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milkstrology's review against another edition
5.0
When I was skimming through reviews before beginning this journey, a lot of people were complaining about how instant love the romance was.. I am here to set the record straight, this is the slow and sweet like molasses on a blazing summer day type of sticky and slow burning romance... THE FIRST KISS DIDN'T EVEN TAKE PLACE UNTIL PAGE 300!!!!!! So, I really don't even want to hear any of this dumb nonsensical rambling on how flawed this book is..
The political justice in this book is poignant and riveting. Our heroine is fierce and strong. Our character development is enchanting and multilayered. Nothing. I repeat absolutely NOTHING is wrong with this book.
The political justice in this book is poignant and riveting. Our heroine is fierce and strong. Our character development is enchanting and multilayered. Nothing. I repeat absolutely NOTHING is wrong with this book.
cvsuthie's review against another edition
3.0
This book was actually surprisingly entertaining and addicting for what it is, however it's also the most unoriginal book I've ever read. Its plot is basically identical to that of The Orphan Queen or Red Queen, or even Throne of Glass to an extent. They're all variations on the same basic plot and frankly I'm sick of it - however I will grudgingly admit this was quite an entertaining ride of a read.
shubba_the_emo_reader's review against another edition
5.0
Opening Sentence: "The wheels of the carriage creaked as they rolled across the dirt road."
WOW WOW WOW!! Ruined was quite simply freaking fantastic!! With characters who were kick ass and likable and plot that was gripping, exciting, action packed and very witty. Ruined was just a perfect read that I devoured in one sitting. And yes I sat until nearly 4am to finish because I could not put it down!
See more at: http://weeshubbasworld.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/book-review-ruined-by-amy-tintera.html#more
uadjet's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
notaphone's review against another edition
An inappropriate topic for my age was brought up a few times which made me worried it would happen. It made me uncomfortable as well. I would not recommend this for young ages.
The author also never explained what a Ruined was. I was hoping she would later in the book but DNFed before I could figure it out.
The author also never explained what a Ruined was. I was hoping she would later in the book but DNFed before I could figure it out.
iceboundreader's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book. It had action, romance and betrayal.
The story unfolded at a believable pace and even though the beginning felt a little like I missed something it all was explained in its own time.
Cas and Em are easy to like and you want for them both to be happy.
The ending was a bit of a surprise but not after I thought about it for a bit.
I really liked it from start to finish and I hope the next 2 books live up to it.
The story unfolded at a believable pace and even though the beginning felt a little like I missed something it all was explained in its own time.
Cas and Em are easy to like and you want for them both to be happy.
The ending was a bit of a surprise but not after I thought about it for a bit.
I really liked it from start to finish and I hope the next 2 books live up to it.
znrtr's review against another edition
1.0
I gave up on this book. The storyline wasn’t horrible (if not predictable) but what really turned me off was the writing. There was no description. It felt like there was a bunch of stuff going on but I didn’t know WHY it was going on — not enough world-building at all. Em is a “Ruined” who doesn’t have her Ruined powers, but what I couldn’t understand is... what is a Ruined anyway? A few times there was mention of them not being human and of their powers but no actual explanation of what made them different or why the rest of the population hated them. The whole book was only focused on the cast of like 5-ish characters and not the actual world itself. Which, there needs to be a balance. And after reading books like Red Queen and An Ember in The Ashes, this just wasn’t doing it for me. I also wasn’t attached to any of the characters. I keep coming back to this but there just weren’t enough details!! I finished 60% of the book and I felt like I knew nothing about the world, the characters, or why anything was happening beyond the storyline (like I need background info if you’re gonna set a book in a fantasy world). The writing itself was also sort of weak and repetitive. Just not for me. Maybe I’ll finish it someday.
emleemay's review against another edition
2.0
She slipped her hand into his, and when he laced their fingers together, her entire traitor body flushed. She ducked her head, pretending not to notice the bursts of happiness exploding in her chest.
This is absolutely nothing new. Recycled characters and story, with a plot driven by romance.
Yes, part of the problem with this book is that it feels so familiar. Emelina Flores disguises herself as someone else and infiltrates the palace of her enemies (this also happens in some way in [b:Throne of Glass|7896527|Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1)|Sarah J. Maas|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1335819760s/7896527.jpg|11138426], [b:Shadow and Bone|10194157|Shadow and Bone (The Grisha, #1)|Leigh Bardugo|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1339533695s/10194157.jpg|15093325], [b:Red Queen|22328546|Red Queen (Red Queen, #1)|Victoria Aveyard|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1449778912s/22328546.jpg|25037051] and [b:The Orphan Queen|18081228|The Orphan Queen (The Orphan Queen, #1)|Jodi Meadows|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1402927856s/18081228.jpg|25389909]). Despite being hardcore and all about revenge, she quickly gets caught up in definitely not thinking about Cas, and sashaying in front of the mirror in pretty dresses.
But let's forget about all those identical books that have come before this for a second and view [b:Ruined|26074185|Ruined (Ruined, #1)|Amy Tintera|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445240167s/26074185.jpg|42794689] on its own.
Well, firstly, the world-building is incredibly vague. There are four kingdoms in this land and I have no idea where they are in relation to one another, what they're doing, what makes them different, and why everyone wants to kill the Ruined. Seriously, everyone hates them and we are never given a real reason.
Emelina Flores is one of the Ruined and she wants to a) find out where the Lera king is holding her sister captive, and b) stop everyone from killing the Ruined. So she blows in with a sword, murders Princess Mary of Vallos, and assumes her identity so she can marry Prince Casimir of Lera and find the information she needs.
Infiltration!
Badassery!
Revenge!
Oh, wait.... is that a hot prince?
And that's when our sword-wielding warrior heroine's plans come crumbling down beneath the unconvincing romance. For one thing, she goes from hating Cas to being all googly-eyed in almost no time at all. For another, Cas's personality is... virtually nonexistent. He seems to exist simply as a love interest for Emelina and every thought he has is either about her or influenced by what she says.
It's like he never thought anything about anything until she puts ideas in his head. And also, he's a little bit stupid. Emelina is really not that good at being someone else, or at subtly finding out information. It's quite amazing that Cas never thinks something might be up when she openly sympathizes with the Ruined and literally comes out and asks where her sister is being kept. She's basically got "impostor" tattooed across her forehead.
Almost as soon as it is introduced, the plot becomes driven by the romance. Other dramatic discoveries and events are only explored in relation to how this affects the relationship between Emelina and Cas. Side characters remain undeveloped, as do the world and wider politics.
[b:Ruined|26074185|Ruined (Ruined, #1)|Amy Tintera|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1445240167s/26074185.jpg|42794689] is a surface story with kissing and sword fights, reminiscent of other, often better, works. The ending is cliffhanger free, but still necessitates a sequel.
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