A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (A Song of Wraiths and Ruin, #1)

by Roseanne A. Brown

Idir wanted him to kill Princess Karina. The Alaharis were like the fantastical elements in the stories Malik loved—far too legendary and powerful to ever cross his path. Idir may as well have asked him to kill the sun. “I’ll do it,” said Malik. “So let us go.”

This is like one of those stupid hypothetical situations. If an evil serpent demon threatened to kill your sister unless you killed the princess, WOULD YOU DO IT?? (The answer should be no.)

protect her new city from any human forces that might threaten them. However, she knew no stone would be a match against her supernatural enemies should they rise against Ziran once more, so she constructed the Barrier to keep them out, using her own life and the lives of all her descendants as collateral for the magic that kept it in place. And in the process, she shattered Karina’s dream of leaving Ziran before she’d even been born.

Oh get a grip you melodramatic fussmuffin.

Karina was screaming at the top of her lungs, ripping the gown with her bare hands and trampling it in the dust beneath her feet. She pushed all the jewelry to the ground, not caring that several pieces shattered. In that moment, she was manic energy and sorrow, a loosed arrow with no target.

Oh honestly

She couldn’t be queen and she couldn’t give the rest of her life away to Ziran, not when she couldn’t go five minutes without trying to tear the world apart.

There is a solution: GET A GRIP YOU SELF ABSORBED DIVA

Even worse, what would they say if they knew how good she had felt during her meltdown, how natural it had been to break the world apart with her bare hands?

OH MY WORD

But if Afua could help her perform the ritual, Karina would have her mother back for good. The Kestrel would handle the traitor on the council, and Ziran would be free from the inevitable disaster of Karina’s reign. The mere thought of that weight lifting from her shoulders won out over the doubts in her mind.

Ugh just put your big girl panties on and DEAL ALREADY

Her reputation was less than stellar, but the common people thinking her irresponsible was a far cry from them thinking her capable of murder.

Uh but wasn’t she just breathing murder a couple chapters ago?? They kind of have a point?

This was also within courtly protocol, as the Grand Vizier often spoke on the sultana’s behalf, but Karina felt as if she’d been slapped. Was this the kind of queen she wanted to be, one who let others belittle her so easily?

Insecure much?

One way or another, she would show her people and the council that one couldn’t make a fool of an Alahari so easily.

And this is clearly the way to do it. 🙄

Anyone who tried to take this city from her would soon discover that the Kestrel’s daughter had talons of her own.

I AM SO TIRED OF YOUR SELF ABSORBED DRAMA QUEEN ROUTINE SHOOT ME NOW