QUEEN OF RUIN

Sisters unite in their battle both for their own lives and freedom for all of Viridia’s women.

Following the events in Grace and Fury (2018), newly exiled Nomi arrives at Mount Ruin to discover her polished, feminine sister, Serina, has developed into a revolutionary warrior in the coup that overthrew the prison island’s guards. With their newfound agency, the female prisoners must decide firstly what to do with their remaining guards and, ultimately, if their next step should be staying on the island or commandeering a boat either to seek asylum in Azura (personal safety) or return home (social reform, casualties guaranteed). Nomi wants to rally them to overthrow sociopathic Asa, but the women aren’t eager to trust any Viridian men they help in an uprising not to keep the oppressive, male-privileging system intact. The storylines diverge: Serina grows through newfound leadership obligations to her fellow prisoners, and Nomi looks to redeem herself and assuage her guilty conscience over her role in Asa’s schemes by working to oppose him. Now that Asa has the power he wanted, he’s let the charming facade drop. While both sisters have their romantic storylines, the male leads are mostly in support roles while the women make decisions to control their own fates, and a third main romance is between two women. While both sisters face dangers and obstacles, there are no real surprises or twists in the straightforward plot. The primary cast reads as white.

Empowerment-flavored brain popcorn.