Ruthless Devotion (Standard Edition)

Gilded Monsters #3

by Rebecca F. Kenney

**SPECIAL DELUXE EDITION WITH STAINED EDGES, CHARACTER ART, AND MORE.**

He was the other half of my soul—the mirror to my every dark desire. My destruction, my redemption, my my Heathcliff.

Cathy Earnshaw's got the devil inside her—or at least that's what the small, cultish community she's spent her whole life trapped inside would say. She can sense death coming, and every loss sends her spiraling into a violent, uncontrollable episode of grief, wailing like a banshee across the swampy forests of the Lowcountry. With a secret as dark as hers, there's no hope of relief, or escape, or finding someone with a chance of understanding.

Until she meets him.

Heathcliff's got his own trauma, and a secret just as dangerous as Cathy's. Stolen as a child, raised by necromancers, he's the most forbidden sin she could ever imagine…and the most desperately tempting. Violent in his passions, tender in his affection, he feels like the other half of her soul, but even as they claw desperately to be together, the world seems just as determined to keep them apart.

Because it turns out their little Southern community was built long ago on a graveyard of lies…and every cult needs its sacrificial lamb.

An addictive and truly original spicy New Adult retelling of Wuthering Heights with a magical twist.

RICH BONUS FEATURES  

Sprayed edgesGorgeous b&w interior artAdditional scenesAnd more!

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Dark Romance, Romantasy, Retellings, Gothic, Paranormal Romance

384 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2025

About the author

Rebecca F. Kenney writes spicy fantasy romance about sassy, strong women and hot guys with tragic backstories... pirates, warlords, demons, Fae, and royals. Her main series are the "Wicked Darlings" series (spicy Fae retellings of the Nutcracker, Wonderland, and Oz), the "Dark Rulers" series (standalones in a shared world), and the "For the Love of the Villain" series of genderbent fairytales. Other books include a post-apocalyptic vampire romance trilogy ("The Vampires Will Save You"), a demon romance "Interior Design for Demons," a dark mermaid fantasy duet, and other spicy retellings.

Rebecca is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary. She lives in upstate South Carolina with her handsome blue-eyed husband and two smart, energetic kids.

For updates and information about upcoming novels, follow on Instagram @rebeccafkenneybooks, on Twitter @RebeccaFKenney1, and on TikTok @rebeccafkenney

Reviews

[Iqra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fun but pretty average in terms of the quality of the romance.

I liked the fantasy aspect a lot in this book maybe because it made a lot more sense and things were tying up.

I’d definitely say that these are not written to be standalones even though the couples are different in each book. Characters from previous books make appearances and have a major role in the overarching plot.

ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the ARC! ♥︎

[Koisty · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Tattoo Stars ⭐️
Spicy Level: 🌶️🌶️/5

I had forgotten how much I love Rebecca Kenney, and this book just reminded me why she’s one of my favourite authors.

She has this incredible knack for making any story feel good while you're reading it. There’s just this energy her writing gives off. I genuinely don’t think she’s capable of writing a bad book. She’s experienced, and talented, and consistently delivers stories that feel immersive, sexy, emotional, and real. No matter what book of hers I pick up, I know it’s going to be good.

“Kiss me like I’m dying,” I whisper...”

𝙎𝙮𝙣𝙤𝙥𝙨𝙞𝙨:
This is technically a Wuthering Heights retelling or at least highly inspired by it, and I know absolutely nothing about the original since I was not one of the people forced to read it in high school. I totally had to go watch a couple of YouTube videos about Wuthering Heights to help me prepare. But honestly, I don’t think it really mattered. I think. I think the main things I feel were taken from the original were the names and the family dynamics.

Cathy Earnshaw works at a boutique farmer’s market and coffee shop, where she helps with tourist displays and other day-to-day tasks. But she has a secret... she’s a banshee. Anyone she’s near who is going to die causes her to mourn their coming death uncontrollably. One of the ways she copes or burns off the feeling of the oncoming death is through hard sex. One day, she hooks up with a delivery guy dropping off cider and they end up having a deliciously spicy round of warehouse sex. That man, however, turns out to be Heathcliff Lockwood. The man she most definitely should stay far away from because he is part of the Lockwood Family, the enemies of her church and everything she’s been raised to fear. And... Heathcliff has a secret of his own... He is a necromancer and his family would kill to get their hands on someone with Cathy's powers...

𝙏𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨:
Heathcliff is the kind of man who immediately gets under Katy's skin. He is salacious and temptation in human form. Every time they interact, it’s this fiery "I don’t want you... but I really do" push and pull. They’re instantly sexually addicted to each other and can’t help themselves. SO basically if you're like me and you like the spice to hit quickly, this book delivers!

There are a lot of elements that tie into Cathy’s family, her church’s beliefs, and the way Heathcliff’s family connects to all of it. Due to this, this is one of those books where I couldn’t help but feel sorry for both main characters. Cathy and Heathcliff are stuck in systems they can’t escape. They don’t have money, status, or power. They are victims of the world they were born into, constantly knocked down and never given a real chance to win. It always feels like the universe is against them. Cathy has to hide her true self or face persecution. Heathcliff is abused by his brother and trapped in a violent legacy. They are both just trying to survive and find something better than the lives they were given.

I loved the subtle worldbuilding and the mix of supernatural elements, religion, and mythology. Now some of it I didn’t fully understand, but I just went with the flow. Rebecca Kenney has a way of just making you love a story without fully understanding it. It makes the book feel very layered and developed. Overall, I love how the elements of necromancy and the banshee magic came together. I loved how it just seemed that these two characters were the yin to each other's yang and how they seemed to complement each other both in personality and in powers.

I also loved how explosive the sex between the two of them was. Ultimately, it was a great balance of character development, plot, and spice, which is something Rebecca Kenney has a real knack for. She just knows how to pull it all together and make you feel fully invested in any book she writes.

One thing that held this back for me was entirely my own fault. I haven’t read book two in the series and I went straight from book one to this one because I was under the impression these were "interconnected standalones". Technically they are but characters from the previous books appear in this book and I was a little lost. I think knowing their stories would have made some moments more impactful. I didn’t know who they were or how they fit into the lore. Technically it didn’t pull too much away from the story, but from my side, I do recommend that if you want the full effect, it’s worth going in order and reading Book 1> Book 2>Book 3. That said, I loved seeing Daisy and Gatsby again. It was fun to check in on them after their books and see how much they’ve grown and changed since I left them at the end of book 1.

𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▶ Paranormal Romance
▶ Classic Inspired/Retelling
▶ Intricate Magic System
▶ Touch Her You Die
▶ Star Crossed Lovers (Enemy Families)
▶ Forced Proximity
▶ Burn the World For You

and 𝙈𝙞𝙘𝙧𝙤 𝙏𝙧𝙤𝙥𝙚𝙨:
▷ Gods
▷ Stalking
▷ Tending to Injuries
▷ Cages Her with his Arms
▷ Banter
▷ Matching Tattoos

𝙎𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙨:
➢ Car Sex and Sex in Public Places
➢ CNC
➢ Squirting

And so I highly recommend this. I highly recommend this series. Try it out if you want to read something a little bit more paranormal and love classic books!

Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, Netgalley and Rebecca F. Kenney for the gifted copy! All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Heathers_readss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly I love these modern day retellings, I was a big fan of the Dorian Gray book and so when I saw the new one was a retelling of Wuthering Heights I was so excited to read it.

Expect from this author lots of witty banter, sexual tensions, angsty characters, fast pacing and short chapters, my favourite kind of combo honestly.

I’m not sure if there will be more books in this series but I will keep reading them as long as the author keeps publishing them!

For someone who hasn’t read any books in this series I will say you don’t have to stress so much about the order you read them in. Although there may be some references to characters in other books, the books as a rule are different storylines with its own set of plot and characters

Thank you for the advanced copy!

Publish date: July 22nd

[Katie’s Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️
This one didn't work for me, which was unfortunate because I've really enjoyed some of Rebecca F, Kenney's fantasies. I think one of my biggest issues- and this was really a me problem- was that I thought this was be a historical fantasy? Because it was advertised as inspired by Wuthering Heights, my mind just assumed. And again- that one's on me! But it was just jarring to start chapter one and have Heathcliff watching TV in a bar and driving around in a pickup truck.

The romance also didn't work for me. I understand why Cathy and Heathcliff got physical so early in in the book, but it took away the tension for me. And again- Wuthering Heights inspired! So I thought it would be all angst and brooding looks with a tragic love story.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishing team for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[TheConnieFox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book! It not only comes with a beautiful cover, but it has lovely artwork inside as well! It has a great story and had me in my feelings! This book comes with vivid descriptions, felt realistic and is very dark. I enjoyed both of the main characters in this book! It is written in dual pov, which I absolutely loved! It is a supernatural romance that’s in the new adult genre. This is a retelling twist of a classic book called Wuthering Heights, which I never did read the classic version. However, I can tell you that this one I loved! It is filled with a lot of spice, supernaturals, gods and goddesses! It has cultish vibes and has a bad boy hero who falls first!

“Ruthless Devotion” is a dark story about a girl named Cathy. She is special because she can sense death coming. She loses control every time this happens, until she meets a boy that is unlike the others she has come across! His name is Heathcliff and he has his own secrets. When these two meet, it gets spicy really quickly! As the story unfolds, we understand more about them and why they have these secrets and traumas! Be sure to read the content warnings prior to reading the book. I found this to be a very entertaining and spicy read! I rate this a 4 out of 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley, author Rebecca Kenney and Sourcebooks Casablanca publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This book is expected to be published on July 22, 2025!

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! I seriously didn’t expect to fall this hard for Ruthless Devotion. It’s a bit outside my usual genre, as I tend to enjoy Romantasy more than modern paranormal romance, but this book had me twisted up in its grip. I was curious because Wuthering Heights is one of my favorite classics, and this takes the devastating tragic love and ramps it WAY up, but then doesn't break your heart. I got this as an ARC. Here's my take:

🥵 Heathcliff - He's not your typical broody love interest, he’s VERY rough around the edges. His romancing at first is... Well , not romantic. He comes across as defeated more than a little broken at first, and has a heaping serving of self-deprecating thoughts. However, that made me feel for him instantly. His voice is gritty and real, and it sets the tone perfectly for what’s to come: a wild, emotionally intense, absolutely addictive ride.

😈Cathy - She’s pure chaos in the best way. Her grief, her rage, her ahem ✨ appetites✨. I just loved her and wanted to steal her away from her awful community. When these two collide, it’s not just sparks, it’s a full-on wildfire. Their connection is messy, raw, obsessive, and completely irresistible. The kind of love that feels more like fate than choice. The kind that aches. I found myself just smiling at how sweet they were together sometimes, and feeling scared for how much the world pulled up against them. 

The World-building - The setting is so LUSH. Small town secrets, backwoods cults, and this lingering sense that something dark is always watching. The author blended info and story beautifully.

My only tiny critique is that it took a minute to settle into the tone. Heathcliff’s voice is a little jarring at first because he's so coarse, but once you find your rhythm, you’re in. Deep. 😏

4.5 stars from me. If you’re into unhinged, soul-deep love stories with a side of creepy danger and a whole lot of tension, this one's for you.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's what I love about her—she's wild as the cold wind, sharp as broken shells on the beach, tough as the old Southern oaks. She's like the Spanish moss on the trees—lacy and fragile from a distance but wiry and rough up close.
~
The prose in this book, guys. Truly, Heathcliff’s descriptions of his love for Cathy are just stunning and made my heart melt every time. I had to get that out there first, because my heart soared every single time he spoke about her. Anyway! Ruthless Devotion takes a bit of a darker turn in the Gilded Monsters world as we travel to the town of Wicklow (Earnshaws) and the surrounding areas (Lockwood). A rendition of Wuthering Heights, this has all the usual suspects you would expect but in compellingly different forms, such as Edgar, Nellie, and Hindley. Cathy is a banshee in essential hiding, and her father is a deacon in the church that is determined to keep the dark god that the Lockwoods are supposedly trying to raise underground. We start out with a bang, literally, as Heathcliff and Cathy give in to some insta-lust, and instead of Cathy determining to never see him again and agreeing to a date with Edgar, Heathcliff shows up at church the very next morning and follows her out into the woods during her 13-hour mourning episode. There is a lot that happens in this book, and also a lot of familiar faces that I was very happy to see (that is to say, if you haven’t read the first two books, you don’t need to read them to read this but there will be major spoilers for them and a big twist at the end won’t make as much sense!), and the creepy, gothic atmosphere is present throughout the book, and keeps you on the edge of your seat, gasping at every little sound because you know something can and is going to go wrong at every turn. All Cathy wants is freedom and love and Heathcliff is doing his best to give it to her, but his ties to his brother and hers to her father keep getting in the way. I read nearly the entire book in one night because I was utterly enthralled and I can’t recommend it enough! And the surprise at the end? I messaged Rebecca in absolute shock and I am still thinking about it. I have so many theories on where we’re going next, and honestly? As long as she keeps writing in this world, I’ll keeping eating them up!

[k💌 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second I see anything related to Wuthering Heights I’m immediately sat. This book is basically Wuthering Heights meets Southern Gothic supernatural chaos, with a dash of cult-like religious fervor, necromancy, and the kind of romance that makes you feel like you’re stuck in a hurricane. Ruthless Devotion is a wild, unpredictable ride, and if you’re looking for a book that combines tragedy, magic, and extremely spicy scenes that will make you question your life choices, you’ve got it. This isn’t just a retelling of Wuthering Heights—it’s like someone took that classic, threw it into a cauldron, added some Irish mythology, mixed in some Southern heat, and set it on fire. And I ate it up.
For our characters— we have Cathy, a Banshee who’s been trapped in a cult-like Southern town where magic is seen as an abomination (of course it’s in the South), and Heathcliff, a necromancer with a tragic backstory who’s basically too cool for this world but can’t stay away from her. They meet in an extremely spicy way early on (Chapter 2 spicy???—yes, you read that right), and things go downhill from there—in a good way. There’s so much tension, so much magic, and so many dangerous secrets that I couldn’t put this book down, even if part of me wanted to wash my hands afterward.
Here’s what this book really is:
• Supernatural, doomed soulmates who are 100% not good for each other (but you root for them anyway).
• A cult that wants to kill anyone with supernatural powers (so, yeah, the stakes are high).
• A necromancer with emotional baggage and some extremely inconvenient tattoos.
• A Banshee who, when she screams, shatters glass windows—and, you know, breaks your heart at the same time.
• And some seriously graphic romance scenes that made me question everything I thought I knew about spicy books. I did end up skimming some of them for dialogue and plot.
Things I loved:
• The world-building is so atmospheric. The Lowcountry setting combined with the supernatural elements made for a unique backdrop that was at once eerie and beautiful.
• Cathy and Heathcliff’s chemistry? Intense in a way that almost felt too much, but in the best way. You can feel their connection, even when it's messy and irrational.
• The exploration of family, trauma, and religious fervor added depth to the story. I didn’t expect to get so emotionally invested in Cathy’s personal struggles, but here I am.
• The plot is twisty and unpredictable. This isn’t just about love and loss—there’s actual action and mystery to keep you turning the pages.
Things that didn’t work as well for me:
• The spice. Oh my god. Look, I’m not prudish, but I’m pretty sure I’ve never read the word “pussy” this many times in a single book. And while I’m all for explicit scenes, there was zero sensuality here. It’s more like: They did the thing, now let’s move on. It kind of felt pornographic at some times or like an anatomy lesson, since there wasn’t always a clear balance between physical and emotional. If you’re into raw, gritty, in-your-face sex scenes, then this is for you, but if you prefer a little more romance and build-up, it might feel too much.
• The book does deviate pretty far from the source material. Which doesn’t make it bad, and I did enjoy it. It did throw me that Heathcliff and Edgar Linton are basically nothing like their counterparts. Heathcliff didn’t feel like a Byronic hero in his characterization and Edgar had approximately zero similarities to the kind, affectionate man in the original. Not entirely sure why a new character wasn’t created for this role, and we also lost Heathcliff and Edgar being foils. At first, I was confused, but after a while, I realized: this is not the story I thought it was. And that’s fine, but it left me wanting a little more of the original magic that made me love the classic.
• Some of the world-building felt a bit crowded. There’s so much going on—necromancy, Banshees, cults, Irish mythology— I liked the elements, but at times, it felt like the story was trying to do too much. A little more focus on the supernatural system would’ve been nice; if all of these pieces are in play I want more details about how they come together.
Final Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars.
Ruthless Devotion is a beautifully dark, emotionally charged supernatural thriller that blends magic, romance, and action in ways I didn’t expect. It’s intense, messy, and full of twists—but if you’re not prepared for the over-the-top spice and chaotic world-building, it might leave you more confused than captivated. If you can handle the graphic content and the wild ride of it all, you’ll find a compelling, fast-paced story with enough emotional depth to make you think. But yeah, you might need a cleansing ritual afterward. Just saying.
…………………………………..
Thank you to Netgalley, HarperCollins, and the author for the eARC! I’ve really enjoyed all of the books in this series.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 rounded up
This dark, southern gothic retelling of Wuthering Heights is dangerously addictive.

Cathy Earnshaw has lived her life utterly alone in a land of Gods and Monsters. Shunned by her church and family for things out of her control, she finally finds companionship and caring in the arms of Heathcliff Lockwood... the son of a family long at odds with her own. The Lockwoods are far from the most dangerous thing in the woods, though, and these two young lovers find themselves on a collision course with disaster.

While there are strong elements of romance and magic, Ruthless Devotion really reads like a mystery/thriller, and I ate it up. Through the eyes of Cathy and Heathcliff, Kenney deftly explores the complicated dynamics of family, love, and religious fervor/cultism.

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC. My review is my honest opinion.

[Kaat SweetOnStories · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the copy! My opinions are honest & my own.
Note: I have not read the 2 other books in this interconnected standalone series. It ended up also not being necessary in order to read this book.

In this spicy retelling-with-many-liberties of Charlotte Bronte's Wuthering Heights, we are taken to Lowcountry USA for some supernatural Southern Gothic deliciousness. Cathy is stuck in a cultish Southern town, where a domineering Church views anyone with Supernatural powers as abominations. Sucks for Cathy, since she's a Banshee who regularly endures debilitating episodes of deep mourning for a deceased. But no one knows that, except her abusive dad. She's utterly trapped, and alone in this life. But one day an attractive ale delivery man shows up and indulges her in her need for... a distraction. And it changes everything.
Heathcliff is a necromancer from the highly disregarded Lockwood family, reluctantly partnered up with and dependant on his "adoptive" (read: Heathcliff was kidnapped as a kid) brother as they use matching tattoos with their clients to resurrect them from The Vague. Heath is extraordinarily powerful and senses something is off with their latest resurrection, but there isn't much he can do about it. His thoughts instead are consumed with the young woman he had an amazing encounter with, and he is determined to pursue her.

Can I just say, holy sh-

Having read Rebecca F Kenney previously, I was kind of anticipating that the spicy scenes would dominate the story or at least be heavily featured. I thought I had this book pegged, because the first spicy scene is in Chapter 2, for smut's sake, and it's direct. It's happening. All systems go. So I'm reading along like, "Sure. Not wholly unexpected. Thankfully I really don't mind spice, and it works? It works well? How? What is happening? But..."

Re: but: the book then surprises me by having a really unexpected, action-packed plot with tons of solid character- and worldbuilding.

For the scene is set. We are in the South with cultish religions, supernatural beings based on Irish lore, resurrections, and a toe-curling-in-the-romance-genre-way Romeo + Juliet love story. I gobbled it up. Cathy and Heathcliff are clearly defined and fleshed out characters, I believed their love story, and the side characters all bring their own level of intrigue. No character is boring and I had many strong reactions to each and every one of them. I could kiss a select few and strangle the rest. Perfect. That means I was invested. As in, "I took that personally."

This being the 3rd book in an interconnected series of standalone novels did mean I was introduced to characters that were central in previous Gilded Monsters books. It took some figuring out who they are and what they're about. But I did that along with Cathy and Heathcliff from their PoVs, and since they're strangers to our main characters too, I didn't feel out of the loop at all. Kenney handled this so well, I truly feel this works perfectly fine as a standalone.

The supernatural aspects are really well executed, too. For instance, I like Kenney's use of tattoos to tether a necromancer to someone they would then be able to resurrect. And Cathy's experiences as a Banshee are so immersive, with some evocatively written passages.

But it's the plot that made it nearly impossible for me to put this down. Sadly as a grown-up I have to sleep and to honor prior commitments, but other than that I was sat for this. It took unexpected turns and just really kept me on my toes. Unpredictable. Highly enjoyable. Great action sequences too.

Also important to note: Kenney wrote the Church-like cult in a way that wasn't triggering for me as an atheist with traumatic experiences regarding religion, namely by focusing on their anti-supernatural stance rather than anything conventionally religious. There's mentions of bibles here and there but it's basically a church dedicated to preventing a Pagan God from rising and also (piously) wanting to murder anyone who's got powers. That I can do!

4 stars for a really fun read with interesting lore, which I enjoyed the heck out of reviewing. I'll definitely read more of Kenney's books, because while the spice is spicin', it's not all she's got up her sleeve, that much is clear to me now.

[sam (nesta's version) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one was a doozy, friends.

Now, I didn't hate this one. But, I didn't love it either. Heathcliff and Cathy were an okay couple, but there wasn't chemistry outside of sexual chemistry. I mean, it was really insta lust as there is quite literally smut in the first few chapters. So, I didn't really get their emotional connection. Though, there were some cute quotes.

My biggest issue with this book as a whole is the plot. I don't know if I'd call this one a retelling. But, seeing as I've never read Wuthering Heights and I'm going based on what I know about the story, maybe I'm not the best judge. But it seemed like a very loose retelling.

Also, for something that is supposed to be a interconnected standalone, there is a LOT of connections to the previous two books. From characters to plot points. There were just parts of the lore and plot that I feel like I could've understood better if I had read the other two books. Now, I will go back and read them and maybe give this one another read to see if my opinion changes. But overall, if this is being marketed as a interconnected standalone, then there should be exposition of the plot from the previous two books.

*Special thanks to Netgalley and Sourcebooks for early access to this book in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are my own.*

[Amanda Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another SOLID piece by Rebecca !

Cathy, our FMC, and Heathcliff, our MMC, are supernaturals — a common theme in this series of standalones. This series has common characters between all of them, so I definitely recommend starting from the first book, as the entities will definitely make more sense!

The tension starts right off the bat, and the spice happens even quicker, but for good reason.
There is so much emotion in some parts of this story, especially with a lot of it being centered around death.
I deeply enjoyed the MC’s instant connection, and the way they made each other feel alive in a world where everything seemed like it was alone and dying.

The depth of feeling that Kenney was able to portray while Cathy was aimlessly walking through the woods and during some of her episodes (if you read it, you’ll understand) were absolutely breathtaking.

I feel like each book in this series keeps getting better and better!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Rebecca, and publishing team for allowing me to read an advanced copy of Ruthless Devotion!

[Tiffany's TBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is hands-down my favorite of the trilogy! Ruthless Devotion delivers on every level-magic, religion, Gods, cults, spice, and (my personal weakness) a morally grey man who would burn the world down for his woman.

The blend of dark themes and rich world-building pulled me in right away, and it never let go. If you love complex characters, especially those who straddle the line between devotion and destruction, this book hits the mark.

⚠️ Trigger warnings apply, especially for religious trauma-definitely worth checking before diving in.

But if you're like me and can't resist a broody, obsessive love interest wrapped in a morally messy package, Ruthless Devotion will absolutely deliver. Rebecca Kennedy knocked it out of the park with this one.
Thank you to netgalley for my advanced reader copy.

[Xan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I picked up this ARC based off of its description and had good hopes for it. Sadly, I was left hanging a little bit. I know it was based on Wuthering Heights, which I haven't read, so the story might have had less impact on me because of that too.

The story gets told from the perspective of Cathy and Heathcliff, who both have supernatural gifts. They're both part of families or communities that don't mingle at all because of their history.

I honestly had a lot of struggles with this story, and it starts right at the beginning. Cathy and Heathcliff meet when Heathcliff makes a delivery to Cathy's workplace. Without establishing anything, no connection, no chemistry, no nothing, Cathy instantly jumps him. Like you are kissing and fornicating with a random stranger on the job? I know you have your 'condition', but girl... As the story progresses I think it stays about that same. It irked me that they supposedly were super connected, they want each other, but I felt like they barely had any relationship at all on the pages. Apart from him saving her over and over again.

I also noticed, especially in the first 50% of the book that the Cathy chapters are substantially longer as compared to the Heathcliff ones. I thought this was a pity, because I felt more in sync with Heathcliff as a character. Although generally, the characters really didn't speak all that much to me either.

This was book 3 in a series, but I definitely could be read as a standalone, so it gets some points for that. Maybe it was a wrong book, wrong time situation, but I feel like this book just... lacked for me personally.

And to end I want to thank Netgalley, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca and Rebecca Kenney for providing me an eARC of this book. As always I write this review voluntarily and my opinion is solely my own. I hope this book finds its intended audience, because it wasn't really me.

[Rachelqueenvixen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars

I really loved Cathy and heathcliffe. I loved the way everything connects with the other stories and the spice was good. I love that it started early in the book and I loved the dynamic between the two mcs.

Im very excited to continue reading stories in this world.

[Markus · Rating 1 out of 5]

Aggressively American and not even funny bad

[Heather Brickley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A paranormal gothic horror retelling of Wuthering Heights meets contemporary romance, and you won't be disappointed. Set in a small town in South Carolina that is centered around the town church, Cathy Earnshaw is a secret banshee trapped in the mundane, quaint life while mourning death of the townsfolk in private until she comes across Heathcliff Lockwood, a secret necromancer. In a paranormal twist, the Lockwood family is notoriously known for trying to raise the god the church has spent years protecting from awakening, causing them to be outcasts. Many secrets are revealed, past traumas are unearthed, and a trip to the Vague to save a life is made with dire consequences. But don't worry, there is a happily ever after that kept me on the edge of my seat to obtain.

Of course enemies become lovers through heated banter, high, sexual tension, and the constant pining for each other when our lovers are kept apart. Heathcliff is a true "who did this to you" male main character who will stop at nothing to protect Cathy. Cathy discovers she and Heathcliff are meant to be and will stop at nothing to move on from her small town to be with him.

This was a refreshing spin on paranormal romance, with the twists and uses of the paranormal creatures, the weaving of the lore into the present, and the gritty, small town vibes that played a central role in this book. I especially loved the subtle nods to literary classics sprinkled throughout this book and series, but you won't need to read the previous two books, but it is recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Rebecca Kenney and Sourcebooks Casablanca publishing for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Jeremy Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Gilded Monsters Are BACK!

Rebecca F. Kenney returns with the best romance in this series yet! A necromancer and a banshee walk into a storage room...... sounds like the start to a joke, but instead it is the start to the steamiest romance. Following the classic "Wuthering Heights," this was such a fun revitalization. There are some classic characters and backdrops (sort of), all while the paranormal creates suspense, drama, and mystery.

Starting with the romance of this story, readers prepare to be blown away. This romance, although rooted in a classic, is breathtaking. Heath and Cathy's connection is immediate and undeniable. Some readers may label this as a quick love/instant love story, but even if this were, I loved it. Then add in the spice, and this story goes to the next level. Kenney literally had my jaw on the floor with how much fun the spicy scenes were written. It just showed how much she enjoyed writing these characters.

The plot of this story also added so much to the overall lore of this universe that it made the stakes the highest that they have ever been. The mystery of Cathy's background and how Heath plays into that with all the old gods rising just made for a thrilling tale. There were also a few fun reveals and plenty of cameos of characters from the previous books that I think readers are going to love.

Buckle up and prepare for the old gods to continue to rise! The Gilded Monsters is one of my favorite series, and you should give it a shot!

[pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 stars rounded up!

Although, I'm not familiar with the source material (Wuthering Heights), I only know of it, and I haven't read previous books in the gilded monsters series, I still had fun. While I prefer cutesy fairytale like stories, this one was quite darker, I still found bits that interested me.

Frankly, I didn't connect with Cathy, nor Heathcliff. Romance-wise, they had lots of great moments, though. I just didn't care. The stuff they did for each other? WOW. That's some soulmates shit. And it had quite a few spicy scenes worth of looking into.

There were a few bits that I'd call cringe, but it was nothing awful. Just little hiccups occasionally.

Near the end, main characters from the previous books of the gilded monsters showed up more, and I have to admit, I am so going to check them out too.

Thank you, #NetGalley for providing me with the ARC.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨𝓐𝓡𝓒 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓲𝓮𝔀✨
📖: Ruthless Devotion (Gilded Monsters Book 3)

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

𝙃𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙛 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙤𝙪𝙡—𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙧𝙚. 𝙈𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙢𝙮 𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙢𝙮 𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙫𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝙢𝙮 𝙃𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙛.

Cathy has been haunted by the deaths that call to her. Her condition keeps her trapped within her small religious town where she’s felt alone until meeting a stranger she never expected to see again.

Keeping his scars and secrets hidden, Heathcliff has been working to make a life for himself. And he wants Cathy, the woman he shouldn’t want.

They can’t seem to stay away, yet fate and dark forces threaten to keep them apart.

Tropes:
👀Dual POV
⚠️Forbidden romance
🌬️Banshee FMC
☠️Necromancer MMC
📚Modern retelling
🫂Forced proximity
🩶Morally grey MMC
✨Celtic folklore
📚Interconnected standalone
💫Monsters, deities, cults
🌶️: open door

Rebecca had me immediately intrigued by this iteration of Cathy and Heathcliff. Cathy has lived in fear, constantly fighting for control over her body and her fate. Heathcliff is a broody, protective MMC, and bears conflicting emotions to his cruel adoptive family and his draw to Cathy.

They share a soul-deep connection and understanding— two mirror broken souls. There’s a beautiful desperation in the way they yearn for each other and what they’re willing to do for each other. Their passion burns brightly and their love transcends lifetimes.

This dark, decadent tale examines hypocrisy, religion, autonomy, and mortality. I love how the main characters from each book in this series falls into place within the overall storyline and highly recommend reading the prior books for full emotional impact.

In Ruthless Devotion, the author crafts a breathtaking Southern Gothic Wuthering Heights reimagining featuring monsters, myths, and a haunting romance!

Huge thanks to the author, Sourcebooks Casablanca, and NetGalley for the ARC opportunity. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Tai · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75 STARS

Overall, this was a quick and easy read that I wanted to love so much more simply because I do truly enjoy some of the other books by Rebecca. However, I think the characters fell a little flat for me and although occasionally I love a good instalust, I just was not feeling it here. I think if the characters were given just a little more breathing room to develop upfront, it would have felt better for me. What I did like were the fantasy elements as I don't see too many instances of banshees or necromancers as main characters and I did like that there were some fun character inspirations and crossovers. If you just want to dive into a quick read with lots of spice and vibes, this is still a solid option.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rebecca Kenney, and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC copy in exchange for my honest review!

[Alyssa · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️: 3.5
🌶️: 2.5

I wish this book was longer!! It felt like an episode of a TV Series that won’t be renewing.

While I really did enjoy the plot, the writing, and southern gothic/ cultish theme I felt like something was missing. It could have been that although it can be read as a standalone it is the 3rd book in a series and they are connected, which is my fault for not reading the first two books (this cover was beautiful though lol).

Also, this was definitely insta-like/love, which I’m okay with, but there wasn’t really much relationship building between Heathcliff and Cathy so at times it made the story feel on speed 2x haha. Their relationship could have been flushed out a bit more but I did like their individual characters a lot.

Heathcliff has a heart of gold, and although the story doesn’t divulge much of his past trauma, you could tell he was a good person dealt shitty life cards. Cathy, her story is so sad man, my heart broke for her and I wish we got more of the banshee/ deaths.

Side characters: we’re okay and are from the previous books so I missed out of who they are or what their “powers” are. It’s barely touched upon in this one.

The ending was cute, nothing crazy and what you’d expect for a HEA.

[Teagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I rarely say this, but I think this book should have been longer... The premise had a lot of potential, and I thought the cult plotline was interesting, but overall it felt very rushed/choppy (including the romance unfortunately).

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cult was so cringy and FMC so naive that I was getting annoyed. But the spice was 🔥.

[A Grimm Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been lucky enough to get ARC copies of each of the books in this series and have thoroughly enjoyed each of them. And after finishing Ruthless Devotion I've got my fingers crossed that luck will continue when Cruel Angel comes up next year.

As with the last installment I am forced to admit that I have not read Wuthering Heights, the source from which this re-imagining takes inspiration, so I cant offer any comparisons on the two.

Unlike Beautiful Villain and Charming Devil which offered only small references to each other's characters Ruthless Devotion sees the full cast of the series all come together in a meaningful way to start to push the overarching story forward from where we left off in Charming Devil. But it is done so while still keeping Cathy and Heathciff's story front and center. Kenney continues to build on the Irish folklore that the series has so far been centered around and shakes things up by dropping in a Roman element as well for a little unexplored tease. This immediately had me intrigued and I cant wait to see what this new aspect means for the Gilded Monsters world and its supernaturals.

Cathy and Heathcliff's connection is instantaneous, very much giving a insta lust to insta love vibe which to me was far heavier hitting than the relationships between Daisy and Gatsby or Dorian and Baz. It's clear that they see themselves in the other, similar life experience allows them to intimately understand each others pain and feelings of being trapped in their current situations. However there scenes between them that give the feeling of a true soulmate level connection like on a supernatural level that is not really explored or talked about in any way. It could be that I just read too much into somethings and that wasn't the intention but those were the vibes I got.

This is the spiciest of the three books by far in my opinion. At first I was a little off put by the characters attitudes and reactions toward sex, it came off a bit vulgar in a way I didn't experience with the first two books. But as I really thought about it in relation to the characters it made sense and Cathy even explains it early on, the visceral need ground her self in living when constantly linked and pulled towards death. It makes sense that the opposite would be completely unrestrained and unrefined.

[Hollyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

UPDATE: Rebecca Kenney did NOT approve of my review and sadly, felt the need to block me on both private and personal accounts for sharing an honest review… I’ve updated my rating to reflect this.



Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Ruthless Devotion is a deliciously melodramatic, angsty, romantic, and passionate reimagining of Wuthering Heights set against modern-day South Carolina. It's both a slow burn and love-at-first-sight obsession, a paradox that somehow works—thanks to Kenney’s bold storytelling.

Mere chapters into the book and you’ll encounter the first (of many) erotic scenes between the main characters. The plot justification for the frequency of sex is, frankly, ridiculous—so much so that it borders on parody. And yet, Kenney takes that absurd premise and transforms it into a genuine, visceral carnal obsession. Until Kenney develops this into the carnal obsession the book promises and delivers. The quality of these scenes fluctuates, ranging from Wattpad-level lines to truly sensual, emotionally charged moments. But to her credit, Kenney knows how to pace them—indulging just enough without dragging the plot or dulling the emotional core. More than the physical intimacy, it’s the emotional depth between Cathy and Heathcliff that elevates these encounters.

The first half of the novel is centered on their intense, often toxic connection. Passion, pain, and entrapment transcend time as Kenney reimagines these iconic characters in the present. While the attempt to modernize the setting mostly works, references to current technology occasionally feel superficial, even distracting—risking what might have otherwise felt like a timeless love story. Similarly, many of the problems from the book arise from half-baked ideas and half attempts at satire. The dialogue can be painfully on-the-nose, particularly in the first half of the book, almost to the point of being satirical. Kenney flirts with meta humor but doesn’t quite work with a story (and characters) that takes itself so seriously. A greater commitment to the dramatic nature of the work could’ve gone a long way.

The second half shifts gears dramatically, plunging into Irish gods, possession, and religious cults. The pacing accelerates, the stakes rise, and the plot becomes undeniably entertaining—if slightly chaotic. At times, it feels like two different novels stitched together: one a brooding romantic obsession, the other a high-stakes supernatural thriller. The transition isn’t seamless, but both parts are individually compelling.

Despite its unevenness, Ruthless Devotion is incredibly hard to put down. The characters are fierce, clever, and unapologetically messy. The gods are terrifying and magnetic. There’s a guilty pleasure in watching Cathy and Heathcliff tear each, and those who have wronged them, apart, and put themselves back together—over and over again. It’s dark, cathartic, and deeply satisfying in ways that aren’t always easy to explain.

Ultimately, Ruthless Devotion is a bold, steamy, supernatural romantasy that dares to go all-in—most of the time. It doesn't always land, but when it does, it's thrilling. It just needs to believe in its own power as much as its characters do.

[Elle · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

As a huge fan of Wuthering Heights, I was immediately drawn to this book. I'd never heard of the author before, and I wanted to see her take on the story. Unfortunately, I was left disappointed. I think the premise is good and intriguing, but the execution didn't reflect it.

I found it hard to connect with the characters, which made caring about what happened to them really difficult. The writing felt choppy too at times, and the repeated use of compounded adjectives took me out of the story. I also found the ending a little rushed, and would have preferred more resolution with some of the side characters, meaning Cathy's father and aunt, even though I understand why Cathy chose against it. I just think the book would have benefited from it, but that's merely my opinion.

The plot was definitely the saving grace of the book. I loved how the author wove Irish mythology with a creative and unique story. It was what made me not give up on the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for the eARC.

[Lynz Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very spooky
This would be an amazing horror film

If the original Wuthering Heights was this juicy I wouldn’t have had to hate finish it years ago. Ruthless Devotion is easily one of my favorite books of all time! It’s got Cathy and Heathcliff, paranormal activity, romance, and spice. Cathy grew up always feeling othered, like she just didn’t fit in with everyone else. That’s because she didn’t! She isn’t like everyone else she knows. She’s got depth, and personality. She’s also got a shitty dad. Her dad likes to not only keep up appearances but is also highly vested in his position of perceived power within their church community. This leads him to do all the wrong things for what he believes are the right reasons.
Then there is Heathcliff and this man is fiiiiiiine! He also has an unfortunate past. A questionable “adoption” early in his childhood brings him into an even more questionable family. He has incredibly valuable talents that cement his place in the family business. Heathcliff grows up with a brother who is by all accounts his de facto best friend and also his built in bully. Heathcliff is a roll with the punches kind of guy who doesn’t actually believe he will ever have “more” than this life offers him; nor does he believe he deserves anything else than what life has dealt him.
The two meet by chance when their jobs bring them together for what I would call the best delivery of their lives. They grew up in different towns. They both come to the table with the reputations of their respective families which have tricky implications. Life seems to be doing everything to keep them apart but they keep crawling their way back to each other. The forces keeping them apart are literally larger than life and deadly. They work together and call in some help from out of town and after one hell of a night they make it out of town together and they are finally free of the judgements and expectations of everyone they know. When Heathcliff and Cathy find each other they realize they want more, they deserve more, and together they can have more.

***SPOILERS***

Cathey is a banshee & Heathcliff is a necromancer
I don’t like how her banshee-ism is treated like an embarrassment and mental illness by her mother and father. I like how her otherness doesn’t spook Heathcliff-he just observes and makes sure she is relatively safe considering what she’s experiencing. I love how it is unknowingly love at first sight and they both want to deny it but they can’t. I love how instinctively protective he is of her. He’s not plotting or scheming just genuinely interested in her wellbeing. I hate Edgar he’s a pompous little shit. The way he calls Cathy out in front of the entire church is despicable.
“She’s my actual life, my fucking soul. I can’t live without my soul”-Heathcliff
The way he calls her “my girl” …makes me melt into a puddle!!!

[Kori · Rating 1 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This review reflects my opinions alone.

Note: I did not read the other two books in this series, but it seems they are vaguely interconnected and still can be read as standalones.

Supposedly a retelling of Wuthering Heights (one of my favorite gothic classics), Ruthless Devotion starts off with an ungracefully modern introduction to our main characters. I thought that maybe it felt awkward because their names and characters felt so out of place in the modern world, but any notion of the original story falls to pieces quickly.

I’m not sure why this is a retelling of Wuthering Heights at all. Maybe the author had an urge to write some smut with a sprinkle of cultish horror but didn’t want to bother building up the setting? But really, there’s very little trace of the original characters and their stories other than a few nods here and there and some of their striking characteristics taken and made into their only defining personality traits.

The poor reference to the source material colored my perspective for a majority of the book, but even having been able to forget about it, the quality of the story itself is just not there.

We have a questionably built world where it seems there are no real answers or explanations. I will hold most of my judgement since I realize I haven’t read the other books, but, as a standalone, the supernatural forces and people seem to be whipped out of thin air. As much as our narrators seem to be able to talk endlessly about themselves, they seem to be unable to provide any insight into their world, which appears paper thin and built out just enough for the thrill of the occult.

On top of that, it just felt like a smutty fan fiction. The smut of this book was truly just there because why the hell not. There was no real purpose (other than a character’s claims) and it hardly even emphasized the main characters’ primal needs for one another.

Overall, it felt like a salad of smut and supernatural, placed awkwardly into the original Wuthering Heights framework. I wish there was more purpose to the plot (like emphasizing the horrors of the cult, or something), but it seems like there wasn’t much purpose to the book at all.

[Angela · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could rate this zero, I would.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for my arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

Now, as someone who is not the biggest fan of "Wuthering Heights" (it is my least favorite of the Bronte sisters' works), I can appreciate it and think it was groundbreaking for its time. That said, seeing that this was supposed to be a straight up romance/erotic modern retelling of the novel, I was intrigued. Granted, I find a lot of romance and erotic novels pretty cringey, I wanted to see how the author works with a pretty intense foundation like "Wuthering Heights."

I was unfortunately proved right. This was a laughably simple written book and honestly, whatever inspiration came from the Emily Bronte novel was really just the names. The actual story wasn't great either. In fact, I would argue there wasn't really a story. This read like baby's first porn without plot but the porn is embarrassingly hilarious. Yeah, I didn't enjoy this book at all. The writing is just generally very lazy, very simple, and the characters didn't feel like characters. Everything and the characters themselves were so flat and simple and only served to get the reader to the next "spicy" scene.

Would not recommend even for those who enjoy romance. I will not be taking comments lol