Left In Ruins

Did I like it? No. Am I reading book 2 because this ended on a cliff hanger and I need closure? Yes.

I'm pretty disappointed. I really wanted to like this book and I liked the male characters but I found Lyric so so so unlikeable. Detestable really. I don't mind a Mary Sue, (in fact I enjoy this type of character more than I would like to admit) but Lyric was just really really not it for me.

I liked the first chapter hearing about her experience teaching kids music. Like another reviewer said, she comes off as neurodivergent, and as someone who is as well, I thought her perspective seemed thoughtfully written and well developed. After that chapter though I started to really find her distasteful.

In fact, I noticed that this part of her, seemed to get less and less attention throughout the rest of this book and the second book. So then it comes off across like she was just a shallow “autistic savant” cardboard cutout. She quickly became one dimensional, whiny, and annoying. She was never allowed to grow as a character, while all the male characters matured and became more human, because no one was ever allowed to hold her accountable for anything! Her faults were either ignored, deemed unimportant, or they didn't want to hurt her sensitive omega feelings.

I mean, I'm honestly debating with myself whether that is a valid excuse? If the author was trying to really emphasize up that this is what it means to be an omega, then sure, I guess. But I've read a lot of the genre and this definitely doesn't have to be it.

On that note, I also saw a review mentioning Lilah from Pack Darling, and Lyric is certainly no Lilah. Period. Like I feel bad even putting their names in the same sentence. If you like Lilah, that certainly does not mean you will like Lyric, and this is coming from someone who re-reads pack darling religiously. It's one of my favorite books, and I adore Lilah

So I guess what I'm saying is, I'm fine with Mary Sues being worshipped so long as I find their characteristics worth worshiping. Other than her musical abilities, nothing about Lyric seemed worthy of the utter rapture of all of the male characters, and her musical ability wasn't central enough to the plot line for me to also find it worthy of excusing her irrational, self centered, and general poor behavior. She also didn't seem to “morally struggle” ever. She just made poor choices and then hated herself for making poor choices. We didn't really see her debate with herself over whether or not she was making the right/wrong choice. I feel like that would've helped with this problem, and helped to humanize her at least a little.

I think I'm being kinda harsh now because I was so damn disappointed. I'll try reading this again in the future when I've forgotten about it lol.