Song of Wraiths and Ruin Review

Woohoo! I finished this book just in time for my library due date and I’m incredibly proud of myself. It’s the small things truly.

I picked this book up because I’m trying to read more fantasy by Black authors. SO if you have more recommendations PLEASE leave them in the comments below!

I’d also heard a lot of great things about this book. If you’re a fantasy-lover I definitely think you should pick this up. I think it’s doing some really interesting things with magic, storytelling, and character growth. I think it will be a series we need to keep our eyes on as YA fantasy-lovers.

Both of the main characters started off at a place where I wasn’t sure if I was going to like them. However, I think they started off at places hurts of deep hurt and were then pushed to grow as people. I really appreciated that growth and it made me like them more as I watched Malik and Karina go through growing pains

Malik struggles with panic attacks and self-harm. It was difficult to read from Malik’s perspective because he has such a low self-value. However, that made watching him gain confidence more exciting. I really appreciate the representation of a character struggling with very real issues. I’ve said it before, but I believe fantasy book should still tackle important issues that we see in contemporary novels.

Karina is hot-headed and cruel in certain ways. At first I wasn’t sure that I was going to like her, however, I totally warmed up to her as I learned why she pushes everyone away. I ended up cheering both Karina and Malik on throughout the book and I am VERY excited to read more from them in future books.

I LOVED the folklore and storytelling elements of this book. I don’t want to give anything away because I thoroughly enjoyed this element and I want you to get to experience it yourself. However, I can’t recall a book I’ve read recently that had such a rich storytelling element to the culture of the different people represented in the book.

I wanted to address why I only gave this book a three star rating since I’m saying mostly positive things about it. I felt the pacing was a little weird for me. The book started out really fast and then it slowed down a lot. Then the ending picked up the momentum again. I also struggled with how certain things took characters so long to embrace, but other things they felt instantaneously. So, I did enjoy the book and I look forward to more them, however it did feel as if I was trudging through the book for a bit, so that’s why the book isn’t four stars for me.

Have you read this book? What were your thoughts? Do you plan on reading soon?