Scan barcode
A review by accidentalra
Ruined by Sarah Vaughn
4.0
In a nutshell: Ruined is a sweet and satisfying slow-burn romance with perhaps too many attempted sub-plots.
First of all, the plus side: the main story is well thought out, perfectly paced, and beautifully drawn. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Catherine and Andrew grow to love each other during the first year of their marriage of convenience, and I adored the full inclusion of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ secondary characters in the novel's Regency setting.
But if there's a plus side, there has to be a downside, no? My biggest disappointment with this graphic novel is that it simply includes too many subplots for any of them to be fully realized. Perhaps had this been a traditional novel, I could have become attached to the secondary characters and rejoiced as they each found their way--toward love, toward success, toward wellness. Unfortunately, the fact that there were so many non-overlapping minor threads made it quite difficult for me to develop any sort of concern or connection to any of them. What a shame, since I really wanted to know so much more, particularly about Andrew's sister.
Overall, I enjoyed this open-door graphic romance and was absolutely satisfied with the MCs' well-earned HEA. I will absolutely recommend it to my comix-loving pals and to anybody looking for a quick romance fix.
As a side note: the end material, with its peek into the creative process and deleted scenes, is not to be missed. Both interesting and fun!
[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.]
First of all, the plus side: the main story is well thought out, perfectly paced, and beautifully drawn. I thoroughly enjoyed watching Catherine and Andrew grow to love each other during the first year of their marriage of convenience, and I adored the full inclusion of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ secondary characters in the novel's Regency setting.
But if there's a plus side, there has to be a downside, no? My biggest disappointment with this graphic novel is that it simply includes too many subplots for any of them to be fully realized. Perhaps had this been a traditional novel, I could have become attached to the secondary characters and rejoiced as they each found their way--toward love, toward success, toward wellness. Unfortunately, the fact that there were so many non-overlapping minor threads made it quite difficult for me to develop any sort of concern or connection to any of them. What a shame, since I really wanted to know so much more, particularly about Andrew's sister.
Overall, I enjoyed this open-door graphic romance and was absolutely satisfied with the MCs' well-earned HEA. I will absolutely recommend it to my comix-loving pals and to anybody looking for a quick romance fix.
As a side note: the end material, with its peek into the creative process and deleted scenes, is not to be missed. Both interesting and fun!
[I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.]