Dystopia• Fantasy

Review: Lessons in Ruin by Lex Lovely

June 30, 2026

Synopsis:

I was never supposed to survive that night.

Now I’m on the run with no one to trust, and no idea what the world really is.

Because everything I thought I knew?
It was a lie.

The people who find us say they can help.
They train like soldiers.
Fight like they’ve already lost everything.

And one of them watches me too closely.
Knows things he shouldn’t.
Pushes me harder than anyone ever has.

I should stay away from him.
I should keep my distance.

But in a world built on secrets, war, and survival…
he might be the only one who can teach me how to fight back.

If he doesn’t destroy me first.

Content Warning (18+): This novel contains childhood abuse, psychological and physical trauma, graphic violence, torture, references to sexual assault, panic attacks, substance use, and mature themes.

Review:

The trigger warnings for this one are not optional, so please be aware of what to expect. It covers some heavy topics.

Leo and Lia grew up in a family where their father was often away, and when he was home, he was not a pleasant person to be around. They tried to avoid any contact with him by staying away or looking for excuses not to be at home. They learned to adapt to this life for many years until the day their mother was killed and they had to flee.
They found a temporary home with a group of people whose aim was to take down the organisation their father had built. They hid their family connection from them. Having a common goal -taking him down – became their main focus, and they had to prepare for this.
What I enjoyed most about the book was the strong bond between the twins. What they had to endure at home and outside of it was traumatic and made them the people they are. Trust does not come easily, and learning to adapt to a new environment while hiding such a big family secret felt like a pressure cooker to me. And when the truth came out, it came with consequences.
I liked how Lia slowly learned to trust someone again and to accept her powers and control them. That was an arc of personal growth I was here for.
The first two thirds of the book were focused more on character-driven storytelling, while the last part came with a lot of action and felt a bit too fast for my liking in places. A lot happened in a short amount of time.
Overall, I enjoyed the start to the series, and while the first book completed some story arcs, it also set the stage for more.

🌙 Recension: Lessons in Ruin (Steel & Shadows #1) by Lex Lovely
📚 Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy
📅 Release Date: June 30, 2026
📗 available in various formats – included in Kindle Unlimited
📱 Read as: Kindle
💸 I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
🗣️ Language: English
📆 Pages: 415
⭐️ 4/5