Reviews - Exquisite Ruin | The StoryGraph

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204 reviews for:

Exquisite Ruin

AdriAnne May

3.41 AVERAGE

annaszell's review against another edition

1.0

dark emotional slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

evolution didn't provide me a functioning brain to process whatever this was. I wanted to dnf after two chapters, but decided to hate-read it just so that I could fairly leave a 1-star review. I'm petty like that.

- close to zero plot, but even the little it did have was full of holes
- characters had no depth whatsoever
- cliche tropes galore, I feel like the only purpose of publishing this book was to market it to fans of [insert any popular romantasy here], and then disappoint us
- cringe doesn't even cover what I felt during spicy scenes

I will never get back the time I lost reading this book, so do yourself a favor: be smarter than me, and skip this one

cam356's review against another edition

4.0

adventurous dark emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

reading_with_manders's review against another edition

I don’t care about the characters or the plot and I’m not loving the pacing

cakt1991's review

4.0

I’ve enjoyed everything A.M. Strickland has written, so I was excited to hear they were expanding into adult fantasy romance as AdriAnne May with Exquisite Ruin. And while it wasn’t quite what I was initially expecting, I like how unique it is, and how it takes some big risks. The sensuality in particular caught me off guard, given some of the earlier Strickland books have previously featured asexual rep, but the author matures their aesthetic beautifully here, with some of similar aspects that made the YA fantasies work, while also not being shy in amping up the spice.

I wasn’t sure what to think of Sadaré and Daesra at the beginning, especially since a key feature of the narrative is their amnesia, which can be hard to write well. However, I was drawn to both of them and their connection. While legitimately high spice can be hit-or-miss for me, May/Strickland does a great job of conveying the explosive chemistry between the two, as well as giving personal stakes for the kinky aspects of their relationship. The concept of self-harming to tap into her magic, and thus survive on Sadaré’s part was particularly fascinating, and a great tie-in with the BDSM elements of their dynamic.

Narratively, it’s simultaneously very steamy on the romance side and a slow-burn more broadly. I was very tempted to DNF in the 20-ish%, because I didn’t feel like anything was happening; these characters were just stuck in the maze and screwing. But I held out hope that this would be one of those times where the payoff would be worth it, and it was. I was absolutely stunned how I didn’t notice something incredibly obvious until the narrative pointed it out, which only reinforces how perfect Sadaré and Daesra ultimately are. Some of the narrative and prose choices (POV and tense wise) made the story a little hard to follow at times, but most of these issues were resolved by the end when things started coming together and the characters and the reader got their much-longed-for answers.

This is one of the most original romantasy books I’ve read, and while the content means it might not work for everyone, I do recommend it to readers of the genre who are willing to give it a chance!

sambartley's review against another edition

5.0

Big thank you to Gallery for sending me a physical copy of this one!

Okay but listen, this book was weird in the best, most unhinged way possible. I was confused. I was enchanted. I was emotionally compromised. One second I was laughing, the next I was gasping. This dark romantasy is dripping with angst, chaos, and just a dash of pain kink for seasoning.

I walked in thinking “cool, Sorceress x Daemon” and ended up tumbling through a mind-bending maze of gods, memories, and morally questionable decisions. And I loved every second. There are twists. There are turns. And not just the kind that’ll get you lost in a literal labyrinth.

If you want a romantasy that’s equal parts unhinged chaos and slow-burn devastation - with adventure, violent magic, and the most adorable little Pogli to emotionally tether you - Exquisite Ruin is calling your name.

👏 Flashbacks
👏 Amnesia
👏 Blood & Battles
👏 Daemon x Sorceress
👏 Meddling Gods
👏 Content Warnings Apply
👏 Morally grey? Everyone. Literally everyone.

capssuds's review

3.0

Hm. I'll have to dwell on this one.

faulmag's review against another edition

2.5

adventurous dark emotional mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Honestly, there were many parts of this book that were very questionable. The magic felt very throwaway and not really consistent. I wish the character whiting had just a little more oomph. And also the magic system is literally just self-harm, which idk how I feel about. By the middle, I was definitively questioning my choice to read it. But the ending was so trippy and interesting! Basically, this book would’ve been so good if the editor was just more aggressive.

Content Warnings

illstoptheworldandreadwithyou's review against another edition

4.0

A reimagining of the Minotaur myth with a touch of second chance (monster) romance.

“In a way, my feelings at the start of all this echoed the inevitable end: that we both would fall, and we both would break.”

A sorceress and a demon find themselves stuck in a labyrinth with the express purpose of finding the center and defeating the monster there. The sorceress is missing her memories and begins to put together the pieces of her past—and how both she and the demon ended up in the labyrinth—as the story progresses.

With a fantastical setting and some surprisingly endearing side characters—I’m looking at you Pogli and Deos, Exquisite Ruin kept me hooked through the different twists, turns, and trials to the very end.

Be aware, though, that there are some gruesome and grotesque scenes along the way.

I especially enjoyed Meg Sylvan’s narration and the voices she uses for the various characters. She captures Sadaré’s determination, frustration, and emotion well. I found John Masterson’s narration of the few chapters from Daesra’s point-of-view to be a bit overdramatized.

I received a copy of the book from Gallery Books and a copy of the audiobook from Simon and Schuster Audio. All review opinions are my own.