Exquisite Ruin

A darkly sensual reimagining of the Minotaur myth

AdriAnne May

$32.99

Paperback

Forthcoming
Pre-Order now

QTY:

English

BONNIER
15 July 2025

Erotic fiction; Romance; Monsters & legendary beings; Romance

Series: The Labyrinth

In this darkly romantic reimagining of the Minotaur myth, a sorceress and a demon are entwined in sensual battle to escape a deadly maze and reclaim their freedom

In this deadly maze, the most dangerous thing may be the passion between them.

Sadaré wakes in a labyrinth, remembering nothing except that she is a powerful sorceress. Her only companion is a hostile immortal named Daesra - beautiful, dangerous, and demonic - who bound his divine soul for power and revenge.

Despite their animosity, the two have no choice but to work together to reach the centre and defeat the monster who prevents their escape. But the longer they wander, the more deadly and alive the maze becomes - and the more Sadaré finds herself drawn to Daesra in ways she can't explain.

As sorceress and demon develop a tenuous truce, the labyrinth gives Sadaré glimpses of their shared history of passion and pain that make her question everything she knows. Unlocking the secrets of her past may be the only way to survive and heal their entwined fates - but as she learns more about the betrayals that brought them to the labyrinth, Sadaré begins to fear that the monster at the centre could be Daesra ... or even herself.

TROPES: > Enemies to Lovers > Forced Proximity > Second-Chance Romance/Betrayal > Who Hurt You > Dark Monster

Content warning: This book is a fantasy intended for adults only.

By: AdriAnne May
Imprint: BONNIER
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 233mm, Width: 154mm, Spine: 30mm
Weight: 468g
ISBN: 9781785124815
ISBN 10: 1785124811
Series: The Labyrinth
Pages: 384
Publication Date: 15 July 2025
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

AdriAnne May was a bibliophile who wanted to be an author before she knew what either of those words meant. She splits her time between Alaska and Spain with her spouse, her pugs, and her piles of books. She loves dancing, tattoos, and writing stories about sympathetic monsters. Exquisite Ruin is her debut adult novel, and she is currently working on its sequel, Divine Descent.

Reviews for Exquisite Ruin: A darkly sensual reimagining of the Minotaur myth

Unique, sexy, and action-packed, Exquisite Ruin is a thrill for any romantasy fan * Hannah Whitten, author of The Foxglove King * A dark and twisting mythopoetic journey of a romance ... honed to the sharpest edge of desire * Jacqueline Carey, author of Kushiel's Dart * Grab those horns in both hands and get ready for a wild ride at turns both sharp and tender, sexy and sweet * Delilah S. Dawson, New York Times bestselling author of Star Wars: Phasma * AdriAnne May's lyrical prose weaves an epic story of love, betrayal, and the depths we are willing to explore in order to untangle the complexities of the human heart ... An exquisite masterpiece that one will savor long after the final page is turned * Analeigh Sbrana, Sunday Times bestselling author of Lore of the Wilds * Sensuous ... A fascinating premise * Publishers Weekly *