Four Ruined Realms (The Broken Blades, Bk. 2, Deluxe Limited Edition)
by Corland, Mai
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Overview
A Kirkus Reviews-acclaimed dark fantasy packed with palace intrigue, treachery, and revenge — Four Ruined Realms proves Mai Corland has only gotten better.
The King of Yusan wants his sister's ring, and he will lie, manipulate, and scheme to get it. He has set his sights on the five blades — a group of skilled operatives — as the instruments of his ambition. His plan is simple: use them to steal what he wants, then discard them when he's done.
But the blades have their own plans.
Bonded by a shared enemy and burned by betrayal, they find themselves tasked with a seemingly impossible mission: steal the powerful Golden Ring of the Dragon Lord from Quilimar, the Queen of Khitan. They have one month. One chance. And a foreign rule of law standing between them and success.
The harder challenge might not be the heist itself — it might be trusting each other long enough to pull it off. Lies have already fractured the group once. The wounds are fresh, and the stakes are higher than ever. Their lives are on the line. So are their families. So are the realms.
This time, it isn't just about survival. It's about making sure the king doesn't win. And if they can manage to trust one another — even just enough — they might be able to beat him at his own game.
For the blades, this one is personal. It's revenge.
This Deluxe Limited Edition features gorgeous sprayed edges with stenciled artwork, exclusive endpapers, and special design features.
"Corland presents a thoroughly entertaining dark fantasy that's filled with palace intrigue, adventure, and chaos." — Kirkus Reviews
Series Information
Series Name: The Broken Blades
Series Reading Order
This series is best read in publication order.
Book 1 - Five Broken Blades
Book 2 - Four Ruined Realms
Book 3 - Three Shattered Souls
Reviews and Author Praise
"A compelling fantasy tale with a memorable ensemble."
— Kirkus Reviews
"Corland presents a thoroughly entertaining dark fantasy that's filled with palace intrigue, adventure, and chaos."
— Kirkus Reviews
"FOUR RUINED REALMS is another stunning romantasy tale from Mai Corland. Romantasy and fantasy lovers, stop what you are doing and pick up Mia Corland's series now- you won't regret it!"
— Fresh Fiction
"I loved Five Broken Blades and I think Corland has upped her game with this one! There is no second book syndrome to be found here."
— FanFiAddict
"Four Ruined Realms is the second book in The Broken Blades series, and these characters have completely won me over, especially Royo and Aeri."
— Mug of Reality
Topics and Key Themes
Narrative Tropes
Forced Proximity
Grumpy/Sunshine
Slow Burn
Revenge Plot
Enemies to Allies
Key Themes
Fractured trust within the crew — one betrayal still haunts every blade as the heist begins.
The king's game played against him — five operatives turn a tyrant's scheme into their own weapon.
Survival tied to stolen loyalty — protecting families means working alongside people you're not sure you can trust.
A heist across hostile realms — stealing from a foreign queen under her own laws raises impossible stakes.
Wounds that sharpen rather than break — past betrayal fuels the blades' drive to win, not surrender.
Who is this book for?
Primary Genre: Romantasy / Epic Fantasy Heist
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5: Spicy
Open-door romance with balance. You’ll find some on-page intimacy with moderate detail, woven into the story. A sweet spot for readers who enjoy both emotional depth and a bit of steam.
Fans of Raven Kennedy and Sarah J. Maas will enjoy the morally complex characters, revenge-driven plot, and tension-laced alliances set against a richly built multi-realm fantasy world.
About the Author
Mai Corland is a Korean American attorney and writer, born in Seoul and adopted into New York. From there, she ran away from winter and studied in Florida at Rollins College and the University of Miami. Due to a variety of questionable decisions, she currently lives in the cold again with her partner, children, and a goldfish who will outlive them all. When not writing, you can find her asleep or clutching her latte machine. Mai writes award winning children’s and young adult books under Meredith Ireland.
Similar Authors
Sarah J. Maas, Raven Kennedy, Nisha J. Tuli
Reader FAQs
It leans toward fantasy with strong romantic threads woven through. The heist plot, palace intrigue, and multi-realm world-building drive the story, while slow-burn relationships and emotional tension between characters run alongside the action.
Both share morally complex characters and tension-laced alliances, but Four Ruined Realms is more heist-focused and plot-driven than Maas's work. The ensemble structure and revenge-driven momentum give it a different rhythm than the ACOTAR or Crescent City series.
The book is written for adult readers. It carries a moderate spice level, mature themes including betrayal and violence, and a morally complex cast. It is not recommended for younger teen readers.
The tone is dark and tension-driven. Themes of betrayal, fractured trust, and high personal stakes give it emotional weight, but the pacing and ensemble dynamic keep it from becoming relentless. Kirkus describes it as filled with adventure and chaos alongside the intrigue.
The book contains violence, morally grey characters, political manipulation, and consequences of betrayal. The spice level is moderate. Readers sensitive to themes of coercion, threat to family members, or scheming antagonists should factor this into their decision.
Info
ISBN: 9781649377500
Published Date: January 7, 2025
Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC
Language: English
Page Count: 413
Size: 9.25" l x 6.25" w x 1.38" h
Category
Fiction