Why we’re excited
Mollandra Plight has died and gone over the river into the land of the dead, hoping to be judged and left alone. Her mother, the monster who shaped her, follows her there, and Mollandra's youngest child is still in danger in the world above. To save anything, she has to look back over a long, violent life and make sense of it.
This is the second book in The Academy of Kindness, after Daughter of Crows, so newcomers should start there. Lawrence built his following with dark fantasy such as Prince of Thorns and Red Sister, and this sequel suits readers who like grim, morally knotted stories.
On our most-anticipated list since 26 October 2026. See all the most anticipated books →
What to know about Daughter of Ruin
Daughter of Ruin is Book 2 in the The Academy of Kindness series. Start with Book 1, Daughter of Crows.
We haven’t reviewed Mark Lawrence before, so this would be our first look at their work.
From the publisher
'I never met a Mark Lawrence book that I didn't love' ROBIN HOBB
'An excellent writer' GEORGE R.R. MARTIN
The viciously dark and epic sequel to Sunday Times bestseller, Daughter of Crows. Mollandra Plight was born at the centre of an endless cycle of crime and punishment, guilt and revenge. She has lived as victim and victimiser, too strong to break, not strong enough to escape.
The Academy of Kindness was never the disease – it was a symptom. The sickness runs through individuals, generations, and nations. Mollandra has never sought a cure, such is the work of gods, not the dead.
She has crossed death’s river, seeking peace, ready to face judgement. But the monster that is her mother has pursued her even here and the fate of her youngest child still hangs in the balance. Perhaps Mollandra has already been judged as wicked and denied her rest. Certainly, she is not done fighting.
If anything can be saved, if anything can be salvaged, then it will require that she understand the lessons of her long life. Nothing can be forgotten. Nothing forgiven.
Description supplied by the publisher.
We haven’t read Daughter of Ruin yet. When our review goes up, it will replace this page.
