Reign & Ruin

Mages of the Wheel #1

by J.D. Evans

“All magic is beautiful,” she said, “and terrible. Do you not see the beauty in yours, or the terror in mine? You can stop a heart, and I can stop your breath.”

She is heir to a Sultanate that once ruled the world. He is an unwanted prince with the power to destroy.

She is order and intellect, a woman fit to rule in a man's place. He is chaos and violence and will stop at nothing to protect his people.

His magic answers hers with shadow for light. They need each other, but the cost of balance may be too high a price. Magic is dying and the only way to save it is to enlist mages who wield the forbidden power of death, mages cast out centuries ago in a brutal and bloody war.

Now, a new war is coming. Science and machines to replace magic and old religion.

They must find a way to save their people from annihilation and balance the sacred Wheel—but first, they will have to balance their own forbidden passion. His peace for her tempest, his restlessness for her calm…

Night and day, dusk and dawn, the end, and the beginning.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Magic, Adult, Fiction

420 pages, Paperback

First published January 18, 2020

About the author

J. D. Evans writes fantasy and science fiction romance. After earning her degree in linguistics, J. D. served a decade as an army officer. She once spent her hours putting together briefings for helicopter pilots and generals. Now she writes stories, tends to two unreasonable tiny humans, knits, sews badly, gardens, and cultivates Pinterest Fails. After a stint in Beirut, J. D. fell in love with the Levant, which inspired the setting for her debut series, Mages of the Wheel.

Originally hailing from Montana, J. D. now resides in North Carolina with her husband, two attempts at mini-clones gone rogue, and too many stories in her head.

Reviews

[Marianna Moore · Rating 2 out of 5]

Keep scrolling im in the worst reading slump of my life and everything is irrationally pissing me off.

[Iqra · Rating 5 out of 5]

LET ME PUT U GUYS ON THIS LUSH FANTASY ROMANCE SERIES AKA MY NEW OBSESSION

The effect this book had on me and its essence is unforgettable. Unmatched. Unparalleled.

MakramNaime’s exquisiteness is beyond words. I’ve never read about two individuals that GENUINELY are meant for each other. That make sense together. That have the soulmatery connection type sh*

Them as a couple make me wanna cry. They called me single in every language that matters- don’t mind me imma just. . .



I tried to stretch this book out for as long as possible bc I didn’t want it to end I didn’t want to have to leave their perspectives so soon. I wanted to savour their journey towards each other but also fully immerse myself in this beautiful world JD Evans crafted. It was MESMERISING. Diving into this world, learning its magic and lore was an experience I need everyone to feel at least once in their lifetime. The subtle details and poetic nature of the story had me in a trance and I never wanted to leave.

The politics. The verbal sparring. The mind games. I’m a fiend for this shit and it was bark worthy trustttt

Idk if I wanna be Naime or wanna be WITH her. The chokehold she had on me the entire book 😩 I could write poems and essays about her I’m this obsessed.

I loved being in her mind, getting to see how she manoeuvres in politics, her ability to remain rational and steady but also seeing her finding new opportunities in every morose situation. Her levity was what brought me to the brinqqqq every time. Her seeing the best in the world and everyone in it had my eyes lining with silver whenever she faced anything that hurt her. Her heart is so pure and full of care - I’ve started tearing up goodbye 😭🔫

. . . Her mind, her composure, her wit, her personality, her empathy, her loyalty… EVERYTHING! I’m genuinely in love w her. I wanted to give her the biggest hug for 2873844 years 😭 she deserves all the happiness in the world.

I find it so hard to connect with fmc’s especially in fantasy series but Naime was godsend I’m telling u. Her emotions felt real and raw and tremendous. She overthinks everything and I just felt so seen.

MAKRAM THE MAN THAT U ARE PLS MARRY ME 🙏🙏🙏

He’s the greenest flag to ever exist. The way his loyalty could never be bought sold or stolen- IM GNA CRY 😭😩

He’s a man who believes in action speaks louder than words but he gifts her with all the right words too like CAN HE BE MORE PERFECT?!?!!!! 🤸🏻‍♀️🕳️

The way he handled situations was so hilariously innocent 😩 he’s so cute for that.

It’s how he doted on her, thought of her with so much respect. His love for her was unbearably earnest, soft and gentle. He communicated, he made sure they had open conversations and gave her a safe space to be herself without judgment. He complimented Naime in all the best ways.

There’s one quote that EMBODIES who Makram is as a character and his love for his Sultana:

“I think he’d be happiest if he were your shadow,”



My man was and will forever be INFATUATED, love-struck, hopelessly in love, obsessed, consumed, enamoured, captivated, enchanted, beguiled, bewitched, fascinated, enraptured, hypnotized

The love and adoration he has for Naime has me begging on my knees. It literally vibrates thru his every cell, out his pores into the very air. He supports and protects her in ways that make my heart so happy and full it honestly felt healing to see his perspective & read his thoughts about her. His affection was a balm to wounds I never knew I had

Basically these pages were laced with CRACK and I’m ready for hit number two 🙂‍↕️🙏💗💓💘🦋💋

𝗦𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗲:
I’m sooooo excited for the next book bc teehee my big bear bashir is the mmc and I’m getting so giddy to kick my feet watching him fall all over himself in lurrveeee with his wifey 🤭😋😋😋

𝗦𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀: 🎧

Alparslan Büyük Selçuklu Müzikleri - Hücum
Alparslan Büyük Selçuklu - Devietim için (Alpagut)
Alparslan: Büyük Selçuklu Müzikleri | Alparslan
intikam Yemini - Toygar Isikli (Kara Sevda Dizi Müzikleri)
Karanlik - Toygar Isikli (Kara Sevda Dizi Müzikleri)
Belki - Speed Up
Kara Para Ask " Intikam Kokusu" Toygar Isikli
Muhabbet - Fani bu dünya
Anlatamam - Speed Up
Nasini El Donya - Ragheb Alama
Melis Fis - Kara Kedi (sped up)
Melis Fis - Misket
Casa Vince - Waterfall
AlpArslan: Buyuk Selcuklu - Akça Hatun
Anlatamam (Kemal) - Toygar Isikli
Tatli Günler - Toygar Isikli
Buray - Kabahat Bende
Kara Sevda - Anlatamam (1-6) (soundtrack)

[Mark Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book won the 7th Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off ... THE CHAMPION, chosen from 10 finalists out of 300 entries!

You can investigate this contest here: http://mark---lawrence.blogspot.com/2...

I got myself a copy and had a read. I'm a very, very slow reader, but I make a point of reading all the SPFBO champions, and hope to get to some of the finalists most years too.



This is the first fantasy romance to have won the SPFBO, and I'm not a romance reader, certainly not a steamy romance reader - I did hugely enjoy Strange the Dreamer for which ROMANCE is the 3rd most popular Goodreads shelf. Strange the Dreamer is not steamy though, and romance never felt like the front and centre most important element.

So, out of my wheelhouse. I was, however, softened up (+avoids obvious joke+) by inadvertently committing to a very definitely steamy (think sauna) romance earlier this year - namely Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon, where in scarcely a patch of heather escapes being used for energetic sex.

Reign & Ruin sits squarely between Outlander and Strange the Dreamer on the romance/sex spectrum, with far less than the former, and considerably more than the latter. The physical consummation takes the place of one of the final battles / boss fights you might expect in other areas of the genre, and covers about the same amount of page space.

There's very definitely a plot and it's in charge, but the romance does rapidly become a central, constant element.

I've spent a lot of time waffling here as if I'm feeling guilty about being caught reading a kissing (fucking) book. I'm really not. It has a great story, excellent characters, excitement, imagination - it's a really good read.

Evans writes very well. Her prose is good, she describes everything really well, painting an 'eastern' civilisation that feels inspired architecturally by existing cultures but certainly doesn't ape them.

I will note that I learned a fair bit about non-western clothing, sometimes during the course of it being removed:

"dug his hand beneath her ferace, lifting up her entari, then tugged up on her caftan"

The story starts off a little slowly with a bunch of court politics, but since the entire book is focused on this same court politics, I can't really object.

It's possible that some of the book follows well-worn pathways, the scheming grand vizier, the circling of the prospective romantic pair, misunderstandings, encounters, setbacks, closer encounters, misunderstandings, and ultimately ... bonking. However, it was all executed really well, and since I'm not a regular romance reader I didn't feel I'd seen it too often - and regular romance readers probably came for exactly this.

One thing I particularly liked was the way that both parties in the romance had powerful magic and this magic entered into the interactions between them at all levels, allowing a kind of augmentation in the writing. No longer were we just reading where her hand went and what he felt about it, but we were getting a magical firework show alongside, that sounds much better in the book than when I tell it here.

I enjoyed Reign & Ruin a lot. It's a worthy SPFBO champion in my view.



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[Allison E · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romantasy girlies I need your attention desperately. I am vigorously shaking this book in your face, I am yelling to the Booktok gods, I am gently handing you this piece of literature because I worry you won’t be prepared for its excellence.

Let’s get something straight, Reign and Ruin is alarmingly tailored to my particular taste in romantasy, so if this doesn’t quite hit for you, I don’t want to hear it bc I won’t understand a word that you are saying!!

Here is what I mean by tailored to me, consider this a list of checked off items:
- Lush world with a beautifully thought out magic system (in this case middle eastern inspired)
- Strong and occasionally floral writing without veering too purple
- Two leads (dual pov :3) that GENUINELY make sense together. I have never read two characters who were more made for each other.
- Political scheming and politicking that had me either gasping for breath or wanting to boil (insert villians) alive
- Actually the most stank ass, disgusting, vile, infuriatingly civil and snaky villain
- Impeccable romantic pacing that never ONCE had me bored
- The setting almost felt period piece like in the way that glances, pauses, wording, touches, body language etc are all essentially important and often delicious
- Great dialogue that felt true!! Like yes!! those are words people would actually say out loud
- Incredibly romantic writing, this book is so bursting with angst and longing and pining that my heart hurt
- One of the most resilient and strong fmcs I’ve ever read. Naime is so freaking competent and intelligent and admirable. She is NOT your typical stabby snarky girl she holds her self control with iron reigns and only a certain death mage can seem to get through her cool and composed exterior >>>
- But really I’m a slut for hyper observant characters and both the leads have their eyes OPEN and with clear motives !
- When the spice hit, ladies it hits
- And also awkward intimacy, my fav thing in the whole wide world
- If we’re talking tropes (slight eye roll) we’ve got people from enemy nations to reluctant allies to… :)

If you feel like recent romantasy hasn’t been working for you I urge you to give this book a go. If I could describe this love story in one word it would be: earnest.

Have I told you what this story is about? Nope. Have I said everything that needs to be said? Yup.

[Carissa Broadbent · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written, sumptuous, downright decadent treat of a book.

I absolutely love this world and these characters. With every page, they grew deeper and more real. Naime and Makram are such well-rendered characters with so much depth. They both project strength and power, but nurse their own deeply human vulnerabilities and insecurities. But what I love most about their relationship with each other is the way they balance and complement each other's strengths and weaknesses. It's my favorite kind of love story -- the kind where the protagonists' relationship not only pushes them to learn more about each other, but to learn more about themselves, too. Their story is deeply romantic (and also pretty sexy, if you're curious...).

Reign & Ruin is not a fast-paced read, but by the end, all of that build up is so, so worth it. Besides, the prose is gorgeous, and it feels right to spend some time meandering in it and just letting yourself absorb the world and the characters. By the time I reached the 60% mark, I couldn't put it down (and this is coming off of a massive fiction dry spell). A real gem.

[Tanu · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

“All magic is beautiful, she said, and terrible. Do you not see the beauty in yours, or the terror in mine? You can stop a heart, and I can stop your breath.”

This book is a remarkable romantasy that balances political intrigue and a slow burn romance very well. I found the world building and other elements to be extremely engaging. The idea of six powers distributed in six houses that balance the wheel was intriguing. I wanted more of that and it felt as if the romance took the lead halfway through. But Evans chose to reveal whatever necessary to the storyline and hopefully we will get to know more about it as the series progresses.

“Destruction is a necessary part of the Wheel, and of life. Everything dies. Everything decays. Walls are reduced to rubble, bones to dust, experiences to memories. These feed and sustain new life. That is the turning of the Wheel, from beginning to end, dawn to dusk, life to death.”

It took me a while to get into the book, its flow and terminologies. Although i'm very happy i was able to understand a couple of them due to my love for turkish dramas. And once i had gotten a hang of it i really enjoyed the remainder of the book.

“You can be burned, drowned, buried beneath the earth, and the air siphoned from your lungs just as easily as your heart stopped or your body eroded. And frankly, of those options, I might choose to have my heart stopped.”

I am in love with Naime and the way she owns a room. She always resorts to mind rather than muscle to secure her goals. Her ability to verbally demolish her opponents and changing any situation into her favor reminded me of Tyrion Lannister. It was refreshing to see that her father supported her and wanted her to rule after him. She was shown to be hesitant at first but quickly finds a balance between power and protecting her people with new and unexpected ways while still following their history and traditions.

“So, my queen. Shall we begin?”
Although both Naime and Makram are complex characters with their own conflicts and issues i loved reading about Makram's internal conflict a bit more. He is a soldier and has less affinity for mind games. Still he used restraint to establish himself as a character. The struggle between him and his brother was a great addition to the story. He has no idea of his power and what he is capable of, and that makes him even more attractive in my eyes. Accepting that he was no ruler and wanting to follow Naime forever was something new and refreshing. I just hope we get more of their relationship going forward.

I also enjoyed the interactions between all the side characters. Samira never cares about her position and stands up for Naime whenever there is any sense of danger. I am not a fan of her romance, we got very little of which, with Cem and hope it changes. Tareck always shows Makram a mirror when he's being a pompous ass and their banter has a different place in my heart.
They are all getting their own books and i will definitely be reading them. Kadir, the Grand Vizier was extremely vicious and he made me want to bash his head everytime he spoke. He reminded me of little finger from GOT.

The romance in the book was so so good. It was the slowest burn with high stakes. My favorite combination. The steamy scenes🥵even though not many, hit their mark and i was giggling and sighing through it.🔥🔥

The book started with this poem and i love it so much i have to share it:

“I am balanced for I am broken
Parts that make a whole
Each joy and sorrow token
Paid to mold my soul
For we are nothing
And we are all
The darkness that is rising
And the light that cannot fall.”
- Poem of the Wheel

Some more quotes i loved:

~ “Feelings are not failings, as I have told you time and time again.”

~“She would continue to balance precariously on the edge of ruin because she was a woman trying to attain a man’s position.”

~“If I worship at the altar of pretense, as you accused me, it is because I have to. I am not a son. I am not even held in the regard of a second son. My High Council will only listen to me if I make not a single mistake. I will only be heard if everything I do is impeccable, my dress, my manners, my method of speaking, the words I use and in what order I use them—and even then I am judged lacking.”


Since it reminded me of turkish dramas, here are some of my favorite turkish dramas:

~ Kara Sevda (best chemistry i've ever seen in a drama, you can't convince me otherwise)
~ Kiralik Ask
~ Harcai
~Ask Mantik intikam


~~~~~~

I came across Iqra's beautiful review of this book and couldn't stop myself🤭 i'm a SIMP for fantasy romance. Hope it surprises me!!🩶

[Bethany (Beautifully Bookish Bethany) · Rating 5 out of 5]

PSA: If you are a traditional fantasy reader looking to get into fantasy romance, THIS is the book for you!

Despite a slow start, Reign & Ruin is a breathtaking debut full of political intrigue, realistic-feeling action scenes, interesting world-building, fully fleshed out characters (including some fantastic side characters), and a slow-burn romance that gave me everything I love and so many feelings! If you like romance that feels like a true partnership with respect, entertaining banter, friendship, emotional vulnerability, a powerful heroine, a hero who isn't too much of an alpha-male, AND a couple of steamier scenes that are well-handled, then definitely pick this book up. I really loved it and felt deeply invested in the relationship, which few romance stories are able to accomplish for me. But for fantasy readers who are nervous about picking up a romance, fear not! This is a very plot-heavy book with lots of potential for a larger plot through the series that will keep your attention. I feel like this is the perfect bridge book between high fantasy and fantasy romance.

Naime is heir to the throne of Tamar, but her father, the Sultan, is slowly losing his mental stability and the Council is pushing for her marriage to one of their sons, rather than see her rule as a Queen. But Naime is a powerful mage and a brilliant tactician with plans of her own, including hopes of an alliance with neighboring country Sarkum.

Makram is the younger brother of Sarkum's ruler and is the leader of their military. A powerful mage in his own right, his family loyalty blinds him to the severity of his brothers faults and leaves him with deep scars from childhood insecurities. In hopes of preserving the hope of an alliance, he secretly travels to Tamar where he meets Naime. Political games and slow-burning sparks ensue!

The world of Reign & Ruin is inspired by the historical Middle East and draws significantly on that culture and history. It is worth noting in the author bio that she served as a military officer and spent time in Beirut. That experience shines through and offers a realistic feeling to scenes involving action and military aspects, as well as scenes dealing with trauma from experiences in battle. It feels sensitively handled and with nuance I appreciated.

In general, there is a lot of richness to this story. It deals with gender, trauma, politics, and the challenges of caring for a parent with something akin to dementia or Alzheimer's. And is is a beautiful romance. If you can't tell, I really loved this. The first 50 pages are definitely slow and could have been more tightly written, but then the pace really picks up. And as this is a debut novel, I'm very excited to see what else we get from this author. I hope to continue on with this series and would definitely recommend it. I received an advance copy of this book from the author for review. All opinions are my own.

[John Mauro · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the winning book of SPFBO7, I was excited to read Reign & Ruin. The novel is beautifully written fantasy romance, full of lush detail in a Middle East-inspired world. The two leads are both highly compelling, believable characters. The slow-burn romance is also handled very well across the duration of the book.

However, I found the entire plot to be too predictable and cliché. Our two heroes are a young woman and man from neighboring kingdoms who must overcome prejudices, etc., to build a stronger union between their countries (and themselves). Although beautifully written, everything was just too predictable for my tastes, and the slow pacing didn't help matters.

J.D. Evans is cleary a very talented writer, but this particular story just didn't click with me.

[Crystal's Bookish Life · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think you'd be hard pressed to call this fantasy romance. This is a well developed fantasy world inspired by the Middle East, with heavy political intrigue. And a romantic subplot. If you take the romance out of this, the story still works. Which, to me, plants this solidly in fantasy with a romantic subplot.

The romance fell so flat for me. It reminded me of a YA romance because their focus for falling in love was how beautiful they thought the other was. So, it was not lust based, but it was still a superficial, surface layer romance that never felt developed.

Will be in my next vlog

[Paige ♠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good! Definitely one of the best indy fantasy romance books I've read in a while.

✅ THE CHARACTERS REMINDED me a lot of Laurent and Damien from the Captive Prince series, which is one of my all time favorites. There was so much political intrigue and Naime was a complete girl boss when it came to scheming and putting all the misogynistic men in their place. Markam was more the warrior-type, but not in an alphahole type of way. He was very level-headed and definitely deferred to Naime as the natural leader, which I thought was a great way to emphasize the spotlight on Naime and how she deserved to be the true queen.

🆗 THE WRITING AND PROSE were a bit heavy sometimes, which felt appropriate because the book had a more serious underlying story and it definitely focused more on the characters and the politics than anything else. I would not call this a "quick" or "light" read, but I still really enjoyed it.

✅ I LOVED HOW REALISTIC the romance was! These two were not porn-worthy sex stars from the moment they got together... instead, Markam took the time to guide Naime through the process and I just found it really sweet 🥰 Sometimes you're in the mood to read some filthy shit, but I would save this book for a time when you're in the mood to read a more heartwarming and romantic love story.

🆗 THE MAGIC SYSTEM was really unique and interesting, once I understood it, but the beginning was definitely a bit confusing to follow. It's an interesting take on elemental magic and it was really well-thought-out and well-defined.

Overall, this book was awesome and if you're a true fantasy fan I think you will like it! The romance still plays a large part in the book, but if you are more a fantasy romance reader for the smut than the story then I think you may have a harder time with this one.

[Brs · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst and most overrated book I have ever read. I gave this many, endlessly undeserved chances thanks to the (possibly rigged) reviews. I even stuck through with it to the end against all my better senses in the vague, misplaced hopes that there would somehow be something redeeming about it, even a surprise ending. Unfortunately, it was endlessly insipid throughout, didn't have enough substance to even be called cliche or troped, bored me the entire way through, and, unbelievably, never - got - better. Believe me, it hurts to say this bc I have stomached a monumental amount of severely crappy novels.

There was zero plot, worldbuild, climax, pacing, imagination, character development, I mean anything that makes a fantasy story. The truly boring elemental magic system could have been borrowed from an online summary of the D&D mage class (in fact, D&D has a far more complex and fleshed out system). The supporting characters might as well have been cardboard cutouts, they were so one dimensional. In fact the book was so poorly written it actually felt a lot like sitting in on an arrangement of cardboard cutouts. The villain's main villainy was in making a few stale, obnoxious statements and giving bitchface. The entire book was just insufferably awful. Nothing really happened in its 500+ pages!

There was very little substance to the book and too much useless fluff, not even the good kind of fluff, but just dry, hackneyed, linoleum-curling prose that put the plot and settings on a dragging standstill. It sounded as if the author was putting down a writer's group exercise trying to sound "fantasy" without having ever read a fantasy book or knowing what fantasy is about. For all that fluff, the reader doesn't even get a proper description of the main characters other than to say "she/he was beautiful and everyone knew it" and "he/she thought the other was so intelligent and charismatic" when they said something extremely bland and obvious. The entire story mostly takes place in a series of hallways and a single room in one location via conversations that sounded painfully like amateur grade school drama exercises (e.g. Ad nauseum dialogue repeats: "I should have power. But you shouldn't! *smoldering glare*" "His power is valid, it's not going to kill everyone" etc).

The story "arc" (more like a flatliner) is comprised of the mmc and fmc riding aimlessly back and forth between two territories for reasons akin to basically getting refunded for a supermarket mispurchase with no discernable plot development. The" descriptions" were extremely trite and bland. The main "plot twist" of so-called "political intrigue" is nothing but a single forged letter whose contents aren't even divulged. Being boring via dumb, repetitive, one-note dialogues that sound like the characters forgot what they wanted to say and are spouting filler text in a single chamber is not the definition of "political;" this term is a total misnomer by individuals whom clearly have never read a politically charged fantasy.

There were so many missed opportunities in the whole magic prejudice issue, which could have lent a plot point. Why put two countries at opposition if you mean to resolve it by a few cringey one-room declarations by the fmc? And then the "tear jerker" attempt at wasting space drawing out extended vague angst over the king's dementia, which, weirdly, turns out to be reversible by mmc at the end (Why didn't he do so earlier? Bc he hadn't banged the fmc yet?). The mmc's bad (? supposedly "crazy?"-- merely villainizing him for being some undefined undesignated "crazy" is neurodiv shaming no?) brother (king of rival kingdom) makes a single wet noodle cameo, leaving random loose ends. The same with the Grand Vizier's son. It was as if all these characters had no reason to be there but to stand there and do a single action with no follow up, which made the story awkwardly unresolved. Also, a faux exercise trial as a "political" negotiation is the main bulk of the mid-plot? What?

So, OK, if there's no plot or, umm, actual fantasy, to enjoy, maybe it at least ticks some romantasy boxes? I mean plot-challenged fantasmut is a category dominated by the worst, even grammatically illiterate writers, so it shouldn't be rocket science to describe some ass? But no, the author deprives us of this as well. I was shocked to read the most poorly written, un-tittilating "smut" in my life. Repetitive, lengthy expositions of, verbatim, "he/she thought she/he was attractive, but didn't tell him" cluttered the first 250 pages until I almost put the book down out of brain death exasperation. Then suddenly they were mashed together, in the worst way, literally, phrased as "He kissed her then she kissed him" over and over again. Please, there are millions of ways to describe a kiss than to write "She/he kissed him [insert trite adverb: Ferociously/passionately/intensely/softly]." It was like hearing a child narrating mashing barbie doll faces together.

Not to mention, a "shadow daddy" is not defined by a character that merely has "shadows under his skin." He wasn't even dark, darkly sexy, morally grey, edgy, interesting, dimensioned, or badass: His main trait appeared to be getting severely injured repeatedly in basic combat like a novice, acting like a sullen teenager, having self-control issues, and his internal monolgues were annoyingly all about how powerful he *could* have been. To make things worse, this dude became a total needy cringefest simp at the end, culminating in giving up his entire realm to be a consort. Notwithstanding how the romance was utterly contrived and just random. My brain kept telling me it cannot possibly be this bad. There must be something even marginally interesting that happens. Well I was wrong. It was shockingly gawdawful from front to end.

At its best, I was regaled with the unsexiest prose I have -ever- read, e.g. Repetitively "she took his metal hair brace off (What even is a metal hair brace? Is it a hair adjustment device or to imply he a hipster with a hairband and a manbun?)" and "he cupped her shoulders over her (how is this even anatomically valid? Even if it is, how is this to be considered sexual?)." Just no. This was not even just one instance, but multiple, unforgivably cut-and-paste moments. I doubt any reader truly wishes to read things like "cupping shoulders" and "looking at his thigh hairs" in a "sexy" scene. I never thought an failure to romantasy was possible, lol, but well, this is it.

Sorry, the Middle Eastern cultural appropriation (mostly manifested in obscure clothing terms and some pop culture food references such as baklava and lebneh) doesn't save it at all. In fact, the Disney-level superficially contrived settings comprised a cultural insult to the seriously talented modern Arabic fantasy authors out there. I recommend that this author actually read some fantasy novels before writing. Or ffs watch some of Sanderson's free lectures on creative writing, because the writing and creativity was painfully lacking in this book (and from a quick glance, apparently the entire series).

If there's one barely decent aspect of Evans's works, there were less grammatical errors and typos compared to the illiterate novels I've read recently (thanks for finally properly using the term "wracked" in place of "racked," despite failing, like most authors, to correctly write "planes of (a chest)" and using the malapropism "plains." If only this editing extended to the actual composition of the story, because I would even have preferred typos over the complete lack of plot and story this book suffered from.

A complete waste of time, undeserving of all its dubious reviews that clearly did not read the actual book, should have DNF'd it.

[Hamad · Rating 3 out of 5]

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🎉 Congratulations for Evans for winning SPFBO 7 🎉

Read this as a guest judge (With FanFiAddict) for SPFBO 7.

I have seen some mixed thoughts about this book prior to reading it mainly because of the romance sub-genre. Some of the fantasy readers are as far as possible from your typical romance novel and some readers like me read romance novels (cheesy ones even) for fun.

I don’t think the sub-genre affected my rating at all. I just read a lot of YA fantasy a few years ago until they started to become repetitive some how and I think this was a bit clichéd too. Although the romance is there and it is a very big part of the story, it is still a story full of magic and political intrigue.

The story is told through two main POVs and it alternates between Naime and Makram, both of who are interesting. On one hand, I liked that the female protagonist was not stereotypical in the sense that she needed saving and someone to lift her up. In fact, she was a very good and dependable leader. Makram was also not your typical alpha male that wanted to save and control the female. On the other hand, the romance between them is a slow-burn one in the sense that “things” take time to happen between them despite them falling in love for each other instantly merely based on their looks. (Which gave me the YA vibes)

From the get go, the author focuses on the magic system which entails 6 different houses paired into two opposing houses on each side. The magic system is interesting and it kind of exceeded what I was expecting from the story. The plot itself is also kind of predictable specially toward the end.

Summary: I think it was an okay read for me, I did not hate it at all but I did not fell in love with it. Based on my previous reads, it won’t be memorable for a long time for me. The writing is good but their were some clichés when it comes to the characters. Kinda reminds me of many of my YA reads.

[Mbhabibti · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first thing we need to clarify is that this romantasy is specifically Ottoman Empire-inspired more than anything. I tend to be a stickler when something is labeled as "Middle Eastern" but written by a Westerner. The author's excerpt says she visited Beirut and fell in love with the Levant (as one does 😍) however it all felt more Turkish rather than Lebanese, but I digress...

Still, Reign & Ruin was one of the better romantic fantasies I've read this year, which unfortunately is not saying much. The female main character was my preferred archetype: calm, cool, composed and knows how to use her looks as a weapon. The MMC was your typical scary, shadow magic, death man. Nothing new or groundbreaking there.

It was also insta-love/attraction, and from a cultural perspective they got together way too soon. Have we never watched a Turkish series before? The looks of longing go on for 40+ episodes - and there is little to no physical contact! Would love to see that emulated more often in books, especially in ones claiming to be Levantine.

[Faiza · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS INCREDIBLE. ♾️ stars. I can’t believe I let it marinate on my TBR for literal years. Flawless, beautiful, tender, sharp, and everything in between. Plot was amazing, brimming with political intrigue, characters were phenomenal, writing was so polished. Wow. Full RTC.

[Alexia · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

This book had a lot of strengths, especially in its portrayal of political intrigue and a strong, compelling protagonist like Naime.
The author has excelled in crafting a story rich with strategy, power struggles, and character growth, especially in Naime's journey to becoming Sultan.
Her resilience and intelligence are the backbone of the story, making her a memorable character who drives the plot forward.
However, the romance element didn’t match the quality of the political plot.
Makram's lackluster character and weak chemistry with Naime made the romantic subplot feel forced, even distracting.
Poorly timed and awkwardly written romantic scenes made me cringe.
In conclusion, this book shines as a political drama with an admirable protagonist but falls short when it comes to romance.

[P.L. Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a long succession of reading quite incredible yet quite dark and more nihilistic fantasy books, some palate-cleansers were probably a good idea. Nothing can reset my reading orientation quite like good fantasy-romance, and why not pick up an award-winning one for good measure?

Thus, for my first read of #SPFBOwinners July 2022 reads, where some of my TBR includes champions of Mark Lawrence’s Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off (SPFBO), I selected the most recent winner of the coveted selfie-stick (the physical prize for winning SPBFO), at SPFBO Number 7, “Reign and Ruin” (Book One of Mages of the Wheel) by J.D. Evans.
 
Obviously, with this book being an SPFBO champion, expectations were high. No worries here: the book was wonderful.
 
The plot of “Reign and Ruin” revolves around the relationship between two fascinating and dynamic characters: Naime and Makram. Both are high-ranking royals and powerful mages, from different realms.

Naime is the heir by right to Tamar’s throne. However many of Tamar’s sexist nobles on the royal Council are not enthused about the prospect of a female ruler. As Naime’s father, the ruling Sultan, ails in the grips of dementia, the Sultan’s deteriorating health will force the succession issue, but Kadir, the influential Grand Vizier – a rival of Naime’s but a childhood friend of her father - and his supporters plans are to marry Naime off in a politically advantageous match.

The man Naime marries will be the ruler, not Naime, with the Grand Vizier as the real power behind the throne of Tamar. But Naime, while young, is very politically astute, judicious, confident, and born to lead and rule. What she lacks in experience in terms of diplomacy and court intrigue, she makes up in intelligence, determination, and gumption.
 
Makram is the Agassi, second-in-line to the throne of Sakrum. Kinus, the current sovereign, and Makram’s older brother, is suspicious, paranoid, and somewhat unpopular. There is a concerted faction of Sakrum’s elite who would like to supplant Makram in his brother’s place, but the loyal Makram will have none of it. He is unfailingly steadfast, and while very clever himself, his exposure is that he cannot envision his brother turning against him.
 
Not only is Makram an elite warrior, and commander of his brother’s armies, but he is also one of the world’s most powerful mages. He sees himself as the protector of his people, and this humble, unpretentious yet somewhat enigmatic leader is someone who inspires devotion from those who follow him.
 
With Tamar imperilled by an enemy’s imminent incursion to their borders, Naime sees a potential alliance for Tamar with Sakrum, which has a powerful military (this is also her father’s vision). The Grand Vizier and Council are largely opposed to such an alliance, for numerous reasons, including mistrust of foreigners. With her father’s erratic behaviour and failing memory, Naime takes the reins and decisively steers her nation towards broaching relations between the two realms.

While the Lord of Sakrum rejects the alliance as well, Makram sees this as a mistake, and ends up reluctantly going behind his brother’s back, and taking a few trusted subordinates including his right-hand man Tareck, and journeys secretly to Tamar, in hope of preserving the alliance. Representing Sakrum, he therefore deals directly with Naime, who represents her people in turn. An attraction begins to smoulder, but their opposing magic, court politicking, and the complexities of both their positions, any romance is likely doomed.
       
The characterization alone in this book made it worthy of a five-star read, since both the two primary love interests and the secondary characters were outstanding. In terms of the two main ones, Naime is a force to be reckoned with. The combination of exterior beauty and inner beauty, wit, intellect, fortitude, compassion, and passion dazzles and captivates Markham, and puts her opponents scrambling, on the defensive. She is still untutored in the ways of romance, and ultimately still green as well to a certain degree in the court intrigue department, but she’s a natural.

Naime adeptly handles the cunning and malicious Vizier and his cronies, copes bravely and lovingly with her father’s dementia, and courageously refuses to allow any naivety, her gender, or her society’s expectations of what a woman’s role should be stand in her way of what’s best for her realm. She is not going to cede power to anyone just because she’s female, and she is going to be the Sultana that Tamar needs, no matter what anyone thinks to the contrary.

Handsome, quietly heroic, and intense, Makram seems a bit more brooding and introspective at first, yet also daring and charismatic. He has some insecurities about the way he was raised, and being the spare heir (whom so many want to overthrow the rightful one) has not been an easy role for him. His blindness and obstinacy towards his brother’s major flaws as a ruler is in turn Makram’s main flaw. But his respect for women, his unwavering support of and faith in Naime, his sense of honour and duty, and his general decency will win the reader’s heart.

Makram knows Naime does not need saving. So he does not attempt to save her. He is not looking for her to be a subservient queen to him, should they wind up together. While he wants partnership, he is also quite willing, even encouraging, for her to be the nominal leader, with him in a supporting role. This progressive and open-minded approach, and his integrity, helps make him an extremely likeable character.                    
 
The supplementary players are phenomenal, and its apparent that Evans has set readers up for them to figure more prominently in future series. The banter and brotherhood between Makram and Tareck is humourous and heartwarming, and faithful Samira as Naime's best friend and adviser is a standout.

The worldbuilding in this book was marvellous. It appears to be sculpted largely from ancient Middle Eastern customs and history, particularly the Ottoman Empire, and is luxuriant and realistic. The various nations have their own unique traditions and idiosyncrasies. The magic system is intriguing, with different types of mages, many of them tied to the elements – i.e. fire mages, water mages, earth mages, wielding in some cases enormous powers.      
   
Despite looking for lighter fare with my current reads, I need compelling themes in a novel to make it truly engaging for me, and this book had them. Dealing with a parent with dementia, PTSD from battle, misogyny, gender issues, emotional vulnerability, trust, bigotry, and more are threaded through the narrative, and are all topics that are sensitively and well-handled by Evans. Balance is also a main theme in the book. Part of what Naime strives for is to right "The Wheel", and help bring order to the state of magic.

The prose is gorgeous, and the book is exquisitely written. This is the sort of engaging, lyrical, yet efficient prose one might expect from such a lauded book.

Now for the good stuff: the romance! It’s got that right amount of steam, slow-burn, building up from initial wariness, and even irritation with one another (but still the beginnings of attraction) to something very intense. The writing of especially the foreplay scenes will not only get your heart racing, but also enchant you with the sheer beauty of Evan’s words. The author really knows how to use language to set the mood, and combine the melding of the lover's magic with the melding of their hearts.

"His magic answered hers with shadow for her light. Smoke beneath his skin, shadowed flames twining through and around the sharp, bright light of her power. They were a swirling, ever-changing harmony, his peace for her tempest, his restlessness for her calm, his recklessness for her planning, her independence for his loyalty. Night and day, dusk and dawn, the end, and the beginning."

"Reign and Ruin" won an SPFBO Championship in the face of some incredibly stiff competition, and now having read it, I can see why many bloggers found it to be a deserving victor. It was an excellent book, and I am all in for continuing with the future installments in Evans' "Mages of the Wheel" series to see what happens next with the kingdoms of Tamar and Sakrum.

[Nicole is Reading Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

A beautifully written story about forbidden love and a woman’s fight to take her rightful place as a ruler amongst the corrupt and old-school politicians of her time. Naime is a refreshing FMC in the Romantasy genre, as her strength comes from her power and intelligence, rather than physicality, and her relationship with Makram is tenderly romantic. The characters, middle eastern inspired setting, unique magic system, and political machinations all made for a refreshing read in the fantasy romance genre.

[alana ☁️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

just impulse-bought and read this after seeing Iqra’s review a week or so ago and have totally devoured the book. this book has so much that is like catnip to me and I stayed up way too late to finish it all in one sitting.

➛ refreshing unique plot
➛ cutthroat political intrigue
➛ intriguing elemental-based magic system
➛ great writing and well-thought worldbuilding with no filler words and no infodumps
➛ well-fleshed-out characters featuring one of the most badass, competent, intelligent, headstrong FMC I’ve ever read and an equally strong MMC who worships her and believes in her completely, and is content to stands beside his powerful woman & be her safe haven whenever she needs
➛ slooooowwwww burrnnnn (with realistic obstacles) that didn't feel forced and develop naturally throughout the book🔥

I do think that the opening is rather slow and very heavy on politics, so it took me a while to really get into the book and fully grasp the world and the magic system in place, but once I got past that it became much more engaging and I was just head over heels for Naime and Makram. even though I felt the romance is secondary to the story, it still manages to be one of the most convincing, heartmelting relationships ever. they trusted each other and had so much admiration/respect for one another and it was so lovely to see🥺💗

I originally only wanted to read a quick romantasy and had no intention of reading an interconnected series, but honestly this was so fun and the characters were impeccable, so now I'm contemplating blowing my book budget for the year to go buy all the sequels. can anyone restrain me and tell me about the other books in this series—are they as good as the first?

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am balanced for I am broken
Parts that make a whole
Each joy and sorrow token
Paid to mold my soul
For we are nothing
And we are all
The darkness that is rising
And the light that cannot fall.
- Poem of the Wheel

5 balanced broken stars!
for one of the best books I have ever read!

No I am neither joking nor exaggerating. Hands down one of the best books I have ever read. And yes, this is an Indie debut. A brilliant start to a promising 6 book series and I'm looking forward to reading each and every one of them.

Reign and Ruin is a remarkable romantic fantasy that manages to excellently combine passionate romance, impossible love, intense feeling, wondrous magic and skillful court intrigue. All beautifully complemented by two masterfully crafted characters.

Naime is heir to a Sultanate that once ruled the world. Because of it's magic, and the power of a balanced Wheel.
She had been told from her earliest days that she would be the first woman to rule Tamar in her own right. That she would be the change and the balance the Wheel demanded to correct the wrongs of her ancestors. Those of the Sundering War, that had divided the Old Sultanate and broken the Wheel by murdering and driving away the destruction mages of the Sixth House.

The Wheel and magic itself are fascinating just as much as the individual characteristics of the six houses' mages, be they Aval, Deval, Sival, or Chara. Everything interconnected and everything centered around balance.



Fire and water, darkness and light, beginnings and endings.
"That is why there must be balance. To relieve the terrible with the beautiful, to make the beautiful more precious for the threat of its absence."
Remarkable! Especially when combined with a skillfully sketched oriental setting, inspired by the author's experience in Lebanon.

The customs and culture reflected in the court intrigue and power play were masterfully SHOWN not told, and skillfully complemented by just the right amount of historical and military background. And this is the most remarkable aspect of J.D. Evans' writing. She doesn't tell you anything but eloquently shows you everything, up to the tiniest detail.

Back to the story now, because I have strayed a bit :D, on this particular political and cultural background where women are seen more as pretty ornaments or prizes, Naime must precariously balance on the edge of ruin because she was a woman trying to attain a man's position.



Steering the Tamar Sultanate had always been a game and Naime, despite having been groomed for it, was still a mediocre player. But the time comes when the Sultan is no longer able to rule and Naime is forced to step up to the line and take over. Dancing on a knife's edge in a world where every single uttered word carries a complex weight and rhythm, where every single gesture or slip of composure may mean the difference in between success and failure, Naime has to fight tooth and nail to try and reign in the Council and keep her seat.

"You will never find a battleground more relentless and exhausting than a royal court in transition."

And particularly because of this, the beginning of the novel may feel a little slow-paced to some readers - due to the complexity of the setting and the court intrigue it does need quite a few pages to be laid out. But the pace picks up pretty fast and all this won't even feel slow for those like me, who revel in riveting court intrigue and power play.

A new war is coming. Science and machines to replace magic and old religion. And Naime needs to find a way to save her people from annihilation and balance the sacred Wheel. An alliance with Sarkum that would come with the help of their destruction mages and their impressive army is the only solution she can find.



Except that her Council refuses to even consider allowing death mages into Tamar, let alone an alliance. So Naime has to start a dangerous game to outmaneuver them. A game that inadvertently entwines her fate with that of Agassi Makram.

A Prince of Sarkum and second in line to the throne, Makram is the deadliest death mage alive. Feared and scorned even in his homeland because of his destructive power. Darkly handsome and magnetic, he is perfection. Until he lets his magic loose and becomes death incarnate. No one is able to look him in the eye, let alone hold his gaze, out of fear of being turned into ash.



Makram shares Naime's vision and chooses to defy his brother and king, to make the alliance with Tamar possible and save Sarkum. But then he meets Naime. And how can he resist her when she really sees him and not his power? When she's not afraid to look him in the eye and even stands up for him in front of others? How can he set Sarkum and his brother above the woman he more than admires?! So Makram dances on a razor edge line in between admiration and attraction. And it doesn't help at all that Naime does the same.



Fighting their passion for each other, the two must work as one to not only succeed in Naime's plans, but also escape with their lives from traps drawn both with pen and sword. And the love story between them is one of the best I've ever read. The passion and the love!! The stolen moments and forbidden touches that show so much of feeling!!! Those were downright exceptional. This author has a talent in making you feel as well as see the tale unfold!

There is so much I could tell you about both Naime and Makram, so much of praising I could do. But it's best if you discover their story by yourself. I guarantee you will love them. Especially Makram. (*dreamy sigh*)

Written in an old-style lyrical and flawless prose, Reign and Ruin will appeal to all fans of romantic fantasy, but especially to those who love it mixed with a lot of court intrigue, rich wordbuilding and an intricate magic system.

I read it on KU but will buy the paperback to add it to my shelf of favorites and am eagerly waiting for the sequel.
It is one of the best books I have ever read after all. So I'm gonna end this review with a heartfelt suggestion:
If you love romantic fantasy, YOU HAVE GOT TO GIVE THIS A TRY!
and you might fall in love too, with the passionate story of a Sultana and her Agassi. :)



Find this review and more on my book review and cover art blog The Magic Book Corner

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

A romantasy series I endorse.
This book and series perfectly balances the romance and the plot. The characters and the magic. The world-building and the politics.

Princess Sultana Naime was not a man, not a prince, whose temper would be seen as strength or whose unusual methods might be seen as visionary instead of disruptive. Neither was she a princess the way they believed she should be. With her father’s decline, she would rule a Council that saw her as nothing more than a steppingstone for their sons to the Sultan’s seat.
Thankfully, Naime had an affinity, for plans and schemes and seeks an alliance against her Council’s wishes with Sakram - a generations-old enemy.

Makram is the second born, disliked by his parents and feared for his magic, only elevated by his brother, the ruler, to Commander of his armies.

Makram and Naime are the prime example of opposites attract and fit. Their love is soft, but passionate. Gentle, yet fierce. Naime is used to being seeing as a woman, as beautiful. Makram makes her feel like a Woman and Beautiful with capital letters. Her as Naime rather than her as a pawn.

“If I let go“—Naime sucked in a shaking breath—” we will spend this time picking up all my broken pieces.”
“I want them,” Makram said. “I can help you carry them.” His arms tightened around her. An imaginary fissure opened in her chest, the pain of it real enough.

You can be strong and fall apart. Makram is Naime’s number one fan and champion and utterly in awe of her.

The world-building is also so interesting with mages and different levels of power etc. There is also a Wheel that needs to be balanced which is Naime’s goal and will be the overarching objective of the series.

“I can shine like dawn, and you bring the peace of dusk.” She pulled her hand away. “Beginnings and endings. That is why there must be balance. To relieve the terrible with the beautiful, to make the beautiful more precious, for the threat of its absence.”

There is spice towards the end, but it never overwhelms and the small part I did read (I am not a big fan of reading it!) was delicious, slow burn, fiery, all-encompassing.

It is available on Kindle Unlimited!

Bookstagram

[Isabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the writing, especially the dialogues. Although it starts slow as it lacks a backstory to completely pull me in, everything becomes interesting ~20% past into the story. I adore Naime (fmc) for her brains. When I read her lines, mostly the political ones, it resonates. She radiates confidence that is not brash, and for that, I’m in awe.

Naime and Makram both want an alliance for an impending war. In the process of achieving their shared goals, they have developed feelings for each other. They can’t be together though, because they have other aspirations/duties that separate them.

She was cool and composed, a thinker and a planner, and he was unpredictable and mercurial, someone who acted before he thought. Did she realize they were balanced too?

The slow burn is good. Not entirely painful 😆 but still very good! There are those careful touches, delicate hugs, moonlight trysts, and many more that make me tremble in anticipation.



What I also love about the writing is it doesn’t drown you with lots of information to introduce side characters and to paint the entire world and magic system in your head. They’re carefully divulged throughout the story you’ll end up wanting to learn more. That said, I look forward to reading the next books.

Overall: 4.5 stars, this book needs more love! 🖤

[J.D. Evans]

Reign & Ruin is a fantasy romance that fans of Grace Draven, Anne Bishop, Emma Hamm, and Jeffe Kennedy will enjoy. This is the first book in a six book series and features a complete romance, with side plots that will be continued through the series. Book two in the series is coming in February 2020!

[millena ★ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐️ this book literally changed the course of my life

Naime is one of the smartest main characters I’ve ever read and it was so refreshing to see how she handled every situation, the romance was also top tier (probably one of the best I’ve ever read too) and that came a lot from how much they respect and complement each other perfectly, their relationship was built so well that even though the romance itself only starts in the second half of the book I wouldn’t change a single thing

I’ve always considered myself more into the romance than the politics but this book was totally the opposite, the author did such a great job developing that part that it got me just as hooked as the romance

It didn’t get 5 stars only bc I didn’t feel the feeling but it definitely made it to my favorites of the year

[Bex (Beckie Bookworm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
So this was an interesting plot-led fantasy romance read, the first book in a new series.
It's heavily influenced by the middle-east borrowing extensively from that culture.
It's full of political intrigue and court politics throughout.
Set in a fantasy culture where the old ways are very much adhered to especially in regards to male and female interaction.
Here your whole reputation can be destroyed on the whisper of a rumour or the whim of a malicious destructive tongue.
This is a land split down the middle, a land of magic and mages.
The overall language used here is very much of the old-style with an almost formal but also lyrical quality to it.
So the first third of this is really slow, I was a tad bored and this did affect my overall rating somewhat.
It is well worth sticking around for the rest though as when this does actually take off this was surprisingly good.
The romance here is very slow burn and it did take a while to get moving so much so that I was initially worried about the chemistry or lack thereof but this was not an issue these two definitely developed the needed chemistry to work as a couple as this story progressed.
In fact, I adored the developed dynamic these two eventually shared together.
less alpha he-man than I was expecting also but without taking away any of Makram's allure in the process.
He was a complex individual with a loyal warm heart and a fabulous sense of humour.
He has a deep vein of integrity and decency running straight through his core add in his humbleness and respect for others he was quite the man.
Despite the way others have acted towards him or maybe even because of it Makram has developed an almost humble attitude and lack of pretence that would otherwise not have been possible with a more lavish upbringing.
Makram is first and foremost a soldier and protector of those he cares for.
His one weakness is his brother and he is blind to his many faults making excuses for his behaviour and lying to himself.
It is only upon seeing Naime and the way she leads using her whole heart as well as her head that he silently begins to questions and the cracks begin to appear as he starts to question the blind faith he has shown all his life towards his older sibling.
Naime has a powerful vision of the future and being born female in this male-dominated society is not going to stop her ambitions or hold her back any.
She knows what she wants and has been navigating the shark-infested waters of her father's court for years.
With her father's health declining and an unwanted political marriage looming she walks a razor's edge regarding her future.
What she isn't used to is the deep feelings and perceived weaknesses brought forth by the enigmatic Makram.
While politically equipped to handle any situation in matters of the heart Naime is at a distinct disadvantage here she is very naive and unpracticed.
This plays out against the rich tapestry of magic and mystique as our two lovers fall deep for each other.
It is well written with interesting and rich side characters and despite that slow start, this was still a good read.
I voluntary reviewed a copy of Reign & Ruin (Mages of the Wheel, #1).



Reviewed By Beckie Bookworm
https://www.facebook.com/beckiebookworm/
www.beckiebookworm.com

[ash | · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reread--- 2024

Epic Fantasy, S&S, Romantic Fantasy

“All magic is beautiful,” she said, “and terrible. Do you not see the beauty in yours, or the terror in mine?” Her fingers brushed his cheek. “You can stop a heart, and I can stop your breath.”

This was a reread for me, and with that, I've updated my original review. I originally read R&R for the SPFBO7 contest as part of the last batch of remaining finalists with team FanFiAddict.

Reign & Ruin by J.D. Evans delivered a compelling blend of political intrigue within a Middle Eastern inspired world, scorching romance, and a meticulously crafted magic system that kept me engrossed from start to finish.

At its heart lies a romance that was perfect in every way. Evans built tension through subtle gestures and stolen glances and crafted an intimate atmosphere that resonated long after the final page. As a fan of romantic fantasy, I found myself completely absorbed, hanging onto every word as the relationship unfolded with depth and authenticity. How refreshing it was for two characters to communicate with each other!!

Equally captivating was the elemental based magic system in type and strength. It was not just a tool for show but was tied into the plot and the characters' development. The concept of magic having a cost added layers of complexity and realism and enriched both the narrative and the characterization. I thought the Sultan's situation was handled respectfully and was logical given the circumstances. Evans' imagery was cleverly imagined, as shown here. "Before he could answer, a whisper of magic brushed across her skin, as if she had just stepped through an unexpected spider web. " I love this description of what recognizing someone else's magic may feel like.

Naime (FMC), like the boss she was, navigated complex power dynamics within a transitional royal court. Oohhhh, my bl00d was burning at times. The intricacies of courtly maneuvering kept me on the edge of my seat. How will each decision shape the story moving forward? It's safe to say that I'm nervous!! How will things balance for these characters when magic meets military technology? Sides are being taken, and we've only scratched the surface. The side character Tareck and the banter he has with Makram was another element I loved. I could keep going on and on, but I need to wrap this review up.

I'd recommend for readers who enjoy romantic fantasy, non-European imagined world, engaging characters, and intriguing magic system connected to the elements.

[Sam | Haus of Fables · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true adult fantasy romance with a beautiful slow burn romance ✨
This book epitomises restraint - helped by the cultural setting & forbidden romance between the two MC’s.
It melded magic & political manoeuvring with finesse, with a strong female lead fighting against a patriarchal system to help balance the currently unbalanced world of magic & power.

Naime was such an amazing FMC, her intellect shines through while she has to navigate the feelings of the men all around her with thought out moves & clever words.

Makram is a beautifully strong mmc who is happy to stand beside a woman in power & be the rock her waves break on when she needs. ‘break I’ve got you’
‘your safe’
‘I have missed you like a drowning man misses air ‘
He worships her & believes in her completely & utterly, & seeing their relationship slowly develop, full of tiny moments was perfection.

When the spice did happen… it continued with the beautifully, emotive restraint that was felt throughout the whole book.

I also really loved the exploration into the grief of slowing loosing your parent to dementia (in this world a side effect of certain magic) it was heartbreaking to witness but really sensitively handled.

4.5 ⭐️
2 🌶

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really good book, its just not what I like in my fantasy or romance. For fantasy readers I recommend this to people who like political fantasy. One main character is a princess trying to become the next Sultan and maneuvering a council that is led by a man that is against her. I like this idea in my tv shows more than I do my books. Our other main character is a death magic prince who is the only one of his kind and tries to balance the horrors of his powers and the needs of his kingdom who might be in conflict with other nations soon. If any of these are your buzz words check it out. I actually do like the romance between these two characters and I am known for liking slow burn romance BUT this did not have enough focus on their relationship development for me while it was being slow burn. These two barely spend any scenes together in the first 60% of the book and picking this up as a fantasy romance I wanted them to be in more scenes together. That said I know this is more of a taste thing than the book being a waste of time so if you like more plot in your romance and don't mind that their interactions really don't pick up till the later portion of this work I say give it a try!

[shaelinslibrary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an outstanding read, 6 FREAKING STARS.

If you are looking for a fantasy book with amazing characters, world building, court intrigue and a KILLER romance, PLEASE read this book.

This is so much more than just fantasy, it’s taking real life struggles and putting them into a digestible format to be consumed, and understood outside of having to experience things daily and act like it’s normal. The way misogyny is so eloquently shown in this book, and the way the female main character has to act… the consequences of these themes were astounding to read as it mimics real life so much. I love our female main character, and her tenacity.

The main male character was nothing short of endearing, sexy, and absolutely amazing! His character development was excellent, I cannot believe how much was executed in one book. I could not be more impressed if I tried, this book was perfect.

I cannot wait to read more from this world, and the author!

[Kat]

Wait this white American author wrote a Middle Eastern inspired fantasy world... because she's former military and deployed there? Oh I'm sorry honey no. I don't think so. Pass.

[Esmay Rosalyne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally published on Before We Go Blog

Featuring the most badass headstrong FMC, a cinnamon roll-ish shadow daddy with destruction magic, plenty of sharp banter, complex family dynamics, and cutthroat political intrigue, Reign & Ruin is the perfect romantic fantasy for the epic fantasy lovers.

Set in a magical Middle-Eastern inspired world, Reign & Ruin tells the story of Naime and Makram, two young royals of enemy countries who get drawn into an intricate web of politics, magic, intrigue, and most dangerously of all, forbidden feelings. What starts out as a semi-reluctant mutually beneficial alliance slowly starts blossoming into something altogether more powerful when they discover how perfectly they balance each other out; a balance that is desperately needed to restore the Wheel and protect their world from total destruction.

Now, considering the fact that Reign & Ruin was the winner of SPFBO7, just beating out one of my personal favourite books (Legacy of the Brightwash), I went into this book with insanely high expectations. And honestly, I can see why it is so highly regarded and I think it truly deserves all the love, praise and success it has received; this is fantasy romance as it ought to be written!

From the moment I met Naime, I immediately had mad respect for her and knew I was going to be in for a treat with this story. With her cunning mind, sharp wits, and dangerously strong ambition, she is exactly the type of complex strong FMC that the fantasy genre, and literature in general, desperately needs to see more of. The way that she boldly stands up for her own rights and cleverly manoeuvres the insidious schemes of the viziers in the Council was so awe-inspiring to me, even more so because she knows her limits and never veers into the realm of dumb cockiness.

Safe to say, this fierce and fearsome woman truly doesn’t need no man in her life to keep her protected… but then there’s Makram. See, I think both Naime and I weren’t expecting to fall head over heels in love with this suave destruction mage, but here we are. Their complicated dynamic and unexpected chemistry was so incredibly fun to witness, and I was giddily kicking my feet over the electrifying tension and teasing banter between them.

And when I say banter, I don’t mean we just get stupid horny dialogue that is supposed to create sexual tension, but instead we get a true battle of wits between two people who deeply respect each other but also push each other’s buttons every opportunity they get. The ‘will they, won’t they’ slow-burn is just so delicious, and I loved how their budding relationship became the beating heart of the story without it overpowering all the other elements that make Reign & Ruin shine.

The way that Evans balances and interweaves the romance, magic, and politics is honestly masterfully done, which is exactly what makes this story so dangerously addictive. Would I have loved to see even more on-page development of their relationship to really feel all the feels? Sure. But then I also ate up the magical lore, political intrigue, and intense family drama that we get treated to in Reign & Ruin.

Especially the dynamic between Naime and her ailing father really tugged on my heartstrings, and I loved how Evans used the Sultan’s magical deterioration as a way to explore the devastating effects of a mind disease like Alzheimer’s. And on the other side, I deeply appreciated the complicated relationship between Makram and his quietly unhinged brother (the king), which only added more tension to this already riveting narrative.

The pacing is honestly just ridiculously strong, and I could not stop turning the pages from the moment Naime and Makram first met. I also really liked that we got to explore both of their respective home countries over the course of this tumultuous journey, though I have to admit that I did find myself wanting a bit more in terms of cultural world building and atmosphere. And yet, I was still surprisingly well immersed thanks to the stirring emotions and incredibly high stakes.

Even though this first instalment in the Mages of the Wheel series has a triumphant, if slightly rushed, ending that filled me with satisfaction and joy, I am already desperate to see how the open threads are going to be followed up as we meet each new mage of the wheel in the companion sequels. It truly feels like we have only just scratched the surface, and I already can’t wait to keep exploring this world and its captivating magic system further.

If you are somehow still sceptical of fantasy romance and don’t think it is for you, then I’d dare you to try Reign & Ruin and think again. It’s epic yet intimate, dark yet romantic, complex yet bingeable, and it has just the most tantalising teases of steamy spice that will set even the coldest of hearts on fire; I can’t recommend it highly enough!