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A review by picklesoup
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown
4.0
Rating: 4.75/5
Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy. Shit. Actually, I felt like I've been lied to.
The Plot:
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown is following our two protagonists, Karina, and Malik, as their both on the quest to regain what they once lost. I loved this story and plot. Everything moved smoothly with one another and felt strong from the start to the end. Typically I'm kinda iffy on plots with more than one perspective because it can very easily mess up with the pacing and voice of the story as one. However, A Song of Wraiths and Ruin did it beautifully. Having both Karina's and Malik's story pacing was done so well with both of their stories interwinding with each other.
The plot felt strong throughout the entire time and I was constantly on the edge of my seat while reading so. There was never once a moment where I felt like the story was being dragged and there was never a moment where it felt like it didn't contribute to the story. Every single moment had such a big play in the final conflict and ending [which by the way completely destroyed me] and some of them were so suttled that you didn't even notice that it had such a big play until the story is done. Honestly, Brown did such a good job of writing a strong and thrilling plot that kept me on my toes the entire time.
The Writing:
I loved Brown's writing style. I'm typically a fan of the third point of view writing, but sometimes it can be such a miss for me. However, this was very much a hit for me. Brown's writing style was so intriguing and is one of the main reasons why I kept on turning the pages. The pacing was done wonderfully and both Karina's and Malik's voices were writing so well were instead of it feeling like the two voices are fighting, as sometimes how dual perspectives can feel like, it felt likes the two were complimenting one another. Having one action happen in one perspective and then the next person can feel that impact. Both of our main characters' voices felt so unique from one another at the point where I know who's chapter is it without seeing their name. I truly enjoyed Brown's writing and it felt like the writing was very much complimenting the story instead of fighting with the story.
TW: THE NEXT TOPIC WILL BE TALKING AND MENTION ABOUT SELF HARM AND ANXIETY
The Characters:
Okay so our two main characters, Karina and Malik, were two wonderful characters that break the typical character arc of a YA protagonist. However, I didn't have much of a strong connection to the two as I would have liked. Starting off with Malik, a boy with anxiety who is trying to complete the impossible. He's very much not the typical strong male YA lead, he's weak and scrawny and gets trapped in his head so often. That's why I love him so much. Showing how men can have mental illness as well and it can just be as terrible as anyone else. Malik was such a beautiful, well-written character. In the end, Malik comes to terms with his anxiety and shows how he's strong because he continues fighting no matter how often his anxiety drags him down. This was such a powerful scene and had such a big impact on me. I loved Malik and watching grow and become such a strong character mentally was something so beautiful to read.
Now talking about Karina, the princess who never wanted to be royal in the first place. Trying to complete something that goes against all laws of humanity and the dead. Karina was very much a different character from the typical YA female lead. She was bold and rash, constantly fighting for power both in the council and in her own head. She was such a complex character, I don't even know where to begin with her. Dealing with the grief of her family and now working on taking control of the crown that was never meant to be hers, it was such a ride when it came to her chapters. Seeing her working through her own battle with unresolved trauma and anxiety but still being a strong character who is willing to take charge even if her body and mind are telling her no. Karina is such a strong character and honestly, I'll let her poison me any time of the day.
Both characters deal with some sort of anxiety and both deal with self-harm, which is very much important judging from how they reached their end goals and for their characters in general. Both Karina and Malik are strong characters in their own way and I loved seeing the two interacted with one another and seeing how both of their stories intertwined with each other was something beautiful and wonderful to witness. Ugh, I love these characters with all my heart and I wished that I had so much more of a connection with the two because they are both wonderful and well-written characters.
Now to finally finish off this long ass review of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown. I love this book and I would recommend this book to everybody. The story was written so well and there was so many plot twist occurring at the point when I finish it I felt so filled yet empty at the same time. This book was such a thrill to read and I love it, would read it again and I'm so excited to read the next book once it's released.
Holy shit. Holy shit. Holy. Shit. Actually, I felt like I've been lied to.
The Plot:
A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown is following our two protagonists, Karina, and Malik, as their both on the quest to regain what they once lost. I loved this story and plot. Everything moved smoothly with one another and felt strong from the start to the end. Typically I'm kinda iffy on plots with more than one perspective because it can very easily mess up with the pacing and voice of the story as one. However, A Song of Wraiths and Ruin did it beautifully. Having both Karina's and Malik's story pacing was done so well with both of their stories interwinding with each other.
The plot felt strong throughout the entire time and I was constantly on the edge of my seat while reading so. There was never once a moment where I felt like the story was being dragged and there was never a moment where it felt like it didn't contribute to the story. Every single moment had such a big play in the final conflict and ending [which by the way completely destroyed me] and some of them were so suttled that you didn't even notice that it had such a big play until the story is done. Honestly, Brown did such a good job of writing a strong and thrilling plot that kept me on my toes the entire time.
The Writing:
I loved Brown's writing style. I'm typically a fan of the third point of view writing, but sometimes it can be such a miss for me. However, this was very much a hit for me. Brown's writing style was so intriguing and is one of the main reasons why I kept on turning the pages. The pacing was done wonderfully and both Karina's and Malik's voices were writing so well were instead of it feeling like the two voices are fighting, as sometimes how dual perspectives can feel like, it felt likes the two were complimenting one another. Having one action happen in one perspective and then the next person can feel that impact. Both of our main characters' voices felt so unique from one another at the point where I know who's chapter is it without seeing their name. I truly enjoyed Brown's writing and it felt like the writing was very much complimenting the story instead of fighting with the story.
TW: THE NEXT TOPIC WILL BE TALKING AND MENTION ABOUT SELF HARM AND ANXIETY
The Characters:
Okay so our two main characters, Karina and Malik, were two wonderful characters that break the typical character arc of a YA protagonist. However, I didn't have much of a strong connection to the two as I would have liked. Starting off with Malik, a boy with anxiety who is trying to complete the impossible. He's very much not the typical strong male YA lead, he's weak and scrawny and gets trapped in his head so often. That's why I love him so much. Showing how men can have mental illness as well and it can just be as terrible as anyone else. Malik was such a beautiful, well-written character. In the end, Malik comes to terms with his anxiety and shows how he's strong because he continues fighting no matter how often his anxiety drags him down. This was such a powerful scene and had such a big impact on me. I loved Malik and watching grow and become such a strong character mentally was something so beautiful to read.
Now talking about Karina, the princess who never wanted to be royal in the first place. Trying to complete something that goes against all laws of humanity and the dead. Karina was very much a different character from the typical YA female lead. She was bold and rash, constantly fighting for power both in the council and in her own head. She was such a complex character, I don't even know where to begin with her. Dealing with the grief of her family and now working on taking control of the crown that was never meant to be hers, it was such a ride when it came to her chapters. Seeing her working through her own battle with unresolved trauma and anxiety but still being a strong character who is willing to take charge even if her body and mind are telling her no. Karina is such a strong character and honestly, I'll let her poison me any time of the day.
Both characters deal with some sort of anxiety and both deal with self-harm, which is very much important judging from how they reached their end goals and for their characters in general. Both Karina and Malik are strong characters in their own way and I loved seeing the two interacted with one another and seeing how both of their stories intertwined with each other was something beautiful and wonderful to witness. Ugh, I love these characters with all my heart and I wished that I had so much more of a connection with the two because they are both wonderful and well-written characters.
Now to finally finish off this long ass review of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin by Roseanne A. Brown. I love this book and I would recommend this book to everybody. The story was written so well and there was so many plot twist occurring at the point when I finish it I felt so filled yet empty at the same time. This book was such a thrill to read and I love it, would read it again and I'm so excited to read the next book once it's released.