A brilliant sci-fi thriller that does not fail to grab the reader. The imagery is fantastic, and I could not help liking the dialogue. “Guns kill people and they never break, never feel remorse. Only people-fragile, brittle people-regret the things they do or almost do.” (Book Tour Reviewer Andrew Bell)
This book is a compact, riveting read. From start to finish there is always something happening. The pacing is perfect; there wasn’t anywhere in the book where a scene was boring. The twists and turns in the plot are never anticipated. The characters were mostly well-fleshed out and their rapport with each other was believable. It was especially enjoyable watching Astra and Hendric’s love/hate relationship develop into something more. Astra herself is a remarkable heroine: she is smart, resourceful, beautiful, and empathetic. However, she has her flaws as well, and Hendric does a good job working with her to tame those flaws. She does the same back to him. All the other characters including Gemini were characters I cared for. My only quibble is that the dialogue at times felt much the same; when alternating from Astra to Hendric’s point of view, the style remained exactly the same. I also would have liked to see more of Astra’s upbringing in the Ruffian base and her link with Gemini. Otherwise, this is a gripping story with solid characters and a tight plot. (Book Tour Reviewer Sophie Jupillat Posey)
Ruffian is a fast-paced science fiction adventure you will find yourself dragged into right from the beginning. The main character, a determined and daring young woman, guides us through an apocalyptic scenario, in which her elite team seems to be vital to protect this world from evil. However, things are not as simple as they could seem, and you will soon find yourself not knowing whom to trust or what to believe. The book is a page-turner, which successfully keeps the suspense and includes a plot twist that leaves the door open for a sequel. Part of the plot and some scenes seem implausible, even for a science fiction novel, and it relies on the action to compensate for the lack of depth of some of the events that take place. It is easy to feel sympathy and understanding for the main characters, especially for Astra, although it would be interesting to see a more complex analysis of the situations based on the traumatic experiences of the different characters. Each character should have their own unmistakable, unique voice reflected in their words. It is an easy, entertaining read, packed with action at a frantic pace. (Book Tour Reviewer Veronica Franco)
This was a fast paced plot with lots of action. It started out a little confusing, trying to work out who was whom, and at the beginning the character voices weren’t too distinct. I thought that at times the two different plots were tough to handle along with the two POVs. It was a little head spinning at times. It was a good story that flew by. (Book Tour Reviewer Eryn McConnell)
This is an astounding debut novel from this young author, who is a similar age to her own heroine. Leia has blurred the lines between real life events and a sci-fi setting to create a captivating combination. Featuring a global pandemic, one can’t help but relate it to recent world events, but this book focuses more upon finding the facts behind the fictional outbreak, rather than lingering too long on the devastating effects of the disease. This is a slick and sleek spy thriller that will appeal to both teen and adult fans of that genre and also tick all the right boxes for those who love their novels dark and dystopian. (Book Tour Reviewer Michelle Marshall)
A young adult work set in a dystopian near-future, Ruffian is full of political intrigue. The first-person present-tense narration gives the novel an engaging feel, shifting easily between punchy shot-by-shot action and well-worded prose. The fact that the novel was written by a high school student makes this solid offering all the more impressive, and I look forward to seeing where this author goes in the future. (Book Tour Reviewer Tim Marshall)
This YA Dystopian Sci-Fi Adventure is a must read for all fans of the Divergent Series by Veronica Roth. Astra, as the main protagonist, is a relatable and likeable female lead who discovers more about herself and her abilities when she is taken from her home to join the Ruffians. She quickly forms a strong alliance and bond with her fellow Ruffians, but once her training is completed, she discovers that all is not what it seems, and starts to question who she can trust. As a debut novel this is a solid introduction to the apocalyptic world that the Author has created. The pace moves at lightening speed keeping the audience gripped from the first page to the last, and thrusts the reader forward into the action and suspense. The characters are in the main well developed, the dialogue satisfactory, although there are opportunities for the author to enhance both further, and perhaps introduce more scenes of Astra’s life growing up in the Ruffian base. Overall this is an entertaining read and I am looking forward to seeing how the Author takes the story forward in her next book. (Book Tour Reviewer Kirsty McKay)
We award 4 stars.