Megan Abbott recommended The Night of the Hunter (1955) in Movies (curated)
Hossein Amini recommended Le samouraï (1967) in Movies (curated)
Last Hills
Video Game Watch
Welcome to Last Hills. Last Hills is a surreal psychological horror game. In which you can feel...
Merissa (13169 KP) created a post
Jul 8, 2025
Dreamboats & Petticoats - First 60 Years by The Shadows
Album
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Graphic - vector illustration and design
Productivity and Entertainment
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Princess Diary of Fashion Star
Games and Entertainment
App
The princess wants to be a fashion star! Let's help her! - Go to the spa. Wash her hair & face. -...
Living in Death's Shadow: Family Experiences of Terminal Care and Irreplaceable Loss
Book
What is it like to live with-and love-someone whose death, while delayed, is nevertheless foretold?...
Sophia (Bookwyrming Thoughts) (530 KP) rated Ruin of Stars in Books
Jan 23, 2020
<h2><strong>I wish I could say I enjoyed <em>Ruin of Stars</em> as much as I enjoyed <a href="https://thatbookgal.wordpress.com/2018/03/23/guest-book-review-mask-of-shadows/"><em>Mask of Shadows</em></a>.</strong></h2>
Unfortunately, I didn't. In Miller's debut novel, we are introduced to Sal, a genderfluid thief who auditions to become a part of the Queen's Left Hand, a group of assassins who work for her, particularly for Opal. Sal hopes that with their success, they can get closer to the people who have destroyed their home.
<em>Ruin of Stars</em> continues with Sal successfully becoming a part of the Queen's Left Hand, which gives them the opportunity to find out and hunt down the people who killed their family.
<h3><em><strong>Ruin of</strong><strong> Shadows </strong></em><strong>isn't as exciting or adventurous.</strong></h3>
Reading the first novel, there was <em>never</em> a dull moment except for maybe the very beginning. But <em>Mask of Shadows</em> quickly picked up in pace and didn't let down. I expected the second book to be similar, but that didn't turn out to be the case. While the sequel provides plenty of action, it is <em>definitely</em> not as action-packed as the first novel.
<h3><strong>The characters from <em>Mask of Shadows</em> return and are still lovable.</strong></h3>
You'd think that being one of the highest parts of the court would change Sal's life <em>completely</em> around, which would mean new characters to meet. This isn't the case at all with <em>Ruin of Shadows</em>. While Sal meets new people who will either help or hinder their goal of revenge, Miller brings back the characters who played an important role in Sal's life as a pickpocket and thief. People like Maud (so much sass, that one), Rath (omg their friendship) and Elise (I really don't know how I feel about you), among others.
I especially loved the friendship between Maud and Sal, though.
<h3><strong>There wasn't enough urgency in some parts.</strong></h3>
<em>Mask of Shadows</em> constantly had a sense of urgency in every page and there wasn't a moment in time where I wasn't worried about Sal's end coming from another competitor. Somehow, though, that sense of urgency disappeared. Where there <em>should</em> have been urgency, there was talking and discussing of plans. In fact, it wasn't just about plans, but it was a lot of catching up as well.
<h2><b>Overall, while <em>Ruin of Stars</em> provided a satisfying conclusion, I had high expectations that didn't turn out as well as I hoped it would.</b></h2>
<a href="https://bookwyrmingthoughts.com/ruin-of-stars-by-linsey-miller/"; target="_blank">This review was originally posted on Bookwyrming Thoughts</a>