D. C. Marino

What an extremely well written journey the author takes us on. Loris is an archaeologist who takes her work serious. Her grandfather has taught her well to respect what she finds. I found it fascinating to read about the artifacts she finds and she can sense they are trying to tell her something. Lori feels like she has developed an hereditary illness that her mother had. Atephobia is the fear of ruin. But that can't be possible because she can feel the pulse of an artifact when she touches it. It is telling her when it is from, or what happened to it.

She has decided to leave it all behind and find another job, but something happens to pique her interest once more. What would it be like to touch something buried and long forgotten only to feel it thumping in your fingers as if to say, "I was important at one time. I have a story to tell." Lori's adventure starts when she follows a man who was intrigued by an artifact in her grandfather's museum. It was as if the artifact was there and then for a brief moment disappeared then reappeared before her eyes. About this time, I would be asking myself if I was having an hallucination and needed medical attention. When the man she followed on the train has a ring that does the same disappearing act, Lori is determined to find out what connection he has to the artifact.

The story explodes as Lori finds herself in another world where trees whisper and blue lights dance across the sky. The strange man whose name is Thane, is there and quickly tells her to follow him. I could vividly see the stranger as he lifted his sword and took authority over the threat that was close to him and Lori. Who was this stranger that dressed in armor with a sword that disappears as suddenly as it appeared? Lori has stumbled into something that will test her faith and sanity. The author has an impressive imagination and the story is fantasy at its best. I don't read a lot of fantasy books, but the author has convinced me that I have been missing out on a genre that is plentiful in action and details.

The Lands Within is a mystical place filled with kings, history and danger. I felt transported there as Lori felt the place start to talk to her. She has anxiety but I loved how she talked herself through it. I liked when Lori said, "When something shocks you, it's easy to think you are the only one who's shocked by it." We can sometimes think we are the only ones affected by something, but forget others around us are experiencing the same thing. We can be shocked when we encounter something that scares us, but we forget that others have probably experienced the same thing. It makes me think of someone seeing their house destroyed by a fire and then realize their neighborhood is being destroyed. We forget about what others are going through because we are so focused on ourselves.

Lori and Thane find themselves in danger as they race through the Land Within. It is non stop action and along the way they meet interesting things that can only be described as a presence we have never experienced. I have learned through this story that you can trust others and your own instinct. The world Lori travels to is rich in greed, sin and power. Will she be able to fight it off or fall for its trickery and promises? Throughout the story I was impressed with Lori's ability to overcome her anxiety and rely on her instincts. I can't wait for the next book in this series to continue following Lori and Thane.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.… (lisätietoja)

I am a little in awe of the imaginations of authors who write in the fantasy genre. Their ability to take the familiar and twist it into something entirely new yet still recognizable is amazing.

Debut author D. c. Marino does this exact thing, taking the world we know and combining it with one of imagination in such a way as to draw the reader in and invite her to stay a while.

Lori Brickland fears ruins. Her inability to put together the pieces of history hound her, at times making her physically ill. A most unfortunate malady for an archaeologist—and an excellent archaeologist at that.

When an artifact at an exhibit and a man who attends said exhibit capture her notice, she finds herself entering the Lands Within. Through a wormhole!

In this new land, nature reacts, reaches out, listens, and draws out secrets. Here, the past speaks to Lori, but sharing with her new friends causes dire consequences.

Marino peels back the layers of the land and people to reveal the mysteries surrounding them after the reader has become friends with the characters, making you root for them.

With rich, expressive descriptions and characters that leave an impression, Kingdom of Ruins held me captive until the epic culmination of everything leading up to the climax. And hints at things to come in the future of this series.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.… (lisätietoja)

The saying, "Good things come in small packages," is what this treasure of a book is. I love the sea and all the mysteries that can be found there. The waves seems to talk to you as it crashes on the rocks. What happens when the sea becomes quiet? Gil is a wonderful character who loves the sea and feels it talking to him. When he discovers that the sea is in trouble, he can't find anyone to believe him.

Gil wants to warn others but they dismiss him as a silly person who doesn't know what he is talking about. I loved how the author took us on a journey to find out what Gil could do to help the sea. Will he be able to get anyone to listen to him? I'm thrilled to know that there will be more installments in this exciting adventure . I look forward to the next book as I am left intrigued by what the sea is trying to communicate.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.… (lisätietoja)