waterlillybooks 's review for:

Dance of Ruin by Jagger Cole

1.75

dark medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

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I received an ARC of Dane of Ruin in exchange for my honest review. This was my first time reading Jagger Cole, and while there were elements of the story that had potential, I’m unsure if I would continue with more of the author's work. 

My biggest concern with the book is the way it was marketed. Dane of Ruin is presented as a BDSM Mafia/Ballerina romance, but it doesn’t truly deliver on the BDSM aspect. Instead, the MMC blackmails the FMC and coerces her into sexual scenarios that mimic a dom/sub dynamic, but without genuine consent or trust, which are critical foundations of BDSM relationships. 

The story also stretches believability in several areas. The FMC, portrayed as an innocent virgin, engages in intense sexual scenes—including anal sex—within a single weekend, with little to no difficulty, despite repeated emphasis on the MMC’s "thick" anatomy (a descriptor that was overused throughout the book). 

From the mafia side of the plot, the story also lacked depth and credibility. The MMC is part of a secret organization in addition to his mafia ties, yet the FMC is able to easily sneak into a meeting where a murder takes place—something that felt highly unrealistic. 

Additionally, the plot twist involving a side character was predictable from early on, and it was frustrating that neither the MMC nor FMC were able to piece it together. 

While Dane of Ruin had an interesting premise and moments of intensity, overall, the execution left a lot to be desired for me.