Scan barcode
A review by novelty_reads
Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Despite me loving Shakespeare’s works, I have never read The Tempest. I knew that this book was based on it in some way but I hoped that it wouldn’t disadvantage me.
Bright Ruined Things follows Mae, a young girl who lives on an island in the care of the Prosper family, a family of which uses the magic of the island and turns it into clean energy to propel the outside world. Mae has never been on the mainland before and wishes to learn how to convert the magic from the island. She knows this will be impossible as Lord Prosper only teaches his kin however, that doesn't stop her from trying to learn as much as possible. Soon she starts questioning the very foundations of the world around her as she realises the cause of the Prosper's fortune is far more sinister than first thought.
Let's start with the positives, or the things I enjoyed. This book was very atmospheric and lushly written with this mysterious, intriguing and haunting quality to it especially in relation to the island, its magic and spirits. I really liked this quality as it made the Prosper's island seem magical in the dangerous sense. I also liked the overall theme and discussion surrounding capitalism and greed and the extremes people go for money and reputation.
I think my main negatives stems from wanting more from the story, the characters and the plot. I found the pacing quite slow as the main action happens towards the end of the book. Despite liking the world, I felt bored because nothing really happened in the first half apart from the main character pining for Miles while being proposed to by Ivo and also desperately wanting to learn magic. While I didn't mind Mae (she was an okay character but I didn't really connect with her), I did get a bit annoyed by the side characters (namely the Prosper's). I found them shallow and at times, annoying to read about. I couldn't connect to Miles' and Mae's relationship because I didn't really feel the chemistry between them.
At times, I shipped Ivo and Mae more than the main pairing. There were times I thought they had a great relationship and other times I would be proven wrong. At the end, as much as it hurts for me to say, I was sitting back, awaiting the book to finish because I felt disconnected from the story, plot and characters. That being said, I'm happy I read this book but I don't think I'd be reading this again.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.2 STARS
Despite me loving Shakespeare’s works, I have never read The Tempest. I knew that this book was based on it in some way but I hoped that it wouldn’t disadvantage me.
Bright Ruined Things follows Mae, a young girl who lives on an island in the care of the Prosper family, a family of which uses the magic of the island and turns it into clean energy to propel the outside world. Mae has never been on the mainland before and wishes to learn how to convert the magic from the island. She knows this will be impossible as Lord Prosper only teaches his kin however, that doesn't stop her from trying to learn as much as possible. Soon she starts questioning the very foundations of the world around her as she realises the cause of the Prosper's fortune is far more sinister than first thought.
Let's start with the positives, or the things I enjoyed. This book was very atmospheric and lushly written with this mysterious, intriguing and haunting quality to it especially in relation to the island, its magic and spirits. I really liked this quality as it made the Prosper's island seem magical in the dangerous sense. I also liked the overall theme and discussion surrounding capitalism and greed and the extremes people go for money and reputation.
I think my main negatives stems from wanting more from the story, the characters and the plot. I found the pacing quite slow as the main action happens towards the end of the book. Despite liking the world, I felt bored because nothing really happened in the first half apart from the main character pining for Miles while being proposed to by Ivo and also desperately wanting to learn magic. While I didn't mind Mae (she was an okay character but I didn't really connect with her), I did get a bit annoyed by the side characters (namely the Prosper's). I found them shallow and at times, annoying to read about. I couldn't connect to Miles' and Mae's relationship because I didn't really feel the chemistry between them.
At times, I shipped Ivo and Mae more than the main pairing. There were times I thought they had a great relationship and other times I would be proven wrong. At the end, as much as it hurts for me to say, I was sitting back, awaiting the book to finish because I felt disconnected from the story, plot and characters. That being said, I'm happy I read this book but I don't think I'd be reading this again.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.2 STARS
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
capitalism