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Dreamily dark and spellbinding with a hint of horror, New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow stuns with this toothsome retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.
Full moon. Glowing eyes. Red lips. And such sharp, sharp teeth…
In the kin world, girls Ruby de Varre’s age are expected to play nice, get betrothed, and start a family—especially if they’re rootkin, and the fate of the clan is riding on them. But after a childhood of running wild in the woods, it’s hard to turn completely around and be demure. Even if your Gran is expecting it.
Then Conrad, handsome and charming, from a clan across the Waste, comes to New Haven to seal alliance between their two families. The sparks fly immediately. Conrad is smart, dominant, and downright gorgeous. Yet as Ruby gets to know him more, she starts to realize something's...off.
Then, the murders start. A killer stalks the city streets, and just when Ruby starts to suspect the unimaginable, she becomes the next target. Now Ruby’s about to find out that Conrad’s secrets go deeper than she ever could have guessed—and it’s up to Ruby to save her Gran, her clan, and maybe even herself....
Prepare to become thrillingly lost in the third, final, and simply mesmerizing installment of Lili St. Crow’s Tales of Beauty and Madness series.
Full moon. Glowing eyes. Red lips. And such sharp, sharp teeth…
In the kin world, girls Ruby de Varre’s age are expected to play nice, get betrothed, and start a family—especially if they’re rootkin, and the fate of the clan is riding on them. But after a childhood of running wild in the woods, it’s hard to turn completely around and be demure. Even if your Gran is expecting it.
Then Conrad, handsome and charming, from a clan across the Waste, comes to New Haven to seal alliance between their two families. The sparks fly immediately. Conrad is smart, dominant, and downright gorgeous. Yet as Ruby gets to know him more, she starts to realize something's...off.
Then, the murders start. A killer stalks the city streets, and just when Ruby starts to suspect the unimaginable, she becomes the next target. Now Ruby’s about to find out that Conrad’s secrets go deeper than she ever could have guessed—and it’s up to Ruby to save her Gran, her clan, and maybe even herself....
Prepare to become thrillingly lost in the third, final, and simply mesmerizing installment of Lili St. Crow’s Tales of Beauty and Madness series.
320 pages, Paperback
First published February 25, 2015
21 people are currently reading
1973 people want to read
About the author
Lili St. Crow
13 books2,138 followersLili St. Crow was born in New Mexico, bounced around the world as an Air Force brat, and fell in love with writing when she was ten years old. She lives in Vancouver, Washington, in a house full of stray cats and children.
Lili St. Crow also writes as Lilith Saintcrow.
Lili St. Crow also writes as Lilith Saintcrow.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 29, 2015
Honestly, I liked the first two books more. Ruby sounded really cool and full of self confidence so I was excited to see what her perspective would be like. Unfortunately, much like Cami and Ellie she has low self-esteem. It's all a mask, a wall which separates everyone from her. She acts like multiple different people so that others wouldn't be disappointed in her.
Cami had her real mother be the villain, Ellie had her evil step mother and Ruby has ........ an evil boyfriend? Or more specifically an evil counterfeit boyfriend. I think this book focused more on relationship abuse between couples rather than parent and sibling. Unfortunately for Ruby she was like a dog who was kicked around and just came back for more out of a sense of loyalty and responsibility. Many people said or implied that "Conrad" was bad news but did she listen? NO.
It's sort of refreshing to see a girl not swoon over a guy for once good or bad. She was more focused on family or KIN in this case. She could have gone through more character development though. Throughout the whole book, she stuck to one mindset. He'll change, he didn't mean it, he'll apologize. Yeah right. All the bruises say otherwise. 3.5 stars. When I read the first book in this series I wanted to continue Cami's story but then Iearned that the next two would be Ellie and Ruby's stories. I was speculative but Ellie's story changed my mind so I came into this one with an open mind. Ruby however just didn't do it for me. That's just me though. If anyone loves all three books that's perfectly ok.
Cami had her real mother be the villain, Ellie had her evil step mother and Ruby has ........ an evil boyfriend? Or more specifically an evil counterfeit boyfriend. I think this book focused more on relationship abuse between couples rather than parent and sibling. Unfortunately for Ruby she was like a dog who was kicked around and just came back for more out of a sense of loyalty and responsibility. Many people said or implied that "Conrad" was bad news but did she listen? NO.
It's sort of refreshing to see a girl not swoon over a guy for once good or bad. She was more focused on family or KIN in this case. She could have gone through more character development though. Throughout the whole book, she stuck to one mindset. He'll change, he didn't mean it, he'll apologize. Yeah right. All the bruises say otherwise. 3.5 stars. When I read the first book in this series I wanted to continue Cami's story but then Iearned that the next two would be Ellie and Ruby's stories. I was speculative but Ellie's story changed my mind so I came into this one with an open mind. Ruby however just didn't do it for me. That's just me though. If anyone loves all three books that's perfectly ok.
May 14, 2015
Although I really liked the two previous book, I really disliked this one!
So full of holes!
Ruby, used to be brave and smart, but here, she is soooo stupid!
Oh, please! A guy from nowhere, totally weird and acts violent towards her, and still Ruby hides everything and keep accepting the idea to maybe marry him, because her Gran wants it?!
And her Gran knowing he was weird, still didn't told her about it and keep him in their home?!
Ruby's friends noticed something was out of place, but even so, she preferred to trust the weird Conrad.
So... yeah! This book was a big disappointment!
Would be much better, if the author could keep writing about Cami and Nico Vultosino. They are my favorites characters. I love their romance! And they are so misterious!
So full of holes!
Ruby, used to be brave and smart, but here, she is soooo stupid!
Oh, please! A guy from nowhere, totally weird and acts violent towards her, and still Ruby hides everything and keep accepting the idea to maybe marry him, because her Gran wants it?!
And her Gran knowing he was weird, still didn't told her about it and keep him in their home?!
Ruby's friends noticed something was out of place, but even so, she preferred to trust the weird Conrad.
So... yeah! This book was a big disappointment!
Would be much better, if the author could keep writing about Cami and Nico Vultosino. They are my favorites characters. I love their romance! And they are so misterious!
May 18, 2018
Another enjoyable book in this lovely YA series. I love that the stories consistently involve friendship as well as learning to be yourself, trust your instincts, and grow into something wiser and more powerful than you were before. That being said, the audience is definitely teen/young adult. I found myself yelling at Ruby throughout, for dismissing her own instincts and allowing herself to become a victim.
And truly, that's a positive thing for the realism of the characters. I found myself relating a lot to Ruby (under tremendous pressure to be better, afraid of disappointing those she loves, wanting to "spare" her friends, feeling pressure to always be flippant and positive, and ending up in an abusive relationship because of it). I also really liked the side characters, and the concept of the werewolf culture (the term werewolf is never used in here, but it's clear that's what it is). Also, the development of the abusive relationship is pretty darn realistic.
Overall, this one was slightly less creepy than the first and second novels, but compelling, well-paced, and a joy to read.
And truly, that's a positive thing for the realism of the characters. I found myself relating a lot to Ruby (under tremendous pressure to be better, afraid of disappointing those she loves, wanting to "spare" her friends, feeling pressure to always be flippant and positive, and ending up in an abusive relationship because of it). I also really liked the side characters, and the concept of the werewolf culture (the term werewolf is never used in here, but it's clear that's what it is). Also, the development of the abusive relationship is pretty darn realistic.
Overall, this one was slightly less creepy than the first and second novels, but compelling, well-paced, and a joy to read.
June 12, 2020
A dark and twisty shifter reimagining of Red Riding Hood
October 29, 2015
I worried about this book. So many people had expressed excitement over a book from Ruby's point of view, only to find it lacking. I do see where their complaints are coming from--this certainly isn't the same Ruby from the two previous installments. But there's a reason for it. Not only is her tough exterior a facade, fooling even her friends, it's also now falling apart as a result of new clan responsibilities, as well as from events from the previous books (Ruby ruminates on the incident from Wayfarer, when Ellie called her a selfish bitch; she sees her friends as having had too much on their plates, so she keeps them in the dark, thinking has to be strong for them; she feels as if she can't even turn to her Gran because she has to "grow up").
This book was not what I was expecting for Ruby. You never look at someone who acts so strong and expect them to be the victim of abuse, but that's why they can hide it so well--you'd never suspect it. Ruby's justifications for Conrad's actions were heartbreaking, especially when she wonders if this is what all relationships are like. Everything about her reaction to the abuse just seemed so believable.
Ultimately: Ruby is certainly my favorite of these three protagonists, but I still didn't enjoy her story as much as Cami's. I'm not sure it's so much a failing of the book or writing; it's probably more personal preference. Cami's story I liked because of its creepy, morbid atmosphere. Both Ellen's and Ruby's stories were more down-to-earth, real life problems. Also, there's no character in these two books with quite the same appeal as Nico.
This book was not what I was expecting for Ruby. You never look at someone who acts so strong and expect them to be the victim of abuse, but that's why they can hide it so well--you'd never suspect it. Ruby's justifications for Conrad's actions were heartbreaking, especially when she wonders if this is what all relationships are like. Everything about her reaction to the abuse just seemed so believable.
Ultimately: Ruby is certainly my favorite of these three protagonists, but I still didn't enjoy her story as much as Cami's. I'm not sure it's so much a failing of the book or writing; it's probably more personal preference. Cami's story I liked because of its creepy, morbid atmosphere. Both Ellen's and Ruby's stories were more down-to-earth, real life problems. Also, there's no character in these two books with quite the same appeal as Nico.
January 14, 2017
3.5 Stars
Despite some level or irritation I felt while reading this book, it was a fast and easy read to get me out of my reading slump of sorts.
Despite some level or irritation I felt while reading this book, it was a fast and easy read to get me out of my reading slump of sorts.
June 15, 2015
I *loved* KIN, just like the earlier two novels in St. Crow's Tales of Beauty and Madness series of fairy tale retellings. The world building is sublime, and we can all only dream of having friends as fiercely loyal and kickass as Ruby ("Little Red Riding Hood"), Ellie ("Cinderella") and Cami ("Snow White"). Ruby's long-awaited story did not disappoint with its elements of horror and mystery; its sensitive portrayal of an abusive relationship; and its delicious werewolf lore. I admit Ellie's tale is my favorite of the three, but mainly I'm just sad that there aren't more books coming. I'd love it if Ms. St. Crow would give us more fairy tales!
September 19, 2020
"This was a really powerful story? Like, it was a little less fairytale-ish at times than the other two - but it was wonderful to see that each girl has their insecurities but ultimately at the end, they will come together for each other. Their love for one another is true, their friendship can survive and has survived so much?"
(full review on my book blog!)
(full review on my book blog!)
October 14, 2015
Not so much a fan of the constant self loathing, and the lies? It is just a tad too overdramatic for me, reading the first in this series i thought it would just be the one character, but every single one of them fought with their own problems when they could easily confide in others. It was a recurring theme that wasn't so great.
March 9, 2015
So good! Please don't let this be the final book in the beauty and madness series :(
March 30, 2015
My favorite in this trilogy. A murderer is on the loose, and it's Ruby's turn in the spotlight.
August 6, 2018
I love Lilith Saintcrow but this was not my thing at all. Ruby was such a whiner and stupid. I kind of hoped she'd have gotten collared.
August 8, 2020
Why couldn't the other two have been written like this? My goodness, the author finally hits her stride in the third of a trilogy. I had a feeling I'd enjoy this one best, given Ruby is the most interesting of the three girls and it's an RRH retelling. I know some people expected a bit more from our flippant, rebellious redhead, but I enjoyed the idea that the rebellion wasn't exactly a facade, but rather that cringe worthy teen angst we were all guilty of.
Pros
-Modernized fairy tale elements/homages
*Ruby and her Gran have an affinity for the color red: kitchen, nails, lips, bed covers, etc.
*Ruby wears a red tank top over jeans, while metaphorically salivating on the city before her atop the hill, mimicking the freedom the OG RRH feels while treading the forest
*Ruby's car is obsidian, and when Conrad is driving it, on the hunt for her through town, it crawls along with yellow headlights, much like Conrad's yellow eyes (AKA "bad luck eyes"). Both mirroring the wolf stalking the woods, waiting for the right time to pounce on RRH.
*The phrase, "too glutton for another bite", brings to mind the wolf sleepily snuggled into grandma's clothes/bed having devoured Granny herself.
*Ruby arriving home to find Conrad oddly at ease next to her unconscious/obviously injured Gran, was a nice revamp of RRH arriving to find a wolf calmly lying in grandma's bed.
-Gran's power as a single female wolf was very Tanith Lee's, "Wolfland"
-Ruby and her family are werewolves. And being a female werewolf, she must marry into an outside clan and bear at least one child to be of any value. However, Ruby wishes to stray from this path, and resents her friends for falling in love/being a slave to the patriarchal duties of womanhood. Sort of akin (no pun intended) to OG RRH and her desire to venture off the well- trodden path despite her parents' explicit instruction/expectation that she'll make it-basket and all- to Grandma's.
-The writing
*It wasn't focused on the wonky words, but instead on Ruby's character development; We finally got a Ghoul Girls description. Score!
*Werewolf imagery was awesome: lots of "smiling with perfect crescent teeth" and bonus Gothic romance wording: Ruby is having a secret forest rendezvous, with young man whose strawberry juice dyed fingertips feathering across her face have her fighting Kin's good girls go to heaven mentality. I just loved the stark contrast of crimson against the night sky.
-Reversal of werewolf symbolism
*Usually in RRH romances, Red falls for the werewolf because his kind is more loving, honest and free than the humans. But it's the opposite here, seeing as Conrad and the rule of werewolf women fall back into the women=breeders mentality. Also, we see men and authority figures collaring (literally putting a collar with little give around a person before they've shifted) rebellious women, bringing to mind a disobedient dog cowering not far from its owner.
-The Conrad twist
*The back blurb (and let's be real, the last two books), made Conrad, the mysterious man come to marry Ruby, out to her love interest. And at first, it appears he is: the perfect gentlemen, handsome, and bit wild to the point where Ruby believes she's found a kindred spirit. But that all changes when he doesn't get his way.
*Conrad becomes the classic abuser both physically (he nearly breaks Ruby's wrist upon hearing she's got boy toys in her past/attempts to collar her himself) and emotionally (every time she gets a little gumption to walk away, he's got three settings: sulks and says "That's ok; I'll leave. I'm used to being unwanted", buys her flowers/professing love, or, says "Don't be mad at me; be mad at your kin. They're the ones treating you like cattle"). All three of the mental settings are forms of gaslighting, in that Ruby feels she's losing her grip and unsure of who's really the bad guy. Also, the last one is classic isolating your victim psychology.
-Ruby's dilemma
*She feels as though can't marry him (he literally says, "Shut the fuck up or I'll beat the shit out of you", all while holding the weapon for collaring, can't say no because that will destroy her kin/Grandma's expectations, and also can't tell anyone about the abuse because no one will believe her because of her rebellious rep. Or worse yet, they'll say she was asking for it. I was not expecting such a nuanced portrayal of an abusive relationship.
-Emphasis on Ruby instead of her love story.
*Although she does get an HEA, and it's a guy whose been kind/right the whole time about the whole "we need to talk about Conrad" bit.
Cons
- The handling of Ruby's lineage
*We get some info on her mom, and might've met her father, but it's all ambiguous so...
*Also, the way it was brought about was so tacked on/rushed. Just thrown at her while she's in the hospital waiting room... with about three pages to go...
-The "Conrad Thing" is the best you could give to describe him as a werewolf? What's wrong with "the creature'?
Despite my rave, I'm pretty sure I've had my fill of this author. This trilogy has die hard lovers and haters. I say, read what you wish.
Pros
-Modernized fairy tale elements/homages
*Ruby and her Gran have an affinity for the color red: kitchen, nails, lips, bed covers, etc.
*Ruby wears a red tank top over jeans, while metaphorically salivating on the city before her atop the hill, mimicking the freedom the OG RRH feels while treading the forest
*Ruby's car is obsidian, and when Conrad is driving it, on the hunt for her through town, it crawls along with yellow headlights, much like Conrad's yellow eyes (AKA "bad luck eyes"). Both mirroring the wolf stalking the woods, waiting for the right time to pounce on RRH.
*The phrase, "too glutton for another bite", brings to mind the wolf sleepily snuggled into grandma's clothes/bed having devoured Granny herself.
*Ruby arriving home to find Conrad oddly at ease next to her unconscious/obviously injured Gran, was a nice revamp of RRH arriving to find a wolf calmly lying in grandma's bed.
-Gran's power as a single female wolf was very Tanith Lee's, "Wolfland"
-Ruby and her family are werewolves. And being a female werewolf, she must marry into an outside clan and bear at least one child to be of any value. However, Ruby wishes to stray from this path, and resents her friends for falling in love/being a slave to the patriarchal duties of womanhood. Sort of akin (no pun intended) to OG RRH and her desire to venture off the well- trodden path despite her parents' explicit instruction/expectation that she'll make it-basket and all- to Grandma's.
-The writing
*It wasn't focused on the wonky words, but instead on Ruby's character development; We finally got a Ghoul Girls description. Score!
*Werewolf imagery was awesome: lots of "smiling with perfect crescent teeth" and bonus Gothic romance wording: Ruby is having a secret forest rendezvous, with young man whose strawberry juice dyed fingertips feathering across her face have her fighting Kin's good girls go to heaven mentality. I just loved the stark contrast of crimson against the night sky.
-Reversal of werewolf symbolism
*Usually in RRH romances, Red falls for the werewolf because his kind is more loving, honest and free than the humans. But it's the opposite here, seeing as Conrad and the rule of werewolf women fall back into the women=breeders mentality. Also, we see men and authority figures collaring (literally putting a collar with little give around a person before they've shifted) rebellious women, bringing to mind a disobedient dog cowering not far from its owner.
-The Conrad twist
*The back blurb (and let's be real, the last two books), made Conrad, the mysterious man come to marry Ruby, out to her love interest. And at first, it appears he is: the perfect gentlemen, handsome, and bit wild to the point where Ruby believes she's found a kindred spirit. But that all changes when he doesn't get his way.
*Conrad becomes the classic abuser both physically (he nearly breaks Ruby's wrist upon hearing she's got boy toys in her past/attempts to collar her himself) and emotionally (every time she gets a little gumption to walk away, he's got three settings: sulks and says "That's ok; I'll leave. I'm used to being unwanted", buys her flowers/professing love, or, says "Don't be mad at me; be mad at your kin. They're the ones treating you like cattle"). All three of the mental settings are forms of gaslighting, in that Ruby feels she's losing her grip and unsure of who's really the bad guy. Also, the last one is classic isolating your victim psychology.
-Ruby's dilemma
*She feels as though can't marry him (he literally says, "Shut the fuck up or I'll beat the shit out of you", all while holding the weapon for collaring, can't say no because that will destroy her kin/Grandma's expectations, and also can't tell anyone about the abuse because no one will believe her because of her rebellious rep. Or worse yet, they'll say she was asking for it. I was not expecting such a nuanced portrayal of an abusive relationship.
-Emphasis on Ruby instead of her love story.
*Although she does get an HEA, and it's a guy whose been kind/right the whole time about the whole "we need to talk about Conrad" bit.
Cons
- The handling of Ruby's lineage
*We get some info on her mom, and might've met her father, but it's all ambiguous so...
*Also, the way it was brought about was so tacked on/rushed. Just thrown at her while she's in the hospital waiting room... with about three pages to go...
-The "Conrad Thing" is the best you could give to describe him as a werewolf? What's wrong with "the creature'?
Despite my rave, I'm pretty sure I've had my fill of this author. This trilogy has die hard lovers and haters. I say, read what you wish.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2018
(I received a free copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.)
Ruby deVarre is Rootkin – the granddaughter of the most revered clanmother in all of New Haven.
For Kin, nothing comes before family, and it's about time for Ruby to start thinking about settling down and starting one of her own. But settling down is the farthest thing from wild-child Ruby's mind. All she wants to do is drive fast with her friends and run free through the woods with Hunter and Thorne, two of her favorite boykin. But Ruby knows that if she keeps disobeying her Gran's wishes, she might end up being Collared – the worst punishment and disgrace in the kin community.
Then Gran announces that they'll be hosting a guest – a handsome boy named Conrad Tiercey from a kin family across the Waste. Ruby accompanies Gran to the train station, and sparks fly immediately. Conrad is gorgeous. Maybe settling down with someone like him wouldn't be so bad . . .
But as Ruby gets to know Conrad more, she starts to realise something's...off. First, he snaps at her for being late. Then, she talks on the phone with a boytoy, and he grabs her arm so hard it bruises. Just when she feels ready to walk away, Conrad apologises – she's so beautiful and he just loves her so much, is all – and Ruby forgives him, chalking it all up to passion. She stays with Conrad, and hides everything from her friends Cami and Ellie, from whom she's becoming increasingly distant.
Then the murders start. First, heartbreakingly, it's Hunter – found dead in the woods, an axe at his side. Then three girls disappear, one by one, all of them with red hair like Ruby's, who eventually turn up dead all over New Haven. And then the villain strikes Gran. She's not dead, but she's been dangerously poisoned and admitted to hospital in a coma.
Weaker than ever and rudderless without her friends, Ruby must find the strength to confront Conrad, whom she now suspects more than ever. But he's got a plan of his own, and his secrets go deeper than she could have ever imagined...
*3.5 stars*
This is the third novel in the Tales of Beauty & Madness trilogy by Lili St. Crow. Sadly, I hadn't read the previous books before picking this one up (I wasn't aware it was a trilogy until after I started reading.) This review is based on this book only - taking into consideration my lack of knowledge about the trilogy.
I think I have had enough of YA fiction for a while. This is the fourth novel I have read recently that has a dreadful MC (Ruby) - one that is either just so naïve it is unbelievable...or just unbelievably stupid. Either way, it makes for hard reading...
But before I make it sound like a dreadful book, let me say that it is certainly not that. The world that the author has created, the re-telling of the fairy tales and the mystery aspect of this book were fascinating. I do enjoy a good fairy-tale retelling and this book loads us up with them: Ruby (Little Red Riding Hood), Ellie (Cinderella) and Cami (Snow White) - all three bring a uniqueness to the storyline and fill the pages with a real sense of friendship, loyalty to each other, and a real connection between the stories of these three characters.
The story-telling was, at times, a bit slow, but once it got going, it just exploded and took me by surprise. A false sense of security, I guess. Once the murders start happening, and the real dark nature of this story takes over, the sense of brooding - of something much worse to come - is palpable...and I loved that.
But back to Ruby - when a strange and mysterious man comes into your life, is violent towards you, and you are supposed to marry him cos Grandma wants you to? Totally well off base. Other reviews I have seen said she was such a stronger character in the first two books - well none of that is evident in this book. So much so that I was tempted to be a DNF just because of her. Thankfully, the rest of the story was enough to carry me through but not enough to save the rating...
I am going to eventually go back and read the other two books just to see what went wrong...
Paul
ARH
Ruby deVarre is Rootkin – the granddaughter of the most revered clanmother in all of New Haven.
For Kin, nothing comes before family, and it's about time for Ruby to start thinking about settling down and starting one of her own. But settling down is the farthest thing from wild-child Ruby's mind. All she wants to do is drive fast with her friends and run free through the woods with Hunter and Thorne, two of her favorite boykin. But Ruby knows that if she keeps disobeying her Gran's wishes, she might end up being Collared – the worst punishment and disgrace in the kin community.
Then Gran announces that they'll be hosting a guest – a handsome boy named Conrad Tiercey from a kin family across the Waste. Ruby accompanies Gran to the train station, and sparks fly immediately. Conrad is gorgeous. Maybe settling down with someone like him wouldn't be so bad . . .
But as Ruby gets to know Conrad more, she starts to realise something's...off. First, he snaps at her for being late. Then, she talks on the phone with a boytoy, and he grabs her arm so hard it bruises. Just when she feels ready to walk away, Conrad apologises – she's so beautiful and he just loves her so much, is all – and Ruby forgives him, chalking it all up to passion. She stays with Conrad, and hides everything from her friends Cami and Ellie, from whom she's becoming increasingly distant.
Then the murders start. First, heartbreakingly, it's Hunter – found dead in the woods, an axe at his side. Then three girls disappear, one by one, all of them with red hair like Ruby's, who eventually turn up dead all over New Haven. And then the villain strikes Gran. She's not dead, but she's been dangerously poisoned and admitted to hospital in a coma.
Weaker than ever and rudderless without her friends, Ruby must find the strength to confront Conrad, whom she now suspects more than ever. But he's got a plan of his own, and his secrets go deeper than she could have ever imagined...
*3.5 stars*
This is the third novel in the Tales of Beauty & Madness trilogy by Lili St. Crow. Sadly, I hadn't read the previous books before picking this one up (I wasn't aware it was a trilogy until after I started reading.) This review is based on this book only - taking into consideration my lack of knowledge about the trilogy.
I think I have had enough of YA fiction for a while. This is the fourth novel I have read recently that has a dreadful MC (Ruby) - one that is either just so naïve it is unbelievable...or just unbelievably stupid. Either way, it makes for hard reading...
But before I make it sound like a dreadful book, let me say that it is certainly not that. The world that the author has created, the re-telling of the fairy tales and the mystery aspect of this book were fascinating. I do enjoy a good fairy-tale retelling and this book loads us up with them: Ruby (Little Red Riding Hood), Ellie (Cinderella) and Cami (Snow White) - all three bring a uniqueness to the storyline and fill the pages with a real sense of friendship, loyalty to each other, and a real connection between the stories of these three characters.
The story-telling was, at times, a bit slow, but once it got going, it just exploded and took me by surprise. A false sense of security, I guess. Once the murders start happening, and the real dark nature of this story takes over, the sense of brooding - of something much worse to come - is palpable...and I loved that.
But back to Ruby - when a strange and mysterious man comes into your life, is violent towards you, and you are supposed to marry him cos Grandma wants you to? Totally well off base. Other reviews I have seen said she was such a stronger character in the first two books - well none of that is evident in this book. So much so that I was tempted to be a DNF just because of her. Thankfully, the rest of the story was enough to carry me through but not enough to save the rating...
I am going to eventually go back and read the other two books just to see what went wrong...
Paul
ARH
October 13, 2019
I would have liked this book a little more if it hadn't been so predictable. I knew what was going to happen as soon as the first hints of it were dropped. On the flip side there was a lot about this book that I liked. I was able to relate to Ruby the most out Cami, Ellie, and Ruby. Secondly I loved that all three of them have insecurities about their role in their friendship. Which sounds weird but I mean in the best way. I think this is great because it is very accurate. Everyone is insecure about something. It sort of reminds me the Trio in Harry Potter as all three of them are the awkward friend at some point or another. That's the reason that the Cami. Ellie, Ruby friendship works. They think that they are the worst friend and so they uplift each other. Other than that great book. I originally had it at three stars but I changed it to four after writing this review because the friendship thing pushed it up. Also I want to put this out there, if abusive relationships are a trigger for you, DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.
November 12, 2018
To me this is the best book of the Tales of Beauty & Madness's trilogy. And maybe I'm not being 100% unbiased, Little Red Riding Hood being of my favorite tales.
Since Nameless, Ruby is my favorite girl among the trio. She is wild, fierce, loyal, brave, feminist and at the same time so insecure and fragile that you want to protect her from everything. Both her love interests are so right on the spot, one of them prying on her weakness and the other one boosting her wild side. It's always interesting seeing such a strong character slowly loosing herself because of society expectations and "love", and realizing some part of herself are dying. I really feared she would end up being eaten by the bad big wolf before she decides to be herself again.
The retelling part is as nicely done as in Wayfarer, and all the characters play their part as they should.
Since Nameless, Ruby is my favorite girl among the trio. She is wild, fierce, loyal, brave, feminist and at the same time so insecure and fragile that you want to protect her from everything. Both her love interests are so right on the spot, one of them prying on her weakness and the other one boosting her wild side. It's always interesting seeing such a strong character slowly loosing herself because of society expectations and "love", and realizing some part of herself are dying. I really feared she would end up being eaten by the bad big wolf before she decides to be herself again.
The retelling part is as nicely done as in Wayfarer, and all the characters play their part as they should.
January 16, 2022
Ruby was the least favourite of those who had been introduced to me as I didn’t find her fiery and rebellious personality relatable or palatable to me but her book quickly became my favourite of the trilogy.
It was refreshing to see this strong and seemingly overconfident character have these complex insecurities and worries. Her immense fear of disappointing others and the stress her traditions place on her added a compelling element to the story. I also loved to see how these generational expectations destroyed her so deeply.
Her ‘love interest’ as such was an interesting portrayal of abuse and was quite harrowing in an unexpected turn of events. His anger and aggression wearing Ruby down and making her vulnerable and susceptible was so saddening to see but so very real even if represented in a fantasy setting.
It was refreshing to see this strong and seemingly overconfident character have these complex insecurities and worries. Her immense fear of disappointing others and the stress her traditions place on her added a compelling element to the story. I also loved to see how these generational expectations destroyed her so deeply.
Her ‘love interest’ as such was an interesting portrayal of abuse and was quite harrowing in an unexpected turn of events. His anger and aggression wearing Ruby down and making her vulnerable and susceptible was so saddening to see but so very real even if represented in a fantasy setting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2018
I thought this book was interesting and it was great how you didn't know the ending till the very end. The only thing is I wish the author explains more what exactly kin were and how they came to be. But otherwise it was a good book to read
February 8, 2023
This was a good read. It was very different from other retelling stories I’ve read. Overall it was good for a light read. I would definitely recommend for anyone who is a fan of fairy tale retellings.
October 19, 2017
Loved! I'm hoping there will be more in this series by Lili St. Crow. Maybe a book that follows up on Cami, Elli, and Ruby.
May 10, 2018
A good series. Wow! Sometimes hard to follow because of the 'other references' - but most of the time you get them.
Serious ending to the series. What's the rest of the story?
Serious ending to the series. What's the rest of the story?
August 22, 2021
Ruby the strong confident friend, who shows readers her vulnerabilities and fears in this heart racing book. Pulls readers in after each chapter! A beautiful conclusion to the series.
January 13, 2016
This review was crossposted from my blog. To view the entire post (and more!), click here.
Kin is the third and final novel in Lili St. Crow's Tales of Beauty and Madness series. (I didn't actually do a review for the first novel, Nameless, but there is one in the archives for Wayfarer , if you're interested.) And what a spectacular finale it was.
First, a warning: St. Crow's Tales of Beauty and Madness are dark. The kind of dark that reminds you that fairy tales were originally warnings, not animated musicals. The dangers that can befall the young, particularly at the hands of the older and more vicious creatures of the world, are a continuing theme in the series. The girls in this series aren't protected the way they should be. Their caregivers are conniving, indifferent, cruel, distant, abusive, and/or just plain evil. They are used and abused, both mentally and physically, and these stories are about them struggling blindly in very bad situations. They are not easy to read.
Just, you know, so you can be prepared.
Kin was not the story I expected going in, mainly because Ruby is not the character I'd grown accustomed to from reading the other two novels. We quickly discover that she wears masks for the world, hiding her true nature under the faces she thinks everyone wants to see, even her family and closest friends. Living that way seems like the best option to her--she has her reasons, which I won't get bogged down with here--but that kind of constant playacting takes a toll. It leaves her feeling trapped and alone, even while she's running free and surrounded by people who love her.
It also sets her up as a perfect target for abuse. It's easy to isolate and dominate someone who lives that way. They've already taken care of all the heavy lifting on their own.
Enter Conrad, the mysterious stranger from another clan, sent to play Prince Charming. He looks at Ruby and sees all that anxiety and self-doubt she's drowning in, and he immediately steps up and saves her from herself, making her see how perfect and special she is all on her own.
Or not.
Seriously, were you not paying attention when I said these stories were dark warnings of abuse and cruelty?
Of course Conrad doesn't ride in on a white horse and save the day. He finds all of Ruby's hidden vulnerabilities and he exploits the hell out of them. He manipulates her, stalks her, hurts her, and does pretty much everything he can to destroy her spirit and independence. It's downright terrifying to read.
St. Crow writes them both masterfully. They are very real, very strongly developed characters who burrow deep into your brain. Ruby in particular has so much life I'm surprised the pages didn't bleed with it. Which just makes it that much more terrible when Conrad starts taking all that away.
And speaking of Conrad, oh he's just so shudder-inducingly creepy. His abuse is so dangerously subtle at times. He twists and maneuvers and works Ruby into a place that's totally off balance, so when his darkness really starts showing through, it's nearly impossible for her to do anything but fall.
The world of these stories is also brilliant. So rich with little subtle details that work perfectly together to bring the whole thing to life. We got to see it through a somewhat narrowed lens in this book, as most of the story takes place within the clan's small semi-isolated society, and that was fascinating. I feel like St. Crow could write a dozen more books about this world and there would still be things to learn about it.
The plot in this one reminded me of heating up a tea kettle. At first it seems like nothing is happening and you're just standing there trying not to stare at it, because some part of the back of your brain still thinks that watching a pot makes it refuse to boil. Then one or two lines of steam drift out. A little humming sound starts to build. And then all of the sudden it's a roiling mass of bubbling chaos screaming fit to wake the dead.
It's possible I have a more adversarial relationship with tea than the average person.
There were a few points in the story that bumped funny along the way for me. And I would have liked a few more details about things that were going on off the page, particularly those things Ruby learned about after the fact. But that's not St. Crow's style. I've learned that there will always be a few questions in her novels that I just won't get the answers to. Her worlds are annoyingly true-to-life that way.
My overall thoughts: a very well-drawn main character, a creeptastic bad guy, a trilling story, and a brilliant world. All in all, this was a fantastic novel capping off a fantastic series.
Kin is the third and final novel in Lili St. Crow's Tales of Beauty and Madness series. (I didn't actually do a review for the first novel, Nameless, but there is one in the archives for Wayfarer , if you're interested.) And what a spectacular finale it was.
First, a warning: St. Crow's Tales of Beauty and Madness are dark. The kind of dark that reminds you that fairy tales were originally warnings, not animated musicals. The dangers that can befall the young, particularly at the hands of the older and more vicious creatures of the world, are a continuing theme in the series. The girls in this series aren't protected the way they should be. Their caregivers are conniving, indifferent, cruel, distant, abusive, and/or just plain evil. They are used and abused, both mentally and physically, and these stories are about them struggling blindly in very bad situations. They are not easy to read.
Just, you know, so you can be prepared.
Kin was not the story I expected going in, mainly because Ruby is not the character I'd grown accustomed to from reading the other two novels. We quickly discover that she wears masks for the world, hiding her true nature under the faces she thinks everyone wants to see, even her family and closest friends. Living that way seems like the best option to her--she has her reasons, which I won't get bogged down with here--but that kind of constant playacting takes a toll. It leaves her feeling trapped and alone, even while she's running free and surrounded by people who love her.
It also sets her up as a perfect target for abuse. It's easy to isolate and dominate someone who lives that way. They've already taken care of all the heavy lifting on their own.
Enter Conrad, the mysterious stranger from another clan, sent to play Prince Charming. He looks at Ruby and sees all that anxiety and self-doubt she's drowning in, and he immediately steps up and saves her from herself, making her see how perfect and special she is all on her own.
Or not.
Seriously, were you not paying attention when I said these stories were dark warnings of abuse and cruelty?
Of course Conrad doesn't ride in on a white horse and save the day. He finds all of Ruby's hidden vulnerabilities and he exploits the hell out of them. He manipulates her, stalks her, hurts her, and does pretty much everything he can to destroy her spirit and independence. It's downright terrifying to read.
St. Crow writes them both masterfully. They are very real, very strongly developed characters who burrow deep into your brain. Ruby in particular has so much life I'm surprised the pages didn't bleed with it. Which just makes it that much more terrible when Conrad starts taking all that away.
And speaking of Conrad, oh he's just so shudder-inducingly creepy. His abuse is so dangerously subtle at times. He twists and maneuvers and works Ruby into a place that's totally off balance, so when his darkness really starts showing through, it's nearly impossible for her to do anything but fall.
The world of these stories is also brilliant. So rich with little subtle details that work perfectly together to bring the whole thing to life. We got to see it through a somewhat narrowed lens in this book, as most of the story takes place within the clan's small semi-isolated society, and that was fascinating. I feel like St. Crow could write a dozen more books about this world and there would still be things to learn about it.
The plot in this one reminded me of heating up a tea kettle. At first it seems like nothing is happening and you're just standing there trying not to stare at it, because some part of the back of your brain still thinks that watching a pot makes it refuse to boil. Then one or two lines of steam drift out. A little humming sound starts to build. And then all of the sudden it's a roiling mass of bubbling chaos screaming fit to wake the dead.
It's possible I have a more adversarial relationship with tea than the average person.
There were a few points in the story that bumped funny along the way for me. And I would have liked a few more details about things that were going on off the page, particularly those things Ruby learned about after the fact. But that's not St. Crow's style. I've learned that there will always be a few questions in her novels that I just won't get the answers to. Her worlds are annoyingly true-to-life that way.
My overall thoughts: a very well-drawn main character, a creeptastic bad guy, a trilling story, and a brilliant world. All in all, this was a fantastic novel capping off a fantastic series.
April 10, 2015
In the kin world, girls Ruby de Varre's age are expected to play nice, get betrothed, and start a family—especially if they're rootkin, and the fate of the clan is riding on them. But after a childhood of running wild in the woods, it's hard to turn completely around and be demure. Even if your Gran is expecting it. Then Conrad, handsome and charming, from a clan across the Waste, comes to New Haven to seal alliance between their two families. The sparks fly immediately. Conrad is smart, dominant, and downright gorgeous. Yet as Ruby gets to know him more, she starts to realize something's... off. Then, the murders start. A killer stalks the city streets, and just when Ruby starts to suspect the unimaginable, she becomes the next target. Now Ruby's about to find out that Conrad's secrets go deeper than she ever could have guessed—and it's up to Ruby to save her Gran, her clan, and maybe even herself....
Kin is a return to a place dark and mysterious where magic twists and turns its way around everything. It's the tale of a girl and her battle with her future, a life of control over a life of freedom.
Ruby is a welcome character. She's brash and bold, fun and caring. Cami and Ellie are everything to her, after kin. But things are different now. Ruby believes she's trapped, trapped between being who she is, a little wild and a little reckless, and being the next Clanmother, which means getting married and having babies as soon as possible. She feels this future is inescapable, so she capitulates in a way. She stops being Ruby and tries to be someone else. She hides from Cami and Ellie. She's in so much denial over everything that she's drowning in it, sinking so fast she can't tell how far away the surface is. It's Ruby lying to herself, pretending, that hurts her the most.
Each girl in each book has come fact to face with the wretched monster that is denial, that is lying to yourself because you think it'll make it easier for everyone else. With Cami, it was the shadows in her past. With Ellie, it was her stepmother's constant abuse. This time around, it's the hated future of popping out babies and never running free that changes Ruby. All three of them struggle to find the strength to push past it, to find that one moment that tells them they're free to be themselves.
Back to New Haven. Back to a town full of magic, of the Families and their dark secrets, to the rootkin and their connection to the moon, to the Charmers and the jacks and the Twisted out in the Waste. This world is lush, dangerous, and wonderfully crafted.
This has been a series of broken girls struggling to fix themselves, to find themselves, to find the strength to fight back against the people that attempt to push them down. They may lie to themselves, to others, they may hide, but in the end it all about them pushing forward and breaking free, no matter how painful it's been. Fans of fairy tale retellings, monsters with sharp teeth, and girls with sharper claws should definitely give this series a read.
(I purchased a copy of this title.)
Kin is a return to a place dark and mysterious where magic twists and turns its way around everything. It's the tale of a girl and her battle with her future, a life of control over a life of freedom.
Ruby is a welcome character. She's brash and bold, fun and caring. Cami and Ellie are everything to her, after kin. But things are different now. Ruby believes she's trapped, trapped between being who she is, a little wild and a little reckless, and being the next Clanmother, which means getting married and having babies as soon as possible. She feels this future is inescapable, so she capitulates in a way. She stops being Ruby and tries to be someone else. She hides from Cami and Ellie. She's in so much denial over everything that she's drowning in it, sinking so fast she can't tell how far away the surface is. It's Ruby lying to herself, pretending, that hurts her the most.
Each girl in each book has come fact to face with the wretched monster that is denial, that is lying to yourself because you think it'll make it easier for everyone else. With Cami, it was the shadows in her past. With Ellie, it was her stepmother's constant abuse. This time around, it's the hated future of popping out babies and never running free that changes Ruby. All three of them struggle to find the strength to push past it, to find that one moment that tells them they're free to be themselves.
Back to New Haven. Back to a town full of magic, of the Families and their dark secrets, to the rootkin and their connection to the moon, to the Charmers and the jacks and the Twisted out in the Waste. This world is lush, dangerous, and wonderfully crafted.
This has been a series of broken girls struggling to fix themselves, to find themselves, to find the strength to fight back against the people that attempt to push them down. They may lie to themselves, to others, they may hide, but in the end it all about them pushing forward and breaking free, no matter how painful it's been. Fans of fairy tale retellings, monsters with sharp teeth, and girls with sharper claws should definitely give this series a read.
(I purchased a copy of this title.)
November 19, 2016
Warning: Spoilers to those who have not read the previous two books.
Kin is the third and final book in the Tales of Beauty and Madness series. The series is a fairytale retelling. What if Snow White, Cinderella and Red Riding Hood where best friends that went to the same prep-school as teenager. They lived in a world that similar to ours but instead of just electronics and science, they had those things but everything was tangled in magic. Warning this series must be read in order or you will get spoilers.
I love fairytales and their retellings, Kin is the retelling of Red Riding Hood. In the this world Red name is actually Ruby and she is a werewolf. She is a kingirl, she is funny, strong, wild, has a temper and is incredibly loyal. Her best friends are Cami, she is Snow plus she's a vampire, and Ell who is really Cinderella and a total witch (literally a witch). I love their friendship, they are always there to help each other no matter what. And when they have problems of their own they don't want to bother the other two but in the end they pull together and are there for each other.
Each book deals who a lot of serious issues but the main theme is abuse. Cami was abused by her birth mother (the b***h actually wanted to kill her), Ellie's stepmother was a mental and physical abuser who put her in child labor and now it's Ruby turn.
Ruby is wild and free but her Gran (her grandmother who raised her like a mother) wants Ruby to settle down a bit, become more responsible and take on her responsibility to the Clan (her family). She has to try and find a mate and get read too lead the clan as her grandmother does now. She agrees to get to know Conrad from another town and Ruby does try but something isn't right with Conrad. The more she gets to know him the more she loses herself. She starts believing the way Conrad is acting is normal and that she feels a certain way because this is what being an adult feels like. Only Ruby has it all wrong and is heading down a dark path that she may not survive.
Ruby has to figure things out and she needs to rely on her friends. She needs to listen to and trust herself, because she is in a fight for her life. One thing is for sure that after all this Ruby won't ever be the same again.
Kin was amazing and I absolute loved it. There was mystery, action, murder, dark undertones, magic, a death close to the heart and true friendship. I will miss this world, the characters and the extremely complicated world, only if I could have more. If you love dark fairytale retelling then this is definitely the series to get.
Kin is the third and final book in the Tales of Beauty and Madness series. The series is a fairytale retelling. What if Snow White, Cinderella and Red Riding Hood where best friends that went to the same prep-school as teenager. They lived in a world that similar to ours but instead of just electronics and science, they had those things but everything was tangled in magic. Warning this series must be read in order or you will get spoilers.
I love fairytales and their retellings, Kin is the retelling of Red Riding Hood. In the this world Red name is actually Ruby and she is a werewolf. She is a kingirl, she is funny, strong, wild, has a temper and is incredibly loyal. Her best friends are Cami, she is Snow plus she's a vampire, and Ell who is really Cinderella and a total witch (literally a witch). I love their friendship, they are always there to help each other no matter what. And when they have problems of their own they don't want to bother the other two but in the end they pull together and are there for each other.
Each book deals who a lot of serious issues but the main theme is abuse. Cami was abused by her birth mother (the b***h actually wanted to kill her), Ellie's stepmother was a mental and physical abuser who put her in child labor and now it's Ruby turn.
Ruby is wild and free but her Gran (her grandmother who raised her like a mother) wants Ruby to settle down a bit, become more responsible and take on her responsibility to the Clan (her family). She has to try and find a mate and get read too lead the clan as her grandmother does now. She agrees to get to know Conrad from another town and Ruby does try but something isn't right with Conrad. The more she gets to know him the more she loses herself. She starts believing the way Conrad is acting is normal and that she feels a certain way because this is what being an adult feels like. Only Ruby has it all wrong and is heading down a dark path that she may not survive.
Ruby has to figure things out and she needs to rely on her friends. She needs to listen to and trust herself, because she is in a fight for her life. One thing is for sure that after all this Ruby won't ever be the same again.
Kin was amazing and I absolute loved it. There was mystery, action, murder, dark undertones, magic, a death close to the heart and true friendship. I will miss this world, the characters and the extremely complicated world, only if I could have more. If you love dark fairytale retelling then this is definitely the series to get.
July 8, 2015
Kin #3
By: Lili St. Crow
Overview:
I thought it'd be better. I really did. 3 stars is honestly pretty generous considering how laggy and eh it ended up being. I fell in love with Nameless and since I couldn't get my hands on Wayfarer in the meantime, I jumped to Kin because I thought, "Heck, why not. It can't be that bad." The jumping over the second book was fine, actually. It was just the content was not what I'd thought it to be. First of all, Ruby. Where was the strong, secure, and fiercely over-protective mama bear that I'd come to know and love in Nameles? How had she deteriorated to such a sad, insecure, and smothered girl? Sure, I get characters can't all be 100% perfect when we want them to be but 90% of her lines were repeated over and over again to the point of oblivion. I pity her for her need to constantly need a mask to hide and live behind-that's no way anyone should live-but if she wasn't happy like that, then she should've tiptoed less around her Gran. And "Conrad." He's a psychopathic, deceitful, lying, and abusive manipulating fiance. And this is emphasizes one of Ruby's most strong points: her ability to persevere and stay strong. But she should've run away from Conrad immediately when he showed his true nature. But thankfully, she learned and ran the heck away. So thanks Lili St. Crow for another novel regardless of its sub-par execution and ending of a trilogy. Hopefully Wayfarer will fare better.
By: Lili St. Crow
Overview:
I thought it'd be better. I really did. 3 stars is honestly pretty generous considering how laggy and eh it ended up being. I fell in love with Nameless and since I couldn't get my hands on Wayfarer in the meantime, I jumped to Kin because I thought, "Heck, why not. It can't be that bad." The jumping over the second book was fine, actually. It was just the content was not what I'd thought it to be. First of all, Ruby. Where was the strong, secure, and fiercely over-protective mama bear that I'd come to know and love in Nameles? How had she deteriorated to such a sad, insecure, and smothered girl? Sure, I get characters can't all be 100% perfect when we want them to be but 90% of her lines were repeated over and over again to the point of oblivion. I pity her for her need to constantly need a mask to hide and live behind-that's no way anyone should live-but if she wasn't happy like that, then she should've tiptoed less around her Gran. And "Conrad." He's a psychopathic, deceitful, lying, and abusive manipulating fiance. And this is emphasizes one of Ruby's most strong points: her ability to persevere and stay strong. But she should've run away from Conrad immediately when he showed his true nature. But thankfully, she learned and ran the heck away. So thanks Lili St. Crow for another novel regardless of its sub-par execution and ending of a trilogy. Hopefully Wayfarer will fare better.
April 10, 2015
This was part of my 2015 reading challenge "a book that scares you". I had read some from this author before and I remembered that she takes creepy villains to a whole other level. So I had been putting this book off because I'm a chicken and don't like to be scared so when I read that challenge I knew this would be the perfect book for that. So. The reason I gave this two stars instead of three was because most of the book Ruby acts like such an idiot I want to slap her and quit reading. a) you have badass smart friends. If you have crap going on and they are asking over and over if they can help why don't you turn to them for help?? b) If the guy you are going to have a arranged marriage with is beating the piss out of you why don't you tell your grandmother so she can call it off? Not only that what really made me mad is whenever he would hurt her and left marks and bruises on her and she would make up excuses for him like "maybe he doesn't know he his strength" or "he's had such a hard life" :O Get real girl ain't nobody got time for all of that grow some and stand up for yourself and quit throwing yourself a damn pity party throughout the whole book. She pulled through in the end but by then I was ready to throw my kindle across the room anyways. Your a day late and a dollar short, honey.
August 2, 2016
The Tales of Beauty and Madness series is easily one of my favorite fairytale-retelling YA series. Set in a lavishly complex and magical world, each book paints more and more of a picture of the enchanting setting, and specifically dives into the sub-community each heroine lives in.
One of my favorite things about this series is while all three girls do have borderline-extremely low self esteem (which may or may not be ultimately cured through validation from the opposite sex), and other high-school girl tropes, their ultimate triumph, or rather, their ultimate survival through everything they've experienced, is in no way because of the love interest - it's always two girls rescuing the third. They might as well have just hung up a sign reading 'No Prince Charming needed'.
Something that I particularly appreciated in Kin was the brilliant and complexly nuanced portrayal of an emotionally abusive relationship - something that is all too often glossed over in YA (Stockholm syndrome much?). Kin is deeply psychological in that regard, which added a nice depth to an already lovely novel.
Read the rest of my review on my blog (spoiler-free): http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/kid-lit-f...
One of my favorite things about this series is while all three girls do have borderline-extremely low self esteem (which may or may not be ultimately cured through validation from the opposite sex), and other high-school girl tropes, their ultimate triumph, or rather, their ultimate survival through everything they've experienced, is in no way because of the love interest - it's always two girls rescuing the third. They might as well have just hung up a sign reading 'No Prince Charming needed'.
Something that I particularly appreciated in Kin was the brilliant and complexly nuanced portrayal of an emotionally abusive relationship - something that is all too often glossed over in YA (Stockholm syndrome much?). Kin is deeply psychological in that regard, which added a nice depth to an already lovely novel.
Read the rest of my review on my blog (spoiler-free): http://www.kidlitfrenzy.com/kid-lit-f...
April 18, 2015
I was actually surprised by how much I liked this book. Though I am a fan of miss Saintcrow's books for adults, her endeavors in the YA field hadn't impressed me so far. The previous two books in this trilogy had certain flaws which I have illustrated in my reviews, so my hopes for Kin hadn't really been that high. However, I think this third novel is the best of the series, for it has all of the great qualities of Nameless and Wayfarer and none of the faults. Ruby is a likeable, relatable character, struggling to be accepted by both her clan and her non-clan friends, battling self-image and self-blame issues and trying to make sense of an abusive relationship while still in her teens. Add to that mixture a serial killer and a great depicture of the werewolf culture and you have a winner. The only flaw I can find is that Kin is a really predictable story; yet, this didn't make it any less enjoyable. A highly recommended reading.
February 14, 2018
This trilogy is one of my favorites. Its highlight is the friendship between the three girls inspired by Snow White, Red Riding Hood, and Cinderella. Set in an alternative future America, long after a magical apocalypse, the world is portrayed in intriguing sketches and lyrical language.
Ruby is the wild daughter of the de Varre clan and lives with her grandmother, the clan's matriarch. It's hinted that they are more than human. When Ruby is told she must marry someone of the clan's choosing, she rebels. Then she meets her intended, who is brooding and dangerous.
When savage murders begin taking place, Ruby has to clear the name of a boy who has been her best friend since childhood.
I hope there'll be more books set in this wonderfully inventive world with its modern fairy tale characters.
Ruby is the wild daughter of the de Varre clan and lives with her grandmother, the clan's matriarch. It's hinted that they are more than human. When Ruby is told she must marry someone of the clan's choosing, she rebels. Then she meets her intended, who is brooding and dangerous.
When savage murders begin taking place, Ruby has to clear the name of a boy who has been her best friend since childhood.
I hope there'll be more books set in this wonderfully inventive world with its modern fairy tale characters.
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