Today it's my turn on the Spotlight Tour for Ruin of Stars by Linsey Miller, the second part of Mask of Shadows. Enter the Giveaway below to win 2 Copies of Ruin of Stars (Open to US & Canada only)
About the Author
A wayward biologist from Arkansas, Linsey previously worked as a crime lab intern, neuroscience lab assistant, and pharmacy technician. She can be found writing about science and magic anywhere there’s coffee.
Follow @LinseyMiller @SourcebooksFire on Twitter
Connect with Linsey On Instagram
Visit Linsey Miller at linseymiller.com
Buy Ruin the Stars
About the book
The thrilling conclusion to the Mask of Shadows duology that weaves a tale of magic, shadows, and most importantly, revenge.
As one of the Queen’s elite assassins, Sal finally has the power, prestige, and permission to hunt down the lords who killed their family. But Sal still has to figure out who the culprits are. They must enlist the help of some old friends and enemies while ignoring a growing distaste for the queen and that the charming Elise is being held prisoner by her father.
But there’s something terribly wrong in the north. Talk of the return of shadows, missing children, and magic abounds. As Sal takes out the people responsible for their ruined homeland, Sal learns secrets and truths that can’t be forgotten.
This is the second book in the Mask of Shadows series, and although it can be read as a standalone I personally would suggest reading the first book, to do the second justice and understand the complex world-building better.
The topic of gender-fluidity is paramount to understanding both the characters and the premise, because it is woven into the culture, moral fibre and laws of the Erlend nobility. A country and people who only recognise the sexual concept, partnership and marriage of man and woman. The rulers and supporters of Erlend become the bible-thumpers of the 21st century. The acknowledgement of gender fluidity or lack of it becomes the cornerstone of their oppression, which also includes destroying those they consider to be Untermenschen in an attempt to gain more power and property.
The main character Sal is a survivor of the massacres put in place by said nobility, and has taken their place as part of an esteemed set of assassins. One of a set of killers who protect their leader and kill without impunity. As Opal, Sal becomes the masked version of revenge, complete with a set of names on a kill list, which is whispered in times of anger or stress.
What's interesting to me is the suggestion that the lack of conformity when it comes to gender is presented as a personal failure and downfall for that person. If you are not one of the two, you are socially unacceptable, which sort of mirrors the reaction today in our own society.
The story could be written and told without that aspect of fear and hate-mongering, but I think it was important to Miller to show the similarity between the fictional scenario and the hate non-heterosexuals, and gender fluid persons have to deal with. It isn't a fictional fantasy problem. It's a real life problem with real repercussions when oppression is part of our daily existence and own identity.
Miller is a creative writer with fascinating ideas, although I could have done with a map of the countries and reading the first book would have spared me a little confusion at the beginning. The end of the book may leave the door open for further ventures into this world of magic, shadows, oppression and murder. Either way Miller has made her mark in the world of fantasy fiction, and writes captivating stories.
Buy Ruin of Stars at Amazon Uk or go to Goodreads for any other retailer.
Buy on Amazon com Barnes & Noble BookAMillion !indigo Indiebound
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Release Date: August 28, 2018
Enter the Giveaway below to win 2 Copies of Ruin of Stars (Open to US & Canada only)
Runs August 28th – September 30th
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