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Relic Hunters #3
Ring of Ruin
The race to find Agrona's final claw begins…
Having claimed the Sword of Darkness, Bethany Aodhán must now destroy it—no simple task when the only means of doing so has long been hidden from humanity by the old gods.
Hand in hand with that quest comes the need to find the Ring of Ruin before their enemies. But those enemies are closer to achieving their goals than Beth and her brother Lugh realize, and they have destruction on their minds.
Not just of a world but of all those who get in their way.
As the quest for answers leads them from the realms of the old gods to deep underground, it becomes increasingly clear that someone close to them is working with the enemy.
As danger closes in, survival becomes a battle. One Bethany might not win.
Because the traitor in their midst has her in his sights… and plans to use her as bait.
Having claimed the Sword of Darkness, Bethany Aodhán must now destroy it—no simple task when the only means of doing so has long been hidden from humanity by the old gods.
Hand in hand with that quest comes the need to find the Ring of Ruin before their enemies. But those enemies are closer to achieving their goals than Beth and her brother Lugh realize, and they have destruction on their minds.
Not just of a world but of all those who get in their way.
As the quest for answers leads them from the realms of the old gods to deep underground, it becomes increasingly clear that someone close to them is working with the enemy.
As danger closes in, survival becomes a battle. One Bethany might not win.
Because the traitor in their midst has her in his sights… and plans to use her as bait.
346 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 27, 2023
80 people are currently reading
290 people want to read
About the author
Keri Arthur
102 books6,004 followersKeri Arthur, author of the New York Times bestselling Riley Jenson, Guardian series, has now written more than 25 books. She's received several nominations in the Best Contemporary Paranormal category of the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Awards, and recently won RT's Career Achievement Award for urban fantasy. She lives in Melbourne with her daughter and two crazy dogs
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
April 23, 2025
I didn't like it as much as the last two, but I'm curious about the repercussions of what happened at the end here.
August 19, 2023
Another excellent story from Keri
As ever there are twists and turns for our heroine to overcome. Each character well introduced and you can lose yourself, on edge at times through their journey. Love it being in the UK. The reason I did not give 5 stars is that it lacks some British authenticity. It serves the USA readers foremost. Refers to 'Mom' which is American and not 'Mum' as we say in London. Plus refers to money at least one point in dollars, not pounds. Surely our USA cousins would not mind the wording to be authentic? Surely us readers in different parts of the world are just as important?
As ever there are twists and turns for our heroine to overcome. Each character well introduced and you can lose yourself, on edge at times through their journey. Love it being in the UK. The reason I did not give 5 stars is that it lacks some British authenticity. It serves the USA readers foremost. Refers to 'Mom' which is American and not 'Mum' as we say in London. Plus refers to money at least one point in dollars, not pounds. Surely our USA cousins would not mind the wording to be authentic? Surely us readers in different parts of the world are just as important?
June 29, 2023
Should have borrowed from library like I thought after reading previous book. I skimmed A LOT. Almost DNF, but pushed on through. Sad to say, b/c I’m a fan of Arthur’s other series, but I’m done with this particular series. I’m just not invested or engaged with the characters and story. Deleted from my Kindle library.
June 4, 2024
Oooooh. Masterpiece. I love how this book finishes the original arc of the Claws and connects what's to come to other pieces of this storyline. Nicely done. It feels seamless.
This book is looking for the third relic of the Claws and protecting the one that Bethany has. I love how it all ties together. Who the person is behind it all. How they know where Bethany, Lugh, Cynwrig, and others are. There's a reason for what they do. And what they plan to do... Oh I love this little twist! Brilliant.
If I was Bethany, just the thought of seeing one of those horrid creatures again would stop me. I know, there's a world at stake and the bad group wouldn't stop and will make her see them.... I guess she's getting great experience fighting them and dealing with them.
We get to see Bethany has a little more to her love life too. I'm curious to see her balance that along with finding the answers to other questions as well. I can't wait to continue listening to this series!
Keri is always amazing at creating the woman and supporting characters. Love the strength and respect for them.
The narrator is a wonderful voice for these stories too. Clear audio and speaking is wonderful.
This book is looking for the third relic of the Claws and protecting the one that Bethany has. I love how it all ties together. Who the person is behind it all. How they know where Bethany, Lugh, Cynwrig, and others are. There's a reason for what they do. And what they plan to do... Oh I love this little twist! Brilliant.
If I was Bethany, just the thought of seeing one of those horrid creatures again would stop me. I know, there's a world at stake and the bad group wouldn't stop and will make her see them.... I guess she's getting great experience fighting them and dealing with them.
We get to see Bethany has a little more to her love life too. I'm curious to see her balance that along with finding the answers to other questions as well. I can't wait to continue listening to this series!
Keri is always amazing at creating the woman and supporting characters. Love the strength and respect for them.
The narrator is a wonderful voice for these stories too. Clear audio and speaking is wonderful.
July 8, 2023
Every book by Keri Arthur is a great read, and Ring of Ruin, the third book in the Relic Hunters series is no exception. I don’t need to tell too much about the book, since if you’re on the third one, you pretty much know what’s going on, but here goes: Bethany and her brother Lugh are searching for relics from the old gods that must be destroyed before others use them to bring about destruction to their world. This book wraps up that mission pretty well, but lays out what is coming in the next few books for Bethany, who will most certainly need the help of her brother to take on more baddies, and search for more relics of the old gods. She also must figure out which of three sexy men she might want to end up with. Will she give the light elf another chance, deepen the relationship with the dark elf, or go with the new entry, the handsome pixie? I look forward to reading the next book to see what happens in Bethany’s love life, as well as how her powers develop and what adventures come next.
August 29, 2023
Loved this third book in the Relic Hunter series series.
So much happens when Bethany, Lugh and co go off on their next adventures to destroy a relic and find another.
There is an old love, a love for now and perhaps a love for the future for our feisty Bethany.
But first there are relics to find and destroy, murderers to stop and those Annyfwynn. Those are some scary suckers.
A major betrayal rocks our characters and what I thought might be the end is, hooray hooray, a cliff hanger for at least one more book.
Such great world building - I felt like I was right there with the team.
I have loved every Keri Arthur book I have read so far and cannot wait for the next instalment.
So much happens when Bethany, Lugh and co go off on their next adventures to destroy a relic and find another.
There is an old love, a love for now and perhaps a love for the future for our feisty Bethany.
But first there are relics to find and destroy, murderers to stop and those Annyfwynn. Those are some scary suckers.
A major betrayal rocks our characters and what I thought might be the end is, hooray hooray, a cliff hanger for at least one more book.
Such great world building - I felt like I was right there with the team.
I have loved every Keri Arthur book I have read so far and cannot wait for the next instalment.
June 29, 2023
While I liked the final instalment of this arc, I still not sure if I liked the book as a whole. The addition of a second male in Beth’s life feels unnecessary, unless it’s to make Cyn jealous and force him to up their relationship. Which doesn’t make sense given that he also has other bedmates. The lack of feelings around them bothers me. The whole ending felt more underwhelming given all warnings she she had about the world’s apocalypse if the claws were wielded. And still doesn’t explain why they wanted the Eye after killing her cousin.
July 7, 2023
Excellent ending to a first adventure
Book three sees the conclusion of Bethany's first relic adventure and leaves us open for future installments. As always Keri Arthur writing was perfectly paced and the events in the book made for good reading. I highly recommend this series or others she has written as they are highly entertaining.
Book three sees the conclusion of Bethany's first relic adventure and leaves us open for future installments. As always Keri Arthur writing was perfectly paced and the events in the book made for good reading. I highly recommend this series or others she has written as they are highly entertaining.
July 16, 2023
Hoards
Wow, another big adventure. Twists and turns. There are so many things going on. Who to trust and who not to trust. I am so leery of everyone. I don't trust anyone. Keri makes you think through the whole book. And you still have no idea where the book or story is going. It's so exciting.
Wow, another big adventure. Twists and turns. There are so many things going on. Who to trust and who not to trust. I am so leery of everyone. I don't trust anyone. Keri makes you think through the whole book. And you still have no idea where the book or story is going. It's so exciting.
August 13, 2023
Absolutely loving this series! These are my first Keri Arthur books and I can’t wait to read another series from her.
The Relic Hunter books are fast paced and action packed. The characters lack a little depth but the world/magic make up for that. And I’m always a sucker for worlds with multiple species living together.
Looking forward to book 4 and hoping this will be a long running series!
The Relic Hunter books are fast paced and action packed. The characters lack a little depth but the world/magic make up for that. And I’m always a sucker for worlds with multiple species living together.
Looking forward to book 4 and hoping this will be a long running series!
March 24, 2024
Got monotonous reading about Bethany and Lugh getting their asses handed to them an entire book, actually the last 3 books. Another point of contention was the jealousy…so Bethany’s dark elf lover has other lovers as well as Bethany has other lovers..but she is jealous of his other lovers…don’t get it…you want monogamy you got to give monogamy…
August 15, 2023
Love This Book
I'm a huge Keri Arthur fan. I love the way she writes. I think her books might be considered as Urban Fantasy, but I think of them as paranormal. I hope there's more to this series but probably not. This was a great book and series
I'm a huge Keri Arthur fan. I love the way she writes. I think her books might be considered as Urban Fantasy, but I think of them as paranormal. I hope there's more to this series but probably not. This was a great book and series
May 5, 2025
Bethany and company have moved on to the final claw, the ring of ruin.
It doesn't feel like I can really say anything else about each successive novel because they are so tied together, unfortunately they are also a little predictable at this point. I will continue the series but I'm going to give it a minute before I do.
It doesn't feel like I can really say anything else about each successive novel because they are so tied together, unfortunately they are also a little predictable at this point. I will continue the series but I'm going to give it a minute before I do.
June 28, 2023
Ohh.. So good. Lots of action & plot advancements. I can't wait to see what happens next
July 4, 2023
Pretty good conclusion to this story arc. It tied up most of the loose ends, while leaving plenty for future books. In fact, the next is already planned, and on my want to read list.
July 10, 2023
I love every book Keri writes and this one was no exception. Excited to turn every page and discover the whodunnit. The romance is more a side piece to the action unlike other books.
August 20, 2023
Still loving this series. Can't wait for book 4 to come out.
August 30, 2023
I originally thought this series was a trilogy. I didn't realize until I read the book that it left a LOT of unanswered questions.
May 7, 2024
This series was ok, but really didn't like any of the characters so I quit reading it.
May 16, 2024
I want to find out what happens but unlike this authors other books these are hard for me to read. Great right before bed, they'll put me to sleep.
October 30, 2025
Name
I like the books not like the protagonist name too modern. You read the books and sequence they are slightly repetitious.
I like the books not like the protagonist name too modern. You read the books and sequence they are slightly repetitious.
July 7, 2024
-4 stars. i have waited a long time for my library to get these books, because the author self published.
i'm still not a fan of all the men in her life sexually, or the constant repetitive reminders that Cynwrig could never be more than sex. seems a bit over the top in a way that suggests the author is trying to set it up to be more. except they're both busy fucking other people as well.
there was one point where someone repeatedly sneaks in thru a skylight with a broken latch. except this character has the ability to fuse the wood window closed, being a pixie elf who can and regularly does fuse wood doors closed and unfuse them open. so why didn't she fix the window and just fuse it shut after the first time? why be so lazy to allow the exact same thing to happen a second time? that there was bad/lazy writing.
"people wrapped in grief often can't see through the veil of it with any sort of clarity."
i'm still not a fan of all the men in her life sexually, or the constant repetitive reminders that Cynwrig could never be more than sex. seems a bit over the top in a way that suggests the author is trying to set it up to be more. except they're both busy fucking other people as well.
there was one point where someone repeatedly sneaks in thru a skylight with a broken latch. except this character has the ability to fuse the wood window closed, being a pixie elf who can and regularly does fuse wood doors closed and unfuse them open. so why didn't she fix the window and just fuse it shut after the first time? why be so lazy to allow the exact same thing to happen a second time? that there was bad/lazy writing.
"people wrapped in grief often can't see through the veil of it with any sort of clarity."
February 3, 2026
Skipped heaps. Still good concept. Just couldn’t get into it. Maybe it’s just my mood. Will continue with the series. Next book is back on track with me giving it 4 stars
April 3, 2024
Ring of Ruin is the third book in the Relic Hunters series, and to me it was the weakest one yet. I usually love Keri Arthur's books, but I had a hard time getting in to this one.
From a series standpoint, this book finishes the arc that started in the first book, but sets up the series to continue. It almost feels like this started out being a trilogy, but then the decision came to make it into a longer series. Some of the relationships that had been moving along stalled along with some of the bigger plot points. The new character that's introduced feels flat too, I assume he'll be developed later on.
Again, this is all my opinion, and it could just be that this book missed the mark for me. I'll give the next one a chance to see if it pulls me back in.
From a series standpoint, this book finishes the arc that started in the first book, but sets up the series to continue. It almost feels like this started out being a trilogy, but then the decision came to make it into a longer series. Some of the relationships that had been moving along stalled along with some of the bigger plot points. The new character that's introduced feels flat too, I assume he'll be developed later on.
Again, this is all my opinion, and it could just be that this book missed the mark for me. I'll give the next one a chance to see if it pulls me back in.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews