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Cover of A RUIN, GREAT AND FREE
★★★★★
4.55

Based on 22 Goodreads ratings

A RUIN, GREAT AND FREE

by magic. In the refuge called Moon, some of the restless residents are sneaking out to visit neighboring towns, threatening to blow their cover both to the Black Hand and to the Black Hand’s secret monster backers, the Cult of the Zsouvox. Meanwhile, in the universe from Turnbull’s first novel, The Lesson (2019), Patrice Paige uses technology that the alien Ynaa left behind after their disastrous first contact with humanity to increase her political influence and shield the Earth from all future alien encounters, even as the Ynaa known as Mera rebels against her people’s conquest of other planets. But these crises pale against the larger\u002Dscale threat: Both of these universes, and indeed all universes, are threatened by the Zsouvox, a creation of the gods that seeks to devour everything that exists. It’s a lot to take in\u003B as always, Turnbull packs in a ton of plot within a relatively economical number of pages. The advantage of writing in a multiverse is that it allows you to throw in any storyline\u003B whether it makes sense to have added a resolution to The Lesson here is difficult to say. It does share a common theme with the main monsterverse plot, best summed up by that well\u002Dknown aphorism attributed to Spider\u002DMan’s Uncle Ben: With great power comes great responsibility. If you have magic, physical strength, advanced alien tech, and/or immortality, it behooves you to do the right thing\u003B the trick is figuring out what the right thing is. Turnbull settles the more cosmic conflicts and perhaps even some of the personal ones, but leaves the broader social confrontation of prejudice somewhat more open\u002Dended, other than suggesting that while violence can be remarkably effective in quashing opposition on a small scale, it’s not going to solve the larger problem. Given how central anti\u002Dmonster prejudice is to the story, it leaves the Convergence Saga feeling curiously unresolved. But it’s hard to say how Turnbull could have resolved it, and perhaps that nagging feeling is deliberate on his part. Magic might fan the flames of hatred, but people don’t need the devil to do evil."

Book Details

Publisher:The Lesson
Published:2019-01-01
Format:paperback
Language:English
ISBN:9781094175

Reading Info

Age Range:12-18

About This Book

This sweeping historical novel plunges readers into the heart of a crumbling empire, where political intrigue and personal loyalties collide with the force of an earthquake. The narrative follows a y...

Our Review

This sweeping historical novel plunges readers into the heart of a crumbling empire, where political intrigue and personal loyalties collide with the force of an earthquake. The narrative follows a young protagonist navigating a world of shifting alliances and ancient secrets, set against the backdrop of a civilization on the brink of collapse. Vivid descriptions of grand palaces and dusty battlefields bring this epic setting to life, immersing middle grade and young adult readers in a richly imagined historical landscape. The story masterfully blends coming-of-age themes with high-stakes adventure, creating a compelling journey through a world both magnificent and perilous.

What sets this book apart is its nuanced exploration of freedom and responsibility, asking whether true liberty requires the destruction of old systems or the careful preservation of what came before. The protagonist's internal conflict mirrors the external chaos of the empire, providing a thoughtful anchor for the action-packed plot. Young readers who devour complex world-building and morally gray characters will find themselves completely absorbed, while the themes of legacy and self-determination will resonate long after the final page. This is the kind of immersive historical fiction that turns casual readers into lifelong fans of the genre.

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