I’ve been ready to dive back into this world ever since the cliffhanger in Divine Rivals, and Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross definitely had a lot to live up to. I was naturally curious to see how the magical correspondence would hold up under such high stakes given the ending of book one, and I couldn’t wait to see if this duet would have an ending that Iris and Roman rightfully deserved.
**Please note: This review contains major spoilers**
Plot Summary
Torn apart by war, reunited by love.
Two weeks have passed since Iris Winnow returned home bruised and heartbroken from the front, but the war is far from over. Roman is missing, and the city of Oath continues to dwell in a state of disbelief and ignorance. When Iris and Attie are given another chance to report on Dacre’s movements, they both take the opportunity and head westward once more despite the danger, knowing it’s only a matter of time before the conflict reaches a city that’s unprepared and fracturing beneath the chancellor’s reign.
Since waking below in Dacre’s realm, Roman cannot remember his past. But given the reassurance that his memories will return in time, Roman begins to write articles for Dacre, uncertain of his place in the greater scheme of the war. When a strange letter arrives by wardrobe door, Roman is first suspicious, then intrigued. As he strikes up a correspondence with his mysterious pen pal, Roman will soon have to make a decision: to stand with Dacre or betray the god who healed him. And as the days grow darker, inevitably drawing Roman and Iris closer together…the two of them will risk their very hearts and futures to change the tides of the war.
(Via Goodreads)
Quality of Writing
Rating: 5/5
When it comes to the prose in Ruthless Vows, Rebecca Ross delivers once again. The writing has the same gorgeous. high quality feel as the first book, and it truly makes it so easy to see why everyone raves about her style. It’s just beautiful to read.
Plot Development
Rating: 4/5
The pacing in Ruthless Vows starts off a little slow as things get moving, but it picks up way faster than the first book did. I really enjoyed how the action unfolded, and the way the war’s climax and resolution were handled kept me hooked.
Characters
Rating: 4/5
The connection between Iris and Roman in Ruthless Vows actually felt way more compelling this time, even with all separation and memory loss drama going on. I also really liked Tobias – he was such a great addition to the cast, though I do wish we got to see more of his budding romance with Attie. On the flip side, Forest was a bit of a letdown for me. After all the buildup in the first book, I just didn’t find myself connecting with his story.
Ease of Reading
Rating: 4/5
The timeline in Ruthless Vows didn’t feel nearly as jumbled as the first book, which made it a much smoother experience. It was so easy to just dive in and get lost in the story – I actually flew through this one!
Ending
Rating: 4/5
I really loved the happily ever after for Iris and Roman in Ruthless Vows, and even though I wasn’t a huge fan of Forest, his death still got to me because of the war. If anything, I just wish we had more time at the end to see the post-war reconstruction. I would’ve loved more details on the new chancellor and how they started rebuilding Oath.
Would I Recommend This Book
Definitely. I actually like Ruthless Vows a smidge more than the first one. If you’ve already read the first book and are planning to dive in Wild Reverence, I do personally think this duet is a must in order to better understand the world of Cambria.
Overall Rating
Overall, Ruthless Vows is a beautifully written conclusion with a plot that felt way more energized and interesting than the first half of the duet. Even though I never quite warmed up to Forest, the rest of the character growth was solid, and his part in the ending still managed to hit me in the feels. Ultimately, this book was an enticing page turned that wrapped up the story in a satisfying manner.
Book Rating: 4/5
Spice Rating: 1/5
Curious about how I rate my reads? Check out my Rating System Blog Post for more!
Let’s Talk
In your opinion, is loyalty to a person or cause more heavily influenced by memories and feelings, or core values?
Reading Stack
Previous Book: All The Sinners Bleed
Current Book: Wild Reverence/Rapture’s Edge
Next Book: Blood And Steel
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