scrow1022's review against another edition
5.0
Short but full, complete. Surprising heartbreak, surprising heartfulness (surprising only b/c I was thinking of it as an adventure story). Some nice style to the writing too.
talstrel's review against another edition
adventurous
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This short story has protagonist I really enjoyed, and a lot of potential. I just wished it was longer because it lacked the emotional impact that a longer set-up could have provided.
stitchwitch's review against another edition
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Blood, Colonisation, Fire/Fire injury, and Xenophobia
Minor: Genocide
leannj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
I liked what we got of the world building, and how the main character subverted my expectations in terms what I thought her motivations would be behind her actions. On the other hand, the ending felt very abrupt, and I feel like some aspects of the story could have been slightly more fleshed out.
mimosaeyes's review against another edition
4.0
Such a short read, but satisfying. The author packs a lot of worldbuilding and character depth into these pages. I'm especially fond, of course, of Daynja and the Djinni. I'm only disappointed I don't get to read more about them!
emmacatereads's review against another edition
5.0
This was a triumph of a novella. Dense with lore, action-packed, humorous and slightly melancholy, I was bowled over by Lewis' ability to create a meaningful story while expending less than a hundred pages. The story follows a middle-aged assassin named General Édo and her squad of seven Shadows, elite assassins that work with her in service of the empire's imperial aspirations. However, when Édo is asked by the Emperor to cross a moral line she didn't know she had, she flips the script on her handlers and goes rogue against the people who were once her family.
I wish I had a second brain just to process all of the juicy details of the world. Édo's original mission being to take down the mortal representations of ancient Gods? A plague that turns people into zombie-like creatures? A lush, tropical country containing both cutting-edge technology and decaying temples? Every tiny facet of this story left me clawing at the walls for more. I could spend a 10 book series just luxuriating in the depths of the broader universe Lewis teases at.
What is more, Édo is a phenomenal protagonist. Equal parts brutal and just, she commits to her actions with a sense of honor and determination even when they point her in troubling directions. I loved her relationship with the ever-present Djinni, from their rapid-fire quips to their hints of deeper shared history. I wish we'd gotten more from each of the individual Shadows, but the narrative Battle Royale of the novella's second half gives us cool insight into their unique specialities.
I am so glad that I discovered Ruin of Shadows and L.D. Lewis, and I can't wait to read what she writes next!
I wish I had a second brain just to process all of the juicy details of the world. Édo's original mission being to take down the mortal representations of ancient Gods? A plague that turns people into zombie-like creatures? A lush, tropical country containing both cutting-edge technology and decaying temples? Every tiny facet of this story left me clawing at the walls for more. I could spend a 10 book series just luxuriating in the depths of the broader universe Lewis teases at.
What is more, Édo is a phenomenal protagonist. Equal parts brutal and just, she commits to her actions with a sense of honor and determination even when they point her in troubling directions. I loved her relationship with the ever-present Djinni, from their rapid-fire quips to their hints of deeper shared history. I wish we'd gotten more from each of the individual Shadows, but the narrative Battle Royale of the novella's second half gives us cool insight into their unique specialities.
I am so glad that I discovered Ruin of Shadows and L.D. Lewis, and I can't wait to read what she writes next!
eol's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
lcarslibrarian's review against another edition
3.0
A quick, brutal military sci-fi novella that made me want to read more of this author!
tzurriz's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic sci-fi fantasy in an engrossing, engaging world. I want more!