Queen of Ruin by Tracy Banghart

It’s Linz and we are talking Queen of Ruin, which is gonna get spoilery because, well guys it’s a second book, I have to talk about some of book 1.

What I drank: Moderately good margs and barely acceptable wine from TJ that I bought for book club

Like serkiosuly, ***spoilers***. Youve been warned

Excerpt from Goodreads summary: “A fierce sequel full of sisterhood, heart pounding action, betrayal, and intrigue in the royal court in a series that “breathes new life into the feminist story of oppression and resistance” (Publisher’s Weekly).”

What it’s about: Please note again that this is book TWO of a duology (and my review of book 1 can be found here). Book 2 picks up right where book 1 leaves off these two sisters in a VERY not-parody Parent Trap-situation.

So at the endo f book one Nomi and her boo are headed for certain deaht, and Serina has raised some SHIIIIIIIT on the prison island. They reuinite quickyl but hi they’ve made promises to ppl and need to keep them, and quest their separate ways – Nomi and the heir to win back his throne from his gargabe fire fo a brtother, and Serina to somehow liberate the women on Mt Ruin. Many things happen.

My thoughts:

• So many strong females! doing it for themselves, or, you know, for their fellow man and not *A man. ive also been angry since ’16 so a bunch og women reclaiming their right to BE is pretty inspiring. i’m ready to go punch idiost in teh face.
• i didn’t hate the love stories i just would have liked a litlte twistiness (but i’m reading some real dark toher books so maybe taht’s the residual halloween in me)
• the pace was EXCELLENT, esp with the cahracters movements and the buildiup of tension and fear had em itcing to finish
• I dunno i’m still ahveaing some trouble w the worldbuilding, bc sometimes it seems like it should take ];ace in a fantasy older italy and sometmes it feals much more modern
• that being said tehre are just fantastic descvriptive passages, again, i miss italy
• the fight scenes weree SIIIIIIIICK, i woudl take a MT Rain warrior training course
• really really enjoyed the last chapterss. some characters die which GOOD. i want to worry if everyone’s gonna maek it, feeling secure theyll all survive is boring

utliamtely THIS IS HOW YOU DO A DUOLOGY – the rght amount off resolution both happy and said, nota b reakneck pace, and open to creaitng other stoeis in that universe that don’t have to be book 3. I slipped right back into this world and was fully sated when I finsihed reading.

What I gave it: 4/5 stars

What I’d pair it with: I was gonna fine an italian red but you know what? no. this is a creme brulee stout kinda book, it’s a real satisfying treat

FBGM,

linz