Viewed by society as a monster, former magical Enforcer Sebastian can do nothing but roam the country, hiding when he can, and running from his bloody past and his failures when he can’t—until a series of well-intentioned mistakes leaves him hopelessly lost, waist deep in dark, uncharted territory. To escape certain death, he must make a deal that may well seal his fate. Whilst Sebastian has been running, Lucas has been chasing him—his heart—for years, and he fears that the demon’s from Sebastian’s past are catching up. With the help of Elliot, Stallion Ridge’s charming and enigmatic doctor, Lucas wades into darkness and danger, prepared to face all manner of foes to save Sebastian—but Lucas never expected Elliot to be the missing piece of the puzzle that might save him and Sebastian both.

Departing the eponymous small town, the fifth novel in the Stallion Ridge series—Runes, Ruin, & Redemption—combines elements of an epic quest, redemption narrative(s), and romance, with MMCs Elliot and Lucas leaving the safety of the community in the hopes of finding and saving MMC Sebastian. With themes of forgiveness and self discovery, and the added tension of a love triangle turned sweet, loving throuple, this was an emotional ride at times. I’m a total nerd for the history aspect of this particular paranormal western setting, so I especially enjoyed learning more about some of the recurring characters from earlier novels, as well as more extensive insight into the universe’s broader lore that this novel provided.