TL;DR Review: The perfect blend of romantic and epic fantasy. Clever, engaging characters, an enthralling story line, and a lava-hot romance.
Synopsis:
“All magic is beautiful…and terrible. Do you not see the beauty in yours, or the terror in mine? You can stop a heart, and I can stop your breath.”
She is heir to a Sultanate that once ruled the world. He is an unwanted prince with the power to destroy.
She is order and intellect, a woman fit to rule in a man’s place. He is chaos and violence and will stop at nothing to protect his people.
His magic answers hers with shadow for light. They need each other, but the cost of balance may be too high a price. Magic is dying and the only way to save it is to enlist mages who wield the forbidden power of death, mages cast out centuries ago in a brutal and bloody war.
Now, a new war is coming. Science and machines to replace magic and old religion.
They must find a way to save their people from annihilation and balance the sacred Wheel—but first, they will have to balance their own forbidden passion. His peace for her tempest, his restlessness for her calm…
Night and day, dusk and dawn, the end, and the beginning.
Full Review:
I may be late to the Reign and Ruin party—it won SPFBO 7, after all—but after reading it, oh boy am I ready to RAVE (about this book)!
Reign and Ruin delivers everything I look for in a romantasy novel: two characters who are equally compelling in their own right, an engaging and epic plot, and, most important of all, a romance that doesn’t feel forced or shoe-horned in, but is developed organically and consistently throughout—until it finally culminates in the inevitable Happily Ever After I absolutely demand.
Characters:
I was in love with Naime from the first word out of her mouth. Daughter of the Sultan she may be, but she is in no way overshadowed by her father. Far from it, in fact: she is trying her best to keep him (and herself) together while his mind deteriorates. Raised watching her father govern his Sultanate, educated in law and politics, she is whip-smart with a razor’s edge tongue and a mind to match.
Her verbal sparring with the inevitable “wicked Vizier” was both wonderfully clever but also incredibly well-educated. Her intellect and poise are stunning to behold from the beginning to end. There was never any doubt that she was absolutely the best choice to rule, if only she could find a way around the pesky detail of needing to marry. Unfortunately for her, the only eligible options are bad, terrible, and worse—including the son of the aforementioned wicked Vizier (this particular pairing includes a delicious twist that I absolutely loved).
Enter Makram, brother to the “Mirza” (ruler) of the neighboring kingdom—which, of course, Naime’s people have been enemies with for centuries.
Makram started off as a weaker character, despite being a general and leader of men. He bites his tongue and plays along with his brother’s whims. Which, inevitably, don’t always work out in his favor.
But as he eventually defies his brother and journeys to Naime’s kingdom to try and make peace, we see his true strength. He is so much more than just brother to the king; he’s the most powerful mage in his kingdom, a competent leader, and an all around decent man.
That’s what makes him such a breath of fresh air to read. In sharp contrast with the scheming and politicking that pervades everything in Naime’s court, he’s a blunt, direct man who doesn’t toy with words or hide his true thoughts and feelings behind subtle jabs and smiles. He cuts like a sword through the tangled web of court politics and, in so doing, gives Naime hope that maybe there can be a future where their two kingdoms are allied against a greater enemy.
The Plot:
While many fantasy romances often suffer from weaker plots, that is not the case at all with Reign and Ruin.
Don’t get me wrong: it’s very much about the romance (more details below). But the plot is enough to keep the story moving forward at a beautifully rapid clip.
Naime is trying to convince Makram to help her make peace. Makram is willing because he hopes that bringing favorable terms of alliance back to his brother will soften the sting of his disobedience. Grand Vizier Wicked is, of course, trying to sabotage everything so he can rule.
There is not a dull or slow moment in this book. Yes, there are entire chapters dedicated to lingering glances and minds racing and hearts beating and all the usual romance-forward story elements, but they are framed so well by a cleverly written, tangled plot that they serve to enhance the story rather than detract from it.
Makram brings the physicality while Naime brings the intellect, and together, their brains and brawn make for an amazing pairing that drive the story forward at a breakneck pace.
The Romance:
Now we get to it, the heart of the matter (literally).
After much thought, I’ve decided that I’m categorizing this book as an epic fantasy romance, not an epic fantasy with romance. The romance is the driving force behind the story, which is seen from the moment we are introduced to the main problem (Naime needs to marry) in the first chapter.
The only way to describe this romance is SLOOOOOOWWWWWW BUUUUURRRRRNNNNN. And I mean that in the best possible way.
While the plot steams forward at full speed, the romance is slow in building. They’re enemies, after all, and though the initial attraction between them is undeniable, Naime is in such rigid control of herself that she can’t even begin to entertain the idea of anything beyond negotiations.
Makram is a bit more driven by his emotions, and it’s clear from the beginning that he’s got a thing for her. But he’s also got pressures of his own that keep him from acting on that attraction and instead focusing on doing what’s best for their kingdoms.
The “I wan’t him/her but can’t” trope was done so well. There’s nothing but attraction at first, which is impossible to miss through their banter (oh, that banter was AMAZING! I wanted so much more of it!). Over time, as they both make choices that draw them toward each other—Makram supporting Naime when everyone else has attempted to undermine her, Naime’s curiosity toward and acceptance of Makram when everyone else fears and shuns him—they are woven together with emotional strands that become an unbreakable bond.
But they don’t bloody act on it! Hence the “SLOOOOOWWWW”. You can see it in every word out of their mouth, every look they cast at the other, every gesture and touch, but they’re fighting their desires for the sake of duty.
And that is where the “BUUURRRNN” comes in. They want it. Bad. Which makes you want it just as bad. But they’re not going to. Then maybe they’re going to. But only a little bit. But then no, they have to pull back. Then wait, maybe a…no, they’re pulling back and then…wait, is that…ooh, maybe now they’ll…no, never mind they’re…a kiss?!!! DO MORE!
This book is basically written to be one giant, utterly cruel tease. It builds up the romance layer by layer, strand by strand, connecting them on an emotional and intellectual level, so that by the time they actually break the physical barrier, even the slightest touches are red hot. No, scratch that, lava hot!
In a world of “fated mates” and “insta-lust”, this is romance written in a way that a man who is both insanely realist and a romantic at heart can say “THIS IS HOW IT’S DONE RIGHT”.
Final Thoughts
If there’s any doubt as to whether or not I recommend Reign and Ruin, let me set them to rest now: put down whatever book you’re reading and go read Naime and Makram’s love story RIGHT FREAKIN’ NOW.
It’s sizzling hot, razor-sharp, and spellbinding. It’s epic fantasy with all the romance I could ask for, and romantic fantasy that feels delightfully epic.
I’m giving this book ALL THE STARS!!
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