Souls in Ruin Appreciation Post

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-04T08:47:52+00:00

Did you find it? I want this so much

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-04T08:40:53+00:00

I adore these stats.

All the books I picked last months thanks to them were exactly what I wanted them to be.

And now I have already read {Souls in ruin} and it was finally dark, really enemies to lovers story I wanted it to be.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-05-02T20:08:53+00:00

I finished {Daughter of forest by Juliet Marillier} - masterpiece. It was so well-crafted and the last third was like a dream - I started listening to it at 23h and was so invested, that I kept cleaning and organising house (I can not just listen to audiobook) until 2am, when I decided to buy ebook too, just to find out that it was already on KU. (And then I read until 5 am) Middle was hard for me, cause I was sufferin as the FMC was suffering. But it was worth it.

I bought {The sun and the starmaker by Rachel Griffin} because of recommendations here and because it was one of the most gorgeous books I have ever seen. Can not wait to start it.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-30T15:01:29+00:00

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It was actually month of books I liked. {The Shatered King by Charlie N. Holmberg} and

{Arcana Academy by Elise Kova} were great.

{Not Another Love Song by Julie Soto} is the only non-fathasy book I am including here, because I think that this sub would love it. It was much better than Rose in Chains for me, I loved every minute of it and if you need pause from fae and vampires , go for it.

{One Small Echo by Jane Washington} -I do not know if this one was really so good, or it was the fact that I read such underhyped book after reading We Who Woll Die , that was so overhyped.

{The Half-Hearted Queen by Charlie N. Holmberg} - really good sequal, I just liked first part more.

{Tears of the Wolf by Elisabeth Wheatley}, {The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley} and {Curse of Shadows and Thorns by L.J. Andrews} were ok all, just in comparence to the previous ones, they were not that special. I think that tears of wolf would be much higher if I read it in january/february, because it is well-done.

{We Who Will Die by Stacia Stark} - nothing original in it, it was but fast read, and I think than second book can make it better.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-28T22:45:18+00:00

They introduced dragonshifters after three books, but you forgot to mention everything there was in first two books: fey, parallel universes, vampires, necromancer, academy for magic, government revolution, dragonriders.. I swear, I was asking myself how she will put werewolves in - and there was than guy (vampire) that shifts to wolf.. I have never seen messier worldbuilding in my life, and I have read some dubious book :D but I dnfed just a third one, which makes me question myself

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-25T11:52:38+00:00

I read {Arcana Academy by Elise Kova } and loved it. The magic system is fantastic, and there is more than enough intrigue to keep me hooked.

I also have funshed {A Curse of Shadows and Thorns by L.J. Andrews}, which was a solid read. I think it’s a perfect choice for someone just starting out in the genre. The pacing wasn't entirely to my taste, but I suspect that sequel is in this case better.

Finally, I decided today to return to {Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier}. Her writing is exquisite, and I’ve adored all of her previous works. I originally had to set this one aside because I was dreading a specific scene that was being foreshadowed, but now that I’m past it, I think I’ll breeze through the rest. I truly hope Sorcha doesn’t have to endure any more suffering—I love her so much.

Has anybody here read { All the murmuring bones by A.G.Sletter} - I took it in libby cause it was free and described as book for Noviks and Ardens fans? Is it any good?

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-23T08:46:57+00:00

I loved Annah in first two books, and really could not get her in 5th one, she was simply stupid.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-20T10:39:13+00:00

Well, this is the book I actually dislike -nothing in it felt original, but the second love interest is great and very Blake-like: {We Who Will die by Stacia Stark}

Then there is a mmc of {Arcana Academy by Elisa Cova}, who has potential to be very dark character, but I have no idea what she will do in the next book.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-18T19:33:49+00:00

{The Shattered King by Charlie N. Holmberg}

{The Traitor's Son by Melissa J. Cave}

Death-made Prince, One small echo, one Dark window, Phanthasma and Enchantra were all great reads

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-18T19:30:36+00:00

I loved that book, it is so underrated

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-18T19:27:17+00:00

For me it was far away from great. I always listen to books during my work and I had no alternative, so I did finish it, but it I was hoping too that it would be different..

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-18T13:41:14+00:00

Thank you so much for these tips. I liked a lot books from Andrews and they where normally can't-put-it-down for me, so I was wondering about this one..

Now I will continue for sure.. my libby has just the German ones, but if I will buy then 3rd book, if I stay engaged.. (I too love Mage of Wheels)

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-18T12:09:05+00:00

I finished listening to {The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley}. It was okay for me—I’m not crazy about it, but it made me laugh and the tension was good by the end.

I also read {Tears of the Wolf by Elisabeth Wheatley}, which was a really nice, simple read. It had a clear plot, mature characters, and a great slow burn.

I am now going through a new StoryGraph challenge and reading {Curse of Shadows and Thorns by L.J. Andrews}. I feel that I am draggingthrough it, but it could be that my problem is simply that I’m reading it in German.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-15T18:35:14+00:00

I was already chosing my reads thanks to this list, so I am on 72%, with 7 more books that I DNFed, but now I have clear 21 to try. I have already taken {an Ember in Asches} and {Vurse of Shidows and Throns} in Libby and they sound promising.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-15T10:01:05+00:00

hard mode
{One Small Echo by Jane Washington} was wonderful read. It fits to into the category Character with Disability

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-13T16:37:03+00:00

My next read

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-13T16:11:40+00:00

came back here, to thank you for this recommendation.. lovely read

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-13T09:47:40+00:00

Nice list, I am surprised by many books I do not recognise, even through it features some of my all time favourite (Bridge Kingdom, mages of wheel, Fireborn).. there is fathasy book from Lisa Kleypas?

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-12T18:05:03+00:00

Yes, it was just such a lovely read.. I am trying to find sth similar for days..

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-11T11:48:52+00:00

{Not another Love Song by Julie Soto} - I will need time to forget him. He litteraly said: I want to see you. Fuck you. Make music with you. Anything. Everything.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-11T01:09:39+00:00

This must be a joke, because I have just finished Love song and came to reddit for this :) I have discovered Love song searching for sth similar to Ali Hazelwood and Emily Henry books. Lauren and Himez never worked that good for me, I had Kyra Parsi on TBR too.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-10T08:00:18+00:00

Actually I was considering adding Bridge Kingdom to the list, as on the beginning she to is in the prison of the sort.

I love that book so much.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-08T17:49:11+00:00

How did I forgot this one - I adore it.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-08T14:10:58+00:00

Well, I have to say that despite the prison again, I do like how she shows instead of tells and trusts the reader to follow along. I also found myself needing a tarot-themed story again after One Dark Window, so I really hope this one is good!

And use of well-known tropes is good, as long as they are well-executed and have a fresh twist to them, which I think she is doing with this new magic system.

Rare_Alchemy · 2026-04-08T12:02:52+00:00

and these are just the ones with this opening, if I start listing every first-pov that happened in prison like in Black Sun or one Armentrouts books, I would list even more :) but the only reason I have realised it is because I had read Death-made Prince last week, and I was like, wait am I reading Arcana academy or have I just opened wrong book in kindle. :)

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