What do you think?
Rate this book
Ruins
From the critically-acclaimed, bestselling author of The Light Pirate, comes a sweeping, deeply resonant novel about an archeologist in search of an ancient artifact that could not only change her life, but upend the story of civilization itself.
Professor Ember Agni is a rising star in archeology, trying to balance an unfulfilling career in academia and a crumbling marriage, all while pursuing her true passion: unearthing a lost empire that no one else believes existed. Just as she’s about to give up on the ambitious expedition she spent a decade trying to fund, a message arrives from overseas. A former student claims to have found something extraordinary—an artifact that hints at the forgotten world lying beneath history’s tidy surface.
With vindication finally within reach, Ember risks everything for the sake of discovery and undertakes an odyssey that will either make her name or ruin her. Driven by unwavering faith in her vision of the past, she challenges the limits of her nation, her colleagues, and herself in order to exhume the missing pieces of how humanity began. But as she journeys deep into an untouched wilderness, in dogged pursuit of a dead civilization, she collides with the wreckage of her own life. On the brink of either discovery or destruction, Ember must choose who she wants to be, and to what kind of world she wants to belong.
Professor Ember Agni is a rising star in archeology, trying to balance an unfulfilling career in academia and a crumbling marriage, all while pursuing her true passion: unearthing a lost empire that no one else believes existed. Just as she’s about to give up on the ambitious expedition she spent a decade trying to fund, a message arrives from overseas. A former student claims to have found something extraordinary—an artifact that hints at the forgotten world lying beneath history’s tidy surface.
With vindication finally within reach, Ember risks everything for the sake of discovery and undertakes an odyssey that will either make her name or ruin her. Driven by unwavering faith in her vision of the past, she challenges the limits of her nation, her colleagues, and herself in order to exhume the missing pieces of how humanity began. But as she journeys deep into an untouched wilderness, in dogged pursuit of a dead civilization, she collides with the wreckage of her own life. On the brink of either discovery or destruction, Ember must choose who she wants to be, and to what kind of world she wants to belong.
389 pages, Hardcover
First published March 31, 2026
160 people are currently reading
19267 people want to read
About the author
Lily Brooks-Dalton
4 books1,226 followersLily Brooks-Dalton is the author of The Light Pirate, which was the runner-up for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, a #1 Indie Next title, and a New York Times Editors' Pick. Her previous novel, Good Morning, Midnight, was the inspiration for the film adaptation The Midnight Sky and her memoir, Motorcycles I’ve Loved, was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award. Her work has been translated into 19 languages and she is the recipient of the PEN America L'Engle/Rahman Prize for mentorship. Her new novel, Ruins, is forthcoming in March 2026.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews
October 11, 2025
In Good Morning, Midnight and the The Light Pirate, I found moving stories with characters to remember. I’m sorry to say not so much with this novel. The archeological aspects were interesting, the fate of our present which was the past in the story was fascinating and scary . However, I did not connect at all with the main character, who was dislikable from the beginning . Ember is an archeologist, a professor, so full of blind ambition with a desire for recognition, so obsessed with the past at all cost, even the lives of others. She neglects her responsibilities and her obsession with making that big discovery causes her to run over anyone in her path, her colleagues, her students, the ones she says she loves - her friends, her husband and Sen, a previous partner.
I was confused over the time and place at first and it took me a third of the way though to get that this takes place after “The Crisis” caused by climate change at a place far north of America. It took a third of the way in to introduce that they were governed by “The Leadership” and that the present which seemed not far away from the real present was 3000 years after . It’s hard to give more details without being a spoiler. The story becomes an adventure to a forbidden place on a dig. Intense and fascinating, with an important message, thus the three stars, but overall I was disappointed having loved her other two novels. I found it hard to care about Ember and if she had been more relatable, I would have rated it differently. I’m looking forward to other’s reviews and different perspectives.
I received a copy of this from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley .
I was confused over the time and place at first and it took me a third of the way though to get that this takes place after “The Crisis” caused by climate change at a place far north of America. It took a third of the way in to introduce that they were governed by “The Leadership” and that the present which seemed not far away from the real present was 3000 years after . It’s hard to give more details without being a spoiler. The story becomes an adventure to a forbidden place on a dig. Intense and fascinating, with an important message, thus the three stars, but overall I was disappointed having loved her other two novels. I found it hard to care about Ember and if she had been more relatable, I would have rated it differently. I’m looking forward to other’s reviews and different perspectives.
I received a copy of this from Grand Central Publishing through NetGalley .
April 30, 2026
Career in Ruins? Or Just Locked and Loaded?
My expectations for 'Ruins' were high after Lily Brooks-Dalton's 'The Light Pirate' became a personal favorite. However, archaeologist and professor Ember Agni immediately presents a challenge—she is a deeply polarizing character whose career obsession and contempt for others make her a thorny, yet compelling, figure. Would her self-absorption be tolerated, or even celebrated, in a male lead?
Though once considered a rising star in her field, she remains obsessed with her controversial theories regarding ancient societies. Bitter over her stalled career, Ember displays a general contempt for those around her, including her colleagues, students, and even her spouse. The author makes intentional choices regarding Ember’s abrasive nature.
While the plot initially suggested that Ember was developing a much-needed self-awareness and moving toward redemption, this hope proved fleeting. Though she reconciled with her former partner, Sen, and pledged to end her history of abandonment, she ultimately succumbed to her old, damaging patterns. By choosing to withhold secrets again, Ember slipped back into the destructive cycle that has consistently led to the collapse of her relationships.
The narrative gains significant momentum once the reader commits to Ember’s journey. To avoid spoilers, I will simply note that the book transitions into a true adventure filled with ingenious and startling narrative shifts. Ember's controversial theories regarding ancient societies are the engine of this story, driving her—and the reader—into a world where her obstinacy may be the only trait that allows her to perceive what others miss.
While Ember Agni is a challenging protagonist, “Ruins” rewards the committed reader by transcending character study to become a true adventure. For those who appreciate narratives that explore deeply flawed characters and offer startling genre shifts, this novel is highly recommended.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #Ruins #NetGalley
My expectations for 'Ruins' were high after Lily Brooks-Dalton's 'The Light Pirate' became a personal favorite. However, archaeologist and professor Ember Agni immediately presents a challenge—she is a deeply polarizing character whose career obsession and contempt for others make her a thorny, yet compelling, figure. Would her self-absorption be tolerated, or even celebrated, in a male lead?
Though once considered a rising star in her field, she remains obsessed with her controversial theories regarding ancient societies. Bitter over her stalled career, Ember displays a general contempt for those around her, including her colleagues, students, and even her spouse. The author makes intentional choices regarding Ember’s abrasive nature.
While the plot initially suggested that Ember was developing a much-needed self-awareness and moving toward redemption, this hope proved fleeting. Though she reconciled with her former partner, Sen, and pledged to end her history of abandonment, she ultimately succumbed to her old, damaging patterns. By choosing to withhold secrets again, Ember slipped back into the destructive cycle that has consistently led to the collapse of her relationships.
The narrative gains significant momentum once the reader commits to Ember’s journey. To avoid spoilers, I will simply note that the book transitions into a true adventure filled with ingenious and startling narrative shifts. Ember's controversial theories regarding ancient societies are the engine of this story, driving her—and the reader—into a world where her obstinacy may be the only trait that allows her to perceive what others miss.
While Ember Agni is a challenging protagonist, “Ruins” rewards the committed reader by transcending character study to become a true adventure. For those who appreciate narratives that explore deeply flawed characters and offer startling genre shifts, this novel is highly recommended.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review. #Ruins #NetGalley
April 1, 2026
This review breaks my heart. The Light Pirate and Good Morning, Midnight both live on my Favorites list. To say I was anxiously anticipating Ruins is an understatement. I’m a bit stunned to be so disappointed by it.
It’s possible that my expectations were excessively high after the magical, amazing and impactful experiences of reading her two previous books. There were significant aspects of this book, though, that simply did not work for me.
The main character, Ember, is compelled by her desire to make a name for herself by discovering a lost artifact or remnant of a lost world. She’s so compelled that she will, without guilt or remorse, sacrifice anything or anyone in the pursuit. The first third of the book is spent dissecting the dissolution of her marriage and processing her recurring and repetitive internal monologues. She is an archaeologist who hates teaching, lies and deceives blatantly and frequently, disrespects her students and peers and lacks any sense of caring for her husband or friends. What that overly long first third did was make me dislike Ember completely, to the point that I lost interest in her and was no longer invested in her pursuits. There are infrequent but pointed references to her being raised by an unloving mother who didn’t want her but it wasn’t enough to create the picture I needed to explain Ember and care about what happened to her. She is heartless and selfish in decisions she makes regarding a grad student and that pretty much did me in.
In the middle of the book, the reader is introduced to the time in which everything is occurring. The transition is jarring and a bit unconvincing. There are vague references to the limitations and structures of this world but, again, it felt wholly insufficient. I would have much preferred to know that up front and have it set the tone of the book.
Things finally get interesting at about the 70% mark when Ember and her crew reach a lost continent. While it did boost my reading experience, it was too little, too late for me. Ember’s unabated selfishness and complete lack of passion for what she was doing and for the people around her wore on me. I wanted so much more detailed information about the finds, the possible history and the expanse of this exciting new place and it just wasn’t delivered. It was rushed and things just didn’t line up. Too much of the book is spent on relationships that don’t receive adequate depth, backstory or believability as well as in Ember’s thoughts about right, wrong, not knowing what she wants and her ongoing personal justification for her poor choices and bad behaviors.
I’m very sad that this wasn’t what I had hoped it would be. If it had been any other author, I’m not sure I would have made it through. I see it as a blip, though, and I’ll be back for her next book, for sure! Her writing is still beautiful, fluid and expressive but the story just missed the mark. Many people do like it so it works for some but, unfortunately, not me 😢.
Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy and share my opinions.
It’s possible that my expectations were excessively high after the magical, amazing and impactful experiences of reading her two previous books. There were significant aspects of this book, though, that simply did not work for me.
The main character, Ember, is compelled by her desire to make a name for herself by discovering a lost artifact or remnant of a lost world. She’s so compelled that she will, without guilt or remorse, sacrifice anything or anyone in the pursuit. The first third of the book is spent dissecting the dissolution of her marriage and processing her recurring and repetitive internal monologues. She is an archaeologist who hates teaching, lies and deceives blatantly and frequently, disrespects her students and peers and lacks any sense of caring for her husband or friends. What that overly long first third did was make me dislike Ember completely, to the point that I lost interest in her and was no longer invested in her pursuits. There are infrequent but pointed references to her being raised by an unloving mother who didn’t want her but it wasn’t enough to create the picture I needed to explain Ember and care about what happened to her. She is heartless and selfish in decisions she makes regarding a grad student and that pretty much did me in.
In the middle of the book, the reader is introduced to the time in which everything is occurring. The transition is jarring and a bit unconvincing. There are vague references to the limitations and structures of this world but, again, it felt wholly insufficient. I would have much preferred to know that up front and have it set the tone of the book.
Things finally get interesting at about the 70% mark when Ember and her crew reach a lost continent. While it did boost my reading experience, it was too little, too late for me. Ember’s unabated selfishness and complete lack of passion for what she was doing and for the people around her wore on me. I wanted so much more detailed information about the finds, the possible history and the expanse of this exciting new place and it just wasn’t delivered. It was rushed and things just didn’t line up. Too much of the book is spent on relationships that don’t receive adequate depth, backstory or believability as well as in Ember’s thoughts about right, wrong, not knowing what she wants and her ongoing personal justification for her poor choices and bad behaviors.
I’m very sad that this wasn’t what I had hoped it would be. If it had been any other author, I’m not sure I would have made it through. I see it as a blip, though, and I’ll be back for her next book, for sure! Her writing is still beautiful, fluid and expressive but the story just missed the mark. Many people do like it so it works for some but, unfortunately, not me 😢.
Thank you to NetGalley, Grand Central Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy and share my opinions.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
⭐⭐.5
Me on This Book in Eight Ironic English Words: Ember is coal. Dirty, destructive, cheap, and common!
(The female lead is named "Ember.")
"Ember felt her body come to order as the solid walls of her justifications slid back into place, her own culpability contained." p142
"Had she even known she was lying as she maintained her innocence? What kind of person doesn’t remember whether they’re guilty or not?" p176
"“I just don’t f*cking get you sometimes.” “Honestly, I don’t either.”" p294
In Short: I'm so tired of ableism in fiction. Here, mental illness apparently subverts brilliance and so the work of mentally ill people should be stolen and suppressed. Right? Screw those mentally ill geniuses. Right? Here at least it's an ableist character and not an ableist narrator/author. I despise this main character but I know her. We are all obsessed with morality-- or rather, maintaining our perception of our own morality. The form is odd, with the first half of the book being composed of back story, and the second half of the book the actual plot. So the first half is painfully slow and disconnected from the story overall. Wild ending. Brilliant use of the Earth/globe as setting. Editors, please fix the punctuation issues. 😱 ellipses!
"Content Warnings:" intellectual theft, ableism, su*c*de attempt, exploitative relationships, academia, professional hearings, dishonor, long boat trips, seasickness, bruises, abandonment
Preread: I read a book with a similar title years ago and it unintentionally biased me toward this much later unrelated book. Also, I like archeology.
Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced readers copy.
Me on This Book in Eight Ironic English Words: Ember is coal. Dirty, destructive, cheap, and common!
(The female lead is named "Ember.")
"Ember felt her body come to order as the solid walls of her justifications slid back into place, her own culpability contained." p142
"Had she even known she was lying as she maintained her innocence? What kind of person doesn’t remember whether they’re guilty or not?" p176
"“I just don’t f*cking get you sometimes.” “Honestly, I don’t either.”" p294
In Short: I'm so tired of ableism in fiction. Here, mental illness apparently subverts brilliance and so the work of mentally ill people should be stolen and suppressed. Right? Screw those mentally ill geniuses. Right? Here at least it's an ableist character and not an ableist narrator/author. I despise this main character but I know her. We are all obsessed with morality-- or rather, maintaining our perception of our own morality. The form is odd, with the first half of the book being composed of back story, and the second half of the book the actual plot. So the first half is painfully slow and disconnected from the story overall. Wild ending. Brilliant use of the Earth/globe as setting. Editors, please fix the punctuation issues. 😱 ellipses!
"Content Warnings:" intellectual theft, ableism, su*c*de attempt, exploitative relationships, academia, professional hearings, dishonor, long boat trips, seasickness, bruises, abandonment
Preread: I read a book with a similar title years ago and it unintentionally biased me toward this much later unrelated book. Also, I like archeology.
Thank you to the author and publisher for an advanced readers copy.
Read
November 17, 2025A rewarding read, eerily resonant in our current political moment...makes you think about how we view peoples of the past, and how peoples of the future might one day see us.
October 16, 2025
*3.75 stars*
Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton is an intriguing story with a keen character driven plot that takes the reader on an intricate journey. Strap on your seat belt, as this story mimics a roller coaster ride, with highs, dips, and dives into the psyche of an intensely ambitious archeologist whose aspirations dares to question life’s purpose in pursuit of one’s ambitions. Should it exceed one’s morale, integrity, or all others?
Ember Agni is a talented archeologist who finds herself at a difficult point in her life. She hates the monotony of her job as a college professor, she loathes her husband, and she has a burning passion to escape to an exhibition to discover a lost empire that she believes existed. Many years have passed since she had to relinquish a previous opportunity to go on an expedition. Since then, she has lived in a dismaying repeated cycle of relenting. This cycle of forcing herself to endure her unfulfilling life changes when she unexpectedly receives a message from a previous student on an expedition, who informs her of a discovered artifact. The message erupts a ferocious force of desperate determination within her that fuels the days ahead and eventually lands her with an opportunity to lead a once-in-a-lifetime expedition. Ember takes this quest with the trust of her colleagues on this dangerous journey, but with harmful secrets, vile selfish ambitions, and evidence of a career damaging decision. This exploration will ultimately force her to choose her truth regarding her life.
Author Lily Brooks-Dalton masterfully created an intriguing novel with an emotionally complex main character. With intricate elements of her personality, Ember Agni was a difficult character to like. She had a propensity to lack empathy and difficulty reciprocating regard for others. She was also narcissistic, vindictive, and often disgruntled. However, her ambition and perseverance were admirable. I found myself cheering for her at times. Despite the complexity of the main character, there was descriptive imagery that created an immersive reading experience, intriguing character development, and a bit of mystery that kept me invested throughout the entire novel. As a Christian, the only aspect of the novel that I did not enjoy was the references to a same-sex relationship. However, it was not the overall message of the story and did not thwart the plot. Overall, I enjoyed this story. Fans of literary fiction with complex themes may enjoy it as well.
With gratitude, I received a digital advanced reader copy of this novel from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley. The opinions in this review are unbiased and my own.
Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton is an intriguing story with a keen character driven plot that takes the reader on an intricate journey. Strap on your seat belt, as this story mimics a roller coaster ride, with highs, dips, and dives into the psyche of an intensely ambitious archeologist whose aspirations dares to question life’s purpose in pursuit of one’s ambitions. Should it exceed one’s morale, integrity, or all others?
Ember Agni is a talented archeologist who finds herself at a difficult point in her life. She hates the monotony of her job as a college professor, she loathes her husband, and she has a burning passion to escape to an exhibition to discover a lost empire that she believes existed. Many years have passed since she had to relinquish a previous opportunity to go on an expedition. Since then, she has lived in a dismaying repeated cycle of relenting. This cycle of forcing herself to endure her unfulfilling life changes when she unexpectedly receives a message from a previous student on an expedition, who informs her of a discovered artifact. The message erupts a ferocious force of desperate determination within her that fuels the days ahead and eventually lands her with an opportunity to lead a once-in-a-lifetime expedition. Ember takes this quest with the trust of her colleagues on this dangerous journey, but with harmful secrets, vile selfish ambitions, and evidence of a career damaging decision. This exploration will ultimately force her to choose her truth regarding her life.
Author Lily Brooks-Dalton masterfully created an intriguing novel with an emotionally complex main character. With intricate elements of her personality, Ember Agni was a difficult character to like. She had a propensity to lack empathy and difficulty reciprocating regard for others. She was also narcissistic, vindictive, and often disgruntled. However, her ambition and perseverance were admirable. I found myself cheering for her at times. Despite the complexity of the main character, there was descriptive imagery that created an immersive reading experience, intriguing character development, and a bit of mystery that kept me invested throughout the entire novel. As a Christian, the only aspect of the novel that I did not enjoy was the references to a same-sex relationship. However, it was not the overall message of the story and did not thwart the plot. Overall, I enjoyed this story. Fans of literary fiction with complex themes may enjoy it as well.
With gratitude, I received a digital advanced reader copy of this novel from Grand Central Publishing via NetGalley. The opinions in this review are unbiased and my own.
April 1, 2026
‘Ruins’ is set in a post- apocalyptic, dystopian world, 3,000 years after “ The Crisis” has devastated what was once the Americas. Migrating humans have been pushed northward to escape the crushing heat, fires, wars and whatever else collapsed civilization. Now what remains is a pre- industrial/pre- technology society. Ember Agni, is a self- absorbed professor teaching archeology, but who dreams of working back in the field discovering and proving her hypothesis that the ancient civilization she seeks was advanced beyond all current capabilities.
I really enjoyed the world-building in Ruins and I didn’t mind Ember being deeply flawed. Ember is her own worst enemy, causing ruins ( marriage, career, friends ) to be left in her wake. As her academic career crumbles, Ember is given a chance to set sail far to the south, where a new port city has opened. The south was thought inhabitable due to the crushing temperatures, but a thriving community has been established. A storm pushes Ember’s vessel even further south, and Ember and her archeologist crew make a discovery that could cement her reputation. Will they survive the harsh conditions to endure the journey back?
I really hope Brooks-Dalton has a sequel planned because this novel leaves the reader on the edge of their seat with a rather ambiguous ending.
Highly recommended for fans of Dystopia.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I really enjoyed the world-building in Ruins and I didn’t mind Ember being deeply flawed. Ember is her own worst enemy, causing ruins ( marriage, career, friends ) to be left in her wake. As her academic career crumbles, Ember is given a chance to set sail far to the south, where a new port city has opened. The south was thought inhabitable due to the crushing temperatures, but a thriving community has been established. A storm pushes Ember’s vessel even further south, and Ember and her archeologist crew make a discovery that could cement her reputation. Will they survive the harsh conditions to endure the journey back?
I really hope Brooks-Dalton has a sequel planned because this novel leaves the reader on the edge of their seat with a rather ambiguous ending.
Highly recommended for fans of Dystopia.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Light Pirate is my favorite book and Lily has become my favorite author through yet another incredible read. I could not put this book down, dying to know what came next. I loved the flawed MC through her intense passion that bordered insanity - and made me feel the same intense yearn for adventure and discovery. loved loved loved every moment of this book and would love to see the story continue with a sequel 🤞
April 3, 2026
First, I think it’s important to understand that this is not actually a novel about ancient archaeology in the way that you would intuit that to mean from what the publisher’s summary says. This is a speculative fantasy, specifically leaning into climate change dystopia. The publisher’s summary for this book is…misleading, to say the least.
But the real disappointment here is that this book is just an exercise in misery from start to finish, for the characters and for the reader. The reveal of what the “ancient” society really is was clearly intended to be some kind of meaningful, watershed moment, but it feels more like a bait and switch, and then it just becomes depressing.
The protagonist is a miserable person, and while I found her more sympathetic than many other reviewers seem to, it’s hard to hang in with a protagonist for whom your primary reaction is pity.
I’m also not wild about climate change novels that offer only doom and no hope or solutions. Because this is set in the future, the catastrophic events are obviously already past, but the characters in the book’s present don’t offer us much in this regard. They’re more interesting than likable, but they’re not interesting enough to offset the fact that they aren’t likable.
And perhaps most disappointing? The “archaeology.” Or perhaps lack thereof. It’s more anthropology than archaeology, for one thing, and it’s all fantasy without either real world science or well-crafted fantasy science to support it.
This is well written and at times a thoughtfully nuanced character portrait, but it’s an absolutely miserable hang of a book, and the plot has a lot of serious flaws.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
But the real disappointment here is that this book is just an exercise in misery from start to finish, for the characters and for the reader. The reveal of what the “ancient” society really is was clearly intended to be some kind of meaningful, watershed moment, but it feels more like a bait and switch, and then it just becomes depressing.
The protagonist is a miserable person, and while I found her more sympathetic than many other reviewers seem to, it’s hard to hang in with a protagonist for whom your primary reaction is pity.
I’m also not wild about climate change novels that offer only doom and no hope or solutions. Because this is set in the future, the catastrophic events are obviously already past, but the characters in the book’s present don’t offer us much in this regard. They’re more interesting than likable, but they’re not interesting enough to offset the fact that they aren’t likable.
And perhaps most disappointing? The “archaeology.” Or perhaps lack thereof. It’s more anthropology than archaeology, for one thing, and it’s all fantasy without either real world science or well-crafted fantasy science to support it.
This is well written and at times a thoughtfully nuanced character portrait, but it’s an absolutely miserable hang of a book, and the plot has a lot of serious flaws.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
Did Not Finish
October 16, 2025dnf @ 45%
After giving this book a shot, it's clear it just isn't for me. This is really no fault of the book, it just became apparent that much of the story was centered around things that I personally don't enjoy in a book. Namely the hyper focus on the politics of academia. I don't necessarily think the book was misleading in its pitch, but I guess I thought it would be a bit more of a blend of Ember's personal life clashing with her professional life, but it really was focused almost entirely on her relationship with work, teaching, and academia, and how those things affected her marriage. I don't love stories hyper focused on academia. My thoughts were solidified with the second act "reveal" which is a trope that I really don't enjoy. Again, no fault of the book, just not my taste. I gave it a good shot, but it got to a point where I didn't see how it could possibly shift to something that I would enjoy, and figured I just wasn't a target for this kind of book.
After giving this book a shot, it's clear it just isn't for me. This is really no fault of the book, it just became apparent that much of the story was centered around things that I personally don't enjoy in a book. Namely the hyper focus on the politics of academia. I don't necessarily think the book was misleading in its pitch, but I guess I thought it would be a bit more of a blend of Ember's personal life clashing with her professional life, but it really was focused almost entirely on her relationship with work, teaching, and academia, and how those things affected her marriage. I don't love stories hyper focused on academia. My thoughts were solidified with the second act "reveal" which is a trope that I really don't enjoy. Again, no fault of the book, just not my taste. I gave it a good shot, but it got to a point where I didn't see how it could possibly shift to something that I would enjoy, and figured I just wasn't a target for this kind of book.
April 26, 2026
I will start by saying I read almost 300 pages of this in one day, which is to say, I clearly found it compelling. The main character is not especially likable, and I often wanted to yell at her, but that mostly didn’t bother me. The structure was a little odd in that there is a major departure about halfway through the book that I wanted to happen much sooner, but I also think I understand why Brooks-Dalton made that choice. I think the premise is fascinating, though hard to describe completely without spoilers. It is a lot about climate change on the surface level in interesting ways, but I think I was more interested in what the book was saying about humanity and how we shape the world around us.
April 27, 2026
I don't think I liked this one as much as I did their debut but I still enjoyed the women archaeologist/dystopian world content. It was good on audio, kept me engaged and I was not expecting the ending!
April 9, 2026
I love when I find an author whose work just clicks with what I want out of books. Ruins is speculative and thoughtful, with a main character I’m sure people will find hard to like but who I felt was deeply real and flawed and interesting to follow. This has a lot of Lily Brooks-Dalton’s signature style. I really liked the meditations on what we take from the past and how our misunderstandings of it can shape our future. It’s also hard to say everything I loved about how the story unfolded without spoiling the book. But I really loved the direction it went and it felt nicely in line with the author’s other work.
April 21, 2026
*Thanks to NetGalley for an eARC of this book*
This book has cemented Lily Brooks-Dalton as a favorite author. I will now be picking up everything she writes from now on. She is so good at creating melancholic atmospheres in her works regardless of the overall setting.
This is another story that deals with the collapse of civilization due to climate catastrophes. However, Brooks-Dalton does not leave the reader with despair. While the characters are not always the most relatable, or even likeable in this book, their stories show human resilience and community building that is admirable in these times.
While I saw the twist in this book coming from very early on, this was a really well-done story of future archeology and a reminder that the items we leave behind are not always what we expect or have control over how they are seen by those who come after.
This book has cemented Lily Brooks-Dalton as a favorite author. I will now be picking up everything she writes from now on. She is so good at creating melancholic atmospheres in her works regardless of the overall setting.
This is another story that deals with the collapse of civilization due to climate catastrophes. However, Brooks-Dalton does not leave the reader with despair. While the characters are not always the most relatable, or even likeable in this book, their stories show human resilience and community building that is admirable in these times.
While I saw the twist in this book coming from very early on, this was a really well-done story of future archeology and a reminder that the items we leave behind are not always what we expect or have control over how they are seen by those who come after.
April 19, 2026
Complex feelings about this book. On the one hand, I think it is a masterpiece in the way it plays with time, delaying giving us information, and apocalyptic worlds. On the other hand, the first two parts were genuinely quite boring and Ember is verrrry unlikeable, and not in a fun way. I do like that she went mad in the end, that felt like a bit of a redemption to me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2026
I hung with this because I found the premise and the setting interesting. Why Greenland? Why did the way of life seem ok, until it wasn't? References to Leadership and the Great Crisis made the context mysterious even though I found Ember, the main character, rather unlikable.
Listened via Libby.
Listened via Libby.
April 5, 2026
I wish I had liked this more (or at all, really). Just slow, dragging along behind an unlikeable main character. I keep mentioning unlikeable leads, I feel... there's nothing wrong with that! I've loved books about awful people. All I ask is that they be interesting. This wasn't it.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
In Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton (releasing March 31, 2026), an ambitious archaeologist risks everything to prove the existence of a lost civilization—only to confront uncomfortable truths about memory, power, and the stories societies tell to survive.
After loving The Light Pirate, I had high expectations, and this novel exceeded them. The opening is deliberately mysterious, withholding clear markers of time and place while planting subtle foreshadowing that rewards careful readers. What begins as an academic quest for an artifact gradually becomes a deeper meditation on who controls history and which narratives endure.
Thoughtful, immersive, and quietly unsettling, Ruins explores climate, civilization, and the fragility of shared memory in a way that lingers long after the final page. For my full literary analysis, check out my complete review on my website at https://writeontheworld.wordpress.com....
An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
After loving The Light Pirate, I had high expectations, and this novel exceeded them. The opening is deliberately mysterious, withholding clear markers of time and place while planting subtle foreshadowing that rewards careful readers. What begins as an academic quest for an artifact gradually becomes a deeper meditation on who controls history and which narratives endure.
Thoughtful, immersive, and quietly unsettling, Ruins explores climate, civilization, and the fragility of shared memory in a way that lingers long after the final page. For my full literary analysis, check out my complete review on my website at https://writeontheworld.wordpress.com....
An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 12, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this glorious ARC! This e-book was provided to me in exchange for my honest review.
6 stars. AHHHHH. I LOVED this book. It was so genuinely fascinating and well-written, and I had a hard time putting it down.
Ember was absolutely a mess. Even by the end, I still didn’t like her. But that was the charm of the book—I didn’t need to like her or even to root for her in order to be obsessed with her story and finding out what happened next. The way she changed and grew to understand herself better and came to terms with her limitations was car-crash level cringe-but-can’t-look-away. She couldn’t get out of her own way, and I couldn’t stop reading about her struggles.
There is so much I want to say about why I loved this book, but it would be hard to articulate my thoughts without spoilers. I will say that the concept of this book, especially the interconnection between historical ruins and the ruins of Ember’s life, was absolutely brilliant to me. There was a perfect mix of descriptive language (and the metaphors, ahh!) and tangible plot. Usually by the end of a book, I feel like an author has rushed to get to their point before they seem to worry that they’ll lose the reader’s interest, but I never felt that way with this book. It was measured and intentional and thorough and thoughtful. I hated the cliffhanger ending, but I think the author was in the right to leave it the way it was left. In a way, it was a perfect ending to Ember’s story, even though it will eat me alive to forever imagine what happened next.
I will never stop recommending this book. It is incredible and deserves all the readers and recognition it can get. READ IT.
6 stars. AHHHHH. I LOVED this book. It was so genuinely fascinating and well-written, and I had a hard time putting it down.
Ember was absolutely a mess. Even by the end, I still didn’t like her. But that was the charm of the book—I didn’t need to like her or even to root for her in order to be obsessed with her story and finding out what happened next. The way she changed and grew to understand herself better and came to terms with her limitations was car-crash level cringe-but-can’t-look-away. She couldn’t get out of her own way, and I couldn’t stop reading about her struggles.
There is so much I want to say about why I loved this book, but it would be hard to articulate my thoughts without spoilers. I will say that the concept of this book, especially the interconnection between historical ruins and the ruins of Ember’s life, was absolutely brilliant to me. There was a perfect mix of descriptive language (and the metaphors, ahh!) and tangible plot. Usually by the end of a book, I feel like an author has rushed to get to their point before they seem to worry that they’ll lose the reader’s interest, but I never felt that way with this book. It was measured and intentional and thorough and thoughtful. I hated the cliffhanger ending, but I think the author was in the right to leave it the way it was left. In a way, it was a perfect ending to Ember’s story, even though it will eat me alive to forever imagine what happened next.
I will never stop recommending this book. It is incredible and deserves all the readers and recognition it can get. READ IT.
December 21, 2025
I was CAPTIVATED by this. Wow. What a compelling premise and message about history. Can’t wait to obsessively sell this when it comes out!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 25, 2026
I don’t think I’ve been this conflicted on a book in a long time, we follow an ambitious archeologist who risks everything in her life to prove her theory of a lost civilization on a mysterious continent far from her home. I want to start off by saying what was done well here, such as the deeply speculative pros, the deliberate mysterious nature surrounding not only our main character but also her theories, and the exploration of how things we take from our past can impact our future. Our main character is driven by her obsessive nature, her desire for recognition and the pursuit of something bigger than herself. The big question that really defines this novel; What is she willing to sacrifice in her pursuit? Now I will say, I think the synopsis of this book is misleading. I was under the impression this would be an archeological adventure with a woman who’s determined to prove herself and her ideas to the public, however, what we got was much more personal, focusing more on her life outside of research and the impact she has on those around her. Our main character was also hard to like. She was extremely cold, she is constantly neglecting responsibilities and she treats the other characters in the book as though they are just road bumps she needs to get over to achieve her ambitious desires. I also feel like this was lacking important descriptions of the world this takes place in, I have no idea where we are in terms of timeline or geographical location. The idea behind this novel was so intriguing, this just feels like a missed opportunity to explore deeper ideas in archeology but I wouldn’t say it’s a bad book. If you’re looking for a more character driven story about a woman attempting to achieve her lifelong dreams that’s more on the depressing side of things, this might be for you.
April 30, 2026
Do you like messy characters with very few redeeming qualities, but who are also passionate and confident in their knowledge? If so, you might enjoy this.
Ember Agni is a professor of Archeology at the School, in the City. (Vague on purpose)
She believes there was once a thriving, advanced, civilization in the world, and everything they currently believe of the past is wrong, or better yet, lacking proper context and understanding.
She knows she's correct, and she will prove it, no matter who she has to use along the way.
This book scratched an itch. I don't know why, but I have a weakness for stories about archeology (paging Dr. Jones?). This was more than that, though. This was mainly about Ember and her inability to be open and genuine with the people around her. Especially those people that loved her.
She didn't have much growth, she was abrasive, she used people.
She was just kind of insufferable, but it worked for her.
The messiness kind of kept me invested more than the plot, which is revealed fairly early on. I just had to see what Ember was going to do next to screw up her own life.
The ending was kind of enraging, because, was it just a story? Were they there or was she just being delusional?
I liked this, mostly, it was worth my time to read.
Ember Agni is a professor of Archeology at the School, in the City. (Vague on purpose)
She believes there was once a thriving, advanced, civilization in the world, and everything they currently believe of the past is wrong, or better yet, lacking proper context and understanding.
She knows she's correct, and she will prove it, no matter who she has to use along the way.
This book scratched an itch. I don't know why, but I have a weakness for stories about archeology (paging Dr. Jones?). This was more than that, though. This was mainly about Ember and her inability to be open and genuine with the people around her. Especially those people that loved her.
She didn't have much growth, she was abrasive, she used people.
She was just kind of insufferable, but it worked for her.
The messiness kind of kept me invested more than the plot, which is revealed fairly early on. I just had to see what Ember was going to do next to screw up her own life.
The ending was kind of enraging, because, was it just a story? Were they there or was she just being delusional?
I liked this, mostly, it was worth my time to read.
April 21, 2026
"The Light Pirate" was one of my favorite reads of 2022 and so I was thrilled when I discovered author Lily Brooks-Dalton wrote another book. "Ruins" was nothing like "The Light Pirate" and nothing like I expected (that twist-I audibly gasped when it all came together!!!) but I absolutely devoured it. I detested the main character, Ember. She is selfish, has very questionable morals, and leaves ruined lives in her wake. However, she is a compelling character, one you love to hate, and honestly, one with whom we can all identify if we are completely honest with ourselves. I was quickly invested in her story and couldn't wait to find out what happened next. This book is definitely a slow burn and doesn't really pick up until the second half, but, trust me, it's worth it. I found the plot to be extraordinarily creative and unlike anything I've ever read before.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this entertaining and engrossing read.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this entertaining and engrossing read.
April 7, 2026
This was my most anticipated read of this spring. I like the subtle and slow-paced writing of Lily Brooks-Dalton, and all of her signature stylistic qualities are present here.
In the beginning, it was very slow and at times a claustrophobic read, as we are placed deep inside the mind of a rather obsessive character. At some point, when things started getting real and we were finally on the quest to find the ancient civilization, I couldn’t put it down until the last page.
And then a sad realization came to me: all this journey felt like a trailer for a movie but we never got the whole thing.
The concept of a future civilization that comes after us, and how they might interpret or make sense of our lives is incredibly intriguing. There was so much potential to explore this idea more deeply, but somehow that opportunity felt missed, and I am sad about this.
In the beginning, it was very slow and at times a claustrophobic read, as we are placed deep inside the mind of a rather obsessive character. At some point, when things started getting real and we were finally on the quest to find the ancient civilization, I couldn’t put it down until the last page.
And then a sad realization came to me: all this journey felt like a trailer for a movie but we never got the whole thing.
The concept of a future civilization that comes after us, and how they might interpret or make sense of our lives is incredibly intriguing. There was so much potential to explore this idea more deeply, but somehow that opportunity felt missed, and I am sad about this.
April 24, 2026
A terrible slog of a book where one is perpetually stuck in the narrow worldview of a depressive, antisocial loner of a protagonist.
Which would be fine, not every main character has to be likeable.
But paired with lifeless cut outs instead of realistic or interesting side characters and a juvenile writing style that only tells excruciating minutia and never shows much, it makes for a tedious read.
Two stars for the world building which was well done and cohesive. A pity we saw so little of that world and so much of miserable Ember.
Which would be fine, not every main character has to be likeable.
But paired with lifeless cut outs instead of realistic or interesting side characters and a juvenile writing style that only tells excruciating minutia and never shows much, it makes for a tedious read.
Two stars for the world building which was well done and cohesive. A pity we saw so little of that world and so much of miserable Ember.
April 26, 2026
First and foremost, I really enjoyed this novel. It will be a difficult read for anyone who expects to like the main character, though. I hesitate to call Ember the protagonist, as she is, at best, an anti-hero who doubles as an unreliable narrator. The story is fascinating and layered, giving up pieces and realizations as carefully as an archeological dig. I particularly liked that the form of the narrative echoed the overall theme. I won't give away plot but this will leave the reader questioning our world and the way we view ourselves as well as our history.
April 12, 2026
I'm not sure what I just read. It started slow, picked up, leaving me small crumbs to follow and I was drawn in. The last third is heart stopping and fascinating. The ending was wild and it knocked off half a star for me personally. But this was well written and would be a great book to discuss! 4.5 stars
April 14, 2026
2.5 - the main character is most selfish, self centered character I’ve ever read. The synopsis is a little misleading, and it never really explains her ‘thesis’ and truly what she believes. The book is 2 entirely different vibes and is overall a weird read. The book is much more about the introspection of the main character than history or archaeology.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
April 22, 2026
just a whole lot of nothing.
April 25, 2026
First half was painfully slow. Second half was very interesting with some fun plot lines, but hard to get over how unlikeable and self-absorbed the main character was.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 186 reviews