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A review by violetvale
Ruinsong by Julia Ember
3.0
2.5 stars.
Her voice was her prison...
Now it's her weapon
Yes, of course, I jumped at the chance to read a “dark and lush” queer fantasy. Ruinsong is a shortish read with a morally grey protagonist. Cadence, the main character’s indecision over her fate, and the ethics of her controlled upbringing flip-flop enough to keep the plot interesting all the way through; however, I didn’t feel as if there was one pinnacle moment of action—the story plateaus and doesn’t pick back up. A new avenue of study opens up to Candace at the very end—counter spells she has been forbidden to learn—and the way it unfolds lacks momentum or proper character development. The author, Julia Ember, mentioned there wouldn’t be a sequel, and yet—the ending sets you up for one.
The world-building paints an image of a world reconstructed during a new and evil Queen’s reign. The nobles have a more conservative life view, while the mages are free to love whomever they want and are generally more liberal in their politics. Orphaned and accepted as the Queen’s principal singer protégé as a child, the political dynamic between the commoners, nobles, and the mages allow Candence to question where she stands in her loyalty with the queen, vs. what her own moral compass is telling her. The characters fall flat and there is a lot of animal death, physical violence, slight homophobia/body shaming that feels rather superfluous and therefore, unforgivable.
Inhibited by nobles, mages, and commoners, the world-building is solid and paints a clear image of a world reconstructed during a new and evil Queen’s reign. The nobles have a more conservative life view, while the mages are free to love whomever they want and are generally more liberal in their politics. Orphaned and accepted as the Queen’s Principal singer protégé as a child, the political dynamic between the commoners, nobles, and the mages allow Candence to question where she stands in her loyalty with the queen, vs. what her own moral compass is telling her.
“I can feel their hatred burning behind their eyes as acutely as I can sense a tumor. I only wanted everyone to leave me alone, to realize that what Elene had done was unforgivable. Instead, I’ve done something unforgivable to myself.”
Her performances at the opera leave the audience bloody and blistered by the songs she sings. She knows it’s wrong, but it’s better than being thrown out in the streets. Cue romantic and morally responsible love interest: Remi, a noble’s daughter. I enjoyed the sapphic romance, even though I thought the characters were lacking some chemistry on top of following an awkward iteration of the friend-to-lovers trope.
I recognized a few other tangential plugs on veganism/the wrongs of animal cruelty and lessons on loving one’s body despite size or shape. Overall, there are some good messages working through this book, representing complex binaries and how to break them down.
My rating doesn’t move higher than 2.5 stars because
Overall, I'm not currently bursting at the seams to read more from Ember.
Her voice was her prison...
Now it's her weapon
Yes, of course, I jumped at the chance to read a “dark and lush” queer fantasy. Ruinsong is a shortish read with a morally grey protagonist. Cadence, the main character’s indecision over her fate, and the ethics of her controlled upbringing flip-flop enough to keep the plot interesting all the way through; however, I didn’t feel as if there was one pinnacle moment of action—the story plateaus and doesn’t pick back up. A new avenue of study opens up to Candace at the very end—counter spells she has been forbidden to learn—and the way it unfolds lacks momentum or proper character development. The author, Julia Ember, mentioned there wouldn’t be a sequel, and yet—the ending sets you up for one.
The world-building paints an image of a world reconstructed during a new and evil Queen’s reign. The nobles have a more conservative life view, while the mages are free to love whomever they want and are generally more liberal in their politics. Orphaned and accepted as the Queen’s principal singer protégé as a child, the political dynamic between the commoners, nobles, and the mages allow Candence to question where she stands in her loyalty with the queen, vs. what her own moral compass is telling her. The characters fall flat and there is a lot of animal death, physical violence, slight homophobia/body shaming that feels rather superfluous and therefore, unforgivable.
Inhibited by nobles, mages, and commoners, the world-building is solid and paints a clear image of a world reconstructed during a new and evil Queen’s reign. The nobles have a more conservative life view, while the mages are free to love whomever they want and are generally more liberal in their politics. Orphaned and accepted as the Queen’s Principal singer protégé as a child, the political dynamic between the commoners, nobles, and the mages allow Candence to question where she stands in her loyalty with the queen, vs. what her own moral compass is telling her.
“I can feel their hatred burning behind their eyes as acutely as I can sense a tumor. I only wanted everyone to leave me alone, to realize that what Elene had done was unforgivable. Instead, I’ve done something unforgivable to myself.”
Her performances at the opera leave the audience bloody and blistered by the songs she sings. She knows it’s wrong, but it’s better than being thrown out in the streets. Cue romantic and morally responsible love interest: Remi, a noble’s daughter. I enjoyed the sapphic romance, even though I thought the characters were lacking some chemistry on top of following an awkward iteration of the friend-to-lovers trope.
I recognized a few other tangential plugs on veganism/the wrongs of animal cruelty and lessons on loving one’s body despite size or shape. Overall, there are some good messages working through this book, representing complex binaries and how to break them down.
My rating doesn’t move higher than 2.5 stars because
Spoiler
I didn’t feel as if there was one pinnacle moment of action—the story plateaus and doesn’t pick back up. A new avenue of study opens up to Candence at the very end—counter spells she has been forbidden to learn—and the way it unfolds lacks momentum or proper character development. Additionally, I noticed the author, Julia Ember, mentioned there wouldn’t be a sequel, and yet—the ending totally sets you up for one.Overall, I'm not currently bursting at the seams to read more from Ember.