About the Book
Title: Kingdom of Ruins
Author: D.C. Marino
Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: July 27, 2018
In the Lands Within, history does not rest. Each archaeological layer communicates with the living generation, choosing its friends and enemies—and its kings. But an alliance has been struck no one could have anticipated, and an ancient evil is soaking into the soil. History is being erased, purchased and re-written at a terrible price. And a kingdom that shouldn’t have been forgotten is fading from memory.
In the Lands Without, archaeologist Lori Brickland has found a pottery shard with a heartbeat. The pulse might be a trick of the mind, or it might be the first sign of life in a world of ruin. An exiled traveler will say she shouldn’t search for the truth, a calculating ruler will say she’s the one he’s looking for. And the kingdom? The kingdom will need her before the end. It’s time to accept what she’s always known…
This isn’t archaeology.
This is war.
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In My Opinion…
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.
About the Author
D.C. Marino is a dedicated reader of history books and fantasy novels, both of which occupy an equal amount of space on her bookshelves. But it wasn’t until she realized how one breathed life into the other that she became addicted to finding the intersections of the real world and the fairy story. Still more: what those intersections about us as a creative, curious people. Kingdom of Ruins is her debut novel.
Guest Post from D.C. Marino
Hi everyone!
I’m so excited to share Kingdom of Ruins with you! This story has been on my heart and mind for over ten years now, so this feels a bit surreal. I’d love to tell you a bit about why I wrote this book. But in order to do that, I need to tell you why I almost didn’t.
Fantasy. It isn’t real. Why should I spend time writing a story that doesn’t grapple with the actual issues of the day? Why not speak plainly, instead of inventing another world to explore the real one? These were the questions I asked myself every night before I fell asleep. I adored fiction that transported me to factual events, or introduced me to historical figures, but every time I picked up a pen, the fantastical wiggled out of it.
I was afraid I was writing the wrong story.
This story oddly (or not so oddly) enough began with Lori, an atephobic archaeologist. Meaning she had a passion for archaeology, but a phobic fear of ruins. Why would she shrink back from the work she loved? Because no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t make whole the broken. Life ends in dust, and that’s all there is to it. I felt the same way. Not only was I writing something I wasn’t sure would be relevant, but could it mend anything? Make a difference? Or was it futile, like trying to resurrect the past?
What I found was exactly what Lori begins to find in Kingdom of Ruins. That even though things seem unfixable, it isn’t the end. The world Lori enters is full of darkness and peril, but it also holds a chance for her to heal from more than just her fear. While I wrote, and especially as I neared the last chapter, I realized she and I had both overcome a great challenge. I won’t tell you her conclusion, but I will tell you mine:
I wrote the right story.
I hope you enjoy every bit of the journey as I did, dear reader.
D.C. Marino
Giveaway
To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit Publishing is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/ced0/kingdom-of-ruins-celebration-tour-giveaway
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Carpe Diem, July 31
Remembrancy, July 31
Inklings and notions, August 1
Fiction Aficionado, August 2
Multifarious, August 3
Jeanette’s Thoughts, August 3
Connect in Fiction, August 4
Bigreadersite, August 4
Bibliophile Reviews, August 5
A Reader’s Brain, August 6
Just the Write Escape, August 7
Margaret Kazmierczak, August 8
Aryn the Libraryan, August 8
Simple Harvest Reads, August 9 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)
Blogging With Carol, August 10
proud to be an autism mom, August 10
Texas Book-aholic, August 11
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 12
Janices book reviews, August 12
A Baker’s Perspective, August 13
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What a different idea for a story!
I’m glad you enjoyed Kingdom of Ruins as much as I did! I agree, the imagination of D. C. Marino and others is incredible and I’m so glad that they share with their other worlds with the rest of us!