Common Sense Media Review
By Jasmine Baten
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Bloody and just ok conclusion to vampire-werewolf series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In THE RUINED the series comes to a conclusion with vampire Bastien of the Winter Court in the Sylvan Wyld and princess Celine of the Summer Court in the Sylvan Vale fighting for their people and struggling to understand a way forward. Caught in the midst of bloody battles, hurt friends, and assassination attempts on Celine's mother, the Summer Court's Queen, Bastien and Celine have to decide whether or not they can trust each other. When Bastien finds out that Celine may be in danger, he uses an ancient, dangerous magic to try and save her, but it risks their relationship in the process. At the same time, Bastien realizes that he has to rally the Winter Court and lead them against Celine's people to save the Sylvan Wyld from destruction. With these grim realities stacking against them, does Bastien and Celine's relationship have any hope of surviving?
Is It Any Good?
Renee Adhieh's dark and suspenseful tale will have vampire-werewolf fans' eyebrows raised with unexpected twists and unique world building. The Ruined jumps between the magical Sylvan realms and New Orleans, an apt setting for a vampire story, and has threads of important messages about class and race divides and women being taken seriously. While seeing Bastien grow will have readers cheering for him, Celine's growth seems underdeveloped in comparison. Her character is held back by misunderstandings and miscommunication that could have been avoided. Fans of the series may be sorely disappointed with the rushed and unhappy ending, but the point being made is hard to miss: sometimes those we love hold us back from who we are meant to be. Additionally, while the book's connections to class and race in the differences between the Summer and Winter Courts is intriguing, Bastien is a White man who leads the suppressed Winter Court, and Celine is stubborn to a fault in her leadership, factors that dilute the overall representation and parallels. Overall, this series closer is a fine conclusion, but not as satisfying as dedicated readers will have longed for.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in The Ruined. How is fantasy violence different from real world violence? How are they the same?
In this story, violence is used as a reaction to grief. What do you think about violence as a reaction to grief? Is it justified? Does it help? What are some other responses to grief?
How do Bastien and Celine grow over the course of the story? When do they show courage and humility? Why are these important character strengths?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Character Strengths : Courage , Humility , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Nancy Paulsen Books
- Publication date : December 5, 2023
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 12 - 18
- Number of pages : 398
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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