Series: Book 1 - Wild and Ruin Trilogy
Author: Jennifer G. Edelson
Publisher: Bad Apple Books
Genre: YA, Mystery, Mythology, Romance
ISBN: 978-1733514002
Source: Book Sirens
Release Date: August 26, 2019
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars - Okay
Blurb provided by Book Sirens
Truth, like love, isn't always obvious.
Seventeen-year-old Ruby Brooks has never had a boyfriend. After moving to small-town La Luna, New Mexico following her mother’s untimely death, boys aren’t even on her radar. Ruby just wants to forget the last horrible year and blend in. But when she discovers an ancient pueblo ruin in the forest behind her house and meets Ezra, a bitter recluse whose once-perfect face was destroyed in an accident he won’t talk about; Angel, La Luna’s handsome sheriff’s deputy, and Leo, a stranger who only appears near the ruin, Ruby finds herself teetering between love, mystery, and other worlds. What happened to Ezra’s face? And why is she so attracted to the one boy in town everyone despises? As Ruby unravels her own connections to both Ezra and the pueblo ruin, she’ll learn surfaces are deceiving. Especially in the heart of New Mexico, where spirits and legends aren’t always just campfire stories.
Review:
Ruby Brooks and her Aunt Liddy's last year was a bit rough, so her Aunt Liddy decided that they both needed to get away. They packed up everything and moved to the small town of La Luna, New Mexico. It's one of those quiet towns where everyone knows everyone, including everything about them. It's a completely different surrounding than what they are used to, which could be exactly what they need to heal their hearts and their minds from the past year. Losing her mother really took a toll on Ruby, so getting close to anyone was going to be a bit hard.
Shortly after coming into town Ruby meets not one, but three guys. She doesn't want to get into any kind of relationship unless she knows it's what her heart really wants. With her heart still mending from her mother's death, she doesn't think that her heart is ready for anything. These boys are making it really hard though, between mesmerizing good looks, charm, and even mystery.
Instantly upon starting this book I was hooked, especially by the great detail the author put into her words. It made it really easy to picture the scene with which surrounded Ruby and her friends. It was like the haunting forest behind Ruby's house was right in front of me, and it made me want to hike through those trees myself. She really brought to life both the terrain, as well as the history that is New Mexico.
I couldn't figure out whether I liked Ruby or not, even through the entire book. I'm still thinking about it. At times I felt like she was timid and quiet, and afraid to voice what she really thought. Other times I felt like she was a completely different person, using her appearance or ability to flirt as a way to get what she wanted. It honestly made me feel like she just needed to be honest with herself, and with the boys she was interacting with. She also seemed very needy, like she expected everyone to drop whatever they were doing to help her or be with her. This was probably my least favorite characteristic of hers. She was however friendly, which made me want to like her more.
I really liked the other characters in the story, especially Angel and Ezra, two of the boys that Ruby interacted with on a daily basis. Angel was sweet, and just seemed like he wanted a fair shot to be with Ruby. Ezra on the other hand was mysterious, honest, and some times a little harsh. I liked him for this though, he didn't hold back, and he didn't seem to care what anyone thought of him.
I think my favorite part of this whole book was all of the folklore, and history that Edelson packed into the pages. I feel like I learned so much about this beautiful place, and it makes me want to pack up and visit New Mexico myself. I'm looking forward to reading more of this trilogy, and seeing where things go with Ruby and the mystery that is surrounding her. I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future!
I received an advanced reading copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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