Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe definitely lured me in with the stunning cover. I'm a sucker for that 1920s opulent decadence and the accompanying aestethic, and combined with family secrets... This tells the story of Mae, raised on an island among a rich family as a sort of foundling, though not quite part of them. It is full of magic and mystery and of people keeping secrets. Nevertheless, I didn't fully fall in love with it, as I felt that the characters didn't come to life as much as I would have liked them to. Many of them ultimately blended together and much was predictable. It was still a fun YA read, but not one that I think I will be rereading. It's interesting that these Gatsby-esque settings are setting a trend at the moment, but that essentially means that this one will be overshadowed by stronger books in the same space, I think.

The title is spot on, the world created on the island is detailed and fantastic. It's been decades since I've read The Tempest, and while I'm not sure I'd call this a reimagining, it has similar themes (family, power, desire/wanting) I think a more accurate description is that The Tempest was a jumping off point for this novel.

Mae may have no real world life experience, having never left the island, but she is not as innocent as the family would like to believe. Mae has dreams - mostly about having magic of her own. The various members of the Prosper family were also interesting.

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.

Forbidden magic, a family secret, and a night to reveal it all...

Thanks to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I typically do not review books that I don’t finish on Netgalley. However, this is a case where I feel like it’s a worthwhile thing to do because I did read approximately half the book. Unfortunately, it never clicked for me in any way at all. The intro hinges on an unwanted arranged marriage, a confusing world, and characters that feel one dimensional. The book lacked cohesion and really did not work for me.

I was really looking forward to reading this one. You can’t always love everything though. I think that I’m in the minority on my response to this one. I really hope that it does well and finds the right audience. I just happened to not be that audience. It was more ruined than bright for me.

This book started out feeling like an info dump. I tried really hard to get into it but I just couldn't. While the concept seemed interesting, once I started reading it just didn't draw me in and I couldn't quite get a grasp on this world. We're just sort of, thrown into it from the start without much explanation.

A dazzling 1920s reimagining of Shakespeare’s The Tempest.

Where do I even begin? I think that I’ll be making this book my personality for the rest of the month. The magic system, the characters and the setting are all incredibly well written, and I’m going to try to get my hands on a finished copy as soon as it comes out.

The plot is intriguing all on it’s own. I mean, a young woman who has lived on a magical island controlled by a wealthy family her whole life is suddenly thrown into a whirlwind of mystery? That sounds like such an exciting read. Plus, it’s set during the 1920s, and it’s a Shakespeare retelling. Sign me up.

Mae, also known as Mousy Mae, is the star of the show. She’s the daughter of the Prosper family’s steward who has been waiting until her 18th birthday to finally marry her crush, also known as Miles Prosper. But when the lady of the house arranges her marriage to the heir and black sheep of the family, she knows that she has to do everything she can to call off the marriage. Thus sending her spiraling down a rabbit hole of well told lies and family secrets. What’s more is that she only has a single night to make everything right.

The well crafted backstory effortlessly weaved into the present, creating a very believable history that didn’t feel like it was dumped onto a page. The characters were leaping off the pages, and while there wasn’t much description of what they looked like, it wasn’t hard to imagine them. Had this been a physical copy, I think I would’ve run out of tabs to mark my favourite lines.

Plus the ending?? I wished that there was more of this wonderful story because I teared up multiple times during the last few chapters and the ending caught me so off guard that I think I dropped my kindle. Samatha Cohoe is a wonderful writer and I’m very glad she has other books so that I can immerse myself in her poetic, magical writing style again.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Wednesday Books/St. Martins Press for granting me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

I have tried to read this twice three months apart and just can’t get past 25%. I think it’s time to just label this one a DNF.

I was rather looking forwards to this book. I enjoyed the author's debut, and this is a <em>Tempest</em> inspired book where the Prospero of the book is quite clearly the villain (I really don't like the character in the play!) However, what I got wasn't really a historical fantasy, or what I wanted (or entirely what the blurb promised) and it was rather disappointing in the end.

It's more a book about tangled love lives and messy family dynamics due to money, with the occasional remembrance that, oh yes, this is technically a fantasy - let's cram in the magic spirits again. It did really feel like the fantasy was a second thought, existing in the little spaces left by the rest of the book, tacked on a bit awkwardly to give a dramatic finale. It didn't feel well integrated.

<em>The Tempest</em> is clearly more of a springing off point, and then the author swam a fair way through the water away from the original play inspiration. I probably wouldn't have been so disappointed by that if the fantasy element clearly inspired by the book hadn't felt so tacked on, because I do like to see where an idea can be taken. But it was just another reminder that this wasn't the book I was expecting and wanted.

This is a book set on a fictional island off the coast of 1920s England. It's also a book that uses American English. This means the grammar is wrong (British past participles are often different!) and the dialect too. A 1920s British girl "stepping out of her pants for a swim" is something different from what the author means!

It really jerked me out the book every time the characters used obvious Americanisms, because it undermined to world for me. I couldn't believe it was set in the UK because they were speaking like Americans. The book didn't <em>need</em> to be set in the UK - it has literally no affect on the plot - so it could have been set in a fictional US island and then there would be no dialectal jarring.

This book was decent. I skimmed a lot through it, a few things would grab my attention here and there but I needed faster pacing, it just kind of seemed to drag. It starts out with such good promise. I think others will enjoy it, maybe my head wasn't in the right place for it when I read it.

3.5 stars.

Bright Ruined Things is a historical fantasy, set in the 1920s on an isolated island beyond the coast of England. Magical control of the spirits on the island and their energies have provided a type of magical fuel that has made the Prosper family very wealthy & powerful. There is a very Gatsby feel about the atmosphere and there is definitely some allegorical work at play in the narrative that adds to the intrigue. The setting is nice and dark with a good gothic flare.

While I appreciated the setting and the basic gist of the narrative, there were some things I struggled with. The magic system was interesting, though at times confusing. The voice of the novel comes off a bit immature. Rated for YA, there are moments where the tone is more middle grade and I expected better of Mae (the protagonist). The characters are interesting, but not as fleshed out as I would like. Instead, they tend to get a bit of a stereotypical development that made them less likable and didn't give me as much interest in their individual outcomes. Lord Prosper, in particular, felt like a bit of a cardboard cutout.

That being said, I did mention that the characters were interesting. I enjoyed Coco quite a bit and there was some good underlying character to Ivo. There was quite a bit to explore with Alasdair and Miles that I think could have gone a long way to furthering the plot and upping the stakes/intrigue. The characters improved as the end neared, and the ending itself did wrap up quite well. It was a pleasant reading experience and not a bad early novel, so I hope to see more from Cohoe in the future.

* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *

Bright Ruined Things is a dark ya fantasy set in the 1920’s. The novel is inspired by Shakespeare’s play The Tempest.

Mae has lived on the island with the Prosper family her whole life. When her 18th birthday approaches, she’s worried that she’s going to get kicked off. Mae would do anything to keep her place on the island and that includes marrying the outcast of the family, Ivo Prosper. When things start going haywire with the magic and spirits on the island, Mae thinks Ivo has something to do with it.

This book was absolutely incredible! I loved everything about it. The setting, the characters, the magic system, everything. When this book started going, it didn’t stop until the very end. I was intrigued the entire time reading this story. There is a little bit of a love triangle throughout the book but it was written very well and I enjoyed it. I will say the only thing I disliked about the book was how toxic one of the friendships was throughout the story. Mae deserved better.

Overall, I highly recommend reading this. It was magical, dark, and the ending was perfect.

I really wanted to love this one but it fell a little short for me. Possibly because I haven't yet read Shakespeare's Tempest. (Gasp! I know.) I loved the sound of the synopsis, with a magical island and deep dark secrets and everything, but it just felt like things always were a little *less* than they could have been. Maybe it was Mae as a narrator - she was a little too distant and unfeeling for me. The setting was my favorite thing about this, and I think the descriptions of the island and the house and why Mae loves them all so much were the strongest points. If the magical island aspect appeals to you too, definitely give it a read.

The Bright Ruined Things knows how to hold you until the very last second!! I found myself intrigued and just as eager and curious as the main heroine Mae! Samantha Cohoe did a great job of writing a book that’s wasn’t predictable what so ever. Many of my guesses and theories were wrong and I loved that most! I also liked the dynamic between Mae, Coco, Miles and Ivo more than anything, they made me want to stick around! Over all, I enjoyed this book!

Intriguing and captivating story. The story setting is unique and well-described. The characters are not so likable except for Ivo. The story was fast-paced, well-written with a lot of mysteries involved.

I enjoyed reading it and recommend it to those who love magic and sorcery. The ending was a what-if for me. I was hoping for a happily ever after.

I'm thankful to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Samantha Cohoe is quickly proving to me that she's an author I can rely on for a good time. This is the second book she's released, the second I've read as an ARC, and the second I've hit the twenty percent mark and simply... not been able to put the book down.

<i>Bright Ruined Things</i> follows Mae, a girl orphaned by her custodian father, left on the private island he worked on. Mae has never known anything else, and what a place to be isolated in: she lives on the Prosper island, where the Prosper patriarch found spirits and wells of aether and was able to amass a fortune off of the magic. She has never been to a mundane land without spirits flitting around doing tasks, and she's terrified to no longer be allowed to stay. When things start going wrong and a spirit ends up hurt, Mae is pulled in many directions by each Prosper she knows, and she has to decide just how far she's willing to go to belong.

A few chapters in, I was wondering what was so enrapturing about this book, and I settled on the dialogue. The characters felt like they were leaping off the page to bicker around me, and I couldn't get enough. I feel like if Cohoe ever wanted to write a script she'd ace it, honestly. So many of the statements people left Mae to puzzle over were wrenching my heart, and everyone's <i>constantly</i> changing motives and perspectives raised the stakes sufficiently even when I had no real idea what was going on with the island.

This is a retelling / re-imagining of Shakespeare's <i>The Tempest,</i> and so some things are predictable in that way, but a lot of the character dynamics really had me curious. Some of the roles are switched (I believe Mae would have been our Miranda but she is not related to the Prospers in this), I was beyond surprised at how much I loved Ivo, and how much I wished he could simply explain things without finding myself placing blame on him for what he withheld. I liked the time period chosen for this retelling - it feels fitting for the 20's to be dealing with this level of magical grandeur and selfishness.

The real kicker, and probably what pulls this so close to its inspiration, is how maddening the mindsets everyone has can be. This is one of those books where everyone's decision making and opinions makes you wish you could play Whack-a-mole with the lot of them and sort out their priorities - but since I read this so quickly it wasn't a grating thing, it just felt more akin to how you'd want to throw your remote at the heroine in a rom-com movie for not <i>seeing</i> what's right in front of her. Except, with everything, lol.

This story also takes place throughout the span of a couple of days, with the majority taking place over one night. Sometimes, a pace like that can be dizzying, threads easily lost, but here it was easy to track because the chessboard is the island and we watch Mae move around the board and learn from her interactions with the other pieces at play - it simply becomes "which of these is the danger to Mae" and "how long until she sees the truth of it". It's quick, and fun, and even when I didn't like some characters (like Miles), I was never dreading moments with any of them - just craving answers. Chloe Gong called this "deftly plotted" and I really have to agree. It feels like a book from an author with dozens of books under her belt, not two.

I don't know, given some time I can probably find more intelligible things to say about this book, but I'll leave you with this: from its absolutely fitting title to the perfect ambiguity of its ending, I was taken on a damn fun ride and I didn't once want to get off.

Samantha Cohoe is able to weave a wonderful tale that kept me wondering what would happen next while caring about the characters with a definitive plot and complete resolution. This is a dark tale of a family patriarch willing to do anything to keep his power, a girl willing to give up what she wanted most in the face of horrific sacrifice and danger, and a family that was torn apart by secrets. The magical island imagery is believable and the way in which the magic and the real world are woven together is done very well.
I would recommend this book to those that love a story about love, longing to belong, fantasy, and contemporary fiction.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc of this work in exchange for my honest review.

I loved the imagery and the pacing of Bright Ruined Things, but found it hard to find a character to root for. Some of the Prosper family felt underdeveloped, and I had a hard time getting invested. I would definitely read future work by this author, though.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Although this is about magic on an island, the cover gave me Great Gatsby vibes (one of my favs), and I enjoy reading about that time period.

I immediately was captivated by the lush imagery in this book and intrigued by the magic. The beauty of the island and its ocean views filled my mind, and I felt as if I were running along the cliffs with Mae. The spirits who reside there add to the atmosphere – until they begin to die. There’s also a huge buildup of anticipation to the family secret reveal – I imagined all sorts of things and came up with several theories.

After Mae’s father, a servant to the family, passes away when she’s a young girl, Lord Prosper promises to let her remain on the island until she’s grown. Her best friend is Coco, Lord Prosper’s granddaughter, and she dreams of marrying Miles, his grandson. She longs to learn magic, although it’s only taught to the heir – never any outsiders. Why Mae would want to join this family or be anywhere near them is beyond my understanding. There’s not one likeable person among the clan. They’re a manipulative, spoiled bunch, and all I can conclude is since she’s never been off the island and gotten to know other people, she just doesn’t know any better. Ivo has potential, but he doesn’t get a ton of page time, and he repeatedly warns Mae away from magic. Even Mae didn’t impress me very much. She comes across as materialistic, nosy (she’s big on eavesdropping), and dim-witted. Once she figures out the lay of the land and exactly what’s going on, she becomes more tolerable, and by the epilogue I liked her much better.

This is loosely based on Shakespeare’s The Tempest, but it’s been years since I read it so I can’t make any comparisons. Although I had mixed feelings about most of the story, the ending is perfect and exactly what I’d hoped. Overall, Bright Ruined Things is an enjoyable story, but you may struggle to find a worthy character to root for.

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

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for an early release peak at this book!

I am going to keep this short because I honestly don't have anything good or bad to say about this book. It was an okay read. It started out really strong, just like the author's debut. I really enjoyed the magic system and the characters at first, but I ended up skimming at lot towards the end. I wasn't really invested in the characters and the pace sometimes died off in places. I liked the idea of the spirits and loved the setting and time period. I am interested enough to read more from this author!

Bright Ruined Things took me by surprise in the best way. As someone who struggles with historical fiction, I was a little on the fence about this one, but the description of this book was too good to pass up. And let me tell you, I'm glad I took a chance on this book.

Bright Ruined Things was easy to read and get swept into. With mystery, intrigue, magic, and just a touch of romance, Bright Ruined Things makes for an exciting Young Adult read.

thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

4.5 ★
'Something is wrong on this island, with this family.'

this was so good.

and im going to be completely honest and admit that i did not expect to like this very much at all.

but this story really just scratched an itch in my heart. i loved it.

- the twisted, ambitious, messy family that were the Prospers. i hated and loved every one of them. i have a thing for messed up, rich, power-hungry families, and their dynamic was just fascinating.
'All these wretched Prospers were so wretchedly beautiful.'

- the writing was absolutely lovely. it was lyrical, compelling, and flowed flawlessly- really brought the book to life

- the setting was probably my favorite. it was a historical fantasy set in the 1920's, on this small, mysterious, magical island filled with aether and spirits. it was dark and glittery and sinful and ugh i just loved the atmosphere.

- if you're a fan of chaos, betrayals, scheming, twisted secrets, and revenge, pick this up.

- the fast-paced plot, how there was never a dull moment, the way it all took place in just one day. it fits the story so well. as the book progresses, you can tell the title's becoming true- there's a delicious build-up to this bright, corrupt, lavish party where tragedy and disaster are becoming increasingly imminent.

the ending was so well done. i never would've predicted it and its an understatment to say it left me shocked. and hurt. that was cruel, ms. cohoe. i applaud you.

overall, i loved how refreshing and captivating this story was, and despite the couple chapters it took for me to warm up to the characters, i ended up completely enraptured, and would definitely recommend this.

what a wonderful book to start the new year with.