World of Ruin

by L.Q. Lark

Tvora was once locked in a devastating war against Odessa, the lands ravage. Human against Fae. It's people now live in the aftermath, struggling to survive under the tyrannical rule of the Eldar. Mysterious disappearances coupled with the harsh enforcement of the guard means no one is safe, especially in the lesser forest of Thanasinia.

Two best friends, Ocean and Blake, go on a routine raid to gather supplies, but things go horribly wrong and they find themselves captured and at the mercy of the Eldar.

Keanyn is the clan chief of the Nekyarian Fae. He rose to his position after his father was assassinated. Being the youngest chief in history, he has a lot of work to do to gain favour with the other clans.

When dark secrets long buried rise to the surface, it turns out the two worlds aren't as separate as they are made out to be.
​​​​​​​Will Ocean gain the control she seeks?
Can Keanyn save his lands?
What will Blake uncover?

Genres: Magic, Fantasy

458 pages, Hardcover

First published January 31, 2025

Reviews

[chelsea reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

world of ruin was such a surprise of a book. I was so excited to pick it up and give it a read. world of ruin completely blew my expectations in the best way possible.

first and foremost, my favourite thing about any fantasy book: the world building, the setting and all the lore that comes with it. world of ruin didn’t lack in any of these areas. I found the world so creative and fresh.

ocean was an incredible fmc. I loved her from the first page and I thoroughly enjoyed her progression throughout the book. the romance was very enjoyable although I felt it could’ve had a little more depth. I was more engrossed in the plot than anything else, so it didn’t bother me much.

the writing style was also excellent. I was hooked from the get go - I didn’t have a moment of boredom. I was fully immersed and escaping reality.

the cliffhanger was a little uncalled for (!!!) and now I have to wait to find out what happens.

[Chloe Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an arc of this book and wow. The world building is incredible, you lose yourself in the book from the first page. Managed to read this book within 2 days I couldn’t put it down. Highly recommend if you’re a fan of acotar or fourth wing. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read this year !!

[Regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the concept of this story, but there wasn't enough depth to the characters. I felt trust and forgiveness between enemies happened instantly, I didn't sense the love between Keanyn and Ocean, and some of the scenes moved faster than I wanted.

Lark ended this one with a bit of a cliffhanger which has me interested in knowing what's going to happen. I do hope we can get more depth in the next book, it would add a lot for getting to connect with the characters on a more personal level.

[Noore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun and eventful story with a cliffhanger in the end setting up for book 2!

This book is full of secrets, finding out your true self and banter as well as a good plot! I enjoyed the world building and the world in this book felt super interesting right from page one and cant wait to read more about it in the next books. The magic system was easy to follow but still multi layerd. It does have a bit of a enemies to lovers vibe but it was more of a fast burn! I liked the characters and relationships and I absolutely had my favorite side characters. I also liked that this book had multiple plots going on at the same time.

The premises of this book al in all was good


The only thing I wished we could have more of is the depth in the characters. I felt like I wanted more out of them and I feel like them having more depth could have made it easier for me to understand their actions. I would have also liked for the pace of the story to maybe be a bit slower in certain parts of the book, but i did thoroughly enjoy reading this book and cant wait for book 2!

I want to thank the author for an advanced reader copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Danni Drummond · Rating 5 out of 5]

World of Ruin
Forged in star dust
By L.Q. Lark


⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶


🔥 Found Family
💧 Fated Mates
🌬 Morally Gray Characters
⛰️ Dark Secrets
🔥 Banter
💧 Mythical Creatures
🌬 Fae, Seers, Witches, Sentinels.
⛰️ Humans
🔥 Magic
💧 Romantasy
🌬 Multi POV



Wow, I am almost speechless at how incredible this book was, I absolutely cannot wait for the next after that cliffhanger at the end either.

This story follows the journey of Ocean the FMC a human woman who has her mind blown (or maybe it was just mine with how amazingly written this book was 😆) when she accidentally goes through a portal for the fae who she was brought up to despise. Her world changes when she learns that they aren't half as bad as she was made to believe.

This epic adventure has everything, seriously. Morally Gray characters 😉, Banter, adventure, battles, dark secrets that are uncovered, major twists and turns, found family, outstanding characters and is seriously written so so well you feel like you are in a movie while reading it 😍

I adored this book! I cannot wait for the next!

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fantastic debut. The story's flow was great, and I was drawn in straight from the start. The concept of the different worlds and travelling to them through portals was really cool. I also really liked the magic system and having an animal kindred.

✨️ Hidden Identity
✨️ Enemies To Lovers
✨️ Fated Mates
✨️ Found Family
✨️ He Falls First

The relationships and bonds between the male characters really took centre stage. However, I struggled to feel the chemistry between the fmc & mmc, which made their relationship feel a little forced. I would love to see a little more world building in the next book and look forward to learning more about The fmc and her past and her kindred.

World of Ruin is out now, available on Amazon

🌟 Rating 3/5 🌟

[Rebekah Godfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! I couldn't put it down! Sometimes I felt like it was a bit rushed, and I would've liked to see the book be a little bit longer just to not rush it so much, but other than that, i loved it! The magic system felt new and refreshing. I'm excited to see where the next book goes ☺️

Tropes (and other things) that I vibe with in this book 👇
Fated mates 🤭
Fae 🧝‍♂️
Magic 🪄
Multiple POV 👭🧑‍🤝‍🧑
Enemies to lovers 🥵
Found family 🫂

[A3therOracle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unfortunately this was a Dnf for me at 30% I just really had not connected with the characters and found the story lacking. Personally the writing just didn’t fit with my taste in books.

Thank you to the author for an ARC.

[Lumie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to L.Q. Lark for the ARC.

Plot 4.25/5
Characters 4/5
Ending 4/5
Interest 4.25/5

Overall 4/5

-The premise of this book was really promising and I was really intrigued from the start. There were so many elements to make me love this book although there were a few which made it lose points. I felt like there were moments which were really brushed over or even too rushed when there was a promising plot line but it was kind of pushed to the side. For instance the moment Ocean discovers her background, I would have wanted a more in depth dive into her background, the why when and how. Instead they told her about it and that was the end of it. I still enjoyed the overall main plot, just if the book was longer there could have been more side plots.

-I quite liked the characters, the relationships were also good I was just hoping for a longer period of the characters being enemies rather than them being enemies when they meet and then suddenly they’re in love. The issue I also had was the fact that Keanyn disliked the fact that Ocean hid something from him when he was also hiding something and I felt like that was dealt poorly, it irritated me a lot. Something else, Blake had his entire focus on finding Ocean but she barely mentioned him in her POV which was a bit odd. On another point, I really liked all the side characters. They were really fun.

-the ending did have the bittersweet aspect which I always love to read in books. I did feel the main conclusion was a bit rushed and other moments were dragged on a bit too long but I still quite liked how everything ended. I just wish the book was either longer or divided into a Duolingo to focus on more elements mentioned in the book and prolong the ending a little bit more.

[Sara Mitchem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved L.Q Lark's take on the fae and magical aspects. I was absolutely hooked from the beginning. Despite the challenges she faced and still has to face, I love how Ocean handled what was happening to herself and those around her. She rose to the challenge and while things are not resolved yet, she handled it really well. I cannot wait to read the next book and see what happens with the world of Tvora and the other worlds around it. Amazing!

[Foxy Lost in Fairy tales · Rating 4 out of 5]

The concept of the story—two planets connected by fate, Tvora, human and mundane, and Odessa, powerful and magical—is absolutely fascinating. A bit of a sci-fi vibe mixed with fantasy? Yes, please!

Tho, I would have loved to read more about the world-building and to see deeper explanations about this universe. In the next book maybe? I’d love it!
Still, it’s a fun and exciting read, packed with action. It’s fast-paced, easy to read, and if you love fated mates, hidden identities, and ancient powers, this book might be for you.

I adored all the characters, even the side ones, because they each contributed something meaningful to the story. They are well-written, though they could use some character growth—but hopefully, future books in the series will deliver on that front. As for our fated mates, they could use a bit more chemistry, but they’re getting there over time.

My only complaint—a minor spoiler here—is that Ocean, our FMC (female main character), who truly hates the Fae, magic, and everything of that sort, seems to accept the fact that she is one of them a little too easily. I mean, if you grew up despising all things Fae because you believed they enslaved humans and tried to exterminate them, and then, turns out that you’re one of the feas, I think a bigger existential crisis would be more appropriate.

Apart from that, I think it’s a great story and definitely worth reading. I can’t wait to continue the series. The plot twists had me gasping, and the cliffhanger at the end… absolutely mind-blowing.

I hope you’ll give this story a chance!

Thank you to L.Q. Lark for sending me the ARC of this book.

[eclecticbychoicereads · Rating 4 out of 5]

World of Ruin by L.Q. Lark was such an exciting and entertaining read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys action-packed, fast-paced fantasy books with tropes such as fated mates, hidden identities, and ancient powers.

I read this book in two sittings. The story follows Ocean, a girl living on the planet Tvora. A planet plagued by wars, where life is harsh, and you must constantly fight to survive. Once a raid goes horribly wrong, a sequence of events is put into place, completely changing Ocean's life. She will find herself surrounded by those she thought were her sworn enemies; she will have to learn harsh truths about her past, present, and future; she will have to navigate her new-found life circumstances as best as possible.

The world-building was solid, but it left me hungry for more. I wanted to know more about what made the worlds what they are today and uncover all the secrets and mysteries. We gained some knowledge, and I am eager to learn more in future books. Also, I wished the characters' depths were explored more. I liked them all, but I needed more to understand and love them fully. I hope future books will dig deeper into character and relationship development because the characters deserve it.

I am so happy I got to be L.Q. Lark'a ARC reader and I hope you will give this story a chance; I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.

[Book Morphine · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
(3.5/5)

You know when you read a book, and every time you put it down, your mind drifts back to its world? That’s exactly how I felt with World of Ruin. This book has such an incredible concept and left me in awe of its potential.

The world-building is absolutely amazing, this whole idea of a war-torn world where humans and Fae are at odds, and the aftermath of it all, had me hooked right from the start. The setting was vivid, rich, and so unique.

Ocean, the FMC, completely stole the show for me. She’s bold, determined, and the kind of character you can’t help but cheer for. The book also boasts a vibrant and beautiful cover that perfectly complements its magical and intense atmosphere. The ending caught me off guard with some unexpected twists, which were a definite highlight, and there were moments in the story that delivered genuinely fun and exciting plot twists.

However, while the book was enjoyable overall, I found that parts of the book felt rushed, especially in the second half. Some scenes didn’t flow as cohesively as I would have liked, which impacted the pacing and immersion. Another aspect that fell short for me was the chemistry between Ocean and Keanyn.

Overall, World of Ruin is an imaginative and unique story with a lot to offer, particularly in its world-building and plot twists. If you’re looking for a creative fantasy with a strong female lead, this one is worth a read!

[Samantha Ortutay · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️Warning spoilers:⭐️






I’ll be honest it took me a while to get into this book just because I felt thrust into action from the beginning which was very confusing at first. That being said I’m upset with myself for dragging my feet on reading this because I got to a point that I could not put the book down!

I’m rating it a four only due to a few things.

The beginning as I said was a little confusing to me at first.

I do feel that some plots were revealed too quickly for example that Keanyn and Ocean are mates, or that Emrys was against the Eldar.

Every time Blake’s pov came up I was frustrated that I had to pause from what Keanyn and Ocean were doing. But that being said I still really appreciated having Blake’s pov to fill in missing gaps and giving an insight into the other side of what is going down.

Overall this was a fantastic read and the world building and characters are likable. I’ve had a feeling that Alasia’s kindred is a dragon from the moment they were mentioned and based on the last few chapters I think that’s an accurate prediction.

Side note: that cliffhanger though? How will I be able to wait for book two??

Thank you to the author for trusting me with your work and I look forward to reading the next book!

[Kailee Cross · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had a lot of promise, and without a doubt some people will absolutely love it. I really enjoyed the story itself, but there was a lot going on and some things really just didn’t make sense to me. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get past that to review this book any higher.

I didn’t feel a strong connection between characters, or connected to them as a reader, and this is generally make or break for me with story immersion. Enemies seemed shallow, in that they forgave easily and it didn’t really seem plausible. The beginning of the story was a bit confusing and didn’t entirely make sense, and so it took longer than I enjoy to get into the storyline. The ending leaves a lot of loose ends, and while I have a love/hate relationship with a cliffhanger, it was too much, too many questions left unanswered without enough information to put together my own theories or suspicions.

This book has merit and I did enjoy it. I just think the writing could have been stronger and some more cohesive world building would have gone a long way in story immersion.

Thank you so much to the author for the arc of this book!

[Letty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so I loved where the world building was headed in the first few chapters but Lark could definitely go into more depth on these planets. I also feel like the book was incomplete the way it ended. Almost like a few chapters were torn from the book. It wasn’t even a cliffhanger, it was a “turn the page there’s more” .. but there wasn’t more .
Only reason I’m not giving it a lower rating is because I see the potential and what this book/series can be. I love how different Ocean’s name is and her nickname “waves” from her best friend is the super cute. Coolest name I’ve read on a FMC so far. The characters need more depth and growth, give me more background on each one. You get little bits and pieces of some of the characters. Getting to know them moved too fast for my liking.
Minor spoiler but I feel the FMC forgave the fae to easily. She grew up despising them, I would’ve expected her to put up a bit more resistance instead of just accepting she’s a fae now and fighting for them etc.
if you’re looking for hidden identities, fated mates, enemies to lovers ish? This book is for you.
No spice 🌶️

[Marhen DeNoble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a middle to higher level YA Fae Fantasy.

It was definitely a potato chip book for me. Definitely fun and not complicated at all to read and dive into. The pacing was steady and the adventure would definitely capture a younger audience.

There are definitely some areas where I would have loved to have more in depth world building and lore explorations but I do love deep epic fantasies. However, doesn’t take away from this book at all. I would definitely let my kids read this if they were in the up end of middle school age bracket.

It has a few interesting plot twists and some layering of adventures thrown in there to keep you engaged enough to want to know more.

The romance is a fated mates situation (no spice) and the magic our FMC discovers within herself is ancient. My guess from the little snippets dropped - it’s dragon magic. But we will have to see in the next book.

But if you want a fun easy but great adventure book for a weekend read - this was good.

[Kay Hertz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, unique epic adventure!

Plot: 5 📍
Spice: 0.5 🔥
Overall: 4.5 ⭐

Who's the villain? Who started which war? What's fully going on?? I love that our FMC and MMC are both amazing, compliment one another, and uplift one another vs the over-played girl-boss type trope. You know the one I'm talking about! Where the girl outshines the guy in all things? She's faster, strong, a better shot, can take down men 3 times her size and her ponytail doesn't even come a little lose? No thanks. Even when we have fae, fantasy, sci-fi, whatever, I still love to see characters display somewhat realistic limitations and I believe L.Q. Lark did a beautiful job of that here!

There's multiple 1st person POVs which added a whole extra fantastic layer of insight and motivation.

(Full Review Still To Come!)

ends in a cliffhanger and I can't wait to see what's next!

[beluga · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy of this book.

World of ruin is a unique SciFi/Romantasy book that takes you on a whole adventure. The main character is Ocean, who is a bada** female protagonist who still feels very human in her thoughts and emotions. Not the time of FMC that feels untouchable or above it all. The romance in this is enemies to lovers and fated mates, which is a fun combination to see it evolve. I had very few issues with the story, and some of it may be a little personal, like feeling a certain character is forgotten about for a little too long at one point, but I digress on that. Other than that, there were some things that felt a little too convenient. But overall, the story was very fun and compelling, and the ending had my brain going, trying to pick out some things to expect for the next book. This author and book have a lot of potential. I think it's well worth the read and I look forward to seeing the evolution book 2 makes!

[Aeris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was eager to read a cross between space opera and fantasy - so I thought.

At the beginning, I was put off by the bloodthirsty attitude of the protagonist. That, compared with the explicitly detailed, albeit ridiculous (i.e. author believes it's appropriate for a raid member to wear TWO axes and a Katana, knowing she will travel hard all day - but then uses daggers when fighting...) battle scene made me realize that perhaps this is not a book for me.

World building? Very generic is me being generous.
Dialogues - childlike
Storyline - kill the enemy and take their supplies - but make it as brutal as possible... just because.

I gave up at the beginning of Chapter 3.
Just cannot continue. It's too immature, too childish, too bloodthirsty without explanation and nonsensical.

[ZeaLoty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, this is an easy 5 stars for me, to the point I finished this in just two days. I am not a picky reader. So, What do we expect here?

🖤 Fated Mates
🖤 Bonded Animals
🖤 Mystical Beasts
🖤 Magic/Ancient Powers
🖤 Multiple POV
🖤 Good Banter
🖤 Fae/Seer/Dragons/Witches/Sentinels
🖤 Slow-Burn Romance
🖤 Blood Pacts
🖤 Dark Past / Secrets

The world is easy to understand and the magic system is so easy to understand too.

Ocean, the fmc, is a strong character, not just physically. She protects her family along with her people. While Keanyn, the mmc, is a grumpy person to others he immediately becomes a softie for her. I love how they are made. And all I can say is that I enjoyed it too much I want Book 2 right now! T_T

Thank you for the opportunity to read this in advance, dear author. Now where is Book 2? T_T

[Marcia - itsabookthing2021 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading World of Ruin. I really liked the world building, it was full of lavish descriptions and really painted a picture in my mind as I was reading. The characters were all created with a dimension to them, they each had their own traits that made them realistic. Alasia was strong and I felt she held her own very well given the circumstances, I really liked her character from beginning to end and I liked her development.
The storyline was interesting and I loved the direction it went in, each twist and turn had me pleasantly surprised. I loved the ending it had action which felt intense, I was rooting for the characters and without spoilers, I was on the edge of my seat not expecting that outcome. Given the bit of the cliff hanger we're left with I'm intrigued to find out what happens next.

[Bee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the concept of this book, the mix of sci-fi and fantasy was really intriguing. The issue as a reader was the pacing of the story. It was very fast, so I never felt I had enough time to connect with the characters or understand the world-building. Character arcs were rushed and didn't flow as smoothly. ( EX: when Ocean goes to the Fae Realm, within a week she goes from hating Fae and hating everyone to loving her found family, accepting herself, and falling in love with Keanyn). Several plot lines were revealed too soon and didn't give the reader enough time to understand the impact (EX: the double crossing of Emrys and the Eldars) Overall I enjoyed the book but the pacing just threw me off.


Thank you for allowing me to read this as Arc.

[Naes.bookcorner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a book!!! I just got this arc today and I read it all in one sitting it was that good! It had me hooked from the first chapter. The storyline, the characters, the different worlds were written beautifully!! I loved the adventure and the suspense throughout the book and that CLIFFHANGER!!! The banter was chefs kiss and had me giggling throughout. I loved the world building and the magical side with the faes, hidden secrets and dark secrets. The connections made between the 2 main characters ocean/ Alasia and keanyn and the relationship formed had me wanting more and I can't wait to see what the next book has in store. Thank you L.Q.Lark for giving me the opportunity to read this amazing book!

[Kay Cobbold · Rating 5 out of 5]

"World of Ruin" captivated me from beginning to end. I quickly became immersed in both worlds, and LQ Lark's worldbuilding was original and authentic.
While Ocean/Alasia was the central character through whom the story unfolded, the addition of alternate viewpoints from Blake and Keanyn added depth and breadth, allowing the reader to see so much more than a single perspective could provide.
LQ Lark's characters are well-developed, both emotionally and through their actions. I felt truly invested in Alasia's journey, from her initial capture to the bittersweet victory at the end of the book.
With many unanswered questions, I am eagerly anticipating the next installment in the series.

[Alice Desprairies · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story! The worldbuilding is rich and well-constructed, as is the magic system. The characters’ motives and value systems are clear, and we really get to know them through the three POVs. The story is very fast-paced, which makes it an action-packed page-turner. However, the events unfold over just two weeks, yet the characters form very strong bonds in that short time and this occasionally felt a bit unrealistic. I would have preferred if the story had taken more time to develop the relationships more thoroughly.That being said, I still highly recommend this book, and I will definitely read the sequel when it becomes available.
Thank you so much to the author for this ARC. It means the world to me that you trusted me with your work!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was like a bell curve for me. I did not enjoy the beginning, felt confusing to me, and I did not enjoy the end, very abrupt and left too many loose ends for me, but everything in between was just great. This is a decent fantasy with an interesting story and magic system. The characters were likeable and felt realistic. It is worth a read if you like fantasy with interconnected stories. This was a 3.5 rounded up to a 4 for me.

[Emma Quaintance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a read! From the very first page you are thrown into action which has you hooked straight away. I love that the book has multiple POVs to get more than one angle of the story. The worlds & magic is so well described it’s so easy to imagine & you feel like you’re there with them! An amazing storyline with an intense cliffhanger leaving us wanting more. Definitely recommend & can’t wait for book 2!

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall an enjoyable read. Like-able main characters, interesting magic and world system, and set up for an interesting series.
I did feel the world building and storyline was a little rushed and confusing. If both were more expanded on it would have made for a more complete read.
• Portal and elemental magic, fae, fated mates, found family, chosen one, stabby FMC •
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫| 💋 | No 🌶️

[KMart Vet]

DNF @ 12% - I adore the premise of this story, but I did not enjoy the dialogue or the pacing. The characters also do not seem overly emotional about the things happening to them, so it leaves them feeling flat.

Thanks so much to the sweet, amazing author for the opportunity to read the ARC. I am glad that it is finding its readers!