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Immortal Enemies #2
Ruthless
"One of the premier authors of paranormal romance. Gena Showalter delivers an utterly spellbinding story!"—Kresley Cole, #1 New York Times bestselling author
Don't miss the second book in New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter's captivating and unforgettable Immortal Enemies series…
Forbidden. Powerful. Ruthless.
Micah the Unwilling, fae King of the Forgotten, can tame even the most violent of beasts. Forged on the battlefield, this iron-willed warrior considers his soldiers his family, and he will stop at nothing to reclaim their dispossessed land. Gearing for war with a sadistic enemy, he is disciplined and focused—until a feral beauty he encountered long ago wanders into his camp.
Viori de Aoibheall wields a terrifying ability to sing monsters to life. Having spent her childhood in a forest, raising herself and her frightening creations—the only friends she’s ever known—she’s ill prepared for the scarred royal and his fearsome brutality. Not to mention the ferocity of their connection and the carnality of his touch. But the real problem? Her brother is Micah’s greatest foe. And though the sensual king makes her burn, she must stop him, whatever the cost.
Immortal Enemies
Book 1: Heartless
Book 2: Ruthless
Don't miss the second book in New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter's captivating and unforgettable Immortal Enemies series…
Forbidden. Powerful. Ruthless.
Micah the Unwilling, fae King of the Forgotten, can tame even the most violent of beasts. Forged on the battlefield, this iron-willed warrior considers his soldiers his family, and he will stop at nothing to reclaim their dispossessed land. Gearing for war with a sadistic enemy, he is disciplined and focused—until a feral beauty he encountered long ago wanders into his camp.
Viori de Aoibheall wields a terrifying ability to sing monsters to life. Having spent her childhood in a forest, raising herself and her frightening creations—the only friends she’s ever known—she’s ill prepared for the scarred royal and his fearsome brutality. Not to mention the ferocity of their connection and the carnality of his touch. But the real problem? Her brother is Micah’s greatest foe. And though the sensual king makes her burn, she must stop him, whatever the cost.
Immortal Enemies
Book 1: Heartless
Book 2: Ruthless
393 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2022
277 people are currently reading
4574 people want to read
About the author
Gena Showalter
263 books27.8k followersGena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs and cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 195 reviews
August 7, 2022
4 STARS
How does the woman do this? Every. Single. Time. She just knocks it right out of the park leaving me a happy pile of satisfied goo and yet desperate for my next fix. I am OBSESSED with this series! OBSESSED and beyond loving it.
Imagine an entire series based on your all time favorite trope of all time; enemies to lovers. And while this is a standalone with a new couple, I highly recommend you start with Heartless for a full experience. Trust me on this. You may be lost to a lot of the various details and characters if you don't. Ruthless brings us the story of Viori de Aoibheall, the baby sister of Kaysar the Unhinged One.
Micah the Unwilling, fae King of the Forgotten, has been fighting to protect his people from the ruthless Belua for as long as he remembers. A chimera, a rare fae who is born with dual glamaras that were constantly at odds, his kind has never been accepted by fae and feared in all realms. But his viciousness on the battlefield and cunning mind has left him in charge of them, though still yearning for the acceptance he will never get. He's good enough to fight for them, but will never be good enough to stand equally among them.
Micah and Viori have a unique history as teens, which only gets more unique as they reunite as adults. Viori has been on her own for too many years to count. Ever since she lost first her parents, and then her beloved brother, she's been fending for herself, with only her terrifying creations to keep her company. Longing to be reinitiated with her beloved brother, she somehow ends up with her brother's biggest enemy. A scarred warrior that both enrages and calls to her all at the same time.
If there's one thing that Gena knows how to bring, it's the banter. I love her sassy and fierce heroines almost as much as I love her grumpy, broody, and tortured heroes. And I really loved Micah and Viori together. The pacing of the story was on point, and the romance was deliciously engaging. You can't hope but root for these two as they make countless mistakes and assumptions with one another. Leaving you both frustrated and wanting to shake them, and rooting for their HEA.
This was another deliciously satisfying installment and if you like fast paced PNR, unique world building, banter, and enemies to lovers, you don't want to miss this!
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
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I pledge nothing but your downfall!”
“Consider your pledge fulfilled.” He sounded deadened inside. “I fell the first moment I saw you.”
How does the woman do this? Every. Single. Time. She just knocks it right out of the park leaving me a happy pile of satisfied goo and yet desperate for my next fix. I am OBSESSED with this series! OBSESSED and beyond loving it.
Imagine an entire series based on your all time favorite trope of all time; enemies to lovers. And while this is a standalone with a new couple, I highly recommend you start with Heartless for a full experience. Trust me on this. You may be lost to a lot of the various details and characters if you don't. Ruthless brings us the story of Viori de Aoibheall, the baby sister of Kaysar the Unhinged One.
Micah the Unwilling, fae King of the Forgotten, has been fighting to protect his people from the ruthless Belua for as long as he remembers. A chimera, a rare fae who is born with dual glamaras that were constantly at odds, his kind has never been accepted by fae and feared in all realms. But his viciousness on the battlefield and cunning mind has left him in charge of them, though still yearning for the acceptance he will never get. He's good enough to fight for them, but will never be good enough to stand equally among them.
Micah and Viori have a unique history as teens, which only gets more unique as they reunite as adults. Viori has been on her own for too many years to count. Ever since she lost first her parents, and then her beloved brother, she's been fending for herself, with only her terrifying creations to keep her company. Longing to be reinitiated with her beloved brother, she somehow ends up with her brother's biggest enemy. A scarred warrior that both enrages and calls to her all at the same time.
If there's one thing that Gena knows how to bring, it's the banter. I love her sassy and fierce heroines almost as much as I love her grumpy, broody, and tortured heroes. And I really loved Micah and Viori together. The pacing of the story was on point, and the romance was deliciously engaging. You can't hope but root for these two as they make countless mistakes and assumptions with one another. Leaving you both frustrated and wanting to shake them, and rooting for their HEA.
This was another deliciously satisfying installment and if you like fast paced PNR, unique world building, banter, and enemies to lovers, you don't want to miss this!
ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
August 2, 2022
Twisted, fantastical, heartbreaking, funny, sexy, action-packed, and emotional, what a sequel full of surprises!
Disclaimer: I was able to read an early copy of this book as I work for the author.
Disclaimer: I was able to read an early copy of this book as I work for the author.
July 31, 2022
3.7 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Strike first. And last. No exceptions.
I would highly suggest reading the first in this series (Heartless) before picking this up. Ruthless takes place about 11 months after the truce that was called between Micah the Unwilling and Kaysar the Unhinged and his wife Cookie the Uncrumbled. Immortal Enemies is a series that, mostly, takes place in a fae realm called Astaria with it's four courts and the Dusklands and Forgotten lands. All of the world building is explained in the first along with the characters we see here. One of the mysteries from the first was what happened to Kaysar's younger sister Viori, here we find out that she raised herself in the woods. Viori's glamara (fae power) is similar to Kaysar's and his gift of song except she can create elemental beings, like large trees and stone beasts, but they take so much of her power, she often falls into deep sleeps that can last for centuries and can sometimes take her to the mortal human realm. As a teenager Micah came upon Viori in one of these sleeps and was scarred horribly by her tree beasts before they realized he didn't mean her any harm and he kind of fell in love with the sleeping pretty girl and brought her gifts until she woke up scared, screamed and had her beasts chase him away.
She stood before Micah, her dagger shoved into his gut, his hand shackling her wrist as warm blood dripped over them both.
There is the outside conflict of Micah being Viori's brother's enemy. Viori misses out on a lot of Astaria happenings because of her deep sleeps but she does know her brother's story and how he was mistreated, which she blames herself for because she thinks she killed their parents, which set them on the road of traveling through the forest where he got taken prisoner. Viori thinks she must somehow make it up to Kaysar before she can be with him again, once she learns that Micah is Kaysar's enemy and their truce is ending soon, she decides to hide her true identity and be a spy in Micah's camp to learn his weaknesses.
Micah is still drawn to Viori and is amazed that she isn't in pain around him, something all others complain about because Micah is a chimera, he has two glamara that war with each other causing an uncomfortable atmosphere around him. Something with Viori's glamara matching up with his is the sort of explanation given for why it's not painful for her to be around him. The biggest conflict keeping these two apart is how they were raised. Micah as an orphan was taken in by another chimera and told to live by rules that included always protecting others and be honorable. When his mentor is killed by belua (what Viori's “children” are called) he devotes his life to killing them. Micah always wanted a family and is lonely but tries to hide this want because he doesn't think it will ever be possible because of his scarred body and how being a chimera causes people pain when they're around him. He eventually becomes a King and is now in charge of the Forgotten lands and waiting for the one year truce to be over so that he can reclaim his land and castle from Kaysar.
Viori had to raise herself and as she was extremely vulnerable, was taken advantage of at every turn, so she learned to never trust anyone and that everyone is out to hurt her. There's some mention of a human man she fell in love with who betrayed her, so this pushes her to not trust Micah even more. Since a lot of the world-building was done in the first, Viori and Micah do get to spend a lot of time together and even though they have that initial lust/attraction, they do spend time getting to know each other. In the beginning, Viori is constantly throwing out Micah “Should just beat her then!” and as he calmly shows her each time that he's not like that through his actions and not just words, he starts to build her trust little by little. Around 40% Viori concocts a plan to marry Micah, she obviously is getting emotionally invested but justifies it as a way to protect Kaysar as she'll be Micah's queen and at halfway they are married. However, instead of having the third act break-up so much later in the story, it comes at the halfway point when Viori's true identity is revealed, along with some other information. This gave ample time for the two to work out the break-up issue and I loved how Viori and Micah got to use this time, it created a not rushed and more believable relationship between the two.
I also enjoyed the tone and pace change from the more chaotic first, this slowed things down and focused a lot on Viori and Micah. There was still the outside world issues happening and developing, the truce coming to an end between Kaysar and Micah and possible traitor/s in Micah's camp but the story gave us a strong romance focus between Viori and Micah. There was some heat with the sexual tension, flirting, foreplay, trying to entice and deny, and eventual bedroom scenes between the two which I enjoyed breaking up some of the emotional trust building with some spice. Along with Viori getting to be the more bloodthirsty, it was around 70% that Micah was the one to not only trust first but have his actions be based on that trust and I loved how he held his heart out there. Micah acting this way earlier made it feel a little out of character and disappointing when later he suddenly didn't trust Viori in a certain aspect to give us a mini third act breakup, it wasn't needed for me because of how it killed some of the glow from his initial trust.
Whatever came next, they would overcome it. Together, they could overcome anything.
The ending gives us an action battle scene that brings in all the new characters and ones we meet in the first to give a great wrap-up, showing how it takes everyone working together and leave some dangling threads for the next in the series. This was good with it's different pace and tone from first, kept and added interesting fantasy elements, and given time to romance focus with trust and attraction. This felt more controlled (still some wilding out moments/elements, Pearl Jean and Loch Ness monster origin explanation!) than the first and I think it made for a more solid story and characters. Viori and Micah were strong and bold characters but their relationship also provided some sweet and sexy moments.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Strike first. And last. No exceptions.
I would highly suggest reading the first in this series (Heartless) before picking this up. Ruthless takes place about 11 months after the truce that was called between Micah the Unwilling and Kaysar the Unhinged and his wife Cookie the Uncrumbled. Immortal Enemies is a series that, mostly, takes place in a fae realm called Astaria with it's four courts and the Dusklands and Forgotten lands. All of the world building is explained in the first along with the characters we see here. One of the mysteries from the first was what happened to Kaysar's younger sister Viori, here we find out that she raised herself in the woods. Viori's glamara (fae power) is similar to Kaysar's and his gift of song except she can create elemental beings, like large trees and stone beasts, but they take so much of her power, she often falls into deep sleeps that can last for centuries and can sometimes take her to the mortal human realm. As a teenager Micah came upon Viori in one of these sleeps and was scarred horribly by her tree beasts before they realized he didn't mean her any harm and he kind of fell in love with the sleeping pretty girl and brought her gifts until she woke up scared, screamed and had her beasts chase him away.
She stood before Micah, her dagger shoved into his gut, his hand shackling her wrist as warm blood dripped over them both.
There is the outside conflict of Micah being Viori's brother's enemy. Viori misses out on a lot of Astaria happenings because of her deep sleeps but she does know her brother's story and how he was mistreated, which she blames herself for because she thinks she killed their parents, which set them on the road of traveling through the forest where he got taken prisoner. Viori thinks she must somehow make it up to Kaysar before she can be with him again, once she learns that Micah is Kaysar's enemy and their truce is ending soon, she decides to hide her true identity and be a spy in Micah's camp to learn his weaknesses.
Micah is still drawn to Viori and is amazed that she isn't in pain around him, something all others complain about because Micah is a chimera, he has two glamara that war with each other causing an uncomfortable atmosphere around him. Something with Viori's glamara matching up with his is the sort of explanation given for why it's not painful for her to be around him. The biggest conflict keeping these two apart is how they were raised. Micah as an orphan was taken in by another chimera and told to live by rules that included always protecting others and be honorable. When his mentor is killed by belua (what Viori's “children” are called) he devotes his life to killing them. Micah always wanted a family and is lonely but tries to hide this want because he doesn't think it will ever be possible because of his scarred body and how being a chimera causes people pain when they're around him. He eventually becomes a King and is now in charge of the Forgotten lands and waiting for the one year truce to be over so that he can reclaim his land and castle from Kaysar.
Viori had to raise herself and as she was extremely vulnerable, was taken advantage of at every turn, so she learned to never trust anyone and that everyone is out to hurt her. There's some mention of a human man she fell in love with who betrayed her, so this pushes her to not trust Micah even more. Since a lot of the world-building was done in the first, Viori and Micah do get to spend a lot of time together and even though they have that initial lust/attraction, they do spend time getting to know each other. In the beginning, Viori is constantly throwing out Micah “Should just beat her then!” and as he calmly shows her each time that he's not like that through his actions and not just words, he starts to build her trust little by little. Around 40% Viori concocts a plan to marry Micah, she obviously is getting emotionally invested but justifies it as a way to protect Kaysar as she'll be Micah's queen and at halfway they are married. However, instead of having the third act break-up so much later in the story, it comes at the halfway point when Viori's true identity is revealed, along with some other information. This gave ample time for the two to work out the break-up issue and I loved how Viori and Micah got to use this time, it created a not rushed and more believable relationship between the two.
I also enjoyed the tone and pace change from the more chaotic first, this slowed things down and focused a lot on Viori and Micah. There was still the outside world issues happening and developing, the truce coming to an end between Kaysar and Micah and possible traitor/s in Micah's camp but the story gave us a strong romance focus between Viori and Micah. There was some heat with the sexual tension, flirting, foreplay, trying to entice and deny, and eventual bedroom scenes between the two which I enjoyed breaking up some of the emotional trust building with some spice. Along with Viori getting to be the more bloodthirsty, it was around 70% that Micah was the one to not only trust first but have his actions be based on that trust and I loved how he held his heart out there. Micah acting this way earlier made it feel a little out of character and disappointing when later he suddenly didn't trust Viori in a certain aspect to give us a mini third act breakup, it wasn't needed for me because of how it killed some of the glow from his initial trust.
Whatever came next, they would overcome it. Together, they could overcome anything.
The ending gives us an action battle scene that brings in all the new characters and ones we meet in the first to give a great wrap-up, showing how it takes everyone working together and leave some dangling threads for the next in the series. This was good with it's different pace and tone from first, kept and added interesting fantasy elements, and given time to romance focus with trust and attraction. This felt more controlled (still some wilding out moments/elements, Pearl Jean and Loch Ness monster origin explanation!) than the first and I think it made for a more solid story and characters. Viori and Micah were strong and bold characters but their relationship also provided some sweet and sexy moments.
August 17, 2022
ARC provided for honest review.
It breaks my heart to say I didn’t enjoy this book. Gena is one of my top 3 favorite authors and Heartless was one of my favorite books of 2021. That said, Ruthless was very disappointing. I struggled to connect with Viori and Micah. I found Micah was dull and Viori was unhinged without being fun or interesting.
While Kaysar is unhinged he is hilarious and fun and Cookie is murder curious but she has a kind heart and displays loyalty, Viori was just unhinged and evil.
She creates monsters and doesn’t care when they go around murdering innocent people. She has no friends outside of her creations. She has no loyalty to anyone and is unkind to Micah when all he does is feed and clothe her. She lacks motivation and has no redeeming qualities and I’m unsure why Micah likes her except that she is hot.
Micah is uninteresting. The love scenes are meh and I also found the plot confusing to follow. I did like Elena and wished that her character had been explored more. She was a loyal character who cared about her friend and king as well as her people but Micah treated her like she was invisible.
Lastly, I hated the addition of Grendel as a chucky-like character running around crying mommy.
I did love every time Amber showed up and was intrigued by the changes Pearl Jean has gone through and her budding relationship with Jareth.
It breaks my heart to say I didn’t enjoy this book. Gena is one of my top 3 favorite authors and Heartless was one of my favorite books of 2021. That said, Ruthless was very disappointing. I struggled to connect with Viori and Micah. I found Micah was dull and Viori was unhinged without being fun or interesting.
While Kaysar is unhinged he is hilarious and fun and Cookie is murder curious but she has a kind heart and displays loyalty, Viori was just unhinged and evil.
She creates monsters and doesn’t care when they go around murdering innocent people. She has no friends outside of her creations. She has no loyalty to anyone and is unkind to Micah when all he does is feed and clothe her. She lacks motivation and has no redeeming qualities and I’m unsure why Micah likes her except that she is hot.
Micah is uninteresting. The love scenes are meh and I also found the plot confusing to follow. I did like Elena and wished that her character had been explored more. She was a loyal character who cared about her friend and king as well as her people but Micah treated her like she was invisible.
Lastly, I hated the addition of Grendel as a chucky-like character running around crying mommy.
I did love every time Amber showed up and was intrigued by the changes Pearl Jean has gone through and her budding relationship with Jareth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2022
I was very excited about diving back into the Immortal Enemies world. This is definitely one of Gena Showalter’s darker series where pain, torture and suffering seems to be regular. I wouldn’t recommend this to the faint of heart, especially since there’s a lot of angst thrown in as well.
However, if you’re like me and like a good, engaging read, then I think you’ll enjoy this book. It wasn’t my favorite of the series, but there’s no question that there was a lot of details in this book. Showalter is a natural storyteller, so no story ever seems too farfetched or unrealistic. She breathes life into her characters by exploring various emotions, usually dealing with their pasts before giving them a passionate romance worth remembering.
I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys darker Paranormal Romances that focuses on the characters.
However, if you’re like me and like a good, engaging read, then I think you’ll enjoy this book. It wasn’t my favorite of the series, but there’s no question that there was a lot of details in this book. Showalter is a natural storyteller, so no story ever seems too farfetched or unrealistic. She breathes life into her characters by exploring various emotions, usually dealing with their pasts before giving them a passionate romance worth remembering.
I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys darker Paranormal Romances that focuses on the characters.
July 27, 2022
Finally we get to know the story of Kaysar’s little sister and see her all grown up. I have waited for this story for a long time and I am thrilled to have had to chance to read and advanced copy in order to share my thoughts on this dark, twisted and ultimately beautiful story of two lost souls finding love. For anyone new to the world of Gena Showalter, fair warning, this is not going to be alight fluffy and cuddly story of two people having and easy life and falling instantly in love at first sight—just doesn’t happen in her worlds. Instead this story takes on a harrowing ride as two people that have only ever known loss and betrayal find a way to open their hearts and forgive each other and themselves in order to forge a lastly friendship, deep love, and the give everything for one another. This story picks up a few months after the end of the first book (after some flashback bits) and Micha’s the king of the Forgotten is almost ready to take back his kingdom when the truce with Kaysar and his new queen ends. When the beautiful woman he has obsessed over for centuries, that once stole and then shattered his heart and trust, wanders into his camp, he is instantly suspicious of her timing and motives, but the connection between them is undeniable. Viori has awoken from another long sleep and ventures forth to the whispers that her brother Kaysar has become a king, taken a Queen and his in a vicious cold war (soon to heat up) with the sweet and beautiful boy she once accidentally harmed. Determined to find a path to everyone’s happiness, Viori soon finds herself falling for the sexy warrior, but at every turn their connection and commitment is challenges and they are faced with one another’s secrets and truths. Only by coming together in full honesty and love can these two find a path to redemptions and freedom, but sometimes the hurt runs so deep it’s impossible to dig yourself back to the light.
This story was amazing and Micah and Viori were perfect for one another even though neither wants to admit it. Viori has had to become the ultimate survivor, using every weapon in her arsenal even though she knew if would weaken her in order to keep herself alive. She was a strong and dangerous character, but with those she loved she showed the vulnerability of that little girl that was lost so long ago. I loved watching her find her inner strength with the confidence she gained as Micah showed her how precious she was to him and that he truly would give up everything for her. Micah was an amazing male, one of my favorites in a long time and a true hero. Even though he has been rejected, betrayed, and hurt by everyone he has come into contact with he never lets it stop him from protecting the innocent and doing what he knows is right for everyone around him. I loved watching his fall for Viori and show he the sweet side that no one else has ever gotten to experience, even when he was being a stubborn ass. So many times his thoughts and fears almost brought me to tears, but in the end the love he shows his “Red” and their children showed me that even the most deadly and dark of males could be perfectly matched and are worthy of love. The lust and passion these two sparked off one another was apparent from the moment their eyes met and I loved watching those sparks as their battles waged and ultimately as their love built. In the end it really came down to two people finding the way in their hearts to forgive past transgressions and believe in the power of their love, and no one does that better (even in the darkest of tales) that Gena Showalter. I am dying to find out what book will be coming next in this crazy series and see how these couples continue to improve the world they inhabit and the lives of those around them. Masterpiece is an understatement for this one Gena!
This story was amazing and Micah and Viori were perfect for one another even though neither wants to admit it. Viori has had to become the ultimate survivor, using every weapon in her arsenal even though she knew if would weaken her in order to keep herself alive. She was a strong and dangerous character, but with those she loved she showed the vulnerability of that little girl that was lost so long ago. I loved watching her find her inner strength with the confidence she gained as Micah showed her how precious she was to him and that he truly would give up everything for her. Micah was an amazing male, one of my favorites in a long time and a true hero. Even though he has been rejected, betrayed, and hurt by everyone he has come into contact with he never lets it stop him from protecting the innocent and doing what he knows is right for everyone around him. I loved watching his fall for Viori and show he the sweet side that no one else has ever gotten to experience, even when he was being a stubborn ass. So many times his thoughts and fears almost brought me to tears, but in the end the love he shows his “Red” and their children showed me that even the most deadly and dark of males could be perfectly matched and are worthy of love. The lust and passion these two sparked off one another was apparent from the moment their eyes met and I loved watching those sparks as their battles waged and ultimately as their love built. In the end it really came down to two people finding the way in their hearts to forgive past transgressions and believe in the power of their love, and no one does that better (even in the darkest of tales) that Gena Showalter. I am dying to find out what book will be coming next in this crazy series and see how these couples continue to improve the world they inhabit and the lives of those around them. Masterpiece is an understatement for this one Gena!
September 1, 2022
You know when you're on a rollercoaster, and you open your mouth to scream but then there's too much air and you can't even do that, so you just watch in horror and joy as you start to crash towards the ground? Yep? Nope? Well this is how this book feels!
You feel a burst of adrenaline and you're thinking back "what the hell was that experience?" in awe and confusion... that is the best analogy I can think of for this book.
We met Viori as a child in Heartless (Book 1) and there were heavy implications that she was alive. And yep- she is indeed alive and kicking ass. Viori has grown into a wild woman who is willing to do anything necessary to survive and protect her family. Her family, you ask?
Yes, you saw that right.
Enter Micah- the king with no kingdom. Micah meets Viori when he was just a child but their interaction is tragic and they don't meet again until they're both adults. There is a lot of secrets between the two as well as off-the- charts chemistry.
As I was reading this, I kept feeling a deep sense of dread because of the miscommunication trope. Gena has done it so well here.
We get great insights into how Cookie and Kaysar are perceived by Micah- the two make brilliant villains and I absolutely loved that. This book is full of action, madness and so much love.
Off I go to reread it!
You feel a burst of adrenaline and you're thinking back "what the hell was that experience?" in awe and confusion... that is the best analogy I can think of for this book.
We met Viori as a child in Heartless (Book 1) and there were heavy implications that she was alive. And yep- she is indeed alive and kicking ass. Viori has grown into a wild woman who is willing to do anything necessary to survive and protect her family. Her family, you ask?
Yes, you saw that right.
Enter Micah- the king with no kingdom. Micah meets Viori when he was just a child but their interaction is tragic and they don't meet again until they're both adults. There is a lot of secrets between the two as well as off-the- charts chemistry.
As I was reading this, I kept feeling a deep sense of dread because of the miscommunication trope. Gena has done it so well here.
We get great insights into how Cookie and Kaysar are perceived by Micah- the two make brilliant villains and I absolutely loved that. This book is full of action, madness and so much love.
Off I go to reread it!
February 4, 2023
3.5
The connection between Micah and Viori was the strongest part of this book. Their connection jumped off the page and I appreciated how Showalter paced their relationship. It made them ultimate getting together so rewarding and I looked forward to scenes with just the two of them. But while the relationship between the two was well balanced the rest of the story wasn’t. I was expecting this book to have the same pace as the first book but it is definitely slowed down and I wanted more action. I also think the conflict that happens at the end of the book could have been built up a bit more.
*Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
The connection between Micah and Viori was the strongest part of this book. Their connection jumped off the page and I appreciated how Showalter paced their relationship. It made them ultimate getting together so rewarding and I looked forward to scenes with just the two of them. But while the relationship between the two was well balanced the rest of the story wasn’t. I was expecting this book to have the same pace as the first book but it is definitely slowed down and I wanted more action. I also think the conflict that happens at the end of the book could have been built up a bit more.
*Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
August 9, 2022
✦Review: RUTHLESS: A Novel (Immortal Enemies Book 2) by Gena Showalter https://bit.ly/3vQwhzw
Publication Date: August 9, 2022
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated 5 Stars
Loved RUTHLESS! This is the second book in Gena Showalter’s Immortal Enemies Series and features characters introduced in book 1. Kaysar’s sister, Viori, and Kaysar’s enemy, King Micah. I was immediately swept up in their story. Romance, mystery, humor, heat, and action kept me flipping the pages all night long. Gena Showalter has created a unique and exciting new fantasy world with new characters for us to fall in love with. I’m totally wrapped up in this series and can’t wait for more! I highly recommend this series for paranormal romance lovers and if you haven’t read any of her books this series might be a good one to start with because there are only two books so far. Then you can pick up her other series once you become obsessed. She’s one of my favorites and on my automatic buy list.
*Review copy provided by Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.
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Kindle https://amzn.to/3l25SIV
✦ HEARTLESS (Book 1) ➢ Kindle https://amzn.to/2MOhSjt | Review https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-bQl
Publication Date: August 9, 2022
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Cori
Rated 5 Stars
Loved RUTHLESS! This is the second book in Gena Showalter’s Immortal Enemies Series and features characters introduced in book 1. Kaysar’s sister, Viori, and Kaysar’s enemy, King Micah. I was immediately swept up in their story. Romance, mystery, humor, heat, and action kept me flipping the pages all night long. Gena Showalter has created a unique and exciting new fantasy world with new characters for us to fall in love with. I’m totally wrapped up in this series and can’t wait for more! I highly recommend this series for paranormal romance lovers and if you haven’t read any of her books this series might be a good one to start with because there are only two books so far. Then you can pick up her other series once you become obsessed. She’s one of my favorites and on my automatic buy list.
*Review copy provided by Harlequin in exchange for an honest review.
~*~*~*~
Kindle https://amzn.to/3l25SIV
✦ HEARTLESS (Book 1) ➢ Kindle https://amzn.to/2MOhSjt | Review https://wp.me/p3d0RZ-bQl
August 8, 2022
I don't know about you guys, but Gena Showalter has this incredible ability to make me enjoy internal monologues more than the plot.
Ruthless is book two in a brand new Fantasy world Gena Showalter has created. And for a better experience, although both books can be read as standalone, I advise you to read the first book, which you will be doing yourself a favor.
This book is fantastic on its own and the author, like always managed to make me laugh while reading it despite the heavy topics addressed in it.
Tropes:
•Enemies-to-lovers
•Strong and Stubborn Female Lead
•Reluctant Alpha Male Lead.
•Beauty and the Beast undertones
•Troubled Childhood
•Original Magic System
•Fantasy Adult Romance
•Slow burn
•Captive Female plotting hero's downfall.
•Forced Proximity
•One bed kinda trope
•Grumpy-Sunshine
Viori de Aoibheall is a fae with a terrifying power. She can sing monsters to life.
After losing all of her family, Viori finds herself alone in a world where trolls and bad fae exist. So she retreats inside the forest, raising herself and her creations, that she likes to call her children, alone.
Micah the Unwilling, Fae King of the Forgotten is a chimera. Feared and untrusted. Micah was never added into the fold. Always left apart and forever unchosen.
That all changes when Vee stumbles into his life.
Micah never forgot Vee. Reluctant to trust her but incapable of resisting the ferocity of his attraction.
This was a story of two strong characters that have only know betrayal and loss. The path that led to their reunion was rocky to say the least, so when reunion indeed happens, they fight the feelings that arise.
I absolutely loved how Viori's character arc was written. You see how she makes light of every situation to hide all her traumas and fear. She is funny and feisty. Strong and Dangerous. Despite all of the ordeal she went through, she managed to save her innocence and naivety.
Whereas Micah hides beneath this hard and cold exterior because he has known rejection.
They were perfect for each other despite their reluctance to admit it. Micah showed how precious she was to him and by cherishing her, Viori was able to find her inner strength and confidence. And Viori helped Micah overcome his fear of rejection.
This book was a beautiful mix of sweet, spicy and intriguing. I was glued to the pages right after the prologue. The plot was solid and the world building great.
I loved revisiting Cookie and Kaysar. I forgot how viciously funny she is.
I recommend this book to every fan of Gena Showalter because I can't think of any other author that writes this brand of Female leads.
I want to thank the author for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Ruthless is book two in a brand new Fantasy world Gena Showalter has created. And for a better experience, although both books can be read as standalone, I advise you to read the first book, which you will be doing yourself a favor.
Strike first. And last. No exceptions
This book is fantastic on its own and the author, like always managed to make me laugh while reading it despite the heavy topics addressed in it.
Tropes:
•Enemies-to-lovers
•Strong and Stubborn Female Lead
•Reluctant Alpha Male Lead.
•Beauty and the Beast undertones
•Troubled Childhood
•Original Magic System
•Fantasy Adult Romance
•Slow burn
•Captive Female plotting hero's downfall.
•Forced Proximity
•One bed kinda trope
•Grumpy-Sunshine
"Is there a reward for my capture? Because I might turn myself in willingly to collect."
Viori de Aoibheall is a fae with a terrifying power. She can sing monsters to life.
After losing all of her family, Viori finds herself alone in a world where trolls and bad fae exist. So she retreats inside the forest, raising herself and her creations, that she likes to call her children, alone.
Micah the Unwilling, Fae King of the Forgotten is a chimera. Feared and untrusted. Micah was never added into the fold. Always left apart and forever unchosen.
That all changes when Vee stumbles into his life.
Micah never forgot Vee. Reluctant to trust her but incapable of resisting the ferocity of his attraction.
"I pledge nothing but your downfall!”
“Consider your pledge fulfilled.” He sounded deadened inside. “I fell the first moment I saw you.”
This was a story of two strong characters that have only know betrayal and loss. The path that led to their reunion was rocky to say the least, so when reunion indeed happens, they fight the feelings that arise.
I absolutely loved how Viori's character arc was written. You see how she makes light of every situation to hide all her traumas and fear. She is funny and feisty. Strong and Dangerous. Despite all of the ordeal she went through, she managed to save her innocence and naivety.
Whereas Micah hides beneath this hard and cold exterior because he has known rejection.
They were perfect for each other despite their reluctance to admit it. Micah showed how precious she was to him and by cherishing her, Viori was able to find her inner strength and confidence. And Viori helped Micah overcome his fear of rejection.
This book was a beautiful mix of sweet, spicy and intriguing. I was glued to the pages right after the prologue. The plot was solid and the world building great.
I loved revisiting Cookie and Kaysar. I forgot how viciously funny she is.
I recommend this book to every fan of Gena Showalter because I can't think of any other author that writes this brand of Female leads.
I want to thank the author for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2022
*Full disclosure I received an ARC (advanced reader copy) of this book in exchange for an honest review*
I’ve been waiting (what feels like so long) to post my review and the time has come, yay!! I’ve said this once and I will say it again (and probably again and again) Gena Showalter can expertly write the most compelling males! Her heroes and heroines fit each other so well in every book I read of hers, I cannot stress enough how much I love her characters. And her continued character development just gets better and better with time. (I’m looking at you Pearl Jean and Jareth).
*I will preface this review by sharing that while you can read this book as a stand-alone I would absolutely recommend reading the first in it’s series, Heartless (SO good). Getting the background info of the Fae realm and it’s different courts and learning the characters/character development I feel is extremely important for the second book, Ruthless.*
I absolutely love reading enemies to lover tropes. If you do too, then this book is for you! First off, I totally have a type and Micah, our leading male ticked all the boxes for me! When you have a male, who is closed off, has a hard exterior, brushes everything off like he can’t be bothered but, inside he’s hurting, lonely, and yearning for a partner? Someone he can trust, without a doubt? That is Micah. It did not take long but, he pulled at my heart strings instantly! I didn’t know how I would feel about him (I didn’t want to betray Kaysar LOL) but, I couldn’t help but feel for him! How could I not fall for him?
Enter, Viori. Honestly, my heart was breaking for her too. To grow up without family, not having anyone to watch your back and being betrayed at every turn (both in the Fae and mortal
World) it’s no wonder she gives Micah a run for her money! She was so sassy and funny at times, I was laughing out loud during my read (Cookie “the Uncrumbled” was hilarious as always too, I loved her and Kaysar’s cameo’s in this book) and truly loved watching her character grow and watch her become worthy of Micah and in turn, watching him become worthy of her.
If you love a darker enemies to lovers tale with a little trial and error, epic story weaving, exciting character growth, laugh out loud moments, betrayal, love AND intense chemistry then don’t sleep on this book! I enjoyed it so much and absolutely recommend it across the board!
I’ll leave you with this: “You are my family and my forever. You woke me from the dead. I’ll always live for you.”
I’ve been waiting (what feels like so long) to post my review and the time has come, yay!! I’ve said this once and I will say it again (and probably again and again) Gena Showalter can expertly write the most compelling males! Her heroes and heroines fit each other so well in every book I read of hers, I cannot stress enough how much I love her characters. And her continued character development just gets better and better with time. (I’m looking at you Pearl Jean and Jareth).
*I will preface this review by sharing that while you can read this book as a stand-alone I would absolutely recommend reading the first in it’s series, Heartless (SO good). Getting the background info of the Fae realm and it’s different courts and learning the characters/character development I feel is extremely important for the second book, Ruthless.*
I absolutely love reading enemies to lover tropes. If you do too, then this book is for you! First off, I totally have a type and Micah, our leading male ticked all the boxes for me! When you have a male, who is closed off, has a hard exterior, brushes everything off like he can’t be bothered but, inside he’s hurting, lonely, and yearning for a partner? Someone he can trust, without a doubt? That is Micah. It did not take long but, he pulled at my heart strings instantly! I didn’t know how I would feel about him (I didn’t want to betray Kaysar LOL) but, I couldn’t help but feel for him! How could I not fall for him?
Enter, Viori. Honestly, my heart was breaking for her too. To grow up without family, not having anyone to watch your back and being betrayed at every turn (both in the Fae and mortal
World) it’s no wonder she gives Micah a run for her money! She was so sassy and funny at times, I was laughing out loud during my read (Cookie “the Uncrumbled” was hilarious as always too, I loved her and Kaysar’s cameo’s in this book) and truly loved watching her character grow and watch her become worthy of Micah and in turn, watching him become worthy of her.
If you love a darker enemies to lovers tale with a little trial and error, epic story weaving, exciting character growth, laugh out loud moments, betrayal, love AND intense chemistry then don’t sleep on this book! I enjoyed it so much and absolutely recommend it across the board!
I’ll leave you with this: “You are my family and my forever. You woke me from the dead. I’ll always live for you.”
August 9, 2022
This review was originally posted at Rantings of a Reading Addict
In this second installment of the Immortal Enemies series by Gena Showalter, we find out what happened to Kaysar's sister. He had hidden her away before he was taken by the Winter Court, so Viori was left hidden waiting him for a long time before she finally ventured out to begin her journey. She finds she has some pretty interesting abilities beyond her siren voice.
Micah The Unwilling stumbles upon a girl covered in vines, asleep. She is protected by what appears to be sentient trees. Micah is entranced by Viori and tries to win over her protectors. However, when she wakes she is terrified and lets out a scream that activates her protectors and they drive him out. This is the beginning of his hatred for these strong, strange creatures and he devotes his life to killing them. Micah becomes the King of the Forgotten and is currently on a cease fire with Kaysar & Cookie that is soon coming to an end.
When Viori shows up in Micah's camp, he is enthralled with her. But little by little Viori's secrets come out and each one damages the relationship more and more. However, Viori has found that she has fallen for Micah and tries to figure out a way they can make it work.
I felt that Viori was pretty immature. She might have been a fun, kick-ass heroine, but I found her more selfish and childish. Micah truly had my heart. He was definitely a tortured soul and Viori's never ending stream of revelations cut him down farther and farther, breaking my heart.
Also, I loved Kaysar's & Cookie's involvement. Cookie is awesome and so far my favorite female character in the series. The couple provide help for Micah and Viori when their seer suggests it and it will take all of them to defeat the attack by a trusted person in Micah's camp. When their betrayal finally finds them, the fight is epic.
Ruthless was a fun ride and brought great, new characters into world that I had so much fun in in Heartless! It didn't feel like same dark world that was in Heartless, but enough to make you revel in it!
In this second installment of the Immortal Enemies series by Gena Showalter, we find out what happened to Kaysar's sister. He had hidden her away before he was taken by the Winter Court, so Viori was left hidden waiting him for a long time before she finally ventured out to begin her journey. She finds she has some pretty interesting abilities beyond her siren voice.
Micah The Unwilling stumbles upon a girl covered in vines, asleep. She is protected by what appears to be sentient trees. Micah is entranced by Viori and tries to win over her protectors. However, when she wakes she is terrified and lets out a scream that activates her protectors and they drive him out. This is the beginning of his hatred for these strong, strange creatures and he devotes his life to killing them. Micah becomes the King of the Forgotten and is currently on a cease fire with Kaysar & Cookie that is soon coming to an end.
When Viori shows up in Micah's camp, he is enthralled with her. But little by little Viori's secrets come out and each one damages the relationship more and more. However, Viori has found that she has fallen for Micah and tries to figure out a way they can make it work.
I felt that Viori was pretty immature. She might have been a fun, kick-ass heroine, but I found her more selfish and childish. Micah truly had my heart. He was definitely a tortured soul and Viori's never ending stream of revelations cut him down farther and farther, breaking my heart.
Also, I loved Kaysar's & Cookie's involvement. Cookie is awesome and so far my favorite female character in the series. The couple provide help for Micah and Viori when their seer suggests it and it will take all of them to defeat the attack by a trusted person in Micah's camp. When their betrayal finally finds them, the fight is epic.
Ruthless was a fun ride and brought great, new characters into world that I had so much fun in in Heartless! It didn't feel like same dark world that was in Heartless, but enough to make you revel in it!
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September 14, 2022DNF at 65% ... ugh this one hurts. I normally love Gena Showalter's books, but this one just didn't land right with me. They also switched narrators for this book, and while the first narrator was all fire emojis, this new guy wasn't it. His voice for Cookie was particularly egregious.
As for the actual book, Micah is too nice for this world and his role as a warlord-type dude; he bypasses cinnamon roll and heads right into doormat territory. Viori is an immature feral brat, and while I can understand why she is the way she is, it wasn't fun or entertaining; it was repetitive and frankly mean-spirited. I was listening on audio, and I finally had to give up once I realized that I was more interested in getting it over with than what was happening in the book.
I really enjoyed the first in the series, but this one had none of the fun outrageous-ness of the first. Maybe I'll try again depending on who the next couple in the series is, or maybe I'll never come back to this series all together, who's to say?
As for the actual book, Micah is too nice for this world and his role as a warlord-type dude; he bypasses cinnamon roll and heads right into doormat territory. Viori is an immature feral brat, and while I can understand why she is the way she is, it wasn't fun or entertaining; it was repetitive and frankly mean-spirited. I was listening on audio, and I finally had to give up once I realized that I was more interested in getting it over with than what was happening in the book.
I really enjoyed the first in the series, but this one had none of the fun outrageous-ness of the first. Maybe I'll try again depending on who the next couple in the series is, or maybe I'll never come back to this series all together, who's to say?
August 15, 2022
DNF at 75%. Most of the characters in this series (except poor, pathetic Micah, who just can't catch a break,) are pure sociopaths. There is no one to root for, they are all monsters and I don't care if they get their HEA. The first book jumped the shark about halfway through, but this one was bad much earlier on. I very rarely stop a book without finishing it, but I just couldn't get through this one.
Very sad, because I have adored previous books from this author. Not sure what happened to her.
Very sad, because I have adored previous books from this author. Not sure what happened to her.
August 18, 2022
I’m torn with this book. I LOVED Ruthless but I struggled to finish this book. My heart just broke for Micha and the way he was treated by everyone. Viori was just obnoxious and I couldn’t stand how she acted. Thank God Cookie came along for the comedy. I did see growth with Viori and I felt that the ending was adorable. The ending bumped up the rating a star for me.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2022
I had a weird experience reading this story. The beginning I just did not connect to at all. The two main characters I didn’t bond with or carabao. I felt bored and I really didn’t care what was happening. At a certain point that changed and I started to connect and like it. I was more into the romance. I was enjoying the slight gender swap where he was the one that felt unworthy, unwanted, and very hurt and betrayed by her actions. I wasn’t exactly thrilled with her actions or on her side, but I understood where she was coming from.
I was really into it at that point, but then it went in a weird direction again, and I didn’t like the path it was heading on. It was just strange that he had shifted one eighty with his attitude to pursue her, yet not trust her. It didn’t make sense especially since he yearned for that trust, love, and intimacy for all his life. So, I thought it would take longer to warm up to giving her another chance and allow himself to fall for her. I wanted that to be more the emotional journey that they go on together.
When they started engaging in a physical relationship it was hot and sexy and very much what they needed at the time but it took me a while to get on board with that because of the flippancy their attitudes. I wanted more build up to getting to that point. I wanted more of the trust there before they engaged in a physical relationship. And personally I thought that she needed to show him more that she was into him and wanted to build this relationship between them earlier.
Now once they came to terms emotionally and connected on every single level it got so much better. I enjoyed that part of the story a lot and that was when I started rooting for them because they truly bonded. They put each other first, and it was about them building a future together because they loved each other.
The grand gesture that she said did at the end was just beautiful. It made everything else that had happened in this weird romantic journey of theirs worth it in the end. It showed truly what he had yearn for all his life which was family and unconditional love. She gave him that in that moment when she did her grand gesture to show him that he was important to her. The ending just brought it together very nicely.
I was really into it at that point, but then it went in a weird direction again, and I didn’t like the path it was heading on. It was just strange that he had shifted one eighty with his attitude to pursue her, yet not trust her. It didn’t make sense especially since he yearned for that trust, love, and intimacy for all his life. So, I thought it would take longer to warm up to giving her another chance and allow himself to fall for her. I wanted that to be more the emotional journey that they go on together.
When they started engaging in a physical relationship it was hot and sexy and very much what they needed at the time but it took me a while to get on board with that because of the flippancy their attitudes. I wanted more build up to getting to that point. I wanted more of the trust there before they engaged in a physical relationship. And personally I thought that she needed to show him more that she was into him and wanted to build this relationship between them earlier.
Now once they came to terms emotionally and connected on every single level it got so much better. I enjoyed that part of the story a lot and that was when I started rooting for them because they truly bonded. They put each other first, and it was about them building a future together because they loved each other.
The grand gesture that she said did at the end was just beautiful. It made everything else that had happened in this weird romantic journey of theirs worth it in the end. It showed truly what he had yearn for all his life which was family and unconditional love. She gave him that in that moment when she did her grand gesture to show him that he was important to her. The ending just brought it together very nicely.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2022
* I would recommend reading the previous book before reading this, but it is not an absolute must.
Micah the Unwilling, a chimaera Fae who can tame or rouse beasts at will and king of the Forgotten, has only one thing on his mind. Defeating Kaysar the Unhinged and reclaiming all the land he has lost in the interim. But when his childhood fantasy, a glorious redhead named Viori, stumbles into his life, Micah finds his focus wavering in favor of the beauty. But Viori has some brutal powers and secrets and they might be Micah's undoing. Or they might save his life, being that true betrayal might lurk around every corner.
Pro's:
+ I really loved the first part of the story, two people who have gone through a lot who find each other on their darkest moments in life, sign me up any day of the week. There is a lot of hurt and hardship and somehow it really resonated with me.
+ Usually I'm not into these violent romances, but somehow in this book it kinda worked for me. I was on the edge of my seat to see where it went next and I really felt for Micah and Viori and their situation.
Con's:
- How much I loved the first part of the book, as much I didn't really like the second part of this book. It went incredibly sappy really fast and it really felt like the good parts were over after that. Kept reading for the romance, but the rest was kinda mweh.
This book was quite hard for me to review as i liked a good chunk of it before the second part of the book went really boring and sappy fast. I felt like certain instances could have been more delayed, increasing tension, instead of revealing too much too quickly, at least that is how I felt. The romance was surprisingly fun, Viori and Micah felt very equal and even though there is quite abit of violence, it was very fun to read through. I feel like there is at least one more book coming up, so well see how that goes when it releases.
Micah the Unwilling, a chimaera Fae who can tame or rouse beasts at will and king of the Forgotten, has only one thing on his mind. Defeating Kaysar the Unhinged and reclaiming all the land he has lost in the interim. But when his childhood fantasy, a glorious redhead named Viori, stumbles into his life, Micah finds his focus wavering in favor of the beauty. But Viori has some brutal powers and secrets and they might be Micah's undoing. Or they might save his life, being that true betrayal might lurk around every corner.
Pro's:
+ I really loved the first part of the story, two people who have gone through a lot who find each other on their darkest moments in life, sign me up any day of the week. There is a lot of hurt and hardship and somehow it really resonated with me.
+ Usually I'm not into these violent romances, but somehow in this book it kinda worked for me. I was on the edge of my seat to see where it went next and I really felt for Micah and Viori and their situation.
Con's:
- How much I loved the first part of the book, as much I didn't really like the second part of this book. It went incredibly sappy really fast and it really felt like the good parts were over after that. Kept reading for the romance, but the rest was kinda mweh.
This book was quite hard for me to review as i liked a good chunk of it before the second part of the book went really boring and sappy fast. I felt like certain instances could have been more delayed, increasing tension, instead of revealing too much too quickly, at least that is how I felt. The romance was surprisingly fun, Viori and Micah felt very equal and even though there is quite abit of violence, it was very fun to read through. I feel like there is at least one more book coming up, so well see how that goes when it releases.
August 9, 2022
Ruthless is the second action-packed, unputdownable book in the Immortal Enemies series by Gena Showalter. You can read this book without having read the first book—which is what I did. I plan on picking the first book up soon though! The characters in the first book appear in this book. I can’t wait to learn more about them.
This book follows Viori and Micah. Viori has been on her own since she was 5 years old. The only family she has had are her creations. She has a gift to bring to life inanimate objects such as trees, the sand, and dolls. Micah, on the other hand, has spent his life killing belua—which turn out to be Viori’s creations. These two characters have a spark from their very first interaction. They’re connected in some way, though they don’t fully realize it.
If you like morally grey, quirky characters then you’ll enjoy this book! Viori is unlike any character I’ve read before. And Micah is the definition of a big teddy bear. He looks intimidating and scary, but on the inside he’s just a man who wants to be loved. Check out this book if you’re a fan of paranormal romance!
This book follows Viori and Micah. Viori has been on her own since she was 5 years old. The only family she has had are her creations. She has a gift to bring to life inanimate objects such as trees, the sand, and dolls. Micah, on the other hand, has spent his life killing belua—which turn out to be Viori’s creations. These two characters have a spark from their very first interaction. They’re connected in some way, though they don’t fully realize it.
If you like morally grey, quirky characters then you’ll enjoy this book! Viori is unlike any character I’ve read before. And Micah is the definition of a big teddy bear. He looks intimidating and scary, but on the inside he’s just a man who wants to be loved. Check out this book if you’re a fan of paranormal romance!
August 9, 2022
4.5/5*
Original review
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Gena Showalter!
Ruthless is the second book in the Immortal Enemies series and tells the story of Micah and Viori.
The world Gena Showalter has created for her Immortal Enemies series is so interesting, and her characters are a bit crazy but hard to resist. I liked reading about Chantal and Kaysar again from Heartless, and I loved the happy ending Viori and Micah got. I do wish there was an extra happy ending chapter or that the last chapter was a bit longer. I highly recommend the Immortal Enemies series if you’re looking for fantasy, romance and crazy characters!
Original review
This book was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Gena Showalter!
Ruthless is the second book in the Immortal Enemies series and tells the story of Micah and Viori.
After having read Heartless, the first book in the Immortal Enemies series, I was so excited to start Viori’s story. And what a story it was! Ruthless was such a good Fantasy Romance. This book was crazy, action-packed, a bit emotional and spicy, everything you want in a Fantasy Romance! Gena Showalter did such a good job with this book, and I enjoyed getting to know Viori and Micah.
Viori is really special, in my opinion. She can create ‘monsters’ out of nature, how cool and special is that?! Micah is a chimera, he has two powers that clash with each other. At the beginning I didn’t really know what to think of the characters, but the more I read about them, the more I started to like them. I really enjoyed the slow start of Viori and Micah’s relationship, and I’m happy that they got their happy ending.
August 4, 2022
I loved this book so much. I was actually disappointed when Gena announced that the hero was going to be Micah but I should have trusted her vision because it was great. Micah and Viori weren’t as blood thirsty and snarky as Kaysar and Cookie but they still held their own when they needed to. This was definitely more of a romance in the making story since Micah had been searching for Viori for years and then one day she stumbled into his camp. Which made the storyline very interesting. There were quite a few battles in this book as well as some fairly interesting villains and a few turn of events I didn’t see within Kaysar and Cookie’s camp. Overall I wanted more of this book than there was and I really wish there would be a third one to the series.
*I received an ARC for an honest review*
*I received an ARC for an honest review*
August 23, 2022
Gena Showalter knows how to write quirky characters like no one else. In this fantasy series she has let her imagination run wild and I’m 100% here for it. The heroine is nuts in the best possible way and the hero is obsessed with the heroine with an internal love hate pull that seeps angst from the book’s pores.
Our heroine decides to infiltrate the camp of her brother’s enemies to win brownie points for maybe killing their parents (long story). However once she meets her brother’s sworn enemy and he treats her like a queen…. Well let’s just say her feelings get conflicted very quickly.
This book is chock full of world building but not to the detriment of the story or the relationship of the main characters. There is steam (although she makes you work for it) and angst and a lot of bloodshed. And yeah I can’t wait for the next one 🤣.
Our heroine decides to infiltrate the camp of her brother’s enemies to win brownie points for maybe killing their parents (long story). However once she meets her brother’s sworn enemy and he treats her like a queen…. Well let’s just say her feelings get conflicted very quickly.
This book is chock full of world building but not to the detriment of the story or the relationship of the main characters. There is steam (although she makes you work for it) and angst and a lot of bloodshed. And yeah I can’t wait for the next one 🤣.
August 9, 2022
Another great book in this series! Micah finds Viori asleep in the woods when they are teenagers. He falls in love then and there as she sleeps protected by her “children”. The next time they meet, they are adults. Micah, the Unwilling, is in a truce with his enemy, Kaysar, who is Viori’s brother. She decides to stay in camp with Micah to spy on him to help her brother. The banter between these two is awesome! Love Viori and her unfiltered remarks. Their love starts to grow more and more. This book has it all. Betrayal, forgiveness, steamy scenes and deep love. Viori and Micah finally reach their HEA after sacrificing so much for each other.
August 9, 2022
The second book in Immortal Enemies, Ruthless was a really enjoyable read. This is Viori story and her path taken after her separation from Kayser. I have to say the author has done a fantastic job weaving these stories and bringing everything full circle. I found the characters personalities intriguing and the interaction compelling. The story is well written and now I have read both I have found more of an understanding of Kayser as well.
Do yourself a favor and be sure to add this to your reading list and enjoyed the ride.
Do yourself a favor and be sure to add this to your reading list and enjoyed the ride.
June 3, 2023
I found the second book much better than the first one, Heartless. The characters weren't as annoying this time around.
August 9, 2022
Hang on tight things are about to go all kinds of chaotic
Micah is finally in a position to take his kingdom back when an unexpected, feisty, not-so-stable blast from his past is found lurking in his camp.
Is it friend or foe?
With only a few weeks before he delivers what he hopes will be the final blow that will reclaim his kingdom Micah suddenly finds himself blindsided by betrayals and his victory questionable. Can he find the traitors, protect his people and woo the woman who captured his heart before time runs out?
Micah has a bit of tunnel vision at times IMO. The clues are right there but he is missing them.
Uggghhh! I can not tell you how many times I loudly shared the answers to all his problems with him
He eventually figured it out...
Though my nerves are shot
Viori is one of those characters who is so dislikeable at times you want to feed her to a fire-belching orc
Yet, you can't help but be drawn to her
Her past
Her loss
Her pain
Maybe she didn't come out the other side with all her crayons intact -
But give her some credit she's trying to make amends here!
This is book two of the series and it is packed with all kinds of edge-of-your-seat suspense, backstabbing (and some front stabbing), snarky parleys, betrayals, lots of action, all kinds of oopsies, and some serious f u b a r events - All rounded out with some seriously sweet smexy moments
Micah is finally in a position to take his kingdom back when an unexpected, feisty, not-so-stable blast from his past is found lurking in his camp.
Is it friend or foe?
With only a few weeks before he delivers what he hopes will be the final blow that will reclaim his kingdom Micah suddenly finds himself blindsided by betrayals and his victory questionable. Can he find the traitors, protect his people and woo the woman who captured his heart before time runs out?
Micah has a bit of tunnel vision at times IMO. The clues are right there but he is missing them.
Uggghhh! I can not tell you how many times I loudly shared the answers to all his problems with him
He eventually figured it out...
Though my nerves are shot
Viori is one of those characters who is so dislikeable at times you want to feed her to a fire-belching orc
Yet, you can't help but be drawn to her
Her past
Her loss
Her pain
Maybe she didn't come out the other side with all her crayons intact -
But give her some credit she's trying to make amends here!
This is book two of the series and it is packed with all kinds of edge-of-your-seat suspense, backstabbing (and some front stabbing), snarky parleys, betrayals, lots of action, all kinds of oopsies, and some serious f u b a r events - All rounded out with some seriously sweet smexy moments
August 27, 2022
Gena Showalter's latest paranormal romance release, Ruthless, is just that! The characters were ruthless in life, love, ans battle! Strong characters including the heroine. Twists and unexpected twists were found throughout this epic read. I love the dialogue. The characters have some serious flaws that made me wonder what the ending would be. But it all made perfect sense. Gena Showalter writes with plenty of humor and suspense to torment her readers with such engaging characters!
This novel is an unforgettable experience. The emotional journey was everywhere, and I loved every moment of it. From family issues and secrets to finding the one and keeping secrets and using seduction as a way to control...Ruthless, is indeed the perfect read and title! This writer was ruthless in her writing creating a magic unlike anything I've read. This book goes beyond just another paranormal dark yet edgy romance. It is so much more! I started and could not stop reading. I want more! Overall, there was plenty of action of every kind to keep my full undivided attention. I plan to keep reading more of Gena Showalter's books in the future.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
This novel is an unforgettable experience. The emotional journey was everywhere, and I loved every moment of it. From family issues and secrets to finding the one and keeping secrets and using seduction as a way to control...Ruthless, is indeed the perfect read and title! This writer was ruthless in her writing creating a magic unlike anything I've read. This book goes beyond just another paranormal dark yet edgy romance. It is so much more! I started and could not stop reading. I want more! Overall, there was plenty of action of every kind to keep my full undivided attention. I plan to keep reading more of Gena Showalter's books in the future.
I received this copy from the publisher. This is my voluntary review.
May 2, 2024
Viori is a feral cat of a woman, and I love it.
April 17, 2022
(4-4.5 stars)
So I learned something about myself while reading (and rereading) this book - or maybe it was just something I've always known deep down, but needed it reaffirmed: and that is that I have a deep, unyielding love/weakness for unhinged, eccentric, bordering-on-insane characters.
Maybe it's their unabashed authenticity that sucks me in, or just the fact that they are so much fun in a chaotic, no rules, no limits, consequences be damned kind of way - but I adore them.
Gena's Immortal Enemies series has unhinged, eccentric characters in spades. And Ruthless in particular takes that crazy to a whole other level.
Everyone in this book is certifiably insane, and I honestly love it. I thought Cookie and Kaysar were nuts in Heartless, but Viori? She makes her unhinged brother and murder-curious sister-in-law seem relatively stable by comparison. Considering that she essentially raised herself from a young age after the tragedy of her early childhood with her parents' sudden death and the separation from her brother, her unstable mind makes sense. And while not everyone will like Viori, you can't help but feel for her. She's mad, but she's still tender underneath all of that armor of crazy.
Same goes for Micah. He's obsessive and so in control, but what he feels for Viori defies all reason. It's instinctive. They are intrinsically connected by things far beyond themselves and I love that effortless pull/gravity between them.
In typical Showalter fashion, Gena manages to take these mad, morally dark-gray characters and infuse this relatable vulnerability to them that brings them back down to earth, because, yes, they're immortal fae, and and yes, they have powerful glamaras and lifetimes of trauma they're dealing with and they often make terrible and selfish decisions, but there remains something so deeply and intrinsically human about them and I love that.
So even though this isn't my favorite series or book by Gena, I still enjoyed so much of it. It gives me all the Wonderland meets Arkham Asylum vibes with boundless fantasy, passion, insanity, and homicide... so much homicide.
And it gets even better on the reread...
So I learned something about myself while reading (and rereading) this book - or maybe it was just something I've always known deep down, but needed it reaffirmed: and that is that I have a deep, unyielding love/weakness for unhinged, eccentric, bordering-on-insane characters.
Maybe it's their unabashed authenticity that sucks me in, or just the fact that they are so much fun in a chaotic, no rules, no limits, consequences be damned kind of way - but I adore them.
Gena's Immortal Enemies series has unhinged, eccentric characters in spades. And Ruthless in particular takes that crazy to a whole other level.
Everyone in this book is certifiably insane, and I honestly love it. I thought Cookie and Kaysar were nuts in Heartless, but Viori? She makes her unhinged brother and murder-curious sister-in-law seem relatively stable by comparison. Considering that she essentially raised herself from a young age after the tragedy of her early childhood with her parents' sudden death and the separation from her brother, her unstable mind makes sense. And while not everyone will like Viori, you can't help but feel for her. She's mad, but she's still tender underneath all of that armor of crazy.
Same goes for Micah. He's obsessive and so in control, but what he feels for Viori defies all reason. It's instinctive. They are intrinsically connected by things far beyond themselves and I love that effortless pull/gravity between them.
In typical Showalter fashion, Gena manages to take these mad, morally dark-gray characters and infuse this relatable vulnerability to them that brings them back down to earth, because, yes, they're immortal fae, and and yes, they have powerful glamaras and lifetimes of trauma they're dealing with and they often make terrible and selfish decisions, but there remains something so deeply and intrinsically human about them and I love that.
So even though this isn't my favorite series or book by Gena, I still enjoyed so much of it. It gives me all the Wonderland meets Arkham Asylum vibes with boundless fantasy, passion, insanity, and homicide... so much homicide.
And it gets even better on the reread...
Read
July 14, 2022
Thank you to the publisher, HQN, and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Ruthless in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Gist
Well, I have done it again. They say all things come in threes. And this little hiccup of mine has certainly repeated itself three times.
You wonder what this might be? I shall no longer keep you in suspense: I signed up to read the sequel of a story before I had a chance to read the first book.
Hence, my clueless and agitated state of mind.
So, once again, I cannot really comment on the characters that much, or anything other than the quality of writing, because I didn’t do my research properly.
The Details
From what I could gather, I have come to the conclusion that this one requires the reader to remember the first book very well, because it sort of jumps right into the story. I think.
I found the writing style very clumsy. I assume it was meant to come across as mysterious and a little lyrical. Unfortunately, it felt anything but.
I mean, I’m not one to use quotes in my written reviews, but take a look at this:
“Momma screamed in silent agony.”
I’m confused. Is the agony silent, because it’s from an unknown source? Or does she mean she screams silently while being in agony.
My literary studies training has my fingers itching to write a 10-page essay on what this could or should mean and how it accomplished or failed to do so. I really feel there is more to it, but who knows. Maybe the author just wanted to sound extra dramatic and descriptive.
Other than that, I was completely lost with this story. I kept skipping ahead and going back trying to find answers to the questions that would have been answered, if I had read the first book.
The Verdict
Overall, please take note: It is always better the read the first book in any series and to do research properly. Otherwise, any reader will feel as clueless as me.
August 18, 2022
I can't believe I'm rating a Gena Showalter book so low, but here I am. I hated this book. I made it through the first eight chapters before I started skimming, it was just painful. Micah was so boring, which is a big disappointment because the more you learn about him the more interesting you realize he could have been and Viori.... I get that she basically raised herself in the woods from the age of 5, but she's centuries old now, has been around people, traveled the Fae and Earth world and still has the maturity of a 5 year old. It made no sense. She wasn't a relatable or likable character at all.
The book didn't get remotely interesting until the last two or three chapters, which is really sad considering it's 30 chapters + a prologue. The whole book was a waste of time and could have been so much more. Both main characters had such crazy potential and none of it was utilized. At this point I'm debating on if I want to continue the series since the first book, while leaps and bounds better than this one, wasn't all that great either. The world intrigues me and the mention of a big bad in this book makes me curious, but at the same time if they get worse as the series goes on... I don't know.
The book didn't get remotely interesting until the last two or three chapters, which is really sad considering it's 30 chapters + a prologue. The whole book was a waste of time and could have been so much more. Both main characters had such crazy potential and none of it was utilized. At this point I'm debating on if I want to continue the series since the first book, while leaps and bounds better than this one, wasn't all that great either. The world intrigues me and the mention of a big bad in this book makes me curious, but at the same time if they get worse as the series goes on... I don't know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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