Reviews

A Touch of Ruin by Scarlett St. Clair

shannahaun's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

amy_reads4's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This whole series is fast cementing itself as one of my all time favourites. I tandem read this with A Game of Retribution (Hades POV) and I do really recommended doing it that way if you are able to. I am not someone who normally enjoys prequels or reading when I already know what’s going to happen but I didn’t feel that way at all when reading these, it was so interesting to see the story unfold from both perspectives and both added their own unique storylines. 

I really enjoy the concept of this world, the Gods have emerge from Olympus and now live among the mortals, I enjoy how each of the Gods has their own territory and world and how they live their lives in the upper world. They all own differently buildings and businesses that lean into their powers. 

Persephone really goes through it in this book, there were moments I found it hard to read and may even have shed a tear or two. Whilst she had a really development arc throughout the course of this book, it was a very painful one to read, for so many different reasons. I really didn’t see what happened with Lexa coming, I was completely blindsided and heartbroken, more than once, over the situation. I do hope that there is some more to it in future books, and that if she really does have a crush (iykyk) that we get to see it develop. 

Persephone has spent her whole life being overshadowed, controlled and caged by her mother, and during this book you really see how this has impacted her and her ability to develop relationships, I was so glad to see her coming into her own but can’t help but think she’s got a lot more to come. I am really looking forward to see what develops in the rest of the series and how Persephone is going to grow and find herself, and her powers, and the role she is going to play in it all. 

stephaniepao's review against another edition

3.75

I did not enjoy this as much as A Touch of Chaos. The story was interesting but I found Persephone to be insufferable in this book. She was childish, did not communicate and made so many mistakes. Her actions made it hard to get through some of the chapters. 

3.75 ⭐️ 

elenav's review

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.5

bookdreamer2024's review

adventurous dark emotional tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

paytontseibert's review

3.0

What can I say — it was good!

I think I liked the characters more in this book prior to the first novel, rather than purely sexual love I could start to feel some sort of genuine spark between them. I still just sometimes wish they showed a scene of them like watching a movie together or something. Romantic? Dramatic? No, but damn the fates say they’re meant to be in love and they just take their word on it.

Lexas storyline was more interesting by the end than Persephone and Hades. I feel the same about Persephone’s Amazonian shapeshifting body guard and so many other side characters. I hope to learn more about them, and have Hades and Persephone show more dynamic than just off and fighting or ripping their own clothes off.

All in all though - enjoyable read

sonjak28's review against another edition

adventurous fast-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.75

Persephone kept making the same mistakes but it was a fast read

litstyleguide's review

I just didn’t care. Couldn’t see myself reading the rest of the series, so why finish this one?

alexistiffany's review

5.0

I truly don’t know why there is so much hate for this book. I feel like the author did such a good job depicting the actions of someone who is feeling these big emotions and having to make their own decisions for the first time in their life.

Persephone spent the majority of her life in a prison under the strict ruling of her mother. She’s also only in her early 20’s while the gods she is dealing with are millennia older and understand each other. She’s trying to navigate feeling her power for the first time, being a free person, having big emotions, having to possibly deal with the death of her best friend, and adjusting to being a goddess when all she’s ever wanted was to be a mortal that blended in. So her making so many rash decisions and being moody makes so much sense. Of course she’s not thinking about the consequences to her own actions, she’s never needed to. Her mother had her under such strict conditions and never let her get involved with other gods or mortals.

I also loved getting a peak into more of the gods and goddesses now that Persephone is owning more of her power and status. I really like the way this series is going so far.

roseblanccos's review against another edition

dark emotional sad

• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I did not enjoy how Persephone acted in this book and that every conflict ended in smut. I like passionate intimacy when it has good cause… the storyline itself was good, but I find myself wishing all characters had better communication. The ending got a little muddled like they were rushing to tie up loose ends (some of which I forgot even was a loose end).