Katastrophe Chef

I received an advance review copy for free through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Ruinous Creatures is a standalone, somewhat spicy Romantic Fantasy featuring a dual point-of-view between the main characters, Adela and Kian.

Adela lives in a magic valley where she and her people protect magical creatures, whose skulls are eventually used by humans to wield magical power. Kian is a novitiate for the powerful three temples that govern the country, but he harbors a secret mission: avenging his family’s death at the hands of these rulers.

Adela and Kian’s chemistry is undeniable from their first meeting when Kian and the other novitiates journey to the valley for their Matching with a magic skull.

The world-building was uneven; the magic valley felt well-developed, its day-to-day life obvious and well-established. However, the main city—whose name I can’t recall—was less fleshed out. The broader world beyond the city, including whether it was a separate country, remained unclear. I would have appreciated a more in-depth exploration of Kian’s world, including the city and the ruling orders, to match the detail given to the Valley.

I enjoyed the unique magic system; I haven’t seen another quite like it, and it felt relevant when it came to corrupt systems and nature preservation.

I’d rate it 4 out of 5 stars.