This sequel to Grace and Fury was the perfect ending to the story of these two incredible/powerful sisters.

I absolutely loved seeing everyone come together to fight the final leg of this war that began in the first book, and I really enjoyed seeing the commitment and determination of the women from the island.

The characters in this book only got better from the first novel. I will admit that I wasn’t the biggest fan of Nomi, I felt as though she was a very one-dimensional character, especially in contrast to her sister who was written so well. I also didn’t really have any interest in the relationships in this book. I didn’t care about Nomi and Malachi or any other couple we saw.

I think this book would have been better if the focus was entirely on the revolution of the women, rather than any romantic relationships being formed.

All in all this duology was good but not anything I’ll be thinking about in the future. I really enjoyed the women rising up and fighting for their rights, but that’s about all I enjoyed about this duology.

I’m going to make this a down and dirty review because I really want you to pick up the book.

This book ROCKED with Girl Power! and it had me pumped! Nomi and Serina really found themselves in this sequel and I was here for it. I loved them in the first book and loved them harder in the second. They found had their character arc and discovered what they were capable of and who they were supposed to be. It was nothing short of amazing.

The second half of the book was so action packed that it went by quickly. So quickly, in fact, that I would have liked a minor/short epilogue chapter to give me ultimate closure on the characters I’d bonded with over the two books.

This book was full of all of the ships: sister relationships and love relationships. I wanted all of the ships! The way the sister relationship was written was brilliant. This wasn’t the Katniss/Prim type of relationship where one always needed to be protected. Both girls were strong, fierce, and a force to be reckoned with. The romance ships were also really good, but I’m not going to spoil anything for you.

I cannot get over how many feels I have for this book. It was just as good as the first book and I hope you read it, if you haven’t already.

I read Grace and Fury last year and enjoyed it so much and couldn't wait to see what would happen in the second book! I'm not going to say very much about the plot as this is a sequel and I don't want to spoil anything. In Queen of Ruin, we are still following sisters, Serina and Nomi. We Pick up right where we lefts in the first books. Serina is on a prison island for women and Nomi has just been banished. I had a blast with this book. It read so fast, there were no slow parts. I said this about the last book, I like that there are twins but the twins are not the two main characters; that's something that I don't see happen much. Nomi and her brother are the twins. Banghart's writing is my favorite part of these books. There's something classic yet modern about her style that is simple yet paints bright pitchers of this world and characters. The different pov stand out while still fitting into the plot. Also, I really like theses book covers for this series.

My favorite character is still Val, there is just something about him coming to this dark island to save his mother only to find out he's too late yet still have the heart and hope to help all the women of the island. I like how at the end of the day this is about sisterhood, women empowerment and fighting for what you want.

If you’re looking for a feminist novel with politics, romance, and sisterhood, this series is for you. I was recommended the first book in the series, Grace and Fury, by my bestie. And thank god she shoved that beautiful book into my hands. I was lucky enough to be sent an ARC of the sequel, and once again I found myself riveted and fired up.

The first book in the series is inspiring, and this book is no different. In it, we once again see women coming together to fight those who seek to control them and harm them. To keep them ‘in their place’. It’s incredibly powerful, especially given how much women still struggle for equality today. The love and respect these women have for each other is beautiful. Even if they don’t always agree, they support one another. That’s the kind of feminism we need, not toxic feminism.

The anger the women feel towards the men who want them to be silent, obedient, and uneducated is palpable. The book makes you THINK, and it makes you angry. I consider it to have a profound message, and as such I think everyone should read it.

Serina grew a lot in the first book, and that growth continues. She makes some mistakes, but in the end she’s there for her sister and the women of Mount Ruin. She’s gains some clarity and self-awareness, and she realizes she may always struggle with the way she’s been conditioned to act around men. Nomi is just as compelling, as she now realizes she judged the Graces too harshly. She’s also reeling from Asa’s betrayal, and angry beyond measure.

I think where I struggled with the book was, firstly, with the romances. I didn’t care for Serina’s love interest this time around. I’m not sure if it’s due to some inconsistant writing, or whether my opinion of him suffered because his input about something had consequences. Nomi and Malachi had a sweet romance, though not fleshed out as much as it should be.

Overall, I really really enjoyed Queen of Ruin. It’s powerful, angering, and so damn relevant. The feminist message is one I’ll never forget.

I received an advanced copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley for an honest review.

Wow. Talk about some SERIOUS awesome strong women!!! I definitely enjoyed this novel more than the first because I love that the first novel we watched Serina and Nomi get put in horrible situations (or make the horrible situations themselves...) and how they HAD to change in so many ways to survive. Both sisters had to put aside everything that they had always been taught as women and their 'roles' in life, strip it all down and rebuild themselves into strong women who will no longer stand by quietly. This was an amazing novel of these two sisters getting themselves and ALL women in their country out of the oppressive lives they had had to lead. The best part about this novel is with the end of the first novel, one would THINK you know where each sister is going to end up....and then the reader is pleasantly surprised and I absolutely wanted to stand up and cheer. An amazing novel that had a wonderful ending, however, I could definitely see this series continuing with a new story line.

If you love this novel with the amazing women strength I would check out Emily R. King's novels and Tricia Levenseller's novels!!!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher and Rockstar Book Tours. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book Series: Grace and Fury Book 2

Rating: 4/5

Diversity: a lesbian couple is fairly central to the plot of this one.

Publication Date: July 2, 2019

Genre: YA Fantasy

Recommended Age: 16+ (gore, violence, TW sexual assault, TW rape, TW physical abuse)

Publisher: little brown young readers

Pages: 336

Amazon Link

Synopsis: Banished by Asa at the end of Grace and Fury, Nomi and Malachi find themselves powerless and headed towards their all-but-certain deaths. Now that Asa sits on the throne, he will stop at nothing to make sure Malachi never sets foot in the palace again. Their only hope is to find Nomi’s sister, Serina, on the prison island of Mount Ruin. But when Nomi and Malachi arrive, it is not the island of conquered, broken women that they expected. It is an island in the grip of revolution, and Serina–polite, submissive Serina–is its leader.

Betrayal, grief, and violence have changed both sisters, and the women of Mount Ruin have their sights set on revenge beyond the confines of their island prison. They plan to sweep across the entire kingdom, issuing in a new age of freedom for all. But first they’ll have to get rid of Asa, and only Nomi knows how.

Separated once again, this time by choice, Nomi and Serina must forge their own paths as they aim to tear down the world they know, and build something better in its place.

Review: I really enjoyed this sequel to Grace and Fury. I feel like I got a lot of answers and I feel like the book did well to develop some of the characters more. The books are also extremely well written and they’re very enjoyable and empowering.

I did have an issue with some things though. I felt like the world building lacked, it could have been more detailed in spots, and I feel like the pacing was really slow. The book is way slower paced than the first one and I feel like it could have been a bit more even matched.

Verdict: A great and empowering series

I found both Nomi and Serinas chapters super gripping. I love how their incredible sisterly bond was one of the main focus of the story. Seeing the way the sisters handled having their intended paths switched was really interesting. The sister who trained to become a Grace turned into a rebel warrior while the rebellious sister had to learn to navigate court as a Grace. Despite their different situations they realize they both have the power to change things and both sisters are just as determined to use their new positions to help the women in their country. I really appreciated how being a strong women was represented in two different ways. I also loved Nomis relationship with her twin brother and how he was the one who taught her to read. Then theres Serinas amazing friendships with the other female prisoners. It was nice to them all respect the vote even when it wasnt the result everyone wanted.

As for the romance and the love interests, I thought they were both fantastic. I loved seeing the girls initiate kissing and the boys be all sweet and tender about it. The way Val was happy to see Serina make the decisions and take the lead was too precious. He was just really kind and supportive. Then theres Nomis love interest, quiet and intense Malachi going against eveything his been raised to believe about women and the way he should treat them. I wish his motivations had been explored a bit more. I dont fully know why he decided to support women and when Nomi asks he just says "you know why". I understand he loves her, but that doesnt automatically mean he wants women to have equal rights. I also would have liked some insight into the main antagonist motivations for being so cruel and manipulative. Being evil just because they can doesnt really work.

This world is definitely what I would call a dystopian with the women living under a terribly oppressive regime. It didnt have anything unique about it. No magic, no special technology, not inspired by any specific historical setting from what I could tell. We only get bare minimum details of the main characters surroundings. This could be an issue for some people, but I personally didnt mind it. The writing was used more to create an emotional attachment to the characters and to bring out strong emotions from the reader. Its simple, but powerful and moving. It made me feel a whole range of emotions. I was swooning over the romance in one moment and then angry at the oppressive system in the other. The amount of satisfaction I got from the ending was enough to put me in a good mood for days. Im was also super happy the sapphic couple got a happy ending.

The author did a great job of keeping me invested in the plot despite it being very similar to other dystopians Ive read. This sequel amps up with higher stakes and more intense battles. The sense of danger and urgency kept me on the edge of my seat. The feminst vibes we get from seeing all these women fight back made a compelling narrative. On top of that we have the awesome characters and their relationships that really made this story stand out. Theres this scene where Nomi tells Malachi she wouldnt have believed him over Asa that I found very authentic, but I dont think her decision to go seek revenge on her own was believable or smart. Im sad this is only a duology because I would love seeing how the sisters handle the struggles of reshaping their country to finally recognize women as equals. If you're looking for an empowering and evocative read then go pick up this duology.

“Queen of Ruin” is the sequel to Banghart’s “Grace and Fury,” a YA fictional novel with women empowerment. Queen of Ruin starts where the story left off (in a cliff-hanger, might I add) in Grace and Fury. From there, the story starts with no more introductions. Readers should know the world by now where men are the rulers and women were erased from history and weren’t given much of any rights. This novel was more about the reconciliation of the two main characters and trying to fight for women’s rights.

I had high hopes for this one and apparently it had been too high? While I adored the first book, the second book just didn’t do it for me. I also realized that I needed a recap before starting this book.

While the characters were incredible, I felt that some of them still needed a bit more work. For instance, personality is kind of tricky to put down when you want certain characters (like the protagonists) to shine. Some side characters like Val seemed flat and I wished it wasn’t the case. Val helped Serina and the other girls so being a flat character (as the one guy who didn’t share the same views as the other men in the island) wasn’t what his character deserved.

As for some characters like Nomi, she still annoyed me. Nothing has changed in regards me feelings towards her character. In the first book, she was an unbearable character to read. I would say that she’s the main reason why I skimmed most of the chapters in this book. I find myself wanting to read something else (and that’s not good). The reason why I didn’t like reading about Nomi was her complaining and the fact that, like the first book, she ended up getting what she didn’t deserve in the first place.

To recap, I remembered reading about Nomi as someone who was kind of a hypocrite. She didn’t like the idea that girls were competing to be a grace. And now the ending to this sequel says something different about her (she’s still a hypocrite). I suppose the situation is different now that Nomi’s views on the opposite sex seemed to have changed. Even if this had been the case, I felt as though there’s none of the nuance that I liked in the first book. The serious stuff that happens (like the killing of women) still felt like it was all brushed aside.

Additionally, I felt that everyone acted on behalf of Serina despite how she ended up as the leader. Val and the other girls giving Serina the ideas and how to act/lead. When Serina finally takes the position, she seems to still favor other people more than others (like her sister). I don’t know really, it felt as though the sisters didn’t do the bulk of the work especially Nomi. It felt as though the story paved a way for a happy ending for these sisters while having important topics be swept off under the rug (i.e. threat of rape, threats in general, etc. Just to name a few).

Needless to say, the ending of the novel irked me a little and I’d rather not go into spoilery details. This happened rather conveniently and it really didn’t add anything new to the story. The developments made sense because of the relationships and the events that lead to the ending. Unfortunately, I’m impartial to the sequel, hence I’m rating this book 2.5/5. I thought it was just an okay read.

Queen of Ruin is the conclusion to the Grace and Fury Duology. It picks up immediately after where Grace and Fury left off, with Serina, Val, and the women of Mount Ruin in the aftermath of their revolution against the guards. Meanwhile, Nomi, Maris, and the wounded Malachi have been banished to Mount Ruin after Asa’s betrayal at the end of the first book. The sister’s a reunited, but all is not well yet. They need to save their brother, get Asa out of power, and find a way to give the women of Viridia the rights they deserve.

Queen of Ruin has all of the things that made Grace and Fury amazing, and more. Grace and Fury saw both Serina and Nomi growing as people as they adapted to circumstances neither expected. In this book, we get to really see their growth in action. I loved seeing the sisters interact with one another, especially when Nomi sees her formerly submissive and soft sister acting as a leader.

In my eyes, Queen of Ruin was a major step up from the already amazing Grace and Fury. My reasoning for this is because there’s a lot more action in this book. I’ll admit that at times I found Nomi’s sections in the first book a bit dull as I didn’t care much for all of the dress fittings and fancy events she had to attend, but here, there’s just a bunch of badass women fighting for their rights and making the world a better place, and I love it. You’ll definitely be on the edge of your seat, thinking “one more chapter!” as you read this one.

I won’t give anything about the plot away, because that’s no fun, but I will say that this was an amazing conclusion to this duology. Immediately after finishing the first book, I started reading this because I simply had to see how the story ended. I really appreciate that it was a duology and not a longer series, because it told the story it needed to tell and didn’t stretch out for a million books.

Speaking of the story, I love the powerful message behind this duology. We’ve got clear feminism and amazing female characters, but we also have a few guys that are allies to the cause. There was one point in the book where Serina, Nomi, and Malachi where having a serious discussion, and Val didn’t try to interject himself into a conversation he didn’t belong in. I love that, and I also love that all of our characters continue to grow in their beliefs and convictions as the book goes on.

I really can’t help but give Queen of Ruin 5/5 stars. I recommend this to anyone who wants a really nice feminist fantasy novel that delivers a message without being to in-your-face. It’s action packed and full of surprises.

*Review can be found at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

Now this, this is the rebellion book everyone needs in their lives. Queen of Ruin was so good, so good, that I had goosebumps on my arms during one of the (many) freaking intense scenes near the end, and I could not put the book down, I had to keep going until I reach the conclusion. And what an ending it was too! I am happy to report that there is no cliff hanger, things are very well wrapped up to my judgey satisfaction...but that is not to say I don't hope there will be a next book, with different kinds of problems to overcome but with awesome new Graces waiting in the wings.

​ Nomi continued, her voice steady and clear in contrast to her wild, unsteady heart. “In particular, the
women of Viridia have suffered. We have been broken down, stripped of our choices, our agency, our
dignity. We have paid a heavy price for fear. Women once ruled this country”— a gasp from the
assemblage—“ until they were erased. We have hidden our queens and subjugated their descendants.
But no longer.”


I know that I have said this before, but I really love Serina. Here is this girl who was raised to master the art of being beautiful, gentle, compliant, but instead she is thrown into a situation she could never have prepared for and she thrives. This girl is so kick ass, she is who I want to be when I grow up. She is not interested in being in charge, getting power or recognition, she just wants to do the right things for everyone- which in turn makes her the best leader possible. And she is not afraid to get her hands dirty in battle. I cheered her on in every scene, regardless of the violence she had to use to overcome. Side note, she totally wears the pants in her relationship with Val, who is most certainly the sweet, tenderhearted one out of the two of them.

And that brings me to the other voice in the story, Nomi. I struggled with Nomi in the first book and I will admit that I still struggled with her here. Her action have lead her family down this path of heartache but I really do not think she learned her lesson. Sure she is on the right direction for atonement, but still I think she had a much easier time than Serina ever had. But maybe while Serina had to 180 her personality to survive, Nomi has to live with the mental anguish forever, no physical stress can rid her of the demons.
Queen of Ruin took Grace and Fury and amped it a notch. This was an intense ride that had me on the edge of my seat, full of non-stop battles and plot twists I never could have seen coming. Tracy knows how to suck a girl into her dark world for certain and I will gladly come back for more. I highly recommend this series for anyone who likes dark action packed story with an almost dystopian feel - and lots of murder.

Be still my feminist heart!!! When I first picked up Grace and Fury last year I honestly did not know too much about it but the moment I started reading it sucked me right in! Tracy Banghart has done it again in this absolutely stunning sequel. It is just as satisfying as it is empowering.

Set in a lush yet harsh world, the characters are being pushed even further to help rise above their roles of submission in a patriarchal society to help make the necessary decisions for a better future for their kingdom. The women in this book are so strong and complex that you can’t help but to fall in love with them. Also holy character development! I can’t help but be proud of who the characters have become. This book is filled with twists and turns while painting a beautiful picture of true sisterhood. While it is bittersweet that this is the end for this series, the ending is extremely satisfying and will leave you with a sense of hope! I highly recommend everyone pick up a copy of this book…it is an ABSOLUTE MUST!

Okay, this is how you finish a duology. I am two for two with sequels this week alone and wow. Just wow. This was everything I had hoped for, and then some! I really enjoyed Grace and Fury , and was obviously thrilled to read the sequel. But you know, sometimes sequels are scary! But this is how you wrap up a series! Here's the thing: This isn't the most unique premise out there. It can even be a little tropey at times. But honestly? When it's done right, there's a reason we enjoy certain tropes. And this book reminded me precisely of that. So now it is time to gush about the stuff I extra loved!

•The characters are incredible. Truly, they make the whole book. Not just the main characters, though they're a big part of it which I will expand more on. But no, the author somehow made me care about every random side character she introduced. Everyone served a purpose in the story; everyone's life mattered. So if someone, anyone, died, it felt like a real gut punch, not like some rando bit it.

•Speaking of the main characters, their sisterly relationship was unparalleled. Usually when I read about a sister relationship, it's kind of a Katniss-Prim dynamic: One is the heroine, and she generally needs to save the other in some way. Not so here! Nomi and Serina are both fierce and strong and capable. Sometimes it's in different ways, but neither sits around waiting to be rescued. They both have assumed charge of their destinies. And absolutely they want to protect each other, but not in a way that implies one of them is helpless. They want to protect each other because they love one another, simple as that.

•And while we're talking about love and protection, every single one of the romantic partnerships in this book saw each other as equals. Didn't matter who the coupling was, they were complete partners in every sense. Even the side characters' relationships were viewed in this very equal and refreshing light. No one, man or woman, was a damsel waiting to be saved by their lover. The level of respect that the couples treated each other with was fabulous, and every single book should strive to portray relationships in this manner.

•Holy high stakes! I genuinely did not feel like anyone was safe during the whole book. It was a brutal and vicious world, and these women (and a few men) would stop at literally nothing until they were both safe and saw a change. So as you can imagine, there is room for a lot of bad junk to go down.

•It had many feels and much excitement. I was so invested that I started the last 40% when I got a bubble bath (thanks, Kindle Paperwhite!) and literally could not stop. My hot water had long run out, I was straight up shivering (and fine maybe crying a little, shh) and I still couldn't even pause to go get warm. It was so compelling that I just needed to know how it ended. And it was perfectly satisfying and worth every minute!

Bottom Line: It was the perfect high-octane finale to a really great series. I cannot wait to read whatever the author writes next, for I have no doubt it'll be phenomenal!

A huge thank you to Rockstar Book Tours, check out their website for all the latest and greatest tours, and to Little Brown for Young Readers, for including me on this tour and sending me a review copy!!!</p>

"It's difficult to expect much of yourself when the rest of the world doesn't bother."

Before I proceed, be warned, there will be spoilers for Grace and Fury. A lot happens in Queen of Ruin, and it can't be helped!

When last we left the sisters, things were very precarious for them both. Their futures were not what they envisioned and they couldn't predict what would possibly happen next. Spoiler alert: neither could I!

Queen Of Ruin is a rollercoaster of a book. And I loved it!

In the first book, we really see a lot of development in Serena. Even though Nomi is placed in a position she doesn't want, it isn't quite the same, with the same lethal consequences that Serena faces. So her progression didn't occur until later, and even then, it was definitely more subtle. Which worked perfectly for the story. But this time, Serena knows who she is and what she wants. It's Nomi that struggles to figure that out within herself.

As in Grace and Fury, the girl power woven into the characters and story are fierce and unapologetic. This is a society that is awful for women, and Asa isn't making it any better. But in this strong feminist story, can I give some ah yeah props to my boy Malachi? That Heir, man, he listens, he learns, and he is so much better for it. His characters shows that men can be feminist too, and I really do adore that message.

The rebel road is a perilous one, full of starts and stops, and things that never go according to plan. This book is a breathtaking ride, full of action, thought-provoking dialogue, and a mounting tide of suspense. If you loved Grace and Fury, you will devour the sequel.

I loved how by the end, things were wrapped up, but there is also room for more. Things have been decided, and it's a satisfying ending, but we all know that the road is not going remain easy for any of the characters moving forward. I'm not sure if the author plans to return to this world, but I for one, am here for it if she does.

I actually liked Queen of Ruin much better than Grace and Fury. The problems I had with Serina were nonexistent in this book. She came into her own and became a strong leader who was more than just a pretty face and what her society had conformed to. Nomi was still fierce and head strong. She did what she thought was right regardless of the consequences or danger to herself. I loved the sisters and their bond. It wasn't breakable and they truly loved and cared for one another. Val was even more perfect in Queen of Ruin. He let Serina lead and never tried to undermine her command. He was content to fall. Malachi was still swoon worthy and I loved that he didn't hold Nomi's mistakes against her. I loved how this story concluded and it was the perfect ending. It wasn't quite happily ever after but it was real. This was a good story with such a powerful message that resonated with me.