RUIN: a dark romance

by Amanda Ruzsa

She survives the night because something worse is watching.

What saves her isn’t mercy or justice, it’s hunger. And instead of running, she can’t stop thinking about the thing that stepped out of the dark, tore a man apart, and left her alive.

Drawn to the moment when fear first turned into desire, she goes looking for him again. Not because she’s brave. Because she’s changed.

RUIN is a dark romance about obsession, power, and desire born in violence. It’s about what happens when terror rewires the body, when being hunted starts to feel like being chosen, and when ruin is the thing you crave most.

For readers who want their horror intimate and their romance dangerous.

23 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 30, 2025

About the author

Amanda lives in Minnesota with her husband, three children, a dog and two cats. When she isn’t buried in a spooky book, she enjoys baking and spending time with her family— usually watching creepy movies or playing outrageous board games. In her free time, she enjoys collecting Halloween decor, writing macabre poetry, reorganizing her books and coming up with ways to surprise and amuse her friends and family. It has been a lifelong joke among her friends and family that Amanda is a member of the ‘grammar police.’ Writing and reading have always played a huge part in her life, stemming from growing up idolizing the talents of her Mother: a novelist, artist and journalist. Amanda began creating stories and crafting poems at a young age and never stopped. Now, reading and writing is still a huge part of her everyday life, and she feels blessed to be able to share her love of spooky stories with so many.

Reviews

[Andrew Wilkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

We start off, finding the female main character being physically, and sexually attacked. I'm the dark alley of the city, no one can hear her screams, and pleas for help. No one, except for a mysterious figure, who emerged from the shadows, and saved her from an unwelcome, and painful experience. Instantly, she is entranced by his aura, his strength, and his beauty. Will she ever see him again? Over time, she begins to crave the stranger who had become her hero, on that faithful night. She wants to see him, again. To be around, and with him. But how? She formulates a plan to get herself in a position of impending danger, in order to hopefully summon him to her aide, once more. Will he show? And, what will come of this strong obsession? I loved this! When I was early in my horror journey, in my youth, I started with vampire movies, and stories. All, of which, can be very erotic in nature, but, also bloody, and violent. This very short story delivers all of these things. This was very much a dark romance story, and I dig those so much, from time to time! Having expanded my horizons, in the last year, this was a great addition to a list of books I didn't expect to grasp me as hard as it did. I highly recommend this!
4🖤/4

[sugarnsass_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amanda Ruzsa has passionately crafted the unveiling of visceral need to be deeply craved and devoured wholly; to be called another’s that evades all rational thought. A damsel in distress, an anti-hero, and a back alley make up this sickly beautiful and horrifying short story of the darkest desires cloaked in fear, risk, lust, and complete surrender. What would you endure to have that? Absolute RUIN. Ruzsa is persistent and relentless in her quest to make the reader feel every ounce of the intense ache of yearning and the pain of passion. Sink your teeth into this guilty pleasure🔥💋

[Kevin C · Rating 5 out of 5]

He Ruined Her

Amanda has done.it again. A short story that will make you question everything that you might not know about the dark. It can be seductive, but it can also take you in and never let go. Check trigger warnings before reading, but if you don't have any, this is definitely a must read!!!

[Leighah · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are chasing a fast paced intense horror erotica story, this will tick your boxes. This story hits hard and fast but still captures the passion behind the tale. I'm not really into smut but this I didn't mind. It was a nice change for me. Definitely worth a read.

[Holly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick intense story that was seductive, obsessive and visceral in nature. I don’t read a lot of horror erotica but I love dark romance, horror and vampires so this story hit for me. It was definitely a dark ride.

[Jerry Blaze · Rating 5 out of 5]

RUIN by Amanda Ruzsa is a dark and paranormal romance novelette that will pull you into the shadows of an enthralling love story.

I won't spoil anything, but I can say that the foreboding darkness lends essence to the love found between a captivated woman and her mysterious rescuer. The story is sweet, spicy, and manages to work foremost on ethereal charm.

Definitely recommend!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’d give it more stars. It’s farrrr too short I needdddd moreee