t doesn’t rely on cheap tricks or easy drama. Instead, it builds something genuine—layered, thoughtful, and impossible to forget. You close the book, but it stays open in your mind

I really struggled to get through this book and seriously considered DNF'ing. I just didn't feel drawn to continue picking it back up after the first 15-20%

-The writing was repetitive and lackluster. The best way I can describe it is pedestrian.
-Amnesia plotlines aren't my favorite because I just get frustrated with them, and constantly being told "I don't remember XYZ" by the main character.
-I'm not super familiar with the Greek mythology of the Labyrinth and the Minotaur to comment on specific details. But in my opinion it didn't seem very labyrinthian/maze like? I honestly had a hard time picturing the setting most of the book (and I'm usually not someone who has issue with this).
-I thought the mirrors being portals to the past was an interesting idea.
-On the surface level yes it does read like a 'true' enemies to lovers arc - the hatred of the two MCs is palpable (and also brought up repetitively) but I also didn't think the romance was well developed enough. It relied too much on 'things that happened in the past' and we were just told kinda suddenly that they loved each other?
-There is no where near enough explicit/spicy scenes for this to be considered 'erotica' - them just being kinky etc does not automatically qualify a book as erotica. From memory there's like several mentions of past things, one mild-spice, and then one *big* scene. To me no more than a typical romance.
-I don't get how this is going to be a series? cause it seemed pretty final by the end.

Ultimately I just really didn't care about the characters, or what was happening with them so it's a no for me.

Content Warnings from Author included in arc:
This book is a fantasy intended for adults only. Reader discretion is advised, since the following pages contain explicit sex, violence, mild gore/body horror, attempted rape (past), parent death (past, off-page), animal injury (not death), abduction/captivity, self-harm (only for magical purposes), and various kinks and fetishes in a fantasy setting, including: CNC (consensual non-consent), dominance and submission, sadomasochism, erotic degradation/humiliation, primal play, choking, gagging, rope bondage, spanking and other impact play, blood play, needle play, foot fetishization, monstrous anatomy, and raw/unprotected sex. All characters depicted are adults, and the activities depicted are not realistic representations of safe sexual activity or risk-aware consensual kink/BDSM.

This unfortunetly is a DNF for me. I tried reading this a while ago and put it down because I could not get into the story. I decided to pick it back up and just couldn't make it past 30%.

I was initially very drawn to this book because of the cover and the concept. The idea of being a trapped in a maze with no memory sounded so intriguing and I do think people who really enjoy monster romance will like this one. With that being said there was just something about the writing style that was not clicking in my head. Whenever that happens it is just very difficult for me to have any connection to the main characters and therefore have no motivation to continue reading. That mixed with me unable to really visualize the setting had me feeling like I was reading words versus being immersed in the story.

This was the first arc I have dnfed and it hurts me to do so but I fear if I didn't I would be in a very bad reading slump.

This book was an unexpected 5-star!
I initially chose this book for the cover, which had a dark romance vibe. I read the blurb and knew I loved Greek mythology.
Getting into this book seemed slow, and it took me a minute to fully understand the story and plan. I wish for more backstory about the main characters.
I loved how the settings changed and the companions came along the way. I loved the dark twists and betrayals that changed from hate to love to questioning reality.
Great story and character development.
Thank you, NetGalley, AdriAnne May, and Gallery Books, for the ARC in exchange for the honest review.

Exquisite Ruin is a dark, sensuous reimagining of the Minotaur myth that had me hooked from the start. Sadaré, a powerful sorceress, wakes in a labyrinth with no memory, forced to team up with Daesra, a dangerous and enigmatic demon, to escape. Their animosity is palpable, but as they navigate the maze, their reluctant alliance slowly turns into something far more complicated—and far more dangerous.

The tension between Sadaré and Daesra is electric, filled with passion, mistrust, and a shared history that unfolds gradually. The labyrinth itself is a character, alive with magic and mystery, shifting and revealing secrets that draw the characters—and the reader—deeper into its web. The way their pasts intertwine adds layers of intrigue and emotional depth to the story.

The slow-burn romance, combined with the thrilling twists and dark atmosphere, kept me on the edge of my seat. As the characters uncover more about their past and the monster that may be at the heart of the maze, the stakes grow higher, and the line between friend and foe blurs.

Exquisite Ruin is a compelling, intense read with a perfect balance of romance and mystery. Highly recommend for fans of dark fantasy and forbidden love.

There's something about telling a story somewhat in reverse that I find fascinating and of course, suspenseful. Like you know what's happening at the beginning of the book, but then the rest of it lays out how we got to be where we are. That's basically how this book is written, bouncing back and forth between present and past continually throughout the story. It kept me engaged and always wondering what was going to happen next. But that ending...that was kinda mean to the readers, if I do say so myself. LOL. I really hope we get to know how that played out in the next book.

I enjoyed the writing here, as well as the way the plot was laid out. I wasn't sure if a whole book could be written about 1 single labyrinth journey without becoming monotonous, but I was pleasantly surprised. I also had full faith in the author as I have read some of her previous work and really enjoyed it.

The characters were also very fascinating to me. I found the amount of self-reflection on the part of the characters to be very well done, even if at times things got a little convoluted from a reasoning standpoint. I will say, the backstory of the characters was not quite as strong as I had hoped for, but maybe that was by design. Not to mention, the side characters...I think I loved them just as much as the mains.

There were also a couple very well-placed spicy bits that I really enjoyed. Kudos.

I definitely did NOT see that revelation coming towards the very end...wow! What a way to change up the WHOLE dynamic of the story I JUST read. I felt like I had to read it all over again after knowing that little tidbit (I didn't, but that's how much it kind of changed my perception of the story).

Recommendation:
I think the monster lovers should definitely check this out, but I would also recommend for the fantasy romance/romantasy lovers in general. Now, it's not all rainbows and butterflies, it gets a little gory at times. But I think for an adult fantasy debut, this author did a great job. It felt mature and gave a ton of action and suspense that I think fantasy lovers will enjoy.

Thank you to Gallery Books and NetGalley for an early copy of this book. As always, this review is my honest feedback and given voluntarily.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Gallery Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

♡ This was an amazingly written re-telling, how things were developed and how the maze functioned was super interesting. The beginning of the book really hooked me in and the middle kept me drawn in! There were moments where I was a bit confused with what was happening or where things were leading, but that simply because I was learning the plot through the characters (who were equally confused). I will say that the plot twist brought on more confusion rather than understanding, which was slightly frustrating because at that point I was really wanting clarity on the situation after the confusion. I can appreciate the intention behind the plot twist though, because it was so unexpected and made the story unique, but I struggled to follow what was happening.

♡ I really enjoyed the character development for both of the main characters, it was intriguing to see the characters grow from the beginning and see where they ended. The ending was really satisfying to me, it tied everything up super nicely and was lighthearted (compared to how dark the rest of the book was lol).

♡ Looking back on how I felt reading after completing the book, there's still quite a bit of confusion with some of the plot points and how things got from point A to point B. However, I feel that this a book where the confusion doesn't take away from the enjoyment of reading. It was very much of a vibe of "let's just go with it and see what happens" while reading. So if you're a reader who needs to understand everything that's happening, you might struggle with this book- I think it was purposefully written to be confusing at some points, since we're viewing the world through a very confused character.

Overall rating: 3.5 stars (rounding up to 4)

I gotta bow out of this one due to some of the content warnings. But I liked what I read and would still recommend it to someone interested in dark romantasy.

The beautiful cover grabbed my attention first and then finding out it is a Minotaur retelling with a witch and daemon, I was sold.

- enemies to lovers
- daemon and a witch
- second chance romance
- maze trial
- gods
- 🌶️🌶️

Overall I enjoyed the book but it was a little too slow and repetitive at first for me. It also took a little bit for me to care about Sadare and Daesra. I'm not sure what it was maybe a little of the writing style or what. I think if it was not for these I would have given this a 4 star. I did like the twist in the book and did not see that coming. I think this is supposed to be a duology and I will most likely pick up book 2. Oh my favorite char is Pogli an adorable little mishap of a Chimera.

Thanks to Netgalley and GalleryBooks for the ARC!

This was a pretty good read. Loved that it was a retelling. I will say however the chapters were far too long and I found myself losing focus at some points because of it

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. DNF. I will not be completing this novel. I am just not invested and didn’t like how I was dropped into it. I am only reading because it makes me and reviewing so it doesn’t hurt my feedback ratio.

YA author A.M. Strickland makes her romantasy debut under the name AdriAnne May with “Exquisite Ruin,” a darkly romantic retelling of the Minotaur myth.

Sadaré, a witch whose magic draws upon pain—often self-inflicted—awakens in a labyrinth with no memory of who she is or how she arrived there. Trapped in this maze with her is Daesra, a Minotaur and daemon whom Sadaré once ensnared, bound, and betrayed. Daesra retains his memory, and together, they must confront their mutual hatred and fear in order to navigate the labyrinth and kill the monstrous entity that lies at its center.

The labyrinth itself is deadly, filled with obstacles and enemies. Every wrong turn or moment of separation punishes the two. As they delve deeper into the maze, they encounter a series of mirrors that reveal fragments of Sadaré's past, gradually uncovering the truth about her fractured relationship with Daesra and the betrayal that tore them apart.

While May’s novel has an adventurous premise, its execution falters. Readers may struggle to understand the maze's setting, as the environment and its effects aren't fully explained, making it difficult to visualize the scenes. The mirrors and maze walls lack enough detail to effectively enhance the action and atmosphere. Additionally, the late-stage plot twist, which emerges toward the end of the novel, feels contrived and lacks believability. While the premise holds promise, the book is overly long, and many scenes fail to develop the necessary depth for readers to fully grasp the unfolding action. In the end, this is one novel that might be better enjoyed as a movie rather than in its written form.

AdriAnne May breathed new life into a trope that I've read in the past and wrote it in a way that I've never experienced before. Which is why this might end up being one of my most vague revies I have ever written but it's only because I think that this book is one of those books that you should pick up without knowing too much.

This was a beautiful and refreshing reimaging of a story that I have a personal interest in and can definitely see this one blowing up within the adult fantasy romance book sphere. If you're looking for a book full of the unexpected that brings emotional punches with a lovers to enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers to etc. etc. etc. with a really interesting world building aspect and a whole lot of tension due to heavy history between the characters, this one is for sure the book for you.

Sadaré & Daesra have so much chemistry and passion that will leave you craving more and more of it. The maze that they wander through is unlike anything else that I've read before and the intricacies that unravel as the story tells itself will have you binging it as quickly as you can.

I can't wait to see what else comes from The Labyrinth series!

- fantasy romance
- open door
- single pov
- a reimagining of the minotaur myth
- forced proximity
- lovers to enemies to lovers to enemies to ???????
- kink in a fantasy setting
- a sorceress with amnesia
- a hooved and horned demon who hates her
- a cute pug side character (in disguise)
- unique world building
- twists and turns that are unexpected
- unpredictable storytelling

2.5 stars

I rounded up here because the idea behind this story was really good and very interesting. But it was also just so boring. For most of the book it was the same thing over and over again, only in a different location within this maze. It just got tedious and frustrating and I hardly ever wanted to get back into the story. I did like how the mirrors would show us Sadare's memories going back a little more each time so we would slowly be piecing things together with her. And the whole thing with the gods here and their roles in this world was good too. One thing I'm not sure how I feel about it the inflicting pain on oneself in order to do (more or less) magic. To a point I'm like okay, I get it. But Sadare mentions how she used to love to make patterns and designs in her arms with needles to have a constant source of pain. She's binding herself with ropes, hobbling herself, just to store up more power. And all I can think is that this chick is definitely masochist with the bonus of it making her stronger.

We begin with Sadare waking up and having absolutely no idea who she is or where she is. Daesra shows up and he has more of his memories, so he parcels them out to her whenever he sees fit as they travel together to get to the end of this maze. Where they are supposed to defeat the final monster. But the thing is, neither of them know for sure if they're supposed to work together or not. Each testing this in different ways as they go. Like I said, the whole idea here was really good. This maze was crazy with what it's made up of, what they encounter, and what tries to kill them or force them along. It was violent and exciting in that you never knew what was coming next. Daesra's hatred for Sadare is a palpable thing, and who can blame him when she betrayed him so horribly as she did. But he was so weak in that he could never watch her die or hurt because he STILL loves her. As for Sadare, she only regains her memories at the end so it was really ridiculous how often she would think or say that she would never do something. Not knowing who you really are makes that impossible to say.

Along the way these two do seem to change a bit as they come to terms with certain things. And apparently that was the whole point of this entire ordeal. Like others have said, the ending was weird and confusing as hell. Like, I get it....but I also don't. I feel like it was overly complicated to get the desired outcome. Which also was interesting but the whole 'what the fuck is going on right now' thing really overshadowed it. But they got their happy after so I guess that's all that matters?

I won't be checking out the next book because this was just too long and unable to hold my attention enough. Overall, great idea but not great execution.

Wow. I am in awe. How does someone say "wow" more intensely. I am not going to lie, in the beginning of this book I wrote a note saying how difficult it is to write a story when the MC has lost their memory. It is one thing for worldbuilding for the reader to learn along the way, and something else entirely when the reader is trapped with the MC learning at the mercy of another character. Especially a character that hates them and doesn't really want to part with that information. It was a slow building book, but so absolutely perfect now that I have finished it. I wouldn't change a single step of the absolute journey I took with these Sadare and Daesra. Every single choice was made intentionally.

In this adventure, we have a witch called Sadare and a daemon named Daesra going through the maze in this reimagined story of Thesues and the Minotaur. As they journey, Sadare must learn her true nature, self, and intentions as she has lost her memory. Daesra starts as her reluctant ally, but it is clear they have a history full of betrayal and strife from the beginning, and Daesra remembers it all, even if Sadare does not.

With a slew of trigger warnings, near death experiences, and a power that can only be accessed through pain, the reader is in for a wild ride start to finish. I cried and had my mind blown. 6 out of 5 stars.

probably about a 3 pepper spice rating because it is definitely an SM kink even if it is infrequent

Big thank you NetGalley and to the publisher for the chance to review this book pre-release. I wanted to love this one SO much, especially with that STUNNING cover, but boy did something just fall...flat for me. I loved the setting but didn't love the character choices, and it really took me out of the story unfortunately. :(

While the premise of this novel drew me to request an ARC, the execution was lacking. It felt as if the author was not quite sure about the world and the character dynamics--the world-building needs some work and the character development was just confusing. Each sultry interaction that the supposed "sexual tension" between Sadaré and Daesra--which their entire arc seemed to hinge on--was unconvincing. The writing itself was not bad, but when the protagonist does not recall a single thing about herself from page one, it is perhaps in the author's best interest to give the readers something solid to hold onto throughout the character's journey. This book did not have that but rather, convoluting dialogue and a maze without much stake. Overall, a boring read. Again, it just felt as if the author was not convinced or confident in the world and characters they were creating on the page.

Hmmm. This was… weird.

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

To begin, Sadaré, our MC, wakes up in a labyrinth having no idea who she is. With her is a daemon, Daesra, who, in classic enemies-to-lovers fashion, hates her for reasons she does not yet understand. Together, they have to find a way to survive and get out of the maze.

A great premise! I was really excited for this one, but from chapter 1, something just wasn't clicking for me. I don’t know if it was the character interactions or the writing, but I really began to drag my feet. (Hence, why it took me over a month.)

However, after the first quarter, things started looking up. I still wasn’t completely sold, but the romance was getting interesting. I enjoyed a lot of the flashbacks. I love amnesia storylines. Something about them is just so dramatic! We also got some good lines like:

“I’ve wanted you more than I’ve ever wanted anything on this godsforsaken earth. I would burn down the world to find you.”
We love a villainous king, thank you very much 👏

But that ending. That ending was weird. And not a good weird. A weird weird. A that makes no sense weird. I will say no more. But that definitely dragged down the rating.

I’m sure some people will end up liking this. It's got some interesting romantic elements, some adventurous spice, and a truly bizarre twist. However, I wouldn't recommend it for most people.

Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for providing me early access to Exquisite Ruin in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

⚠️: sexual sadomasochism
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Pre-read:
Alright let’s go!! I got this on NetGalley for two reasons:
1. Amnesia
2. Labyrinth
Enough said

Interesting concept, but this one wasn't for me. I really struggled with the main character having total amnesia and being essentially controlled by her companion.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

2⭐

LIKED:
-I’m a big fan of the Greek mythos of the labyrinth, so I’m always intrigued by newer retellings, etc. I think this one was a little too loosey goosey with some of its origin restructuring, but it’s not the end of the world.
- I liked how the author described the gods and how they manifest, especially in their names. Obviously, this whole story is deeply rooted in Greek mythology, that’s very clear, but relegating the Gods to just their barest foundations as names (Sky, Breath, Sea, etc.) honestly made them seem more awesome and fearsome, which was neat.
- The mirrors holding the memories was probably my favorite part of the story. I also liked how the flashbacks were formatted on the page, personally. It gave them more impact and separation from the present.
- Pogli is by far my favorite character. And that’s not usually the case for me with ‘animal’ characters in books.
- I like the cover and I like the title. Both are just very stunning.

LOATHED:
- This book is neither erotica nor romance and falls somewhere square in the middle. If it wanted to be erotica, it would need more sex. If it wanted to be a romance, it would need more character connection. And personally? The sex was pretty mid. ESPECIALLY since Daesra is a freaking minotaur. We get so little of his beastliness. Honestly, if you picked up this book at any of the more intimate scenes, you probably would just think he’s a regular guy, but maybe just kind of big. I’m not even that much of a MF romance connoisseur but…it was lacking in the monster department.
- The labyrinth felt like someone’s D&D campaign that just…didn’t really work. It just feels really segmented and the flow didn’t work. And honestly, it never really felt like a maze. That’s the number one thing a labyrinth is.
- I just really did not like her whole “magic is tied to pain” thing. As a concept, I think that’s cool. As execution, I did not enjoy reading it. It was only ever physical pain, which is very much not the only kind of pain. And she (CW: self-harm) sliced her own neck too many times for it to have any actual impact on the read besides discomfort and annoyance (in my opinion). I also…did not understand how she was a “witch”, even in the Greek sense (a la Circe). It just did not click for me.
- The writing in this book was really stilted somehow. It was both very descriptive and very not at the same time. I was never really ever able to get into the story or back the characters because of this. I mean, the banter was not bantering. And I really did not see how the characters liked each other. At any point. I don’t know, I was just left kind of always feeling like I was out of the loop.
- The ending of this book is wonky. Without spoiling anything, there’s a twist that is an interesting twist that doesn’t really seem to actually tie back into the story we just read (it seems like the twist was written first and then the rest after but it never actually fully connected). And then the final 10ish percent was just…rushed and confusing and unnecessary. It also very much did not feel like it was setting up for any kind of sequel or series and yet…this is listed as a continuing series on Storygraph and Goodreads? It felt like there wasn’t more to say, but maybe it’s different characters I guess.
- I know I said in the first bit that I like the labyrinth and everything, but the loose goosey-ness of it all with this book is also something that drove me a bit up the wall. I know some people won’t mind, but I really struggle with retellings that are in actuality more of rewrites. It didn’t seem to bolster that original mythos and just used it because it had the minotaur and he’s a fun lil monster. Again, a me thing probably, but still.

LONGED FOR:
- More or less sex. Either go full on erotica or give us more character work
- More connection and flow for the plot throughout so it didn’t feel quite as choppy
- More clarity or details as to the implications of the ending and how it was informed by everything we had read up until that point as opposed to just shock factor

Will I read the next one? : No.