This book was a pleasant surprise overall!
I've played a tiny bit League of Legends in my past, but definitely not enough to know anything about its lore (besides the fact I was really bad at it 😅).

This story feels quite simple and easy to follow, but that definitely wasn't a drawback for me! It felt familiar in a comforting way, if it makes sense.

I've really came to care about a few of the characters and I've found it pretty easy to, if not always root for, at least understand their motivations. Honestly the story has surprised me with how it unfolded, especially since it has started in such an unexpectedly familiar way. I didn't know anything about the League of Legends world prior reading this story and I feel like you can totally dive into it blind and still enjoy the ride!

It wasn't my ultimate favorite and I think it might have been because of how the events in the end played out and how the tone seemed to shift there, but I still really enjoyed it and will look back with positive feelings!

"Ruination" was a must-read for me as a fan of the entire League of Legends universe. It was thrilling to delve into the story and recognize the familiar characters. Unfortunately, the plot was quite predictable and somewhat drawn-out at times. If it hadn't been related to League of Legends, I might have been less inclined to stick with it. Overall, the book was okay – nothing remarkably exceptional, but a decent read for casual enjoyment.

Thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown Books for providing me this eARC!

I knew that there was a game called League of Legends and thats where my knowledge about them stopped. I have not even watched Arcane tv series either but i was interested on the title, so i requested it and i liked the book.

The first half of the book was used as a setup for the series and the real story started from the second half and once its started it went all the way. The narration format of third person helped so much on understanding the story and helped me to read it very fast too. I am a character centric reader and the character development was so much important to me to enjoy a book and this book gave me an excellent character and plot. Kalista is a character no one could easily forgot in my opinion and the climax made that rock solid. Excellent read

I absolutely loved it, especially as a league of legends fan. Really enjoyed getting to know the characters and their back story further. I have bought for my partner to read

First things first: I know absolutely nothing about League of Legends. I barely know of its existence and I couldn't tell you a single thing about the game or the world or the characters. But just like millions more, I watched 'Arcane" and was blown away by it, and while it still didn't inspire me to read beyond "multiplayer battle arena game" on the Wikipedia page, it did manage to make me actually read the blurb of a book titled as a League of Legends novel. A thing I would not have done before this show came out - not just because I know nothing about the game world, but also because I don't even read novelizations of the games I actually do play. So me reading this very book right here, it is kind of a miracle.

Well, big thank you to miracles because I really really enjoyed this one. Yes, there are a lot of "Look! this is THAT iconic character of the Game badoooooom!!" moments that I recognized without knowing anything about those characters, the writing and storytelling was very explicit in that way. But I just nodded and moved on because it was such a well-written, fun, exciting story all around. Mostly, it didn't feel like a tie-in novel. It stood perfectly well on its own, telling the story of an overwhelmed and frankly terrible king, the warrior who should have been queen instead and her long quest to save her king's dying love - a quest that ultimately leads to tragedy. I was hooked, I was invested, and was emotionally involved. It's a fast-paced read with interesting characters and themes. Kalista is a great and loveable protagonist that I would have loved to follow even longer. I do have to say that the ending is a little abrupt, as in, I would have loved to see more of the aftermath explored.

Now, does it necessarily hold up to other high fantasy novels in terms of world building, writing and thematic complexity? No, but it doesn't have to. And it's perfect for those of us who sometimes just want a more action-focused, faster paced fantasy read. I would consider this a really accessible fantasy novel for readers who don't read adult high fantasy all the time, too. And quite frankly? While you still won't ever catch me playing the game, I'm much more interested in reading novel tie-ins now.
4 stars, no further notes.

The writing style in the third person struck me as uncomplicated and enjoyable. The story truly picks up its pace and intensity only after reaching the halfway mark. While there was sufficient exposition, certain actions in the first half felt somewhat peripheral and didn't significantly propel the narrative. Yet, in the second half, I was glued to the book, devouring it eagerly. The ending served as a marvelous and dark prologue. I couldn't help but feel a deep sympathy for Kalista throughout the entire ordeal, given her remarkably sincere portrayal as the protagonist. I was thoroughly impressed by the book and am eager for more novels of a similar nature. It not only prioritized the franchise but also underscored the importance of plot and character development.

I'm not a gamer, so I knew nothing about League of Legends except the Netflix series Arcane was set in that world and that this is one absolutely stunning book cover. I'm possibly missing lots of lore knowing nothing of the background, but it doesn't in any way detract from what is a solid, sweeping and jaw dropping fantasy novel.
Kalista is the granddaughter of the dead king. Fiercely loyal, she will do anything to protect her young uncle, the new king and the empire of Camavor. When tragedy befalls her family, Kalista is dragged into a world where her choices can bring about the destruction of not only the family she wishes to protect, but her whole world.
This was a stunning standalone. Fast paced with intriguing lore and worldbuilding. There's a brilliant cast of fantastic and sometimes grotesque characters. I was hooked from the first chapter and really loved being in this world. I also enjoyed how this was a standalone novel.
This is a great fantasy, set in a wonderful world. Don't be put off if you're not familiar with the game. I've no idea about it but still really enjoyed the novel.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with an arc in return for an honest review.

I don’t know what I was expecting with this one but I enjoyed it. Not something I would usually pick up but I would happily recommend this book.