siu_rose 's review for:

The Ruined by Renée Ahdieh

2.5

emotional tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

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I just…I still liked the setting and the characters…or at least the potential of the characters…but this one was just painful for me to read instead of fun like the earlier ones. I get frustrated when there are characters who are deceptive/untrustworthy/conniving and the reader can see it all but other characters can’t. So I had a hard time with that but kept going hoping for some clarity and resolution. And I feel like many things were unresolved or just not addressed. The plot was very convoluted and I think there was just too much going on. As for the ending, I might have been okay with the ending if it weren’t for everything leading up to it. Celine in particular, I was unhappy about how her character arc finished. (or was NOT finished, personally.) I just didn’t feel a sense of rightness or satisfaction and I was really hoping for that after pushing through this book. Alas.