The Ruins

by Kora Nyx

Genres: Dark, Dark Romance, Romance

488 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 12, 2026

Reviews

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 🫶🏻

[Morally_Gray_Nola · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Alyssa Kunz · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[BombshellDanielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[skia_reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

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

[Valentina]

I 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.

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 🥹✨

[Shabby -BookBistroBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just now closed the book. What do I even do with my life now 😭.
I'm in a painful hangover, my heart is still squeezed tight, even after venting my tears the pain doesn't go away. I picked up Kora by chance, enticed by the Blurb. And now I have found a new Duet to cry over for days.
This Duet is on par with Torment: Part One in angst level.



Book 1 The Rules had ended with a basketful of questions, and I knew my heart would be ripped out of my ribcage and shredded to bits before being put together again. But 10 years!
TEN FUCKING YEARS of hurt, abuse, lies, betrayal, heartache, yearning....it was too much for me to handle.
Caleb Graham is made of infinite wisdom, patience and love for Harper. I manifested his HEA, but was it?
Harper is the “Girl Wronged” by her own gut instincts and trusting heart

“ Two roads diverged in a yellow wood.”

That road led her with Zedekiah Dawson, towards her own destruction. Insidiously led walking down the incline to hell, emotionally manipulated at every step, isolated form her real family. At the end she stands alone. With the last burst of energy, she runs with her son clutched to her chest...runs to save him
I don't wanna give all the secrets away, but some characters came out of woodwork to hunt her for completely surprising reason ( “ I did NOT see that coming” ). Help arrives from unexpected quarters and the ones who sacrificed..that was a revelation. ( “ I did NOT see that coming” )
In the end it turns out the tragedy may seem to be over but a whole lot of trauma and PTSD needs to be dealt with. Also what happened to Silas??
Am I guessing book 3 now??
Harper is a revelation. Fully armed and ready to fight the world to protect what's hers, it takes courage and Harper is made of it.

“ she was a disaster in the middle of an identity crisis.”

Zedekiah I abhorred, but I understood his reasoning for HIM, not for anybody else. Not all heroes wear capes. Some get bound and gagged, some become a rat.
I wish we knew more about Helen & Silas, the club, the Caleb in his Dom role too. I'd love to explore those scenarios and characters in depth
“5 stars for you and me against the world ”
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[Brandis Hulett · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Karen Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

“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

[Ashley Bolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Dani's Shelf Indulgence · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Candy · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 🩵

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Cheyanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 🖤

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Read With Momma Shark · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Nikki B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

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?

[Sally Davison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been so eager to read this book after the mic drop ending of Book 1 - The Rules and it did not disappoint. Book 2 continues where Book 1 left of with Harper running off with Z and quickly moves to 10 years later where Harper returns to Dallas for her stepmother's memorial. This is the first time she has seen her stepbrother/former boyfriend, Caleb, in 10 years and they quickly realise that they have been manipulated and lied to by Z. Like the first book, The Ruins is an emotional read, with plenty of drama, trauma and angst. Caleb and Harper are perfect together and I just wanted them to get their HEA. I had linked the club, Carnal, owned by Harper's Dad Silas and stepmother, and mentioned in Book 1 to the club in 7 Days. It was great to see some of the characters, Domhnall, Anna, Moira and Bane from that series in The Ruins. There is a great bonus epilogue that I would recommend reading but does open questions about Silas and his story. I need to know what happened to him and I think we need at least a Silas novella. I have loved this duet and can not get enough of the characters. I definitely recommend reading both books and If I could give it more than 5 stars I would. An amazing read and a brilliant conclusion to the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[K Webz · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you read the first book, The Rules, you know there was a lot of manipulation and betrayal from the one person Harper thought she could trust the most.

Harper’s whole life has been built on survival and just when she believed she found a family with her dad, stepmother, Caleb and Z, it was yanked away. Or so she thought. For ten years she spent building herself back up overtime she got knocked down.

Caleb fell in love with Harper the moment they met. When she left, he was devastated. He had to deal with the grief of losing his mom, her and his stepdad all at the same time. He closed himself off to others, started running the club his mom and stepdad owned to channel his grief and stayed in the house in case she returned. When she does, it takes one conversation to reveal all the ways they were betrayed.

Z, I think Harper described it best when she said he liked to collect pretty things. He fixated on her from the moment they met and when she wouldn’t reciprocate, he did what ever he could to get what he wanted. Did he love her, maybe…in his own obsessive way.

The twists in this story had me hooked. I loved when Harper and Caleb finally found their way back to each other, it was what both of them deserved.

[M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this Duet has been a very emotional read, but in the best way possible...

Book 1 ended in a cliffhanger... a very emotional one, with all of their worlds being torn apart and going in different directions...

While Z was seen in The Rules as someone who was weak & you felt a lot of pity for him... this book you see a lot of his other sides, where he's manipulative and controlling and in with the wrong crowd... it's heartbreaking to watch almost a decade go by with Caleb being excluded from their lives... and you feel so bad for both Caleb & Harper (and Bruiser)... but I am happy with how things turned out and that the book ended with a happy ending (for most of them... but Z really got what he deserved).

The books are fast paced & well written, very complex... a lot more than I expected when I first started reading them.

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

*dark romance
*one MMC is controlling, manipulative, gaslights, is abusive & more
*her dad is in prison, for something he didn't do
*second chance
*second half of a Duet
*love triangle
*ends with a HEA

Thank you to the author (Kora Nyx) & Booksprout for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[A Sells · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really loved Book 1 and had such high hopes for Book 2. Don’t get me wrong — I still enjoyed it, just not nearly as much as the first one.

I will definitely read more books by Kora!

My biggest issue was with the FMC. In Book 1, she came across as such a badass, take-no-shit kind of girl, which is one of the reasons I liked her so much. But in Book 2, it felt like all of that disappeared when it came to her “best friend.” Instead of standing up for herself the way I expected her to, she just seemed to roll over and accept the way he treated her, which honestly felt out of character.
And Z… calling him her “best friend” felt generous at times. He treated her terribly, manipulated and gaslit her constantly, and did everything in his power to get her — only to completely ruin it once he finally did. Watching him continuously make choices that pushed her away was frustrating.
As for Caleb, I honestly don’t even know where to begin with him in this book.
Overall, it wasn’t a bad read at all. I just wish a few things had been handled differently because I think the story could have been so much stronger with a couple small changes.

[Marci Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kora Nyx is both heaven-sent and absolutely diabolical for writing this duet. Like genuinely… there had to be an angel on one shoulder delivering the gorgeous words and aching love story, while the devil sat on the other whispering ways to rip my heart out piece by piece.

I devoured this book. Every chapter pulled me deeper into the heartbreak, betrayal, grief, and emotional unraveling until I was fully drowning in it.

This second part hit especially hard because underneath all the chaos is such a deeply emotional story about manipulation, stolen time, and discovering the truth about yourself and the people you love.

Watching everything slowly unravel was devastating in the best way. I wanted to savor this story and pace myself, but I couldn’t stop turning the pages. Thankfully, while this story completely broke me, it somehow managed to put me back together too.

Thank you KN for the advanced copy, and for basically looking me in the eye and daring me to choose emotional violence. What a ride.

[Laure · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would give this book 10 stars if I could.

Harper and Caleb are finally back together in the conclusion of their story. This book kept me glued to the pages from start to finish. These two characters will finally find their way back together and it is amazing that either of them maintained their sanity. They are all well written and compelling that I was riveted from the beginning but will admit that some of the characters are quite reprehensible. Harper and Caleb are very realistic with thoughtful and well-defined personality idiosyncrasies that made them so real, and I found them fascinating.
This is not a pretty and sweet romance it is dark and sometimes disturbing, but for me it was impossible to put down. Steamy and sometimes graphic sexual scenes, abuse, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual abuse, and some absolutely shocking twists and turns in the plot that left me reeling. I loved this book and highly recommend it to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by the author.

[Chasary Mendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Advance copy review

Wow wow wow!
This book had me on the edge of my seat. I was so invested with the first book and the cliffhanger The Rules it picks up right after.
Z gosh I was so furious with him. So manipulative, controlling but the betrayal that was so messed up.

Harper gosh dis she suffer through so much from a child all the way to adulthood, trapped in a loveless relationship becoming a mom at a young age. She’s a loving mother to her son bruiser, the betrayal she felt toward Z was heartbreaking the only person she truly trusted. Until she drives down to Dallas for Helen’s memorial 10 years later and comes face to face with the love of her life Caleb.

Caleb swooned so hard for this man in both books. Granted he had rules which he broke for Harper. But then seeing each other and still having that love was beautiful. Harper also got a quick reality check about Bruiser’s Dad. Caleb spent 10 years loving Harper waiting for her to return.

This book was amazing finally Harper and Caleb get their HEA.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review

What an ending! I enjoyed every second of this duet. The second book picks up right where the first one left off. You see that Harper is with Z now. You see the aftermath of what happened on that fateful day when Harper ran away with Z, leaving Caleb behind. It goes quickly through the years, and before you know it, 10 years have passed. Harper is making a life for herself, but there's always been something missing. I don't want to give away too much of the plot because it was worth every second, but I did think it was a touch too fast for me, at least. It was as if we were rushing to wrap everything up. We do get Z's pov in this book, showcasing even more how troubled he was. I could not believe the things he did! Caleb of course is the epitome of love and respect. He showed Harper so much respect and implicitly trusts her on how to proceed with certain situations. Overall this is a duet that you need to have on your tbr. It's full of twists and turns and you'll be hanging on the edge of your seat!

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ruins by Kora Nyx was everything I wanted and hoped for in the conclusion to this duet.

This is book 2, and I definitely recommend reading The Rules first before starting this one because the story and emotional impact build directly from book 1. This book takes place seven years after the events of book 1, which made the emotions, history, and tension between the characters hit even harder.

Caleb and Harper’s story completely pulled me in again, and honestly… I finished this book speechless in the best way possible.

The tension, emotional moments, and chemistry between these characters had me fully invested the entire time. I kept needing to know what would happen next, and the ending absolutely delivered for me.

I loved how everything came together by the end of the duet, and it honestly felt satisfying after everything the characters went through.

Overall, this was emotional, intense, addictive, and such a strong ending to the series.

⭐️ 5/5
🔥 5/5
🌶️ 4/5
💧 4/5

[Amanda Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

♥️ Stepbrother Romance
♥️ Betrayal / Manipulation 
♥️ Dark Secrets 
♥️ Suspense / Action
♥️ Control / Obsession 
♥️ Psychological 
♥️ Taboo
♥️ Found Family 
♥️ Gangs

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.

Caleb and Harper’s story should have been a fairytale, but with Z’s jealousy and manipulations, it became a nightmare. 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.

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.

[Dorrita Winch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Hard hitting story of a love triangle between Harper, childhood friend Z (Zedekiah) and may I suggest, her soul mate Caleb. This that isn’t a sweet story fairy tales. But is Gritty, tough and dirty. With a heroine who tough, savy and smart. Refusing to be broken by her life and choices. Is best described as Tragic…along with deceitful, heartache, lies, unwanted found family, MC, forgey, illegal activity, murder and could I say, the salvaging of a lost soul? Two kids who ran from responsibility just getting by, only to turn into the adult classic family. Him long hauling and her running her own tattoo shop. For it to all fall apart, worse than they began. And it all based on a lie. And gut wrenching sad. With all things are revealed in the end. And a very hard earned happy ending for Harper and Caleb…after a bit of healing.
Very mature reading and content.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.