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The Ruins of Men #1
Wyvern's Gold
Dragons are a myth. Heroes are a reality.
Six hundred years ago, humans retreated underground. Our Elders said our sins were why. Ever since, the battle between Heaven and Hell has raged on Earth's surface. Only becoming truly righteous can save us.
It was a lie.
Stories of dragons willing to devour us and wild men who will torture us keep the population in line. For twenty years, all I'd heard was how the surface was filled with horrors - that's why our hunters always return wounded. God does not consider us ready yet.
It. Was. A. Lie!
They've beaten me down until the only option left is death. Sacrificed to the dragons, I expect monsters from legends. Instead, I learn the truth. Dragons are people. Massive, strange, dangerous people.
My only hope is to push aside everything I've been taught and learn to embrace who I really am. A daughter. A woman. Not just a healer but also a warrior! I was chained out to die, but I will survive. One way or another, I will find a way to stop all the lies.
Because monsters are real. They just aren't the ones I expected.
** Wyvern's Gold is a 200,000 word novel and the start to an epic series. **
Six hundred years ago, humans retreated underground. Our Elders said our sins were why. Ever since, the battle between Heaven and Hell has raged on Earth's surface. Only becoming truly righteous can save us.
It was a lie.
Stories of dragons willing to devour us and wild men who will torture us keep the population in line. For twenty years, all I'd heard was how the surface was filled with horrors - that's why our hunters always return wounded. God does not consider us ready yet.
It. Was. A. Lie!
They've beaten me down until the only option left is death. Sacrificed to the dragons, I expect monsters from legends. Instead, I learn the truth. Dragons are people. Massive, strange, dangerous people.
My only hope is to push aside everything I've been taught and learn to embrace who I really am. A daughter. A woman. Not just a healer but also a warrior! I was chained out to die, but I will survive. One way or another, I will find a way to stop all the lies.
Because monsters are real. They just aren't the ones I expected.
** Wyvern's Gold is a 200,000 word novel and the start to an epic series. **
478 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 26, 2024
367 people are currently reading
495 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
August 31, 2024
Took me forever
I usually breeze through books. Several a day. This one took me forever to pick up. In fact, this is the 3rd time trying to read it since it was released. And it took me 4 days to slog through it. The beginning is...a lot. A lot of heartache. A lot of misogyny. A lot of oppression. In a way it's reminiscent of her Iliri series. But instead of joining Sal as she's already out(ish) of slavery, we join Ayla (a lot little close to Ayala from Demon's Muse) while she's still in Hell. We suffer everything she does, that her friends do. And it's a LOT. It's why I put it down several times before this. I just didn't want to read about the abuse, the hatred, the r*pes, the everything. And it isn't just a chapter or 2. It's almost a third of the book before she stages her freedom. While it was refreshing to see Auryn return to a more powerful writing style it hurts to read. Well, at least to DV survivors, or those who've escaped cults and abusive childhoods. There's dragons, but it's not like you think. It's dystopian, no magic involved. Well, except the power of hope. But I would definitely tell sensitive readers to avoid this at all costs. It's dark. It touches on a LOT of dark topics:
*R*pe
*Marital r*pe
*Slavery
*Cannibalism
*Cult brainwashing
*Abuse
*Misogynistic religious control
*Solitary confinement for "unruly women" as punishment and a way to break them
And a lot more I'm probably blocking for my own mental health. If you like darker tales than you'd probably give it more stars than I did. I wasn't expecting this to start where it did and have to wade through my trauma as well as Ayla's. As I said, Sal had already started fighting back when we joined her. It's powerful, but dark. It deserves all the warnings. All of them. The blurb is a little, ok a lot too cheerful for the contents.
I usually breeze through books. Several a day. This one took me forever to pick up. In fact, this is the 3rd time trying to read it since it was released. And it took me 4 days to slog through it. The beginning is...a lot. A lot of heartache. A lot of misogyny. A lot of oppression. In a way it's reminiscent of her Iliri series. But instead of joining Sal as she's already out(ish) of slavery, we join Ayla (a lot little close to Ayala from Demon's Muse) while she's still in Hell. We suffer everything she does, that her friends do. And it's a LOT. It's why I put it down several times before this. I just didn't want to read about the abuse, the hatred, the r*pes, the everything. And it isn't just a chapter or 2. It's almost a third of the book before she stages her freedom. While it was refreshing to see Auryn return to a more powerful writing style it hurts to read. Well, at least to DV survivors, or those who've escaped cults and abusive childhoods. There's dragons, but it's not like you think. It's dystopian, no magic involved. Well, except the power of hope. But I would definitely tell sensitive readers to avoid this at all costs. It's dark. It touches on a LOT of dark topics:
*R*pe
*Marital r*pe
*Slavery
*Cannibalism
*Cult brainwashing
*Abuse
*Misogynistic religious control
*Solitary confinement for "unruly women" as punishment and a way to break them
And a lot more I'm probably blocking for my own mental health. If you like darker tales than you'd probably give it more stars than I did. I wasn't expecting this to start where it did and have to wade through my trauma as well as Ayla's. As I said, Sal had already started fighting back when we joined her. It's powerful, but dark. It deserves all the warnings. All of them. The blurb is a little, ok a lot too cheerful for the contents.
July 27, 2024
wow, yet again another masterpiece from Auryn. every single time i pick up one of her book it blows me away. not only are they highly enjoyable and entertaining, she always is able to bring in such real life issues without me feeling overwhelmed. every single story is so profound and this one is no different. i am so excited to see what comes next and i know this one is going to be a favourite!
August 3, 2024
Once again Hadley has enthralled, engaged, enraptured with rich descriptions, well rounded characters, unique storylines and a gloriously unique twist on a traditional story concept, in this case “dragons” and dystopian earth, creating something wholly unique.
Wyverns gold is a new setting for Hadley, and the world that has been created is brilliant. This is a story that will scratch your itch for a dragon story, whilst at the same time giving you something COMPLETELY different, something you needed without even realising it.
I absolutely adore Dragon stories, they’re my favourite. This absolutely is not that, and yet.. it absolutely is now my favourite 🤣 Hadley has once again put her own entirely new, entirely unique twist on something we have seen for years. This is not a world about “dragons” as you know them, and the world is based in the future but again… not as you would expect it. The religious elements are well thought out, and so are the societal aspects. Hadley has taken issues from today and shown what they could become in the future, in a way which brings current attitudes to the readers attention in a way which is both subtle and blatant.
The characters are “people”, they have their better and worse qualities, their way of life makes sense even whilst not perhaps what we would expect.
The characters are wonderfully complex and yet perfectly understandable. Do they respond as expected? Nope, not always. But how they respond DOES make sense for who, what and where they are.
The plot builds perfectly, the complex world, religions, societies and peoples being explained as we go without it being either an information dump or lacking in detail.
Once again, an entirely new concept with traditional twists that you won’t see coming, characters to fall in love with or outright want to slap, and a world you want to dive headlong into.
I can’t wait to see where this new world takes me next!
Wyverns gold is a new setting for Hadley, and the world that has been created is brilliant. This is a story that will scratch your itch for a dragon story, whilst at the same time giving you something COMPLETELY different, something you needed without even realising it.
I absolutely adore Dragon stories, they’re my favourite. This absolutely is not that, and yet.. it absolutely is now my favourite 🤣 Hadley has once again put her own entirely new, entirely unique twist on something we have seen for years. This is not a world about “dragons” as you know them, and the world is based in the future but again… not as you would expect it. The religious elements are well thought out, and so are the societal aspects. Hadley has taken issues from today and shown what they could become in the future, in a way which brings current attitudes to the readers attention in a way which is both subtle and blatant.
The characters are “people”, they have their better and worse qualities, their way of life makes sense even whilst not perhaps what we would expect.
The characters are wonderfully complex and yet perfectly understandable. Do they respond as expected? Nope, not always. But how they respond DOES make sense for who, what and where they are.
The plot builds perfectly, the complex world, religions, societies and peoples being explained as we go without it being either an information dump or lacking in detail.
Once again, an entirely new concept with traditional twists that you won’t see coming, characters to fall in love with or outright want to slap, and a world you want to dive headlong into.
I can’t wait to see where this new world takes me next!
August 8, 2024
dnf 40% writing is not there for me. lacking any nuance and dialog feels unnatural, repetitive.
July 21, 2025
4.25 ⭐️/0 🌶️—This isn’t a dragon romance in a typical sense. It’s hundreds of years after an apocalyptic disaster has made the seas rise and fundamentally changed the face of the earth. Our FMC Ayla has grown up in an underground post-apocalyptic cult that tells her that the world outside has been burned in a war between god and the devil. The cult, who call themselves The Righteous, send up their strongest men to find food, battling wild men and dragons, and bring it back to the community. Ayla, who secretly reads banned books and doesn’t want to spend her life as a wife and mother, comes up with a plan to escape. She soon finds that the Righteous may have been lying to the community.
Hadley always does really interesting things with plot and characterization. This book has a lot of tropes from apocalyptic fiction, but she is using them in unusual ways that make the story quite unique. The story itself is one that’s been told before (Fallout comes to mind), but she delivers it in a fresh way that doesn’t feel overworked. Characterization is really her strong suit. All of the main characters have enough depth, motivation, and personality to feel genuine and three-dimensional.
Although she doesn’t focus as much on the reasons behind her world building, I found it more believable than some other examples in the genre. The possibilities of genetic manipulation as well as the historic realities of linguistic evolution and vowel shifting (the great English vowel shift) are grounded very much in our world. Thus, it didn’t feel too much like a fantasy.
Hadley’s books are always very long. Sometimes I feel like condensing them a bit would be beneficial, but with the opposite happening so often (books split up into multiple volumes with cliffhangers) I’m not going to complain too much.
Hadley always does really interesting things with plot and characterization. This book has a lot of tropes from apocalyptic fiction, but she is using them in unusual ways that make the story quite unique. The story itself is one that’s been told before (Fallout comes to mind), but she delivers it in a fresh way that doesn’t feel overworked. Characterization is really her strong suit. All of the main characters have enough depth, motivation, and personality to feel genuine and three-dimensional.
Although she doesn’t focus as much on the reasons behind her world building, I found it more believable than some other examples in the genre. The possibilities of genetic manipulation as well as the historic realities of linguistic evolution and vowel shifting (the great English vowel shift) are grounded very much in our world. Thus, it didn’t feel too much like a fantasy.
Hadley’s books are always very long. Sometimes I feel like condensing them a bit would be beneficial, but with the opposite happening so often (books split up into multiple volumes with cliffhangers) I’m not going to complain too much.
August 26, 2024
Not going to lie the start was rough but past 25% I really couldn‘t put it down anymore
Slept on it, some more context (and little spoilers but not too much):
The beginning was repetitive. A cycle of demonstrating how oppressed Ayla is, how she‘s courageous and fights against it, and then ultimately it ends in resignation. This happened over and over in the first 25% of the book but I remained hopeful (read I‘m in a massive reading slump and this was a little light at the end of the tunnel).
But then! There was a hint of growth. And as the characters developed, so did the plot. It was enjoyable and action packed and I‘m excited for the next installment.
It‘s probably closer to a 4.5 and I likely wouldn‘t reread it. But for the enjoyment in the moment, giving me hope that there‘s good books out there I have yet to discover, it can keep the 5.
Slept on it, some more context (and little spoilers but not too much):
The beginning was repetitive. A cycle of demonstrating how oppressed Ayla is, how she‘s courageous and fights against it, and then ultimately it ends in resignation. This happened over and over in the first 25% of the book but I remained hopeful (read I‘m in a massive reading slump and this was a little light at the end of the tunnel).
But then! There was a hint of growth. And as the characters developed, so did the plot. It was enjoyable and action packed and I‘m excited for the next installment.
It‘s probably closer to a 4.5 and I likely wouldn‘t reread it. But for the enjoyment in the moment, giving me hope that there‘s good books out there I have yet to discover, it can keep the 5.
July 24, 2024
***5.0 Stars***
Overall,
I do not think its a secret that I am a die hard Auryn Hadley fan. (A.H. Hadley is the same author under a different name), so I may be biased in saying that I loved this book. This book was not like any other book I have read by this author. It is a foray in to science fiction/dystopian that I thoroughly enjoyed. I honestly didn't even read the synopsis before I started reading this book so I had no idea what is was even going to be about other than I know what a Wyvern is and looking at the cover, I was like Dragons cool. I did not expect to be thrown into a futuristic religious cult. Loved that. This is the first book in a new series and I cannot wait for the rest of the story. The characters were compelling, there were a couple twists that I did not expect and of course there is found family which I am a huge sucker for. I recommend everyone read this please.
Overall,
I do not think its a secret that I am a die hard Auryn Hadley fan. (A.H. Hadley is the same author under a different name), so I may be biased in saying that I loved this book. This book was not like any other book I have read by this author. It is a foray in to science fiction/dystopian that I thoroughly enjoyed. I honestly didn't even read the synopsis before I started reading this book so I had no idea what is was even going to be about other than I know what a Wyvern is and looking at the cover, I was like Dragons cool. I did not expect to be thrown into a futuristic religious cult. Loved that. This is the first book in a new series and I cannot wait for the rest of the story. The characters were compelling, there were a couple twists that I did not expect and of course there is found family which I am a huge sucker for. I recommend everyone read this please.
August 19, 2024
3.5
A lot of repetition. First there is an event. Then Ayla tells someone about the event, then that person tells someone else. So you end up with 3 or 4 tellings of the same event. Fortunately it's done (written) in a way that doesn't bog the story down too much.
There were many paragraphs about the religion that I skimmed over.
So, Although the book could have been shorter I did appreciate getting to know the characters fairly well.
A lot of repetition. First there is an event. Then Ayla tells someone about the event, then that person tells someone else. So you end up with 3 or 4 tellings of the same event. Fortunately it's done (written) in a way that doesn't bog the story down too much.
There were many paragraphs about the religion that I skimmed over.
So, Although the book could have been shorter I did appreciate getting to know the characters fairly well.
August 7, 2024
Another magical book written by Hadley (no matter the pen name)! I swear her imagination is an amazing place to be and we are lucky enough she can share it with the world through her writing. This story is about not accepting the life you’ve been told to accept. I hate writing reviews. I cannot write a grammatically correct sentence but I can read - and this book is right up in the top books I have ever read (not surprisingly the other top books are by her and Kitty Cox). Just read this…now
July 29, 2024
I couldn't put this book down, it completely captured my attention from the first chapter. I am a huge fan of A.H. Hadley and I believe this is my new favorite book of theirs. A young woman in a religious cult that thinks of women as just breeders and who have no rights. Alya is such a strong woman and was able to escape, but the religious programming runs deep and she has to relearn that woman are equal to men/dragons. It's a wonderful dystopia where men had to find a way to survive the climate and predators, so scientist made them stronger in order to adapt to what earth has become. I loved watching her grow, I loved the interaction with 3 wonderful men/dragons. What a warrior she became with lots of great action, friendship and learning that woman are equal and have control over their own lives, bodies and future. I can't say enough about how much I loved this story and can't wait to enjoy the rest of the series. Soft cliffhanger - not really a cliffhanger but I can't wait to find out what happens next. No time for a love romance to make it a happily ever after ... but she become such a strong capable leader and warrior. Loved it!
July 29, 2024
wow!
So… wow. Just want to say I didn’t even know this was coming out. Sorry but im a busy mom and im just not caught up on all my favorite authors. I have read almost all of your books. (Haven’t read the wolf of oberhame yet! But you bet im gonna!) when i saw this book i was super excited. I didn’t read a blurb or anything i just jumped in. I had NO IDEA what this was about. I have to say I absolutely loved this. It was shocking and heat breaking. And very inspiring. How she goes through so much and just adapts and changes throughout the story is incredible. Usually i can pretty much guess what is gonna happen in a book but this one had me on the edge of my seat. I am totally invested in her story and what is gonna happen next. My heart was pounding when i read that snippet of the second book. And now like with all of your books im waiting for the next one to come out!! Thank you for an awesome story!
So… wow. Just want to say I didn’t even know this was coming out. Sorry but im a busy mom and im just not caught up on all my favorite authors. I have read almost all of your books. (Haven’t read the wolf of oberhame yet! But you bet im gonna!) when i saw this book i was super excited. I didn’t read a blurb or anything i just jumped in. I had NO IDEA what this was about. I have to say I absolutely loved this. It was shocking and heat breaking. And very inspiring. How she goes through so much and just adapts and changes throughout the story is incredible. Usually i can pretty much guess what is gonna happen in a book but this one had me on the edge of my seat. I am totally invested in her story and what is gonna happen next. My heart was pounding when i read that snippet of the second book. And now like with all of your books im waiting for the next one to come out!! Thank you for an awesome story!
February 5, 2025
Well, I raced through this one, and the only downside is that I have to wait until the end of the month for the next one.
This. Was. Amazing.
The worldbuilding was incredible. It’s rare to find a fantasy book set in the future, as opposed to SciFi, but it worked so well. Dystopian fantasy set in the future of our world? Yes please???
The burn is slow. Slooooooow. One kiss right at the end of the book. That’s exactly what I was looking for.
And the queer rep! A book with canonical sapphic characters! I’m always happy when a book acknowledges us. Having a bi LI is also always welcome, was glad to see that.
And Kanik. I would protect him with my life. Ugh. Amazing book. Roll on the 28th, I already have it pre-ordered.
This. Was. Amazing.
The worldbuilding was incredible. It’s rare to find a fantasy book set in the future, as opposed to SciFi, but it worked so well. Dystopian fantasy set in the future of our world? Yes please???
The burn is slow. Slooooooow. One kiss right at the end of the book. That’s exactly what I was looking for.
And the queer rep! A book with canonical sapphic characters! I’m always happy when a book acknowledges us. Having a bi LI is also always welcome, was glad to see that.
And Kanik. I would protect him with my life. Ugh. Amazing book. Roll on the 28th, I already have it pre-ordered.
September 8, 2024
There's a lot that I liked about this. A sweet, naive, enduring FMC. Capable cinnamon roll MMCs. A steady pace and tight plotting. Very visible growth from the FMC and some of the MMCs.
At first, it seemed like this was going to be a story that took a dump all over organized religion as a whole, so I was pleasantly surprised when it ended up showing duality: one religion is used to disempower a group and break their spirits, and the other helps people feel in control of themselves and supported through hardship. A lot of authors like to ignore the complexity of organized religion, so that was nice to see.
But there were a couple things that prevented this from being a full 5 stars for me. There's a lot of repetition. For example, the FMC would tell a horrible story about living in a cult compound, the the MMCs would repeat it almost verbatim to two or three people at various points later on. This happened several times, and it became more glaringly obvious each time it happened.
Similarly, sometimes the MMCs would have meetings to share very important information about the FMC, and they would just end up saying the same thing about how they needed to be careful in how they dealt with her trauma. Which, look, that was definitely sweet, but it could be laid on pretty thick.
My second major gripe was the predictability for some of the major plot points. Some of the reveals were indeed shocking, but others seemed to be broadcast chapters in advance.
I like a lot of the side characters, and I am happy to report that the Dragons around the FMC get over their prejudices fairly quickly—or at least they aren't super aggressive about them, even if they cling to them. It allows the focus to remain on the FMC's growth rather than her suffering.
At times, the minutia of the sex education talks felt ... pandering, I guess; really exaggerating this idea of an innocent, naive, virginal FMC for the reader. Ayla is supposed to have read smutty romance novels to share details with her secret friends in the compound, but then that information flies out of her head as soon as she is with the Dragons and they have to explain what healthy relationships look like and that women can actually like sex. Shouldn't the FMC already know this theoretically? Isn't that part of her burning desire to leave the compound—because she knows what she has is shit, she dreams of other ways, and she decides that the risk of death is worth it for a chance at something better?
Oh, and on a sudden tangent, I wish there was some sort of art included of the tailed Dragons. Maybe in future books? I'm shit at mapping things out in my head, including the arrangement and spacing of physical features, so I ended up picturing Argonians from Skyrim, except then I realized that they aren't THAT lizard looking because, wait, shit, their mouths are normal, right? But their nose bridges are feline or something? My mind immediately jumped from Argonian to king leopard gecko, complete with a fat booty-licious tail, and so every scene that involved their tail had me picturing this two foot wide floor-length bulbous monstrosity that they squeeze little poison love droplets out of like some horrific reversed monster dick and THIS IS WHY I NEED ART, PEOPLE.
At first, it seemed like this was going to be a story that took a dump all over organized religion as a whole, so I was pleasantly surprised when it ended up showing duality: one religion is used to disempower a group and break their spirits, and the other helps people feel in control of themselves and supported through hardship. A lot of authors like to ignore the complexity of organized religion, so that was nice to see.
But there were a couple things that prevented this from being a full 5 stars for me. There's a lot of repetition. For example, the FMC would tell a horrible story about living in a cult compound, the the MMCs would repeat it almost verbatim to two or three people at various points later on. This happened several times, and it became more glaringly obvious each time it happened.
Similarly, sometimes the MMCs would have meetings to share very important information about the FMC, and they would just end up saying the same thing about how they needed to be careful in how they dealt with her trauma. Which, look, that was definitely sweet, but it could be laid on pretty thick.
My second major gripe was the predictability for some of the major plot points. Some of the reveals were indeed shocking, but others seemed to be broadcast chapters in advance.
I like a lot of the side characters, and I am happy to report that the Dragons around the FMC get over their prejudices fairly quickly—or at least they aren't super aggressive about them, even if they cling to them. It allows the focus to remain on the FMC's growth rather than her suffering.
At times, the minutia of the sex education talks felt ... pandering, I guess; really exaggerating this idea of an innocent, naive, virginal FMC for the reader. Ayla is supposed to have read smutty romance novels to share details with her secret friends in the compound, but then that information flies out of her head as soon as she is with the Dragons and they have to explain what healthy relationships look like and that women can actually like sex. Shouldn't the FMC already know this theoretically? Isn't that part of her burning desire to leave the compound—because she knows what she has is shit, she dreams of other ways, and she decides that the risk of death is worth it for a chance at something better?
Oh, and on a sudden tangent, I wish there was some sort of art included of the tailed Dragons. Maybe in future books? I'm shit at mapping things out in my head, including the arrangement and spacing of physical features, so I ended up picturing Argonians from Skyrim, except then I realized that they aren't THAT lizard looking because, wait, shit, their mouths are normal, right? But their nose bridges are feline or something? My mind immediately jumped from Argonian to king leopard gecko, complete with a fat booty-licious tail, and so every scene that involved their tail had me picturing this two foot wide floor-length bulbous monstrosity that they squeeze little poison love droplets out of like some horrific reversed monster dick and THIS IS WHY I NEED ART, PEOPLE.
February 5, 2025
3.5 - liked it but conflicting feelings
This book takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. The MC is Ayla, a member of the Righteous, a Christian doomsday cult. The Righteous keep all of their members underground in a bunker of sorts. The only ones that ever leave are the men to hunt. Women are never permitted to leave, speak up against men, or really do anything besides serve as an incubator/slave for the men of the compound. They are beaten regularly, taught to be demure and never speak up, etc. It is truly a horrific place for them.
All women get married soon after their 20th birthday. Ayla seeks to escape this gate, and the only way of doing that is by leaving the Righteous. After she's left to her gate outside, she's taken by the feared Dragons, a humanoid species and deep enemies of the Righteous. Suddenly amongst a people she was told were evil, Ayla soon discovers that not everything she was brainwashed to believe was true. In fact, most of it isn't true, and good and bad seem to be reversed.
And as she realizes all this, she gets angry. Really angry.
I have conflicting feelings towards this book. We'll start with the bad and end with the good.
The bad: this book was not written well. Not at all. The writing, while not the worst I've ever seen, has much that could be improved in rewriting. It was awkward and unnatural.
Furthermore, it was so. Fucking. Repetitive. Any information you heard, you heard three times. Like the characters would explain it three separate times or more, as opposed to a conversation being referenced or it happening off page. As a reader, you should get the explicit exposition once, and then have it be implicit from that point on. It was not. It was explicit every time. And very rarely was it shown as opposed to told.
The good:
Despite the horrible writing, I found this book to be really, really interesting. The world is really cool. I loved the underground cult and apocalyptic angle. I loved the Dragons and how Ayla interacted with them. It was all just so interesting! It felt fresh, new, and unique.
Had this book been written better, I would have rated it much more highly purely because it was such a cool world and story.
So overall, I did enjoy this book, though reading it was somewhat painful. I am planning on reading the next one when it comes out, though. I absolutely want to see where it goes next.
This book takes place in a post-apocalyptic world. The MC is Ayla, a member of the Righteous, a Christian doomsday cult. The Righteous keep all of their members underground in a bunker of sorts. The only ones that ever leave are the men to hunt. Women are never permitted to leave, speak up against men, or really do anything besides serve as an incubator/slave for the men of the compound. They are beaten regularly, taught to be demure and never speak up, etc. It is truly a horrific place for them.
All women get married soon after their 20th birthday. Ayla seeks to escape this gate, and the only way of doing that is by leaving the Righteous. After she's left to her gate outside, she's taken by the feared Dragons, a humanoid species and deep enemies of the Righteous. Suddenly amongst a people she was told were evil, Ayla soon discovers that not everything she was brainwashed to believe was true. In fact, most of it isn't true, and good and bad seem to be reversed.
And as she realizes all this, she gets angry. Really angry.
I have conflicting feelings towards this book. We'll start with the bad and end with the good.
The bad: this book was not written well. Not at all. The writing, while not the worst I've ever seen, has much that could be improved in rewriting. It was awkward and unnatural.
Furthermore, it was so. Fucking. Repetitive. Any information you heard, you heard three times. Like the characters would explain it three separate times or more, as opposed to a conversation being referenced or it happening off page. As a reader, you should get the explicit exposition once, and then have it be implicit from that point on. It was not. It was explicit every time. And very rarely was it shown as opposed to told.
The good:
Despite the horrible writing, I found this book to be really, really interesting. The world is really cool. I loved the underground cult and apocalyptic angle. I loved the Dragons and how Ayla interacted with them. It was all just so interesting! It felt fresh, new, and unique.
Had this book been written better, I would have rated it much more highly purely because it was such a cool world and story.
So overall, I did enjoy this book, though reading it was somewhat painful. I am planning on reading the next one when it comes out, though. I absolutely want to see where it goes next.
September 28, 2025
I did like things about the book, and it kept my interest for the most part. But there is a lot of heavy themes (the intense misogyny, women are oppressed and bred till they die, rape, abuse, accidental cannibalism [at least on the part of the women], using religion as a weapon, graphic violence, etc). The biggest issue was there was SO much repetition.
The female main character (Ayla) and one other character will have a detailed conversation about the differences in their two societies that is currently causing a misunderstanding for her, they will end with agreeing that the religious cannibalistic misogynistic compound she grew up in really sucked.
That other character will then go to other main characters, and we will get that same information in detail, again, and they will point out (again) the differences in their two societies and that it explains why Ayla has been acting like that, and end up agreeing that the religious cannibalistic misogynistic compound she grew up in really sucked.
This happens over and over and over. The MMCs will also tell whatever townspeople that dislike Ayla (due to her having come from that religious cannibalistic misogynistic compound that really sucked) about her explicit traumas from it or how she saved one of the townspeople’s kids. We will see these same conversations in detail, over and over. And no, they never once ask Ayla if they can broadcast her traumas to all and sundry, especially if they can share her trauma to people that have literally physically attacked her because they associate her with that awful place.
Also authors? I know coming up with futuristic or fantastical fashion is hard, but a thousand or so years in the future, they are not going to be using very late 20th-early 21st century era specific fashion terms like sweetheart neckline and A line dresses. I've also read science fiction also hundreds/thousands of years in the future using terms like nude pumps or business casual. And even one regrettable instance of aliens who have never had contact with Earth who wore khakis with button-down shirts on their home planets while their wives wore flared skirts and pearls (and no, it was not a comedy or satire). It makes as much sense as a contemporary novel talking about a character wearing pattens or a surcoat. Just stick with generic terms for clothes.
The female main character (Ayla) and one other character will have a detailed conversation about the differences in their two societies that is currently causing a misunderstanding for her, they will end with agreeing that the religious cannibalistic misogynistic compound she grew up in really sucked.
That other character will then go to other main characters, and we will get that same information in detail, again, and they will point out (again) the differences in their two societies and that it explains why Ayla has been acting like that, and end up agreeing that the religious cannibalistic misogynistic compound she grew up in really sucked.
This happens over and over and over. The MMCs will also tell whatever townspeople that dislike Ayla (due to her having come from that religious cannibalistic misogynistic compound that really sucked) about her explicit traumas from it or how she saved one of the townspeople’s kids. We will see these same conversations in detail, over and over. And no, they never once ask Ayla if they can broadcast her traumas to all and sundry, especially if they can share her trauma to people that have literally physically attacked her because they associate her with that awful place.
Also authors? I know coming up with futuristic or fantastical fashion is hard, but a thousand or so years in the future, they are not going to be using very late 20th-early 21st century era specific fashion terms like sweetheart neckline and A line dresses. I've also read science fiction also hundreds/thousands of years in the future using terms like nude pumps or business casual. And even one regrettable instance of aliens who have never had contact with Earth who wore khakis with button-down shirts on their home planets while their wives wore flared skirts and pearls (and no, it was not a comedy or satire). It makes as much sense as a contemporary novel talking about a character wearing pattens or a surcoat. Just stick with generic terms for clothes.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 7, 2025
Holy shit!!!! This was the best book I’ve ever read! It was gloriously long, Ayla’s healing (that’s still happening) is actually realistic for overcoming the brainwashing of the Cult of the Righteous. And I am obsessed with the way that Zasen, Kanik, and Rymar recognize that they need to go slow and just, aghhhh. I love this book so much!
I am in awe of the way that information is slowly revealed to the readers. From the get-go, I thought I understood the intricacies of the things that Ayla had gone through and what that meant for the Dragons, but as more information was uncovered, so many things were starting to click. It just made me so appreciative of the fact that we were basically get the information/facts straight as soon as the guys were.
I am soo so proud of Ayla and the progress that she has made and the fact that she has let her fear and anger and trauma turn her into a badass. Yes, she still has her moments, but she’s learning and growing and ugh, I love her.
Also, can I just say
Anyway, I recommend this book 1000000%. I think this is a fantastic introduction to the #whychoose universe, and it really demonstrates the whole “love is good, no matter what form it takes” concept. Man, my heart is sooo happy and excited just from reading this the past few days.
One more thing
I am in awe of the way that information is slowly revealed to the readers. From the get-go, I thought I understood the intricacies of the things that Ayla had gone through and what that meant for the Dragons, but as more information was uncovered, so many things were starting to click. It just made me so appreciative of the fact that we were basically get the information/facts straight as soon as the guys were.
I am soo so proud of Ayla and the progress that she has made and the fact that she has let her fear and anger and trauma turn her into a badass. Yes, she still has her moments, but she’s learning and growing and ugh, I love her.
Also, can I just say
Anyway, I recommend this book 1000000%. I think this is a fantastic introduction to the #whychoose universe, and it really demonstrates the whole “love is good, no matter what form it takes” concept. Man, my heart is sooo happy and excited just from reading this the past few days.
One more thing
March 2, 2025
Look, I'm still going to read the second one, as I'm invested. This book was definitely original/unique compared to lots of other RH that we tend to see, so really appreciate something different for once!
That being said, this book should have been edited down to at least half the length that it was. I have no problems with long books, but this one was full of repetition. I.e. we don't just hear a story being told once, we hear it being thought about, and then re-told over and over. (Yes we get it, the FMC was abused, the Moles suck, etc.).
If the author wanted to show that the stories/truth about the FMC was being passed around, this could have been done by a brief mention - we do not need to hear every story re-told word for word between different characters. It really takes away from the overall plot and pacing, and makes me start to resent the FMC, as all I'm hearing over and over are second-hand accounts of her stories, trauma, how brave she is, etc.
One thing I think was a little tone deaf was the comparison of trauma inflicted by the Moles. Once the dragons discover how oppressed the women are, they say that it sounds even worse than their community being slaughtered regularly to be consumed like animals. Like????? Was this really necessary?
That being said, this book should have been edited down to at least half the length that it was. I have no problems with long books, but this one was full of repetition. I.e. we don't just hear a story being told once, we hear it being thought about, and then re-told over and over. (Yes we get it, the FMC was abused, the Moles suck, etc.).
If the author wanted to show that the stories/truth about the FMC was being passed around, this could have been done by a brief mention - we do not need to hear every story re-told word for word between different characters. It really takes away from the overall plot and pacing, and makes me start to resent the FMC, as all I'm hearing over and over are second-hand accounts of her stories, trauma, how brave she is, etc.
One thing I think was a little tone deaf was the comparison of trauma inflicted by the Moles. Once the dragons discover how oppressed the women are, they say that it sounds even worse than their community being slaughtered regularly to be consumed like animals. Like????? Was this really necessary?
July 27, 2024
When Fallout meets the Handmaid's Tale but better!
Wyvern's Gold is what I imagine you get when Fallout meets The Handmaid's Tale and I loved every minute of it.
This book will take you on a journey in a post-apocalyptic world where you follow the main character Ayla as she refuses to accept the imminent fate that awaits her as she's nearing her birthday and will be forced to marry and populate the 'cult' she's born in.
The worldbuilding is exceptional, the stakes are high and the characters are complex and multifaceted, showing growth and personal triumphs as the story progresses.
The pacing is masterful and every chapter reveals new layers to the story, creating an engaging narrative.
Action-packed scenes are interspersed with more character-driven scenes balancing out the intense emotions from one scene with more intimate scenes that allow you to breathe.
At the core of this book themes of friendship, loyalty, found family and the corrupting influence of power are explored.
This is a must-read for everyone who enjoys an epic scifi/fantasy series.
Wyvern's Gold is what I imagine you get when Fallout meets The Handmaid's Tale and I loved every minute of it.
This book will take you on a journey in a post-apocalyptic world where you follow the main character Ayla as she refuses to accept the imminent fate that awaits her as she's nearing her birthday and will be forced to marry and populate the 'cult' she's born in.
The worldbuilding is exceptional, the stakes are high and the characters are complex and multifaceted, showing growth and personal triumphs as the story progresses.
The pacing is masterful and every chapter reveals new layers to the story, creating an engaging narrative.
Action-packed scenes are interspersed with more character-driven scenes balancing out the intense emotions from one scene with more intimate scenes that allow you to breathe.
At the core of this book themes of friendship, loyalty, found family and the corrupting influence of power are explored.
This is a must-read for everyone who enjoys an epic scifi/fantasy series.
January 21, 2025
Phenomenal Story
I’m an avid reader and read a lot of fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal and etc. WOW! This is one of the best books I have read in a while. So completely satisfying. My books have to have a strong FMC and I prefer there to be some romance but it’s not mandatory. I do not condone bullying of the FMC for her to romantically get with said bully later. For me it’s a burned bridge that cannot be crossed later. And that doesn’t occur here either. This book has such a complete and complex dystopian world with rich characters and wonderful world building. The world building is seamless in the story telling and not long drawn out descriptions. Great writing and conversations between characters. While it is a dystopian fantasy it’s so close to reality it’s very easy to believe. I am so anxious for the next book it’ll be torture waiting. But I know I’ll reread the first book while I wait, which I rarely reread unless it’s something I really enjoy. I have KU but I will be purchasing this, that’s how good it is. I highly recommend reading this book!
I’m an avid reader and read a lot of fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal and etc. WOW! This is one of the best books I have read in a while. So completely satisfying. My books have to have a strong FMC and I prefer there to be some romance but it’s not mandatory. I do not condone bullying of the FMC for her to romantically get with said bully later. For me it’s a burned bridge that cannot be crossed later. And that doesn’t occur here either. This book has such a complete and complex dystopian world with rich characters and wonderful world building. The world building is seamless in the story telling and not long drawn out descriptions. Great writing and conversations between characters. While it is a dystopian fantasy it’s so close to reality it’s very easy to believe. I am so anxious for the next book it’ll be torture waiting. But I know I’ll reread the first book while I wait, which I rarely reread unless it’s something I really enjoy. I have KU but I will be purchasing this, that’s how good it is. I highly recommend reading this book!
September 25, 2024
𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙧 𝙍𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 0/5
𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: Multiple POV
𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨: Available on Kindle books
𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
🍂 Forced Proximity
🍂 Slow Burn
🍂 Age Gap
🍂 Enemies to Friends to Lovers
𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 (𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚):
I will try to keep this spoiler free as much as I can.
The book is about a post-apocalyptic world and a why choose/ reverse harem romance.
The plot of the book is about the FMC discovering not only her self and understanding who she is, but discovering lies she’s been told.
It’s not really a coming of age story but it can be treated as such. I really liked how the author treated this topic of abuse ( please read with caution, this book contains very very hard topics) where it feels realistic but also fiction because you know romance and all.
As for spice well there is none, this is one of those books if you read it then you can understand why there isn’t and it’s ok.
𝙎𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙚: 0/5
𝙉𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: Multiple POV
𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙡𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨: Available on Kindle books
𝘽𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
🍂 Forced Proximity
🍂 Slow Burn
🍂 Age Gap
🍂 Enemies to Friends to Lovers
𝙍𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬 𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 (𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙞𝙡𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙧𝙚𝙚):
I will try to keep this spoiler free as much as I can.
The book is about a post-apocalyptic world and a why choose/ reverse harem romance.
The plot of the book is about the FMC discovering not only her self and understanding who she is, but discovering lies she’s been told.
It’s not really a coming of age story but it can be treated as such. I really liked how the author treated this topic of abuse ( please read with caution, this book contains very very hard topics) where it feels realistic but also fiction because you know romance and all.
As for spice well there is none, this is one of those books if you read it then you can understand why there isn’t and it’s ok.
November 26, 2025
SERIOUSLY BREATHTAKING ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow, such an incredibly dynamic story from Auryn Hadley. So no surprise there then!
The series is set far into the future of a dystopian post apocalyptic earth. In a huge underground compound are the Righteous, devout believers life is brutal and there is a strict gender divide. The men lead hunt, the women are meek and subservient their only function is to obey without question and birth more and more children until they die.
Ayla Ross shares a room with two other girls, friendship is not permitted for females but they are careful in public. As her twentieth birthday approaches Ayla must prepare for marriage, given a shortlist of men who are not too closely related she must choose a husband. If she doesn’t one will be chosen for her.
Over the coming months Ayla’s world is thrown into turmoil, truths and lies are uncovered indistinguishable from each other.
Another spellbinding success, making this series an absolute must read.
Wow, such an incredibly dynamic story from Auryn Hadley. So no surprise there then!
The series is set far into the future of a dystopian post apocalyptic earth. In a huge underground compound are the Righteous, devout believers life is brutal and there is a strict gender divide. The men lead hunt, the women are meek and subservient their only function is to obey without question and birth more and more children until they die.
Ayla Ross shares a room with two other girls, friendship is not permitted for females but they are careful in public. As her twentieth birthday approaches Ayla must prepare for marriage, given a shortlist of men who are not too closely related she must choose a husband. If she doesn’t one will be chosen for her.
Over the coming months Ayla’s world is thrown into turmoil, truths and lies are uncovered indistinguishable from each other.
Another spellbinding success, making this series an absolute must read.
January 7, 2025
This book checked every single box for me!! Some may say it dragged a little (since we don’t meet the MMC for a minute) but let me say the wait is worth it!! I was itching for a slow burn and this was exactly what I was looking for! Not to mention the author makes it so impossible not to be sucked in! This author isn’t making the FMC run to the finish line, but is letting us enjoy the journey and witness an oppressed FMC rise up above her abusers and experience the world with new lenses. Every little win such as her raising her voice for the first time or fight back makes you root at her through the pages. I will say, this book contains some very heavy topics (SA, abuse of all kinds, cannibalism, kidnapping, religious trauma, etc) but I think it’s done with very intentional writing. It does not feel like a hastily written trauma added in to make it more interesting.
September 7, 2024
Sucks you in, then tumbles you around a lot before your spit out
If you read AH books then you already know this, but she has a way of drawing you into a story so completely... so strongly that you consume the whole thing before you realize it. This new start to a series is no different. I gasped. I choked. I wanted to hit.. multiple things. I raved and ranted. And I fell in love with this new world, in such a short amount of time, that I'm kinda wishing I had a cool barbed tail with neuro toxin emitting spikey end. So if you are a fan of muscles, found family, kick butt women, and inner strength that literally cannot be beaten out of a woman, then this is your next read.
If you read AH books then you already know this, but she has a way of drawing you into a story so completely... so strongly that you consume the whole thing before you realize it. This new start to a series is no different. I gasped. I choked. I wanted to hit.. multiple things. I raved and ranted. And I fell in love with this new world, in such a short amount of time, that I'm kinda wishing I had a cool barbed tail with neuro toxin emitting spikey end. So if you are a fan of muscles, found family, kick butt women, and inner strength that literally cannot be beaten out of a woman, then this is your next read.
January 31, 2025
Interesting idea, well executed
I really like the strong female lead in this book. Showcasing different types of strength, especially from a survivor or abuse. I felt the supporting characters could have been fleshed out a little more, but ultimately the author did a great job of portraying that they each had their own lives outside of the main storyline.
I thought the main “cultish” premise of the story interesting and different from many similar books I have read in the genre. I thought that the drawbacks and advantages were well thought out.
Couldn’t recommend this book enough. Can’t wait for the next one.
I really like the strong female lead in this book. Showcasing different types of strength, especially from a survivor or abuse. I felt the supporting characters could have been fleshed out a little more, but ultimately the author did a great job of portraying that they each had their own lives outside of the main storyline.
I thought the main “cultish” premise of the story interesting and different from many similar books I have read in the genre. I thought that the drawbacks and advantages were well thought out.
Couldn’t recommend this book enough. Can’t wait for the next one.
February 13, 2025
Echoes of our Future
Too many of these concepts ring out in our political society. This is just one way things could play out over thousands of years.
A young girl, raised in Quarantine, by a mother who was touched by the devil? Then assimilated into a very religious society where men have all the power, woman are not allowed to gossip or have friends, they are taught the Bible, and that the war exists on the surface. Woman are to be married at 20, and bred until they die. Before a man takes another wife. That is their punishment for the sin of Eve.
But one girl? She wants to live past 40! She wants to be a healer, not a wife. And for that she is willing to die!
Too many of these concepts ring out in our political society. This is just one way things could play out over thousands of years.
A young girl, raised in Quarantine, by a mother who was touched by the devil? Then assimilated into a very religious society where men have all the power, woman are not allowed to gossip or have friends, they are taught the Bible, and that the war exists on the surface. Woman are to be married at 20, and bred until they die. Before a man takes another wife. That is their punishment for the sin of Eve.
But one girl? She wants to live past 40! She wants to be a healer, not a wife. And for that she is willing to die!
July 26, 2024
Amazing start to new series
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was such a unique premise. This is a dystopian sci-fi that takes you through so many different emotions.
Ayla is an amazing main character and to see her growth throughout the books was fantastic. The entire cast was so well written and so good!
The world building was so so well done. I could picture everything so well.
I am so looking forward to the next book in this series and would highly recommend it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and thought it was such a unique premise. This is a dystopian sci-fi that takes you through so many different emotions.
Ayla is an amazing main character and to see her growth throughout the books was fantastic. The entire cast was so well written and so good!
The world building was so so well done. I could picture everything so well.
I am so looking forward to the next book in this series and would highly recommend it.
July 26, 2024
Amazing new series!
Another great start to a series written by this author! I love how she pushes boundaries by making us question everything and just putting it out there for the reader to decide. I loved the way she shows Ayla’s growth throughout the book and also gives us an insight into how she’s changing everything. The twists and turns, throwing us off our axis with surprises we didn’t predict…chef’s kiss!
This is my second time reading Wyvern’s Gold, and it definitely won’t be the last re-read. I can’t wait for Book 2!
Another great start to a series written by this author! I love how she pushes boundaries by making us question everything and just putting it out there for the reader to decide. I loved the way she shows Ayla’s growth throughout the book and also gives us an insight into how she’s changing everything. The twists and turns, throwing us off our axis with surprises we didn’t predict…chef’s kiss!
This is my second time reading Wyvern’s Gold, and it definitely won’t be the last re-read. I can’t wait for Book 2!
August 9, 2024
Another epic start.
Auryn writes epic tales and The Ruin of Men series has all the hallmarks of being another. I love her ability to weave her scientific knowledge with fantasy and current social issues to create powerful writing works. This particular book centers around Ayla, who lives in an underground male-centric religious cult where women are breeders with no rights. That is until she's sent to the "burning" surface as a sacrifice where life is not the lies she's been told. Can't wait for the next in the series.
Auryn writes epic tales and The Ruin of Men series has all the hallmarks of being another. I love her ability to weave her scientific knowledge with fantasy and current social issues to create powerful writing works. This particular book centers around Ayla, who lives in an underground male-centric religious cult where women are breeders with no rights. That is until she's sent to the "burning" surface as a sacrifice where life is not the lies she's been told. Can't wait for the next in the series.
May 8, 2025
wow
Woof this book is a doozy. But my god I couldn’t put it down. I hate giving 5 stars for the first book but this was beautifully written. Please read the trigger warnings but this story is an amazing twist on dystopian futures. I love the fmc over coming her trauma, unlearning literal indoctrination. The mmcs being patient, not always getting it right, trying to realize the extend of her pain. Some books it feels like a quick oh look the world is different now I’m all better. Ayla is taking time and the guys are working with her. Very excited for book 2
Woof this book is a doozy. But my god I couldn’t put it down. I hate giving 5 stars for the first book but this was beautifully written. Please read the trigger warnings but this story is an amazing twist on dystopian futures. I love the fmc over coming her trauma, unlearning literal indoctrination. The mmcs being patient, not always getting it right, trying to realize the extend of her pain. Some books it feels like a quick oh look the world is different now I’m all better. Ayla is taking time and the guys are working with her. Very excited for book 2
July 28, 2024
Magnificent
Although with the,way Auryn writes, why would you expect anything else?
Once agai, Hadley crafts an exciting and beautiful world, filling it with characters who constantly surprise you. Then, just when you think you know what's happening, she leaves you with one more twist, and a deep hunger to find out what comes next.
I can't wait to see where this new series leads us, and what discoveries we'll make on the way.
Although with the,way Auryn writes, why would you expect anything else?
Once agai, Hadley crafts an exciting and beautiful world, filling it with characters who constantly surprise you. Then, just when you think you know what's happening, she leaves you with one more twist, and a deep hunger to find out what comes next.
I can't wait to see where this new series leads us, and what discoveries we'll make on the way.
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