What an amazing read! I hadn’t originally realised this was part of an interconnected series, but it’s just fine as a standalone.
The story dives straight in with some action, creating a great way to introduce the characters and their powers. I loved Heathcliffs personality and how well written be (and all the other characters) was.
The writing style itself was really good, and i just couldn’t put the book down. I don’t usually go for this style of book, but i’m extremely happy i did for this.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me read Ruthless Devotion as an ARC, all opinions are my own.

I really wanted to like this one because it had such a cool premise: southern gothic and Wuthering Heights just compliment each other perfectly. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get past the first few chapters. “Rizz” in a sentence through and I just couldn’t get past it from there.

I was intrigued by this story due to the description. I am a sucker for classic retellings. Unfortunately I will be DNFing this book. I have struggled to get past the first chapter. I have picked up the book multiple times but I can not get pass the writing style. It is just not for me. I'm very confused on the characters and what exactly is happening and the descriptions are very lack luster. The writing over all is very boring and basic.

I wish I could get pass the writing because the description sounds so interesting.

Ruthless Devotion is a dark, addictive Southern Gothic twist on Wuthering Heights that pulls you in with its raw emotion and magnetic, messed-up characters. Cathy and Heathcliff are both beautifully broken, and their chemistry is wild—equal parts tenderness and chaos. The backdrop of necromancers, cult secrets, and swampy forests adds an eerie, magical vibe that makes this retelling feel completely fresh and original.

The story gets a little repetitive in the middle, and I wish some side characters had more depth, but overall, this book hit hard in all the right ways. If you’re into dark romance, haunted settings, and love that feels more like fate than choice, this one’s definitely worth the read. Twisted, emotional, and impossible to put down.

I wanted tonlike this so badly but it did not hit the southern gothic mark at all and I am not an insta lust/love girlie. Gothic to me typically has slow burns. I understand the author tried to justify the lust factor of Cathy by way of it being the only way to silence the pain that she feels coming on because of her gift...but it felt like a cop out to simply put in s3x early on and often. I guess this is for the super spicy crown but that's not me. That's why I gave 2 stars instead of one.

Now I DID lOVE her Dorian Grey retelling! That one was spot on, very well done character development and amazing third act.

This one fell flat and I didn't like Cathy at all. This story didn't really feel akin to Withering Heights and a lot of different supernatural stuff felt crammed in. The language slang use was confusing too for whatever time period. I couldn't get a handle on this one. Indid dnf at a certain point because the spice was dirty, forced and off-putting. I like her more character driven retellings and slower burns. I love her dragon books too so I'll definitely keep reading, this was a one off that didn't connect with me but I very much reccomend the others in this retelling series (Gatsby and Dorian Grey).

If Rebecca Kenney writes it, I'm reading it. A dark and gothic Wuthering Heights retelling that was so good and addictive. You seriously won't want to put this down. It's spicy with a necromancer...need i say more?

i ust cant tell if it is placed in 1800s or 2020s it feels like its written in wattpad it doesnt seem to have a clear plot which made me struggle to finish it and from the first second they see each other they are in love

this is sadly not my kind of story. inspired by wuthering heights, which i have yet to read, this was giving spicy and melodramatic fanfiction to the max, which if you’re into i would highly recommend!! i will be dnf’ing also due to the modern slang used that was incredibly jarring?? (i really hope im misunderstanding the use of the word “rizz” used 2% in 😭😭)

Thanks Netgalley for the ARC! I really enjoyed Ruthless Devotion. It’s a dark, emotional, and magical retelling of Wuthering Heights with a paranormal twist. Cathy and Heathcliff’s relationship is intense and messy in all the best ways. It’s definitely a heavier read with some dark themes, and a few parts felt a little slow, but overall, I was hooked. If you’re into dark romance with drama and a touch of magic, you’ll definitely enjoy this one.

Haunted Hearts & Dark Devotion
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Release Date: July 22, 2025
A southern gothic retelling of Wuthering Heights—with gods, a banshee, and a necromancer? I was in from page one.

This story doesn’t wait around. It dives right into the necromancy with just enough background to ground you, and the pacing is so smooth I couldn’t stop reading. Told in dual POV, Ruthless Devotion gives us a Cathy who is intense, chaotic, and oddly relatable (her impulsive thoughts? Valid). Heathcliff is an absolute tease—especially at church, and I will never recover from that scene.

Their connection, both emotional and magical, is charged. Heathcliff tempts Cathy constantly, and it builds the kind of tension that makes the pages fly. I also loved how sure he is of her—it’s obsessive, a little unhinged, and I ate it up.

The writing is stunning. Even though it’s a modern adaptation, it has this dreamy, gothic atmosphere that makes every moment feel both fresh and haunting. There’s a full-on cult unraveling, a sacrifice scene that’s described so viscerally I felt it, and enough mystery to keep me fully hooked.

Also:

Hindley is disgusting.
I want the drama between Lockwood and the Earnshaws.
I got so into it, I forgot to take more notes—that’s how good it was.


If you’re into intense romance, southern gothic vibes, supernatural elements, and a stalking/obsessive man… you need this book.


Thank you to Rebecca Kenney and NetGalley for the ARC 💀

**ARC review. Thank you to Rebecca Kenney, her team, and NetGalley.**

I really enjoyed this one. The FMC was strong and hilarious and the MMC was filthy, obsessed with the FMC, and sweet. They were feral for each other in the best way.

The horror aspect was well done. I love when horror, fantasy, and romance meld. It was obvious what the climax would entail but I still enjoyed it and the lead up. I would have liked an actual confrontation between the FMC and her father and aunt though.

The spice is well done and very hot.

Ruthless Devotion is the third book in the Gilded Monsters series. I’ve only read the first one, Beautiful Villain, and really liked it. Charming Devil sounds great too—it’s already on my TBR.

Out of all the books I’ve read by Rebbeca, Ruthless Devotion is definitely one of my favorites. It dives into some heavy, emotional stuff like cult-like communities and abuse, but the story had me hooked from the start. I was totally rooting for the main couple and just wanted them to find happiness.

It’s a spicy new adult retelling of Wuthering Heights, which I haven’t read, so I can’t compare the two—but honestly, this book was intense and totally memorable on its own.

Ruthless Devotion is gothic Southern magic and stormy romance at its finest. Rebecca Kenney takes the twisted soul of Wuthering Heights and infuses it with grief magic, necromancy, and the aching desperation of two people who were never meant to survive without each other. Cathy and Heathcliff aren’t just dark and damaged—they are tethered, soul-bound in a way that feels both terrifying and deeply romantic. Every page is dripping with emotion and tension.

Kenney writes like someone who’s cracked open the human heart and scribbled poetry on its walls. The atmosphere? Haunting and immersive. The pacing? Utterly unrelenting. And the chemistry? It’s feral. I couldn’t look away from Cathy and Heathcliff’s spiraling need for one another—even when it hurt. This book doesn’t flinch away from grief, trauma, or desire. It leans into it, bares its teeth, and dares you to feel everything. An unforgettable retelling with a magical twist that left me reeling—in the best way.

This was a SPICY retelling of Wuthering Heights with a paranormal twist.

4 of 5 🌶️

This book takes place in a small town in the southeastern United States. This is a church run community. This book contains a lot of possibly controversial religious depictions.

Plot wise, I cannot speak to the similarities between Wuthering Hughes and this book because I’m unfortunately not familiar with the source material. Outside of that, this book is also the 3rd in a series of interconnected standalones, I did know this going in and don’t personally have a problem treating the previous books as prequels. I chose to read this book because I was interested in the plot and then would decide if I would read the other books in the series if I liked this one. That being said, I do think I will probably complete this series at some point. I enjoyed the plot and although the writing style wasn’t my favorite and it felt repetitive and slow at times, there were also moments that were so unique and captivating and intense. This book also had so much content shoved into under 300 pages, and although it has a lot of spice, it is still very plot heavy. It is insta love, there is no slow burn and the first spicy scene is in the first few chapters of the book. Although logically the romance makes sense, I prefer a the tension of something with a slower paced romance. I did still grow to like them more toward the end, seeing them face conflict together and seeing where they end up.

Overall I had a good time reading this book, I read it over the span of 3 working days. There are aspects of mystery that keep you engaged. The spice is spicy. The supernatural element is interesting. It was good. Would I recommend it? To the right person, this book certainly is not for everyone.

Check the trigger warnings

Thank you NetGalley for the copy! My opinions are honest & my own.

Ruthless devotion is the 3rd book in interconnected stand-alone novels. The story told here is a deliciously gothic southern take on supernatural and modern times.

Our FMC Cathy is strong but holding herself back from her true nature, she grew up with her family in a church setting and has some trauma involved with that. She’s trusting as that’s all she’s known her whole life, at least until she meets Heathcliff.

Heathcliff is our MMC, an orphan taken in by a failing supernatural family. Turns out he has strong powers that that some family members take advantage of. He feels stuck in his life, passive almost, until Cathy makes him see he can have more to life.

Their interactions begin on a “insta-lust” interaction but grow from there, it was nice to see them begin to trust in each other and themselves. The main plot line includes old gods and goddesses and modern takes on them.

One thing I really missed was a final interaction between Cathy and her family, after what they had done to her.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. The spice scenes were well written but I like how they weren’t the whole story line, there’s an action packed plot with amazing world and character building to it. It makes me want to read the previous books in this world and learn more about the other couples.

This was the first book I've ever written by Rebecca, I'll say if you pick this one up you could read it as a stand alone but there are characters sprinkled in that would make it more enjoyable if you read the first two books in the Guilded Monsters series.

Loose Whethering Heights retelling, this is a book centered in southern gothic vibes with Irish lore ties in, this book has the creepy vibes of cult life and Necromancy and ties in a Banshee? Who wouldn't find that intriguing? This book has spicy scenes but the story dominates the plot and made it a really fun story telling!

Ruthless Devotion is a gothic, emotionally charged retelling with rich atmosphere and intense chemistry. Cathy and Heathcliff are both haunted and magnetic, drawn to each other in a way that feels darkly fated. The Southern Gothic setting adds a moody, almost mythic quality that complements the story’s themes of grief, power, and forbidden love. While the writing leans dramatic and the emotions run high, some readers may find the plot more focused on mood and passion than clarity or pacing. Still, for those who love their romance intense, eerie, and laced with a bit of Southern magic, this book offers a unique and haunting take.

Absolutely adored this dark southern gothic retelling of Wuthering Heights. Medium spice level, perfect mix of suspense, family drama, supernatural and mundane horrors - throw in some religious cult action and family trauma and this was a fantastic recipe for a great read!

Cathy Earnshaw doesn’t fit in with the people and life in her small town of Wicklow. Not only is she not brainwashed by the religious cult running everything, she’s smart and sassy and also a banshee.

Heathcliff Lockwood is the gifted and powerful adopted son of the Lockwood family, trapped in servitude to the family resurrection business.

These two have a fantastic connection - it’s raw and deep and established quickly after some initial missteps. They want each other but they also need each other to escape their town and lives. But they’re betrayed and trapped in a fight against ancient gods with supernatural friends familiar from earlier books in the series.

Loved the mythology, world building and atmosphere of the story telling. I’ll definitely be explored the author’s other series.

Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Rebecca Kenney for the e-ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was the most amazing book...the story was so engrossing, with the right amount of action, adventure, mystery, romance along with spice. I truly fell in love with Heathcliff and Cathy....and enjoyed seeing Dorian as well as Gatsby and Daisy. Incredible story with laughs...and romance. Five star read!

This was my first Rebecca Kenney novel and I can confidently say that this will not be my last time reading her work; dare I say she is now on my auto buy/auto read list.

Going into Ruthless Devotion I knew this was going to be a darker, paranormal and modern day retelling of Wuthering Heights and dear lord, it was everything and then some. The paranormal aspects? Amazing. The romance? Delectable. The relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff was everything from tense to inspiring to heartwarming and everything in between. The way that Heathcliff was always pushing Cathy to see her full strength and potential was something I haven’t read in a book in a very long time.

My favorite quote, you ask? I thought you never would:

“You announce death, you scream for it, but you do not fucking yield to it”

Overall, I gave this book a solid four stars. The stories were great, the main cast of characters were memorable. I do wish there was some depth given to some of the side characters to give more context and deeper meaning to the overall story, but it did not ruin my experience reading this book.

If you like classic retellings with stories that take place in a complex small town with a touch of paranormal and Irish folklore and a few dashes of the most delicious romance and spice between two amazing characters, I highly recommend you check this out when it releases in July.

Thanks to Rebecca Kenney, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my review.