Ruinous Creatures: A Novel

by Jessi Cole Jackson

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.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Adult, Dragons, Fantasy Romance, Fiction

384 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 10, 2026

Reviews

[jenny reads a lot · Rating 5 out of 5]

| IG | TikTok |

Thank you Atria for the gifted book. All opinions are my own.

[Heathers_readss · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[meg *ੈ✩‧₊˚ (semi ia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

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~

[Erin Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Selene · Rating 5 out of 5]

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!

[liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Emily Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Jayme Canfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[kassbookreviews]

dnf @ 34%

i cringed once. twice. twenty times within pages and couldn’t do it anymore.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[Sam Lue · Rating 2 out of 5]

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!

[Shannon K G · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Meghan Becker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!
I really enjoyed this story! A lot of times fantasy novels by debut authors can seem kind of redundant, there’s often other books out there extremely similar, but that’s not the case with this. It was a fresh take on magic and mythical creatures I haven’t read about before. I enjoyed the storytelling and the little bit of romance tied in.
I’m giving this four out of five stars because while it is really good, there are a lot of spelling and grammatical errors, particularly in the middle third of the book. It’s not due to be released for quite a while so hopefully those will be taken care of before then. Also some of the spicy scenes seemed unnecessary. They didn’t really fit in with the vibe of the rest of the book and while that’s not a big deal to me, others may find it strange.

[Zoe Lipman · Rating 3 out of 5]

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!

[hannah | bookshelvish · Rating 2 out of 5]

2⭐️ and it’s not a strong 2. Easily the worst book of the year so far (lol). I was so bored, it took me around 2.5 weeks to read, the characters sucked and had zero chemistry, there was a “I’ve betrayed her entire cause!” plot line which was lame because when he eventually came clean the major reaction we’ve been building up to was basically “oh”, and there was an interesting magic system that got zero development with magical creatures that we barely got to know, and a whole host of side characters that contributed nothing to the story. I’d give it a one except I think the concept was interesting and the writing wasn’t completely horrible. 😂 I don’t really recommend this one but if you want to read it it’s out 3/10.

[Emmy P · Rating 5 out of 5]

She recieved an ARC and Dreams! This was fun, flirty, one sitting read and pulled me right from the depths of my reading slump. Bc what do you mean!!!

Bonus points and honorable mentions go to 'let me worship at your alter'. Baby loves to see it.

[Rachael M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent an advance copy of this book from Atria Books via NetGalley for my honest review.

I feel like the book could have been longer, and as a slow reader that is saying something. When you have such a unique magic system it should be explored! People who truly love fantasy will not shy away from a large page book if it delves into magical systems, the different types, items used for it, etc and does it well. The people want world building! We hear magical titles or types of magic in passing, but don't get much more. Because of that it made it difficult to connect for me.

I thought the writing style itself flowed. The pacing for the main characters and their powers could have been faster as well as being a pair. It honestly reminded me of the "dyad" in Star Wars and how they mention it all the time and then nothing comes of it....sad. Some of the dialog sounded a little clunky in parts, but it is still a fresh take on fantasy and I do recommend it.

[Lorena SG · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ruinous Creatures is based on a magical word where there is a ruling organization called the order, the order worships the Huntress. There is priests, priestesses, there is a valley which seems to be the main land of magic and where magical creatures live. Members of the order are usually paired by a keeper and matched to a magical skull, these magical skulls give the person magic. Adela lives with her father in the valley, and everything takes a turn when she finds two phoenix skulls, removes her mask, accidentally pairs with one of the phoenix skulls, and finds that her mentor is dead at the hand of his two pet dragons. During that time she also meets Kian, this attractive novitiate who for some reason she can’t seem to stay away from. Adela and Kian embark into a journey in which they find out what the order truly is and what they are capable of and while at it, they get to know each other more and fall in love in the process. Ruinous creatures took me a while to get through it even though it’s a short book and I think it was because I had a hard time engaging into the plot of the story. Overall I would give it a 3 starts out of 5. Also I want to thank Atria Books and Jessi Cole Jackson for this Arc copy to review.

[Abby · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had a nickel for every time the birth of a baby alicorn became a somewhat major plot point, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened twice...

Ruinous Creatures is a standalone romantasy debut with an entertaining and unique magic system perfect for fans of Nicki Pau Preto's Bonesmith. I'm hesitant to rate this book as highly as I did, considering I personally struggled to get through it, but I know it's probably up a lot of people's alleys...even if it wasn't up mine. This book is a true romantasy; the romance played a very heavy role in the plot, which I'll talk about a bit later, but if you're not a fan of spice or heavy romance, I would recommend sitting out on this one. The magic system was probably my favorite part. I love magical creatures, and the skull magic was super interesting, so I wanted more from it than what we got. I also wanted to know more about the various orders (Spinner, Huntress, Pupil), so I wouldn't be surprised if the author continued to expand on this world.

Adela is a matcher, meaning her job is to match skulls to people in order to give them magic. After she accidentally awakens the magic of a phoenix skull and meets a handsome stranger whose intentions may go against everything she believes, Adela must learn how to control her newfound magic to save her home and the creatures she loves so dearly. I want to start off by saying that I think this would've worked better as a YA or even an NA book, if not for the smut. The characters were in their thirties but acted like they were sixteen, and I also think the plot was very coming-of-age in vibes, which doesn't really make sense to me for an adult book (though I might be outspoken in that). Like I said earlier, the romance is very heavy, and there are several open-door spicy scenes. I wouldn't have minded this - though admittedly I'm not always a huge romantasy fan - if Adela and Kian weren't kissing literally every other scene. It felt a bit overkill for me, especially with the instalove dynamic, and sometimes it felt like the romance was dragging down the plot. Info dump about skulls, interrupted by kissing. Climax of the story, interrupted by a random sex scene. The pacing was fairly fast, which helped a bit, but the stakes didn't feel all that high, and I didn't really have a sense of direction for the plot other than Adela was supposed to be figuring out her magic and Kian was supposed to be bringing down the order. There were some scenes I liked and a fair amount of action that kept me engaged, but I struggled with the romantic aspects of this book. That being said, the ending is satisfying, so I do appreciate that for a standalone. Again, even if I didn't 100% enjoy it, I'm rounding up my stars because I think it has a wide audience that will enjoy it immensely.

For me, the characters were the weakest part of the story. I didn't dislike them, but I didn't really connect to them as much as I wanted to. Adela felt like she was being dragged around by the plot, which is fine, but she also made some stupid decisions that felt uncharacteristic for someone in her 30s. I liked her inner conflict with her magic, though. Kian had one personality trait: simp. And, like, I guess half a trait for revenge...but mostly he just wanted to get in Adela's pants, and after the first few chapters, it got a little old. I also got the ick from him in their first interaction and that feeling didn't really go away. He felt underdeveloped compared to Adela, but I think a lot of book girlies will still like him. The side characters didn't really catch my attention because so much emphasis was put on Adela and Kian, but I liked the magical creatures Adela hung out with.

Ruinous Creatures is a romantasy standalone for readers looking for a unique (and maybe spooky) magic system, a man who's a simp, and a story about a woman in her 30s learning who she is.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the free e-ARC!

3.25/5

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruinous Creatures is one of those books that sweeps you into its world before you’ve quite found your footing—and even as I turned the first few pages feeling a little disoriented, I couldn’t stop reading. I do wish there had been a bit more explanation early on about Adela’s role and powers, but the sense of mystery around her abilities and this society’s rituals kept me hooked.

The concept of the skulls was both fascinating and horrifying. The moment I realized that people wear them after being matched, I was just as unsettled as Adela. It’s a brilliant, and eerie. Still, I found myself wondering—who exactly are the Huntress, the Pupil, and the Spinner? And how do they truly connect to the skulls’ power? I wanted a little more clarity there, especially since this mythology is so unique.

Kian, on the other hand, was a standout. His smart-mouthed charm and confidence instantly caught my attention, but what really stuck with me was the vulnerability beneath his swagger. The scene with the dragon was written beautifully—cinematic, intense, and immersive. I also loved that Kian was drawn to Adela’s unguarded joy from the start. Their connection felt instant but believable, and when he offered himself up for a dance, I couldn’t help but grin.

The chemistry between them builds quickly—maybe a little too quickly into a spicy scene—but I can’t deny it worked. Kian talking her through it? 🔥 Absolute perfection. Beneath the heat, though, there’s a tenderness that makes you ache. His fear of intimacy, particularly when it comes to his past and Ulric, adds depth to his character. It’s heartbreaking watching someone so aware of his damage still trying to do right.

One of the most powerful through-lines of the story is how Adela is constantly made to feel like following her instincts is wrong. That conflict—between her inner truth and the expectations of others—made her journey feel both magical and deeply human.

I’ll admit, I found myself putting this book down at times just to process what I’d read… and then picking it right back up two minutes later because I couldn’t stay away. The world is layered, the prose immersive, and the lore genuinely fascinating. That said, a little “cheat sheet” or glossary for the creatures and roles would’ve helped—there’s so much rich detail that it can be hard to track at first.

Kian’s motivations to destroy the skulls fascinated me, especially as we slowly learn more about what happened to his family. Once those pieces began falling into place, I found myself desperate to understand what truly drives him—and what could possibly make him change course. The phoenix and how its power intertwined with others genuinely surprised me; it added another dimension to the world-building I wasn’t expecting.

Sarai’s actions were chilling—she’s manipulative in a way that made my skin crawl, especially in how she tries to control Adela through pain. And the situation with Etana? Absolutely devastating. It added emotional weight to an already intense story.

In the end, I loved this book. It’s imaginative, emotional, and beautifully written, even if I wanted more—more exploration of the society, more about the dying magic, more answers about the slow decline of this world. Jessi Cole Jackson has built something haunting and original here, and I hope she continues to expand on it.

Ruinous Creatures is dark, strange, and deeply human—a fantasy that lingers long after the last page.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

A big thank you to Atria Books, Netgalley, and Jessi Cole Jackson for giving me this ARC in return for my honest review!

In this book, creatures are the ones who have magic. So how do humans harness that magic? Ahh, yes. They wear the skulls of those magical creatures who have passed on. Our FMC Adela is one of the people who takes care of these skulls and prepares them to be matched to priests and priestesses who live outside of her valley. When she finds a pair of Phoenix skulls that don't seem to have any magic left, she ignores her boss and wakes them up. This sends out a magical pulse across the valley that sets chaos in motion.

At the same time our MMC Kian is a priest-in-training preparing to get matched to a skull. However, his reasons for getting matched are not typical - he is trying to take down the religious order from the inside out. His first goal is to destroy all of the skulls the Adela takes care of. As you can guess, the two of them get paired to the set of Phoenix skulls and they have to work together to save the realm from all kinds of dark forces.

Pros
This world has a very interesting magic system. I would not have put “wearing the skulls of dead creatures” on my bingo card, but it works for this book. I love the world building and magic so much that I honestly wish that the author went even further in depth with them.

This book is a standalone, there's no big cliffhanger or desperation for book two. Everything is resolved at the end in a fairly satisfying way.

There is big “dismantle the society that oppressed us” energy and I love it.

Cons
Okay, I have never said this before in my life but I think this book would have been better without the spice.

First off, it was explicit and vague at the same time. So if you don't like spice, there's too much of it and if you do like spice, there's not enough of it. I've never really read anything like it before.

Also, I feel like the spice completely took the place of any relationship development between the two main characters. I think I could count on my fingers the number of meaningful conversations they have throughout the book. There are a lot of great books where the characters start their relationship with a bang (if you will) but there has to be more to it as the story continues.

I really think this book would have hit it out of the park if it was more YA. I would not have guessed that these characters are in their thirties. Just a little tweaking and it would have been a lot better.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. The magic system was unique, the plot was well thought out, the creatures in the story really made it feel magical. While I had some issues with the main relationship, I still gave it a solid 3 stars.

The spice rating was a little trickier for me. It was too explicit to be metaphorical but too vague to be super explicit. But because of the sheer number of spicy scenes I think I will rate it 3 out of 5. I would not be surprised if others rate it differently.

If you love magical creatures, if you love characters taking power back from oppressors, if you want a standalone romantasy and spice doesn't bother you one way or another, I would recommend this book to you.

[Amy Kay ♥️ Books are my daily therapy ♥️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruinous Creatures
By: Jessi Cole Jackson
Standalone

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5 Star Review
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 4/5 Spiciness Level
 
RELEASE INFO FOR ARC/ALC BOOKS:
Releases in ebook, audiobook and hardcover on March 10, 2026. The cover art is gorgeous!!

RECOMMENDATION:
I highly recommend this book for someone looking for a Romantasy with a very unique magical system, mythical characters and spice! I hope this book reaches out far to lots of Romantasy readers! The uniqueness of the magic and the depth of the characters makes this book indeed very special!

THANKS:
Thank you to Author Jessi Cole Jackson, NetGalley and Atria Books for this amazing advance copy! My review is genuine. I enjoyed this book very much!

GENRE, POV, TROPES, PAGE COUNT:
The genre is Romantasy. Tropes include magic, magical characters, mythical creatures, older MC’s, open-door spice, and a hard won and well-deserved HEA! There are some triggers, so check if needed. Page count is around 325.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW & TIME LENGTH:
I have not listened to it. Audiobook set to release along with other versions of the book on release day. At the time of this review I can’t find that the narrators have been released. It will be 11 hours 30 mins long.

STOP HERE IF YOU WANNA GO IN BLIND

SPICE CONTENT:
The spice is well written and intense. There is spice in chapters 7, 16, 23, and 33.

FMC:  
Adela is a keeper and a matcher in her community. She is around 30 years old. As part of this magical society in the “Valley,” she cares for them matches the skull face of magical creatures to its matching human. The human takes on the magic of the creature, for example, a dragon skull would give the human its fire magic. Matchers and keepers work as an apprentice for a very long time and they learn how to hear the creatures speak to them in their minds. They learn how to care for the skulls, to hear which oils and things to use on the skulls to care for them and to please them. They also listen to them on who they are to be matched with.

MMC:
Kian is a Novitiate in the order of the Huntress. A novitiate is like a priest. After his parents were killed by the order, he has been on a fifteen year quest for revenge. He is working his way up the order in order to gain enough power to end their brutal rule. He is alone on his quest and will do whatever he has to do to get the revenge that has consumed him.
 
STORYLINE/PLOT:
After finding two phoenix skulls in the keeper’s hut, things in the Valley begin to change. Adela is thrust into the head Matcher role after the previous one is brutally killed by a mythical creature who turned violent. The phoenix skulls are a pair, together in all ways. After Kian is paired with one phoenix, Adela becomes paired with the other. Matchers absolutely do NOT pair with a creature, ever. They are taught to always wear a mask themselves to protect them from an accidental match. With them both paired to the matching phoenixes, they can feel each others emotions and realize they are also matched to each other. Neither of them want this and they try to find a way to break it.

The story goes to show how Kian moves forward with his plans to destroy the order. How Adela begins to accept then embrace her new role. And how complex and deep feelings root themselves inside as they begin to fall in love. They are fiery together and it’s fun to experience them!
 
Happy Reading! ♥☻

[Brandi Smallwood Uncaged Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

In her debut novel, Ruinous Creatures, Jessi Cole Jackson introduces a fascinating premise centered on a magical system where power is acquired from the skulls of deceased magical creatures. While the concept is strong, the execution left me feeling disappointed.
The characters, unfortunately, were a big part of the weakness. Despite some interesting ideas—like a plus-size protagonist, Adela, and a bisexual male lead, Kian. Their personalities lacked the necessary depth to make them feel real or compelling. These traits felt more like checked boxes than fully realized components of their identities, which made it difficult to emotionally invest and connect with their journey.
The world of Ruinous Creatures felt largely underdeveloped and at times, inconsistent. I had trouble connecting with the lore of the Valley and its creatures, which led to a number of unanswered questions. The plot itself was confusing, and the ultimate reason for obtaining power lacked a clear, motivating purpose. A key subplot involved introducing a character (Adela’s mom) who left the Valley, but never followed up on what happened with her, which felt like a missed opportunity to add depth to the world.
One of my biggest critiques is the author's decision to begin the book with a nearly complete synopsis and an extensive explanation of the characters' backstories. This approach removes the element of discovery that is so essential to a compelling narrative. Readers should be able to analyze and interpret a story's themes and character motivations on their own. By providing all this information upfront, the author inadvertently takes away the joy of the reading experience.
While the core idea of Ruinous Creatures is highly creative, the novel struggles to deliver a compelling plot and memorable characters. It's a debut with a promising concept, but it ultimately wasn't a good fit for me.

+++I have received this eARC in an exchange for an honest review+++

I want to thank @netgalley and @atriabooks for allowing me to read this eARC. I truly feel honored to have had the privilege to read and review it.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley & Jessi Cole Jackson for the chance to read & review this ARC. This was an enjoyable stand alone novel with a unique (but easy to understand) magic system. I felt the book itself could have actually been about 50 pages less - there was a lot of narrative hand holding that I didn't feel was necessary - but overall, the concept behind the book saved me from getting bored. The dual POV of the FMC and MMC was handled well, and both characters felt distinct. I was a bit disappointed that there was not more romantic tension throughout the book, and the forgiveness story arc felt too convenient, but ultimately I feel this was a successful debut from Jessie Cole Jackson.

What I loved
🫶 The concept of creature skulls containing/supplying magic was cool and unique
🫶 Kain's (MMC) character was well developed and his motivations were easy to empathize with early on
🫶 Adela (FMC) came across as powerful, confident and capable despite her self-consciousness and internal struggles
🫶 A satisfying sprinkling of smut without completely taking over the story
🫶 Adela's connection to the creatures of the valley was clear and consistent throughout the book
🫶 Dual POV and both characters had their own distinct voice

What didn’t work for me:
🙅‍♀️ Insta-love between our MMC & FMC, no tension or real conflict between the two characters, and limited banter
🙅‍♀️ MMC was introduced with an existing love interest, and there was absolutely no conflict between the FMC, MMC and that former love interest? In fact they were immediate friends? Felt like a missed opportunity, especially given that character's plot arc...
🙅‍♀️ Found quite a few editing errors throughout the novel (especially toward the end), which took me out of the story just as I was getting intrigued
🙅‍♀️ The pet name "Goddess" was cringe and didn't really make sense given I would have thought the FMC might find this blasphemous at the beginning (in the context of the world)...
🙅‍♀️ Finished the novel with some pretty significant unanswered questions that felt like plot holes (i.e. what happened to the dragon(s)?, what is the significance of the other religious orders and why were they even involved?)

While it took me a few chapters to get into the book, it was a quick and easy read and the conclusion of the novel was satisfying enough. I honestly really enjoyed the overarching concepts and ideas in this book, so with a bit more refinement and editing, I think Jessi has what it takes to write a five star read. I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

[Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ambitious debut that offers a refreshing spin on magic and myth. The heart of the book lies in its imaginative magic system, drawing power from the skulls of magical creatures, which feels haunting, eerie, and unsettling in the best way. It is not a trope I have seen done quite like this before, and that sense of novelty carries much of the book’s appeal.

What works really well is the emotional weight the author gives to choices and sacrifice. There are moments that genuinely stick with you, the ache of loss, the tension of moral compromise, the fragility of power. Those quieter, more introspective beats balance the moments of action and romance and make the stakes feel real.

The main character is a compelling anchor for the story. She is flawed, curious, and capable of growth, which made me want to root for her even when she missteps. One of the other central characters also brings complexity. There is rawness in his motives, and I liked how his relationship with the protagonist is neither perfect nor straightforward. Their bond has sparks and friction, and their dynamic often feels messy in a way that fits the tone.

That said, I did feel some unevenness in pacing, particularly in the latter half. The momentum slows in places when the narrative shifts into introspection or world building, and then races again near the conclusion. Because of that, some plot turns felt compressed or rushed. I think the book could have benefited from letting certain scenes breathe more, giving side characters more room, expanding on the lore, or lingering longer in tension before resolution.

The world building, while intriguing, sometimes skimmed the surface. The hints of lore and power structures are tantalizing, but I found myself wanting more texture, more explanation of how things came to be, more depth in the histories and politics behind the magic. In some places, the choices about when to withhold versus reveal felt inconsistent, which made me long for a bit more clarity.

Overall, I found this to be a striking and memorable read. It is not perfect, its pacing wobbles and it leaves some threads looser than I would have liked, but its strengths are strong. It offers fresh ideas, emotional depth, and a pair of lead characters worth caring about. I am very interested to see what this author does next, and I will be keeping an eye out for more from her.

3.75 stars, rounded to 4 stars.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magic brings out the best and worst of us but when an unlikely duo find themselves paired they may discover more can be achieved together than apart.

“Ruinous Creatures” travels deep into a valley where mythical creatures roam free and from their deaths the skull is taken to pair with humans giving them power that can be used to strengthen their forces and keep the valley thriving, but when Kian arrives harboring dark secrets his plans are thwarted by his connection to Adela they find that maybe everything that they knew about the ceremony and the magic within is wrong.

An interesting book and one of the rare times I think this should have been at least a duology rather than a standalone.

The characters are fine and I like that this is an adult book so our characters , while still at times lost and in need of guidance , have a maturity that is necessary for the world in which they live. Adela and Kian are both struggling with what they bring to the matching ceremony with him looking for revenge and her just trying to do her best when she finds herself having to take the leadership role and those moments make them feel more real and grounded in an otherwise mystical world.

This isn’t insta-love but rather insta attraction that they taken advantage of and while I do enjoy a bit more yearning it wasn’t bad to see their flirting and banter as they try to make sense of their predicament. I do wish it was longer just to give us more time to set up a villain, we have a threat but it gets resolved very quickly with a majority of the thought and action happening off the page making it seem rather anticlimactic when we get there. I find myself looking down at the percentage questioning if it truly was a stand alone because the amount of time left vs what was happening didn’t line up in a way that would ever be satisfactory. I think this is a world that would have benefitted from having time to breathe, expanding on the dynamics and everyone’s role , the apprenticeship , Kian’s history and managing those in a situation where you are bonded to a creature as well as a stranger could have been great or even more memorable than I fear this will be.

Not a bad book by any means just one that seems to end before it really for a chance to begin.

**special thanks to the publishers and netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

[Stacy Smejkal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruinous Creatures follows Adela and Kian, two people on very different paths in their lives. When Adela makes a reckless choice (or two), their paths converge and become unexpectedly tangled together. Adela is a matcher’s apprentice. Matchers are tasked with matching magical creature skulls with future priests and priestesses. Once they are matched, that person wears the skull and they are imbued with the creature’s magic. Kian is a novitiate traveling with the high priestess and others to hopefully be matched with a powerful creature. His true goal is to destabilize and tear down the system that has been created and his plan to accomplish this is to burn the creature skulls and the magic along with them.

The magic in this universe is so incredibly unique. It felt like something I had never read before and I am very much a fantasy book girlie so I have read A LOT of this genre. I struggled with how rapid the beginning was. It felt like I wanted to see a bit more world-building. Show me what a normal day is like there, let me get to know the people so that when Adela makes a mistake, I understand why it’s bad and what’s at stake. Also when people die, I am much more likely to care when someone is unexpectedly killed if you give me a bit more build up. I am not someone who wants hundreds and hundreds of pages of world building but definitely more could have been explored here. It was such a creative universe, I wanted to learn more about it!

I’m also not an “insta-love” kind of person and this romance sort of teetered on that for me. I need some tension, some build up. Give me that slow burn! It’s also worth noting that the initial description of the FMC from the MMC’s perspective was kind of…icky to me. Maybe it was just the language used but it just did not sound attractive or appealing at all. I’m not exactly sure but that part of the plot just didn’t do it for me.

This is a standalone romantasy novel so if you don’t want to commit to a 37 book universe like so many fantasy series are these days, consider picking this one up. This is a 3.5 star read for me. Very creative, I hope this author has more ideas in there, I’m excited to check them out. Side note: the cover art is GORGEOUS.

Huge thank you to Atria books and the author for offering this title for review via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

[Lexie · Rating 3 out of 5]

First I want to give a big thank you to Atria, NetGalley & Jessi Cole Jackson for allowing me to read an ARC.

When I was first pitched this, some mutuals were comparing this to One Dark Window. And if you’ve read my reviews for awhile then you know I’m a sucker for the One Dark Window duology. So I was ecstatic to be invited to read an early copy of Ruinous Creatures. Plus, I was even more pumped because this was going to be a standalone fantasy novel. Do y’all realize how freaking rare that is?!?!!!

Well sadly I’m torn in my feelings on this because I enjoyed it. However, this is one of those scenarios where this book should’ve been a duology. I feel like we were teased with such great world building and plot setup yet we didn’t have enough pages to flesh it out to its fullest.

First let’s talk about the magic system. Hands down one of my favorite and most unique magic systems I’ve read in a fantasy book in a long time. Basic premise: our characters wear these skulls in their heads 24/7. Our characters obtain their magical powers through the skulls of the deceased creatures they wear. So for example, dragon skull wields power of dragon fire. Unicorn skull has the power of altering emotions. And so on, and so on. Like tell me how freaking unique that is. However, even with that unique magic system. I feel like we only scratched the surface. We only hear of a few people’s powers and only a few wield anything worth mentioning. Plus to top it off our main two characters don’t freaking come into their powers until 70% through. Which is a shame because the destruction vs healing dynamic they share could’ve been so much more.

Speaking of our two lead characters. Their relationship dynamic was interesting. These two are supposed to be in their 30’s so why are they constantly acting like teenagers. They acted more YA than adult and I found this so infuriating at times. In terms of their romance the connection was instant and the spice was great. They both had a lot of really sweet and tender moments that I think fellow readers will also greatly enjoy.

Overall, this was an interesting read. I wish we could’ve had more action or some higher stakes. But I still enjoyed the story and I would definitely recommend it!

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly unique debut romantasy standalone!

Seriously, if you're sick of the stagnant tropes, characters and plots in most recent romantasy books, you need to give this one a try. The magic system and world is so different from anything I've ever read. The world is so lush and fun, full of a myriad of mythical creatures.

It has the familiar plot of overthrowing an oppressive and corrupt society. It was so interesting experience the corruption through the two different POVs:
Kian (MMC), who grew up in the city and has experienced poverty and injustices at the hand of the religious houses. He's joined the religious order and has been plotting to bring change and dismantlement from within.
Adela (FMC), who grew up sequestered inside the valley. She is incredibly naive to the oppressive nature of the religious orders, and as the plot progresses with her, she slowly becomes aware of the reality of thier culture and how her people (and others) have suffered at the hands she was taught to revere.

The fact that this was a stand-alone was one of the biggest appeals to me. However, this was so refreshing and unique, I really wish there was more. I feel like we barely scratched the surface of the potential of the magic and these characters.
This may have been better suited as a duology, honestly.
Or if some lingering moments were spent diving a little deeper into the magic, lore or overall history. Around 60-70% I feel like things got a little repeptive - particularly in Kian's POV. We got a lot of his guilt and low key self loathing. I would've rather spent that time on more magic lessons or world building.

The ending was so fast paced. I really really enjoyed the reveal that pushed the ending plot forward. I also just wish we had more time to sit in everything that happened. I am a massive cryer, I will find anything to cry about. I didn't cry at any point I probably should've near the end, just because it all felt like a whirlwind.

Overall, this is just a fun and refreshing read that I highly recommend. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4! I will be following this author and looking forward to any other works by them!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.