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The Shattered City #1
Destroyer
At the center of a forbidden ruin, an artifact of black stone is unearthed.
Archaeologist Ru Delara, vilified by the scientific community for believing in magic, is summoned to investigate. But when she arrives, she finds herself inexorably drawn to the artifact, even though it could harbor untold destructive power.
Unable to resist its pull, Ru reaches out to touch the stone...
Waking in the dark, naked and alone, Ru sees that everything and everyone within a mile radius has been vaporized. Only she and the artifact remain intact. When a windswept stranger called Fen finds her in this vulnerable state, she has no choice but to accept his help.
Determined to discover the artifact's true nature, Ru and Fen travel to the Cornelian Tower, the scientific heart of the kingdom. But conspiracy brews in the capital city, and it's clear that Ru isn't the only person with a vested interest in the artifact.
Drawn into a conflict they hardly understand, all while contending with a profound and consuming mutual attraction, Ru and Fen must unravel the secrets of the artifact before it falls into the wrong hands... before its darkness engulfs them all.
Archaeologist Ru Delara, vilified by the scientific community for believing in magic, is summoned to investigate. But when she arrives, she finds herself inexorably drawn to the artifact, even though it could harbor untold destructive power.
Unable to resist its pull, Ru reaches out to touch the stone...
Waking in the dark, naked and alone, Ru sees that everything and everyone within a mile radius has been vaporized. Only she and the artifact remain intact. When a windswept stranger called Fen finds her in this vulnerable state, she has no choice but to accept his help.
Determined to discover the artifact's true nature, Ru and Fen travel to the Cornelian Tower, the scientific heart of the kingdom. But conspiracy brews in the capital city, and it's clear that Ru isn't the only person with a vested interest in the artifact.
Drawn into a conflict they hardly understand, all while contending with a profound and consuming mutual attraction, Ru and Fen must unravel the secrets of the artifact before it falls into the wrong hands... before its darkness engulfs them all.
390 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2022
376 people are currently reading
6173 people want to read
About the author
Meg Smitherman
7 books906 followersMeg Smitherman writes science fiction, fantasy, and horror books (all of which involve kissing). She studied Creative Writing at Brunel University London, where she obtained both her MA and a staggering amount of student loan debt. When not writing, Meg spends her time playing video games, reading fan fiction, and couch rotting. Based in Los Angeles, she shares her life with a chihuahua, a cat, and a handsome Englishman.
Follow Meg on social media!
Instagram: @megsmitherman
TikTok: @megsmitherman
Twitter: @megsauce
Follow Meg on social media!
Instagram: @megsmitherman
TikTok: @megsmitherman
Twitter: @megsauce
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 210 reviews
February 4, 2023
2.25 Stars
Characters/Relationships — 3/10
I didn’t particularly like these characters due to their lack of substance or nuance. To me, they all felt bland, one-note, and more like ideas of characters rather than actual people. I think the author maybe chose a couple of basic traits and thought that was enough for characterization. We don’t get any backstory that would inform character motivations or desires. Characters' emotions, and to some extent “personalities,” often come and go as the plot necessitates rather than as a reflection of who they are as consistent characters reacting to a situation.
Ru was nebulous as a main character; I had a hard time getting a sense of her personality beyond she likes vases, believes in magic, and has a brother (which is more so a handful of traits rather than a personality). She was incredibly repetitive in her thoughts and actions (and I didn't get the impression this was for any narrative purpose, i.e demonstrating Ru was set in her ways or playing it safe), and I didn’t feel like she had much development throughout the book. She is more or less the same character fundamentally at the beginning and the end of the book. Ru having new found strong emotions at the end of the book is not the same as her learning about herself, becoming a better version of herself, developing new beliefs, etc. Also, for a scholar, she was at times incredibly dense (ignoring obvious clues as to Fen’s identity, what D’Luc and the Children would want with the artifact, etc.). A lot of her reasoning felt childish and unsound rather than based on structured, logical conclusions from data as one would expect from a scholar; instead, she asks herself a lot of questions but doesn’t try to answer them.
Fen also felt wishy-washy, like the author wanted him to fulfill certain roles in certain scenes but did not build out a character to make these scenes feel cohesive. His character is instead relies more on his appearance and vibes rather than his personality. I could tell you much more about Fen’s looks than his beliefs, values, identity, etc. I think Fen’s blandness might be to allow readers to project whatever personality they want onto him. Additionally, Fen exists solely in relation to Ru but doesn’t do much as his own person which makes him uninteresting to read about. Who he is doesn't matter; what matters is that he everything he does is somehow related to Ru.
Personally, I found Fen’s protectiveness and near obsession with Ru unsettling and unwarranted instead of charming. Prior to the reveal that Ru and Fen are magically bonded, their attraction feels superficial. They go from infatuation to being willing to die for each other with very little gradated change in between. We are also told how their feelings towards each other are supposedly developing but we aren’t particularly shown this change in their interactions. To me, they just seemed to be experiencing physical attraction rather than the deep, emotional connection the book is trying to convince me that they share. Ru only seems to like Fen for his looks and that he saved her life a couple of times, but they don’t seem to share any interests, beliefs, or values that would make me think they are somehow linked by their souls.
The side characters and their relationships with each other and the main characters feel like they’re there just because the book needed more characters for Ru and Fen to interact with. All of the King’s Guard or the Tower’s professors sort of blurred together for me. Ru’s friends were likely there just to check off the box of ‘Ru’s friends.’
I do think the author did a good job with giving characters like Lord D’Luc and the regent distinct voices. I wish the more prominent characters were also given distinct voices to help characterize them.
Atmosphere/Setting — 4/10
I did enjoy that this book took place in what I think is supposed to be the Enlightenment Era in an academic setting, but I feel like enough was not done with the setting. The majority of this book takes place in a university, but I feel like it only did so for aesthetics rather than to explore a university setting. Because of this, the university often was more like a stage background rather than an actual place due to the focus on its appearance instead of things like its history, structure and organization, traditions, and student culture. I think the author really missed the opportunity to explore what makes this setting unique and how it fits into the larger world. For instance, is higher education expected in this world or is it a privilege, what are the goals of the students who attend the Tower, etc.
Writing Style — 5/10
The writing was decent and serviceable for this story. The prologue and beginning of the story was a little clunky and forced. I think the author was trying to establish an elevated, rich style found in high fantasy to draw in the reader, but I got the sense perhaps the author wasn't particularly comfortable with writing. Such a style is also not conducive to the actual story being told; this is not some sprawling, epic saga (which lends itself to more grandiose language) but rather a self-contained, lower fantasy story. The prose does settle into a more appropriately grounded yet still descriptive style that the author is clearly more comfortable with. I enjoyed this prose much more, because it helped this specific story flow much more organically.
That being said, the author might have been too comfortable at times in their writing to the point of carelessness. The writing became fairly repetitive in places; the author relied on many of the same metaphors, words, and phrases throughout. Often the author dedicated more space and words than was necessary to describing scenery or characters' appearance and often repeating the same information (I get it! Fen is tall and has dark hair. It doesn’t need to be mentioned every time we see him). I think the author was more comfortable writing descriptions rather than plot or dialogue and relied on descriptions to pad the book.
I wish the author could have leaned into the setting and given Ru’s inner monologue a more academic tone; this could have been something to help characterize Ru (maybe she’s a particularly logical and observant person). I also felt like the author overused narrative questions, but this is a personal preference.
Plot — 3/10
I’ll be frank: not a lot happens in terms of plot with this book, and the stuff that does happen isn’t particularly engaging. Not every book has to be action packed or high stakes, and that’s clearly not what the author intended here, but there wasn’t anything to propel the story forward in an engaging way that made me want to keep reading. Part of why the plot feels so weak and flimsy is due to Ru as a main character. She doesn’t have much agency to move herself from one event to the next; instead, the author moves the characters around like chess pieces as needed.
The middle third of this book was honestly really boring and slow to me. This section can easily be summarized in a single sentence: Ru takes the artifact to the palace, then to the Tower, and then studies it without any developments. During this time, the chapters become really repetitive. Ru either cries or passes out basically every chapter. The characters spend a lot of time sitting around and talking but not in a way that develops or provides more perspective to their relationships. They do not have distinct enough personalities or compelling enough relationships to make up for a lack of plot. This section definitely could have been trimmed down significantly to make room for more interesting and meaningful things to happen.
Also, the climax really didn’t do it for me. Honestly, it was pretty lackluster, cliched, and disappointing. I was left with the thought, “Oh, that’s it? That’s the climax? Shame.” The “twist” of Fen’s identity felt obvious and like a safe option, and for me, it cheapened and ruined the development of Ru and Fen’s relationship. The foreshadowing leading up to this point felt fairly heavy handed, and I was frustrated with Ru for missing so many obvious clues.
Intrigue — 3/10
The first chunk of the book is pretty interesting and engaging, especially the chapters at the dig site where they find the artifact. But after we meet Fen, the story loses a lot of momentum and the mystery of the artifact is put on hold while Ru pines after Fen. I don’t mind that there’s romance as a secondary plot, but the book almost doesn’t treat it as a secondary plot. The most interesting part of the book –you know, the destructive mysterious artifact— is put on the back burner for some reason?
The rest of this book just felt very surface-level and perfunctory. I think the author wanted to make some sort of commentary on the connection between magic and science but maybe didn’t have enough knowledge on science and scientific academia to make proper commentary. There was also a missed opportunity to make commentary on academic culture, especially with regards to how society treats less “academic” pursuits like art, music, writing, etc. Ru makes a comment on how if magic is real, then it surely exists in music. I also think it would have been really meaningful to explore consumption of and entitlement to art through the lens of magic.
Logic/Worldbuilding — 3/10
There were a few things that felt pretty illogical to me. Most of them have to do with Ru and her behavior. Ru seemed way too trusting at times especially when she is so protective of the artifact. Early on, we are introduced to the fact that Ru believes in magic and is somewhat ridiculed for it, but we don’t really get a good sense of why she is committed to this unusual belief. She seems to want to prove the existence of magic but doesn’t seem particularly driven to do so. One could argue that she wants to prove herself, but she doesn't face any particular backlash from her peers, the academic community, or society at large for her uncommon beliefs such that she would need to prove herself. I could understand if maybe magic was perhaps outlawed or suppressed historically and/or due to some connection to her family and culture, she wanted to restore the reputation of magic.
The worldbuilding overall was lackluster for me. This world is a basic, generic European-inspired fantasy world without much to make it stand out from any other world. I think so much more could have been done to explore religion, politics, and education to make this world feel unique. For me, worldbuilding is an integral part of a story, but I totally recognize it might not be as important for others.
Enjoyment — 3/10
Ultimately, I didn’t particularly enjoy this book. Eventually, I wanted to skim just to get through the book faster so I could move on to another book. I didn’t find myself looking forward to reading about any of the characters. I studied anthropology in university and was excited to read a book that incorporated archaeology and anthropology, but its inclusion was very surface level and disappointing. I don’t think this is a bad book, but it wasn’t for me. Luckily, I got this on kindle while it was free.
Final Score — 3.4/10 or ~2.25 stars
Side note: I can’t escape TNAIM. Imagine my horror when reading the acknowledgements and learning that this author and the author of TNAIM know each other.
Characters/Relationships — 3/10
I didn’t particularly like these characters due to their lack of substance or nuance. To me, they all felt bland, one-note, and more like ideas of characters rather than actual people. I think the author maybe chose a couple of basic traits and thought that was enough for characterization. We don’t get any backstory that would inform character motivations or desires. Characters' emotions, and to some extent “personalities,” often come and go as the plot necessitates rather than as a reflection of who they are as consistent characters reacting to a situation.
Ru was nebulous as a main character; I had a hard time getting a sense of her personality beyond she likes vases, believes in magic, and has a brother (which is more so a handful of traits rather than a personality). She was incredibly repetitive in her thoughts and actions (and I didn't get the impression this was for any narrative purpose, i.e demonstrating Ru was set in her ways or playing it safe), and I didn’t feel like she had much development throughout the book. She is more or less the same character fundamentally at the beginning and the end of the book. Ru having new found strong emotions at the end of the book is not the same as her learning about herself, becoming a better version of herself, developing new beliefs, etc. Also, for a scholar, she was at times incredibly dense (ignoring obvious clues as to Fen’s identity, what D’Luc and the Children would want with the artifact, etc.). A lot of her reasoning felt childish and unsound rather than based on structured, logical conclusions from data as one would expect from a scholar; instead, she asks herself a lot of questions but doesn’t try to answer them.
Fen also felt wishy-washy, like the author wanted him to fulfill certain roles in certain scenes but did not build out a character to make these scenes feel cohesive. His character is instead relies more on his appearance and vibes rather than his personality. I could tell you much more about Fen’s looks than his beliefs, values, identity, etc. I think Fen’s blandness might be to allow readers to project whatever personality they want onto him. Additionally, Fen exists solely in relation to Ru but doesn’t do much as his own person which makes him uninteresting to read about. Who he is doesn't matter; what matters is that he everything he does is somehow related to Ru.
Personally, I found Fen’s protectiveness and near obsession with Ru unsettling and unwarranted instead of charming. Prior to the reveal that Ru and Fen are magically bonded, their attraction feels superficial. They go from infatuation to being willing to die for each other with very little gradated change in between. We are also told how their feelings towards each other are supposedly developing but we aren’t particularly shown this change in their interactions. To me, they just seemed to be experiencing physical attraction rather than the deep, emotional connection the book is trying to convince me that they share. Ru only seems to like Fen for his looks and that he saved her life a couple of times, but they don’t seem to share any interests, beliefs, or values that would make me think they are somehow linked by their souls.
The side characters and their relationships with each other and the main characters feel like they’re there just because the book needed more characters for Ru and Fen to interact with. All of the King’s Guard or the Tower’s professors sort of blurred together for me. Ru’s friends were likely there just to check off the box of ‘Ru’s friends.’
I do think the author did a good job with giving characters like Lord D’Luc and the regent distinct voices. I wish the more prominent characters were also given distinct voices to help characterize them.
Atmosphere/Setting — 4/10
I did enjoy that this book took place in what I think is supposed to be the Enlightenment Era in an academic setting, but I feel like enough was not done with the setting. The majority of this book takes place in a university, but I feel like it only did so for aesthetics rather than to explore a university setting. Because of this, the university often was more like a stage background rather than an actual place due to the focus on its appearance instead of things like its history, structure and organization, traditions, and student culture. I think the author really missed the opportunity to explore what makes this setting unique and how it fits into the larger world. For instance, is higher education expected in this world or is it a privilege, what are the goals of the students who attend the Tower, etc.
Writing Style — 5/10
The writing was decent and serviceable for this story. The prologue and beginning of the story was a little clunky and forced. I think the author was trying to establish an elevated, rich style found in high fantasy to draw in the reader, but I got the sense perhaps the author wasn't particularly comfortable with writing. Such a style is also not conducive to the actual story being told; this is not some sprawling, epic saga (which lends itself to more grandiose language) but rather a self-contained, lower fantasy story. The prose does settle into a more appropriately grounded yet still descriptive style that the author is clearly more comfortable with. I enjoyed this prose much more, because it helped this specific story flow much more organically.
That being said, the author might have been too comfortable at times in their writing to the point of carelessness. The writing became fairly repetitive in places; the author relied on many of the same metaphors, words, and phrases throughout. Often the author dedicated more space and words than was necessary to describing scenery or characters' appearance and often repeating the same information (I get it! Fen is tall and has dark hair. It doesn’t need to be mentioned every time we see him). I think the author was more comfortable writing descriptions rather than plot or dialogue and relied on descriptions to pad the book.
I wish the author could have leaned into the setting and given Ru’s inner monologue a more academic tone; this could have been something to help characterize Ru (maybe she’s a particularly logical and observant person). I also felt like the author overused narrative questions, but this is a personal preference.
Plot — 3/10
I’ll be frank: not a lot happens in terms of plot with this book, and the stuff that does happen isn’t particularly engaging. Not every book has to be action packed or high stakes, and that’s clearly not what the author intended here, but there wasn’t anything to propel the story forward in an engaging way that made me want to keep reading. Part of why the plot feels so weak and flimsy is due to Ru as a main character. She doesn’t have much agency to move herself from one event to the next; instead, the author moves the characters around like chess pieces as needed.
The middle third of this book was honestly really boring and slow to me. This section can easily be summarized in a single sentence: Ru takes the artifact to the palace, then to the Tower, and then studies it without any developments. During this time, the chapters become really repetitive. Ru either cries or passes out basically every chapter. The characters spend a lot of time sitting around and talking but not in a way that develops or provides more perspective to their relationships. They do not have distinct enough personalities or compelling enough relationships to make up for a lack of plot. This section definitely could have been trimmed down significantly to make room for more interesting and meaningful things to happen.
Also, the climax really didn’t do it for me. Honestly, it was pretty lackluster, cliched, and disappointing. I was left with the thought, “Oh, that’s it? That’s the climax? Shame.” The “twist” of Fen’s identity felt obvious and like a safe option, and for me, it cheapened and ruined the development of Ru and Fen’s relationship. The foreshadowing leading up to this point felt fairly heavy handed, and I was frustrated with Ru for missing so many obvious clues.
Intrigue — 3/10
The first chunk of the book is pretty interesting and engaging, especially the chapters at the dig site where they find the artifact. But after we meet Fen, the story loses a lot of momentum and the mystery of the artifact is put on hold while Ru pines after Fen. I don’t mind that there’s romance as a secondary plot, but the book almost doesn’t treat it as a secondary plot. The most interesting part of the book –you know, the destructive mysterious artifact— is put on the back burner for some reason?
The rest of this book just felt very surface-level and perfunctory. I think the author wanted to make some sort of commentary on the connection between magic and science but maybe didn’t have enough knowledge on science and scientific academia to make proper commentary. There was also a missed opportunity to make commentary on academic culture, especially with regards to how society treats less “academic” pursuits like art, music, writing, etc. Ru makes a comment on how if magic is real, then it surely exists in music. I also think it would have been really meaningful to explore consumption of and entitlement to art through the lens of magic.
Logic/Worldbuilding — 3/10
There were a few things that felt pretty illogical to me. Most of them have to do with Ru and her behavior. Ru seemed way too trusting at times especially when she is so protective of the artifact. Early on, we are introduced to the fact that Ru believes in magic and is somewhat ridiculed for it, but we don’t really get a good sense of why she is committed to this unusual belief. She seems to want to prove the existence of magic but doesn’t seem particularly driven to do so. One could argue that she wants to prove herself, but she doesn't face any particular backlash from her peers, the academic community, or society at large for her uncommon beliefs such that she would need to prove herself. I could understand if maybe magic was perhaps outlawed or suppressed historically and/or due to some connection to her family and culture, she wanted to restore the reputation of magic.
The worldbuilding overall was lackluster for me. This world is a basic, generic European-inspired fantasy world without much to make it stand out from any other world. I think so much more could have been done to explore religion, politics, and education to make this world feel unique. For me, worldbuilding is an integral part of a story, but I totally recognize it might not be as important for others.
Enjoyment — 3/10
Ultimately, I didn’t particularly enjoy this book. Eventually, I wanted to skim just to get through the book faster so I could move on to another book. I didn’t find myself looking forward to reading about any of the characters. I studied anthropology in university and was excited to read a book that incorporated archaeology and anthropology, but its inclusion was very surface level and disappointing. I don’t think this is a bad book, but it wasn’t for me. Luckily, I got this on kindle while it was free.
Final Score — 3.4/10 or ~2.25 stars
Side note: I can’t escape TNAIM. Imagine my horror when reading the acknowledgements and learning that this author and the author of TNAIM know each other.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2022
All I want to do is write a whole bunch of caps here to scream about HOW GOOD THIS BOOK IS. Sincerely & honestly I have to say that this book gave me goosebumps in every single way - good, bad, revelatory, joyful, heartbreaking, agonizing goosebumps of all the emotions. I love every character & every location described. Meg has a way with describing visuals & emotions, but she excels the most when writing dialogue & relationships. She makes everything feel alive & fluid & natural. I am on the edge of my seat impatiently waiting for the sequel. I NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS RIGHT NOW MEG COME ON
tr;dl: read this book & scream with me about how good it is.
tr;dl: read this book & scream with me about how good it is.
June 30, 2022
Destroyer hooked me from the first chapter with its twisting plot, intricate world building, and achingly passionate romance. Ru and Fen’s connection is the core of the story; a storm of intensely dangerous longing, that crashes like waves against a plot of science, magic and political intrigue. Miss this book at your peril.
April 17, 2024
4 stars
This is a fantasy for people who like cults, dark academia vibes, and lots of interesting subplots!!
It had a super interesting world and well-written characters!! It did take me a little bit to understand wth was happening but that is generally true for any fantasy world. The romance was very good also🙈🙈
It left me with a lot of questions but they were all answered in the sequel!!
While it wasn't the most remarkable thing I have ever read it was very well written and entertaining. especially since I think this is a debut?
This is a fantasy for people who like cults, dark academia vibes, and lots of interesting subplots!!
It had a super interesting world and well-written characters!! It did take me a little bit to understand wth was happening but that is generally true for any fantasy world. The romance was very good also🙈🙈
It left me with a lot of questions but they were all answered in the sequel!!
While it wasn't the most remarkable thing I have ever read it was very well written and entertaining. especially since I think this is a debut?
October 6, 2022
I was lucky enough to receive an ARC of Destroyer and I am so excited to get to write this review! I am so excited for this book to come out; I loved the plot, the world-building, the initial concept, the banter, the TENSION between the fmc & mmc... I just loved it. It ends on a massive cliffhanger that I was NOT prepared for, and I cannot wait for the next book. I haven't read a book quite like this (archaeology themed, hello!) and found it to be really well-written and well thought out. I'm so excited for more people to get access to this one so I can hear your thoughts:)
July 2, 2023
there will be spoilers
I was really hoping to like this book. There were a lot of concepts that I thought were very interesting, and had they been utilized differently, this could've been a much more exciting book. Considering it's compared to The Mummy, I was hoping for a swashbuckling action adventure with a little bit of romance thrown in, but it's not that at all.
I feel like the world-building could have been more fleshed out, and the period (Enlightenment Era, I think?) could've been leaned on more to immerse us in this world. The writing is pretty good for the most part. Meg Smitherman has nice descriptive writing regarding scenery, although some things can get repetitive, and the dialogue sometimes could be more comfortable. It would've been nice for a bit more about the world, and I would've liked to know more about life at the Tower. Some things were focused on too much, whereas others weren't focused on enough, imo.
So hundreds of years ago(500?), this city gets destroyed by a man named Taryel. This city is now called The Shattered City, and you must get special permission to go there. Taryel is now a legend called the Destroyer.
Destroyer focuses on Ruellian Delara, aka Ru. Ru once wrote a paper saying magic exists, but she couldn't prove it and became a laughing stock, so she turned her studies to archaeology, particularly vases. One day the regent's riders show up at her dig site and request her assistance at the Shattered City. Ru is rightfully concerned about this because no one will tell her what's going on, but the closer she gets to the city, the more she feels drawn to it by some strange force. When she gets to the city, she's led to a strange artifact that looks like a fist-sized black rock, which is the thing calling Ru. At some point, she touches the strange humming rock with her bare hands despite her colleagues warning her that maybe she shouldn't do that, and then the entire dig site gets vaporized.
Ru wakes up, blind, butt naked, with nothing and no one around her but the magic stone. The stone comforts her, so she clings to it and then hears a man speak to her. This man helps her, takes her away from the shattered city and eventually, Ru realizes what happened. The stone killed everyone, vaporized her clothes, the tents, everything. Yet, for some reason, she holds onto it. She decides to bring this stone with her into a kingdom and then back to the Tower where she and her friends live because she wants to study this exploding stone. I'm sorry, where is the logic? What would've made this a bit more exciting is if Ru was afraid of the stone after realizing what it did and trying to get rid of it. Maybe she buries it in the desert and rides off with the mystery dude, but the stone appears by her side the next day. No matter what she does, she can't get rid of the stone, and she realizes she has no choice but to figure out what it is. That would have added some much-needed excitement and intrigue to this.
Instead, Ru and her mysterious savior, who vows to protect her and this strange stone with his life for seemingly no reason, venture to see the regent and request permission to take it to the Tower where Ru lives. Then they take it on some adventure to the Tower, where Ru almost gets murdered by some of the regent's guards. Then they study the stone some more and find out absolutely nothing. Instead, Ru starts to get drawn more and more to Fen. She starts feeling super intensely toward him, and anytime they make a minor breakthrough with the stone, they get weirdly intimate. There are some uncomfortable scenes where Ru says she feels she's owed a kiss from Fen. It's very ick. This is another thing that I found incredibly irritating, tbh.
For one, Ru never once is suspicious of Fen whatsoever. How was this guy able to find her in the shattered city? Why did he also feel a pull to it? How close was he to the city when the explosion went off? Why is she drawn to both the stone and Fen? Maybe they're connected? Perhaps they're one and the same? Ru is supposed to be a scientist, but she never asks the right questions. For someone who believes in magic, you would think she'd be able to come up with some wild hypothesis like that.
In the same vein, when Ru goes to the castle, there are religious figures (much like the Sparrows from Game of Thrones) called the Children. They worship Taryel and are super interested in this mysterious artifact. (I want to know how they got their hooks in the regent, tbh) The Children eventually show up at the Tower to supervise Ru's studying the artifact, and while they're super creepy, Ru isn't bothered because she trusts their leader Lord D'Luc completely. Again...WHY?! You met him for .2 seconds, and because he seemed a little charming and knew the right words to say, you trust him completely? Maybe Ru doesn't have a suspicious nature, but I find it hard to believe she wouldn't be questioning everything for someone who is a scientist. I also find it hard to believe she wouldn't be severely traumatized after vaporizing everyone and is just chill with carrying a bomb. I would've liked to see her trying to deal emotionally more with the after-effects of that.
Anywho, the professors at the Tower all conveniently start falling sick, and Ru never once thinks that's odd. Never once suspects that maybe the Children have something to do with it after they all start getting sick? It's super frustrating reading everything go right over her head. Her brother Simon even tried to give her some hints, but she didn't connect until the last possible second. Same with her mysterious boyfriend Fen, who also happens to be Taryel. Oh, also, the stone is his heart. WHO COULD'VE GUESSED THEY WERE ONE AND THE SAME?!?!?!
I also really couldn't stand Ru when she started blaming Fen for what Lord D'Luc made her do. "If you hadn't abandoned me, I never wouldn't done that!!!"Like girl, what? You're annoying.
I have nothing to say about her friends. They were there to fill the role of 'Ru's friends'. One is a boy Ru used to sleep with, and now he's bitter he has been friend-zoned. The other is her girlfriend, who is there to be supportive but has no personality.
Honestly, Ru and Fen didn't seem to have much personality either, imo. Fen reveals nothing about himself except that he has some brothers, but Ru doesn't ask him any questions about himself either. She only ever wants to obsess over the artifact. Yet she falls head over heels for him so fast.
This could've been good if the author had made it more like with a thriller twist. Ru is haunted by this artifact that she can't get rid of and is inexplicably drawn to this strange man who appeared while she found the artifact. She's wary and suspicious of him but can't help the burning fire between them, etc. Instead, there's a lot of scientific pondering that seemed more like filler space and the author trying to prove she researched scientific terminology.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I was really hoping to like this book. There were a lot of concepts that I thought were very interesting, and had they been utilized differently, this could've been a much more exciting book. Considering it's compared to The Mummy, I was hoping for a swashbuckling action adventure with a little bit of romance thrown in, but it's not that at all.
I feel like the world-building could have been more fleshed out, and the period (Enlightenment Era, I think?) could've been leaned on more to immerse us in this world. The writing is pretty good for the most part. Meg Smitherman has nice descriptive writing regarding scenery, although some things can get repetitive, and the dialogue sometimes could be more comfortable. It would've been nice for a bit more about the world, and I would've liked to know more about life at the Tower. Some things were focused on too much, whereas others weren't focused on enough, imo.
So hundreds of years ago(500?), this city gets destroyed by a man named Taryel. This city is now called The Shattered City, and you must get special permission to go there. Taryel is now a legend called the Destroyer.
Destroyer focuses on Ruellian Delara, aka Ru. Ru once wrote a paper saying magic exists, but she couldn't prove it and became a laughing stock, so she turned her studies to archaeology, particularly vases. One day the regent's riders show up at her dig site and request her assistance at the Shattered City. Ru is rightfully concerned about this because no one will tell her what's going on, but the closer she gets to the city, the more she feels drawn to it by some strange force. When she gets to the city, she's led to a strange artifact that looks like a fist-sized black rock, which is the thing calling Ru. At some point, she touches the strange humming rock with her bare hands despite her colleagues warning her that maybe she shouldn't do that, and then the entire dig site gets vaporized.
Ru wakes up, blind, butt naked, with nothing and no one around her but the magic stone. The stone comforts her, so she clings to it and then hears a man speak to her. This man helps her, takes her away from the shattered city and eventually, Ru realizes what happened. The stone killed everyone, vaporized her clothes, the tents, everything. Yet, for some reason, she holds onto it. She decides to bring this stone with her into a kingdom and then back to the Tower where she and her friends live because she wants to study this exploding stone. I'm sorry, where is the logic? What would've made this a bit more exciting is if Ru was afraid of the stone after realizing what it did and trying to get rid of it. Maybe she buries it in the desert and rides off with the mystery dude, but the stone appears by her side the next day. No matter what she does, she can't get rid of the stone, and she realizes she has no choice but to figure out what it is. That would have added some much-needed excitement and intrigue to this.
Instead, Ru and her mysterious savior, who vows to protect her and this strange stone with his life for seemingly no reason, venture to see the regent and request permission to take it to the Tower where Ru lives. Then they take it on some adventure to the Tower, where Ru almost gets murdered by some of the regent's guards. Then they study the stone some more and find out absolutely nothing. Instead, Ru starts to get drawn more and more to Fen. She starts feeling super intensely toward him, and anytime they make a minor breakthrough with the stone, they get weirdly intimate. There are some uncomfortable scenes where Ru says she feels she's owed a kiss from Fen. It's very ick. This is another thing that I found incredibly irritating, tbh.
For one, Ru never once is suspicious of Fen whatsoever. How was this guy able to find her in the shattered city? Why did he also feel a pull to it? How close was he to the city when the explosion went off? Why is she drawn to both the stone and Fen? Maybe they're connected? Perhaps they're one and the same? Ru is supposed to be a scientist, but she never asks the right questions. For someone who believes in magic, you would think she'd be able to come up with some wild hypothesis like that.
In the same vein, when Ru goes to the castle, there are religious figures (much like the Sparrows from Game of Thrones) called the Children. They worship Taryel and are super interested in this mysterious artifact. (I want to know how they got their hooks in the regent, tbh) The Children eventually show up at the Tower to supervise Ru's studying the artifact, and while they're super creepy, Ru isn't bothered because she trusts their leader Lord D'Luc completely. Again...WHY?! You met him for .2 seconds, and because he seemed a little charming and knew the right words to say, you trust him completely? Maybe Ru doesn't have a suspicious nature, but I find it hard to believe she wouldn't be questioning everything for someone who is a scientist. I also find it hard to believe she wouldn't be severely traumatized after vaporizing everyone and is just chill with carrying a bomb. I would've liked to see her trying to deal emotionally more with the after-effects of that.
Anywho, the professors at the Tower all conveniently start falling sick, and Ru never once thinks that's odd. Never once suspects that maybe the Children have something to do with it after they all start getting sick? It's super frustrating reading everything go right over her head. Her brother Simon even tried to give her some hints, but she didn't connect until the last possible second. Same with her mysterious boyfriend Fen, who also happens to be Taryel. Oh, also, the stone is his heart. WHO COULD'VE GUESSED THEY WERE ONE AND THE SAME?!?!?!
I also really couldn't stand Ru when she started blaming Fen for what Lord D'Luc made her do. "If you hadn't abandoned me, I never wouldn't done that!!!"Like girl, what? You're annoying.
I have nothing to say about her friends. They were there to fill the role of 'Ru's friends'. One is a boy Ru used to sleep with, and now he's bitter he has been friend-zoned. The other is her girlfriend, who is there to be supportive but has no personality.
Honestly, Ru and Fen didn't seem to have much personality either, imo. Fen reveals nothing about himself except that he has some brothers, but Ru doesn't ask him any questions about himself either. She only ever wants to obsess over the artifact. Yet she falls head over heels for him so fast.
This could've been good if the author had made it more like with a thriller twist. Ru is haunted by this artifact that she can't get rid of and is inexplicably drawn to this strange man who appeared while she found the artifact. She's wary and suspicious of him but can't help the burning fire between them, etc. Instead, there's a lot of scientific pondering that seemed more like filler space and the author trying to prove she researched scientific terminology.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
April 11, 2024
I was told to read this book because it was like The Mummy, which is my favorite movie of all time. It is not like The Mummy. There’s archaeology ? But it’s fantastical archaeology (which can be fun) but at the same time I was just not into it personally.
Also maybe this is my own personal preference of who I think I would be as a chosen one; but dear god I needed the main character to grow a spine. She was crying all the time ? And the guy she was into was literally the shadiest man and the amount of tries she gave him I was like girl please stop you’re embarrassing yourself.
The pacing was also kind of odd and for a book that was 400 something pages I both felt like too much happened and yet nothing happened at all. This could have been consolidated down and parts removed and the consistency of the story would have remained intact.
I’m not sure I’ll read the second book because truly I am not sure I care much for where the story goes. But I would never not recommend a book, so if you like: forbidden (kind of) romance, mystical quests, a found family, and the chosen one trope - this book is for you
Also maybe this is my own personal preference of who I think I would be as a chosen one; but dear god I needed the main character to grow a spine. She was crying all the time ? And the guy she was into was literally the shadiest man and the amount of tries she gave him I was like girl please stop you’re embarrassing yourself.
The pacing was also kind of odd and for a book that was 400 something pages I both felt like too much happened and yet nothing happened at all. This could have been consolidated down and parts removed and the consistency of the story would have remained intact.
I’m not sure I’ll read the second book because truly I am not sure I care much for where the story goes. But I would never not recommend a book, so if you like: forbidden (kind of) romance, mystical quests, a found family, and the chosen one trope - this book is for you
June 30, 2022
Destroyer is stunning! Ru is a delight and you get to hear her inner thoughts and calculations as we try to figure out what the Artifact is and what is going on. The plot is exciting and multi-faceted. I am not exaggerating when I say that I gasped out loud and creepily chuckled to myself on multiple occasions while reading. Each character is complex and interesting. I want a whole book just about her brother, Simon!
I read mostly YA and sci fi/fantasy adult and the worldbuilding is one of my favorite things about those genres. The Kingdom in Destroyer is so rich with details from the professors at Cornelian Tower to the customs and hierarchy in the Capitol city.
Between work and a toddler, I don’t read as much as I used to and I need a book to really grab me or else I’ll forget to keep reading it. I devoured Destroyer. I read it during my lunch break, while brushing my teeth, and foolishly late into the night knowing my kid or cat would wake me up before morning. It’s witty, intriguing, romantic, and so much fun to read!
I read mostly YA and sci fi/fantasy adult and the worldbuilding is one of my favorite things about those genres. The Kingdom in Destroyer is so rich with details from the professors at Cornelian Tower to the customs and hierarchy in the Capitol city.
Between work and a toddler, I don’t read as much as I used to and I need a book to really grab me or else I’ll forget to keep reading it. I devoured Destroyer. I read it during my lunch break, while brushing my teeth, and foolishly late into the night knowing my kid or cat would wake me up before morning. It’s witty, intriguing, romantic, and so much fun to read!
October 12, 2022
I tried so hard to finish this book. I really did. Especially because it was an ARC. But I just couldn't, and DNF'd around page 160/240.
The premise was just so cool, a cursed artifact, and an archeologist who is seemingly immune to its effects in a high fantasy setting.
The book started off slow, but I knew the inciting incident was coming so I kept with it. Then we got it, and wow what a cool inciting incident! And then.... there were no stakes. For a hundred pages Ru carried this artifact around. To the palace, back to the tower, studied it in the tower. There was a random attack on her carriage at one point that was cool, but overall there was no suspense, no tension. I got so bored but I pushed onward because I was promised this was a five star read and the love interest was so cool.... but seriously it was just so slow with nothing driving me to keep reading so I had to DNF.
The premise was just so cool, a cursed artifact, and an archeologist who is seemingly immune to its effects in a high fantasy setting.
The book started off slow, but I knew the inciting incident was coming so I kept with it. Then we got it, and wow what a cool inciting incident! And then.... there were no stakes. For a hundred pages Ru carried this artifact around. To the palace, back to the tower, studied it in the tower. There was a random attack on her carriage at one point that was cool, but overall there was no suspense, no tension. I got so bored but I pushed onward because I was promised this was a five star read and the love interest was so cool.... but seriously it was just so slow with nothing driving me to keep reading so I had to DNF.
August 30, 2022
I have so many thoughts about this beautiful novel!
It has all the things you look for in a fantasy romance: hot people, tension, magic, high stakes, while still maintaining its incredible originality.
Meg has created an fascinating world of academia and history wrapped in a secret shroud of the magical unknown that felt so real and fun to be a part of.
I had more that one favorite character but let me just say Simon Simon Simon I love you and I’ll be patiently waiting for the Fen fanart after this cause hot dang.
I cannot wait for book two and to re-read this series over and over again because it has left a mark on my heart that I don’t want to let go of!
It has all the things you look for in a fantasy romance: hot people, tension, magic, high stakes, while still maintaining its incredible originality.
Meg has created an fascinating world of academia and history wrapped in a secret shroud of the magical unknown that felt so real and fun to be a part of.
I had more that one favorite character but let me just say Simon Simon Simon I love you and I’ll be patiently waiting for the Fen fanart after this cause hot dang.
I cannot wait for book two and to re-read this series over and over again because it has left a mark on my heart that I don’t want to let go of!
September 25, 2022
This was hands down one of my favorite books of 2022. Oh my goodness, where to start?
First off, the world building was incredible. As a reader, you are slowly immersed, but never feel confused or left wanting- the details were beautifully woven in. The relationships were also amazing. All of the friendships felt natural and the romance left me wanting more! Not to mention the descriptions of the love interest… god damn!My only wish for the story now is: I want the next book!!!
First off, the world building was incredible. As a reader, you are slowly immersed, but never feel confused or left wanting- the details were beautifully woven in. The relationships were also amazing. All of the friendships felt natural and the romance left me wanting more! Not to mention the descriptions of the love interest… god damn!My only wish for the story now is: I want the next book!!!
February 7, 2024
I'm writing this review fresh from finishing this book. My thoughts are a chaotic mess right now, but one thing I do know is I am extremely impressed with this novel, and with Meg Smitherman. Her writing style is enchanting, and I was pulled into the story from the very first sentence. This story was extremely refreshing, and I am so honored that I was able to read the ARC.
This is a book not meant to be missed. I can't wait to read more from this author!
This is a book not meant to be missed. I can't wait to read more from this author!
November 4, 2022
Thank you Meg for allowing me to read an ARC of Destroyer! This book was absolutely amazing! Between the superb writing, characters, world building and plot, you can’t get much better than this! The story immediately hooked me and had me constantly wanting more! I cannot wait for book two because wow that ending was crazy! I highly recommend picking up this book when it comes out!
September 25, 2022
4.5 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
"'Do you believe that some things are meant to happen?'
'You mean fate?'"
Destroyer is the first book in New Adult Fantasy Romance Duology following the character Ruellian Delara, an academic and archeologist that has spent her life seeking out the truth around magic, and suffered ridicule for it. Ru received an opportunity of a lifetime when she is asked to examine an artifact found at the center of the Shattered City, where a legendary crater now resides. The mysteries behind the century old explosion are still unknown to this day and Ru is determined to uncover what secrets this artifact holds as she is inexplicably drawn to it and the chaos is leads to. In the wake of devastation she finds an unlikely ally, Fen, who is determined to help her take the artifact the scientific heart of the capital. Yet dark secrets, profound attraction, and conspiracy start to circle around Ru and the artifact and she must work hard to untangle the threats lest she and the world be consumed by the darkness.
Ru is a well developed and extremely relatable character. You get to experience her struggles as she faces what might be real magic in front of her and also her tenacity to uncover the secrets around her. She's grappling with something far greater than anyone knows but she does it with such strength. Her perfect compliment is Fen. He is a figure shadowed in mysteries but his need to help and protect Ru continuec to pull on my heartstrings throughout the read. For all the secrets he carries his affections for her are clear and I loved the casual intimacy he was not afraid to give her. Together they are couple that gives me "the feels" - which I describe the the emotional tugs that make you smile, cry, and grin with glee as the couple interacts with each other.
I will note this is a low spice book. There is steam, sexual tension, and some beautiful romantic moments, but I anticipate spice will come more in the second book. That said, I think the author did an excellent job tying us to the characters so when we do see them finally be together it will be the perfect antidote to this slow burn.
"'Ruellian Delara,' he said in a low, slow voice, 'that will be the last time you ever accuse me of not wanting you.'"
In terms of the world, it is a blending of 19th century world and a fantastical world. There appear to be no magical creatures and magic seems to be questioned in this scientific world but there is also no vehicles and soldiers wear armour. I found the combination to be interesting and the lore around the Destruction to be curious. This world is gritty, unique, and befitting of the story. Though Ru's eyes we get a good hold on the world, I feel there is lot still to be unearthed. I would love to see more exploration in the next book to understand this realm.
The story has some predictable elements but the ending really ramped things up for me. I am eager to see what happens next based off the cliffhanger!
Overall, if you low slow burns, dark fantasy, chosen one vibes, and an intriguing fantasy world then Destroyer is an excellent book to keep an eye out for! This book is filled with tropes we love from one horse, touch her and die, morally grey characters, and more that I feel will keep you invested from start to finish.
Thank you to the author and Rose & Moth Books for the ARC.
"'Do you believe that some things are meant to happen?'
'You mean fate?'"
Destroyer is the first book in New Adult Fantasy Romance Duology following the character Ruellian Delara, an academic and archeologist that has spent her life seeking out the truth around magic, and suffered ridicule for it. Ru received an opportunity of a lifetime when she is asked to examine an artifact found at the center of the Shattered City, where a legendary crater now resides. The mysteries behind the century old explosion are still unknown to this day and Ru is determined to uncover what secrets this artifact holds as she is inexplicably drawn to it and the chaos is leads to. In the wake of devastation she finds an unlikely ally, Fen, who is determined to help her take the artifact the scientific heart of the capital. Yet dark secrets, profound attraction, and conspiracy start to circle around Ru and the artifact and she must work hard to untangle the threats lest she and the world be consumed by the darkness.
Ru is a well developed and extremely relatable character. You get to experience her struggles as she faces what might be real magic in front of her and also her tenacity to uncover the secrets around her. She's grappling with something far greater than anyone knows but she does it with such strength. Her perfect compliment is Fen. He is a figure shadowed in mysteries but his need to help and protect Ru continuec to pull on my heartstrings throughout the read. For all the secrets he carries his affections for her are clear and I loved the casual intimacy he was not afraid to give her. Together they are couple that gives me "the feels" - which I describe the the emotional tugs that make you smile, cry, and grin with glee as the couple interacts with each other.
I will note this is a low spice book. There is steam, sexual tension, and some beautiful romantic moments, but I anticipate spice will come more in the second book. That said, I think the author did an excellent job tying us to the characters so when we do see them finally be together it will be the perfect antidote to this slow burn.
"'Ruellian Delara,' he said in a low, slow voice, 'that will be the last time you ever accuse me of not wanting you.'"
In terms of the world, it is a blending of 19th century world and a fantastical world. There appear to be no magical creatures and magic seems to be questioned in this scientific world but there is also no vehicles and soldiers wear armour. I found the combination to be interesting and the lore around the Destruction to be curious. This world is gritty, unique, and befitting of the story. Though Ru's eyes we get a good hold on the world, I feel there is lot still to be unearthed. I would love to see more exploration in the next book to understand this realm.
The story has some predictable elements but the ending really ramped things up for me. I am eager to see what happens next based off the cliffhanger!
Overall, if you low slow burns, dark fantasy, chosen one vibes, and an intriguing fantasy world then Destroyer is an excellent book to keep an eye out for! This book is filled with tropes we love from one horse, touch her and die, morally grey characters, and more that I feel will keep you invested from start to finish.
Thank you to the author and Rose & Moth Books for the ARC.
September 19, 2023
Full disclosure: I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I adore this book! I was hooked from page one. It was a delightfully well-written blend of fantasy, brooding romance, academia, adventure, mystery and magic. Other reviewers claimed this book has no stakes, and I disagree completely. The story is a soft-stakes adventure (think more intrigue/mysticism than serious action or violence) and is super cozy. I could definitely see myself rereading this book, which I rarely do, because with a TBR this big, who has the time? But I would make time for this one.
The ending is a total mind-explosion that will have you desperate to read the next book.
If you like the Victorian/Edwardian era and you would fall for a love interest that is half Flynn Rider and half the Darkling, you will LOVE this book. The main character Ru is so feminine, intelligent and relatable. In fact, the only criticism I could offer is that sometimes she's TOO relatable--she gets tired and anxious a lot! Girl, I feel you!
Vibes match: Shadow and Bone, the Mummy (Brendan Fraiser edition), Sabriel, Daniel Jackson from Stargate.
Read if: You like cozy fantasy, you like academia, you like your fantasy with a serving of mystery, you read Shadow and Bone and wished it was written for adults, you like immersive POV with relatable characters, you like slow burn romance, you like sweet book boyfriends, you enjoy simple plots that are written well.
Don't read if: You get bored by books without lots of violence/bloodshed, you want non-stop action, you want a complicated plot with tons of twists and turns.
I adore this book! I was hooked from page one. It was a delightfully well-written blend of fantasy, brooding romance, academia, adventure, mystery and magic. Other reviewers claimed this book has no stakes, and I disagree completely. The story is a soft-stakes adventure (think more intrigue/mysticism than serious action or violence) and is super cozy. I could definitely see myself rereading this book, which I rarely do, because with a TBR this big, who has the time? But I would make time for this one.
The ending is a total mind-explosion that will have you desperate to read the next book.
If you like the Victorian/Edwardian era and you would fall for a love interest that is half Flynn Rider and half the Darkling, you will LOVE this book. The main character Ru is so feminine, intelligent and relatable. In fact, the only criticism I could offer is that sometimes she's TOO relatable--she gets tired and anxious a lot! Girl, I feel you!
Vibes match: Shadow and Bone, the Mummy (Brendan Fraiser edition), Sabriel, Daniel Jackson from Stargate.
Read if: You like cozy fantasy, you like academia, you like your fantasy with a serving of mystery, you read Shadow and Bone and wished it was written for adults, you like immersive POV with relatable characters, you like slow burn romance, you like sweet book boyfriends, you enjoy simple plots that are written well.
Don't read if: You get bored by books without lots of violence/bloodshed, you want non-stop action, you want a complicated plot with tons of twists and turns.
March 15, 2024
A new STAPLE in fantasy with romance books that i will always recommend.
Sanctifier is full of dark academia vibes, court politics, slow burn tension and banter galore, stunning writing, and your fav brand of mmc- morally grey scruffy man (who may or may not be a huge simp for the fmc ((jk he's totally a simp, like grade A founder of simp nation)).
here's the situation: Ruellian "Ru" is an archeologist / scholar in a fantasy world and she encounters an artifact with the power to destroy realms. she is drawn into a world of politics, magic, cults, and scheming with key players who seek to use her to control the artifact. not knowing who she can trust, she finds herself pulled to Fen, who was there after her initial dark encounter with the artifact. they embark together to learn more about the artifact, unraveling more and more secrets along the way. secrets that will change everything that Ru thought she knew 👀
Meg’s writing is STUNNING and i found myself highlighting almost every other sentence because the emotion and eloquence??? unmatched.
if you’re looking for a dark academia fantasy with romance that will have you giggling and great plot that will keep you guessing until the end, PICK THIS UP
Sanctifier is full of dark academia vibes, court politics, slow burn tension and banter galore, stunning writing, and your fav brand of mmc- morally grey scruffy man (who may or may not be a huge simp for the fmc ((jk he's totally a simp, like grade A founder of simp nation)).
here's the situation: Ruellian "Ru" is an archeologist / scholar in a fantasy world and she encounters an artifact with the power to destroy realms. she is drawn into a world of politics, magic, cults, and scheming with key players who seek to use her to control the artifact. not knowing who she can trust, she finds herself pulled to Fen, who was there after her initial dark encounter with the artifact. they embark together to learn more about the artifact, unraveling more and more secrets along the way. secrets that will change everything that Ru thought she knew 👀
Meg’s writing is STUNNING and i found myself highlighting almost every other sentence because the emotion and eloquence??? unmatched.
if you’re looking for a dark academia fantasy with romance that will have you giggling and great plot that will keep you guessing until the end, PICK THIS UP
January 23, 2023
Second read:
Still stunning.
First read:
Destroyer had me entranced from start to finish. If you're a fan of Sabriel by Garth Nix then you will love this novel. The author has expressed her love for Nix, and I can see all the inspiration bleeding onto the page in the best of ways.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and y'all know I rarely request arcs, but I HAD to have this one. I am so glad I received one because it has skyrocketed to one of my favorite works.
Ru is so realistic down to the bone. Her emotions, actions, and logic feels real and tangible to me. The concept behind the artifact was intriguing, and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop the entire time. I am simply in love with this world and everything in it. You can tell that Meg put a lot of thought and heart into Destroyer.
And of course that ending left me wanting the sequel ASAP!!! SO pls write faster Meg. Thankssss.
Still stunning.
First read:
Destroyer had me entranced from start to finish. If you're a fan of Sabriel by Garth Nix then you will love this novel. The author has expressed her love for Nix, and I can see all the inspiration bleeding onto the page in the best of ways.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review, and y'all know I rarely request arcs, but I HAD to have this one. I am so glad I received one because it has skyrocketed to one of my favorite works.
Ru is so realistic down to the bone. Her emotions, actions, and logic feels real and tangible to me. The concept behind the artifact was intriguing, and I was waiting for the other shoe to drop the entire time. I am simply in love with this world and everything in it. You can tell that Meg put a lot of thought and heart into Destroyer.
And of course that ending left me wanting the sequel ASAP!!! SO pls write faster Meg. Thankssss.
November 8, 2022
I’m conflicted on how to rate this. There was some things I didn’t like, but a lot that I did. Maybe 3.5⭐️ Definitely intriguing. I found myself needing to read to get answers on who Fen really is, what this artifact was, and why Ru was so drawn to it. I did also find myself getting frustrated towards the end because I was getting soooo impatient and I just needed to know. This was different than what I have read lately. Less action, and more science and academic based. Which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. There was just a lot of science talk and sometimes Ru irked the daylights out of me. She didn’t really think things through for someone who is “super smart”. The attraction between Ru and Fen was leaping off the pages whenever they were near each other. The tension and the will they won’t they!! I’m interested to see how more of this all plays out in book 2.
December 3, 2024
I love a good academic thrust into a war of sorts story. Ru was an enjoyable MC, headstrong and while sure of herself in her intellect and capabilities, she is still humble and tenuous in her dealings with the hierarchy of her world. Destroyer introduced us to a new world of science versus magic and the consequences of being an outlier within a traditional academic setting. I enjoyed the story, world building and magic and recommend the book to both fantasy and non-fantasy fans alike. I look forward to the second book and more of Fen. Ahem ahem.
not-planning-on-reading
January 10, 2023i swear, every day i wake up and read questionable takes by writers which don't fill me with any hope. anyway, this time it was them commenting under a reviewer that was saying 'pointing out inconsistencies is not bullying' and saying 'isn't it' which is just... doesn't fill me with any hope for their critical comprehension and analytics skills
December 17, 2023
The writing in the book was beautiful! I just wish the plot had moved the story through the action a bit quicker. I love the world, the characters & the intrigue - the romantic relationship is nice, but ultimately while everything was ‘good’ nothing was ‘great’ - It almost gave a cosy fantasy feel. Overall a well very told story, with beautiful prose - but it didn’t grip me.
October 13, 2023
Ahhhh SORRY, how does this book not have more hype??!!
This was so good, I can’t believe I have to wait until march for book 2!!
This was so good, I can’t believe I have to wait until march for book 2!!
November 4, 2023
This book goes nowhere. Nothing happens after Ru touches the cursed artifact and destroys the dig site. That's the end of the action. Ru spends the entire book trying to connect with an artifact and feeling sorry for herself when she can't. Boring. This is not a romance either- Ru doubts Fen's feelings for her over and over again. We know that Fen is Taryel- it is obvious and predictable. This one is a no for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 6, 2025
I loved this. Mummy archaeologist vibes and magic? Sign me up.
There were definitely things I did not see coming! And I enjoyed that aspect of it. It's nice when a book isn't predictable.
There were a few "duhhhhh, how are you that naive?" moments with the main character but I'll be gracious because that's probably a more realistic approach to her given circumstances.
It does end on a cliffhanger so I'm excited to read the next one in the duology.
Fantastic for this being her debut novel.
There were definitely things I did not see coming! And I enjoyed that aspect of it. It's nice when a book isn't predictable.
There were a few "duhhhhh, how are you that naive?" moments with the main character but I'll be gracious because that's probably a more realistic approach to her given circumstances.
It does end on a cliffhanger so I'm excited to read the next one in the duology.
Fantastic for this being her debut novel.
September 27, 2022
⭐️4/5 stars.
Wow, what a read. To me, I think this story is perfect for not only fans of A Discovery of Witches and Shadow and Bone, but also fans of From Blood Ash. Like with FBAA, this story definitely could be classified as a romantasy (fantasy romance) because it gives equal attention to both the romance and the plot.
First, let me say that I loved the main character. I loved that she’s in her mid-twenties. And every scene where she is leaning into the fact she’s an archeologist was so much fun for me, instantly making me recall the summer I got to work on a dig site. But the reason I really enjoyed this story was the fact it combined magic and science. And even when facing with the potentially magical unknown, the characters kept to their scientifically background and thinking.
This combination of magic and science instantly made me think of A Discovery of Witches and even Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth, but then mix in some elements from Shadow and Bone. This combination made for such a fun read that had me making guesses and predictions and questioning what we already know, and I love when stories do that. I love when they stimulate your brain and have you almost problem solving.
Overall, this was such a interesting read that I could not put down. It read in that easy way where you fly through it. I’m definitely going to be recommending it to my friends and fellow readers.
Thank you to the author & BookFunnel for providing the ARC for my honest review.
Wow, what a read. To me, I think this story is perfect for not only fans of A Discovery of Witches and Shadow and Bone, but also fans of From Blood Ash. Like with FBAA, this story definitely could be classified as a romantasy (fantasy romance) because it gives equal attention to both the romance and the plot.
First, let me say that I loved the main character. I loved that she’s in her mid-twenties. And every scene where she is leaning into the fact she’s an archeologist was so much fun for me, instantly making me recall the summer I got to work on a dig site. But the reason I really enjoyed this story was the fact it combined magic and science. And even when facing with the potentially magical unknown, the characters kept to their scientifically background and thinking.
This combination of magic and science instantly made me think of A Discovery of Witches and even Chosen Ones by Veronica Roth, but then mix in some elements from Shadow and Bone. This combination made for such a fun read that had me making guesses and predictions and questioning what we already know, and I love when stories do that. I love when they stimulate your brain and have you almost problem solving.
Overall, this was such a interesting read that I could not put down. It read in that easy way where you fly through it. I’m definitely going to be recommending it to my friends and fellow readers.
Thank you to the author & BookFunnel for providing the ARC for my honest review.
March 19, 2024
Destroyer has been my most anticipated read of the year and let me tell you, it did not disappoint.
Some things I ✨loved✨
-Ru is such an enjoyable and relatable main character. Her archaeology and academic mindset is so unique in fantasy and I could not love her more.
-The romance is as steamy and intense as it is beautiful and I wanted to DROOL over our dark and mysterious love interest. (Not to mention the antagonist…)
-The characters are so multi-faceted. I mention the antagonist above, but truly, it is almost impossible to decipher who is the “bad guy” because everything is so intricately layered. I love that the book highlights the fact that there is a little darkness in everyone, no matter how they appear. It kept me on my toes constantly.
-The PROSE. When I say the writing is gorgeous, I mean it. Smitherman casts the most dreamy lines and I found myself highlighting constantly (and I am not an annotater when I read!!)
-Simon. Enough said.
Everything about this novel is alluring. It has such a unique premise and is the perfect fall read to cozy up with. I absolutely devoured it and I am drooling waiting for book two!!
This is hands down my #1 book recommendation for everyone I’ve talked to since reading 🥰
(10/10 would date any and all characters)
Some things I ✨loved✨
-Ru is such an enjoyable and relatable main character. Her archaeology and academic mindset is so unique in fantasy and I could not love her more.
-The romance is as steamy and intense as it is beautiful and I wanted to DROOL over our dark and mysterious love interest. (Not to mention the antagonist…)
-The characters are so multi-faceted. I mention the antagonist above, but truly, it is almost impossible to decipher who is the “bad guy” because everything is so intricately layered. I love that the book highlights the fact that there is a little darkness in everyone, no matter how they appear. It kept me on my toes constantly.
-The PROSE. When I say the writing is gorgeous, I mean it. Smitherman casts the most dreamy lines and I found myself highlighting constantly (and I am not an annotater when I read!!)
-Simon. Enough said.
Everything about this novel is alluring. It has such a unique premise and is the perfect fall read to cozy up with. I absolutely devoured it and I am drooling waiting for book two!!
This is hands down my #1 book recommendation for everyone I’ve talked to since reading 🥰
(10/10 would date any and all characters)
October 6, 2022
Destroyer pleasantly surprised me with its beautifully crafted prose and complex imagery. I went in with high expectations and it still blew me away! The story itself was clever and intoxicating and very honest to Ru and her feelings right up until the very end. I am a sucked for a good dark fantasy romance, especially with a dark haired love interest like Fen, and this Destroyer did no disappoint. I honestly could not talk enough about how lovely it was written! It also gave me some very serious Dragon Age vibes, which from a fantasy/world building standpoint, that is exceptional praise. This book cured my readers block after ACOTAR and I cannot wait for a sequel. Meg, this was amazing!
March 13, 2024
5 - This book was so good! By the time I finished the prologue I knew this was going to be a new favorite. I flew through it in almost a single sitting. The world-building is complex but it ties together nicely in the end, while also setting up plenty more mystery for the next book. The characters feel real - I still liked them even when I didn't agree with their choices. And the atmosphere! It's like a blend of Shadow and Bone and Discovery of Witches with a little bit of Hogwarts vibes in the mix. I read this on KU but I ordered the paperback immediately after finishing it!
February 8, 2023
I read this book as part of a book club and I couldn’t be more glad they picked it as a January choice, because this? Easily five star read, exactly my vibes.
We follow Ru, who’s an archeologist, who’s appointed as a researcher trying to find out what a certain rock is and tihs happens from there on.
What worked for me in this book was it’s magical atmosphere, the descriptions of places&people made it feel real, but what got th job done were the characters.
Ru as a main character feels like a great choice. She knows her worth, doesn’t question her abilities, even tho others sometimes do, and most of all, she has a good heart, which shows. While some of her indecisiveness and chaos in her mind and heart can be distracting at points, I understand that we follow her perspective and her mind along it’s own journey and this is why sometimes things and thoughts change very quickly. As an over thinker - I get it.
Our second main character, Fen, is an absolute joy to read about. His mysterious character is fun to decipher. The chemistry he has with Ru is undeniable and (hopefully it’s not a spoiler as he says it multiple times throughout the book) it’s so interesting to wonder if it’s just pure fate with these two or something more.
The book wouldn’t work without the side characters tho: Archie, Lord D’Luc, but most importantly Gwyneth. She has no right to be this funny! I need more of her in book two as she quickly became one of my favorites.
The plot is easy to follow and while yes, I guess the plot twist pretty early on it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. Quite contrary, the guessing game was a great addition and the clues made it fun to form theories, which I personally love.
So, over all, I fell in love with Destroyer and it’s magic. I can’t wait to read book two, especially after THAT ending! Meg did a great job with making you hooked on the story!
We follow Ru, who’s an archeologist, who’s appointed as a researcher trying to find out what a certain rock is and tihs happens from there on.
What worked for me in this book was it’s magical atmosphere, the descriptions of places&people made it feel real, but what got th job done were the characters.
Ru as a main character feels like a great choice. She knows her worth, doesn’t question her abilities, even tho others sometimes do, and most of all, she has a good heart, which shows. While some of her indecisiveness and chaos in her mind and heart can be distracting at points, I understand that we follow her perspective and her mind along it’s own journey and this is why sometimes things and thoughts change very quickly. As an over thinker - I get it.
Our second main character, Fen, is an absolute joy to read about. His mysterious character is fun to decipher. The chemistry he has with Ru is undeniable and (hopefully it’s not a spoiler as he says it multiple times throughout the book) it’s so interesting to wonder if it’s just pure fate with these two or something more.
The book wouldn’t work without the side characters tho: Archie, Lord D’Luc, but most importantly Gwyneth. She has no right to be this funny! I need more of her in book two as she quickly became one of my favorites.
The plot is easy to follow and while yes, I guess the plot twist pretty early on it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the book. Quite contrary, the guessing game was a great addition and the clues made it fun to form theories, which I personally love.
So, over all, I fell in love with Destroyer and it’s magic. I can’t wait to read book two, especially after THAT ending! Meg did a great job with making you hooked on the story!
November 30, 2022
What a ride! I just finished, after the most delightful and riveting 5 day holiday read. Stunned and enchanted. I suspected I would love it, and postponed starting it until I’d cleared up distracting things to be done, but I was unprepared for how much I LOVED it. The characters are real-they act and react how I would, even though they exist in a magical realm. The dialogue is perfect; honest, pointed, kind, brutal. I forget they are characters and not just friends I’ve been hanging out with. I want to live in Navenie, but am also a little afraid to. Rich, intriguing, layered descriptions of the world, with perfect little details to assure the reader that it exists. Suspenseful without heavy handed pressure. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next and couldn’t stop reading until I absolutely had to. I never once fanned the rest of the book to see how much was left. I was driven. My newest friends will stay in my thoughts until I can read the next book. It won’t be soon enough. I love the author, and I know there are many, many more stories inside her waiting to share themselves with all her grateful fans.
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