I am absolutely obsessed with this one! I could not stop reading. I will definitely be recommending this one to my followers. I need more from this author asap!

Oath of Ruin is a dark, slow-burn romantasy with political intrigue and morally gray characters.

Raelys has spent her life trapped in a palace that feels more like a prison. When her father arranges a marriage for political gain, she makes a risky deal with the enemy king, Wrath, hoping it will give her freedom. Instead, she ends up bound to him by magic, forced to navigate his kingdom while secretly planning to end the war. Raelys is clever, resourceful, and fully her own person—focused on survival, politics, and strategy, not just romance.

The romance is slow and tension-filled, building naturally through banter, intrigue, and reluctant respect. Wrath isn’t just a brooding enemy king—he’s calculating, commanding, and surprisingly respectful toward Raelys, which makes their dynamic addictive. There’s some spice, but it never overwhelms the story.

The worldbuilding is immersive, the magic system feels fresh and creative, and the side characters and subplots add depth without distracting from the main story. The pacing is consistent, and the cliffhanger leaves you eager for the next book.

If you love slow-burn romantasy, morally gray characters, strong heroines, and political intrigue, this is a must-read.

Wow! This book really surprised me. The plot sounded a little similar to some other romantic fantasy books I have read at first, but this one FELT different.

A human princess is forced to marry a king she doesn’t love, so she makes a deal with a man to save herself from it. Only she ends up getting more than she bargained for.

The writing was more formal than some books in this genre but I found it to be just right given that we are talking about royals and court politics. It was not overly formal to make it hard to understand. There were a lot of introductions to different characters that felt a little overwhelming at times. However, you need this in order to fully experience the payoffs of the reveals as the book goes on. The plot and action really pick up towards the end and you can tell the next book is going to be amazing. The plot here is definitely the main point with the romance being important but secondary through this book, at least.

This is a true slow burn IMO, which I love. The main characters chemistry built in a way that felt really organic. It takes time to have them grow into their respect for one another. I also am a huge fan of one POV during the tension building stages of a slow burn. This one doesn’t drop the MMCs POV until the end of this book. It does end on a cliffhanger so if you’re not a fan of that maybe wait until it is completed. I don’t mind that and I can’t wait for the next one.

Thanks to NetGalley and Kelsie Kae for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Five Stars! I can't wait for the next book.

I had been in a reading slump, and I decided to give Oath of Ruin a try. The next thing I know, it's been hours, and I have been fully drawn into the world and characters that Ms. Kae has created. I enjoyed the twists and turns that happen so much throughout the whole book, without it being overwhelming, just enough to make you not be able to put the book down. How Raely's has based her life on knowledge from a book, and then how she spins all that know-how to help her with all the different situations she comes into. The main and side characters bring this world to life, and how all the side characters help to grow your understanding of Raely's makes it magical.

Netgalley ARC review
4.5 stars

Well, this was such an unexpected surprise!

At first I thought this might be a generic romantasy plot, but honestly from the first few chapters I was hooked!

This was pure easy reading, easy yet detailed world, and very likeable characters which grow on you more and more as the story unfolds.

It has a type of cosy, yet fast paced feel to it and I genuinely loved it. Dont get me wrong though, still check the trigger warnings.

I am invested now, and I need more!

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This has to be one the best fantasy novels I have read in a very long time and is craving for more of the author's novels. A definite 5 star for me! ❤️

🩷 Book Review 🩷
📚 Oath of Ruin
✒️ Kaley Kae
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Thank you so much to the author, Kaley Kae for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oath of Ruin has the premise of your now normal romantsy story, but this was anything but that! It was so much better!
The start is a bit slow, a lot of world building and introductions to characters; but this is essential for the rest of the book and to experience the full impact of the situation. Raeyls, our FMC, is forced into an arranged marriage but she strikes a deal with Wrath for her freedom, yet it is anything but. A web of deception, a looming threat and when hatred turns into something more; Raeyls must choose to either end the war or let it consume her.

This book leans more towards the fantasy side of romantasy and I absolutely ate it up. The politics plays a huge role in this book.

Majority of this book is told from Raeyls POV, until the epilogue which is from Wrath's. There is a cliff-hanger that has me excited for the next book!