Rebecca does it again with her adult spicy retellings and adding her own bit of flair. I loved the character interaction in this book. They are so emotional and deep as they work through their deep-rooted issues together.

The use of modern language and slang was at first quite jarring in a book that’s a reimagining of Wuthering Heights. But once I got a feel for the story and its unique bend, I got used to it. I really enjoy Rebecca Kenney and have read several of her books and this had her distinct, sharp voice, steamy tension, and really inventive twist on a known story. I flew through the book and loved the mix of dark moody atmosphere, mystery, and romantic tensions.

I'm obsessed. Probably my favorite book from Rebecca Kenney so far. I love the attitude of the entire story. I love how great the retelling parts were and how interesting the story itself was. The spice, spiced. I could feel their chemistry rather quick and I adored it. I'm obsessed. (Yes. I'm saying it again). I love characters that come alive and when I can really see them as individuals and these characters were that. I was glued to each word and couldn't put this book down. It's soooo good. Highly recommend to all the romantasy friends who want some spice and some chemistry and a really fun, thrilling, and entertaining story.

3.5/5 stars! This is touted as a NA retelling of Wurthering Heights with magical elements. The pacing of this story was great and I loved the chemistry between Cathy and Heathcliff. I didn't have a hard time staying engaged. I think my only issue is that it felt like 50 other books I've read. I was hoping for more innovative and unique takes on some portions of the story. But a solid read.

"Because his soul and mine were cut from the same shimmering fabric, hewn from the same rock, dipped from the same pool. Wherever souls come from, we share the same source. I am Heathcliff, and he is me."

Ruthless Devotion is the third book in the Gilded Monsters series. Each of Rebecca Kenney's novels in this series are classic retellings with a supernatural, deliciously romantic twist. Ruthless Devotion is a Southern gothic modern retelling of Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, where Heathcliff is a tall, dark, and striking necromancer with unnatural strength, and Cathy is a wild-haired banshee, descended from the Irish ancestral gods who once foretold death and mourned the dying.

I didn't know what I was diving into when it came to the Gilded Monsters series, as I hadn't read the other two books before this one. It isn't necessary to; you could easily read this third installment and enjoy it completely. However, the last third of the novel does include characters from the two earlier books, and I may have had a stronger connection to them if I had read the first two, prior. That being said, if you're generally familiar with famous classics and their protagonists, you'll understand the subtle references and new faces right away.

In Ruthless Devotion we follow Cathy Earnshaw, a woman with a feral soul and a deep-feeling heart, who craves running through wild moors and not being confined by the barriers imprisoning her, set up by her abusive father and the small, evangelical town of Wicklow in which she lives. We're also privy to a second perspective: that of Heathcliff, a necromancer who, as part of the notorious Lockwood family, helps run the business of resurrecting dead clients and returning them to perfect health. Both Cathy and Heathcliff are victims of a loss of agency, forced upon on them by those who either wish to suppress their supernatural abilities (Cathy's case) or wish to exploit them (Healthcliff).

Kenney always kills it with her evocative imagery and the emotion she stirs with the characters she spins to life, as well as her settings. Because this is a Southern romance, we're given a glimpse at the atmospheric landscapes found in places like South Carolina: of Southern oaks and Spanish moss, of magnolias and moths dancing around porch lights on a cool fall night. Her visual descriptions of characters too, the way they move, think, feel, love...I was spellbound and gagged - a puddle of water on the floor:

"Heathcliff goes down on one knee. He looks up at me, and I hold my breath, stunned by how gorgeous he is at this moment, with the sun gilding his black hair and his brown eyes glowing at me like dark embers."

I've read several of Rebecca's books, and she never fails to draw me in as a reader and immediately make me connect with her characters - to love them, cry for them, rage for them. And throughout this book, I was rooting for Heathcliff and Cathy, while also being a willing witness to the captivating unfurling of their cataclysmically passionate relationship that surpasses even the bounds of death. It made me yearn for them and left me breathless as I hoped with all my being that they were going to get the happy ending the classic did not have - and I'm not disclosing whether that happened; you'll have to read to find out.

Religious Fanaticism

"When you're told over and over that wrong is right, that hate is love, that wickedness is holy...when you sit there, week after week, and open your mind to that poison...maybe you begin to believe it."

From the dedication at the beginning, I knew this book was going to have themes of religion and evangelical ideologies, and how those ideologies would affect the most ostracised - the souls with wild hearts that scare those who get a glimpse at their blinding fires. Kenney highlighted elements common in small communities where faith is closely tied to one's entire identity, where it shapes the lives of those who dwell within those quarters. Some of these include the loss of mental autonomy, hypocrisy, the twisting of love as a weapon for hate, and a fear of the different. Oh, and blood sacrifices. What's a good fanatical small town without some blood spilt on holy stone floors?

Irish Mythology & the Taboo of Mourning

One element in this book that I personally loved was the theme of Irish mythology dispersed throughout the story, serving as a both an element of the plot and a parallel to the beliefs practiced at Cathy's church. We have mentions of Irish deities/gods like Cernunnos and the Morrigan, both who are tied to Cathy's ancestry and supernatural powers as a banshee, and both who serve as pinnacle figures in certain areas of the story, whether physically or symbolically. I won't spoil too much here, so you'll have to see how the deities of wild things and death play their parts.

Cathy's powers of the banshee allow her to foretell when people in her town are going to die. She sees their deaths in visions, and when they die, their life's memories flash before her eyes as they cross the barrier into the afterlife. With death, Cathy's grief is closely linked to the very core of her soul, and it manifests both emotionally and physically for her, in a very intense way. Like her ancestors, she is compelled to be with the dying, and stay with them even after death as agonising screams and cries rack her body. Of course, her base instincts are smothered and she is forced to suffer in isolated forests because society no longer grieves communally, and discussing death outside of the confines of organised religion makes people uncomfortable.

This theme really stuck with me, and it's something I still think about even after finishing this story. Because Cathy is right when she says this:

"The spirit of the banshee is a primal instinct, too archaic to understand that things have changed, that I live in Wicklow, South Carolina, that we don't mourn the same way nowadays. We hide our grief in bathrooms or beds, curled up in a ball under the shower, or alone in a car while rain pounds the windshield."

We should be allowed to cry. We should be allowed to scream and break through the silences permeating masked corners of society. Without that, we lose our humanity.

Conclusion

I gave Ruthless Devotion 4 stars, only because, minimally, there were certain inner monologues that I felt stretched out a bit farther than needed, and slowed the pace of the story at times. I also wish we knew a little bit more about Heathcliff's origins, especially the details as to how exactly he was found and adopted by the Lockwoods.

Overall, this was an incredible retelling of one of my favourite classics. Cathy and Heathcliff are fated in the cosmos, their souls intertwined so tightly, not even the Fates could tear them apart. I didn't go too into it before, but there's also a delicious amount of spice in this book that pairs so well with the fires of their love for one another. Interwoven with the themes present throughout the story, and the Southern gothic flare, this was an addictive, new formula to a loved classic.

I will be adding this to my collection officially, when it releases in July 2025.

I lvoe Rebecca Kenney and anything she writes! This book is no exception. The whole line of stories in this series is a complete masterpiece. Great job!

3.5⭐️

This one’s for fans of dark, twisty romance with a supernatural edge. Ruthless Devotion gives big Wuthering Heights energy, but make it new adult—with gods, powers, cult vibes, and a bad boy. That’s all I want at the end of the day.

I’m considering a special edition of this book for my store!

The story follows Cathy, a girl who can sense death, and Heathcliff, the mysterious guy who shakes up her world in all the best (and arguably worst) ways. There’s dual POV, which really helps pull you into both of their heads, and things get spicy, and it wasn’t perfectly written, but it matched the tone of the novel. It’s dramatic, intense, and definitely keeps you turning pages.

The snowy, gothic atmosphere is a highlight. Some of the emotional swings are a bit over-the-top, and it’s definitely one to check content warnings for—but if a reader is in the mood for something moody and a little messy (in a good way), this delivers.

Perfect for readers who love any romance with a dash of danger and myth. Not for the faint of heart, but definitely a fun ride!

A dark, obsessive love story that walks the line between dangerous and addictive. Ruthless Devotion pulls you into a twisted dynamic where power and passion constantly collide. The morally grey love interest is a standout - intense, magnetic, and impossible to look away from. I was genuinely surprised at how emotionally layered this got, exploring trauma, control, and the complicated psychology of devotion.

Kenney’s writing is taut and unflinching, and the chemistry? Electric. Definitely one for fans of dark romance with teeth.

⚔️ Tropes: Obsession, morally grey hero, forbidden romance
❤️ Recommend for fans of: Haunting Adeline, Corrupt, or Twisted Love

First off I would like to thank NetGalley and sourcebooks for giving me the opportunity to read this book!! OMG this book was amazing from beginning to end. I could not put it down. The FMC in this book to was such a strong bad ass who had to endure a lot despite what she was and what she was going through. Her father was a piece of 💩 and OMG so was that 🌊 Edgar, I wanted to beat both of them self. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster I was laughing and then I was crying and then I was cheering. 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ the spice in this book was definitely a 5 to me. I ain’t even gonna front, baby Rebecca did her thing with this book. Also before I end this baby I need me a Heathcliff cause he literally dragged Cathy back from death despite the consequences!!

Ruthless Devotion by Rebecca Kenney is an intense, emotionally charged romance that grabs you by the heart and doesn’t let go. It’s a story of obsession, power, vulnerability—and the complicated space where all three collide.

What I loved:
• The chemistry between the main characters is electric. Every interaction crackles with tension, and the emotional stakes feel high from start to finish.
• Kenney writes with a raw, addictive voice that perfectly captures both the darker and softer moments. It’s bold, edgy, and unflinching.
• I appreciated how the story explored trauma, control, and healing with nuance. The emotional arcs feel genuine, even when the romance dips into dark territory.
• The pacing is fast and unputdownable—this is one of those books that keeps you up late reading just one more chapter.

What held it back from 5 stars:
• At times, the power dynamic felt a little rushed, especially early on—I would’ve loved just a bit more development to ground the emotional shift.
• Some side characters and subplots felt underdeveloped, and I wanted more from the world outside the main relationship.
• A few moments straddled the line between romantic and intense in ways that might not work for every reader—definitely one for fans of morally gray characters.

Overall, Ruthless Devotion is a bold, passionate story that isn’t afraid to take risks. If you love dark romance with heart and heat, this one’s for you.

People who know me know that I like Wuthering Heights moderately but wish that I could understand it a bit better. This book gives me the understanding that I need!!!

First of all, I loveee the art. The art right at the beginning gave me something to picture that helped me visualize immensely. And it’s adorable.

The first line of the book made me cackle, and it just gets better from there. Heathcliff’s point of view gave me life. He is sarcastic, has a dry sense of humor, is very broody, and and gives me just the right amount of modern man mixed with regular Heathcliff.

Cathy is fine. I don’t dislike Cathy, but she is Cathy she’s a little whiny and full of herself.

This is absolutely what is known as a modern classic. I’m really glad that I had the opportunity to read this book. Rebecca Kenney did it again with this masterpiece. I love this series of modernizing classics she has going on.

Thank you very much to Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own and in no way are influenced by the manner in which I received it.

“Screaming like a banshee”

If you have ever heard this phrase in your life, I think you’ll love this book!

This is the third installment in the Gilded Monsters series, but can be read as a standalone. Personally I would read them all because they are great! In this book we follow Heathcliff and Cathy (from Wurthering Heights). Both of them have some unique and extraordinary paranormal powers. This book was a wild ride full of different paranormal aspects, religious trauma, and of course spice. I also loved the crossover with the other books and the characters having a role in this one. Really brought the series together, I hope there will be another!!

I like the idea of the supernatural being in the story, I read the first book and I love it.
And this book carried each characters very well. He is a necromancer, that title kinda powerful and I hope he's gain more power by time.
The story easy to read and flowed really well. The spicy spice well and ya I love them <3

I have been lucky enough to get ARC copies of each of the books in this series and have thoroughly enjoyed each of them. And after finishing Ruthless Devotion I've got my fingers crossed that luck will continue when Cruel Angel comes up next year.

As with the last installment I am forced to admit that I have not read Wuthering Heights, the source from which this re-imagining takes inspiration, so I cant offer any comparisons on the two.

Unlike Beautiful Villain and Charming Devil which offered only small references to each other's characters Ruthless Devotion sees the full cast of the series all come together in a meaningful way to start to push the overarching story forward from where we left off in Charming Devil. But it is done so while still keeping Cathy and Heathciff's story front and center. Kenney continues to build on the Irish folklore that the series has so far been centered around and shakes things up by dropping in a Roman element as well for a little unexplored tease. This immediately had me intrigued and I cant wait to see what this new aspect means for the Gilded Monsters world and its supernaturals.

Cathy and Heathcliff's connection is instantaneous, very much giving a insta lust to insta love vibe which to me was far heavier hitting than the relationships between Daisy and Gatsby or Dorian and Baz. It's clear that they see themselves in the other, similar life experience allows them to intimately understand each others pain and feelings of being trapped in their current situations. However there scenes between them that give the feeling of a true soulmate level connection like on a supernatural level that is not really explored or talked about in any way. It could be that I just read too much into somethings and that wasn't the intention but those were the vibes I got.

This is the spiciest of the three books by far in my opinion. At first I was a little off put by the characters attitudes and reactions toward sex, it came off a bit vulgar in a way I didn't experience with the first two books. But as I really thought about it in relation to the characters it made sense and Cathy even explains it early on, the visceral need ground her self in living when constantly linked and pulled towards death. It makes sense that the opposite would be completely unrestrained and unrefined.

When I saw that this was a Wuthering Heights retelling I was all over this! I really enjoyed it. Particularly the last 150 or so pages because things get wild and I DIG IT! At first, I couldn’t stand the FMC I didn’t like how hot and cold she was with Heathcliff but she really grew on me and now I LOVE HER! Someone else I love? Heathcliff, do not even get me started he is just *swoon* 😍 Speaking of swoon, the smut is so, so hot! Rebecca Kenney really knows how to write a romance/smut scene! If you’re looking for a magical retelling of Wuthering Heights, with Irish Folklore, “Touch her and die vibes*, a touch of cult horror, and spice, then run to the book store on release day for this baddie!

This was my first time reading a Rebecca Kenney book, and after finishing, I'm eager to go back and read the first two in the series. I couldn't put it down; it was incredibly entertaining with a perfect balance of romance, lore, spice and world-building.


Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

While I really love the first two in this series this one just didn't hit me the same way. It was still a good read I just don't think it compares to the first two. Everyone will have their own thoughts and opinions I just didn't personally connect with this story as much as I did the others. Still a 4 start read!

3.5 stars.

This got hot and heavy FAST man. I loved the Wuthering Heights retelling and I love how this connected the first two in the series. Overall this series has been filled with fun, spice, and so many mythical creatures. I’ve had the best time!

3.5 Stars – Darkly Addictive but Familiar (ARC Review)

I received an ARC of Ruthless Devotion by Rebecca Kenney and overall, I enjoyed the read—it was fast-paced, intense, and full of that dark romance tension that keeps you turning the pages.

The chemistry between the leads was strong, and the writing flowed really well. It definitely scratches that itch if you’re looking for a morally grey hero and high-stakes obsession. There’s a lot of angst and emotional push-pull, which I liked, and the story doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of the relationship.

That said, it didn’t feel especially original. It hit a lot of familiar beats I’ve seen in other dark romances, and while it was entertaining, I was hoping for something a bit more unique or surprising. Some of the plot points felt predictable, and I would’ve loved a twist that really shook things up.

Still, if you enjoy dark, obsessive romance with a quick pace and steamy tension, Ruthless Devotion will definitely deliver. Just don’t expect it to reinvent the genre.

This was a really fun and sexy Wuthering Heights retelling! I haven’t read the previous books but I definitely will go back.