DNF at 10%
I didn't realize this was just going to be immediately weird smut and I was very grossed out. Even with fantasy elements was weird they thought about safe sex practices then were just like meh never-mind. I also didn't like all the gen z slang and use of Rizz and vibes.

I was never a fan of Wuthering Heights and this story puts a spin on it that made me enjoy it very much. I loved the use of Irish folklore, and the spice was great. Please give this book and author a try.

3.5 stars rounded up.

Definitely wasn't a book I'm used to, but I liked Cathy and Heathcliffe so much that I didn't care. Sometimes the modern references would pull me out of the book, but I enjoyed the story and the folklore.

Glad I got to read this ARC!

3.5 stars rounded down

I really enjoyed this one! It didn't feel like much of a true Wuthering Heights retelling other than borrowing the characters' names, but as a standalone story, I thought it was really interesting. I really enjoyed the fact that the love interests were a banshee and a necromancer, and I always love a good cult. I will say I didn't feel as much chemistry between Heathcliff and Cathy as I usually do with Kenney's characters, so it was more of the plot that kept me invested than the couple.

I really enjoyed this story. I thought i was written well, and for one of the first books I've read from this author; I personally thought it was quite enjoyable!

***POTENTIAL SPOILERS***

Ruthless Devotion is technically the third book in Rebecca Kenney’s Buried Gods series, but it works well as a standalone. I hadn’t read the first two books and was still able to follow the story and enjoy the characters without confusion.

I really enjoyed the concept of Ruthless Devotion - it’s a dark, magical retelling of Wuthering Heights with a compelling Southern Gothic twist. The idea of “buried gods” added an eerie, mythological depth, and I found myself wanting more details about that world - specifically how many gods there are, which ones have been raised, and what their influence looks like. It’s a really cool concept, and I hope future installments explore it even further. The inclusion of various supernatural elements throughout the story added texture and intrigue. It was fun seeing different types of magical beings woven into the fabric of the community, and it gave the world a layered, otherworldly feel.

The slow unraveling of the cult dynamic was also one of my favorite parts. At first, Cathy doesn’t fully recognize the danger, and it was fascinating (and chilling) to watch her slowly realize how deep and disturbing the church's influence really is. The creepy, controlling atmosphere of the town added a tense undercurrent that kept me reading.

That said, the romance picked up fast. While the chemistry was intense from the start, I personally wished there had been more time spent on the emotional development and connection between Cathy and Heathcliff before they jumped into bed and fell in love. It sometimes felt like they went from strangers to soulmates a little too quickly, and a slower build would have made the payoff even more satisfying. From a writing standpoint, I occasionally found the MMC’s dialogue a bit inconsistent. His diction would shift between polished and more informal, and the sudden changes in tone sometimes pulled me out of the scene. It wasn’t a major issue, but it did stand out during emotional or intimate moments.

Overall, Ruthless Devotion is an imaginative and steamy reimagining with strong atmosphere, a unique mythology, and lots of potential for expansion. I’d definitely pick up a sequel if it dives deeper into the buried gods and supernatural lore!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Rebecca Kenney, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the digital advanced reader’s copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Ruthless Devotion is expected to release on July 22, 2025.

Ruthless Devotion is far more than a wuthering heights retelling. It's haunting, lustful and far more sinister than the first installments of the Gilded Monsters Series.

This retelling sees Cathy as a Banshee trapped in her small town and religious family. Then we have Heathcliff the necromancer, stolen as a child by a family of evil god worshippers - he is also trapped an in need of escape.
When Heathcliff and Cathy meet its automatic fireworks of the steamiest kind.

What I feel is the most unnerving about this story is the parallels with modern society. Cathy is othered, misunderstood and ultimately violently dealt by her family and congregation. All because she is difficult and not 'god' fearing. The congregation is easily manipulated and swayed into thinking what they are doing is right. This sort of hatred of the 'other' is so wide spread in today's world that it is leading to increasingly dangerous and fatal ends.

Ruthless Devotion has cameos from previous books Gatsby and Daisy return alongside Dorian and Baz ( as well as some villians). The larger overarching plot with the gods and ancient Magics becomes much clearer, and far more sinister.

The book manages combine paranormal romance with pure bone chilling reality it is a true gothic horror.

I am a recent reader of Rebecca F Kenney and I am super freaking addicted. Ruthless Devotion is a re-telling of Wuthering Heights and a part of her Gilded Monsters series, though I freely admit I haven’t read the first two books and was just fine (just kidding I am immediately rocketing those to the top of my tbr but the point is you can absolutely get away with it). This is NOT intended to be a faithful retelling but more informed by the original, and weaves in magic, Irish folklore, and is heavy southern gothic with some cult elements. It’s a lot and if you, like me, immediately forgot Wuthering Heights after reading it in high school, you’re set. Just don’t expect it to be true to the original!

Honestly I go into these knowing it’s going to have some seriously scorching spice, modern language, and am always surprised by how much plot there is. Is it the next great American masterpiece? Probably not. Is it super enjoyable and entertaining? Absolutely 100% yes. Set your expectations appropriately, check trigger warnings on the book, and have some fun.

Rebecca F. Kenney never disappoints, and *Ruthless Devotion* is yet another testament to her ability to craft darkly seductive, atmospheric tales that linger long after the final page. As a longtime admirer of her storytelling, I was thrilled to dive into this third installment of the **Gilded Monsters** series, and it did not let me down.

The book is an absolute feast of gothic romance and supernatural intrigue. **Cathy Earnshaw**’s struggle with her banshee identity—tormented, powerful, and desperately yearning for love—made for a gripping, emotional ride. And **Heathcliff**? Rebecca’s version of him is devastatingly intense, a force of nature wrapped in anger, passion, and eerie necromantic energy. Their romance isn’t just dark—it’s hauntingly beautiful and brimming with chemistry that keeps the pages turning at lightning speed.

I especially loved how **the setting** amplifies the tension. The cult-like Southern town dripping with secrets felt so vividly real, pulling me deeper into the world Rebecca has built. Every detail, from the rituals to the eerie landscapes, was crafted with precision and care, making the supernatural elements blend seamlessly with the gothic atmosphere.

And let’s talk about the **bonus features!** The sprayed edges, interior artwork, and extra scenes elevate the book to something special—a **collector’s piece**, not just a novel. It’s the kind of book I want to display proudly on my shelf and reread whenever I need that intoxicating mix of romance and magic.

If you love Rebecca F. Kenney’s signature style—**sharp, lyrical writing, deeply emotional storytelling, and fiercely compelling characters**—then *Ruthless Devotion* will feel like a gift written just for you. It’s an unforgettable read, one that reminds me exactly why I fell in love with her books in the first place.

I’ll read anything by Rebecca Kenney so when Ruthless Devotion was posted as being available on Netgalley, I had to get my hands on it. This is a Southern gothic Wuthering Heights retelling and full disclosure, I’ve never read the original book or seen the movie. This is the 3rd book in the Gilded Monsters series and would suggest reading the other books for additional character background.

Our FMC, Cathy, is a banshee and is part of a cultish community that think she has the devil inside her.

Meanwhile, our MMC, Heathcliff, is a necromancer and has his own trauma to deal with.

The themes of this book are dark, but as always, addressed and handled beautifully by the author. Not to mention the spice, Rebecca writes some of the best spicy scenes out there 🥵

The book was extremely atmospheric and intense so a really enjoyable read. This comes out on 22 July so make sure to grab your copy!

There were two early reasons why I shouldn’t’ve liked Ruthless Devotion. First: perhaps blasphemously, I hated Wuthering Heights. Second: I am a devout officionado of a slow burn – and the burn here is fast. 100m dash, F1 level fast.

These two initial hesitations, though, were entirely outweighed by my love of Rebecca’s writing, and boy was I grateful to have snagged this early copy (thank you, @netgalley & @casabooks!!). From my first intro to this tatted, rizzed up Heathcliff & mournful, vibe-curating Cathy, I was hooked.

Ruthless Devotion is less a retelling and more a reimagining—a gothic tribute that carves out its own space. Familiar names nod to Brontë, but the story we get is pure Kenney: dark, lush, visceral. She blends Celtic lore, necromancy, and religious cult zealotry into a Southern Gothic setting that feels both richly historic and sharply modern

I’m someone who vaguely understands the broody appeal of Brontë’s Heathcliff while finding the actual book a giant downer. Somehow, Rebecca made me like this Heathcliff—a man who balances brutality with vulnerability in a way that feels compelling instead of off-putting. His quiet care for Cathy during an early banshee episode, and his willingness to fight for her survival, land with a steady emotional weight without ever tipping into melodrama. And I have to admit - the full transfusion of spice certainly doesn’t hurt.


🕯 Cathy is the first banshee I’ve read, and her torment was so unique and compelling. The way her episodes are described—my heart ached for her.
🕯 The spice is spicing. If you’ve ever read a classic and thought, “But like, they did actually bang, right?” this series is here for you.
🕯 This is my second consecutive badass grandma, and I’m all about it.
🕯 Though now that I think about it, this also makes for my third #ShittyFatherFigure in a row. (Anyone have recs where the parents don’t suck?)
🕯 I hated everyone in this book except Cathy, Heathcliff, the aforementioned Meemaw, and our out-of-town cameos. The level of visceral irritation was perfectly done.
🕯 While you may hate them, the town’s hostility and oppressive religious zealotry really do help mold an atmosphere thick with tension and danger.

A quick reading order note: Ruthless Devotion works fine as a standalone, but if you’ve read Beautiful Villain and Charming Devil, the cameos will hit even harder. (I’d only read Beautiful Villain prior, and now Charming Devil has flown up my TBR.)


TL;DR: Ruthless Devotion is an emotionally charged, gothic romance that both honors and reimagines Wuthering Heights. It’s fast-paced, immersive, and steeps you in a world of magic, monsters, and intense devotion. If you’re a fan of morally complex heroes, tortured heroines, and some seriously steamy moments, pick this one up come July.

This was such an entertaining story!

A Wuthering Heights retelling with necromancy and banshees- who would have thought? Well RK definitely did and boy did it turn out good!

Cathy is a banshee and looked down upon by her religious family and congregation for her “affliction”. She longs to escape to somewhere else but feels trapped.

Heathcliff longs for the same but feels stuck for different reasons- one being he needs the money he makes from the family business: necromancy.

These two belong to each other in every way. I love how RK is able to write these dark elements with such care and hope. It doesn’t feel so bleak or distressing even when the situation is dire. The tie in elements from previous books are fun and exciting!

I loved Beautiful Villain and Charming Devil and will be looking forward to more in this series!

Thank You NetGalley for the eARC!

Ok so I really liked the book, and I liked the plots and the storyline. Poor Heath and Cathy :') I'm glad they found each other and that they felt the connection between them and didn't fight it, saved a lot of frustrations 😂 screw Cathy's family :') they got what they deserved at the end 😒 at the end when everything started to hit the fan, oh wow man I couldn't put my phone down out of anticipation and anxiety of what will happen to them next 😂 when Heath suggested the tattoos I knew what would happen eventually :') the level of spiciness in this book is good, I'm glad the author didn't focus on them just screwing each other 24/7 😭 overall, this book wasn't a waste of time! I liked it and I liked the plot 🤷🏻‍♀️ if there's book 2 for it I'll definitely read it! I'm glad Heath and Cathy got their happily ever after ending 💙 (there's no bonus scene or extended excerpt, idk if it's just me or if it's the same for everyone, it says "text to come" 🤷🏻‍♀️)

Ruthless Devotion is a dark, atmospheric supernatural romance that EATS! Rebecca Kenney is a master at immersing us in the worlds she creates, making it effortless for readers to visualize what’s happening on page & it was thrilling to do so in many scenes throughout this book.

Set in the South our main characters are Cathy and Heathcliff, a Banshee and a Necromancer from different families that have been against each other for generations. You can expect elements of Irish folklore, long buried gods and magical eldritch beings. Religious cults/fanatics galore and of course, the hot hot spice Kenney consistently delivers.

This Wuthering Heights retelling is the 3rd book in the Gilded Monsters series. I read this one first and it read as an interconnected standalone to me. Characters from the previous books made appearances & that just made me all the more eager to go back and read the first two!

*Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Kenney and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC of Ruthless Devotion in exchange for my honest review.*

Mixed Feelings, Great World-Building but Overwhelmed by Spice

I'm honestly a little confused about how I feel about Ruthless Devotion. Rebecca F. Kenney has created an incredible fantasy world—one that's rich, intriguing, and full of potential. I loved the overall concept and the world-building really pulled me in.

That said, the pacing and storytelling were often interrupted by the amount of spice. I have no problem with spice in books, but here it felt like it was thrown into moments where it didn't make sense, pulling focus away from important plot developments. Instead of enhancing the story, it sometimes just made me frustrated. For example, a character literally gets resurrected and immediately jumps into an intimate scene with a god, even while losing control of her own body. It felt really misplaced and took away from the emotional and narrative weight of the moment.

In the end, the book had a lot of potential, but the way spice was inserted so heavily and at awkward times made it hard for me to stay fully invested. I wish the plot had been allowed to shine a bit more on its own.

Ruthless Devotion is a very unique supernatural style retelling of wuthering heights with spice and magical twists and turns.

Cathy and Heathcliff feel like the other half of each other's souls. The story shows the lengths they go to as they fight desperately to be together, with the world seemingly determined to force them apart.

Both Cathy and Heathcliff characters have their own later of trauma and darkness to their souls. Cathy fights everyday with the knowledge of death impending, a sense that shatters her emotions and controls her life. Her darkness consumes her leaving her isolated. Heath has his own darkness filled with secrets. He has also spent his life surrounded by death an upbringing that has left him violent in his actions but Cathy seems to bring out the softness in his heart.

The story follows them trying to navigate their paths, their gifts and their futures while the people that raised them do their best to keep them locked up and unlovable.

The story is fast paced and it felt like a really unique reimagining. I really enjoyed the way it's links in with the other stories in that universe beautiful villain and charming devil. I am really excited to see what comes to life in this world next.

Thank you to Rebecca's team for the opportunity to access and ARC copy in exchange for an honest review

.

Ruthless Devotion is dark, intense, and hauntingly beautiful—but it’s also messy, chaotic, and at times a bit overwhelming. I found myself wavering between 3 and 4 stars because while the writing is undeniably atmospheric and unique, some parts felt disjointed or emotionally excessive. Still, the originality and raw emotion pulled me in enough to land on 4 stars.

Cathy and Heathcliff are like twin flames in the worst and best ways—trauma-bonded, obsessive, and destructive, yet undeniably magnetic. The Southern gothic cult backdrop adds a rich, eerie layer to the story, and the paranormal twist made this retelling stand apart from other Wuthering Heights adaptations.

If you’re looking for something polished or easy to digest, this might not be it. But if you crave intense, flawed characters and a story that burns rather than simmers, Ruthless Devotion is worth the ride—even if it occasionally veers off the rails.

I loved this so much!! Wuthering Heights retelling with paranormal twists, delicious spice and powerful women. This was so well done and really brought it back to the famous quote from the original book. Completely immersive and had me so hooked I couldn’t put it down!

"Imagining another life is a fool's pastime, though. Who's to know if it would have been any better? People suck no matter where you live."



First thing's first; I'd like to thank NetGalley, Rebecca Kenney and Sourcebooks Casablanca for my very first ARC! How crazy is it that I'm about to review a book that isn't available until 22nd July?



I was intrigued by Ruthless Devotion after reading the blurb - a Romantasy retelling of Wuthering Heights? Say no more, beam me up Scotty. As a huge Brontë fan (even the less known third sister, Anne), I had extremely high expectations. Unfortunately, my expectation were probably too high. Whilst this was a fun read that I know a lot of people will devour it just wasn't my cup of tea.



But hey, let's get down to it!



Trigger and Content Warnings



There are plenty of spicy scenes for all you spice lovers out there.



TWs:





Religious fanaticism



Cultish overtones



Parent-child violence and verbal abuse



Human sacrifice



Violence and murder



Kidnap



Tropes







Forbidden romance 



Multiple POV



Lust at first sight



The outsider



HEA



Book Summary



Cathy Earnshaw is an outsider - she has a dangerous secret lurking under her skin that if her cultish community discovered, she'd be in serious danger. She can sense when death is coming for someone in her community, and is forced to wander the forests wailing in grief at every loss. She's stuck, unable to confide in anyone or escape the confines of her curse and community.



Until she meets a rugged stranger...



Heathcliff is just as stuck. Stolen at age 5 by the Lockwoods and raised to be the most powerful necromancer alive, Heathcliff is no stranger to hardship and violence. Their connection is instant, as if they are two halves of a whole. Both are desperate to escape the lives they've been forced into, together. But their families have different plans.



Can their love survive the sickening plots of a cult and the awakening of forbidden gods?



My Reading Journey



Where do I start?



I wanted to love this, I really did. Going in I was expecting Sookie Stackhouse meets Wuthering Heights, but what I was met with was more of a Wattpad fan fiction where the characters are absolutely nothing like their namesakes.



Heathcliff and Linton, for example, could not be further from the characters on which they are based. In Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff is a classic Byronic Hero - brooding and cynical, dangerous and charismatic. Edgar Linton is his polar opposite - patient and level-headed, sweet and doting. These personalities do not translate into Ruthless Love, with Heathcliff being rough but sweet and Edgar being a fanatical cult leader ready to sacrifice Cathy's life for his own ends. I found this really jarring to start with, but once you distance yourself from the fact it's supposed to be a retelling, it's quite a fun story.



The other aspect of the novel that I didn't enjoy was the way the sex scenes were written. After each scene, I felt like I needed a shower . The language used just didn't appeal to me, it was strangely pornographic, there really should be a limit an author can use the word 'pussy' on a single page. There was a lack of sensuality and eroticism that came from the graphic language. I much prefer the more euphemistic language used in most other Romantasy books which is evocative of a deeper connection between the FMC and MMC. I want storms and waves of pleasure, not 'and then I came'. I did like the banshee scream smashing windows when Cathy and Heathcliff climaxed though - I'd always felt that their joining would be cataclysmic.



Peaks







Once I distanced myself from the source material, I loved Heathcliff. He was extremely sweet and I really rooted for him.



The relationship between Cathy and Heathcliff was charming.



I love Celtic mythology being in any story, this was no different



The supernatural identities and elements fit into the world in an interesting way



Nellie being called out for being a passive bystander was a huge boon for me. It always bothered me that her counterpart was seen as the moral centre of the novel.



Some of the passages were fantastic call-backs to some of the most beautiful parts of Wuthering Heights, my favourite being the famous "my love for Heathcliff is like the eternal rocks" being referenced during a tender moment.



Pits







The character bearing absolutely no likeness to the source material.



The story only casting the smallest resemblance to the plot of Wuthering Heights.



So many things are told rather shown.



The writing style really wasn't to my taste.



Too many elements cobbled together; Wuthering Heights, Celtic lore, religious extremism, cults... one or two alone would've been great, but it felt a little Frankenstein's monster to me.



The word 'pussy' being used approximately seven thousand times.



The BookCat’s 9 Lives



I would read this in three out of nine lives.



The breakdown:



Writing style 😿

Pacing 😻

Plot and storyline 😿

World building 😻

Magic system 😻

Originality 😿

Emotional impact and engagement😿

Lasting impact 😿

Character development 😿



As an Emily Brontë fan, my expectations were far too high; I was expecting a modern retelling of a classic gothic romance, albeit with a happy ending and a side of magic. I didn't get that. I wanted to love this book, but in all honesty it was a struggle to get through. Yes, the story was fun and flirty, but I couldn't keep myself distanced enough from the classic it was based on to fully enjoy Ruthless Devotion. I don't think I'll be reading any of the other books in this shared universe, the writing style just wasn't to my taste and I'm not sure I'd enjoy other retellings in this fashion.

I have read multiple books by Rebecca Kenney now, and each one has intrigued and captivated me. Ruthless Devotion is absolutely no different!

This Gothic and dark retelling of Wuthering Heights is absolutely addictive, and such an interesting and exciting take on a classic.

There are wonderful elements of romance, magic, and ties to the original, and I love Rebecca's addition of realistic places from her own state of South Carolina and her research. It absolutely reads like a mystery/thriller, not just an every day romance, and I couldn't get enough!