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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I think I enjoyed the story? There were parts I loved and others I didn't. I feel like 3 stars is a good enough rating for it! 🔥
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC!!
Overall this was a unique and detailed story! Daesre, a demigod turned daemon, and Sadare, a mortal witch, find themselves in a precarious situation involving a maze. As the story progresses, we learn much more about them both and how intertwined they are.
Personally, I felt as though there wasn't a lot of depth in the story or the characters. The story felt a bit forced and unorganized, and just didn't *grab* me. I did read it all - it's a good story, but the dialogue bounces back and forth between being more modern versus an older style.
I also wasn't a huge fan of Sadare's connection to the aether being related to pain. Self-inflicted injuries are hard to read, especially for those who have a history of self-harm. This was a pretty poignant part of the book, and while I understand the context within the story, the descriptions did pull me out of the story quite a bit.
Overall this was a unique and detailed story! Daesre, a demigod turned daemon, and Sadare, a mortal witch, find themselves in a precarious situation involving a maze. As the story progresses, we learn much more about them both and how intertwined they are.
Personally, I felt as though there wasn't a lot of depth in the story or the characters. The story felt a bit forced and unorganized, and just didn't *grab* me. I did read it all - it's a good story, but the dialogue bounces back and forth between being more modern versus an older style.
I also wasn't a huge fan of Sadare's connection to the aether being related to pain. Self-inflicted injuries are hard to read, especially for those who have a history of self-harm. This was a pretty poignant part of the book, and while I understand the context within the story, the descriptions did pull me out of the story quite a bit.
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
Loveable characters:
No
Thank you Gallery Books for the gifted review copy and Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook.
I never really got into this one. I probably should have quit. I expected more adventure and action, but the interactions between characters ended up feeling repetitive.
Pogli was the best part of the book.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Exquisite Ruin by Adrianne May is a slow burn in every sense—gorgeously written, emotionally intense, and at times, frustratingly long-winded. The author’s elegant, lyrical prose is rich with vivid imagery and metaphors that practically hum off the page. That said, the writing can feel dense, making it a bit of a mental marathon in places.
At its heart, this is a mythological retelling—a fresh, haunting spin on the Minotaur and the Labyrinth, woven with gods, demi-gods, and ancient bargains. We follow Sadaré, a stubborn witch who wakes up in a sentient maze with no memory of who she is or how she got there. Her journey unfolds slowly, alongside Daesra—a demon-minotaur hybrid shaped by pain and divine cruelty.
While Sadaré brings emotional depth and inner conflict, Daesra delivers sharp sarcasm and a mischievous edge that adds spark and balance to the narrative. Their relationship is a chaotic, magnetic dance of mistrust, attraction, and ultimately, sacrifice.
Though the constant back-and-forth in their trust (and Sadaré’s internal spiral) can be tiring, the tight focus on their story, paired with a simple but impactful magic system, keeps things grounded.
The final 50 pages flip everything on its head. With a shift in perspective and a string of satisfying easter eggs, the payoff is absolutely worth it. If you can follow the lyrical breadcrumb trail, the ending delivers beautifully.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood
Moderate: Sexual content
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes