Sophie’s Ruin

Bravo, V.I. Davis, bravo!

I don't know where to begin, even though I've had more than enough time to formulate my thoughts. "Sophie's Ruin" is the second installment in V.I. Davis's captivating series, which follows Sophie's journey after the events of "Josephine's Tear."

I was lucky enough to read Sophie's Ruin before its release date, and I must say, this book (and series) has the potential to be the next big thing. Vampires may seem "so 2000s" to our generation, but V.I. Davis is bringing them back with a fresh twist.

The words flowed smoother than butter, and Davis's imagery was beautiful. One of the standout aspects of this book was Davis's use of the dream world to connect Sophie and Henry. It was well done, and she kept both characters relevant throughout.

She also improved upon the pacing issues present in "Josephine's Tear." Sophie's mission was kept at the forefront without persistently telling the reader about it. This approach felt more subtle and showed rather than told. The foreshadowing between Sophie and the darkness at the beginning was impressive. I loved how subtle it was and how it carried throughout the novel.

"I was losing him, losing us, losing myself... A heartbeat later, my hands slipped out of his grip."

"I might have been pulled into the darkness in my dream, but I knew that wouldn't stop Henry from coming for me."

And fight for Sophie, he did.

Henry's character grew on me tremendously in the novel. Although I enjoyed him in "Josephine's Tear," we finally learn more about him and see his vulnerabilities in book two. We learned so much about Henry in book two, and I think the different POVs were necessary for the book's success. Although I typically prefer one POV, Henry's POV was necessary for telling this story.

I also appreciated the increased action in this book. It kept the story moving and kept the reader on edge. A few scenes had me on the edge of my seat, and I nearly had a heart attack during one of them. If you read it, you know which one I'm talking about.

While I adored this book and can't wait for the third installment, I do have a few critiques. At times, Sophie's character development felt inconsistent, making it hard for me to relate to her. I understand the desire to save Henry, but considering the timeline of events, her actions felt a bit rushed. It's only been a few weeks, maybe months at best, since she volunteered for the Selection, defeated the Dark Witches, and fell for Henry.

I know it was probably the author’s intent to make Sophie a little bit insufferable during this time in the book, but I just wanted to slap the FMC and tell her to take a breather. While I found her personally annoying at parts, it made sense for how the storyline went. My inner desires just swayed my perception of Sophie’s actions because I didn’t want her to fall for the darkness. So honestly, bravo Davis.

Regardless, I fell hard for this couple. Their romance was hot, sensual, and made me wish I was marrying a 200-year-old vampire (sorry, Alec!).

I appreciated how Davis reversed the typical roles of the FMC and MMC. Instead of having our "shadow daddy," we got our "shadow momma." Plus, we saw the male tortured, not the FMC. She's the one who did the saving, and he's the one who was rescued. Even though at the end, we see a little bit of the reverse.

While I didn’t always agree with the FMC’s actions, I loved that Sophie went unhinged to get Henry back. I love that she wasn't the perfect FMC. It drove me crazy at some points, but I think it was well done by Davis.

"There was a pull, a tug in my blood, in my very bones that urged me to go to Henry, to find him."

The magical elements in this book were impressive. The white witch settlement was a nice touch, and some of my favorite scenes were when magic helped connect Sophie and Henry.

The dialogue in this novel was super realistic and added to the story. The slow moments between characters felt realistic, similar to a conversation I would have with a friend or partner.

"I couldn't walk in daylight, but as long as I had Sophie in my life, I had my own personal sunshine."

This quote was ironic in more than one way: Sophie was battling the darkness, trying to get to Henry; they literally can't walk in daylight, and Sophie's "light" guides him like his light guides her; and the ending, which I won't spoil.

"But darling, you are not in control. Not anymore."

Heartbreaking quote.

Overall, "Sophie's Ruin" is a captivating read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. With its improved pacing, character development, and role reversal, this book is a must-read for romantasy and vampire fans. I eagerly await the next installment to see where Davis takes the story. (The epilogue was also great but wasn't too illegal of a cliffhanger!)

Rating: 5/5 stars