A review by illstoptheworldandreadwithyou
Exquisite Ruin by AdriAnne May

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.