Review: Ruined by Jus Accardo

Ruined

(The Eternal Balance # 1)

By: Jus Accardo

Pub. Date: December 30, 2013

Publisher: Entangled Embrace

Pages: 325

Source: Netgalley

Hell is looking for a way to break loose…

Jax lost the genetic lottery. Descended from Cain, the world's first murderer, he's plagued by a curse that demands violence in exchange for his happiness. He left everything behind, including the girl he loved, but thriving on the pain of others is lonely… And it's killing him.

After a series of heartbreaking losses, Samantha put rubber to pavement and headed for college as fast as her clunker could carry her. But she can't outrun her problems. When an attack at school drives her back home, she's thrown into the path of a past—and a guy—she's been trying to forget.

Sam strains Jax's control over his darkness, but running isn't an option this time. Someone—or, something—followed her home from school: a ruthless monster with a twisted plan centuries in the making. Forced together to survive, and fighting an attraction that could destroy them both, Jax and Sam must stop a killer bent on revenge.

I received this galley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Entangled and Netgalley. 

Being a huge fan of Jus Accardo's Denazen series, I could not wait to read Ruined. It was everything I was hoping it would be and more.

Bad boy Jax literally has a demon living inside of him, due to a family curse. The demon is only happy when the people around Jax are miserable, and the demon absolutely hates Jax's twin brother, Chase. His entire life Jax has had to control the urge to kill his brother, but one night after almost losing control, Jax finally leaves his home behind. In leaving, he also left the love of his life, Sam. Jax doesn't want to be alone, but he knows if he isn't, the demon will finally win and he really will hurt someone. After Jax comes back to town to visit his uncle, he learns that someone is after Sam and he vows to protect her. Forcing him to stay close to his brother.

Ruined was told in the POV of both Jax and Sam and I loved this! I wasn't expecting to read Sam's side, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw I was able too. I loved the connection between the two of them. You could tell how much Jax loved her, even though it was so hard for him. My heart broke for Jax. He lived such a cruel fate, and while sometimes he deserved the bad rap, other times he did not.

I wasn't surprised with the big reveal in the end. It was pretty easy to figure out who the bad guy was, but I still enjoyed how Accardo put everything together. I am very much looking forward to the second book!