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eesh25's review
4.0
This was a really good book.
I, honestly, thought it would be another one of those book where the author read a How to Write YA 101 and that was that. And while I have to admit that it didn't have the most original plot, it redeemed itself in some moves that I found to be pretty bold.
The writing was good, which I wasn't expecting and the pace was very good. The story was engaging and I liked both the protagonist. I didn't know what to feel about Em initially (mindless crusades aren't really my thing) but she got better. I'm actually quite proud of both Em and Cas.
The thing I found lacking was the world building. It could have done with some more detail. It wasn't as noticeable because there are so many books with similar worlds around that out mind automatically fills in the blanks. Which isn't exactly desirable.
Another thing was that the book lacked grit. Which, I guess, was because of the lack of detail. It just felt too clean and straight-forward. Convenient, almost.
But despite that, I liked the book and I really liked the ending. It made me very eager to get my hands on the next book. I'm curious to know what will happen with a certain, potentially psychotic, character that came into the book near the end.
Overall, I think this was a very good, enjoyable read and I recommend checking it out.
tenshiwing07's review
It isn't a totally new story line but I was pulled in anyway.
roseday's review
4.0
Good book, I read it in 3 days. Plot was predictable but not necessarily in a bad way. The characters were fun and the ending was sweet (until it wasn't that is). The cliff hanger was good and makes me want to read the next one. Overall I don't think you should run to get it but it was not bad. It did get me out of a reading slump so take what you want from that.
mickachoo's review
4.0
3.5
I was excited going into this book, with kind of high expectations. While I wasn't exactly disappointed, I was a little let down with how . . . lack luster this book was. It wasn't bad, just not great.
There's a whole lot of cliche, which I'm not opposed to. I'm a lover of cliches. But if you're going to write a cliche, you need a lot of foundation to support it. Such as well written characters, a good plot-line, good story and character development. This book left some to be desired in some of those departments.
While the characters weren't just downright awful, the development was a little rocky. We're immediately thrown into the story without any backstory and it is kind of difficult to grasp what all's going on and then you're meeting every character in the span of a few pages, so they feel a little hollow. They don't seem special, individual in any way. They're just playing the part, they don't have a past or hopes and dreams and their emotions seem really insincere.
There's also some insta-love. It wasn't too bad though. They kind of pace backwards later in the book. And because of this lack of character depth, I was inclined to not continue with this trilogy at all.
Thankfully, it got better. This is why I finish books instead of DNF-ing them immediately.
The characters really started to become a person and seem real after about halfway through the book. The plot started to fill out and you started to really get invested in the book. I still wasn't exactly impressed but I was entertained.
There's a lot to be desired here but I'm going to continue with the trilogy because there was definitely promising development (both of the characters and the writing) and I really want to know what's happening next. I have high hopes for the writing and overall story to get better, so here's hoping I won't be disappointed.
I was excited going into this book, with kind of high expectations. While I wasn't exactly disappointed, I was a little let down with how . . . lack luster this book was. It wasn't bad, just not great.
There's a whole lot of cliche, which I'm not opposed to. I'm a lover of cliches. But if you're going to write a cliche, you need a lot of foundation to support it. Such as well written characters, a good plot-line, good story and character development. This book left some to be desired in some of those departments.
While the characters weren't just downright awful, the development was a little rocky. We're immediately thrown into the story without any backstory and it is kind of difficult to grasp what all's going on and then you're meeting every character in the span of a few pages, so they feel a little hollow. They don't seem special, individual in any way. They're just playing the part, they don't have a past or hopes and dreams and their emotions seem really insincere.
There's also some insta-love. It wasn't too bad though. They kind of pace backwards later in the book. And because of this lack of character depth, I was inclined to not continue with this trilogy at all.
Thankfully, it got better. This is why I finish books instead of DNF-ing them immediately.
The characters really started to become a person and seem real after about halfway through the book. The plot started to fill out and you started to really get invested in the book. I still wasn't exactly impressed but I was entertained.
There's a lot to be desired here but I'm going to continue with the trilogy because there was definitely promising development (both of the characters and the writing) and I really want to know what's happening next. I have high hopes for the writing and overall story to get better, so here's hoping I won't be disappointed.
freadomlibrary's review against another edition
4.0
This review was originally posted at https://freadomlibrary.wordpress.com/
Critically
Plot – 4 out of 5 stars
I was surprised with how much I ended up liking this book. It’s full of action, magic, violence and blood. I’m such a huge fan of fantasy books and this one felt fresh and interesting. The world building is very methodical and it builds step by step, and such gray areas and themes. There are so many different twists and turns and thank the lord, the romance actually develops pretty slowly for a fantasy these days.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
The writing style helped develop the plot very well. It’s concise and well thought out. The dialogue is really entertaining even with the high pressure and tense situations that are also involved. The world building was great and in depth. I loved the way the author played with themes of what’s good and bad and the gray area that is life. The ending was firm but open enough to set up the next book in the series.
Characters – 4 out of 5 stars
I am a huge fan of these characters. I feel like they have so much more to offer but this first book showed a lot of promise with character development. Em is intelligent and fierce. The way she thinks is always focused on strategy and how each situation can help her accomplish her goals. She’s determined and strong and yet stubborn as hell. Doesn’t that just sound like all of my favorite characters ever? I loved her development and how she starts to see the situations around her but never loses sight of her focus. The male main character got to me, he was sweet and nice and totally and completely blind to what was really going on in the kingdom he’s inheriting. I feel like his development was great! He became more conscious of his surroundings and was firm and determined in what he believes is right. Also, there are a few side characters in this book that I quite liked and there are hints of a hopeful awesome female friendship. There’s also diversity not only in race but also in sexual orientation and the best part was that it wasn’t a big deal! It just was and it was awesome. There’s great comradeship and friendship and I really really liked the cast of characters in this book, guys. Really.
Emotionally
The plot is intricate but it doesn’t seem like it at all. We follow Em, who is on a path toward revenge. She’s infiltrating a kingdom by marrying the prince in the hopes of getting inside secrets and the location of her kidnapped sister. Honestly, that seems so simple but there’s a lot more detail than you can see at first. The world building is really methodical. It’s not something that is explained word for word but there are clues within the main character’s perceptions that give you tid bits of where they are, how it looks and how the kingdoms interact with each other. You have to be paying attention to catch those things. It’s not something that will be spelled out for you in the form of a map or someone telling the story to you. It’s in those tiny details and thought processes that the character’s share. Even though there are only three different kingdoms, there’s a lot of power play going on and Tintera plays with the concept of good and bad and what that really means. The gray areas of war and of prejudice and how that shapes a person’s perception and what they stand for. Who is really the villain? I loved that you didn’t know who to root for or who to hate completely. It’s a constant shift which makes the plot really interesting. This book was a really good start but I can see so much more for the series. It has a lot of potential.
Em is great. She seems really cold and calculating at first. I mean she kills someone in the first chapter with practically no remorse to get where she wants to be. But she’s a well rounded character. Her personal motivations are clear and maybe they may not be the best intentions but she still has a conscious. There’s really no way to be “good” in the world she lives because all the lines are so blurred but she does her best. She does what she believes is the best for herself and for the people that are counting on her. I loved her attitude and how hard she was to crack under the pressure of the kingdom around her. I’m really looking forward to seeing how she develops throughout the series.
As for the side characters. Cas, the male main character, was really sweet. He’s a bit naive to life considering that he’s a prince but that made him weak. He’s blinded to the harshness of the rest of his world but I love how his development, even though it was influenced by someone else, pushed him to open his eyes to what was going on. Then there was Iria and I loveeddd her! She’s this really tough warrior chick who seems like a total hard ass but is actually a free thinker and kind when she wants to be. I loved the banter between her and Em and I hope their friendship develops more in the next few books. And lastly Olivia is a character that we see very briefly but she’s bat shit crazy and she’s gonna bring problems. I can almost guarantee it.
Overall, I was surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. The premise seems very simple but the plot develops it further and it’s really entertaining and action packed as well as filled with twists and turns. The characters were interesting and complex but I’m still hoping to see more development from them. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the rest of the series plays out.
Critically
Plot – 4 out of 5 stars
I was surprised with how much I ended up liking this book. It’s full of action, magic, violence and blood. I’m such a huge fan of fantasy books and this one felt fresh and interesting. The world building is very methodical and it builds step by step, and such gray areas and themes. There are so many different twists and turns and thank the lord, the romance actually develops pretty slowly for a fantasy these days.
Writing Style – 4 out of 5 stars
The writing style helped develop the plot very well. It’s concise and well thought out. The dialogue is really entertaining even with the high pressure and tense situations that are also involved. The world building was great and in depth. I loved the way the author played with themes of what’s good and bad and the gray area that is life. The ending was firm but open enough to set up the next book in the series.
Characters – 4 out of 5 stars
I am a huge fan of these characters. I feel like they have so much more to offer but this first book showed a lot of promise with character development. Em is intelligent and fierce. The way she thinks is always focused on strategy and how each situation can help her accomplish her goals. She’s determined and strong and yet stubborn as hell. Doesn’t that just sound like all of my favorite characters ever? I loved her development and how she starts to see the situations around her but never loses sight of her focus. The male main character got to me, he was sweet and nice and totally and completely blind to what was really going on in the kingdom he’s inheriting. I feel like his development was great! He became more conscious of his surroundings and was firm and determined in what he believes is right. Also, there are a few side characters in this book that I quite liked and there are hints of a hopeful awesome female friendship. There’s also diversity not only in race but also in sexual orientation and the best part was that it wasn’t a big deal! It just was and it was awesome. There’s great comradeship and friendship and I really really liked the cast of characters in this book, guys. Really.
Emotionally
Spoiler
I was pleasantly surprised by this book and I enjoyed it a lot more than I though I would.The plot is intricate but it doesn’t seem like it at all. We follow Em, who is on a path toward revenge. She’s infiltrating a kingdom by marrying the prince in the hopes of getting inside secrets and the location of her kidnapped sister. Honestly, that seems so simple but there’s a lot more detail than you can see at first. The world building is really methodical. It’s not something that is explained word for word but there are clues within the main character’s perceptions that give you tid bits of where they are, how it looks and how the kingdoms interact with each other. You have to be paying attention to catch those things. It’s not something that will be spelled out for you in the form of a map or someone telling the story to you. It’s in those tiny details and thought processes that the character’s share. Even though there are only three different kingdoms, there’s a lot of power play going on and Tintera plays with the concept of good and bad and what that really means. The gray areas of war and of prejudice and how that shapes a person’s perception and what they stand for. Who is really the villain? I loved that you didn’t know who to root for or who to hate completely. It’s a constant shift which makes the plot really interesting. This book was a really good start but I can see so much more for the series. It has a lot of potential.
Em is great. She seems really cold and calculating at first. I mean she kills someone in the first chapter with practically no remorse to get where she wants to be. But she’s a well rounded character. Her personal motivations are clear and maybe they may not be the best intentions but she still has a conscious. There’s really no way to be “good” in the world she lives because all the lines are so blurred but she does her best. She does what she believes is the best for herself and for the people that are counting on her. I loved her attitude and how hard she was to crack under the pressure of the kingdom around her. I’m really looking forward to seeing how she develops throughout the series.
As for the side characters. Cas, the male main character, was really sweet. He’s a bit naive to life considering that he’s a prince but that made him weak. He’s blinded to the harshness of the rest of his world but I love how his development, even though it was influenced by someone else, pushed him to open his eyes to what was going on. Then there was Iria and I loveeddd her! She’s this really tough warrior chick who seems like a total hard ass but is actually a free thinker and kind when she wants to be. I loved the banter between her and Em and I hope their friendship develops more in the next few books. And lastly Olivia is a character that we see very briefly but she’s bat shit crazy and she’s gonna bring problems. I can almost guarantee it.
Overall, I was surprised with how much I enjoyed this book. The premise seems very simple but the plot develops it further and it’s really entertaining and action packed as well as filled with twists and turns. The characters were interesting and complex but I’m still hoping to see more development from them. I’m really looking forward to seeing how the rest of the series plays out.
astheplotthickens24's review
4.0
"She’d already embarrassed herself horribly, might as well finish it off."
Emelina is literally me.
I waited for almost six months before reading this novel mainly because Kiera Cass blurbed this book *insert peace sign here* I thought it would be a tedious read but I was clearly wrong and I literally finished this one in just two sittings.
The first chapter was a blast, there was a lot of blood and killing going on so I immediately found myself loving this book. I was grinning like a fool while reading the first five chapters and was like "Whoa, she's badass. Go Em! Show them what girl power really is" but then the romance came and boom! I can't fathom if I like the prince or not. It's hard to know who the real villain was because both sides have done plenty of mistakes in the past.
Emelina, was a pretty strong character. She reminds me of Celaena (ToG) and Nemesis (TD). She was the daughter of the deceased queen of Ruina so she was basically a princess and then she pretended to be the princess of Vallos (by killing the real princess of Vallos) to marry the prince of Lera which was the crown Prince of the whole three kingdoms (coz they conquered them all). Her journey was amazing, her own people call her useless because she was a Ruined without a power and I'm pretty sure that it's not the definition of a happy life.
Cas, when I first read his name I was like "Oh my gods! Cas as in Castiel? Supernatural fan here! but I was wrong because Cas actually stands for Casimir which was so lousy compared to Castiel. I like Cas but I don't like the way he fell in love with Em. I thought it was a shallow and underdeveloped love but it wasn't because he kinda proved that his feelings were genuine at the near end of the book. So that's a big thumbs up there.
Olivia, makes her sister's wrath (Em) looks like a tender hug compared to her viciousness. I don't like her.
I'm looking forward to the sequel which will be release the same day as A Court of Wings and Ruin ♡
[✔] Amazing world building
[✔] A badass heroine
[✔] A Prince Charming
[✔] Hard to know who the bad guys are
izzys_internet_bookshelf's review
2.0
2.5/5
There is so much violence in the books I’ve been reading frequently.. what is up with that? I thought the book was alright, I was interested in the story enough to read it all. I only thing is that there was, as I said a lot of violence. I personally am still getting over These Violent Delights.
There is so much violence in the books I’ve been reading frequently.. what is up with that? I thought the book was alright, I was interested in the story enough to read it all. I only thing is that there was, as I said a lot of violence. I personally am still getting over These Violent Delights.
katherinehays's review
5.0
We all know the story. The one where a girl doesn’t want to fall in love, but she is hopelessly seduced by a larger than life golden boy. By the end of the story, wedding bells are ringing and she wonders why she didn't want this before. She finds her Prince Charming and everyone lives Happily Ever After. In Ruined, by Amy Tintera, it seems like we will get to this point. However, this isn’t your normal cookie-cutter fairytale.
This story follows the whirlwind life of the lowly Ruined Emilina. Her late parents were the king and queen of the Ruined kingdom and her beloved sister was heir to the throne. All this is lost one day when her sister is kidnapped and her parents are killed by Lera, a powerful enemy kingdom. This forces Em to lead her people to safety from the terrifying forces of Lera that are threatening to kill all of the Ruined.
Enter Cas, the perfect prince. Tall, handsome, a dark-haired, blue-eyed god. The heir to Lera’s throne, and betrothed to Mary, the princess of Vallos. Em and Mary bear striking resemblance to each other, both have olive skin and dark hair. Em’s plan to avenge her family involves taking the princess's place and taking down Lera from the inside. Em takes action, killing the princess in the opening scene. Following the murder of the princess, Em and her friend Aren start the journey to avenge her parents’ deaths. However, as Em gets closer to the prince she feels herself starting to care for him. She finds herself making a difficult choice between love and revenge.
Ruined contains plenty of action and just the right amount of love. If you couldn’t get enough of the thrill in Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and swooned over Maxon and America in The Selection, you’ll fall head over heels for Ruined. As Amy Tintera said herself, “I write books with action and kissing”. Tintera certainly delivers with Ruined. She provides an interesting voice, alternating between Em and Cas’s point of view in third person limited. Ruined is an intoxicating book that will leave you needing more.
Other books by Amy Tintera include a duology containing Reboot and Rebel. A science fiction series about a futuristic society in which people heal as "Reboots". If you're not a huge fan of the romance side of stories, her other series would be perfect. She is able to write in many different styles, giving each book a new voice.
Ruined provides a new take on an old story. The fresh new insight landed it on the New York Times Bestsellers list. It's a fun, easy read that will get you out of any reading slump. The second installment will come in May of 2017.
This story follows the whirlwind life of the lowly Ruined Emilina. Her late parents were the king and queen of the Ruined kingdom and her beloved sister was heir to the throne. All this is lost one day when her sister is kidnapped and her parents are killed by Lera, a powerful enemy kingdom. This forces Em to lead her people to safety from the terrifying forces of Lera that are threatening to kill all of the Ruined.
Enter Cas, the perfect prince. Tall, handsome, a dark-haired, blue-eyed god. The heir to Lera’s throne, and betrothed to Mary, the princess of Vallos. Em and Mary bear striking resemblance to each other, both have olive skin and dark hair. Em’s plan to avenge her family involves taking the princess's place and taking down Lera from the inside. Em takes action, killing the princess in the opening scene. Following the murder of the princess, Em and her friend Aren start the journey to avenge her parents’ deaths. However, as Em gets closer to the prince she feels herself starting to care for him. She finds herself making a difficult choice between love and revenge.
Ruined contains plenty of action and just the right amount of love. If you couldn’t get enough of the thrill in Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and swooned over Maxon and America in The Selection, you’ll fall head over heels for Ruined. As Amy Tintera said herself, “I write books with action and kissing”. Tintera certainly delivers with Ruined. She provides an interesting voice, alternating between Em and Cas’s point of view in third person limited. Ruined is an intoxicating book that will leave you needing more.
Other books by Amy Tintera include a duology containing Reboot and Rebel. A science fiction series about a futuristic society in which people heal as "Reboots". If you're not a huge fan of the romance side of stories, her other series would be perfect. She is able to write in many different styles, giving each book a new voice.
Ruined provides a new take on an old story. The fresh new insight landed it on the New York Times Bestsellers list. It's a fun, easy read that will get you out of any reading slump. The second installment will come in May of 2017.
renuked's review
3.0
Mostly cookie-cutter fantasy romance, which is fine because that's what I was in the mood for. The end was surprisingly intense, which I enjoyed far more than the first half of the book. Overall, no a bad debut, but nothing unpredictable. Review to come.