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.

I really enjoyed this one. I love how much Heathcliff and Cathy are just drawn to each other, despite all of the resons they shouldn't be. They've had chemistry since the moment they met, and they're going to fight for each other no matter what.

The supernatural elements were really well done, and I couldn't put it down once I got into it. I loved how everything unfolded, and I loved watching them realize how they really feel about each other. And I loved seeing the characters from the previous books as well!

I have read a few of Rebecca's books and I do think this is one of her best written ones out of them all.

Ruthless Devotion is a dark gothic Wuthering Heights retelling and boy do you get all of those things in spades - suspense, family drama, various religious horrors, and a heaping dose of trauma (is it really Wuthering Heights without those things?)

As expected, Cathy and Heathcliff have an amazing connection and tension galore. They can't exist without one another but they also need to escape.

While this is a retelling, it is still unique and brings it's own spin to the tale so many of us have loved forever - the mythology with the gods, supernatural friends, descriptive world building, and detailed writing really bring the story to life and gives us a fresh take.

This is a fantastical re-telling of Wuthering Heights full of supernatural beings stemming from various mythologies. My cup of tea ☕️ It also dives into the heretical occult that can sometimes spawn with certain groups who think they are doing the right thing by doing dark deeds. I was shocked at how open Kenney was during certain scenes involving the church. 😬

I was so excited to read this book that I didn’t realize it was part of a series! Fear not, you don’t need to have read books 1 & 2 as this one can be read as a standalone. After my previous ARC that took a lot of brain power, I read this in a day! It’s fun, easy, entertaining, spicy and full of myths. 🤩

The 2 main characters are victims to the systems they are born in. They are stuck: no money, power, status or family (not really). They are both just trying to survive and find a way out of their small town for a better life.💪

The side characters (whom I presume are from the other 2 books) are also based off of classical stories like Jay Gatsby and Daisy. I need to go back and read their stories because they have some interesting supernatural abilities.

Thank you to @netgalley, author @rebeccafkenneybooks and Sourcebooks Casablanca publishing for the ARC.

★★★★☆ Fierce, Addictive, and Deliciously Twisted

Ruthless Devotion sinks its teeth into you from page one and doesn’t let go. Rebecca Kenney delivers an intoxicating blend of obsession, power, and passion that had me glued to every word. The dynamic between the leads? Explosive. There’s an edge of danger and devotion that keeps the tension high and the stakes even higher.

Kenney’s writing is razor-sharp—taut prose, intense emotional beats, and a plot that’s dripping with dark temptation. I loved how unapologetically intense it all was. It straddles that delicious line between devotion and destruction, and trust me, you’ll be flipping pages like your life depends on it.

So why not five stars? A few moments felt a little too fast or just brushed over when I wanted to bask in the drama or feel the fallout hit harder. But honestly? That didn’t stop me from devouring it in one sitting.

If you’re into dark romance that claws at your morals while seducing your heart, this one’s got your name all over it.

☠️ Content Warnings:
-Abuse (physical and religious)
-Alcoholism
-Gaslighting
-Violence/Blood
-Religious Bigotry

💞 Read if you enjoy:
-Classic literature-inspired
-Southern gothic vibes
-Creepy cults
-Unique supernaturals
-Irish folklore
-Forbidden romance
-Insta-connection/insta-lust
-Death can’t keep them apart
-Heavy spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

My thoughts:

I wound up enjoying this book way more than I thought I would. Almost DNFing on page 2 ->4⭐️ is a wild turnaround.

What drew me in initially were the supernatural aspects of our MMC and FMC. While we find out pretty quickly that our MMC Heathcliff is a necromancer, it takes a little while for the reader to discover what our FMC Cathy is. We know that she can feel when someone is about to die and fights the urge to loudly mourn them like she is compelled to. Her family, the Earnshaws, are staunchly against any type of supernatural powers. Cathy’s dad and aunt are part of a quasi-Christian “religion” (cult, really) dedicated to stamping out supernaturals and keeping the god buried under the town asleep in his tomb. Meanwhile, the Lockwoods, Heathcliff’s family, profit from their powers and allegedly plan to raise the god that the Earnshaws want kept down.

I’ve read a few books with necromancers before, but I’ll admit I was stumped trying to figure out what Cathy is. That mystery was what compelled me to keep reading, so I won’t spoil in my review. I’ve read countless books about witches, vampires, fae, and werewolves, but I have never read a book with this type of supernatural. I love most of those books, of course, but it was nice to see something new and different.

Obviously, a lot of the book is dedicated to Heathcliff and Cathy’s developing relationship. Not only do their powers complement each other, but they have very similar life experiences. Both of them have lived through a lot of trauma and abuse, and they only really have each other for support. Although Heathcliff and Cathy have undeniable chemistry, I wish the emotional connection was more prevalent from the beginning, rather than starting with the physical connection and developing the emotional one later. (Literally, they have graphic sex in a storage closet right after they meet in chapter 2.)

Even though there are a lot of sex scenes—including one in the church that reminds me of Priest—there is also a strong plot that keeps the story moving. I’m very intrigued by fundamentalist Christianity and people who have escaped high-demand religions, so I was interested in the cult aspect of this book more than the romance. Thus, it was a super quick read for me; I finished this in less than 24 hours.

Finally, in case the names weren’t a dead giveaway, this book was inspired by <I>Wuthering Heights</I>. However, you don’t need to read the source material in order to enjoy this one. I’m not a fan of most classic literature, and I don’t feel like I was missing anything. There are also two earlier books in this series inspired by The Great Gatsby and The Picture of Dorian Gray. While you can read this book independently, it’s probably best to read them in published order, as the other four MCs play a large role in the end of this third book. I started with this one since I have the ARC copy, but I plan to go back and read the first two before the fourth book is released next year.

🖤💜 Ruthless Devotion ARC Review 💜🖤

Thank you so much to Rebecca Kenney and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Ruthless Devotion is a paranormal fantasy romance and modern retelling of Wuthering Heights. Cathy has constantly been told she’s possessed by a demon and is trapped in her sheltered life among a cult-like community. She dreams of escaping and living her life on her terms. When she meets the mysterious Heathcliff, she finally feels like those dreams can become a reality

This was an interesting read. I enjoyed the world building, the unique retelling of a classic novel with a fantasy twist and religious cult-like elements were realistic in a scary way. While I enjoyed Cathy and Heathcliff in the story, I felt like there was something missing from the buildup of their relationship. I found myself wanting something more - tension, angst, drama…something - but this is a “me” issue and not a book issue.

Overall this was a solid three star read. I enjoyed this read in general but this book was third in a series and it felt like I would have gotten more out of it if I’d read the previous two. This book does contain some heavy topics, so please check triggers if you’re sensitive. This book started off quickly with the spice and kept it up throughout, so overall three flames for spice

If you’re a fan of paranormal fantasy with religious themes, instant attraction and lots of spice, then pick this one up!

The spice is spicing. I didnt read the first two books in the series and was still able to understand what was going on. This is definite reread with the other books involved.

This book was so interesting! I did not read the first 2 in the series, but I was still able to understand what was happening. Really well-written spice, and great character growth. Aside from the character names, I didn’t see much connection to Wuthering Heights, but I still enjoyed this book a lot!