Book: Vows & Ruins by Helen Scheuerer
Reviewed by plotdrunk
Rating: 4/5
This felt like a classic case of second book syndrome. The pacing dragged in places, and while there was plenty of character development, the plot didn’t move forward much until the end. That said, the final battle scene was intense and well written, and the twist with Wilder genuinely caught me off guard.
One of my main frustrations was how often Thea and Wilder fell into the same pattern: insisting they shouldn’t be together, then immediately hooking up again. There were a lot of spicy scenes, but many felt repetitive or poorly timed, especially when they were supposed to be in a rush or mid-conflict. I kept hoping their connection would reveal a deeper magical or fated element to justify the intensity, but it never quite got there.
Still, I’m invested. The ending packed a punch, and the emotional fallout from Wilder’s betrayal has real potential. If he truly turns out to be the villain, that could lead to a much more compelling arc for Thea going forward.
Already started Fates and Furies and hoping for higher stakes and a tighter plot.