Review and Giveaway: Ruin - John Gwynne

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Review and Giveaway: Ruin - John Gwynne

First I will start with the giveaway :)

Giveaway

1 autographed copy of Ruin

1. Open to everyone in the universe

2. Ends July 21st

3. To enter just comment :)

And now on to the review

The Banished Lands are engulfed in war and chaos. The cunning Queen Rhin has conquered the west and High King Nathair has the cauldron, most powerful of the seven treasures. At his back stands the scheming Calidus and a warband of the Kadoshim, dread demons of the Otherworld. They plan to bring Asroth and his host of the Fallen into the world of flesh, but to do so they need the seven treasures. Nathair has been deceived but now he knows the truth. He has choices to make, choices that will determine the fate of the Banished Lands.

Elsewhere the flame of resistance is growing - Queen Edana finds allies in the swamps of Ardan. Maquin is loose in Tenebral, hunted by Lykos and his corsairs. Here he will witness the birth of a rebellion in Nathair's own realm.

Corban has been swept along by the tide of war. He has suffered, lost loved ones, sought only safety from the darkness. But he will run no more. He has seen the face of evil and he has set his will to fight it. The question is, how? With a disparate band gathered about him - his family, friends, giants, fanatical warriors, an angel and a talking crow he begins the journey to Drassil, the fabled fortress hidden deep in the heart of Forn Forest. For in Drassil lies the spear of Skald, one of the seven treasures, and here it is prophesied that the Bright Star will stand against the Black Sun.

My thoughts:

I so should have checked if this one was the last one or not, I was all, they are not going to make it! Oh there is one more book. Well that explains it, and then noooooo! I want the next book now!! Nooooooo!

Let's try to make this simple. We have Corban, a young hero who is told he will save the world. And I have enjoyed his road, slowly he has gained his confidence. Then there is Naithan, who also has been told he will save the world. I do loathe him, but so far it has not been his fault. He is the bad guy, he just does not know it. Except he learned so in the last book so now he really is bad,

Then there is Jael, who took a kingdom by force and I hate him. Lykos, who has a kingdom in his hand and wants to crush it. Jeradis, a seemingly good guy who thinks he is following the good guy, but he is not. That breaks my heart because he is good.

And now some of the good ones. Edana, a queen in exile trying to stay alive. Meican and Fidele running from Lykos. Yes, there are a lot of people in this book. It's one big book after all. I remember reading book 1 and checking who was who a lot, but I when I got into it it was easy.

There are good guys, there are bad guys, and then there are good guys who are bad guys. There are liars, and manipulators. It's not black and white, there is a lot of grey in this book.

As for the story. Many are running for the lives, or trying to find allies. While others kill and pillage, and crush those not following them. And slowly it is shown that the story itself is not black and white either. I went all whaat?! That was one big surprise.

The end then. It was pretty brutal, hopeless and sure one big cliffie. I have no idea how the book 4 will turn out now. That was one big ending. He sure know how to throw a punch, or a hundred!

Conclusion:

I look forward to book 4, I am biting my nails to find out what will happen to them all.

Cover

the details are prettier in rl