I wasn’t sure what to think when I first picked up Beauty Among Ruins by J’nell Ciesielski. I’d heard good things about this and her other books, but stories set during the First or Second World War aren’t something I typically pick up. I’ve read several over the years, but not enough to call it a favorite genre, or even one I read more than once a year. Did this book make me a fan of the genre? No. But, it did make me a fan of J’nell Ciesielski.
Because Beauty Among Ruins is good. Very, very good. I immediately felt at ease with the writing style and have no complaints about how it is written. The characters drew me in from the start, and the idiosyncrasies that annoyed me in the beginning were “outgrown” by the end. It felt as though they grew with the story in such a subtle way you knew it was happening as much you saw it happen. And the setting itself was unique and interesting. A Scottish castle with mysterious people and events lurking around hidden corners? What’s not to love about that?
I requested a copy of this book to review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Thank you so much for your review! I’m delighted you enjoyed Alec and Lily’s story!