This one was a doozy, friends.

Now, I didn't hate this one. But, I didn't love it either. Heathcliff and Cathy were an okay couple, but there wasn't chemistry outside of sexual chemistry. I mean, it was really insta lust as there is quite literally smut in the first few chapters. So, I didn't really get their emotional connection. Though, there were some cute quotes.

My biggest issue with this book as a whole is the plot. I don't know if I'd call this one a retelling. But, seeing as I've never read Wuthering Heights and I'm going based on what I know about the story, maybe I'm not the best judge. But it seemed like a very loose retelling.

Also, for something that is supposed to be a interconnected standalone, there is a LOT of connections to the previous two books. From characters to plot points. There were just parts of the lore and plot that I feel like I could've understood better if I had read the other two books. Now, I will go back and read them and maybe give this one another read to see if my opinion changes. But overall, if this is being marketed as a interconnected standalone, then there should be exposition of the plot from the previous two books.

*Special thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for early access to this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.*

The trauma of this book has me SHOOK! It was so well done. I was hooked from the start.

I also think I am part banshee now 😭

"What I feel for Heathcliff is like the roots of mighty trees, like bones under flesh, like the bedrock far beneath the ocean floor. It's not only erotic but necessary. I need him deeper inside. I need to feel him wanting me, coming for me. I needed to unmake him so I can remake us both."

UGH!! I mean, how can you not swoon with those words?!

I also read this series out of order and did not feel like I was missing anything. Which is super refreshing!

Ruthless Devotion is a dark, moody fantasy romance that breathes new life into the emotional core of Wuthering Heights. Rebecca Kenney blends supernatural lore with Southern Gothic atmosphere to create something fresh, haunting, and deeply emotional.

The story follows Cathy, who’s grieving a painful loss, and Heathcliff, a mysterious and tormented figure from her past. Their connection is intense and full of slow-burning tension. As the story unfolds in the eerie, misty Lowcountry, the world of banshees, necromancers, and long-buried secrets comes alive.

What really stands out is how the book handles big themes—grief, identity, devotion—through characters who feel real and flawed. Their struggles aren’t just magical; they’re deeply human. And while the romance builds gradually, it’s emotionally rich and satisfying without relying on overly graphic content.

Yes, you’ll find some familiar tropes here—the tortured love interest, forbidden attraction—but they’re used in a way that feels genuine rather than cliché. The pacing is fast enough to keep you turning pages, but thoughtful enough to let the emotional weight land.

Overall, Ruthless Devotion is a gripping, atmospheric read perfect for fans of gothic romance, emotional storytelling, and a touch of the supernatural.

This book is perfect if you're looking for a fast-paced read. Loved Cathy and Cliffs connection, even though it was insta lust. It has supernaturals, humans vs gods, plot, intrigue and a bit of darkness to it that really pulled me in.😍

Not the best literary masterpiece, but I didn't mind that at all. The modern language and setting added to the easyness of the book. I would definitely recommend this book! 😍

Rebecca has done it yet again with her ways at doing retellings. I fear the Gilded Monsters series just keeps getting better and better each story AND IM SAT!!!!

First and foremost, Heathcliff? H O T. The tatttoos? The muscles? That mouth on him??? H O T!!!!!!!!

On a real note, my god did I love Hearhcliff and Cathy so much or what. Cathy as a character made me feel so many emotions because I truly felt for her. All she has ever wanted was to feel wanted and loved but the people in her life have never given that to her due to her supernatural abilities. Hearhcliff is out here just trying to be able to escape his families clutches and do his own damn thing finally when BOOM! Cathy meets him and they hit it off with a bang (hehehe) and things go from better to worse to better again for these two.

I loved certain cameos that made an appearance, which just makes this series that stinking fascinating. Like hello??? Classic literature retellings but make it spicy & involve supernaturals??? Yes please 🙂‍↕️

i was very skeptical of a Wuthering Heights retelling, but this one worked! i was pleasantly surprised. i really liked the characters and the dual POVs, as i always enjoy those in a romantic story. i also loved the folklore and magic that was woven into the story, as it added so much depth to the plot. i felt that the spicy scenes between cathy and Heathcliff happened too soon and could've been drawn out later in the book. this caused the two to seem a little bit of a underdeveloped couple in that sense and i wish they had more emotional depth earlier in the story.

however, i still enjoyed this book and i read through it pretty fast! there were a lot of interesting elements and i loved connecting it back to the Wuthering Heights.

thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this opportunity.

3.75⭐️

Sometimes you just do not have the words to describe a book. For me this is such a book. I really enjoyed the book! It was so interesting and unique and it gave me so much joy reading it! Just cannot say much more about it😅 Really recommend it though

I’d recommend reading it if you like folklore, broken family relationships, touch her and you’ll die vibes and some blood.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc!

I thoroughly enjoyed this Southern Gothic retelling of the classic, Wuthering Heights. Heathcliff and Cathy could rule or ruin the world together. This was a fantasy wrapped in the religious trauma of the Bible Belt, but in this town, demons are real, and they are gods who want out. Cathy is unfortunately caught in the crosshairs of every waring faction of this silent war. Her supernatural gifts make her a target of the church, the gods, and the family of Heathcliff, who would burn the world down to save her. With both of their supernatural heritages warring, the church and the families closing in, the pace is quick and frantic as they try to escape. This is a romance willing to alter reality in this sweeping struggle to stay alive. Heathcliff and Cathy are meant to be and doomed to whatever fate they create. It is a fun adventure that both dark romance and fantasy readers will enjoy!

This was hot. Like, this was hot.

I really didn't know what I was signing up for when I said yes to a vampiric Gatsby retelling three books ago but man am I here for it.

Ruthless Devotion was emotional, raw, and evocative. It was the first in the series that I went into without having read the base material before. I always say I'll get around to reading Wuthering Heights, but I haven't yet. However, it took nothing away from the experience for me when I compare it to my experiences reading the two novels before this one. I'm sure I missed some nods to the original work, but Rebecca's stories are so uniquely her own that, even it they weren't steeped in fantasy and lore, I'd still have a wonderful time reading them.

The banshee scenes were so well-written that I swear my heart was hurting right alongside Cathy's. Heathcliff's devotion to protecting Cathy and knowing that, despite the short time they'd known each other, they were connected on a soul level made me swoon. And the spice was A+. Their chemistry was palpable.

There was literally nothing about this book that I didn't like or that didn't work for me. And if I could give more than 5 stars, just know that they would be awarded by the appearance of the cast of the previous books because they still live memorably in my heart. They all showed up that first time to talk to the pastor and I almost cried. Then they showed up at the church later on and I did cry. I just feel that that's an important thing to mention.

My review is done now thanks.

Seriously, this series is taking paranormal re-imagination of classics to a whole new level that is impossible to reach again. Wuthering Heights retelling set in modern times where Heathcliff is a necromancer and Cathy is a banshee..who would have thought? Ruthless Devotion by Rebecca F. Kenney was electric every way. Supernatural mystery and twists in every page kept me glued to the story. The emotions were like a storm, razing the devil and making way for love. It was sexy but the spice just completed the emotional connection between two misunderstood misfits.

🖤 Wuthering Heights retelling
🖤 Paranormal/ romantasy
🖤 Necromancer + Banshee
🖤 enemies to lovers
🖤 bad boy & bad girl
🖤 Cult/ religious Myths

We are in remote small towns where church plays an important role. The church claims to contain an ancient ruthless God under the church with their blessed water and old spells. That's why Cathy Earnshow has to run and hide every time her Banshee episode comes after someone's death. Lockwoods are banished and prohibited because they are believed the worshipper of the old gods and have their old necromancer magic. Heathcliff is and isn't one of them because the family never accepted him fully. So when he gets to know Cathy and her amazing soul, he knows that he has to save her and protect her at any cost. Even from the god rising from the captivity by the sacrifice.

Now doesn't this sound insane? Like insanely brilliant? Heathcliff and Cathy both are outcast in a sense. Heathcliff has this dark brooding energy and he has a fantastic humor. He is surviving but also planning his escape from the Lockwood family. And Cathy gave him the necessary push because he fell for her and he knew they couldn't stay here. My heart is weeping for Cathy. She was abandoned and abused and hurt by her own family! She isn't a monster but she was treated like one. Heathcliff is the first person who understood her despair and pain. It's a bond forged from their shared angst and heartbreak but this bond also gave them hope and power to fight the injustice against them. She is so strong and sassy and resilient. This plot is heavy on action and suspense. Specially last few chapters made me panic and rant and lose my ever loving mind. We get an epic appearance from the previous couples from Gilded Monsters as they have a common goal to beat the resurrected God. This story has a lot of religious events and rituals and I feel that was pretty relevant to present socio cultural environment. My mind is freaking blown and I cannot wait for the next adventure.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

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. Imao
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, l'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! Thank you to NG and Sourcebooks for providing me with an E-ARC for exchange for my honest thoughts !

📚 Review: Ruthless Devotion by Rebecca Kenney

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Ruthless Devotion immediately caught my eye because Wuthering Heights is one of my favorite classics—and this paranormal retelling did not disappoint. Rebecca Kenney brings something fresh to the table with supernatural beings that aren’t often explored in typical paranormal romance or romantasy, which made this feel unique and immersive.

The story moves at a fast pace (no slow burn here!), which I personally enjoyed—it pulled me in quickly and kept the tension high from the start. The chemistry between Cathy and Heathcliff is intense, and while the spice doesn’t dominate the story, it’s present enough to satisfy readers looking for heat. I’d rate it 3 out of 5 on the chili pepper scale.

The ending left me genuinely curious about the other characters introduced throughout the book and I’m eager to go back to the other books in this series.

If you love gothic vibes, morally gray characters, and a touch of the unexpected, Ruthless Devotion is a worthy read.

The dialogue was so cringey in this I couldn’t finish it. 😅 giving higher stars since I didn’t finish

Unfortunately this book was not for me.
The initial plot seemed intriguing and the supernatural components, but jumping into the smutty scenes so early just didn’t really make any sense at all, for the characters or the plot. And it didn’t hook me.
Not for me, might be for someone else.

Cathy and Heathcliff!!! Heathcliff is everything I wanted in a dark and dangerous MMC. Cathy is feisty and so complex. The ongoing character development of coming to terms with herself and the paranormal world is truly captivating. This retelling of Wurthering Heights is so darn brilliant!

ALL REVIEWS POSTED JULY 12, 2025

3.5/5.0 ⭐️
4.0/5.0 🌶️

RELEASES JULY 22, 2025

Phew! What. A. Read. I devoured this book in the span of around 3 days. It is a darker romance book with fantasy elements and follows Cathy, who is a banshee, and Heathcliff, who is a necromancer. Put them together and what do you get? Spice, tension, and over protectiveness.

Cathy just wants to be accepted and loved as she is, but she doesn’t get to know or understand that feeling until Heathcliff comes into her life. That man fights for her even when she can’t fight for herself.

If you want a dark retelling of Wuthering Heights with fantasy elements thrown in, this is the book for you! (As with all darker romance books, please read trigger warnings)

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Kenney, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC

I went into this one with no knowledge of the original story, Wuthering Heights... I mean aside from Bella Swan waxing poetic about it :)

Cathy is a hidden banshee in a highly religious community that wants nothing to do with the supernatural. Heathcliff is the adopted Necromance of the Lockwood family. A family that is not allowed to enter town.

They meet by chance, in the store room, while Heathcliff is making a delivery.. and deliver he does ;) the interest and attachment is pretty instant for both, but both fight it pretty well, for just a little bit. The church is extreme. The spice is hot. The cameos are spectacular.

Rebecca has written some of my favorite books and this one was no exception.

*Thank you NetGalley

I loved this book! A spicy retelling of Wuthering Heights that did not disappoint. Heathcliff and Cathy are phenomenally written and show so much character growth. The plot is great and the spice is really spicy! 5 🌟

The Gilded Monsters Are BACK!

Rebecca F. Kenney returns with the best romance in this series yet! A necromancer and a banshee walk into a storage room...... sounds like the start to a joke, but instead it is the start to the steamiest romance. Following the classic "Wuthering Heights," this was such a fun revitalization. There are some classic characters and backdrops (sort of), all while the paranormal creates suspense, drama, and mystery.

Starting with the romance of this story, readers prepare to be blown away. This romance, although rooted in a classic, is breathtaking. Heath and Cathy's connection is immediate and undeniable. Some readers may label this as a quick love/instant love story, but even if this were, I loved it. Then add in the spice, and this story goes to the next level. Kenney literally had my jaw on the floor with how much fun the spicy scenes were written. It just showed how much she enjoyed writing these characters.

The plot of this story also added so much to the overall lore of this universe that it made the stakes the highest that they have ever been. The mystery of Cathy's background and how Heath plays into that with all the old gods rising just made for a thrilling tale. There were also a few fun reveals and plenty of cameos of characters from the previous books that I think readers are going to love.

Buckle up and prepare for the old gods to continue to rise! The Gilded Monsters is one of my favorite series, and you should give it a shot!

I can’t believe I got to like the last 1/5 of this and only realised it was book 3 in a series lmao🤣 I was kinda like maaaan the author really do be introducing new characters in such an odd way. MY BAD

HOWEVER - even with me being an idiot, this was a pretty fun and unique read and technically can be standalone read as it's only slightly interwoven stories. It's basically a spicy little Wuthering Heights retelling which I wasn't convinced would work, but oddly it did!

PROS
Forbidden romance
Morally grey MMC
OBSESSED MMC
Spicy goodness
DUAL POVS!!! yes
Cool Celtic/Irish mythology


CONS
Insta Love/Lust
questionable FMC choices
HORRID FAMILY
stupid miscommunication/poor communication

Honestly though, I whizzed through reading this and will almost definitely go back and read the other 2 books as I am just hella curious now especially as it appears one is a great Gatsby retelling and I am guessing Dorian grey?! and I am here for that.

Thanks as always to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC