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Ruin of Stars
(Mask of Shadows #2)
by
The thrilling conclusion to the Mask of Shadows duology that weaves a tale of magic, shadows, and most importantly, revenge.
As one of the Queen’s elite assassins, Sal finally has the power, prestige, and permission to hunt down the lords who killed their family. But Sal still has to figure out who the culprits are. They must enlist the help of some old friends and enemies ...more
As one of the Queen’s elite assassins, Sal finally has the power, prestige, and permission to hunt down the lords who killed their family. But Sal still has to figure out who the culprits are. They must enlist the help of some old friends and enemies ...more
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Start your review of Ruin of Stars (Mask of Shadows, #2)
Sal can finally seek vengeance and retribution behind the mask of Opal. The seek and destroy mission is now a thing of reality and Sal will make them pay. But will the greater price be paid by Sal’s soul?
Enter the intriguing and dark world of Linsey Miller’s RUIN OF STARS as one young assassin will enter a world filled with deceit, magic and love, with little hope of coming out emotionally intact, just the last person standing. Is the magic of the world really gone or has it been hidden away, co ...more
Enter the intriguing and dark world of Linsey Miller’s RUIN OF STARS as one young assassin will enter a world filled with deceit, magic and love, with little hope of coming out emotionally intact, just the last person standing. Is the magic of the world really gone or has it been hidden away, co ...more
This is the sequel my soul needed!!! RUIN OF STARS has 100% more queers, stabbing, and sassy Maud, and I may never recover. Emerald is my everything. Sal deserves every hug in the world. My emotions are altered forever.
That epilogue. Is all I'm saying. *yodels into the night* ...more
That epilogue. Is all I'm saying. *yodels into the night* ...more
Ruin of Stars? more like Ruin of Shenners 😭😭😭
OMG IS IT OVER? FOREVER?
Ruin of Stars was so fun! Ugh, I missed everyone from the first book so I didn't really think twice before diving into this audiobook. Not quite sure if I liked this one better or worst than the first one, I'm way too lazy to look it up, but I know that I enjoyed the crap out of it.
With each chapter, we get farther into the Sal's world. It is filled with so many things - magic, love, and a whole bunch of stuff you should worry about. Well, maybe not her because she's an ...more
Ruin of Stars was so fun! Ugh, I missed everyone from the first book so I didn't really think twice before diving into this audiobook. Not quite sure if I liked this one better or worst than the first one, I'm way too lazy to look it up, but I know that I enjoyed the crap out of it.
With each chapter, we get farther into the Sal's world. It is filled with so many things - magic, love, and a whole bunch of stuff you should worry about. Well, maybe not her because she's an ...more
Read this review and more on the blog.
I don't think I'll be able to properly describe how much I loved this book. It meant so much to me.
Content warnings include: graphic violence and gore, torture, death, murder, panic attack, trauma/PTSD, graphic descriptions of corpses, queerphobia, xenophobia, misogyny, sex off-page, public executions, human experiments, child abduction; mentions of: genocide, death of family.
Ruin of Stars is quite a bit different to its prequel, Mask of Shadows. In so ...more
I don't think I'll be able to properly describe how much I loved this book. It meant so much to me.
Content warnings include: graphic violence and gore, torture, death, murder, panic attack, trauma/PTSD, graphic descriptions of corpses, queerphobia, xenophobia, misogyny, sex off-page, public executions, human experiments, child abduction; mentions of: genocide, death of family.
Ruin of Stars is quite a bit different to its prequel, Mask of Shadows. In so ...more
Thank you NetGalley for giving me a free, electronic ARC to review. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.
DNF at 60%
I wanted to like this book, but I just could NOT get into this. The first book, Mask of Shadows, was amazing! I was pretty excited to get this sequel, but I was pretty let down.
The story itself isn't that bad. It's a continuation of the previous book and explains a lot of backstory. Unfortunately, the writing is not amazing this time around. Many scenes have been to ...more
DNF at 60%
I wanted to like this book, but I just could NOT get into this. The first book, Mask of Shadows, was amazing! I was pretty excited to get this sequel, but I was pretty let down.
The story itself isn't that bad. It's a continuation of the previous book and explains a lot of backstory. Unfortunately, the writing is not amazing this time around. Many scenes have been to ...more
4 stars
I quite enjoyed this duology as a whole, with a very satisfying ending. I, actually, preferred this book compared to the first one as it was not completely focused on one thing/ one plot, like it was in the first book.
Would I re-read this series in the future? Perhaps but not right away;
Would I read other books by this author? Maybe, depending if the plot sounds interesting...
I quite enjoyed this duology as a whole, with a very satisfying ending. I, actually, preferred this book compared to the first one as it was not completely focused on one thing/ one plot, like it was in the first book.
Would I re-read this series in the future? Perhaps but not right away;
Would I read other books by this author? Maybe, depending if the plot sounds interesting...
This is the second and last book in the Masks of Shadows series by Linsey Miller. It starts right off where the precious book ended, so it is a good idea to read them together. I did, and it made it morw enjoyable since the last book ended with a bit of a cliffhanger.
In this book I finally made sense of what happened at the end exactly. That is my major issue with this book, both books really: the action scenes are really confusing. It’s hard to keep track of what happens and who’s involved, an ...more
In this book I finally made sense of what happened at the end exactly. That is my major issue with this book, both books really: the action scenes are really confusing. It’s hard to keep track of what happens and who’s involved, an ...more
As a conclusion to this series, I think this one did a good job.
The book started almost right where book 1 ended. Sal, our heroine, is now Opal, one of the members of the Left Hand. And they're now have the means to take revenge to those who ruined their home. In short Sal got what they wanted since it was the reason why they auditioned to be Opal. But they still have to work on the real identities of the 5 culprits who go by aliases. They only know three of them and the book opens with Sal taki ...more
The book started almost right where book 1 ended. Sal, our heroine, is now Opal, one of the members of the Left Hand. And they're now have the means to take revenge to those who ruined their home. In short Sal got what they wanted since it was the reason why they auditioned to be Opal. But they still have to work on the real identities of the 5 culprits who go by aliases. They only know three of them and the book opens with Sal taki ...more
Mar 24, 2017
Dark Sith Lordette Jennymort ♔
marked it as to-read
Sequel to Mask of Shadows, about a gender fluid pickpocket. *cries*
I need this book. Like right now.
...more
I need this book. Like right now.
...more
I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at Sourcebooks Fire. I very much enjoyed Mask of Shadows and its representation of a genderfluid main character in a kickass fantasy world, plus assassins (I have a problem, clearly. But there are so many, who’s counting?). There was a lot of fangirl screeching when I was approved for this title. There are spoilers ahead for Mask of Shadows. Trigger warnings: blood, death, violence.
Sal has earned their place as Opal on the Queen’s Lef ...more
Sal has earned their place as Opal on the Queen’s Lef ...more
two and a half stars
I don’t know how I feel about this book or this series. I was about halfway through reading Ruin of Stars and I wasn’t sure I was going to bother finishing it. Then I found out it was part of a duology rather than a trilogy or series and I thought I might as well finish it off.
Bad
Some parts were quite jumpy, but because I listened to it as an audiobook I can’t tell if those jumps were shown on the page with a space and the audiobook narrator didn’t mention them in the readi ...more
I don’t know how I feel about this book or this series. I was about halfway through reading Ruin of Stars and I wasn’t sure I was going to bother finishing it. Then I found out it was part of a duology rather than a trilogy or series and I thought I might as well finish it off.
Bad
Some parts were quite jumpy, but because I listened to it as an audiobook I can’t tell if those jumps were shown on the page with a space and the audiobook narrator didn’t mention them in the readi ...more
is...is there a possible way to give this MORE than 5 stars? because 5 stars certainly isnt enough.
i literally just finished and i still cant believe what i just read. im still so RAW from this book. so much of it just ruined me that im having trouble putting my love for these books into words.
i am 100% going to be rereading this, and then a review will be up.
thank you to the team @ sourcebooks fire for sending the arc to me. it means the world to me.
reread 7/28/18: GODDAMNIT WHY DO I DO THIS T ...more
i literally just finished and i still cant believe what i just read. im still so RAW from this book. so much of it just ruined me that im having trouble putting my love for these books into words.
i am 100% going to be rereading this, and then a review will be up.
thank you to the team @ sourcebooks fire for sending the arc to me. it means the world to me.
reread 7/28/18: GODDAMNIT WHY DO I DO THIS T ...more
Ruin of stars? More like ruin of my heart
Aug 07, 2018
♠ TABI⁷ ♠
marked it as to-read
oh hey this is actually coming out pretty soon so yay for that!
It was really good. The end was my favorite part!
DNF @ 76%, although I skimmed the rest of it. This book was such a disappointment considering how much I enjoyed the first book.
This one seemed much more sloppily written due to:
1) Glaring grammatical and spelling errors like using “their” instead of “there” and instances of missing entire words or punctuation.
2) Inconsistency and continuity issues. Characters would be doing one thing, be described one way, or be in one place, but then they would abruptly be doing something else, be described d ...more
This one seemed much more sloppily written due to:
1) Glaring grammatical and spelling errors like using “their” instead of “there” and instances of missing entire words or punctuation.
2) Inconsistency and continuity issues. Characters would be doing one thing, be described one way, or be in one place, but then they would abruptly be doing something else, be described d ...more
I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I wish I could say I enjoyed Ruin of Stars as much as I enjoyed Mask of Shadows.
Unfortunately, I didn't. In Miller's debut novel, we are introduced to Sal, a genderfluid thief who auditions to become a part of the Queen's Left Hand, a group of assassins who work for her, particularly for Opal. Sal hopes that with their success, they can ...more
I wish I could say I enjoyed Ruin of Stars as much as I enjoyed Mask of Shadows.
Unfortunately, I didn't. In Miller's debut novel, we are introduced to Sal, a genderfluid thief who auditions to become a part of the Queen's Left Hand, a group of assassins who work for her, particularly for Opal. Sal hopes that with their success, they can ...more
This review was originally posted on The Moonlight Library
Apparently I have a lot of thoughts about this book. Maybe you should get a hot drink or something before reading this. The TL:DR version is 'Overall this book had a great concept but was marred by poor/inconsistent writing'.
As a sequel, the timing in the book was all off. Sal kept insisting that they'd known the Left Hand and Elise for a year. But the audition for Opal only lasted 2 weeks. Then Sal took one or two months to recover from ...more
Apparently I have a lot of thoughts about this book. Maybe you should get a hot drink or something before reading this. The TL:DR version is 'Overall this book had a great concept but was marred by poor/inconsistent writing'.
As a sequel, the timing in the book was all off. Sal kept insisting that they'd known the Left Hand and Elise for a year. But the audition for Opal only lasted 2 weeks. Then Sal took one or two months to recover from ...more
3.5. ⭐
Hmmm. Well, the plot line, once it got going was really good. We know as the story opens that Sal, as Opal, is intent on hunting down the Erlenders who helped destroy her country. Miller did a good job of moving the story beyond that linear narrative. There are a lot of plot twists here that expand and build the story and the tension. Five of five for me on the plot.
Here's where I had problems. While Miller discussed magic in the first book, there wasn't a lot of detail on how it worked be ...more
Hmmm. Well, the plot line, once it got going was really good. We know as the story opens that Sal, as Opal, is intent on hunting down the Erlenders who helped destroy her country. Miller did a good job of moving the story beyond that linear narrative. There are a lot of plot twists here that expand and build the story and the tension. Five of five for me on the plot.
Here's where I had problems. While Miller discussed magic in the first book, there wasn't a lot of detail on how it worked be ...more
After reading Mask of Shadows I wasn’t sure if I would read the sequel. It was one of those books that I enjoyed while I was reading it but when I looked back to write my review I realized it had some issues with writing style and plot. Ultimately I decided to give the sequel a try because I heard good reviews and it is only a duology.
I only made it 50% of the way through Ruin of Stars before giving up. I found the writing had not matured and dialogue even more confusing than the first book. It ...more
I only made it 50% of the way through Ruin of Stars before giving up. I found the writing had not matured and dialogue even more confusing than the first book. It ...more
DNF
I won't rate this, because I was not even close to finishing it, I still give my opinion to the point I read it and MAYBE, if I feel like a big masochist again, I will attempt reading it.
This is too much. I cannot handle the abuse of my braincells any longer. Forcing myself to finish it would take me a year. I don't know, why I thought starting the second book of a series, where I could not stand the first book would be a fun read.
Characters
Sal is such a flat and delusional character as ever. ...more
I won't rate this, because I was not even close to finishing it, I still give my opinion to the point I read it and MAYBE, if I feel like a big masochist again, I will attempt reading it.
This is too much. I cannot handle the abuse of my braincells any longer. Forcing myself to finish it would take me a year. I don't know, why I thought starting the second book of a series, where I could not stand the first book would be a fun read.
Characters
Sal is such a flat and delusional character as ever. ...more
Audiobook reread August 2020: Yup, also still love this book, and it still means incredibly much to me.
Read my original review from first read in October 2019, which I very much still stand behind, on the blog.
Content warnings include: graphic violence and gore, torture, death, murder, panic attack, trauma/PTSD, graphic descriptions of corpses, queerphobia, xenophobia, misogyny, sex off-page, public executions, human experiments, child abduction, skinning, burning; mentions of: genocide, d ...more
Read my original review from first read in October 2019, which I very much still stand behind, on the blog.
Content warnings include: graphic violence and gore, torture, death, murder, panic attack, trauma/PTSD, graphic descriptions of corpses, queerphobia, xenophobia, misogyny, sex off-page, public executions, human experiments, child abduction, skinning, burning; mentions of: genocide, d ...more
My dudes, this book was absolutely amazing and fantastic, I would absolutely recommend.
Holy baldy-eyed cats. So much love for this book. My heart aches.
Maud is my favorite 💫
So much potential but the magic system didn't always make a ton of sense. I also had some trouble really working through any of the fight scenes as they sometimes went like Step 1 to Step 3 or Step 4.
I also really wanted the author to lean hard into the supremacist undertones as well as making the respect for gender fluidity more front and center. ...more
I also really wanted the author to lean hard into the supremacist undertones as well as making the respect for gender fluidity more front and center. ...more
A copy of this novel was provided by New South Books for review.
Mask of Shadows is hands down one of my absolute favourite books. I read it for the first time last year and fell in love, and I re-read it in preparation for its sequel – Ruin of Stars. In all honesty, I hadn’t any real fear that Ruin of Stars would disappoint, but I am happy to report that it most certainly lived up to its predecessor.
Though I must mention that Ruin of Stars is vastly different to Mask of Shadows. Mask of Shadows ...more
Mask of Shadows is hands down one of my absolute favourite books. I read it for the first time last year and fell in love, and I re-read it in preparation for its sequel – Ruin of Stars. In all honesty, I hadn’t any real fear that Ruin of Stars would disappoint, but I am happy to report that it most certainly lived up to its predecessor.
Though I must mention that Ruin of Stars is vastly different to Mask of Shadows. Mask of Shadows ...more
Quick Summary:
The conclusion to the Mask of Shadows starts off not long after the first book ended. After winning the competition and becoming one of the Queen’s elite assassins, Sal finally has the power, prestige, and permission to discover who killed their family and hunt them down. While enlisting the help of some old friends and even some enemies Sal realizes there's something terribly wrong in the north. Talk of the return of shadows, missing children, and magic abounds. As Sal takes out t ...more
The conclusion to the Mask of Shadows starts off not long after the first book ended. After winning the competition and becoming one of the Queen’s elite assassins, Sal finally has the power, prestige, and permission to discover who killed their family and hunt them down. While enlisting the help of some old friends and even some enemies Sal realizes there's something terribly wrong in the north. Talk of the return of shadows, missing children, and magic abounds. As Sal takes out t ...more
3.5/5
Date Reviewed: 25 August 2018
This Review was first posted on Keep Reading Forward. If you want to see more, check out our other locations as well as here.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I received an eARC for Mask of Shadows and finished it, I really enjoyed it and was excited for the next book. I knew that Ruin of Stars had to be better. What we have in the first book, we got in this book and even more. However, did the new stuff added into ...more
Date Reviewed: 25 August 2018
This Review was first posted on Keep Reading Forward. If you want to see more, check out our other locations as well as here.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I received an eARC for Mask of Shadows and finished it, I really enjoyed it and was excited for the next book. I knew that Ruin of Stars had to be better. What we have in the first book, we got in this book and even more. However, did the new stuff added into ...more
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Originally from Arkansas, Linsey has previously worked as a crime lab intern, neuroscience lab assistant, and pharmacy technician. She now holds an MFA in fiction and is the author of the Mask of Shadows duology, Belle Révolte, and The Game. She can be found writing about science and magic anywhere there is coffee.
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“Well.’ Maud handed me a bandage. 'That was the most foolish thing you’ve ever done.’
'Don’t joke. We both know it isn’t.”
—
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'Don’t joke. We both know it isn’t.”
“What do you do when your flesh is rotten, when the skin is so dead even your blood turns against you?”
I took her hand. “Cut it out.”
“Exactly,” she said. “And if you would have me as your surgeon, I would have you as my knife.”
—
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More quotes…
I took her hand. “Cut it out.”
“Exactly,” she said. “And if you would have me as your surgeon, I would have you as my knife.”
