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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My Review

Fantasy meets reality in a historic way through the eyes of an archeologist that has a fear of ruins. If that sentence seems to twist your head a little bit, get ready for a fun fantasy ride in Kingdom of Ruins. Our author uses great artistry creating "The Lands Within." While it took me a minute to comprehend what was going on, I think our character was in the same frame of mind and we figured it out together. I always enjoy a good fantasy, and it certainly took artisitic skill to craft this one, and the plot we find within. While this read is a lengthy one, and I wish that maybe the action was a bit more fast paced, there is plenty to be in awe of. I connected to Lori because I too tend to be fearful, but the Lord has a way of pushing me way out of comfort zone as Lori finds herself. I felt like the characters were very relatable as well which isn't always easy to do with characters contained within a fantasy world. Overall, great artistry here. If you like adventure, fantasy, or just a fun read that will keep you guessing until the end, Kingdom of Ruins is for you!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, and all opinions given are my own.

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