I was intrigued by the premise of this book: a 1920s loose reimagining of The Tempest. And while I was definitely hooked in the beginning, the middle and end left me disappointed. I wanted more Tempest, more 1920s and what I got instead was a confusing tale of a magical island that was resolved in a predictable and kind of strange way.

I could never get an handle on whether we were supposed to sympathize with Mae, our narrator. She was irritating most of the time, and so unbelievably naive. The rest of the characters were a mixed bag. I liked some of the arcs they went on but I didn’t really care about most of them by the end.

My biggest complaint was the plot. It started off strong, with a mystery and some family drama. But when the pieces all started falling into place, it felt very predictable. I did like that the book takes place over the course of one day, but also felt we could have used more world building.

Overall, a fun book, but not something I’d rush to push into a friend’s hands.

*3.5 Stars*

Mae has lived her entire life on the same island, an island that has magic and since her dad died and she is now 18, she's afraid she's going to be asked to leave. She would do anything not to, though, anything.

I didn't hate this but I also didn't love it. It was entertaining and pretty short but I think the characters lacked depth and therefore so did their relationship. Like I said, I was entertained but I didn't feel anything for the characters nor their relationships. I also found the plot to be a bit slow and predictable but while I won't reread this, I also don't regret having read it. it's just that I've read better books, especially lately. Something was just lacking I guess.
Okay, I have nothing more to say, sorry for this useless review.

Bright Ruined Things is an adaptation of Shakespear’’s The Tempest. While there are some obvious deviations from the source material, it goes generally follows the plot of the original story. The story has excellent tension and kept me on my toes, with plenty of mysteries and twists. But there are a few areas that I wish the plot would have explored further, but due to the limitations of the story taking place in one day, wasn’t possible.

Mae is the main character of the story and she’s so meek and unassuming that she’s known to other characters as “Mousy Mae”. But she goes through a great development arc throughout the book. We also meet many of the other members of the Prosper family, who in general are spoiled and unthoughtful people, but the author does a great job of hiding their ugliness in different ways. Due to the limitations of the time of the story, I did question Mae’s romantic developments, but the author is great at writing Mae’s chemistry with other characters so I was willing to overlook that unrealistic progression of their relationship.

The book takes place almost elusively on the island that Prosper family settled, so our view of the world is limited. Despite this, I felt completely settled into the world after the first few chapters. The world is inspired by 1920s England and is not stated outright but felt through the author’s descriptions of the technology, fashion, and characters. Additionally, the magic system was intriguing though missing some details that would have made it easier to understand.

Bright Ruined Things is Samantha Cohoe’s second Young Adult historical fantasy novel. The book has a surprising and tension-filling plot, but due to the story having to take place within one day some elements of the plot and characters weren’t able to be explored as much as I would have preferred. The author did a beautiful job fleshing out the world and showing the time and place of the book without forcing it on the reader.

To start off, Bright Ruined Things is a re-imagination of Shakespeare’s The Tempest which i’ve never read before. From the summary that I googled, I can say that Samantha Cohoe’s book is different from the classic but have similar elements. The concept itself is pretty interesting. Although Mae has lived on this island with the Prosper family, without magic and not being blood-related to the wealthy family who control the magic meant that she was often overlooked. Her need to belong made Mae desperate to please the members of the Prosper family; she didn’t know how to reject the arrange marriage with Ivo or talk back to Apollonia or say no to Alasdair. Even with the closest Prosper grandchild and Mae’s best friend, Coco, she won’t speak her true feelings.

As things started to become weirder on island, Mae finds her desperate to reach a fever pitch. I thought I would enjoy Mae’s character but I realized that I kept flip-flopping about whether I even care about her or not. She surely isn’t the best protagonist out there but Mae has her moments. I’m not too keen about the romance, how confusing and complicated it was. Mae couldn’t really decide and was on-and-off about her feelings between Ivo and Miles. It just added conflict to the already mounting situation in the island.

The setting of the island was intriguing. I wanted to know more about the history of the magic and how the Prosper family ended up there. It was briefly mentioned but I think there could be more to it.

Overall, I had higher hopes for the book since I enjoyed A Golden Fury. If the pacing were any slower, I would’ve DNF’d Bright Ruined Things. I’m not too sure if this just isn’t my type of book or what. I liked the 1920s vibes for this historical fiction inspired by The Tempest.

When I went into book I didn't realize it was a take on The Tempest (which I haven't seen in years), but the story 100% stood on it's own. I love anything 1920s and the atmosphere Cohoe created here didn't disappoint!.

I really enjoyed Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe. The title fits the story perfectly as you start the book with all the bright lovely things that slowly turn into a ruin.

I saw a review that this is “the tempest” by Shakespeare but I have never read that so I can not really compare. I am hoping that I get to it as I really enjoyed this book! I thought it was a beautiful stand alone novel of family, magic and great Gatsby vibes.

I think this was partly on me and where my emotions were, but I wish this was more fast paced and the romance wasn’t as forced but other than that I really enjoyed the book!

great book and had me on my seat. I enjoyed the characters and all that happened in the book. I enjoyed being in this world and seeing the growth of the characters. I enjoyed the drama of the story and I can't wait to read others books by this author.

I was unfortuantely unable to read this book before the archive date, as I was granted access to the book very late, and had ARC and other books I was reading at the present, which combined with my busy life at that moment, didn't grant me anytime to read this book. I look forward however to buying this book in the future and reading it for myself. I shall give it four stars in the meantime.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

This book was really good!
I loved the 1920s setting. Gave major Gatsby vibes.
I have never read a book besides Gatsby set in this time period so I liked going out of my comfort zone
Thank you St Martins press for the eARC

Thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC for an honest review.

3.75/5

I enjoyed reading this one, but I finished it maybe 15-20 mins ago and I’m already forgetting what happened. It was a good and enjoyable read, but I did find it a bit predictable at times.
I liked the author’s writing style, and I found it easy to follow. I thought the pacing was good, and there were some very exciting moments. I liked the idea of the magic, and how it was written. I read The Tempest years ago, but it was pretty clear that the story was inspired by the play.
The characters were interesting. Mae was likeable enough, but she was a bit annoying at times. I liked Ivo and I wish we’d gotten to know him better. Miles was okay, and I didn’t really like Coco, Apollonia, or Alasdair. I thought the characters were distinct, and the author did a good job writing them.
Overall it was an easy to read and entertaining story with magic and secrets.

Well now old sport, I daresay I've found myself a new favourite read.

Firstly, thank you to Wednesday Books for providing me with an audio copy. Imani Jade Powers has such a dreamy voice, and she was the absolute perfect choice to narrate this 1920's inspired fantasy retelling. I'm not sure if I would have enjoyed this less if I'd read it, but I'm so glad I chose to listen because she injected so much light and life into such a fascinating story.

This is a tightly-plotted novel that takes place over a single day, specifically First Night, the anniversary of the time the Prosper family tamed the spirits of the island and learned how to wield magic. I understand that this is a retelling of The Tempest. However, as I've never read that, I cannot tell you how clever or unique a retelling it is. That said, I did find it terribly clever and unique on its own. A family full of secrets and incredible wealth, viewed by someone just on the outside who is desperate to join in, this book was an intriguing mystery and an exploration into power, control, and sacrifice.

While set in the 1920s on an island likely off the English coast, not a lot of attention was given over to detail. Knowing the era it was meant to portray beforehand settled me into the correct imagery, but that wasn't the star of the show. The cast of characters is truly what made this book.

Mae is a young woman stuck in a loop of longing and dread; longing to properly become one of the Prospers and learn the magic kept shrouded in secret, and dread that the Prospers will realize she is now eighteen and they no longer need to let her stay with them. Mae's late father was once the caretaker of the island the Prospers call home, and the family patriarch allowed her to stay out of respect to her father. Mae knows nothing but the island, the Prospers that come and go at the slightest frivolous whim, and the biggest party of the year where the elite descend upon the island for one single night. You can't help but feel sorry for Mae. Her best friend is a Prosper granddaughter who most certainly doesn't feel the same about Mae, and she's in love with another Prosper who barely gives her the time of day. But there is an underlying fierceness and conniving personality that suits Mae well and keeps her as a strong main character I couldn't help but like.

There are a lot of secondary characters, with the entire Prosper family descending upon the island for the exclusive First Night party, but I found them pretty easy to differentiate from each other and really enjoyed the colour they added to the story. For one, they are all terrible snobs, some more so than others. Apolonia, for instance, is a nasty girl who has probably never been told no in her life. Coco is the family daredevil, arriving in a plane she barely knows how to fly. Allistair is a lazy player who thinks he can get anything and everything with a kiss. Miles thinks he's better than all the rest because he believes he can unravel the mysteries around his family. They're all such a zany group of people who are at times terribly selfish and yet you can't tell what it is they want.

I wasn't quite sold on Cohoe's debut. Something seemed to be missing to really bring things home well, and I think she overcame that for me with her sophomore novel. As crushing as the ending was, I was really satisfied with it! I think the right choices were made for each character, highlighting their strengths and flaws, and offering room for redemption and grief. Definitely looking forward to Cohoe's next book!

A loose retelling of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe takes place over the course of one day, following Mae and her role in the Prosper family. I have never read The Tempest so I personally cannot compare the two. What I can say is that I enjoyed Cohoe’s melding of 1920s culture and magic. It made for a compelling read.

Mae herself is an okay character. I didn’t hate her, but I also didn’t love her. She’s an unreliable narrator as a lot of what happens is shown from her POV with her own emotions and feelings skewing the action. As an orphan of a former servant of the family, Mae keeps to herself, hoping the Prosper family will allow her to continue to live in her father’s cottage. But on the eve of her 18th birthday, it’s announced that Mae will marry Ivo, the heir apparent, much to her dismay.

Ivo I liked. He’s a quirky character whom we don’t really get to know in great detail. Mae is attracted to him and also scared of him. He is a magician, fueling the magic that feeds the island and gives the Prosper’s their fortune. Yet he is hiding a lot of secrets, the burden weighing heavy on his shoulders. The heaviest weight of all is what he has done to Mae without her own knowledge.

While I loved Ivo, the setting, and even the concept of the story itself, it was poorly executed. There are large plot holes, which can be written off as a part of Mae’s unreliable narration. But they were distracting to me. I kept thinking I was missing a page or skipped a scene when I didn’t. I also didn’t pick up that the entire book took place in one day. There are parts that truly drag out, making it seem like it is happening over a week instead of 24 hours. There is also a love triangle that is eye roll inducing and implodes as part of the main plot.

Overall, I thought this one was an okay read. I enjoyed the magical realism and 1920s setting. I also enjoyed all of Mae’s and Ivo’s interactions and wouldn’t be opposed to reading more about the Prosper family and their island. Mae’s narration adds to the mystery/thriller element of the book which is one of the reasons I’d say this is a compelling read as you need to find out what happens next. Bright Ruined Things is a Gatsby-esque thrill complete with magic, romance, and fireworks.

Bright Ruined Things is an interesting story about a family that found magic and learned to use it to their advantage and the secrets that they keep. I really enjoyed the start of the story. It caught my attention and drew me in quickly. I like the character of Mae. She is adventurous but also wants to be able to access the island she grew up on and the home she grew up in. By agreeing to a life set out for her, she will be able to have that chance. But this also means forfeiting marrying for love.

As the story continued it started to feel like there were too many plot ideas for it to all have happened in a single day. This really made the book a little less enjoyable. While it’s fiction and fantasy it’s still set against real 24 hour timeline. I was really disappointed by this because I was really enjoying this story until this started to happen.

Overall I enjoyed the idea behind the story and most of the characters. It’s an interesting story for the most part.

This was another anticipated 2021 books--I was sold by the comp titles alone--and it really paid off. So happy to see such strong writing and imagery by a new writer!

Bright Ruined Things keeps you guessing for what comes next and has one of the most magical settings--meaning that magic is so tangible that it informs the setting and the characters and interacts with them. It's really one of those books that are in love with the magic and its secrets, magic is a living and breathing theme that takes you to places.

It's a great family novel from another sense too and the Gatsby vibes are there too. I've seen others who didn't enjoy the ending because it felt like it didn't wrap up everything nicely, but I quite liked it to be honest. I think that not all endings should be about closure and character-endings are always my favourite.

So, 5 stars for this one! Thanks for granting me an ARC!

The plot was very slow moving and character development was very dry. It felt like I had to wait the entire book before I understood what the purpose of the Magic system was.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Bright Ruined Things

Author: Samantha Cohoe

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 2/5

Diversity: 1 queer side character

Recommended For...: young adult readers, fantasy, mystery, The Tempest retelling… kind of, set in the 1920s

Publication Date: February 15, 2022

Genre: YA Fantasy Mystery

Age Relevance: 15+ (Parental Death, Abelism, Violence, Animal Violence and Death, Parental Abandonment, Sexism, Drug Abuse, Death, Classism, Sexual Content, Coercion, Romance, Homophobia, Outing, Suicide, Suicidal Ideation)

Explanation of Above: There is parental death mentioned and parental abandonment is shown very slightly. There is one scene where an abelist comment is said in regards to mental health. There is one moment where the MC questions about an animal death and how they died, but it’s very brief. There is some sexism in the book, some homophobia and a case of outing, and classism is sprinkled throughout. There is drug abuse mentioned very briefly and, because it’s in historical terms, you wouldn’t know it’s talking about drugs unless you knew the terms. There is death shown in the book. There is some sexual content in regards to talk about sleeping together, but nothing is shown, and there are some characters who try to use coercion/sexual advances as manipulation. There is also some romance scenes with kissing and feelings. There is also some mention of suicide and suicidal ideation in the book by a character. There is also a bit of violence in the book, including fighting, guns mentioned and seen, airplane crash land (non-graphic), fire being set, slaps, and imprisonment.

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Pages: 352

Synopsis: The only life Mae has ever known is on the island, living on the charity of the wealthy Prosper family who control the magic on the island and the spirits who inhabit it. Mae longs for magic of her own and to have a place among the Prosper family, where her best friend, Coco, will see her as an equal, and her crush, Miles, will finally see her. Now that she’s eighteen, Mae knows her time with the Prospers may soon come to an end.

But tonight is First Night, when the Prospers and their high-society friends return to the island to celebrate the night Lord Prosper first harnessed the island’s magic and started producing aether – a magical fuel source that has revolutionized the world. With everyone returning to the island, Mae finally has the chance to go after what she’s always wanted.

When the spirits start inexplicably dying, Mae starts to realize that things aren’t what they seem. And Ivo, the reclusive, mysterious heir to the Prosper magic, may hold all the answers – including a secret about Mae’s past that she doesn’t remember. As Mae and her friends begin to unravel the mysteries of the island, and the Prospers’ magic, Mae starts to question the truth of what her world was built on.

Review: This was a so-so book. The book had an interesting premise with the arranged marriage, set in the 1920s, and I was really intrigued with the spirits and how they worked. I also liked the mystery/fantasy element and how the book was set over the course of one day. The book is also The Tempest inspired, but it’s very slight.

However, I really did not like this book. There’s not a lot of backstory to this book and I was confused throughout the text on what was going on and how we got to where we were. To my *not* surprise, when I was writing this review I discovered that most of the backstory is in the synopsis, which I absolutely hate in books. Books and synopses should stand alone and one shouldn’t depend on the reader having read the other for it to make sense. The beginning of the book was so cluttered and confusing I almost DNFed at 13% and sometimes I wish I did just go ahead and DNF it. There was a bit of flowery language, so maybe that’s what the cause was, but I also felt that the magic was just too unexplained and that things happened but weren’t explained. The book didn’t really explain why the story was set where it was either and there was some sort of weird love quadrilateral thing and then it went to a triangle and then to a regular romance, but it was like the author didn’t know where to go with the book for most of it. I never got a sense of who the main character was as there was no character development beyond “all of these kids are horrible and say horrible homophobic or sexist things or try to do sexual coercion, and their parents are either dead, not there, or addicted to drugs”.

Verdict: Overall, this book was not for me but you might have better luck.

Bright Ruined Things is a new YA standalone full of secrets, forbidden magic, and set in the glitz and glamour of the 1920s. The story follows Mae who lives on an island owned by the Prosper family who take care of her until she is 18 as a promise to her parents who died when she was young. Mae only wishes for magic of her own, and for her crush, Miles, to finally notice her. On First Night, a night of celebration on the island, Lady Vivian requests a visit from Mae and tells her that she was hoping that Mae would a agree to a marriage to the reclusive, Ivo. Amidst the ongoing romantic life of Mae there is also something more sinister going on and it’s up to Mae and her friends to find out what it is and uncover the secrets the Island has.

I really enjoyed the idea of this book, and the execution was wonderful. It was quick read with unique characters and an interesting plot line. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

After loving Cohoe's A Golden Fury in 2020, I was looking forward to getting my hands on Bright Ruined Things and this book did not disappoint. It was a super comfy fantasy YA full of magic and eccentric characters that grew on me despite their despicable behavior toward main character Mae. Mae has been living on this magical island without having powers herself. She has been in love with handsome Miles. Coco is her best friend. She is told that she is to marry Ivo. All three of those characters are Prospers, members of the most powerful family of the island. Will she abide? Or will she rebel? Will she gain magical powers or will always be considered as less that all the Prospers? A really cool character build-up and the ending was just what I wanted, even though I read other reviews who were not satisfied with the way it ended. This was exactly how it was supposed to end: a story of blood magic, family secrets, revenge, coming of age,.. my favorite part is the story line about love: what we think love means when just entering adulthood and what it really means once experience hits us with a massive hammer in the heart.

Thank you so much Wednesday for yet another smashing YA novel and thank you for allowing me to read this e-ARC in exchange of my honest review. My thanks also go out to Net Galley.

Bright Ruined Things (Young Adult Fantasy)
Rating: 3.5⭐

Thank you to Netgalley & Wednesday books for the gifted digital advanced copy- all opinions are my own. Full review on bookstagram to come.

I've seen blurbs that this book is a 1920s YA retelling of The Tempest. I'm not familiar with that classic, so I can't speak to that, but gosh, the plot was fun in this one. This is definitely "approachable fantasy" meaning no notes need to be taken and you can dive right into the new world. That being said, I still would've liked to see a a bit more world building and character development. While the supporting cast was fun, they weren't particular likeable, and Mae, the main character, was pretty naive and mostly without a backbone for much of the book. Because she is so naive, Mae can't put some of the happenings in the island together, so we're told things more than shown them. I think my favorite part was the spirits, and I would've loved more descriptions of the spirit music, which was a really unique idea.

This book reminded me a bit of a book I recently enjoyed - Little Black Bird - another YA fantasy with LGBTQIA rep, with main characters finding themselves and coming of age.