I was so so excited to finally dive into Four Ruined Realms by Mai Corland after being obsessed with Five Broken Blades last year – and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. If you love morally grey characters, shifting alliances, and tension that practically crackles off the page, this series continues to deliver in spades.
What I Loved
- The Worldbuilding: Corland somehow took the gritty, cutthroat world of Five Broken Blades and expanded it in the best way possible. We get to explore new realms with their own twisted politics and dangerous rulers – each feeling distinct and richly layered. It’s the king of world where you’re constantly questioning who you can trust (spoiler: almost no one).
- The Characters: Ohhhh, the character dynamics in this one! Without giving too much away, some of the alliances from book one get real messy. Betrayals, unexpected team-ups, and just the right amount of slow-burn tension kept me hooked. Corland has this incredible way of making you root for characters even when their morally questionable at best.
- The Tension: I honestly felt like I was holding my breath for half the book. Corland really knows how to leave you dangling on the edge of “just one more chapter” – and suddenly its 1AM. Again.
My Reflection
I love how Corland doesn’t give you easy answers – your’e constantly second-guessing outcomes based on so many opposing motives and decisions, and it makes the story feel so immersive. There’s also this underlying theme of loyalty vs. survival that really hit me. It’s messy, it’s complicated, and just so good.
Looking Ahead…
Knowing the final book is (hopefully) coming out by the end of the year is so exciting, but I also have no idea how Corland’s going to wrap up these tangled storylines – but just know I’ll be the first to pre-order when it gets released (my matching Goldsboro edition, of course)!
Would I Recommend It?
Absolutely. If you enjoyed Five Broken Blades, I’m sure you’ve already read Four Ruined Realms but it really does crank the staked up even higher. If you’re new to the series, start from the beginning – you need to experience every twist and betrayal firsthand.
Have you read Four Ruined Realms yet? Are you also counting down to the final book? Let me know in the comments.
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