A marriage of convenience turns into happily-ever-after in Ruined, a character-driven graphic novel and historical romance from powerhouse team Sarah Vaughn (Sleepless), Sarah Winifred Searle (The Greatest Thing), and Niki Smith (The Deep & Dark Blue).
When society declares Catherine Benson "ruined," she's forced to marry. Enter penniless, brooding, and devastatingly handsome gentleman Andrew Davener, who needs her dowry to restore his crumbling estate. After an intensely awkward wedding day and an unsuccessful wedding night, the two build a foundation of respect and friendship. This is very much a romance novel, so as they bring the estate and its accounts to rights, they develop feelings for each other--despite their best intentions. Both are convinced the relationship remains transactional, even as they begin sleeping together and enjoying the company of each other's friends. The two-steps-forward-one-step-back nature of their romance provides a delicious tension until a well-deserved happy ending.
Fans of Sarah Winifred Searle will recognize some of the hallmarks of their work: limited shading; a dreamy, muted palette in purposely romantic shades of mauve, purple, and pink; and expressive eyes and less-defined mouths and noses. Niki Smith's stamp is evident as well, with defined inks that highlight the historical backgrounds while keeping the characters at the fore.
Ruined also features a diverse secondary cast, thoughtfully developed character arcs, and a lovingly rendered Regency setting. Readers looking for a quieter Bridgerton or a more diverse, steamier Austen novel will love this graphic novel. --Suzanne Krohn, librarian and freelance reviewer