Full disclosure, I've never read Wuthering Heights so I have no notes about how this does as a retelling.

This is NOT a slow burn, and to be honest, I was here for it. Variety is the spice of life and all that. I can enjoy reading books with different tropes.

Cathy is a banshee and Heathcliff is a necromancer. They're each stuck in their own ways. I couldn't help but fall for these two broke kids trying to escape their shitty small town. There was some small bit of other woman drama, but Heathcliff only ever had eyes for Cathy. They fell hard and fast. This felt so believable for two kids in their early twenties.

This series is interconnected standalones. I haven't read the first two books and I had no problem understanding the plot and worldbuilding. Overall, it was an enjoyable book.

Well, this book is spicy from the jump and wastes no time pulling you into its eerie, atmospheric world. From the first chapter, I was hooked by the layers of mystery, supernatural tension, religious undertones, and cultish secrecy.

Though it is marketed as a Wuthering Heights retelling (which I haven’t read), the story felt wholly unique and refreshing to me. The world-building is immersive, the pacing solid and the magic system – rooted in dark folklore – is fascinating and well written.

Cathy is a banshee forced to suppress her urges and live under the church’s oppressive gaze. She longs for freedom, but her family treats her like a burden and an abomination. Heathcliffe, a necromancer, is similarly trapped – used by his adoptive family, the Lockwoods, for his ability to raise the dead beyond repair.

When they meet, they form a bond through their desire for liberation and their abilities. While Cathy weeps the dead, Heathcliffe allows them to rise. Their dynamic is sinfully delicious – dark, magnetic, and filled with desire.

There’s a chilling plot surrounding an ancient pagan god trapped beneath an old church. Will it destroy their shot at freedom? Is the sacrificial lamb enough to keep it contained – or not? 

If you’re into dark fantasy with Southern gothic vibes, folklore, cultish undertones, forbidden love, and supernatural beings, you’ll love this! Every chapter had me completely engaged.

Thank you, Sourcebooks Casablanca and NetGalley, for the advanced copy of Ruthless Devotion.

This has been my favorite of the Gilded Monsters series, and while this can be read as a standalone, it defintely helps to read the other two so you know more about the other characters who show up throughout the novel. Beautiful Villain followed Jay and Daisy from The Great Gatsby (four stars from me); Charming Devil was a Dorian Gray retelling (only three stars from me). Ruthless Devotion was a retelling of Wuthering Heights, and I loved it. If you are going into these looking for the original masterpieces, stop. These are spicy retellings (I use that term very loosely here) with a paranormal spin. You do not get the angst and tragedy is you do with the original. Do yourself a favor and drop all preconceived notions of what you HOPE this book will be. The Gilded Monsters series is a fun series that use classic literature characters and some of their actions to spin a world of its own. That being said, I will forever love any version of Heathcliff. The novel is written in dual POV but I didn't feel like there was a ton of overlapping and repetition. This was a fun read, and I'm excited for the next installment of the series.

3.5⭐️

Overall this was an interesting, unique retelling! I loved the fantasy and religious element of the story and thought it was super compelling. I didn’t feel as connected to the romance between to the two main characters because it is insta-lust and I just didn’t feel very invested in them as a couple.

I hadn’t read the previous books in the series and I feel like I missed out because the characters from the other books are fairly prominent. I would recommend reading the previous books in the series before this one!

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

This is book three of the Gilded Monsters series. This is a spicy retelling of Wuthering Heights in a paranormal way. The world building is detailed and imaginative. This book has strong, well-developed characters and an interesting story line that keeps you turning the pages. This story is well written and will draw you into the characters emotions. You feel all their angst and love. You’ll want to read the entire series! This review is based on an early review copy I was sent by the publisher, but this didn't affect the content of my review that I am voluntarily providing.

This book is feral, in the best way.

If you're into banshee folklore, dark humour, and a story that spirals into beautiful chaos, Ruthless Devotion delivers. It’s not your average retelling; it’s twisted, eerie, and deeply rooted in myth. The banshee lore alone had me hooked.

I’ll admit, the beginning didn’t fully grab me. Some passages felt clunky and hard to sink into. But once the story found its rhythm, it took a turn. Darker, faster, and way more intense than I expected. The plot twists hit hard, and the ending left me weirdly satisfied.

The characters are eccentric and unpredictable, which made the ride all the more fun. I get why the reviews are mixed, but for me, the messiness worked. Especially that ending. It was wild, strange, and kind of perfect.

The concept of this book is interesting but the writing skills weren't there to support it. The dialogue felt way too internet slang like and didn't flow well and conversations seemed blunt. The male main character was also unlikable and his inner monologue was not fun to read, he was very negative and had a big problem with seeming like he knew he was the main character and would have an attitude or do things just because they seemed cool not because they mattered or were true to his personality.

I was so excited by the premise of this book but it was just absolutely not something I enjoyed. There are major parts of the lore and supernatural abilities (Cathy being a banshee!? Brilliant) that were so interesting to me but I just hated Cathy and Heathcliff as characters and the insta-over-the-top-lust they shared. I love Wuthering Heights and having Heathcliff and Cathy hookup immediately upon meeting, and I do mean immediately, just killed the tortured yearning I was expecting and wanted. I think there is definitely an audience for this book, I just don’t think it’s me.

To say that I have really adored all of the books in Rebecca Kenney's Gilded Monsters series so far is an understatement. If you follow me on here, you know that Rebecca's special brand of fantasy retellings are some of my favorites. So when she launched this traditionally published series bringing a magical and modern twist to some of my favorite classics, I knew I would be hooked.

Ruthless Devotion is book #3 in a series of interconnected standalone fantasies that take place in a modern, Southern gothic world where Irish folklore is not a thing of the past and dark magic is alive and well. This latest release takes on the epic and tragic romance of Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, so I knew that it would have its fair share of pain, tragedy and darkness.

However, this is Rebecca Kenney, so she has a wonderful way of paying homage to what we all love from this original classic and turning on its head by seamlessly weaving the threads of her unique style of addictive fantasy. We meet Cathy Earnshaw, a young woman isolated and shunned for the banshee blood that runs through her veins. Her burden to hold and give voice to her town's deaths is at once a hauntingly beautiful gift and a debilitating curse. Cathy is wild, fierce and filled with a resilient strength that sees her through the most painful parts of her life. With an unapologetic spirit that will not let go of her hope for true freedom, Kenney masterfully gives us a female protagonist that we all can relate to on some level.

Cathy's small town existence is blown apart by a chance encounter with a rugged Heathcliff Lockwood. The sparks between these two are instantaneous and I loved how Kenney faithfully captured the tension, the brutality and absolute possessiveness between this couple. The way that they egg each other on, are brutally honest about their flaws and wickedness, grabbed me from their first introduction and never let go. I always appreciate the various dimensions that Kenney creates within her characters and especially for these two, she does not shy away from the darkest aspects of who they are, which actually makes their story that much more intriguing. While they may not be perfect, there is an intrinsic understanding and soul deep loyalty that Cathy and Heathcliff have for one another. And of course, the spice is top tier and perfectly matched to their personalities.

Heathcliff has his own secrets with powers of necromancy that he wants to leverage to get away from the life he knows and the family that has been in many ways his jailor. Even though he will be the first to tell you that is he bad news, Heathcliff will have you addicted to all he says and does. The ways in which he takes care of Cathy without ever looking for something in return are magical and his unwavering devotion is the stuff of top tier book bfs.

As Cathy and Heathcliff circle around what it means to be forbidden loves, they find themselves at the center of a nefarious plot where gods long since caged and slumbering demand sacrifices to walk amongst humans once again. While you do not have to read books 1 and 2 of the series to enjoy Ruthless Devotion, Kenney does a superb job of connecting each book and its characters to drive the plot forward. Cathy and Heathcliff will have to rely on more than just themselves if they stand any chance to survive the evil threatening their town and lives.

Can the couple find common ground with others who share in the heritage of supernatural gifts taht were long since forgotten? Will Cathy and Heathcliff finally be able to find peace in a chaos that is theirs and theirs alone? You will just have to grab this book now to find out! Trust me you will not regret it! And what is up next for Kenney? A retelling of Phantom of the Opera, which I think may have single handedly been the start of this book lover's obsession with the morally grey villain. I cannot wait!

Another SOLID piece by Rebecca !

Cathy, our FMC, and Heathcliff, our MMC, are supernaturals — a common theme in this series of standalones. This series has common characters between all of them, so I definitely recommend starting from the first book, as the entities will definitely make more sense!

The tension starts right off the bat, and the spice happens even quicker, but for good reason.
There is so much emotion in some parts of this story, especially with a lot of it being centered around death.
I deeply enjoyed the MC’s instant connection, and the way they made each other feel alive in a world where everything seemed like it was alone and dying.

The depth of feeling that Kenney was able to portray while Cathy was aimlessly walking through the woods and during some of her episodes (if you read it, you’ll understand) were absolutely breathtaking.

I feel like each book in this series keeps getting better and better!

This was my first time reading a Rebecca Kenney book and I was not disappointed! If I was to rate on vibes only it would be a five star read for sure since I sat down and finished the book in one day. Adult responsibilities were thrown to the wind as I dove into this world of gods, vampires, banshees, necromancers, and a plot that brought them all together.

That said, I had to deduct a single star just because the story felt so rushed with Heathcliff and Cathy's whole story squeezed into this interconnected standalone and I wanted more. I wanted more answers about the magic system (maybe there is more in the other books I have not yet read), more banter and tension in the romance early on, and more time with the "found family" at the end.

Now to head over and add all of Rebecca's books to my TBR so I can head back to this fascinating world she has created! I hope to read more of Cliff and Cathy's story in the next book as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy of Ruthless Devotion.

“Ruthless Devotion” by Rebecca Kenney is a spicy paranormal romance inspired by “Wuthering Heights.” It is the third book in the “Gilded Monsters” series. This book has a content warning page and includes themes such as cults, mourning, and death.

Cathy Earnshaw is trapped. Unable to move out of her father’s house or control her powers, she is grief incarnate in a town where supernaturals are “evil” and her family holds her at arm's length. She is utterly alone.
Until she meets 𝒽𝒾𝓂.
Heathcliff Lockwood was kidnapped at the age of 7 by a family of Necromancers. Now, he works beside his adopted brother, Hindley Lockwood, selling resurrections.
Making a beer delivery to a local store, he meets 𝒽𝑒𝓇.
Secrets fester as a congregation refuses to see the truth, disillusioned by their leader, whose words are whispered in his ear, leading a cult to find their sacrificial lamb.

“Ruthless Devotion” takes place in the (fictional) Southern town of Wicklow, South Carolina, and it felt right. The Southern landscape creates a picturesque setting for ethereal magic and secrets. Having spent most of my life in Charleston, SC, I see curved driveways, Kudzu fields, Spanish Moss, and red clay after heavy rain every day! Reading them and knowing the cities they visited was amazing! I knew the locations (Beaufort, Hunting Island, Augusta, etc.) by heart and pictured our characters there! It made me feel more involved and immersed in the book!

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ Spice Level. Cathy and Heathcliff are soulmates. The heat between them is explosive and shattering. Their chemistry is “off the charts.” Their “meetings” are passionate and “exploratory” as their relationship develops.

“Ruthless Devotion” adds new possibilities to “Wuthering Heights.” In this world, Cathy and Heathcliff get the ending of their dreams. Kenney weaves an incredibly layered story of pantheons, magic, Southern secrets, and cults that draws you in from the get-go. There are a few doors open, and I think they’ll be answered in book four, but there is an HEA!

I am satisfied and happy with this read. I’m excited for Book Four!

𝑹𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒍𝒆𝒔𝒔 𝑫𝒆𝒗𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 by 𝑅𝑒𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑐𝑎 𝐹 𝐾𝑒𝑛𝑛𝑒𝑦 is a great, fast-paced, southern gothic dark paranormal romance with a magical twist.

ᴛʜᴀɴᴋ ʏᴏᴜ sᴏ ᴍᴜᴄʜ @rebeccafkenneybooks ᴀɴᴅ @netgalley ғᴏʀ ᴛʜɪs #gifted ᴇ-ᴀʀᴄ ᴀɴᴅ ғᴏʀ ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴘᴘᴏʀᴛᴜɴɪᴛʏ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜɪs ɢᴇᴍ! ɪ ᴘʀᴇ-ᴏʀᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴘᴇᴄɪᴀʟ ᴇᴅɪᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀs sᴏᴏɴ ᴀs ɪ ғɪɴɪsʜᴇᴅ!

In this dark world, Cathy and Heathcliff come together, she is a banshee and he is a necromancer, and their chemistry is fire from the moment they meet. This spicy 𝑊𝑢𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐻𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠 retelling had me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story! I loved the southern gothic vibes and especially liked Kenney’s method of making you feel as if you are in this world with the characters. Heathcliff is the ideal MMC! He’s loyal, devoted, passionate, yet gentle with Cathy. If you like stories with old Celtic Gods and the supernatural, this one is for you!

5/5 stars
3/5 peppers
1/5 buzz buzz

The last time I read Withering Heights was in senior honors English in high school and I was not a fan of the classic, but yet I AM A FAN OF THIS ONE. Rebecca always gives me just want I want in a re-imagined retelling.

This Cathy and Heathcliff were absolutely delicious. Mix in with charm of southern drawl and the tales of the old gods and throw in a dash of cult like features. You got a hit!! I loved the story and the tales of a banshee and a necromancer. I was not disappointment. And plus the spice was a lot more than Charming Devil which I was quite happy about. I know what's coming next and if you know me, I'm picky about my re-tellings especially ones that are very close to my heart and what I love.

Instant favorite.

I went into this with low expectations and I’m shocked by how much I enjoyed it. I’ll have to go back and read the first two books too. I have zero classic literature comparison, so I honestly don’t care how this book represents the original characters so don’t ask. But standing on their own, the setting of a conservative church in the south whose “role” in the community is to keep a pagan god trapped was so much fun. And I loved the representation of a banshee in the character of Cathy. I don’t think I’ve seen much, if any representation of that creature that was not negative in any way. Anyways I can’t wait to work my way backwards through this series!

Going into this book, I had no idea what to expect, but it definitely wasn’t this.

The story follows Heathcliff and Cathy, who live in a small Southern town teeming with supernatural secrets and religious fanatics. They lead two very different lives, but both are desperate for freedom, dreaming of running far away from everything. Their fated (and very spicy) encounter ends up changing the course of their lives, their town, and maybe even the entire world.

Honestly, the setting was fantastic. The Celtic mythology references were really intriguing and pulled me into the story right away. I also loved the main characters, I thought they were well-developed, with strong, layered backstories and captivating personalities. The writing style felt beautifully lyrical without being overly descriptive, which I appreciate because I don’t need a ton of detail to picture a scene. And the spice? Unexpectedly amazing. Like, thank you. I was not expecting that level from a traditionally published book, but it delivered.

Now onto the negatives, and why this ended up being a 3-star read for me.

While the pacing was quick (which I usually like), it sometimes felt too fast, like we were jumping from point A to point B without enough in between. It made parts of the story feel rushed or underdeveloped. The “epic love” between the main characters didn’t feel entirely believable, especially since they barely knew each other. If they had a stronger foundation, the big “misunderstanding” in the second half (and all the fallout that followed) probably wouldn’t have happened. Also, the author introduced a lot of subplots that were never really addressed or wrapped up. Since this is part of an interconnected standalone series, I’m not sure those threads will ever be picked up again, which left me a little frustrated and disappointed.

Overall, I went into this with zero expectations and was pleasantly surprised, I genuinely enjoyed the ride. But I was also left with too many inconsistencies and loose ends to fully recommend it.
😱 Celtic Mythology Elements (paranormal romance)
😱 Small Southern Town (but not in a cute cowboy way)
😱 Forbidden Romance
😱 Third Book in an Interconnected Standalone Series
😱 Dual POV

If you love Wuthering Heights, then this wonderful retelling is perfect for you. The world building is extraordinary and mixed in with the supernatural elements, Rebecca F. Kenney’s skill of adding a revitalising twist to this classic tale, is superb.

I got this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This book was really interesting! As a dark retelling of Wuthering Heights, it isn’t what I usually pick up but I’m glad I did. I loved the magic system and the gods vs. humans aspect. I didn’t realise that it was in a series but it still made sense by itself. The ending was exactly what the characters needed and I think it was a perfect way to conclude Cathy and Heathcliff’s story.

Ruthless Devotion by Rebecca Kenney is a modern fantasy romance retelling of Emily Brontë's classic 'Wuthering Heights'. As a huge fan of the original, I was excited to see how the author would reimagine the story.
Although it's not my usual genre (smut), I was impressed by this book. While it deviated from the classic, the new world-building helped shape the characters in a compelling way.
The pacing was a bit slow to build momentum for me, but the writing was engaging and easy to follow.
The special edition cover caught my eye, and I appreciated that the book worked well as a standalone despite being part of a series.
Overall, it was an entertaining read that I'd recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read and review this book

Ruthless Devotion was a fun urban fantasy. It had spice, fated mates, cult vibes, and a god seeking retribution. I enjoyed Cliff and Cathy's story together but did think things were too fast paced. I wanted more of them and for them. Overall, a great read within the series.