A Splendid Ruin by Megan Chance is a novel set around the time of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. After the death of her mother, May Kimble moves from New York to San Francisco to stay with some relatives who are willing to take her in. This story deals with class distinctions, revenge and many secrets to be revealed. I always enjoy reading stories having to do with the San Francisco earthquake and this book did not disappoint!

This is a beautiful historical novel
This is a complete page turner full of twists and turns.
It is written so well.

In A Splendid Ruin, Megan Chance weaves a spellbinding tale of dark family secrets, betrayal, and a young woman's quest for revenge, all set against the backdrop of the devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake. With its atmospheric setting and compelling characters, this novel immerses readers in a world of opulence, danger, and gripping suspense.

The story follows May Kimble, a penniless young woman who is summoned to San Francisco after her mother's death and is welcomed into the wealthy Sullivan family. Chance masterfully captures the opulence and glamour of the era, transporting readers to a time when social circles were governed by rigid rules and dark mysteries lurked beneath the surface.

May's journey is fraught with tension as she navigates the treacherous labyrinth of her newfound family's secrets. The author skillfully builds a sense of foreboding and intrigue, allowing the reader to feel the weight of betrayal, madness, and murder that surrounds May. The suspense is palpable, with each revelation adding another layer of complexity to the story.

The devastating 1906 San Francisco earthquake serves as a powerful backdrop to the narrative, adding a sense of urgency and impending doom. Chance's vivid descriptions bring the destruction and chaos to life, creating a visceral reading experience that enhances the emotional impact of the characters' struggles.

May's transformation from a vulnerable and naive young woman to a determined avenger is a highlight of the novel. Her resilience and strength in the face of adversity make her a compelling protagonist, and readers will find themselves rooting for her as she seeks justice and reclaims what is rightfully hers.

The inclusion of a charismatic journalist as May's ally adds an additional layer of depth to the story. Their dynamic and shared quest for truth and vengeance provides a captivating subplot that complements May's own journey.

While the book excels in many aspects, there are moments when the pacing slows down, particularly in the middle sections. The narrative occasionally lingers on details that do not significantly contribute to the overall plot, causing the story to lose some momentum. However, these instances are relatively minor and do not detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the book.

In conclusion, A Splendid Ruin is a captivating historical novel that intertwines dark family secrets, revenge, and the backdrop of a devastating natural disaster. Megan Chance's evocative writing and well-crafted characters bring the story to life, immersing readers in a world of intrigue and danger. Despite some occasional pacing issues, the book delivers a satisfying and engrossing reading experience. Fans of historical fiction and gripping suspense will find themselves enthralled by this tale of betrayal and redemption.

I appreciate the publisher allowing me to read this book. I found this book incredibly interesting the author really kept me hooked until the end. very well written I highly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me an advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Very well written story about society in 1905 with a different type plot than the usual murder and suspense story line. I found the part about the great earthquake enlightening. No gory hard core stuff either for a change. Will now try another of her twenty novels. Give it a try.

I apologize but I was not able to finish this book. I was in a different headspace at the time of requesting / recieving this book and the time I got it.

This was supposed to be a novel about revenge. However, I found the characters to be very unlikable. They are back-stabbing, gossiping, and scheming. It felt more like a historical version of Gossip Girl. The story is very slow moving. Most of the revenge plot occurs during the last third of the novel. Thus, this wasn’t the revenge story I hoped. I still recommend this for those that like soap operas!

Historical fiction + thriller? I was sold just by the description! Turns out it's pretty light on the mystery/thriller aspect. I felt pretty middle of the road/average about this one. But it was definitely interesting reading a novel about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake!

Loved it so much. While trying to make something out of her life, the main heroine takes her destiny in her hands. We need more heroine like her in our books.
I think this is an amazing story that many reads will enjoy as much as I have.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

i enjoyed reading this book, it was a great historical novel with interesting characters that I enjoyed getting to know. The author has a great writing style.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. A SPLENDID RUIN is an excellent read! It was well-written and well-paced with a cast of intriguing characters set in San Francisco during the 1906 earthquake.

I enjoyed A Splendid Ruin and would love to read more like this from Megan Chance in the future. I am giving this one five stars.

This was an interesting book set before and after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that basically destroyed the city. It wasn’t the shaking that caused the terrible destruction but the fires that started afterwards. Most of the water mains were broken so there was no water to fight the fires as they ate up the city. The main character, May, goes to San Francisco to live with a wealthy aunt she doesn’t know after her mother dies. She doesn’t know anything about her father and hopefully will get information from her aunt. Unfortunately, May ends up angry at her family and the way she’s been treated, and the earthquake gives her a chance to to take revenge.
It was a well written and plotted book, I liked it. 3 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own

I’ve picked this up several times but I just can’t get into it. I even tried the audio but I think this is just not my taste. I’m going to give it 3 stars because it wasn’t necessarily bad, it just wasn’t for me.

A Splendid Ruin by Megan Chance is an atmospheric thriller set in San Francisco in 1906, the year of the great earthquake.
May Kimble's life has been shaken up and torn apart long before the earthquake, the illegitimate child of the son of a wealthy family , she has never met her father , and does not even know his name. When her mother dies she is shipped off to live with her mother's sister and her family in San Francisco. At first this seems like just the fresh start she needs, especially when her cousin Goldie takes her under her wing and promises to introduce her to the cream of society. Before too long however May starts to notice that life in her new home is not as perfect as it seems, her cousin is sneaking out of the house at night and her aunt lives in a haze of laudanum. Even the servants seem to be trying to warn her that something is not right. Just as she begins to unravel the truth the noose tightens around her and she finds herself locked away in an asylum accused of murdering her aunt. It will take a literal earthquake to free her and set her on the path to uncovering the truth.
This was a tense read with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader turning the page. I thought the author did a great job of bringing the city and the time period to life on the page and the mystery element of the book was clever and fit the setting really well.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This book was a slow burn at first, but quickly picks up about halfway through. I love the picture the author painted about the setting and time period!

As the 1906 San Francisco earthquake rages around her, May Kimble discovers that the family that had taken her in is involved in secrecy and intrigue. Drawing on her own strength, May will forge her way through this momentous time in history. Well written.

Set shortly before the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, this highly recommended and immersive novel reminds us to be careful what we wish for. Arriving destitute in San Francisco, into the welcoming arms of family, May Kimble is star-struck by her ‘golden’ cousin and her aristocratic uncle, and falls headfirst into the luxurious opulence of their world, of which she has only ever dreamed. As weeks turn into months, she finds herself increasingly enmeshed in her new family’s crushing kindness. Though alarm bells ring in her head, May doesn’t want to think this jackpot she has stumbled upon is anything but real, but her wilful ignorance robs her of a great deal and at great personal cost.

Ostracised by society, May has nothing but time to think on her revenge, after she discovers the true reason for her uncle and cousin’s duplicity. She spends her days practising patience, storing away every piece of information she can glean – anything she can use to clear her name – with the help of the only two people she can trust. As her determination and strength grow alongside her hatred, will she abandon her moral fibre and use that hate to bad ends?

I first encountered Megan Chance with her book A Drop of Ink and have been hooked ever since, reading all of her previous novels. I have yet to be disappointed. Her subjects vary but have a similar sense of the creepy unknown, conjuring a wonderful sense of menace: duplicitous characters, family secrets and cliff-hanger chapter endings. I read A Splendid Ruin in one sitting, unable to put the book down. This is about trust and recognising that if something seems too good to be true, it probably is.

This is a beautiful historical fiction that is full of secrets, questions, and so much more! Megan Chance has written an absolutely stunning story with words that flow seamlessly taking you into the story and away from your every day life. I couldn't put this down, and you won't be able to either!