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3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
Sadaré wakes in a labyrinth, remembering nothing except that she is a powerful sorceress. Her only companion is a hostile immortal named Daesra—beautiful, dangerous, and demonic—who bound his divine soul for power and revenge.
Despite their animosity, the two have no choice but to work together to reach the center and defeat the monster who prevents their escape. But the longer they wander, the more deadly and alive the maze becomes—and the more Sadaré finds herself drawn to Daesra in ways she can't explain.
As sorceress and demon develop a tenuous truce, the labyrinth gives Sadaré glimpses of their shared history of passion and pain that make her question everything she knows. Unlocking the secrets of her past may be the only way to survive and heal their entwined fates—but as she learns more about the betrayals that brought them to the labyrinth, Sadaré begins to fear that the monster at the center could be Daesra ... or even herself.
"With such fire between us, we will never be neutral."
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an ARC of this book.
AdriAnne May breathed new life into a trope that I've read in the past and wrote it in a way that I've never experienced before. Which is why this might end up being one of my most vague revies I have ever written but it's only because I think that this book is one of those books that you should pick up without knowing too much.
This was a beautiful and refreshing reimaging of a story that I have a personal interest in and can definitely see this one blowing up within the adult fantasy romance book sphere. If you're looking for a book full of the unexpected that brings emotional punches with a lovers to enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers to etc. etc. etc. with a really interesting world building aspect and a whole lot of tension due to heavy history between the characters, this one is for sure the book for you.
Sadaré & Daesra have so much chemistry and passion that will leave you craving more and more of it. The maze that they wander through is unlike anything else that I've read before and the intricacies that unravel as the story tells itself will have you binging it as quickly as you can.
I can't wait to see what else comes from The Labyrinth series!
- fantasy romance
- open door
- single pov
- a reimagining of the minotaur myth
- forced proximity
- lovers to enemies to lovers to enemies to ???????
- kink in a fantasy setting
- a sorceress with amnesia
- a hooved and horned demon who hates her
- a cute pug side character (in disguise)
- unique world building
- twists and turns that are unexpected
- unpredictable storytelling
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
"Then I swear. I swear to live."
Thankyou Netgalley, @zaffre and @bonnierbooksuk for the arc!
Exquisite Ruin by @adriannemaystrickland
Releases: 25 March 2025
Summary:
In this deadly maze, the most dangerous thing may be the passion between them.
Sadaré wakes in a labyrinth, remembering nothing except that she is a powerful sorceress. Her only companion is a hostile immortal named Daesra—beautiful, dangerous, and demonic—who bound his divine soul for power and revenge.
Despite their animosity, the two have no choice but to work together to reach the center and defeat the monster who prevents their escape. But the longer they wander, the more deadly and alive the maze becomes—and the more Sadaré finds herself drawn to Daesra in ways she can't explain.
As sorceress and demon develop a tenuous truce, the labyrinth gives Sadaré glimpses of their shared history of passion and pain that make her question everything she knows. Unlocking the secrets of her past may be the only way to survive and heal their entwined fates—but as she learns more about the betrayals that brought them to the labyrinth, Sadaré begins to fear that the monster at the center could be Daesra ... or even herself.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am speechless!
Exquisite Ruin was a fun ride, that's for sure, forward and always down.
I requested this book purely for the deadly maze and the amnesia but you can expect so so much more!
Enemies to lovers but they were lovers first
Forced proximity
Betrayal
Who hurt you
Minotaur retelling
Witches
Spiteful gods
Morally grey MCs
I loved every second of this!
The impending doom, the deadly maze, the yearning! Perfect
The characters of Sadaré and Daesra were interesting, the memory loss, the lies, the questions, gods the questions!
I felt as if I was Sadaré, learning of her past at the same painfully slow pace that she did, and I loved it all the more.
The sheer emotions throughout the whole of the story made me laugh, cry, and screech!
The side characters again take my heart - Pogli and Deos - LOVE!
I wouldn't have seen that twist coming and mile away if you gave me a crystal ball!
I was gagged - much like Sadaré - and left reeling, it's so creative! I promise you, you will not guess what happens!
I love the greek mythology vibes - the maze and it's minotaur. It takes fantasy back to its YA roots, and adds a bit of spice to its bones.
It's quite spicy, with explicit scenes and pain kinks: both giving and receiving.
It's not present all the way through, but when it's there, it's heavy.
Thankyou Netgalley, @zaffre and @bonnierbooksuk for the arc!
Exquisite Ruin by @adriannemaystrickland
Releases: 25 March 2025
Summary:
In this deadly maze, the most dangerous thing may be the passion between them.
Sadaré wakes in a labyrinth, remembering nothing except that she is a powerful sorceress. Her only companion is a hostile immortal named Daesra—beautiful, dangerous, and demonic—who bound his divine soul for power and revenge.
Despite their animosity, the two have no choice but to work together to reach the center and defeat the monster who prevents their escape. But the longer they wander, the more deadly and alive the maze becomes—and the more Sadaré finds herself drawn to Daesra in ways she can't explain.
As sorceress and demon develop a tenuous truce, the labyrinth gives Sadaré glimpses of their shared history of passion and pain that make her question everything she knows. Unlocking the secrets of her past may be the only way to survive and heal their entwined fates—but as she learns more about the betrayals that brought them to the labyrinth, Sadaré begins to fear that the monster at the center could be Daesra ... or even herself.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am speechless!
Exquisite Ruin was a fun ride, that's for sure, forward and always down.
I requested this book purely for the deadly maze and the amnesia but you can expect so so much more!
Enemies to lovers but they were lovers first
Forced proximity
Betrayal
Who hurt you
Minotaur retelling
Witches
Spiteful gods
Morally grey MCs
I loved every second of this!
The impending doom, the deadly maze, the yearning! Perfect
The characters of Sadaré and Daesra were interesting, the memory loss, the lies, the questions, gods the questions!
I felt as if I was Sadaré, learning of her past at the same painfully slow pace that she did, and I loved it all the more.
The sheer emotions throughout the whole of the story made me laugh, cry, and screech!
The side characters again take my heart - Pogli and Deos - LOVE!
I wouldn't have seen that twist coming and mile away if you gave me a crystal ball!
I was gagged - much like Sadaré - and left reeling, it's so creative! I promise you, you will not guess what happens!
I love the greek mythology vibes - the maze and it's minotaur. It takes fantasy back to its YA roots, and adds a bit of spice to its bones.
It's quite spicy, with explicit scenes and pain kinks: both giving and receiving.
It's not present all the way through, but when it's there, it's heavy.
adventurous
dark
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:
Complicated
LIKED:
- I’m a big fan of the Greek mythos of the labyrinth, so I’m always intrigued by newer retellings, etc. I think this one was a little too loosey goosey with some of its origin restructuring, but it’s not the end of the world.
- I liked how the author described the gods and how they manifest, especially in their names. Obviously, this whole story is deeply rooted in Greek mythology, that’s very clear, but relegating the Gods to just their barest foundations as names (Sky, Breath, Sea, etc.) honestly made them seem more awesome and fearsome, which was neat.
- The mirrors holding the memories was probably my favorite part of the story. I also liked how the flashbacks were formatted on the page, personally. It gave them more impact and separation from the present.
- Pogli is by far my favorite character. And that’s not usually the case for me with ‘animal’ characters in books.
- I like the cover and I like the title. Both are just very stunning.
LOATHED:
- This book is neither erotica nor romance and falls somewhere square in the middle. If it wanted to be erotica, it would need more sex. If it wanted to be a romance, it would need more character connection. And personally? The sex was pretty mid. ESPECIALLY since Daesra is a freaking minotaur. We get so little of his beastliness. Honestly, if you picked up this book at any of the more intimate scenes, you probably would just think he’s a regular guy, but maybe just kind of big. I’m not even that much of a MF romance connoisseur but…it was lacking in the monster department.
- The labyrinth felt like someone’s D&D campaign that just…didn’t really work. It just feels really segmented and the flow didn’t work. And honestly, it never really felt like a maze. That’s the number one thing a labyrinth is.
- I just really did not like her whole “magic is tied to pain” thing. As a concept, I think that’s cool. As execution, I did not enjoy reading it. It was only ever physical pain, which is very much not the only kind of pain. And she (CW: self-harm) sliced her own neck too many times for it to have any actual impact on the read besides discomfort and annoyance (in my opinion). I also…did not understand how she was a “witch”, even in the Greek sense (a la Circe). It just did not click for me.
- The writing in this book was really stilted somehow. It was both very descriptive and very not at the same time. I was never really ever able to get into the story or back the characters because of this. I mean, the banter was not bantering. And I really did not see how the characters liked each other. At any point. I don’t know, I was just left kind of always feeling like I was out of the loop.
- The ending of this book is wonky. Without spoiling anything, there’s a twist that is an interesting twist that doesn’t really seem to actually tie back into the story we just read (it seems like the twist was written first and then the rest after but it never actually fully connected). And then the final 10ish percent was just…rushed and confusing and unnecessary. It also very much did not feel like it was setting up for any kind of sequel or series and yet…this is listed as Exquisite Ruin #1 on Storygraph? It felt like there wasn’t more to say, but maybe it’s different characters I guess.
- I know I said in the first bit that I like the labyrinth and everything, but the loose goosey-ness of it all with this book is also something that drove me a bit up the wall. I know some people won’t mind, but I really struggle with retellings that are in actuality more of rewrites. It didn’t seem to bolster that original mythos and just used it because it had the minotaur and he’s a fun lil monster. Again, a me thing probably, but still.
LONGED FOR:
- More or less sex. Either go full on erotica or give us more character work
- More connection and flow for the plot throughout so it didn’t feel quite as choppy
- More clarity or details as to the implications of the ending and how it was informed by everything we had read up until that point as opposed to just shock factor
Will I read the next one? : No.
*Thank you to Gallery Books & NetGalley for providing this ARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Torture, Violence
This book had everything going for it—magic, demons, a deadly maze, and a slow-burn romance dripping with tension—but somehow, it just didn’t work for me. I wanted to be obsessed, to lose myself in the twists and turns of the labyrinth (both literal and emotional), but instead, I found myself…meh.
I think this one is a mood read, and my mood was more “get to the action already.” Plus, slow burns and I are just not friends. I appreciate the tension and the yearning, but sometimes I just want the characters to stop brooding and do something! That’s a me problem, though, not the book’s fault.
That said, the concept is super unique, the writing has this dark, lush vibe that’s perfect for fans of myth-inspired fantasy, and I can absolutely see this being someone else’s new favorite read. For me, though, it was more of a maze I wanted to exit than one I wanted to get lost in.
I think this one is a mood read, and my mood was more “get to the action already.” Plus, slow burns and I are just not friends. I appreciate the tension and the yearning, but sometimes I just want the characters to stop brooding and do something! That’s a me problem, though, not the book’s fault.
That said, the concept is super unique, the writing has this dark, lush vibe that’s perfect for fans of myth-inspired fantasy, and I can absolutely see this being someone else’s new favorite read. For me, though, it was more of a maze I wanted to exit than one I wanted to get lost in.
Hmmm. This was… weird.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
To begin, Sadaré, our MC, wakes up in a labyrinth having no idea who she is. With her is a daemon, Daesra, who, in classic enemies-to-lovers fashion, hates her for reasons she does not yet understand. Together, they have to find a way to survive and get out of the maze.
A great premise! I was really excited for this one, but from chapter 1, something just wasn't clicking for me. I don’t know if it was the character interactions or the writing, but I really began to drag my feet. (Hence, why it took me over a month.)
However, after the first quarter, things started looking up. I still wasn’t completely sold, but the romance was getting interesting. I enjoyed a lot of the flashbacks. I love amnesia storylines. Something about them is just so dramatic! We also got some good lines like:
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
To begin, Sadaré, our MC, wakes up in a labyrinth having no idea who she is. With her is a daemon, Daesra, who, in classic enemies-to-lovers fashion, hates her for reasons she does not yet understand. Together, they have to find a way to survive and get out of the maze.
A great premise! I was really excited for this one, but from chapter 1, something just wasn't clicking for me. I don’t know if it was the character interactions or the writing, but I really began to drag my feet. (Hence, why it took me over a month.)
However, after the first quarter, things started looking up. I still wasn’t completely sold, but the romance was getting interesting. I enjoyed a lot of the flashbacks. I love amnesia storylines. Something about them is just so dramatic! We also got some good lines like:
“I’ve wanted you more than I’ve ever wanted anything on this godsforsaken earth. I would burn down the world to find you.”
We love a villainous king, thank you very much 👏
But that ending. That ending was weird. And not a good weird. A weird weird. A that makes no sense weird. I will say no more. But that definitely dragged down the rating.
I’m sure some people will end up liking this. It's got some interesting romantic elements, some adventurous spice, and a truly bizarre twist. However, I wouldn't recommend it for most people.
Thank you to Netgalley and Gallery Books for providing me early access to Exquisite Ruin in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
⚠️: sexual sadomasochism
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Pre-read:
Alright let’s go!! I got this on NetGalley for two reasons:
1. Amnesia
2. Labyrinth
Enough said
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I ate this up!!!
This was dark, it was spicy, and I got such a strong Labyrinth movie vibe from it!!
A witch with no memory of who she is and a demon who despises her must work together to escape this maze. Enemies-to-lovers, gods & goddesses, a journey full of trials, danger, self-discovery, and an epic love story.....this was soooooo good!! I am here for it!!!
Recommended!
This was dark, it was spicy, and I got such a strong Labyrinth movie vibe from it!!
A witch with no memory of who she is and a demon who despises her must work together to escape this maze. Enemies-to-lovers, gods & goddesses, a journey full of trials, danger, self-discovery, and an epic love story.....this was soooooo good!! I am here for it!!!
Recommended!
First of all, the cover is great. I typically do not like or grab covers with humans/people on them. I find them quite cheesy, or prefer to imagine the characters myself. Yet, this cover was really intriguing. The description was quite exciting for me as a romantacy lover, I was thrilled to be approved for this arc.
Even though I was so excited for this, I really REALLY struggled to stay engaged while I read. I typically read one book at a time from start to finish then move on. While trying to read through this book I read 4 others. I honestly found myself so bored with the writing style. I can't quite put my finger on why but the banter between between characters was unbelievable enough it kept pulling me out of the story. I found myself really annoyed with the main character and their choices/thoughts. The plot was great in the description, but fell flat for me while reading. I just kept wanting to read something else and would set it down in preference for another book. That's really unlike me. I think the storyline interesting, I know there will be many people who really enjoy reading through this.
I am appreciative to have received an arc for this. Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher.
Even though I was so excited for this, I really REALLY struggled to stay engaged while I read. I typically read one book at a time from start to finish then move on. While trying to read through this book I read 4 others. I honestly found myself so bored with the writing style. I can't quite put my finger on why but the banter between between characters was unbelievable enough it kept pulling me out of the story. I found myself really annoyed with the main character and their choices/thoughts. The plot was great in the description, but fell flat for me while reading. I just kept wanting to read something else and would set it down in preference for another book. That's really unlike me. I think the storyline interesting, I know there will be many people who really enjoy reading through this.
I am appreciative to have received an arc for this. Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher.
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
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.
<SPOILER>
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.
<SPOILER>
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Physical abuse, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Injury/Injury detail
ARC Review: ⭐⭐⭐/5
Exquisite Ruin by AdriAnne May offers an intriguing premise that blends enemies-to-lovers romance, magical conflict, and a dark, mysterious setting. The story follows Sadaré, a sorceress with amnesia, and Daesra, a hooved-and-horned demon who despises her. Forced into close quarters in a constantly shifting maze, the two must rely on each other to survive while navigating betrayal, pain magic, and secrets from their pasts.
While the book promises a captivating fantasy adventure, I found it difficult to connect with the characters. Sadaré’s amnesia felt more like a plot device than a meaningful obstacle, and Daesra’s intense hatred toward her never evolved in a way that resonated emotionally. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic should have added depth to their relationship, but the betrayal between them lacked the emotional weight necessary for their eventual reconciliation to feel satisfying. While the characters were complex on paper, I never truly sympathized with them, which left me detached from their fates.
One element that stood out was the labyrinth itself. It was a compelling, almost character-like presence—shifting and ever-changing, creating an atmosphere of tension. As Sadaré and Daesra venture deeper, Sadaré begins questioning everything she thought she knew, even whether the true monster is Daesra, the labyrinth, or herself. Unfortunately, despite the potential for high-stakes danger, the plot twists never quite landed, and I never felt the urgency that the story seemed to demand. This lack of emotional investment in the peril left the twists feeling underwhelming.
Despite its promising concept, Exquisite Ruin ultimately felt forgettable. The world-building and magic were interesting, but the characters didn’t fully engage me, and the outcome didn’t leave me feeling fulfilled. I found myself wishing for more development, particularly with Daesra, whose internal struggles were only briefly touched upon. With a deeper exploration of his pain and transformation, I think the connection to his character could have been much stronger. Sadaré also came across as a bit juvenile in her dialogue, which, while perhaps fitting for her circumstances, made it difficult for me to connect with her on a more mature level.
The plot did keep me engaged, and I appreciated the unexpected twists, but the overall experience didn’t quite live up to its potential. Exquisite Ruin has all the ingredients of a gripping fantasy, but its execution left me wanting more, especially when it came to character development and emotional depth.
I’m curious to see what more this author has to offer, but unfortunately, this book didn’t quite deliver the immersive experience I had hoped for.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review
Exquisite Ruin by AdriAnne May offers an intriguing premise that blends enemies-to-lovers romance, magical conflict, and a dark, mysterious setting. The story follows Sadaré, a sorceress with amnesia, and Daesra, a hooved-and-horned demon who despises her. Forced into close quarters in a constantly shifting maze, the two must rely on each other to survive while navigating betrayal, pain magic, and secrets from their pasts.
While the book promises a captivating fantasy adventure, I found it difficult to connect with the characters. Sadaré’s amnesia felt more like a plot device than a meaningful obstacle, and Daesra’s intense hatred toward her never evolved in a way that resonated emotionally. The enemies-to-lovers dynamic should have added depth to their relationship, but the betrayal between them lacked the emotional weight necessary for their eventual reconciliation to feel satisfying. While the characters were complex on paper, I never truly sympathized with them, which left me detached from their fates.
One element that stood out was the labyrinth itself. It was a compelling, almost character-like presence—shifting and ever-changing, creating an atmosphere of tension. As Sadaré and Daesra venture deeper, Sadaré begins questioning everything she thought she knew, even whether the true monster is Daesra, the labyrinth, or herself. Unfortunately, despite the potential for high-stakes danger, the plot twists never quite landed, and I never felt the urgency that the story seemed to demand. This lack of emotional investment in the peril left the twists feeling underwhelming.
Despite its promising concept, Exquisite Ruin ultimately felt forgettable. The world-building and magic were interesting, but the characters didn’t fully engage me, and the outcome didn’t leave me feeling fulfilled. I found myself wishing for more development, particularly with Daesra, whose internal struggles were only briefly touched upon. With a deeper exploration of his pain and transformation, I think the connection to his character could have been much stronger. Sadaré also came across as a bit juvenile in her dialogue, which, while perhaps fitting for her circumstances, made it difficult for me to connect with her on a more mature level.
The plot did keep me engaged, and I appreciated the unexpected twists, but the overall experience didn’t quite live up to its potential. Exquisite Ruin has all the ingredients of a gripping fantasy, but its execution left me wanting more, especially when it came to character development and emotional depth.
I’m curious to see what more this author has to offer, but unfortunately, this book didn’t quite deliver the immersive experience I had hoped for.
Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review