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wayfaringbibliomaniac's review against another edition
4.0
This was an incredibly interesting series! It dealt with a lot of controversial topics, which I haven't seen much in YA novels, and I totally loved it! Sal is such a badass... I only wish there was more to it.
Update: https://wayfaringbibliomaniac.wordpress.com/2018/07/18/ruin-of-stars-by-linsey-miller-earc-review/
Update: https://wayfaringbibliomaniac.wordpress.com/2018/07/18/ruin-of-stars-by-linsey-miller-earc-review/
sonshinelibrarian's review against another edition
2.25
For once I liked a lot of the political stuff but not much else. Sal drove me crazy as a character for most of the book. I also just felt like it wasn't very well written or edited. There were weird dialect things in Sal's voice but only in the first third or so. I found a lot of things like missing words or extra words in a sentence. I understand that Sal is gender fluid. But I felt like Miller bludgeoned us over the head with the fact. Every third page was a reminder that every single evil in the world was rooted in the fact that Erlend believed there were only two genders. And those reminders almost felt copy and pasted. And that wasn't the only thing that felt repetitive. There were many passages throughout that were almost verbatim repeats of things said sometimes only a few paragraphs before. I wanted to see how the political story played out but I came extremely close to giving up on this book after a couple of chapters. Fortunately it was a quick read and there was just enough interesting to keep me reading but not enough for me to like the book. Maud is pretty much the only redeemable character.
someonetookit's review against another edition
4.0
Not as good as the first, definitely dragged for a good chunk of it.
Cons
Was disappointed that the Left Hand have basically no part in this one.
I get it, you're genderfluid. STFU and do something rather than telling everyonr 5000 times.
Elise turns into a self-righteous little twat for a giant portion of it
I know who's on the list, I know their super secret code names, please stop listing them over and over AND OVER
Pros
Emerald is still Miss Silent But Sassy so thankyou for that
Much stabby stab and vengeance so im happy
Wanky McTreasonous gets what's coming to him (wasn't spectacular but seriously you're a dick)
Ended fairly well but also, why though?
Overall not a bad read, worth my time so I'm feeling nice and giving it a 4.
Cons
Was disappointed that the Left Hand have basically no part in this one.
I get it, you're genderfluid. STFU and do something rather than telling everyonr 5000 times.
Elise turns into a self-righteous little twat for a giant portion of it
I know who's on the list, I know their super secret code names, please stop listing them over and over AND OVER
Pros
Emerald is still Miss Silent But Sassy so thankyou for that
Much stabby stab and vengeance so im happy
Wanky McTreasonous gets what's coming to him (wasn't spectacular but seriously you're a dick)
Ended fairly well but also, why though?
Overall not a bad read, worth my time so I'm feeling nice and giving it a 4.
egg__reads's review against another edition
4.0
finished with this duology! i thought ruin of stars wrapped up sal's story really well, and enjoyed how realistic the story was, despite being a science/fantasy-esque novel. i especially enjoyed their determination on breaking the binary, so much of the world we live is in gendered into 2 categories, and when someone does not fit into one box or the other, society punishes us for it.
sal + elise's relationship underwhelmed me at first, but i think it was very realistic for them to feel the way they did after only knowing each other for a short period of time. i loved how they weren't sure they were in love, but were hoping to find out in the future.
my favorite part of the story was honestly sal + maud's friendship. sal was able to find a new family in maud after suffering great loss throughout their life.
i'm always here for the queer fantasy ✨
sal + elise's relationship underwhelmed me at first, but i think it was very realistic for them to feel the way they did after only knowing each other for a short period of time. i loved how they weren't sure they were in love, but were hoping to find out in the future.
my favorite part of the story was honestly sal + maud's friendship. sal was able to find a new family in maud after suffering great loss throughout their life.
i'm always here for the queer fantasy ✨
iam's review against another edition
5.0
Read this review and more on the blog.
I don't think I'll be able to properly describe how much I loved this book. It meant so much to me.
Content warnings include: graphic violence and gore, torture, death, murder, panic attack, trauma/PTSD, graphic descriptions of corpses, queerphobia, xenophobia, misogyny, sex off-page, public executions, human experiments, child abduction; mentions of: genocide, death of family.
Ruin of Stars is quite a bit different to its prequel, [b:Mask of Shadows|33918885|Mask of Shadows (Mask of Shadows, #1)|Linsey Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492926659l/33918885._SY75_.jpg|50354236]. In some ways I want to say I liked it even more (which I didn't think was possible), but I'm not sure that would be true due to how vastly different - and heavier - the topic matters are.
While it would be true, if a gross simplification, to say [b:Mask of Shadows|33918885|Mask of Shadows (Mask of Shadows, #1)|Linsey Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492926659l/33918885._SY75_.jpg|50354236] is a book about killing people, Ruin of Stars cannot be summed up quite that easily.
First of all it plays on a much grander scale. While the prequel focussed entirely on the auditions for Opal, one of Our Queen's assassins, and took place on the palace grounds, now events happen all over several cities and countries and have major political and world-changing consequences.
On the smaller scale, Sal can finally execute their revenge on the people who ordered the murder of their people, but even that is closely intertwined with the war that broke out and is tearing the country apart.
I already loved how Sal being genderfluid was handled before, but here their gender identity is not only discussed more in depth, but conversations about queerness take a prominent role. My heart ached not only because these queer characters were fighting for their right to exist in peace and acceptance in the face of a queerphobic power trying to take over, but also for Sal on a personal scale. Thanks to their new position as Honorable Opal they meet a wide vareity of people, many of them queer, and their almost desperate eagerness to have someone to talk to, to share experiences with, to be able to ask questions and seeing queer elders thrive brough me so much joy but also sadness due to the surrounding circumstances.
Non-cis and often non-binary gender identity was often the focus of discussion about queer identities, but there was also a fair bit about asexuality. In contrast, bi- and homosexuality is discussed less in depth, which I found a refreshing change to most other books with similar topics that I've encountered so far - I feel like those two are often the most prominently handled ones, with a-spectrum or gender identities often pushed to the side or not mentioned at all.
Another big topic of Ruin of Stars was xenophobia and the genocide that was already brought up before. Sal's country Nacea and their entire people were erradicated ten years ago - or so they thought. They have never met another surviving Nacean and they were a child when the shadows decimated their family and everyone else living in Nacea.
There are many conversations about their self-doubt whether they are truly Nacean when they can barely remember their culture, and about what it means to go against what their culture teaches as a means of survival in a world that barely acknowledges or remembers its existence or that it was willfully destroyed.
Tied up in the revenge plot and the conversations about queer and cultural identity is also a lot of self-discovery. Sal has to reflect on who they really are, what they want, where they want to be and what they are willing to do to achieve their goals. There is a lot of growth and character development woven between the more action-heavy plot, and most of it is not driven by gentle self-exploration. Instead, brutal tragedy, well-placed lies and shocking discoveries continuously force Sal to reevaluate their priorities, their loyalties and their motivations.
Despite being very plot-driven, the characters are extremely important as well, and there are much more that play an important role than in book 1. Maud and Elise are obviously important figures - even if not always in the roles you'd expect. I was also happy to find Rath in the foreground again, and Dimas was a pleasant surprise. There are some new additions to the cast as well, but I will not spoil them.
I cannot repeat enough how much I loved this book. It had everything I loved and possibly even a bit too much in some of the darker corners - it definitely doesn't go light on the tragedies. But there is also so much healing, caring, open-armed welcomes and found families. The action is breath-taking and heart-stopping and the stakes are even higher than before, and I cannot wait to reread this absolutely stunning series and experience it all over again.
I don't think I'll be able to properly describe how much I loved this book. It meant so much to me.
Content warnings include: graphic violence and gore, torture, death, murder, panic attack, trauma/PTSD, graphic descriptions of corpses, queerphobia, xenophobia, misogyny, sex off-page, public executions, human experiments, child abduction; mentions of: genocide, death of family.
Ruin of Stars is quite a bit different to its prequel, [b:Mask of Shadows|33918885|Mask of Shadows (Mask of Shadows, #1)|Linsey Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492926659l/33918885._SY75_.jpg|50354236]. In some ways I want to say I liked it even more (which I didn't think was possible), but I'm not sure that would be true due to how vastly different - and heavier - the topic matters are.
While it would be true, if a gross simplification, to say [b:Mask of Shadows|33918885|Mask of Shadows (Mask of Shadows, #1)|Linsey Miller|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1492926659l/33918885._SY75_.jpg|50354236] is a book about killing people, Ruin of Stars cannot be summed up quite that easily.
First of all it plays on a much grander scale. While the prequel focussed entirely on the auditions for Opal, one of Our Queen's assassins, and took place on the palace grounds, now events happen all over several cities and countries and have major political and world-changing consequences.
On the smaller scale, Sal can finally execute their revenge on the people who ordered the murder of their people, but even that is closely intertwined with the war that broke out and is tearing the country apart.
I already loved how Sal being genderfluid was handled before, but here their gender identity is not only discussed more in depth, but conversations about queerness take a prominent role. My heart ached not only because these queer characters were fighting for their right to exist in peace and acceptance in the face of a queerphobic power trying to take over, but also for Sal on a personal scale. Thanks to their new position as Honorable Opal they meet a wide vareity of people, many of them queer, and their almost desperate eagerness to have someone to talk to, to share experiences with, to be able to ask questions and seeing queer elders thrive brough me so much joy but also sadness due to the surrounding circumstances.
Non-cis and often non-binary gender identity was often the focus of discussion about queer identities, but there was also a fair bit about asexuality. In contrast, bi- and homosexuality is discussed less in depth, which I found a refreshing change to most other books with similar topics that I've encountered so far - I feel like those two are often the most prominently handled ones, with a-spectrum or gender identities often pushed to the side or not mentioned at all.
Another big topic of Ruin of Stars was xenophobia and the genocide that was already brought up before. Sal's country Nacea and their entire people were erradicated ten years ago - or so they thought. They have never met another surviving Nacean and they were a child when the shadows decimated their family and everyone else living in Nacea.
There are many conversations about their self-doubt whether they are truly Nacean when they can barely remember their culture, and about what it means to go against what their culture teaches as a means of survival in a world that barely acknowledges or remembers its existence or that it was willfully destroyed.
Tied up in the revenge plot and the conversations about queer and cultural identity is also a lot of self-discovery. Sal has to reflect on who they really are, what they want, where they want to be and what they are willing to do to achieve their goals. There is a lot of growth and character development woven between the more action-heavy plot, and most of it is not driven by gentle self-exploration. Instead, brutal tragedy, well-placed lies and shocking discoveries continuously force Sal to reevaluate their priorities, their loyalties and their motivations.
Despite being very plot-driven, the characters are extremely important as well, and there are much more that play an important role than in book 1. Maud and Elise are obviously important figures - even if not always in the roles you'd expect. I was also happy to find Rath in the foreground again, and Dimas was a pleasant surprise. There are some new additions to the cast as well, but I will not spoil them.
I cannot repeat enough how much I loved this book. It had everything I loved and possibly even a bit too much in some of the darker corners - it definitely doesn't go light on the tragedies. But there is also so much healing, caring, open-armed welcomes and found families. The action is breath-taking and heart-stopping and the stakes are even higher than before, and I cannot wait to reread this absolutely stunning series and experience it all over again.
iam's review against another edition
5.0
Audiobook reread August 2020: Yup, also still love this book, and it still means incredibly much to me.
Read my original review from first read in October 2019, which I very much still stand behind, on the blog.
Content warnings include: graphic violence and gore, torture, death, murder, panic attack, trauma/PTSD, graphic descriptions of corpses, queerphobia, xenophobia, misogyny, sex off-page, public executions, human experiments, child abduction, skinning, burning; mentions of: genocide, death of family.
Read my original review from first read in October 2019, which I very much still stand behind, on the blog.
Content warnings include: graphic violence and gore, torture, death, murder, panic attack, trauma/PTSD, graphic descriptions of corpses, queerphobia, xenophobia, misogyny, sex off-page, public executions, human experiments, child abduction, skinning, burning; mentions of: genocide, death of family.
danielle110's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
dsylexa's review against another edition
4.0
Ruin of Star takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster, providing a thrilling conclusion to this duology. The sequel offers an even more compelling story with increased diversity and a strong queer representation. Maud's sassy character and Sal's quest for vengeance make this book a captivating read. It delves deep into Sal's struggles with PTSD and anxiety, offering a poignant portrayal.
The story brings together political intrigue, magic, and mystery, giving readers more insight into the Shadows. Sal's character development shines as they embrace their true self. The narrative doesn't shy away from emotional turmoil, making the readers' hearts ache at times. Linsey Miller masterfully concludes the series, leaving us with a complex and memorable world and characters.
The story brings together political intrigue, magic, and mystery, giving readers more insight into the Shadows. Sal's character development shines as they embrace their true self. The narrative doesn't shy away from emotional turmoil, making the readers' hearts ache at times. Linsey Miller masterfully concludes the series, leaving us with a complex and memorable world and characters.
girly_owls27's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
zarahzoe's review against another edition
3.0
So after I had some major issues with the first installment, I still couldnt resist picking this one up as well, and I have to say, a lot of the problems got resolved.
i.e. everything I just felt it to be illogical about Sal's gender (not that gender fluidity is illogical, but it just didn't click for me why they felt so deeply grateful for people asking their pronouns or tensing up everytime their clothes were mentioned when they were seemingly just accepted as they are) got resolved, the society's perception of them was explained more in depth. I still think it was a bad choice to only do it in second book, seeing it almost hindered me picking up book two, but....
Also, this second one was a lot more unique (but still, not really unique) plot wise than the first.
The Characters were much more compelling to me, too, presumably since Sal got to know them better and was able to better describe them.
The romantic subplot was better, as well.
some other things I really liked:
-queer community yes bitch! Roland as a trans man and Amethiyst as an aromanic person added a nice touch für me. The descpripton of Sal's feeling regarding that really got me
- Gorey, but just the right amount
- a couple of badass female characters: ELISE <3, MAUD <3, Amethyst <3, Emerald <3 and MOIRA <3
Still, could not give more that three stars, because the lack of plot made that hard for me. But every book exploring gender in a gentle and not dysphoric way without shaming people is a clear win in my book, and I'm eternally grateful that stuff like that exists.
i.e. everything I just felt it to be illogical about Sal's gender (not that gender fluidity is illogical, but it just didn't click for me why they felt so deeply grateful for people asking their pronouns or tensing up everytime their clothes were mentioned when they were seemingly just accepted as they are) got resolved, the society's perception of them was explained more in depth. I still think it was a bad choice to only do it in second book, seeing it almost hindered me picking up book two, but....
Also, this second one was a lot more unique (but still, not really unique) plot wise than the first.
The Characters were much more compelling to me, too, presumably since Sal got to know them better and was able to better describe them.
The romantic subplot was better, as well.
some other things I really liked:
-queer community yes bitch! Roland as a trans man and Amethiyst as an aromanic person added a nice touch für me. The descpripton of Sal's feeling regarding that really got me
- Gorey, but just the right amount
- a couple of badass female characters: ELISE <3, MAUD <3, Amethyst <3, Emerald <3 and MOIRA <3
Still, could not give more that three stars, because the lack of plot made that hard for me. But every book exploring gender in a gentle and not dysphoric way without shaming people is a clear win in my book, and I'm eternally grateful that stuff like that exists.