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kaeliwolf's review
4.0
I absolutely adore the description the author uses. The characters are three-dimensional and almost bouncy. I love the writing style which makes it so much more interesting and exciting to read!
babs_reviews's review
4.0
Mysterious and magical, this plot will dazzle you!
I really enjoyed this, a theme on family and love - the depths loyalty goes and the strength to stand on your own will and not that of others.
Mae longs to belong to the island that she calls home, the only ones who truly belong are those of the wealthy family, the Prospers. Lord Prosper first harnessed the island's magic, and now he controls it, harvesting it as fuel source. Mae longs for use of that magic, and begins to questions everything in her quest to do so. What she finds may not be the dream she has built up.
Though I've seen complaints, I truly thought this was a nice re-imagining of The Tempest. It's a loose fit and with things definitely rearranged, but that is the entire purpose of retellings, the ability to take a theme or plot and run with it in many directions. Although, if I hadn't known going in that it was set in the 20's I really wouldn't have known from anything in the story/plot.
The ending could be a touchy spot, as it leaves a lingering question on the tongue.
Thank you so much to St. Martins Press, Wednesday books and Samantha Cohoe for the gifted advanced review copy!
I really enjoyed this, a theme on family and love - the depths loyalty goes and the strength to stand on your own will and not that of others.
Mae longs to belong to the island that she calls home, the only ones who truly belong are those of the wealthy family, the Prospers. Lord Prosper first harnessed the island's magic, and now he controls it, harvesting it as fuel source. Mae longs for use of that magic, and begins to questions everything in her quest to do so. What she finds may not be the dream she has built up.
Though I've seen complaints, I truly thought this was a nice re-imagining of The Tempest. It's a loose fit and with things definitely rearranged, but that is the entire purpose of retellings, the ability to take a theme or plot and run with it in many directions. Although, if I hadn't known going in that it was set in the 20's I really wouldn't have known from anything in the story/plot.
The ending could be a touchy spot, as it leaves a lingering question on the tongue.
Thank you so much to St. Martins Press, Wednesday books and Samantha Cohoe for the gifted advanced review copy!
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
3.0
3/5
I was so excited to read this book! I enjoyed the first half but when they mentioned blood magic it just go so confusing, then the characters actions were hard to follow but I was able to follow them through the ending. I wish I had enjoyed it more.
Reread 3/5
I enjoyed the island and the character though I wish there was more to them. I felt like the book had a lot of potential but in the end, it was a little flat I loved the magical and mysterious elements and the island itself.
I was so excited to read this book! I enjoyed the first half but when they mentioned blood magic it just go so confusing, then the characters actions were hard to follow but I was able to follow them through the ending. I wish I had enjoyed it more.
Reread 3/5
I enjoyed the island and the character though I wish there was more to them. I felt like the book had a lot of potential but in the end, it was a little flat I loved the magical and mysterious elements and the island itself.
indigoivee's review
4.0
I was honestly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book.
The writing, the way the classic story was retold, the romance the angst, everything was just absolutely amazing. It invites readers into a captivating world of magic, secrets, and self-discovery. The story revolves around Mae, an orphan yearning for acceptance and knowledge of magic on the Prosper's island. As she unravels the hidden truths behind the affluent Prosper family, Mae must confront betrayal, death, and the complexity of her own desires.
The story begins at a steady pace, introducing readers to the intriguing dynamics of the Prosper family. While the initial chapters may feel slow, the story continues to keep us engaged with a blend of predictable elements and unexpected twists. The plot's predictability, due to it’s inspiration drawing from the Shakespearean classic “The Tempest”, is counteracted by the suspenseful "how" of the unfolding events, maintaining an air of mystery that propels the narrative forward.
One of the novel's standout features is its well-developed and endearing characters. Mae's journey to find her place in the world resonates with me, making her relatable and sympathetic. It took a couple of chapters for me to warm up to Ivo, but once I did, it was all I desired for Mae and for the story! The diverse cast, including Coco, Miles, and the unapologetically douchebag, Alasdair, adds depth and complexity to the story. The character growth, particularly in Coco and Miles, enhances the overall reading experience.
The writing style is commendable, with a smooth flow that ensures a seamless reading experience. The novel's quick and enjoyable pace, coupled with well-crafted prose, contributes to its status as a delightful read.
The ending of the story is something that had me up at night wondering about, leaving me wanting more!
By far the best book I’ve read all year.
The writing, the way the classic story was retold, the romance the angst, everything was just absolutely amazing. It invites readers into a captivating world of magic, secrets, and self-discovery. The story revolves around Mae, an orphan yearning for acceptance and knowledge of magic on the Prosper's island. As she unravels the hidden truths behind the affluent Prosper family, Mae must confront betrayal, death, and the complexity of her own desires.
The story begins at a steady pace, introducing readers to the intriguing dynamics of the Prosper family. While the initial chapters may feel slow, the story continues to keep us engaged with a blend of predictable elements and unexpected twists. The plot's predictability, due to it’s inspiration drawing from the Shakespearean classic “The Tempest”, is counteracted by the suspenseful "how" of the unfolding events, maintaining an air of mystery that propels the narrative forward.
One of the novel's standout features is its well-developed and endearing characters. Mae's journey to find her place in the world resonates with me, making her relatable and sympathetic. It took a couple of chapters for me to warm up to Ivo, but once I did, it was all I desired for Mae and for the story! The diverse cast, including Coco, Miles, and the unapologetically douchebag, Alasdair, adds depth and complexity to the story. The character growth, particularly in Coco and Miles, enhances the overall reading experience.
The writing style is commendable, with a smooth flow that ensures a seamless reading experience. The novel's quick and enjoyable pace, coupled with well-crafted prose, contributes to its status as a delightful read.
The ending of the story is something that had me up at night wondering about, leaving me wanting more!
By far the best book I’ve read all year.
kleonard's review
1.0
This novel uses Shakespeare's the Tempest as a jumping-off point, and the initial idea isn't bad: a young woman discovers that the magic island she's always lived on is made magic by the enslaved spirits who live there. But the execution is poor: the story becomes one of Cinderella, albeit with an evil royal family, manipulative princesses, and sullen princes, only one of whom is intelligent enough to know what's going on when the spirits begin to die. The narrator is independent and has a lot of self-esteem, but she's turned into a figure focused on boys and romance and somehow becomes unable to speak for herself for an annoyingly long time. The plot is rushed and decisions don't make sense; characters are uneven and inconsistent; and the conclusion is frustrating as the protagonist, who had achieved some autonomy, allows herself to be sucked back into the morass of the spirit-enslaving family.
bookishserenity's review
4.0
Let me start by saying I liked this book. I read it in less than 24 hours.
The plot intrigued me, I liked the characters yet I wish some things were explored more in depth.
This book is good. It has magic, a family secret and a mysterious island. I liked seeing Mae grow more and more confident each chapter and I liked finding out all the secrets with her!
The plot intrigued me, I liked the characters yet I wish some things were explored more in depth.
This book is good. It has magic, a family secret and a mysterious island. I liked seeing Mae grow more and more confident each chapter and I liked finding out all the secrets with her!
stormwhisper's review
4.0
I received an advance copy of Bright Ruined Things from St Martin's Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Bright Ruined Things follows Mae, a girl who has lived her whole life on a magical island but never truly belonged. Tolerated but not embraced by the powerful family that controls the magic around her, Mae longs for respect, for belonging, and most of all, for magic of her own.
I loved the atmosphere of this novel. The author wove a rich tapestry featuring no end of mysterious characters and endless twists and turns, set against the backdrop of the roaring 20s.
My favourite part of this book was Mae's journey from a meek, passive girl who thought little of her own worth to ultimately finding her agency and refusing to allow herself to be mistreated any longer. Reading how she was mistreated time and time again by the Prospers in much of the book was painful, but more painful than that was how Mae thought she deserved nothing more, and groveled for any scrap of attention they deigned to give her. Watching Mae evolve throughout the story until she was finally able to stand up for herself was deeply satisfying.
Overall, Bright Ruined Things was a satisfying read, although it might have benefitted from faster pacing.
Bright Ruined Things follows Mae, a girl who has lived her whole life on a magical island but never truly belonged. Tolerated but not embraced by the powerful family that controls the magic around her, Mae longs for respect, for belonging, and most of all, for magic of her own.
I loved the atmosphere of this novel. The author wove a rich tapestry featuring no end of mysterious characters and endless twists and turns, set against the backdrop of the roaring 20s.
My favourite part of this book was Mae's journey from a meek, passive girl who thought little of her own worth to ultimately finding her agency and refusing to allow herself to be mistreated any longer. Reading how she was mistreated time and time again by the Prospers in much of the book was painful, but more painful than that was how Mae thought she deserved nothing more, and groveled for any scrap of attention they deigned to give her. Watching Mae evolve throughout the story until she was finally able to stand up for herself was deeply satisfying.
Overall, Bright Ruined Things was a satisfying read, although it might have benefitted from faster pacing.
aliseonlife's review against another edition
Very slow-paced to me. I didn't connect with the main character or their story, and none of the secondary characters seemed compelling outside of their obvious archetypes.
michely66's review
5.0
Forbidden magic, a family secret, and a night to reveal it all...
This book was spectacular! I loved this fantastical place Cohoe created! I could see everything clearly in my mind as I read, and the plot was written so well. I could connect to the characters, and the book had me wanting to read faster and faster. I loved all the magic woven into this story. Ivo and Mae were my favorite characters. A great read!
Thank you Netgallery for this arc!
This book was spectacular! I loved this fantastical place Cohoe created! I could see everything clearly in my mind as I read, and the plot was written so well. I could connect to the characters, and the book had me wanting to read faster and faster. I loved all the magic woven into this story. Ivo and Mae were my favorite characters. A great read!
Thank you Netgallery for this arc!