Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Winds of Ruin

Rate this book
A king cursed to sleep.
A kiss destined to wake him.

Elsedora Lamoreaux cannot give up now, not when retribution lies just beyond her grasp. She is no stranger to loss; her family, her home, and her soulmate were all tragically taken from her. While searching for relics to save the realms, she discovers a peculiar mirror—ancient and thrumming with power. The pane allows her to communicate with the sleep-cursed King Mattock. For years, her adoration for him grows and eventually forces her to question whether she is truly moving forward, or running from the past.

King Emmerick Mattock's mind cages the Death Origin, who claws for a way to escape. With no known enchantment to break the king free of the curse, Emmerick’s sense of self slips away. Soon he will fall into torturous, eternal restlessness. When Elsedora reaches him through the void, it is the first time he allows himself to hope.

Unknown Binding

Published April 1, 2026

11 people are currently reading
131 people want to read

About the author

Mariet Kay

3 books89 followers
Mariet Kay is a fantasy romance author who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, with her husband and a pack of rescue animals. Her debut novel, "Born of Starlight," is the inaugural installment of the Legends of Henosis series. Mariet has a decade-long career in digital marketing and has always possessed a passion for digital media and content creation.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
16 (55%)
4 stars
8 (27%)
3 stars
5 (17%)
2 stars
0 (0%)
1 star
0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
Profile Image for rachelscourtofbooks.
256 reviews42 followers
May 5, 2026
Omg I can’t wait for this!!! After the first 2 books being two absolute 5 star reads, I can’t wait to be completely blown by this book🩷🩷
Profile Image for Melissa.
239 reviews22 followers
May 9, 2026
wow what an ending to this series! I've been waiting for more than a year for the conclusion this trilogy and I wasn't disappointed!

I was happy to travel back to the Corridors and meet some of my favorite characters from book 1 and 2 again!

This book ends where book 2 finished. This time it is a sleeping beauty retelling but reversed. King Emmerick was battling the death Origin Caym and they put a sleeping spell for 25 years on him, so they had time to figure out how to beat Caym.

Elsedora took on the task to find the 3 relics needed to beat him. She travels all around the realm to find these. Eventually she finds a peculiar mirror. Not a relic, but a way to talk to Emmerick while he is under the spell.

Emmerick is sleeping under the curse at Sybilla & Kraith and they are raising their daughter Lark. And she is destined to save the realm from Caym. So from a very young age she has very powerful magic and burdened with a lot of responsibility. But she also wants to help.

I'm not gonna tell you anymore, because I don't wanna spoil all the plot twists and the ending. But again I loved this story, it was the perfect ending to this trilogy. If you love fairytale retellings, friends-to-lovers, magic, found family then this book/series is for you!

Profile Image for Anais (atrailofpages).
1,018 reviews27 followers
April 25, 2026
This story follows a couple different people and couples, but primarily is about Emmerick, the sleeping king, and Elsedora.

I will preface with that I went into this book expecting it’s a complete separate standalone from the first two. I would never have read a book in a series unless it was a true standalone from the rest, which is the impression I got when I first received this arc, but it’s not. I would for sure read the first two books to truly understand anything about this world. Although I didn’t understand everything, it does have its own romance and plot from what I could tell, so just take my review with a grain of salt. And maybe just read the first two books, unlike me 😆

What I did enjoy is this world seems unique. I loved the Sleeping Beauty references with the sleeping king being woken up by a kiss. I did enjoy the romance for the most part, it’s a slow burn with Elsedora believing she’s not worthy of Emmerick and poor Emmerick just painfully pining after Elsedora. It’s frustrating in the best way.

There are a lot of other characters that are from prior books, but it was nice to see the found family that clearly had grown from past books. I also loved the other couple that were in here. Young first love. It was very sweet.

It’s a slow moving book. The plot outside of the romance got lost for me at times making me forget what else is happening and the time jumps threw me off at times too. I also don’t know what these people are. I think they’re immortal humans? With magic? Please ignore my ignorance 😅

While the couple that is focused on have their own story in this book, it seems to me I would need to read the first two books to understand anything about this world, its history and who these people are, their backstories and how they’re all connected.

What I struggled with mainly is the style of writing and the way relationships were like in this world. I found it uncomfortable with how many of these people seemed to love one person from the past(both dead or alive still) and still love them while falling in love with someone else. Even though I did enjoy the romance for the most part, it just didn’t make the romance as emotional and real for me when they’re both constantly thinking about that one person they loved from their past. And it’s brought up constantly, not just every once in awhile. They have Source matches, like mates, but magic mates? But they don’t have to love each other, but they’re physically drawn to each other? It was confusing for me, but a lot of them see to have had a match that they lost and seemed to pine after them and just made me question any romance or love anyone claimed they had for each other. Aside from Lark and Dritan, at least they seemed legit and I loved their young love.

This book is very character focused, which is part of why there’s no explanation about the world, and so there’s a lot of dialogue, which I’m usually good with, but I really needed more info about my surroundings and I didn’t get that which caused me to struggle with enjoying the book to the full extent.

It’s a good book, it just wasn’t quite for me. I feel like I really need to read the first two books, but I don’t know if I want to after reading this one because I just didn’t connect with it enough to have that desire and want to read the prior books. Maybe one day I will.

Thank you to the author for the e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Blech.
156 reviews
May 6, 2026
Overall, this was a satisfying ending to the Legends of Henosis trilogy. I was entertained enough but sadly this just wasn’t my favorite.

I think I’ve seen this series advertised as interconnected standalones, and while each book does focus on a different couple, you definitely need to read all the books in order, or you’ll be missing a lot of details. I read City of Snakes a few months ago so it wasn’t super fresh in my mind, but I was able to recall most of the characters and what had happened to date. As with most series, I’m more emotionally invested if I’ve read the books close together, so that might have been part of the issue.

The pacing felt off to me. I felt like we sped through several years and the development of Elsedora and Emmerick’s friendship at the beginning, and then it slowed way down. The romance had a decent slow burn and the action picked up near the end, but if you make a book nearly 500 pages, you have to keep it moving!

I think the whole conflict with the Origins, the prophecy, and the relics got a little confusing, and then the conclusion ended up feeling underwhelming. There weren’t any crazy twists or reveals, which I think would have helped to keep me engaged and wanting to find out what happens next.

I do think the writing is solid and the characters are well-developed. If you like romantasy, especially when it’s fairytale-inspired, this could be a good series for you. And being able to now pick up a completed series might help you avoid some of the mixed feelings I had.
Profile Image for FloofyMooseReads.
672 reviews106 followers
April 17, 2026
Winds of Ruin is the third book in the Legends of Henosis series, a fantasy romance series of interconnected standalones. While the series follows an overarching conflict, each book focuses on a different central couple. I received an advance review copy and my thoughts are my own. Thank you to the author for my eArc.

Tropes and themes include:
✨A king cursed to sleep
✨Friends to lovers
✨Magical mirror
✨Slowburn
✨Fate and destiny
✨Sleeping beauty retelling
✨Dual, first person POV

Rating: 4/5 Stars 2/5 Flames
Nickname: Pet

The Lovely: I loved the dynamic between the FMC and the MMC and how their relationship developed. Without giving anything away, their circumstances force their journey to be based on non-physical interactions, which supported the slowburn romance.

The Mundane: I struggled with the pacing of the story as it felt slow to me. There was a fair amount of inner monologues and, when combined with not a lot of big activity, it just felt like not a lot happened given the length of the book.

Recommendation: To me this story felt like a romance story in a fairytale or fantasy world. I was so excited to get this MMC’s love story after reading the prior books in the series. If you enjoy a fairytale reimagining with a slowburn and focus on emotional connection, I think you would love this book.
Profile Image for Smutty Professor.
597 reviews10 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 30, 2026
I’ve really been loving this series, and Winds of Ruin was another amazing read for me! This one is definitely more character-driven and really focuses on their relationships. There’s a lot of tension, a lot of emotion, and so much more happening in the background to keep things interesting.

Elsedora felt more controlled and internal, but I actually liked that contrast, especially with everything tied to duty and expectations. Larkspur is my favorite! She makes emotional decisions and doesn’t always think things through, but haven't we all been there at some point? I liked her relationship with Dritan because it added something sweet to the story. The world-building continues to build nicely. The Origins and relics are still a big part of things, and Caym brings an eerie vibe whenever he shows up.

I will say this one isn’t super action-heavy. It’s more about buildup and character dynamics, and there were a few moments where I wanted a little more to actually happen. But toward the end, things start to come together and the stakes feel high. I had a really good time with this. If you’re already into the series, it’s definitely worth continuing- especially for the characters and all the tension between them!
Profile Image for Escaping in Pages.
209 reviews4 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 30, 2026
Rating - 4/5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Read - March 30, 2026
Publication - April 22, 2026

*I received an E-ARC for free in exchange for an honest review* - Thank you @marietkay.writes!

Winds of Ruin is the third and final book in a fairytale romantasy series that I am sad to see end. While each of the books feature different main characters, they still need to be read in order for the main storyline and order of events to make sense. I waited for Emmerick’s story for so long and I am happy to say it was worth the wait! I love the strength of the women in this book and how equal the partnerships are. The way time passed in the story made me lose track of time in real life; I binged it in a few hours without realizing it. I wanted to shake some sense into each of the characters at different times and loved how emotionally invested I got at the same time. The message that embracing your love for someone is one of the hardest and bravest things you can do really stuck with me. Winds of Ruin is a beautiful end to this series and I can’t wait to see what will come next for Mariet Kay! If you like romantasy books with fairytale vibes, strong female characters and prophecies, you should try The Legends of Henosis trilogy!

*Please check trigger warnings*
Profile Image for C.W. Rose.
Author 2 books138 followers
April 8, 2026
I’ve read and loved the first two books in this series, Born of Starlight and City of Snakes, but I’d have to say Winds of Ruin is definitely my favorite in the trilogy!

I loved so much about this story: we spend time with characters from the first 2 books, and I always enjoy seeing what they’ve been up to since they found their own HEAs in previous books. Elsedora and Emmerick are perfect for each other and have SO MUCH chemistry, and I was so immersed in how they change and come out of their shell to love one another. Larkspur (Sybilla and Krait’s daughter) was compelling to read about as well, as she grew up to find her own love and destiny. The last 15% had me turning the pages as everything in the world, and the romance, comes to a head.

This did not feel like a 500+ page read, I was so invested. Truly a fitting, epic and beautiful end to this trilogy. I can’t wait to see what this author cooks up next!
Profile Image for Ashley Martinez (ilovebooksandstuffblog).
3,212 reviews94 followers
April 24, 2026
Winds of Ruin

An epic conclusion to this fantastic series! I loved it! I enjoyed seeing all the previous characters and loved that there was not only one but two different couples that this book focuses on!

The various POVs added to the story and I loved seeing all side!

Elsedora was a sassy fun character who wasn’t afraid to take charge.

Emmerick was a great golden retriever character. He was sweet and I loved his heart and personality!

I loved how their unexpected relationship developed! It was fun and I loved the banter between them and the tension was sizzling!

If you love friends to lovers, second chance at love, a magical mirror, a man who cooks, a magical mirror, multiple POVs, magic, battles, very loose sleeping beauty reimagining, prophecy, royal intrigue, and so much more.
Profile Image for Stephanie.
545 reviews15 followers
April 18, 2026
What a conclusion to The Legends of Henosis trilogy.
I simply love how each book has been a reimagining of a different fairytale for different couples in each book.
Winds of Ruin is a sleeping beauty reimagining for the couple Elsedora and Emmerick. As well as another couple, but I'm afraid it'll spoil things.
But seriously what a story this was.
Breaking a curse isn't just as simple as breaking it. It takes everything our favorite characters from this series has to break the Sethe curse and beat Cayman.

Just loved Elsedora and Emmerick so much.

I'm gonna be honest, I'm struggling writing this review due to not wanting to spoil anything.

Just know I highly recommend it, but also know these are connected and best to read in order. 😊

Thank you Mariet for the arc. 🫶🏻
32 reviews
May 8, 2026
Like all 3 books, this started really strong. I loved both characters in the previous novels and the first half was really good. The characters are true to themelvss and still get an arc, which was the strength of the book, though I feel like there was a lack of showing us Emmerick in his own right, as his own person.
After that it felt forced, because Larks POV was added, and I think Lark and Driton should have been a novella by itself.
It at times felt plot twisty for plot twist reasons. The Battle scenes were quite boring and anti-climactic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Dominoe.
68 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2026
What an absolutely amazing journey.  This book far surpassed all my expectations and they were sky high after the previous two books.  Watching Elsedora's heart heal and finally letting someone in was worth every second of torment to get there.  Emmerick, swoon, I'm so glad he finally got someone to call his own too.  This story had so much depth.  It was a tense and emotional ride and I loved it.  Thank you to the author for the ARC.
2 reviews
April 16, 2026
Review of advance copy received from Author

Wow! I loved Winds of Ruin. The characters are amazing and you really get to know them better. I love how Elsedora still calls Emmerick 'Puppy'. Also, the plot! Some things went as expected while others were very unexpected

I almost never cry while reading a book but this one actually got my eyes wet a few times.

I will recommend these books for my bookclub!
Profile Image for Emi Katsumi.
40 reviews1 follower
March 26, 2026
I really, really loved this book series and this finale was well written. The characters are well developed, the dynamic amongst them all is intriguing, and the yearning!!!! The plot was captivating enough, though little happened for the majority of the book. Other than that, the pacing was great and I had such a great time with this book!
Profile Image for Becca (book_lover_xoxo_) Hofmann.
272 reviews6 followers
April 7, 2026
Ugh, I loved this book so freaking much!! Else and Emmerick are perfection, and I freaking loved their story so much. This entire world is so fun and amazing. I loved every single second of it. If you haven’t read this series, you definitely need to! Thank you so much for the ARC. I’m so sad for this series to end, but it was such a perfect ending!
Profile Image for Bryanna.
214 reviews62 followers
Review of advance copy received from Author
March 28, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️

IM SO HAPPY AND SO SAD AND I CANT BELIEVE THIS SERIES IS OVER 😭

FULL REVIEW TO COME
Profile Image for em_readsallday.
158 reviews1 follower
April 19, 2026
Saved the best for last! Emmerick has been my favorite since book one and his book didn’t disappoint. I’m sad to part with these characters but what a lovely way to wrap up the series.
Profile Image for Lectures_de_Jess.
55 reviews
May 2, 2026
Elsedora is searching for the three Isolde's relics, which will allow her niece, Larkspur, to finally kill Caym. During one of her tomb raids, she discovers a magical mirror that allows her to speak with King Emmerick Mattock, who is under the Sethe curse (a sleeping curse). As her feelings for him grow, she’s forced to confront her past. Meanwhile, King Emmerick Mattock struggles against the Death Origin, a force that threatens to erase his identity. Elsedora’s connection offers him hope for the first time in years.

There is a little bit of action in this book, but the world-building, character dynamics, emotional tension, and personal growth are really on point. This book tells the complicated love story between Elsedora and Emmerick, as well as the sweet relationship between Larkspur and Dritan.
It’s the third and final book in the Legends of Henosis series and I think the ending was perfect!

If you’re into romantasy, strong female characters, and fairytale vibes, this book is for you!
Profile Image for Gwendolyn W.
267 reviews6 followers
April 17, 2026
I received a free e-arc of Winds of Ruin in exchange for an honest review.

“Self-preservation, or self-sabotage? To be determined.” - Marriet Kay, Winds of Ruin
This line is so honest and cracked me up.

This book read like a fabulous romance with a backdrop of fantasy. This is the third and final book in the series, and you really felt the romance drive the story along. The plot was still there moving forward continuously in the background. The chapters flew by for me, and I found I was invested in the characters story. Even though one of these characters had not been a favorite of mine. I mean, they definitely got some redemption in the Winds of Ruin.

I really enjoyed the way the plot was tied up, and even the second romance we got to see. I also found the worlds were well formed in my mind even when we visited untraditional spaces, which is a testament to Kay’s writing.
Profile Image for Aishaaa.u.a.
72 reviews1 follower
Read
March 29, 2026
I’m so excited for this!!!!



Edit: 21/03/26 Received the Arc, if I get these damn uni assignments done I can read it!!!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews