This was the first book that I've read by Rebecca F Kenney, and I'm impressed with what I read! We got a retelling of Wuthering Heights in a modern Southern gothic setting, along with a ton of magical worldbuilding and whatnot. I love the way that this book explored culty Evangelical phenomena, along with the contrast of pagan beings from Irish folklore.

This book follows the story of Cathy Earnshaw, a girl who's got uncanny supernatural powers that her community /cannot/ know about, or she risks getting excommunicated from the church congregation that she's grown up with. She meets Heathcliff Lockwood, a guy from an opposing family - and despite the romance being forbidden between them two, they hit it off pretty quickly. As they continue exploring each other, supernatural events keep happening and the church congregation gets riled up with every new phenomena.

I genuinely had a great time reading this. I loved the tension between Cathy and Heathcliff, and I also loved the way that their voice shone through their perspectives. With it being based on Wuthering Heights, I imagined more of a brooding yearning kind of story, but I think that the dynamic in this book works pretty well and stands for itself.

Overall, I would give this a 4/5 stars. It's a great read, especially if you're trying to get out of a reading slump.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book. I loved how the author connected all the characters from the different series in the end. I also loved reading about the cult. I had never read Wuthering Heights, but I loved the historical aspect of the book and loved the series. I have to say this book is my favorite out of the three that are released. I can't wait to read the rest of the series and finished it. I loved the monsters in the series (banshee). I also loved learning about the different creatures of the book. Overall, I really loved the book.

I have never read Withering Heights before, but was intrigued by the blurb. I knew the premise was suppose to be a sort of toxic love, and that does come across in this story, but mostly from Cathy rather than Heathcliff. I hadn’t read any books with banshees, and I don’t think I would again. It was just not an interesting type of creature/character compared to the necromancer/ witch type. The story did get confusing towards the end, but it was unique. I received an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely phenomenal!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this.

The mixture of different classic characters was a lovely idea, hints at their fictional lives were a nice addition.
Fast paced throughout, did not get bored at any point.
The relationship between the two characters is what most women crave (aside from the violence). He loves her fiercely.

Truly enjoyed this book. It took the story of Catherine and Heathcliffe and pulled it into a modern romantasy context. The underlying story of gods and supernaturals kept my interest page after page. Rebecca Kenney has written another one of her flawless romantasy retellings of a classic.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book is for you if you like:
Insta-lust/love
Explicit and vulgar language
Irish folklore
Dark paranormal romance
1st person POV

Thank you, Sourcebooks Casablanca & NetGalley for this ARC opportunity 💕

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. The writing felt immature and choppy.
While I understood the need for instant sex, the chemistry didn’t feel natural. Unless they were mates? Bounded?! Who knows because there wasn’t any clarification about what would happen between the two characters during intimate moments. All I know is it was more than “love.”
Maybe I was lost because I didn’t read the previous two books?

I have this book at a 3, but it kept my attention enough for me to finish it, but I won’t be reading the next book.

The dynamic between the leads is full of tension, chemistry, and that delicious push-pull energy that makes you want to scream at the page and then hug it five minutes later.

One thing I really loved? The balance between darkness and vulnerability. The “ruthless” part of the title definitely applies—there are power plays, high stakes, and moments where you wonder how far things will go—but there’s also a real emotional undercurrent. These characters are broken in believable ways, and their growth feels earned. Nothing is handed to them easily, and honestly, that makes the payoff all the more satisfying. 4.5 Stars

🌶🌶.5 spice

This book actually surprised me, I had a really good time reading it. I never felt the need to put it down and do something. I was hooked pretty early on.

I loved the relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff, definitely felt the connection and loved the strength they gave each other.

a banshee and a necromancer! it's a nice fresh combination, loved the folklore in the story. feels like Rebecca did her research!

you can definitely read this one as a stand-alone, although I've read the first one, but not the second one yet... I was eager to read this one. Each of the other stories couples do appear in this one.

There is definitely more to come with this story, will be interesting to see who the next couple are.

A nice easy quick read, paced really nicely. definitely recommend 👌

I loved this, definitely loved all the wuthering heights references and I love paranormal and supernatural elements in this.

I think the dynamic between Cathy and Heathcliff was done well, it was very funny and their chemistry was great. I think the romance was also developed really well.

This was such a darkly addictive and unique spin on Wuthering Heights. Think banshees, necromancers, a cultish Southern town, and two characters who feel like twin flames wrapped in trauma and longing. It’s intense, emotional, and messy in that purposely gothic-romantic kind of way.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going in, but I ended up really enjoying the moody atmosphere and the paranormal twist. Cathy’s banshee episodes and Heathcliff’s necromancy added layers to their connection that worked really well with the themes of grief, control, and forbidden love. The chemistry? Chaotic but magnetic.

I didn’t realise it was part of an interconnected series at first, and while this book does stand alone, it felt like some moments (especially near the end) would’ve hit harder with that extra context. I also wish we got a bit more depth with the cult dynamics and supernatural world—it had so much potential, and I would’ve loved to stay in it longer.

Overall though, it was a compelling, fast-paced read that delivered on emotion, angst, and atmosphere. Definitely one for fans of dark romance with a paranormal edge.

2.7/5 ⭐️

This was a fun book. If you're looking for a fun basic, KindleUnlimited type paranormal romance, this is perfect for you. (and no hate on the basic KindleUnlimited books, I've read SO many of them that they start to blend and the emotional beats become really repetitive, but, for the most part, they're all enjoyable)

Please note: I went into this book blind and had absolutely no idea that this was part of a series until I read the introduction to Jay Gatsby and Daisy.

When I first tried to read this book, I was in a picky mood and was hyper-critical of the writing. Some notable mentions were, "I'm just chilling, listening to the rain. I like the way it sounds" and "You talking my rizz..."(page 1). It felt like it was trying too hard to be dramatic an artsy, while also trying, and failing, to relate with Gen Z (I'm a gen z'er and I've never heard anyone my age use this term unironically).

So I took a break. I knew I was being too harsh on this book, and it's an ARC so I knew it was going to go through more edits. I knew I would enjoy it if I gave it a chance, so I started again after taking a few months off.

And my final thoughts are that this book was fun. Once I got past the weird slang, and the lack of exposition, I had a good time. Heathcliff was a boy obsessed, and stalked our girl Cathy for a bit, but who doesn't love a boy-obsessed, and maybe a little crazed. He was so perfectly desperate for her and I LOVED it. Cathy was just boring. Now, I know I sound like a hater, but I really did have a good time. Seriously, how could I not with lines such as, "Everything is you." I think I screamed a little at that.

Although this was meant to be a fun, quick read, there were some plot holes left open at the end of the book that had me confused and wanting for answers. The main question I had at the end was: what is the history between the gods/goddesses in this world? I know this is meant to be a series, and I did not know that or read any of the other books, so some of the plot holes are due to information being presented in books prior, but I wish there was some more explanation than what was given.

Overall, a 2.7/5 ⭐️ read. It was enjoyable, not bad, but not great. Honestly, you need to have read the rest of the series to read this book, but it was a fun read if you don't care too much about the history of the world you're reading about.

Thank you to Netgalley and publisher for providing me an ARC for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this! Wuthering Heights was one of my favorite books when I was growing up & this supernatural twist on it was everything!! The writing, the intrigue, the spice, everything about it was amazing!! Im definitely going to go back and read the other two standalones in this series!!

Thank you NetGalley for this arc and opportunity 🖤

✨𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀✨
📖: Ruthless Devotion (Gilded Monsters Book 3)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙛 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡—𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚. 𝙈𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝙢𝙮 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛.

Cathy has been haunted by the deaths that call to her. Her condition keeps her trapped within her small religious town where she’s felt alone until meeting a stranger she never expected to see again.

Keeping his scars and secrets hidden, Heathcliff has been working to make a life for himself. And he wants Cathy, the woman he shouldn’t want.

They can’t seem to stay away, yet fate and dark forces threaten to keep them apart.

Tropes:
👀Dual POV
⚠️Forbidden romance
🌬️Banshee FMC
☠️Necromancer MMC
📚Modern retelling
🫂Forced proximity
🩶Morally grey MMC
✨Celtic folklore
📚Interconnected standalone
💫Monsters, deities, cults
🌶️: open door

Rebecca had me immediately intrigued by this iteration of Cathy and Heathcliff. Cathy has lived in fear, constantly fighting for control over her body and her fate. Heathcliff is a broody, protective MMC, and bears conflicting emotions to his cruel adoptive family and his draw to Cathy.

They share a soul-deep connection and understanding— two mirror broken souls. There’s a beautiful desperation in the way they yearn for each other and what they’re willing to do for each other. Their passion burns brightly and their love transcends lifetimes.

This dark, decadent tale examines hypocrisy, religion, autonomy, and mortality. I love how the main characters from each book in this series falls into place within the overall storyline and highly recommend reading the prior books for full emotional impact.

In Ruthless Devotion, the author crafts a breathtaking Southern Gothic Wuthering Heights reimagining featuring monsters, myths, and a haunting romance!

Huge thanks to the author, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars

I really loved Cathy and heathcliffe. I loved the way everything connects with the other stories and the spice was good. I love that it started early in the book and I loved the dynamic between the two mcs.

Im very excited to continue reading stories in this world.

I rarely say this, but I think this book should have been longer... The premise had a lot of potential, and I thought the cult plotline was interesting, but overall it felt very rushed/choppy (including the romance unfortunately).

From chapter one, I was pulled into this world, and I didn't want to leave. The chemistry between Heathcliff and Cathy along with the supernatural aspect... a perfect combination.

One thing to note, this book can be a standalone but it is book 3 of an interconnected series. I enjoyed this being the first book I've read but I probably would have enjoyed it even more knowing what was going on with the other characters in the previous books. And I'm definitely going to read those 2 books soon.

Truly delectable! I enjoyed the distinct voices between our couple. Being able to see how both sides fell so heavily for the other was magical. I also appreciated seeing different mythological creatures than that same old fae or vampires. I learned more about banshee history than I could have expected, and it was a lovely time.

Ruthless Devotion by Rebecca Kenney
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4🌶🌶🌶🌶

I had to step back and take my time to write this review. Wuthering Heights is one of my favorite books, and Rebecca did such a masterful job of putting a gothic fantasy spin on the classic story.

In this story Cathy is a banshee, and Heathcliff is a Necromancer, talk about a fun twist! Cathy is the black sheep of her town, she's always been "different". Nobody knows her secret except for her father. Being unable to herald the deaths of those around her as she's meant to, Cathy is forced to wander the woods wailing alone for hours at a time. When one of these episodes is coming on Cathy can feel it coming, and sometimes she needs to let off some steam to take the edge off.

On one such afternoon Heathcliff Lockwood happens to be making a delivery at the Story Cathy works at, and she DEFINITELY gets to let off some steam. 😉😉. Cathy think this was a 1 time thing, until Heathcliff shows up at church the following Sunday!

Cathy and Heathcliff shouldn't want eat other, they're from rival families, and an ancient wicked god is stiring and threatens to tear everything apart.

There are so many thing in the last 1/3 of this book especially that I wish I could wish about on here but I want to avoid spoilers. Yall deserve to go into this with all of the feelings I did! I also love that we get to see some characters from the previous 2 Gilded Monsters books. Do yourselves a favor and move this book to the top of your TBR!!

I don’t think I’m the target audience for this book. I knew I was going to struggle with it the second I saw the word ‘rizz’ on one of the first couple of pages. There was no chemistry between the two MCs and they both seem very childish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read this ARC!

3.5 ⭐ simply put, this book was a good time. It was fast paced, easy to read, and the chemistry between Cathy and Heathcliff was wonderful. This book is a Wuthering Heights retelling (sort of, not really) with a magical, southern US twist. Both Heathcliff and Cathy have supernatural abilities that are passed on through generations, and this, in addition to the romance, is one of the main focal points of the story.

If you are hoping for a retelling that stays close to the original novel, you are not going to find it here. While our main characters make an appearance (Cathy, Heathcliff, Nellie, Edward Linton, Hindley, etc) and are integral to the story, thats about as far as it goes. There are aspects of the plot that are reminiscent of the original novel (ex. showdown between Heathcliff and Edward, Isabella being smitten with Heathcliff, even if it is only for one night etc), but they are different enough that if I hadn't been actively searching for similarities, and if I hadn't just recently finished Wuthering Heights, I would not have noticed them. Ruthless Devotion also lacks many of the gothic elements so integral to Wuthering Heights, which was disappointing to me. A lot of this is due to the setting; how can you recreate the howling winds of the moor, or the old, unsettling feeling of an English country manor in a rural South Carolina town where everyone speaks with a southern drawl? However, I did appreciate that the spirits of Cathy and Heathcliff were maintained in this book; Cathy, with her wild, headstrong ways, and Heathcliff, with his no-fucks-given and surly attitude and absolute love for Cathy.

Also (and this is on me), when I first applied for the ARC for this book, I did not realize that it was an interconnected standalone. While you do not have to read the first two novels to understand the events that unfold in Ruthless Devotion, there are characters from the previous books that become rather important to the plot, and context could be helpful.

Nonetheless, if you are looking for a book that is a good time, has familiar and beloved characters portrayed in completely new ways, then this is the book for you. Thank you so much to NetGalley and Rebecca Kenney for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!