An interesting story that had more potential. I like fantasy and the creativity it brings. This was a story that could have had more depth. There are multiple characters and you don't ever get a chance to really understand their motivations for their choices. I felt the story theme was one that was done a hundreds times: power taken from others and then the origin suppressed and covered up. It was slow in the first half and tried to build a romance into but failed. I'm not sure I would be excited to recommend this book but for most they would find the story platable.

Mae has lived on the island the Prospers oversee for as long as she can remember. But now she’s 18, and the Prospers’ obligation to her father has expired, she knows her time is running out, and she may never get a taste of the magic that keeps the island prospering. (Ha.) But tonight is First Night, the yearly celebration of the anniversary of the Prospers discovery of the island and the spirits that inhabit it. But Mae is about to realize that the magic she’s always craved may not be the gift that it seems, and this First Night may just be the last.

I didn’t know what to expect from this read but it’s not at all what I was given. If the cover wasn’t clearly 1920s vibes I wouldn’t know that there was a specific time period to this story at all. It’s a very loose adaptation of Shakespeare’s The Tempest, though more inspired by the Bard’s tale than based on; there are plays on names and the magical elements can find their origin in the play, but that’s about how closely linked it gets.

Mae might be the most pitiful protagonist I’ve ever read. Even odder, she’s very aware of the fact that she’s pitiful but does nothing to change except in very specific moments – that were honestly my favorite of hers – that were so out of character and even more fleeting, that it’s almost as if they didn’t happen.

The romance aspect was very confusing. Mae’s childhood crush clearly doesn’t feel the same way she does, but gives in to her wishes, which leaves a very one-sided relationship and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. The surprise romantic interest is hinted at and never resolved or given any time to live and breathe before it is abruptly cut off. I’d say I appreciate that Mae doesn’t end up with any one person but the epilogue hints that she does – though the book ends before we get to see any of it.

Something about this book leaves me so completely unsatisfied that it angers me. There are no consequences for actions that are decently despicable, the little character growth that there is feels unearned and unrealistic, and we’re told there’s more to this story but aren’t allowed to see it unfold.

Trigger warning: bullying, neglect, threats of sexual violence, abuse, imprisonment, kidnapping, trauma, fire, death, enslavement, gaslighting, toxic relationships.

Instantly gripping and well written. Fantastic storytelling. I couldn't stop thinking about it and tbh I'm not sure I can even now that it's over.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely loved this book! I found it hard to put down. I highly recommend reading it! You won’t be disappointed.

This one was just okay for me. There wasn't anything that really stuck out plot or writing wise that knocked me off my feet. Characters were pretty cookie-cutter characters who were exactly who you would expect them to be.

Personally I don't know that I will pick up another Cohoe book after this one. I read her previous book as well and I just wasn't in love with either of them. While this one definitely stepped up the game, I'm not a huge fan of that last page cliffhanger ending with the romance sub-plot. There was a LOT with this romance plot that I just didn't understand and couldn't get behind.

Honestly, I considered DNFing this book multiple times but kept reading because I wanted to know what the big secret was and it just wasn't that good. The pieces that we were trying to put together never really went together. The other characters kept telling the MC she was stupid for not getting it but like... I didn't get it either and I'm LOOKING for it. The whole "this is why we have magic" plot just didn't hold up for me. part of that may be because this world was never really fleshed out enough for me to understand it. I don't know if that was deliberate to keep the BIG SECRET a secret, but it's just not my style.

Also, I've heard a lot of people talk about this 1920's feel of this and I just don't see it. Unless you're talking about the style of clothing maybe? But legit, it's a remote island. There's no tv and their electric is from *MAGIC* it could be set in any time period.

I did enjoy the writing. I thought everything flowed well and really brought forth this air of mystery and such to what was going on.

While I thought the writing was good, I do wish that I connected more with the characters. I never connected with them which means they didn't have a lasting impression on me. I hate this as I loved the writing and would have loved to have been more invested in the story than I was.

Samantha Cohoe's Bright Ruined Things is a standalone young adult fantasy, a retelling of Shakespeare's classic play the Tempest that, at the same time, has certain gatsby-esque vibes. It follows the story of Mae who lives on this private isolated island that belongs to the wealthy family of Prospers. While she's surrounded by magic, Mae doesn't have any of her own but when the spirits of the island start dying, she's sucked in the mystery.

I must say that the worldbuilding was quite an interesting one, which in the world of YA fantasy, is rare. Especially since the story is standalone, I feel like the author did a great job at describing how the magic worked, how the world worked, and made me intrigued. The element of spirits and their mysterious deaths was another that made me want to read the book further.

The thing that didn't work for me was, unfortunately, the characters. I couldn't really connect to Mae and although there were moments when I almost liked her, most of the time I couldn't really understand her choices, or she made me frustrated, even annoyed. This is sadly not only Mae but most of the characters. On top of that, the romance in this book felt also flat for me and I didn't really care for any of the ships.

Another drawback for me was the pacing of the book because a lot of the time I felt bored and I didn't have much motivation to continue reading. I would much rather pick up other book than this one.

It’s no surprise that young adult characters are sometimes judged from a mature, experienced lens for decisions that are very much based on their ‘young’ age. So I always set a reminder for myself while reading YA books: don’t judge the protagonist too much for their choices and simply comment on them from the story’s purpose. Reading Bright Ruined Things forced me to go back to this reminder again and again. Mae has lived all her life on magician Lord Prosper’s private island—in a mansion where spirits serve the rich family. Her presence, as the daughter of a passed-away mansion’s steward, is an orphan barely tolerated and will be in exile on her eighteenth birthday.

Mae fears this family but also desires to belong, especially on this land she has always called home. She has a best friend, Coco, who is the Lord’s granddaughter and has a crush on Coco’s cousin, Miles, who is disaffected. Luckily, Mae is offered a chance to marry in the family: to the adopted son, Ivo, who is a grumpy heir to Lord Prosper. When a legendary First Night rolls in to celebrate the yearly commemoration of Lord Prosper’s harnessing the island’s magic, Mae is determined to capture Miles and become a magical Prosper—to not just escape the engagement with Ivo she’s suddenly thrust into but also to still belong and reap the protection that comes with this powerful island.

But the land is dying and the spirits are sickening, making it difficult to harness magic. As the perfect evening unravels betrayals and secrets, and Mae attempts to save the island, she is torn between the magic she has always aspired to inherit and the realisation of what it demands in exchange. Spanned over twenty-four hours, this intriguing story about social ladders and glorious worlds follows a complicated mystery with suspenseful undertones. Sadly, the marketing fails the book as it isn't truly a retelling of The Tempest but is simply inspired by the Shakespearean tale, and the 1920s setting feels vague. The time it promises to take the readers back to, with the Gatsby vibes, seems like any random secondary period owned by rich people and magical spirits. While Chloe Gong’s debut is set in 1920s China, there’s a timeliness that These Violent Delights delivers through the world-building, culture, and fashion. Not to compare but Cohoe doesn’t manage to transport us to an era that could’ve made for a great backdrop for this story. Similarly, the glamour promised through the cover also seems unpolished and a better recommendation for that particular aspect would be Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles.

Mae is a determined protagonist but isn’t a strong heroine right from the start. She is often just a victim of the magical system put in place by those high up in class hierarchy, and even those she associates with (Coco, Miles, and Ivo) drive her through the respect or commitment they command—even if unsaid—through the magical power they hold. Though, the story does give her this need to simply be a catalyst because of the confinement she has always experienced and the curiosity that has always plagued her mind. So she can be understood as a main character but can’t really be cheered for. Still, there’s a change, a development in her personality worth appreciating towards the end. Unfortunately, the slow pacing makes you choke even before you reach the changing lanes and the relationships that could have motivated a reader to push through—whether romantic options or the almost-manipulative friendship—don’t give you enough to hold onto. The quirky Ivo did pull in and the ultimate revelations did surprise but the glimmering bits were overshadowed by the rest.

This book had amazing vibes, very atmospheric and lovely writing. I enjoyed that it was a retelling of The Tempest, and I felt like that was a very original decision. I would be happy to read more from this author as this was a delight.

Show me a cover reminiscent of The Great Gatsby and make it a retelling of a Shakespeare play and I’m all in. Unfortunately, Bright Ruined Things didn’t live up to the great potential it had going for it. I thought the book started out strong and I was interested to see what would happen with each of the characters, but by the middle, I really didn’t care much about them so I just pressed on to finish the book to see if my views on them would change. Sadly, they did not. There was nothing inherently wrong, it was just a fairly forgettable story.

While the concept was interesting it felt awakwardly developed, with lots of drama just caused by miscommunication and needless secrets

After reading two of Samantha Cohoe's books, I have decided that her writing is simply not for me. I do think others would enjoy it, but I personally struggled to become invested in either A Golden Fury or this one.

Bright Ruined Things is a loose retelling of Shakespeare's The Tempest, which was the main thing that interested me in this book. I love retellings, and Shakespeare retellings in particular. I firmly believe that people writing retellings can take many liberties with the characters and plot. However, I didn't feel like this one kept the heart of The Tempest, and I was somewhat let down by the retelling aspect.

I was unable to connect with Mae and didn't really understand her development as a character. It felt forced when it was there at all. I also did not connect to any of the side characters, and neither of the romantic threads felt well developed. The world also felt barely developed.

I did like how it took place over one day (like The Tempest) and I thought that was done well.

I was a little disappointed in this one. It took me awhile to finish because I wasn't wanting to pick it up on a regular basis.

Bright Ruined Things was a fun and quick read! I connected with the characters right away and was rooting for them, even when they themselves were struggling. It was indeed atmospheric and wonderful. It also really gave me that 1920's feeling that I craved.

Bright Ruined Things by Samantha Cohoe is a retelling of The Tempest. Mae has lived on the island as long as she can remember. The island is owned by the Prosper family that Mae has grown up beside. When Mae notices something strange happening to the family's magic and spirits on the island she is forced to investigate. She wants more than anything to have magic of her own so she can stay on the island forever, but she realizes that might be harder than she thought.
I really loved the glitz and glam that is in this retelling. Mae was a smart and interesting protagonist and the Prosper family definitely kept me entertained. The mystery hanging over the book was well plotted and the conclusion paid off in the end. I enjoyed this book quite a bit even though it has been years since I read The Tempest.

Samantha Cohoe is back with another brilliant novel, Bright Ruined Things. This one blends historical fiction with fantasy in all the best ways, creating a tale that feels both familiar and new. Oh, did I mention that it's set during a fictional 1920s?

Mae has always lived a bit of a sheltered life, even though she depends entirely on the charity of others. More specifically, the charity of the Prosper family. This very family controls all the magic around.

Secretly, Mae has always desired a bit of magic to call her own. When First Night happens, the world around her begins to unravel, making it clear that the story the Prosper family has been telling all these years is little more than a lie.

“Something is wrong on this island, with this family.”

A lot is going on within the pages of Bright Ruined Things. In truth, I think that I'm still processing it. But that's not going to stop me from talking about it – and trust me, it is worth talking about.

Here's the thing, if you loved the Great Gatsby, you're going to love the vibes of Bright Ruined Things. Though I imagine the cover (and description) already made that pretty obvious. The biggest difference, other than perspectives, would be the inclusion of magic. Oh, and the secluded nature of the island.

I think the most fascinating element about Bright Ruined Things is that it isn't a retelling of The Great Gatsby. Do you know what it is a retelling of? The Tempest. Though it steals the atmosphere from the 1920s (hence the Gatsby vibes), creating something wholly new.

I don't normally find myself saying this, but I would give anything to see Bright Ruined Things turned into a movie. Or a play! That would be a bit of an ironic twist. Yet, for obvious reasons, I feel like this story would do well with a visual element to the storytelling.

no that’s the only feedback i can think of. i cried because i didn’t want to read this book or finish it

A very Great Gadsby-esque story except with magic and spirits and possible murder mystery. Mae has long lived on the Prior's island, where her father was once the grounds keeper. Now that she's almost 18, she fears she'll be sent away, no longer welcome on this island of magic, where wind spirits sing and wealth springs from the aether out of the ground. As the island prepares for the annual First Night celebration party, all the Prior grandchildren return and with them a number of mysteries that could tear the family apart.

I loved the atmosphere of this book and that the entire thing occurs over one day though it feels like so much happens. Mae is an interesting heroine, teetering between wanting to be what everyone wants her to be and trying to become her true self with no experience off the island. Her relationships with the Prior grandchildren is fascinating, especially when she learns of Coco and Miles' real feelings towards her when they don't think she's listening. The magic system is vague, but as Mae knows nothing of its workings, that makes sense.

The only thing that felt a little off for me was Mae's relationship with Miles. It felt flimsy and uncertain for a love that was meant to have lasted years on her part. I also wanted more from Ivo other than messy heir in despair. He starts to bloom a little towards the end of the book, but I don't feel like he's really given enough space to have an epic hero moment.

Still this is a glossy, shiny mystical mystery on a magic island with a wealthy family full of secrets. It definitely delivers on what the cover promises, and the final epilogue is the perfect touch even if I desperately wished for one more sentence.

Thank you so much for allowing me to have access to the digital arc! This will be a book that I will be ordering for the school library. Because while it might not have been my cuppa, I'm sure it will find readers in the library!

"Bright Ruined Things" combines the magical elements of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" with the lavish and bleak lifestyles of Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." I should preface this by saying that I am a big fan of anything Shakespeare-related. "The Tempest" is one of my favorite plays by him, and I think it provides a great starting point for retellings. With that being said, I felt like "Bright Ruined Things" heavily relied on the reader's knowledge of the Shakespearean play, so much so that it failed to develop strong character arcs and world-building of its own. Fortunately, the plot of the book is so interesting that the lack of depth to the characters and to the setting did not completely tarnish its charm. I found the story interesting and captivating, though I wish more risks had been taken by the author. I was slightly disappointed in the queer representation in the book, which I believe could have been expanded a bit more. Still, it is a story that I enjoyed and that I would revisit in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with an ARC of this book! All opinions are my own.