Readers, are you on the search for something new? A new book that whisks you away to a dystopian world looking for a brighter future? A second chance at a better life? A story with faulty characters whom you can relate to? A story that will grab you and leave you eager for book two? Then look no further. Author R.M. Muller has got you covered. Step into the pages of Sands of Ruin...and be prepared to swept away into a desert world...eager for change.
Sands of Ruin is the first book in R.M. Muller’s Sands of Ruin series. Young Harmen isn’t so young. Not really. He is facing his last year of the Selection, and he’s hoping to avoid being chosen. The soldiers...the “Guardians” they come and choose select young men to take away to fill their ranks...or so the story goes. But they never come back once they are chosen. He’s lived his entire life in a desert landscape. Following the rules, living his life with his family and dreaming of something...more.
He sees the suffering of the people around him. All of them struggling to simply survive under the harsh heat of the desert days and the brutal cold of the following nights. He wants more than the life his parents have lived. To escape the Selection, to dodge the Blending and to live his own life. But is that even possible?
When Harmen makes a dangerous decision after the loss of his friend, he brings down the ire of the Guardians upon not just himself, but his family as well. With this...tragedy will strike again, but it will be closer to home. All decisions have consequences and his are going to come back to haunt him in a real way.
He’s not alone though. In the shadows lurks another...a girl who has captured his attention. He sees her only once but her startling blue eyes captivate him and she’s all he thinks about. Will this girl reappear and how much will she affect his life? Turns out...their paths are meant to cross, and they will be the driving force for the other.
Sands of Ruin can be categorized as a young adult novel, that gives hints that it will later shift towards “new adult” with the continuation of the series. Harmen is 17 years old, and one of the main characters of this story. Author Muller is going to give readers dual POV with this story shifting from Harmen to Imani at random moments throughout this book. However, the lion’s share of the story will be focused on Harmen. He is the crucial character that author Muller wants readers to focus on.
Your heart is going to break for Harmen as he is made to go through so much throughout this story. Sands of Ruin becomes more than just a story of Harmen looking to find his family, but it becomes a quest to change the world. To bring about what once was. To fix what someone else’s pain and “rash” decision has changed the world into.
You see, the world wasn’t always a desert landscape as far as the eye can see. No, it used to be so much more. But due to someone else’s stupid decision, their evil choices, loss was created and thereby drove another to make a decision that has created nothing but more loss since. It will beg the question – Why? Why continue down this path when you see the unnecessary suffering of so many? The answer seems pretty simple doesn’t it? Greed. Love of power and the desire to cling to it no matter the cost.
Harmen, while he tries to be careful, he tends to find himself in the cross hairs of trouble more often than not. Every time he goes off by himself you’re pretty much guaranteed that something bad is about to happen. It’s literally like clockwork. Yep, cue groans of exasperation especially when you know that he’s a “wanted” man. LOL!
Well, the good news is that it at least makes for entertaining reading. You’ll constantly be on the edge of your seat wondering – “Is this going to be it?” “Is this going to be the moment, the scene where he’s messed up one too many times and is now in deep trouble?” You’re going to be crossing your fingers that it’s not, because then it will mean someone else has to put their neck on the line for him. Just resist the urge to give him a shake. Okay? LOL!
The good news? Other than Imani, here are a lot of characters in this story looking out for Harmen. So, even when he does get himself into deep trouble, there is usually someone there to lend him a helping hand. Ready for some secrets? Be sure to keep an eye out for them, because they are scattered everywhere throughout this story. Author Muller will drop hints here and there for readers, but it’s up to you to pick up on them.
There are sparks of romance throughout this story as well. Hoping for more? For readers hoping for more, you’ll be left disappointed on that front. At least for now. Who knows what future books will hold? However, readers who enjoy the build-up and establishment of a relationship are going to be appreciative of how the romance angle is only given so much attention throughout the story. It’s there, but it’s just subtle.
Hate cliffhangers? HA! Well, you’re going to have to brave through this one. Even we were howling “Oh come ON!!!” when we reached the end of this book. It’s a double whammy of a cliffhanger ending. You get some answers concerning particular characters, but the two main characters? You’re going to be left twisting in the wind as to what happens to them...for now.
Sands of Ruin is a novel that you’re not going to want to miss out on reading. So make sure that you go and grab a copy and dive on in!
Pros:
- Engaging storyline
- Interesting characters
- Dual POV
- Twists and secrets
- Light romance
Cons:
- None of merit
4.5 out of 5 Stars
Thank you to the author, R.M. Muller, for the opportunity to read and review this book! We look forward to what comes next!
