City of Ruin, A Ruined Lands Novel (Signed Paperback)

**"City of Ruin"** by Lindsey Pogue is an atmospheric historical fantasy that reimagines classic fairy tales within a dark and gritty setting. Set in a post-apocalyptic London where the skies have been shrouded in darkness for centuries, the story follows Selene, a determined governess who fiercely safeguards the orphans under her care. When she is taken to the infamous estate of Master Blackburn, she fears the worst, believing she is leading her charges to a grim fate like so many before.However, Selene quickly discovers that Master Blackburn is not the only danger lurking in Briarwood. The estate is rife with secrets, and nothing is as it seems as she navigates a world filled with hidden passageways and haunting mysteries. Pogue skillfully weaves elements of **Jane Eyre** and **Beauty and the Beast** into the narrative, creating a rich tapestry of intrigue, romance, and personal growth. As Selene confronts her fears and the enigmatic master of the manor, she must unravel the truth behind the dark history of her surroundings and the sacrifices required to protect those she loves. **"City of Ruin"** promises a captivating blend of suspense, romance, and fairy tale magic, making it a must-read for fans of dystopian retellings and richly imagined worlds.

Dystopian gothic Beaty and the Beast retelling! I could not put this book down. A young woman sent to a terrible life at an orphanage and then sold to the collector for what she thought would be worse fate than the abuse she was already dealing with. Little did she know that the man she feared would end up being the one to protect her.

Three and a halfI found this definitely had more in common with Jane Eyre than Beauty and the Beast so expect female orphan somehow becoming a governess. As for the Collector well his initially dark and distant, almost brooding personality certainly has shades of Mr Rochester particularly with the secrets surrounding his wife. I did find this less dystopian and much more a gothic tale and a lot of what is here revolves around secrets and lies that have been told. Sadly this just wasn’t exactly what I had hoped for although I did finish it I don’t think I particularly warmed to either of the main characters which is a shame. I think I perhaps expected something a lot different based on the synopsis and the villain here whilst obnoxious was a bit too much of a caricature for my taste but at least he got his comeuppance !

Its hard to not mix up the Disney version in the story. It is alot grittier with the dystopian flavor. The story begins with the harshness of life that both Selene and Grayson endure separately. Both characters have baggage they grow to release in order to ackowledge feelings. It was a great version of the classic.

I love a good gothic and dystopian story. I also love Jane Eyre and Beauty & the Beast so I thoroughly enjoyed this retelling! It was definitely a different twist to usual dystopian literature and I can’t wait to read the next book about Greyson’s brother, Killian.