Beyond Ruin: Origins - A Dark Dystopian Romance

by Miscelleana Tsalikis

Unravel the past while finding love and salvation in the embers of ruin.
Year 2066: 38 years before Beyond Power, Book 1

Love and Survival
When the government is split in two, major cities crumble into hollow shells. Ellura finds sanctuary among an abandoned community, until a single misstep leads her to a new beginning.

Rising from those same slums, Seth has become a sentry in the Barrios faction. Duty and protection of his team remain his priorities until he becomes entirely captivated by the young Ellura and her blue eyes.

Destiny and Redemption
Garren Atlas, a young boy lost between protecting his mother and escaping the wrath of his imperious father, navigates his own tragic circumstances. An emotional decision brings him to a crossroads, and he must find a solution before his father makes a new decision for him.

Amid the ruins, the shattered halves of a dying society converge. Survivors bound by hope must trust love to guide them toward a world reborn.

286 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 31, 2025

About the author

Miscelleana Tsalikis writes stories that ache—angsty romances tangled in soulmates, speculative twists, and the kind of emotional wreckage that lingers long after the final page.

Whether she’s unraveling a sci-fi dystopia or diving into fantasy realms full of longing and rebellion, her stories always center on characters who feel too much, love too hard, and fight like hell for what matters.

Based in Long Island, New York, she spends her days writing with her heart wide open—while navigating life with her six incredible kids and her impossibly supportive (and handsome) husband.

Reviews

[Karla Bejarano · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to say OMG !!!!
I am one of your ARC readers !!!!

I loved loved how in this book it was able to incorporate a young boy lost between protecting his mother and escaping the wrath of his imperious father

The main character has to trust LOVE and HOPE to guide them towards a world reborn

I loved this book 2 better then the first book!!!! Love your writing love your elements you add to the stories and most of all I love how your able to grab the readers attention and while I was reading I felt that I was in that world and I never wanted to leave ……….

From the love dynamics and just the images while reading just had me wanting more and more !!!

[Fallon Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Miscelleana does it again! 🙌🏻 She makes you feel ALL the emotions and will keep you on the edge of your seat!! I could not put this book down! I love the way she weaves her timelines and I love having the origins story for book 1! From page 1 you will want to keep turning the page! Ellura goes from homeless, street survivor living in the “Caves” to a full on bad ass who is pulled into a world full of power, mysteries, and job assignments where she learn she will be going on a high stake mission! She will find friendship, family, and love in the new world! And all of it will pull at your emotions! Once you get to the end; you will be taken through so many twists and turns you will be holding your breath at times (and no, I’m not going to drop any spoilers); but it will have you reeling…and I mean reeling! And then the very ending will have you swooning!!! 🖤
Very well done Dystopian Romance filled with the BEST characters that you can’t help but love; filled with thrills; filled with emotions; filled with danger; filled with rawness; filled with futuristic ideas!!! An absolute MUST READ!! 🙌🏻👏🖤
I CANNOT wait until Book 3!!! I NEED more NOWWWWW!!! ❤️

[Korina Hornbuckle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good read that starts off strong and exciting and doesn't let up! It will grab you from the beginning and not let go. The FMC is grabbed off the streets and thrown into a whole new life where she will find love, friends, and family. The new people in her life help her to transform from scared little street mouse to a bit of a badass. Which is much needed for this huge mission her and her friends will have to take on. The ending of this book will send you on an emotional roller coaster that has you bouncing off the walls with all of the shocking twists and turns! Others are saying this is better than book 1 I don't agree because I loved book 1 however I will say it is just as good.

[Indigo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leave it to Miscelleana to make me feel all the things again! Her Character's are always so full bodied they just pull me right in. I felt all of the feelings reading this and may or may not have talked out loud to my book a time or two...>.> not only was the book fulfilling and paced well but it also pulled from the first book Beyond Power perfectly, even though it all happened before, technically. I love the weaving of timelines and perspectives. Smoothly done. And why does she have to make the men so freaking cute!?

[Heather Shower · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark, raw, and thrilling dystopian romance that grabs you from page one! Ellura goes from homeless street survivor to a badass pulled into a world of power, secrets, and high-stakes missions. Along the way, she discovers love, friendship, and family, transforming in ways you’ll cheer for. With shocking twists, heart-pounding danger, and an ending that will leave you reeling, this book is an emotional rollercoaster you won’t forget. A must-read for anyone who loves intense, futuristic romance with depth, stakes, and unforgettable characters.

[Ashley Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as an ARC. I enjoyed the dystopian aspect of this book which made me want to read it more. FMC and MMC are great characters but at times they feel forced to me especially when they are interacting with each other. I feel that the romance could have been left out of this book and it would have still been a great read. I wish there was more, more what, I'm not sure. I just found myself wanting more as I read it. More detail? More development? I'm not sure. A good read just not everything I thought it would be.

[Kayla Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hiii! I was lucky enough to ARC read this book and I LOVED it! I’m not going to go into detail as to not spoil anything, but this book hooks you from page one, and doesn’t let go! I loved the dark aspect of the dystopian world. The book flowed nice and free throughout and I could not put it down. The ending of the book sent me on an emotional roller coaster with all the twists and turns it had! I can’t wait for everyone to read it!

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderfully compelling Dystopian story written far into the future. I dont usually read Dysopian romances, but this caught my attention so fast. book 1 was fantastic, and this book kept up the love for the world. Miscelleana Tsalikis has a beautiful way of creating characters that you feel so strongly about. Even if this is not your usual read - give it a chance!

[Batty Squeaks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow. Miscalleana has a talent for having stories weave in and out of each other. This book has a great FMC and MMC that have you asking how it all matters and gives you a great history of their world. Maybe not a detailed history but you get to see what leads up to Beyond Power.

I cannot wait for the 3rd book.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a great ARC read for me! I’m new at being an ARC reader and I just loved it and absolutely love love love this book! Such a fun read! Starts off strong and keeps you wanting more through the whole book!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book. This was a great escape. I was quickly pulled into the story and found plenty of suspense. I will be watching for more books by this author

[Hallie Raine · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨
this book is a dark dystopian romance. it’s raw, it’s real, and set far into the future. there’s different factions, there’s secret missions with high stakes. 

ellura was one of the homeless until she tried to ste@l from someone of the highest order. he brought her in to see his duke where everything changed for her.

definitely worth the read if your into dystopian romances!

 Drops November, 2025

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