
Exquisite Ruin
A dark romance reimagining of the Minotaur myth
Adrianne May(Author)
Zaffre (Publisher)
Published on 25. March 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
384 pages
978-1-78512-481-5 (ISBN)
Description
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
'UNIQUE, SEXY AND ACTION-PACKED' - Hannah Whitten, author of The Foxglove King
'A DARK AND TWISTING MYTHOPOETIC JOURNEY OF A ROMANCE' - Jacqueline Carey, author of Kushiel's Dart
In this deadly maze, the most dangerous thing may be the passion between them.
Sadare wakes in a labyrinth, remembering nothing except that she is a powerful sorceress. Her only companion is a hostile immortal named Daesra - beautiful, dangerous, and demonic - who bound his divine soul for power and revenge.
Despite their animosity, the two have no choice but to work together to reach the centre and defeat the monster who prevents their escape. But the longer they wander, the more deadly and alive the maze becomes - and the more Sadare finds herself drawn to Daesra in ways she can't explain.
As sorceress and demon develop a tenuous truce, the labyrinth gives Sadare glimpses of their shared history of passion and pain that make her question everything she knows. Unlocking the secrets of her past may be the only way to survive and heal their entwined fates - but as she learns more about the betrayals that brought them to the labyrinth, Sadare begins to fear that the monster at the centre could be Daesra ... or even herself.
TROPES:
> Enemies to Lovers
> Forced Proximity
> Second-Chance Romance/Betrayal
> Who Hurt You
> Dark Monster
Content warning: This book is a fantasy intended for adults only.
'UNIQUE, SEXY AND ACTION-PACKED' - Hannah Whitten, author of The Foxglove King
'A DARK AND TWISTING MYTHOPOETIC JOURNEY OF A ROMANCE' - Jacqueline Carey, author of Kushiel's Dart
In this deadly maze, the most dangerous thing may be the passion between them.
Sadare wakes in a labyrinth, remembering nothing except that she is a powerful sorceress. Her only companion is a hostile immortal named Daesra - beautiful, dangerous, and demonic - who bound his divine soul for power and revenge.
Despite their animosity, the two have no choice but to work together to reach the centre and defeat the monster who prevents their escape. But the longer they wander, the more deadly and alive the maze becomes - and the more Sadare finds herself drawn to Daesra in ways she can't explain.
As sorceress and demon develop a tenuous truce, the labyrinth gives Sadare glimpses of their shared history of passion and pain that make her question everything she knows. Unlocking the secrets of her past may be the only way to survive and heal their entwined fates - but as she learns more about the betrayals that brought them to the labyrinth, Sadare begins to fear that the monster at the centre could be Daesra ... or even herself.
TROPES:
> Enemies to Lovers
> Forced Proximity
> Second-Chance Romance/Betrayal
> Who Hurt You
> Dark Monster
Content warning: This book is a fantasy intended for adults only.
Reviews / Votes
Unique, sexy, and action-packed, Exquisite Ruin is a thrill for any romantasy fan * Hannah Whitten, author of The Foxglove King * A dark and twisting mythopoetic journey of a romance ... honed to the sharpest edge of desire * Jacqueline Carey, author of Kushiel's Dart * Grab those horns in both hands and get ready for a wild ride at turns both sharp and tender, sexy and sweet * Delilah S. Dawson, New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma * AdriAnne May's lyrical prose weaves an epic story of love, betrayal, and the depths we are willing to explore in order to untangle the complexities of the human heart ... An exquisite masterpiece that one will savor long after the final page is turned * Analeigh Sbrana, Sunday Times bestselling author of Lore of the Wilds * Sensuous ... A fascinating premise * Publishers Weekly *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bonnier Books Ltd
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 151 mm
Thickness: 31 mm
Weight
468 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-78512-481-5 (9781785124815)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
AdriAnne May was a bibliophile who wanted to be an author before she knew what either of those words meant. She splits her time between Alaska and Spain with her spouse, her pugs, and her piles of books. She loves dancing, tattoos, and writing stories about sympathetic monsters. Exquisite Ruin is her debut adult novel, and she is currently working on its sequel, Divine Descent.