Rating: 
Summary: Today's worries in a new light
Review: One of the greatest reads I've ever come accross. It is definitely up to speed with the rest of MR's works and once again flaunts her abilities to create a whole new and entirely different world, way of life, and view on very real and pending topics in today's society. From homosexuality to mixing political and religious affairs, the whole spectrum is covered with a style of writing that can be called nothing less than a graceful and intricate masterpeice.
Rating: 
Summary: Somewhat disappointed
Review: This book was something to do, and offered only a little entertainment. I finished it to see what happened in the end, and as a matter of discipline. However, none of the characters really engaged me and as a ridiculous number of them were killed off for no reason, it's probably good that I didn't care about what happened to them! It would have been better to have fewer main characters, with more time spent developing them, than trying to cram so many characters with so many names and relationships and functions and magics into the book. It also seemed like some characters were put in the book just to be killed off after a brief description of their lives were provided. Strange! There was no explanation for why suddenly Sarra becomes the leader of the rising; she came off as domineering and bossy with no justification for it, and virtually no experience as a leader! Why all the long-term members of the rising would suddenly start following her orders was not explained; there should have been some time spent describing whatever training she might have had to make it believable for her to be suddenly in that role. The wards on her magic also seemed strange - I mean.....what was the point? Most of these characters just weren't developed well - I didn't care what happened to any of them. I don't care to read any more books in the series, which is unusual for me. I was very surprised by the number of 4 & 5 stars given.
Rating: 
Summary: great read
Review: i got captivated by this book and her next book, im waiting for the 3rd in the series to come out
ive been trying to find similar books that have this blend of fantasy,relationships and conflict. She does it really well, read the book, its definitely worth the time
Rating:
Summary: Worth reading more than once!
Review: I personally loved this book. I read it the first time about four years ago and it took me a while to understand the complicated plot and numerous characters with very similiar names. Now I'm re-reading the book and I love it even more! Rawn has constructed a very vivid world with magic and a government that can stand on its own. The characters really make you care for them and there's enough possible romance and humor to keep you reading. I'd recommend this book to anyone who has time to read it more than once, because you understand things better the second time around!
Rating: 
Summary: mindless drivel
Review: This book when I got it from a friend to read I thought "I'll start to read it, and then give it back" Much to my suprise i liked it! The concept of the magic and wardings, and the way society is structured is unique, and the characters while difficult to understand at the begining very quickly grow on you, along with their strugles. This author did a wonderful job, and i can't wait for the next installment, as i have just now finished book 2 and I'm waiting on #3.
Rating:
Summary: If I could rate it lower...
Review: ...I would. The Ruins of Ambrai is a start of a series that I looked forward to reading. It had a very interesting premise and I had liked her prior books well enough, even though her plotting until this point was simplistic. And I was wrong. The biggest flaw with the novel is that it takes a premise or even a bit of fun and gives women the ultimate authority in this setting. Not unlike men, particularly in the middle ages where most fantasy is vaguely based upon. But if it was a joke or a point, it very much hits the reader over and over and over again like a ton of bricks. Thus it deflects any most of the promising bits of the novel to Rawn's own hubris or political/social leanings. Aside from that, the book was mired in Rawn's own limited ability to plotting and ability to telegraph that plot in the first book in a series. She should read some George RR Martin and perhaps she can come up the a series that veers away from her simplistic plots and/or feminist leanings that she has used as a crutch for three series now. You could pick up almost anything else off the book rack and find something better than The Ruins fo Ambrai.
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