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Ruinsong
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In Julia Ember's dark and lush LGBTQ+ romantic fantasy Ruinsong, two young women from rival factions must work together to reunite their country, as they wrestle with their feelings for each other.
Her voice was her prison…
Now it’s her weapon.
In a world where magic is sung, a powerful mage named Cadence has been forced to torture her country's disgraced nobility at her ruth ...more
Her voice was her prison…
Now it’s her weapon.
In a world where magic is sung, a powerful mage named Cadence has been forced to torture her country's disgraced nobility at her ruth ...more
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Hardcover, 368 pages
Published
November 24th 2020
by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
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Julia Ember
Yes! Ruinsong is not part of a series.
Julia Ember
Yes! The audiobook will be coming out on the same date!
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Start your review of Ruinsong
UPDATE: Ruinsong will be released on November 24, 2020!
This book is a queer Phantom of the Opera retelling with music magic and girls wearing pink ballgowns and ribbons while brutally destroying their enemies.
I'm made an aesthetic for it today, so I decided to share it here too:
...more
This book is a queer Phantom of the Opera retelling with music magic and girls wearing pink ballgowns and ribbons while brutally destroying their enemies.
I'm made an aesthetic for it today, so I decided to share it here too:
...more
3.5 Stars
CW: torture, (view spoiler)
Well this book had such a wonderful magic system with singing being the vehicle for people's power.
I'm not sure who decided to liken this to The Phantom of the Opera because that feels like a bit of a stretch. That being said I got swept into the characters and their journeys. I wish we had a few more magical musical showdowns and the worl ...more
CW: torture, (view spoiler)
Well this book had such a wonderful magic system with singing being the vehicle for people's power.
I'm not sure who decided to liken this to The Phantom of the Opera because that feels like a bit of a stretch. That being said I got swept into the characters and their journeys. I wish we had a few more magical musical showdowns and the worl ...more
please don't let instalove ruin the glorious song of this concept
also that cover is PURPLE and glorious and therefore I love it dearly ...more
also that cover is PURPLE and glorious and therefore I love it dearly ...more
Sep 27, 2019
Rebecca Schaeffer
rated it
it was amazing
Shelves:
pretty-words,
deliciously-atmospheric
I am so excited for all of you guys to read this book. It is everything I love in my fantasy, lush, immersive world-building, unique, vicious magic, morally grey characters, and a twisty, twisted plot. 2020 can't come fast enough!
...more
Ruinsong has Phantom of the Opera vibes, magic, strong female leading characters, a revolution, and a little bit of romance. The perfect mix for an amazing YA fantasy read! I enjoyed this story, because it really played on the power of using ones voice. You can use your voice for good or you can use it to harm. We’ve just gotta make the choice to do what’s right, even when it’s hard.
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
AVAILABLE NOW!
*ARC
the perfect sapphic dark academia.
“These mages put too much stock in their songs. They never notice how much you can say in silence. ”
3.5 stars. Ruinsong is a novel that really draws you in with its intriguing magic system and having a really refreshing take on some familiar YA Fantasy themes.
Ruinsong is set in a world with mages whose most powerful tool is their voice. Singing is their way of casting spells. One of our main characters, Cadence, is such a mage. She is employed by the queen to torture the noble people ...more
Come see this review and more at my blog, The Scribe Owl
Thank you to Expresso Book Tours for supplying me with a review copy in exchange for a blog tour stop and honest review!
3/5 stars!
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would! I honestly didn't have very high expectations, but this was a very entertaining read that I loved for the worldbuilding and unique magic system. I didn't really care for a couple of other elements, but I'll get to that later.
We follow Cadence, the Principal singe ...more
Thank you to Expresso Book Tours for supplying me with a review copy in exchange for a blog tour stop and honest review!
3/5 stars!
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would! I honestly didn't have very high expectations, but this was a very entertaining read that I loved for the worldbuilding and unique magic system. I didn't really care for a couple of other elements, but I'll get to that later.
We follow Cadence, the Principal singe ...more
4.5 stars rounded up!
Ruinsong is a brilliant dark fantasy that features enchanted songs and a slow-burn sapphic romance. The story follows two young woman. Cadence is the queen's new Principal singer who uses her magical songs to torture the queen's enemies (mainly the nobles). Remi, the daughter of a Viscount, wants nothing more than the queen's torturous reign to finally be over.
There are so many things that I just loved about this book. The world building is lush and incredibly intricate. Th ...more
Ruinsong is a brilliant dark fantasy that features enchanted songs and a slow-burn sapphic romance. The story follows two young woman. Cadence is the queen's new Principal singer who uses her magical songs to torture the queen's enemies (mainly the nobles). Remi, the daughter of a Viscount, wants nothing more than the queen's torturous reign to finally be over.
There are so many things that I just loved about this book. The world building is lush and incredibly intricate. Th ...more
Ruinsong was one of my most anticipated releases for 2020, and it did not disappoint. I love when books don't assume sexualities and It was so refreshing to see the main characters be able to love whoever they want without clarifying. This sapphic slow-burn was filled with fantastic world-building, loveable characters, and a fascinating magic system. I will definitely be buying a copy on November 24th.
...more
wlw phantom of the opera retelling with MAGIC? yes, please!
i have a few things that i'd like to say before beginning my review. first, i have never read The Phantom of the Opera, but i love the musical. i have no idea how accurate the musical is, so my connections may be off. second, this book has a fair amount of gore, but i think it's a great read if you can stomach it. there's a lot of torture (nothing too bad, but it can still be triggering to some), some of which involves burning, rib-crack ...more
i have a few things that i'd like to say before beginning my review. first, i have never read The Phantom of the Opera, but i love the musical. i have no idea how accurate the musical is, so my connections may be off. second, this book has a fair amount of gore, but i think it's a great read if you can stomach it. there's a lot of torture (nothing too bad, but it can still be triggering to some), some of which involves burning, rib-crack ...more
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Netgalley. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
Tw: torture
Ruinsong is a story about choices. About taking a stand, discovering the truth about our own power, and figuring out how to use it. To reject people's choices about who you are, and to let your voice be heard. Cadence knows loss. She knows poverty and what it sounds like when that voice in the back of your head is ignored. Remi feels the boiling beneath the surface and the ...more
Tw: torture
Ruinsong is a story about choices. About taking a stand, discovering the truth about our own power, and figuring out how to use it. To reject people's choices about who you are, and to let your voice be heard. Cadence knows loss. She knows poverty and what it sounds like when that voice in the back of your head is ignored. Remi feels the boiling beneath the surface and the ...more
I adored this book. From the prelude alone, I was like this is gonna be a great story. This story was dark and full of bones breaking and blood dripping which really added to the urgency of the rebellion. I liked the contrast between Remi who was willing to risk it all and went after what she wanted and Cadence who went with the flow and was scared of making too much of an impact. Cadence was tryna dismantle the master's house with the master's tools and that just doesn’t work.
Nolan was one of ...more
Nolan was one of ...more
Read my full review and chat with Julia Ember, and enter to win a hardcover of the book!
What a year for dark, lush, and sapphic fantasies! 2020 has given some amazingly dark and twisted fantasies, and Ruinsong is a strong addition to that list! Told in the perspectives of two very different characters in the middle of a rebellion against a tyrant evil queen, the Phantom of the Opera retelling creates a world of deadly musical magic, the politics of class and power, and a world where choices ...more
What a year for dark, lush, and sapphic fantasies! 2020 has given some amazingly dark and twisted fantasies, and Ruinsong is a strong addition to that list! Told in the perspectives of two very different characters in the middle of a rebellion against a tyrant evil queen, the Phantom of the Opera retelling creates a world of deadly musical magic, the politics of class and power, and a world where choices ...more
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the singing magic system and the main character, Cadence. This book had a lot of potential to do other things as well. I would've loved to see the expelled Mages use their magic through sign language (potential sequel idea please?) And I would've liked to see more characterization about the Queen, but all in all, this was a thoroughly enjoyable, sapphic, very magical book that made me want to watch Phantom of the Opera again! ...more
Star Rating: —> 4 Stars
This was a f/f HIGH FANTASY TREASURE !
This was a f/f HIGH FANTASY TREASURE !
ahhh just noticed we now have a release date, i’m so excited for this!!
3.5/5 ☆ = 4-
To be honest, Phantom of the Opera is not my favourite musical, and this book is a re-telling of that musical. Fortunately, there are minimal similarities. I will say that the singing magic aspects were great and intriguing. Yet, the world-building was somewhat lacking and the insta-love did definitely not work for me. I would have liked to see more of the antagonist thoughts and reasons. I will also say that Cadence was a really interesting characters. It was intriguing to follow he ...more
To be honest, Phantom of the Opera is not my favourite musical, and this book is a re-telling of that musical. Fortunately, there are minimal similarities. I will say that the singing magic aspects were great and intriguing. Yet, the world-building was somewhat lacking and the insta-love did definitely not work for me. I would have liked to see more of the antagonist thoughts and reasons. I will also say that Cadence was a really interesting characters. It was intriguing to follow he ...more
i get it, okay, everyone except one person in this world is white you don't have to mention it every five minutes
(p.s. thanks for the fantasy homophobia lol)
Rep: lesbian mcs, mc with dyslexia, Black side character
CWs: torture, gore, animal torture and death ...more
(p.s. thanks for the fantasy homophobia lol)
Rep: lesbian mcs, mc with dyslexia, Black side character
CWs: torture, gore, animal torture and death ...more
buddy read with robin 🤍
trigger warnings for: mentions of cancer, child abuse, animal death (the death itself is not on page but the scene of the main character discovering the animal is very graphic), blood, torture, vomiting.
overall, a fast-paced read; highly enjoyable -- i loved the immersive world-building, the magic system & morally grey characters, but i think the romance wasn't developed as strongly. i also don't think it was as POTO-y as i expected, but since i'm not the biggest phantom ...more
trigger warnings for: mentions of cancer, child abuse, animal death (the death itself is not on page but the scene of the main character discovering the animal is very graphic), blood, torture, vomiting.
overall, a fast-paced read; highly enjoyable -- i loved the immersive world-building, the magic system & morally grey characters, but i think the romance wasn't developed as strongly. i also don't think it was as POTO-y as i expected, but since i'm not the biggest phantom ...more
Probably more of a 3.5.
CW: torture
I’ve been very very excited to read Ruinsong since the first time I saw that gorgeous purple cover and to be honest, I didn’t even bother to read the premise in detail. I just knew I needed this book in my life.
The world the author creates in this book is full of cruelty and fear, and it wasn’t always easy to read. The history of the world, the mythology of the goddesses and the song magic system, the backstory of the current Queen’s ascension and the hierarchy ...more
CW: torture
I’ve been very very excited to read Ruinsong since the first time I saw that gorgeous purple cover and to be honest, I didn’t even bother to read the premise in detail. I just knew I needed this book in my life.
The world the author creates in this book is full of cruelty and fear, and it wasn’t always easy to read. The history of the world, the mythology of the goddesses and the song magic system, the backstory of the current Queen’s ascension and the hierarchy ...more
A lush fantasy novel about song magic and fighting for what's right--even when you've been complicit in wrongdoing.
In the Queendom of Bordea, music is magic-- at least for those gifted with it by the goddess. But for the Queen's Principal Singer, Cadence, her powers feel like more of a curse. At least, they have ever since she was taken in by the new queen and trained to become her chief weapon against the nobility. Now, her voice is used in shows of mass torture, used to keep the nobility livi ...more
In the Queendom of Bordea, music is magic-- at least for those gifted with it by the goddess. But for the Queen's Principal Singer, Cadence, her powers feel like more of a curse. At least, they have ever since she was taken in by the new queen and trained to become her chief weapon against the nobility. Now, her voice is used in shows of mass torture, used to keep the nobility livi ...more
"Everyone knows that men aren’t fit to rule."
Revolution or Silence?
This was a unique and decent debut novel. A story of music that can hurt and cure you all the same was intriguing but there was a part of this book that bothered me. It got to me so much that I found myself distancing from the story after that. I know why it was placed in the book at that time because once you break the rules they hurt the ones you love the most. Understandable but I didn’t like it.
What I did love was the charac ...more
Revolution or Silence?
This was a unique and decent debut novel. A story of music that can hurt and cure you all the same was intriguing but there was a part of this book that bothered me. It got to me so much that I found myself distancing from the story after that. I know why it was placed in the book at that time because once you break the rules they hurt the ones you love the most. Understandable but I didn’t like it.
What I did love was the charac ...more
Aug 07, 2020
♡ jules ♡
marked it as to-read
ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.
Sapphic witches is my favourite current YA niche trend and Ember delivers on them here. The angst! The drama! The longing! I was here for every second of it.
Ruinsong is told in the perspective of two girls, one who can create magic through song and one the daughter of a noble. Best friends in childhood, they find each other on opposite sides of a magical regime, with one being used as the tyrannical Queen's biggest weapon of suffering and destruction and the other being made to experience said s ...more
Ruinsong is told in the perspective of two girls, one who can create magic through song and one the daughter of a noble. Best friends in childhood, they find each other on opposite sides of a magical regime, with one being used as the tyrannical Queen's biggest weapon of suffering and destruction and the other being made to experience said s ...more
4.5 stars, i really liked this, its a nice wlw and im a sucker for unique magic systems so i definitely recommend it but look up the triggers for the book.
I loved this! It was dark, romantic and the world-building was subtle but strong. Would love more stories set in the universe tbh.
...more
...more
4.5 Stars
Every element of the worldbuilding in this book stands in perfect harmony. Julia Ember's descriptions are beautiful and her magics are hauntingly deadly. Because Ember's writing is lyrical, her world is intriguing, and her characters are so dynamic, I wish there was more to come. Unfortunately, this is a standalone.
Read my full review here: https://gatewaybookreviews.blogspot.c... ...more
Every element of the worldbuilding in this book stands in perfect harmony. Julia Ember's descriptions are beautiful and her magics are hauntingly deadly. Because Ember's writing is lyrical, her world is intriguing, and her characters are so dynamic, I wish there was more to come. Unfortunately, this is a standalone.
Read my full review here: https://gatewaybookreviews.blogspot.c... ...more
While in some ways Ruinsong is a slow burn of a novel, the word count and world building are very welcome. Because of how lush the world of Ruinsong is especially concerning the logistics of magical song and class divides, I think this is one of those rare opportunities in which the audience needs that solid foundation. Ember delivered a gorgeous sapphic fantasy book for teens and up.
4 stars.
I really enjoyed the magic system in this book, with music literally becoming a form of magic. I was not as convinced by the world building with the social hierarchies and whatnot.
I found this to be a short, enjoyable read, though lighter on the romance than I expected.
I really enjoyed the magic system in this book, with music literally becoming a form of magic. I was not as convinced by the world building with the social hierarchies and whatnot.
I found this to be a short, enjoyable read, though lighter on the romance than I expected.
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Readers also enjoyed
Julia Ember’s books include The Seafarer’s Kiss duology, a Norse myth inspired retelling of The Little Mermaid, published by Interlude Press (Duet Books), and Ruinsong, a standalone high fantasy reimagining of The Phantom of the Opera, published by Macmillan Kids (FSG) in November 2020.
Ember’s work has been featured in USA Today, Bustle, Book Riot and Autostraddle, among many others. The Seafarer ...more
Ember’s work has been featured in USA Today, Bustle, Book Riot and Autostraddle, among many others. The Seafarer ...more
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