Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - Ruthless Vows

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

Content Warnings

pattykcreads's review against another edition

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

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

3.0

Content Warnings

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

Content Warnings

aliceloyallaleon's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious 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? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

emmylux7's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful 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

4.0

review to come after the SMP boycott is concluded.

Content Warnings

erinkellyreads's review against another edition

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adventurous 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? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

Heartbreaking and tense and lovely, this duology is easily in my top reads from the last few years. I saw a joke on Instagram that "Divine Rivals" is to Swift's Folklore as "Ruthless Vows" is to Swift's Evermore, and, yes, I feel this, haha.

In terms of differences between this and it's predecessor, the stakes are higher and so is the tension. I had to take a couple of breaks from it while reading it simply because I was nervous for the characters and was putting off any potential pain. However, the bonds between all of the character continue, and we add in a few more interesting connections between existing and new characters. The one thing that I didn't love was the final showdown feeling too quick (and not necessarily easy, but... I think you'll see what I mean when you get there). I've seen other people saying that they felt DR was slow, but I didn't feel that way. If you did feel that way, I think you won't for RV.

Overall, the beauty of the writing and the atmospheric nature of the world and the souls of our characters are stunning, and I would 100% recommend this duology to anybody. A fantasy book that feels like contemporary history, a war book that feels like poetry, and a love story that feels like releasing a breath on a sunny, windy day.

Content Warnings

itsbrianascall's review against another edition

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reflective tense medium-paced

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

3.75

I enjoyed the book in the same way I enjoyed the first one; it gives historical fiction vibes while still being a fantasy story, so it checks a lot of boxes for me. This one had the added dynamic of getting to know Roman a little more than we did in the previous book as he went through the process of relearning how he fit into the grand scheme of things. Unfortunately, I feel like his character was still way too defined by/contingent upon his relationship with Iris and not necessarily who <i>he</i> is on his own, so he doesn't really feel like a fully fleshed out character. I guess that's to be expected with romantasy, though.

I loved seeing the hints of Attie and Tobias early on, but I really do wish we'd gotten to see more of it if only because I have no idea when they would have had time with the events on the front to really flirt with each other. Then again I, too, would fall head over heels for Attie at the drop of a hat, so I can't blame Tobias for it.

The ending for this wasn't really satisfying to me and it's hard to really pinpoint why. I like
a happy ending, but this one didn't really feel earned.

There was so much build up to the final confrontation between Iris, Attie, and Dacre that I expected more from it than what we got. It felt like it was over too quickly considering how dangerous and brutal we're told Dacre is supposed to be. It essentially was a quick chase and then Enva shows up and he gets put to sleep. I assumed he'd put up more of a fight. I also find it incredibly hard to believe Iris could easily wield a sword of all things when she has no experience with them (to our knowledge, anyway) and she had such a difficult time with the morning runs with Roman in Avalon Bluff, which we're told was only a few weeks before the events of this book. I guess technically Val ran into the sword and then she basically just dropped it onto Dacre's neck, it just felt like a weird choice of weapon for the final battle.

That being said, I enjoyed it overall. I would've loved some more worldbuilding to better understand the magic of Oath and the dynamics between the divines, but I'm also glad it's only a duology and wasn't dragged on further into a trilogy.

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