RUIN
Reviewed By Janet Mawdesley October 15, 2024
Author Gillian Eliza West
Distributor: Amazon
ISBN: 9798990138919
Publisher: Unknown
Release Date: October 2024
FaceBook:
YouTube:
X Formally Twitter:
The Infernis Duology – Book 1
From a somewhat messy beginning the story of Oralia and Renwick turns into a story that is captivating and most enjoyable as it puts yet another twist on the Hades x Persephone story which offers much for any writer of fantasy fiction to employ.
Not having touched another person for more than 245 years Oralia craves love, the last thing her adopted father King Typhon wants. He wants the power she has, but is also terrified of the effect she has on anything living when the darkness is upon her.
Marked by a daemoni as a young child she is considered cursed, dangerous, only allowed to enter the fields for the betterment of the trees and crops. Otherwise she is kept separate to the rest of the Court, her flesh always covered, soft kid gloves on her hands.
She is no longer a child but fully grown, coming into her full power, fearful of the damage she can cause. When she realises Typhon will stop at nothing to use her power, she decides her only option of survival is to flee to the Under Kingdom, presided over by the Lord of Darkness, King Renwick.
Once Renwick and Oralia get past the fear of each other they realise that they are able to possibly work together; but this will take time, trust and understanding which Oralia finds somewhat daunting, as the stories she has always been told about Renwick, paint him as a terrifying person.
Slowly she is introduced to the Kingdom of Souls and after a few upsetting moments realises her power is not to be feared but understood. Ren already realises she has no concept of who she is in the world of Gods and the power she controls; the power she has been born into and bequeathed.
Truth will eventually find a way to be told but during that time of telling, learning and understanding Ren and Oralia begin to fall deeply in love.
When Oralia’s brother Caston is found, having been shot with a golden arrow, Ren and Oralia realise Typhon will never rest until he gets her back. A devastating decision is made to allow her to return to King Typhon which is where the book concludes, with Orelia bravely being greeted by King Typhon having returned to her former kingdom…………………
Steamy, well written with influences from other literature of the same ilk, Ruin is a captivating read with very wider appeal.