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The Labyrinth #1
Exquisite Ruin
In this darkly romantic reimagining of the Minotaur myth, a sorceress and a demon are entwined in sensual battle to escape a deadly maze and reclaim their freedom.
Sadaré wakes in a labyrinth, remembering nothing except that she is a powerful sorceress. Her only ally (or is he an enemy?) is an immortal being named Daesra—beautiful, dangerous, and demonic—who bound his soul for power and revenge.
Though they mistrust one another, they have no choice but to work together if they are to reach the center and defeat the monster who prevents their escape. But the longer they wander, the more dangerous and strangely alive the maze becomes.
As sorceress and demon develop a tenuous truce and the labyrinth gives Sadaré glimpses of their shared history, she finds herself drawn to Daesra in ways that make her question everything. Uncovering the secrets of her past may be the only way to survive and heal their entwined fates—but as the two learn more about the betrayals that brought them to the labyrinth, Sadaré begins to fear that the monster at the center of the maze could be Daesra...or herself.
Sadaré wakes in a labyrinth, remembering nothing except that she is a powerful sorceress. Her only ally (or is he an enemy?) is an immortal being named Daesra—beautiful, dangerous, and demonic—who bound his soul for power and revenge.
Though they mistrust one another, they have no choice but to work together if they are to reach the center and defeat the monster who prevents their escape. But the longer they wander, the more dangerous and strangely alive the maze becomes.
As sorceress and demon develop a tenuous truce and the labyrinth gives Sadaré glimpses of their shared history, she finds herself drawn to Daesra in ways that make her question everything. Uncovering the secrets of her past may be the only way to survive and heal their entwined fates—but as the two learn more about the betrayals that brought them to the labyrinth, Sadaré begins to fear that the monster at the center of the maze could be Daesra...or herself.
371 pages, Hardcover
First published March 25, 2025
219 people are currently reading
15866 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 526 reviews
July 31, 2025
✩ 1.75 stars ✩
What to Expect:
➼ FMC with Amnesia
➼ Second Chance
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Morally Gray MC’s
➼ Kiss or Kill?
➼ Pain Based Magic
➼ Mutual Betrayal
➼ Semi Sentient Deadly Maze
➼ Monster Romance
➼ Reimagining of the Minotaur Myth
➼ Dual Narration
➼ Dual First Person POV
This was a very weird book and I was not a fan. I’m never that excited about a monster romance, but the pain based magic made this one particularly off putting to me. They were pitted against each other for most of the book so their intimate encounters were already pretty strange, but the fact that they were also centered around pain was not appealing to me at all. If you love Monster Romance and BDSM, you might enjoy this, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone outside that group.
Such a shame because the cover art is so good!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read:
That sure is a long list of trigger warnings… 🙈
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
What to Expect:
➼ FMC with Amnesia
➼ Second Chance
➼ Forced Proximity
➼ Morally Gray MC’s
➼ Kiss or Kill?
➼ Pain Based Magic
➼ Mutual Betrayal
➼ Semi Sentient Deadly Maze
➼ Monster Romance
➼ Reimagining of the Minotaur Myth
➼ Dual Narration
➼ Dual First Person POV
This was a very weird book and I was not a fan. I’m never that excited about a monster romance, but the pain based magic made this one particularly off putting to me. They were pitted against each other for most of the book so their intimate encounters were already pretty strange, but the fact that they were also centered around pain was not appealing to me at all. If you love Monster Romance and BDSM, you might enjoy this, but I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone outside that group.
Such a shame because the cover art is so good!
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
Pre-read:
That sure is a long list of trigger warnings… 🙈
≪ ◦ ❖ ◦ ≫
Connect with me on Instagram
lost-interest
February 17, 2025Didn't even read the summary because that cover said everything I needed to know
June 4, 2025
AQUÍ HAY QUE HACERLE UN HOMENAJE AL DIOS DEL… 🔥
Enenies to lovers…🔥!!!
En serio, ni te imaginas lo que vas a disfrutar entre estás páginas…😏
Vamos, solo te diré que, desde la primera, ya se respira ese: "no sabes cuanto te odio, pero no veas cómo me pones🤭"
Y es que nuestra prota, Elena, se despierta en Un laberinto mortal junto a un demonio con cuernos y cola que…😱
Si, si, has leído bien
Nuestro partenaire es un demonio con cuernos y cola😈!!!
Pero, ejem, se hace querer…🤭
Y, sí, lo sé, ¡lo estás flipando!
Al igual que yo, créeme, cuando empecé a leer esta historia…
¡Pero es que me la he bebido🔥!
Ha sido un empezar y ya no poder soltarla hasta el final
Además, hay un giro que te quedas en plan: "What`s, pero ¿qué acaba de pasar aquí?", que te deja loquísima😍!
Enenies to lovers…🔥!!!
En serio, ni te imaginas lo que vas a disfrutar entre estás páginas…😏
Vamos, solo te diré que, desde la primera, ya se respira ese: "no sabes cuanto te odio, pero no veas cómo me pones🤭"
Y es que nuestra prota, Elena, se despierta en Un laberinto mortal junto a un demonio con cuernos y cola que…😱
Si, si, has leído bien
Nuestro partenaire es un demonio con cuernos y cola😈!!!
Pero, ejem, se hace querer…🤭
Y, sí, lo sé, ¡lo estás flipando!
Al igual que yo, créeme, cuando empecé a leer esta historia…
¡Pero es que me la he bebido🔥!
Ha sido un empezar y ya no poder soltarla hasta el final
Además, hay un giro que te quedas en plan: "What`s, pero ¿qué acaba de pasar aquí?", que te deja loquísima😍!
February 28, 2025
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:
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.
⚠️: sexual sadomasochism
── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──
Pre-read:
Alright let’s go!! I got this on NetGalley for two reasons:
1. Amnesia
2. Labyrinth
Enough said
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
April 21, 2025
2.5
hey don't do droogs kids
hey don't do droogs kids
March 25, 2025
Exquisite Ruin is a kinky, dark romantasy following a witch and a daemon trapped in a dangerous maze together. She has no memories, but he knows they had a complicated past and he has a good reason to hate her. But despite their toxic relationship, their chemistry is undeniable and they need each other to survive.
There are content warnings at the start of the book and they're worth reviewing because this might be a lot for some readers. The heroine uses pain to harness her magic, AND she enjoys BDSM in sexual encounters. There is fairly intense self-harm for the sake of magic and survival, and this enemies to lovers sort of relationship that is sometimes violently combative. At the same time, I feel like the book as a whole is kind of about healing and redemption, even if it takes a very dark path to get there. It's sexy and filled with danger, alongside lots of facing past trauma. There's also a jaw-dropping twist late in the book! This won't be for everyone, but it's a good book. I received a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own.
There are content warnings at the start of the book and they're worth reviewing because this might be a lot for some readers. The heroine uses pain to harness her magic, AND she enjoys BDSM in sexual encounters. There is fairly intense self-harm for the sake of magic and survival, and this enemies to lovers sort of relationship that is sometimes violently combative. At the same time, I feel like the book as a whole is kind of about healing and redemption, even if it takes a very dark path to get there. It's sexy and filled with danger, alongside lots of facing past trauma. There's also a jaw-dropping twist late in the book! This won't be for everyone, but it's a good book. I received a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own.
October 21, 2024
Thank you Adrianne May and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC! I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What to expect:
- Minotaur retelling
- Morally gray fmc and mmc
- Witches
- Enemies to lovers
- BDSM/Pain kink
- Spice 3/5 🌶️
- Amnesia
- Betrayals
- A+ banter
My thoughts:
Wow, this book was so good! From the first chapter to the last I was hooked! I loved our two main characters, Sadaré and Daesra. They were both morally gray, which is something new for me. Their relationship was HOT, even as enemies. I also throughly enjoyed their backstory, it made them both feel so real. The relationship wasn’t sweet or fluffy, it was raw and fiery and I loved it. Shoutout to Pogli, I love when authors include animals in books! This book had so many twists and turns and they all were unexpected, especially that last one!
My only con is that the book was somewhat repetitive. Otherwise this book was amazing, definitely my favorite this month!
Totally recommend!
What to expect:
- Minotaur retelling
- Morally gray fmc and mmc
- Witches
- Enemies to lovers
- BDSM/Pain kink
- Spice 3/5 🌶️
- Amnesia
- Betrayals
- A+ banter
My thoughts:
Wow, this book was so good! From the first chapter to the last I was hooked! I loved our two main characters, Sadaré and Daesra. They were both morally gray, which is something new for me. Their relationship was HOT, even as enemies. I also throughly enjoyed their backstory, it made them both feel so real. The relationship wasn’t sweet or fluffy, it was raw and fiery and I loved it. Shoutout to Pogli, I love when authors include animals in books! This book had so many twists and turns and they all were unexpected, especially that last one!
My only con is that the book was somewhat repetitive. Otherwise this book was amazing, definitely my favorite this month!
Totally recommend!
February 24, 2025
I am marking this as read because I read more than 30% of this book. And I ended up dnfing it cause honestly I was just really bored. This book has a gorgeous cover and a great synopsis for a promising story but as I was reading it, I just didn’t really care for the main characters and the only saving grace was Pogli, a part Pig/Dog\Lion. He was adorable, but I got to page 100 and I just was not interested. 😅
October 15, 2024
I am not sure I have understood the assignment
June 5, 2025
Two stars for the pig,dog, duck, lion. otherwise I’m upset because the cover art was really gorgeous and the description had me so excited 😭
May 7, 2025
EXQUISITE RUIN took a while to get moving but once it got started, I couldn't put it down. I love the Greek mythology vibes of this book: a Labyrinth that is clearly inspired by the story of the Minotaur, especially with the horned demon love interest, and a witchy heroine who gets her powers (and her sexual enjoyment) from pain. When she awakes in a stone labyrinth with no memories, and only her ex-lover to serve as her guide, she immediately suspects treachery.
The maze is a dangerous place, and the only way out is down. From sentient statues to sinister water, this story reminded me a lot of the surreal dreamcore aesthetics I see from artists on TikTok, with a dash of the dark whimsy in Hayao Miyazaki movies, and the morally grey and dangerous love interest a la L.J. Smith's The Forbidden Game trilogy or Labyrinth. Even though this is a contemporary fantasy work, there's something so retro-feeling about it, like I could have sneaked it as a teenage girl and become precociously enchanted with the story and the hot-but-dangerous hero.
It even kind of has the aesthetics of a teen girl fantasy, but all grown up and kinky, which is maybe why I loved it so much. There's even a pig-dog-lion chimera that looks like a winged pug. Like, even if the charm of Daesra and Sadare weren't enough, with all of their retro high fantasy chic, how could you not fall in love with Pogli the pug? Plus, this book has one of the BEST M. Night Shyamalan-esque twists I've encountered in a while. I literally gasped. HOLY FORESHADOWING, BATMAN. You know a twist is good when it makes you want to immediately reread a book and look for all the clues that were quietly waiting to shatter your whole fucking world.
I loved this author's other book, BEYOND THE BLACK DOOR, which was an asexual fantasy love story. I was delighted when she reached out to offer me an ARC of her spicy romantasy novel, EXQUISITE RUIN, which is a completely different story from BtBD, but still retains so many of the elements that made me fall in love with her writing for the first time. Can't wait to see what she does next.
Thanks to the author/publisher for sending me a copy!
4.5 stars
The maze is a dangerous place, and the only way out is down. From sentient statues to sinister water, this story reminded me a lot of the surreal dreamcore aesthetics I see from artists on TikTok, with a dash of the dark whimsy in Hayao Miyazaki movies, and the morally grey and dangerous love interest a la L.J. Smith's The Forbidden Game trilogy or Labyrinth. Even though this is a contemporary fantasy work, there's something so retro-feeling about it, like I could have sneaked it as a teenage girl and become precociously enchanted with the story and the hot-but-dangerous hero.
It even kind of has the aesthetics of a teen girl fantasy, but all grown up and kinky, which is maybe why I loved it so much. There's even a pig-dog-lion chimera that looks like a winged pug. Like, even if the charm of Daesra and Sadare weren't enough, with all of their retro high fantasy chic, how could you not fall in love with Pogli the pug? Plus, this book has one of the BEST M. Night Shyamalan-esque twists I've encountered in a while. I literally gasped. HOLY FORESHADOWING, BATMAN. You know a twist is good when it makes you want to immediately reread a book and look for all the clues that were quietly waiting to shatter your whole fucking world.
I loved this author's other book, BEYOND THE BLACK DOOR, which was an asexual fantasy love story. I was delighted when she reached out to offer me an ARC of her spicy romantasy novel, EXQUISITE RUIN, which is a completely different story from BtBD, but still retains so many of the elements that made me fall in love with her writing for the first time. Can't wait to see what she does next.
Thanks to the author/publisher for sending me a copy!
4.5 stars
April 26, 2025
You know what. I don’t actually know what this is.
Some things to expect inside:
— First person
— Amnesia
— Enemies to lovers?
— Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
The premise behind this book is really good. Our FMC wakes up in a maze with a daemon with zero memory of how she got there and why. She doesn’t even remember her name. But the daemon does, he remembers her name and her story and only feeds her bits and pieces here and there. She also gets more information as she gets closer to the end of the maze.
Now I really don’t know why I had such a disconnect from this book. Maybe it was the characters or the writing style I’m not so sure. The characters seemed to be flip flopping a lot and I didn’t quite understand motives behind certain actions. I also didn’t understand the world building that was happening. Things that were described were very confusing to me.
I also didn’t connect with either of the characters. While we did get a lot of backstory on their lives I couldn’t resonate with them or their choices. They were hot and cold constantly and I didn’t know what was coming next, and not in a good way.
The plot twist was really good but that was probably the best thing about this book and even then it took me a minute to grasp what was happening. And even after I grasped it I couldn’t FULLY understand how that happened and it really didn’t make much sense.
Some things to expect inside:
— First person
— Amnesia
— Enemies to lovers?
— Spice rating 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
The premise behind this book is really good. Our FMC wakes up in a maze with a daemon with zero memory of how she got there and why. She doesn’t even remember her name. But the daemon does, he remembers her name and her story and only feeds her bits and pieces here and there. She also gets more information as she gets closer to the end of the maze.
Now I really don’t know why I had such a disconnect from this book. Maybe it was the characters or the writing style I’m not so sure. The characters seemed to be flip flopping a lot and I didn’t quite understand motives behind certain actions. I also didn’t understand the world building that was happening. Things that were described were very confusing to me.
I also didn’t connect with either of the characters. While we did get a lot of backstory on their lives I couldn’t resonate with them or their choices. They were hot and cold constantly and I didn’t know what was coming next, and not in a good way.
The plot twist was really good but that was probably the best thing about this book and even then it took me a minute to grasp what was happening. And even after I grasped it I couldn’t FULLY understand how that happened and it really didn’t make much sense.
March 26, 2025
1st POV / 1 POV / chapters: medium-long / TW bellow
🩸monster romance: witch x demon (hooves, tail, horns)
🩸deadly labyrinth with mind of its own
🩸SPICE (explicit, BDSM – more info below)
🩸big plot twist
🩸betrayals, second chance, forced proximity, passion
🩸amnesia
🩸morally grey characters...they definitely match their freak
"Just let me love you, in this moment, as if you were not you and I were not me." MY HEART
OKAY LISTEN. AdriAnne May (Strickland) is my favorite author and I'm so glad that this book IS SO FUCKING PERFECT. The first few pages were a bit too descriptive but after that, I was hooked until the end. There's something about her writing that just holds my entire soul captive even days after I'd finished the book. If you liked Beyond the Black Door or In the Ravenous Dark but want a more complex adult version, you're going to EAT THIS UP.
The world-building and story is beautifully complex compared to her previous YA books. Learning about the world (and gods) alongside the FMC (who has amnesia) is always genius as it doesn't overwhelm the reader AND it enriches the plot at the same time. We experience visiting the FMC's past and getting info out of the (unwilling) demon — so we get the best of both worlds.
The maze is an amazing setting as well. We don't spend the entire book looking at grass and hedges but travel UNDER – through caves and sooo many different settings each with their own challenges. The pacing is perfect because it alternates between the romance (and banter) and the labyrinth's challenges.
I absolutely adored the pull between "I hate you...but I don't want you to die so we're kinda allies but not really and I HATE YOU but, of course, I love you, you idiot, you're a beautiful BITCH and I'd burn the world down for you." My heart was torn and struggled alongside theirs. So... lovers to enemies to lovers to enemies to allies to enemies to friends to lovers to enemies to lovers... It's a RIDE. But it feels just right, makes sense, and didn't make me anxious!
The plot twist? HELLO? I had to put the book down because I was completely disoriented and had to replay the entire book in my brain to wrap my head around it. And yet, I didn't have a problem understanding, I only had to slow down and read it again to make sure all the pieces snap together (maybe I'm just not that smart 😄). It's utterly genius and if anyone says otherwise, they just don't think about our very own souls that much. (which is okay) This book is about self-discovery, forgiveness, and love on so many different levels.
Honorary mention to Pogli and Deos. ❤️ Also, I am obsessed with the name Sadaré.
❓Love triangle/Jealousy: No
❓HEA:
❓Cliff-hanger: )
– Rep: bisexual demon, non-binary god
Sexual scenes: CNC (), sado-masochism, degradation, primal play, choking, gagging, rope bondage, spanking, blood play, foot fetishization (), raw/unprotected sex – if you mind rough sex and pain I really don't recommend this book because the scenes are very intense (in a good way if you're into it).
Trigger Warnings: violence, gore/body horror, parental death (past, off-page), animal injury (not death), abduction/captivity, blood, self-harm for magical purposes (a lot), rape (past, when: ), domestic violence (FMC's parents), neglecting parents + kinks mentioned above
Are you ready for the ride from
"What did your mother fuck to make you so ugly?"
to:
"You are my home."
?
Thank you, AdriAnne May, for this eARC, you are my favorite person. I cannot wait to read book 2.
🩸monster romance: witch x demon (hooves, tail, horns)
🩸deadly labyrinth with mind of its own
🩸SPICE (explicit, BDSM – more info below)
🩸big plot twist
🩸betrayals, second chance, forced proximity, passion
🩸amnesia
🩸morally grey characters...they definitely match their freak
"Just let me love you, in this moment, as if you were not you and I were not me." MY HEART
OKAY LISTEN. AdriAnne May (Strickland) is my favorite author and I'm so glad that this book IS SO FUCKING PERFECT. The first few pages were a bit too descriptive but after that, I was hooked until the end. There's something about her writing that just holds my entire soul captive even days after I'd finished the book. If you liked Beyond the Black Door or In the Ravenous Dark but want a more complex adult version, you're going to EAT THIS UP.
The world-building and story is beautifully complex compared to her previous YA books. Learning about the world (and gods) alongside the FMC (who has amnesia) is always genius as it doesn't overwhelm the reader AND it enriches the plot at the same time. We experience visiting the FMC's past and getting info out of the (unwilling) demon — so we get the best of both worlds.
The maze is an amazing setting as well. We don't spend the entire book looking at grass and hedges but travel UNDER – through caves and sooo many different settings each with their own challenges. The pacing is perfect because it alternates between the romance (and banter) and the labyrinth's challenges.
I absolutely adored the pull between "I hate you...but I don't want you to die so we're kinda allies but not really and I HATE YOU but, of course, I love you, you idiot, you're a beautiful BITCH and I'd burn the world down for you." My heart was torn and struggled alongside theirs. So... lovers to enemies to lovers to enemies to allies to enemies to friends to lovers to enemies to lovers... It's a RIDE. But it feels just right, makes sense, and didn't make me anxious!
The plot twist? HELLO? I had to put the book down because I was completely disoriented and had to replay the entire book in my brain to wrap my head around it. And yet, I didn't have a problem understanding, I only had to slow down and read it again to make sure all the pieces snap together (maybe I'm just not that smart 😄). It's utterly genius and if anyone says otherwise, they just don't think about our very own souls that much. (which is okay) This book is about self-discovery, forgiveness, and love on so many different levels.
Honorary mention to Pogli and Deos. ❤️ Also, I am obsessed with the name Sadaré.
❓Love triangle/Jealousy: No
❓HEA:
❓Cliff-hanger: )
– Rep: bisexual demon, non-binary god
Sexual scenes: CNC (), sado-masochism, degradation, primal play, choking, gagging, rope bondage, spanking, blood play, foot fetishization (), raw/unprotected sex – if you mind rough sex and pain I really don't recommend this book because the scenes are very intense (in a good way if you're into it).
Trigger Warnings: violence, gore/body horror, parental death (past, off-page), animal injury (not death), abduction/captivity, blood, self-harm for magical purposes (a lot), rape (past, when: ), domestic violence (FMC's parents), neglecting parents + kinks mentioned above
Are you ready for the ride from
"What did your mother fuck to make you so ugly?"
to:
"You are my home."
?
Thank you, AdriAnne May, for this eARC, you are my favorite person. I cannot wait to read book 2.
tbr-2
November 6, 2025
Read
March 12, 2025DNF 50%
Ok I went back and finished because I have a problem. Still not for me lol
Ok I went back and finished because I have a problem. Still not for me lol
March 28, 2025
EEEEKKK! I was SO stinkin’ excited to get this physical arc in the mail last week!! I couldn’t wait to dive in! ⚔️ 🪄 🖤
A woman and a minotaur wake at the start of a mysterious maze. She has no memories, though he has most of his, except for why or how they ended up at the maze. He knows it is a trial, created as a challenge that they must both experience and survive together.
The entire story takes them deeper into the labyrinth of chaos and danger, all the while slowly revealing memories and piecing together a bigger picture as they search for the monster at the center that they must defeat. While the two recognize an underlying hatred for each other, there is also an undeniable deeper thread of desire that neither is able to deny. The deeper the maze brings them, the more treacherous the obstacles, most of all the danger of losing their hearts.
What a great tale with a VERY unexpected and refreshing twist at the end! Please check trigger warnings, as this is dark and spice level is 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.
A woman and a minotaur wake at the start of a mysterious maze. She has no memories, though he has most of his, except for why or how they ended up at the maze. He knows it is a trial, created as a challenge that they must both experience and survive together.
The entire story takes them deeper into the labyrinth of chaos and danger, all the while slowly revealing memories and piecing together a bigger picture as they search for the monster at the center that they must defeat. While the two recognize an underlying hatred for each other, there is also an undeniable deeper thread of desire that neither is able to deny. The deeper the maze brings them, the more treacherous the obstacles, most of all the danger of losing their hearts.
What a great tale with a VERY unexpected and refreshing twist at the end! Please check trigger warnings, as this is dark and spice level is 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️.
May 20, 2025
Firstly, I’m gonna need this Owlcrate cover tattooed on me and secondly imma need the next ebook in this series stat! This worked for me in so many ways and that TWIST?! I already want to reread and see everything I missed. Plus this audiobook narration was top tier.
That’s said, read the trigger warnings. Ariadne and the Minotaur get quite spicy 🥵
That’s said, read the trigger warnings. Ariadne and the Minotaur get quite spicy 🥵
May 20, 2025
I don't really know what this was but I know for sure that it wasn't good.
April 7, 2025
was SO excited for this one, as Ariadne and the Minotaur is one of my favorite mythological stories, but unfortunately it wasn’t my favorite.
right off the bat we’re launched into action when Sadare wakes up with no memories in the middle of a deadly labyrinth with a daemon from her past. her memory loss is supplemented with flashback chapters where we slowly learn about their relationship and how they got to present time. along the way there’s LOTS of back and forth- love, hate, love, betrayal, betrayal again, betrayal AGAIN to the point where it’s confusing. there’s also exploration into kink which was nice in a fantasy setting.
my main disappointments were in the pacing and the ending. the pacing felt all at once too “go go go” with 24/7 action while also somehow being very slow, in that the entire time they’re making their way through the labyrinth and trying to get close to one another only to betray them… again. the ending took a big turn, but not for the best? its was honestly just confusing and wasn’t the huge reveal i had expected from others’ reactions.
some things i loved about the book was how it drew from the original mythology, the setting and magic (greek mythology inspired + witches), the spice, and the banter. unfortunately the plot just wasn’t it for me.
i think this book will definitely find its place with the right type of reader, but sadly it wasn’t me. please remember to read content warnings going into this book!
right off the bat we’re launched into action when Sadare wakes up with no memories in the middle of a deadly labyrinth with a daemon from her past. her memory loss is supplemented with flashback chapters where we slowly learn about their relationship and how they got to present time. along the way there’s LOTS of back and forth- love, hate, love, betrayal, betrayal again, betrayal AGAIN to the point where it’s confusing. there’s also exploration into kink which was nice in a fantasy setting.
my main disappointments were in the pacing and the ending. the pacing felt all at once too “go go go” with 24/7 action while also somehow being very slow, in that the entire time they’re making their way through the labyrinth and trying to get close to one another only to betray them… again. the ending took a big turn, but not for the best? its was honestly just confusing and wasn’t the huge reveal i had expected from others’ reactions.
some things i loved about the book was how it drew from the original mythology, the setting and magic (greek mythology inspired + witches), the spice, and the banter. unfortunately the plot just wasn’t it for me.
i think this book will definitely find its place with the right type of reader, but sadly it wasn’t me. please remember to read content warnings going into this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 10, 2025
I received this book from the new Owlcrate romantasy sub and got to say it's bloody gorgeous. Based on the endpaper artwork and the fact it's a minotaur retelling I of course was moving it right up my TBR, in truth it skipped the queue entirely. When this begins it throws you straight into the confusion as Sadare wakes in the labyrinth without any of her memories but with a very angry Daemon who hates her for reasons currently unknown to her. Daesra makes no secret of his intense dislike of Sadare but informs her that the reason they are in this predicament is all of her doing and they need to reach the centre of this tangled nightmare of a maze together to fight the monster at its centre if they want any chance of escaping and surviving.
Sadare is a witch who assesses her power through pain and sacrifice and her history with Daesra is a complicated one which we gradually become aware of as they both traverse the labyrinth. I didn't find this that spicy despite the BDSM style elements and the majority of the encounters between these two were through flashback memories rather than in real time which didn't assist me in connecting and investing in them both as a couple.
I adored the premise but did find the execution and narration style quite hard to get along with. I didn't think it always was that coherent and it also felt somewhat repetitive in as such that the non-stop action felt like a rinse repeat and it began to get tedious. I persevered and at about thirty per cent it fortunately did get better for me.
I did find this imaginative and the core story was solid and felt fresh but I also found it hard to connect to either Sadare or Daesra maybe it was the lack of a deeper back story but I very much felt like an observer and wasn't invested in the romance portion of this. This was a problem because at its core it's a fantasy romance but I found myself very much detached.
There's a huge twist that caught me unaware but I'm not sure how I feel about it because I mostly found it confusing and somewhat ambiguous. It was clever I will grant you that but it then made it all overly complicated and I couldn't wrap my brain around the logistics, I do get the meaning and sentiment behind it though.
Throughout this, I thought this was going to be a two-star read for me but the final portion and the twist despite my ambivalent emotions dragged this up to a three-star. I probably won't read any more books in this series going forward as I don't think the narration style is a good fit for me but I still appreciated it for its uniqueness and how different it was.
Sadare is a witch who assesses her power through pain and sacrifice and her history with Daesra is a complicated one which we gradually become aware of as they both traverse the labyrinth. I didn't find this that spicy despite the BDSM style elements and the majority of the encounters between these two were through flashback memories rather than in real time which didn't assist me in connecting and investing in them both as a couple.
I adored the premise but did find the execution and narration style quite hard to get along with. I didn't think it always was that coherent and it also felt somewhat repetitive in as such that the non-stop action felt like a rinse repeat and it began to get tedious. I persevered and at about thirty per cent it fortunately did get better for me.
I did find this imaginative and the core story was solid and felt fresh but I also found it hard to connect to either Sadare or Daesra maybe it was the lack of a deeper back story but I very much felt like an observer and wasn't invested in the romance portion of this. This was a problem because at its core it's a fantasy romance but I found myself very much detached.
There's a huge twist that caught me unaware but I'm not sure how I feel about it because I mostly found it confusing and somewhat ambiguous. It was clever I will grant you that but it then made it all overly complicated and I couldn't wrap my brain around the logistics, I do get the meaning and sentiment behind it though.
Throughout this, I thought this was going to be a two-star read for me but the final portion and the twist despite my ambivalent emotions dragged this up to a three-star. I probably won't read any more books in this series going forward as I don't think the narration style is a good fit for me but I still appreciated it for its uniqueness and how different it was.
May 19, 2025
3.5. Satisfying ending but the banter just wasn’t quite there for me. Was still fun read tho!
May 20, 2025
This was a fun spicy book. Lots of banter. Losses of twists and turns.
June 1, 2025
Do me a favor, unwrite this <3 gave it two stars for the little dog friend she made along the way and that’s IT!
November 17, 2025
Fantasy isn’t my thing
July 10, 2025
This was like a fever dream.
March 27, 2025
This cover? Gorgeous!
The premise? Intriguing!
The story? Unique, dark, and spicy!
The execution? It just kinda fell flat.
I feel like this could have been really good if a lot of it was removed and it was turned into a novella. It isn’t a long book by any means but it felt like it dragged on and I never really got fully invested.
I did become a little more invested at around 50%. The twist at the end was wild and tbh I’m still pretty confused about it.
If you’re looking for a dark romantasy set in a maze with meddling gods, a demon, a cute chimera named Pogli, and some kinky spice, then maybe you should give this one a try!
Thanks to Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The premise? Intriguing!
The story? Unique, dark, and spicy!
The execution? It just kinda fell flat.
I feel like this could have been really good if a lot of it was removed and it was turned into a novella. It isn’t a long book by any means but it felt like it dragged on and I never really got fully invested.
I did become a little more invested at around 50%. The twist at the end was wild and tbh I’m still pretty confused about it.
If you’re looking for a dark romantasy set in a maze with meddling gods, a demon, a cute chimera named Pogli, and some kinky spice, then maybe you should give this one a try!
Thanks to Gallery Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review!
December 13, 2024
1 🌕🌑🌑🌑🌑
This book was a chore. If this wasn’t an arc I would have DNF’d it but I’ve been trying very hard to not dnf arcs so here we are.
The writing was slow, and often too much. I hated both the FMC and MMC almost as much as they hated each other. The world building was okay, I did enjoy some of the more intense scenes but overall this book is just.. kinda there. It’s an option but it’s not a very good one.
I wanted to love this one, hell I wanted to even LIKE this one. The premise sounded SO good but it just fell flat for me. I don’t know, maybe I’m just not a romantasy reader, cause if this is what romantasy is.. I don’t want it.
Thank you to NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was a chore. If this wasn’t an arc I would have DNF’d it but I’ve been trying very hard to not dnf arcs so here we are.
The writing was slow, and often too much. I hated both the FMC and MMC almost as much as they hated each other. The world building was okay, I did enjoy some of the more intense scenes but overall this book is just.. kinda there. It’s an option but it’s not a very good one.
I wanted to love this one, hell I wanted to even LIKE this one. The premise sounded SO good but it just fell flat for me. I don’t know, maybe I’m just not a romantasy reader, cause if this is what romantasy is.. I don’t want it.
Thank you to NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2025
You can find this review of Exquisite Ruin on my blog, Heart's Content!
A big shout out and thank you to the publisher and Coloured Pages Book Tours for including me in the book tour for Exquisite Ruin and providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
I think reading Exquisite Ruin was certainly an experience quite unlike any other. Books that truly pull you into its world and enthrall you with its words are always special and Exquisite Ruin is definitely a book that you can get lost into (ha!) rather swiftly.
The first perhaps… ten percent of the book was a bit slower on the pace. While the set up was unique and the two main characters were introduced within the first two pages, I found myself leaving and returning to the book a few times. But the moment we toe the ten percent (or a little above) mark, it’s quite the racing game. I only sensed a mild dip at around 70% in the pace but it soon evened out and took off again. It was rather exciting to see yourself keeping pace with the characters as they race against unpredictable dangers, disturbing monsters, maybe even their own past and feelings.
(FYI—for no reason at all—I think it’s important to share that this is the first time ever I’ve started a review by talking about the pace in the book)
The world building in this book has all the advantages it needs. The best way to introduce a world to readers is by making the main character someone who’s unaware of the world themselves. One of the most common strategies for world building is when the protagonist enters into a completely new world and learns the ins and outs along with the readers. The other—perhaps trickier—method is when the protagonist develops amnesia. It’s both a fantastic way to introduce the world and adds a wonderfully complex knot to unravel in the plot. It is, however, not as easy to write because it’s a slippery slope of puzzle pieces that, when they come together, have to fit perfectly because all of it links back to the plot.
The smart thing that the author has done with how the world unravels is create a very recognisable pattern for it. The intervals for it may be unpredictable but you’re always aware what’s going to happen once that particular pattern marker appears. The author also ensures you’re mostly aware of what is going to be revealed…. Until you’re not. (But that’s a story for a different paragraph)
Given how wonderfully similar some aspects of the story are—like the God hierarchy—it’s extremely simple to make sense of most of the rules that follow it. I found it rather easy to piece together the basic rules of the world rather early on in the book, which is always amazing to experience. So woot woot for that!
The plot of this story unravels like … I would say … maybe a little like the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. A lot of it initially has a certain tone of being discombobulating, before the picture begins to fill in. As the pieces start to fall into place, there’s more clarity and confusion in turns before the final puzzle piece gives us an answer that turns everything on its head. The primary plot point reveals itself wholly only at the end but the suspense of it all keeps you on your toes as you wonder where this is all going. What are they chasing? What’s chasing them? Who can be trusted? There are several such questions that plague the reader that keep us guessing and reading and racing with the characters.
I would say this book is more character driven than anything else. While, yes, the very visible setting of the labyrinth, the immediate dangers and hidden pasts seem to take center stage; to me it always felt like it was the characters and their stories that was what the book was truly focused on. I think for the longest time, as a reader I struggled to understand their motivations and decisions but I still always felt curious enough to continue.
✨Also, the banter. 🤌🏻✨
Loved the banter.
Swam in the banter.
Spread it on my toast and ate it whole.
I think the first 75%-80% of the book was very interesting, even with all its flaws, nicks and dents. But after that, when the true plot is revealed, I personally felt the story went down a very … mind-bending path that I’m still not sure how I feel about. I think the strange became stranger, the vague became vague-er and everything turns on its head. Until that moment everything we knew about the world—of sorts—fit in well with the plot; and then well I think it depends on the reader if it’s a hit or a miss on how they feel about how the book resolves itself. For me personally it was a bit of a miss. Unfortunately.
There are many themes in this book that can be hard for some so please check trigger warnings before reading! I’ve been metaphorically shifting my feet between a 3.5 start rating and one closer to a 4. So it’s dealer’s choice! Check out the blurb and that beautiful cover (that makes SO much sense!), and if you find them interesting, do dive into this magical adventure with lots of banter and thrill!
A big shout out and thank you to the publisher and Coloured Pages Book Tours for including me in the book tour for Exquisite Ruin and providing me with a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!
I think reading Exquisite Ruin was certainly an experience quite unlike any other. Books that truly pull you into its world and enthrall you with its words are always special and Exquisite Ruin is definitely a book that you can get lost into (ha!) rather swiftly.
The first perhaps… ten percent of the book was a bit slower on the pace. While the set up was unique and the two main characters were introduced within the first two pages, I found myself leaving and returning to the book a few times. But the moment we toe the ten percent (or a little above) mark, it’s quite the racing game. I only sensed a mild dip at around 70% in the pace but it soon evened out and took off again. It was rather exciting to see yourself keeping pace with the characters as they race against unpredictable dangers, disturbing monsters, maybe even their own past and feelings.
(FYI—for no reason at all—I think it’s important to share that this is the first time ever I’ve started a review by talking about the pace in the book)
The world building in this book has all the advantages it needs. The best way to introduce a world to readers is by making the main character someone who’s unaware of the world themselves. One of the most common strategies for world building is when the protagonist enters into a completely new world and learns the ins and outs along with the readers. The other—perhaps trickier—method is when the protagonist develops amnesia. It’s both a fantastic way to introduce the world and adds a wonderfully complex knot to unravel in the plot. It is, however, not as easy to write because it’s a slippery slope of puzzle pieces that, when they come together, have to fit perfectly because all of it links back to the plot.
The smart thing that the author has done with how the world unravels is create a very recognisable pattern for it. The intervals for it may be unpredictable but you’re always aware what’s going to happen once that particular pattern marker appears. The author also ensures you’re mostly aware of what is going to be revealed…. Until you’re not. (But that’s a story for a different paragraph)
Given how wonderfully similar some aspects of the story are—like the God hierarchy—it’s extremely simple to make sense of most of the rules that follow it. I found it rather easy to piece together the basic rules of the world rather early on in the book, which is always amazing to experience. So woot woot for that!
The plot of this story unravels like … I would say … maybe a little like the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. A lot of it initially has a certain tone of being discombobulating, before the picture begins to fill in. As the pieces start to fall into place, there’s more clarity and confusion in turns before the final puzzle piece gives us an answer that turns everything on its head. The primary plot point reveals itself wholly only at the end but the suspense of it all keeps you on your toes as you wonder where this is all going. What are they chasing? What’s chasing them? Who can be trusted? There are several such questions that plague the reader that keep us guessing and reading and racing with the characters.
I would say this book is more character driven than anything else. While, yes, the very visible setting of the labyrinth, the immediate dangers and hidden pasts seem to take center stage; to me it always felt like it was the characters and their stories that was what the book was truly focused on. I think for the longest time, as a reader I struggled to understand their motivations and decisions but I still always felt curious enough to continue.
✨Also, the banter. 🤌🏻✨
Loved the banter.
Swam in the banter.
Spread it on my toast and ate it whole.
I think the first 75%-80% of the book was very interesting, even with all its flaws, nicks and dents. But after that, when the true plot is revealed, I personally felt the story went down a very … mind-bending path that I’m still not sure how I feel about. I think the strange became stranger, the vague became vague-er and everything turns on its head. Until that moment everything we knew about the world—of sorts—fit in well with the plot; and then well I think it depends on the reader if it’s a hit or a miss on how they feel about how the book resolves itself. For me personally it was a bit of a miss. Unfortunately.
There are many themes in this book that can be hard for some so please check trigger warnings before reading! I’ve been metaphorically shifting my feet between a 3.5 start rating and one closer to a 4. So it’s dealer’s choice! Check out the blurb and that beautiful cover (that makes SO much sense!), and if you find them interesting, do dive into this magical adventure with lots of banter and thrill!
March 20, 2025
When Sadaré wakes up in the middle of a maze, the only thing she knows for certain is that Daesra hates her. But he claims they must work together to face the monster at the center of the maze, so the two engage in a deadly game of cat and mouse as they draw closer and closer to the horrors that await them. Slowly, Sadaré starts to regain her memories and realizes that there may be more to this quest than she ever imagined.
Exquisite Ruin by Adrianne May is a twisted, decadent dream of a book. As a fan of Greek mythology, I loved all the clever ways the author nodded to the original myth of Theseus and the Minatour. While Daesra was essentially both Thesus and the Minatour at once, Sadare was far from the helpless Aradine. I loved how the author included the red thread that guided Theseus out of the maze, the characters’ godly parentage, and even the origin of the Minatour. There were so many intricate details that heardled back to the original story while adding a modern twist; it was the perfect retelling.
What truly set this book apart were the characters. Both Sadare and Daesra were layered, complicated, and interesting to follow. Since they are really the only characters the readers get to know, the author spent her time fully developing them. And the romance…? Let’s just say you won’t be disappointed.
The one reason that I didn’t give this book a full five stars was the ending because it was WEIRD. Like really really weird. I loved where the story was going until the last 50 pages, but I would still highly recommend this novel (just be prepared to be taken by surprise).
Read if you like…
🪢Enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers to ????
🗡️A magic system based on pain and submission (tehe)
🩸BDSM in a fantasy setting with clear consent
🪢 Mythological retellings
🗡️Fast pacing with jaw-dropping twists
🩸Gods with hidden agendas
🪢A maze meant to devour you whole
🗡️Amnesia but it’s not annoying, I swear
🩸“Only I can hurt you” MMC
🪢“Let me make my betrayal up to you” FMC and MMC
🗡️A magic pug/lion/pig thing
🩸Touch him/her and you die (probably)
🪢Mental health representation
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
Exquisite Ruin by Adrianne May is a twisted, decadent dream of a book. As a fan of Greek mythology, I loved all the clever ways the author nodded to the original myth of Theseus and the Minatour. While Daesra was essentially both Thesus and the Minatour at once, Sadare was far from the helpless Aradine. I loved how the author included the red thread that guided Theseus out of the maze, the characters’ godly parentage, and even the origin of the Minatour. There were so many intricate details that heardled back to the original story while adding a modern twist; it was the perfect retelling.
What truly set this book apart were the characters. Both Sadare and Daesra were layered, complicated, and interesting to follow. Since they are really the only characters the readers get to know, the author spent her time fully developing them. And the romance…? Let’s just say you won’t be disappointed.
The one reason that I didn’t give this book a full five stars was the ending because it was WEIRD. Like really really weird. I loved where the story was going until the last 50 pages, but I would still highly recommend this novel (just be prepared to be taken by surprise).
Read if you like…
🪢Enemies to lovers to enemies to lovers to ????
🗡️A magic system based on pain and submission (tehe)
🩸BDSM in a fantasy setting with clear consent
🪢 Mythological retellings
🗡️Fast pacing with jaw-dropping twists
🩸Gods with hidden agendas
🪢A maze meant to devour you whole
🗡️Amnesia but it’s not annoying, I swear
🩸“Only I can hurt you” MMC
🪢“Let me make my betrayal up to you” FMC and MMC
🗡️A magic pug/lion/pig thing
🩸Touch him/her and you die (probably)
🪢Mental health representation
An ARC was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions remain my own.
April 1, 2025
Manacled styled story of the Minotaur, but make it The Labyrinth and Jareth is stuck in the maze with her and hates-to-love her, and they are both morally ambiguous.
Really, I'd rate this 3.5, but rounded up? I couldn't decide between the two. It took me a while to find my footing in this story, but I enjoyed it and the ending reveals were so well done?
✨ Themes ✨
Daemon x witch
She has amnesia
Adorable pug/pig/lion chimera animal companion
Stunning cover art
Mythology retelling
Dark but also somehow sweet?
Mind blowing plot twist reveals
Morally grey MCs
They hate to love and love to hate each other
Methinks the lady doth protest too much
Lovers to enemies to lovers to....
Forced proximity
Horned and hooved demon MMC
Magic is pain and pain is magic
Second chance romance
They would burn the world down for each other
Journey towards forgiveness and self discovery
Are we all monsters here?
Content: this book is heavy, definitely darker fantasy, kinks, violence, manipulation, deep betrayal, BDSM, ch*king, etc.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.
Really, I'd rate this 3.5, but rounded up? I couldn't decide between the two. It took me a while to find my footing in this story, but I enjoyed it and the ending reveals were so well done?
✨ Themes ✨
Daemon x witch
She has amnesia
Adorable pug/pig/lion chimera animal companion
Stunning cover art
Mythology retelling
Dark but also somehow sweet?
Mind blowing plot twist reveals
Morally grey MCs
They hate to love and love to hate each other
Methinks the lady doth protest too much
Lovers to enemies to lovers to....
Forced proximity
Horned and hooved demon MMC
Magic is pain and pain is magic
Second chance romance
They would burn the world down for each other
Journey towards forgiveness and self discovery
Are we all monsters here?
Content: this book is heavy, definitely darker fantasy, kinks, violence, manipulation, deep betrayal, BDSM, ch*king, etc.
Thank you to the publisher for sending me an advanced reader copy of this book. This review is voluntarily written and the thoughts and opinions contained in this review are my own.
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