Book Review: A Conflicted Deep Dive into Ruthless Devotion by Rebecca F. Kenney

When it comes to fantasy romance novels, Ruthless Devotion by Rebecca F. Kenney stands out for its ambitious world-building and daring emotional intensity. However, my experience reading this book left me torn between admiration for its creative scope and frustration with its execution—especially regarding the overwhelming presence of spice at critical narrative junctures.

The Strength: Remarkable World-Building

One of the most compelling aspects of Ruthless Devotion is undoubtedly its world. Kenney crafts a rich, vibrant fantasy universe that feels alive with history, politics, and divine powers. The concept itself is fresh and gripping: gods, resurrection, inner battles between mortality and immortality. It's clear that a lot of thought went into designing the setting and rules of this world, and for that, the novel deserves praise.

As a fantasy reader, it’s rare to come across a world that immediately feels both familiar and utterly unique. Kenney achieves this delicate balance, laying down a foundation that could have easily supported a deeply emotional and action-driven plot.

The Struggle: Misplaced Spice and Pacing Issues

However, despite the strong world-building, Ruthless Devotion often feels derailed by its handling of romance and spice. I want to be clear: I don’t mind explicit content in novels—when it serves the story or deepens character development. But here, the placement of steamy scenes felt, at times, jarring and unnecessary.

Critical moments where the plot demanded tension, reflection, or action were frequently interrupted by sex scenes that seemed out of sync with the emotional stakes. For example, the protagonist is resurrected—a monumental, world-shifting event—only to almost immediately engage in an intimate encounter with a god, while literally losing control of her body. It felt absurd and out of place, robbing the moment of the gravity it deserved.

Rather than enhancing the stakes or intimacy between characters, the constant interruptions diluted the narrative power. Instead of feeling swept up in a grand journey, I found myself impatiently waiting for the story to move past yet another unnecessary distraction.

The Bigger Picture: Storytelling vs. Sensationalism

There’s an art to balancing romance and story, and in this case, Ruthless Devotion tipped too far into sensationalism. It seemed, at times, like the intimate scenes were added not to enhance the plot or characters, but simply to elongate the book or satisfy a certain genre expectation. This choice ultimately weakened the emotional resonance of the characters’ journeys and made truly powerful moments feel rushed or minimized.

A truly great fantasy romance uses intimacy to deepen the emotional bond between characters and add weight to the plot. When done right, spice becomes a natural extension of character growth. In Ruthless Devotion, however, it often felt like the spice was the goal itself, rather than a tool for storytelling.

Final Thoughts: A Conflicted Deep Dive into Ruthless Devotion by Rebecca F. Kenney

Ruthless Devotion is a book with immense potential—a fascinating world, an engaging premise, and the bones of a gripping narrative. However, its overreliance on spice at the expense of plot progression and emotional authenticity holds it back from being truly great.

I’m giving it a 3 out of 5 stars because the imaginative world-building deserves recognition, and because there were genuine moments of brilliance scattered throughout. But ultimately, for readers like me who prioritize plot coherence and emotional depth, Ruthless Devotion can feel more frustrating than fulfilling.

It’s a book I wanted to love—and in some ways, still admire—but one that left me wishing for more discipline and balance in its storytelling.