Fall of Ruin and Wrath
Fall of Ruin and Wrath by Jennifer L Armentrout
Published in 2023
Main Couple: Lis (Calista) and Thorne
The Story: Lis is finally off the streets and living securely the paramour of Baron Claude, who uses her ability to read thoughts and glimpse the future for his own benefit. When her intuition brings her to the aid of an injured Thorne, a blast from the past, she knows her future has come for her. What secrets will they unveil from each other?
The Sex: For the situation we find Lis in, there is surprisingly little sex in this book. She’s one of many paramours for Claude. There are nightly orgies at his house. She doesn’t participate because she doesn’t like accidentally reading people’s thoughts or seeing their future, so…I get it. Once she finds Thorne the chemistry and tension is off the charts, but there’s only ONE instance of actual penetration. I was mighty disappointed with that. There’s a lot of talk about the luxury of physical touch in this book. When Thorne and Lis meet and she’s helping him wash in the shower, she luxuriates in being able to touch him without knowing his thoughts. That’s a theme in this story. I agree that physical touch is a powerful thing. One of the plot points is that the creature Thorne is their cum is an aphrodisiac. When they do have sex and he ejaculates on her, she has a very long orgasm. It kind of felt like a cop out for lack of skill, which didn’t seem to be the case. But he has a magical dick. So there.
Favorite Lines:
“‘This is how I like it,’ he told me, sending a shivery wave of heat through me as he drew my hand back down him. ‘Tight. Hard. You won’t hurt me.’” Chapter 15 No shame in telling someone how you want your dick pulled! And no shame in getting told how someone wants to be touched!
““Whether or not I will doesn’t matter. You should always ask.” “Why?” “Why what?” “Why when we both already know what is wanted?” Blowing out an aggravated breath, I desperately clung to my waning patience. “Because you shouldn’t assume that will never change. It can. It can change at any second for various reasons.” Chapter 25 Yes, before doesn’t mean yes now. I want to shout it! Always check!
“I was on my knees before him, touching him, because I wanted to be, and there was nothing in my mind but my own thoughts.” Chapter 27 This was a special moment for Lis. I felt that.,
““The most exquisite kind of pleasure is derived from bestowing it upon another.” Chapter 30 Anyone else get hot knowing you’re satisfying your partner?
Least Favorite Lines:
Not a line, but I wish we’d been given more reference materials for this world. There was one map at the beginning of the book, but that didn’t really help with the names. When you build a totally new world, it helps to give things that support the structure.
“Midnight oil” Chapter 8 Why was this word changed from opium? So many things were kept the same, I don’t know why this needed to change.
Final Thoughts:
Hi fantasy fans! I have so much respect for authors who write fantasy. It’s takes a huge imagination to create a world. I found the history and development of this world fascinating. Overall, I think there was less plot than I was expecting. When I got to the end of the story, I almost thought “That’s it?” It makes me want to read the next book in the series, but I don’t know if I feel satisfied with this book alone. I almost wish I had waited to read it until others came out so I wouldn’t be left waiting. The second time I read the book, I definitely felt like I was getting things I didn’t the first read. It’s a love/hate thing for me with fantasy. It takes me a bit to get acclimated, and then I tend to miss things in the beginning.
Lis and Thorne are a compelling couple. Not just because they are compelled to connect with each other. Their draw feels more subtle than “fated mates” books I’ve read, which gives the illusion that they are choosing each other. There seems to be something we are missing about their connection (C’mon second book!), so I’m waiting for that shoe to drop.
Tell me if I need to read other completed series of hers!
Spice Level: 2.5/5 There’s so much sexual tension and sex around her. I had to add the half point
Kinks Explored: None. Just magical cum.
Voices Heard: There are different skin tones described in this book, but I wouldn’t call this a very diverse book.
Did I like it? Yeah. I just wish it was available in paperback.