I feel SO bad, but I have to DNF this arc. I am so grateful to the publishing company and author for providing me with this ARC, but I just don’t think this was for me. This book has an amnesia trope and tackles a lot of difficult topics. The author provided content warnings at the beginning of the book, so you do know what you’re getting into; however, these content warnings were not present in the summary of the book. I understand why this is, as that could be classified as spoilers, but I would not have requested this book if I had known about some of the content in this book.

I do not think this book is bad by any means—and reading is super subjective anyways— I just know that I would not have enjoyed continuing this read and didn’t want to negatively rate something that was not meant for me. From what I have read so far, there was tons of banter and angst. You jump straight into the action and the amnesia trope present in the FMC seemed intriguing. The characters are sort of stuck together solving the issue they are in which may lead to a great romance for some people. Again, this could be a really good book, but it is not for me and I will not be continuing.

This review is attached to a three star rating, as I cannot provide feedback without it, but I do not typically rate DNF’s since they are unfinished and the three star is only reflective of the content that I had read up until my DNF (around 60 pages).

First, I want to start out by saying I absolutely love the cover art for this book. It is what caught my attention, and then the synopsis of the book intrigued me even more. I love a good enemies to lovers and a morally gray man (wink wink)!

The story centers on Sadaré, an amnesiac sorceress, and Daesra, a horned and hooved demon who harbors deep resentment toward her. Trapped together in an ever-changing maze, they are forced to depend on one another to survive. As they navigate the labyrinth, we learn of Sadarés betrayal and buried secrets from their pasts.

I expected this story to be filled with lots of action and magic, but it felt like the same scene over and over. The maze would change, and if they tried to go their separate ways to stay away from one another, the maze would try and kill them. I struggled a lot to get invested in Sadaré and Daesra's journey. I just couldn’t connect with their characters. The only character or should i say creature, I truly enjoyed was Pogli—a creature that resembles a mix of dog, lion, and pig. He definitely had Sadarés back!

Unfortunately, this story just fell a bit flat for me and I dnf it at 54%. It had so much possibility, but I was forcing myself to even make it as far as I did in the story because the adventure was just boring. Thank you Netgalley for the arc. I know this story will definitely be enjoyed by other, it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to the publisher and AdriAnne May for providing me with an ARC of Exquisite Ruin. The book offers an intriguing blend of enemies-to-lovers romance, magical conflict, and a dark atmosphere.

While the premise was promising, I found it hard to connect with the characters. The second-chance romance felt forced, and the transition from hate to love between the main characters didn’t flow naturally. The pain kink element also wasn’t for me, which made it difficult to fully engage with their dynamic. I had expected to connect more with Pogli, but ultimately, I didn’t feel attached to the story or its characters.

Despite its potential, Exquisite Ruin fell flat for me. The world and magic are intriguing, but I wasn’t invested in the characters or their journey.

Thank you Adrianne May and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC! I am leaving this review voluntarily.

What to expect:
- Minotaur retelling
- Morally gray fmc and mmc
- Witches
- Enemies to lovers
- BDSM/Pain kink
- Spice 3/5 🌶️
- Amnesia
- Betrayals
- A+ banter

My thoughts:
Wow, this book was so good! From the first chapter to the last I was hooked! I loved our two main characters, Sadaré and Daesra. They were both morally gray, which is something new for me. Their relationship was HOT, even as enemies. I also throughly enjoyed their backstory, it made them both feel so real. The relationship wasn’t sweet or fluffy, it was raw and fiery and I loved it. Shoutout to Pogli, I love when authors include animals in books! This book had so many twists and turns and they all were unexpected, especially that last one!

My only con is that the book was somewhat repetitive. Otherwise this book was amazing, definitely my favorite this month!

Totally recommend!

What a powerful book! The journey that Sadare and Daesre take is both poetic and meaningful.
I loved the themes found here of facing your fears from both your past and present, giving yourself to/for love, and the nature of true freedom.
The huge plot twist near the end was jaw dropping and so so good!
While there is some good spice, it's fairly limited. I'd give 🌶️🌶️🌶️/5.

“Exquisite Ruin” by AdriAnne May is a captivating reimagining of the Minotaur myth, blending dark romance with high-stakes adventure. The story follows Sadaré, a powerful sorceress with amnesia, and Daesra, a dangerous demon, as they navigate a deadly labyrinth together.

The heart of this novel is the romance between Sadaré and Daesra. Their relationship evolves from intense animosity to a deep, passionate bond, embodying the enemies-to-lovers trope. Forced to rely on each other in the labyrinth, their interactions are charged with tension and chemistry, making their journey electrifying and emotional.

May’s lyrical prose vividly brings their world to life, enhancing the story’s mystery and danger. Themes of memory, identity, and redemption are woven throughout, adding depth to the characters’ conflicts and growth.

Overall, “Exquisite Ruin” is a beautifully crafted tale of love, betrayal, and the quest for freedom. The compelling romance and well-executed tropes make it a must-read for fans of dark romance and mythological retellings.

I was down for a sexy tale of a demon and a witch teaming up to defeat a horrible labyrinth. However, the back and forth of the amnesia subplot and the manufactured tension with said demon felt so thin that it was difficult for me to care about either character.

Sadaré is a human witch, caught between her magical abilities and the dark truths of her past. Daesra is a Minotaur daemon, burdened by his own tragic history. Together, they embark on a high-stakes journey, driven by the palpable tension of their enemies-to-lovers dynamic and the forced proximity that only heightens their conflicted emotions. One suffers from amnesia, struggling to piece together fragments of their identity, while the other is haunted by the bitter sting of betrayal that has yet to heal.

I found myself yearning for deeper character development, particularly with Daesra. His motivations seemed only lightly touched upon, and I believe if we had explored more of the emotional turmoil he was enduring, it would have created a stronger connection to his character. The glimpses we were given of his inner struggles left me wanting more—more of his pain, his transformation, and the complexities beneath the surface.

Sadaré, on the other hand, often came across as somewhat juvenile in her communication. While this could have been reflective of her circumstances, it hindered her ability to resonate with me on a more mature level. The ‘pain for healing’ concept was also a bit confusing and could have benefitted from further development.

Despite these challenges, the journey itself kept me engaged. The plot unfolded in unexpected ways, and I wasn’t prepared for the multiple twists that led to the conclusion. Each twist added a layer of complexity, creating a web of convoluted aspects that, while sometimes confusing, also deepened my desire to reread the book from a new perspective. The storyline was refreshingly different from what I’ve encountered before, and I found myself eager to see what would unfold next—both in terms of the plot and their evolving relationship.

With such a captivating dynamic between Sadaré and Daesra, I truly look forward to what this author may have in store for them next.

Thank you Netgalley for this advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I eagerly look forward to more works from this author.

I wanted to like this book so much but ended up having to mark it as DNF at 30%. I enjoyed how the female main character woke up with amnesia, it created a fun mystery for the book. The reader and the character were figuring things out at the same time. However, the flow of the book seemed to jump from scene to scene, and it just didn’t work for me. I was confused on what was going on. It also seemed like some events were duplicates of events that already happened.

I did not like this. I feel like if you’re writing a romantasy where most of the story is centered around two characters, even if the characters are not individually likable, they should have this thing called chemistry. This was a BORE, and the lukewarm sex scenes didn’t save it.

This book heavily draws on the Minotaur Greek myth but imagine if the Minotaur was a hot demon and his love interest was a morally grey witch with a pain kink? And they’re stuck in a seemingly never ending lovers-enemies-lovers loop.

It’s a mostly character driven story with a small cast of characters. The 2 main characters both have very questionable morals and I love their messiness.

That twist at the very end I did not see coming!!!!

While the story was unique and interesting, I just could not get into this book. I felt nothing for the characters or their trials, the action felt obligatory and repetitive, and the spice was not engaging. I actually almost DNF-but I did want to find out what in the world is the explanation for all of this?!?
2 stars for the plot and concept, unfortunately I can’t give any higher for the execution not landing.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC

Exquisite Ruin by AdriAnne May presents an intriguing premise, combining enemies-to-lovers romance, magical conflict, and a dark, mysterious setting. The story follows Sadaré, a sorceress with amnesia, and Daesra, a hooved-and-horned demon who despises her. Forced into close quarters in a shifting, dangerous maze, the two characters must rely on each other to survive as betrayal, pain magic, and secrets from their pasts bubble to the surface.

While the book promises a gripping fantasy adventure, I found myself struggling to connect with the characters. Sadaré’s amnesia felt more like a plot device than a meaningful obstacle, and Daesra’s hatred never evolved into something emotionally resonant. Though the second-chance romance trope should have added depth, the betrayal between them lacked the emotional weight that would make their reconciliation satisfying. The characters, though complex in theory, were hard to sympathize with, leaving me detached from their fates.

The labyrinth, however, is a standout element of the story. It feels like a living, breathing entity—constantly shifting, keeping the characters on edge, and becoming almost a character itself. The deeper Sadaré and Daesra venture into it, the more Sadaré starts to question everything she thought she knew, including whether the real monster is Daesra, the labyrinth, or herself. This tension could have been gripping, but the plot twists and dangers never fully delivered. I never felt the urgency or peril that was supposed to drive the narrative, and as a result, the twists fell flat.

Sadly, despite its potential, Exquisite Ruin ended up feeling forgettable for me. The story had all the ingredients for a dark, compelling fantasy, but I couldn’t find it in myself to care deeply about the characters, nor did I feel invested in the outcome. The ending, in particular, left me unfulfilled and questioning whether the journey was worth it.

Though the concept is promising, with a fascinating setting and elements of magic, the execution fell short for me. A missed opportunity for a book that had the potential to be so much more.

Very intriguing I was so excited to read this. I really enjoyed the mystery of the plot . The story was very adventurous. I couldn’t put it down. I loved it so much. The characters were very well written and very descriptive.

“Exquisite Ruin,” by AdriAnne May

I didn’t like this book. I didn’t like the mystery/ amnesia aspect, and way too much of the action and what was happening felt tedious and repetitive because the scenes were too similar with each other, over and over again. It just wasn’t for me, 2 out of 5 stars.

-Witches
-Demons
-Trials

Thank you for the ARC, Netgalley.

This book is perfect for people who love a good high- stakes journey with tons of plot twists and puzzles. The puzzles was probably by far my favorite aspect of this book. The banter between the two characters begin right off the bat which was interesting, considering that one of our main characters has amnesia and the other is still reeling in the emotions of being betrayed by that character, but aside from that I thought that there was simply so much to love about this book.
Our main characters Sadaré and Daesra find them selves stuck in a deadly maze that they must escape from and just like our main characters you'll find yourself feeling confused, disoriented and befuddled along with them because of you will be learning about world and each character right along side them, with chapters that take you from the present to the past, it is a lot of digest.
The flow of the chapters at times did confuse me, the back and forth from past to present had my brain glitching and then readjusting from time to time. The main characters were also difficult to enjoy reading because even though we learned something new about one or both of them at the end of a given chapter it still felt like i was reading about two strangers and it was hard to not feel a disconnect between the two of them especially when they started to get hot and heavy with each other.
But this was such a interesting read, and I am so shocked to finally read a book with some of my absolute favorite that I enjoy reading in books . If you are looking for a book that will have your mind ducking and weaving through a maze with a dash of spice( lets be honest it was far more potent than a dash) this is the book for you.

Please check the trigger warnings.

What to Expect:
••» Enemies-to-Lovers
••» Forced Proximity (in a maze)
••» A Sorceress with Amnesia
••» A Hooved-and-Horned Demon Who Hates Her
••» Second Chance Romance/Betrayal
••» Pain Magic
••» A Pug in Disguise

In this darkly romantic reimagining of the Minotaur myth, a sorceress and a demon are entwined in sensual battle to escape a deadly maze and reclaim their freedom. The catch? One of them has amnesia, while the other can’t forget the painful betrayal they experienced.

The dynamic between Sadaré and Daesra was deliciously tense—classic enemies to lovers with all the push and pull you could want. Their banter kept me hooked, and I couldn’t put the book down. I read this in one sitting. The storyline jumps between past and present, giving you just enough clues to keep you guessing, but trust me, just when you think you’ve figured it out, the plot twists again. It was like trying to solve a riddle—confusing at times but so worth it. I loved how unique and unpredictable the story felt, with twists at every turn. Even the side characters were a joy.

If you're into enemies-to-lovers with a side of mind-bending puzzles and spice, this book is a must-read. It left me in total shock, but in the best way possible. I can't wait to see what AdriAnne May writes next.

Thank you to NetGalley, AdriAnne May, the author, and Gallery Books for the ARC opportunity.

I read this arc exquisite ruin by Adriananne May. It was a whirlwind. there's a witch and a demon, and they are stuck in this maze. It's like a push and pull relationship with them, and they're trying to escape the maze by completing challenges and puzzles. and it's like you're constantly back-and-forth, like what's going on. There's so many plot twists that I did not see coming. I thought it was so entertaining. Because there's enemies to lovers in there, check the content warning. But the banter between the 2 was so interesting and fun. it kept me intrigued the whole time. I didn't want to put it down!!! Also one of them has amnesia and the other Remembers the betrayal of the other. The one with amnesia is trying to figure out their story And remember who they are. Because the author goes back-and-forth, like what happened before they were in this maze and then when they are in the maze gives clues and insight into the characters. . it's just like you're trying to figure out a puzzle or riddle. well, this is this and then this might not even be close to that. It's so good. I gave it 5 stars, check it out. Thank you for letting me be an arc reader for this, netgalley, and I can't Wait to read more from this author Because I thought it was so good. the storyline was so interesting and I was, I was hooked.

This book had me hooked from the very first page! The tension between the two main characters was electric, and their dynamic kept me flipping through the pages non-stop. It’s the perfect mix of intrigue, passion, and surprises that left me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

The characters were such a highlight for me, each with their own quirks and charm. Daesra’s reluctant partnership with Sadarè was both entertaining and intense, and I couldn't get enough of their push-and-pull relationship. Pogli was an absolute scene-stealer, fierce yet so endearing, while Deos brought an unexpected layer of humor that balanced out the more serious moments.

The maze setting and its unique powers were brilliantly executed, adding an extra layer of complexity to the story. The plot was unpredictable, full of twists that kept me guessing until the very end. Just when I thought I had things figured out, the story would take a sharp turn, keeping me constantly surprised.

This book was the perfect combination of mystery, action, and spice, with just the right amount of emotional tension driving everything forward. I honestly didn’t want it to end. Highly recommend this one!

I was hooked from the cover and description and so glad I was able to read this. It uses the Minotaur myth in a way that worked well overall as something I could recognize and be something original. The characters worked wonderfully with the Greek mythology element and glad I was able to go on this journey with the characters. I was invested in the way AdriAnne May wrote this and can’t wait for more.