Bound to Ruin

The Cursed Grimoire #2

by S.E. Berkeley

I am trapped by a nightmare of my own making. Will the men I love be my salvation… or my ruin?

Astoria thought she’d defeated the curse born of her hatred.

She was wrong.

It survived, twisting the last person she expected into a powerful, ravenous puppet. When he attacks, Astoria is torn from her world, leaving Lucas and Valen with only one chance to save her.

Lucas is reckless, devoted, and impossible to resist. Valen is cold, possessive, and responsible for a heart-wrenching betrayal. Choosing between them nearly broke Astoria.

Now, imprisoned behind a mirror, she can only watch as the two men she loves are forced back into close proximity. At first, rivalries reignite between Lucas and Valen. But as they hunt for a way to free Astoria, their hatred sharpens into something hotter—something neither man is willing to admit.

With time running out and loyalties threatened, one truth becomes impossible to ignore: Some betrayals don't just break your heart.

They ruin you.

Full of delicious yearning, this series combines the dark seduction of the “why choose” trope in Jasmine Mas’ novels with Holly Black’s deadly, bookish magic.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Why Choose, Audiobook, Paranormal, Romantasy

408 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2026

About the author

S. E. Berkeley resides in California with her loving partner, feral children, and psychic cat. When she's not endlessly fetching snacks for small children, she enjoys hiking through her beloved state's wilderness and daydreaming of her next heart-pounding romantasy.

Reviews

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Book 1 Bound to Burn, so couldn't wait to see what happened next. The world building was so clever to me, I genuinely think this could have been longer than just a duology!
The writing is beautiful, descriptive and lyrical.
I can't wait to see what Berkeley writes next.

[holly 🖤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for the ALC.

4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I LOVED the first book, and after that cliffhanger, I genuinely couldn't wait to find out what happened next. Thankfully, Bound to Ruin delivered! I thought this was such a strong continuation of the story, with the worldbuilding developing naturally and the plot moving at exactly the pace it needed to. Nothing felt unnecessarily dragged out, and I think the length was perfect for the story being told. Honestly, this is exactly how I like a duology to work. Two books that build on each other, develop the world and characters, and bring the story to a satisfying conclusion without feeling like anything has been stretched just for the sake of it.

The character relationships were definitely the highlight for me, particularly the MMCs. I loved getting to know them better in this instalment, and watching their feelings develop away from Astoria made such a difference. Their relationship ended up being my favourite romance in the entire book, and I found myself much more invested in their connection than I expected to be. I also absolutely loved Emilia! She brought such a fun, comedic energy to the story, and I thought she was the perfect addition to balance out some of the heavier moments. I always appreciate a character who can make me laugh without feeling like they're there purely for comic relief, and Emilia did this really well.

My one issue with the series is Astoria. I just didn't feel like she developed all that much as a character, and I'm starting to feel a little burnt out by the whole chosen girl seeking vengeance trope. I wanted more growth from her, especially over the course of two books, and I never quite connected with her in the way I did with the other characters. BUT I do think this is very much a me problem rather than an issue with the book itself, so it hasn't taken away from how much I enjoyed the overall story.

Overall, I had such a good time with this duology, and Bound to Ruin was a really enjoyable conclusion. The worldbuilding was great, the pacing was spot on, the MMCs absolutely stole the show for me, and Emilia was a delight. Even though Astoria wasn't entirely my cup of tea, there was so much else here for me to love. This is definitely a duology I'll be recommending, and I'm so glad I picked it up!

[K · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Bound to Ruin was a great conclusion to The Cursed Grimoire duology. I loved that we picked up immediately after the cliffhanger in Bound to Burn, and the fast pacing to kept me quickly turning pages.

What can I say? I love a why choose book with a dominant guy and the other two a little bratty. However, there was something about Valen and Lucas that had me wondering if Tor was completely necessary. She is also the cause of basically all of the chaos and trouble in both books, but she comes with Jinx, so I guess we’ll keep her.

Emilia was a great addition to the story. Her sass was a much needed comedic break, and I definitely wouldn't hate to see her get a spinoff.

Overall, I loved this fun duology! It gave me the chaos, romance, humor, and why choose dynamic I was hoping for.

Thank you to S.E. Berkeley, Second Sky and NetGalley for gifting this ARC.

[Nonfictionally Yours · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ☆

OKAYYYY MMF PERFECTION!!!! After the way the first book, bound to burn, ended, I immediately needed book 2 and it did not disappoint. We jumped straight back into where we left off and OMG I loved the fast pace of the plot. S.E Berkley knew exactly what she was doing when she plotted to trap Astoria behind the mirror and Lucas and Valen had to team up to save her. THE TENSION!!! THE SPICE!!!! I LOVED IT. I especially loved the fact that in book 1, we got to see Astoria with both of these MMCs, and this book focused more on building the relationship between the two MMCs. I loved seeing the past brought to light and it helped me understand the characters more. This had such high stakes and the plot really kept me on my toes. I love the magic system.

I do wish Astoria had more of a character development but I do understand why that wasn't fully there, if that makes sense.

Thank you so much Second sky books and SE Berkley for this eARC!!!

[thebookish.dragon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Format: 📱& 🎧
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️
Series: book 2 of 2 — The Cursed Grimoire duet

Bound to Ruin picks up almost immediately where Bound to Burn leaves off (rude cliffhanger, remember? I do 😩) - Valen left to go be a good little Daddy’s boy 🙄 while Astoria and Lucas grieve what could have been.

Astoria wakes up to a DEAD BODY in her bookshop, and rightly looses her mind over it (especially when she thinks it’s Valen for a second there - it isn’t, it’s actually his Dad 😬). As if she wasn’t already dealing with enough, trying to break her curse before it’s too late and discovering she sort of kinda turned her brother into an evil mf, she now has to figure out why someone would frame her for murdering a council member (oops?).

After confronting her brother again, Lucas is badly wounded and Astoria is entombed into a stone statue by her brother and her spirit is taken by her familiar, Jinyx, into the Weaving to protect her. Lucas must find Valen and team up to rescue Astoria and stop her brother and father from taking over the magical world and ruining the Weaving forever!

I really love that Lucas and Valen really take center stage in the sequel, with their girl being trapped a good portion of the book. Their romance, that was more centered on Astoria, was able to develop more in her absence and strengthen their relationship as a whole.

Overall, this was fast paced and emotional and a great end to the Duology. I had a great time!

The audio — Duet narration: Avery Caris, Scott Rose, and Jameson Adams; the actors really made each of their character’s so real and three dimensional, giving depth and range that I’m definitely going to look out for in the future!


Notable tropes & themes —

📖 Dark Romantasy
🐈‍⬛ Why Choose
📖 MMF
🐈‍⬛ Hurt/Comfort (consensual sub)
📖 Multi-POV
🐈‍⬛ Curses & Deadly Magic
📖 Evil Family Members trying to unalive her
🐈‍⬛ Talking cat familiar (demon)
📖 Complex Magic System
🐈‍⬛ Morally Gray everyone
📖 Betrayal + Second chances

I received this eARC from Second Sky and ALC from Bookouture Audio | Second Sky as an opportunity to read, listen and give my honest review.

[taso.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one picks up exactly where book one left off and I had a super fun time with it! Would 100% recommend if you love a story that is fast paced and action packed, but still makes you feel all the feels and keeps you completely addicted from the very first page to the last. Also, who doesn't love a why choose romance filled with angsty tension and longing?! Exactlyyyy. Personally, I will be forever grateful that we got to see so much more of Valen & Lucas together in this one, because WOW🥵 

I was really glad we still got all the beautiful gothic vibes that we fell in love with in book one & it made me extremely happy to see more of the magic too, allowing me to get a better understanding of how it worked for the different characters. But one of my absolute favourite things was how much time we got to spend with our MMCs! It felt like we really got to know and connect with them on a much deeper level in this one (especially my darling Valen🥺), which was definitely needed for the relationships to feel authentic in the long term. 

Overall this was a really enjoyable read and it ended the story perfectly. Definitely pick this one up if you're looking for a new, super fun duology to binge!! Huge thank you to Second Sky & NetGalley for my e-ARC🫶

[Lauren Sparks · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Bound to Ruin by @seberkeleyauthor

Huge thanks to @secondskybooks and S. E. Berkeley for my digital copy of the book and for my invite and brother tour!!

This is the follow up to Bound to Burn (see the review a few posts back on my grid) and a highly anticipated book for me!

I hadn’t read a ‘Why Choose’ book previously and had written them off as ‘not for me’ but Bound To Burn changed my mind on that!

This book picks up right where we left off and I LOVE that!! No time jump where you’re like “wtf happened and where have I been dropped off now?!”

It was like slipping right back into my favourite dressing gown after a long luxurious bath - comfortable and lush 😍

This has everything a girl (or boy) could want from a book! Mystery, action, tantalisingly great storytelling from the author and some scenes that may make even the most hardy dark romance reader struggle to keep a straight face in public 😜 iykyk 🥵

Also special mention for the animal familiar and the banter because this tipped the book over ther edge for me 💖 I love some good wit and this is filled to the brim including from the familiar 🤩

I did sync up with the audio because who doesn’t love and immersive experience when they read and this was top tier!

Both Bound to Burn and Bound to Ruin are available NOW and are a complete duology 🥳 so grab them asap 😁

#SEBerkeleyBookTour #BoundToRuin #BoundToBurn #WhyChoose

[Chezza's life · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I'll say it again.... Shouting it louder.... This has proper magic and I'm here for it. Magic casted how it should be. Thank you...


Just as good as the first. Wow what a fitting conclusion to this duology.
I absolutely ate this book up in less than 34 hrs. I could not put it down.

MMF perfection, oh to be a sandwiched by these too guys. Valen and Lucas are just everything.

The love they have for Tor is everything. That's all I'm going to say. If you've read the first but not this yet then why haven't you. Go, go and pick it up right now.


Thank you Second Sky and Noelle for yet another fab story. Damn I loved this one

[danie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC opportunity!

So I absolutely messed up here and didn't read the 1st one, but surprisingly I honestly didnt have a lot of trouble catching on?

The writing was really good, the plot was super fun, and I definitely imagine if I read these in the right order I would have been so satisfied.

It was cute, fun, and overall a good read. Definitely have to go back and read in the right order now. 😭

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Second Sky for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for a honest review.

I am trapped by a nightmare of my own making. Will the men I love be my salvation… or my ruin? Astoria thought she’d defeated the curse born of her hatred. She was wrong. It survived, twisting the last person she expected into a powerful, ravenous puppet. When he attacks, Astoria is torn from her world, leaving Lucas and Valen with only one chance to save her. Lucas is reckless, devoted, and impossible to resist. Valen is cold, possessive, and responsible for a heart-wrenching betrayal. Choosing between them nearly broke Astoria. Now, imprisoned behind a mirror, she can only watch as the two men she loves are forced back into close proximity. At first, rivalries reignite between Lucas and Valen. But as they hunt for a way to free Astoria, their hatred sharpens into something hotter—something neither man is willing to admit. With time running out and loyalties threatened, one truth becomes impossible to ignore: Some betrayals don't just break your heart. They ruin you.

It felt a little as though Astoria didn’t get a great deal of development in this sequel because of her predicament which felt like a shame. I loved seeing her relationship with Jinx - may we all have a familiar who is part of us in many ways - but I was really hoping for significant development with her men and felt a little bereft in this area. I still enjoy her sass and her sarcasm, but part of me hoped to really see her vulnerability and her leaning on those she loved more.
Lucas and Valen feature prominently here and whilst I thoroughly enjoyed getting to read from their perspectives, I wanted just a smidge more from them. We see a lot of their past trauma come to light and we do see them battle against it, but I felt a little like the big heartfelt moments were cut short and swept away by the plot. Let me have my dangerous and hunky men have their vulnerable moments!!

I’m not sure what it was, but I found it a bit more difficult to connect to this book. For the first book, it was demolished within 3 sittings, capturing my attention and refusing to let go. The sequel didn’t give me the same rush and I, far too often, found myself distracted by something else. The writing felt a little repetitive at times despite the different viewpoints which is where I think it lost me a bit. I felt as though the characters’ individuality was compromised in a way and blended together a little too much. However, I did like that we got expanded knowledge of the complex magic system and that it added significant depth to the story we already knew. I do wish we had a little more character development for our leads with this being a sequel but could understand the focus being on the unfolding plot. The hero here was the romance and I soaked it all up. I really enjoyed seeing the relationships solidifying more and more before bonding together as a trio. The accompanying spice to it as well was top notch. I do think the ending was a bit rushed considering how high the stakes were throughout the book. That said, the epilogue did leave everything on a warm note which was really nice.

Overall, Bound To Ruin is a book that sadly didn’t entirely meet my expectations.

⭐⭐⭐/5

Thank you again to Second Sky for an advanced copy of this book.

[Tara Nelson · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

I was one of those complete nuts that devoured book one and never stopped screaming about how beautifully this author writes spice. Chapter 25 particularly will stay with me forever, and I was so excited to get to read book two as an arc.

Bound to Ruin starts right where Bound to Burn left of, and we watch as Tori is thrust back into this devious and dark and vicious fight for control over magic, with a misbehaving magic bookshop and shmexy magician that adores the ground she walks on.

I don't think I was prepared for what book two does to us. Things very quickly turn south... the bad guys come out en masse to mess with our beloved trio, and Tori is literally held unable to fight, while Lucas and Valen are forced to team up in an effort to save her. The developing relationship between Lucas and Valen is EVERYTHING in this book. Boyfriends being boyfriends yes please forever and forever. We get a bath tub scene that rivals my love for Chapter 25. I said what I said. I don't know how she does it, but the descriptive nature of how these characters HOLD each other. The touches, the hand placement, the gestures, and the glances. I am sat for the way that SE Berkeley writes about intimacy outside of spicy time. During spicy time too obviously, but even just the way two people hold hands, and fingers graze against other fingers. COME ON.

The fight for their lives is gruesome, and grotesque, and there are still creepy crawlies that give you visceral shivers down your spine (and not in a good way), and still the uniquely realized magic system and the way this world and even the liminal spaces are described... it's all just so stunning. Now I am NOT a spider person.... so parts of this was hard to read. However, I will say that the treat of an epilogue more than makes up for the ickiness. ;)

[Eternity's Raven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, a huge thank you again to S.E Berkley and Second Sky Books for the opportunity to ARC read Bound to Ruin. I am writing this review completely for free and of my own thoughts and opinions.

I thought this book was an enjoyable follow-up to Bound to Burn and a good wrap up to the duology. There were a few different ways this book could have went and I was pleasantly surprised by the direction it took.

This book puts you right into the action from where book one left you and it doesn't really stop. You're hooked in from the word go and it made this read up super quickly.

I liked the expansion of the magic in this book, which is something I had hoped to see after reading book one and I found this book added a nice bit to the lore of the world and expanded a bit upon how Magicians work and how weavers threads function. Plus I loved seeing more of Lucas's particular magic.

The relationships in this were also expanded upon nicely, particularly in Lucas and Valens case which I really enjoyed, them getting so much time together made their reactions to each other a lot more plausible and I liked seeing their tender care for each other beyond the flirty arguing.

I thought Astoria had some good character growth in places through this book, finding she was a lot more self aware of when she was running from things and becoming swifter at stopping herself from doing it. While she still had moments of hesitation, she was trying her best and I still thoroughly enjoyed her as a FMC.

Overall this was a fun read that kept me engaged from the first page and reads up quickly as you want to see how the story ends.

[Blaire · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a satisfying conclusion to the Cursed Grimoire duet! This story is winding and twisty and I enjoyed every bit of it. This is how you do a paranormal/romantasy why choose.

This picks up right where Bound to Burn leaves us. Tori’s curse and her creature rage on to the detriment of Valen and his family. A series of bloody events and a new bad guy ends up with Tori in stone, literally, and Valen and Lucas working together to save her. A shining example of both forced proximity and found family.

Where this story really hit for me was the relationship development between Valen and Lucas. I absolutely love when the boyfriends are boyfriends and this one was oh so delicious. But along with the spice and the steam came character growth that I didn’t expect from both our weaver and our magician. Again these two finding a way to grow and solidify their love for each other was my most favorite part.

The fight to save their world and each other was a satisfying end to the story even if parts were sad and made me misty eyed. The epilogue alone was worth the turmoil. If you’re looking for a tension filled, steamy why choose with all the best magic look no further.

What’s inside:
- MMF why choose
- magic wielders at war
- forced proximity
- sword crossing
- animal familiar
- sentient books
- they save each other

[Alexandria Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

Babes👀….you thought Bound to Burn left you in shambles then just wait until you get your hands on this sequel!!😮‍💨

We pick up right where that cliffhanger left us, and there will be zero time to catch your breath. So you’ve been warned😈

Seriously…Every time I thought I could relax for two seconds, something else happened. There was no chance in hell I was going to sleep until I finished the book. I NEEDED to know how it was going to end!

But let’s talk about the relationship👀❤️‍🔥
Astoria, Lucas, and Valen already brought plenty of complicated feelings to the table in the first book. But this time Lucas and Valen truly get their moment to shine together.🥹 With Astoria trapped and the men forced to work together to save her, that so called rivalry starts shifting into something….👀

And the magic! The worldbuilding gets richer with more layers to the magic system. The twists had me questioning who could actually be trusted. Nobody was getting a free pass from me!😂

That ending? Let’s just say I was not ready to say goodbye to this world.😭

If you haven’t started The Cursed Grimoire yet, consider this your sign to pick up Bound to Burn and start today🤌🏾🔥

⚠️ Babe to babe note: Y’all know I love my books very dark at times and I don’t always add a warning to my reviews but please protect your health and check the CWs before diving in!🫶🏾💛

[Nawelle Feral Reader Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

After THAT cliffhanger in Bound to Burn, I needed answers, and Bound to Ruin throws you straight back into the chaos and barely lets you breathe.

This was such a fast-paced and satisfying conclusion to the duology. I especially loved getting deeper into the magic this time around — learning more about the Magicians, the weavers and their threads, and seeing more of what Lucas can actually do.

But Lucas and Valen were probably my favourite part👀 Giving them more time together allowed all that history, resentment and tension between them to develop into something much more emotional. I loved seeing the softer side of their relationship alongside the arguing and spice. I only wish we’d had a little more time with all three of them together!

And poor Astoria genuinely cannot catch a break 😂 I really enjoyed her growth, though, particularly seeing her become more confident in her abilities and more aware of when she was running from things.

There’s danger, betrayal, murder plots, magic, spice and a deliciously complicated MMF relationship. A few elements felt slightly rushed for me, but overall this was an addictive conclusion that kept me flying through the pages.

And that epilogue?! 👀

Thank you to Second Sky and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Hayley · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Bound to Ruin was just as hot as Bound to Burn! 🥵 The tension, the flirting, the yearning, the banter… the relationships between Astoria, Valen and Lucas have it all, and I was so happy to be back in their world!

One of my favourite things about this book was getting to see more of Lucas and Valen's relationship develop. Their chemistry was already great in book 1, but I loved getting more time with them in this one. And I have to admit, I loved Lucas so much more this time around! Maybe Valen's influence is rubbing off on me, but getting to know both of them better made me even more invested in their relationship and the trio as a whole.

Astoria is still fighting for her place in the world and refusing to bow down to anyone, and I love that about her. She's determined to do things her way, and I love that she doesn't just back down when things get difficult.

And the spice? Still absolutely delivering! 🔥 The tension, the chemistry, and the dynamics between all three of them are everything I want from a why choose romance. I loved seeing more of their relationships develop, and I definitely need a novella to see more of Astoria, Valen and Lucas!

Thank you to NetGalley for the E-ARC

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a good follow up! The way the last book ended I really had no idea where this story was going to go but I love where it ended up.

The narration was again so good, I definitely enjoyed listening to this. I love getting all three POVs in the story as well. I am so used to reading why choose books that lean more towards MFM that I forgot how much more I love a good MMF!! And getting to see the love story between Val and Lucas play out was probably my favorite part of the whole book. These two were just so much fun to read. The plot itself was such a good time. I didn't see that villain coming at all, which I absolutely love! And I love that the plot here built so much more into what we were given in the first story.

Holy cow the spice! That epilogue was just wow! I love that the book itself has such amazing spice but it doesn't over power the plot at all.

This is also just the perfect read for spooky season! With the familiar, the witches, the demons and curses, it definitely has all the fall vibes you want to get you into the season. I had a great time and will definitely be recommending this one!

[Serena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Net Galley, and of course the lovely S.E. Berkeley for the advance listener copy of this audiobook.

After the cliffhanger in book one I was so ready to jump into book two, thank goodness for the ALC Gods 😜

I devoured this audio and loved that it introduced other POVs I loved getting to be more in Lucas and Valen’s headspace.
The narrators did an incredible job bringing these characters to life.

If you love why choose romance, fantasy romance, with dark/cursed magic, a magical bookshop and an amazing feline familiar. Then you should definitely give this duet a shot.

[Lo's Bookstagram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 jumps right back into it! Bound to ruin is an excellent follow up to Bound to burn. The stakes are even higher, the spice hits, and the plot is just as good as the romance. If you love dark romantasy then this is a great series to start before book 2 releases on October 12th. The magic system is unique, the plot is fast paced, and the twists/turns will keep you on the edge of your seat reading this book!

Thank you second sky and netgalley for the eARC!

[Amelia (Yateslittlecorner) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the first book in this series and the conclusion did not disappoint. The increase world building and character development. The magic and mystery.
Getting to see more of Lucas and Valen and their relationship develop was an everything. An epic spicy why choose of magic, murder and mayhem. Jinx as always an amazing familiar.

[Staceywh_17 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound to Ruin is the concluding book in Berkeley's The Cursed Grimoire series.

You have no idea how excited I was to be going back to The Weave, especially after Bound to Burn left me on tenterhooks.

All it took was a few chapters and it was like I'd never been away...

The atmosphere was electric, and the energy through the roof. The world building had developed significantly, and the character development stepped into another level.

A dark, enjoyable romantasy where stakes are high, and rules are to be broken.

[caitlin.b.reads · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

thank you to Net Galley for this advanced copy!

we’re right back into the world of dark magic, terrifying spiders and spicy relationships.

I was so happy that the book picked up right where it left off!! this book has the perfect blend of spice, wild magic, secrets, and deep emotional connections.

I really enjoyed the focus on building the relationship between Valen and Lucas as well as mending broken pieces of one another.

the only thing I would have enjoyed more is a little bit longer of a book! Loved it!!

[Sol✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to S.E. Berkeley, Netgalley, and Second Sky Publishing for access to this Advanced Reader's Copy of Bound to Ruin. This is my unbiased and honest review.

***---***

"How did you ever survive this cruel world while caring for such vicious creatures?"

***---***

I have mixed emotions about this book. On one hand, I liked it better than the first book in the series. On the other hand, there are were a few pet peeves of mine that drastically affected how much I enjoyed the book overall.

The male leads in this book are absolute gems. Part of the reason that I preferred this book over the first was the heavy focus on Valen and Lucas as a romantic pairing. Valen was easily my favorite character in the first book, and the ice prince continues to deliver in this addition. He's smart and firm in his mannerisms, but he's also hauntingly fragile. Perhaps as fragile as the ice he fights with. Having his perspective in this book added quite a bit of seriousness to the work that was lacking in Astoria's POVs. While her pieces were quite angsty in this story, she still holds the overpowered heroine trope that I'm not a fan of. However, Lucas--who I actually didn't care for in the first book--really shines in Bound to Ruin. His continued empathy and levity in the face of extremely dire consequences was a breath of fresh air. When he and Valen collide for the first time, its ELECTRIC. (Trust me ;))

The plot of this book was, for the most part, well-paced if not a bit chaotic. The villain was rather villainous and honestly a welcome but unexpected addition to the story. I assumed he would be back, but I didn't think he would be back THAT evil. I caught myself muttering curses every time he showed up because I knew something astronomically terrible was about to happen. He had quite the presence. There were a few redundancies in the POVs where one POV would end and then the next would start slightly before the ending of the other, providing recap that wasn't absolutely necessary. There was also an extensive amount of world-bending happening through conversations, which was confusing to follow sometimes. I still can't tell you how the Weave works or why there is a giant arachnid goddess in it.

Aside from being a bit heavy-handed on the guilt and trauma aspects of the story, my primary reason for giving it three stars is in the inconsistency of POV. All of the chapters are written in first person, but sometimes the writing takes on a third person perspective. There were several times where the characters would say "My eyes glowed green" or something of that variety when they had no means of seeing their own reflections or faces. It tanked the immersion in the story because it beget the question of how they could see themselves without being outside of their own bodies. It's a minor problem that I could have overlooked once or twice, but not several times across multiple chapters.

That being said, Bound to Ruin is a chaotically good time and a wonderful second edition to the Cursed Grimoire series. The expansion of Lucas and Valen's relationship was much needed and appreciated. That very relationship led to one of my favorite spicy scenes that I've read recently. You'll know it when you read it. Let's just say water didn't cool anything down, if you know what I mean.

[Beth’s Book Collection · Rating 4 out of 5]

"How can you love me so much?"
"How could I not? You're smart, clever, and a complete b*tch in the best way."

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶
💧💧

What you'll find in this book:
• Dark Why Choose Romantasy
• Rivals to Something More
• Hurt/Comfort
• Curses & Deadly Magic
• "I Love Them Both" Energy
• Morally Grey Men
• Forbidden Grimoires
• Secret Magical Bookshop
• Complex Magical System

After the heartbreaking ending of Bound to Burn, I was desperate to get my hands on the sequel and conclusion to this duology and let me tell you, it did not disappoint. I could feel Astoria's heart breaking, her mounting rage and the way she will stop at nothing to get revenge. With the curse that she thought was broken returning and a bloody mystery that endangers her even further, she will have to fight with everything she has in order to overcome the mistakes of the past and return to those that she loves. I love me a why choose romantasy and this book delivers me all that why choose goodness and then some, paired with the amazing concept of a magical bookshop filled with dangerous grimoires with their own personalities, and the lore behind curses and powerful magical houses. There is so much packed within the pages of this book that tells a story of love beyond it all, healing, and the recognisation go mistakes made and the willingness to fix them.

I really enjoyed that we get to explore Lucas and Valen and their relationship without Astoria. How the damning actions within book one has left their relationship fractured, and how they slowly come back together as they work to save Astoria. I was here for the push and pull, the banter, the hurt, forgiveness and passion. Lucas and Valen have such a different view of the world, with different histories that we explore during this book, and honestly had my heart breaking. S.E. Berkeley continues to develop Astoria as a character during her entrapment, how she learns more about herself, her history and how her strength builds over the course of this book. Fiercely independent, she learns to lean on others, Lucas and Valen and their willingness to do anything to save her. The dynamic between the three of them though is something else entirely, I adore how obsessed they are with one another and how this passion shifts into something more tender.

The magical system expands in a way that feels natural and works perfectly alongside the story, we get to learn more about Jinx and where she came from and the impact of the curse Astoria cast in response to her past. This story feels like breaking away from the past, and in the ashes of it all a new path emerges, where hope was lost now there is something to fight for. Utilising a big bad, a repercussion of Astoria's actions, someone willing to commit heinous acts in order to get what they want worked so well within the story. The pacing of the story was fast which fit perfectly with the race to save Astoria. With an ending that was a great conclusion to such a powerhouse of the story, definitely recommend this story if you're looking for a fresh duology with a unique magical system that leans into it's dark side and powerful characters.

Thank you so much to Second Sky Books for the Netgalley e-ARC to read and review early.

Author: S.E. Berkeley
Series: The Cursed Grimoire
Publisher: Second Sky Books
Release Date: October 12th, 2026
Pages: 408

[Stacy · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Story Rating is 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 for this posting.
This story picks up exactly where book 1 leaves off. The FMC is feeling heartbroken that her first love once again seems to have chosen the order over her. Things aren't all bad though because her and Lucas have finally crossed over the line from friends to lovers and she is finding a genuine connection with him that is filling a void she's felt these past seven years. Things of course can't be all rainbows and sunshine though for our FMC. She instantly realizes that her brother is not as gone as she thought he was, and now his soul has been warped into a hideous being combined with her brother's desire for his own revenge and the evil spirit of the curse she herself created. Without giving away details, our FMC becomes trapped in a realm where she must face some challenges on her own. This leaves her two love suitors to seek support from one another to save her. This inevitably breaks down their own trust barriers and through forced proximity their feelings continue to grow for one another. This story is MMF, and there is more focus on the MM relationship development in book 2 in my opinion. The three must break down their own misconceptions, learn to trust one another, and all while staying alive and away from Alister's malicious world ending plans. No sweat. Overall, this was a fun lighthearted read. Lucas is definitely the comic relief to the other two in this trio and his character was much appreciated and added in the banter.

Narration rating is a solid 4 stars.
I thought the female and male narration was done well for this story. I truly appreciate that the male narration had two distinctive voices and tones set for the two main male characters! The lighthearted loveable nature of Lucas was executed well and it was easy to fall right into the story. There was also a nice separation of voice for the evil brother. This helped not be confused at any point when there were multiple males speaking within a scene. There was also heartfelt heartbreak and sadness that could be felt through the narrative performance. Between reading the book and the audiobook, I recommend the audiobook.

Thank you to author S.E. Berkeley, NetGalley, and Bookouture Audio /Second Sky for allowing me to be a part of the ARC and ALC teams. #BoundtoRuin #NetGalley #SEBerkeley #TheCursedGrimoireSeries

[Mare · Rating 1 out of 5]

1⭐️/5

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture Audio for the ALC. All opinions are my own.

This book follows on from book 1 with Astoria, Lukas and Valen not together and a dead body in her shop.

After liking book 1, I expected to love this too but I was so disappointed. I dont think this should’ve been a duology as this was weaker and more boring in every way.

The characters aren’t even together for a majority of this book as Astoria gets trapped in a statue by her magic weaver brother that is now overtaken by the curse that she broke and a dead body shows up in her store so Lukas has to seek out Valen’s help.

This is supposed to be a why choose with MMF and I like that dynamic but it felt like the author didn’t know how to properly develop the bond and decided to take the FMC out of the equation so that the men could have their focus except that the chemistry and tension felt so awkward and forced that I couldn’t even root for them. Their scenes lacked emotional connection, the banter they had in book 1 disappeared and their spice was okay but felt rushed and there for the sake of it. There isn’t even a throuple scene until the epilogue and at that point I didn’t even care anymore.

The world building and plot is still a mess and confusing. I still stand by the fact that it felt like the author wrote this like we were supposed to understand everything already and the explanations got lost somewhere along the line. There’s apparently spiders and threads and a ball and a weave and all I imagined was a giant ball of yarn. Yes I think the magic system is unique and I commend the author for that but unfortunately I didn’t enjoy reading this.

This book made me mad and then to make it even worse.. the fucking cat dies.

The audiobook was the only reason I ended up finishing this and Avery Caris was phenomenal. The two MMCs narrators were fine but at times monotone and like they
didn’t want to read the book.

Overall, I would not recommend or re-listen but I think this author has potential so I may pick up another of their books.

[TheNevraEndingStory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Astoria has kept many secrets throughout her life, including the curse she cast out of hatred. She thought she had defeated it, but the consequences of that mistake continue to follow her and eventually tear her away from the two men she loves, Lucas and Valen. Valen may have left them in the past, but the feelings among all three still linger. As Lucas and Valen attempt to work together to save Astoria, old emotions and unresolved tensions quickly resurface.

When I first became interested in this book and realized it was Book 2, I immediately went back and read Bound to Burn first, which I loved. I am very glad I did because Bound to Ruin begins right where the first book ends, with Valen gone and Astoria and Lucas attempting to move forward without him while taking care of the bookshop, Peripeteia. This is definitely a series that should be read in order.

The first third of the book focuses more on Astoria and Lucas before shifting largely to Lucas and Valen as they work to save her. I would have loved more scenes with all three of them together throughout the story because their shared dynamic is one of the most compelling parts of the series. However, I can also understand why the author separated them and gave their individual relationships time to develop before bringing everything together.

Overall, I enjoyed Bound to Ruin. Astoria is finally forced to confront many of her past mistakes and the consequences of the curses she created. The stakes remain high, and there are several deaths throughout the story, with one loss in particular hitting especially hard. Even so, the larger storylines wrap up well, and the ending left me satisfied.

The author also offers a bonus chapter to readers who join her mailing list, so definitely check that out if you want to remain in this world a little longer.

Bound to Ruin releases on October 12, 2026.

Thank you to the author, Second Sky, and NetGalley for providing an advance copy. All opinions in this review are my own.

[Andrea · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

An incredible follow-up to what was already an addictive fast-paced and high-heat first book. Bound to Ruin picks up seamlessly from right where Bound to Burn ends, to the point that it feels as if it was all written into one book (but eventually split into two). I don’t know what SE Berkeley put in these books but they are addictive. Honestly, I can take a wild guess and say it’s Valen’s filthy mouth or Lucas’ steadfast devotion or Astoria’s fight to survive a world who kept trying to destroy her. Perhaps it’s also the chemistry between all three, particularly Valen and Lucas, which I’m obsessed with or the banter between the two that had me giggling and kicking my feet.

I really enjoyed that this was more character-driven because while the first one focused on plot and the dynamics and history between the characters, I feel like we explored their individual stories a bit more in this one. This too worked really well to connect Valen and Lucas at a more fundamental level beyond lust. How they each played a role in each other’s growth and healing was really wholesome to read. They all fit together like a perfect puzzle, which made for MMF perfection.

My man Valen really went THROUGH IT in this one and I’m glad we got to see him work things through, especially his feelings, and finally decide on what he wants from life and his relationship. Lucas also grew on me A LOT in Bound to Ruin, probably because they both finally embraced what they could be to each other and how the three of them fit together. Honestly, their chemistry is unmatched. While Astoria was a bit more absent in this one (which makes a lot of sense for the plot), I like how it left room for us to focus on the MMCs while also seeing how they all work as a unit.

Oh and THANK YOU FOR FINALLY TELLING US WHAT WAS IN THE LETTER 😭

I can’t wait to read more of SE Berkeley’s work, especially the spice. It’s immaculate 🙂‍↕️ A massive thank you to Second Sky for sending me a copy of the book and for the eARC.

[Mrs.MorallyGrayReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the way Bound to Burn ended, I couldn’t wait to dive back into this world, and S.E. Berkley did not disappoint!

Picking up exactly where the first book left off, this conclusion wastes absolutely no time throwing us back into the chaos. The pacing was fantastic, the stakes were higher than ever, and the combination of action, suspense, and romantic tension made this nearly impossible to put down.

One of my favorite aspects of this duology is its beautifully gothic atmosphere and intriguing magic system. I loved getting to explore the magic on a deeper level, uncovering more of its complexities and how it intertwined with the characters and their individual stories.

What truly made this second installment shine was the relationship development between Lucas and Valen.

While the first book established Astoria’s individual connections with both men, this installment gave us the opportunity to explore the relationship between the two MMCs. The tension, angst, yearning, and the spice was exquisite! Their complicated history slowly coming to light added so much emotional depth to their dynamic. I loved watching those layers unravel and gaining a better understanding of who they were, both individually and together. It made the evolution of their relationship feel that much more meaningful and authentic.

Ultimately, this was such an exciting and satisfying conclusion to a wonderfully addictive duology. The combination of gothic fantasy, an intriguing magic system, compelling characters, and an emotionally charged MMF romance made for an incredibly entertaining reading experience.

If you love fast paced fantasy, complicated relationships, delicious angst, and a why choose romance that delivers on both emotional connection and spice, this duology deserves a spot on your TBR!

[Shananana · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!
This book is the 2nd part of a duet and takes place right where the 1st book leaves you. You have to do the 1st one first or you'll be lost. The magic in this series is intricate and a bit complicated. In case you forgot some of the rules, the book starts you off with a not-so-quick recap of terms and their explanations. Probably necessary if you didn't read these back to back like I did.
This is an MMF why choose story that doesn't skimp on story. The banter is fantastic. The magic is very unique and so is the storyline. The author tried to fit a lot of world-building and magic system into a duet, so sometimes it feels like we're being told what's what, versus being submerged and living it. The story is fast-paced, and I breezed through each audiobook in a day. Unlike book 1, this portion is told from multiple POVs, something that was lacking from the 1st book. I thoroughly appreciated the guys' POVs when there was so much going on. I also loved the multiple narrators this time around; Avery Caris is back to narrate, but Scott Rose and Jameson Adams join to deliver our MMCs POVs and they all did a great job. I honestly loved the guys, their backstories, and their relationship more than Astoria and her life/POV. I don't think she deserved either one of them! At the same time, I love a strong FMC that takes no shit, and this poor girl had been crapped on by so many her entire life, so demanding 100% dedication from a partner makes sense, even if she has a hard time reciprocating. If you love a good romantasy with spicy bits, I'd highly recommend this series. In fact, I'm hoping for a spin-off series for Emilia (Vallen's sister), as she was absolutely hilarious, dedicated, brave, strong, and a little ruthless.
Thank you Bookouture Audio, Second Sky, and NetGalley for the ALC of Bound to Ruin in exchange for my honest review.