Review: Ruined by Amy Tintera!

Title: Ruined
Author: Amy Tintera
Published: May 3, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen (HarperCollins)
Hardcover: 368 pgs

GoodReads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

A revenge that will consume her. A love that will ruin her.

Emelina Flores has nothing. Her home in Ruina has been ravaged by war. She lacks the powers of her fellow Ruined. Worst of all, she witnessed her parents’ brutal murders and watched helplessly as her sister, Olivia, was kidnapped.

But because Em has nothing, she has nothing to lose. Driven by a blind desire for revenge, Em sets off on a dangerous journey to the enemy kingdom of Lera. Somewhere within Lera’s borders, Em hopes to find Olivia. But in order to find her, Em must infiltrate the royal family.

In a brilliant, elaborate plan of deception and murder, Em marries Prince Casimir, next in line to take Lera’s throne. If anyone in Lera discovers Em is not Casimir’s true betrothed, Em will be executed on the spot. But it’s the only way to salvage Em’s kingdom and what is left of her family.

Em is determined to succeed, but the closer she gets to the prince, the more she questions her mission. Em’s rage-filled heart begins to soften. But with her life—and her family—on the line, love could be Em’s deadliest mistake. 

Talk about an action-packed, girl-power, kick-ass novel!

From the minute you read the first word, Ruined is filled with fighting, disguises, espionage, and murder. You are immediately thrown into the middle of a war that has been waging in the background for years, and it's mesmerizing.

And the best part about it -- for me at least -- it all centered around a kick-ass female warrior.

Despite the fact that she was born different from the other Ruined; despite the fact that she has no powers; despite the fact that she had to watch her own parents murdered, Emelina is one of the fiercest protagonists I have yet to discover. She is a woman on a mission and nothing will deter her from getting what she wants. She is constantly on guard and always thinks of new ways to escape a situation before it even arises. She is incredibly intelligent and that in itself is a strength no one gives her credit for.

Okay, okay...so she makes the tragic mistake of falling in love. We've all been there. And it kind of throws a wrench in her plans. But to me, it only makes her more relatable and true to life. Despite everything she's been through, she's still a young woman, and Casimir is still a handsome prince (one who's actually noble, no less!). How could she not fall in love?

I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series (Avenged) which came out in May 2017. Have you all read it yet? Is it just as good as the first?!

5 out of 5 stars.