Kingdom of Ruins

  • Author: D.C. Marino
  • Publisher: Celebrate Lit Publishing
  • Print Length: 432 pages
  • Release Date: July 26, 2018
  • I Rate it:    
  • Genre: Potpourri
  • Purchase on Amazon

Book Summary

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.

Write Now Literary Book Tours - Taffy Book Blast Tour

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

<h2><span class="wrap"><span class="inner">About The Author</span></span></h2>

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.

You can find D.C. on 

D.C. Marino

Book Review by Bree Herron

Magic and fantasy rule the pages of this book. For someone that is usually saying no to such novels, I was curious about this book that hosted history being erased and a female character that I absolutely loved. Lori and I are very similar when touching objects it is easy to feel the life of a previous duty in it. Though obviously Lori experiences more magic than this mere mortal.

I really loved the realms, each hosting its own unique characters and obstacles. I loved the good vs. evil that pushes such novels to find the good in moments and places. For me this book really did show me that I could enjoy a fantasy novel, and that it wasn’t anything less than a delight to read. I would gladly pursue reading more in the series, if there are more.

I Rate it

Please join the conversation and comment below. Have you read… If so what did you think/like?

**DISCLAIMER: I was provided an opportunity to read this book as an Advanced Reader Copy in return for a fair and honest review.

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<h2><span class="inner">Giveaway</span></h2>

To celebrate the tour, Celebrate Lit Publishing is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!! Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!! Find out all the details and enter to WIN at Kingdom of Ruins Celebration Tour Giveaway.

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1 Comment

  1. MJSH

    Thanks for being a part of the tour! Loved the book and waiting for the sequel!

    Reply

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