I absolutely loved this book! Ruin Road is a gripping, thought-provoking rollercoaster that I found to be truly unique. Cade Webster is a complex, deeply relatable character. As a Black star football player at a predominantly white school, he's living a life full of contradictions—admired for his athleticism, yet feared by those who don’t understand him. The premise of the story, where Cade wanders into a very strange store and makes an offhand wish to rid himself of people’s fear, turns into a horrifying spiral of chaos that was so fun to read.

The author does an incredible job of blending social commentary with supernatural elements. I love when a book makes me think about complex issues like this one did! I can't recommend it enough.

3.5 stars!

I always think that YA horror is going to hit the spot for me, and luckily I was right this time! While this book obviously took inspiration from Stephen King's Needful Things, it put it's own twist on it in a way that I really appreciated. The trope of a pawnshop that can grant your greatest wish at the cost of something that seems so minor will always be one of my favorite things to read about. And I think this book did a really good job talking about the lengths people will go to get what they want. The horror in this is super ligbht but it was still creepy enough that I was invested in what was going on, but it felt more like a thriller than a true horror. As always, I enjoyed the social commentary about racism and how it affected the main character and it wasn't the main "Big Bad" in the story, which I will always enjoy more than books about black trauma. My biggest complaint is that the characters felt very 2 dimensional and I never really grew to care about any of them. Cade is "The Football Guy" and his little sister is just "Little Sister" and I wish we had gotten to know a bit more about them so I could feel more connected, but this could've just been a personal preference thing. Overall though, I had a good time and I was invested in the plot! Despite my struggles with the characterization, I think I would check out other books this author writes in the future!

This was wonderful! I loved the writing style, the characters, the world-building…everything about it was top-notch. I will definitely be recommending this book!

Initial reaction: OMG...we need to talk about this. It was a solid YA horror with elements of grief and grappling with trauma and fear at its heart. I definitely felt for Cade for all of the things he went through, along with his family. I didn't love some pieces of it (pacing did have its pros/cons, for example), but was it worth the ride? Absolutely 100%. Recommended.

Full review:

So it's not a secret that I loved this book as a rather solid, dark YA horror. (I was not expecting it to go as dark as it went either.) It's not the first book from Lamar Giles that I've read, but it is the first one that I'm fully reviewing so I'm prepared to dive in. I was pleasantly surprised when getting the galley for "Ruin Road", and I was able to pick up the audiobook on my own later as well. This story focuses on Cade, a high school student who is going through his share of difficult situations. His goal is to focus on his future in order to help out those he cares about, whether his family or friends considering the neighborhood he comes from. He plays football and navigates between focusing on his efforts with the team and helping out his family. His father's sickness getting worse and his friend getting in and out of trouble with the local neighborhood gang are some of the things he has to contend with. But Cade also notes that he looks intimidating to people around him, navigates that as best he can. But one fateful night changes all of that.

On the run from someone who accuses him of something he didn't do, he ducks into a mysterious store which sells antiques. He picks up an "authentic" Super Bowl ring for $5 from the seller. He also inadvertently speaks a "wish" that other people wouldn't be so scared around him.

Well, you know what they say - be careful what you wish for. Strange things start happening around Cade with everyone he's around. Like no one is afraid of things that - frankly - freak Cade out. Whether its the cop driving his car way too fast, or his usually sick father taking a trip that should take a big toll on his body, or even worse than that. Cade has to put the pieces together to figure out what's causing the effect and what the cost is to undo it. If he's not paying the price himself.

This was such a compelling book for the intense horror pieces, steadily building tension and it makes you feel for Cade as he navigates everything going on around him. The bargaining chips make sense, toggling between present and past, between dream and reality, and even between Cade and other involved players to an extent, though Cade's the focus of the novel. I think where I had issues with the pacing came with some of the side narratives that are meant to explain these bargains gone wrong, but they make sense for the overarching story and thankfully don't run too long to break the tension before getting back to the main story. The book reaching a harrowing climax and Cade rushing to save one member of his family in the aftermath of already suffering traumatic losses really had me on the edge of my seat, no pun intended. I wondered even getting towards the final parts of the book where it would end up, but I found it to be both dark and satisfying for the build up.

Definitely looking forward to seeing more of what Giles has to offer, really appreciated this read. The audiobook, if you can pick it up, has a great narrator with J.D. Jackson. Does well with getting into Cade's voice as well as the surrounding characters.

Overall score: 4/5 stars.

Note: I received this as an ARC from NetGalley from the publisher, but I also purchased an audiobook copy.

This one just may not have been for me, but I felt like the non-fantasy/“horror” parts were repetitive and the fantasy/horror parts didn’t do much for me. I did like
the main character and sympathized with everything he was going through.

Be careful what you wish for....you might end up with more than you bargained for.

One night when high school football star, Cade Webster, got off the bus early he ended up in a pawn shop. While there he finds a Superbowl ring, a faux ring in his opinion, but it might not be, and makes a wish that no one would be afraid of him anymore. He lives between two worlds, the prep school he goes to and the "wrong" neighborhood he lives in. His white friends and students of the school see him as thug solely because he's black. Cade is tired of the way society sees him. His mumbling of a wish comes true though because the artifacts in the pawn shop make dreams come true. The problem is once you make a wish, even one you didn't intend to, you can't take it. The stopping a wish, or even making one, may be your life.

Ruin Road is the latest YA horror novel from Lamar Giles. It's the first book I've read by Giles and I really enjoyed it. While I found the pacing a little slower, it did allow for the story to naturally develop. As a reader you could see that Cade is unlike most who visit the pawn store and aren't actually seeking out wishes. He was just looking for a place to lay low for a few minutes. The final act provided the final showdown that had been promised throughout the novel. It reminded me in part of NOS4A2 because a car plays a big part of it and the fight takes place in a different realm.

I know I'll be picking up Lamar's previous YA horror novel, The Getaway, in the not-so-distant future.

Thank you to Scholastic Press and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

Lamar Giles’ Ruin Road is a gritty, suspenseful ride through a dangerous, mysterious landscape. With sharp, immersive writing and a fast-paced plot, Giles weaves a gripping story of secrets, survival, and redemption. The rich character development and twists will keep you on edge, making this a must-read for fans of thrilling, thought-provoking mysteries.

Ruin Road is social commentary reimagined as YA horror. A supernatural manifestation of exploiting and profiting from the suffering of Black communities through housing. Cade is a character that you root for and you grow with him throughout the story, you empathize with his grief, the pressures and the racism he experiences daily. Compounded with the storyline of wishes gone awry with a twist this is a engaging read until the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

3.5/5 ⭐️ I thought this story was good about a young boy being the only black boy in school and playing on a football team with a dream of trying help his family leave the hood! The supernatural element was surprisingly good and worked well in the story especially dealing with the racism and discrimination happening on an everyday basis with Cade! Brady is on a whole another level chile! You have to read to understand! I predicted the twist very early on and was right! Overall enjoyed the book but I love The Getaway more! But you’re always rooting for the MC’s and that’s what matters!

This is my second book by Lamar Giles and while I thought it became a bit convoluted in the middle it was a really good read. For readers who enjoy Tiffany Jackson, this book is for you. I love the way the author weaves together fantasy and reality.

Lamar Giles does it again! If you enjoy YA horror that incorporates elements of social horror, racism, classism, etc., definitely give this a read. Huge thank you to Scholastic and Netgalley for my review copy!

**4.5-stars rounded up**

Do I think Ruin Road will work for everyone? No. Was Ruin Road for me? Absolutely. This intriguing and heart-wrenching YA Horror was right in my lane. Lamar Giles has quickly become a new favorite!

I first read from Giles when I picked up, The White Guy Dies First: 13 Scary Stories of Fear and Power, a few weeks back. His story, The Protege, stood out as one of my favorites of that collection. I knew after I read it, I would need to pick up more of his work as soon as possible. As luck would have it, I already had a copy of his latest Ruin Road, but with this absolutely STUNNING cover, I knew I wanted to save it for closer to Halloween, which is exactly what I did.

In this story we follow high school student, Cade Webster. Cade is star wide receiver, with the hopes and the potential to eventually be drafted into the NFL. Cade works hard and stays humble. He lives with his parents and little sister, all of whom he loves and adores. Cade also attends a private school, where he is one of only a handful of Black students.

He's sort of a guy living between two worlds; the one he grew up in, and the one of his peers at the posh private school. His quarterback drives a 911, or something insane like that. It's quite different from the world Cade came up in. Cade tries not to let those details phase him though. He just needs to stay focused, follow his father's life advice and achieve everything he can in order to make an easier life for himself and the rest of his family.

No matter how hard he works, however, no matter how much he achieves, Cade always has some people judging him incorrectly. Y'all, can guess. He's big, he's fast and he's Black. People keep their eye on him on the bus, let's say. With that in mind, one fateful night, when his helpful actions are misjudged, Cade is forced to flee a sketchy situation and ends up ducking into a pawn shop to avoid further altercation.

It's there that Cade makes an impulse purchase, and utters a poorly-worded wish, that will change everything. I loved this. It was such a perfect blend of hard-hitting Contemporary mixed with intense, brain-scrambling Horror-Thriller elements. The content and themes explored were so well done, but the character work was really the star of the show for me.

I can't tell you how much I appreciated Cade as a main character. First, I loved the fact that he was such a serious football player. Football is one of my passions and I've never really read any YA story that had that rep done so well. Additionally, everything else about Cade was impressive. I loved being in his head, and getting his perspective, as this story played out.

The Webster family is so fantastic. It was nice to read about such a close-knit group, with both parents engaged and involved and with Cade loving on his little sister so much. You could tell he felt the responsibility of being a big brother, and I felt like that was such a special thing to read.

I also loved the set-up of the detour into the pawn shop being the match that really lit this fire. It was giving me Needful Things, or The Auctioneer vibes, which I loved to see. Overall, this story was completely my style. If I am picking up a YA Horror-Thriller, this is what I am looking for. I would absolutely recommend this, particularly if you are a fan of Tiffany D. Jackson. IMO, this is giving the same level of quality as a Jackson work. In other words, top-freaking-notch!

Thank you to the publisher, Scholastic Press, for providing me with a copy to read and review. My next task is to deep dive into this author's backlist. I'm looking forward to it, and whatever he has coming next!!!

"Needful Things" mixed with "The Purge", this all too real suspense/thriller, dare I say horror, leaves you gripping your seat. Cade is a likable character from the start, and you will find yourself cheering him on...despite what seems like some crazy and terrifying twists and turns.

This author Lowe’s how to write a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. I never knew what was going to happen next.

2.5 stars

In this book, Giles takes readers on one of the most sinister rides.

Hits:
- Short chapters
- The Blackness - from the character interactions to the dialogue, I enjoyed how black this book was.
- The book's message - the message of this book was powerful and illustrated in such a dark and ominous way that left me to reflect.
- The important issues this book touched on - systemic racism and gentrification.
- The eerie and supernatural element that was put on the highlighted issues.

While I enjoyed those aspects of this read, I still struggled greatly with this one.

Misses:
- It took way too long for anything to actually happen in this story. For the first 60%, nothing of substance occurred. In other words, there were eyebrow-raising moments, but no *gasp* moments. Moreover, the book really doesn't start to pick up until the last 40%. Additionally, during the first 60%, the plot was jumbled and all over the place. It seemed like we were getting a lot of information, but none of it connected. Furthermore, it was like we had a 1,000-piece puzzle with no corner pieces. On the other hand, the book's ending did add some redemption for me as it was action-packed and intriguing.

Overall:
While I think I understand what this book was trying to do, I don't think it was executed well. I will continue to read from Lamar Giles as I love the sinister and dystopian touch he puts on real-world issues. However, this one just wasn't my favorite.

I have never read from this author but I really enjoyed this one. It was a little different and took me a while to get into but once I did, I was hooked. The story was a maze and I found myself thinking a lot through this book. If you like different and crazy in the best way, read this one!

Great dark horror from a perspective different from my own. Will written and easy. to understand. Regardless of who you are and where you come from. These characters are very easy to identify with. Great story.

This is not a genre I would typically gravitate to. However, I liked many elements of this story. The “gore” or “horror” was kept to a minimum. There was som pe parts of the story that I wish were more fleshed out. Good themes but could’ve hit the nail on the head a little bit better.

Ruin Road delivers a gripping, high-octane mystery that pulls you in from the start. The story revolves around a chilling crime in a tight-knit community, with the protagonist caught in a web of secrets and deception. The twists are relentless, and each revelation ups the stakes, keeping the tension high. The characters are well-drawn, with layered motivations that add complexity to the plot. The pacing is sharp, and the action doesn’t let up, making it a page-turner until the very end. I’d give it 4 stars for its intriguing storyline, strong character development, and the way it keeps you guessing.

I didn't know what to expect when reading Ruin Road, but I'm glad that I did because it was really good. The best way I can describe this book is to say that it was a rollercoaster of suspense with a well-developed plot. I liked the characters and found myself genuinely interested in the outcome. I also see similarities in this story and others written by Tiffany Jackson. I'd recommend this book.