Reviews

City of Ruin by Charissa Weaks

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beccagreenwood's review against another edition

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slow-paced

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

2.5

chanzlyn's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

🎧: 4/5 - the female VA is amazing, I love all of the voices she does and how well they really enhance each character. The male VA has a GREAT voice, I could listen to him read all day but at the same time, there are some characters that sound pretty similar that it was hard to remember which character was talking at the time.
🌶️: 3/5 - the spice do be spicing and the scenes were 🔥🔥🔥

I LOVED the first one, the writing had some issues but it was a 5/5 for the vibes that I wanted and it delivered so I was REALLY looking forward to this one! Overall I ended up really loving the story by the end of this novel but I won't lie that the first halfish was kind of a slog for me to get through - but I think it was worth it by the end!

-insert Big Bang Theory meme of "I don't need sleep, I need answers" but replace sleep with smut-

I just want to say that I LOVE spice. I prefer my stories to have spice! I think spice is a beautiful way to show how two+ characters connect with one another, the emotions they're feeling, etc. It's a powerful storytelling tool. But I also LOVE books that are basically erotica with the focus on the smut, they're fun, they're great, and just a good time! HOWEVER if I'm here for the story, I prefer the spice to fit into the narrative. I can't handle a book that is crossing the line to erotica while trying to tell me a compelling story. It's just very conflicting feelings and moods and makes the whole read feel a bit like a mess. I thought it was me at first but after going through the reviews, I'm not alone!

Firstly, Charissa wrote the sex scenes really really well. I won't even deny how fantastic the scenes were (the one in the lighthouse with the robe sashes??? Hello???) but the way the characters were horny for each other just read like they've just discovered sex so they needed it all the time. Don't get me wrong, I think it's wonderful when a person is still enamored and sexually attracted to their partner for how ever long they've been together but this was just too much that it felt out of place for their characters and took away from the story. I was so invested with the story and was wanting to know what was going to happen next, that it kind of took me out of it with how much they were wanting sex in the first half and how they were going about it.

Again, the sex scenes were well written, there was just too many of them that went on for way too long that it kind of made it a struggle to get through the first half. Not because it was bad but because I can only read so much spice in one sitting, especially when my mood is focused on wanting to read a story and not just spicy spice haha.

Second thing that bothered me was a specific plotline with Raina and Alexus:

Why did she "lose her memory of Alexis" but not really? That whole plotline was weird, didn't actually do anything other than give me anxiety. It didn't serve a plot point, it didn't impact anything other than made them finally stop having sex for a bit - but even then, they were still horny for each other. It just gave me anxiety about their relationship and her potentially choosing Finn but then nothing happened there? It was just such a weird plotline that ultimately served no purpose. If it some how serves a purpose in the future books, that's cool but the way it wasn't setup well in this book to indicate it'll server a purpose.

But aside from those two things, I am truly hooked with this story and can't wait for the next novel. The continued use of non-verbal magic is unique and fun and it adds a level of diversity you just don't see often. On top of that, the relationship between all of the characters is so charming and just makes my heart so happy.

I've never seen a book with so many side characters having a partner(s) and I really adore it, it just fill the world out more and kind of gives a stronger connection to "love" being played as an important theme in this book.

The tension between Nephele and that guy is SO so good, I'm actually really invested in them and I think Charissa did a fantastic job introducing them in a natural way that has me wanting more.

I love how we get to see more of the world in this book and also just see how well travelled Alexus is! We get to meet so many folks that know him, both friend and foe. The kissing of the cheeks scene??? So so cute and fun. It just builds his character out so much more.

This book just overall had a lot of fun and great things going for it, I do wish we had given more time to those things instead of some of the sex scenes (or just make the book a bit longer if we're not to remove the sex scenes - or even remove that second point that I feel like just didn't serve a purpose, haha) because the new plot point that happens in the last couple of chapters felt like it came on too soon.

It feels like Raina only had her new power for such a short time for the readers to kind of get to know it and for her to suddenly travel so far back seems a bit intense for a power that's only just awakening. But this is a plot point that feels like it had a decent enough setup that it could be explained in the next book so I'm not pressed about it at this time!

Loved this book, love Charissa, can't wait for the next one. Would absolutely read this again and probably will once we hear about the release date for the next novel! In the mean time, I have the novella to look forward to about Nephele and that guy and I'm honestly excited about them even if I'm sure their novel is going to be just as spicy haha.