A Good Girl's Guide to Murder: Deluxe Edition
Holly Jackson
Both books explore Young Adult Fiction
The Ruins Beneath Us
A slow-burn YA romantasy about a hidden elf healer pulled into a human court, offering a love triangle, secret magic, and a mystery buried beneath the palace.
What It's About
The Ruins Beneath Us is the first book in a planned romantasy duology and Sasha E. Sloan's debut. It follows Lyria, an eighteen-year-old elf who has grown up in hiding at the edge of a forest while tension builds between elves and humans. When she saves a wounded young man and secretly uses magic to heal him, she lands an unexpected invitation to court. He turns out to be the crown prince, and he wants her as the royal apothecary.
The tension comes from concealment. Lyria has to pass as human, practice healing without exposing what she is, and handle two very different young men: Finn, the warm prince who brought her in, and Cygnus, the cold Head Healer who doubts her from the start. A deeper mystery opens when Lyria and Cygnus find something hidden beneath the palace, and her question shifts from staying safe to deciding whom she can trust.
This is a book built for readers who already love the genre and its familiar pleasures: a disguised heroine, court intrigue, a rival who may be more than a rival, and romance that develops slowly. It aims to be an absorbing, emotional read rather than a dense or experimental fantasy. Because it opens a duology, expect it to build toward a sequel rather than tie everything up.
Read this if you…
- love slow-burn romantasy with a love triangle at its center
- enjoy stories about a heroine hiding her true identity at a royal court
- liked BookTok favorites such as Lightlark or Assistant to the Villain
Skip it if you…
- want complex, standalone epic fantasy with intricate politics and a full resolution
- are tired of love triangles and familiar YA romantasy tropes
Key Ideas
- 1
Living a double identity
Lyria's core struggle is concealment. She must hide that she is an elf and that her healing relies on forbidden magic, all while working at the center of a human court. Much of the suspense comes from small moments where she might slip. This turns an ordinary job at court into a constant test of nerve and belonging.
- 2
A love triangle with contrasting temperaments
The romance pulls Lyria between two opposites. Finn is the welcoming prince who owes her his life, and Cygnus is the guarded, suspicious healer who questions her skills. The setup draws on the familiar warm-versus-prickly dynamic that romantasy readers enjoy, and the slow pace means the payoff is stretched across the book rather than rushed.
- 3
Trust in a world on edge
With war brewing between elves and humans, every relationship carries political risk. The book keeps asking who deserves Lyria's loyalty: the people who sheltered her, the court that employs her, or neither. That question raises the stakes of both the romance and the mystery, since trusting the wrong person could expose her.
- 4
Secrets literally buried underground
The discovery of a hidden world beneath the palace gives the story a mystery thread alongside the romance. It suggests the kingdom's polished surface hides darker history, which fits the theme of concealed identities. Readers who like their court fantasy with something sinister underneath will find this the book's hook beyond the love story.
Limitations
Because this is the first half of a duology, readers should expect open threads and a story that feels unfinished on its own. The ingredients are very familiar: a secret magical heroine, a prince, a brooding rival, and a court full of secrets. Readers who already know the genre well may find it predictable even if it is enjoyable. A slow-burn romance can also feel slow if you are reading mainly for plot. As a debut sold heavily on the author's social media following, it may not live up to inflated expectations for some readers.
Questions Readers Ask
- Is The Ruins Beneath Us a standalone?
- No. It is the first book in a romantasy duology, so the central story continues in a second volume. Readers who dislike waiting for sequels or prefer complete arcs may want to hold off until both books are available, or go in expecting a setup-heavy first installment.
- Is it appropriate for younger teens?
- It is published as Young Adult and features an eighteen-year-old heroine, with the romance built on slow-burn tension. It is generally pitched at older teens and adults who read YA. If content is a concern, check reader reviews or content notes before buying for a younger reader.
- How does it compare to Lightlark?
- Both are BookTok-driven YA romantasies built around romance, magic, and secrets. Based on its premise, The Ruins Beneath Us leans toward a quieter setup: a disguised healer at court and a hidden mystery, rather than a high-stakes tournament. Fans of love triangles and slow-burn tension in Lightlark will likely find similar appeal here.
- Published
- 2026
- ISBN
- 9781368117517
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Category
- Young Adult
Book details and cover from Google Books.
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