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A review by aforestofbooks
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
5.0
HI GUYS, THERE'S A PANDEMIC GOING ON AND SINCE YOU'RE ALL STAYING INSIDE YOU SHOULD PICK UP THIS BOOK ASAP
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is officially the best YA Fantasy release of 2020! I am in shock. There is no way this book is allowed to be THAT good. If you haven't added this one to your tbr, you better, because this book takes all the common tropes we're used to and flips them, making for such a refreshing story with the best characters I've read in a long time.
Where do I even start.
You all know how much I love good world-building. Everything about this book...from the history of Sonande and the Kennouan Empire, the legends and stories of Bahia Alahari and the deities, the religious system, the nkra and different types of magic...was so well done I could cry. I love, love, love details. And this book delivered in more ways than I expected.
I really liked how each patron deity ruled one day of the week and also determined a person's Alignment. It's a unique and interesting concept and I actually enjoyed seeing the similarities and differences between people of different Alignments.
This book tackles a lot of serious issues. One being the colonization and enslavement of people who are considered inferior to the ruling class. The internalized prejudice and misconceptions that were voiced by certain characters in the book felt so real. One of the characters, possibly Driss, but I can't remember, said something about how Eshrans are coming into Ziran and taking all the jobs from the people who've lived here for centuries. As an immigrant, this hit so close to home. Someone else said how the Eshrans have so much food that they don't need it all and therefore owe it to Ziran to give them most of it. The occupation of the Eshran Mountains by the Zirani reminded me a lot of Israel's occupation of Palestine. The excuses used–the Eshrans owe us money, they need help because war is breaking out between the different clans–are all the same excuses used by countries that try to take control and subjugate a group of people. I think it might be a little shocking for some readers who think that things like this don't happen between people who look similar/have similar beliefs. And it's something Malik mentions. He doesn't look any different from the rest of the people in Ziran, but the people have been so brainwashed with this hateful rhetoric, that they can't see past the lies. The persecution and prejudice continues and it's sad to read because of how real and accurately it depicts our world too.
(I was really glad there was a little blurb with all the content warnings at the start of the book. It's something that I want to see done more by authors because it's super helpful especially if there are things that might trigger a reader. We do see scenes where the main character has panic attacks and self-harms. There's mention of physical and emotional abuse. And characters contemplate suicide at times.)
Let's talk about my children.
Malik is literally Soft™️. He is my precious son. I pictured him as this tiny kid the entire book even though I'm pretty sure he's 17/18? But in my head he is a smol and needs to be protected at all costs. Malik is so relatable. In so many ways. We start off the book with him having a panic attack because he feels like a failure for constantly messing up and making things harder for his sisters. It's so sad and you just want to hug him and tell him it's okay to not be perfect and that it isn't his fault that he's so good and kind and wants to do the right thing and things never work out. His relationship with Nadia is so pure. I loved how he would tell her stories to distract her, and would joke around and make her laugh. Leila, on the other hand is a character that frustrates me a little, but one I can also relate to. She had to give up her childhood to take care of her siblings, she's stressed out and trying to hold things together, and her anger gets the better of her. When she calls Malik a coward and that he's just like his father, it really upset me, because it's the worst thing she could have ever said. I am glad they apologized and made up. Sibling relationships are complicated, and I think Leila didn't quite understand what Malik was actually going through.
What I love about Malik is his resilience and determination. He fights through his panic attacks, he learns to harness his magic, and he does his best to not hurt people. That doesn't mean everything goes according to plan. He makes mistakes and gets caught up in Solstasia, and falls for the girl he's supposed to kill, but his loyalty to his sisters is always there. The character arc he goes through is amazing. We see a boy who's been beaten down his whole life, told he's crazy and imagining things, who suppresses his abilities, only to find out that he has magic, and then he's thrown into a world that he doesn't understand, with plots that revolve around him. It's an intense experience and he handles it so well.
My favourite scene was during the second challenge when he tells the story of Hyena. It was beautifully written and it's something Malik points out to himself later as he's struggling to come to terms with the fact that he's related to the Ulraji Tel-Ra: that his magic isn't inherently evil, and that he can create beauty and bring so much joy with his abilities.
One other thing that stood out to me was something Nyeni says to Malik:
Honestly, this quote makes me emotional. I love characters who stay true to themselves and their ideals. Who are kind despite how cruel people can be. Malik is just an all-round great character.
Karina. She's a wonderful, mess of a girl. Complete chaos and full of pent up anger. I loved it all. Honestly the scene where she tells her maids to leave the tent and then just screams was a huge mood. The story starts off with her competing against a bard in a tavern. It was so well-written that I actually felt chills. That is one thing about this book. There are so many scenes where I just feel so proud of Malik or Karina. The scene in the tavern was one of them, and it was only two chapters into the book.
The court politics and plots really made this book for me. It was nerve-wracking trying to watch Karina navigate a world that she wasn’t familiar with. She’s thrown into this position and is not prepared whatsoever. Watching her try and rule a city where no one respects her or thinks her capable enough was so sad. She makes mistakes and embarrasses herself, but she also grows and learns so much throughout this book.
I loved the scene where she fought Dedele and won. And her quick wit and sharp words really made Karina so endearing. I’m still thinking about her response to Malik thanking her for helping him out the previous night:
NOW THAT’S A QUEEN.
I love how this book breaks the usual stereotypes. We have a soft boy falling for the girl. A wonderful scene where Malik sews a tear in Karina’s skirt??!! Karina herself has been in relationships before, which is something we still don’t see a lot of in books.
And then we have Tunde. TUNDE IS THE BEST BOI TO EVER EXIST IN THE HISTORY OF BOOKS. I think he beats Malik in how good he is. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where a guy has been scorned by a girl and proceeds to still treat her with love and respect?? Like why do books like this not exist? What is everyone’s obsession with the whole jealous plotline? It’s not that Tunde doesn’t show signs of jealousy, but it doesn’t overpower his character and make him act rashly. It hurts him because he has feelings for Karina still, but he doesn’t fight Malik over it. I also love how much he cares about Ziran. He didn’t enter the Solstasia contest to win, and once he finds out the prize, his main priority is ensuring that Ziran gets a good king who will do what is right. Tunde is so honorable and lovable and great. I honestly can’t sing his praises enough. The scene where he and Karina get married and Tunde is so gentle and kind, honestly made me emotional. Karina realizing that she could have a great marriage with him because he would love and respect her and also be a great king for Ziran was everything. I honestly could see it happening and it didn’t make me sad or uncomfortable. BUT THEN EVERYTHING GETS RUINED AND IM STILL IN SHOCK.
Farid slitting Tunde’s throat, I don’t think I will ever forgive him. HOW COULD YOU KILL OFF THE BEST BOI?? HOW?? If you’re a fan of She-Ra, Tunde gave me major Bow vibes, and anyone who tries to hurt my sweet boy needs to die a painful death. Tunde was innocent. He was good-hearted and selfless. He deserved so much better.
I had a bad feeling Farid was going to turn out to be the bad guy. When Commander Hamidou told her there was a traitor and Karina eventually told Farid, I had my suspicions because he didn’t seem all that concerned. But at the same time, I’m soft for older brother/adopted brother and sister relationships. Farid seemed to care so much. He knew what Karina needed and how to get her through her migraines. He was her closest friend, and to betray her like that was awful. Seeing his true colours at the end of the book was a little creepy. He did a good job of hiding it and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in the next book, along with our walking corpse Hanane.
The scene we get where Malik defeats Idir. It was not what I was expecting at all and I am thoroughly surprised and impressed. Malik using his panic attacks and anxiety to trap Idir in his mind is ingenious and honestly very cool. It just solidifies my love for this character. (And also makes me wish I had his abilities) He’s grown so much over the course of one book, and seeing him conquer his fears and become so confident in his abilities and his intellect was just a very proud mom moment.
The one thing I wasn’t a fan of was the romance. It had cute moments, but I think it was a little rushed with how quickly both Malik and Karina developed feelings for each other. I will say though, the romance didn’t take over the plot, and there were plenty of great moments between Karina and Malik that weren’t romance-focused. I think it would have been interesting if Tunde hadn’t died though. But I am a huge Tunde-fan so I’m biased.
Overall, 4.5/5 stars. Seriously considering buying a copy to have on my shelf.
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is officially the best YA Fantasy release of 2020! I am in shock. There is no way this book is allowed to be THAT good. If you haven't added this one to your tbr, you better, because this book takes all the common tropes we're used to and flips them, making for such a refreshing story with the best characters I've read in a long time.
Where do I even start.
You all know how much I love good world-building. Everything about this book...from the history of Sonande and the Kennouan Empire, the legends and stories of Bahia Alahari and the deities, the religious system, the nkra and different types of magic...was so well done I could cry. I love, love, love details. And this book delivered in more ways than I expected.
I really liked how each patron deity ruled one day of the week and also determined a person's Alignment. It's a unique and interesting concept and I actually enjoyed seeing the similarities and differences between people of different Alignments.
This book tackles a lot of serious issues. One being the colonization and enslavement of people who are considered inferior to the ruling class. The internalized prejudice and misconceptions that were voiced by certain characters in the book felt so real. One of the characters, possibly Driss, but I can't remember, said something about how Eshrans are coming into Ziran and taking all the jobs from the people who've lived here for centuries. As an immigrant, this hit so close to home. Someone else said how the Eshrans have so much food that they don't need it all and therefore owe it to Ziran to give them most of it. The occupation of the Eshran Mountains by the Zirani reminded me a lot of Israel's occupation of Palestine. The excuses used–the Eshrans owe us money, they need help because war is breaking out between the different clans–are all the same excuses used by countries that try to take control and subjugate a group of people. I think it might be a little shocking for some readers who think that things like this don't happen between people who look similar/have similar beliefs. And it's something Malik mentions. He doesn't look any different from the rest of the people in Ziran, but the people have been so brainwashed with this hateful rhetoric, that they can't see past the lies. The persecution and prejudice continues and it's sad to read because of how real and accurately it depicts our world too.
(I was really glad there was a little blurb with all the content warnings at the start of the book. It's something that I want to see done more by authors because it's super helpful especially if there are things that might trigger a reader. We do see scenes where the main character has panic attacks and self-harms. There's mention of physical and emotional abuse. And characters contemplate suicide at times.)
Let's talk about my children.
Malik is literally Soft™️. He is my precious son. I pictured him as this tiny kid the entire book even though I'm pretty sure he's 17/18? But in my head he is a smol and needs to be protected at all costs. Malik is so relatable. In so many ways. We start off the book with him having a panic attack because he feels like a failure for constantly messing up and making things harder for his sisters. It's so sad and you just want to hug him and tell him it's okay to not be perfect and that it isn't his fault that he's so good and kind and wants to do the right thing and things never work out. His relationship with Nadia is so pure. I loved how he would tell her stories to distract her, and would joke around and make her laugh. Leila, on the other hand is a character that frustrates me a little, but one I can also relate to. She had to give up her childhood to take care of her siblings, she's stressed out and trying to hold things together, and her anger gets the better of her. When she calls Malik a coward and that he's just like his father, it really upset me, because it's the worst thing she could have ever said. I am glad they apologized and made up. Sibling relationships are complicated, and I think Leila didn't quite understand what Malik was actually going through.
What I love about Malik is his resilience and determination. He fights through his panic attacks, he learns to harness his magic, and he does his best to not hurt people. That doesn't mean everything goes according to plan. He makes mistakes and gets caught up in Solstasia, and falls for the girl he's supposed to kill, but his loyalty to his sisters is always there. The character arc he goes through is amazing. We see a boy who's been beaten down his whole life, told he's crazy and imagining things, who suppresses his abilities, only to find out that he has magic, and then he's thrown into a world that he doesn't understand, with plots that revolve around him. It's an intense experience and he handles it so well.
My favourite scene was during the second challenge when he tells the story of Hyena. It was beautifully written and it's something Malik points out to himself later as he's struggling to come to terms with the fact that he's related to the Ulraji Tel-Ra: that his magic isn't inherently evil, and that he can create beauty and bring so much joy with his abilities.
One other thing that stood out to me was something Nyeni says to Malik:
"...you are kind, Malik Hilali. Do not underestimate the strength it takes to be kind in a world as cruel as ours."
Honestly, this quote makes me emotional. I love characters who stay true to themselves and their ideals. Who are kind despite how cruel people can be. Malik is just an all-round great character.
Karina. She's a wonderful, mess of a girl. Complete chaos and full of pent up anger. I loved it all. Honestly the scene where she tells her maids to leave the tent and then just screams was a huge mood. The story starts off with her competing against a bard in a tavern. It was so well-written that I actually felt chills. That is one thing about this book. There are so many scenes where I just feel so proud of Malik or Karina. The scene in the tavern was one of them, and it was only two chapters into the book.
The court politics and plots really made this book for me. It was nerve-wracking trying to watch Karina navigate a world that she wasn’t familiar with. She’s thrown into this position and is not prepared whatsoever. Watching her try and rule a city where no one respects her or thinks her capable enough was so sad. She makes mistakes and embarrasses herself, but she also grows and learns so much throughout this book.
I loved the scene where she fought Dedele and won. And her quick wit and sharp words really made Karina so endearing. I’m still thinking about her response to Malik thanking her for helping him out the previous night:
”I have been known to appear in people’s dreams from time to time, and I’m glad to hear I graced yours.”
NOW THAT’S A QUEEN.
I love how this book breaks the usual stereotypes. We have a soft boy falling for the girl. A wonderful scene where Malik sews a tear in Karina’s skirt??!! Karina herself has been in relationships before, which is something we still don’t see a lot of in books.
And then we have Tunde. TUNDE IS THE BEST BOI TO EVER EXIST IN THE HISTORY OF BOOKS. I think he beats Malik in how good he is. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where a guy has been scorned by a girl and proceeds to still treat her with love and respect?? Like why do books like this not exist? What is everyone’s obsession with the whole jealous plotline? It’s not that Tunde doesn’t show signs of jealousy, but it doesn’t overpower his character and make him act rashly. It hurts him because he has feelings for Karina still, but he doesn’t fight Malik over it. I also love how much he cares about Ziran. He didn’t enter the Solstasia contest to win, and once he finds out the prize, his main priority is ensuring that Ziran gets a good king who will do what is right. Tunde is so honorable and lovable and great. I honestly can’t sing his praises enough. The scene where he and Karina get married and Tunde is so gentle and kind, honestly made me emotional. Karina realizing that she could have a great marriage with him because he would love and respect her and also be a great king for Ziran was everything. I honestly could see it happening and it didn’t make me sad or uncomfortable. BUT THEN EVERYTHING GETS RUINED AND IM STILL IN SHOCK.
Farid slitting Tunde’s throat, I don’t think I will ever forgive him. HOW COULD YOU KILL OFF THE BEST BOI?? HOW?? If you’re a fan of She-Ra, Tunde gave me major Bow vibes, and anyone who tries to hurt my sweet boy needs to die a painful death. Tunde was innocent. He was good-hearted and selfless. He deserved so much better.
I had a bad feeling Farid was going to turn out to be the bad guy. When Commander Hamidou told her there was a traitor and Karina eventually told Farid, I had my suspicions because he didn’t seem all that concerned. But at the same time, I’m soft for older brother/adopted brother and sister relationships. Farid seemed to care so much. He knew what Karina needed and how to get her through her migraines. He was her closest friend, and to betray her like that was awful. Seeing his true colours at the end of the book was a little creepy. He did a good job of hiding it and I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in the next book, along with our walking corpse Hanane.
The scene we get where Malik defeats Idir. It was not what I was expecting at all and I am thoroughly surprised and impressed. Malik using his panic attacks and anxiety to trap Idir in his mind is ingenious and honestly very cool. It just solidifies my love for this character. (And also makes me wish I had his abilities) He’s grown so much over the course of one book, and seeing him conquer his fears and become so confident in his abilities and his intellect was just a very proud mom moment.
The one thing I wasn’t a fan of was the romance. It had cute moments, but I think it was a little rushed with how quickly both Malik and Karina developed feelings for each other. I will say though, the romance didn’t take over the plot, and there were plenty of great moments between Karina and Malik that weren’t romance-focused. I think it would have been interesting if Tunde hadn’t died though. But I am a huge Tunde-fan so I’m biased.
Overall, 4.5/5 stars. Seriously considering buying a copy to have on my shelf.