Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - Ruthless Vows

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Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

6 reviews

creolelitbelle's review against another edition

dark emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

About a third through the halfway point of this sequel felt sluggish. I put the book down for a bit due to other life obligations and wasn't driven to pick it back up. However, I truly wanted to know what became of Roman, Iris, their families and friends, and the whole war between the gods. The second half of the narrative did not disappoint me. The mythology and history within this world are excellently crafted. The key part of Ross's writing that drove me forward was the strong relationships between characters. When someone felt joy or a loss, I felt it with them. Some characters' motivations and final acts were expected, but I appreciated how it all wrapped up.

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witcheep's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This second book of Letters of Enchantment duology has a premise that made me hesitate to read the book at as fast a pace as I regularly would devour a sequel to a book I loved; I wasn't sure my opinion would be as high towards the sequel as well, and I didn't want to be disappointed. Fear not, the sequel is great. Ross's writing – her use of descriptive language – is as beautiful as ever, and it keeps the reader captivated. The main characters are in a tough spot, but their personalities shine through the relationships they hold dear and make them very interesting, multi-dimensional and immensely likeable. The plot is also fascinating: the themes of war, peace and religion are discussed often, and I like how their morality is regarded from multiple points of view.

Let's begin my review with the things that made me hesitant, though: the main characters being separated and the plot taking steps backwards regarding the relationships built in the first part. Ruthless Vows continues the plot from where the Divine Rivals left off, but because of Roman's amnesia, it feels like the main couple has taken multiple steps backwards to the starting point when they didn't know each other yet. Moreover, the war keeps them apart and constantly in danger: Roman being held at Dacre's side of war and Iris staying at Enva's, it seems like their setting has expanded into an even bigger rivalry than at the beginning of the duology, when it was just professional rivalry between the two. This is a kind of setback that I usually do not like as a plot device, but Ross manages to write this kind of plot better than many other authors I've read a sequel including a similar premise from.

I tend not to like the main characters of a book being separated in a book, even if they had a means to communicate with each other. It's just too heartbreaking, especially when the separated people belong to each other's side as clearly as Iris and Roman are meant to be together. I would love to see more happy things going on for these two sweethearts already, or at the very least them allowed to get back together to each other

more often

.

A great strengts of Ross's is making her characters form meaningful relationships that make each individual a stronger person. This is shown in Ruthless Vows, especially through Iris. Iris remembering everything of the events from the Divine Rivals makes her determided to get Roman back. She doesn't shy away from any means necessary to do so, and proves it time and time again by facing dangers, such as

pulling a heist, volunteering to go back to the front as a correstpondent, and sneaking to an enemy zone

. Even disregarding the magic of the Alouette typewriters, Iris's will and courage seem magical, and she gets people close to her in on her scheming to help her.

Dacre believed he had the upper hand, grooming Roman to be his dutiful correspondent. But little did he know that he was not the only source of magic.
"You will regret ever taking him from me," she whispered through her teeth, feeding paper into her typewriter.

I'm in love with the beauty of Ross's writing! It's very descriptive with the use of imaginative metaphors, while the story advances in a great pace, and the overall feel of the text is captivating.

How could he mourn something that he couldn't remember? Roman wondered if there was a word to describe such a feeling, for the way it gathered on his shoulders like snow. Cold and soft and infinite, melting as soon as he touched it.

Even shower thoughts in this book are very eloquent and metaphorical. Or perhaps it's just Roman's character

loving/worshiping Iris so very much

. Quote in spoiler:

"He sank to his knees before her, his hands touching those tender marks on her skin. They told him she was strong and brave, but also that she was his. Their souls weren't mirrors but complements, constellations that burned side by side."

After reading the book, I needed a couple of days to contemplate the contents of it and my thoughts about it before I could even begin writing my review. This usually is an indicator of a great book: it leaves a lasting imprint and isn't easy to separate from your mind. So, if you hesitate picking up this sequel, I urge you to hesitate no longer. You'll be heartbroken through reading the book, but it's very much worth it in the end.

Review written 17.3.2024

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auga's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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2blueshoes's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Not as good as the first book, but just as sweeping, gorgeous, heartbreaking, swoon-worthy, and brilliant. Definitely a little darker and more fantasy world focused. I laughed. I cried. I held my breath. Roman and Iris forever.

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meganfuhr's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring mysterious relaxing sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Going back into the world of Divine Rivals was fabulous!
With Roman forgetting everything we are thrown into a whole new ballgame of intrigue, getting to see what life is like from the view of Darce's Soldier's as opposed to the front lines for Enva.
I loved everything about this book, now, that being said, I did cry a lot during it, so be warned, being some tissues.

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laur_astor's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

My goodness. This duology has my heart. I really loved this sequel and how everything ended. Rebecca’s prose is gorgeous - I really felt these words deep in my bones.

My only small criticisms are that the plot is very heavily focused on the gods, whereas Divine Rivals was more focused on Iris and Roman’s romance. And the conflict was resolved a little too easily at the end.

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