Realm of Ruins by Hannah West is the companion novel to her first book Kingdom of Ash and Briars and part of the Nissera Chronicles series. If you like your stories to have a fairytale feel, you’ll want to add this one to your TBR stack.

Our main character in this story is Valory, a descendant the main character from Kingdom of Ash and Briars, and she attends a training academy for elicromancers, immortal beings with magical gifts.  Unfortunately for Valory, she hasn’t felt any magic in herself and being surrounded by a family who has a lot of magical power, she feels a bit like she doesn’t fit. When something horrible happens, Valory comes to possess a dark power that she can’t really control, and the Realm Alliance isn’t taking any chances with her. When she is required to leave her home and puts her on a dangerous path.

As Valory is forced to leave her home, she finds out that she isn’t really safe anywhere she goes. Her first problem occurs when it is discovered that Prince Devorian, one of the Lorenthi’s and a relative, has released something evil, Valory is determined to fix something she had a role in bringing about. When she gets to Beyrian, and her neutralizer ends up dead, she is forced to leave before the Realm Alliance can blame her for something she didn’t have any part in. And these are only things that happened in the first half of the book.

There are a lot of characters in this story. There are Melkior, Ivria, and Anders who we are introduced to at Valory’s school – all cousins to her. Then there are the Lorenthi siblings who play a role in Valory’s story. Rayed and Kadri, brother and sister as well as friends to Valory. One of the other key people, Mercer, is a mysterious stranger that Valory ends up finding injured during her travels to Beyrian. I loved how West brought together a group of characters who, in normal circumstances, might not have been able to accomplish what they set out to do together and forced them to work together.

A lot happens in this book and I can’t tell you everything. Valory’s growth and determination are at the center of the entire story as she goes from being a girl who wants power and to fit in at the beginning of the book to being someone who has grown into what she has been given and is willing to do whatever is necessary to protect those she loves. She also learns who she can really trust within her family and it may not necessarily be who she originally thought it would be.

The world that West has developed here was interesting and well developed. I thought the way the Moth King’s story unfolded was interesting and kept me turning the pages to see what was going to happen. Add to that the fact that the group is facing more than just the danger of the Moth King throughout the story, there seems to be something dangerous to face with every new chapter.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There isn't much more I can say without potentially giving something away, so I will stop here. As I mentioned, this is a companion to the first book so while you don’t necessarily have to read that one to follow along with this book, there are references back to Bristal and what happened. If you are looking for a fantasy that weaves in bits of fairytales, focuses on magic, and has some interesting characters, definitely consider checking this one out. I will be looking forward to seeing West writes next.

Thank you to the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review.