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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Guest Review from Mindy Houng

What a great fantasy novel! There is splendid world-building in the story with parallel worlds called Lands Within (their world) and Lands Without (our world). The two worlds are so unique and the author provides many details about the landscape and traditions of Lands Within which all fall into place when the story concludes. Yet the consequences of greed, sin, and war are the same in both worlds and the consequences of ignorance and forgetfulness of our past and history are also the same in both worlds. There is also a bit of mystery and suspense as the main character Lori from Lands Without tries to figure out what the Lands Within is about. Though told through third person narrative, it is a limited third person so it almost reads like first person narrative. Many twists and turns keep the plot absolutely intriguing. The dialogue and interaction between the two main characters, Lori and Thane, are intelligent, amusing, and sometimes downright hilarious.

Lori is a unique archeologist who suffers a tangible condition that prevents her from working in the field that she loves. Her heart is so tender and loving and her keen intelligence that probes answers to difficult questions are so endearing. Thane, from Lands Within, is somewhat difficult to like at the beginning, with his stiffness and brusque mannerisms, but he proves himself as a noble and self-sacrificing hero as the story unfolds.

What an intriguing tale of hope in the face of despair. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! If you enjoy fantasy, you will absolutely love this book.

I was given a copy of the book from the author/publisher through Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely 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