This book was really not for me.
I did not finish reading it as it was a bit much for my taste.
I did not know what to expect but the language was strong and seemed very smutty. Didn't know how much there would be as I haven't checked so maybe it was my fault for choosing it to read.

Rebecca never disappoints. These retellings are everything! The characters from the previous books so make an appearance and I would definitely recommend reading the previous two before reading this one.

This book was honestly so good. It’s the first thing I have ever read by this author and it’s safe to say I was not disappointed, I love a retelling and I absolutely loved the characters in this book, the chemistry between them and the witty back and forth between them was amazing. I love the authors writing style too. The only reason that I didn’t give this book 5 stars is because I would liked to have waited a bit more than until chapter 2 for a spicy scene even though I understand why it happened like that and I also wish I had read the others in the series first as I felt like I was missing bits. I cannot wait to read other books by this author and will definitely be recommending this to people

I’m a sucker for modern retellings, and this Wuthering Heights-inspired story absolutely delivered. With sharp banter, steamy tension, angsty characters, and short, fast-paced chapters, it’s everything I love in a romance. You don’t need to read the series in order—each book stands on its own. I’ll keep reading as long as this author keeps writing!

I didn't realize this book had so much smut until I started reading. And listen, I ain't got anything against smut, you do you, have your fun, but I don't enjoy reading it. So I had to DNF the book because I knew I'd just drag reading it. So I'm giving it 3 stars because it wouldn't be fair to give less than that, but I did not enjoy the little I read, so... yeah.

thank you Netgalley for the e-arc, loved the book. was hooked from the start. something completely different from my normal fantasy/romantacy reads. will have to read the other books from Rebecca. highly recommend "Ruthless Devotion". 🌶️🌶️🩷

And going to create a video on Tiktok and post a review on Amazon when book gets released on there .

This book didnt disappoint. Love a good retelling and a book that has good smut. This book definitely hit the mark with the story line, the characters, and the plot. Loved that it is fast pace and has short chapters. The spice was done with elegance as I like to call it.
The book itself has a beautiful cover and it was immediately drawn to it. I am one of those readers that unfortunately do judge the book by its cover.

This was intense, emotional and completely absorbing. A paranormal romance with gothic vibes, cultish secrets and two deeply broken characters who feel like they were made for each other.

Cathy can sense when someone’s about to die and the grief hits her in uncontrollable waves. She’s trapped in a small town religious community that treats her differently and the grief she carries is heavy. Then Heathcliff walks into her life quiet, haunted, magnetic and just as dangerous as she is. Their connection is instant and messy and raw and I couldn’t look away.

The world feels eerie and lived in: swampy woods, hidden graves, rituals passed down in whispers. There’s a strong Southern gothic undercurrent that gives the whole book this unsettling, haunting atmosphere I really loved. It’s paranormal but it’s also deeply emotional. The themes of grief, family, trauma and twisted belief systems are all woven in really effectively.

Their romance is not soft or safe but it’s compelling obsessive, tender, painful and real. Cathy and Heathcliff both carry so much damage but they see each other clearly in a way no one else ever has. And somehow that makes all the chaos feel worth it.

It’s definitely on the spicier end of the scale (check warnings) and some of the darker elements won’t be for everyone but I enjoyed it and thought it was beautifully written.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for the e-Arc.

I was drawn to this book because of its mention of the low country and South Carolina. This is my first read in the Gilded Monsters series by Kenney. I don’t think it’s necessary to read the first two books to be able to read this one but of course, it would benefit readers to read them in order to get the full story. It was a spicy read and a solid retelling!

Ruthless Devotion is what happens when Wuthering Heights joins a cult, flirts with ancient gods, and decides emotional damage is a love language. Cathy is fierce, feral, and done with everyone’s nonsense, while Heathciff simmers with “touches her and die” energy - but with actual respect, which is somehow even hotter. It’s dark, it’s spicy, and it drips with blood, trauma, and mythology like a fever dream you don’t want to wake up from. Read the trigger warnings then buckle up- you’re in for a wild ride!

Very sad about this book, because Rebecca Kenney is one of my favorite authors. I devour pretty much everything she reads, but this one really let me down. I mean, a southern gothic Wuthering Heights retelling sounds right up my alley, but this just wasn't for me.

The dialogue was completely unrealistic, and there were a lot of continuity issues. There's one instance where the FMC leaves the house wearing sneakers, then a couple of hours later, mentions she's wearing boots, then another couple of hours later, the MMC notices her sneakers. Just a small issue, but when there are a lot of things like that, it really takes you out of the story. The introduction of the characters from the previous books in the series felt completely out of place and awkward.

The final straw from me was just how awful the male love interest was. He was so disgusting. He decided to lay a claim to FMC despite her not being interested. Then he started talking about how he was going to sleep with another woman (who had not consented to doing so) and talked about how desperate she was and described in detail what he was going to do with this other woman. Vile, vile, vile.

Thank you netgally and Rebecca for providing me with this eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I should start with saying that this is my first book from Rebecca Kenney. I didn't read the other books on this series. You can read it without reading the other books but I think you'll miss some of the world building.

This is a instant connection love story which isn't really my thing. I took me awhile to see the a connection between Cathy and Heathcliff. Overall the begining and middle part of the book where a bit slow for me. That's probably because I didn't read the other two books and missed part of the fantasy world and that I don't really like instant love. However the end of the book was really good. I couldn't put the book down. The action was good as well as how the story came together. It was really well done.

I would recommend this book to people who like instant love, spice and forbidden love with a gothic fantasy setting.

„No one has ever cared enough to go through this hell with me.“

4.25 ⭐️WHAT A RIDE! Okay, first of all - thank you Rebecca and NetGalley for approving this eARC!

This book was so much more than I expected. I went into it completely blind, didn’t read the TW, cause I like to be surprised. And wow, did I get surprised. From explicit content to blood sacrifices and resurrection? This was so good!

The characters had a really fast connection, definitely not a slow burn. More an insta burn in both the physical and emotional department.
Cathy, the FMC, is a strong woman with supernatural origins, who tries to hide her secret from the world. She lives in a small town basically ruled by a religious anti-supernatural cult. She doesn’t fit in, nobody understands or cares for her - until… Heathcliff comes around. He is a tall, strong supernatural being, who falls first and harder.

The whole story was so fast paced and easy to read, I finished it in 2 days, while traveling. The plot was really good. I felt like there was a constant flow of action-packed scenes with troubles, solutions, new enemies, but it all came together with a nice sweet ending. There are still some unanswered questions, which might get answered in a next book, who knows! I’ll be happy to read that, if it happens.


👻Supernatural elements
🕯️Dark gothic setting
☘️Irish folklore
⛪️Religious cultism
⚠️Toxic families
🌶️Very spicy
🔥Insta burn
💔Forbidden love

4.5

Immediately yes!!! I was all here for this one and couldn't wait to dive in considering I loved her last book!

While the angst wasnt really there this time around, the story, the passion, the touch her and die, the protectiveness of our hero was all I needed to be happy with this one.

I'm really enjoying these modern day retellings. The southern Gothic vibes which is great with fall coming soon is definitely my vibe. There was alot of action in here which would keep your jaw slacked, some sexy scenes, and even seen past characters make an appearance and play a vital role in the ending of this story.

I still need to go back and read the first book (look the hold at the library is long, I'm still waiting) but I'm excited to eventually get to it and see the other couples story. I can't wait to see what comes next from Rebecca.

Thank you for my early copy. All thoughts are my own.

Obsessed is an understatement. Spicy is an understatement. I need more of this authors work is an understatement.

I enjoyed this book immensely. The plot was captivating, the characters were fun and interesting, even the “bad” ones. I read this in one sitting because I couldn’t and wouldn’t put it down.

Heathcliff, THE MAN THAT YOU ARE, is now in my top 10, possibly 5, favorite book boyfriends. Obsessed I tell you!!!

5 stars!

OMG, this book was so much better than I was expecting! This was my first experience reading a book by Rebecca and I'm not disappointed. However, I will say that I should have read the other two books in this series before this one.

I feel like I was missing something for most of this book toward the end of it but that's just me. I'll admit that it's my fault since I read this book first. I tend to read books in a series out of order from time to time. It's not intentional, though, I promise. lol

I had been feeling the urge to read this book while trying to finish the ARC I was reading before this one and I'm glad I picked this book up when I did. I want to read the first two books in this series and if there's another book after this one, I'll be requesting the ARC for it when I find it. We'll see.

I love me a book with good smut and this book didn't disappoint in this area either. I find sometimes that the smut can draw me out of the story but it didn't in this instance. Thank goodness for that. Life is sometimes about the small mercies. lmao

Knowing me, I'm going to more than likely being purchasing this book when it comes out so I can have a copy of it. I won't be able to help myself. lol Yes, if it isn't obvious at this point, I'd definitely recommend this book as well.

I'm normally not into retellings of other books but I feel like this one hit the mark. I haven't read the other two books in this series yet but I know I will be now, even though there wasn't any question in my mind before reading this one. I can't wait!

This book started off strong with a fast pace that immediately pulled me in. I really appreciated how quickly things got moving. That said, the middle started to lose some momentum, and I found the plot a bit lacking.

I was definitely interested in Cathy and Heathcliff’s relationship, but I wanted more development and context between them—it felt like there wasn’t quite enough backstory to understand their dynamic fully. I also didn’t realize this was the third book in a series, which left me feeling like I was missing key details about some of the other characters. Even with that in mind, I think a bit more world-building would have helped, especially given the modern-day monster setting.

Still, I really liked Heathcliff as a character and would have loved to learn more about his childhood and backstory. And the spice? Very well done.

This book had me from chapter 1! The world building, the setting, the spice! Check and check! Rebecca Kenney is one of my favorite authors - her writing is easy to follow, with a seamless plot and witty banter. Ruthless Devotion was no exception: Wuthering Heights meets Southern Gothic romance. A must read - you will not be disappointed!

Note: This is the 3rd in the series; however, I haven't read the first two. It is not necessary to understand this novel. #1 and #2 have been immediately added to my TBR, though!

From the very first chapter I was locked in and ready for the ride. I was texting my book club by Chapter 3 about how crazy this was going to be and oh boy did it deliver. You had forbidden love and touch her and .... vibes. I literally read this book in a few days and that's something for me since I don't have a lot of time to read. Definitely pick this one up! So thankful I got to read an eARC. Looking forward to more from Rebecca Kenney

Okay, so Ruthless Devotion had me absolutely hooked with its Wuthering Heights-meets-dark-magic vibes! We’ve got Heathcliff, a broody necromancer with some epic extra powers, and Cathy, a banshee whose scream is anything but ordinary. Their families are sworn enemies, but of course, love doesn’t play by those rules — and I was here for their forbidden, enemies-to-lovers journey.

This world is laced with ancient gods, eerie cult-like religious undertones, and a seriously unique magic system that kept me turning pages. The atmosphere? 10/10 deliciously gothic.

My only gripe was the pacing — it felt like the book spent forever building up the tension and then suddenly hit the gas, resolving everything in what felt like a blink. The crescendo and final resolution felt a bit rushed after so much slow burn buildup, and I wish it had more breathing room to fully land.

That said, if you’re craving a romantasy with banshees, necromancy, family curses, and lush mythological layers, Ruthless Devotion definitely brings something fresh to the table.

🌙 Forbidden love
🌙 Dark cultish vibes
🌙 Unique magic
🌙 Gothic romantasy

If you love a tragic, intense romance with a healthy dash of mythology, you might want to give this one a shot!

#Romantasy #Bookstagram #RebeccaKenney #RuthlessDevotion #FantasyRomance #BookReview #BansheeLove