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A review by merlin_reads
The Ruined by Renée Ahdieh
2.5
I'm so confused. In Ahdieh's author notes at the end of this book, she talks about writing a four book series about vampires - where did that series go?? I thought we were getting old fashioned vampires from 1800 New Orleans. That is not what we got at all. By the end of the book, this was more about fae politics than vampires. I feel so betrayed.
I absolutely LOVED The Beautiful. The ambiance, the vibes, the location, the characters... it was all there! I ended that book excited to see what happens next. Alas, as the series went on, each book just fell more and more flat. And we lost what made that first book so special. Honestly, by the end of this series, I HATED Celine and did not want her with Bastien at all.
So let's talk about this book. It was a giant mess from beginning to end. And all because the characters refuse to talk to each other like adults. Celine just whines about how she's not taken serious and Bastien has turned on her and her mother loves her and wah wah wah. What happened to the girl who took no shit from anyone? Who didn't take things at face value but fought to find the truth and stand up for what's right? She was 100% gone. Her "love" for the mother who abandoned her was invalid. I never fully understood why Celine turned her back on everyone for one person who left her.
Then there's Bastien. He at least was trying to do the right thing but yet he never communicated that information to anyone. He just came up with his own plans and decided they were right. His fights with Celine were just so frustrating because no one was actually talking to the other!
Also, I need someone to explain Emelie to me. I never understood her blind hatred for Bastien. Yes, hating her uncle was legit - he left her to die. But Bastien only ever loved her and she was just like, who cares let me destroy your world. And why? I felt like this character was only used for her rage to push the plot where it needed to go. There was no other function to her. And I found that sad. Emelie could have been explored more and given more depth than just hate.
The best character was Arjun. And we don't talk about what Ahdieh did there.
Oh, what was the point of Haroun? Why introduce this character and the crossover and do absolutely NOTHING with it? I really do not understand.
There was so much information given to us in this book and then the ending climax was crammed into one chapter that felt rushed. I missed the core family from the first book. I missed Vampires. I miss what this series could have been because it began beautifully!
Sadly, I wish this series would have stayed at one book.
***** Initial reaction ****
I am upset. I am frustrated and I don't know how to rate this right now.
But one question, what was the point of the character crossover? Did I miss something?
I absolutely LOVED The Beautiful. The ambiance, the vibes, the location, the characters... it was all there! I ended that book excited to see what happens next. Alas, as the series went on, each book just fell more and more flat. And we lost what made that first book so special. Honestly, by the end of this series, I HATED Celine and did not want her with Bastien at all.
So let's talk about this book. It was a giant mess from beginning to end. And all because the characters refuse to talk to each other like adults. Celine just whines about how she's not taken serious and Bastien has turned on her and her mother loves her and wah wah wah. What happened to the girl who took no shit from anyone? Who didn't take things at face value but fought to find the truth and stand up for what's right? She was 100% gone. Her "love" for the mother who abandoned her was invalid. I never fully understood why Celine turned her back on everyone for one person who left her.
Then there's Bastien. He at least was trying to do the right thing but yet he never communicated that information to anyone. He just came up with his own plans and decided they were right. His fights with Celine were just so frustrating because no one was actually talking to the other!
Also, I need someone to explain Emelie to me. I never understood her blind hatred for Bastien. Yes, hating her uncle was legit - he left her to die. But Bastien only ever loved her and she was just like, who cares let me destroy your world. And why? I felt like this character was only used for her rage to push the plot where it needed to go. There was no other function to her. And I found that sad. Emelie could have been explored more and given more depth than just hate.
The best character was Arjun. And we don't talk about what Ahdieh did there.
Oh, what was the point of Haroun? Why introduce this character and the crossover and do absolutely NOTHING with it? I really do not understand.
There was so much information given to us in this book and then the ending climax was crammed into one chapter that felt rushed. I missed the core family from the first book. I missed Vampires. I miss what this series could have been because it began beautifully!
Sadly, I wish this series would have stayed at one book.
***** Initial reaction ****
I am upset. I am frustrated and I don't know how to rate this right now.
But one question, what was the point of the character crossover? Did I miss something?