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 (14046 KP) created a post
Jul 8, 2025
Dreamboats & Petticoats - First 60 Years by The Shadows
Album
It was in June 1960 that THE SHADOWS entered Abbey Road Studios to record APACHE, the track that was...
Graphic - vector illustration and design
Productivity and Entertainment
App
Autodesk Graphic is a powerful full-featured vector drawing and illustration application right in...
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. -...
Morgan Sheppard (1033 KP) created a post
Jan 2, 2026
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>