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9 min read
Reader ratingreader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
4.4
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Our review
Ruinous Ends by I. V. Marie Review: A High-Stakes Dark Fantasy Sequel
Ruinous Ends is the #1 New York Times bestselling second installment in I. V. Marie's Souls of Blackwood Academy dark fantasy YA series, published by Delacorte Press, in which six former students race to determine the fate of purgatory's most infamous school — and the entire afterlife — before its deepest secret destroys everything. A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick with a diverse central cast and an ensemble of romantic pairings, it delivers escalating supernatural stakes and emotionally charged character arcs, though reviewers note that the prose occasionally loses its momentum.
Tap to enlargeLuvemBooks Verdict
Best for
Fans of the Souls of Blackwood Academy series — particularly readers aged 14 and up who finished Immortal Consequences and are invested in the ensemble cast's romantic pairings, faction-based supernatural conflict, and the purgatorial Blackwood Academy setting.
Worth it if
You're already hooked on the series' diverse ensemble, its afterlife mythology, and the blend of romantic tension with high-stakes dark fantasy — Ruinous Ends amplifies all of those elements and raises the trilogy's stakes to their highest point yet.
Skip if
Readers prioritising sentence-level literary craft should be aware that Kirkus Reviews specifically flags the prose as occasionally flatlined — telling emotional states rather than rendering them — which may prove a persistent friction for those with high stylistic expectations.
What readers & critics say
Kirkus Reviews notes that while Marie's prose "sometimes flatlines," the novel still delivers "steamy passages and waves of intense feelings" sweeping its ensemble toward resolutions "ranging from tragic to cute," with the series' diversity in race and sexuality a continued strength. The book has achieved wide commercial recognition, confirmed by the publisher and multiple retail sources as a #1 New York Times bestseller and a Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick.
“Her prose sometimes flatlines…still, giving readers plenty of chances to pick favorite couples or characters.”
— Kirkus Reviews“Marie sweeps her lovers through steamy passages and waves of intense feelings toward a general reunion in the midst of battle.”
— Kirkus Reviews4.4from 166 Amazon ratings— reader ratings, not a LuvemBooks score
Buy on AmazonAge & Reading Level
Recommended age
Ages 12–18
Reading level
Young adult
2 content notes · who it suits
Content to know about
supernatural peril and afterlife violence
steamy romantic content between teen characters
Best for: Ages 14 and up — YA designation reflects dark afterlife mythology, faction-based peril, and romantic content described by reviewers as including steamy passages and waves of intense feelings.
Skip if You want standalone-friendly dark fantasy or literary YA with polished, precise prose.
In This Review
- What Works & What Doesn't
- What the Book Is and What It Contains
- Significance and Series Context
- Ensemble Cast and Romantic Architecture
- Where the Prose Falters
- Who This Book Is For
What Works & What Doesn't
What Works
- #1 New York Times bestseller and a Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick, reflecting strong broad-audience reception
- Raises the stakes meaningfully beyond the first book, centering the fate of the entire afterlife and Blackwood Academy's buried secrets
- Ensemble of six leads — August, Emilio, Irene, Masika, Olivier, and Wren — offers diverse racial and sexual representation with multiple romantic pairings
- Critics note the book sweeps characters toward resolutions ranging from tragic to uplifting, rewarding readers across emotional registers.
- Part of a fully planned trilogy with an established companion novella, offering committed readers a rich, expansive fictional universe
What Doesn't
- Kirkus Reviews specifically flags that the prose sometimes flatlines, favoring stated emotion over precise, evocative writing
- As the second book in a trilogy, it requires familiarity with *Immortal Consequences* — not a standalone entry point for new readers
Ruinous Ends is the #1 New York Times bestselling sequel to Immortal Consequences, and a worthy continuation of I. V. Marie's ambitious dark fantasy world — though one with a specific, identifiable weakness that keeps it from perfection.
What the Book Is and What It Contains
Ruinous Ends picks up directly after the Decennial — the deadly competition at the heart of the first novel — and widens the lens considerably. With the tournament over, six former pupils of the supernatural institution known as Blackwood Academy find themselves responsible for its future: August, Emilio, Irene, Masika, Olivier, and Wren, each aligned with one of three factions dedicated either to defending or destroying purgatory's Blackwood Academy. The novel's central engine is a buried secret — one so significant, the publisher's own synopsis warns, that when it finally surfaces it will "shake the institution to its core." The afterlife itself hangs in the balance, raising the stakes well beyond a typical school-set fantasy and positioning this installment as the structural midpoint of a planned trilogy.
Image from the Amazon listing for Ruinous Ends: A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick by I. V. Marie
Significance and Series Context
Marie's debut, Immortal Consequences, was described by its publisher as a "viral dark fantasy sensation," and the sequel arrives carrying that momentum in measurable form: a #1 New York Times bestseller designation and selection as a Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick. The series is published under Random House Children's Books, a division of Penguin Random House, and Ruinous Ends is the second of three planned books — with author I. V. Marie, born to a Peruvian mother and Chilean father in Miami, also having written the companion novella Twisted Vo within the same fictional universe. Together, these works establish the Souls of Blackwood Academy as one of the more prominent dark fantasy YA series currently in progress.
Image from the Amazon listing for Ruinous Ends: A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick by I. V. Marie
Ensemble Cast and Romantic Architecture
One of the series' distinguishing structural choices — established in book one and carried forward here — is its ensemble design. The six leads represent a range of racial and sexual identities, and they are sorted into romantic pairings that critics note give "readers plenty of chances to pick favorite couples or characters." Marie moves these relationships through what reviewers describe as "steamy passages and waves of intense feelings," culminating in a climactic reunion amid battle, with individual arcs resolving across a tonal spectrum from tragic to uplifting. This multi-ship approach is a deliberate appeal to readers who invest in character-driven romance alongside supernatural conflict — a hallmark of YA fandom culture — and it appears to be one of the book's primary engines of engagement.
Image from the Amazon listing for Ruinous Ends: A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick by I. V. Marie
Where the Prose Falters
Reviewers identify a genuine craft limitation: Marie's prose "sometimes flatlines," citing a representative passage — "She saw the apathy in Irene's glowing eyes, the unwavering determination" — as an example of writing that tells emotional states rather than rendering them with precision. For readers drawn primarily to sentence-level craft or literary YA with a strong stylistic voice, this is a real friction point. The emotional ambition of the novel's climax and its multi-character arcs are not always matched by the sharpness of the writing that carries them. This is a specific, sourced critique rather than a systemic failure, but it is worth flagging for readers with high prose expectations.
Image from the Amazon listing for Ruinous Ends: A Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick by I. V. Marie
Who This Book Is For
Designed for readers aged 14 and up, Ruinous Ends is squarely aimed at fans of dark fantasy YA with romantic ensemble casts, supernatural world-building rooted in afterlife mythology, and the kind of faction-based conflict that rewards investment across multiple volumes. Readers who came to Immortal Consequences for its cast diversity, its purgatorial setting, and its blend of high-stakes action with romantic tension will find those elements amplified here. Those new to the series should begin with Immortal Consequences, as this volume builds directly on established character loyalties and the events of the Decennial. As a #1 New York Times bestseller and a major book-club selection, it has clearly connected with its target audience at scale.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ruinous Ends worth reading if you enjoyed the first book?
The review describes Ruinous Ends as a worthy continuation of I. V. Marie's ambitious dark fantasy world, amplifying the cast diversity, purgatorial setting, and blend of high-stakes action with romantic tension that made the first book appealing. Its status as a number one New York Times bestseller and a Good Morning America YA Book Club Pick confirms it has connected with its target audience at scale. LuvemBooks does note one identifiable weakness in the prose that keeps it from perfection, so readers should go in with calibrated expectations.
Who is the target audience for Ruinous Ends?
The book is designed for readers aged 14 and up who enjoy dark fantasy YA with romantic ensemble casts, supernatural world-building rooted in afterlife mythology, and faction-based conflict that rewards investment across multiple volumes. It is particularly well-suited to fans who came to Immortal Consequences for its diverse cast and purgatorial setting. Those who prioritize sentence-level literary craft above all else may find the prose a friction point.
Can you read Ruinous Ends without reading the first book?
The review strongly advises against starting here, noting that this volume builds directly on established character loyalties and the events of the Decennial from the first novel, Immortal Consequences. New readers would lack the context needed to understand the six leads and the faction dynamics central to the plot. LuvemBooks recommends beginning with Immortal Consequences before picking up this sequel.
What is the central plot of Ruinous Ends?
Picking up directly after the Decennial — the deadly competition at the heart of the first novel — Ruinous Ends follows six former pupils of Blackwood Academy who are now responsible for its future, each aligned with one of three factions dedicated either to defending or destroying purgatory's Blackwood Academy. The novel's central engine is a buried secret that, when it surfaces, is said to shake the institution to its core. The afterlife itself hangs in the balance, raising the stakes well beyond a typical school-set fantasy.
What are the main themes in Ruinous Ends?
The review highlights themes of institutional survival and destruction, the weight of faction loyalty, and the consequences of buried secrets within a supernatural afterlife setting. Romantic tension and identity — including racial and sexual diversity among the six leads — are also central thematic pillars. The novel frames these personal and political conflicts against the fate of purgatory itself, giving the story an unusually high-stakes backdrop for a YA series.
How does the ensemble cast work in this book?
The six leads — August, Emilio, Irene, Masika, Olivier, and Wren — represent a range of racial and sexual identities and are sorted into romantic pairings, giving readers plenty of chances to pick favorite couples or characters. Marie moves these relationships through steamy passages and waves of intense feelings, with individual arcs resolving across a tonal spectrum from tragic to uplifting. This multi-ship ensemble design is described as one of the book's primary engines of engagement.
Which characters are featured in Ruinous Ends?
The six central characters are August, Emilio, Irene, Masika, Olivier, and Wren, all former pupils of Blackwood Academy who now hold responsibility for its future. Each is aligned with one of three factions, and each participates in romantic pairings that drive much of the character-level drama. The review notes that their arcs resolve across a range of emotional registers, from tragic to uplifting.
What is the faction system in Ruinous Ends?
The six leads are each aligned with one of three factions, all of which are dedicated either to defending or destroying purgatory's Blackwood Academy. The review describes this faction-based conflict as a structural feature that rewards investment across multiple volumes, making it especially appealing to readers who enjoy ongoing series with layered allegiances. The fate of the afterlife itself is tied to how these factional tensions resolve.
How is the romance handled in this book?
Romance is a deliberate and prominent feature, with the six leads sorted into pairings that the review describes as moving through steamy passages and waves of intense feelings, culminating in a climactic reunion amid battle. The multi-ship approach is identified as a hallmark of YA fandom culture and one of the book's primary engines of engagement. Individual romantic arcs resolve across a spectrum from tragic to uplifting, offering something for a wide range of readers.
What are the weaknesses of Ruinous Ends?
The review identifies a genuine craft limitation: Marie's prose sometimes flatlines, with a representative example being the passage 'She saw the apathy in Irene's glowing eyes, the unwavering determination,' which tells emotional states rather than rendering them with precision. The emotional ambition of the novel's climax and its multi-character arcs are not always matched by the sharpness of the writing that carries them. LuvemBooks frames this as a specific, sourced critique rather than a systemic failure, but flags it clearly for readers with high prose expectations.
Sources & Further Reading
The key facts and claims in this review are grounded in the retrieved, verified sources listed below.
- Cited in this review
- 1
- 2
- 3
kirkusreviews.com
- Further reading
- 4
- 5
- 6
ivmarie.com
- 7
- 8
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