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The Bones of Ruin #3
The Lady of Rapture
Penny Dreadful meets The Gilded Wolves in this breathtaking finale to young adult historical fantasy Bones of Ruin trilogy!
For years, the elite secret society called the Enlightenment Committee has waited for the apocalyptic force known as Hiva to destroy the world as it has so many times before. What the Committee didn’t know, however, was that Hiva wasn’t an event—it was a person.
Iris Marlow. An African tightrope dancer with no memories of her past. A girl who cannot die.
At least, she couldn’t die. Until her own friends discovered her one weakness and murdered her once and for all. The world-ending threat she posed should be gone too, but there’s one more Hiva out there, and unlike Iris, this one has no love for humanity. In her absence, this Hiva has taken it upon himself to judge if humanity deserves to live.
But when it comes to Hivas, the judgment is always the same. The ending is always total destruction. And while Iris is dead, she’s not gone—and after the betrayal that ended her life as Iris, she is now out for revenge.
The world’s days are numbered. The Cataclysm has begun.
For years, the elite secret society called the Enlightenment Committee has waited for the apocalyptic force known as Hiva to destroy the world as it has so many times before. What the Committee didn’t know, however, was that Hiva wasn’t an event—it was a person.
Iris Marlow. An African tightrope dancer with no memories of her past. A girl who cannot die.
At least, she couldn’t die. Until her own friends discovered her one weakness and murdered her once and for all. The world-ending threat she posed should be gone too, but there’s one more Hiva out there, and unlike Iris, this one has no love for humanity. In her absence, this Hiva has taken it upon himself to judge if humanity deserves to live.
But when it comes to Hivas, the judgment is always the same. The ending is always total destruction. And while Iris is dead, she’s not gone—and after the betrayal that ended her life as Iris, she is now out for revenge.
The world’s days are numbered. The Cataclysm has begun.
496 pages, Hardcover
First published April 16, 2024
9 people are currently reading
3435 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Raughley
16 books675 followersSarah Raughley grew up in Southern Ontario writing stories about freakish little girls with powers because she secretly wanted to be one. She is a huge fangirl of anything from manga to SF/F TV to Japanese Role Playing Games, but she will swear up and down that she was inspired by ~Jane Austin~ at book signings. On top of being a YA Writer, she is currently completing a PhD in English, because the sight of blood makes her queasy (which crossed Medical School off the list).
She is represented by The Bradford Literary Agency.
So far, you can also find her on Twitter, where work ethic goes to die.
She is represented by The Bradford Literary Agency.
So far, you can also find her on Twitter, where work ethic goes to die.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
April 26, 2024
i’m at the forefront of the revolution to get Sarah Raughley an HBO Max contract to make this series into a show
November 22, 2024
Listen. This isn’t an enjoyable read. You'll be well-acquainted with pain and suffering on every page! You go through hell with this story, but it’s a very fitting end. We are who we choose to be.
I hated how much Iris (and Jinn) got sidelined in this story. I wanted more time with these two (one of my favorite book couples!), but we were given crumbs. Book 3 is the Max and Rin show, which isn't bad but the self-loathing, killing, and iciness got old.
Overall, I enjoyed this series so much and want to read more from Raughley. The first book is still my favorite of all of them.
Lulu is so adorable. The author just has a way where you want to pick that little girl up and hug her. She was so precious. I also liked the sisterhood development between . Adam is ever the sadistic crackhead as before but his shenanigans are still fun to read.
The philosophy and biblical themes are present more than ever here. The book makes us ask ourselves - Why is it so crazy to imagine a world without pain, greed, and people hurting each other?
I hated how much Iris (and Jinn) got sidelined in this story. I wanted more time with these two (one of my favorite book couples!), but we were given crumbs. Book 3 is the Max and Rin show, which isn't bad but the self-loathing, killing, and iciness got old.
Overall, I enjoyed this series so much and want to read more from Raughley. The first book is still my favorite of all of them.
Lulu is so adorable. The author just has a way where you want to pick that little girl up and hug her. She was so precious. I also liked the sisterhood development between . Adam is ever the sadistic crackhead as before but his shenanigans are still fun to read.
The philosophy and biblical themes are present more than ever here. The book makes us ask ourselves - Why is it so crazy to imagine a world without pain, greed, and people hurting each other?
June 10, 2025
What a ride this final book was, there was so much going on and so many characters with their own motivations and goals and designs on the possible end of the world.
Whew. Long sentence over there.
Death, so much death. In the end, the world does end. And through it, we learn so much and get to see what happiness looks like. I'm glad Iris decided to become The One and make a world fuelled with happiness. I'm glad everyone (even her enemies) could return and live out their lives in peace with their loved ones.
After all, isn't that what we all want?
(Also totally thought Rin and Berta would get together, they would have been so cute together)
(Also also, VERY glad it wasn't Jinn who killed her, but Max. Which truly makes more sense. Also Jinn's real name is Emin and it's sweet)
Whew. Long sentence over there.
Death, so much death. In the end, the world does end. And through it, we learn so much and get to see what happiness looks like. I'm glad Iris decided to become The One and make a world fuelled with happiness. I'm glad everyone (even her enemies) could return and live out their lives in peace with their loved ones.
After all, isn't that what we all want?
(Also totally thought Rin and Berta would get together, they would have been so cute together)
(Also also, VERY glad it wasn't Jinn who killed her, but Max. Which truly makes more sense. Also Jinn's real name is Emin and it's sweet)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2024
Girl I am UNWELL
June 21, 2024
Everyone dies. It's literally Marvel's The End meets Garth Nix's The Keys to the Kingdom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 7, 2025
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Lady of Rapture is the epitome of the lyric "all my enemies started off friends". For Iris, and the other characters in The Bones of Ruin universe, they think they've avoided the end of the world, only to find out they might have replaced what they knew, what was familiar, with something else entirely. They thought they avoided the end of the world, but they might have sped it along instead. This series ender very much begins by asking us if we have lost everything, who cares if the world ends? It asks us whether humanity is even worth saving.
The Lady of Rapture is the epitome of the lyric "all my enemies started off friends". For Iris, and the other characters in The Bones of Ruin universe, they think they've avoided the end of the world, only to find out they might have replaced what they knew, what was familiar, with something else entirely. They thought they avoided the end of the world, but they might have sped it along instead. This series ender very much begins by asking us if we have lost everything, who cares if the world ends? It asks us whether humanity is even worth saving.
June 10, 2025
"Imagining something different takes strength. Believing in your own self takes courage. Understanding your own power takes wisdom. And being willing to use it for good--well, that takes kindness..."
My problem with the last book I read was that not enough people died for it being the last book of a trilogy. This one, I felt like too many people died but then they all came back to life at the end. I get why that happened but I would have liked a funeral or two. I will say that what the series does so well overall is the commentary on race, class, and colonialism. Putting those against a YA fantasy backdrop was so engaging.
My problem with the last book I read was that not enough people died for it being the last book of a trilogy. This one, I felt like too many people died but then they all came back to life at the end. I get why that happened but I would have liked a funeral or two. I will say that what the series does so well overall is the commentary on race, class, and colonialism. Putting those against a YA fantasy backdrop was so engaging.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2024
I genuinely couldn’t imagine how Sarah would be able to complete this series in a way that felt fully satisfying & appropriate, but somehow she managed it. I love this series & the end of it is just so right.
I read all three books back to back (although I had read book one before) & I’m definitely going to end up with a book hangover. I’m going to miss Iris — a truly complex & fascinating protagonist — rather a lot, I fear.
I read all three books back to back (although I had read book one before) & I’m definitely going to end up with a book hangover. I’m going to miss Iris — a truly complex & fascinating protagonist — rather a lot, I fear.
July 24, 2025
A decent end to the trilogy, but the ending didn't quite click for me. I also feel that some of the characters and their motivations for actions became a little looser and less believable here, and the story was a bit meandering at times. Raughley did a great job bringing some history into her story though, especially discussions on colonization. Loved the tie in to the real life Berlin Conference of 1884.
January 17, 2026
4.5
BOOK REVIEW
Not a single character is morally "good", although their selfish motives or betrayals were on part of the dog eats dog world they habitat. I loved this novel; best out of the three. But, at around the 95% mark I was like ""this is EXACTLY how the characters story should end"... and then it kept going. I think it was amazing how she tied everything up but it would have been more realistic for it to have been a not happy ending.
BOOK REVIEW
Not a single character is morally "good", although their selfish motives or betrayals were on part of the dog eats dog world they habitat. I loved this novel; best out of the three. But, at around the 95% mark I was like ""this is EXACTLY how the characters story should end"... and then it kept going. I think it was amazing how she tied everything up but it would have been more realistic for it to have been a not happy ending.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2024
One of the standout qualities of this novel is its nuanced portrayal of relationships. From friendships to romances to familial bonds, the dynamics between characters feel authentic and emotionally resonant, adding depth and complexity to the story.
July 2, 2025
A 6 star series✨ that I am forever thankful for.
Also Miss Sarah let’s chat I have MANY MANY thoughts please and thanks.
(ps - If you see a woman running up to you frantically screaming, jumbling through character names and crying. Don’t worry it’s not me…)
Also Miss Sarah let’s chat I have MANY MANY thoughts please and thanks.
(ps - If you see a woman running up to you frantically screaming, jumbling through character names and crying. Don’t worry it’s not me…)
May 14, 2024
IRIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
June 17, 2024
Loved reading this book, loved all the places that it went, and it was a great end to the series!
July 5, 2024
Honestly the best one -- which is rare for a finale.
October 31, 2024
the war in this book being "WWI but too early" was sooo subtle
February 2, 2025
DNF. I got 25% into the book before giving up. I liked the first book but I wasn’t invested enough to get through it.
December 22, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It had many compelling characters (Rin, I will love you forever) and very high stakes in a well developed historical setting. However, I will say that I felt the direction some of the magical worldbuilding took to be confusing at times. I also feel that the ending was somewhat vague in a way that left me not wholly satisfied. 4.5 rounded up solely because I love Rin that much.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews