Book Reviews, Author interviews and more [NOT TAKING REVIEWS]

EMPRESS OF SELF-RUIN

by @mikrokosmos96

Very interesting, non-cliche

Chapters: 29; ongoing
Genre: Fantasy; Romance
Star rating: 3/5 stars
Review by: @Kitten_Kraze

Empress of Self-Ruin is a book written by a very talented author. It started off very well and managed to keep the readers' attention throughout.

The first chapter really sets the scene and is well-paced. We followed along easily and were able to gauge a bit of the lead's personality. The descriptions allow a vivid image to enter your mind and the emotions resonate within you as well. The diction is rich but not overly complicated and the author's writing style is unique that readers will enjoy reading this book.

Empress Calypso, the apparent female lead is strong and independent. She is of a noble position and carries herself with grace and dignity. She tries her hardest not to show weakness and its notable that this character is not exaggeratedly tough. The author makes it so that you can relate to her and understand the experiences she's gone through as if they were your own.

As we read on, there is a twist — one that not many have written of before. The Empress dies and wakes up again, but a while before the events leading to her death happened. However, instead of getting a do over with her memories from her past, it turns out that her whole life is a book that somebody else read and hated. Not only that but Park Hanbyeol, the reader, reincarnated into the Empress Calypso and realises she is just a mere supporting character.

Unfortunately, the author's explanation of the cross from the mighty Empress' perspective to that of Park Hanbyeol was not as smooth flowing as the rest of the book. It was a bit rushed and not described with as much detail as other scenes. The book's tone also changed when this transition occurred but that may be due to the fact that that the book is not angsty throughout.

Through all this, though, readers must know that this book does not shy away from mature topics. There are mentions of sexual assault, death and mental illness — all themes that can be triggering for some readers — thus it is recommended for more mature audiences.

In conclusion, I can say that as a whole, this  book was very well written and will not disappoint people looking for a new book idea that is non-cliche. It does have some swearing, though, but otherwise, hats off to the author for their amazing writing and their ability to guide us through the new world that they have built.

Recommendation:

For anyone looking for an angsty fantasy romance with an interesting, unexplored twist