What do you think?
Rate this book
The Soulbound #1
Souls in Ruin
Book One of the Soulbound Series
A marriage forged in blood. A kingdom bathed in silence. And a princess whose soul refuses to shatter.
When Princess Mireille is wed to a foreign king with cold eyes and colder intentions, she expects distance, perhaps cruelty, not chains. Kept imprisoned within her own kingdom’s walls, she learns her father’s past sins are not easily buried, but neither is she.
As her world twists into something unrecognizable, Mireille finds herself caught between two powerful beings—one who wants her obedience, and one who wants what little soul she has left.
Yet, Mireille was not born to kneel.
Souls in Ruin is the first book in a dark fantasy series about survival, obsession, and the quiet fury of a woman who refuses to be forgotten. For readers who love myth-drenched romance, morally dark men, and heroines who rise from ruin.
This book ends on a cliffhanger. For CWs, please check the author's website.
A marriage forged in blood. A kingdom bathed in silence. And a princess whose soul refuses to shatter.
When Princess Mireille is wed to a foreign king with cold eyes and colder intentions, she expects distance, perhaps cruelty, not chains. Kept imprisoned within her own kingdom’s walls, she learns her father’s past sins are not easily buried, but neither is she.
As her world twists into something unrecognizable, Mireille finds herself caught between two powerful beings—one who wants her obedience, and one who wants what little soul she has left.
Yet, Mireille was not born to kneel.
Souls in Ruin is the first book in a dark fantasy series about survival, obsession, and the quiet fury of a woman who refuses to be forgotten. For readers who love myth-drenched romance, morally dark men, and heroines who rise from ruin.
This book ends on a cliffhanger. For CWs, please check the author's website.
635 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 28, 2026
3394 people are currently reading
47520 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline White
3 books895 followersJacqueline White is the author of Souls in Ruin, the first book in The SoulBound Trilogy, a dark romantasy series exploring divine power, obsession, and fate. She writes emotionally rich fantasy stories for adult readers, blending slow-burn romance with high stakes and morally complex characters.
When she’s not writing, Jacqueline enjoys crafting new Spotify playlists, rereading her favorite books, and drinking too much matcha. She lives in New York and is passionate about creating stories that linger long after the final page.
When she’s not writing, Jacqueline enjoys crafting new Spotify playlists, rereading her favorite books, and drinking too much matcha. She lives in New York and is passionate about creating stories that linger long after the final page.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,463 reviews
March 12, 2026
Oh my gosh. This definitely lived up to my expectations. It wasn't perfect, but it has a lot of potential. If the next two books are executed in a far more refined way, I can see this series becoming something big.
But let's get to it.
The writing, it's pretty immersive. The emotions are well described, the environment is dark and eerie and if you're looking for light? You won't find it here. This is super dark and there are red flags all over. So do check trigger warnings before you dive into this. It also really picks up after 25% and boy, the plot twists were something that had me gasping because I did not see it all coming. I love when books manage to surprise me and are unpredictable 🤌🤌
I think my only issue with this book was somewhere around 70% mark, I couldn't really understand the motives or intentions behind Mireille's actions. I mean, I gathered she had a plan however reckless and the emotions behind were clearly expressed. But the way she went about it had me confused. Because my reaction wasn't "damn she's a baddie". It was "huh...okay?" It didn't really make sense to me and that was not a fault in the character but rather the execution.
Coming to Mireille, she's a fierce, badass and absolutely worth rooting and fighting for. Her trauma and wounds on her body, soul run deep. And part of me just wanted to hug her. The other wanted to make her fight. But with how the story ended, I couldn't even fault her for making certain decisions. It was so human of her to make those mistakes. And yet I find myself looking for her revenge arc.
As for the men in this book... *sigh*
Why are they the way that they are? No, seriously though. Why are men like this? The manipulation, love bombing, betrayals and then utterly breaking and humiliating someone because it makes them feel powerful? Bro.. Just stop please 😭🤢
I cannot for the life of me make myself like Valen. He's not a morally grey man. He's a waving red flag and i swear to the stars above if she finds her way back to this man without there being a hundred years worth of groveling, I'm gonna lose it 😡
As for Death? Now that's someone I rooted for. But of course this book is dark. And yet, I find myself a bit hopeful. If I had to pick, it would be him. I could see myself swooning for this man possibly. He had me instantly captivated but he's gotta prove himself first.
But does Mireille really need a man to be with? Not really. I prefer our badass woman to find herself and if she says she needs no man, I'm there for her because she deserves to be free 😤😤😤
Anyhoo, I wouldn't really classify it as romance either. The chemistry is there and we do have emotionally charged moments but was it a romance, not really. It was just dark fantasy. It's a bit complex unless you read it.
I'm really looking forward to the next one after the intense ending it had. The betrayals and the games played are so worth investing in. I can't wait to see how book 2 unfolds but I'll be rooting for some feminine rage.
~•~•~
This better be good. My expectations are super high
But let's get to it.
The writing, it's pretty immersive. The emotions are well described, the environment is dark and eerie and if you're looking for light? You won't find it here. This is super dark and there are red flags all over. So do check trigger warnings before you dive into this. It also really picks up after 25% and boy, the plot twists were something that had me gasping because I did not see it all coming. I love when books manage to surprise me and are unpredictable 🤌🤌
I think my only issue with this book was somewhere around 70% mark, I couldn't really understand the motives or intentions behind Mireille's actions. I mean, I gathered she had a plan however reckless and the emotions behind were clearly expressed. But the way she went about it had me confused. Because my reaction wasn't "damn she's a baddie". It was "huh...okay?" It didn't really make sense to me and that was not a fault in the character but rather the execution.
Coming to Mireille, she's a fierce, badass and absolutely worth rooting and fighting for. Her trauma and wounds on her body, soul run deep. And part of me just wanted to hug her. The other wanted to make her fight. But with how the story ended, I couldn't even fault her for making certain decisions. It was so human of her to make those mistakes. And yet I find myself looking for her revenge arc.
As for the men in this book... *sigh*
Why are they the way that they are? No, seriously though. Why are men like this? The manipulation, love bombing, betrayals and then utterly breaking and humiliating someone because it makes them feel powerful? Bro.. Just stop please 😭🤢
I cannot for the life of me make myself like Valen. He's not a morally grey man. He's a waving red flag and i swear to the stars above if she finds her way back to this man without there being a hundred years worth of groveling, I'm gonna lose it 😡
As for Death? Now that's someone I rooted for. But of course this book is dark. And yet, I find myself a bit hopeful. If I had to pick, it would be him. I could see myself swooning for this man possibly. He had me instantly captivated but he's gotta prove himself first.
But does Mireille really need a man to be with? Not really. I prefer our badass woman to find herself and if she says she needs no man, I'm there for her because she deserves to be free 😤😤😤
Anyhoo, I wouldn't really classify it as romance either. The chemistry is there and we do have emotionally charged moments but was it a romance, not really. It was just dark fantasy. It's a bit complex unless you read it.
I'm really looking forward to the next one after the intense ending it had. The betrayals and the games played are so worth investing in. I can't wait to see how book 2 unfolds but I'll be rooting for some feminine rage.
~•~•~
This better be good. My expectations are super high
January 23, 2026
If Rain of Shadows and endings had a child with Feathers so Vicious.. meet Souls in Ruin.
I’m not sure what this says about me.
I’m not sure what this says about me.
April 27, 2026
5⭐️
This was a raw and incredibly painful read — and I mean that in the best possible way.
I’m very easily triggered by emotional damage and abuse in books. I couldn’t get past page 200 of The Rain of Shadows and Endings, and I’m honestly still scared to pick up Feathers So Vicious. So for the first time ever, I actually read the trigger warnings here. It was a whole page long. And I’m really glad I did, because it helped me prepare.
Reading this felt like an out-of-body experience.
FMC Mireille is forced into marriage with Valen, the supposed king… but nothing is what it seems. At around 22%, everything goes completely off the rails — and it stays there for the rest of the book. About 70% of the story takes place in the dungeons, where Mirielle is held captive. You can imagine what happens there. There is explicit torture. It’s spicy — just the right amount — but the abuse is graphic and deeply unsettling.
And yet… I could not look away.
What I absolutely loved was Mireille’s transformation. She doesn’t stay curled up in a corner, broken and timid. She becomes feral. And I mean FERAL. Watching her shift after enduring physical and emotional torment was horrifying and powerful at the same time.
That said — this should NOT be your first dark romance. There is very little romance and a whole lot of suffering. This is heavy, brutal, and not for the faint of heart.
But if you can handle it? It’s unforgettable.
And WHAT THE FUCK was the ending??? No I can’t… I swear my heart stopped!
I will be picking up book #2 the second it comes out!
This was a raw and incredibly painful read — and I mean that in the best possible way.
I’m very easily triggered by emotional damage and abuse in books. I couldn’t get past page 200 of The Rain of Shadows and Endings, and I’m honestly still scared to pick up Feathers So Vicious. So for the first time ever, I actually read the trigger warnings here. It was a whole page long. And I’m really glad I did, because it helped me prepare.
Reading this felt like an out-of-body experience.
FMC Mireille is forced into marriage with Valen, the supposed king… but nothing is what it seems. At around 22%, everything goes completely off the rails — and it stays there for the rest of the book. About 70% of the story takes place in the dungeons, where Mirielle is held captive. You can imagine what happens there. There is explicit torture. It’s spicy — just the right amount — but the abuse is graphic and deeply unsettling.
And yet… I could not look away.
What I absolutely loved was Mireille’s transformation. She doesn’t stay curled up in a corner, broken and timid. She becomes feral. And I mean FERAL. Watching her shift after enduring physical and emotional torment was horrifying and powerful at the same time.
That said — this should NOT be your first dark romance. There is very little romance and a whole lot of suffering. This is heavy, brutal, and not for the faint of heart.
But if you can handle it? It’s unforgettable.
And WHAT THE FUCK was the ending??? No I can’t… I swear my heart stopped!
I will be picking up book #2 the second it comes out!
February 28, 2026
WOW. I went in completely blind, one quote was the reason to pick this book up and let me just say… it did NOT disappoint.
"If I smell him on you again, Princess, I'll rip every vein from his body and string you a necklace... A wedding gift, if you will."
This book literally had everything perfectly executed!
Survival CHECK
Vengeance CHECK
Obsession CHECK
Loneliness CHECK
Yearning CHECK
Belonging CHECK
TRUE VILLIAN CHEEEECKKKKKKKKKK
The betrayals. The twists. The secrets. I can confidently say this is the BEST dark fantasy romance I’ve ever read. I devoured every single page. The writing was absolutely beautiful and poetic.
This wasn’t just enemies-to-lovers — this was villain done RIGHT. Valen earned the hatred. He earned the fear. And I loved every second of it. Valen has done unforgivable things to Mireille and still there was emotion, confusion, manipulation! Ughhhhh I loved every second of this book!
"I’d thought I’d known desire before. I’d thought I’d understood need, want, longing. But this—this was something else entirely. This was consumption, possession, madness. It burned along my nerves like wildfire, pooled molten between my thighs, throbbed in my veins with every beat of my heart."
It left me with questions, theories, and emotional damage in the best way. It was executed perfectly, and now I’m just praying the next two books live up to this one.
And lets not forget about Death… I have FAR too many questions about this mysterious man. Always there when she called him. Always watching. Comforting her. Listening to her. Healing her.
“Call out for the gods if you must,” he murmured. “Scream for them. Whisper for them in your sleep. But understand this, Mireille—” He paused, the silence rich with strain. With hunger. “When you do, I am the God who hears you.”
“I would take Vharok’s corruption from your veins and replace it with my own.” The confession emerged like a secret dragged from the depths of an ancient sea. “I would erase his touch from your memory until you remembered nothing but my hands on your skin. I would make you forget his name, little fawn. I would make you scream mine.”
And that scene where he’s in her mind… omg. I’m not okay.
“You forget what I am, little fawn,” he said, voice low and deadly quiet. “I have told you, I am not kind. I am not good. And if you set me free, I will take my revenge on those who have wronged me. Without hesitation. Without restraint.”
This is officially the most annotated book I own over 150 highlights. I’ve lived and breathed this story for the past two days. I am completely obsessed, and it will stay with me for months to come.
And the love triangle? Hello.... I LOVE a love triangle… but this was not an ordinary one. Holy moly. I’m speechless. Hot steamy literally had me screaming!! Please pick this up, this book needs to get more hyped!!🖤🖤
"Life terrified me. Loss haunted me. But Valen himself—the god wearing a king’s face—did not. Perhaps it was because I had already lost everything that mattered, or perhaps it was simply that death had become more friend than foe in the darkness of my captivity."
"If I smell him on you again, Princess, I'll rip every vein from his body and string you a necklace... A wedding gift, if you will."
This book literally had everything perfectly executed!
Survival CHECK
Vengeance CHECK
Obsession CHECK
Loneliness CHECK
Yearning CHECK
Belonging CHECK
TRUE VILLIAN CHEEEECKKKKKKKKKK
The betrayals. The twists. The secrets. I can confidently say this is the BEST dark fantasy romance I’ve ever read. I devoured every single page. The writing was absolutely beautiful and poetic.
This wasn’t just enemies-to-lovers — this was villain done RIGHT. Valen earned the hatred. He earned the fear. And I loved every second of it. Valen has done unforgivable things to Mireille and still there was emotion, confusion, manipulation! Ughhhhh I loved every second of this book!
"I’d thought I’d known desire before. I’d thought I’d understood need, want, longing. But this—this was something else entirely. This was consumption, possession, madness. It burned along my nerves like wildfire, pooled molten between my thighs, throbbed in my veins with every beat of my heart."
It left me with questions, theories, and emotional damage in the best way. It was executed perfectly, and now I’m just praying the next two books live up to this one.
And lets not forget about Death… I have FAR too many questions about this mysterious man. Always there when she called him. Always watching. Comforting her. Listening to her. Healing her.
“Call out for the gods if you must,” he murmured. “Scream for them. Whisper for them in your sleep. But understand this, Mireille—” He paused, the silence rich with strain. With hunger. “When you do, I am the God who hears you.”
“I would take Vharok’s corruption from your veins and replace it with my own.” The confession emerged like a secret dragged from the depths of an ancient sea. “I would erase his touch from your memory until you remembered nothing but my hands on your skin. I would make you forget his name, little fawn. I would make you scream mine.”
And that scene where he’s in her mind… omg. I’m not okay.
“You forget what I am, little fawn,” he said, voice low and deadly quiet. “I have told you, I am not kind. I am not good. And if you set me free, I will take my revenge on those who have wronged me. Without hesitation. Without restraint.”
This is officially the most annotated book I own over 150 highlights. I’ve lived and breathed this story for the past two days. I am completely obsessed, and it will stay with me for months to come.
And the love triangle? Hello.... I LOVE a love triangle… but this was not an ordinary one. Holy moly. I’m speechless. Hot steamy literally had me screaming!! Please pick this up, this book needs to get more hyped!!🖤🖤
"Life terrified me. Loss haunted me. But Valen himself—the god wearing a king’s face—did not. Perhaps it was because I had already lost everything that mattered, or perhaps it was simply that death had become more friend than foe in the darkness of my captivity."
December 22, 2025
The first time she met the man who would become her husband, she arrived dressed in black to mourn her own freedom. From that moment, I knew she was going to be ✨that b*tch✨. Did I understand every decision she made? Absolutely not. Did some of her choices leave me tilting my head like a confused golden retriever? Several times. But bored? Nope
From the beginning, the heroine was bold, defiant, and totally unimpressed by the hero’s reputation. Meanwhile, he was instantly hooked and secretly thrilled every time she pushed back. Sparks were everywhere 🧨The chemistry was chaotic!
I.e. on their first meeting, he said…
"If I smell him on you again, Princess," he whispered, voice velvet-wrapped in venom,
"I'll rip every vein from his body and string you a necklace. A wedding gift, if you will."
I was locked in !!
The plot did not play. I went in expecting a big twist around the halfway mark, but the author said, ‘Nope, here you go at 25%.’ Suddenly I was feeling every emotion, questioning every character, convinced I knew who the villain was (fyi. I didn’t). And then it got dark. Like, dark dark. It happened fast, do not blink.
This book gave me serious Torment: Part One and Feathers So Vicious vibes because of how unpredictable it was. I didn’t know who to root for or which direction it would go. Glimpses of the future teased me, but ‘the darkness’ made every character’s redemption uncertain. It kept me on edge the whole way.
Now, despite all the positives, this book did lose points along the way. From around 60% to the end, some of the heroine’s choices got confusing. She was indecisive because of her situation, leaving me constantly unsure whose side I should take and who the love interest was…I thought I had my bearings, knew where the story was headed, and where the FMC stood… and then everything flipped again.
Her emotions can be chaotic, but you have to understand that this is a woman who has never really known love, only rejection and dismissal. So just keep that in mind.
I don’t want to go into more details because I’d probably ruin it, and I think there are so many unexpected moments that you should experience yourself. I will say it’s entirely from the heroine’s POV, which gave me a totally different appreciation. I don’t know why I’m so lucky lately with the single POVs at the moment.
Honestly, after this whole review, I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I think positively…but it’s one of those reads that takes a couple of days to fully process… so I might need to revisit 😅
From the beginning, the heroine was bold, defiant, and totally unimpressed by the hero’s reputation. Meanwhile, he was instantly hooked and secretly thrilled every time she pushed back. Sparks were everywhere 🧨The chemistry was chaotic!
I.e. on their first meeting, he said…
"If I smell him on you again, Princess," he whispered, voice velvet-wrapped in venom,
"I'll rip every vein from his body and string you a necklace. A wedding gift, if you will."
I was locked in !!
The plot did not play. I went in expecting a big twist around the halfway mark, but the author said, ‘Nope, here you go at 25%.’ Suddenly I was feeling every emotion, questioning every character, convinced I knew who the villain was (fyi. I didn’t). And then it got dark. Like, dark dark. It happened fast, do not blink.
This book gave me serious Torment: Part One and Feathers So Vicious vibes because of how unpredictable it was. I didn’t know who to root for or which direction it would go. Glimpses of the future teased me, but ‘the darkness’ made every character’s redemption uncertain. It kept me on edge the whole way.
Now, despite all the positives, this book did lose points along the way. From around 60% to the end, some of the heroine’s choices got confusing. She was indecisive because of her situation, leaving me constantly unsure whose side I should take and who the love interest was…I thought I had my bearings, knew where the story was headed, and where the FMC stood… and then everything flipped again.
Her emotions can be chaotic, but you have to understand that this is a woman who has never really known love, only rejection and dismissal. So just keep that in mind.
I don’t want to go into more details because I’d probably ruin it, and I think there are so many unexpected moments that you should experience yourself. I will say it’s entirely from the heroine’s POV, which gave me a totally different appreciation. I don’t know why I’m so lucky lately with the single POVs at the moment.
Honestly, after this whole review, I’m still not entirely sure how I feel about this book. I think positively…but it’s one of those reads that takes a couple of days to fully process… so I might need to revisit 😅
May 1, 2026
Wow I hate being in outlier land😭😭 dnf 68% (I don't usually rate dnfs, but seeing as I crossed the halfway mark I will make an exception here)
I was so looking forward to this but it just didn't work for me for so many reasons, but let me start with what I liked first:
1. The writing is immersive and for a debut it is well-written.
2. The first 25-30% was GOOD. I was hooked and found it so refreshing in how it did not exactly follow the typical romantacy recipe.
3. The audiobook was also well produced.
Now why did this ultimately disappoint me: MINOR SPOILERS READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!!
1. After the 30% mark, it was just the same scene over and over again. The fmc is in this dungeon getting tortured and it just goes in circles and repeating itself.
2. There was almost no worldbuilding here? I mean I have no idea what this world looks like? Is magic a norm? Are Gods a norm? How did this king trap these Gods? I had so many questions which I am sure got no answer.
3.
4. After the 30% mark, I was just bored. I felt absolutely no connection to any of the characters. I didn't even have time to form a connection to the fmc before she was thrust into repetitive torture.
5. This book was marketed as dark, but maybe my threshold for dark is different because this was not that dark. The torture scenes were really not that bad😅 I mean maybe by my standards?
6. I did not like either of the mmcs, ESPECIALLY, Valen. He was just cruel and honestly kind of petty and dumb😅 He is so irredeemable in my eyes and I cannot fathom how the fmc even has any spec of desire for him? Even after that whole blood ritual thing.. I was just rolling my eyes the whole time😅
As always, just my opinion and I really did try to keep going, but even on audio I would zone out then come back and find out that I had not really missed a thing😭 Maybe the ending redeems it, but it just too long with nothing happening for me to keep going I'm sorry😭
___________________________________________________
pre-read:
I got it 👹👹
____________________________________________
My life is just me waiting for audiobooks to release🌚 CORVIN KING😩😩
I was so looking forward to this but it just didn't work for me for so many reasons, but let me start with what I liked first:
1. The writing is immersive and for a debut it is well-written.
2. The first 25-30% was GOOD. I was hooked and found it so refreshing in how it did not exactly follow the typical romantacy recipe.
3. The audiobook was also well produced.
Now why did this ultimately disappoint me: MINOR SPOILERS READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!!!
1. After the 30% mark, it was just the same scene over and over again. The fmc is in this dungeon getting tortured and it just goes in circles and repeating itself.
2. There was almost no worldbuilding here? I mean I have no idea what this world looks like? Is magic a norm? Are Gods a norm? How did this king trap these Gods? I had so many questions which I am sure got no answer.
3.
4. After the 30% mark, I was just bored. I felt absolutely no connection to any of the characters. I didn't even have time to form a connection to the fmc before she was thrust into repetitive torture.
5. This book was marketed as dark, but maybe my threshold for dark is different because this was not that dark. The torture scenes were really not that bad😅 I mean maybe by my standards?
6. I did not like either of the mmcs, ESPECIALLY, Valen. He was just cruel and honestly kind of petty and dumb😅 He is so irredeemable in my eyes and I cannot fathom how the fmc even has any spec of desire for him? Even after that whole blood ritual thing.. I was just rolling my eyes the whole time😅
As always, just my opinion and I really did try to keep going, but even on audio I would zone out then come back and find out that I had not really missed a thing😭 Maybe the ending redeems it, but it just too long with nothing happening for me to keep going I'm sorry😭
___________________________________________________
pre-read:
I got it 👹👹
____________________________________________
April 24, 2026
after sitting on my thoughts for a little over a week, this is definitely a 3.5 star read.
i surprisingly tore through this book, which i was not necessarily expecting! it was fast paced and i really loved our fmc mireille - i found her kindness towards her step-family significant due to their cruelty towards her throughout the entirety of her life. her strength and perseverance was admirable, but i wished she were able to showcase her strength outside of her prison cell.
i found the fact that 75% of the book takes place in the dungeon to be rather repetitive and exhausting, and almost a cop-out for the worldbuilding; the worldbuilding revealed during conversations with mireille and death were very interesting, and i wish readers had the opportunity to explore this world more. while this book was certainly a dark fantasy, perhaps it was not necessarily as dark as i thought it would be after reading the reviews from some mutuals, but there are different levels of darkness for different readers. i do recommend reading the trigger warning, because there were sensitive topics depicted.
to me, the romance aspect was reminiscent of ACOMAF in some ways, but i won't say much more than that to avoid spoilers for those who haven't read this book yet.
the two main "love" interests had me scratching my head, and honestly, the only decent man in this book was cass... and i hope he comes back in book two because i think HE should be a love interest lol.
i do think i would also enjoy the audio version, so once it's published, i'll certainly give it a listen!
overall, check trigger warnings if you are not used to reading dark romantasy, but this is a series i will certainly return to!
——
ok so i finished my read, and just like daggermouth i need to collect my thoughts, but overall this is probably 3.5 - 4 stars? this is not nearly as dark as i was expecting from other reviews i’ve read but still pretty gruesome.
——
3/6 update - i am 34% of the way in and i cannot believe how much i am enjoying this.
literally only three chapters in and i am loving this so much, so i hope i continue to love it
——
this is another book everyone and their mother is currently reading and absolutely obsessed with👀... time to dive in and see for myself🙂↕️
i surprisingly tore through this book, which i was not necessarily expecting! it was fast paced and i really loved our fmc mireille - i found her kindness towards her step-family significant due to their cruelty towards her throughout the entirety of her life. her strength and perseverance was admirable, but i wished she were able to showcase her strength outside of her prison cell.
i found the fact that 75% of the book takes place in the dungeon to be rather repetitive and exhausting, and almost a cop-out for the worldbuilding; the worldbuilding revealed during conversations with mireille and death were very interesting, and i wish readers had the opportunity to explore this world more. while this book was certainly a dark fantasy, perhaps it was not necessarily as dark as i thought it would be after reading the reviews from some mutuals, but there are different levels of darkness for different readers. i do recommend reading the trigger warning, because there were sensitive topics depicted.
to me, the romance aspect was reminiscent of ACOMAF in some ways, but i won't say much more than that to avoid spoilers for those who haven't read this book yet.
the two main "love" interests had me scratching my head, and honestly, the only decent man in this book was cass... and i hope he comes back in book two because i think HE should be a love interest lol.
i do think i would also enjoy the audio version, so once it's published, i'll certainly give it a listen!
overall, check trigger warnings if you are not used to reading dark romantasy, but this is a series i will certainly return to!
——
ok so i finished my read, and just like daggermouth i need to collect my thoughts, but overall this is probably 3.5 - 4 stars? this is not nearly as dark as i was expecting from other reviews i’ve read but still pretty gruesome.
——
3/6 update - i am 34% of the way in and i cannot believe how much i am enjoying this.
literally only three chapters in and i am loving this so much, so i hope i continue to love it
——
this is another book everyone and their mother is currently reading and absolutely obsessed with👀... time to dive in and see for myself🙂↕️
March 18, 2026
Infinity stars ♾️⭐️
You can't tell me anything bad about this book because I won't believe you.
Where do I even start?
This is a top-tier DARK romantasy that kept me engaged early on. The writing is poetic and beautiful.
You'll get
Forced Marriage
Obsession
Revenge
Betrayal
and I don't want to add too much and spoil anything, but there's plenty more.
You won't get enemies to lovers here because there is no enemy, just a villain.
Mireille, she is our FMC, who has already endured so much in her life and I really was hopeful for her. An arranged marriage would be terrible, especially to the Blood King, Valen. But then he comes waltzing in, attractive, manly and commanding. His pretty smile, gentle touches and kind words had me fooled just like her.
BOY WAS I FOOLED.
This is the first time shit hit the fan and when I was questioning my morals. Torture is bad, real bad, but this author played me like a puppet because why was I rooting for Valen. Why was I like Mirielle and intrigued by his darkness and cruel touches? Blasphemy!
Death... as soon as he came on the page (well, wait, he did that, but I'm not referring to that yet) I said oooooh, who is this?!
Death is powerful. You don't know to what extent at this point, but he clearly is because he's been imprisoned and locked in chains for decades. Everyone is afraid to go near him and no one can touch him.
The small act of comfort he gives to Mirielle when she is in need is seriously everything! The fundamental connection between them is beautiful.
The spice between the two of them without even a touch was hot 🔥
I just knew our FMC would unravel her true self throughout the story. She endured so much at the cruel hands of everyone in her life.
I was rooting for her from the start.
I was patiently waiting for my mind to piece together all the connections, but I didn't, so when things were revealed I literally said oh fuck because WHAAAAAAT! I didn't know who Death was or why everyone was terrified of him, but when I found out... sreaming, yelling and kicking went on!
I can't believe this was Jacqueline's debut novel. She did phenomenal. She made me feel things for Valen at the end. I felt bad like Mirielle did. I was skeptical if it was the right choice for her. Even after everything he put her through.
Back to Death though 🥰 I love him! Mysterious, dark, powerful, kind, gentle Death.
BUT, that ending had me thinking he betrayed her and my heart hurt knowing she thought the very same thing. He did, but also didn't. So much was revealed at the end and it all made sense and had me sat I tell you.
I just know in book #2 Miriella will not be someone to fuck with. She is going to be full of rage and badassery.
You know a book is great when it's over 600 pages, but it's still not long enough for you.
You can't tell me anything bad about this book because I won't believe you.
Where do I even start?
This is a top-tier DARK romantasy that kept me engaged early on. The writing is poetic and beautiful.
You'll get
Forced Marriage
Obsession
Revenge
Betrayal
and I don't want to add too much and spoil anything, but there's plenty more.
You won't get enemies to lovers here because there is no enemy, just a villain.
Mireille, she is our FMC, who has already endured so much in her life and I really was hopeful for her. An arranged marriage would be terrible, especially to the Blood King, Valen. But then he comes waltzing in, attractive, manly and commanding. His pretty smile, gentle touches and kind words had me fooled just like her.
BOY WAS I FOOLED.
This is the first time shit hit the fan and when I was questioning my morals. Torture is bad, real bad, but this author played me like a puppet because why was I rooting for Valen. Why was I like Mirielle and intrigued by his darkness and cruel touches? Blasphemy!
Death... as soon as he came on the page (well, wait, he did that, but I'm not referring to that yet) I said oooooh, who is this?!
Death is powerful. You don't know to what extent at this point, but he clearly is because he's been imprisoned and locked in chains for decades. Everyone is afraid to go near him and no one can touch him.
The small act of comfort he gives to Mirielle when she is in need is seriously everything! The fundamental connection between them is beautiful.
The spice between the two of them without even a touch was hot 🔥
I just knew our FMC would unravel her true self throughout the story. She endured so much at the cruel hands of everyone in her life.
I was rooting for her from the start.
I was patiently waiting for my mind to piece together all the connections, but I didn't, so when things were revealed I literally said oh fuck because WHAAAAAAT! I didn't know who Death was or why everyone was terrified of him, but when I found out... sreaming, yelling and kicking went on!
I can't believe this was Jacqueline's debut novel. She did phenomenal. She made me feel things for Valen at the end. I felt bad like Mirielle did. I was skeptical if it was the right choice for her. Even after everything he put her through.
Back to Death though 🥰 I love him! Mysterious, dark, powerful, kind, gentle Death.
BUT, that ending had me thinking he betrayed her and my heart hurt knowing she thought the very same thing. He did, but also didn't. So much was revealed at the end and it all made sense and had me sat I tell you.
I just know in book #2 Miriella will not be someone to fuck with. She is going to be full of rage and badassery.
You know a book is great when it's over 600 pages, but it's still not long enough for you.
September 1, 2025
4.5+ stars... I'll be back once I collect myself okay
The words of Souls in Ruin feel like beautiful emo poetry - lush, aching, and unflinching. This is one of those books where you can feel the author’s pen bleed on the page, and it’s equal parts mesmerizing and brutal.
From the beginning, I thought I knew what I was getting into. I was enjoying it - but then around the 25–30% mark, the story took a turn that had me absolutely sat. The unraveling of the characters, the way their layers were peeled back piece by piece, was done with such deliberate precision that every moment felt like a revelation.
What stood out most to me was how unapologetically dark this book is. Mireille is imprisoned, tormented, and trapped in a world that wants to shatter her - but she refuses to break. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story where the FMC spends the entire book in captivity, and yet remains so defiantly alive, her voice sharp and unyielding. It almost reads like journal entries, each one dripping with defiance and quiet fury.
The morality here is pitch black. You hate these characters, you love them, and you hate that you love them. They are obsession, torment, and hunger personified. Honestly? It’s like Love Is Blind: Dungeon Edition.
This book is not soft. It will tear your soul up, make your chest ache, and leave you somewhere between horror and awe. The prose is lyrical and haunting, every word intentional, the kind of writing that forces you to stop and feel it.
By the end, I’m team “whatever Jac tells me to be.” I don’t know where this series is going, but I know I’m all in.
If you’re craving a true dark fantasy - macabre yet hypnotic, with a heroine who puts the fury in feminine rage and morally black MMCs who will ruin you - this belongs on your shelf. If you want characters to admit their deepest desires that they shouldn't want or say... with no shame? You've found the right place.
I'll be impatiently waiting for book 2. Ruin me.
The words of Souls in Ruin feel like beautiful emo poetry - lush, aching, and unflinching. This is one of those books where you can feel the author’s pen bleed on the page, and it’s equal parts mesmerizing and brutal.
From the beginning, I thought I knew what I was getting into. I was enjoying it - but then around the 25–30% mark, the story took a turn that had me absolutely sat. The unraveling of the characters, the way their layers were peeled back piece by piece, was done with such deliberate precision that every moment felt like a revelation.
What stood out most to me was how unapologetically dark this book is. Mireille is imprisoned, tormented, and trapped in a world that wants to shatter her - but she refuses to break. I don’t think I’ve ever read a story where the FMC spends the entire book in captivity, and yet remains so defiantly alive, her voice sharp and unyielding. It almost reads like journal entries, each one dripping with defiance and quiet fury.
The morality here is pitch black. You hate these characters, you love them, and you hate that you love them. They are obsession, torment, and hunger personified. Honestly? It’s like Love Is Blind: Dungeon Edition.
This book is not soft. It will tear your soul up, make your chest ache, and leave you somewhere between horror and awe. The prose is lyrical and haunting, every word intentional, the kind of writing that forces you to stop and feel it.
By the end, I’m team “whatever Jac tells me to be.” I don’t know where this series is going, but I know I’m all in.
If you’re craving a true dark fantasy - macabre yet hypnotic, with a heroine who puts the fury in feminine rage and morally black MMCs who will ruin you - this belongs on your shelf. If you want characters to admit their deepest desires that they shouldn't want or say... with no shame? You've found the right place.
I'll be impatiently waiting for book 2. Ruin me.
March 7, 2026
Hi, it’s me….apparently the only person who isn’t obsessed with this 🤭🥲
2⭐️ is generous. Can’t believe how much I simply didn’t vibe with this. I hope my poor baby Mireille gets her revenge on BOTH of these selfish, fuck ass men. I hate them both. Best case scenario she ends up with NEITHER and she can display their crusty balls on a shelf 💋
📣📣📣 LISTEN TO ME RN 📣📣📣
I see everyone comparing this to Feathers So Vicious and the Legacy series….. that is…a STRETCH. Dare I say insulting!!?? Both books are wildly different from Souls in Ruin ((((in my humble opinion😌)))) DO WITH THAT WHAT YOU WILL, I just have to acknowledge because those are 2 of my all time favorites and we cannot just throw these comparisons around!!!! I will defend them for forever because they are a freaking masterpiece and I can’t say the same for this. The emotional depth, world building & character development is not even in the same league.
Check ur triggers for this one we are talking insanely DARK!!! Parts are incredibly hard to read, very heavy on torture. That is not why I am taking stars away tho to be fair, author was very upfront about the contents 🩶
The story starts off really strong and had me excited…but then the whole freaking book takes place in the dungeons!!! Why are we still in the damn dungeon at 90%???? The plot went at a snail pace once the torture started. It kinda felt like the same scene 20 times over. Little details that were insignificant kept getting repeated…..LIKE SO REPETITIVE? A better edit would have gone a long way!! Dragged a ton in the middle. Ending too rushed.
.
.
.
LIGHT SPOILERS ‼️
.
.
.
After a week of BRUTALLY torturing the FMC, MMC decides he wants to get her off instead. And oh maybe now he realizes that he’s actually obsessed with her and will take good care of her! She can come live upstairs in his bed now! Yay! He feels SO guilty because he killed her twice! Oh no! Now he will protect and worship her!!!! 😄🔪 THAT is the type of shit that just made me lose my appetite for this. I can get down with a pitch black MMC but this man just feels too evil and not redeemable for me. Torture for crimes that aren’t even her fault in the first place is also just so lame…. Annoyed me. I won’t continue the series
2⭐️ is generous. Can’t believe how much I simply didn’t vibe with this. I hope my poor baby Mireille gets her revenge on BOTH of these selfish, fuck ass men. I hate them both. Best case scenario she ends up with NEITHER and she can display their crusty balls on a shelf 💋
📣📣📣 LISTEN TO ME RN 📣📣📣
I see everyone comparing this to Feathers So Vicious and the Legacy series….. that is…a STRETCH. Dare I say insulting!!?? Both books are wildly different from Souls in Ruin ((((in my humble opinion😌)))) DO WITH THAT WHAT YOU WILL, I just have to acknowledge because those are 2 of my all time favorites and we cannot just throw these comparisons around!!!! I will defend them for forever because they are a freaking masterpiece and I can’t say the same for this. The emotional depth, world building & character development is not even in the same league.
Check ur triggers for this one we are talking insanely DARK!!! Parts are incredibly hard to read, very heavy on torture. That is not why I am taking stars away tho to be fair, author was very upfront about the contents 🩶
The story starts off really strong and had me excited…but then the whole freaking book takes place in the dungeons!!! Why are we still in the damn dungeon at 90%???? The plot went at a snail pace once the torture started. It kinda felt like the same scene 20 times over. Little details that were insignificant kept getting repeated…..LIKE SO REPETITIVE? A better edit would have gone a long way!! Dragged a ton in the middle. Ending too rushed.
.
.
.
LIGHT SPOILERS ‼️
.
.
.
After a week of BRUTALLY torturing the FMC, MMC decides he wants to get her off instead. And oh maybe now he realizes that he’s actually obsessed with her and will take good care of her! She can come live upstairs in his bed now! Yay! He feels SO guilty because he killed her twice! Oh no! Now he will protect and worship her!!!! 😄🔪 THAT is the type of shit that just made me lose my appetite for this. I can get down with a pitch black MMC but this man just feels too evil and not redeemable for me. Torture for crimes that aren’t even her fault in the first place is also just so lame…. Annoyed me. I won’t continue the series
May 2, 2026
5 🌟 “𝙽𝚘 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚒𝚗𝚜 𝚖𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚑𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚙𝚛𝚎𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚜 𝚍𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎𝚌𝚘𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛.“
⚠︎ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ ᴛʀɪɢɢᴇʀ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs ⚠︎
OH WOW. this was incredible but so so dark. the twists. the betrayals. the secrets. the emotional damage. still clutching my chest…
i won’t lie the first 20% i was like hmmm… BUT literally the end of the chapter i was questioning things take a crazy turn and the book only gets more insanely dark from there. it can be a bit repetitive but it’s definitely for a reason!
we start off with 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚 our fmc and bastard of the king who must unwilling marry one of the worst men known to the realm, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜, in order to save her kingdom. i’m not going to say much because things take off pretty quick in this one but uhhh this book destroyed me… watching everything 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚 endured. i felt her pain so deeply. those moments in the dungeon were so real and raw… i have so many highlights and annotations ❤️🩹 her transformation was INSANE
we also follow two mmc’s, 𝙑𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣 aka 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜 and 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧 aka 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝. both very morally grey.
i was immediately drawn to the broody mysterious 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 and want to know more!! the way he is always there for 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚, healing, listening and comforting her. their banter?? >>> (also Corvin King absolutely yes x100 🙂↕️🤏🏻)
𑣲⋆｡˚𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝓌𝓃 & 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒷𝒾𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇 ˚｡⋆
⁺‧₊˚ 𝘐𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥, 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵.” ˚₊‧⁺
𝙑𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣 on the other hand… so listen *scratches head* i can’t say too much but i’m not going to say i like him but uhm… i don’t hate him either… yeah yeah i definitely should i know… but… i don’t?? yeah that’s all!
and im fucking sorry but that ending?? i am gagged!! i finished this last night and have not been able to think about a singular other thing 😭😭 literally went back and reread the ending 😅 uhhmm BOOK 2 NOW PLS???!!!
THAT EPILOGUE HOLY !!!!!!!
➵ 𝓂𝓎 𝓎𝓈𝒽𝑒𝓇𝒶 ㅤꨄ︎
while this was 100000% a 5 🌟 i do hope for some more things in the next book. mainly more world building. i totally get why there wasn’t a lot in this book and it worked here but we definitely need more for the story to continue IMO. other than that perfection 🤩🫶🏻
“𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠����𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎. 𝚂𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍?”
⚠︎ ᴄʜᴇᴄᴋ ᴛʀɪɢɢᴇʀ ᴡᴀʀɴɪɴɢs ⚠︎
OH WOW. this was incredible but so so dark. the twists. the betrayals. the secrets. the emotional damage. still clutching my chest…
i won’t lie the first 20% i was like hmmm… BUT literally the end of the chapter i was questioning things take a crazy turn and the book only gets more insanely dark from there. it can be a bit repetitive but it’s definitely for a reason!
we start off with 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚 our fmc and bastard of the king who must unwilling marry one of the worst men known to the realm, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜, in order to save her kingdom. i’m not going to say much because things take off pretty quick in this one but uhhh this book destroyed me… watching everything 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚 endured. i felt her pain so deeply. those moments in the dungeon were so real and raw… i have so many highlights and annotations ❤️🩹 her transformation was INSANE
we also follow two mmc’s, 𝙑𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣 aka 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘽𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙆𝙞𝙣𝙜 and 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧 aka 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝. both very morally grey.
i was immediately drawn to the broody mysterious 𝘿𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝 and want to know more!! the way he is always there for 𝙈𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙞𝙡𝙡𝙚, healing, listening and comforting her. their banter?? >>> (also Corvin King absolutely yes x100 🙂↕️🤏🏻)
𑣲⋆｡˚𝓁𝒾𝓉𝓉𝓁𝑒 𝒻𝒶𝓌𝓃 & 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒷𝒾𝓃𝑔𝑒𝓇 ˚｡⋆
⁺‧₊˚ 𝘐𝘧 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘥, 𝘐 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘮 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘪𝘵.” ˚₊‧⁺
𝙑𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙣 on the other hand… so listen *scratches head* i can’t say too much but i’m not going to say i like him but uhm… i don’t hate him either… yeah yeah i definitely should i know… but… i don’t?? yeah that’s all!
and im fucking sorry but that ending?? i am gagged!! i finished this last night and have not been able to think about a singular other thing 😭😭 literally went back and reread the ending 😅 uhhmm BOOK 2 NOW PLS???!!!
THAT EPILOGUE HOLY !!!!!!!
➵ 𝓂𝓎 𝓎𝓈𝒽𝑒𝓇𝒶 ㅤꨄ︎
while this was 100000% a 5 🌟 i do hope for some more things in the next book. mainly more world building. i totally get why there wasn’t a lot in this book and it worked here but we definitely need more for the story to continue IMO. other than that perfection 🤩🫶🏻
“𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚠����𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚍𝚎. 𝚂𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚙𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚋𝚒𝚕𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚢𝚘𝚞’𝚟𝚎 𝚌𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚎𝚍?”
November 12, 2025
2.5 ⭐️ So one guy is taking revenge on the heroine’s father, who may or may not even see how she’s being tortured, and the second guy is sitting in the next cell gaslighting her every now and then. And nothing really happens. In the end, she just swaps one abuser for another. How this book has such a high rating is beyond me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 13, 2025
unbelievable. Un-fucking-believable .
THIS BOOK EROTICIZES TORTURE
WHAT an absolute filth I just read . When I started the book I was so looking forward to meeting the fmc since she was portrayed as someone who doesn't break and strong and what not .
I'm gonna tell you that shit was a fucking lie . cause the fmc y'all has all talk and no bites . she'll deliver feisty responses sure but then take sexual pleasure and feel undeniable heat from a man who's been violently torturing her for weeks .
And guess who is the torturer? THE FUCKING LOVE INTEREST. ( there is another man lurking in the shadow but hear me out ) He literally whipped her , carved her skin OPEN, bled her n@ked and our ' strong fmc ' would wonder why sometimes something akin to regret or softness flickers in his face .
????????
she would also think about the soft touch of his fingers on her cheek .
??????
🤣🤣 I'm sorry are women that deprved of touch ?
and just when I thought it couldn't get any worse ? she takes PLEASURE from him while he is torturing her .
??? what is it? romanticizing such thing is beyond sick . can't believe all these five star reviews . unbelievable .
THIS BOOK EROTICIZES TORTURE
WHAT an absolute filth I just read . When I started the book I was so looking forward to meeting the fmc since she was portrayed as someone who doesn't break and strong and what not .
I'm gonna tell you that shit was a fucking lie . cause the fmc y'all has all talk and no bites . she'll deliver feisty responses sure but then take sexual pleasure and feel undeniable heat from a man who's been violently torturing her for weeks .
And guess who is the torturer? THE FUCKING LOVE INTEREST. ( there is another man lurking in the shadow but hear me out ) He literally whipped her , carved her skin OPEN, bled her n@ked and our ' strong fmc ' would wonder why sometimes something akin to regret or softness flickers in his face .
????????
she would also think about the soft touch of his fingers on her cheek .
??????
🤣🤣 I'm sorry are women that deprved of touch ?
and just when I thought it couldn't get any worse ? she takes PLEASURE from him while he is torturing her .
??? what is it? romanticizing such thing is beyond sick . can't believe all these five star reviews . unbelievable .
January 25, 2026
I have been trying to put into words how this book made me feel, because reviewing the content simply won’t do justice to the storm of emotions I am still drowning in. 🖤
It holds a singular promise that will be viciously & relentlessly delivered to you through every single page.
And by the time you read the last words of this story, not a single soul will be left intact.
Not the victims or the villains, and most of all, not your own.
Souls In Ruin is not your typical dark romantasy.
It is not a sad tale with a happy ending.
It is not a forbidden romance turned epic love story.
It is the ultimate story of blinding rage used for revenge and the unyielding suffocating need for possession & control.
It is the embodiment of pain & suffering and the perverse desire to be seen & wanted & loved amidst it all.
It is the melding of need & hatred & longing in the eye of the most unbearable agony.
It is your deepest darkest desires & sickest most depraved hurt laid bare through ink on paper.
It is the story of bodies & hearts & souls bending & breaking & reforging on an endless tormenting cycle.
It is the tearing down of flesh & mind, the icy drowning of hopes, the sickening annihilation of every single thing that makes the self.
It is a cruel ode to the broken & the lost.
Reminding us in the most harrowing ways that there is beauty in our despair, there is strength in our misery, there is light in our darkness, however fractured it might be.
However fractured *we *might be...
If you have read all this and still think you might find solace in it, welcome to the deepest depths of hell.
I doubt your soul survives.
But I will be here to hold you on the other side, amongst the shadows & whispers of despair.
—
Oh and the ending feels like getting slapped across the face with a chair made of concrete, thank you very much 🥲
—
‼️‼️‼️ PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS‼️‼️‼️ in case I did not make this clear enough, this book is DARKER THAN DARK.
While it is a great book that I enjoyed despite the difficult subjects, it is definitely not for everyone, so please tread cautiously.
There are quite a few TWs but the two most prominent ones are :
- VIOLENCE/TORTURE : both physical & emotional, on page, often, and described in VIVID detail
- Explicit sexual content : on page, often, some consensual & some closer to dubious (no 🍇).
—
Thank you Jacqueline White for my darkest yet most emotionally enlightening and devastating ARC read of the year 🖤😭
I am forever changed, and I have no idea how I will survive the wait for the next book..
OVERVIEW :
Rating ⭐ 4.25/5
Darkness 🖤 5/5
Trigger Warnings ‼️ ∞/5
Emotional Damage 💀 ∞ x ∞/5
Spice 🌶️ 3.5/5
•••••••••••••••
😳😳😳😳😳
What in the — DARK+++. Diabolical. Delicious. Deranged. Destructive. Decadent. Depraved. Disturbing. Delightful. — hell did I just read?!
Y’all I’m sleep deprived and need a minute to be able to string some coherent thoughts together but holy hell this book…!
•••••••••••••••
ARC/pre-read
OMG OMG OMG I AM SCREAMING 🥹😭🫨
I received my ARC copy today and I am sooooo excited to dive into it!!
I’ve been waiting *very impatiently* for this 👹👹👹 and ending my week with the ARC delivery email is the BEST THING EVER!!!!
Never has a book felt more aptly named.
It holds a singular promise that will be viciously & relentlessly delivered to you through every single page.
And by the time you read the last words of this story, not a single soul will be left intact.
Not the victims or the villains, and most of all, not your own.
Souls In Ruin is not your typical dark romantasy.
It is not a sad tale with a happy ending.
It is not a forbidden romance turned epic love story.
It is the ultimate story of blinding rage used for revenge and the unyielding suffocating need for possession & control.
It is the embodiment of pain & suffering and the perverse desire to be seen & wanted & loved amidst it all.
It is the melding of need & hatred & longing in the eye of the most unbearable agony.
It is trauma personified.
It is your deepest darkest desires & sickest most depraved hurt laid bare through ink on paper.
It is the story of bodies & hearts & souls bending & breaking & reforging on an endless tormenting cycle.
It is the tearing down of flesh & mind, the icy drowning of hopes, the sickening annihilation of every single thing that makes the self.
It is a cruel ode to the broken & the lost.
Reminding us in the most harrowing ways that there is beauty in our despair, there is strength in our misery, there is light in our darkness, however fractured it might be.
However fractured *we *might be...
It is a story where no one wins and everyone suffers.
If you have read all this and still think you might find solace in it, welcome to the deepest depths of hell.
I doubt your soul survives.
But I will be here to hold you on the other side, amongst the shadows & whispers of despair.
—
Oh and the ending feels like getting slapped across the face with a chair made of concrete, thank you very much 🥲
—
‼️‼️‼️ PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF YOUR MENTAL HEALTH CHECK THE TRIGGER WARNINGS‼️‼️‼️ in case I did not make this clear enough, this book is DARKER THAN DARK.
While it is a great book that I enjoyed despite the difficult subjects, it is definitely not for everyone, so please tread cautiously.
There are quite a few TWs but the two most prominent ones are :
- VIOLENCE/TORTURE : both physical & emotional, on page, often, and described in VIVID detail
- Explicit sexual content : on page, often, some consensual & some closer to dubious (no 🍇).
—
Thank you Jacqueline White for my darkest yet most emotionally enlightening and devastating ARC read of the year 🖤😭
I am forever changed, and I have no idea how I will survive the wait for the next book..
OVERVIEW :
Rating ⭐ 4.25/5
Darkness 🖤 5/5
Trigger Warnings ‼️ ∞/5
Emotional Damage 💀 ∞ x ∞/5
Spice 🌶️ 3.5/5
•••••••••••••••
😳😳😳😳😳
What in the — DARK+++. Diabolical. Delicious. Deranged. Destructive. Decadent. Depraved. Disturbing. Delightful. — hell did I just read?!
Y’all I’m sleep deprived and need a minute to be able to string some coherent thoughts together but holy hell this book…!
•••••••••••••••
ARC/pre-read
OMG OMG OMG I AM SCREAMING 🥹😭🫨
I received my ARC copy today and I am sooooo excited to dive into it!!
I’ve been waiting *very impatiently* for this 👹👹👹 and ending my week with the ARC delivery email is the BEST THING EVER!!!!
January 27, 2026
This book drags you straight into the depths of hell 🔥and leaves you wondering, by the final page, if hell was actually the key to your salvation all along.
4.5⭐️”Go to hell” .… “I’ve been. It’s highly underwhelming.”
Torturous heartbreak, pain, yearning, obsession and blood is woven into every chapter. 🩸Hope is dangled like a carrot and just when you think you’ve finally caught it, you realise you were the monster holding it🤯
These quotes are carved into my brain forever:
“Or perhaps I simply enjoy giving you hope. The hunt is always more satisfying when the prey believes it has a chance.”
“Because tenderness was more dangerous than cruelty. Cruelty I understood. Cruelty had rules.”
“You told me that monsters were made. Shouldn’t you take responsibility for what you’ve created?”
“But I am your madness. Just as you have become mine.
“You offer comfort with one hand while wrapping chains around my soul with the other.”
“What is the weight of a life that was never meant to be?”
The poetic prose had me in a literal chokehold!
**check your trigger warnings before diving into hell as this one’s dark!**
4.5⭐️”Go to hell” .… “I’ve been. It’s highly underwhelming.”
Torturous heartbreak, pain, yearning, obsession and blood is woven into every chapter. 🩸Hope is dangled like a carrot and just when you think you’ve finally caught it, you realise you were the monster holding it🤯
These quotes are carved into my brain forever:
“Or perhaps I simply enjoy giving you hope. The hunt is always more satisfying when the prey believes it has a chance.”
“Because tenderness was more dangerous than cruelty. Cruelty I understood. Cruelty had rules.”
“You told me that monsters were made. Shouldn’t you take responsibility for what you’ve created?”
“But I am your madness. Just as you have become mine.
“You offer comfort with one hand while wrapping chains around my soul with the other.”
“What is the weight of a life that was never meant to be?”
The poetic prose had me in a literal chokehold!
**check your trigger warnings before diving into hell as this one’s dark!**
October 12, 2025
If I could convince you to read this book with just one statement, it would be this:
Souls in Ruin brings darkness, obsession, alluring chaos, battles with identities, and survival in shapes of fury and wickedness—not softness.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Of course, I can’t stop at just one statement, so let me tell you about what utterly consumed me in a heartbeat: This story unraveled emotions I didn’t even know I could feel. Jacqueline has a way with words—every scene felt so enigmatic, gothic, and mythical. And oh, how poetic these divine men were! The storytelling was dangerously addictive and captivating. Every chapter cut through me, leaving a mark. The yearning had me screaming internally; I was obsessed and spiraling (sanity was definitely questioned).
This was my first book where I fell for two morally dark men. Each one so unique, with their own pain, torture, vengeance, and desires. They are dark and twisted, full of layers that you just can’t seem to stop trying to peel back to reveal their truest forms.
The FMC, Mireille, is power—a force to be reckoned with. She is the long-forgotten daughter, a lost soul within the walls of Vareth. Yet her beauty and transformation, and her sharp tongue will have you thinking twice before you imagine you can ruin her. Her actions command reverence, and her character does not diminish; it follows you.
Does this book wreck you? Yes. Does it leave you with a gut-wrenching, heart-hurting cliffhanger? Yes. But will I recommend it? 10000%. Everyone deserves to read this masterpiece. It’s a true dark fantasy filled with divine mythical creatures, suffering, haunting tales, and a devastating tide of emotions—yet beautifully captured. I loved every piece of it. Thank you Jacqueline for giving me the opportunity to receive this ARC, I am so grateful.
Souls in Ruin brings darkness, obsession, alluring chaos, battles with identities, and survival in shapes of fury and wickedness—not softness.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Of course, I can’t stop at just one statement, so let me tell you about what utterly consumed me in a heartbeat: This story unraveled emotions I didn’t even know I could feel. Jacqueline has a way with words—every scene felt so enigmatic, gothic, and mythical. And oh, how poetic these divine men were! The storytelling was dangerously addictive and captivating. Every chapter cut through me, leaving a mark. The yearning had me screaming internally; I was obsessed and spiraling (sanity was definitely questioned).
This was my first book where I fell for two morally dark men. Each one so unique, with their own pain, torture, vengeance, and desires. They are dark and twisted, full of layers that you just can’t seem to stop trying to peel back to reveal their truest forms.
The FMC, Mireille, is power—a force to be reckoned with. She is the long-forgotten daughter, a lost soul within the walls of Vareth. Yet her beauty and transformation, and her sharp tongue will have you thinking twice before you imagine you can ruin her. Her actions command reverence, and her character does not diminish; it follows you.
Does this book wreck you? Yes. Does it leave you with a gut-wrenching, heart-hurting cliffhanger? Yes. But will I recommend it? 10000%. Everyone deserves to read this masterpiece. It’s a true dark fantasy filled with divine mythical creatures, suffering, haunting tales, and a devastating tide of emotions—yet beautifully captured. I loved every piece of it. Thank you Jacqueline for giving me the opportunity to receive this ARC, I am so grateful.
December 10, 2025
When I say this book has left me SPEECHLESS... I haven't been able to form words, honestly haven't been able to form THOUGHTS because this book has consumed my entire BEING.
Genuinely, you guys don't even know what you are missing out on rn and it's SICKENING! Im sick to my stomach for you guys 🤣
This is hands down the best book I have read. Yes PERIOD. Not this month, not this year, just simply: THE BEST.
From the writing to the characters to the darkness to the spice to the damn torture, this book was captivating in a way that draws you in and never lets you go. Seriously, what crack was the author on when she wrote this?? What crack did she embed in the pages that made this book so damn good because I want more of it.
Right. Now. Jacqueline.
Please and thank you!!
I really cant tell you guys shit about this book because instantly there is a plot twist and... to put it simply, Jacqueline had my jaw dropping, flabbers-gasted, and pussy popping all within the first 10 chapters LMAO
Queen was not fucking around let me tell you.
But what I can tell you is we have an arranged marriage situation going on here, and the King my beautiful Mireille is arranged to marry, yeah, SEXIEST man in all the worlds, in all the realms, in all the UNIVERSES, and this man... yeah, DERANGED!!
"If I smell him on you again, Princess, I'll rip every vein from his body and string you a necklace... A wedding gift, if you will."
BOYYYY if you don't gtfo and get your fine ass to my house right this second-
Yeah thats my man. I am claiming him. You guys can read him but he is MINE. ☺️
And hey! If he isn't so much your type... I have good news for you because while Valen is claimed and taken and you couldn't have him if you even wanted him because he is mine (really need to make sure that you understand he is mine and you cant have him), there is also Death....
And this man is also quite coo-coo...
"And in the end... you—your soul—will belong to me. I will make you mine.”
*insert dog meme that I don't know how to describe but I'm now linking our brains so you will understand exactly what I am thinking*
So yeah, Death wants your soul!!
I'm not gonna tell you where Death is or how he comes into play because TRUSTTTTTTT going into this book blind (after checking your triggers if you need to ofc!) IS THE WAY TO GO!!!! The insanity of the book is too good and you will be frl blown away I PROMISE!!
PLEASEEEEEEEE GO READ THIS RN!!! I need people to obsess over it with and it's genuinely so exquisite I don't even understand how I am roaming the same earth as the author right now.
Genuinely, you guys don't even know what you are missing out on rn and it's SICKENING! Im sick to my stomach for you guys 🤣
This is hands down the best book I have read. Yes PERIOD. Not this month, not this year, just simply: THE BEST.
From the writing to the characters to the darkness to the spice to the damn torture, this book was captivating in a way that draws you in and never lets you go. Seriously, what crack was the author on when she wrote this?? What crack did she embed in the pages that made this book so damn good because I want more of it.
Right. Now. Jacqueline.
Please and thank you!!
I really cant tell you guys shit about this book because instantly there is a plot twist and... to put it simply, Jacqueline had my jaw dropping, flabbers-gasted, and pussy popping all within the first 10 chapters LMAO
Queen was not fucking around let me tell you.
But what I can tell you is we have an arranged marriage situation going on here, and the King my beautiful Mireille is arranged to marry, yeah, SEXIEST man in all the worlds, in all the realms, in all the UNIVERSES, and this man... yeah, DERANGED!!
"If I smell him on you again, Princess, I'll rip every vein from his body and string you a necklace... A wedding gift, if you will."
BOYYYY if you don't gtfo and get your fine ass to my house right this second-
Yeah thats my man. I am claiming him. You guys can read him but he is MINE. ☺️
And hey! If he isn't so much your type... I have good news for you because while Valen is claimed and taken and you couldn't have him if you even wanted him because he is mine (really need to make sure that you understand he is mine and you cant have him), there is also Death....
And this man is also quite coo-coo...
"And in the end... you—your soul—will belong to me. I will make you mine.”
*insert dog meme that I don't know how to describe but I'm now linking our brains so you will understand exactly what I am thinking*
So yeah, Death wants your soul!!
I'm not gonna tell you where Death is or how he comes into play because TRUSTTTTTTT going into this book blind (after checking your triggers if you need to ofc!) IS THE WAY TO GO!!!! The insanity of the book is too good and you will be frl blown away I PROMISE!!
PLEASEEEEEEEE GO READ THIS RN!!! I need people to obsess over it with and it's genuinely so exquisite I don't even understand how I am roaming the same earth as the author right now.
December 5, 2025
This was such a unique dark romantasy!! I want more!
I went into this completely blind and was NOT expecting that. The storyline was so unique! I genuinely haven't read another story like this.
Some of the scenes were PHEWWWW .. like I know I am supposed to be mad at Valen but damn. The twist at the end was great. I am definitely going to read the next book!
I only knocked off a star because I felt it was a tad long in my opinion. It felt repetitive when Mireille was in the cell but I still enjoyed this all in all!
I went into this completely blind and was NOT expecting that. The storyline was so unique! I genuinely haven't read another story like this.
Some of the scenes were PHEWWWW .. like I know I am supposed to be mad at Valen but damn. The twist at the end was great. I am definitely going to read the next book!
I only knocked off a star because I felt it was a tad long in my opinion. It felt repetitive when Mireille was in the cell but I still enjoyed this all in all!
January 16, 2026
before i start this review, please keep in mind that i am not the target audience for this book, as this is EXTREMELY DARK, and that’s not usually my cup of tea.
that being said, i took a chance and i’m glad i did. this book was so good, layered, and incredibly deep.
the fmc is dealing with far more than she should have to put up with, with such precarious relationships formed between her and the two mmc’s.
the best part of this book was definitely Mirielle, she was a bad ass! so strong willed, and so interesting to read from the perspective of.
lemme just say this, i am NOT a Valen sympathizer in anyway. i can appreciate that he is layered and is more than what meets the eye, but i just don’t know how to forgive what has been done in this book, imo.
now, Death??? that’s my MAN. i am so interested to see his story arc come to life more in book 2 now that we know what he is, but he’s so mysterious and broody this whole book and i’m obsessed.
the reason this book is a 4-4.25 star rating for me, is simply that this was so dark for me at times, but also there were a lot of slow parts in the in between (which, i think some were necessary, but not nearly as many as were had). i would 100% suggest this to my friends who are intrigued with dark themes, characters and dark acts. i would say the most characters in this are morally black.
all this being said, i will be moving on to book 2 bc that ending was WILD!
that being said, i took a chance and i’m glad i did. this book was so good, layered, and incredibly deep.
the fmc is dealing with far more than she should have to put up with, with such precarious relationships formed between her and the two mmc’s.
the best part of this book was definitely Mirielle, she was a bad ass! so strong willed, and so interesting to read from the perspective of.
lemme just say this, i am NOT a Valen sympathizer in anyway. i can appreciate that he is layered and is more than what meets the eye, but i just don’t know how to forgive what has been done in this book, imo.
now, Death??? that’s my MAN. i am so interested to see his story arc come to life more in book 2 now that we know what he is, but he’s so mysterious and broody this whole book and i’m obsessed.
the reason this book is a 4-4.25 star rating for me, is simply that this was so dark for me at times, but also there were a lot of slow parts in the in between (which, i think some were necessary, but not nearly as many as were had). i would 100% suggest this to my friends who are intrigued with dark themes, characters and dark acts. i would say the most characters in this are morally black.
all this being said, i will be moving on to book 2 bc that ending was WILD!
December 3, 2025
Wow what a disappointment. The first like 25% I was so clocked in and thought this was tea. It had SO much potential what the hell immediately jumps to being a book of torture for the remaining 75%. And I love dark romance ..so torture wasn’t the issue, but this was just boring. The plot did not move at all. Same stuff happened over and over like girl I do not care. Skimmed the last 100 pages in super speed .. what a waste
April 26, 2026
Will edit my review soon.
Thank you netgalley for the eARC & ALC.
Thank you netgalley for the eARC & ALC.
November 12, 2025
This book just doesn't make sense to me. It started off so strong, the fmc was interesting. The writing was incredible and strong pretty much the whole way through. I appreciate the author's use of poetry to showcase the craze fmc was going through. I also really connected with the fmc in the first portion of the book, especially when she was interacting with her sister and friend. Then,, the world building stopped, the lore stopped, the overall drive stopped.
The book was reduced to serious repetition of fmc being tortured by one mmc while the other mmc gaslit and toyed with her. The plot essentially stopped moving once the torture started. Mmc was doing all this to torture her dad who may or may not even see what's happening? But the book established the dad didn't care about the fmc so this doesn't make sense to me.
The fmc has a lot of snappy comebacks but that's about it. She doesn't really try to get herself out of the situation she's in or even really find out more information than either mmc gives her willingly. The fmc also only had the opportunity to interact with two meaningful characters for a huge portion of the book but nothing truly substantial came of it until the very end.
Truthfully, most of the book felt like torture erotica the author wanted to write for herself as a little fanfic but she forced it into a book. I think if she had focused waaayyyy less on describing in so much painstaking detail every single torture session and focused more on continuing the plot this book would've been better.
Super interesting concept but ultimately it was butchered by the authoring focusing on the erotic and spice portion of the book over the plot. Pretty disappointed with this one ngl.
The book was reduced to serious repetition of fmc being tortured by one mmc while the other mmc gaslit and toyed with her. The plot essentially stopped moving once the torture started. Mmc was doing all this to torture her dad who may or may not even see what's happening? But the book established the dad didn't care about the fmc so this doesn't make sense to me.
The fmc has a lot of snappy comebacks but that's about it. She doesn't really try to get herself out of the situation she's in or even really find out more information than either mmc gives her willingly. The fmc also only had the opportunity to interact with two meaningful characters for a huge portion of the book but nothing truly substantial came of it until the very end.
Truthfully, most of the book felt like torture erotica the author wanted to write for herself as a little fanfic but she forced it into a book. I think if she had focused waaayyyy less on describing in so much painstaking detail every single torture session and focused more on continuing the plot this book would've been better.
Super interesting concept but ultimately it was butchered by the authoring focusing on the erotic and spice portion of the book over the plot. Pretty disappointed with this one ngl.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2026
Upon reflection I'm changing my rating from 5 to 3 stars because the middle really dragged for me.
................................................................................................................................................................................
I’ll be honest this book won’t be for everyone, and I completely get why. But me? I was hooked from the very first page. I went in blind, and I honestly think that’s the best way to experience it.
Just know… this is dark. Like, “might make you question yourself” kind of dark 😅 And apparently, I’m not a Valen—I’m Death 😏
That said, it does drag a bit in places, and a lot of the story stays in one setting, which might not work for everyone. But overall? I’m sat. Give me book 2 immediately.
................................................................................................................................................................................
I’ll be honest this book won’t be for everyone, and I completely get why. But me? I was hooked from the very first page. I went in blind, and I honestly think that’s the best way to experience it.
Just know… this is dark. Like, “might make you question yourself” kind of dark 😅 And apparently, I’m not a Valen—I’m Death 😏
That said, it does drag a bit in places, and a lot of the story stays in one setting, which might not work for everyone. But overall? I’m sat. Give me book 2 immediately.
March 7, 2026
Morally grey MMC? No — morally black × 3000 🙃
I couldn’t put it down all weekend and finished it at 5 a.m. on Monday :)))))
It’s a very dark, bleak story. Very. Not much action happens, but there are so many internal thoughts, so much injustice and so many demons. The FMC is tortured throughout the entire book, so it’s definitely not a fast or light read.
But I felt her pain so deeply, and it felt like we went through every stage together. Everything feels so raw — the author describes that small, pain-filled world inside that single cell incredibly well. Somehow it just gets under your skin and stays there, heavy.
There’s no happy ending here — only a lot of injustice, very little hope, and betrayal when you least expect it. So prepare yourselves… but still a very strong ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I couldn’t put it down all weekend and finished it at 5 a.m. on Monday :)))))
It’s a very dark, bleak story. Very. Not much action happens, but there are so many internal thoughts, so much injustice and so many demons. The FMC is tortured throughout the entire book, so it’s definitely not a fast or light read.
But I felt her pain so deeply, and it felt like we went through every stage together. Everything feels so raw — the author describes that small, pain-filled world inside that single cell incredibly well. Somehow it just gets under your skin and stays there, heavy.
There’s no happy ending here — only a lot of injustice, very little hope, and betrayal when you least expect it. So prepare yourselves… but still a very strong ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
March 29, 2026
Я шось нічого не розумію. Авторка добавила сюди все що могла і цим так добряче мене заплутала.
Коли я вже якось плюс мінусь шоб почала розуміти вона знов шось добавила і я така «ну за шоооо»🥲
Головна героїня Мірей, дуже сильна, вона не здається, проходить будь які труднощі. Хоча мені страшенно її шкода адже вона не заслужила цього всього, але вона таки вистояла.
Стосовно інших героїв я так і не зрозуміла хто мені подобається більше, і хто кращий. Різні думки стосовно них в голові.
Кінець неочікуваний але я не дуже сильно шокувалась😄
І що означає ішера я так і не зрозуміла 🥲
Коли я вже якось плюс мінусь шоб почала розуміти вона знов шось добавила і я така «ну за шоооо»🥲
Головна героїня Мірей, дуже сильна, вона не здається, проходить будь які труднощі. Хоча мені страшенно її шкода адже вона не заслужила цього всього, але вона таки вистояла.
Стосовно інших героїв я так і не зрозуміла хто мені подобається більше, і хто кращий. Різні думки стосовно них в голові.
Кінець неочікуваний але я не дуже сильно шокувалась😄
І що означає ішера я так і не зрозуміла 🥲
November 8, 2025
This book started out so strong I was sure it would be a 5 star read for me. It was very unexpected in the plot I couldn’t put it down. Unfortunately around 40% it becomes so repetitive and my interest in the plot declined, I was struggling through the last half. The cliffhanger ending didn’t have a huge impact because I was so tired once I got to the end. I’m feeling all over the place about this book some elements I loved and some were tough.
November 8, 2025
⭐️⭐️I loved everything about this story until the torture started. Then it lost me completely.
August 27, 2025
Souls in Ruin is not a love story—it’s a descent into darkness, a brutal exploration of survival, identity, and emotional ruin. From the very beginning, the book sets the tone with its unrelenting intensity. It doesn’t romanticize pain or violence—it immerses you in it, dragging you through a landscape where beauty and horror coexist in every line. This is not dark romance in the typical, trope-driven sense. It’s DARK—unflinching, confrontational, and often deeply uncomfortable.
At the heart of this story is Mireille, an fmc like no other, who is less a heroine and more a living embodiment of resistance. She’s not loud or performative in her strength; she’s forged in silence, in trauma, in moments where the world tries to erase her and she refuses to disappear. Her journey is not about becoming stronger—it’s about enduring, about surviving in a world that offers her nothing and still finding a way to exist with integrity. Her pain is palpable. Her strength is quiet but relentless. She is, in many ways, the soul in ruin.
The prose is one of the book’s most striking elements. Jacqueline White writes with a lyrical ferocity that is both beautiful and devastating. The language pulses with emotion—bleeding, aching, furious—and yet it never feels indulgent. It feels earned. Every sentence is carefully wrought, building a world so vivid and so emotionally intense that it becomes almost claustrophobic. But you can’t look away. Even when it hurts.
The male characters—there are two central ones—are not the brooding, redeemable antiheroes of typical dark romance. They are dangerous, unrepentant, and morally black. And yet, they are magnetic in their darkness. Jacqueline dares the reader to be drawn to them, to question their own boundaries, to experience love and desire in places that feel forbidden. The emotional manipulation is intentional—and masterful. You feel complicit. You feel everything.
More than anything, Souls in Ruin is about what’s left after the breaking. It’s about what it means to keep going when everything in you has been torn apart. It’s a story that refuses to give easy answers or happy endings. It doesn’t let you escape. It makes you stay, feel, reckon.
This is a novel that doesn’t just tell a story—it leaves a mark. It bruises. It haunts. And for readers who can face the darkness, it offers something unforgettable: a glimpse into the rawest, most vulnerable parts of what it means to survive and still feel.
At the heart of this story is Mireille, an fmc like no other, who is less a heroine and more a living embodiment of resistance. She’s not loud or performative in her strength; she’s forged in silence, in trauma, in moments where the world tries to erase her and she refuses to disappear. Her journey is not about becoming stronger—it’s about enduring, about surviving in a world that offers her nothing and still finding a way to exist with integrity. Her pain is palpable. Her strength is quiet but relentless. She is, in many ways, the soul in ruin.
The prose is one of the book’s most striking elements. Jacqueline White writes with a lyrical ferocity that is both beautiful and devastating. The language pulses with emotion—bleeding, aching, furious—and yet it never feels indulgent. It feels earned. Every sentence is carefully wrought, building a world so vivid and so emotionally intense that it becomes almost claustrophobic. But you can’t look away. Even when it hurts.
The male characters—there are two central ones—are not the brooding, redeemable antiheroes of typical dark romance. They are dangerous, unrepentant, and morally black. And yet, they are magnetic in their darkness. Jacqueline dares the reader to be drawn to them, to question their own boundaries, to experience love and desire in places that feel forbidden. The emotional manipulation is intentional—and masterful. You feel complicit. You feel everything.
More than anything, Souls in Ruin is about what’s left after the breaking. It’s about what it means to keep going when everything in you has been torn apart. It’s a story that refuses to give easy answers or happy endings. It doesn’t let you escape. It makes you stay, feel, reckon.
This is a novel that doesn’t just tell a story—it leaves a mark. It bruises. It haunts. And for readers who can face the darkness, it offers something unforgettable: a glimpse into the rawest, most vulnerable parts of what it means to survive and still feel.
November 5, 2025
2.5 stars
I’ve been counting down the days until this was released - I wanted to love this BADLY. While this started out interesting, it took a downhill turn and never gained the original momentum it had.
The good:
I liked the way this was written, especially because of how dark this was - based on the triggers, I expected it to be dark, and it was. This was depressing and gritty, and Mireille went through hell. I didn’t agree with everything she said or did, but the author ultimately said this was a story of survival and the limits you’ll go without breaking, and I appreciated how that was at the forefront of the entire book. I also didn’t know what to expect for spice in this, but I thought that was well done as well.
The bad:
There was absolutely no world-building to speak of. While this literally takes place in two places (the castle and dungeons), there was absolutely nothing else that was explored upon or even hinted at to gain an understanding of the world beyond the most basic level.
Without spoilers, both MC’s were dark and mysterious, and I did like them…to a point. I don’t always vibe with a love triangle, but I didn’t mind this because I wasn’t exactly sure who I was rooting for at first.
The way the plot unfolded was unfortunately WAY too slow. Mireille’s inner dialogue was too repetitive and really hindered the pace. Aside from that, not every single big reveal needed to happen right at the end for shock value. I love a good cliffhanger, but I also want to guess things I think may happen. I could barely do that with this book because so little was shared until the very end. There were so many times things could have been hinted at but never were because both MC’s withheld important information for literally no reason, until the end. Sometimes I vibe with this, but it didn’t work for me with this book.
After the ending, I truly don’t know what’s next. Because there was no world-building and very few other characters in this, I really don’t know how there could be a sequel and third book coming. This easily could have been a standalone. Really undecided if I’ll pick up the next one.
I’ve been counting down the days until this was released - I wanted to love this BADLY. While this started out interesting, it took a downhill turn and never gained the original momentum it had.
The good:
I liked the way this was written, especially because of how dark this was - based on the triggers, I expected it to be dark, and it was. This was depressing and gritty, and Mireille went through hell. I didn’t agree with everything she said or did, but the author ultimately said this was a story of survival and the limits you’ll go without breaking, and I appreciated how that was at the forefront of the entire book. I also didn’t know what to expect for spice in this, but I thought that was well done as well.
The bad:
There was absolutely no world-building to speak of. While this literally takes place in two places (the castle and dungeons), there was absolutely nothing else that was explored upon or even hinted at to gain an understanding of the world beyond the most basic level.
Without spoilers, both MC’s were dark and mysterious, and I did like them…to a point. I don’t always vibe with a love triangle, but I didn’t mind this because I wasn’t exactly sure who I was rooting for at first.
The way the plot unfolded was unfortunately WAY too slow. Mireille’s inner dialogue was too repetitive and really hindered the pace. Aside from that, not every single big reveal needed to happen right at the end for shock value. I love a good cliffhanger, but I also want to guess things I think may happen. I could barely do that with this book because so little was shared until the very end. There were so many times things could have been hinted at but never were because both MC’s withheld important information for literally no reason, until the end. Sometimes I vibe with this, but it didn’t work for me with this book.
After the ending, I truly don’t know what’s next. Because there was no world-building and very few other characters in this, I really don’t know how there could be a sequel and third book coming. This easily could have been a standalone. Really undecided if I’ll pick up the next one.
March 11, 2026
Що ж… вау 🚬
Я навіть не знаю, що писати.
По-перше, я побачила, що це дебют авторки - і це просто вау. Настільки гарно та цікаво написано. Зовсім нетипова історія. Я точно не очікувала тих поворотів, які були.
Мірей - сильна головна героїня. Пережила купу всього, і, здається, ще купа попереду. І, скоріше за все, навіть гірше.
Вален - ну гандон нетиповий 😅 Я його тупо ненавиділа впродовж книги. І тільки в кінці, на останніх сторінках, у мене закралась думка, що, можливо… МОЖЛИВО він не такий вже й поганий. Ал�� це неточно. Дуже сильно неточно. Тільки от подумаю, що його трошки 🤏 шкода, а потім згадаю, що він чудив - і все проходить 🥲
І сусід… я робила на нього ставки. Хоча він попереджав, і Вален попереджав. Але хто слухав. І Вален міг казати трохи точніше, бо на фоні його власних дій поради не довіряти сусіду виглядали доволі дивно.
Дуже цікаво, що буде далі і як будуть розвиватись стосунки між ними трьома. Бо в мене нуль ідей. Але в чому я впевнена - так це в тому, що Мірей випише всім по перше число.
Чекаю на продовження 🥰
Я навіть не знаю, що писати.
По-перше, я побачила, що це дебют авторки - і це просто вау. Настільки гарно та цікаво написано. Зовсім нетипова історія. Я точно не очікувала тих поворотів, які були.
Мірей - сильна головна героїня. Пережила купу всього, і, здається, ще купа попереду. І, скоріше за все, навіть гірше.
Вален - ну гандон нетиповий 😅 Я його тупо ненавиділа впродовж книги. І тільки в кінці, на останніх сторінках, у мене закралась думка, що, можливо… МОЖЛИВО він не такий вже й поганий. Ал�� це неточно. Дуже сильно неточно. Тільки от подумаю, що його трошки 🤏 шкода, а потім згадаю, що він чудив - і все проходить 🥲
І сусід… я робила на нього ставки. Хоча він попереджав, і Вален попереджав. Але хто слухав. І Вален міг казати трохи точніше, бо на фоні його власних дій поради не довіряти сусіду виглядали доволі дивно.
Дуже цікаво, що буде далі і як будуть розвиватись стосунки між ними трьома. Бо в мене нуль ідей. Але в чому я впевнена - так це в тому, що Мірей випише всім по перше число.
Чекаю на продовження 🥰
Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,463 reviews