Roseanne A. Brown

Holy guacamole this book was good. The characters and settings and lore are so vivid and unique that you could never confuse it with another book. I love that the characters are each obviously flawed in their own ways and that each is so relatable and sympathetic in their own way - even the villains.

The book touches on a lot of contemporary issues as well in a way that feels equally organic to the story and purposeful in its commentary on real life, ranging from self harm to immigration to show more grief.

For me, the BEST part was the expansive swath of mythologies the lore draws from. Most is African in origin, though there does seem to be some middle eastern influences (just as in real life, obviously!). The use of Egyptian mythology as an event older, more ancient civilization really added a cool layer to the story while still being in keeping with the African motif. show less

Malik and his sisters, Eshran refugees, come to Ziran in hopes of a better life. Kirana, a princess who wants to escape the city and is still mourning the death of her father and sister, finds that she's truly imprisoned by a magical barrier keeping her world safe. Their lives collide during Solstasia, a once-in-a-lifetime celebration, when Malik's sister is taken by a being called Idir, and the price for her return is Kirana's life.

If you love fantasy, magic, a dash of romance and fantastic show more world-building, look no further than this book, which is first in a planned series. The narrative switches back and forth between Malik and Kirana in every chapter, letting you see each of their motivations and development in the course of the story. The revelations of the world, its past history and current political situation, are beautifully done in a way that kept me guessing 'til the end. I am so excited to read the next book! show less

Very slow-paced but intrigue steadily builds throughout the story. The male lead, Malik, is soft-hearted and always messing things up while Karina is clever and headstrong but bratty. At times, I thought certain scenes dragged, but the ending was good. I needed more time with the Kestrel to feel anything for her. I know her death was the catalyst for Karina to become Sultana, but it felt underdeveloped. Also, sorry, but I felt for Leila. So many times she had to remind him to get his butt show more into gear.

I think it’s lovely the book includes content warnings at the beginning. show less

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is one of those "oh, my gosh" books. Written for middle school and older readers, I found the book to be rich in folklore and good reading for adults. The author's world is fascinating and her characters complex. And the story ... I kept finding myself surprised because it didn't wander into standard fantasy tropes. Just when I would think, "I know where this is going," the characters would go and do something else, but that something was totally what that person show more would do. An added bonus is I think I learned a little more about West African mythology.

Before I suggest that everyone who likes fantasy should read this book, I should quote the author's warning. "Please note this book depicts issues of mild self-harm ideation, fantasy violence, emotional and physical abuse, anxiety and panic attacks, parent death, and animal death. I have done my best to approach these topics with sensitivity, but if you feel this kind of content may be triggering, please be aware."

The sequel to this book is A Psalm of Storms and Silence, due out in the fall of 2021. I rarely preorder a book, but I did this one. It isn't that A Song of Wraiths and Ruin ended in a cliffhanger because it didn't. It is because I enjoyed the author's writing and storytelling, and I want to read more from her.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone who likes fantasy or mythology. I don't think you'll be disappointed. show less