Thank you Netgalley and Scholastic for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"Ruin Road" by Lamar Giles is a horror YA that looks into the consequences of wishes gone awry. This is the story of a good, honest guy who gets his life changed forever because of an innocent wish. This book made me think of Fear Street but for adults (and higher YA readers as there is some gore/death in this book). I loved Giles’s “The Getaway” and I enjoyed “Ruin Road” even more. Before going into the review, I do want to provide a content warning involving a school tragedy caused by dynamite.

Cade Webster, a standout football star living in the wrong neighborhood (according to his privileged classmates), finds himself trapped between two worlds where he's both admired and feared. But one fateful night, a chance encounter at a pawn shop changes everything when Cade impulsively wishes for people to stop being afraid around him. At first, it seems like Cade's wish has granted him newfound freedom, but soon, the consequences spiral out of control. Acts of violence escalate, and Cade realizes that something monstrous is at play. As he grapples with the ramifications of his wish, Cade must confront the darkness within himself and find a way to undo the damage.

I really liked the story’s intense and unpredictable storyline, which kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. There was just a sense of dread that continued to escalate as I was reading, and there was even a scene before the wish occurred that involved a woman falling on the bus and Cade helping her that left me in shock. The supernatural elements were expertly woven into the story, adding depth to the plot, especially with the concept of the Ruin Road, which ties into the supernatural part. I also really liked the twist at the end with the outcome of Cade’s wish. While some concepts of the Ruin Road were a bit confusing and complicated to me, I really like how it made the book really unique, especially towards the end.

I also really enjoyed Cade’s character as he’s just a genuinely nice guy who cares about his family and friends and just wants to be successful at football in order to provide for those he cares about. This is not a book where everything is wrapped up nicely for Cade, which I actually liked. The ending felt authentic, and if Giles were to continue with a sequel, I would definitely read it.

Overall, "Ruin Road" is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel that focuses on not only the supernatural but also racism and identity. Lamar Giles once again delivered a haunting YA horror story, and I can’t wait to read more from Giles.