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Forbidden Relations
The Ruins
Caleb’s fingers trace lazy circles on my bare shoulder blade, and I’ve never felt safer in my entire life.
More home.
We’re tangled together in his bed. Our bed now.
The place where everything changed.
Finally, I think I’ve stopped feeling like just the broken girl from the trailer park.
Because I’m his.
The sheets are soft against my skin, still warm from what we just did.
What we’ve been doing for hours, really, like we’re trying to make up for lost time.
“I can’t believe you came back,” he murmurs into my hair.
The truth is coming for everyone who kept Harper from her Caleb. Conclusion of the Rules & Ruins Duet.
More home.
We’re tangled together in his bed. Our bed now.
The place where everything changed.
Finally, I think I’ve stopped feeling like just the broken girl from the trailer park.
Because I’m his.
The sheets are soft against my skin, still warm from what we just did.
What we’ve been doing for hours, really, like we’re trying to make up for lost time.
“I can’t believe you came back,” he murmurs into my hair.
The truth is coming for everyone who kept Harper from her Caleb. Conclusion of the Rules & Ruins Duet.
488 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 213 reviews
May 19, 2026
From the first to the second with a cup of tea gap ☕️Did I stay awake until 3.30am reading this? Why yes, yes I did 🤭
The cliffhanger from the first and the emotions you felt meant I just had to pick this one straight up and I am so grateful to Kora that it was a duet ready to go. It picks up where Z and Harper have kind of set themselves up in Austin, but fate has a way of throwing a spanner in the works. I am not going to spoil it, simply because you should read it yourself 😈
𝐼’𝓂 𝒶𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝒶𝓀 𝒶𝓈 𝒶 𝓇𝒶𝑔 𝒹𝑜𝓁𝓁.
Once again the writing of this one just keeps you turning those pages, Kora brings forth emotions; rage on Harper’s behalf, upset at how she tries so hard, your heart is at times beating so fast and that’s just a few of the feels. Her narrative of the manipulation, coercive behaviour, gaslighting to obsession, love and protection just flows so well, giving us the reader a chance to become part of the story. Personally, I loved the fact it was a deep storyline without spice on every page, there is some but pardon the pun it’s not in your face, what there is works within the parameters of a plot really well. It is a duet that I would definitely recommend 🫶🏻
The cliffhanger from the first and the emotions you felt meant I just had to pick this one straight up and I am so grateful to Kora that it was a duet ready to go. It picks up where Z and Harper have kind of set themselves up in Austin, but fate has a way of throwing a spanner in the works. I am not going to spoil it, simply because you should read it yourself 😈
𝐼’𝓂 𝒶𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝒶𝓀 𝒶𝓈 𝒶 𝓇𝒶𝑔 𝒹𝑜𝓁𝓁.
Once again the writing of this one just keeps you turning those pages, Kora brings forth emotions; rage on Harper’s behalf, upset at how she tries so hard, your heart is at times beating so fast and that’s just a few of the feels. Her narrative of the manipulation, coercive behaviour, gaslighting to obsession, love and protection just flows so well, giving us the reader a chance to become part of the story. Personally, I loved the fact it was a deep storyline without spice on every page, there is some but pardon the pun it’s not in your face, what there is works within the parameters of a plot really well. It is a duet that I would definitely recommend 🫶🏻
May 12, 2026
After I read Book 1, I asked myself why I was such a sadist. The reason I asked myself that question that is because I was tomato faced, snotty nosed, ugly crying — yet, STILL couldn’t wait for Book 2. Like, seriously?!
And here I am, having finished Book 2, so freaking happy I read it, even though sacrificing my first born would have scarred my soul less. There is something seriously wrong with me. Because this book hurts, before it heals. And I mean it hurts DEEP. But the reward for all that pain is so beautiful. So intense. So indescribably PURE. It almost triggers my undoing.
“Night, Dad.”
The best kind of reading.
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Caleb
FMC:
✨Harper
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨cliffhanger
Tropes:
👉dark steamy romance
👉forbidden love
👉forced proximity
👉stepbrother
Triggers: 🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥violence, r ape, abuse
💥death of a parent
💥drug use, betrayal, manipulation
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
And here I am, having finished Book 2, so freaking happy I read it, even though sacrificing my first born would have scarred my soul less. There is something seriously wrong with me. Because this book hurts, before it heals. And I mean it hurts DEEP. But the reward for all that pain is so beautiful. So intense. So indescribably PURE. It almost triggers my undoing.
“Night, Dad.”
The best kind of reading.
*** Recommended ***
MMC:
✨Caleb
FMC:
✨Harper
HEA/Cliffhanger:
✨cliffhanger
Tropes:
👉dark steamy romance
👉forbidden love
👉forced proximity
👉stepbrother
Triggers: 🛑see content warning page/author’s website for full list🛑
💥18+
💥🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️, open🚪sex
💥profanity
💥violence, r ape, abuse
💥death of a parent
💥drug use, betrayal, manipulation
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Read
May 18, 2026I lost interest because of the years apart from Caleb and dealing with Z. It was as if it was a love story with too much time on the wrong couple. Not even Caleb’s POV (although that contributed to the angst). I would need to read ahead to get to Caleb and Harper’s love affair. I liked book one — lots of feeling, best character development, and Caleb was a sweatheart. Lost interest in book two. DNF 25%
Jacqueline’s Reads review captures my sentiments best.
Jacqueline’s Reads review captures my sentiments best.
May 14, 2026
Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I could not wait to read this one after The Rules cliffhanger. I was pretty annoyed for most of it only because of Z and how badly he turned on Harper, Lied to her and just used her. It got better once Harper found out the truth about everything and that was a relief. This is also a love triangle as well between Z and Caleb. I don’t read love triangles very much because they stress me out. But even after everything I couldn’t believe that Harper was still concerned about Z but I think it’s mainly because she was in shock that her best friend did that her and still wanted to be the bigger person in the end even after all the things he put her through. Harper truly knew when her heart was she was just taken away from it. I’m happy with how everything ended. Caleb and Harper are truly meant to be
I could not wait to read this one after The Rules cliffhanger. I was pretty annoyed for most of it only because of Z and how badly he turned on Harper, Lied to her and just used her. It got better once Harper found out the truth about everything and that was a relief. This is also a love triangle as well between Z and Caleb. I don’t read love triangles very much because they stress me out. But even after everything I couldn’t believe that Harper was still concerned about Z but I think it’s mainly because she was in shock that her best friend did that her and still wanted to be the bigger person in the end even after all the things he put her through. Harper truly knew when her heart was she was just taken away from it. I’m happy with how everything ended. Caleb and Harper are truly meant to be
May 9, 2026
This book...and this series... has done me in. If I could give it a thousand stars it wouldn't be enough. The trauma and jump scares and revelations alone had me stressed beyond belief. The amount of tears I have cried over these fictional people is ridiculous. The love. Ughhhhhhhhh. The pain...... OMG!!
The spice is also delicious and perfect. The twists and turns and way that my stomach wanted to turn over itself in anticipation should be illegal!!
I can't do it anymore justice. Just please, please read these books. Be prepared to cry your eyes out and want to scream and throw things and also kick your feet and be beyond turned on when the moments happen. But mostly it's just a really good story that needs to be read.
The spice is also delicious and perfect. The twists and turns and way that my stomach wanted to turn over itself in anticipation should be illegal!!
I can't do it anymore justice. Just please, please read these books. Be prepared to cry your eyes out and want to scream and throw things and also kick your feet and be beyond turned on when the moments happen. But mostly it's just a really good story that needs to be read.
May 17, 2026
After the chilling cliffhanger The Rules left us with in book one, I was ecstatic knowing I wouldn’t have to wait long for The Ruins. This sequel completely spiraled in the best and worst ways possible.
The story picks up not long after where we left off, and the deeper we dive into Z’s lies, manipulation, and deception, the more horrifying everything becomes. In book one, I already didn’t fully trust Z… The level of deceit was absolutely insane. I was genuinely floored by how deep it all went.
What frustrated me most was Harper. She’s portrayed as this unhinged, sharp FMC, yet she blindly believes everything Z tells her for eight years without truly questioning him or verifying anything. That part made me want to scream because you can see the cracks forming long before she does.
But the moment the truth finally comes to light... Everything completely unravels. Secrets explode, emotions spiral, and the entire story turns into chaos in the most addictive way possible. The tension, betrayal, and emotional fallout had me glued to the pages and absolutely wrecked my sleep because I needed to know what happened next.
Dark, toxic, messy, emotionally intense. This series knows exactly how to keep its claws in you.
This is absolutely a must read for dark romance readers.
*I received this arc from Booksprout in exchange for my honest review
⭐️ 4.5 Stars
The story picks up not long after where we left off, and the deeper we dive into Z’s lies, manipulation, and deception, the more horrifying everything becomes. In book one, I already didn’t fully trust Z… The level of deceit was absolutely insane. I was genuinely floored by how deep it all went.
What frustrated me most was Harper. She’s portrayed as this unhinged, sharp FMC, yet she blindly believes everything Z tells her for eight years without truly questioning him or verifying anything. That part made me want to scream because you can see the cracks forming long before she does.
But the moment the truth finally comes to light... Everything completely unravels. Secrets explode, emotions spiral, and the entire story turns into chaos in the most addictive way possible. The tension, betrayal, and emotional fallout had me glued to the pages and absolutely wrecked my sleep because I needed to know what happened next.
Dark, toxic, messy, emotionally intense. This series knows exactly how to keep its claws in you.
This is absolutely a must read for dark romance readers.
*I received this arc from Booksprout in exchange for my honest review
⭐️ 4.5 Stars
July 31, 2026
Caleb and Harper are well written characters. The story takes you on an emotional rollercoaster. Buckle up and get ready for a wild ride.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 11, 2026
Good but too long.
This is the sequel to “The Rules” which was an incredible beginning to a coming of age story that skillfully weaves love (parental, platonic, romantic, obsessive), trauma and betrayal (stranger danger, family, friend, romantic partner), with the voices of the end of puberty (captures the sound and feel of the edge of adolescence / adulthood).
Unfortunately, although this conclusion is well written, I was slightly less then half way through when I found myself thinking, ‘just end it already’. Sometimes a story, no matter how skillfully interwoven, can become too weighted down with itself. The ultimate destination is satisfying but the road to get there just has a few too many detours.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is the sequel to “The Rules” which was an incredible beginning to a coming of age story that skillfully weaves love (parental, platonic, romantic, obsessive), trauma and betrayal (stranger danger, family, friend, romantic partner), with the voices of the end of puberty (captures the sound and feel of the edge of adolescence / adulthood).
Unfortunately, although this conclusion is well written, I was slightly less then half way through when I found myself thinking, ‘just end it already’. Sometimes a story, no matter how skillfully interwoven, can become too weighted down with itself. The ultimate destination is satisfying but the road to get there just has a few too many detours.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 23, 2026
I genuinely don't think there are enough stars in existence for this book—or this series as a whole. If I could give it a thousand stars, it still wouldn't come close to expressing how deeply this story affected me. Kora Nyx has completely destroyed me in the most beautiful, painful, unforgettable way possible.
After the absolutely brutal cliffhanger at the end of The Rules, I was counting down the days until I could get my hands on The Ruins. The anticipation was torture, and somehow this sequel managed to exceed every expectation I had. It picks up not long after the events of book one, and from the very first page, the emotional chaos never lets up.
This series is an emotional war zone. The trauma, the shocking revelations, the constant sense of dread, and the perfectly timed twists had my anxiety through the roof. Every time I thought I had figured something out, the story ripped the rug out from under me. The jump scares, betrayals, and devastating truths left me completely stunned. My heart was pounding, my stomach was in knots, and I honestly don't know the last time a book made me this stressed—in the absolute best way.
And then there's Z.
I already didn't trust him in The Rules, but the deeper this story dives into his lies, manipulation, and deception, the more horrifying everything becomes. Every revelation felt like another punch to the chest. Just when I thought I'd reached the limit of what he was capable of, the story peeled back another layer and left me speechless. The level of deceit woven throughout this book is honestly mind-blowing.
I will admit that Harper frustrated me at times. She's fierce, chaotic, and incredibly sharp, yet watching her accept Z's version of events for so many years without fully questioning him made me want to scream at the pages. You can see the cracks forming long before she does, and that growing sense of impending disaster is almost unbearable. But when the truth finally comes crashing down? Absolute devastation. Secrets explode. Relationships shatter. Emotions spiral completely out of control. Everything unravels in spectacular fashion, and I could not look away.
What makes this series so special, though, is that beneath all the darkness, toxicity, manipulation, and heartbreak lies an incredibly powerful love story. The love, the obsession, the desperation, the yearning—it all feels so raw and consuming. These characters got under my skin in a way that very few fictional characters ever have. The amount of tears I cried over them is honestly embarrassing. One moment I wanted to throw my book across the room, the next I was kicking my feet and swooning, and then suddenly I was emotionally shattered all over again.
The chemistry is electric, and the spice is perfectly woven into the story. Every intimate moment feels earned, adding another layer to the emotional intensity rather than distracting from it. The tension leading up to those moments was almost unbearable, and the payoff was absolutely worth it.
Most importantly, beyond the romance, the twists, and the emotional destruction, this is simply an incredible story. It's dark, messy, toxic, heartbreaking, addictive, and impossible to put down. I lost sleep, neglected responsibilities, and became completely consumed because I had to know what happened next.
This series grabbed me by the throat from the very beginning and never let go. It made me cry, rage, gasp, swoon, and completely lose my mind. If you're a dark romance reader who loves emotionally intense stories filled with shocking twists, devastating betrayals, morally complex characters, and enough tension to keep you breathless, then this series is an absolute must-read.
Just be warned: these books will wreck you. And you'll love every second of it.
After the absolutely brutal cliffhanger at the end of The Rules, I was counting down the days until I could get my hands on The Ruins. The anticipation was torture, and somehow this sequel managed to exceed every expectation I had. It picks up not long after the events of book one, and from the very first page, the emotional chaos never lets up.
This series is an emotional war zone. The trauma, the shocking revelations, the constant sense of dread, and the perfectly timed twists had my anxiety through the roof. Every time I thought I had figured something out, the story ripped the rug out from under me. The jump scares, betrayals, and devastating truths left me completely stunned. My heart was pounding, my stomach was in knots, and I honestly don't know the last time a book made me this stressed—in the absolute best way.
And then there's Z.
I already didn't trust him in The Rules, but the deeper this story dives into his lies, manipulation, and deception, the more horrifying everything becomes. Every revelation felt like another punch to the chest. Just when I thought I'd reached the limit of what he was capable of, the story peeled back another layer and left me speechless. The level of deceit woven throughout this book is honestly mind-blowing.
I will admit that Harper frustrated me at times. She's fierce, chaotic, and incredibly sharp, yet watching her accept Z's version of events for so many years without fully questioning him made me want to scream at the pages. You can see the cracks forming long before she does, and that growing sense of impending disaster is almost unbearable. But when the truth finally comes crashing down? Absolute devastation. Secrets explode. Relationships shatter. Emotions spiral completely out of control. Everything unravels in spectacular fashion, and I could not look away.
What makes this series so special, though, is that beneath all the darkness, toxicity, manipulation, and heartbreak lies an incredibly powerful love story. The love, the obsession, the desperation, the yearning—it all feels so raw and consuming. These characters got under my skin in a way that very few fictional characters ever have. The amount of tears I cried over them is honestly embarrassing. One moment I wanted to throw my book across the room, the next I was kicking my feet and swooning, and then suddenly I was emotionally shattered all over again.
The chemistry is electric, and the spice is perfectly woven into the story. Every intimate moment feels earned, adding another layer to the emotional intensity rather than distracting from it. The tension leading up to those moments was almost unbearable, and the payoff was absolutely worth it.
Most importantly, beyond the romance, the twists, and the emotional destruction, this is simply an incredible story. It's dark, messy, toxic, heartbreaking, addictive, and impossible to put down. I lost sleep, neglected responsibilities, and became completely consumed because I had to know what happened next.
This series grabbed me by the throat from the very beginning and never let go. It made me cry, rage, gasp, swoon, and completely lose my mind. If you're a dark romance reader who loves emotionally intense stories filled with shocking twists, devastating betrayals, morally complex characters, and enough tension to keep you breathless, then this series is an absolute must-read.
Just be warned: these books will wreck you. And you'll love every second of it.
June 9, 2026
Gaslighting and Manipulation does NOT A Relationship Make
I have absolutely loved this series.
It had EVERYTHING!
Evil MC members
Manipulative, destructive , best friends.
Second chance relationship
Secret child.
Family in danger.
Harper and Caleb’s relationship really went through the wringer.
Separated after triple tragic circumstances at eighteen years of age, this story tracks the next ten years of both their lives that take completely different trajectories.
Harper falls into living rough, evidently, clawing her way up to living in a cheap apartments, working as a server/ dishwasher in a restaurant along with her childhood BFF, Z,
Z, manages to manipulate, isolate, and gaslight the girl he grew up with in the East Texas Trailer Park.
He has quietly manoeuvred his way further into her life after the devastating circumstances that were part of the ending of the previous book “ The Rules”
In this book, he has convinced Harper that it’s “both of them against the world”
Eventually, he guilts her into a physical relationship.
Then.
The bombshell.
Harpers finds out she is pregnant.
But!
How pregnant?
Because there is window were this child she is carrying could be Caleb’s
The boy she left behind.
The boy who, according to Z, sick mother kicked out of her home when she found out, via a snap chat video, that her son and stepdaughter were in a relationship.
Convinced, ( by Z ) after Harpers stepdad is also arrested on trumped up charges, that it’s just the two of them now.
Like it was always meant to be since they were kids.
However,
There has been an underlying plan at play the whole time by the MC that Silas ( Harpers dad ) would occasionally do “outside the club”, work for.
The same club that is determined to infiltrate Silas’s new life even if it means using Harper and Z, to do it .
This second book was intense.
Harper went from one stressful situation to another due to Z’s drug use, gambling, and eventual cooperation with the MC.
For Caleb, he spent his ten years trying to forget Harper …unsuccessfully.
Putting his mathematical skills to use, not at Harvard, but as the manager of the BDSM club ( yeah, you read that right ) owned by his mother and stepdad called
Carnal
Yeah.
There a LOT going on in this final instalment of Harper and Caleb’s story and the suspense never lets up.
I found it hard to believe after the first book were I actually felt so bad for Z,
And, like Harper, was totally invested in her quest to get back and stop the abuse he was suffering at the hands of his stepdad,
Only for him to turn into the most opportunistic, underhanded POS throughout the majority of this story.
( okay, he kinda redeemed himself at the end )
As for Caleb, the sweetie, obsessive compulsive in the first book, at twenty - eight managing a SEX CLUB?
No longer having to learn about pleasuring a female from the smut novels in his local library. 😂
Yeah.
I couldn’t quite get my head around the fact the author chose to make the sweet Helen ( Caleb’s Mother) along with Silas the owners of, of all things at BDSM club!
That one totally threw me off.
But overall I enjoyed these two book and all the drama, and am going to miss Harper and Caleb
I have absolutely loved this series.
It had EVERYTHING!
Evil MC members
Manipulative, destructive , best friends.
Second chance relationship
Secret child.
Family in danger.
Harper and Caleb’s relationship really went through the wringer.
Separated after triple tragic circumstances at eighteen years of age, this story tracks the next ten years of both their lives that take completely different trajectories.
Harper falls into living rough, evidently, clawing her way up to living in a cheap apartments, working as a server/ dishwasher in a restaurant along with her childhood BFF, Z,
Z, manages to manipulate, isolate, and gaslight the girl he grew up with in the East Texas Trailer Park.
He has quietly manoeuvred his way further into her life after the devastating circumstances that were part of the ending of the previous book “ The Rules”
In this book, he has convinced Harper that it’s “both of them against the world”
Eventually, he guilts her into a physical relationship.
Then.
The bombshell.
Harpers finds out she is pregnant.
But!
How pregnant?
Because there is window were this child she is carrying could be Caleb’s
The boy she left behind.
The boy who, according to Z, sick mother kicked out of her home when she found out, via a snap chat video, that her son and stepdaughter were in a relationship.
Convinced, ( by Z ) after Harpers stepdad is also arrested on trumped up charges, that it’s just the two of them now.
Like it was always meant to be since they were kids.
However,
There has been an underlying plan at play the whole time by the MC that Silas ( Harpers dad ) would occasionally do “outside the club”, work for.
The same club that is determined to infiltrate Silas’s new life even if it means using Harper and Z, to do it .
This second book was intense.
Harper went from one stressful situation to another due to Z’s drug use, gambling, and eventual cooperation with the MC.
For Caleb, he spent his ten years trying to forget Harper …unsuccessfully.
Putting his mathematical skills to use, not at Harvard, but as the manager of the BDSM club ( yeah, you read that right ) owned by his mother and stepdad called
Carnal
Yeah.
There a LOT going on in this final instalment of Harper and Caleb’s story and the suspense never lets up.
I found it hard to believe after the first book were I actually felt so bad for Z,
And, like Harper, was totally invested in her quest to get back and stop the abuse he was suffering at the hands of his stepdad,
Only for him to turn into the most opportunistic, underhanded POS throughout the majority of this story.
( okay, he kinda redeemed himself at the end )
As for Caleb, the sweetie, obsessive compulsive in the first book, at twenty - eight managing a SEX CLUB?
No longer having to learn about pleasuring a female from the smut novels in his local library. 😂
Yeah.
I couldn’t quite get my head around the fact the author chose to make the sweet Helen ( Caleb’s Mother) along with Silas the owners of, of all things at BDSM club!
That one totally threw me off.
But overall I enjoyed these two book and all the drama, and am going to miss Harper and Caleb
July 11, 2026
Writing this as I go because I have strong thoughts on this one, and I need to track them. I’ll try to avoid spoilers though
Let’s start with Z is a manipulative, selfish piece of shit, and I hate him. I haven’t gotten far enough to find out if he was telling Harper the truth about that night or not, but I’m betting he either lied about it happening or lied about how it happened. Also, fuck his “I was drunk too” nonsense. He was sober enough to remember what was going on and to justify his actions afterward because he knew impaired people can’t consent. Hate him so much and hope bad things happen to him
Oh, he gets even worse in chapters from his perspective. Fantastic. He’s every mediocre (at best) dude who thinks he deserves someone’s love, attention, and body because he likes the idea of them and “I’m a nice guy.” I’m four chapters in and already waiting for Caleb to show up
Chapter Eight, and still hate him. Does he not have an ounce of introspection in him? Ugh.
Noooo! Chapter Nine! You had me going from “I love Ximena, and she might be the best character in the book” to trying to multitask so I didn’t cry like a big ol’ baby (I failed). Seeing some of the characters from Carnal Games, though? Fuck, I missed them. One more chapter, then I’m gonna cry myself to sleep
Okay, I read TWO more chapters, and can officially say this book is going to leave me emotionally imbalanced by the time I’m done with it. So, thanks for that? I know there’s gonna be an HEA, but, gods, it’s gonna take a lot out of me to get there, isn’t it?
Caleb! I missed you, you sweet boy! And Moira! Getting the whole group back together in this one, huh?
Z continues to be THE WORST. Of course he’s trying to act like he’s the real victim
I missed Silas too. Can’t believe Harper really thought she could con her old man🤦
Always have a plan, Caleb. And, apparently, watch your butt around Harper
I spend more time than I would expect wondering if authors are/were therapists for their day jobs these days. Maybe they’ve just spent enough time in therapy to actually learn something? Which, not a judgement, I’ve done the same, and, honestly, I think most people would benefit from therapy (especially the people who’ve never gone, but insist they’re “normal” and don’t need it)
Fuck, Z. Why do you have to make everything worse all the time? What do you expect from a guy with two assholes, though, right? Gotta admit, didn’t see that little development coming. Does explain some things, huh?
Got sucked into the story so much, I forgot to come back to my notes. Oops, but also good indicator of how good it is
Anyway, final thoughts. One good deed doesn’t undo a lifetime of being a manipulative jerk, (and that’s putting things lightly) family is sometimes the worst, yay for happy endings, read the bonus epilogue (I saw that pairing coming WAAAY back, and I’m thrilled it’s happening).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Let’s start with Z is a manipulative, selfish piece of shit, and I hate him. I haven’t gotten far enough to find out if he was telling Harper the truth about that night or not, but I’m betting he either lied about it happening or lied about how it happened. Also, fuck his “I was drunk too” nonsense. He was sober enough to remember what was going on and to justify his actions afterward because he knew impaired people can’t consent. Hate him so much and hope bad things happen to him
Oh, he gets even worse in chapters from his perspective. Fantastic. He’s every mediocre (at best) dude who thinks he deserves someone’s love, attention, and body because he likes the idea of them and “I’m a nice guy.” I’m four chapters in and already waiting for Caleb to show up
Chapter Eight, and still hate him. Does he not have an ounce of introspection in him? Ugh.
Noooo! Chapter Nine! You had me going from “I love Ximena, and she might be the best character in the book” to trying to multitask so I didn’t cry like a big ol’ baby (I failed). Seeing some of the characters from Carnal Games, though? Fuck, I missed them. One more chapter, then I’m gonna cry myself to sleep
Okay, I read TWO more chapters, and can officially say this book is going to leave me emotionally imbalanced by the time I’m done with it. So, thanks for that? I know there’s gonna be an HEA, but, gods, it’s gonna take a lot out of me to get there, isn’t it?
Caleb! I missed you, you sweet boy! And Moira! Getting the whole group back together in this one, huh?
Z continues to be THE WORST. Of course he’s trying to act like he’s the real victim
I missed Silas too. Can’t believe Harper really thought she could con her old man🤦
Always have a plan, Caleb. And, apparently, watch your butt around Harper
I spend more time than I would expect wondering if authors are/were therapists for their day jobs these days. Maybe they’ve just spent enough time in therapy to actually learn something? Which, not a judgement, I’ve done the same, and, honestly, I think most people would benefit from therapy (especially the people who’ve never gone, but insist they’re “normal” and don’t need it)
Fuck, Z. Why do you have to make everything worse all the time? What do you expect from a guy with two assholes, though, right? Gotta admit, didn’t see that little development coming. Does explain some things, huh?
Got sucked into the story so much, I forgot to come back to my notes. Oops, but also good indicator of how good it is
Anyway, final thoughts. One good deed doesn’t undo a lifetime of being a manipulative jerk, (and that’s putting things lightly) family is sometimes the worst, yay for happy endings, read the bonus epilogue (I saw that pairing coming WAAAY back, and I’m thrilled it’s happening).
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 4, 2026
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Ruins is an emotionally intense contemporary romance that explores love, guilt, trauma, betrayal, and the consequences of choices made in moments of desperation. As a sequel to the earlier story involving Harper, Caleb, and Zedekiah, the novel immediately throws readers into emotional chaos and rarely lets them come up for air.
What stands out most is the book's commitment to emotional complexity. Harper is not a traditionally easy protagonist to love. She is deeply flawed, often self-destructive, and spends much of the novel wrestling with guilt and regret. Rather than simplifying her emotions, Kora Nyx allows Harper to remain messy and contradictory, which makes her feel surprisingly human. Her longing for Caleb while trying to build a life with Z creates a painful emotional tension that drives much of the story.
The strongest aspect of the novel is its character work. Harper's internal conflict feels authentic, particularly her struggle between the life she lost and the life she is trying to accept. Z is especially fascinating because he initially appears supportive and devoted, only for later revelations to cast his actions in a far darker light. The discovery that he manipulated is one of the novel's most shocking moments and completely reframes much of what came before.
The writing style is accessible and highly readable. Chapters move quickly, dialogue feels natural, and the emotional beats land effectively. The author excels at creating scenes that are difficult to stop reading because every chapter ends with another emotional dilemma or revelation. This is very much a "just one more chapter" kind of book.
That said, the novel will not work for every reader. The emotional intensity is relentless, and some readers may find Harper's continued fixation on Caleb repetitive at times. The story leans heavily into angst, miscommunication, and emotional turmoil. Readers looking for a lighter romance or a straightforward love story may struggle with the constant emotional suffering experienced by the characters.
Another point worth noting is that many plot developments rely on characters making highly emotional rather than rational decisions. While this often fits the characters and their circumstances, it occasionally stretches believability.
Despite these criticisms, The Ruins succeeds because it fully commits to the emotional devastation at the center of its story. It is a romance about damaged people trying—and often failing—to find happiness while carrying the weight of past mistakes. The novel asks difficult questions about forgiveness, loyalty, and whether love alone is enough to overcome betrayal.
The Ruins is an emotionally intense contemporary romance that explores love, guilt, trauma, betrayal, and the consequences of choices made in moments of desperation. As a sequel to the earlier story involving Harper, Caleb, and Zedekiah, the novel immediately throws readers into emotional chaos and rarely lets them come up for air.
What stands out most is the book's commitment to emotional complexity. Harper is not a traditionally easy protagonist to love. She is deeply flawed, often self-destructive, and spends much of the novel wrestling with guilt and regret. Rather than simplifying her emotions, Kora Nyx allows Harper to remain messy and contradictory, which makes her feel surprisingly human. Her longing for Caleb while trying to build a life with Z creates a painful emotional tension that drives much of the story.
The strongest aspect of the novel is its character work. Harper's internal conflict feels authentic, particularly her struggle between the life she lost and the life she is trying to accept. Z is especially fascinating because he initially appears supportive and devoted, only for later revelations to cast his actions in a far darker light. The discovery that he manipulated is one of the novel's most shocking moments and completely reframes much of what came before.
The writing style is accessible and highly readable. Chapters move quickly, dialogue feels natural, and the emotional beats land effectively. The author excels at creating scenes that are difficult to stop reading because every chapter ends with another emotional dilemma or revelation. This is very much a "just one more chapter" kind of book.
That said, the novel will not work for every reader. The emotional intensity is relentless, and some readers may find Harper's continued fixation on Caleb repetitive at times. The story leans heavily into angst, miscommunication, and emotional turmoil. Readers looking for a lighter romance or a straightforward love story may struggle with the constant emotional suffering experienced by the characters.
Another point worth noting is that many plot developments rely on characters making highly emotional rather than rational decisions. While this often fits the characters and their circumstances, it occasionally stretches believability.
Despite these criticisms, The Ruins succeeds because it fully commits to the emotional devastation at the center of its story. It is a romance about damaged people trying—and often failing—to find happiness while carrying the weight of past mistakes. The novel asks difficult questions about forgiveness, loyalty, and whether love alone is enough to overcome betrayal.
May 16, 2026
After the brutal cliffhanger in The Rules, I was desperate to dive into this book 😩📖 and it absolutely destroyed me in the best possible way. From the very beginning, I was furious with Z. The betrayal, manipulation, and the way he twisted Harper’s trust for his own selfish reasons had me constantly angry. Watching Harper believe the lies she was fed was heartbreaking, especially knowing how deeply she loved Caleb all along. 💔
The love triangle between Harper, Z, and Caleb had me stressed the entire time 😭 because every chapter seemed to bring a new emotional punch. Even after everything Z did, Harper still showed compassion toward him, which honestly proved how kind-hearted and strong she truly is. She was shattered, manipulated, and emotionally robbed of the future she dreamed about, yet she never lost herself completely. Her pain felt so real.
What hit me hardest was the years Harper and Caleb lost because of lies that were never theirs to carry. Nearly a decade apart because of deception and jealousy? Absolutely devastating. Caleb completely stole my heart 🥹💙. No matter how much time passed, he never stopped loving Harper. Not once did he punish her for the things she didn’t even know. Even when the truth finally unraveled, all he cared about was protecting her, understanding her pain, and getting back the life they were robbed of. The way he embraced both Harper and her son without hesitation made me love him even more 🫶
The emotional damage caused by everyone pulling strings behind the scenes was honestly shocking. Every secret revealed felt darker and more twisted than the last, and I never could have predicted how deep the manipulation actually went. The reunion between Caleb and Harper was everything I hoped for and more ✨ The chemistry, the heartbreak, the longing — it never disappeared no matter how much time separated them. They were always meant to find their way back to each other.
I also loved seeing familiar faces from this world again, and now I’m extremely curious about her dad’s story 👀 Kora truly knows how to write emotionally intense romances that completely consume you. Her stories hurt, heal, and leave you emotionally drained in the best way possible. Every chapter kept me hooked, and I couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know how these two would finally get their happily ever after ❤️
This duet was emotional chaos, full of betrayal, heartbreak, healing, and unconditional love — and somehow it all came together perfectly. Caleb and Harper deserved their HEA more than anyone, and seeing them finally fight through all the lies to choose each other made every painful moment worth it 🥹✨
The love triangle between Harper, Z, and Caleb had me stressed the entire time 😭 because every chapter seemed to bring a new emotional punch. Even after everything Z did, Harper still showed compassion toward him, which honestly proved how kind-hearted and strong she truly is. She was shattered, manipulated, and emotionally robbed of the future she dreamed about, yet she never lost herself completely. Her pain felt so real.
What hit me hardest was the years Harper and Caleb lost because of lies that were never theirs to carry. Nearly a decade apart because of deception and jealousy? Absolutely devastating. Caleb completely stole my heart 🥹💙. No matter how much time passed, he never stopped loving Harper. Not once did he punish her for the things she didn’t even know. Even when the truth finally unraveled, all he cared about was protecting her, understanding her pain, and getting back the life they were robbed of. The way he embraced both Harper and her son without hesitation made me love him even more 🫶
The emotional damage caused by everyone pulling strings behind the scenes was honestly shocking. Every secret revealed felt darker and more twisted than the last, and I never could have predicted how deep the manipulation actually went. The reunion between Caleb and Harper was everything I hoped for and more ✨ The chemistry, the heartbreak, the longing — it never disappeared no matter how much time separated them. They were always meant to find their way back to each other.
I also loved seeing familiar faces from this world again, and now I’m extremely curious about her dad’s story 👀 Kora truly knows how to write emotionally intense romances that completely consume you. Her stories hurt, heal, and leave you emotionally drained in the best way possible. Every chapter kept me hooked, and I couldn’t stop reading because I needed to know how these two would finally get their happily ever after ❤️
This duet was emotional chaos, full of betrayal, heartbreak, healing, and unconditional love — and somehow it all came together perfectly. Caleb and Harper deserved their HEA more than anyone, and seeing them finally fight through all the lies to choose each other made every painful moment worth it 🥹✨
May 15, 2026
Gah I’m dying. Kindle/Amazon ate my review. 😭
🌶️ 2 on page DTD nothing too crazy
⭐️ 4.5 I really enjoyed — probably won’t re-read
🚨 trigger warnings 🚨
Childhood Abus3
FMC SA
Coercive Control / Abus1ve relationship
D3ath
Murd3r
Pew pew violence
Child endangerment
Drug Abus3
These are what stuck out to me. *Please see the authors page for her complete list
Told in dual POV
Forbidden relationships
Found family
He falls first
Scarred Golden Retriever MMC
Prickly, emotionally damaged FMC
HEA
Okay. I am assuming that you have read book one, The Rules. If you have not please stop and go there.
There will potentially be spoilers down below for book one. This is a duet. This is the second book in the duet. You’ve been warned.
We left off in book one on a cliffhanger and what a cliffhanger it was. Z had stolen Harper away. Caleb had lost his mother, his stepfather and the love of his life all in the same day.
Thank goodness I knew this book was only a couple of weeks away. I really dislike cliffies because I’m so invested, it’s very stressful lol
This is a worthwhile ending of the duet, I enjoyed it a lot. Characters were developed well and realistically.
The road to the end was bumpy and filled with a lot of emotions and some tears.
My heart broke for Harper with every time jump (there are a lot) and sometimes I wanted to slap Harper for how stupid I felt like she was being. But that’s what happens when you are emotionally damaged and you have suffered emotional and physical abus3 as a child so it’s well written and feels very accurate unfortunately.
We get our HEA, but we lose some people along the way. 💔😭💔
Our characters grow they change and I feel like I was definitely emotionally invested in the story and the characters. I had a little bit of something in my eyes maybe a tear or two so bring your tissues 🤧😭 when you read this one, but I do think you SHOULD definitely read this and the first one, start with the first one obviously though or you’ll be lost.
Caleb, is not morally gray. He’s not your dark book boyfriend. He is a golden retriever who has some mental health struggles due to his mom being sick but otherwise Caleb is just a good stand up guy who gets dealt a crap hand for a long while.
Harper is the more morally gray one, for good reasons, but she’s also a victim of so much emotional abus3.
Survival makes you do a lot of things you’d never have considered before.
🌶️ 2 on page DTD nothing too crazy
⭐️ 4.5 I really enjoyed — probably won’t re-read
🚨 trigger warnings 🚨
Childhood Abus3
FMC SA
Coercive Control / Abus1ve relationship
D3ath
Murd3r
Pew pew violence
Child endangerment
Drug Abus3
These are what stuck out to me. *Please see the authors page for her complete list
Told in dual POV
Forbidden relationships
Found family
He falls first
Scarred Golden Retriever MMC
Prickly, emotionally damaged FMC
HEA
Okay. I am assuming that you have read book one, The Rules. If you have not please stop and go there.
There will potentially be spoilers down below for book one. This is a duet. This is the second book in the duet. You’ve been warned.
We left off in book one on a cliffhanger and what a cliffhanger it was. Z had stolen Harper away. Caleb had lost his mother, his stepfather and the love of his life all in the same day.
Thank goodness I knew this book was only a couple of weeks away. I really dislike cliffies because I’m so invested, it’s very stressful lol
This is a worthwhile ending of the duet, I enjoyed it a lot. Characters were developed well and realistically.
The road to the end was bumpy and filled with a lot of emotions and some tears.
My heart broke for Harper with every time jump (there are a lot) and sometimes I wanted to slap Harper for how stupid I felt like she was being. But that’s what happens when you are emotionally damaged and you have suffered emotional and physical abus3 as a child so it’s well written and feels very accurate unfortunately.
We get our HEA, but we lose some people along the way. 💔😭💔
Our characters grow they change and I feel like I was definitely emotionally invested in the story and the characters. I had a little bit of something in my eyes maybe a tear or two so bring your tissues 🤧😭 when you read this one, but I do think you SHOULD definitely read this and the first one, start with the first one obviously though or you’ll be lost.
Caleb, is not morally gray. He’s not your dark book boyfriend. He is a golden retriever who has some mental health struggles due to his mom being sick but otherwise Caleb is just a good stand up guy who gets dealt a crap hand for a long while.
Harper is the more morally gray one, for good reasons, but she’s also a victim of so much emotional abus3.
Survival makes you do a lot of things you’d never have considered before.
July 15, 2026
Great Conclusion
I’ve been eagerly awaiting the sequel to *The Ruins*, and I wasn’t disappointed. Caleb and Harper’s story really touched me in the first book of the duology, and I was curious to see how they would find their way back to each other. Once again, Kora Nyx (aka Stasia Black) crafts an emotionally charged, unsettling, surprising, and suspenseful love story that kept me hooked from the start. Much of the book focuses on Harper and what she experiences in the ten years after she left Caleb behind to start a new life with Z, until she finally meets Caleb again at his mother’s tenth memorial service. The tropes in this part are:
- Second Chance
- Forbidden Love
- Step-siblings to Lovers
- Opposites Attract
- Love Triangle
- Surprise Child
I loved the protagonists. Both are broken in different ways—fate has separated them, but they’ve never been able to forget each other. Harper is still a tough, independent heroine who has started a family and runs a successful business on the side, and Caleb has his OCD somewhat under control and runs “Carnal” for his incarcerated stepfather.
The chemistry between them is still sizzling, and it was lovely to see them find their way back to each other. The moments they shared as a family were also heartwarming.
It was also nice to reconnect with many characters from the author’s “Carnal Games” series.
After Harper Tucker leaves Caleb behind, she starts a new life with her best friend, Z. She is surprised to discover she is pregnant, but the paternity test shows that Z is the child’s father. They get married, but while she builds a career as a tattoo artist, Z’s life spirals further and further out of control, and their marriage faces repeated crises.
Years later, Harper decides to secretly attend the 10-year memorial service for Caleb’s mother and runs into Caleb again—the man she could never forget and still loves. Caleb’s feelings for her haven’t changed either. During their reunion, Harper realizes that Z betrayed her back then and that her life with him is built on his lies…
All in all, a perfect conclusion to the duology, featuring endearing main characters and filled with pent-up emotions, twists, action, suspense, intrigue, drama, and spice—a book I’m very happy to recommend.
I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
I’ve been eagerly awaiting the sequel to *The Ruins*, and I wasn’t disappointed. Caleb and Harper’s story really touched me in the first book of the duology, and I was curious to see how they would find their way back to each other. Once again, Kora Nyx (aka Stasia Black) crafts an emotionally charged, unsettling, surprising, and suspenseful love story that kept me hooked from the start. Much of the book focuses on Harper and what she experiences in the ten years after she left Caleb behind to start a new life with Z, until she finally meets Caleb again at his mother’s tenth memorial service. The tropes in this part are:
- Second Chance
- Forbidden Love
- Step-siblings to Lovers
- Opposites Attract
- Love Triangle
- Surprise Child
I loved the protagonists. Both are broken in different ways—fate has separated them, but they’ve never been able to forget each other. Harper is still a tough, independent heroine who has started a family and runs a successful business on the side, and Caleb has his OCD somewhat under control and runs “Carnal” for his incarcerated stepfather.
The chemistry between them is still sizzling, and it was lovely to see them find their way back to each other. The moments they shared as a family were also heartwarming.
It was also nice to reconnect with many characters from the author’s “Carnal Games” series.
After Harper Tucker leaves Caleb behind, she starts a new life with her best friend, Z. She is surprised to discover she is pregnant, but the paternity test shows that Z is the child’s father. They get married, but while she builds a career as a tattoo artist, Z’s life spirals further and further out of control, and their marriage faces repeated crises.
Years later, Harper decides to secretly attend the 10-year memorial service for Caleb’s mother and runs into Caleb again—the man she could never forget and still loves. Caleb’s feelings for her haven’t changed either. During their reunion, Harper realizes that Z betrayed her back then and that her life with him is built on his lies…
All in all, a perfect conclusion to the duology, featuring endearing main characters and filled with pent-up emotions, twists, action, suspense, intrigue, drama, and spice—a book I’m very happy to recommend.
I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.
July 6, 2026
Love was stolen, but the truth comes back armed.
Harper wakes up with no memory of the night before, only Zedekiah’s version of what happened and the crushing belief that she chose him. She runs from Caleb carrying shame, fear, and a future she thinks she no longer deserves, while Z slowly rewrites her life around his lies.
Years later, Harper is a survivor, an artist, and a mother who would do anything for Bruiser. But when the cracks in Z’s story finally begin to spread, she’s forced to question everything she believes about her past and the boy she trusted most.
Caleb never stops loving her, but love alone can’t erase years of loss or the damage left behind by manipulation and control. As danger closes in, Harper and Caleb are pushed to confront grief, anger, and the connection that refuses to stay buried.
Harper gradually stops defining herself through shame, survival, and self-sacrifice, allowing herself to face painful truths and believe she deserves both love and safety. Caleb learns to loosen his grip on control and finally give voice to years of longing, hurt, and regret. Together, they rebuild trust and discover that intimacy feels different when it’s rooted in honesty, consent, and the freedom to want without fear.
A hot, second chance, forbidden romance exploring manipulation, betrayal, trauma, healing, consent, identity, grief, redemption, chosen family, and the enduring pull of first love. It’s about reclaiming a stolen life, learning to trust yourself again after years of lies, and finding the courage to stand still long enough to be truly seen. At its heart, it’s about a woman rebuilding from the wreckage, a man who never stopped waiting, and a love that survives because it finally has the truth.
The Elevator Pitch: A woman discovers that the life she built was shaped by a devastating lie, forcing her to confront the love she left behind and the truth hidden beneath a decade of loss. As old wounds reopen and buried secrets surface, a fiercely protective mother and the man who never stopped loving her must decide whether trust can survive everything that was taken from them. What begins as a reckoning with the past becomes a fight for family, freedom, and a future neither of them thought they deserved.
Heat Level: 🔥🔥 Hot
Harper wakes up with no memory of the night before, only Zedekiah’s version of what happened and the crushing belief that she chose him. She runs from Caleb carrying shame, fear, and a future she thinks she no longer deserves, while Z slowly rewrites her life around his lies.
Years later, Harper is a survivor, an artist, and a mother who would do anything for Bruiser. But when the cracks in Z’s story finally begin to spread, she’s forced to question everything she believes about her past and the boy she trusted most.
Caleb never stops loving her, but love alone can’t erase years of loss or the damage left behind by manipulation and control. As danger closes in, Harper and Caleb are pushed to confront grief, anger, and the connection that refuses to stay buried.
Harper gradually stops defining herself through shame, survival, and self-sacrifice, allowing herself to face painful truths and believe she deserves both love and safety. Caleb learns to loosen his grip on control and finally give voice to years of longing, hurt, and regret. Together, they rebuild trust and discover that intimacy feels different when it’s rooted in honesty, consent, and the freedom to want without fear.
A hot, second chance, forbidden romance exploring manipulation, betrayal, trauma, healing, consent, identity, grief, redemption, chosen family, and the enduring pull of first love. It’s about reclaiming a stolen life, learning to trust yourself again after years of lies, and finding the courage to stand still long enough to be truly seen. At its heart, it’s about a woman rebuilding from the wreckage, a man who never stopped waiting, and a love that survives because it finally has the truth.
The Elevator Pitch: A woman discovers that the life she built was shaped by a devastating lie, forcing her to confront the love she left behind and the truth hidden beneath a decade of loss. As old wounds reopen and buried secrets surface, a fiercely protective mother and the man who never stopped loving her must decide whether trust can survive everything that was taken from them. What begins as a reckoning with the past becomes a fight for family, freedom, and a future neither of them thought they deserved.
Heat Level: 🔥🔥 Hot
June 30, 2026
I devoured this duet, as it is an easy and addictive read, and the thing that bothers me more than anything else is BRUISER.
Why in the hell are you going to keep calling this child BRUISER when a) it’s just ridiculous and b) has such a negative connotation, being nicknamed this by a habitual liar and manipulator, AND being a name linked to a violent MC? It’s like inviting negativity and violence into his life.
Z… dying is the least he could do after all of the pain and loss he caused. I’m sympathetic that he grew up in such a shit environment but, at some point, you’ve got to stop blaming your environment and accept responsibility for your own stupid actions. I guess that’s what his death accomplished.
What would have been better? For that McKenzie bitch to get what she was due.
I also don’t understand how the sex club contributed anything to the story but, okay.
The other issue I had were the breaks in continuity, one example being Bruiser going from calling Caleb, “Cabe”, to calling him, “Calb”. Another being from them sleeping together at the memorial to sex in the hot tub and acting like that was the first time they’d had sex since reuniting. I also wasn’t clear on how someone as bright as Caleb couldn’t see the resemblance with Bruiser and had to be told he was his son. I mean, Harper said it was like looking at a twin of her son when she saw Caleb’s younger photo at the memorial, but it just went over his head? Odd. Seems he would have picked up on this when he saw them in Austin and addressed it then, thereby having a relationship with his son sooner.
The author seemed to have lost their place in writing sometimes, with phrases being repeated from one paragraph to the next, and sometimes the story felt a bit disheveled, almost like they started typing something else in the middle of a thought but forgetting that the thought had either already concluded, was yet to come, or that the cursor was in the wrong spot when typing resumed. It was weird in some areas.
Still… BRUISER?!? Just call the kid by his given name and leave that ridiculous moniker in the past. (I’m surprised they didn’t insist on it since Z was the one that gave him that absurd nickname.)
Why in the hell are you going to keep calling this child BRUISER when a) it’s just ridiculous and b) has such a negative connotation, being nicknamed this by a habitual liar and manipulator, AND being a name linked to a violent MC? It’s like inviting negativity and violence into his life.
Z… dying is the least he could do after all of the pain and loss he caused. I’m sympathetic that he grew up in such a shit environment but, at some point, you’ve got to stop blaming your environment and accept responsibility for your own stupid actions. I guess that’s what his death accomplished.
What would have been better? For that McKenzie bitch to get what she was due.
I also don’t understand how the sex club contributed anything to the story but, okay.
The other issue I had were the breaks in continuity, one example being Bruiser going from calling Caleb, “Cabe”, to calling him, “Calb”. Another being from them sleeping together at the memorial to sex in the hot tub and acting like that was the first time they’d had sex since reuniting. I also wasn’t clear on how someone as bright as Caleb couldn’t see the resemblance with Bruiser and had to be told he was his son. I mean, Harper said it was like looking at a twin of her son when she saw Caleb’s younger photo at the memorial, but it just went over his head? Odd. Seems he would have picked up on this when he saw them in Austin and addressed it then, thereby having a relationship with his son sooner.
The author seemed to have lost their place in writing sometimes, with phrases being repeated from one paragraph to the next, and sometimes the story felt a bit disheveled, almost like they started typing something else in the middle of a thought but forgetting that the thought had either already concluded, was yet to come, or that the cursor was in the wrong spot when typing resumed. It was weird in some areas.
Still… BRUISER?!? Just call the kid by his given name and leave that ridiculous moniker in the past. (I’m surprised they didn’t insist on it since Z was the one that gave him that absurd nickname.)
June 1, 2026
Squirrel Friends! Hello Again!!!
The Ruins Kora Nyx… If The Rules broke your heart, The Ruins takes the shattered pieces, grinds them into dust, and hands them back to you with a smile.
What hit me hardest about this book was the emotional wreckage. These characters are carrying so much pain that it practically bleeds off the page. Every decision they make is shaped by their trauma, guilt, fear, and desperate need to be loved, even when they don't believe they deserve it.
There were moments when I found myself frustrated and hating them. Especially, Z… Asshole. Lovable, stupid asshole. You’ll be wrecked by his character. I promise you. Kora Nyx doesn't give us polished characters who always say the right thing. She gives us broken people trying to navigate impossible situations while carrying wounds that never fully healed.
What stayed with me after I finished wasn't a particular scene, it was the feeling of watching people desperately want connection while simultaneously pushing it away. There are moments in this book that feel painfully real because they tap into something universal: the fear that our worst mistakes and deepest wounds make us unworthy of love. Kora Nyx handles that emotional weight exceptionally well.
I think my favorite quote from book two is, “Loving her always felt like stepping off a cliff, something terrifying and inevitable at the same time”. Beautifully written.
This book is an easy 4 star read. The Ruins is perfect for readers who love emotional dark romances filled with flawed, complex characters and intense, messy relationships. (With a lil’ bit of spice.) If you enjoy stories that explore trauma, heartbreak, and the long road to healing, this book will likely hit all the right notes. Kora Nyx doesn't shy away from the ugly parts of being human, making the characters feel painfully real. This isn't a light, feel-good romance, it's the kind of book that leaves you thinking about the characters and their choices long after you've finished the last page.
The Ruins Kora Nyx… If The Rules broke your heart, The Ruins takes the shattered pieces, grinds them into dust, and hands them back to you with a smile.
What hit me hardest about this book was the emotional wreckage. These characters are carrying so much pain that it practically bleeds off the page. Every decision they make is shaped by their trauma, guilt, fear, and desperate need to be loved, even when they don't believe they deserve it.
There were moments when I found myself frustrated and hating them. Especially, Z… Asshole. Lovable, stupid asshole. You’ll be wrecked by his character. I promise you. Kora Nyx doesn't give us polished characters who always say the right thing. She gives us broken people trying to navigate impossible situations while carrying wounds that never fully healed.
What stayed with me after I finished wasn't a particular scene, it was the feeling of watching people desperately want connection while simultaneously pushing it away. There are moments in this book that feel painfully real because they tap into something universal: the fear that our worst mistakes and deepest wounds make us unworthy of love. Kora Nyx handles that emotional weight exceptionally well.
I think my favorite quote from book two is, “Loving her always felt like stepping off a cliff, something terrifying and inevitable at the same time”. Beautifully written.
This book is an easy 4 star read. The Ruins is perfect for readers who love emotional dark romances filled with flawed, complex characters and intense, messy relationships. (With a lil’ bit of spice.) If you enjoy stories that explore trauma, heartbreak, and the long road to healing, this book will likely hit all the right notes. Kora Nyx doesn't shy away from the ugly parts of being human, making the characters feel painfully real. This isn't a light, feel-good romance, it's the kind of book that leaves you thinking about the characters and their choices long after you've finished the last page.
Review of advance copy received from Author
“Don’t fall for your stepsister.”
Tagline because why not: Kora Nyx is back with round 2. Pop on your boxing gloves! You’re gonna want to jump into the Ruins and fight a certain someone. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
I am SHOOKETH! Author Kora Nyx wrecked me again. I should have known that a book called The Ruins would have its wicked way with me, and that it did! I was held hostage by this twisted tornado of a love story. Nyx basically threw my emotions into a blender and hit pulverize. And maybe I’m twisted too as I loved every unhinged minute of The Ruins.
Dearest readers, I’m not going to give much away about the plot because you have to dive into this messy romance blindly. The first half left readers like me with a doozy of a cliffhanger. Readers —I mean me—were cursing because nooooo.
I did not think Harper’s life could be even messier. But hello hot mess XD. Our fearless heroine was manipulated by the man she trusted. Could I hate him more? This book makes his evil from book one look like child’s play. Did I want to go grim reaper and snatch his soul? Yes. But did I also hope he would reform? Also yes.
Caleb … I didn’t think I could love him more. But he’s better than ever. Soulmate perfection and deserving of Harper. Hero goals, baby.
Oh, The Ruins, what did you do to me? This love story sank into my soul—thrusting my emotions on edge. I felt like I was dangling off the steepest cliff, about to nose-dive into an abyss, unprepared for the annihilation of my poor heart.
“I choose you. Every day and every moment. In the mess and the chaos.”
And at the end, I loved the villain too. And oh did I cry. So many tears. So many feels. So much everything. The Ruins was my undoing! Aptly titled for a story that left me in ruins. Well played, Ms. Nyx.
💋💋💋💋💋💋 fierce and forever kisses
Tagline because why not: Kora Nyx is back with round 2. Pop on your boxing gloves! You’re gonna want to jump into the Ruins and fight a certain someone. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
I am SHOOKETH! Author Kora Nyx wrecked me again. I should have known that a book called The Ruins would have its wicked way with me, and that it did! I was held hostage by this twisted tornado of a love story. Nyx basically threw my emotions into a blender and hit pulverize. And maybe I’m twisted too as I loved every unhinged minute of The Ruins.
Dearest readers, I’m not going to give much away about the plot because you have to dive into this messy romance blindly. The first half left readers like me with a doozy of a cliffhanger. Readers —I mean me—were cursing because nooooo.
I did not think Harper’s life could be even messier. But hello hot mess XD. Our fearless heroine was manipulated by the man she trusted. Could I hate him more? This book makes his evil from book one look like child’s play. Did I want to go grim reaper and snatch his soul? Yes. But did I also hope he would reform? Also yes.
Caleb … I didn’t think I could love him more. But he’s better than ever. Soulmate perfection and deserving of Harper. Hero goals, baby.
Oh, The Ruins, what did you do to me? This love story sank into my soul—thrusting my emotions on edge. I felt like I was dangling off the steepest cliff, about to nose-dive into an abyss, unprepared for the annihilation of my poor heart.
“I choose you. Every day and every moment. In the mess and the chaos.”
And at the end, I loved the villain too. And oh did I cry. So many tears. So many feels. So much everything. The Ruins was my undoing! Aptly titled for a story that left me in ruins. Well played, Ms. Nyx.
💋💋💋💋💋💋 fierce and forever kisses
May 16, 2026
This book was everything I wanted in a story and more. It was the ending I had hoped for. Caleb blew me away. No matter how long they were apart he never stopped loving and wanting Harper. The lies and betrayals that kept them apart were heartbreaking. I honestly was not expecting it to be almost ten years. That time felt like forever. The pain and betrayal that Harper was force to endure was gut wrenching. The fact that someone so easily manipulated her and used her trust against her was hard to witness. She and Caleb were meant to be together but were forced apart by people outside of their control. It felt like Harper's pain would never end. The sheer evil calculation was diabolical. I loved that no matter the time apart Caleb never took his anger out on Harper. Even when they finally saw each other for the first time after so many years apart he never once treated Harper badly. He just wanted his girl back. When all the lies and secrets finally come out he still isn't mad at her. He lets her feel all the emotions. He did not try to minimize what she went through and he never treated her or her son badly. All he wanted was to get her and her son as his family forever. They fought so hard for their HEA and the secrets and lies that came out in the end were truly twisted. I never would have guessed all the secrets and lies that came out. I will say I am honestly curious to see her dads story. I also enjoyed that we got to see old friends from the same world. Kora did such a fantastic job with this duet. I was so invested from day one. I could not wait to see what would happen next. I am so excited to see what else she has instore for us in the future. She writes stories that are emotionally wrecking but in all the best ways. I love that you never really know how the story is going to go and that you cannot help but devour every word.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Unknowingly betrayed by the one person she thought she could trust above all others, Harper wakes up in a hotel room without clothes, and Z telling her that she made the first move. When a test turns positive a few weeks later, Harper is convinced that the life she dreamt of with the boy with the blue eyes is but a fantasy, especially when the paternity test shows Z is the father. As time goes on, things stop making sense, and while she’s committed herself to her family, something has always been missing, but when she returns to Dallas for her stepmother’s memorial, she realizes just how deeply she’s been deceived.
Caleb fell in love with his stepsister when he was seventeen, and no one since has come close to comparing. Having been stuck between wanting to move on and unable to leave in case she came back, he is shocked when she walks into his mother’s memorial, although he had hoped she would. In less than 5 minutes of conversation, they realize they’ve both been lied to, and when Harper returns to Austin vowing to make things right, Caleb hopes that he can finally get his happily ever after.
After pulling an all-nighter from the hangover book 1 left me with, I’ve been counting down the minutes until I could get my hands on this one, and was thrilled to receive an early copy from The Author Agency. Caleb and Harper’s story should have been a fairytale, but with Z’s jealousy and manipulations, it became a nightmare. While I hated everything they had to endure apart, I loved that they knew within seconds of being reunited that nothing had changed between them. Of course things can never be easy for this pair, and the devastation of the time they lost is a hard hurdle to overcome, especially with the past coming back to haunt them. This book made the previous cliffhanger worth every minute of agony.
Caleb fell in love with his stepsister when he was seventeen, and no one since has come close to comparing. Having been stuck between wanting to move on and unable to leave in case she came back, he is shocked when she walks into his mother’s memorial, although he had hoped she would. In less than 5 minutes of conversation, they realize they’ve both been lied to, and when Harper returns to Austin vowing to make things right, Caleb hopes that he can finally get his happily ever after.
After pulling an all-nighter from the hangover book 1 left me with, I’ve been counting down the minutes until I could get my hands on this one, and was thrilled to receive an early copy from The Author Agency. Caleb and Harper’s story should have been a fairytale, but with Z’s jealousy and manipulations, it became a nightmare. While I hated everything they had to endure apart, I loved that they knew within seconds of being reunited that nothing had changed between them. Of course things can never be easy for this pair, and the devastation of the time they lost is a hard hurdle to overcome, especially with the past coming back to haunt them. This book made the previous cliffhanger worth every minute of agony.
May 13, 2026
When I tell you I ran to read this book, boy did I run, ignoring every other book on my TBR. The Rules literally ruined me! It left me emotionally shattered and I was hoping that The Ruins would heal me. Well it did, but let me tell you the journey was a long one to feeling whole again!
The Ruins follows Haper for the first half of the book and the life that she is building. It's a hard and messy life that sees her doing everything she can to have the life that she wants and deserves, no matter the hurdles. Unfortunately something (or someone) continually sets her back. The control, the coercion, the subtle psychological abuse makes the readers genuinely feel for Harper and wishing someone would intervene and break the toxic cycle.
Because this book is set over multiple timelines we don't get to Caleb's POV until just before 50% of the book and when we get to him....omg! Being set 7 years after Harper left, Caleb is now a man, like a sexy, dominating, alpha male! 🔥🔥🔥 He too has had his struggles, but he has found and made his own family, which is healing in itself after that gut wrenching ending in the last book.
When I tell you this book crushed my soul, and then finally you get that tiny glimmer of hope for our FMC & MMC, and then bam, its taken away again! The HEA that we got at the end was well deserved because what these characters go through, again and again and again was too much!
The Rules, shattered me. The Ruins, destroyed me, left me in despair and then finally gave me the ending that healed me. By giving Harper and Caleb their happy ending, this story concludes perfectly and while I won't forget how these books made me feel, I can now move on.
The Rules and The Ruins are 5 star reads that will stay with me for a long time.
The Ruins follows Haper for the first half of the book and the life that she is building. It's a hard and messy life that sees her doing everything she can to have the life that she wants and deserves, no matter the hurdles. Unfortunately something (or someone) continually sets her back. The control, the coercion, the subtle psychological abuse makes the readers genuinely feel for Harper and wishing someone would intervene and break the toxic cycle.
Because this book is set over multiple timelines we don't get to Caleb's POV until just before 50% of the book and when we get to him....omg! Being set 7 years after Harper left, Caleb is now a man, like a sexy, dominating, alpha male! 🔥🔥🔥 He too has had his struggles, but he has found and made his own family, which is healing in itself after that gut wrenching ending in the last book.
When I tell you this book crushed my soul, and then finally you get that tiny glimmer of hope for our FMC & MMC, and then bam, its taken away again! The HEA that we got at the end was well deserved because what these characters go through, again and again and again was too much!
The Rules, shattered me. The Ruins, destroyed me, left me in despair and then finally gave me the ending that healed me. By giving Harper and Caleb their happy ending, this story concludes perfectly and while I won't forget how these books made me feel, I can now move on.
The Rules and The Ruins are 5 star reads that will stay with me for a long time.
July 19, 2026
After the brutal cliffhanger in book one, I had no choice but to dive straight into The Ruins. I needed to see how Harper and Caleb’s story unfolded. This sequel picks up not long after the first book, and from the very beginning, it pulls you right back into the emotional storm and the turmoil that Harper goes through.
This book absolutely broke my heart, especially when it came to Harper. Watching what she endured was incredibly difficult, and at times frustrating. Her best friend Z had already raised some red flags in the first book for me, but here his behaviour escalates into something far darker. He is a master at manipulation and gaslighting that felt disturbingly real.
As a reader, it was obvious what was happening, which made Harper’s inability to see it even more painful. But that’s also what made it so authentic. When you’re on the outside, the truth seems clear; when you’re in it, emotions blur everything, and you hold onto who you believe that person is.
The story takes you through an avalanche of emotions. As secrets unravel and truths come to light, the fallout is intense and chaotic. Every reveal hits hard, and I found myself completely invested, hanging on every word.
Despite all the heartbreak, there’s something deeply satisfying about Harper and Caleb’s connection. Even after everything, their bond never truly fades, and when they finally find their way back to each other, the emotional payoff feels hard fought. Their chemistry is raw, intense, and impossible to ignore.
Overall, The Ruins is a powerful and emotionally charged read that sinks its teeth into you and doesn’t let go. Fans of dark, second-chance romance will find this story both devastating and rewarding, and absolutely worth the ride.
This book absolutely broke my heart, especially when it came to Harper. Watching what she endured was incredibly difficult, and at times frustrating. Her best friend Z had already raised some red flags in the first book for me, but here his behaviour escalates into something far darker. He is a master at manipulation and gaslighting that felt disturbingly real.
As a reader, it was obvious what was happening, which made Harper’s inability to see it even more painful. But that’s also what made it so authentic. When you’re on the outside, the truth seems clear; when you’re in it, emotions blur everything, and you hold onto who you believe that person is.
The story takes you through an avalanche of emotions. As secrets unravel and truths come to light, the fallout is intense and chaotic. Every reveal hits hard, and I found myself completely invested, hanging on every word.
Despite all the heartbreak, there’s something deeply satisfying about Harper and Caleb’s connection. Even after everything, their bond never truly fades, and when they finally find their way back to each other, the emotional payoff feels hard fought. Their chemistry is raw, intense, and impossible to ignore.
Overall, The Ruins is a powerful and emotionally charged read that sinks its teeth into you and doesn’t let go. Fans of dark, second-chance romance will find this story both devastating and rewarding, and absolutely worth the ride.
Review of advance copy received from Author
5⭐ ARC Review 'The Ruins'
♥️ Stepbrother Romance
♥️ Betrayal / Manipulation
♥️ Dark Secrets
♥️ Suspense / Action
♥️ Control / Obsession
♥️ Psychological
♥️ Taboo
♥️ Found Family
♥️ Gangs
Wow, I felt all the emotions in this second book. It hooked me from start to finish. I could not put this down. The suspense I was hanging onto throughout especially seeing Harper being so manipulated, fundementaly changing the course of her already broken life, really gutted me. (Wishing I could jump through the pages)
I couldn't put this read down today, read in one sitting and how the relief washes over you when Harper and Caleb discovers the truth.
I so thoroughly enjoyed this read and connected with more than book one, which the first book sets us up into this fast paced discovery of betrayal, secrets, found family, death and the heartbreaking second chance of a real love and life you deserved all along. Seeking answers to the cliffhanger we were left on.
I highly advise reading the bonus epilogue at the end, it's a must!!! I was always, towards the end thinking of one character and I'm so relieved to have read the bonus chapter. This is a character that I hope we can have an insight into further more in his own story one day, I think would be fantastic.
For those who love emotional depth stories with all the high stakes and tropes I highly recommend this duet, Absolutely had a good time reading and I'm so happy with the outcome. This was written very well and had me engaged fully the whole time.
Thank you for the opportunity to read for you and to theauthor.agency for providing this ARC read 🩵
♥️ Stepbrother Romance
♥️ Betrayal / Manipulation
♥️ Dark Secrets
♥️ Suspense / Action
♥️ Control / Obsession
♥️ Psychological
♥️ Taboo
♥️ Found Family
♥️ Gangs
Wow, I felt all the emotions in this second book. It hooked me from start to finish. I could not put this down. The suspense I was hanging onto throughout especially seeing Harper being so manipulated, fundementaly changing the course of her already broken life, really gutted me. (Wishing I could jump through the pages)
I couldn't put this read down today, read in one sitting and how the relief washes over you when Harper and Caleb discovers the truth.
I so thoroughly enjoyed this read and connected with more than book one, which the first book sets us up into this fast paced discovery of betrayal, secrets, found family, death and the heartbreaking second chance of a real love and life you deserved all along. Seeking answers to the cliffhanger we were left on.
I highly advise reading the bonus epilogue at the end, it's a must!!! I was always, towards the end thinking of one character and I'm so relieved to have read the bonus chapter. This is a character that I hope we can have an insight into further more in his own story one day, I think would be fantastic.
For those who love emotional depth stories with all the high stakes and tropes I highly recommend this duet, Absolutely had a good time reading and I'm so happy with the outcome. This was written very well and had me engaged fully the whole time.
Thank you for the opportunity to read for you and to theauthor.agency for providing this ARC read 🩵
May 17, 2026
The Ruins is the conclusion to the duet series. I was a little nervous going into this one because I didn't like how the first book left off. The tone of the duet completely changed and I wasn't happy for that.
The problems I had with it...
I was happy to get Z's POV because I truly wanted his thoughts on the situation. I didn't like that the first 30% of the book was about Z and Harper. Sorry, I didn't sign up for their book. It would have been nice to get Caleb's POV during the first 30% too and maybe some interaction?
Z became a very annoying fixture of the read, to the point where it hinder my reading experience. I understand that there is a need for conflict and angst, but it was to the point where I was considering not finishing the book (and I have a high tolerance for that).
There's so much thrown into the plot, with the kink club, the MC gang and all the lying Z did. It was just like... what crazy story arcs can be next?
I did like the interaction between Harper and Caleb. The tension was good, but nothing frustrating and I wanted MORE of that. That is when the pacing got really wonky. There was just TOO much Z and Harper, not enough Caleb and Harper and TOO much outside forces. I also wanted more bonding with the other characters.
I'm surprised this book was written by the same author because I really enjoyed the first book, especially the pacing and the character development. I felt like this book wasn't written as smoothly as the first and just lacking true substance.
WITH that said. I'm glad I tried a new author. I just hope when there is a new series, it's more like the first book.
The problems I had with it...
I was happy to get Z's POV because I truly wanted his thoughts on the situation. I didn't like that the first 30% of the book was about Z and Harper. Sorry, I didn't sign up for their book. It would have been nice to get Caleb's POV during the first 30% too and maybe some interaction?
Z became a very annoying fixture of the read, to the point where it hinder my reading experience. I understand that there is a need for conflict and angst, but it was to the point where I was considering not finishing the book (and I have a high tolerance for that).
There's so much thrown into the plot, with the kink club, the MC gang and all the lying Z did. It was just like... what crazy story arcs can be next?
I did like the interaction between Harper and Caleb. The tension was good, but nothing frustrating and I wanted MORE of that. That is when the pacing got really wonky. There was just TOO much Z and Harper, not enough Caleb and Harper and TOO much outside forces. I also wanted more bonding with the other characters.
I'm surprised this book was written by the same author because I really enjoyed the first book, especially the pacing and the character development. I felt like this book wasn't written as smoothly as the first and just lacking true substance.
WITH that said. I'm glad I tried a new author. I just hope when there is a new series, it's more like the first book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This duet emotionally wrecked me in the best way 🖤😭
It’s built on years of lies, manipulation, and survival-shaped love, and the emotional fallout hits hard because nothing about these characters is simple.
Caleb, the once perfect golden boy, grows up in a way that’s painful and real. He learns that counting, perfection, and control can’t make people stay or fix what’s already broken. When the truth finally comes out after all those years, he doesn’t fall back into who he used to be. He shows up. He fights. And he refuses to let go again.
Harper’s becomes so strong. She spends her life running from pain, trying to survive it in every way she can. But she grows into someone who stops just surviving and starts building. Becoming a mother who fights to give her child everything she never had, even when life keeps knocking her down. Every time she gets back up, it feels earned.
And Z… he’s the hardest to sit with. His connection to Harper goes back to childhood, when they were all each other had. Surviving together through hunger, stealing, lying, and leaning on each other just to get by. That bond makes everything later more complicated, because his refusal to let go of that history twists into obsession and control. He spirals trying to build the life he always imagined with her, even as everything around him falls apart. He’s tragic, infuriating, and impossible to fully hate because you can understand how he got there, even when you don’t excuse it.
Their happily ever after is beautiful, earned, and fought for 🖤
It’s built on years of lies, manipulation, and survival-shaped love, and the emotional fallout hits hard because nothing about these characters is simple.
Caleb, the once perfect golden boy, grows up in a way that’s painful and real. He learns that counting, perfection, and control can’t make people stay or fix what’s already broken. When the truth finally comes out after all those years, he doesn’t fall back into who he used to be. He shows up. He fights. And he refuses to let go again.
Harper’s becomes so strong. She spends her life running from pain, trying to survive it in every way she can. But she grows into someone who stops just surviving and starts building. Becoming a mother who fights to give her child everything she never had, even when life keeps knocking her down. Every time she gets back up, it feels earned.
And Z… he’s the hardest to sit with. His connection to Harper goes back to childhood, when they were all each other had. Surviving together through hunger, stealing, lying, and leaning on each other just to get by. That bond makes everything later more complicated, because his refusal to let go of that history twists into obsession and control. He spirals trying to build the life he always imagined with her, even as everything around him falls apart. He’s tragic, infuriating, and impossible to fully hate because you can understand how he got there, even when you don’t excuse it.
Their happily ever after is beautiful, earned, and fought for 🖤
May 14, 2026
4.5 Stars
The Ruins, by Kora Nyx, is the follow-up book to The Rules. I found Kora on TikTok and dove into the first book. When I discovered there was a second book, I immediately reached out for it! I had to find out what happened to our characters from book one.
In the Ruins, we follow Harper Tucker, a young woman navigating the aftermath of betrayal, trauma, and a deeply fractured past. Here begins her journey in the shadow of a devastating mistake - leaving her boyfriend (and stepbrother), Caleb, only to find herself trapped in a horribly toxic and manipulative relationship with her childhood best friend, Z.
Z uses Harper’s deepest insecurities and her unwavering loyalty against her to keep her trapped and isolated in this relationship over several years. Without giving away too much, Harper finally sees through the facade! Thank you, geebus! The life she has been living is entirely engineered by Z’s malice and need for control.
The reunion between Harper and Caleb demonstrates the power of their connection. Finding Caleb to be the anchor she needs to process the last ten years. The story serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit when confronted with the ruins of a life built on lies. Harper’s evolution in these two books, from the girl who runs to the girl who firmly stands her ground, has a special place in my heart. Could there be another book? Or is this the end?
Thanks to Kora Nyx for gifting me an eARC of The Ruins. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The Ruins, by Kora Nyx, is the follow-up book to The Rules. I found Kora on TikTok and dove into the first book. When I discovered there was a second book, I immediately reached out for it! I had to find out what happened to our characters from book one.
In the Ruins, we follow Harper Tucker, a young woman navigating the aftermath of betrayal, trauma, and a deeply fractured past. Here begins her journey in the shadow of a devastating mistake - leaving her boyfriend (and stepbrother), Caleb, only to find herself trapped in a horribly toxic and manipulative relationship with her childhood best friend, Z.
Z uses Harper’s deepest insecurities and her unwavering loyalty against her to keep her trapped and isolated in this relationship over several years. Without giving away too much, Harper finally sees through the facade! Thank you, geebus! The life she has been living is entirely engineered by Z’s malice and need for control.
The reunion between Harper and Caleb demonstrates the power of their connection. Finding Caleb to be the anchor she needs to process the last ten years. The story serves as a testament to the resilience of the human spirit when confronted with the ruins of a life built on lies. Harper’s evolution in these two books, from the girl who runs to the girl who firmly stands her ground, has a special place in my heart. Could there be another book? Or is this the end?
Thanks to Kora Nyx for gifting me an eARC of The Ruins. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
May 13, 2026
The Ruins absolutely put Harper and Caleb (and readers) through hell before finally giving them peace. This duet had it all. It was messy, emotional, and so painful. Honestly, it's kind of impossible to stop reading once it digs its claws in to you.
After the cliffhanger of book one, I knew this one was going to hurt. So much manipulation, betrayal, and emotional damage was waiting in these pages. We get to witness nearly ten years of lies and control reshape Harper’s life. Absolutely brutal at times, especially knowing how much was stolen from both her and Caleb.
Caleb though? That man never stopped loving her, and carried this book. The patience and devotion underneath all the anger and grief is next level. Meanwhile Harper spends so much of this story trying to untangle what was real and what was forced on her.
And Z... Ugh. Which means the author was more than successful in what she was writing. Every time I thought things couldn’t get worse, they did.
The angst level in this duet is HIGH, but in the way where you physically cannot stop reading because you need to know how it ends. It’s got it all. It's dark, toxic, and obsessive. I also appreciated that the ending felt earned. After everything these characters went through, the resolution hit emotionally without dragging on forever.
Definitely check trigger warnings before going in because this duet deals with some very heavy themes. Thank you to Kora Nyx and The Author Agency for the opportunity.
After the cliffhanger of book one, I knew this one was going to hurt. So much manipulation, betrayal, and emotional damage was waiting in these pages. We get to witness nearly ten years of lies and control reshape Harper’s life. Absolutely brutal at times, especially knowing how much was stolen from both her and Caleb.
Caleb though? That man never stopped loving her, and carried this book. The patience and devotion underneath all the anger and grief is next level. Meanwhile Harper spends so much of this story trying to untangle what was real and what was forced on her.
And Z... Ugh. Which means the author was more than successful in what she was writing. Every time I thought things couldn’t get worse, they did.
The angst level in this duet is HIGH, but in the way where you physically cannot stop reading because you need to know how it ends. It’s got it all. It's dark, toxic, and obsessive. I also appreciated that the ending felt earned. After everything these characters went through, the resolution hit emotionally without dragging on forever.
Definitely check trigger warnings before going in because this duet deals with some very heavy themes. Thank you to Kora Nyx and The Author Agency for the opportunity.
May 25, 2026
The Ruins is book 2 in a duet. But when I tell you this one was nothin like book 1... I was not expecting this story to go the way it did.
First off, I was hooked!! We pick up right where we left off in book 1. Z and Harper fleeing together to start their life together. Only, Harper doesn't yet know that it's all under false pretenses and lies. And the lies only build from there. Z really turned out to be the type of man Harper was always trying to run from. They type that lie, gaslight, manipulate. And through it all, my heart broke for Z. Yes... he did it all to himself, but he didn't know any better. All he knew was Harper was the girl he always wanted and he had to do whatever it would take to keep her. Harper was in it because she felt like it was the right thing to do, but missed Caleb and never stopped thinking about him the entire time.
I loved the character growth from Harper and Caleb in this book. I know it's 10 years later, but the story went from them being dumb teenage kids in book 1 to full grown, functioning adults with jobs and responsibilities in book 2. I loved how different Caleb was in comparison to Z.
This story hurt my heart in so many ways. I broke. And then the story put me back together and I healed.
The writing is addicting and the plot is thrilling and entertaining. I highly recommend reading this duet! Now the only thing that will keep me up tonight is, where is Silas and is he ok?
First off, I was hooked!! We pick up right where we left off in book 1. Z and Harper fleeing together to start their life together. Only, Harper doesn't yet know that it's all under false pretenses and lies. And the lies only build from there. Z really turned out to be the type of man Harper was always trying to run from. They type that lie, gaslight, manipulate. And through it all, my heart broke for Z. Yes... he did it all to himself, but he didn't know any better. All he knew was Harper was the girl he always wanted and he had to do whatever it would take to keep her. Harper was in it because she felt like it was the right thing to do, but missed Caleb and never stopped thinking about him the entire time.
I loved the character growth from Harper and Caleb in this book. I know it's 10 years later, but the story went from them being dumb teenage kids in book 1 to full grown, functioning adults with jobs and responsibilities in book 2. I loved how different Caleb was in comparison to Z.
This story hurt my heart in so many ways. I broke. And then the story put me back together and I healed.
The writing is addicting and the plot is thrilling and entertaining. I highly recommend reading this duet! Now the only thing that will keep me up tonight is, where is Silas and is he ok?
June 9, 2026
This was spectacular. Every feeling you can feel, you get them. And while there is a lot of sadness and madness, there is love and second chances hidden behind betrayals and lies. I'll admit that I had to take a couple of breaks at times because I had tears coming. It hurt, to see some of the things that come from a betrayal so deep... so unassuming. It had me wondering how I might react in the situation and my emotions didn't fare as well as our FMC.
There's a truth tucked allllll the way down deep in this story and it leads to a blow up of epic proportions. And I am NOT talking about the one you technically find out at the end of book one. That one actually seems smaller by comparison, and that's saying something in my book because the betrayal that comes from Z as this book starts? Blew my freaking mind. And I will add that I am *slightly* annoyed that it took so long for our main characters to end up getting a second chance meeting... while I admit that I understand that logic of it, I just hate it. I can't help it. I hate it. Like I said. You'll feel all the feels.
There are unanswered questions though. This ending makes me wonder if there's more to the story. Will there be a book three? I don't know yet. I'm hoping so because at this point, I need to know what happened to Silas. Where he went, if he's ok... Would love to get a look at Ximena's story as well. I'll keep my fingers crossed!
There's a truth tucked allllll the way down deep in this story and it leads to a blow up of epic proportions. And I am NOT talking about the one you technically find out at the end of book one. That one actually seems smaller by comparison, and that's saying something in my book because the betrayal that comes from Z as this book starts? Blew my freaking mind. And I will add that I am *slightly* annoyed that it took so long for our main characters to end up getting a second chance meeting... while I admit that I understand that logic of it, I just hate it. I can't help it. I hate it. Like I said. You'll feel all the feels.
There are unanswered questions though. This ending makes me wonder if there's more to the story. Will there be a book three? I don't know yet. I'm hoping so because at this point, I need to know what happened to Silas. Where he went, if he's ok... Would love to get a look at Ximena's story as well. I'll keep my fingers crossed!
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