In a world where magic is sung, a powerful mage named Cadence has been forced to torture her country's disgraced nobility at her ruthless queen's bidding. But when she is reunited with her childhood friend, a noblewoman with ties to the underground rebellion, she must finally make a choice: Take a stand to free their country from oppression, or follow in the queen’s footsteps and become a monster herself. 📚
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What I liked:
📚 Queer PHANTOM OF THE OPERA retelling? Yes, please!
📚 I loved the magic system here. I loved the idea of singing to marshal your magic, and that you could tell a lot about the mage by their voice.
📚 Such wonderful imagery, from the beauty of the Queen's stronghold to the horrors of the region where those expelled from the court are sent.
📚 The tension between the protagonists felt real - it wasn't insta-love, but also the barriers they faced weren't just pointless roadblocks. 📚
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What I didn't like:
📚 It's a pretty basic YA dystopia setup. This isn't necessarily a knock on the book, just something to know going in.
📚 I do wish some pieces of the world's history and nuances of the magic system were more detailed - I could tell there was more in the author's brain that didn't make it into the book. 📚
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Content warnings: alcoholism, blood, death, homophobia (mild), physical abuse, torture, violence, and vomit.

This is the book I needed when I was a teenager! To see race and sexuality right out in the open was thrilling, definitely something the world needs more conversation about. I teach teenagers, and they bring these issues up all the time (it's why I picked up the book in the first place).

I love a good retelling, and this reimagining of Phantom of the Opera really delivers on its premise. The magic system in Ruinsong is definitely unique. Magic that's sung! While I do wish some of the characters had been a little more fleshed out, overall I enjoyed reading Ruinsong and found it consistently engaging.

Ruinsong has one of the most exciting and unique concepts of magic in YA right now. Magic is expressed through music, but is connected to both innate talent and craft – sort of like opera singing. While it can be used for good such as healing, it is most often used for purposes of oppression by the regime and heavily regulated. Mixed in with this is a slow (and I mean, slowest) burn wlw romance between two old friends who reconnect in the worst of circumstances.

However, knowing that this was a wlw fantasy, I expected more on this front. I knew it was coming, but I only saw a couple of hints throughout the book before things happened, and I was hoping for more tension and chemistry. I generally felt that the pacing in Ruinsong did not quite work for me. It took almost half the book to get the story going properly, and major events happened very quickly in the last twenty percent or so. I would have preferred if the pacing was quicker in the beginning, leaving more space in the second half for character and plot development.

It generally feels like I was intrigued by the concept of Ruinsong more than by its ultimate execution. I’m very glad that I got to read it, but I don’t think that I will be returning to it. For me personally, it seems that there could have been more made out of the elements in the story, but I am curious to see what Julia Ember comes up with next and to see how her craft develops in future.

3.5 stars.

A dyslexic bisexual protagonist and a fat lesbian protagonist in YA fantasy? Yes please! Also, normalizing specifying a character's race when they're introduced: love that. A unique form of magic that is an intricate blend of pure luck and hard work. These are all amazing things that I really appreciated about this book - including the briefest discussions of how queerness is viewed in the society and the ever-present fear of how "coming out" can be viewed.

Unfortunately, the pacing was not great. It's a quick read with writing that lends itself to forward momentum, but very little happens until about 50% in the novel. And every interaction between our two main characters felt rushed. The last 20% especially felt like I was getting whiplash because things were happening back to back to back that had almost no impact because we immediately moved on to the next thing.

Also, I wanted to know more about the structure of the world. What's this about four goddesses? What different kinds of magic are there and how can you tell the difference? What does the larger world look like and does it also have magic? The story was very small (for a story about a corrupt queendom) but with enough hints to really ignite my curiosity.

I am, however, really hoping that we get more in this series/world. Because I would 100% read more books by this author.

Have to start by saying I'm not usually a big fan of high fantasy, but when I heard Julia Ember's new book was an LGBTQ+ reimagining of The Phantom of the Opera, I was tempted enough to give it a read. And I'm very glad I did!

Cadence is a mage under the Queen's control, her Principal singer. Cadence's gift makes her very powerful, but she doesn't like the Queen's cruelty and doesn't want to perform evil deeds in her name; however, refusing the Queen could ultimately result in her death or being Expelled, her vocal cords severed and never being able to be a part of society in any way again. So even though Cadence hates it, she does what she's told.
Until one day, she tries to stand up to the queen, and pays a price for it. That, and the arrival of her childhood friend Remi to be her companion (a prisoner of the Queen, but a companion nonetheless) is the impetus for Cadence to push back against everything she's been forced to stand for.

The plot is riveting and the love story that develops between Cadence and Remi is very sweet. Even though as I said, high fantasy is not usually my genre of choice, I really enjoyed the book, and while the end isn't a true cliffhanger, it does hint that there might be more forthcoming in this world Ember has created. And if there is, I look forward to reading those too.

This was such a tragic, horrifying, and yet beautiful story. The descriptions of the clothing and what they mean for each character, the wonder and horror of the magic at work, and the beauty of the palace masking a rotten core were great! There is a fair amount of torture and graphic death, so descriptions of that could be overwhelming for some readers.

There is also a prominent scene of animal death; although the death itself isn't described (thankfully, because animal cruelty is a massive NO for me), the result is in great detail. One thing I appreciated in that moment was that the affected MC didn't cry a little then act like they forgot all about it; there is a grieving process going through all stages, including denial, anger, and depression. If the animal death was going to be included no matter what, I'm at least glad it was addressed instead of swept aside.

My only real complaints are regarding the pacing and character description. There are some passages that go from one scene to the next with no break, no sense of time passing. Like, "having an emotional crisis on the road -> going into a bedroom" with no paragraph break. It was really jarring.

While I appreciate the author wanting to leave no doubt as to a character's appearance regarding skin color, those instances could have been handled with more finesse than they were. Many characters are introduced as "the white woman" or "a black man". I don't think there's anything inherently *wrong* with that (I'm white), but it was really blunt and jolting. Rather than "she was a black woman", it could have been "her skin shone like polished obsidian" or "her skin was the color of rich, fresh soil". For "a white woman approached", it could have been "her pale face glowed in the moonlight" or "her porcelain skin". I guess that's more of a stylistic/artistic quibble when it comes down to it, but still.

I do still have questions about the ending as well. Maybe I missed or forgot something that was brought up earlier, but if my initial interpretation is right, it's setting up for a sequel, though I've only seen Ruinsong marketed as a standalone. An open ending is fine, just a bit odd in this regard.

Overall I quite enjoyed the book. I loved how complex Cadence and Remi's relationship is as they navigate their feelings. I liked how it showed people as a whole being complacent with horror when it doesn't affect them or is seen as justice (sound familiar?). I liked the struggle between doing what's morally right and what keeps one alive. Solid four stars from me!

I'm a massive fan of Phantom of the Opera and I enjoyed Ember's other books so I had good expectations going into this one. It was a very nice story with characters that I loved reading about and it's definitely one of the better Phantom of the Opera retellings I've read.

4.5 stars rounded up!

Ruinsong is a brilliant dark fantasy that features enchanted songs and a slow-burn sapphic romance. The story follows two young woman. Cadence is the queen's new Principal singer who uses her magical songs to torture the queen's enemies (mainly the nobles). Remi, the daughter of a Viscount, wants nothing more than the queen's torturous reign to finally be over.

There are so many things that I just loved about this book. The world building is lush and incredibly intricate. The author takes her time immersing the readers into this world where you are entranced by the beauty of music but then jolted awake when the magic takes hold and destroys its beholders. It was amazing, frightening, and original.

I loved the entire conversation surrounding queerness. There are those who are accepting (the mages) and those who aren’t (the nobles). There’s a scene where Remi laments about being noble born because she just wants to be able to walk around the market and wink at a pretty girl if she wants to.

I thoroughly enjoyed both Remi and Cadence. Both of them are complex and fully developed. I loved their banter and chemistry. As far as side characters go, I wish that we would’ve seen more development for both Nolan and Ren. We only got snippets of both rather than the depth we see in some of the other characters.

Lastly, I love that the author is transparent about race when describing the characters. The characters race is always mentioned first then the details of their appearance comes next. This is something that I wish that more authors would do.

I can honestly keep talking about this one, so just pick it up and give it a try.

Thank you to Fierce Reads for providing a review copy through NetGalley. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

Ruinsong took a fascinating concept of magic - through the power of song - and made it into something special. Cadence not only harnesses magic through sound, but it is very pointedly a power that layers beautifully into the narrative of finding your own voice.

This story is told in dual POV between Cadence and her childhood friend Remi as they unite despite different world views and lifestyles to take down a domineering queen. The f/f romance was cute though not overly complex or emotionally riveting. I certainly enjoyed it for what it was and thought that it provided some much needed softness to counteract the danger the story put them in. On the surface they’re very different but I think their romance did a wonderful job that sometimes differences make a relationship stronger, not weaker.

The plot was simple but enjoyable and I really enjoyed the narrative of finding your own voice and being true to it, even in a world that’s trying to drown it out with expectations. However, I did find the first half of the book to be choppy. It seems like the author was trying to set everything up for the second half, but got lost in the weeds a bit. The second half was much better but felt rushed and the pace was a total 180 from the first half i a way that was jarring.

Overall I enjoyed the message of Ruinsong and found the musical aspect to be really engaging. I think it would be an excellent read for anyone looking to read f/f fantasy or fans of Ghost Wood Song.

BEAUTIFUL FRICKIN’ COVER. Sadly, I just wasn’t into this book. I read something about this being Phantom of the Opera-esque but I really didn’t pick up on that at all, besides the singing aspect and murder??

I did like the idea of using song as weapon and such, but the worldbuilding just felt a bit weak at times. The plot sort of meanders for a majority of the book until the very end when everything is rushed together and wrapped up VERY quickly. I also didn’t really feel much of an attachment to any of the characters. I enjoy seeing more F/F romance, especially in YA fantasy, but Cadence and Remi’s relationship didn’t feel like it had much substance and growth. Disappointed because I felt like this could’ve been really cool if the plot had been a bit more interesting! 2.5

I had a little trouble getting into this story but once I did, wow.

An absolutely empowering narrative full of strong characters, and a unique world.

A lush fantasy novel about song magic and fighting for what's right--even when you've been complicit in wrongdoing.

In the Queendom of Bordea, music is magic-- at least for those gifted with it by the goddess. But for the Queen's Principal Singer, Cadence, her powers feel like more of a curse. At least, they have ever since she was taken in by the new queen and trained to become her chief weapon against the nobility. Now, her voice is used in shows of mass torture, used to keep the nobility living in fear. There's little other choice for Cadence, though, with the threat of being sent to the outskirts with her vocal chords being cut. No matter how much she hates hurting others, she knows she can at least ensure she makes things quicker and more painless than any of the queen's other singers would. But a rebellion is brewing, and when a childhood friend from the nobility becomes involved in a plot against the queen, Cadence has to decide once and for all where her loyalties lie. She'll either stand up to the queen or see the girl she loved--and maybe still loves--lost forever.

I wanted more depth and nuance from this books in places and sometimes got frustrated with Remi for her hardline views on Cadence when she's clearly in such a difficult position, but I nonetheless enjoyed it quite a bit overall. Also-- bonus points for cute saphic romance and fat rep!

Ruinsong is a story about choices. About taking a stand, discovering the truth about our own power, and figuring out how to use it. To reject people's choices about who you are, and to let your voice be heard. Cadence knows loss. She knows poverty and what it sounds like when that voice in the back of your head is ignored. Remi feels the boiling beneath the surface and the rage to fight. On the surface, they seem like they couldn't be more different, but could their friendship be a spark?

When we are confronted with our own survival versus doing what is right, what would you choose? Where Ruinsong truly shines are the characters. The world is one of disparity and injustice, cruelty and spectacle. In a world where sacrifice always follows compromise, how can we continue to fight for a better world? For a sense of justice or security? Especially when our loved ones are in danger, when we know what the mud feels like beneath our feet, when do we take a stand?

*I received a copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

There were a lot of reasons that I wanted to read this book. All of the buzzwords used in the blurb and the idea of a f/f YA? That's all I needed! I got so much more out of it than I thought I would.

This world and the magic behind it captivated me. A world where magic is song? That is right up my alley! I so liked learning about how the magic worked. I always found myself wondering what it each song would sound like.

There was one thing that kept knocking me out of the action, but I think it gives more props to the author than anything. The cruelty behind some of the motives and the things said was hard for me to get through. That comes more from my own reading preferences than anything else. The characters and the motivations behind what they wanted was what kept me reading. Remi and Cadence had such a great rapport with each other and their friendship into romance was a great read. I wish it wasn't so hastily done, but it didn't take away from the story. I know that this is one that my students will enjoy.

Thank you to FierceReads for sending me a digital ARC of Ruinsong!

Ruisong tells the stories of Cadence, a mage, and her childhood friend Remi, who is a noblewoman. They both suffer under the rule of the queen, as well as the whole country. They must find a way to end the queen's awful ruling and reclaim their freedom.

I thought the book was wonderful and so entertaining. The universe created is well described and the magic in the story is something unique. Some of the events were sad and some very dark. There is also a beautiful f/f romance. The more I read, the more I wanted to learn about the entire universe that was created.

I hope you will love reading Ruisong as much as I did!

TW: This book might not be for you if you have difficulty with violence or animal death.

While in some ways Ruinsong is a slow burn of a novel, the word count and world building are very welcome. Because of how lush the world of Ruinsong is especially concerning the logistics of magical song and class divides, I think this is one of those rare opportunities in which the audience needs that solid foundation. Ember delivered a gorgeous sapphic fantasy book for trend teens and up.

I liked this book. It's about a powerful mage, Candence, who is forced to torture her kingdom by the queen until she meets her childhood friend and they try to find a way for Candence to defeat the queen. I thought the book was basic and wish there was more to the story. There was little information about the world and I wish the author did well with the world-building. I did enjoy the story but wish there was more to it. The pacing went well in the beginning but got rushed at the end.

I enjoyed the characters in this book both Candence and Kemi. I love how the author wrote the book in both of their povs and I felt connected to these characters. Though I felt that the antagonist was a little weak but I did enjoy the queen. I thought the romance in this book was cute but I wanted more of it.

This was an enjoyable read but I was expecting more. I think this is a perfect short read if someone feels like reading something that doesn't have a complex world. This is perfect for those who love LGBTQ+ with fantasy.

Mini-blog tour coming on Thindbooks Blog (www.thindbooks.blogspot.com) on the week of the release date!

Interesting concept, blending musical magic, the seasons, and revolution by an underclass. The more I read the book, the less I liked it. The writing style is juvenile. And just because a word has been misappropriated by some fandom, it doesn't mean editors at a major publishing house should allow it--"justicar" which apparently was the author's intent instead of "justiciar." The book contains some pretty graphic violence for a YA book.

3.5 stars
RUINSONG is a beautiful fantastical story set in a world where magic is transferred through song. We follow two characters, one of which is the queen’s personal mage. Cadence sings destructive music for the queen at annual Performances, and at the one in this book, we also meet our second perspective, Remi, who was friends with Cadence as children. The two girls are soon reunited and forced into danger and secrets. I enjoyed this book, but the first half had no real plot. We saw our two main characters reunite and think about each other, but it wasn’t until halfway through when they truly began to spend time together, and even further until the true action began. I did like the relationship between our two characters; they had known each other when they were younger, but seeing their relationship develop in present time was lots of fun to follow. We see both of their perspectives and the characters were developed really well. I also really enjoyed the magic system. The idea of song producing magic is so unique and I loved seeing it throughout the book. Truly I wish there had been more action, since things didn’t really start to pick up until over halfway through the book. The ending also occurred very abruptly and, again, could have used more build-up. Things seemed to wrap up too easily for my taste, but if you’re looking for a quick, standalone fantasy story with a unique magic system and a female/female relationship, this is the book for you!

Hmmmm...I was super excited for this book because, fantasy, magic, diverse characters but it just fell flat for me. It started out really strong with a really cool magic concept and didn't hold back from the cruelty of the evil queen but as the story went on it was super rushed. I didn't believe the romance (these characters were only separated for a couple years but seemed to forget about each other even though they were best friends?), and I feel like nothing happened? There was no real climax. A dud for me. 3 stars because I kept reading and wasn't struggling to make it through, the magic was cool, and it didn't hold back from the violence when the plot required it.