Overall, I enjoyed reading this book! Though some flaws held it back, some elements such as a puzzle needing to be solved, an interesting main character, and a setting that help to enhance the story.

Characters – Oh yeah, for sure loved all of the characters that I interacted with. Hmm… yes, yes I’m still sticking with that statement. Even with the jerks and bad guys of the book. I didn’t love them like I wanted to be their friend or anything but I definitely loved what they provided to the book. I still need to read the sequel – ugh I keep talking about other books while trying to review ONE, I’m sorry! – but there are definitely characters that I liked in this one that I hope I see again. Iris’s storyline was so damn interesting too! I like her a lot has a character and I want to learn more.

Atmosphere – Yes, definitely immersive as heck. It makes me want to live during this time period, kind of. I mean I love this time period for some reason when I’m reading books, but it’s not like I would have been treated any better than Iris was. But I like the added magical element that we get to see. The energy in the scenes was very palpable! Very, very convincing. I was INVESTED.

Writing – I always love Raughley’s writing, so there’s nothing really to critique about it. It was great. Loved it.

Plot – I feel like there were a couple of plots in here, and that they will eventually all come together. I liked all of it though, and it makes me wonder what the heck is going to happen in the second book. I’m so glad it’s finally out now. I really want to know more about Iris’s past though, because that in itself was very interesting. Like, I need more.

Intrigue – Yep. Yep I wanted to spend all of my time reading this. I hated having to put it down, and I hate that it took me so damn long to get through and pick up again but I’m glad I did. Excellent.

Logic – I think the decisions that the characters made were aligned with who they were as characters. There really weren’t any moments where I was like “why the hell would you do this?” to the point that it just wasn’t believable or acceptable to me. So yeah, I thought it was pretty logical for what it was and I liked it.

Enjoyment – I hella enjoyed it. ‘Nuff said.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

A thrilling historical fantasy about a tight-rope walker, a deadly tournament, and unnatural powers should be on the top of your Fall TBR. Set in an alternate fantastical Victorian London, this novel has earned the praise of rising stars in YA such as Chloe Gong.

Overall

I don’t know that I’ve ever requested to be on a tour so fast as when this one popped up. A fierce Black girl in an adorable dress on a freaking tightrope with not one but two fierce stabby things? It’s everything I ever dreamed of!

The Bones of Ruin is a dark fantasy set in a world reminiscent of Victorian London. It’s filled with strong characters, squad vibes, fun banter, super cool powers, and a mystery that’ll grab you by your collar and refuse to let go.

. . . who still wears collars these days? But you know what I mean. It’s gripping.

I’m going to admit that there were a few things that didn’t work for me, like all the (very many) love interests (which is just a thing I’m not a huge fan of in general and definitely a me problem and not the book). Overall, though, this book was just … phew. Banter, stabbiness, fights, and freaking superpowers. They’re not called that, but let’s be honest, that’s what they were, basically.

My Thoughts

- The Bones of Ruin transports the reader to a fantasy version of Victorian London, where people are turning up with mysterious powers. But also . . . it’s a lot like Victorian London, so not great for our Black protagonist . . . or any woman or person of color, really. As one might imagine, this brings up a lot of issues. There are discussions of classism, sexism, racism, and probably quite a few other -isms in this book that are guaranteed to boil your blood. These are all background issues, things slipped seamlessly into the overall story that are things the characters face only by virtue of who they are. I appreciated the way Raughley didn’t make a big deal out of it each time it happened, which underscored how commonplace these experiences were for the characters. They understood exactly what struggles they would face as far as the world in which they live (in that regard, at least).

This also leads to some powerful moments around autonomy and self and the ways people are used. It’s a topic that’s especially poignant for our protagonist, Iris, because it seems like everyone around her is out to use her in some way, and she’s constantly in positions where another character feels entitled to her in some way.

- Iris herself is an enigma, and she spends the majority of the book trying to find herself—in a semi-literal sense, thanks to a nasty bout of amnesia. Iris remembers nothing of her past or where she came from, and as the book opens, it seems like she wasn’t looking too hard for it, either. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately? I don’t know), she’s put in a position where she has the opportunity to learn the truth . . . except, she’s warned, it’s a dangerous one. Which of course doesn’t deter her, because why would you walk away from danger and death?! Pffft.

The tension is so delicious as Iris begins to piece together her past, little by little. Not all clues move the mystery forward. Some just complicate things and make you want to know the truth even more. I was entirely invested in this mystery and all the creepy twists and turns it takes!

- There’s a definite squad going on here, full of characters with big personalities. And, best of all, they have powers! Why they have powers, who’s to say? That’s part of the mystery. Suffice it to say, though, that these aren’t any old ordinary group of humans. I loved the mystery behind the powers, as well as discovering each new one. They’re all very unique and different and so perfectly suited to the person! Plus, they make for some really interesting fight scenes and situations.

- The banter between the squad is absolutely delicious. Even when they’re technically “enemies” or competing against each other. I am always in favor of banter, okay? In a dark fantasy like this, where there’s a lot of heavy material, it’s almost necessary. Plus, it just helps endear readers to characters. True story. I absolutely cannot wait to see where the next book will take these characters, after everything that happened between them in this book! They’re flirty, they’re messy, they’re dangerous, and they’re a squad that I definitely want to join again.

Sticking Points

- This isn’t necessarily a sticking point, but it was for me. Not even a love triangle, The Bones of Ruin has a love . . . square? Parallelogram? Rhombus of death? On the one hand . . . banter! I’m always a huge fan of banter, especially between love interests. It’s my guilty pleasure. Gets me every time. On the other, love triangles are probably my least favorite trope because I usually feel like they’re kind of contrived. That was especially the case for this book. If you, however, enjoy love triangles, you’ll probably love this quirky cast of lovers.

There’s not even a triangle here, as three different men profess their feelings for Iris and Iris is . . . confused. Why, I’m not entirely sure, because this situation feels a bit like a no-brainer to me. But okay, she’s young and doesn’t know what she wants yet. Fine. It’s not a deal breaker, but it definitely came up enough for me to start rolling my eyes every time it did.

- Iris is a little too perfect, and in some ways that’s almost necessary given what we learn as the book progresses, but in some ways it also undermines the tension of the plot. Iris’s secret power, in case you missed it, is that she can’t die. It’s not a spoiler; it’s in the blurb. As one might imagine, in a high-stakes scenario, that sort of turns down the tension intensity. At no point was I particularly concerned about Iris or felt that she was in danger. The secondary characters, sure, but Iris, just by virtue of her power, was like, yeah, okay, so what? I concede that this is entirely necessary for the story Raughley is trying to tell. I really enjoyed some of the plot twists and surprises that come out of this. So it’s not necessarily a bad thing, but it was a little odd, especially with how much everyone worried about her, despite knowing this.

That being said, Iris also had a weird case of everyone either falling in love with her or becoming friends way too easily. Including enemies. Maybe especially enemies? I don’t know. I didn’t get it. There were several times I felt friendships/alliances weren’t earned but given just because the plot needed them to be that way. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t always the case, but it did stick out in the instances where it happened!

I really enjoyed the first half of this book. The circus, the drama, the Fanciful Freaks... but towards the end, the book just lost steam. I can't pinpoint when or why I lost interest. Iris is such a unique character! With a diverse cast of amazing characters and elements of magic, I was completely inboard to love this book 🤷‍♀️

Thank you to the author, publisher, and Net Galley for an ARC this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book was filled with action adventure, friendship, magic, little bit of romance, and twists and turns. The characters were diverse and interesting. I liked the friendships developed in this book. I still have so many questions- guess I'll have to wait for the next installment.

A good historical fantasy with a heroine who is strong but also flawed which will make her very much relatable to the audience. I wasn't a fan of the format of the narrative but a good read.

This was an odd and somewhat disquieting book. Set in the 1880s, it has many elements of steam punk; however, those elements are mixed with elements of magic, in the vein of the Flash: a sudden, unexplained event gives mysterious "powers" to people who happened to be in the vicinity at the time. Through the auspices of a secret society in London, some of the people are brought together, for purposes that vary within the group. The novel centers on Iris, who, in addition to having a special power, has no memory of anything before the event - and more, appears to have not aged in the decade since it occurs. Her quest for her missing past becomes part of a greater quest to discover where these powers came from, and what their purpose is.

Due to graphic violence which includes cannibalism, this book is not recommended for anyone under the age of 18.

"Use the dark as your cover."

Iris is a tightrope dancer on a journey to remember her past. She meets Adam Temple, who offers to help her find her memories again. So, Iris is encouraged to join the Tournament of Freaks. With several events taking place throughout the story, Iris is determined to regain her lost memories.

This story was definitely an interesting read! My only thing was the love interests in the story, they felt a little out of place or unnecessary. I look forward to reading more by Sarah Raughley soon.

Thank you to Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing) and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Dahomey Fighter. Tightrope Walker. Immortal Girl. The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley starts off with one heck of a character profile.

It’s been a while since I had this feeling about a character in a book, but Iris Marlow and I could be friends. I love that her character is a no-holds barred, unbowed by racism, I am okay with punching you in the face if you mess with me kind of girl. I vibed with her almost the entire time.

Super Power Central
This book felt like a combo of X-Men and Heroes. Everybody was coming out of the woodworks with this power or that! Iris can take a lickin and keep on tickin; one girl is the female version of Gambit; one of the guys is like my man Quicksilver. I loved it! And there wasn’t just diversity in powers there was diversity in characters too. These teens hail from around the world a consequence of the colonialism of Great Britain. There is also LGBTQ representation among the group of friends.

Stick To The 80/20 Rule
Iris is a tightrope walker in a circus act, so she has traveled a lot, but she is also a sheltered girl.

My girl had not one, not two, but three boys in love with her. As a matter of fact, it was like Iris had some type of pull on her that just made people fall in love with her. But let me make this clear, I am Team Jinn. None of that nonsense about Team Adam because that boy is a straight sociopath! Now I’ve seen this pattern so often with readers of books that have romance triangles, (although what would this be called a quad?) and the majority of the people always head towards the bad boy who is morally questionable.

Ummm, not this time! Adam gives if I wasn’t in awe of you and also needed you to accomplish my own goals I’d kill you vibes…even though you are cute. Not while Jinn is at her side! Nope! Not playing with that boy! If I could give Iris some advice, it would be stick to the 80/20 rule. Jinn is 80 and everybody else is 20.

Pacing
One thing that was a little annoying, but I stuck with everything because I was so into Iris’s character, was how long it took to get some hard facts on Iris’ full background story. I really wanted to shake (okay maybe dropkick) Adam into giving up some secrets. Everybody had some big secret about their identity and I got a little frustrated that it took so long to reveal most of them.

Movie Please!
Now for my Call to Action: Dear Netflix or Any Movie company, If you can produce a movie on Enola Holmes, then you can produce one for Iris Marlow from The Bones of Ruin by Sarah Raughley. They live in the same time period. They both are running around London kicking butt and trying to solve a mystery. Let’s get some #blackgirlmagic on the screen too! Fantastical Freaks for the win!

Tell me your recent favorite read?
Mine is Bones of ruin by @s_raughley, which I received from @turnthepagetours
as a part of the bookstagramtour.
Here is a mini review :
Synopsis: Iris, an African tightrope dancer has no memories of her past. She is currently working with a circus company when she meets a man who knows her best kept secret- she is an immortal . Adam Temple needs her to represent him in a deadly game , for which she will be rewarded with her past and more.
Review: This is a young adult historical fiction/fantasy set in Victorian London featuring a gladiatorial tournament. The author has effectively intertwined African mythology with colonial history. I loved how the lead owns herself- she's badass and knows her rights. The supporting characters Jinn , Maxwell and others have their own supernatural powers and backstories are dealt with equal importance and suspense. I loved the way Adam's Character was represented- I'm still confused as to whether he's a powerhungry demon or morally grey . We don't have many books showcasing colonialism's ill effects. There's a love quadrangle, which was not very bad( I hate romance in fantasies- it doesn't always work well) . The narrative is intriguing and keeps the readers hooked. There's a lot of bloodshed , cannibalism and gore - this is definitely not for the weak hearted.
Do pick this up if you love diverse fantasy , lore , puzzles and a date night with a page turning book.
Rating: 4/5
#letsreadownvoices
#sararaughley #bonesofruin #netgalley #bipocauthors #historicalfiction #bonesofruinreadalong #turnthepagetours

This book had one of the best opening chapters ever, but unfortunately, the rest of the book was a major flop for me. I decided to call it quits at 70% when neither the plot nor the characters progressed further than the surface.

I really, really wanted to fall in love with this book. It was one of my most anticipated reads for the year, so when I received a gifted copy, you can only imagine how ecstatic I was. The concept of an immortal tightrope walker in Victorian London chosen for a Hunger Games-style competition with other "freaks" was right up my alley. But Iris, the main character, just wasn't likable. Her personality was very bland, and I didn't care about the mystery of her origin at all. Not to mention, every man she encounters falls in love with her? The triangle or quadrangle or whatever you want to call it was too much for me. The dialogue was very repetitive and none of the characters felt fleshed out. The circus and competition aspect of the plotline is glossed over, and most of the story seems to focus on Iris' origin and lost memories.

I could go on but it's safe to say this book just isn't for me. If you're looking for a slow burn plot with insta-love type male characters, then you might enjoy it.

The Bones of Ruin is a young abut historical fantasy by Sarah Raughley, and is the first book in the Bones of Ruin series. I was hooked on The Bones of Ruin as soon as I read this one sentence blurb-“An African tightrope walker who can’t die gets embroiled in a secret society’s deadly gladiatorial tournament in this thrilling historical fantasy set in an alternate 1880s London” Mysterious powers? Secret society? Gladiator tournament? This book was so much fun! I really enjoyed it and I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

In The Bones of Ruin, we meet our main character Iris, who is an African tightrope dancer in a circus. The kicker is, she can’t remember her past, or why she has some sort of special power or ability that leaves her immune to death. On her quest for answers about her past, she finds herself mixed up with a group of people called The Enlightenment Committee, who are trying to survive what they believe to be an impending apocalypses. This also leads her to the tournament of freaks, and you all know I am a huge sucker for a competition in my fantasy books.

The Bones of Ruin weaves action, adventure and secrets all together, while still managing to tackle some difficult topics (racism and discrimination) that were relevant both to the time period the book takes place in and very timely today. I admired the ease at which Sarah Raughley seamlessly wove everything into the plot. I do wish that the romance aspect of the book was explored more, and I hope it is in future installments, because while the book is completely PG, it does feature multiple romantic interested for Iris. Not a love triangle, but rather a tame reverse harem. I am not sure if it will stay that way in the next book, but I sure hope it does.

If you are a fan of longer books (this one clocks in at almost 500 pages) that have a lot of action, adventure and danger packed into the pages, then I think The Bones of Ruin is a great book for you to check out. And I have to say that I loved the way The Bones of Ruin ended, because in the last chapter or so we meet a couple of new characters that keep the door open to a host of new possibilities for the sequel. I can’t wait to see what will happen next.

I am so happy that I had the opportunity to read about Iris and her journey. Her unique skill of not being able to die is one I rarely read about when a black woman is the MC. She was also just a very resilient character and the lengths she was willing to go to were very inspiring and it really urged me to read on. The characters that aided Iris on her journey were so rich and deep and I am so excited to see what future books hold for them. I am also not a very historical person, but I loved the setting of Victorian London. The way the clothes and the atmosphere was described was so breathtaking and I felt like I was actually there.

The writing was also super good. I loved the way that Raughley went into detail with her characters’ stories and attitudes. Raughley’s unique story and awe-inspiring characters truly wrapped her work into a pretty little box ready to be consumed by YA Historical Fantasy readers.

Magic at the circus and so much more! The prelude of circus freaks actually being magical drew me in! Add the epic battle for world domination and I am sold!! Who doesn’t love ancient Black feminine energy as a weapon!

DNF at 50%

I’m so disappointed in this because the first 30% or so of this book starts off with a bang. Iris is such a fascinating character (a Black tightrope who can’t die!). She’s fierce, independent, and will do whatever it takes to learn about her past that she can’t remember.

Once we leave the carnival though and get to the “deadly tournament” side of things. The pacing of the plot comes to a crashing halt as you learn all the painstaking minutiae surrounding the rich people running the tournament. I just lost interest since the plot lost steam.

Bones of Ruin was such an adventure-filled novel, and it was everything I was expecting and more. The characters were so lively and dynamic, and I loved how diverse the cast was. I loved diving into the mystery of Iris's background and powers, especially with the circus/competition style setting. Although the book could be a bit confusing at times with the many different viewpoints, it was still an enjoyable read!

Heartstopping action, drama, and revelations are things that have come popping out of my head since I opened this book. I don't know if I'm turning into a "softie," but this book got me palpitating like crazy in many scenes. What something new, something macabre, and unique to read - this is the one!

I love the colorful and descriptive characters and locations. Each scene is told in explicit detail from the curtains to the table's centerpiece (i.e. " a white pillar, taut in bronze candlewick, towering over a man's skull's - its mouth glinted as its bones screamed a silent oath") - all in full appreciation of this reader! I enjoy this technique since this adds to the mystery of what secrets Irish supposedly running away from, though some readers may find it slow.

The story is told from a multi-person POV, not only Iris'. It may sound a bit daunting since there were a good number of characters in the story. Although it is written consistently for all the characters, I had to read slower to find character reference points whenever I entered each chapter. No problems on this since the details provided per thought and conversation are essential to remember.
Aside from trying to find out Iris' strange/foreign past, the story has a lot of things happening, like discovering "freaks" around London - the good and the bad ones, surviving (and hopefully winning) the trials set forth by the Enlightenment Committee, searching for Adam's father, and more...
Think of the Hunger Games but leveled up to a more horrific level as Iris and her team faces competitors inside and outside the challenges that will test their wit, ingenuity, and "stomach" with all the strange circumstances everyone finds themselves in. Many secrets and agendas were unearthed/revealed slowly, so readers - be ready.

The teams that compete in the challenges are something. I enjoyed getting to know each of them and their unique skills as Iris bumped into them in random places. Some powers were typical, but many (okay, okay - most, if not all) were "out-of-the-box," fascinating, and too grotesque to be a possibility. I am still reeling from remembering a few of those "abilities." I won't be mentioning them since I firmly believe that reading is believing at this point. All I can say - all this boggles my mind up to now. I wish the author would dive into some background of the other supporting characters since their stories intrigued me - in the hints they provided.

Before anything, I want to love this book, and I thought I did until the ending missed the mark. There are a few issues in the book that puzzled me:-
1.) Character development needs improvement
Although I am very invested in the story, I had trouble connecting to the other characters outside Iris' circle. Plus, even her two teammates, who were supposed to be on her side and kept reassuring her, sent different signals and confusing feelings that I doubt they were there for her with their constant reassurance. FYI - at least one of them kept his word.
I can see the author pushing with the reverse harem, but this one feels different from other RH I've encountered in the past. The characters didn't have time to connect, so commitment and loyalty were not as strong as RH readers would expect.
I want to love these other characters - flaws and all but the author couldn't discuss them. I would have been okay reading a longer book about the characters' flashbacks instead of before "the next trial" events. If the latter was shortened and more character backstories shared, I would have a different view of the book.
Note: I liked that the author wrote in sexuality with sensitivity, but not much about the others aside from a few helpful hints offered at inconvenient times in the story, when something bigger is happening that shoves the "revelation" aside.

2.) Some events fell flat.
A few events left me puzzled:- one moment there's a huge fight, then they escape without problems or "alarms" going off. Granted that everything is "underground" or "confidential," but there were moments that the "mad scientist" was supposed to be chasing them. Still, they outran them all with a carriage and ended up not encountering these "dangerous people" again? It felt a bit half-baked at times, while some moments were stellar. The inconsistency becomes more blatant nearing the last few chapters.

3.) Iris was confusing.
Only at the very last few paragraphs of the book, Iris started to accept her fate, and it is still a "maybe," which frustrates me even more. There is so much proof of what she is and what she can do, but her denial is killing me. She needs to find a way to help everyone, but instead, she retreats to herself after finding out a bit of her past! I wanted the story to end with a strong MC, wherein Iris will push through. In the end, she does resolve some things and enlightens a few characters, but it seems "half-baked" with Iris feeling more alone than at the start.

Overall, The Bones of Ruin is a book full of danger, suspense, and complexities that may keep fantasy readers glued to their seats. It will capture your imagination and take you further - to surprise and enchant - through superb storytelling and fascinating characters. It will sweep you away to the adventure, twists, and turns - many explosive and unexpected revelations. It will appeal to readers who want their duology with an unexpected ending. I know I was half-heartedly lost, but this might be because this is very new. I will most likely push through to the next book to discover how the "new character" who comes in at the last chapter plays into the bigger story.

The Bones of Ruin is such a unique and interesting book that I almost find it hard to describe it with the right words. The imagery is pretty fantastic and I did enjoy the plot.

So this story starts off with a bang. When I mean imagery, there are times the story does not hold back at all. The author talks about deaths, the brutality of the era and these intriguing characters. They all have a little darkness in their souls. Nobody is without fault and it’s amazing. I also found the story intriguing. People with different powers fighting in a tournament that has something to do with the end of the world.

I loved Iris. She is such a strong and powerful person. You know how you sometimes get frustrated with a character because you are like, why are you trusting that person? Not Iris. She has strong instincts and even with her memory loss. She’s very good at navigating the world and believing in herself.

So I was surprised how far into the book the tournament starts but also happy about it. It gave us some time to get to know some of the other characters. Kind of look into what is happening in this world and there is a lot happening. I never felt like there was any kind of info dump or anything along those lines. Also colonialism and different aspects of racism are addressed in a way I feel you don’t often see in YA. I do wish the pacing was a little faster.

So this is a reverse harem. Sarah Raughley mentioned Fushigi Yuugi on Goodreads and I’m like yes I’m there. To be honest it was kind of funny because some of the potential romantic candidates I was kind of like. Should I be liking this person? I really liked the diversity in their personalities. I didn’t feel like I needed any kind of romantic entanglement because Iris is just so cool on her own. I was interested in her particular character, history, etc more than anything else.

I enjoyed The Bones of Ruin. I definitely think it’s a cool story and plot. Maybe we will see more of some of the other characters past in the next book.