Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic for the eARC.

Fast paced supernatural YA horror. I did not know I needed a book like Ruin Road in my life, but I sure did. Fantastic.

A great read to start the season of ghouls. A young man with a bright future deals with the harsh realities of spoken and unspoken racism. He's a tool to be used at an elite prep school with his gifted athleticism, and he has to battle two different worlds. The world at home with his family and the world at school where he cannot take the words of his team and classmates at face value. Packed with the supernatural, this is a fast paced read.

Special thanks to the author @lamargiles @coloredpagesbt & @ireadya  for my gifted copy‼️

This book was really good first thing that came to mind was the 1986 movie Crossroads. It’s not completely similar aside from the making a wish/deal with the devil aspect. But in so many ways they both portray the same concept of “Be Careful What You Wish For.”

Cade Webster lived between two worlds and didn’t really have the best in either. With his dreams so close in reach his way out of hell was a football scholarship and soon the NFL so he could take care of his family. One night while on the way home he got involved in a situation and to avoid confrontation he ran into a pawn shop. His experience that night would be one to remember and would lead him straight to Ruin Road.

It was such a thrill seeing everything unfold and wondering how Cade would break his wish. The author was very detailed in painting a vivid picture of how fear can hold you back, the horrors of simply being a Black man/boy, the consequences of being mislead, and how greed can consume you. I also like how the author created Skinner’s character he was the grantor of tainted wishes and the collector of souls. The people of Jacob’s Court feared him and I felt their fear was what kept him alive.

Overall, the book was great and the pacing was fair enough to keep you engaged. He did an amazing job blending the eerie paranormal elements into the narrative. Nothing about this book was too scary to imagine. It also explored themes surrounding racial profiling, social acceptance, self-sacrifice, grief, family dynamics, and selflessness. Here’s another great book to add to your TBR.

Rating: 4.5/5⭐️

Cade Webster finds out that you should be careful what you wish for.

Being a star athlete at a wealthy school, and coming from a poor neighborhood, Cade knows what it’s like to feel like he doesn’t belong. After being racially profiled resulting in an encounter with the police, he wishes that people would stop being so scared around him … and it happens. This sets off unintended and terrifying consequences as reckless, fearless behavior spreads and Cade is up against a dark force he could have never foreseen.

This book was fantastic! I loved the way that the wish was circumvented and spins out of control. The background story of the evil forces at play was really interesting, and how it was all worked into the modern world played well. This is a book that is firmly grounded in real world issues with social commentary, but doesn’t feel like it’s preaching to you or lecturing you.

Cade is a promising teen football player when he encounters a mysterious pawn shop. He unwittingly makes a deal with the devil wishing that people wouldn’t be so afraid around him. I loved getting to know Cade and his family, crying along with him. Such a great story!

Thank you to @coloredpagesbt @ireadya and @lamargiles for the physical finished copy of this fantastic book perfect for Halloween being right around the corner.

This is my first book by Giles and it didn’t disappoint! I was able to put this one down, it started off a bit slow building the scene we’re out main character, Cade is not only a black kid in a vastly white majority school but he’s a big black kid at that on a scholarship at a prep school. The micro aggressions mentioned in the book were all too familiar, one quote that has stuck in my head was said by a minor character regarding our MMC “they should be happy to be here.” Now Sheila if you don’t take several seats. When questioned she said she was referring to the athletes but not sure if I buy that. This book was unputdownable and I flew through it so quickly. I loved the pacing and the character development of Cade and the connection between his family and his childhood friends. For me, this book was the perfect blend of horror and supernatural elements. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to dip their toes into horror like me.

Cade is playing football at a great high school, but his home is in the wrong neighborhood. No matter where he goes, people steer clear of him … he is a large, black, teenage boy. One night after his game is canceled, he ducks into a pawn shop and feels drawn to buy a ring. A statement told in jest is taken as a wish and Cade’s life is turned upside down. Will Cade be able to get out of his wish? What price is too high?

Ruin Road is a stand-alone blend of fantasy and thriller as readers try and discover where the story is going next and what side stories are related to the main tale. Giles has created relatable characters that pull at threads that link to issues in the news today and the story explores dark twists to many of our thoughts. A fast-paced read for all thriller fans.

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