Ruthless Vows
Ratings226
Average rating4
6 stars across the board. I was so afraid that I wouldn't like this book as much as the first one, but I am happy to say that I was so wrong. It took me a while to finish because I didn't want it to end– I wanted to stay with Roman and Iris longer and prolong their story. I just... Ahhhhhhh it was so good man!
An amazing end to this duology. I'm both happy and sad to have finished this book. I'm so happy that we get the end of Iris & Roman's story but also sad that it's over. The entire read was engaging and kept me on the edge of my seat. There were so many emotional moments and times where I was so worried for our duo.
One of the best books I've read so far this year, honestly don't know what to even read next that will even compare.
The perfect end to the perfect story. The prose that Rebecca Ross is able to craft is honestly unreal. It is ridiculously beautiful. Not only that, the story hooks you and stays with you for months. Literally months. I couldn’t wait to read this book after then end that was Divine Rivals. I will say that the beginning started out a bit slow. I think this is because the last book ended on such a massive cliffhanger. Anything that didn’t match that energy was going to feel slow. Once the book got going, however, it didn’t stop. The plot pulls you in and doesn’t let go. It also helps that this story has one of the best romances of all time. This couple… I legitimately think they may have ruined all romance expectations for me. It was soooooo good! No matter what they keep getting drawn to each other in a way that is so heart wrenching yet sweet. If I could have a couple that says “Goals” it would be Iris and Roman. The ending was one that I (NO SPOILERS, Of COURSE) didn’t see coming, but it was incredibly fitting. I will say… grab a tissue cause you may cry (in the best way). I will recommend this book till my dying breath. Seriously… READ THIS SERIES!
While I'm not sure it grabbed me quite the same way as the first installment, readers will find all the elements they loved reflected in this sequel. Wonderful narration.
4.5 stars!
I liked this book more than the first. I'm not sure if that had something to with, like ... now I know what to expect from the storyline, whereas in the first book I didn't? Or, if it was just more of a moving plot. It was really good. A great story.
What brings it down half a star is because there is one scene that just did not need to be in the book. It wasn't a bad scene, I just felt like we have all been through too much and that particular scene did not serve a purpose. It could have been left out and the story still had the same effect.
A beautiful story.
I absolutely adored Divine Rivals, the first book in the Letters of Enchantment duology, when I read it last year. After a lot of letdowns in 2023, Divine Rivals helped reinvigorate my reading passion and became one of my favorites in the end. So, I was incredibly excited about this second book and the conclusion of the story. I feel like Ruthless Vows, however, didn't quite create the same magic though. I enjoyed it and still found myself looking forward to reading it every day, the world and characters Rebecca Ross created still pulled me in, but the elements that made Divine Rivals so delightful fell rather flat the second time around. The banter between Iris and Roman, the sumptuously written letters, and the found family feel of Marisol's place were all missing, in fact, many of the side characters from Divine Rivals barely made an appearance at all. Ross seemed to boost the world-building at the cost of the simpler charm she created without it in the first book, which might have worked out if the world-building was well done, but it also felt lacking. There was a base for some really good mythical storytelling regarding the gods, but that never really materialized. Dacre was a boring, decidedly not frightening character. Enva was elusive and the motivations of both were never really explored or even really clear. It could have been a story steeped in ancient magic and powerful, frightening beings loosed on the world with high stakes and epic implications, but it wasn't fleshed out enough to get there. I think my enjoyment stemmed a lot from what was originally created in Divine Rivals and I still cared and liked Iris and Roman and wanted to continue following their story, but as I look back now I'm finished, I find that the conclusion just didn't elicit the same emotion, delight, or enjoyment and it makes me a bit sad as I feel it had a lot of potential to be better. I didn't hate it and I think the duology is still worth reading. Ross created a unique fantasy/romance story and I appreciate her bold foray into crafting something different which captivated me, even if I felt like the second book didn't live up to my expectations.
I feel like I've dreamed the beauty that was [b:Divine Rivals 62796217 Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment, #1) Rebecca Ross https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1703064662l/62796217.SY75.jpg 94100483]. So much magic of that first book is lost. The first was truly a work of the divine, a beautiful love story that touched my own heart, and the second really is ruthless in how it falls flat.Not only engages in the most egregious trope of all, it does it for nothing. There is no reason for Roman's amnesia. It is needless padding that feels like the author screaming at us, “DO YOU GUYS REMEMBER DIVINE RIVALS?” A terrible decision that made me want to put the book aside and never pick it up again.In the first book, I thought Enva & Dacre were being set up as a very clear ‘there is evil on both sides' lesson. In Ruthless Vows I expected Roman to see Dacre as the more sympathetic side while Iris has faith in Enva. This would be a wedge driven between them until the monstrous nature of both gods would be revealed at which point Roman & Iris would use their experience with writing to publish and spread the truth of the two deities.Nope. Dacre is less than one-dimensional. He's not even threatening! Enva let thousands die in her name even though should have ended his life! For some reason the book never really condemns her for her inaction. One might think this review spends too much time discussing Dacre & Enva but, well, so does the book. So much of it are chapters in which Roman & Iris barely exist as characters. They are separated and the story is needlessly continuing that separation. There were numerous instances for them to reunite yet they stupidly do not take it.Still, the prose was as good as in the first book, and I do enjoy the characters even if they are there so very little. I feel bad that Forest never got a proper arc of his own and the book discards him as a nameless tertiary character. I still love Roman & Iris.And I still feel sad that I'll never feel a love like theirs.
This book is an emotional rollercoaster. The first half is a slow ascent of knowing you're getting closer to the point where everything tips into a rush to the end.
Rebecca Ross writes beautifully, and this book managed to do two things well that I was worried about. First, she was able to recreate some of the magic of Iris and Roman falling for each other's words. Second, even when separated, you get a sense of their connection. The story didn't drag with them apart.
If you enjoyed the first book, you'll likely like the conclusion. It feels complete.
“Did you think I would let him tell me when and how to touch you?” Roman's voice was hoarse as he traced her jaw with his lips. “Did you think that I would let him steal this last moment from me? When I would surrender only to you, take you in my hands, and burn with you before the end comes?”
He estado como 10 a 20 minutos escribiendo en un notas todas las citas que había ido subrayando para luego elegir mi favorita para encabezar la reseña del libro.
Este libro me lo terminé realmente hace un día, pero no había tenido tiempo para escribir el notas y pensar qué quería decir del libro, además de necesitar un día entero para procesar la muerte de Forest y Sarah. La esperanza que me dio al final Rebecca Ross, pensando que habían conseguido sobrevivir, después de enseñarme que Helena estaba viva, me quitó un trozo de alma. Y tras pensarlo y llegar a la conclusión de que es una muerte razonable, porque Forest debería haber muerto hace tiempo, igualmente me sigue doliendo y sigo pensando que murió intentando proteger a Sarah y lo bonito que me parece ese hecho, pero me destroza.
Tengo que decir que una de mis partes favoritas es cuando Rebecca nos enseña el POV de Tobias, Helena y Forest. Nos hace más próximos a los personajes y luego nos deja durante páginas deseando saber si estarán bien, si habrán sobrevivido. Y lo hace de fábula, para mi pobre corazoncito sensible que se pasa páginas sufriendo
Now this book was alot better than the first book in my opinion.I felt I got a lot better connected with this than nr 1. Maybe it was the fact I was not as stressed and could enjoy the reading prosess alot more?I felt like in this books there were more risks in terms of their lifes, kind of betraying ech other, having to trust but also not? I am not sure how to explain it. Like when Iris desided to not burn the letter and instead risking Roman being revealed and giving it so the attack can be prevented.I did quite enjoy Romans ‘batteling' with himself and I wish it was a little bit more of that.I did felt things got in general resolved a little too easily. I wanted a little more struggel in it all. The writing is still not amazing and did not make me feel any emotional or anything like that. It was a nice relaxing read and I did not need to strain myself or my eyes any to read it.
Possible Spoilers for Divine Rivals:
The conclusion to the Letters of Enchantment series by Rebecca Ross was nothing short of greatness! While I rated Ruthless Vows lower than Divine Rivals, I still believe this is a 5 star series as a whole. The book picks up a few weeks after the events at the end of Divine Rivals. Iris and Roman are separated, and Iris begins to wonder if she will ever see him again. Through a chain of events, they find themselves once again connected by their typewriters. Letters are exchanged, plans are hatched, and secrets are kept as Iris and her friends try to get ahead of Dacre's dark plan. The side characters really come to life in Ruthless Vows, and I really liked the found family trope here. I loved this book and obviously I devoured it, but it wasn't quite as good as Divine Rivals. I think some ends were left a little open and I wanted a bit more closure. The romance between Iris and Roman is so beautiful, I feel like I will be thinking of them for a while. Rebecca Ross's writing continues to be some of my favorite, and reading her words feels so magical at times. Ruthless Vows is a young adult fantasy romance, 16+ for vague descriptions of sexual content
uhm.. idk i was bored i definitely expected more action.. and the gods didn't really feel like gods, like i expected to see something unusual about them, learn more about their powers and actually see them use their powers... i keep saying gods but we only got to know one god, enva was nowhere to be seen so we only read about one part of the war most of the book. i just wish enva was involved in more scenes.
i loved that we read more of roman's pov in this book.
i think the romance was ok, even though the first book was way better than this i still enjoyed it. love the main characters and their chemistry. character development is also on point. would love it more if we could read more about the side characters tho. but there are many side characters in this book so i can't blame. if you gave me a book about all of the side characters and their stories i would love to read it.
the ending was ok. it needed more action but eventually i was moved so i liked it. i will miss roman and iris.
OMG i hate to have to give it two stars. This was like my most anticipated book everr after DR. However... Here me out:
Pros: the writing style. Definitely beautiful, yet easy to follow prose. Flowery and sweet throughout. The audiobook is fantastic, same voices as DR and they are absolutely perfect.
Now for the cons:
The worldbuilding. Now a lot of ppl complained that there was not enough worldbuilding in DR. Well, there it is. We get the gods and waaay too much about them, as characters, yet i couldnt really care and it was so very long and dragged. I had to skim to finish some parts.
Our main characters development. Iris wasn't great. I get it that the world got bigger, but her choices were off. And boring. Roman was better, but it seemed imbalanced how he kept pinning for Iris and she's going around minding her business.
The side characters, they took a lot of page, but at the same time not enough, maybe more of them and less from the gods?
The lord of the rings epilogues. It felt like this book ended about three times over.
I would totally read moee books from rebecca ross, but this sequel was not for me
This was such an adorable, and kind of emotionally demanding, book. It was a surprise, taking a darker and more matured turn from Divine Rivals. Iris grew up, Roman had his fair share of battling and scars.
In the end, with all their pain, they ended uo together just as they had wanted.
Shoutout to Forest and Prindle, underrated lovelies. I wish they had longer lives but their end was so beautiful, if death could be described as such.
4.5 stars!
I will always enjoy Rebecca Ross's writing style. She has a certain magic that deeply compels me to keep reading!
This is very different book from the first one. It was, in my opinion, predictable but the fact remained that I wanted to read because reading her stories is a joy, not because I was deeply intrigued about what would happen (hopefully this makes sense!)
A good ending to a beautiful story. It has some emotional parts that I am sure will touch a lot of readers and overall is a great YA duology.
I will always enjoy Rebecca Ross's writing style. She has a certain magic that deeply compels me to keep reading!
This is very different book from the first one. It was, in my opinion, predictable but the fact remained that I wanted to read because reading her stories is a joy, not because I was deeply intrigued about what would happen (hopefully this makes sense!)
A good ending to a beautiful story. It has some emotional parts that I am sure will touch a lot of readers and overall is a great YA duology.
Let me be your secret, then. Tuck my words into your pocket. Let them be your armor.
Ruthless vows was a beautiful ending for the series! I've got almost everything I wanted: more plot, deeper worldbuiling, higher stakes, more details on the divines and magic, and obviously, a satisfying conclusion to a wonderful love a story. I just wish we could have seen Nan meeting Iris, and settling the argument if Kitt looks more like a knight errant or a rogue.
I would love to see your words catch fire with mine.
Rebecca's writing message remains focused on hope and love, which is perfectly aligned with the target audience. However, because war was such a central topic on the series, I've felt the end quickly brushed over the heavier topics of healing and rebuilding in order to reach the happy ending, leaving a lot of details open. This is the only reason why I'm taking one star of the rating.
“Write me a story where there is no ending, Kitt. Write to me and fill my empty spaces.”
This was a brilliant series, I loved it!
Divine Rivals was a gorgeous prose with some issues with pacing. The writing, though, was so stunning that upon first read, I barely noticed, and only when I read it again did I pause to see where I wanted more story, more world building, more rivalry. I had such high hopes, then, coming into Ruthless Vows, and was more eagle eyed for similar pacing hiccups. Instead, this fitting sequel took hold in the first chapter and held me spellbound until the very last page. Gone was the slow moving early chapter and the somehow rushed slow burn romance of Divine Rivals. Here is the perfect ending, with the same incredibly poetic writing, with great pacing throughout, and a very satisfying end to a well crafted villain. Roman and Iris will linger on my thoughts long after I finish this book, and I'm so grateful for the time with them. Well and beautifully done, Miss Ross.
“Ross has always held me captive with her work: Ruthless Vows is no different.”
Where do I start? I absorb Ross' words into my bloodstream at any and all opportunities. I adore her mastery of the pen and her absolute gift at translating words on a page, into a world that seemingly existed as truthfully as the one I sit here writing this in. The sequel is not an easy road to set upon. But it is a road I am mighty glad Rebecca Ross has gone down. The story felt expertly laid at the readers feet, each page answering lingering queries, building upon mythologies and adding absolute angst and urgency word by word. Ross cleverly details her sequel with arcs in storytelling, world building, character building and just awe-inspiring magic. Words can barely cover how magical this book was to read. Ross manages to effortlessly return the style of the first book and its formats (many letters again!) and return the mystery and intrigue of the connection between our beloved main characters and their typewriters. Since 2018 Rebecca Ross has held me captive between worlds of unexplainable decadence: Divine Rivals, and Ruthless Vows, is no different. Beautifully superb.