Truth, like love, isn’t always obvious. Seventeen-year-old Ruby Brooks has never had a boyfriend. After moving to small-town La Luna, New Mexico following her mother’s untimely death, boys aren’t even on her radar. Ruby just wants to forget the last horrible year and blend in. But when she discovers an ancient pueblo ruin in the forest behind her house, and meets Ezra, a bitter recluse whose … whose once-perfect face was destroyed in an accident he won’t talk about; Angel, La Luna’s handsome sheriff’s deputy, and Leo, a stranger who only appears near the ruin, Ruby finds herself teetering between love, mystery, and other worlds. What happened to Ezra’s face? And why is she so attracted to the one boy in town everyone despises? As Ruby unravels her own connections to both Ezra and the pueblo ruin, she’ll learn surfaces are deceiving. Especially in the heart of New Mexico, where spirits and legends aren’t always just campfire stories.
** 2020 National Federation Press Women’s First Place Prize for Young Adult fiction
2020 New Mexico Press Women’s First Place Prize for Young Adult fiction
2020 Reader’s Choice Gold Medal for Young Adult fiction Mythology/Folklore
2020 Southwest / New Mexico Book Association First Place Prize Winner, YA **
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I was rather sceptical about the book, mainly because I have not yet read a book situated in Mexico, dealing with their folklore and such. However, I was pleasantly surprised. I could feel Ruby’s sense of freedom and peace as she hiked in the area surrounding her new home. A home her mother had bought before…and now she and her aunt who was more like a mother to her had come to make a new life for themselves.
As with any move to a new place, La Luna has a new school to attend and try and avoid attention but Angel, the sheriff’s young deputy has his eye on her. She runs into a boy, Leo, on her hike to a Pueblo ruin, who is evasive with information but also intriguing and forward. As she is new she does not know all the myths and legends and when a mysterious mountain lion and a reclusive young man with a scarred face crosses her path her life begins to be much more interesting than the one she left behind.
Ruby Brooks’ mother recently passed, so she and her aunt Lydia (Liddy) move away to start a new life. They settle in a house in the fictional town of La Luna, New Mexico, at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. The story is intertwined with the history and rumors of the Pecos Tribe. This paranormal romance wastes no time introducing our various love interests because – you guessed it – Ruby is beautiful and doesn’t know it. It seems no one in town can resist her, including a police officer who graduated at least four years ago and doesn’t seem to have a problem hitting on a high school kid. If you’re (understandably) bothered by an adult man trying to hook up with a high school kid, be forewarned. The problems with men in the book don’t end with the police officer.
All of the men in this book are insufferable. Each and every one acts as if they own Ruby from the moment they set eyes on her. They continually order her around, say mean things to her, and often even physically move her from one setting to the next. This is a habit I see in many YA romances and I’m not sure I understand why, when one has the whole world of imagination to write these characters, they would come out the same. The paranormal aspects of the book weren’t fleshed enough, but what was there was enjoyable and unique. It’s refreshing to read a paranormal romance based in the folklore of actual people who have lived on our earth. This is a good writer’s first book. The plot is there, the characters are there (if a bit over the top), but the writing falls into trope traps that made it difficult for me to really sink into the story. Still, I kept coming back for more, and doesn’t that say it all? This is the first book in the Wild and Ruin series, which is only two books at this time.
I’ll definitely be picking up the second book, and would recommend this to anyone who enjoys Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight or Maggie Stiefvater’s Shiver.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Ruby Brooks and her Aunt Liddy’s last year was a bit rough, so her Aunt Liddy decided that they both needed to get away. They packed up everything and moved to the small town of La Luna, New Mexico. It’s one of those quiet towns where everyone knows everyone, including everything about them. It’s a completely different surrounding than what they are used to, which could be exactly what they need to heal their hearts and their minds from the past year. Losing her mother really took a toll on Ruby, so getting close to anyone was going to be a bit hard.
Shortly after coming into town Ruby meets not one, but three guys. She doesn’t want to get into any kind of relationship unless she knows it’s what her heart really wants. With her heart still mending from her mother’s death, she doesn’t think that her heart is ready for anything. These boys are making it really hard though, between mesmerizing good looks, charm, and even mystery.
Instantly upon starting this book I was hooked, especially by the great detail the author put into her words. It made it really easy to picture the scene with which surrounded Ruby and her friends. It was like the haunting forest behind Ruby’s house was right in front of me, and it made me want to hike through those trees myself. She really brought to life both the terrain, as well as the history that is New Mexico.
I couldn’t figure out whether I liked Ruby or not, even through the entire book. I’m still thinking about it. At times I felt like she was timid and quiet, and afraid to voice what she really thought. Other times I felt like she was a completely different person, using her appearance or ability to flirt as a way to get what she wanted. It honestly made me feel like she just needed to be honest with herself, and with the boys she was interacting with. She also seemed very needy, like she expected everyone to drop whatever they were doing to help her or be with her. This was probably my least favorite characteristic of hers. She was however friendly, which made me want to like her more.
I really liked the other characters in the story, especially Angel and Ezra, two of the boys that Ruby interacted with on a daily basis. Angel was sweet, and just seemed like he wanted a fair shot to be with Ruby. Ezra on the other hand was mysterious, honest, and some times a little harsh. I liked him for this though, he didn’t hold back, and he didn’t seem to care what anyone thought of him.
I think my favorite part of this whole book was all of the folklore, and history that Edelson packed into the pages. I feel like I learned so much about this beautiful place, and it makes me want to pack up and visit New Mexico myself. I’m looking forward to reading more of this trilogy, and seeing where things go with Ruby and the mystery that is surrounding her. I will definitely be picking up more of her books in the future!
I received an advanced reading copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Just “WOW”!!! There’s nothing I love more than a book that makes the fine hairs on my arms rise. Well, maybe a book that’s definitely impossible to put down. A book that makes me want look up pictures of places, meanings of words, history and folklore. Once in a while I run across authors that blend folklore and storytelling in a way that make it a little more magical, memorable and fun to read.
I really enjoyed the writing style of this author. It was very clear and concise. I don’t read a lot of YA, only because the teenage angst is the story and that gets under my skin. That’s not the case in this book. There’s a bit of teenage drama but it’s part of the storyline, not the whole.
I am looking forward to the next book in the series. If you like urban fantasy with a heavy folklore base you have to read this book.
I received this book as a free ARC from Booksirens. All my thoughts and opinions are my own.
Note: This Review contains NO spoilers
Intriguing and interesting! I am always fascinated with the varying folklore, mythology, and superstitions of various cultures. In this particular book, the story dives into Native American folklore and superstitions of New Mexico. And, just with its synopsis on the subject matter, I was pulled in. Of course, all that was woven into a young adult coming-of-age story. Yes, Between Wild and Ruin contained the above aforementioned elements with twists that makes for a captivating read.
Up front, this story is reminiscent of the fairytale classic Beauty and the Beast … just with a young adult contemporary romantic twist. Yes, that means that there is a “love triangle” involved… Ha! However, the paranormal/fantasy elements that incorporate the folklore and superstition of the setting location, New Mexico, is well embedded into this story which makes for compelling and dramatic storytelling. And, this is one that got me turning the pages. Moreover, Between Wild and Ruin looks to be the beginning of a series, be it standalone or not, it is a fascinating read that fans of the genres will enjoy.
Reviewer: Jasmine
This was such an unexpected, fun, beautiful read! I loved the world building and the new spin on these lush mythologies and fables.
Ezra and Ruby stole my heart, even when I wanted to kind of shake them because of their angst and how they were getting in their own way. Even when I predicted the turns, I enjoyed the very lovely language and the journey this author toom me on.
I cannot wait to read the next one!
Ruby’s not sure what to believe. Does she believe what she sees or what she knows about the way things should be? Ezra is either an angry young man or needs to work on his attitude. Angel seems to be the older man, older than Ruby, interested in a young lady.
You can feel the edges of a fairy tale as you read. You may even decide which one you think it is. When first introduced to Ruby, I thought that this would be a good read for teens and up. A story that’s mixed between a fairy tale and folk lore may grab their attention. Then I got to a point where Angel seems really interested in Ruby.
Teens can be impressionable and having a story where a man is interested in someone who’s not quite an adult might be best for the parent to read first. I think this is more for those considered “new adult” and can distinguish between what is real and what is fiction. I enjoyed the story but even for me the possible relationship between Angel and Ruby made me uncomfortable. If I took that out of the equation, it was a good story that shows people need to look beyond a person’s outer shell in order to get to know the person from the inside.
We’re let into the life of a teenager whose life may seem normal. It’s what’s going on around her that you’ll not be sure of. And that’s what will carry you all the way to the end where you’ll learn that the author’s not done yet. I’m willing to give it a chance to see if I can figure out what’s going on.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.