Book Title: A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

Author: Roseanne A. Brown

Genre/Subgenre: Fantasy 

Theme: Coming of Age

The Nitty Gritty: Potential star-crossed lovers could be doomed when their fates collide, and one’s survival depends on the death of the other.

Ideal Audience: YA and fantasy readers

Strengths: Brown builds her world and her characters meticulously. This was an easy book to get into and follow, and it was thoroughly engaging.

I appreciate books that build anticipation and use it as a tool. You want to see the couple get together or friends reunite. Brown built anticipation, but also threw some curveballs, which kept me on my toes. This is a delicate balancing act Brown pulls off with expert skill, because the challenge with defying expectations is to still satisfy the reader. I felt Brown did this because some of the unexpected developments advanced the plot, prompted character growth, and created new tensions.

Karina isn’t always the easiest character to like, but I appreciate how she contrasts with Malik and ultimately, she has a strong growth arc. 

Hot Take: Brown shows tremendous promise as a new leading voice in YA fantasy, and I look forward to seeing how things progress for Malik and Karina.

Book Score: 4 stars

Cover Score: 4 stars