A review by susan_king
Blood and Ruin by Rumer Hale

adventurous tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

This book was originally released in print in November of 2021.  I was able to listen to an audio version from @NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  The cover of this book is gorgeous!  Sci-fi/fantasy/fated mates are some of my favorite tropes, and I was excited to dive into this one but was left wanting more.  The reader is dropped right into the story with no explanation, no world building, and character development was lackluster.  The story has a lot of promise but needed some more editing.  I would’ve like some more variety in the descriptive language…the FMC referred to her “ability” hundreds of times-it could’ve been described in other ways.  The narrator was smooth and easy to listen to, however, she could’ve brought the intensity of her reading sometimes.  Her reading was always anxious and could’ve released some tension in slow parts.  We only get to hear Chase T. Walker for 3 minutes at the very end of the story.  He was very pleasant and I liked her speed and tone, I wish we could have heard more from him in the audiobook.