Mae has always lived on the island. After the death of her father, she relies on the charity of the wealthy and capricious Prosper family. With her eighteenth birthday approaching, Mae must soon decide how she wants to make her way in the world. On First Night, the Prospers and their friends celebrate harnessing the magic of the island. As Mae attempts to claim magic for her own, she realizes that magic always comes with a price. Mae must work together with her friends and the mysterious Ivo to find the truth behind the island. 

My favorite part of Bright Ruined Things was the beautiful prose and atmospheric setting. You can feel the creeping mist and chill of the wind. The prose is witty and sharp. I did struggle with this book, because I didn't really connect with the characters. The characters felt a bit one-dimensional, with the drama more tiring than enticing. I also wasn’t a fan of the love triangle. While Mae was enchanted with Miles, I personally didn’t see his appeal. The ending will make readers scream with excitement or disappointment- you’ll have to read and decide for yourself! 

While it didn’t quite resonate with me, I do think this book will really work for some readers! They will find themselves utterly swept away to a magical island with a mystery deep at its heart. The themes of desperately wanting to belong and the cost of magic land very well. I can’t wait to see what Samantha Cohoe writes next! I know I will definitely check out her next book. Bright Ruined Things releases October 26, 2021. Thank you to Samantha Cohoe, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.