A Ruin of Shattered Secrets (Marvels and Magic #2) (2024)

With a strong plot and delicious twists and turns, this is a scorchingly hot and action packed mystery M/M romance where an ice dragon shifter and a human Marvel come together (😏) to stop a cult from destroying the world. Set in a modern day Los Angeles, this urban fantasy has everything you could ask for: magic, humor, mystery, two horny af dudes, spice, love and found family. 💙

This is the second book in the Magic and Marvels series, and although it follows another couple than A Curse of Scales and Flame, I would recommend you to read that one first, the world building in the first book is a must in order for you to understand what's happening and who's who.

This was fun. A lot spicier than I thought.. Maddox and Caleb and their toys. 😳

DNF. I feel like I got dropped into the middle of a book, and not in a good way. I was immediately disoriented instead of on the edge of my seat trying to figure it all out. Just couldn’t wrap my head around or follow the action, and maybe if I’d come into this one directly after the first I’d feel differently.

All vibes, absolutely no brains, flail incoming...

He's done it again, folks! Max has done it again!

He's written an exceptionally action-packed, magical urban fantasy starring a hot himbo dragon and a cheeky detective with an excellent overarching plot.

The fantasy aspects, just as they are in the first one, don't make my tiny brain melt from overuse. The world is built very matter-of-fact and is to the point versus having to flip back and forth a hundred times for name pronunciation/maps/whatever else you'd need to flip pages back for.

These two characters are h0rny. This is by far Max's h0rniest book. The spice be spicing. Much toys.

Now I'm not saying I inspired Max for the felchi*ng scene with my felchi*ng post... But I'm also saying... I absolutely did. So, since there IS felchi*ng, I'm sticking to my word of writing poetry about this book. Please flip through the slides (on my IG) for my poem. It's horrible.

If you're looking for action, high heat, and banter, you'll find it here. Could you read book 2 without book 1? Maybe? It'd be really hard. I don't recommend skipping book 1. There's plot there that you need for book 2.

ANYWHO. Read this series!

Maddox is an ice dragon shifter who ends up joining forces with Caleb, a marvel (magic user) private investigator, to find a set of missing paintings. Up against them is an evil cult hell bent on using the paintings to help bring about the end of the world.

I really enjoyed the detective mystery elements of this book, and the ‘heists’ where they try to get the paintings back. But I also enjoyed the romance, which felt like a rivals to lovers but with some instalust thrown in. Like they fancy each other from the beginning but it takes longer to realise they actually like each other as well 😂

At any rate, it’s super cute. The book has suspense and emotional moments, but overall I’d say it’s pretty low angst with a lot of funny bits.

I absolutely loved being back in this magical world and I fell completely in love with caleb and maddox their story was intense addictive and held my attention with every word

a ruin of shattered secrets was full of action intense moments and so much chemistry you could feel it on every page

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
❤️❤️❤️
🤣🤣

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Maddox & Caleb

✅️Dragon shifters
✅️Paranormal romance

It was a lighthearted, funny, low angst story! 😊 I had a good time reading it!

Ok friends, if you love romantic suspense and heist stories, serious spice, and freaking DRAGON SHIFTERS, you have GOT to check out A Ruin of Shattered Secrets (AROSS), the second interconnected standalone in Max Walker's Marvels and Magic series. I loved the minimal world building, the humor, and the fast-paced story - the action starts IMMEDIATELY and never lets up! I'm never going to stop talking these books up, they are just so freaking fun and I can't get enough.

AROSS takes place in an alternate version of modern Los Angeles but with *magic*. Ice dragon shifter Maddox Blackthorne is trying to covertly locate some famous lost paintings for his dying friend. While hunting down the last painting, he inadvertently runs into private investigator Caleb Forrester who is also looking for the paintings for a client. Once they get past their disastrous introduction (involving Maddox holding Caleb at "ice point"), Maddox and Caleb decide to try working together. Though they have clear chemistry from the very beginning, both of them struggle with trust and are hiding some pretty significant secrets. Will their relationship fall apart when they reveal them?

OMG y'all, I LOVE a heist book and while there's plenty of suspense and romance in AROSS, I was ALL about these guys hunting down a mysterious set of paintings. In addition to the fun plot, there are amazing found family vibes, a very cool magic system, and Y'ALL. THE SPICE in this book, whew. When Max says it's his hottest book yet, I believe him. Maddox and Caleb have some serious instalust going on, but I found their relationship to be totally believable after they really started to open up to each other about their pasts. And while they might jump right into bed together, I loved all of the sweet aspects of their relationship just as much - total soulmates vibes.

I've had so much trouble reading fantasy for the past year, but seriously, it's books like these that give me hope that I can still love the genre. Marvels and Magic totally keep you right on the edge of your seat, and I just love the world so much. I seriously cannot wait for y'all to pick this one up, SUCH a fun read!

Fantasy has never been one of my favourite types of books due to the complicated names and places etc, but this new book from Max Walker, is easy to read and is very uncomplicated and the gripping storyline flows very easily just like the authors other non fantasy books.

Maddox Blackthorne is an ice dragon shifter and is on a desperate mission to find one of a set of three paintings for his best friend, as this is her dying wish. However, these paintings, when put together, have the ability to bring about the end of the world as they will release a particular nasty individual from his prison deep in the earth. Unbeknownst to anyone, Maddox already has two of the paintings locked safely away in his families castle. Whilst on a mission to recover the third painting, he meets human Marvel Caleb Forrester and after a desperate and bloody battle with some Crimson Circle Cult members who it seems are also after the painting, they agree to work together.

Caleb is a private detective who is looking for the paintings for one of his clients, who is paying him enough money to cover his unfortunate debts. He and Maddox quickly become more than working partners, but both have secrets that could drive them apart. They both have trust issues, but Caleb especially, after getting in with the wrong crowd after a family tragedy.

The book is the second one in the Magic and Marvels series and is set in an alternative, modern LA. This alternative world is easy to understand and navigate, though I have to say I was surprised when Stonewall Investigations was mentioned. The story is action packed and full of tense situations and steam! A Curse of Scales and Flame which is the first book of the series, really needs to be read before this one as many of the characters, including Maddox's family (who play a part in this story) are introduced in that first book. Overall, this is a wonderful, fast paced, steamy, spicy and engaging tale, written in the style of all Max Walker books and is very easy to read. It of course comes with a twist in the tail near the end. Enjoy!

This Blackthorne Family is TROUBLE, I’m telling you. No matter what’s going down, somehow they always manage to find themselves in the middle of the action. In the second installment of this standalone, interconnected universe, Max Walker brings more of their supernatural shenanigans — this time in a fantastic heist plot that promises plenty of risk and sweet, spicy reward.

I’m still captivated by the alternate universe Los Angeles Walker creates as the setting for this series, and his easy, unfettered delivery is unusual for most fantasy books. It allows for an appreciation of how it enhances the action without getting bogged down in the minutiae. If you normally stay away from fantasy due to elaborate world building, don’t let that deter you from grabbing this one.

From the moment they meet, it’s game on for Maddox and Caleb. Their instant attraction is obvious, and when their quests for the Moriarity paintings repeatedly bring them together, it just makes sense for them to join forces. Neither expects the undeniable pull between them or how hard it will be to fight their attraction. (Do they even want to?) With danger lurking around every corner and so many secrets and trust issues between them, can they find a way to make it work?

I definitely recommend grabbing this one to see how it all plays out. It’s maybe Max Walker’s spiciest book yet, something that’s only amplified by the danger of their situation. Not to mention the secrets, lies, and deception uncovered as their complex journey to bring down The Crimson Ring unfolds.

*I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book*

❄️ TROPES & THEMES ❄️
✔️ LA - but MAGICAL
✔️ dragon shifters 😎
✔️ the best side characters
✔️ a heist!
✔️ Starlight the drag queen 👑
✔️ toys 👀
✔️ literal bed breaking
✔️ learning to trust/love again
✔️ laugh out loud moments

We are BACK in Max’s waaaaay better world than the real world of Marvel’s and Magic. Marvels - people who were hit with mana during a huge event that gifted some of them with powers! Different colored mana means different powers and I loved that we got to learn more about each one in this book!

Speaking of, we started out fast by page one, immediately action is going on and you are invested from the start! This story follows ice dragon Maddox, who decides to work with jaded private detective, Caleb to gather 3 very famous paintings - for very different reasons. Sparks fly and so do old skeletons in the closet - but together these two are able to heal from their past together. And it was ADORABLE. And very spicyyyyy.

The pacing was excellent - when we weren’t in a scary action/packed moment, we were either laughing at hilarious moments amongst the cast, reading about Starlight being the absolute queen that she is, or enjoying some seriously hot tension and romance amongst the two of our MMCs. I loved their chemistry and banter together! This book is a standalone in a series, focusing on one of the dragon shifter siblings per book with an overall story arc.

Max’s reimagined world of magic, lore, and overall awesomeness is one of my favorite worlds to get lost in. I can’t wait to find out what happens next!!

4.5 another enjoyable book to the series, which I’d recommend reading book 1 first.
Maddox was in a bind with a dead fae and not wanting to get caught. Being a blue ice dragon shifter came in handy under certain circ*mstances but not his current one. Three special paintings in hot demand and sort after made for trouble being at the wrong place at the wrong time.
Caleb 29 yrs also in the middle of dramas was an investigator but he had a few magic tricks too.
All of this made for a great beginning to the book with the added enemies in scenes. The Crimson Ring cult was a dangerous mob who were also after the paintings too.
The humorous banter begins at their second meeting and they team up to find the paintings. Only Caleb doesnt no they only have to find the 3rd one.
A great story written for the second book in the series which also includes characters that were in the first story.
Dangers, mystery, intrigue and a 🔥 sexy connection slowly builds between them as they try to locate another painting. The mystery of the paintings have a twist included that was definitely bad.
A great book to read with lots of storyline that kept me reading til the ending.

#ARC

For a Marvel who didn't like to use his illusion powers, he sure did have a strong hold on my psyche.

Book 2 of Magic & Marvels continues the subtly complicated, yet relatable AU world where magic and supernatural creatures are real. Walker manages to make the AU elements unique but without making it a 'big deal'.

Caleb and Maddox don't have the best first impression of each other, but once they start talking - man do they click! Will they be able to balance solving the mystery AND their feelings for each other? Save their love and the world?

After book 1 I was looking forward to figuring out what Maddox was mixed up in, that the Crimson Ring was after him. And the mystery delivered. The first page grabs you...in medias res of a multi layered mystery/heist situation! I love the way Walker manages to build up secrets, while also revealing things to the reader at a good pace. You always feel like you're on the cusp of the answer so you want to keep turning the page to find out if your guess is correct!

Looking forward to where Walker takes us next!

*advanced reader. thoughts and opinions my own*

Icy HOT!!

I love dragons and mystery so this was an excellent story. I wanted to read about Maddox from the very first book and to say I adored Maddox and Caleb together just doesn’t do it justice! Maddox was the sunshine to Caleb’s grumpy even though Caleb did lighten up a bit after falling for Maddox. The story is about an art heist mixed with a cult and the action starts from the first page and doesn’t stop! It was great! I loved that Maddox liked to play around in the bedroom and convinced Caleb to join him in the fun…soooo hot!! The magical card game, Marvels Against Humanity was just so great!! Overall, the story line, the characters, the humor, the love both between the MCs and between family and friends all came together for a great book. I can’t wait to see the other dragons get their HEA!

✨“With every ice-filled fiber of my being. I’m so f*cking happy life brought us together the way it did.”✨

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Ice Ice Baby!

This is some fun world-building, and honestly, anyone who can create such an intricate fantasy world always earns some deep respect from me. I don’t know how they keep it all straight!

These two were sweet and definitely had sparks flying between them. Maddox may be an Ice Dragon, but he can certainly turn up the heat when he wants!

Both our boys have thick walls and with their deadly start, it takes them some time to knock them down. Besides, there is an evil cult that must be stopped. But they still manage to have some fun, including a particularly hilarious game night.

They make great partners in matters of the heart and in the hunt, and I love the promise of adventure for their future.

What a fun read! This was just as good as the first book.

Caleb, an investigator and Maddox, an Ice Dragon, are both searching for paintings called the Moriarty paintings, but for completely different reasons. Caleb is looking for a client and Maddox is looking for his friend Amelia, who is dying.

This hunt leads to a chance encounter where Caleb helps Maddox escape. Caleb then goes looking for Maddox to see if he can give him any clues to help him find the paintings and that’s when Maddox proposes they work together. They’re both attracted to the other and it doesn’t take long for them to act on it. They’re also both holding secrets from the other.

I do feel like this book is bit spicier than the first but not so much that it takes away from the plot. There are a few plot twists, one I really didn’t see coming. This is a fun read if you enjoy dragons, shifters, magic and a bit of spice.

Arc Mini Review Ish
A Ruin Of Shattered Secrets by Max Walker
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️ High Spice/ Medium Burn🔥

Review
Okay so I was desperate for this book the moment I finished the first one and well I loved every minute of it once again. Maddox and Caleb are everything to me. This book series is special to me because it’s one of the only fantasy series that I have been able to get into and the first book was my first ever ARC and so this series is just oh I love it so much. Max’s way of writing is just so easy to read and imagine the world he is creating like once again I felt like a movie was happening in my head the whole time. The action the spice and the characters were just perfection. And once again I’m now waiting for the next book in the series desperately needing more of this world and more of these characters.

WOW WOW WOW these dragons get hotter & sexier as we meet them!

Maddox an Ice Dragon is out the save the life of his best friend Amelia. He needs to find 1 more Moriarty painting to fulfil her dying wish of seeing all 3 paintings together.

Caleb a Marvel Detective is also looking for the same paintings for a rich billionaire. Could Maddox and Caleb work together and get all 3 paintings before The Crimson Ring get them all.

They are both hiding secrets but the biggest secret is yet to come!

Well Max you’ve done it again. An excellent magical fantasy full of twist and turns, hot sexy spicy sex, Toys yes toys! and great banter we all know and love with Max’s books.

Bring on the next sexy dragon, Xavier, can’t wait

Highly recommend although best to start with book 1 A Curse of Scales and Flames.

A Ruin of Shattered Secrets" by Max Walker is a captivating fantasy MM dragon romance adventure that is sure to keep your emotions in turmoil from start to finish. The intricate world-building and complex characters will draw you in and keep you hooked until the very last page.

The rollercoaster of emotions experienced by the protagonists will have you cheering for their triumphs and shedding tears for their hardships. Walker masterfully weaves together elements of romance, adventure, and magic to create a mesmerizing story that will stay with you long after you finish reading. With its gripping plot twists and well-developed relationships, this book is a must-read for anyone looking for a thrilling and emotional journey into the world of dragons and secrets.

Get ready to be swept away into a world filled with danger, love, and intrigue in "A Ruin of Shattered Secrets.

Well all! Max Walker did it again!!! I just cannot get enough of this queer dragon fantasy world that he conjured up just for us!!!

I received this arc and knew I needed to dive in! This is book two in the series and covered our icy dragon Maddox!

Maddox and his buff, cinnamon roll self was everything I wanted him to be! I wasn’t a huge fan of his side arc in book one but man did he become my favorite in this book!

Caleb was the perfect complement to him! He was mysterious and needed to learn how to love himself!

Also the story was so good!!! It was fast paced and kept you worried about what was going to happen next!

Don’t forget about that spice though 🔥🔥🔥🌶️🌶️🌶️🥵🥵🥵🖤🖤🖤

Hurry up and give me book three Max! Please!!!

I loved being back in this magical world.

This book hits the ground running! The first chapter is full of action, and it doesn't stop till the very end.

Maddox and Caleb are perfect together. They quickly progress from strangers to friends to lovers with minimal drama and maximum heat!!

The storyline had me hooked it is the perfect mixture of action and adventure with swoony moments and all the spice.

Mad and Caleb can not keep their hands off each other, and the fact that Maddox is so open and likes to explore different things ramped up the spice factor!

I loved seeing all the characters from the first book and the little introduction to new ones and hopefully an insight into the next book ( my fingers are crossed for Xaviers book next)

Max never fails to deliver, this is another adventure filled page turner. Thrilling and mysterious adventures start on the very first page and continue right to the end. A dragon shifter(Maddox) and a marvel( Caleb) begin at odds with each other but soon come together as they take on a cult in the pursuit of missing art works. As the new partnership develops so does the growing attraction between the two and in true Max Walker fashion that attraction turns in to a five alarm fire of fun times. Fun, trilling, and incredibly hot what more could you ask for in a novel, 1000% recommend and I’ll be not so patiently awaiting the next installment of the series.

I absolutely loved being back in this magical world of Marvels and Magic that Max Walker has created.
A Ruin of Shattered Secrets is the second book in this series. If you are a fan of romantic suspense and heist stories, serious spice, and Dragons then this series is a must read.
The world building is amazing and will keep you turning page after page.
The chemistry between Maddox and Caleb is beyond hot and their connection is amazing.
The story has plenty of action, banter, steamy times, toys and just enough twists and turns that it holds your attention until the end.
I am eager for more in this series!

I had such a great time with A Curse of Scales and Flame, and I loved being back in this easy to understand magical version of LA for Caleb and Maddox’s story! I love a good heist story so I loved watching Caleb and Maddox collide in their meet cute and follow this partnership romantically and otherwise — especially waiting for the shoe to drop on these secrets they’ve been keeping. The action, intrigue, and scorching chemistry kept me turning pages and devouring our ice dragon and his illusionist detective!

You’ll Find —
Modern Magical LA
No Third Act Breakup
Secrets and Betrayal
Trust Issues
Forced Proximity

Thankful for the opportunity to read early!

Another good read in this series, this one is centred around Caleb and Madds. Interesting story, plot and characters. There's a little angst, some cute romantic moments, and some very steamy moments. It's quite an intriguing story, that kept me reading 'til the very end. There's loads of action and adventure, and it's obvious that Madds and Caleb belong together. It can be read as a standalone, however, I recommend reading after book one, A Curse of Scales and Flames, which sets the series up. I'm already looking forward to reading the next novel in this paranormal/fantasy romance series.

I loved this so much! This was the second book in the Magic and Marvels series and it was a fabulous follow up to the first. We met Maddox in the first book but he was cagey and a little standoffish so it was lovely to see him in a confident, sunshiney light! Caleb was such an offset to Maddox and it was really refreshing to see a not so self confident MC absolutely flourish. The book flowed really nicely, the spice was spicy and the plot definitely kept things interesting. I LOVED the love given to drag in this book and I hope that love continues. Can’t wait for Xander’s book!!

Maddox is a dragon shifter trying to find 3 enchanted paintings that would possibly help his best friend live out her dying days. Caleb, a human private detective is also looking for these paintings. Little do either one of them know the spell around these paintings is not good. Maddox & Caleb team up together to find & gather the 3 paintings to destroy them. Well written steamy story. I was offered a copy & am giving my honest review

This series is so wild and sexy, it's easy to love. This is book 2, and it has steam (lots of it!), banter, magic, mystery, and a really cool fantasy version of the world we live in. Maddox is super-cool (haha, ice dragon) and super single, so it's great to see. him fall for Caleb.
This story is full of action, violence, sex, and fun, and I enjoyed every moment. I'm excited to see what will happen next in this world.

I LOVE READING ABT QUEER DRAGONS IN LOVE. This was suuuuch a good second book! I absolutely fell in love with the world and robby and damiens story, and the whole dragon family. And THE TWIST?? crazy. I truly love that you showed that tops like madds can have a soft side, and also showing that in both the first and this that bottoms arent all feminine or skinny. I will have to get physical copies of these!! Im so excited to read the rest of the stories written about this world.

Ruin

This is a good book. I am giving it a 4/5. Both characters have secrets that they are keeping from each other. But they want to find a painting. One wants the painting so he can get paid and the other wants to help a friend. Neither one intends to fall in love and they fall in love with each other. The two men will have to confess their secrets and work together so that the whole world will survive. I am going to purchase the next book in this series

I never knew I needed to read a scene with a double ended dild*… but I can confirm my life is better for it!

This was a bit more of a slow burn than the first book - which was a pleasure to read. But my horny ass was thinking ‘when we getting to the f*ckin’n’suckin?’ (I was not disappointed when we got to it!)

Max Walker’s book are such an easy, enjoyable read for me - I’m now on a mission to read all of his books!