Review: Ruthless by Anne Stuart (House of Rohan #1)

Format Read: E-Arc from Netgalley
Number of Pages: 400 pages
Release Date: August 1st 2010
Publisher: Mira
Formats Available: Paperback, Ebook
Purchasing Info: Author's Website, Goodreads, Amazon, Book Depository US, Book Depository UK

Book Blurb: 

Few outsiders will ever witness the dark misdeeds of the Heavenly Host. And among this secret society, where exiled Georgian aristocrats gather to indulge their carnal desires, fewer still can match the insatiable appetite of their chief provocateur, the mysterious Viscount Rohan.
Pursuit of physical pleasure is his both his preferred pastime and his most-pressing urge, until he encounters the fascination of a woman who won't be swayed. And while his dark seduction appalls the pure and impoverished Elinor Harriman, she finds herself intrigued...and secretly drawn to the man behind the desire.
New York Times bestselling author Anne Stuart masterfully weaves an irresistible tale of lust and privilege in decadent times. Passions will be loosed, egos will be tamed-This is Rohan.

My Thoughts:

This is my first book from Anne Stuart, so when I started Ruthless I didn’t know what to expect. Ruthless is the first book in the House Of Rohan series. There is a FREE prequel short story available on the author’s website called The Wicked House of Rohan. I read the short story but it doesn’t bring anything to the story (so you can skip if altogether without feeling guilty). The prequel is not bad but it’s very rushed. But back to Ruthless.

We meet Elinor and her sister in a very difficult situation, they have no idea how they will find money to eat the next day. The story is mostly told from Elinor’s POV but some scenes are seen through her sister, Lydia.  Their mother is suffering from the ‘French disease’ and is completely mad, gambling away the little money the family has, whoring and having fits of violence.  The family slowly went from wealth to poverty.  Elinor doesn’t find herself pretty but she knows her younger sister is gorgeous and attracts every man. She is resolved to save her sister and do everything to protect her. When Elinor’s mother disappear with the last of their possession  to gamble it away, Elinor follows her to a party to take the money back.

Viscount Francis Rohan is known for hosting orgies and the most scandalous parties in Paris. He is the worst libertine, but he is a bored one. Rumor has it that Rohan and his friends of debauchery, sacrifice babies and drink the blood of virgins.  He is often called ‘the Prince of Darkness’ or the ‘King of Hell’. Let me tell you that he does look the  part. Oh Boy!  Elinor follows her mother to one of Rohan’s party and meets ‘Satan’ himself in the antechamber of Hell (AKA the huge orgy). 

I think you either love or hate Rohan. He is a really really naughty man lol. During the whole book he plays with Elinor, he is bored and she is entertaining. Rohan does not feel guilty about his behavior, he doesn’t ‘reform’, doesn’t regret anything. He is a bit bloodthirsty too. Rohan really is ruthless. He really doesn’t fit  the usual definition of ‘hero’. I would probably dub him as the ‘bad guy’.  Well, I loved Rohan, I have a soft spot for cold heroes lol! For once the hero is a bit older than usual, he is 39 years old (lol my mom could kill me if she heard that, no mom 39 is NOT old).  I wanted him even MORE wicked, he seemed a bit tame in the end!  I won’t spoil the story but we learn quite a lot of the characters’ past that explains their present behaviors.

There is a bit of intrigue that was easily solved but it brought a bit of suspense to the story. Murder attempt, Arson, Kidnapping, Duels, Rape…the list is long! The secondary characters are a plus to the story. I really liked (I’m trying not to say ‘love’) Charles Reading and Lydia. Two characters I would have loved to read a whole novel about.

My only complaint comes from the fact that there is no epilogue. The story ends very abruptly and it’s hard to truly believe all will be well (Habits die hard…I’m a pessimist!). We have hints about what will happen but I would have loved a bit of closure. I am dying to read the next book, Reckless (*whispers* and secretly hoping we’ll hear from Rohan and Elinor).

I give Ruthless 4 1/2 Stars.