A review by lazygal
Ruinsong by Julia Ember

2.0

Such promise: sung magic, evil ruler, potential rebellion. Sadly, the author doesn't build the world enough. While we learn how Cadence's magic works, there are other kinds of sung magic that are hinted at but not explained; the shift from Cadence's life before and her life under the harsh rule of the queen, forced (as the Principle) to sing harm to the royalty unfortunate enough to still live in the kingdom is too abrupt and needs more fleshing out. More about the kingdom itself, rather than a few shops and hospitals, would also have built the world. Cadence's relationship with Remi is one of the things that is very well done, as is how the society as a whole views same sex relationships.

eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley.