happen. There are no surprises and no struggles for the main character. It's just the usual YA tropes packed on top of each other with little to no development, and very few original ideas in between.
Follow me on Instagram 🙂
April 3, 2016
I loved Amy's other series, so I was beyond excited to see what her new book was going to be about. Oh man, I was woefully unprepared for the amount of awesome.
Em is an awesome MC. She doesn't have magic, and while that's seen as a disadvantage in her kingdom, she puts together quite a plan. Of course things don't necessarily turn out the way she planned and how it plays out is fabulous.
Cas is lovely and I really enjoyed being able to see his side of everything. There are a lot of other excellent characters and Amy had a way of making me like the characters I hate too.
I truly love how Amy creates kick ass heroines and Em is no exception. This book is filled with action, swoons, double crossings, and one hell of an ending. I can't even wait to see what happens next.
**Huge thanks to Harper Teen and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
**Squishy hugs to Amy for sending me a physical arc**
Em is an awesome MC. She doesn't have magic, and while that's seen as a disadvantage in her kingdom, she puts together quite a plan. Of course things don't necessarily turn out the way she planned and how it plays out is fabulous.
Cas is lovely and I really enjoyed being able to see his side of everything. There are a lot of other excellent characters and Amy had a way of making me like the characters I hate too.
I truly love how Amy creates kick ass heroines and Em is no exception. This book is filled with action, swoons, double crossings, and one hell of an ending. I can't even wait to see what happens next.
**Huge thanks to Harper Teen and Edelweiss for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review**
**Squishy hugs to Amy for sending me a physical arc**
March 16, 2016
OMGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Ruined by Amy Tintera
Book One of the Ruined series
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war. She lacks the powers of her fellow Ruined. Worst of all, she witnessed her parents’ brutal murders and watched helplessly as her sister, Olivia, was kidnapped.
But because Em has nothing, she has nothing to lose. Driven by a blind desire for revenge, Em sets off on a dangerous journey to the enemy kingdom of Lera. Somewhere within Lera’s borders, Em hopes to find Olivia. But in order to find her, Em must infiltrate the royal family.
In a brilliant, elaborate plan of deception and murder, Em marries Prince Casimir, next in line to take Lera’s throne. If anyone in Lera discovers Em is not Casimir’s true betrothed, Em will be executed on the spot. But it’s the only way to salvage Em’s kingdom and what is left of her family.
Em is determined to succeed, but the closer she gets to the prince, the more she questions her mission. Em’s rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.
What I Liked:
Ah! I don't even know where to start with this one. I keep going back and forth between five stars and four stars (I generally round down if I'm indecisive). Ruined was excellent! I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. The story was fast-paced and engaging, and I was so thoroughly invested that I kept trying to read what clearly wasn't there, upon finishing!
Em's parents are dead, her sister kidnapped, her country of Ruina destroyed. As the daughter of the king and queen and the rightful heir of the throne, Em wants revenge, and she wants her sister back. Em has always felt "useless", as she isn't one of the Ruined (she has no power, whereas the Ruined have incredible power). Her plan: kill Princess Mary of Vallos, marry Mary's fiance (the crown prince of Lera, which is Ruina's enemy), and destroy Lera from within, all the while rescuing Olivia. But Em doesn't expect to fall for Prince Casimir ("Cas"), and their mutual feelings for each other will throw everything out of balance for Em. When the time comes to strike, what will Em choose?
This type of story is nothing new - in which a protagonist infiltrates the enemy kingdom in order to win their trust, but ends up falling in love with the crown prince/royalty. But I love the execution! Tintera did a great job of making this type of story into something fresh and unique.
Immediately, as soon as the story started, I could tell how bloodthirsty Em is. And throughout the story, the bloodthirstiness is maintained. You can tell in how she thinks, acts, and feels, just how much of a survivor she is. She's not Ruined - she has no supernatural abilities - but she is beyond tough and strong and can take care of herself. She is intelligent, calculating, and did I already mention bloodthirsty? She is very skilled with weapons and kills easily, though not without remorse or regret.
I like this change of pace in YA heroines: rarely do we get to see some REALLY bloodthirsty women (mostly it's just a bunch of kickbutt ladies who can work a sword but barely kill anyone - not that there is anything wrong with that). I like Em a lot, and I liked how she grew in this story. She grows into her lack of Ruined power (she's used to not having the power, but she isn't used to trying to lead the Ruined, who have no faith in her ability-less self).
This book is written in third person, alternating POV, so we get to know Cas pretty well, and not just through Em's lens. Cas isn't a Ruined sympathizer necessarily, though he has doubts about the treatment and hunting of the Ruined. He marries Mary (who is Em - Em killed the real Mary), and at first he's aloof and uninterested... but he falls for her (and vice versa). His view on the Ruined changes, partly because of "Mary", partly because of how brutally his father treats them. Cas is entirely different from his parents, and of a different opinion on the Ruined. We first see an obedient, aloof Cas, but he grows and develops into a strong, decisive leader who stands up to his father and forms his own (intelligent) opinions. I like this Cas!
The story is fairly fast-paced, which I really liked. Tintera spends enough time with the world-building and construction of characters and the setting, but she also moves the story along quickly. The first scene thrusts you into the story immediately, with Em meeting Mary to, ah, dispose of her. Then Em goes to Lera, she and Cas get married, and from then, we see Cas and Mary's budding romance, as well as an increasing conflict with the Ruined, and Mary's plan slowly happening.
I felt like there were two climaxes in this book, which I also really liked. The first dealt with the reveal of Em to the royal family - this did NOT happen at the end of the book, like I expected. Cas and the royal family find out after the halfway point of the book, and Em's plans are interrupted. The second climax is Em trying to free her sister, but there are even more obstacles now. I'm skipping through a ton of important events, but my point is, where you think the book might end, it doesn't! I like that Tintera did not end the story with Em's true character being revealed. This kind of ending bugs me in trilogies!
I'm being pretty vague about what it means to be "Ruined", but you'll understand entirely when you read the book. Tintera does a good job of revealing information, both all at once and bit by bit. You won't be left in the dark about pretty much anything!
The romance is slow-burn and adorable! Two teenagers falling for each other under grim circumstances - I love it. They're married and they're uncertain around each other. Even though Em came to the castle with the plan of marrying Cas and then killing the entire royal family, she is unsure and nervous around Cas, and she falls for him. Like I said above, this book does NOT end how we think it might/should, in which Em is revealed; no, it ends later, and I like that Cas and Em still have time both not together and together, and truths are revealed. This makes waiting for book two much easier! Especially with such an adorable (and towards the very end - steamy) romance.
The ending isn't an agonizing one, and I hesitate to call it a cliffhanger, but it doesn't end cheerfully and in a hopeful way. But it's not a cruel one, and in some ways, I think I saw it coming (though in other ways, not so much). I was shocked by certain parts of the ending, and so I'm definitely anxious to read book two! There is no doubt in my mind that I will be camping out in wait for the sequel.
Overall, a novel that really took me by surprise! I really did not know much about this book before starting it (I'd had it added to my TBR shelf on Goodreads for years, so I just hit "download" when I saw it on Edelweiss, not even bothering to read the synopsis). In this case, it really worked out for me! I can't wait to read more.
What I Did Not Like:
Obviously I'm a bit peeved at the ending, but it is not the worst ending I've read! In fact, it's a decent one, though I'm beginning to question my sanity in starting new trilogies. These endings!
Would I Recommend It:
If you're a YA fantasy fan, it's worth it to read this one! I mean, I think anyone who enjoys YA might like this book. It's one of the most bloodthirsty YA books I've read! Bloodthirsty as in the heroine is super bloodthirsty. Good for her, her life has been terrible! Em's controlled rage and temperament is pretty impressive. Anyway! Read this book.
Rating:
4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars (what can I say, I'm stingy with the 5-star rating). This book was pretty much not on my radar (why has no one made a huge deal about this book to me yet?!), so I'm glad I went overboard with Harper's Summer galley drop and downloaded it! You all should do the same and experience this exciting story.
***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog***
Ruined by Amy Tintera
Book One of the Ruined series
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from Edelweiss
Summary (from Goodreads):
Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war. She lacks the powers of her fellow Ruined. Worst of all, she witnessed her parents’ brutal murders and watched helplessly as her sister, Olivia, was kidnapped.
But because Em has nothing, she has nothing to lose. Driven by a blind desire for revenge, Em sets off on a dangerous journey to the enemy kingdom of Lera. Somewhere within Lera’s borders, Em hopes to find Olivia. But in order to find her, Em must infiltrate the royal family.
In a brilliant, elaborate plan of deception and murder, Em marries Prince Casimir, next in line to take Lera’s throne. If anyone in Lera discovers Em is not Casimir’s true betrothed, Em will be executed on the spot. But it’s the only way to salvage Em’s kingdom and what is left of her family.
Em is determined to succeed, but the closer she gets to the prince, the more she questions her mission. Em’s rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake.
What I Liked:
Ah! I don't even know where to start with this one. I keep going back and forth between five stars and four stars (I generally round down if I'm indecisive). Ruined was excellent! I was not expecting to like this book as much as I did. The story was fast-paced and engaging, and I was so thoroughly invested that I kept trying to read what clearly wasn't there, upon finishing!
Em's parents are dead, her sister kidnapped, her country of Ruina destroyed. As the daughter of the king and queen and the rightful heir of the throne, Em wants revenge, and she wants her sister back. Em has always felt "useless", as she isn't one of the Ruined (she has no power, whereas the Ruined have incredible power). Her plan: kill Princess Mary of Vallos, marry Mary's fiance (the crown prince of Lera, which is Ruina's enemy), and destroy Lera from within, all the while rescuing Olivia. But Em doesn't expect to fall for Prince Casimir ("Cas"), and their mutual feelings for each other will throw everything out of balance for Em. When the time comes to strike, what will Em choose?
This type of story is nothing new - in which a protagonist infiltrates the enemy kingdom in order to win their trust, but ends up falling in love with the crown prince/royalty. But I love the execution! Tintera did a great job of making this type of story into something fresh and unique.
Immediately, as soon as the story started, I could tell how bloodthirsty Em is. And throughout the story, the bloodthirstiness is maintained. You can tell in how she thinks, acts, and feels, just how much of a survivor she is. She's not Ruined - she has no supernatural abilities - but she is beyond tough and strong and can take care of herself. She is intelligent, calculating, and did I already mention bloodthirsty? She is very skilled with weapons and kills easily, though not without remorse or regret.
I like this change of pace in YA heroines: rarely do we get to see some REALLY bloodthirsty women (mostly it's just a bunch of kickbutt ladies who can work a sword but barely kill anyone - not that there is anything wrong with that). I like Em a lot, and I liked how she grew in this story. She grows into her lack of Ruined power (she's used to not having the power, but she isn't used to trying to lead the Ruined, who have no faith in her ability-less self).
This book is written in third person, alternating POV, so we get to know Cas pretty well, and not just through Em's lens. Cas isn't a Ruined sympathizer necessarily, though he has doubts about the treatment and hunting of the Ruined. He marries Mary (who is Em - Em killed the real Mary), and at first he's aloof and uninterested... but he falls for her (and vice versa). His view on the Ruined changes, partly because of "Mary", partly because of how brutally his father treats them. Cas is entirely different from his parents, and of a different opinion on the Ruined. We first see an obedient, aloof Cas, but he grows and develops into a strong, decisive leader who stands up to his father and forms his own (intelligent) opinions. I like this Cas!
The story is fairly fast-paced, which I really liked. Tintera spends enough time with the world-building and construction of characters and the setting, but she also moves the story along quickly. The first scene thrusts you into the story immediately, with Em meeting Mary to, ah, dispose of her. Then Em goes to Lera, she and Cas get married, and from then, we see Cas and Mary's budding romance, as well as an increasing conflict with the Ruined, and Mary's plan slowly happening.
I felt like there were two climaxes in this book, which I also really liked. The first dealt with the reveal of Em to the royal family - this did NOT happen at the end of the book, like I expected. Cas and the royal family find out after the halfway point of the book, and Em's plans are interrupted. The second climax is Em trying to free her sister, but there are even more obstacles now. I'm skipping through a ton of important events, but my point is, where you think the book might end, it doesn't! I like that Tintera did not end the story with Em's true character being revealed. This kind of ending bugs me in trilogies!
I'm being pretty vague about what it means to be "Ruined", but you'll understand entirely when you read the book. Tintera does a good job of revealing information, both all at once and bit by bit. You won't be left in the dark about pretty much anything!
The romance is slow-burn and adorable! Two teenagers falling for each other under grim circumstances - I love it. They're married and they're uncertain around each other. Even though Em came to the castle with the plan of marrying Cas and then killing the entire royal family, she is unsure and nervous around Cas, and she falls for him. Like I said above, this book does NOT end how we think it might/should, in which Em is revealed; no, it ends later, and I like that Cas and Em still have time both not together and together, and truths are revealed. This makes waiting for book two much easier! Especially with such an adorable (and towards the very end - steamy) romance.
The ending isn't an agonizing one, and I hesitate to call it a cliffhanger, but it doesn't end cheerfully and in a hopeful way. But it's not a cruel one, and in some ways, I think I saw it coming (though in other ways, not so much). I was shocked by certain parts of the ending, and so I'm definitely anxious to read book two! There is no doubt in my mind that I will be camping out in wait for the sequel.
Overall, a novel that really took me by surprise! I really did not know much about this book before starting it (I'd had it added to my TBR shelf on Goodreads for years, so I just hit "download" when I saw it on Edelweiss, not even bothering to read the synopsis). In this case, it really worked out for me! I can't wait to read more.
What I Did Not Like:
Obviously I'm a bit peeved at the ending, but it is not the worst ending I've read! In fact, it's a decent one, though I'm beginning to question my sanity in starting new trilogies. These endings!
Would I Recommend It:
If you're a YA fantasy fan, it's worth it to read this one! I mean, I think anyone who enjoys YA might like this book. It's one of the most bloodthirsty YA books I've read! Bloodthirsty as in the heroine is super bloodthirsty. Good for her, her life has been terrible! Em's controlled rage and temperament is pretty impressive. Anyway! Read this book.
Rating:
4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars (what can I say, I'm stingy with the 5-star rating). This book was pretty much not on my radar (why has no one made a huge deal about this book to me yet?!), so I'm glad I went overboard with Harper's Summer galley drop and downloaded it! You all should do the same and experience this exciting story.
March 21, 2016
I'll be posting a review closer to the release date but I highly highly enjoyed this one. It had everything I loved in a YA fantasy.
April 10, 2016
That was exciting! I’m looking forward to where this series is going. Ruined is a high-stakes YA fantasy about revenge.
Emelina lost everything a year ago when both her parents, the King and Queen of Ruina, were killed and her sister Olivia was kidnapped. Her country is being destroyed and her people are being killed. Now all Em wants is revenge. And she will get it.
Ruina is a country where the people have these magical powers that can be deadly. If you are a Ruined with powers, you have marks on your body making it obvious. If you are a Ruined without powers, you are considered useless. Em is useless. This explains why her powerful younger sister is the rightful heir to the throne instead of herself. Also why Emelina has trained her whole life making her so badass with a sword. She is intelligent, strong, determined, and extremely skilled in a fight. She is constantly prepared in any situation always knowing the quickest way to kill the enemy and escape. It was refreshing having such a fierce heroine not afraid to kill. Yet she has a lot of layers to her as well.
Prince Casimir is next in line to take Lera’s throne. His parents have set up an arranged marriage between Cas and the Princess of a neighboring country, Vallos. He’s not all that happy about the marriage circumstances..having his parents choose his bride to be. Cas has never met Princess Mary (neither have his parents), but he understands it’s best for the kingdom.
In the kingdom of Lera, Em’s plan for revenge involves infiltrating the royal family to find out where her sister is. She’ll have to kill Princess Mary in order to be her, marry Prince Casimir, get close enough to learn where Olivia is being held captive, and then finally kill the entire royal family.
With alternating POVs, from Em and Cas, it is really enlightening to get a sense of what’s going on in each of their heads. They are both strong, well-written characters.
There’s plenty of action, a slow burn romance, great world building, some violence mixed in, and a good amount of twists. Overall, an excellent start to a series. Though there is a bit more background I hope we get later on. Ruined has a solid conclusion, while still leaving things open. I really love the direction it seems the story will take in the second book. Possibly darker? I wouldn’t put it past Amy Tintera to surprise us, but I’m hoping this series keeps getting darker like The Young Elites. I will definitely be reading the sequel.
An enjoyable start to a YA fantasy series for those who enjoy stories of revenge.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review via edelweiss.
Emelina lost everything a year ago when both her parents, the King and Queen of Ruina, were killed and her sister Olivia was kidnapped. Her country is being destroyed and her people are being killed. Now all Em wants is revenge. And she will get it.
Ruina is a country where the people have these magical powers that can be deadly. If you are a Ruined with powers, you have marks on your body making it obvious. If you are a Ruined without powers, you are considered useless. Em is useless. This explains why her powerful younger sister is the rightful heir to the throne instead of herself. Also why Emelina has trained her whole life making her so badass with a sword. She is intelligent, strong, determined, and extremely skilled in a fight. She is constantly prepared in any situation always knowing the quickest way to kill the enemy and escape. It was refreshing having such a fierce heroine not afraid to kill. Yet she has a lot of layers to her as well.
Prince Casimir is next in line to take Lera’s throne. His parents have set up an arranged marriage between Cas and the Princess of a neighboring country, Vallos. He’s not all that happy about the marriage circumstances..having his parents choose his bride to be. Cas has never met Princess Mary (neither have his parents), but he understands it’s best for the kingdom.
In the kingdom of Lera, Em’s plan for revenge involves infiltrating the royal family to find out where her sister is. She’ll have to kill Princess Mary in order to be her, marry Prince Casimir, get close enough to learn where Olivia is being held captive, and then finally kill the entire royal family.
With alternating POVs, from Em and Cas, it is really enlightening to get a sense of what’s going on in each of their heads. They are both strong, well-written characters.
There’s plenty of action, a slow burn romance, great world building, some violence mixed in, and a good amount of twists. Overall, an excellent start to a series. Though there is a bit more background I hope we get later on. Ruined has a solid conclusion, while still leaving things open. I really love the direction it seems the story will take in the second book. Possibly darker? I wouldn’t put it past Amy Tintera to surprise us, but I’m hoping this series keeps getting darker like The Young Elites. I will definitely be reading the sequel.
An enjoyable start to a YA fantasy series for those who enjoy stories of revenge.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review via edelweiss.
September 6, 2018
5 STARS!
Firstly I'm going to start by saying not enough people talk about this book! I absolutely loved everything about this. I saw this pop up on Alexis's YouTube channel, and I was very very intrigued to say the least! It starts off with Em plotting to marry a Prince called Casimir to help get her sister Olivia back who is a Ruined (someone who has magic abilities). From there we see the story progress on how to get Olivia back, relationships building and other characters step up and voice what they truly believe in.
Characters
Em who is from a family of Ruined who doesn't have any form of abilities but is the driving force behind getting her sister back. I honestly loved her character, it was interesting to see how her mind worked, and I was slightly amused at her thought process on how she'd kill people. At first she comes across as though she doesn't care, but the more you read on the more you see her passion and her love for her country and others who are Ruined.
Cas is so precious, and I would protect him from everything and anything if I could. His character development was EVERYTHING, I loved him questioning things and trying to make a change. You could see the conflict that he had with lots of issues.
What I found so interesting about the two characters coming together is the conflict they both had. They were both fighting for different (but kind of the same) things. One was doing it for one reason, and the other for another. Like it's so difficulty to pick a side, because there's good and bad to both. It was so endearing to see them actually talk about issues and I was instantly sold, hook line and sinker.
Things I liked?
- Hopefully I can word this correctly, but in this one book we got to see three races, like all of them were easy to identify, each had their own setting/what they wanted to do. It was so clear and easy to understand it was great
- THE SARCASM WAS EVERYTHING. Look at this... "My wife didn't smother me with a pillow! Must be love!" I can't!
- The fighting, blood and gore and I loved it!
- Now I love a good romance but this! I thought my heart was sold on two characters, but make way for number three, because Cas you are now part of the elite.
- The world building and writing, ahhhh it was so good to be able to just dive into it and just follow it smoothly without having to back track and re-read things to get a handle on it, much appreciated to say the least
- Excuse my language her but that mother fucking ending was incredible.
- Plus I'm so ridiculously intrigued as what's to come and especially looking forward to seeing certain characters in all of their glory.
- What is that? Possible a gay captain of the guard? Well I am here for it, because Galo is everything.
- In fact all of the characters!
I need to stop gushing.
Things I didn't like?
- AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I liked everything I'm afraid.
- However I would liked to of seen more of the Ruined but I think we'll get more in the next two books, and what we did see, I am already very very excited.
Overall I'm SO happy I read this, I thought I was getting into a slump but after this I feel greatttt! Thanks Alexis for showing this, because if it wasn't for you I'd never of read it (and also thanks for putting up with many messages). Very very excited to start Avenged. Also if you're a fan of Red Queen you may like this!
Reviews:
Ruined - 5 Stars
Avenged - 3.75 Stars
Firstly I'm going to start by saying not enough people talk about this book! I absolutely loved everything about this. I saw this pop up on Alexis's YouTube channel, and I was very very intrigued to say the least! It starts off with Em plotting to marry a Prince called Casimir to help get her sister Olivia back who is a Ruined (someone who has magic abilities). From there we see the story progress on how to get Olivia back, relationships building and other characters step up and voice what they truly believe in.
Characters
Em who is from a family of Ruined who doesn't have any form of abilities but is the driving force behind getting her sister back. I honestly loved her character, it was interesting to see how her mind worked, and I was slightly amused at her thought process on how she'd kill people. At first she comes across as though she doesn't care, but the more you read on the more you see her passion and her love for her country and others who are Ruined.
Cas is so precious, and I would protect him from everything and anything if I could. His character development was EVERYTHING, I loved him questioning things and trying to make a change. You could see the conflict that he had with lots of issues.
What I found so interesting about the two characters coming together is the conflict they both had. They were both fighting for different (but kind of the same) things. One was doing it for one reason, and the other for another. Like it's so difficulty to pick a side, because there's good and bad to both. It was so endearing to see them actually talk about issues and I was instantly sold, hook line and sinker.
Things I liked?
- Hopefully I can word this correctly, but in this one book we got to see three races, like all of them were easy to identify, each had their own setting/what they wanted to do. It was so clear and easy to understand it was great
- THE SARCASM WAS EVERYTHING. Look at this... "My wife didn't smother me with a pillow! Must be love!" I can't!
- The fighting, blood and gore and I loved it!
- Now I love a good romance but this! I thought my heart was sold on two characters, but make way for number three, because Cas you are now part of the elite.
- The world building and writing, ahhhh it was so good to be able to just dive into it and just follow it smoothly without having to back track and re-read things to get a handle on it, much appreciated to say the least
- Excuse my language her but that mother fucking ending was incredible.
- Plus I'm so ridiculously intrigued as what's to come and especially looking forward to seeing certain characters in all of their glory.
- What is that? Possible a gay captain of the guard? Well I am here for it, because Galo is everything.
- In fact all of the characters!
I need to stop gushing.
Things I didn't like?
- AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I liked everything I'm afraid.
- However I would liked to of seen more of the Ruined but I think we'll get more in the next two books, and what we did see, I am already very very excited.
Overall I'm SO happy I read this, I thought I was getting into a slump but after this I feel greatttt! Thanks Alexis for showing this, because if it wasn't for you I'd never of read it (and also thanks for putting up with many messages). Very very excited to start Avenged. Also if you're a fan of Red Queen you may like this!
Reviews:
Ruined - 5 Stars
Avenged - 3.75 Stars
Want to read
October 2, 2014Sounds like high fantasy version of Revenge.
February 10, 2017
4.5 / 5 Fangs
If you haven't read this book yet, then you need to stop what you are doing and read this book ASAP. I had this book on my kindle for a long time, but I never got around to reading it until recently. I HATE THAT I PUT OFF READING THIS BOOK FOR THAT LONG!
Anyway, time to actually talk about this book.
The world in this book was AWESOME. I really liked the world Amy created and the way she introduced the new world. The world building felt natural and well paced. She revealed enough information so I could understand what was happening, but she did leave me wanting more. I do think some things were a little vague, so I am hoping for more explanations in the next book!
I LOVED learning about the different cultures in this world. I found it so interesting that each group of people in this book could be viewed as morally grey. It was so interesting to look at the conflict in the book from the two battling sides. It was easy to sympathize with both the Lera and the Ruined. THEY ARE BOTH BASICALLY EVIL (well more like some of the rulers are) BUT I ALSO SYMPATHIZE WITH THEM AND I LOVE IT. I thought that was a brilliant move on Amy's part because it makes it hard to root for one side of the conflict. I am so excited and scared to see where Amy takes that part of the story in the next book.
The two main characters, Em and Cas were just perfect. Cas was literally the epitome of a cinnamon roll who could kill you. Cas was adorable, caring, and just so loveable. HOWEVER, he was also super sassy and a skilled swordsman?! Seriously, he was so freaking witty and sassy. I LOVED IT. His banter with the other characters, especially Em, was on point! He was a little too trusting at times, so I hope he works on that.
I LOVE CAS AND I WILL PROTECT HIM AT ALL COSTS. HE IS MY CINNAMON ROLL AND I WILL NOT LET HARM COME TO HIM.
Em was a freaking badass. I loved how Em was constantly thinking about ways to kill the people around her. She could play being polite to those around her but on the inside, she was like "oh, I am going to STAB THE CRAP OUT OF YOU." She did NOT let the powerful men (or women for that matter) push her around, especially when they tried to say she was weak. Em stood her ground and proved she was not someone to be messed with.
It was awesome, to say the least. I liked how passionate she was for her people, the Ruined, and how desperately she wanted to save them. She was also quite witty, which is why she had great banter with Cas.
It was so heartwarming to watch Em open up her heart and start to care for Cas. Cas and Em helped each other grow and think about things they never considered before. They are so good for each other! I SHIP THEM SO HARD. I know they have a lot of obstacles in their way but I still ship the HECK out of it. I will riot if Cas and Em do not end up together. THIS SHIP WILL NOT GO DOWN, I REFUSE IT.
Some readers said the romance felt like insta-love for them, and I understand why they said that. I am a HUGE fan of slow burns, but I found myself really loving the romance between Em and Cas. I was expecting the romance to be a little slower of a burner, but the romance still made me swoon. I know some people won't like the romance as much as I did, but I think there is enough going on in this book that everyone will find something they like.
I liked that the romance in this book wasn't the main plot. The romance was obviously there, but it never took over the entire plot. There was plenty of murder, blood, plotting, and intrigue to balance the romance.
My one big complaint was that the main plot of the story was a bit predictable, especially for YA fantasy fans. I feel like there are a lot fo YA fantasy novels with similar plots. It made this story feel a little bit like a recycled story. Despite that, I still really enjoyed this book!
Overall, this was a great YA fantasy. I am so excited to continue with this series! The ending of this book left me DYING for the sequel! I cannot wait to see what happens with Cas and Em. I am really looking forward to learning more about the world and the magic. BRING IT BOOK TWO.
If you are looking for a new YA fantasy, then I would recommend picking up this book!
4.5 / 5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
Facebook
Twitter
If you haven't read this book yet, then you need to stop what you are doing and read this book ASAP. I had this book on my kindle for a long time, but I never got around to reading it until recently. I HATE THAT I PUT OFF READING THIS BOOK FOR THAT LONG!
Anyway, time to actually talk about this book.
The world in this book was AWESOME. I really liked the world Amy created and the way she introduced the new world. The world building felt natural and well paced. She revealed enough information so I could understand what was happening, but she did leave me wanting more. I do think some things were a little vague, so I am hoping for more explanations in the next book!
I LOVED learning about the different cultures in this world. I found it so interesting that each group of people in this book could be viewed as morally grey. It was so interesting to look at the conflict in the book from the two battling sides. It was easy to sympathize with both the Lera and the Ruined. THEY ARE BOTH BASICALLY EVIL (well more like some of the rulers are) BUT I ALSO SYMPATHIZE WITH THEM AND I LOVE IT. I thought that was a brilliant move on Amy's part because it makes it hard to root for one side of the conflict. I am so excited and scared to see where Amy takes that part of the story in the next book.
The two main characters, Em and Cas were just perfect. Cas was literally the epitome of a cinnamon roll who could kill you. Cas was adorable, caring, and just so loveable. HOWEVER, he was also super sassy and a skilled swordsman?! Seriously, he was so freaking witty and sassy. I LOVED IT. His banter with the other characters, especially Em, was on point! He was a little too trusting at times, so I hope he works on that.
I LOVE CAS AND I WILL PROTECT HIM AT ALL COSTS. HE IS MY CINNAMON ROLL AND I WILL NOT LET HARM COME TO HIM.
Em was a freaking badass. I loved how Em was constantly thinking about ways to kill the people around her. She could play being polite to those around her but on the inside, she was like "oh, I am going to STAB THE CRAP OUT OF YOU." She did NOT let the powerful men (or women for that matter) push her around, especially when they tried to say she was weak. Em stood her ground and proved she was not someone to be messed with.
It was awesome, to say the least. I liked how passionate she was for her people, the Ruined, and how desperately she wanted to save them. She was also quite witty, which is why she had great banter with Cas.
It was so heartwarming to watch Em open up her heart and start to care for Cas. Cas and Em helped each other grow and think about things they never considered before. They are so good for each other! I SHIP THEM SO HARD. I know they have a lot of obstacles in their way but I still ship the HECK out of it. I will riot if Cas and Em do not end up together. THIS SHIP WILL NOT GO DOWN, I REFUSE IT.
Some readers said the romance felt like insta-love for them, and I understand why they said that. I am a HUGE fan of slow burns, but I found myself really loving the romance between Em and Cas. I was expecting the romance to be a little slower of a burner, but the romance still made me swoon. I know some people won't like the romance as much as I did, but I think there is enough going on in this book that everyone will find something they like.
I liked that the romance in this book wasn't the main plot. The romance was obviously there, but it never took over the entire plot. There was plenty of murder, blood, plotting, and intrigue to balance the romance.
My one big complaint was that the main plot of the story was a bit predictable, especially for YA fantasy fans. I feel like there are a lot fo YA fantasy novels with similar plots. It made this story feel a little bit like a recycled story. Despite that, I still really enjoyed this book!
Overall, this was a great YA fantasy. I am so excited to continue with this series! The ending of this book left me DYING for the sequel! I cannot wait to see what happens with Cas and Em. I am really looking forward to learning more about the world and the magic. BRING IT BOOK TWO.
If you are looking for a new YA fantasy, then I would recommend picking up this book!
4.5 / 5 Fangs
MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,423 reviews