9780063004436
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A Song of Wraiths and Ruin audiobook

  • By: Roseanne A. Brown
  • Narrator: Jordan Cobb
  • Length: 12 hours 4 minutes
  • Publisher: Balzer + Bray
  • Publish date: June 02, 2020
  • Language: English
  • (13857 ratings)
(13857 ratings)
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A Song of Wraiths and Ruin Audiobook Summary

An instant New York Times bestseller!

The first in a gripping fantasy duology inspired by West African folklore in which a grieving crown princess and a desperate refugee find themselves on a collision course to murder each other despite their growing attraction–from debut author Roseanne A. Brown. This New York Times bestseller is perfect for fans of Tomi Adeyemi, Renee Ahdieh, and Sabaa Tahir.

For Malik, the Solstasia festival is a chance to escape his war-stricken home and start a new life with his sisters in the prosperous desert city of Ziran. But when a vengeful spirit abducts his younger sister, Nadia, as payment to enter the city, Malik strikes a fatal deal–kill Karina, Crown Princess of Ziran, for Nadia’s freedom.

But Karina has deadly aspirations of her own. Her mother, the Sultana, has been assassinated; her court threatens mutiny; and Solstasia looms like a knife over her neck. Grief-stricken, Karina decides to resurrect her mother through ancient magic . . . requiring the beating heart of a king. And she knows just how to obtain one: by offering her hand in marriage to the victor of the Solstasia competition.

When Malik rigs his way into the contest, they are set on a heart-pounding course to destroy each other. But as attraction flares between them and ancient evils stir, will they be able to see their tasks to the death?

“Magic creates a centuries-long divide between peoples in this stunning debut novel inspired by North African and West African folklore. An action-packed tale of injustice, magic, and romance, this novel immerses readers in a thrilling world and narrative reminiscent of Children of Blood and Bone.” (Publishers Weekly, “An Anti-Racist Children’s and YA Reading List”)

Don’t miss the second book in this epic duology, A Psalm of Storms and Silence!

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A Song of Wraiths and Ruin Audiobook Narrator

Jordan Cobb is the narrator of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin audiobook that was written by Roseanne A. Brown

Roseanne A. Brown is an immigrant from the West African nation of Ghana and a graduate of the University of Maryland, where she completed the Jimenez-Porter Writers’ House program. Her work has been featured by Voice of America, among other outlets. A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is her debut novel. You can visit her online at roseanneabrown.com.

About the Author(s) of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

Roseanne A. Brown is the author of A Song of Wraiths and Ruin

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin Full Details

Narrator Jordan Cobb
Length 12 hours 4 minutes
Author Roseanne A. Brown
Publisher Balzer + Bray
Release date June 02, 2020
ISBN 9780063004436

Additional info

The publisher of the A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is Balzer + Bray. The imprint is Balzer + Bray. It is supplied by Balzer + Bray. The ISBN-13 is 9780063004436.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Regan

June 26, 2020

4.5 - such a strong debut! This has everything I love in YA fantasy AND THEN SOME

Kathryn S (Metaphors and Miscellanea)

April 02, 2021

3.5/5 stars, rounded up because I really appreciated the mental illness rep. We don't get enough of that in fantasy books these days. I'll clean up this review later, but here's a summary of my thoughts:- The incorporation of African mythology was great, and I loved the Hyena stories. I hope we get to hear more of those.- Love me a good musician, and Karina's performance skills were a fun addition.- As I mentioned, the mental illness rep was great. Malik's panic attacks and Karina's migraines and grief were depicted really well. I feel like mental illness gets neglected in fantasy, despite the fact that fantasy characters face so many horrors and deaths in their lives.- The audiobook narrators were really good at capturing emotion and bringing the story to life.- Pacing wasn't great. The story dragged a lot in places, and then the last 15-ish% was suddenly WAY too fast, with a lot going on and changing in a way that didn't feel reasonable or consistent with the rest of the book- The magic system was a little confusing and not well-developed, but I'm hoping they'll address that more in the second book- Karina's impulsiveness and immaturity made her pretty annoying. I know it's supposed to be part of how she deals with her trauma, but it didn't read that way--she's supposedly really smart, but also lazy, and she always seems to get lucky when she messes up, and it just didn't work for me.- But man, I loved Malik. That precious anxious baby must be protected at all costs.- Several of the "twists" at the end were really predictable, especially a certain betrayal (keeping this vague to avoid spoilers)- The different types of sibling relationships--the love between Malik and his siblings, Karina's complicated feelings toward Hanane--were an interesting dichotomy- The romance didn't feel compelling or organic.- I liked the competition for Solstasia, but it was made out to be such a big deal and then took up such little actual space in the story. Felt like it got short-changed. I want more fantasy competitions! All that said, I do still want to read the sequel, because despite its faults (largely faltering on major components), the story did set up a lot of interesting new plot threads at the end and I'm curious how they'll play out. And, you know, I just want to see more of Malik coming into his own.(If you're wondering why this review has so many likes, it's from this "pre-review" I wrote in December 2019):Plot: sounds amazingCover: so prettyTitle: DEAR GOD WHY WON'T THIS "[BLANK] OF [BLANK] AND [BLANK]" NAMING TREND DIE

Lala

December 29, 2021

4.5 but we're rounding up!Me loving a YA high fantasy? 2020 is wild.

jessica

September 27, 2020

from a cultural standpoint, this book is fantastic. the diversity and representation (especially the anxiety rep!) is what gives this story its power. theres so much magic and heart and imagery. it reminded me very much of ‘children of blood and bone.’ and although im not as obsessed with the plot (full of YA clichés) and characters (karina is soooo annoying) as everyone else seems to be, i still found this to be a pretty good story. i thought malik was a high point - his humble nature is quite sweet to read about. i also enjoyed the ending. i think it concludes naturally and sets the story up well for the next book. overall, this is a very lovely debut! ↠ 3.5 stars

Maryam

August 11, 2020

RTC (Spotify book playlist)—★—I'm proud of how different communities are supporting #BlackLivesMatter in the current climate.ATTENTION!Thanks to Cath, I've found out Fairyloot has a limited exclusive edition of this book, all of the profits for which go to the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, which supports the Black College Community and thousands of Black college students.It's hardcover and comes with green sprayed edges and a signed book plate. For more info, go HERE.

Bookishrealm

September 01, 2020

I have so many conflicting feelings about this book. I mean sooooo many. But I think I'm going to go with giving this one a 3.75 and hope that I can explain why my feelings are all over the place . So A Song of Wraiths and Ruin is a debut YA fantasy and the premise for this book is extremely interesting. Both main characters are seeking to help their families in ways that will put them into situations where they would ultimately kill each other. Of course this doesn't end up working out the way that they anticipate once they have the opportunity to meet each other face to face. Ultimately, I think that this novel did a lot of things well. I loved the anxiety representation. I'm not sure if I've ever seen that done in YA fantasy novel. I've always felt like I'm more inclined to see that representation in a YA contemporary. I feel like the world and magic system were interesting (I actually have more thoughts on this to come later in the review). And the last 20% of the book was AMAZING. There were so many twists and turns and plot reveals that I didn't necessarily see coming. I was shocked by the connections that were made that I didn't necessarily see coming in the beginning of the novel. There were some elements that were a little obvious, but others were not. Brown did a great job creating morally grey characters as well. There were people I thought I would actively dislike, but once more of their struggles were revealed I couldn't help but have a little more compassion. It didn't justify their behavior, but it helped to understand why they handled situations in a certain manner. There was also this emphasis on a strong female lead while having a softer, easier going male lead. I feel like you don't see this a lot in YA fantasy. The female lead is usually strong, but then she's met with a stronger or even stronger male lead. Malik was designed to be more gentle and not this character that was centered around brute force. His kindness was more important. I feel like with that she really challenged the gender roles that we often see in fantasy books. HOWEVER, there were some issues that I had with this book namely in the form of world development, magic system development, and the "romance." I'm the type of fantasy reader that likes to have a solid understanding of the magic system and world before fully diving into a book. I know that there are parts in which an author can't divulge too much for the sake of plot development; however, I truly feel like the magic system and world building in the beginning of this novel were confusing. There seemed to be this lack of clarity and I understoof why she did that by the end of the novel; however, I know that it may stop people from seeking to continue it. It was the same way with the magic system. A huge portion of it felt confusing until the middle and end of the book. A part of me wishes there was a "key" to describe a little bit more about each alignment. I think that we would have had a little bit more clarity about the world. I was also bothered with the fact that there was a woman introduced into the Solstasia challenges which meant that Karina could have married a woman, but it wasn't really fleshed out and it felt like that character was thrown in for the sake of diversity--like the author was attempting to say that bisexual characters could exist, but then we're not really going to fully explore that or give that character a true chance. I'm just not a huge fan of diversity for the sake of diversity. It creates one-dimensional, flat characters. I also felt as though Karina and Malik gave off more friend vibes than anything. I would have preferred a strong friendship compared to a romance, but that's just me. Don't get me wrong. I definitely will be picking up the second book. That ending had my mind completely and totally blown and I'm sure that I'll have a better grasp on the magic system and the world as a whole, but I did have some issues with this first one. Overall, it is a solid debut and I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Kiki

August 04, 2020

Honestly one of the best fantasies I’ve read in a while. Lush, elaborate worldbuilding, genuine emotional stakes, beautiful imagery, engaging writing, and best of all, the story COMMITTED to itself. The grief, the familial relationships, the depiction of anxiety as an actual debilitating illness - this book showed up and actually delivered on its promises. Not only that, but it treats its villains with compassion and does not rest on the trite cliché of “good vs evil”. A unique, compelling, exciting read that truly shows what YA fantasy can accomplish. Also, Dedele exudes the most exquisite lesbian warrior energy and I love her, thanks bye.

Tricia

February 15, 2021

This book gets five stars alone for Malik’s character. If you’re looking for more anxiety rep in high fantasy, definitely pick this one up!

Noura

January 31, 2021

And I’ve found another favorite book! When I first read the synopsis I knew this was a book that I needed in my life. I’m happy that I actually took my time with it because the world building was something to behold. It was so much more complex than I thought. Every minute was riddled with stories and folklore and it was all just so magnificent that I couldn’t really put the book down (had to force myself to most of the time). It wasn’t in an info dumping way but everything was told when it needed to be. You never got to know something unless it was the absolute perfect moment for it.The story was told from two point of view, Karina and Malik. I finished this book loving both of them and you can bet I would do anything for these two. Karina had this presence that was always so interesting to follow. Her thoughts and feelings always felt so real and it was so easy to lose yourself in them. I loved Karina as a protagonist! She was always so sassy and determined but she also had that side of her that no one really knew about. Then of course we have Malik. This will possible become a bit too long. Malik was a complete surprise. I’m so used to seeing strong and macho main male characters that when we first met Malik I was giddy with excitement. Malik is unlike any main character you’ve ever met. He was very soft spoken but determined in every way if it came down to saving his family. He had anxiety and reading that resonated with me so much. The way it was written was done so perfectly, and as someone with anxiety and who has had panic attacks before this meant the whole world to me. Malik is by far one of my absolute favorite characters because he wasn’t strong in the ways that people expected him to be, but in his own way and that’s what mattered the most. The definition of a soft boy and I loved it.I really enjoyed the story too! It was really interesting. It’s inspired by West African folklore and that added so much depth to the story. There were quite a few plot twists. Some I had guessed while others just had me screaming. Those last couple of pages were such a wild ride. The book ended too soon! I can’t wait for the second book. I have so many questions and I’m looking forward to it so so much.This is a book that I recommend with my whole heart. I’ve recommended quite a few books this year but please do consider this one too! I can’t express enough how much I loved it. I just need you all to pick it up as soon as possible.Review on my blog!

hiba

September 28, 2022

CWs: grief, parental death, murder, violence, self-harm, panic attacks, anxiety, alcohol useRep: West African inspired world + mythology, all-Black cast, MC with major anxiety and panic attacksFully-realized complex characters with dual points of view, rich world-building, gripping plot and a romance to root for - I wish this was the kind of YA fantasy I'd read in my teens. So let's break it down. Complex characters "You are not strong in body, no. No one will ever sing songs about your physical prowess. But you are kind, Malik Hilali. Do not underestimate the strength it takes to be kind in a world as cruel as ours." Hands down Malik stole the show for me. A refugee escaping his crumbling war-torn home alongside his sisters, seeking a better life in the very city that wreaked havoc on his country - only for a dangerous spirit to steal his younger sister and trap him in an impossible deal. I don't remember ever reading a fantasy that has a main POV character with major anxiety, who experiences panic attacks quite frequently. I really appreciated this inclusion in a high fantasy story and how it contributed to Malik's character arc and growth. He's an absolute sweetheart - a kind, soft-spoken, empathetic boy with a flair for storytelling who just wants his family to be okay. He's nervous, awkward, quick to cry, shy around new people, uncertain of his powers, lacking in self-worth - and though he constantly stumbles, he never stops getting back up and fighting. I loved seeing his journey and cheered at his every success. "Anyone who tried to take this city from her would soon discover that the Kestrel’s daughter had talons of her own." Karina, our fierce, insecure princess is a flawed, fascinating character. Still grieving the deaths of her father and older sister years ago, she feels stifled within the palace walls and increasingly dreads her eventual succession to the throne. Although her character feels more generic compared to Malik's, the author breathes fresh life into Karina by making her complex; she deals with a lot of personal insecurity, fear, loss and loneliness but when the time comes for her to step up, she's able to bury it all under a veneer of unwavering confidence and authority. She's determined to fight for justice and goes after her goals with tenacity. Karina gets so much taken away from her time and time again and she learns to live with grief while fiercely fighting against her enemies.I do think there's a lot more room for growth with her character though; for instance, although Karina is horrified at the truths about her country's cruelty and xenophobia, she's still unable to look past her privilege, like when she wonders why Malik is so intent upon defending a "lowly servant". The side characters were so wonderful too. Although we only got glimpses for most of them, they completely intrigued me and I can't wait to see more of them in the future. Rich world-building The sheer care and thought that went into constructing this vibrant world can be felt with every word - the history, the folklore, the mythology, the different cultures and their dynamics, the religion. I love how all these elements are so seamlessly woven into the plot and character work. The background and class of each character colors their interactions and world views and I liked how it also displayed the diversity of African cultures. The story's confrontation of colonialism was also great to see, with the Zirani occupation of Malik's home, the Eshran Mountains. I can see the parallels that can be drawn from the way Zirani soldiers treated Eshran citizens to real world issues like police brutality and current occupations and war-stricken countries. Also, the magic system was cool. The way it's connected to the story's unique astrology system and spirituality was just chef's kiss - I kinda wanted more detail on the patron deities and their eras though. Gripping plot High fantasy paired with court intrigue and political machinations - is there a better combination? Throw in a tournament, a quest, puzzling riddles, and high stakes and you're in for a ride. There are a lot of fantasy tropes at work here and they're done so well. Some of the plot twists were easy to guess but others I did not see coming at all. I also really liked the depth given to the main villains. The plot never takes a rest and I absolutely raced through the book.As for the romance, just check out the tropes: enemies to lovers (as in on opposite sides, have to kill each other), super slow burn, soft boy/fierce girl, angst for days. But I have to say with the hype the romance in this book has gotten, there's honestly not much of it. Karina and Malik have only a handful of scenes together and it's as insta-love as you can get, since they fall for each other after maybe three interactions over a couple of days. I didn't really mind that and I liked that this story was more about their individual journeys, but I'm really hoping to see a bit more romance in the sequel. Personally, I was more invested in Malik's relationship with his older sister Leila. They have such a believable and painfully real sibling dynamic; one thing that stood out to me was when Malik wondered whether he and Leila would have ever been friends if they weren't siblings. Their personalities clash and they often lash out at each other, but throughout it all there's an undercurrent of unconditional love and support and I just love the Hilali siblings okay.The only major complaint I have with this book is the writing style - it feels fairly awkward in places and quite lacking in descriptions when it comes to certain emotions, actions and just general movement within scenes. I think this comes with the territory for debut authors and it didn't spoil my enjoyment of the story too much. Ultimately, I adored this novel and I'm impatient for the sequel already.

Zoe

September 23, 2020

SWEET SON OF A MOTHER'S LOVER THIS WAS SO FUCKING GOODI need a minute to collect myself after finishing this. It's the first YA fantasy I've read in a loonng while that didn't have a romance that took over the entire plot. There was a hint of a romance, and I cannot WAIT to see how it plays out in light of the last few chapters. My body is so ready for the next book!

;3

June 30, 2020

malik really said EYE will choose royal coochie over saving my sister from an evil spirit

Ms. Woc Reader

February 26, 2022

Once this book hit it's stride it was a wild rush. I didn't want to put this story down and miss a moment. This book was pitched as "What if Jasmine and Aladdin tried to kill each other?"So I was already prepared for action and intrigue which this story delivers. Katrina needs a king's heart to perform a ritual to revive her slain mother and Malik needs to kill Karina to free his sister from a powerful being. YA fantasy mixing romance into it can sometimes be really cringey in the execution. Luckily those were not found here. I didn't feel like the relationship between Karina and Malik was forced. You'll like Malik for his sensitive soul and Karina for her quick wit. Definitely not a debut to ignore.Read more at https://womenofcolorreadtoo.blogspot....

April (Aprilius Maximus)

August 21, 2020

“Do not underestimate the strength it takes to be kind in a world as cruel as ours.” representation: all Black cast (own voices West African inspired fantasy), anxiety and panic attacks.[trigger warnings are listed at the bottom of this review and may contain spoilers]★★★★I really enjoyed this! I did guess who the baddie was pretty early on though and I think I was expecting more based on the huge amount of hype surrounding this book, but it was a really solid read and I can't wait for the sequel!trigger warnings (also note that the trigger warnings were listed at the start at the book. WE LOVE TO SEE IT): mild self-harm ideation, fantasy violence, emotional and physical abuse, anxiety and panic attacks, parent death and animal death.

Vicky Again

July 19, 2020

!!!!! so much thought went into these characters & building them amidst all the action. i love malik so much he is my favorite disaster son. karina is stressed and trying her best but also not really. chaos ensues.

Isa

November 30, 2021

”Do not underestimate the strength it takes to be kind in a world as cruel as ours”.Tenía pendiente este libro desde hace mucho tiempo ¡y no sabía de lo que me estaba perdiendo! Aquí nos encontramos con la historia de Malik, un chico que está escapando de su tierra azotada por la guerra junto con sus hermanas. Su misión es llegar a Ziran, una rica ciudad del desierto en donde se celebrará Solstasia, un gran evento que tendrá a todo el mundo distraído y les permitirá a él y a sus hermanas entrar sin que nadie lo impida. Por otra parte tenemos a Karina, cuya madre acaba de ser asesinada y, por ende, ella tendrá que convertirse en la siguiente Sultana. Pero Karina no se cree capaz de lidiar con aquella responsabilidad, así que decide intentar revivirla con magia oscura que requiere del corazón de un rey. Para conseguirlo, ofrece su mano en matrimonio al ganador de Solstasia. Y aquí es cuando los caminos de Malik y ella se cruzan. Cuando entraron a Ziran, un demonio secuestró a una de las hermanas de Malik y le dijo que no se la devolvería a menos que matara a la princesa Karina, así que él termina metido en la competencia de Solstasia intentando cumplir con esa misión. Sin embargo, cuando él y Karina se conocen una chispa surge entre ellos y les hace casi imposible pensar en matar al otro. A decir verdad, este era un libro del que no tenía ni idea qué esperar. Sabía que hablaban de un ligero enemies to lovers, de una competencia y magia negra, pero nunca me imaginé que la historia me atrapara tantísimo. Creo que uno de los puntos fuertes es que la narración, que se cuenta desde dos perspectivas, los puntos de vista de Karina y Malik, nos lo va presentando todo tan gradualmente que, eventualmente, cuando los caminos de ellos dos se cruzan, todo se siente como una explosión tremenda. Cuando Karina y Malik por fin están frente a frente, los hemos conocido tantísimo a través de sus capítulos que la sensación de destino, de inevitabilidad y de tragedia es muy palpable. Además, si me conocen un poco, entenderán por qué uno de mis aspectos favoritos del libro fue la ambientación de oriente medio, de esas culturas fascinantes y llenas de leyendas, creencias y jerarquías tan diferentes a las que conocemos de este lado del mundo. Me encanta cuando las historias se desarrollan en estos contextos porque las siento más místicas, más mágicas. Y, claro, como la mitología sobre la que se basan ciertos puntos y giros claves es tan desconocida para mí, nunca puedo prever nada de lo que va a suceder en el libro. Así que eso es un enorme punto a favor. Por supuesto, otro de los grandes highlights de este libro es el desarrollo del romance. Es decir, ¿qué puede ser mejor que dos personas enamoradas pero que saben que todo su futuro depende de asesinar al otro? La tensión que se crea a raíz de esa situación es sencillamente deliciosa y necesito seguir con esta serie porque no tuve suficiente. ¡Y el final! ¡Las traiciones! ¡Los giros! Una maravilla absoluta. De verdad, espero que eventualmente alguna editorial decida traducir este libro porque me daría muchísima pena que los lectores no la conocieran por la barrera del idioma.

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