A Deep Dive Into Rachel Fallon’s First Installment of The Star Queen Chronicles
Audiobooks can elevate a reading experience, and for Rachel Fallon’s Of Darkness and Ruination, the narrators did precisely that. Before diving into the intricacies of the book, I must applaud the outstanding work of @alexa_narrates and @em_wylde. Their performances were nothing short of stellar, breathing life into an otherwise polarizing story. Their ability to give each character distinct tones, emotions, and personality kept me engaged, even during parts of the book that were otherwise difficult to endure. The audiobook alone deserves a round of applause for transforming a text into a more dynamic experience.
Unfortunately, while the narrators shone brightly, the story itself struggled to rise above the shadows of predictability and excessive indulgence.
🌌 The Premise
The concept of Of Darkness and Ruination is certainly intriguing. Set on the magical continent of Celesterra, where humans are enslaved to the ruling fae, the plot revolves around Asteria Zagreus, a mortal woman forced to serve a fae prince. The world-building offers potential with its distinct kingdoms (Dusk and Night, in particular) and an intriguing premise centered on enslavement, resistance, and courtly intrigue. Asteria’s journey of self-discovery, rebellion, and the challenge of navigating a court fraught with danger aligns well with the romantasy genre. The inclusion of tropes like “enemies-to-lovers,” “fated mates,” and “light vs dark” adds flavor for those who enjoy familiar elements of the genre.
However, the execution leaves much to be desired.
✨ Where the Story Shines
- The Audiobook Narration: As mentioned earlier, the narrators went above and beyond to elevate the text. Their emotional delivery, pacing, and tonal shifts kept the story engaging, even during moments where the narrative fell flat.
- Courtly Intrigue and World-Building Potential: While not fully fleshed out, the concept of Celesterra and its different kingdoms has the potential to develop into a rich and immersive world. The dynamic between the Dusk and Night Kingdoms and the looming chaos adds tension to the narrative.
- Tropes That Work: The “enemies-to-lovers” and “touch her and die” tropes are always crowd-pleasers in romantasy, and Fallon delivers moments of angst and tension between Asteria and the shadowy fae Prince Cyrus.
🖤 Where It Falls Short
Here’s where things start to unravel:
- Excessive and Gratuitous Content: Let’s talk about the elephant in the room—or, rather, the shadow daddy dragon in the room. I enjoy well-written spice, and I’m not opposed to dark or edgy elements in a story. But Of Darkness and Ruination takes it to an extreme that feels more exploitative than narrative-driven. Two orgy scenes, multiple rape scenes, and other moments of “debauchery” overshadow what could have been a compelling plot. The excessive use of smut and disturbing content feels like it’s there for shock value rather than to advance the story. This crosses the line from romantasy into something entirely different, making the story uncomfortable at best and repulsive at worst.
- Predictability: The storyline reads like a predictable mashup of well-known tropes. From the enslaved mortal heroine to the brooding fae love interest with a tragic backstory, Of Darkness and Ruination feels like a fanfiction derivative of other successful books in the genre. Fans of A Court of Silver Flames might notice similarities, but the execution lacks originality, leaving little room for surprise.
- Missed Opportunities for Development: With such a fascinating premise, I had high hopes for Asteria’s character development and her interactions with Cyrus and other characters. Instead, the story leans too heavily on physical encounters and dramatic tension, leaving little room for emotional depth or meaningful growth. A tighter narrative and better editing could have brought the potential of this story to life.
- Trigger Warning Overload: While many authors tackle dark themes, there is a fine line between exploring heavy topics with sensitivity and overwhelming the reader with gratuitous depictions. Scenes of sexual assault and abuse feel overused here, and they detract from the story rather than adding depth.
🌟 Final Thoughts
Writing a critical review is never easy, especially knowing that Of Darkness and Ruination is a labor of love for the author. There are elements of the story that show promise, and with the help of a skilled editor, future installments could better balance the dark and light aspects of the narrative.
While the audiobook is a testament to the power of narration, the story itself feels weighed down by its own indulgence. As a fan of romantasy, I genuinely wish Of Darkness and Ruination had done more to stand out in a crowded genre. For readers who enjoy darker tales and don’t mind wading through excessive spice, this might be worth picking up. But for those looking for a more balanced romantasy experience, I’d recommend exploring other options.
Rating: 2.5/5 Stars
Reading Caffeinated 