The majority of this book takes place on Mount Ruin (roughly 3/4 of it), but that’s not a bad thing. Malachi has a bit of growing to do, but he ultimately does the same for Nomi, choosing her own power and coming to realize that she knows what the country needs much more than he does and he needs to support her. One of my favourite moments is when Serina looks at Val and thinks “She never thought she’d see a man stand back and support, rather than assert his will.she’d never seen anything as attractive as the respect in Val’s eyes” (Banghart 286). Val has always been open in his support of Serina he is there to back her up in every aspect of her plan and vows to help the women find freedom. I am in love with Val and Malachi in this book! It was wonderful to read about two capable, strong men who are more than willing to follow their female partners instead of pushing themselves to the front. The Male Partners Are Everything Men Should Be Equality is needed around the world, otherwise one gender becomes little more than property to be traded and owned. Although there are losses along the way, Queen of Ruin shows how empowering women will build up a society. Queen of Ruin picks up on this storyline and blows it up as the women learn their own abilities in fighting back. I loved Grace and Fury because it showed such amazing growth from its characters and was a scary look at what happens when women are silenced and erased in a society.

I was intrigued by the first book and ended up loving the second! Picking up seconds after Grace and Fury ended, Queen of Ruin dives back into the dual perspectives of sisters Serina and Nomi as they struggle to find their place (and fight for their lives) in a society where women are little more than property. We are back on Mount Ruin and it is not looking good.

Queen of ruin by tracy banghart