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izzys_internet_bookshelf's review against another edition
3.0
3/5
I feel this review should be a reminder that reading more then two books at once isn’t always the best idea. Don’t get me wrong this book was entertaining enough for me not to get bored with it, but it was a similar concept to another book I was reading to were I would get the plot mixed up.
I feel this review should be a reminder that reading more then two books at once isn’t always the best idea. Don’t get me wrong this book was entertaining enough for me not to get bored with it, but it was a similar concept to another book I was reading to were I would get the plot mixed up.
smack_books's review against another edition
3.0
The world building in this book was pretty good and interesting to read. I just feel like as a novel that was advertised as a retelling of Phantom of the Opera, it didn’t really follow that musical too much. Of course it doesn’t have to but the way it’s marketed makes it sound like it would be way more similar to Phantom so it could’ve been more clear on that.
The characters were well written and even the antagonist was multidimensional. I wish the mc had more authority to rebel than she did, because it felt like she only did it when she really had to. I feel it would’ve been more satisfying if all the shit she went through finally built up into anger. I was also scared tue author was going to pull a “I’m not gonna kill you cause I’m better than you” and I’m so relieved she didn’t
The characters were well written and even the antagonist was multidimensional. I wish the mc had more authority to rebel than she did, because it felt like she only did it when she really had to. I feel it would’ve been more satisfying if all the shit she went through finally built up into anger. I was also scared tue author was going to pull a “I’m not gonna kill you cause I’m better than you” and I’m so relieved she didn’t
pebbletown's review against another edition
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
This was a quick sapphic fantasy novel with a cool magical system, but I couldn't stop thinking about the political implications of the worldbuilding here lol. Not sure the author thought through the plotline of "the aristocratic families who lost their wealth and political power have been made the oppressed class of this society" beyond "the old system was bad but this new one is also bad! We should invent democracy! :)"
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death
Minor: Body shaming
lydiastorytime's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
4.0
karapillar's review against another edition
I’m just not into it. I might pick it up again later.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Vomit, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, Gore, Hate crime, Physical abuse, and Violence
bookswithmaddi's review against another edition
3.0
* Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review *
Ruinsong is a wonderfully built majestic book with a fantastic magic system that transports you to a world where music is magic. We follow Cadence, a singer for the queen who grew up an orphan until her powers were realized. Cadence is forced to use her magic to torture the subjects of the country. With no choice but to obey the Queen she continues the queen's evil reign over the country. In comes Remi, a noble who lives out of the city with her mother and father, and Cadence’s childhood best friend. When circumstances cause their paths to align again they must work to overcome their differences and overthrow the queen. Sparks fly as undiscovered feelings rise up between the two, they might get more than just freedom from this journey.
Ruinsong was stunning. I, of course, was drawn in by the beautiful cover. But it was the plot which caused me to request it on Netgalley. I’ve been trying to read more Sapphic novels so this was a perfect choice! The magic system is definitely my favorite part of this book, it’s absolutely fascinating and so unique! It reminded me slightly of the magic system in This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab, but there were also elements that reminded me of the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. I think overall the world building was the best part of this book. Although we didn’t learn too much about the world outside of the country that Cadence and Remi live in, there was a nice establishment of a religion and a reason for the magic system. I thought the magic was also really nicely developed. It made sense and wasn’t too complicated but also retained a sense of whimsy and uniqueness.
My main critique of this book is the pacing and characters. The book definitely has a slow start, the main plot doesn’t occur until a little over halfway through the book which made it a little difficult to get through at first. Overall, the plot was a bit predictable but still had twists that I could appreciate with the added intrigue of the magic system. As far as the characters, they didn’t feel very developed to me. Cadence and Remi were reasonably well mapped out but they fell into some pretty predictable and stereotypical roles. I wish there had been a bigger cast. While there were some other characters none of them made a huge impact and some felt unnecessary and seemed to just be plot devices.
While I do have some critiques of this book I still highly recommend it. I think it can definitely be enjoyed by a younger audience and the diverse representation is always very appreciated!
Ruinsong is a wonderfully built majestic book with a fantastic magic system that transports you to a world where music is magic. We follow Cadence, a singer for the queen who grew up an orphan until her powers were realized. Cadence is forced to use her magic to torture the subjects of the country. With no choice but to obey the Queen she continues the queen's evil reign over the country. In comes Remi, a noble who lives out of the city with her mother and father, and Cadence’s childhood best friend. When circumstances cause their paths to align again they must work to overcome their differences and overthrow the queen. Sparks fly as undiscovered feelings rise up between the two, they might get more than just freedom from this journey.
Ruinsong was stunning. I, of course, was drawn in by the beautiful cover. But it was the plot which caused me to request it on Netgalley. I’ve been trying to read more Sapphic novels so this was a perfect choice! The magic system is definitely my favorite part of this book, it’s absolutely fascinating and so unique! It reminded me slightly of the magic system in This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab, but there were also elements that reminded me of the Shadow and Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo. I think overall the world building was the best part of this book. Although we didn’t learn too much about the world outside of the country that Cadence and Remi live in, there was a nice establishment of a religion and a reason for the magic system. I thought the magic was also really nicely developed. It made sense and wasn’t too complicated but also retained a sense of whimsy and uniqueness.
My main critique of this book is the pacing and characters. The book definitely has a slow start, the main plot doesn’t occur until a little over halfway through the book which made it a little difficult to get through at first. Overall, the plot was a bit predictable but still had twists that I could appreciate with the added intrigue of the magic system. As far as the characters, they didn’t feel very developed to me. Cadence and Remi were reasonably well mapped out but they fell into some pretty predictable and stereotypical roles. I wish there had been a bigger cast. While there were some other characters none of them made a huge impact and some felt unnecessary and seemed to just be plot devices.
While I do have some critiques of this book I still highly recommend it. I think it can definitely be enjoyed by a younger audience and the diverse representation is always very appreciated!
ditahunter's review
3.0
¡Wuola, wuola!
Canción de Sangre era uno de esos libros que llevaba meses esperando a tener en mis estanterías. Francamente la edición en español tiene 100 paginas menos por la tipografia que han empleado, lo cual, teniendo el precio que tiene, no me parece del todo correcto (cuesta 16,90), pero bueno, como habia descuento por ser el dia del libro aproveche para hacerme con él y que me doliera menos al bolsillo.
La novela es de corte juvenil y se lee en un suspiro, es muy ágil de leer, aunque a veces empleen palabras un poco rimbombantes, se lee deprisa, algo que he agradecido.
Por otro lado, el world building que desarrollan a lo largo de la trama me parece escaso para todo lo que pretende abarcar la autora y, aunque el sistema de magia me pareció de lo más interesante, no es algo que desarrolle casi en la novela, tan solo mencionando algunas cosas relacionadas con la misma y mostrándose más bien pocos.
En la novela se nos habla de una rebelión, la cual no hace atisbo de presencia hasta casi los últimos 5 capítulos, el resto de la trama se centra todo el rato en Remi y Gadence, dos amigas separadas tras el golpe de estado que hay en el reino cuando ellas son niñas y que, cuando se reencuentran, una se ha vuelto la marioneta de la reina y la otra una noble sin poder. Ya en la propia sinopsis nos dan a entender el interés romántico que sienten ambas entre si, pero el como esta desarrollado en la historia.... me parece poco creíble y verosímil, como si lo intentara meter con calzador. En cierta forma anda entre el cliché de Enemies to Lovers y Friends To Lovers, pero no llega a ser ninguno de los dos y ese tira y afloja que tienen es muy poco creíble, sobre todo si tenemos en cuenta algunas reacciones bastante infantiles que tienen las personajes entre si y, además, ninguna es capaz de empatizar al 100% con la otra, pensando en todo momento en lo que ellas quieren y no en lo que puede querer la otra en la situación que le ha tocado (ejem Remi ejem).
En definitiva, este libro habría triunfado si lo hubieran hecho bilogía o trilogía, con más paginas y algo más que contar, pues el final es bastante apresurado y la villana y sus secuaces, bueno, casi ni puedes odiarlos ni amarlos, existen en su mayoría del tiempo y te acuerdas de ellos cuando los mencionan. Una novela un poco olvidable.
2,5/3
Canción de Sangre era uno de esos libros que llevaba meses esperando a tener en mis estanterías. Francamente la edición en español tiene 100 paginas menos por la tipografia que han empleado, lo cual, teniendo el precio que tiene, no me parece del todo correcto (cuesta 16,90), pero bueno, como habia descuento por ser el dia del libro aproveche para hacerme con él y que me doliera menos al bolsillo.
La novela es de corte juvenil y se lee en un suspiro, es muy ágil de leer, aunque a veces empleen palabras un poco rimbombantes, se lee deprisa, algo que he agradecido.
Por otro lado, el world building que desarrollan a lo largo de la trama me parece escaso para todo lo que pretende abarcar la autora y, aunque el sistema de magia me pareció de lo más interesante, no es algo que desarrolle casi en la novela, tan solo mencionando algunas cosas relacionadas con la misma y mostrándose más bien pocos.
En la novela se nos habla de una rebelión, la cual no hace atisbo de presencia hasta casi los últimos 5 capítulos, el resto de la trama se centra todo el rato en Remi y Gadence, dos amigas separadas tras el golpe de estado que hay en el reino cuando ellas son niñas y que, cuando se reencuentran, una se ha vuelto la marioneta de la reina y la otra una noble sin poder. Ya en la propia sinopsis nos dan a entender el interés romántico que sienten ambas entre si, pero el como esta desarrollado en la historia.... me parece poco creíble y verosímil, como si lo intentara meter con calzador. En cierta forma anda entre el cliché de Enemies to Lovers y Friends To Lovers, pero no llega a ser ninguno de los dos y ese tira y afloja que tienen es muy poco creíble, sobre todo si tenemos en cuenta algunas reacciones bastante infantiles que tienen las personajes entre si y, además, ninguna es capaz de empatizar al 100% con la otra, pensando en todo momento en lo que ellas quieren y no en lo que puede querer la otra en la situación que le ha tocado (ejem Remi ejem).
En definitiva, este libro habría triunfado si lo hubieran hecho bilogía o trilogía, con más paginas y algo más que contar, pues el final es bastante apresurado y la villana y sus secuaces, bueno, casi ni puedes odiarlos ni amarlos, existen en su mayoría del tiempo y te acuerdas de ellos cuando los mencionan. Una novela un poco olvidable.
2,5/3
dame_samara's review against another edition
3.0
This book had so many exciting ideas that I wish had been explored more in-depth than they were.
Ruinsong has one of the most unique magic systems I have encountered in a fantasy novel. I wanted to know so much more about the different branches of magic that exist. While this is such an integral part of the story, this was brushed over,
Cadence is... remarkably uninteresting as a character to follow; her motivations are entirely self-centered. She commits acts that are very much war crimes, and this book does not address it.
Cadence as a character is the exemplary example of the discussion of if someone turned a blind eye to the things happening in Germany during WW2, can we really say they weren't a Nazi? Especially with Cadence being in such a high position of power.
There are undertones of the argument of how she was raised, and because she was never taught how to defend herself, how could she possibly fight this higher power.
In the end, Cadence doesn't answer to any of the above; the book kind of shrugs and is like, well, she gets pardoned by her GF's mom, and everything is just hunky-dory.
What I will sing praises for is the queer representation, alongside the representation of non-monogamous relationships. Non-monogamy is rarely shown in books as an option, which is the biggest annoyance when it comes to Love Triangles because I'm like, WHY NOT BOTH?
But to read a story where it is 'mostly' normal to have queer and non-monogamous relationships and straight monogamy isn't the default was incredibly refreshing. Even if it also features insta-love.
All in All:
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting read with a nice side of romance. But isn't wanting to think too deeply about things going on in the book,
But don't expect it to follow through on:
Her voice was her prison…
Now it’s her weapon.
Ruinsong has one of the most unique magic systems I have encountered in a fantasy novel. I wanted to know so much more about the different branches of magic that exist. While this is such an integral part of the story, this was brushed over,
Cadence is... remarkably uninteresting as a character to follow; her motivations are entirely self-centered. She commits acts that are very much war crimes, and this book does not address it.
Cadence as a character is the exemplary example of the discussion of if someone turned a blind eye to the things happening in Germany during WW2, can we really say they weren't a Nazi? Especially with Cadence being in such a high position of power.
There are undertones of the argument of how she was raised, and because she was never taught how to defend herself, how could she possibly fight this higher power.
Spoiler
In reality, Cadence doesn't seek out the need to learn how she can help; she is pressured into it and is pressured into everything she does to counter the Queen.In the end, Cadence doesn't answer to any of the above; the book kind of shrugs and is like, well, she gets pardoned by her GF's mom, and everything is just hunky-dory.
What I will sing praises for is the queer representation, alongside the representation of non-monogamous relationships. Non-monogamy is rarely shown in books as an option, which is the biggest annoyance when it comes to Love Triangles because I'm like, WHY NOT BOTH?
But to read a story where it is 'mostly' normal to have queer and non-monogamous relationships and straight monogamy isn't the default was incredibly refreshing. Even if it also features insta-love.
All in All:
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an interesting read with a nice side of romance. But isn't wanting to think too deeply about things going on in the book,
But don't expect it to follow through on:
Her voice was her prison…
Now it’s her weapon.