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Ruin is a delightful read, perfect for fans of Hades and Persephone retellings. The plot and worldbuilding are light, making it a quick and easy-to-follow fantasy read. I loved the magic system, which doesn't surprise me as the power to control darkness is my favorite. In Ruin, however, the FMC, Oralia, can wield both the light and the dark. This power threatens King Typhon, her adopted father, and propels the narrative as she learns more about controlling her magic.

My favorite characteristic of the romance is the moment when Ren kneels for Oralia. We all love it when the MMC yields himself to the FMC, but there are several layers in this act of submission. Oralia had a rough upbringing, and it’s revealed in the first chapter that she spent many nights forced on her knees while healers attempted to rid her of her magic. These are painful and agonizing memories for Oralia, so when Ren says he wants to be the first to kneel for her willingly, I let out a small scream.

I actually first envisioned Ren, being the God of Death, this terrifying and destructive person, but through Oralia, we get to see how caring and compassionate he is. I love it when a man with a dark and intimidating title turns out to be one of the softer characters. Until anyone threatens Oralia, and that’s when Ren pulls the “touch her and die.� And, the spice was oh, so delicious. Those scenes are exciting, especially when you have a touch-starved FMC and a touch-averse MMC.

Oralia builds a lot of confidence by the end of book one, and I look forward to seeing her take on the threats surrounding her in book two.