Bright Ruined Things

"[A] smashing Shakespearean historical fantasy."—Buzzfeed

"Bright Ruined Things is a more insightful novel than readers might expect, while also devoting a fair amount of its pages to considering what it means to be a person of integrity who chooses to stand up to the ugliness of power at all costs. I’ll take some Gatsby with my Shakespeare any day, as long as Cohoe is the one doing the writing."—Locus Magazine

"Cohoe ably combines a postcolonial reading of The Tempest with the literary tradition of edgy, electric aristocrats and outsiders in London’s 1920s social scene (à la Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh). This will appeal to a broad audience, from fans of Shakespeare to Lockhart’s We Were Liars to Cooper’s Montmaray Diaries series."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"I was utterly captivated by the world Samantha Cohoe conjured on this mysterious island, where magic and power rule hand-in-hand with intrigue and desire. A wealthy family, a web of secrets about the past, and a cast of glittering characters who feel like they just stepped out from one of The Great Gatsby's legendary parties—what's not to love? I was swept right along with Mae as she digs in to uncover the truth behind the magic wielded by the Prosper family and wrestles with her own desire to grasp hold of power she's long been denied."—Lisa DeSelm, author of The Puppetmaster’s Apprentice

"A deftly-plotted tale about ambition and belonging, Bright Ruined Things takes Shakespeare’s The Tempest and brilliantly reimagines its themes of family and love. Cohoe writes with a magic that dazzles and cuts right to the core."—Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights

"Cohoe's prose moves at a clip through a night packed with intrigue . . . Fans of Shakespeare’s The Tempest will find much to enjoy, as will readers eager for a luxurious 1920s period piece . . . An intriguing story about the rot that lies beneath splendor."—Kirkus Reviews

"Cohoe’s sophomore novel . . . is filled with magic, romance, secrets, and lies."—Booklist

"This dizzying struggle over power, magic, and dreams will sink readers into this fantasy’s web of ambition and family tension. A strong choice for libraries serving teens."—School Library Journal

"A novel whose sumptuous setting alongside the careless, magical rich proffers undeniable pleasures."—Publishers Weekly