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Ruinous Creatures: A Novel
For fans of One Dark Window and T. Kingfisher, comes a standalone romantasy debut about a woman who accidentally awakens the power to siphon magic from two phoenix skulls, binding her fate to a vengeful stranger and forcing them to navigate the devastating cost of their unbreakable bond.
In a sanctuary for magical creatures hidden deep within a valley, magic is born from the bones of extraordinary creatures. For generations, a privileged few have siphoned this magic by wearing the skulls of these creatures and wielding their power.
Adela spends her days meticulously preparing these skulls to be matched, ensuring the magic endures and the valley sustains. But when she discovers two phoenix skulls—creatures she had believed only legend—she can’t resist the pull of their dormant magic. Defying the warnings of her mentor, Adela awakens the skulls, unleashing a shockwave of power that throws the valley into chaos.
Meanwhile, determined novitiate Kian prepares for the upcoming matching ceremony, but harbors a he is only participating in order to destroy the magic of the skulls to avenge the death of his parents at the hands of this tradition of power.
As Adela and Kian’s fates intertwine in the matching hut, the connection between them grows deeper and the power of the phoenix skulls grows louder. An impulsive kiss seals their fate—to each other and each to one of the phoenix skull masks. As they grapple with the consequences of their powerful new magic, their fated connection becomes the key to either the valley’s salvation or its ultimate collapse.
In a sanctuary for magical creatures hidden deep within a valley, magic is born from the bones of extraordinary creatures. For generations, a privileged few have siphoned this magic by wearing the skulls of these creatures and wielding their power.
Adela spends her days meticulously preparing these skulls to be matched, ensuring the magic endures and the valley sustains. But when she discovers two phoenix skulls—creatures she had believed only legend—she can’t resist the pull of their dormant magic. Defying the warnings of her mentor, Adela awakens the skulls, unleashing a shockwave of power that throws the valley into chaos.
Meanwhile, determined novitiate Kian prepares for the upcoming matching ceremony, but harbors a he is only participating in order to destroy the magic of the skulls to avenge the death of his parents at the hands of this tradition of power.
As Adela and Kian’s fates intertwine in the matching hut, the connection between them grows deeper and the power of the phoenix skulls grows louder. An impulsive kiss seals their fate—to each other and each to one of the phoenix skull masks. As they grapple with the consequences of their powerful new magic, their fated connection becomes the key to either the valley’s salvation or its ultimate collapse.
384 pages, Hardcover
First published March 10, 2026
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May 1, 2026
——✮∙˙ 3 stars ⋆✴︎˚｡⋆
╰► 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!
✧ For those facing ruin, carrying the flame of hope. ✧
⋮ ✦┆in a hidden valley where magic is drawn from creature skulls, adela accidentally awakens two powerful phoenix skulls, unleashing chaos. she becomes bound to kian, a boy secretly seeking to destroy the system that killed his parents. as their fates and magic intertwine, their bond could either save the valley—or destroy it.
✧ genre: romantasy
✧ tropes: insta love ⋆ fated mates ⋆ he falls first
✧ setting: a hidden sanctuary where magic comes from the skulls of mystical creatures
◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦ ◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦
⋮ ✦┆this book was honestly kind of surprising. with how things were going within the first 80 pages, i wasn’t sure how i was going to rate this because i wasn’t too interested in it. however, as i kept reading, it definitely got much better. something i will say about this book is that i think it has more potential.
the magic system was fascinating, the characters were cool, and the role the creatures played, really made this book what it is. but, there was just something about the story that didn’t quite give me the experience i was looking for. i didn’t feel much excitement until maybe the end of the book—i felt that there weren’t many given opportunities for excitement to arise.
during this books final stages, i was hooked, just waiting to see what would happen. the ending was really beautiful in my opinion and i don’t think it could’ve ended any other way. it was bittersweet.
✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ adela ⋆｡°
⌞🦴⌝ ⋮ ✦┆adela’s role in this book is so much more than skull preparation. however, it shows how she values order and responsibility—while also placing her inside a system she doesn’t really question (at least not at first).
something i liked about adela was her curiosity. her reasoning for awakening the phoenix skulls was because she desired to connect with something greater.
then, as the story progresses, she slowly starts to realize that the magic system she once upheld may be deeply flawed. her character growth was interesting to read about!
✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ kian ⋆｡°
⌞🩸⌝ ⋮ ✦┆in this book, kian is driven by revenge and grief. opposite of adela, he’s questioned the valley’s system for the longest time (due to very good reason).
his bond with adela forces him into a tough spot because he’s torn between his desire to destroy the system and his growing connection and affection to someone tied to it.
so, i can definitely say that he’s a strong character and he has his own priorities/goals which may either cause destruction or justice.
✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ the relationship ⋆｡°💌
⌞🕊️⌝ ⋮ ✦┆now if you know me, i HATE insta-love with a passion! around 70 pages into the book, adela and kian are already screwing and i just didn’t love that at all. but as i kept reading, i realized that it’s sort of relevant to the plot.
although this may be, i do think the author could’ve let the tension between them build up before a certain thing was revealed—and then them having sex after that wouldn’t have been too bad.
i did like their relationship though because i feel like they sort of pushed each other to grow in some aspects of the story.
they were sweet, determined, and supportive of each other for the most part. they were…interesting, but definitely not my favorite couple to read about.
⋮ ✦┆i read this book in one sitting (which i haven’t done in such a long time), so i can say that it’s is pretty bingeable! the writing is easy to follow and i didn’t feel that there weren’t any gaps in the plot. so, i would maybe suggest this book if you’re in the mood for a creative world with many ruinous creatures!
ᯤ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ “For the first time since I joined the order, I finally understand their burning fervor to bow, scrape, and worship. But whereas their divine is the Huntress, mine is all thick white thighs, bouncing flesh, and primal joy. i have at last seen the true visage of the goddess, and her name, apparently, is Adela.”
ᯤ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ “Goddess, you are perfection. Let me worship at your altar.”
ᯤ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ “On the natural path of things, life is not destroyed. Like when a tree falls in the valley, it doesn’t just disappear. It decays. It falls apart to make room for its next stage, for new life.”
ᯤ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ “Not breakable. You can touch me. In face, I’d like it if you’d touch me.”
ᯤ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ “Goodbye. Until the after.”
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
ᝰ.ᐟ🐦🔥 ⌗ pre read┆started april 29 | finished april 29 ˎˊ˗
this is such a past due read… i have approximately 20 hours before i can’t access this anymore, so wish me luck guys 😭 this came out on march 10th 😬
˖᯽ ݁˖· ─ 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸
⟢ 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚: march 10
╰► 𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸!
✧ For those facing ruin, carrying the flame of hope. ✧
˗ˏˋ ꒰ ⓘ ꒱ ˎˊ˗ i. synopsis⋆˚꩜｡
⋮ ✦┆in a hidden valley where magic is drawn from creature skulls, adela accidentally awakens two powerful phoenix skulls, unleashing chaos. she becomes bound to kian, a boy secretly seeking to destroy the system that killed his parents. as their fates and magic intertwine, their bond could either save the valley—or destroy it.
✧ genre: romantasy
✧ tropes: insta love ⋆ fated mates ⋆ he falls first
✧ setting: a hidden sanctuary where magic comes from the skulls of mystical creatures
◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦ ◦◦,`°.✽✦✽.◦.✽✦✽.°`,◦◦
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ ii. my thoughts ⋆｡°💭
⋮ ✦┆this book was honestly kind of surprising. with how things were going within the first 80 pages, i wasn’t sure how i was going to rate this because i wasn’t too interested in it. however, as i kept reading, it definitely got much better. something i will say about this book is that i think it has more potential.
the magic system was fascinating, the characters were cool, and the role the creatures played, really made this book what it is. but, there was just something about the story that didn’t quite give me the experience i was looking for. i didn’t feel much excitement until maybe the end of the book—i felt that there weren’t many given opportunities for excitement to arise.
during this books final stages, i was hooked, just waiting to see what would happen. the ending was really beautiful in my opinion and i don’t think it could’ve ended any other way. it was bittersweet.
❝ Loving you is so much sweeter than any vengeance.❞
⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ iii. characters ⋆｡°🌷
✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ adela ⋆｡°
⌞🦴⌝ ⋮ ✦┆adela’s role in this book is so much more than skull preparation. however, it shows how she values order and responsibility—while also placing her inside a system she doesn’t really question (at least not at first).
something i liked about adela was her curiosity. her reasoning for awakening the phoenix skulls was because she desired to connect with something greater.
then, as the story progresses, she slowly starts to realize that the magic system she once upheld may be deeply flawed. her character growth was interesting to read about!
✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ kian ⋆｡°
⌞🩸⌝ ⋮ ✦┆in this book, kian is driven by revenge and grief. opposite of adela, he’s questioned the valley’s system for the longest time (due to very good reason).
his bond with adela forces him into a tough spot because he’s torn between his desire to destroy the system and his growing connection and affection to someone tied to it.
so, i can definitely say that he’s a strong character and he has his own priorities/goals which may either cause destruction or justice.
✧˚ ༘ ⋆｡˚ the relationship ⋆｡°💌
⌞🕊️⌝ ⋮ ✦┆now if you know me, i HATE insta-love with a passion! around 70 pages into the book, adela and kian are already screwing and i just didn’t love that at all. but as i kept reading, i realized that it’s sort of relevant to the plot.
although this may be, i do think the author could’ve let the tension between them build up before a certain thing was revealed—and then them having sex after that wouldn’t have been too bad.
i did like their relationship though because i feel like they sort of pushed each other to grow in some aspects of the story.
they were sweet, determined, and supportive of each other for the most part. they were…interesting, but definitely not my favorite couple to read about.
❝Oh, my love. I was never gone. Just away for a bit. We are two parts of a pair. I don’t think one can fully leave while the other survives.❞
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆ iv. overall ⋆｡°⌛️
⋮ ✦┆i read this book in one sitting (which i haven’t done in such a long time), so i can say that it’s is pretty bingeable! the writing is easy to follow and i didn’t feel that there weren’t any gaps in the plot. so, i would maybe suggest this book if you’re in the mood for a creative world with many ruinous creatures!
⋆✴︎˚｡⋆v. quotes i loved⋆｡° 𓂃🖊
ᯤ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ “For the first time since I joined the order, I finally understand their burning fervor to bow, scrape, and worship. But whereas their divine is the Huntress, mine is all thick white thighs, bouncing flesh, and primal joy. i have at last seen the true visage of the goddess, and her name, apparently, is Adela.”
ᯤ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ “Goddess, you are perfection. Let me worship at your altar.”
ᯤ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ “On the natural path of things, life is not destroyed. Like when a tree falls in the valley, it doesn’t just disappear. It decays. It falls apart to make room for its next stage, for new life.”
ᯤ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ “Not breakable. You can touch me. In face, I’d like it if you’d touch me.”
ᯤ ୭ ˚. ᵎᵎ “Goodbye. Until the after.”
── ⋆⋅𖤓⋅⋆ ──
ᝰ.ᐟ🐦🔥 ⌗ pre read┆started april 29 | finished april 29 ˎˊ˗
this is such a past due read… i have approximately 20 hours before i can’t access this anymore, so wish me luck guys 😭 this came out on march 10th 😬
˖᯽ ݁˖· ─ 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘵𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘤 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘹𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘦𝘸
⟢ 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙚: march 10
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
”Loving you is so much sweeter than any vengeance.”
i didn’t like anything about this book, but if i had to give it some credit it would be for the unique use of animal skulls and wearing them as a power source. the two main characters: Adela and Kian, were truly insufferable.. when we’re around page 60-70 and they’re already obsessed with each other, I’m definitely getting put off. the amount of sex and how early on it started had me rolling my eyes and skipping full on scenes, maybe focus on the dire situations around you instead of sex. the way this was written lacked emotion and felt like i was reading a textbook about the dragons and other characters. it’s a good thing this is a standalone but unfortunately it wasn’t a good one.
➬ thanks to NetGalley, the author and Atria books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
i didn’t like anything about this book, but if i had to give it some credit it would be for the unique use of animal skulls and wearing them as a power source. the two main characters: Adela and Kian, were truly insufferable.. when we’re around page 60-70 and they’re already obsessed with each other, I’m definitely getting put off. the amount of sex and how early on it started had me rolling my eyes and skipping full on scenes, maybe focus on the dire situations around you instead of sex. the way this was written lacked emotion and felt like i was reading a textbook about the dragons and other characters. it’s a good thing this is a standalone but unfortunately it wasn’t a good one.
➬ thanks to NetGalley, the author and Atria books for the arc, all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Gorgeously written, insanely unique, yearning to the max & a mysterious plot that is impossible to put down!
I devoured this book like I was hungry dragon. This was a spectacularly good time and unlike anything I’ve read before!
It’s filled with endless amounts of magical creatures, corrupt religious institutions, interesting magic, horny af main characters linked through a magical bond.
I will be reading anything this author writes from now on.
5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Atria for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
I devoured this book like I was hungry dragon. This was a spectacularly good time and unlike anything I’ve read before!
It’s filled with endless amounts of magical creatures, corrupt religious institutions, interesting magic, horny af main characters linked through a magical bond.
I will be reading anything this author writes from now on.
5⭐️| IG | TikTok |
Thank you Atria for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.
April 17, 2026
Meh. The story kept me interested just enough to finish.
May 6, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5 stars)
Ruinous Creatures had one of the most unique fantasy concepts I’ve read in a while. A magic system built around mystical creature skulls? Phoenix skulls awakening ancient power? Yeah, I was immediately interested.
The atmosphere and worldbuilding were definitely the strongest parts for me. The valley, the magical creatures, and the connection between magic and bones created such an eerie, fascinating setting. I also really appreciated that the main characters were older than the typical romantasy protagonists.
That said, I struggled a bit with the romance. I’m personally not a fan of insta-love, and Adela and Kian’s relationship developed so quickly that it made it hard for me to fully connect with them emotionally. I would’ve loved more buildup and tension before the romance escalated.
Still, the story became much more engaging toward the second half, and I ended up especially enjoying the ending. Overall, while this wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I think readers looking for a unique standalone romantasy with creative magic and fated-bond elements will enjoy it.
Tropes & Vibes
💫fated mates
💫 magical bond
💫 magical creatures
💫 unique bone/skull magic system
💫forbidden connection
💫 he falls first
💫 insta-love
💫 standalone romantasy
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for the ARC! All thoughts are my own 💫
Ruinous Creatures had one of the most unique fantasy concepts I’ve read in a while. A magic system built around mystical creature skulls? Phoenix skulls awakening ancient power? Yeah, I was immediately interested.
The atmosphere and worldbuilding were definitely the strongest parts for me. The valley, the magical creatures, and the connection between magic and bones created such an eerie, fascinating setting. I also really appreciated that the main characters were older than the typical romantasy protagonists.
That said, I struggled a bit with the romance. I’m personally not a fan of insta-love, and Adela and Kian’s relationship developed so quickly that it made it hard for me to fully connect with them emotionally. I would’ve loved more buildup and tension before the romance escalated.
Still, the story became much more engaging toward the second half, and I ended up especially enjoying the ending. Overall, while this wasn’t a perfect fit for me, I think readers looking for a unique standalone romantasy with creative magic and fated-bond elements will enjoy it.
Tropes & Vibes
💫fated mates
💫 magical bond
💫 magical creatures
💫 unique bone/skull magic system
💫forbidden connection
💫 he falls first
💫 insta-love
💫 standalone romantasy
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and the author for the ARC! All thoughts are my own 💫
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The cover of this book is beautiful, but the story was… okay. There were elements that felt unique and intriguing. The connection between the skulls and magic was especially interesting, and I appreciated that the characters weren’t in their early 20s. It was refreshing to see older protagonists.
That said, their relationship felt a bit lackluster. At times, I would forget they were older because they were written in a way that made them feel much younger. I felt torn while writing this review because there were definitely promising moments, but other times it just felt a little “meh.”
Overall, I didn’t hate it, but I wasn’t in love with it either. I give it a 3.5 ⭐ rating.
* I want to thank Netgalley, Atria Books, and Jessi Cole Jackson for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. *
That said, their relationship felt a bit lackluster. At times, I would forget they were older because they were written in a way that made them feel much younger. I felt torn while writing this review because there were definitely promising moments, but other times it just felt a little “meh.”
Overall, I didn’t hate it, but I wasn’t in love with it either. I give it a 3.5 ⭐ rating.
* I want to thank Netgalley, Atria Books, and Jessi Cole Jackson for the ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. *
December 15, 2025
I reaaaaally liked the first couple of chapters, it was interesting learning what the FMCs job was, the unique magic system and bonding with the skulls, the mythical creatures and how her village is run. This book was genuinely on its way to being one of my favourite Romantacy reads of the year..
Then things went downhill with the introduction of the MMC. I found his POV chapters to be annoying to read, and the insta
-love / obsession… the characters hook up and develop feelings the first time they meet..there’s no build up, slow burn tension, yearning, just immediate sex which is a big turn off in books. And the plot quickly switched focus to their relationship and away from the actually world building and magic system and turned into a smut book.
All I have to say is this book had vast potential with the unique plot and was ruined by the terrible chemistry and romance timing. I quickly lost interest After that
Then things went downhill with the introduction of the MMC. I found his POV chapters to be annoying to read, and the insta
-love / obsession… the characters hook up and develop feelings the first time they meet..there’s no build up, slow burn tension, yearning, just immediate sex which is a big turn off in books. And the plot quickly switched focus to their relationship and away from the actually world building and magic system and turned into a smut book.
All I have to say is this book had vast potential with the unique plot and was ruined by the terrible chemistry and romance timing. I quickly lost interest After that
October 10, 2025
This standalone, debut fantasy is really unique and is probably a 3.75 star read for me. The magic system is different than anything I’ve read before, it has a ceremony where magical creatures and their powers get matched to humans that can then wield them when they wear the creature’s skull. I loved reading about how the creature still has their own essence and emotions and it was written in a way that conveyed it beautifully. This was really fast paced, I flew through it! I LOVED that it was a standalone that actually wrapped up nicely without feeling really rushed.
All of that being said, I do have a few critiques. The characters are supposed to be in their 30s but their actions/words make them seem like they’re in their early 20s. Kian and Adela also talk about being in love very quickly after like the first encounter, and we don’t really see them building up to that emotion outside of them sleeping with each other. The POVs don’t give them each a distinct voice, because when I was reading Kian’s POV, I doubted whose POV I was in based on wording choices. I was absolutely able to look past all of that because I did enjoy the story and where it was going!
If you’re looking for a unique magic system, a fast paced plot, and a standalone that wraps up nicely, I do recommend!
~I received this eARC free from NetGalley. Thank you to Atria and Jessi Cole Jackson! My opinions are my own and voluntarily given~
All of that being said, I do have a few critiques. The characters are supposed to be in their 30s but their actions/words make them seem like they’re in their early 20s. Kian and Adela also talk about being in love very quickly after like the first encounter, and we don’t really see them building up to that emotion outside of them sleeping with each other. The POVs don’t give them each a distinct voice, because when I was reading Kian’s POV, I doubted whose POV I was in based on wording choices. I was absolutely able to look past all of that because I did enjoy the story and where it was going!
If you’re looking for a unique magic system, a fast paced plot, and a standalone that wraps up nicely, I do recommend!
~I received this eARC free from NetGalley. Thank you to Atria and Jessi Cole Jackson! My opinions are my own and voluntarily given~
January 24, 2026
thank you to netgalley and the publishers for an arc in exchange for an honest review.
this wasn't bad at all per say, but just felt a little lackluster to me.
i definitely think the author had more potential with building the world and i really enjoyed the magic and bones of it all, but definitely wish it had built more around this.
the romance itself did not truly feel like romance in a way. it felt like they met, hooked up, and then just kept the awkwardness and weirdness the whole time. i don't mind insta-lust even if my preferred is slowburn, but i don't know. the love just felt two-dimensional mostly.
this wasn't bad at all per say, but just felt a little lackluster to me.
i definitely think the author had more potential with building the world and i really enjoyed the magic and bones of it all, but definitely wish it had built more around this.
the romance itself did not truly feel like romance in a way. it felt like they met, hooked up, and then just kept the awkwardness and weirdness the whole time. i don't mind insta-lust even if my preferred is slowburn, but i don't know. the love just felt two-dimensional mostly.
January 15, 2026
3.5 Stars
✨✨✨Fun & unique!!! ✨✨✨
The gorgeous cover of the book caught my eye instantly and the summary definitely had me intrigued! I knew I HAD to read this one and I’m glad I did!
Ruinous Creatures started off SO darn INCREDIBLE! I absolutely loved the unique magic system and the mythical creatures!! The whole magical powers through the skulls of dead creatures (which they wear) is definitely the kind of vibe I’m into. It’s just such a fun and different book!!!!
That being said I do wish the world
building and magical system was built up a bit more. Especially because it’s such a cool and interesting concept! I liked the MCs well enough but it was a bit of insta love, which isn’t my favorite. I also didn’t like that the MC’s are in their 30s but acted way younger. I just feel like the writing was confused on if this is a YA or adult novel, it was kind of an odd mix. Also, about halfway through it did kind of drag for a bit before it picked back up.
This wasn’t a perfect book for me, but I’m so glad I read it because it was an enjoyable and unique one!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released March 10, 2026.
✨✨✨Fun & unique!!! ✨✨✨
The gorgeous cover of the book caught my eye instantly and the summary definitely had me intrigued! I knew I HAD to read this one and I’m glad I did!
Ruinous Creatures started off SO darn INCREDIBLE! I absolutely loved the unique magic system and the mythical creatures!! The whole magical powers through the skulls of dead creatures (which they wear) is definitely the kind of vibe I’m into. It’s just such a fun and different book!!!!
That being said I do wish the world
building and magical system was built up a bit more. Especially because it’s such a cool and interesting concept! I liked the MCs well enough but it was a bit of insta love, which isn’t my favorite. I also didn’t like that the MC’s are in their 30s but acted way younger. I just feel like the writing was confused on if this is a YA or adult novel, it was kind of an odd mix. Also, about halfway through it did kind of drag for a bit before it picked back up.
This wasn’t a perfect book for me, but I’m so glad I read it because it was an enjoyable and unique one!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a free ebook copy in exchange for an honest review. This book is expected to be released March 10, 2026.
September 10, 2025
This was a great mix of spice and plot. I also love that it was a standalone, sometimes it’s really satisfying to have a story be tied up in a neat little bow by the end of one book. This story is unbelievably unique, magic creatures, a society and religion based around them. It was so interesting and well done. Thanks to Netgalley the author and the publisher for the advance copy!
October 27, 2025
Ok, I have simmered in my thoughts long enough. I'm glad I did. This might be my longest ARC review. As always special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for this eARC, despite my 3 star review I REALLY enjoyed this book. The review has got nuance, I promise.
To start, the reason I needed to simmer in my thoughts. I finished this book and found myself quite disappointed. I was leaning in my head a 3.5 star review, but then I went to Goodreads to leave my review and got curious why other people roughly had my same review level. I saw many people commenting that this was the author's debut novel. GURL. THIS AUTHOR HAS PROMISE. I am not exaggerating when I say I cannot wait to see what Jessi Cole Jackson does next. This is a 4-4.5-star debut novel. I stand by my 3.5 stars overall, but based on the quality of the writing (no I don't count typos that are in every ARC, those will get cleaned up) and ideas she has, I am so eager to see where her writing journey takes us next.
I'm not going to get heavily into plot explanation because I want to leave a review that's constructive and targeted at the author on what I think she could improve. So I'm going to jump right in on what I wish was more thought through (hence SPOILERS from this point on).
The magic system in this book was SO unique, but SO underdevelopment. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think this book would have served better either 200 pages longer or as a duology. We didn't even get to USING magic until like 75% through the book. She left so much meat on the bones. I was feral for more of this world. Specifically, I wanted more time with what each of the skulls granted their users. I think side characters weren't utilized enough, especially those with magic. We really only fully understood what the phoenix and dragon skulls could do (despite Sarai's Unicorn mask being able to create a barrier, I wasn't entirely sure what else it could do). There was brief dabbling with the gythrash skulls but beyond their uses in death ceremonies, I didn't really understand what the magic itself was. I wish there were battles or showdowns that pitted magic against magic and situations where actual SKILL came into play. Even in the final showdown, it felt like almost no one used their magic despite there being dozens of masked priests/priestesses in the dungeon.
Speaking of priests/priestesses...THERE WERE TWO WHOLE OTHER ORDERS. What did they do? Why didn't we meet characters from them? Who did they pray to? (If I recall they pray to someone other than the Huntress, but I might be misremembering that). We could have had whole books devoted to the other orders. There could have been conflict between the orders/backstabbing. I so badly wanted to understand the distinctions between the three orders, but we never really got there. I was also confused on location...I had thought the other two orders were in different cities, but then we learn that the temples are actually connected by long abandoned tunnels...so is there only one city in this world? For as well developed as I thought The Valley was, the rest of the world was woefully underdeveloped. I think the book could also have used a map.
Another gripe. The mother. There needed to be more payoff for the long abandoned mother. She's mentioned often enough that it felt like a loose thread as opposed to a conscience decision. The book would have had no meaningful change if she was completely cut from the narrative. I think there could have been an incredible twist if her mother was the high priestess or one of Aunt Ujvala's smugglers or something totally out of left field like that.
Also, why have Cecelia show us the images of keepers and high priests/priestesses working together with the phoenix masks if Adela and Kian were just going to toss the masks in the ashes at the end. I thought this was leading to Adela and Kian leading together with the phoenix masks towards a better future for everyone, but then they immediately get rid of the masks, so what's the point of that imagery?
Tying into my last paragraph, I think we just needed more history and lore. Why did Bartholomew have the two phoenix masks to begin with? Why have the priestesses begin hoarding skulls for hundreds of years, what caused the shift? If all three orders are in on it, why is the Huntress order so much wealthier? What about the actual goddess? I expected at some point we'd see some sort of actual manifestation of the goddess, but that never really came. We just had to assume the magic came from her? What about other gods and goddesses? Again, I needed like 200 more pages of backstory.
Basically everything else about this book that I didn't mention above, I loved. I thought Kian and Adela had incredible chemistry. The spice was SPICY. I loved that we had a curvy FMC and a MMC that could not get enough of said curves. I already mentioned how unique I found the magic system. I loved just about all the scenes in the Valley (although one last gripe, what happened to the second dragon that disappear...that is also just left dangling). Other than being too face paced towards the end, I thought it was really good, especially for a debut author.
To start, the reason I needed to simmer in my thoughts. I finished this book and found myself quite disappointed. I was leaning in my head a 3.5 star review, but then I went to Goodreads to leave my review and got curious why other people roughly had my same review level. I saw many people commenting that this was the author's debut novel. GURL. THIS AUTHOR HAS PROMISE. I am not exaggerating when I say I cannot wait to see what Jessi Cole Jackson does next. This is a 4-4.5-star debut novel. I stand by my 3.5 stars overall, but based on the quality of the writing (no I don't count typos that are in every ARC, those will get cleaned up) and ideas she has, I am so eager to see where her writing journey takes us next.
I'm not going to get heavily into plot explanation because I want to leave a review that's constructive and targeted at the author on what I think she could improve. So I'm going to jump right in on what I wish was more thought through (hence SPOILERS from this point on).
The magic system in this book was SO unique, but SO underdevelopment. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think this book would have served better either 200 pages longer or as a duology. We didn't even get to USING magic until like 75% through the book. She left so much meat on the bones. I was feral for more of this world. Specifically, I wanted more time with what each of the skulls granted their users. I think side characters weren't utilized enough, especially those with magic. We really only fully understood what the phoenix and dragon skulls could do (despite Sarai's Unicorn mask being able to create a barrier, I wasn't entirely sure what else it could do). There was brief dabbling with the gythrash skulls but beyond their uses in death ceremonies, I didn't really understand what the magic itself was. I wish there were battles or showdowns that pitted magic against magic and situations where actual SKILL came into play. Even in the final showdown, it felt like almost no one used their magic despite there being dozens of masked priests/priestesses in the dungeon.
Speaking of priests/priestesses...THERE WERE TWO WHOLE OTHER ORDERS. What did they do? Why didn't we meet characters from them? Who did they pray to? (If I recall they pray to someone other than the Huntress, but I might be misremembering that). We could have had whole books devoted to the other orders. There could have been conflict between the orders/backstabbing. I so badly wanted to understand the distinctions between the three orders, but we never really got there. I was also confused on location...I had thought the other two orders were in different cities, but then we learn that the temples are actually connected by long abandoned tunnels...so is there only one city in this world? For as well developed as I thought The Valley was, the rest of the world was woefully underdeveloped. I think the book could also have used a map.
Another gripe. The mother. There needed to be more payoff for the long abandoned mother. She's mentioned often enough that it felt like a loose thread as opposed to a conscience decision. The book would have had no meaningful change if she was completely cut from the narrative. I think there could have been an incredible twist if her mother was the high priestess or one of Aunt Ujvala's smugglers or something totally out of left field like that.
Also, why have Cecelia show us the images of keepers and high priests/priestesses working together with the phoenix masks if Adela and Kian were just going to toss the masks in the ashes at the end. I thought this was leading to Adela and Kian leading together with the phoenix masks towards a better future for everyone, but then they immediately get rid of the masks, so what's the point of that imagery?
Tying into my last paragraph, I think we just needed more history and lore. Why did Bartholomew have the two phoenix masks to begin with? Why have the priestesses begin hoarding skulls for hundreds of years, what caused the shift? If all three orders are in on it, why is the Huntress order so much wealthier? What about the actual goddess? I expected at some point we'd see some sort of actual manifestation of the goddess, but that never really came. We just had to assume the magic came from her? What about other gods and goddesses? Again, I needed like 200 more pages of backstory.
Basically everything else about this book that I didn't mention above, I loved. I thought Kian and Adela had incredible chemistry. The spice was SPICY. I loved that we had a curvy FMC and a MMC that could not get enough of said curves. I already mentioned how unique I found the magic system. I loved just about all the scenes in the Valley (although one last gripe, what happened to the second dragon that disappear...that is also just left dangling). Other than being too face paced towards the end, I thought it was really good, especially for a debut author.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The idea of using the bones of magical creatures had me really excited for a unique read. The execution wasn't a fit for me. I may have enjoyed it more as a novella, but then again maybe not.
I did not feel any connection with the main characters. They both felt pretty dull and insufferable. I also felt like the synopsis gives too much away. I felt like nothing new was being uncovered for the first 30% and by then I was already losing interest.
I did not feel any connection with the main characters. They both felt pretty dull and insufferable. I also felt like the synopsis gives too much away. I felt like nothing new was being uncovered for the first 30% and by then I was already losing interest.
April 26, 2026
This magic system! So inventive and fascinating and just down right COOL!
This relationship though? Woefully underwhelming.
In this book, creature skulls are cared for and matched to students of different guilds because their skulls have magic. Dragon skulls give the users power over fire, unicorn skulls give emotion manipulation, and so forth. So freaking neat!
FMC is initially an apprentice matcher who ends up entering the role sooner than expected. In her first ceremony, she meets a striking initiate that turns out to have his own agenda. They start off with a fiery passion and then just stay at that level for the rest of the book. Development, where?
So world building here, ending main conflict resolution, and general story was excellent. That romance though? Not my favorite. I understand that their creature skulls may have a strong influence in their dynamic, but that still wasn't enough for me.
Overall I appreciate and commend this debut standalone fantasy! The motivations were compelling, the magic was cool, and I would recommend this, but I can't say this was perfect.
This relationship though? Woefully underwhelming.
In this book, creature skulls are cared for and matched to students of different guilds because their skulls have magic. Dragon skulls give the users power over fire, unicorn skulls give emotion manipulation, and so forth. So freaking neat!
FMC is initially an apprentice matcher who ends up entering the role sooner than expected. In her first ceremony, she meets a striking initiate that turns out to have his own agenda. They start off with a fiery passion and then just stay at that level for the rest of the book. Development, where?
So world building here, ending main conflict resolution, and general story was excellent. That romance though? Not my favorite. I understand that their creature skulls may have a strong influence in their dynamic, but that still wasn't enough for me.
Overall I appreciate and commend this debut standalone fantasy! The motivations were compelling, the magic was cool, and I would recommend this, but I can't say this was perfect.
March 17, 2026
2.25⭐️ i only stayed in this for the unicorns tbh
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes/themes:
✨instalust & fated mates in a sense
✨magic comes from magical creature skulls
✨isolated magical village
✨secret revenge/betrayal
So…this just wasn’t the book I thought it was going to be. The unique magic in here had such promise, but I just felt like the execution of this story was all over the place and almost didn’t make sense in some of the details at times. I did enjoy the magical creatures tho just bc I love them.
The romance was wayyyyy more smutty than I thought and the instalust was way outside my normal preference. I agree with other reviews that say these main characters act like horny bumbling teenagers rather than 30+ individuals. The dialogue physically cringed me out from their very first meeting.
Overall just don’t think this was for me and I think the ODW comp title is a bit innacurate as someone who loved that duology and was sold on this story by the comparison.
Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the physical/e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Tropes/themes:
✨instalust & fated mates in a sense
✨magic comes from magical creature skulls
✨isolated magical village
✨secret revenge/betrayal
So…this just wasn’t the book I thought it was going to be. The unique magic in here had such promise, but I just felt like the execution of this story was all over the place and almost didn’t make sense in some of the details at times. I did enjoy the magical creatures tho just bc I love them.
The romance was wayyyyy more smutty than I thought and the instalust was way outside my normal preference. I agree with other reviews that say these main characters act like horny bumbling teenagers rather than 30+ individuals. The dialogue physically cringed me out from their very first meeting.
Overall just don’t think this was for me and I think the ODW comp title is a bit innacurate as someone who loved that duology and was sold on this story by the comparison.
Thank you to Atria and Netgalley for the physical/e-ARC. All opinions are my own.
March 11, 2026
The concept in this one was really interesting. Magic tied to the skulls of magical creatures felt unique, and I enjoyed exploring the world built around that idea. I also appreciated that this is a standalone romantasy and it’s always nice to get a full story wrapped up in one book. And the cover is absolutely beautiful.
The romance didn’t fully work for me, though. I’m not a big fan of insta-love or heavy miscommunication, and both played a pretty big role here, which made the relationship a little harder for me to connect with.
Overall, this was still an entertaining read with some cool ideas, even if it didn’t completely win me over.
Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
The romance didn’t fully work for me, though. I’m not a big fan of insta-love or heavy miscommunication, and both played a pretty big role here, which made the relationship a little harder for me to connect with.
Overall, this was still an entertaining read with some cool ideas, even if it didn’t completely win me over.
Thank you to Atria Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
September 23, 2025
Ruinous Creatures is a standalone debut fantasy novel from promising author Jessi Cole Jackson.
I’m torn in my feelings on this because I do feel like I got edged but at the same time the world and ideas that the author had really did grab my attention. Maybe that’s why I feel so sad about it because it had SO much amazing potential. The world building and plot setup was incredible.
The magic system is one of the most unique that I have read in such a long time where the characters obtain their magical powers through the skulls of deceased creatures. They wear these skulls on their heads 24/7. The valley houses a community of people who revere the mythical creatures who also live within the protective wards. Every so often the valley hosts a matching ceremony where (literally only one person in the entire valley) a matcher is able to match the skulls with the eager order members. The skulls choose the candidates. If an order member matches with a dragon skull they have the power of dragon fire. If a unicorn skull matches, they have the power of altering emotions…and so on and so forth.
Super cool. Super unique. And I was SUPER into this. However we only get to skim the very surface of this magic system. We only hear of a few powers, and only a few characters can really even wield anything of use. The two main characters barely discover a portion of their abilities at the 70% mark of the story. In fact, when I truly think about it, the magic they all possess is actually irrelevant to the story. Them being two halves of a whole - the destruction and the healing is such an intriguing premise and I really wish we got to see more of all they could do as a pair. I do love the ideas of what everything could have been.
Despite the fact the main characters are in their 30s they really are quite juvenile for a majority of the book. I kept picturing 18 year olds. But I do really love the character growth that we get in the end.
Ultimately what didn’t work for me was that I was left wanting so much more from this awesome world. I never say this, but the whole time I was reading this all I could think about was the fact this REALLY shouldn’t have been a standalone. A duology or trilogy would have suited the world so much better.
By the time the nuances of the magic system and plotline were established, we were at the 50% mark in the story. I was like woah woah woah how are we wrapping all of this up in such a small amount of time?
And the story definitely does get wrapped up, it does have a complete story but it happens so easily and abruptly, I was just left wishing I got to see more after spending the time learning about this magical little bubble so expertly crafted by the author.
That being said, I will definitely check out works from the author in the future.
Quick facts:
- main characters in 30s
- unique magic system
- mythical creatures
- multiple open door spice scenes
- trigger warning: death of creatures & animals (that hurt!)
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the eARC.
I’m torn in my feelings on this because I do feel like I got edged but at the same time the world and ideas that the author had really did grab my attention. Maybe that’s why I feel so sad about it because it had SO much amazing potential. The world building and plot setup was incredible.
The magic system is one of the most unique that I have read in such a long time where the characters obtain their magical powers through the skulls of deceased creatures. They wear these skulls on their heads 24/7. The valley houses a community of people who revere the mythical creatures who also live within the protective wards. Every so often the valley hosts a matching ceremony where (literally only one person in the entire valley) a matcher is able to match the skulls with the eager order members. The skulls choose the candidates. If an order member matches with a dragon skull they have the power of dragon fire. If a unicorn skull matches, they have the power of altering emotions…and so on and so forth.
Super cool. Super unique. And I was SUPER into this. However we only get to skim the very surface of this magic system. We only hear of a few powers, and only a few characters can really even wield anything of use. The two main characters barely discover a portion of their abilities at the 70% mark of the story. In fact, when I truly think about it, the magic they all possess is actually irrelevant to the story. Them being two halves of a whole - the destruction and the healing is such an intriguing premise and I really wish we got to see more of all they could do as a pair. I do love the ideas of what everything could have been.
Despite the fact the main characters are in their 30s they really are quite juvenile for a majority of the book. I kept picturing 18 year olds. But I do really love the character growth that we get in the end.
Ultimately what didn’t work for me was that I was left wanting so much more from this awesome world. I never say this, but the whole time I was reading this all I could think about was the fact this REALLY shouldn’t have been a standalone. A duology or trilogy would have suited the world so much better.
By the time the nuances of the magic system and plotline were established, we were at the 50% mark in the story. I was like woah woah woah how are we wrapping all of this up in such a small amount of time?
And the story definitely does get wrapped up, it does have a complete story but it happens so easily and abruptly, I was just left wishing I got to see more after spending the time learning about this magical little bubble so expertly crafted by the author.
That being said, I will definitely check out works from the author in the future.
Quick facts:
- main characters in 30s
- unique magic system
- mythical creatures
- multiple open door spice scenes
- trigger warning: death of creatures & animals (that hurt!)
Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for the eARC.
Read
September 29, 2025dnf @ 34%
i cringed once. twice. twenty times within pages and couldn’t do it anymore.
i cringed once. twice. twenty times within pages and couldn’t do it anymore.
September 19, 2025
4.5 rounded up to 5. This is a standalone romantasy that can be read without worrying about getting sucked into a long series that you'll have to wait for a sequel for. I appreciate a good standalone. The best part of the book is that this premise feels very fresh. The details and worldbuilding are lush. There's never a moment where you feel like you know what's going to happen and you're merely grinding away until it's revealed that you're right. Instead, I have no idea what's going to happen and I keep turning the pages to find out. So the pacing, premise and worldbuilding are very well done. So well done that I can't immediately reach through my mind and put down a 'if you liked this you'll love this' reference to something very similar. What's less well-done is the romance. The two characters are never given a reason to be with each other. They've been magically matched. They find each other attractive; nice. But it's insta-love. We don't have a reason why this person is the person the other has been waiting for. There's a lot of open-bedroom scenes. Very spicy. But it's just sex if you don't have a nice romance behind it, so I didn't really enjoy that part very much. All in all it's a solid debut. It's rare for a first book to have such solid worldbuilding. Romance is hard. I'm sure that will get better with more books and I'll be watching to see what this author does next. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC.
March 25, 2026
3.5 rounded up to 4.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Ruinous Creatures. I absolutely loved the world and the plot of this book. I loved that it was a stand alone fantasy. I loved the pacing. I just really really did not like the FMC or MMC or their relationship or any time they talked to each other or thought about the other. It was basically instant love with a dash of fated mates troupe and spice that made me cringe. But if you can get past the spice and insta love, I'm all for the side characters and beasts. I do wish that I could experience this world! I want to know which fantastical animal I would match with.
Thank you NetGalley for the eARC of Ruinous Creatures. I absolutely loved the world and the plot of this book. I loved that it was a stand alone fantasy. I loved the pacing. I just really really did not like the FMC or MMC or their relationship or any time they talked to each other or thought about the other. It was basically instant love with a dash of fated mates troupe and spice that made me cringe. But if you can get past the spice and insta love, I'm all for the side characters and beasts. I do wish that I could experience this world! I want to know which fantastical animal I would match with.
September 18, 2025
This is another example of great idea, but slightly lackluster execution.
This really did have such a unique and cool premise that really interested me. This has skull magic and spooky secrets.
This is also a fated mates situation, but I really didn't love how it was done. It felt very insta-love/insta-lust. It was a bit too spicy too fast, it felt rushed and forced. I didn't really care for the romance because of that. And the romance is really the focus of this book.
I just really wanted more from this. I also didn't love the writing style. It felt a little young, in an unpolished way. The writing was more telling than showing and I find that can feel choppy and repetitive. It also makes me think that the author doesn't trust me to put things together on my own, if you imply something by showing me something, I can figure it out.
I'm sure plenty of people that aren't as picky as I am will enjoy this, it is really atmospheric and vibey. I just really like to see more character development and worldbuilding, maybe if this wasn't a stand-alone it would read the way I prefer. I don't know, just a theory. Maybe it being a single book is why it felt rushed.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
This really did have such a unique and cool premise that really interested me. This has skull magic and spooky secrets.
This is also a fated mates situation, but I really didn't love how it was done. It felt very insta-love/insta-lust. It was a bit too spicy too fast, it felt rushed and forced. I didn't really care for the romance because of that. And the romance is really the focus of this book.
I just really wanted more from this. I also didn't love the writing style. It felt a little young, in an unpolished way. The writing was more telling than showing and I find that can feel choppy and repetitive. It also makes me think that the author doesn't trust me to put things together on my own, if you imply something by showing me something, I can figure it out.
I'm sure plenty of people that aren't as picky as I am will enjoy this, it is really atmospheric and vibey. I just really like to see more character development and worldbuilding, maybe if this wasn't a stand-alone it would read the way I prefer. I don't know, just a theory. Maybe it being a single book is why it felt rushed.
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!
March 19, 2026
3.25 ⭐️ thank you Atria and NetGalley for a free copy of the ebook. All thoughts are my own.
As a debut novel, this book has so much promise! I really enjoyed the writing style, the characters, and the magic system, I just felt like there was something missing the whole time I was reading. Though, even with these feelings, I genuinely cannot wait to see what Jessi does next because the potential is magnificent.
My biggest qualm was the execution—specifically the worldbuilding and magic system. It was so extremely unique, but was not nearly as developed as I was hoping. We didn’t even really get into the magic until late in the book, and when we did, it felt very surface-level. I wanted more depth, more explanation, more time with what each skull mask could actually do, and way more moments where magic was actively used. The same goes for the world as a whole… there were multiple orders, hints of bigger lore, and even mentions of gods, but nothing was explored enough to feel fully grounded. There were just so many plot holes that could’ve been expanded on to really seal this one in. I saw another review that mentioned making it longer or making it a duology, and frankly, I agree. If those aspects had been expanded on more, this book could be Fourth Wing or ACOTAR level!
Despite my criticism… I did really enjoy this. The chemistry between the main characters was off the charts, the spice was SPICING, and I loved seeing a curvy FMC get that kind of attention on (and off) page from our MMC. The settings as a whole were vivid, the concept itself was super compelling, and even with my critiques, I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire read. It just felt like there were a lot of missed opportunities and loose threads that could’ve taken this from good to incredible. Overall, a solid read with a ton of potential and I would recommend it to my romantasy friends who enjoy high stakes adventure!
As a debut novel, this book has so much promise! I really enjoyed the writing style, the characters, and the magic system, I just felt like there was something missing the whole time I was reading. Though, even with these feelings, I genuinely cannot wait to see what Jessi does next because the potential is magnificent.
My biggest qualm was the execution—specifically the worldbuilding and magic system. It was so extremely unique, but was not nearly as developed as I was hoping. We didn’t even really get into the magic until late in the book, and when we did, it felt very surface-level. I wanted more depth, more explanation, more time with what each skull mask could actually do, and way more moments where magic was actively used. The same goes for the world as a whole… there were multiple orders, hints of bigger lore, and even mentions of gods, but nothing was explored enough to feel fully grounded. There were just so many plot holes that could’ve been expanded on to really seal this one in. I saw another review that mentioned making it longer or making it a duology, and frankly, I agree. If those aspects had been expanded on more, this book could be Fourth Wing or ACOTAR level!
Despite my criticism… I did really enjoy this. The chemistry between the main characters was off the charts, the spice was SPICING, and I loved seeing a curvy FMC get that kind of attention on (and off) page from our MMC. The settings as a whole were vivid, the concept itself was super compelling, and even with my critiques, I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire read. It just felt like there were a lot of missed opportunities and loose threads that could’ve taken this from good to incredible. Overall, a solid read with a ton of potential and I would recommend it to my romantasy friends who enjoy high stakes adventure!
September 16, 2025
3.5 ⭐️ - This was such a heartwarming read. After reading one high-stakes fantasy after another, Ruinous Creatures was exactly what I needed. This book is the definition of a cozy fantasy and the vibes reminded me of Swordheart by T. Kingfisher -- it's low-conflict and there is a lot more focus on the character development. Plus, it's a standalone, so it's perfect if you don't want to start another series or deal with cliffhangers.
Adela completely won me over as she breaks free from everything expected of her and finally embraces the adventurous side she's always wanted to explore. As someone in my early thirties, there was something really refreshing about reading from the perspective of a 33 year old FMC who feels trapped in the life she thought she was destined for. It hit differently than the typical young FMC discovering her destiny for the first time.
The romance was spicy and the connection between Adela and Kian was instant. Their fated connection creates the perfect set up for delicious tension without shortchanging the emotional chemistry.
I'll be honest though, while I really loved the sweet story and the romance, there were moments I found myself wishing for more action or higher stakes. I felt like I needed more urgency to keep me going, especially when I got to the latter half of the book.
Overall, I'd recommend this if you're in the mood for a feel-good story with a romance that takes off from the very beginning. It's the exact kind of story that's perfect as a palette cleanser between heavier reads.
✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for the honest review!
Burner Kindle Book Blog
Adela completely won me over as she breaks free from everything expected of her and finally embraces the adventurous side she's always wanted to explore. As someone in my early thirties, there was something really refreshing about reading from the perspective of a 33 year old FMC who feels trapped in the life she thought she was destined for. It hit differently than the typical young FMC discovering her destiny for the first time.
The romance was spicy and the connection between Adela and Kian was instant. Their fated connection creates the perfect set up for delicious tension without shortchanging the emotional chemistry.
I'll be honest though, while I really loved the sweet story and the romance, there were moments I found myself wishing for more action or higher stakes. I felt like I needed more urgency to keep me going, especially when I got to the latter half of the book.
Overall, I'd recommend this if you're in the mood for a feel-good story with a romance that takes off from the very beginning. It's the exact kind of story that's perfect as a palette cleanser between heavier reads.
✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧ ✧
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for the honest review!
Burner Kindle Book Blog
April 9, 2026
Book review - Fiction - e-arc - romantasy -mythical creatures
Title: Ruinous Creatures by Jessi Cole Jackson
⭐ Star Rating: 4.5 🎯 Vibe Check: PASS
This book felt like…a dark but really hopeful tale of magic and intrigue. It had this cozy gothic vibe going for it.
I was hooked… as soon as we found out people had to put on animal skulls! I was drawn in quite quickly.
Did I care about the characters? I really did! I could feel why they were doing what they were doing. The nativity of Adela and the reasons Kian was doing what he was doing.. I enjoyed Kian's romantic entanglements as well.
Tropes included: unique magical system, fated pairs, bonded souls, instalove, coming of age.
Did they deliver? The magical system was impressive. The tropes really were troping. I really enjoyed the instalove. It worked really well and the fate mates thing is so over done but this felt fresh.
Phenomenal writing. It was clever and well paced.
This book made me feel: intrigued. I was totally enthralled by the phoenix storyline and it really was a swoonworthy romance.
This book might make you: spicy. It did me.
I gave it 3 🌶️🌶️🌶️.
What didn’t work: it did feel a little directionless at some points. I could have done with more direct conflict. I wish the ending hadn’t been rushed.
Perfect for readers who love…..standalone romantasy books. Who also love cozy magic with macabre vibes. If you like Rachel Gillig.. this is for you.
🚫 Not for readers who dislike… instalove downers. Or readers who love insane world building.
😈 Petty Complaint… I wish it was a series
All in all superb!
Thank you to @netgalley for my gifted copy.
Title: Ruinous Creatures by Jessi Cole Jackson
⭐ Star Rating: 4.5 🎯 Vibe Check: PASS
This book felt like…a dark but really hopeful tale of magic and intrigue. It had this cozy gothic vibe going for it.
I was hooked… as soon as we found out people had to put on animal skulls! I was drawn in quite quickly.
Did I care about the characters? I really did! I could feel why they were doing what they were doing. The nativity of Adela and the reasons Kian was doing what he was doing.. I enjoyed Kian's romantic entanglements as well.
Tropes included: unique magical system, fated pairs, bonded souls, instalove, coming of age.
Did they deliver? The magical system was impressive. The tropes really were troping. I really enjoyed the instalove. It worked really well and the fate mates thing is so over done but this felt fresh.
Phenomenal writing. It was clever and well paced.
This book made me feel: intrigued. I was totally enthralled by the phoenix storyline and it really was a swoonworthy romance.
This book might make you: spicy. It did me.
I gave it 3 🌶️🌶️🌶️.
What didn’t work: it did feel a little directionless at some points. I could have done with more direct conflict. I wish the ending hadn’t been rushed.
Perfect for readers who love…..standalone romantasy books. Who also love cozy magic with macabre vibes. If you like Rachel Gillig.. this is for you.
🚫 Not for readers who dislike… instalove downers. Or readers who love insane world building.
😈 Petty Complaint… I wish it was a series
All in all superb!
Thank you to @netgalley for my gifted copy.
March 11, 2026
A huge thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.
3.5 ⭐️ ARC review
First I will say - the world needs more standalones. I enjoyed the unique magic system build around the valley, the creatures, and the skulls and the bonds. I enjoyed our FMC’s growth throughout the story and was very satisfied by the ending. This book also focuses very heavily on themes of greed and corrupt religion and leaders / institutions. There’s a decent amount of spice and I feel it was well written.
I typically don’t gravitate towards insta lust stories, and I struggled a bit to see the connection / chemistry between the two main characters outside of spicy scenes until the very end. There weren’t many interactions that made the jump to love feel genuine. It was very refreshing, however, to read about a curvy and powerful FMC and a man who was immediately a simp because of it.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a spicy standalone with a unique magic system and a reluctant FMC who steps into her power.
3.5 ⭐️ ARC review
First I will say - the world needs more standalones. I enjoyed the unique magic system build around the valley, the creatures, and the skulls and the bonds. I enjoyed our FMC’s growth throughout the story and was very satisfied by the ending. This book also focuses very heavily on themes of greed and corrupt religion and leaders / institutions. There’s a decent amount of spice and I feel it was well written.
I typically don’t gravitate towards insta lust stories, and I struggled a bit to see the connection / chemistry between the two main characters outside of spicy scenes until the very end. There weren’t many interactions that made the jump to love feel genuine. It was very refreshing, however, to read about a curvy and powerful FMC and a man who was immediately a simp because of it.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a spicy standalone with a unique magic system and a reluctant FMC who steps into her power.
March 6, 2026
ARC review
3.5/5 stars
Adela’s job is to prepare the skulls of magical creatures for matching with novitiates. She impetuously decides to waken two phoenix skulls - creatures long thought legend - and unleashes a magical shockwave.
Novitiate Kian is preparing for his own matching, but he has a secret agenda - to destroy the skulls altogether and avenge the deaths of his family.
I really enjoyed the unique magic system in this one. It’s incredibly detailed and described beautifully. Unfortunately, the instalove between the main characters and the lack of chemistry didn’t work for me at all. I also felt like the tone of the storytelling was very YA for characters that are in their 20’s and have a graphic intimate life. I don’t mind spice in my reading at all, but it takes me out of the narrative when the writing puts me in a YA state of mind and then - BOOM - pants off.
Thanks so much to Atria and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
3.5/5 stars
Adela’s job is to prepare the skulls of magical creatures for matching with novitiates. She impetuously decides to waken two phoenix skulls - creatures long thought legend - and unleashes a magical shockwave.
Novitiate Kian is preparing for his own matching, but he has a secret agenda - to destroy the skulls altogether and avenge the deaths of his family.
I really enjoyed the unique magic system in this one. It’s incredibly detailed and described beautifully. Unfortunately, the instalove between the main characters and the lack of chemistry didn’t work for me at all. I also felt like the tone of the storytelling was very YA for characters that are in their 20’s and have a graphic intimate life. I don’t mind spice in my reading at all, but it takes me out of the narrative when the writing puts me in a YA state of mind and then - BOOM - pants off.
Thanks so much to Atria and NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
January 26, 2026
Adela spends her days preparing the skulls of magical creatures for her people's matching ceremony. Kian hopes to match with a powerful skull, for his own personal vengeance. The pair unexpectedly match with forgotten phoenix skulls. A dormant magic is awakened, and it ties them to a tumultuous fate.
Ruinous Creatures is a romantasy book with a unique magical system. This debut novel began with a promising plot, but I think it lost its focus once the main characters met. Kian meets Adela and they’re instantaneously in lust. The absence of tension makes their relationship lackluster. I found Adela and Kian’s inner monologue and actions stunted for people meant to be in their 30’s. They were pulled around from one chaotic tragedy to another. After Adela rouses the magic of the phoenix skulls there is nothing but turmoil, and little development in world building.
Jessi Cole Jackson has a vivid writing style. I wish the best for their future projects!
A warm thanks to Jessi Cole Jackson, Atria Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Ruinous Creatures is a romantasy book with a unique magical system. This debut novel began with a promising plot, but I think it lost its focus once the main characters met. Kian meets Adela and they’re instantaneously in lust. The absence of tension makes their relationship lackluster. I found Adela and Kian’s inner monologue and actions stunted for people meant to be in their 30’s. They were pulled around from one chaotic tragedy to another. After Adela rouses the magic of the phoenix skulls there is nothing but turmoil, and little development in world building.
Jessi Cole Jackson has a vivid writing style. I wish the best for their future projects!
A warm thanks to Jessi Cole Jackson, Atria Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
February 25, 2026
Thanks to Atria for the gifted book!
A debut dark standalone romantasy, RUINOUS CREATURES follows the the story of Adela and Kian as their fates are bound together when two phoenix skulls are awakened.
I absolutely love a fantasy book with a religious order and a darker vibe, so as soon as I saw this cover, I knew I needed to read it. I was really surprised by this book! The magic system is so unique, and I loved how the world was built. The inclusion of all the animals, the keepers, skulls, and matching these to the priests and priestesses was such a cool concept. I loved the alicorn the most and we had a close call on me almost throwing the book in outrage during a certain chapter with a unicorn… but overall, this was a fun read with a decent bit of spice and great concept!
A debut dark standalone romantasy, RUINOUS CREATURES follows the the story of Adela and Kian as their fates are bound together when two phoenix skulls are awakened.
I absolutely love a fantasy book with a religious order and a darker vibe, so as soon as I saw this cover, I knew I needed to read it. I was really surprised by this book! The magic system is so unique, and I loved how the world was built. The inclusion of all the animals, the keepers, skulls, and matching these to the priests and priestesses was such a cool concept. I loved the alicorn the most and we had a close call on me almost throwing the book in outrage during a certain chapter with a unicorn… but overall, this was a fun read with a decent bit of spice and great concept!
March 20, 2026
**Thank you to NetGalley & Publisher for the ARC; all opinions are my own.**
3.75-4 ⭐️
2.5 🌶
Hmm. Let me start by saying that I DID enjoy this one, but I do think it could have used some more fleshing out and I think this would have made an excellent duology. I loved the idea of magical creatures and caretakers and bone magic. The beginning was really strong, but unfortunately it seemed to weaken towards the end. If you are looking for a romantasy with interesting characters, magic, and cool creatures, you will probably enjoy this one.
3.75-4 ⭐️
2.5 🌶
Hmm. Let me start by saying that I DID enjoy this one, but I do think it could have used some more fleshing out and I think this would have made an excellent duology. I loved the idea of magical creatures and caretakers and bone magic. The beginning was really strong, but unfortunately it seemed to weaken towards the end. If you are looking for a romantasy with interesting characters, magic, and cool creatures, you will probably enjoy this one.
April 10, 2026
The concept of this was interesting. I liked the magic and the creature skulls bonding. The world building was good too. I liked the dual POVs. The only thing stopping me from giving it more stars was the characters. I wasn't really engaged with them.
Thank you NetGalley and atria for the gifted ebooks.
Thank you NetGalley and atria for the gifted ebooks.
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