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stormwhisper's review against another edition
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 against another edition
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!
sparklelys's review against another edition
5.0
The Tempest + Gatsby, with a dash of Pride & Prejudice. The sparkle and promise of possibility and the hovering, lurking sense that all of this could crash and burn with one wrong choice. Totally a "be careful what you wish for" story.
ameserole's review against another edition
3.0
I have received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Bright Ruined Things was an okay book. It honestly started off on a good note with me and I was really intrigued in this world. Yet, I found myself getting bored, frustrated, and annoyed quite easily when it came to the characters and the actual storyline.
Now the island that everyone lived on definitely intrigued me. As did the spirits, sprites and all the magical elements I could see. Unfortunately, the characters went from likable to okay to really freaking frustrating to read about. I couldn't connect to anyone and I was highly suspicious throughout the entire book as well.
I'll admit that Mae and Ivo had some moments where I would get a glimpse and I would like where thing were heading. Then something else will happen and I was back to being annoyed all over again. It also felt like not a lot was happening for most of this book. Once the action finally picked up, I was just there for the ride and waiting for the book to be done.
The romance felt a bit forced in some places. So I wasn't really shipping Mae with anyone and I just sat back and watched everything happen. The good and the bad. I'm also not sure how I feel about that ending but I'm glad that I got the chance to read this.
Bright Ruined Things was an okay book. It honestly started off on a good note with me and I was really intrigued in this world. Yet, I found myself getting bored, frustrated, and annoyed quite easily when it came to the characters and the actual storyline.
Now the island that everyone lived on definitely intrigued me. As did the spirits, sprites and all the magical elements I could see. Unfortunately, the characters went from likable to okay to really freaking frustrating to read about. I couldn't connect to anyone and I was highly suspicious throughout the entire book as well.
I'll admit that Mae and Ivo had some moments where I would get a glimpse and I would like where thing were heading. Then something else will happen and I was back to being annoyed all over again. It also felt like not a lot was happening for most of this book. Once the action finally picked up, I was just there for the ride and waiting for the book to be done.
The romance felt a bit forced in some places. So I wasn't really shipping Mae with anyone and I just sat back and watched everything happen. The good and the bad. I'm also not sure how I feel about that ending but I'm glad that I got the chance to read this.
michellehenriereads's review against another edition
5.0
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
I am obsessed with this book! The characters mesmerized me. Mae is unsure of herself, servile, and pining for a different life. I love that she isn't in the mold of so many YA protagonists. The Prosper family brought the magic from the island to the world beyond and are wealthy, privileged, and carefree - except for when they're brooding, obsessing, and manipulating others. For as much as the other Prosper members enjoy extravagance, Ivo is an outsider within his own family. No one understands him as he lurks around the island.
Mae's lonely life revolves around the few times her best friend Coco returns to visit the island and her love of Miles, the brooding, bastard grandson of Lord Prosper. When Mae is cornered into a deal meant to help the Prosper family, her life changes. Will she get the magic she's always wanted? What about love?
I recommend this book! It's the best I've read this year! I would call it literary fantasy.
I will add a content warning of some alcohol and drug abuse mentioned, suicide mentioned, and people mistreating others. I don't want to be more specific and give spoilers.
I am obsessed with this book! The characters mesmerized me. Mae is unsure of herself, servile, and pining for a different life. I love that she isn't in the mold of so many YA protagonists. The Prosper family brought the magic from the island to the world beyond and are wealthy, privileged, and carefree - except for when they're brooding, obsessing, and manipulating others. For as much as the other Prosper members enjoy extravagance, Ivo is an outsider within his own family. No one understands him as he lurks around the island.
Mae's lonely life revolves around the few times her best friend Coco returns to visit the island and her love of Miles, the brooding, bastard grandson of Lord Prosper. When Mae is cornered into a deal meant to help the Prosper family, her life changes. Will she get the magic she's always wanted? What about love?
I recommend this book! It's the best I've read this year! I would call it literary fantasy.
I will add a content warning of some alcohol and drug abuse mentioned, suicide mentioned, and people mistreating others. I don't want to be more specific and give spoilers.
clairebbear's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
whitneymouse's review against another edition
4.0
**Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. This in no way changed my opinion**
I read Samantha Cohoe's debut novel and enjoyed it, so when I was offered this one I was excited to read it. I think once again she shows that she's a strong writer and very good at writing intriguing female protagonists. While I think Bright Ruined Things is a stronger book overall than A Golden Fury, I think I have a similar issue with this as I did the other, which was once again the Romance aspect. Cohoe is great at giving me a romantic interest I love but that the protagonist has zero interest in.
I know this is loosely a retelling of the Tempest. I have read quite a bit of Shakespeare, but that one isn't as familiar to me. So, I watched a summary of it to get the general understanding. With that in mind, I don't think every character has a direct counterpart to the source material. My understanding is that Mae is meant to be the Miranda character, but there are times she seems to take on parts of Caliban's storyline, which was interesting to see. I would agree with Chloe Gong's blurb that Cohoe has taken the themes of the Tempest and reworked them instead of going in expecting a direct retelling set in a different time period.
Which brings me to the love interests because I still do not understand the appeal of Miles. Mae has lived on this island for her whole life. She is known to be sheltered. I don't understand why Miles holds ANY appeal for her other than he's pretty, I guess? He's so hot and cold with her and she keeps telling me that she realizes he doesn't care for her as much as she does him, but she still wants him even though there is nothing there? I don't understand unrequited pining. I would much rather be with someone who wants me than pine for someone who never will, so if you like that trope, this part might be up your alley but it wasn't for me. I was much more interested in what was going on with Ivo and that kept getting sidelined for Miles. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get more of Ivo than we did, despite him being a pretty influential secondary character..
The other grandchildren were...fine. I don't really see the appeal of Coco, either, if I'm honest. She's not a great friend and she's just kind of there. I didn't feel a deep enough connection between her and Mae to feel much of anything as the story went on with them. Apollonia and Alasdair were both the "spoiled, rich cousin" and while one gets more depth (sort of) at the end, the strengths of this book are really the protagonist, the secondary character of Ivo, and the character who turns out to be the villain. The cousins are all kind of cardboard cut-outs who didn't have much depth or development.
The Fantasy elements were great and the reason I got hooked so quickly. You can see Mae's struggle between want for a place in her home and for magic and doing what's right when it comes down to it. The way Cohoe gradually makes clear what's going on kept me at the edge of my seat and wanting to know what happened next. So while I thought the Romance wasn't my favorite and the cousin characters weren't necessary, I think the aspects that were done well were done exceptionally well and would recommend picking this up when it releases in February. Cohoe's Fantasy skills are strongly on display here, as they were in A Golden Fury. I would continue to read her books.
4/5 stars
I read Samantha Cohoe's debut novel and enjoyed it, so when I was offered this one I was excited to read it. I think once again she shows that she's a strong writer and very good at writing intriguing female protagonists. While I think Bright Ruined Things is a stronger book overall than A Golden Fury, I think I have a similar issue with this as I did the other, which was once again the Romance aspect. Cohoe is great at giving me a romantic interest I love but that the protagonist has zero interest in.
I know this is loosely a retelling of the Tempest. I have read quite a bit of Shakespeare, but that one isn't as familiar to me. So, I watched a summary of it to get the general understanding. With that in mind, I don't think every character has a direct counterpart to the source material. My understanding is that Mae is meant to be the Miranda character, but there are times she seems to take on parts of Caliban's storyline, which was interesting to see. I would agree with Chloe Gong's blurb that Cohoe has taken the themes of the Tempest and reworked them instead of going in expecting a direct retelling set in a different time period.
Which brings me to the love interests because I still do not understand the appeal of Miles. Mae has lived on this island for her whole life. She is known to be sheltered. I don't understand why Miles holds ANY appeal for her other than he's pretty, I guess? He's so hot and cold with her and she keeps telling me that she realizes he doesn't care for her as much as she does him, but she still wants him even though there is nothing there? I don't understand unrequited pining. I would much rather be with someone who wants me than pine for someone who never will, so if you like that trope, this part might be up your alley but it wasn't for me. I was much more interested in what was going on with Ivo and that kept getting sidelined for Miles. I was a bit disappointed that we didn't get more of Ivo than we did, despite him being a pretty influential secondary character..
The other grandchildren were...fine. I don't really see the appeal of Coco, either, if I'm honest. She's not a great friend and she's just kind of there. I didn't feel a deep enough connection between her and Mae to feel much of anything as the story went on with them. Apollonia and Alasdair were both the "spoiled, rich cousin" and while one gets more depth (sort of) at the end, the strengths of this book are really the protagonist, the secondary character of Ivo, and the character who turns out to be the villain. The cousins are all kind of cardboard cut-outs who didn't have much depth or development.
The Fantasy elements were great and the reason I got hooked so quickly. You can see Mae's struggle between want for a place in her home and for magic and doing what's right when it comes down to it. The way Cohoe gradually makes clear what's going on kept me at the edge of my seat and wanting to know what happened next. So while I thought the Romance wasn't my favorite and the cousin characters weren't necessary, I think the aspects that were done well were done exceptionally well and would recommend picking this up when it releases in February. Cohoe's Fantasy skills are strongly on display here, as they were in A Golden Fury. I would continue to read her books.
4/5 stars
cymonethereader's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
nicoleinthelab's review against another edition
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
2.0
I just finished the book & still have no feelings about any of the characters. There is a nugget of something in the story; unfortunately, it was never fleshed out.