What makes Ruin Road compelling is how it blends supernatural elements with real-world social issues. Cade’s journey isn’t just about reversing a curse; it’s a commentary on systemic inequality, racial tensions, and how fear can shape perceptions and actions. Giles handles these themes with nuance, never letting them overshadow the story’s suspenseful, high-stakes plot.

The relationships between the characters, particularly Cade and his close friends, add emotional depth to the narrative, grounding the supernatural premise in real emotional stakes.

Ruin Road is a sharp, socially aware thriller that forces readers to confront uncomfortable truths about fear, race, and courage. Giles has crafted a story that is both entertaining and insightful, making it a must-read for fans of speculative fiction with a powerful message.

This book was so good, it started off a little slow but it was truly setting the stage for the second act. And once it picked up I didn’t want to put it down. I enjoyed the supernatural elements to this book as well as the side characters and villains. This book is considered a YA but I feel like there is something for everyone because the author does an amazing job with weaving in heavier topics such as systemic racism, racial profiling, grief and how fear can immobilize people and keep them from being great.

Thank you Netgalley and Scholastic for the opportunity to read this book!

I really, really, really enjoyed Ruin Road. The way this book balances (Stephen King-esque) horror with the narrative of a Black main character is something that I think is needed for MG/YA readers. Additionally, it includes elements of magic which I also enjoyed and made me happy (as a magical or heroic Black main character was not the norm when I was in school). I also appreciated how Giles handled Cade's familial relationships in this. His relationships with his sister, Leek, and his parents are so well-written (to the int where I feel like a part of the family).

Overall, I LOVED this book (4.75 on Storygraph).

In Ruin Road, we are immediately introduced to Kincade (Cade) Webster IV, our main character. A young Black senior, Cade is hopeful for his future in football while navigating the balance between two vastly different worlds. While attending a predominantly white and wealthy private school, he’s reminded daily that he doesn’t fit in. Though seen as a promising football star, he’s still feared and perceived as a threat due to his Blackness and coming from the worst neighborhood in his area. For Cade, being feared always comes at a detriment. All he desires is to be seen for his talent, his passion, and his love for his family. But after making a deal with the devil, Cade quickly recognizes that wishes come with both good and bad consequences.

This book felt like the longest roller coaster ride. You keep inching along, and it’s not until you’re about to drop that you realize how high you’ve gotten. But that drop, baby—it’ll have you holding on to your seat for dear life. At first, I worried things were moving too slowly, but in hindsight, there’s an undercurrent in the story, ready to pull everything down. I really enjoyed the balance of magic realism and harsh reality. As readers, we know these characters exist in real life. A Brady, Gabby, Cade, or even a Book. Each of them looks to be treated differently, to be recognized, or to get away, but all are wishing for different things with different outcomes.

While certain aspects of the book may feel predictable to some readers, that doesn’t take away from the hurt or impact of the characters’ experiences. I also love that this is clearly a young adult book, but reading it as an adult gave me a lot of other perspectives. On the surface, this book is about cursed deals, sacrifices, and being careful what you wish for. But it’s so much deeper than that!

Giles did an excellent job capturing the layers of oppressive systems, racial biases, conformity, complicity, and sacrifice through the narrative of deals, devils, and fear. I mean, what is fear but something that holds you back… but from what? Ruin Road is surreal, cursed, and haunting. The magic realism in this story exemplifies the ways Black and Brown people are reduced to pain for the benefit of others. Giles gives us a clear villain in Skinner, as the devil we know, and Eddie as the unwilling accomplice. But even Skinner is merely a player in a larger scheme of suffering, acting in service to a greater power of oppression. We all know a Skinner out there. Yet we’re shown numerous times that fighting back against these powers requires sacrifice—sacrifice of the spirit and even the body.

Ruin Road is a book I could talk about for days. I’ll definitely have to go into spoilers another time, but this one is worth the read.

Beyond grateful to Scholastic, Lamar Giles, and Colored Pages book tour for my arc!

Wow. Another Lamar Giles read that was a win! This book gave scary. Its heavy and the topics are handled in such a mindful and intentional way. I dont even like scary but it had me on the edge of my seat and may need to sleep with the light on for a day or two, but great read!

Absolutely loved!!! Very much a good YA thriller. I was okay the edge of my seat when all the word stuff started happening. I loved every part of this book!!

Thank you net galley for this advanced readers copy!

I had to read this book in increments. Intense. Horrifying. Reality of life.
Giles offers much to take away from this book - it will stay with me for some time.
Cade is tired of the big black guy everyone backs away from. Trying to avoid one of those situations brings him to an enchanted - or cursed, pawnshop. With the Patriots championship ring on his finger, Cade's life alters.
That normal fear - of heights to protect his sister from falling off the roof, students at this vastly majority white and wealthy students from spewing hateful speech, disappears in Cade's presence.
A slow build horror to the visceral ending. My first by this author - running out to buy the backlog.

Wow I have been left speechless after finishing this read. It went from a normal day to a nightmare all in the timeframe of a couple of days. But the one thing that stood out to make this book a good read was Cade dad Words of Wisdom 🥰. Cade dad definitely is my hero because he raised Cade perfectly that he was able to solve his problem and fix a bad deal.

This book was a bit of a rollercoaster and left me wanting more. I wish this story had another 100+ pages! The story had lots of turns that had me scratching my head a few times but came together the farther I read. The author tells this like a true story. You see multiple perspectives and hear motives behind them. The book explores what it means when people do and say whatever they want with no fear, no matter the risks. Cade made a flippant wish that turns his life upside down and everything changes. He is forced to make tough choices to protect himself and the ones he loves. Thank you Scholastic for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

This book is so different than something I would normally read but I'm soooooo glad that I gave it a chance because it was so good!!! Being a YA book it didn’t have the dreaded “reading too young” trope…actually anything but. The issues and characters are mature BEYOND their years, and the trials and tribulations that the MMC endures are real and raw! My heart broke so many times while reading this, but somehow the characters still endured! The book also lends itself for deeper introspection and analysis (on race, fear, privilege etc. ) and could create conversation if read in a book club or class in school.

This book was so good I hope to one day see it lend itself to a streaming service or the big screen as a movie!!!

Special thanks to Colored Pages book tour and the publisher for the review copies of this book!

4.5⭐️

I got Covid but I did read this book and I loved it! I will be doing a full review when I feel better! Thank you net galley for allowing me to review this book early in the exchange for an honest review! 3.75 stars

This book was good. I wasn’t expecting it to be a thriller type of book. It got real crazy at the end. Neeson Prep Academy is one school I wouldn’t step foot in. I would feel like a big outcast. Cade, being black and the best football player on the team is a big flex though. I love how this book was very big on family and the author showed how each of the characters gravitated towards the others. Cades relationship with his sister Leek was the best! The really had each others back through EVERYTHING! One character I didn’t really like was Book; he was always in some shit and caused his family and friends to be put in the middle of it.

Skinner is such an ass. He really made all those people in that apartment complex die of lung cancer. That’s wild! And the fact that there are even more “Skinners” in the world makes this book even crazier. Lots of drama, twists and turns.

I was so invested in this book and it was very fast paced which I loved; but as it got closer to having around 100 pages left, it slowed down a lot. I also didn’t understand the ending when Cade went back to the store after his dream and then drove off in the car. What did that mean? I reread it about three times and still didn’t understand. Overall, I enjoyed the book a lot and it was different than what I am used to reading.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a review copy.

It would be easy to write this book off as another "deal with the devil Needless Things ripoff." This deal with the metaphorical devil is handled in a unique and interesting way. The ripples that happen because of the main character's inadvertent wish were so interesting. This book has a lot of heavy themes, but is short on violence until the very end. This would be a great choice for a middle or high school classroom library. 4.25 stars

Lamar Giles, you got yourself a new fan. I loved this book so so so so much. Don't get me wrong, it is a HEAVY book but it's written incredibly well.

Ruin Road invoked a bit of Stephen King -- cursed objects, people acting badly, death of characters, sacrifice and a bit of an adventure.

Thank you a million times over for the advanced copy, I'm now going to buy all of Giles' other books.

Yeah I had no business reading this late at night lol 😂! I love a good horror story, it’s not scary however it will definitely have you looking 👀 behind you lol . This is my first book by this author and I am impressed 🥰 I most definitely will be reading more of his work 💕💕💕💕 This YA book is really good!

I really enjoyed this horror YA novel by Lamar Giles. I didn’t think a YA novel would hit so hard but this did it for me. I was scared in a traditional, this is creepy sense but also horrified by the racial tension, bias, and urban violence that this book entailed. It was truly terrifying in so many ways and it was perfectly written. The ending… oh be still my heart! What a fantastic twist! Four ⭐️!!!
Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic for this eARC! My review is solely my own and unbiased.

Lamar Giles has done it again! This is the third book that I have read by him and just they keep getting better. Now this story did have a slow start, but once it picked up I couldn’t read the pages fast enough. One scene had me near tears towards the end of the book. A parents’ love is something else and that’s all I will say to avoid spoilers. The horror parts of the book were on point and that ending!!!! 😮‍💨 You definitely want to add this book for spooky season reading.
⠀

This book reminded me of a Goosebumps story in all the best ways. I LOVE cursed objects and wishes that have unintended consequences. In addition to the horror aspects of this story, there's also a ton of heart. I loved Leek and the mom and dad. Just the right balance of tender and thrilling to make Ruin Road a book I'll be thinking about for a long time!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book!

Ruin Road is the story of good people in challenging situations, and the malevolent forces that seek to take advantage of that. It is also an intense, thought-provoking thriller that weaves together characters you absolutely root for, issues of social justice, and the supernatural forces that lurk between the world of the living and....something else. I LOVED this book and will be ordering a copy for my high school classroom. Like Giles' other books, this is perfect for readers who need a story that is immediately engaging with a pace that does not let up.

**"Ruin Road" by Lamar Webster is a gripping exploration of fear, identity, and the unexpected consequences of getting what you wish for.** This novel, highly praised by Tiffany D. Jackson, delves into the complex life of Cade Webster, a standout football player who navigates a precarious existence between the privileged world of his school and the harsh reality of his neighborhood.

Cade's life is defined by the dualities of fear and ambition. He's admired on the football field but struggles with the perception of him as a threat in his own community. The novel opens a fascinating dialogue about race, perception, and the impact of societal fears on individual lives.

The story takes a surreal turn when Cade, trying to avoid a police encounter, makes a seemingly innocuous wish in a pawn shop. This wish, intended to alleviate his own discomfort, inadvertently sets off a series of events that alters the fabric of reality. As Cade’s wish is granted, people around him become free from fear, but this newfound courage leads to dangerous and unforeseen consequences.

Webster’s narrative skillfully escalates the tension as Cade’s simple wish spirals into chaos. The novel explores how the removal of fear, a fundamental human emotion, can lead to unrestrained and potentially destructive behavior. The juxtaposition of Cade’s initial relief with the subsequent fallout highlights the complexity of his situation and the broader commentary on human nature and societal norms.

The book's strength lies in its ability to blend elements of magical realism with profound social commentary. Cade's journey is both a personal and communal struggle, illustrating how individual actions can ripple outwards and affect entire communities. The themes of bravery, responsibility, and the perils of unchecked ambition are explored with nuance and intensity.

**"Ruin Road"** is a thought-provoking and thrilling read that challenges readers to consider the deeper implications of their desires and the nature of fear itself. Lamar Webster’s storytelling is both innovative and impactful, offering a fresh perspective on how our fears and wishes shape our world. This novel is a must-read for those who enjoy psychological and speculative fiction that pushes the boundaries of traditional storytelling while engaging with pressing social issues.