Genres: Dark Fantasy, Fantasy Romance, Fantasy | Release Date: 20 August 2024 | Series: The Princesses of Ruin | Series Book: #4 | Pages: 438 | Indie Author | Review
“I’m never going to be free.”
Ember Holt
Overview:
I’m late to the party with Ruthless Scoundrel by the amazing indie author Ember Holt, but I’ve finally caught up! This is book four in The Princesses of Ruin dark fantasy series, and each book so far has focused on the story of a particular sister.* Dare I say it, this might be my favourite one so far? But before I go into all the details, let’s give you an overview!
Jasper never expected he’d be someone to kidnap a princess, but needs must when he’s to overthrow a tyrant king in the south. And after some careful consideration, he’s set his sights on Princess Reina of Fynren. Is it the wrong choice, considering her fiery nature and magical abilities? Only time will tell. When Reina wakes up in a boat, far from the rebellion she was planning to play a key part in, her fury knows no bounds. Her anger certainly doesn’t abate when a shipwreck leaves the pair stranded on an island, reliant upon each other to survive. Will Jasper get his revenge and manage to overthrow a monarch? Can Reina find her way back to her own rebellion, to defeat her mother in an epic showdown? What happens when being Jasper’s captive is no longer a danger to Reina’s life, but her heart?
Happiness Boost:
Within Ruthless Scoundrel, I love how Reina is both filled with feminine rage and yet capable of compassion for Jasper. Ember has such a gift for writing complicated characters, and our beloved princess is no exception! And, just like with the previous duos we’ve encountered in The Princesses of Ruin, both Jasper and Reina can easily come under the morally grey trope so many of us love. As I dive further into this fantasy romance era I’m living in, morally grey is honestly one of my favourite things to encounter! So this book is like having dessert before your dinner: absolutely decadent and sinfully delicious.
This dark fantasy lives and breathes for intrigue, tumultuous love and a rebellion against powerful enemies. I adore that Ruthless Scoundrel focuses on one central story, even as it ramps up the dangers surrounding Reina and her sisters because of the Queen’s growing power! Without giving away spoilers, I will let you know that there’s *so* much more at play than just the pure battle between the monarch and those below her. It’s been such a delight to encounter things I hadn’t expected!
I badly want to tell you so much more about Ruthless Scoundrel, but I’m worried that I could accidentally let slip some spoilers if I do. So with that said, if you’re like me and love enemies to lovers, feminine rage and forced proximity? This book (and series) is for you! And truthfully, it’s also great for you if you love shifter stories, because this spicy read has something special in store for you bookworms.
Downside:
I don’t have a downside for this wonderful tale, it’s been a lot of fun to read!
Final Thoughts:
Ruthless Scoundrel by Ember Holt is a dark fantasy delight, full of lurking dangers, spicy goodness and an epic showdown! I am so excited to read how everything will end in the upcoming finale to this series, and wish I had it in my hands right now. I need to know my favourite characters will survive! But until then, if you love what you’ve heard from my review? Just click on the link below to order your copy! Happy reading, glitterbugs!
You can order Ruthless Scoundrel via this link: Amazon
* You can read my reviews for the previous books here:
