What do you think?
Priest #4
Devil
Birdie Cooper has nothing left.
Just one moment of weakness seven years ago—and she lost her job, her church, her only friend. Now she's working nights at a gas station to scrape together a living and a way to care for her sister, completely alone and separated even from the art that gave her life meaning.
Ryan Bell has never forgotten his first obsession.
He's been trying to find the tremblingly shy lecturer from his senior year of college after she abruptly disappeared after their first and only kiss. So when he comes upon a statue of Lucifer carved in Ryan's own likeness, two things become starkly apparent.
One: he knows how to find her now. And two: he's been haunting Birdie Cooper's memory as much as she's been haunting his.
Ryan can't offer love—or even an apology—but he can offer her a bargain, one crafted first and foremost to free him from his punishing obsession with her. If Birdie agrees to be his in every way for a single year, then he'll pay for her mother's care for as long as she's alive. And what does Birdie have left to lose anyway? The forbidden fruit is her only chance at salvation.
Unfortunately for Birdie, she might just be the only chance for his...
Just one moment of weakness seven years ago—and she lost her job, her church, her only friend. Now she's working nights at a gas station to scrape together a living and a way to care for her sister, completely alone and separated even from the art that gave her life meaning.
Ryan Bell has never forgotten his first obsession.
He's been trying to find the tremblingly shy lecturer from his senior year of college after she abruptly disappeared after their first and only kiss. So when he comes upon a statue of Lucifer carved in Ryan's own likeness, two things become starkly apparent.
One: he knows how to find her now. And two: he's been haunting Birdie Cooper's memory as much as she's been haunting his.
Ryan can't offer love—or even an apology—but he can offer her a bargain, one crafted first and foremost to free him from his punishing obsession with her. If Birdie agrees to be his in every way for a single year, then he'll pay for her mother's care for as long as she's alive. And what does Birdie have left to lose anyway? The forbidden fruit is her only chance at salvation.
Unfortunately for Birdie, she might just be the only chance for his...
Audiobook
First published August 11, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,364 reviews
August 10, 2026
the only thing keeping me going was jacob morgan whispering and whimpering in my ear i can’t lie. omg this audiobook slayyyed!
the author’s note had me convinced i was about to read some truly depraved shit. and yes, it was kinky and fun and all the good stuff, but i was fully expecting criminal activity 😭 idk maybe that’s just me
the whole “i don’t think ryan bell has a heart” thing was VERY misleading because that man wears his heart on his sleeve. i was expecting a menace and got a man with 7 years worth of pent up feelings 😭 i’m not mad about it istg, i love this man.
the story starts off with Birdie, college professor, virgin, gets caught almost* having sex with ryan and then is fired for that. she’s on the struggle bus for the next 7 years until Ryan shows up again. Tall, blonde, gorgeous, and rich af.
long story short ryan’s like: so im gonna hire you for sex in exchange i’ll cover all your expenses and treat you like a princess for a year. birdie being broke af and one to use duct tape on her injured leg is like “ok when do we start?” as any woman would obviously..
Furthermore, Birdie is finally healing from all the trauma she’s been carrying, and honestly, this one-year contract is looking like it needs a forever extension. She also wasn’t quite as bird-brained as she made herself seem for a good portion of the book, which I’ll give her.
And Ryan being mounted to a cross while they get up to some very R-rated activities??? Is it offensive to say hallelujah here? Because safe to say, they weren’t the only two seeing God in that moment.
sean bell still takes the cake, i remember my roots…
the author’s note had me convinced i was about to read some truly depraved shit. and yes, it was kinky and fun and all the good stuff, but i was fully expecting criminal activity 😭 idk maybe that’s just me
the whole “i don’t think ryan bell has a heart” thing was VERY misleading because that man wears his heart on his sleeve. i was expecting a menace and got a man with 7 years worth of pent up feelings 😭 i’m not mad about it istg, i love this man.
the story starts off with Birdie, college professor, virgin, gets caught almost* having sex with ryan and then is fired for that. she’s on the struggle bus for the next 7 years until Ryan shows up again. Tall, blonde, gorgeous, and rich af.
long story short ryan’s like: so im gonna hire you for sex in exchange i’ll cover all your expenses and treat you like a princess for a year. birdie being broke af and one to use duct tape on her injured leg is like “ok when do we start?” as any woman would obviously..
Furthermore, Birdie is finally healing from all the trauma she’s been carrying, and honestly, this one-year contract is looking like it needs a forever extension. She also wasn’t quite as bird-brained as she made herself seem for a good portion of the book, which I’ll give her.
And Ryan being mounted to a cross while they get up to some very R-rated activities??? Is it offensive to say hallelujah here? Because safe to say, they weren’t the only two seeing God in that moment.
sean bell still takes the cake, i remember my roots…
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️ 1.5 stars
This review genuinely hurts to write because Sierra Simone is one of my favorite authors. New Camelot and the Lyonesse Trilogy are god-tier romance for me. I enjoyed Priest, liked Sinner, and absolutely loved Saint. Saint is a five-star masterpiece that made me laugh, cry, and feel everything in between.
So when I heard Devil was going to be dark romance?
I was foaming at the mouth.
That prologue? Absolutely delicious. It promised obsession, darkness, tension, and all the things I love in this genre.
Then Chapter 1 happened.
By Chapter 4, I was mentally composing my DNF review.
The only reason I kept reading was because this was Sierra Simone. I kept waiting for that moment where everything clicked.
It never came.
Instead, I finished the book wondering how something with so much potential became so painfully…forgettable.
Let’s start with the characters, because both of them were absolutely unlikable.
Ryan was supposed to be an obsessive stalker hero. Instead, he read like an emotionally stunted, petulant man-child throwing tantrums. I never bought that he loved Birdie. He wasn’t in love with her, he was obsessed with her. Those are not the same thing, and this book never convinced me otherwise.
And Birdie? Truly insufferable.
I don’t mind flawed heroines. I don’t mind messy mental health representation. In fact, some of my favorite books explore those themes beautifully. But Birdie’s entire personality became an endless loop of self-loathing and insecurity. I kept waiting for growth. A breakthrough. Anything.
Nothing.
Even in the epilogue, she was still stuck in the exact same emotional place, still demeaning herself. Zero character growth. None.
And together?
What chemistry?
These two had all the romantic spark of wet cardboard. They felt like two broken people grabbing onto each other because they needed someone, not two people whose souls were inevitably drawn together. I never rooted for them because I never believed in them.
Even the spice missed the mark.
This is Sierra Simone, the woman who can write sex with enough emotional intensity to make you forget your own name. Instead, I found myself cringing more often than swooning. Without emotional connection, the spice just felt hollow.
The biggest disappointment wasn’t even that I disliked the characters. It was that I didn’t feel anything.
For a dark romance built on obsession, I wasn’t obsessed. I wasn’t invested. I wasn’t heartbroken.
I was bored.
And boredom is probably the worst crime a dark romance can commit.
I wanted angst. I wanted yearning. I wanted obsession that consumed the page.
Instead, I got two insufferable people circling the same emotional drain for hundreds of pages.
This is, without question, my least favorite book in the series, and it’s such a disappointing finale. I wanted to finish this series on a high after how incredible Saint was.
Instead, Devil ended with a whimper.
I’ll absolutely keep reading Sierra Simone because one disappointing book doesn’t erase the brilliance of everything else she’s written. She’s still one of my favorite authors.
But this one?
It wasn’t romantic.
It wasn’t compelling.
It was just…there.
And somehow, that’s worse.
This review genuinely hurts to write because Sierra Simone is one of my favorite authors. New Camelot and the Lyonesse Trilogy are god-tier romance for me. I enjoyed Priest, liked Sinner, and absolutely loved Saint. Saint is a five-star masterpiece that made me laugh, cry, and feel everything in between.
So when I heard Devil was going to be dark romance?
I was foaming at the mouth.
That prologue? Absolutely delicious. It promised obsession, darkness, tension, and all the things I love in this genre.
Then Chapter 1 happened.
By Chapter 4, I was mentally composing my DNF review.
The only reason I kept reading was because this was Sierra Simone. I kept waiting for that moment where everything clicked.
It never came.
Instead, I finished the book wondering how something with so much potential became so painfully…forgettable.
Let’s start with the characters, because both of them were absolutely unlikable.
Ryan was supposed to be an obsessive stalker hero. Instead, he read like an emotionally stunted, petulant man-child throwing tantrums. I never bought that he loved Birdie. He wasn’t in love with her, he was obsessed with her. Those are not the same thing, and this book never convinced me otherwise.
And Birdie? Truly insufferable.
I don’t mind flawed heroines. I don’t mind messy mental health representation. In fact, some of my favorite books explore those themes beautifully. But Birdie’s entire personality became an endless loop of self-loathing and insecurity. I kept waiting for growth. A breakthrough. Anything.
Nothing.
Even in the epilogue, she was still stuck in the exact same emotional place, still demeaning herself. Zero character growth. None.
And together?
What chemistry?
These two had all the romantic spark of wet cardboard. They felt like two broken people grabbing onto each other because they needed someone, not two people whose souls were inevitably drawn together. I never rooted for them because I never believed in them.
Even the spice missed the mark.
This is Sierra Simone, the woman who can write sex with enough emotional intensity to make you forget your own name. Instead, I found myself cringing more often than swooning. Without emotional connection, the spice just felt hollow.
The biggest disappointment wasn’t even that I disliked the characters. It was that I didn’t feel anything.
For a dark romance built on obsession, I wasn’t obsessed. I wasn’t invested. I wasn’t heartbroken.
I was bored.
And boredom is probably the worst crime a dark romance can commit.
I wanted angst. I wanted yearning. I wanted obsession that consumed the page.
Instead, I got two insufferable people circling the same emotional drain for hundreds of pages.
This is, without question, my least favorite book in the series, and it’s such a disappointing finale. I wanted to finish this series on a high after how incredible Saint was.
Instead, Devil ended with a whimper.
I’ll absolutely keep reading Sierra Simone because one disappointing book doesn’t erase the brilliance of everything else she’s written. She’s still one of my favorite authors.
But this one?
It wasn’t romantic.
It wasn’t compelling.
It was just…there.
And somehow, that’s worse.
August 9, 2026
When a carving of the Devil arrives in front of City Hall on Main Street, Ryan Bell doesn’t have to guess who crafted the statue in his likeness.
Birdie Cooper has spent the years since their disastrous encounter scraping together a life while caring for her sister. Wholesome, inexperienced, naïve, and deeply religious, Birdie is also a survivor. She’s spent so long sacrificing herself for everyone else that martyrdom has become almost second nature. Her faith is the one thing keeping her going, even as she’s exhausted, lonely, and barely holding everything together.
Ry has spent years searching for her, only to discover she was under his nose all along. A brilliant artist and architect, his life’s work has always somehow circled back to Birdie. Everything he creates has her at its core. She isn’t simply the woman he never forgot; she’s his obsession, his muse, his beginning and his end.
And when he finally finds her, he comes prepared. He has spent years imagining what he’d do if he ever got another chance, and he’s made damn sure Birdie can’t afford to refuse his offer. He’ll take care of her sister’s medical expenses and ensure Birdie never has to struggle again. It’s generous. It’s thoughtful. It’s also a gilded cage.
Their relationship is complicated, codependent, and probably toxic as hell. And yet…
Reading this was almost as good as reading Priest for the first time. Completely different story, completely different characters, but it evoked that same delicious combination of discomfort, arousal, obsession, and what the fuck am I reading right now? that had me glued to the pages.
And Ry? Holy shit. The full depth of his obsession isn’t revealed until much later, but you can feel it lurking beneath every interaction. He’s obsessed, devoted, utterly feral, and unapologetically all-in where Birdie is concerned. Flawed? Absolutely. But somehow, still completely swoony.
The best part is watching the layers of his obsession unfold and realizing just how much of his life has always revolved around her. He didn’t simply find Birdie again. He’d been preparing for the possibility of finding her for years.
And these quotes? They absolutely wrecked me:
“She’s both the origin and the end point of my desire.”
“I didn’t mind making myself your worst thing. I never will. I only hoped I could slowly convince you that I could be your best thing too.”
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
Length: 📚📚📚📚📚1/2
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 😩😭🫠🥵😍
Darkness: 🖤🩶
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Bad Boy x Good Girl, Billionaire, Contractual Relationship, Forbidden, Forced Proximity, Lie for Reasons, Reverse Age Gap (36/29), Rich Boy x Poor Girl, Stalker-ish
💫 Microtropes: Anxiety Rep, Boy Obsessed, Caretaker/Protective MMC, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Forehead Kisses, “Fuck It”, “Good Girl”, Hand Necklace, He Falls First, He Falls Harder, It’s Always Been You, Just the Tip, Lap Sitting, Mental Health Rep, Panty Thief, Pet Name (Little Bird, Pretty Bird), Reformed Player, Size Difference, Tragic Past, Virgin FMC, “You Take Me So Well”
🔆 Character: Artist, Professor, Student
💋 Kinks: 🍑, Angel Wings, Body Betrayal, Corruption Kink, Degradation, Dirty Talk, Domination, Finger Licking Good, Free Use, Pearl Necklace/Spunk Art, Pics & Videos, Power Exchange, Praise, Somnophilia, Spitting, Teammates Toys as Teammates
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Dominant MMC, DubCon, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, Manipulation, MINE!, OTT Hero, Tracking/Spying, Unhinged MMC
⛔️ Safety Squad: Sacrilegious Acts, Suicidal Ideations (by FMC), and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, in the past and/or present, and to main and/or side characters. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: Small Town, Kansas 🇺🇸
📣 Type: Devil is part of the Priest series of interconnected standalones. While no other books need to be read in order to follow the story, reading prior books may enhance the experience.
⚠️ Warning: This one-handed read may cause blushing, squirming, combusting panties, and/or self-care. It may also leave you questioning your morals.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
Birdie Cooper has spent the years since their disastrous encounter scraping together a life while caring for her sister. Wholesome, inexperienced, naïve, and deeply religious, Birdie is also a survivor. She’s spent so long sacrificing herself for everyone else that martyrdom has become almost second nature. Her faith is the one thing keeping her going, even as she’s exhausted, lonely, and barely holding everything together.
Ry has spent years searching for her, only to discover she was under his nose all along. A brilliant artist and architect, his life’s work has always somehow circled back to Birdie. Everything he creates has her at its core. She isn’t simply the woman he never forgot; she’s his obsession, his muse, his beginning and his end.
And when he finally finds her, he comes prepared. He has spent years imagining what he’d do if he ever got another chance, and he’s made damn sure Birdie can’t afford to refuse his offer. He’ll take care of her sister’s medical expenses and ensure Birdie never has to struggle again. It’s generous. It’s thoughtful. It’s also a gilded cage.
Their relationship is complicated, codependent, and probably toxic as hell. And yet…
Reading this was almost as good as reading Priest for the first time. Completely different story, completely different characters, but it evoked that same delicious combination of discomfort, arousal, obsession, and what the fuck am I reading right now? that had me glued to the pages.
And Ry? Holy shit. The full depth of his obsession isn’t revealed until much later, but you can feel it lurking beneath every interaction. He’s obsessed, devoted, utterly feral, and unapologetically all-in where Birdie is concerned. Flawed? Absolutely. But somehow, still completely swoony.
The best part is watching the layers of his obsession unfold and realizing just how much of his life has always revolved around her. He didn’t simply find Birdie again. He’d been preparing for the possibility of finding her for years.
And these quotes? They absolutely wrecked me:
“She’s both the origin and the end point of my desire.”
“I didn’t mind making myself your worst thing. I never will. I only hoped I could slowly convince you that I could be your best thing too.”
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2
Format: 📱
🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult
Ending: 💗 {HEA}
Length: 📚📚📚📚📚1/2
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 😩😭🫠🥵😍
Darkness: 🖤🩶
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨ Tropes: Bad Boy x Good Girl, Billionaire, Contractual Relationship, Forbidden, Forced Proximity, Lie for Reasons, Reverse Age Gap (36/29), Rich Boy x Poor Girl, Stalker-ish
💫 Microtropes: Anxiety Rep, Boy Obsessed, Caretaker/Protective MMC, Caveman/Bridal Carry, Forehead Kisses, “Fuck It”, “Good Girl”, Hand Necklace, He Falls First, He Falls Harder, It’s Always Been You, Just the Tip, Lap Sitting, Mental Health Rep, Panty Thief, Pet Name (Little Bird, Pretty Bird), Reformed Player, Size Difference, Tragic Past, Virgin FMC, “You Take Me So Well”
🔆 Character: Artist, Professor, Student
💋 Kinks: 🍑, Angel Wings, Body Betrayal, Corruption Kink, Degradation, Dirty Talk, Domination, Finger Licking Good, Free Use, Pearl Necklace/Spunk Art, Pics & Videos, Power Exchange, Praise, Somnophilia, Spitting, Teammates Toys as Teammates
🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a
🚩 Red Flags: Dominant MMC, DubCon, Jealous/Possessive/Obsessive, Manipulation, MINE!, OTT Hero, Tracking/Spying, Unhinged MMC
⛔️ Safety Squad: Sacrilegious Acts, Suicidal Ideations (by FMC), and other potentially triggering elements. Triggers may appear both on- and off-page, in the past and/or present, and to main and/or side characters. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!
📍 Setting: Small Town, Kansas 🇺🇸
📣 Type: Devil is part of the Priest series of interconnected standalones. While no other books need to be read in order to follow the story, reading prior books may enhance the experience.
⚠️ Warning: This one-handed read may cause blushing, squirming, combusting panties, and/or self-care. It may also leave you questioning your morals.
🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.
Read
August 13, 2026I finished the audio so I want to write a few things…
Not sure about rating for the content 2,75/5 but audio uplifts it to a 3,5/5? (Still debating… 😣)
Audio in duet is amazing 5/5🎧 I am familiar with Jacob’s narration but Megan Wicks is so very talented! 🙌
MMC is not celibate during separation but they also didn’t have a relationship - he is basically obsessed with FMC but while searching for her for 7 years, he is sexually active with others - and that comes up during their intimate moments! (Yikes!)
I do not think Sierra was trying to glorify virginity or religious shame… Where this book fails is in the double standard -just because the thematic message is strong doesn't mean this book isn't flawed!
When you look at Devil (and the entire Priest collection), it is clear that she uses romance as a tool to critique and deconstruct religious trauma, not to praise it…
In Devil, Birdie Cooper’s character arc relies on an exploration of how purity culture weaponizes guilt to control women.
When Birdie is caught in a compromising situation seven years prior, her sanctimonious church community and "judgmental best friend" cast her out, stripping away her credentials, her art and her support system.
I believe that Sierra Simone is not holding Birdie’s celibacy or innocence up as a holy ideal (you could definitely see her views and stance in her other works). Here, she is showing the real-world consequences of a system that conditions adults to believe their entire human worth is tied to some rigid religious and cultural concepts (more so about purity in this case!). That’s why there might be confusion between a character's deep internal conditioning and the author's message.
(Having worked alongside specialists, we have seen so many people, even those with higher educational levels, struggle with cultural and religious issues, so I know this is still a real problem in these days!)
Birdie is deeply spiritual, but she is also drowning in unrecognized trauma and religious guilt. I believe this was intentionally designed to show that healing from religious trauma requires shattering the shame attached to desire.(But it was tedious - especially her conditioning and inner turmoil). When Ryan Bell (the "Devil") steps in, his obsession forces Birdie to confront her deeply ingrained guilt and reclaim her bodily agency. This framing of sexual awakening, was meant to be a path toward emotional liberation and healing from her past…
Because this entire series uses a significant amount of biblical allusions, theological metaphors and in this installment, a virginal, deeply religious heroine, I understand how this can be taken at face value…
All this being said, that doesn’t mean this book has succeeded in breaking the very patterns it claims to critique!
The main issue is the MMC’s lack of immediate celibacy, which definitely rubs many readers the wrong way!
My expectations were not of complete celibacy, but not having, a supposedly obsessed MMC, practice at least a year or two of it, ruins the illusion of his immense need and desire for the FMC…
Moreover, such lack of control and basic impulse restraint caters to patriarchal views where men are unable to remain celibate or faithful and are glorified for such endeavors, while women are vilified for the same behaviors… It would have made for a much more impactful experience if the MMC remained obsessed and celibate while scheming “like a devil”and finding 🔥ways to corrupt the FMC into carnal sins, thus taking away the ingrained religious damage.
IMO this was a missed opportunity!
Also being reminded of his multiple “endeavors” in the middle of his and Birdie’s sexual exploration and liberation, was so off putting (the numbing lube scene 🫣😖) or the knowledge that he felt something similar with another person, who submitted beautifully like Birdie, is not making his need single minded or special!
I know what romance genre is supposed to be in its form but (and that authors and publishers are still pushing for the expansion of its concepts, mainly for material gain) in this author’s case recycling a theme about “exploring the tension between flesh and spirit” and having an obsessed but “active” hero (and giving man yet again the free pass and better outcome) in this heavy context of purity culture damage (where again woman gets the brunt of it all) is like beating a dead horse… or completely missing its mark… So yes, I do understand her thematic intent but I also see the flaws in narrative choices…
Also as much as I appreciate a correct definition of a term, movement, or in this case, sexuality, I also dislike people jumping into comment sections and insulting and attacking personal interpretations and reviews of a book! Even if you might be right, in some aspects, how you go about expressing them is important. Also, each person has a unique perspective and views, so there is no “right” way to perceive and filter a book! If they felt annoyed, angry, or elated by a book -it is their own personal experience! You are most certainly allowed a discussion and there is always a way to disagree, but it should be done in a civilized and respectful manner…
Not sure about rating for the content 2,75/5 but audio uplifts it to a 3,5/5? (Still debating… 😣)
Audio in duet is amazing 5/5🎧 I am familiar with Jacob’s narration but Megan Wicks is so very talented! 🙌
MMC is not celibate during separation but they also didn’t have a relationship - he is basically obsessed with FMC but while searching for her for 7 years, he is sexually active with others - and that comes up during their intimate moments! (Yikes!)
I do not think Sierra was trying to glorify virginity or religious shame… Where this book fails is in the double standard -just because the thematic message is strong doesn't mean this book isn't flawed!
When you look at Devil (and the entire Priest collection), it is clear that she uses romance as a tool to critique and deconstruct religious trauma, not to praise it…
In Devil, Birdie Cooper’s character arc relies on an exploration of how purity culture weaponizes guilt to control women.
When Birdie is caught in a compromising situation seven years prior, her sanctimonious church community and "judgmental best friend" cast her out, stripping away her credentials, her art and her support system.
I believe that Sierra Simone is not holding Birdie’s celibacy or innocence up as a holy ideal (you could definitely see her views and stance in her other works). Here, she is showing the real-world consequences of a system that conditions adults to believe their entire human worth is tied to some rigid religious and cultural concepts (more so about purity in this case!). That’s why there might be confusion between a character's deep internal conditioning and the author's message.
(Having worked alongside specialists, we have seen so many people, even those with higher educational levels, struggle with cultural and religious issues, so I know this is still a real problem in these days!)
Birdie is deeply spiritual, but she is also drowning in unrecognized trauma and religious guilt. I believe this was intentionally designed to show that healing from religious trauma requires shattering the shame attached to desire.(But it was tedious - especially her conditioning and inner turmoil). When Ryan Bell (the "Devil") steps in, his obsession forces Birdie to confront her deeply ingrained guilt and reclaim her bodily agency. This framing of sexual awakening, was meant to be a path toward emotional liberation and healing from her past…
Because this entire series uses a significant amount of biblical allusions, theological metaphors and in this installment, a virginal, deeply religious heroine, I understand how this can be taken at face value…
All this being said, that doesn’t mean this book has succeeded in breaking the very patterns it claims to critique!
The main issue is the MMC’s lack of immediate celibacy, which definitely rubs many readers the wrong way!
My expectations were not of complete celibacy, but not having, a supposedly obsessed MMC, practice at least a year or two of it, ruins the illusion of his immense need and desire for the FMC…
Moreover, such lack of control and basic impulse restraint caters to patriarchal views where men are unable to remain celibate or faithful and are glorified for such endeavors, while women are vilified for the same behaviors… It would have made for a much more impactful experience if the MMC remained obsessed and celibate while scheming “like a devil”and finding 🔥ways to corrupt the FMC into carnal sins, thus taking away the ingrained religious damage.
IMO this was a missed opportunity!
Also being reminded of his multiple “endeavors” in the middle of his and Birdie’s sexual exploration and liberation, was so off putting (the numbing lube scene 🫣😖) or the knowledge that he felt something similar with another person, who submitted beautifully like Birdie, is not making his need single minded or special!
I know what romance genre is supposed to be in its form but (and that authors and publishers are still pushing for the expansion of its concepts, mainly for material gain) in this author’s case recycling a theme about “exploring the tension between flesh and spirit” and having an obsessed but “active” hero (and giving man yet again the free pass and better outcome) in this heavy context of purity culture damage (where again woman gets the brunt of it all) is like beating a dead horse… or completely missing its mark… So yes, I do understand her thematic intent but I also see the flaws in narrative choices…
Also as much as I appreciate a correct definition of a term, movement, or in this case, sexuality, I also dislike people jumping into comment sections and insulting and attacking personal interpretations and reviews of a book! Even if you might be right, in some aspects, how you go about expressing them is important. Also, each person has a unique perspective and views, so there is no “right” way to perceive and filter a book! If they felt annoyed, angry, or elated by a book -it is their own personal experience! You are most certainly allowed a discussion and there is always a way to disagree, but it should be done in a civilized and respectful manner…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Devil: ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Sierra Simone
I'm bedeviled by you.
After making a mistake with the devil, it would be a bad idea to make a deal. Oops.
Tropes:
– Dark romance
– Older woman/younger man
– Forced proximity
– Dubious consent
– Boy obsessed
– It's always been you
– Second chance(ish)
I knew that Ryan Bell was going to be an experience but man, I was not expecting this. This story is so unique when compared to the rest of this series but in the best way. As always, Sierra's writing is captivating and addictive. Once you start reading, you just do not want to stop. It was so hard for me to try to to pace myself while reading this because I wanted to devour it all at once. Not to mention, I actually could not read this with my family in the same zip code.
Filled with darkness and obsession and love, Devil takes us on a seven year-long journey between professor Birdie Cooper and her student Ryan Bell. Ryan is obsessed with the docile artist to a point of concern, but deep down, she loves it.
I found myself highlighting almost half the book because of how brilliant and sensual every single line was. I've said this a hundred times before but Sierra Simone is a complete master of her craft and Devil is a perfect example of that.
This book was the easiest five stars. It is absolutely sensational, unbelievably exhilarating and utterly delectable. This is Sierra Simone at her finest—the absolute pinnacle.
Ryan Bell, you are the worst thing and the best thing.
Thank you to Sierra for the early copy–you know I adore you, mwah.
Sierra Simone
I'm bedeviled by you.
After making a mistake with the devil, it would be a bad idea to make a deal. Oops.
Tropes:
– Dark romance
– Older woman/younger man
– Forced proximity
– Dubious consent
– Boy obsessed
– It's always been you
– Second chance(ish)
I knew that Ryan Bell was going to be an experience but man, I was not expecting this. This story is so unique when compared to the rest of this series but in the best way. As always, Sierra's writing is captivating and addictive. Once you start reading, you just do not want to stop. It was so hard for me to try to to pace myself while reading this because I wanted to devour it all at once. Not to mention, I actually could not read this with my family in the same zip code.
Filled with darkness and obsession and love, Devil takes us on a seven year-long journey between professor Birdie Cooper and her student Ryan Bell. Ryan is obsessed with the docile artist to a point of concern, but deep down, she loves it.
I found myself highlighting almost half the book because of how brilliant and sensual every single line was. I've said this a hundred times before but Sierra Simone is a complete master of her craft and Devil is a perfect example of that.
This book was the easiest five stars. It is absolutely sensational, unbelievably exhilarating and utterly delectable. This is Sierra Simone at her finest—the absolute pinnacle.
Ryan Bell, you are the worst thing and the best thing.
Thank you to Sierra for the early copy–you know I adore you, mwah.
Want to Read
September 29, 2025On my knees for whatever this is 🛐
ITS A DARK MM ROMANCE?? QUEEN I HAVEN’T EVEN MOVED ON FROM SAINT YET 🥹 (but I am soo ready)
Edit:
It’s not an MM, I am crying and disappointed. But that’s alright. The “MM romance” tag needs to be removed from Goodreads though 🥲
ITS A DARK MM ROMANCE?? QUEEN I HAVEN’T EVEN MOVED ON FROM SAINT YET 🥹 (but I am soo ready)
Edit:
It’s not an MM, I am crying and disappointed. But that’s alright. The “MM romance” tag needs to be removed from Goodreads though 🥲
Review of advance copy received from Author
Listen... I always struggle to immediately give a reaction to Sierra Simone books. I finished it two days ago, and I still don't know how to adequately share how I feel about what I read. My heart was racing and my blood was pumping. I shed tears and I knashed my teeth. It's a whole experience.
I truly get lost in the world that Sierra paints, or in this case carves, around me every time. That doesn't mean I'm not aware of some of the issues with this one. It doesn't mean I don't think some of the lore is actually bigger that the story itself. But it DOES mean that I find her type of storytelling the exact type of melodrama that speaks to my soul.
Is Ryan Bell REALLY the "devil"? Is he really a bad man? Is he really going to drag Birdie into sin that which she has never experienced before? Well, maybe no, maybe yes. It's all realative. I think if the Priest series is the only series of Sierra's you've ever read, Ryan might feel like the "baddest" Bell. But at the end of the day, he's a rich boy obsessed with an older woman and he wants to make all her dreams come true. He's not an assassin, supervillain, or a murderer... but he is pure temptation for Birdie.
And look, he is a stalker and he does make her an "offer" that's morally corrupt. All in hopes of convincing her they are meant to be together. Maybe I'm the one who is bent a bit, now that I think about it... However, I think that Birdie NEEDS someone to put her first and NEEDS someone to almost trick her into doing that. She's so self sacrificing that it is costing her health and happiness to serve others.
Anyway, It's steamy, it's emotional, it will make you question your morals. That's the staple of a Sierra Simone novel. I do think the 3rd act was wild, and I know Birdie needed to make some revelations, but I really didn't find Ryan that naughty. He certainly wasn't a "bad" man to me. But that's all relative, as I mentioned. I think I liked him almost as much as Tyler. Haha!
I listened to a Duet Narration performed by Jacob Morgan and Megan Wicks. Such a nuanced and excellent performance by both of them.
5 Stars
4.5 on the spice scale
CW: Mental Health, Self Harm, Parental Death, Addiction, Stalking, Violence, Neglected Injury leading to a hospital stay, cohersive sexual situations, financial insecurity, themes of BDSM with Free Use as a main topic. (Author lists more in the beginning)
*Thank you to the author for an eARC & ALC, and to Bloom Books for a physical ARC.*
I truly get lost in the world that Sierra paints, or in this case carves, around me every time. That doesn't mean I'm not aware of some of the issues with this one. It doesn't mean I don't think some of the lore is actually bigger that the story itself. But it DOES mean that I find her type of storytelling the exact type of melodrama that speaks to my soul.
Is Ryan Bell REALLY the "devil"? Is he really a bad man? Is he really going to drag Birdie into sin that which she has never experienced before? Well, maybe no, maybe yes. It's all realative. I think if the Priest series is the only series of Sierra's you've ever read, Ryan might feel like the "baddest" Bell. But at the end of the day, he's a rich boy obsessed with an older woman and he wants to make all her dreams come true. He's not an assassin, supervillain, or a murderer... but he is pure temptation for Birdie.
And look, he is a stalker and he does make her an "offer" that's morally corrupt. All in hopes of convincing her they are meant to be together. Maybe I'm the one who is bent a bit, now that I think about it... However, I think that Birdie NEEDS someone to put her first and NEEDS someone to almost trick her into doing that. She's so self sacrificing that it is costing her health and happiness to serve others.
Anyway, It's steamy, it's emotional, it will make you question your morals. That's the staple of a Sierra Simone novel. I do think the 3rd act was wild, and I know Birdie needed to make some revelations, but I really didn't find Ryan that naughty. He certainly wasn't a "bad" man to me. But that's all relative, as I mentioned. I think I liked him almost as much as Tyler. Haha!
I listened to a Duet Narration performed by Jacob Morgan and Megan Wicks. Such a nuanced and excellent performance by both of them.
5 Stars
4.5 on the spice scale
CW: Mental Health, Self Harm, Parental Death, Addiction, Stalking, Violence, Neglected Injury leading to a hospital stay, cohersive sexual situations, financial insecurity, themes of BDSM with Free Use as a main topic. (Author lists more in the beginning)
*Thank you to the author for an eARC & ALC, and to Bloom Books for a physical ARC.*
August 8, 2026
3*** stars
Ryan Bell was a big surprise. he was not at all what i expected, especially knowing his brothers. although i should have, giving the title of (t)his book.
i was wary of him from the very beginning, even if the author warned me, saying “Ryan Bell is a bad person”. he was obsessed with Birdy. but it didn’t feel emotional, more like a principal. he latched onto her, claimed her as his because he decided so and he doesn’t share his toys. this kind of obsession and possessiveness. i don’t like it. never did.
and then your friend over there is totally giddy with excitement about his character. *lmaooo
Ryan’s mental state didn’t quite make him the bad person i expected. what i also didn’t expect was an overwhelmingly ratio of Birdy’s POV instead of Ryan’s like it was in the other books. so i didn’t even got to enjoy the majority of the audiobook listening to Jacob Morgan. shame, tbh.
in the end i was basically bored with the whole story from the halfway-mark forward and relied heavily on Anita’s summaries (thanks for that, girl). i wasn’t at all invested anymore and just hopped into some random chapters til i reached the end. overall i could’ve gone without it entirely. but the beginning was still kind of good so i’m settling for three reluctant stars.
still, i’m looking forward to Father Jordan’s book and hoping like hell for another MM. also, Ryan is bi. so he could’ve easily become obsessed with another man. just saying.
*************
Priest Series
Book 1 - Priest - 5☆ rating, no review
Book 1.5 - Midnight Mass - 5☆ rating, no review
Book 2 - Sinner - 4☆ rating, no review
Book 3 - Saint - 5.0 stars
Book 4 - DevilDevil - 3.0 stars
Book 5 - tbd
--- pre-read note ---
well i guess we all have hoped this would be another MM romance in the series (the tag was there, it was close). but hey, i loved the first two before "saint" stole the whole show, there is no reason why i shouldn't love ryan's book just as much. right?
Ryan Bell was a big surprise. he was not at all what i expected, especially knowing his brothers. although i should have, giving the title of (t)his book.
i was wary of him from the very beginning, even if the author warned me, saying “Ryan Bell is a bad person”. he was obsessed with Birdy. but it didn’t feel emotional, more like a principal. he latched onto her, claimed her as his because he decided so and he doesn’t share his toys. this kind of obsession and possessiveness. i don’t like it. never did.
and then your friend over there is totally giddy with excitement about his character. *lmaooo
Ryan’s mental state didn’t quite make him the bad person i expected. what i also didn’t expect was an overwhelmingly ratio of Birdy’s POV instead of Ryan’s like it was in the other books. so i didn’t even got to enjoy the majority of the audiobook listening to Jacob Morgan. shame, tbh.
in the end i was basically bored with the whole story from the halfway-mark forward and relied heavily on Anita’s summaries (thanks for that, girl). i wasn’t at all invested anymore and just hopped into some random chapters til i reached the end. overall i could’ve gone without it entirely. but the beginning was still kind of good so i’m settling for three reluctant stars.
still, i’m looking forward to Father Jordan’s book and hoping like hell for another MM. also, Ryan is bi. so he could’ve easily become obsessed with another man. just saying.
*************
Priest Series
Book 1 - Priest - 5☆ rating, no review
Book 1.5 - Midnight Mass - 5☆ rating, no review
Book 2 - Sinner - 4☆ rating, no review
Book 3 - Saint - 5.0 stars
Book 4 - DevilDevil - 3.0 stars
Book 5 - tbd
--- pre-read note ---
well i guess we all have hoped this would be another MM romance in the series (the tag was there, it was close). but hey, i loved the first two before "saint" stole the whole show, there is no reason why i shouldn't love ryan's book just as much. right?
June 22, 2026
It took me forever to finish this ARC. I was in a reading slump and it just didn’t catch my attention.
It was fairly predictable and I was bored at times.
Ryan is not much of a devil after all. He’s so taken by Birdy that he never really becomes the devil he says he is. And Birdy is just a sucker for anything Ryan Bell. There wasn’t the fighting their feelings as much as I’d hoped for.
It was steaming hot of course because Sierra always delivers on that part. But I wasn’t really excited about the storyline.
He coheres her into living with him and becoming his play thing for a year so she can support her twin sister who always gets in trouble and Birdy has to bail her out of whatever situations she gets herself into. The twin thing didn’t make much sense tbh, I didn’t get it. And the 30 year old virgin is so outdated I was not into it.
The Bell family was around but we didn’t get to witness much of the family dynamic. It was surface level. I’d hoped for a little more insight to where they were today.
This is the lowest I’ve ever rated a Sierra Simone book.
It was just with out the usual eyes glued to each page as I’ve become used to reading SS.
The New Camelot trilogy is my all time favorite! 🫶🏼 the Lyonesse trilogy comes close and Saint is my all time favorite MM, so this was just a bit disappointing
I’d hoped for greatness but all I got was good enough🤷🏻♀️
I appreciate the ARC opportunity. Been waiting for this book for years :)
It was fairly predictable and I was bored at times.
Ryan is not much of a devil after all. He’s so taken by Birdy that he never really becomes the devil he says he is. And Birdy is just a sucker for anything Ryan Bell. There wasn’t the fighting their feelings as much as I’d hoped for.
It was steaming hot of course because Sierra always delivers on that part. But I wasn’t really excited about the storyline.
He coheres her into living with him and becoming his play thing for a year so she can support her twin sister who always gets in trouble and Birdy has to bail her out of whatever situations she gets herself into. The twin thing didn’t make much sense tbh, I didn’t get it. And the 30 year old virgin is so outdated I was not into it.
The Bell family was around but we didn’t get to witness much of the family dynamic. It was surface level. I’d hoped for a little more insight to where they were today.
This is the lowest I’ve ever rated a Sierra Simone book.
It was just with out the usual eyes glued to each page as I’ve become used to reading SS.
The New Camelot trilogy is my all time favorite! 🫶🏼 the Lyonesse trilogy comes close and Saint is my all time favorite MM, so this was just a bit disappointing
I’d hoped for greatness but all I got was good enough🤷🏻♀️
I appreciate the ARC opportunity. Been waiting for this book for years :)
not-for-me
August 16, 2026Sad that the very trope that this book is embodying (one of the many) falls short in actually being present.
SPOILERS
I will NEVER understand the obsessed MMC who can’t remain celibate…
Stalking?
Obsession?
Should never follow up with “but he sleeps around as well”.
It’s not in the room with us 😒.
Doesn’t make sense to me 🤷🏻♀️
And, of course, the heroine is a virgin 😐. The same patriarchal views that are being challenged (as well as the double standards) are basically put on the back burner to continue to hold the stigma of virginity (for women)/promiscuity (for men) to be acceptable or maybe even the status quo.
Sigh. It’s like I can’t escape these books 🫠.
Yes. This is rooted in religion and the makeup of so many people’s views in what’s right and wrong, and yet again, we get a MMC who is free to spread his seed while the FMC is shamed for even thinking of doing the same.
Anna has a in-depth review. Here’s her review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
SPOILERS
I will NEVER understand the obsessed MMC who can’t remain celibate…
Stalking?
Obsession?
Should never follow up with “but he sleeps around as well”.
It’s not in the room with us 😒.
Doesn’t make sense to me 🤷🏻♀️
And, of course, the heroine is a virgin 😐. The same patriarchal views that are being challenged (as well as the double standards) are basically put on the back burner to continue to hold the stigma of virginity (for women)/promiscuity (for men) to be acceptable or maybe even the status quo.
Sigh. It’s like I can’t escape these books 🫠.
Yes. This is rooted in religion and the makeup of so many people’s views in what’s right and wrong, and yet again, we get a MMC who is free to spread his seed while the FMC is shamed for even thinking of doing the same.
Anna has a in-depth review. Here’s her review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
October 23, 2025
we have been waiting patiently for ryans book .. its coming dont panic dont panic .. im panicking 🤭🤭🤣🤣🫠🫠🫠🤤🤤🫣🫣
August 23, 2026
I mainly experienced this one on audio, and let me just say… Jacob Morgan’s voice should come with a warning. 🥵 He absolutely owned Ryan’s character. Megan Wicks was fantastic as Birdie too—they both delivered such an immersive performance.
This was such a fun, spicy read, and I really enjoyed Birdie and Ryan’s relationship. I don’t think I’ve ever read a dynamic quite like theirs before.
Ryan first meets Birdie when he is her student and she’s his professor. Despite the age difference—with Birdie being older—Ryan quickly becomes fascinated, then completely obsessed with her. His obsession eventually leads to him stalking her and relentlessly pursuing a relationship with her. After they’re almost caught together at the school, Birdie loses her job and becomes ostracized, forcing her to take on odd jobs just to support herself and her sister.
Seven years later, Ryan finally tracks her down and offers her an unconventional arrangement: she’ll spend a year with him, during which he can explore the dynamic they both want, and in return he’ll take care of her financially. Desperate and with few options, Birdie agrees.
What I loved most was watching Ryan go from obsession to complete devotion. Beneath all the possessiveness, he genuinely wanted Birdie to see herself the way he saw her, and I loved watching her slowly regain her confidence and sense of self throughout the story.
My biggest issue was the pacing. There were moments where the book felt overly wordy, and I found my attention drifting. I also think it could have benefited from being a little shorter, as some sections dragged. With a tighter, more cohesive plot, I think this could have been an even stronger read for me.
Overall, this was an entertaining, addictive, and very spicy romance with fantastic audiobook narration. While it wasn’t a perfect read, Birdie and Ryan definitely kept me invested until the very end.
This was such a fun, spicy read, and I really enjoyed Birdie and Ryan’s relationship. I don’t think I’ve ever read a dynamic quite like theirs before.
Ryan first meets Birdie when he is her student and she’s his professor. Despite the age difference—with Birdie being older—Ryan quickly becomes fascinated, then completely obsessed with her. His obsession eventually leads to him stalking her and relentlessly pursuing a relationship with her. After they’re almost caught together at the school, Birdie loses her job and becomes ostracized, forcing her to take on odd jobs just to support herself and her sister.
Seven years later, Ryan finally tracks her down and offers her an unconventional arrangement: she’ll spend a year with him, during which he can explore the dynamic they both want, and in return he’ll take care of her financially. Desperate and with few options, Birdie agrees.
What I loved most was watching Ryan go from obsession to complete devotion. Beneath all the possessiveness, he genuinely wanted Birdie to see herself the way he saw her, and I loved watching her slowly regain her confidence and sense of self throughout the story.
My biggest issue was the pacing. There were moments where the book felt overly wordy, and I found my attention drifting. I also think it could have benefited from being a little shorter, as some sections dragged. With a tighter, more cohesive plot, I think this could have been an even stronger read for me.
Overall, this was an entertaining, addictive, and very spicy romance with fantastic audiobook narration. While it wasn’t a perfect read, Birdie and Ryan definitely kept me invested until the very end.
August 13, 2026
4.5/5⭐️ somehow extremely meaningful and emotional and also spicy as hell?!?! perfect perfect perfect!
August 11, 2026
0/10!!!
The mmc is vile. He ruined the fmcs life. Then comes back after 7 years to pay for her body by using her miserable situation to kind of force her to say yes to prostitution!!
She has sold, blood, plasma, considered selling her eggs for money but she was too old, all this to help her sister and then she say, is my vagina more precious than my blood 💔 this was a heartbreaking sentence. Her reasoning for saying yes is that she is so exhaused and tired to fight so she might as well endure it because she has nothing to loose. And the mmc is ecstatic when she agrees because she has no other choice. I am beyond disgusted by this mmc. I do not understand how this will be a love story. There is no redemption for this imo, yuck.
I read the trigger warnings and it did not make it out to be on this level, awful.
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.
The mmc is vile. He ruined the fmcs life. Then comes back after 7 years to pay for her body by using her miserable situation to kind of force her to say yes to prostitution!!
She has sold, blood, plasma, considered selling her eggs for money but she was too old, all this to help her sister and then she say, is my vagina more precious than my blood 💔 this was a heartbreaking sentence. Her reasoning for saying yes is that she is so exhaused and tired to fight so she might as well endure it because she has nothing to loose. And the mmc is ecstatic when she agrees because she has no other choice. I am beyond disgusted by this mmc. I do not understand how this will be a love story. There is no redemption for this imo, yuck.
I read the trigger warnings and it did not make it out to be on this level, awful.
DO NOT READ THIS BOOK.
September 28, 2026
Sometimes a girl just needs a little push to make the right decision, right? Birdie just needed a little... encouragement. 🙂↕️
Jokes aside, Sierra Simone does it again. Her writing is addictive, and Devil had me hooked from the start. Religious guilt, obsession, secrets, complicated history, attraction, and a level of emotional dependence that probably should concern me more than it does... It’s messy, intense, and toxic as hell, but it all works.
I especially loved slowly discovering just how deep Ryan’s obsession with Birdie goes. At first, you think you understand the dynamic between them, and then the book keeps peeling back more layers. Their history adds so much to everything happening in the present, and I loved seeing how much of Ryan’s life has always revolved around her.
And the audiobook was something else entirely. Jacob Morgan’s performance was phenomenal. The pleading, the breathless delivery, the desperate little noises... yeah. My dignity left the chat.
Apparently, I have a weakness for religious guilt and deeply questionable men. Good to know.
Jokes aside, Sierra Simone does it again. Her writing is addictive, and Devil had me hooked from the start. Religious guilt, obsession, secrets, complicated history, attraction, and a level of emotional dependence that probably should concern me more than it does... It’s messy, intense, and toxic as hell, but it all works.
I especially loved slowly discovering just how deep Ryan’s obsession with Birdie goes. At first, you think you understand the dynamic between them, and then the book keeps peeling back more layers. Their history adds so much to everything happening in the present, and I loved seeing how much of Ryan’s life has always revolved around her.
And the audiobook was something else entirely. Jacob Morgan’s performance was phenomenal. The pleading, the breathless delivery, the desperate little noises... yeah. My dignity left the chat.
Apparently, I have a weakness for religious guilt and deeply questionable men. Good to know.
July 13, 2026
.. I absolutely hate to do this I really do... this just wasn’t it...
It wasn’t even that dark at all, there’s a trigger warning page in the beginning stating this is the darkest book she ever wrote, and I don’t think I agree with that.
To be completely honest this was a 50 Shades of Grey spin off just with overtly religious themes thrown in. I absolutely adore Sierras writing any other time, but this was TORTURE for me to finish.
FMC was INSUFFERABLE... the twin stuff I think was completely unnecessary and led nothing to the story. Sure, she’s one of the reasons that Birdie suffered so much but we didn’t need sooooo much back story on that. This didn’t even seem like her writing... I have read Priest TWICE and listened to the audio book, that’s how much I love that book... this was just bad. Cringe worthy at times and I think it has done a complete disservice to the series, unfortunately. My opinion is my own and I’m allowed to have it.
He is not in fact a devil at all... he was Christian Grey at best, but not in a good way...
It wasn’t even that dark at all, there’s a trigger warning page in the beginning stating this is the darkest book she ever wrote, and I don’t think I agree with that.
To be completely honest this was a 50 Shades of Grey spin off just with overtly religious themes thrown in. I absolutely adore Sierras writing any other time, but this was TORTURE for me to finish.
FMC was INSUFFERABLE... the twin stuff I think was completely unnecessary and led nothing to the story. Sure, she’s one of the reasons that Birdie suffered so much but we didn’t need sooooo much back story on that. This didn’t even seem like her writing... I have read Priest TWICE and listened to the audio book, that’s how much I love that book... this was just bad. Cringe worthy at times and I think it has done a complete disservice to the series, unfortunately. My opinion is my own and I’m allowed to have it.
He is not in fact a devil at all... he was Christian Grey at best, but not in a good way...
September 3, 2026
(⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/5) Hmmm. Don’t ask lol.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Heat Index: 8.5/10
It was fairly late in the book that I realized why this felt different from the previous Bell Brothers books—Priest, Sinner, and Saint. Where all those (great) books are primarily single POV with brief flashes of secondary POVs, Devil is a true dual POV book. This is actually more in line with Sierra Simone's other works, and it really does hit you hard. Again, the other books are great, and I think the POV choices for each novel serves them well. But there's a reason why you get as much of Birdie's perspective as Ryan's here—arguably more.
Because this is a dark romance. But it's the kind of dark romance that feels dark in a way tethered to our reality—which is far darker than the various heightened, campy, books we see in the space as of late (that's not a criticism! They're just apples and oranges in terms of approach). It's dark in that Birdie does that thing a lot of us do all the time while casually dismissing it. The "I would never Do It, but maybe I could Let It Happen", the passive ideation that can grow into something a lot less passive.
And I mean. Ryan Bell is also a freak of nature. There's that, too.
The emotional intensity of Devil is wrapped up in a romance that's incredibly hot, and also quite fun and swoony. That's why it's compulsively readable, instead of a bit too much. Like, yeah, I found this book a bit emotionally devastating. But it's also a great time, and that is a testament to how Sierra Simone has her particular flavor of dark romance down to a science. The angst and emotional authenticity is always there, but then she'll spend an entire chapter on a Particular Act and you'll be like "thank you for that break, ma'am." Truly why she's one of my favorite authors. She's figured out how to write some of the best sex scenes (and sexual development) in the game without sacrificing heartfelt romance and character development.
This does feel different from the other Bell books, and not just because neither party has taken or is about to take holy vows. (That isn't to say neither one has a calling! Birdie is absolutely called by God as an artist, a la Michelangelo, and I FUCKING LOVED THAT. But she needs to figure out how to do it all without suffering for her faith, y'know?) Everything seems so straightforward from the beginning—Bell did something really fucked up to Birdie, Birdie doesn't know how to feelabout it for a variety of reasons, Birdie is in horrible circumstances, Bell offers her an out. While she can't parse out his feelings, and he certainly doesn't own them upfront, you know very early on where this man is with her. If not quite... the extent.
And you get caught up in the swoon! Or at least, I did. The early flashback chapters make you feel exactly as Birdie does—seduced. You know this isn't a good guy. You know it's wrong. (While the dubcon later in the novel is pretty well-negotiated and a part of conscious play, the early stuff? Not so much, and that's very much by design.) But you get why she's so conflicted. Birdie's mind is such a great illustration of someone who needs to feel forced into something to really let herself go. That's quite sticky and looked down upon in much of our current society, and for understandable reasons. There's a fearlessness in letting her sit in the gray emotionally, while having her—and those around her—acknowledge the practicalities around the relationship.
Ryan's obsession with Birdie is both thrilling and intense on the side of being a little scary. It's more of that "you can do both". But again, despite his wealth and power and over the top behavior—I'm not saying this book is heavily rooted in reality, and it doesn't need to be—even his intensity is rooted in a tangibility that makes him feel like a person, whereas a lot of dark romance alphas feel like caricatures. He's so endearing! He spoils her! He makes her waffles! He cares so deeply for her! But there's also a mask in place, and you're fully aware of that... even as it starts to slip.
This is a character book, basically—which is one thing it does have in common with the previous Bell books. The twists aren't massive, and it's more about Ryan and Birdie's development, especially Birdie's. She's not this big, brash heroine. She's sad, she's suffering not only personally but spiritually, and she's frankly made for toxic relationships. There isn't some easy out for her, this big triumphant moment. However, she does find someone who sees her, someone who's willing to suffer for her, someone who understands her value. And there's just this really simple beauty, even in the heightened, heady world of Sierra Simone, in being loved like that. Even if the person who loves you is... kind of messed up.
One of my favorite things about this book is that it kind of sits in the gray spaces. It doesn't provide you easy answers. There isn't a "a-ha, we've found the way to be super morally in the right now" solution. What our characters come to is something that works for them. And oddly enough, despite this book almost giving me a heart attack at points—I felt very at peace with its ending. Those final few chapters are so emotionally intense, but it all pays off in such a lovely way.
The Sex:
I don't know how many times I can say "it's a Sierra Simone book, so... you know" in reviews! This book is ridiculously hot, and not just because of the kink. Ryan and Birdie's connection is based on years of pent-up desire and things left undone and unsaid and that one big secret still looming between them. That makes the tension ridiculous, even when they start hooking up fairly early.
The kink isn't ridiculously insane, especially compared to some of her more intense books, but it's definitely present, threaded through the characters and their relationship in the most natural way possible. Is there a whole chapter devoted to butt stuff? Yes, there sure is. But it's CHARACTER-BUILDING butt stuff.
The Conclusion:
This somehow matched the emotional intensity of Saint, and it may have even upped the stakes at points. It's a bit less directly about the Church in this case, but the spirituality hits hard, interwoven with sex in a way only she can pull off. (The image that was so ridiculously controversial a while ago? In context, it's both carnal and ridiculously beautiful.) We've been waiting for Ryan's book... and when you pair him with Birdie, it goes beyond simply paying off. One of my favorite reads of the year so far.
Thanks to Sierra Simone for giving me a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It was fairly late in the book that I realized why this felt different from the previous Bell Brothers books—Priest, Sinner, and Saint. Where all those (great) books are primarily single POV with brief flashes of secondary POVs, Devil is a true dual POV book. This is actually more in line with Sierra Simone's other works, and it really does hit you hard. Again, the other books are great, and I think the POV choices for each novel serves them well. But there's a reason why you get as much of Birdie's perspective as Ryan's here—arguably more.
Because this is a dark romance. But it's the kind of dark romance that feels dark in a way tethered to our reality—which is far darker than the various heightened, campy, books we see in the space as of late (that's not a criticism! They're just apples and oranges in terms of approach). It's dark in that Birdie does that thing a lot of us do all the time while casually dismissing it. The "I would never Do It, but maybe I could Let It Happen", the passive ideation that can grow into something a lot less passive.
And I mean. Ryan Bell is also a freak of nature. There's that, too.
The emotional intensity of Devil is wrapped up in a romance that's incredibly hot, and also quite fun and swoony. That's why it's compulsively readable, instead of a bit too much. Like, yeah, I found this book a bit emotionally devastating. But it's also a great time, and that is a testament to how Sierra Simone has her particular flavor of dark romance down to a science. The angst and emotional authenticity is always there, but then she'll spend an entire chapter on a Particular Act and you'll be like "thank you for that break, ma'am." Truly why she's one of my favorite authors. She's figured out how to write some of the best sex scenes (and sexual development) in the game without sacrificing heartfelt romance and character development.
This does feel different from the other Bell books, and not just because neither party has taken or is about to take holy vows. (That isn't to say neither one has a calling! Birdie is absolutely called by God as an artist, a la Michelangelo, and I FUCKING LOVED THAT. But she needs to figure out how to do it all without suffering for her faith, y'know?) Everything seems so straightforward from the beginning—Bell did something really fucked up to Birdie, Birdie doesn't know how to feelabout it for a variety of reasons, Birdie is in horrible circumstances, Bell offers her an out. While she can't parse out his feelings, and he certainly doesn't own them upfront, you know very early on where this man is with her. If not quite... the extent.
And you get caught up in the swoon! Or at least, I did. The early flashback chapters make you feel exactly as Birdie does—seduced. You know this isn't a good guy. You know it's wrong. (While the dubcon later in the novel is pretty well-negotiated and a part of conscious play, the early stuff? Not so much, and that's very much by design.) But you get why she's so conflicted. Birdie's mind is such a great illustration of someone who needs to feel forced into something to really let herself go. That's quite sticky and looked down upon in much of our current society, and for understandable reasons. There's a fearlessness in letting her sit in the gray emotionally, while having her—and those around her—acknowledge the practicalities around the relationship.
Ryan's obsession with Birdie is both thrilling and intense on the side of being a little scary. It's more of that "you can do both". But again, despite his wealth and power and over the top behavior—I'm not saying this book is heavily rooted in reality, and it doesn't need to be—even his intensity is rooted in a tangibility that makes him feel like a person, whereas a lot of dark romance alphas feel like caricatures. He's so endearing! He spoils her! He makes her waffles! He cares so deeply for her! But there's also a mask in place, and you're fully aware of that... even as it starts to slip.
This is a character book, basically—which is one thing it does have in common with the previous Bell books. The twists aren't massive, and it's more about Ryan and Birdie's development, especially Birdie's. She's not this big, brash heroine. She's sad, she's suffering not only personally but spiritually, and she's frankly made for toxic relationships. There isn't some easy out for her, this big triumphant moment. However, she does find someone who sees her, someone who's willing to suffer for her, someone who understands her value. And there's just this really simple beauty, even in the heightened, heady world of Sierra Simone, in being loved like that. Even if the person who loves you is... kind of messed up.
One of my favorite things about this book is that it kind of sits in the gray spaces. It doesn't provide you easy answers. There isn't a "a-ha, we've found the way to be super morally in the right now" solution. What our characters come to is something that works for them. And oddly enough, despite this book almost giving me a heart attack at points—I felt very at peace with its ending. Those final few chapters are so emotionally intense, but it all pays off in such a lovely way.
The Sex:
I don't know how many times I can say "it's a Sierra Simone book, so... you know" in reviews! This book is ridiculously hot, and not just because of the kink. Ryan and Birdie's connection is based on years of pent-up desire and things left undone and unsaid and that one big secret still looming between them. That makes the tension ridiculous, even when they start hooking up fairly early.
The kink isn't ridiculously insane, especially compared to some of her more intense books, but it's definitely present, threaded through the characters and their relationship in the most natural way possible. Is there a whole chapter devoted to butt stuff? Yes, there sure is. But it's CHARACTER-BUILDING butt stuff.
The Conclusion:
This somehow matched the emotional intensity of Saint, and it may have even upped the stakes at points. It's a bit less directly about the Church in this case, but the spirituality hits hard, interwoven with sex in a way only she can pull off. (The image that was so ridiculously controversial a while ago? In context, it's both carnal and ridiculously beautiful.) We've been waiting for Ryan's book... and when you pair him with Birdie, it goes beyond simply paying off. One of my favorite reads of the year so far.
Thanks to Sierra Simone for giving me a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 12, 2026
if so evil and manipulative, why so hot???
just when we thought it was over, sierra decided to bless us all with the last bell brother and lets just say ryan really wanted to make an impression, you will definitely be questioning him, his actions, and his morality but you can’t help but to love him all the same
our sweet, sweet birdie doesn’t even realize the web of madness she is bound to get herself in ryan😭and honestly? she didn’t stand a chance with the way he was plotting on her! after a while though, i’d say she didn’t mind too much👀
although this book was different from the rest of the series in terms of darkness and toxicity, it still had the classic sierra simone style of beautiful writing and undeniable love! i’m so excited to see what’s next after this series❣️
thank you Must Love Audio for the alc!
just when we thought it was over, sierra decided to bless us all with the last bell brother and lets just say ryan really wanted to make an impression, you will definitely be questioning him, his actions, and his morality but you can’t help but to love him all the same
our sweet, sweet birdie doesn’t even realize the web of madness she is bound to get herself in ryan😭and honestly? she didn’t stand a chance with the way he was plotting on her! after a while though, i’d say she didn’t mind too much👀
although this book was different from the rest of the series in terms of darkness and toxicity, it still had the classic sierra simone style of beautiful writing and undeniable love! i’m so excited to see what’s next after this series❣️
thank you Must Love Audio for the alc!
Want to Read
December 29, 2025last time i read a sierra simone i fell into a never-ending spiral... i'm ready for it to happen again
September 3, 2026
Book 4 • m/f • 2nd chance via forced proximity •
I had been absolutely hanging to read Ryan Bell’s book, especially after his little cameo at the end of The Lyonesse Series in Bitter Burn 😏
But I’m afraid this was a classic case of the anticipation leading to too high expectations, and I’m so sad about it 😩
Ryan, the youngest Bell brother. He’s supposed to be the morally corrupt of the brothers. (And he had some competition with Tyler Bell, Sean Bell and Aiden Bell) 😏😏
Ryan has mastered his respectable facade, but he’s got some ‘devilish’ traits. Which tbh were not so bad. So he likes a little dubcon, and consensual noncon? Don’t mind if I do…
22yo Ryan comes after 29yo Birdie, his art teacher at a catholic college at the end of the semester. She’s had a rough life, her parents are dead, her twin is messed up, unable to keep a stable adult life and relies on Birdie for money. But what happens between her and Ryan sends Birdie’s life into a tailspin. And basically 7years later after no contact, Ryan essentially offers to make a deal with Birdie to hire her for his ’free-use’ for 12 months in exchange for financially supporting her troubled twin sister.
There was nothing wrong with this book really, it just didn’t have the angst of the previous books …or any plot points that brought anything actually interesting to Ryan and Birdie’s story. Just, nothing wowed me 😩🫣
Also this was told mostly from Birdie’s POV, which I think killed it for me. I don’t do self pity all that well 😬
Sierra Simone’s writing was beautiful as ever. But ultimately I was left underwhelmed, even though the premise had such potential for me to love it. It was all just a bit… SNORE 🥱
I hate myself right now. I wish I loved this more. 😭
I listened to the audio, which was fine, but even Jacob Morgan didn’t improve the book for me, which I know, I’m just as surprised! 😵💫
The best thing about this book is that model cover… I mean, just look at it… 👀
3⭐️
3🌶️
Book 1 - Priest updated rating to 4 ★
Book 1.5 - Midnight Mass 3.5 ★
Book 2 - Sinner 5 ★
Book 3 - Saint 4.5 > 5 ★
I had been absolutely hanging to read Ryan Bell’s book, especially after his little cameo at the end of The Lyonesse Series in Bitter Burn 😏
But I’m afraid this was a classic case of the anticipation leading to too high expectations, and I’m so sad about it 😩
Ryan, the youngest Bell brother. He’s supposed to be the morally corrupt of the brothers. (And he had some competition with Tyler Bell, Sean Bell and Aiden Bell) 😏😏
Ryan has mastered his respectable facade, but he’s got some ‘devilish’ traits. Which tbh were not so bad. So he likes a little dubcon, and consensual noncon? Don’t mind if I do…
22yo Ryan comes after 29yo Birdie, his art teacher at a catholic college at the end of the semester. She’s had a rough life, her parents are dead, her twin is messed up, unable to keep a stable adult life and relies on Birdie for money. But what happens between her and Ryan sends Birdie’s life into a tailspin. And basically 7years later after no contact, Ryan essentially offers to make a deal with Birdie to hire her for his ’free-use’ for 12 months in exchange for financially supporting her troubled twin sister.
There was nothing wrong with this book really, it just didn’t have the angst of the previous books …or any plot points that brought anything actually interesting to Ryan and Birdie’s story. Just, nothing wowed me 😩🫣
I’m looking at a very sad girl who hasn’t been happy in so long that happiness itself petrifies her
Also this was told mostly from Birdie’s POV, which I think killed it for me. I don’t do self pity all that well 😬
Sierra Simone’s writing was beautiful as ever. But ultimately I was left underwhelmed, even though the premise had such potential for me to love it. It was all just a bit… SNORE 🥱
I hate myself right now. I wish I loved this more. 😭
I listened to the audio, which was fine, but even Jacob Morgan didn’t improve the book for me, which I know, I’m just as surprised! 😵💫
The best thing about this book is that model cover… I mean, just look at it… 👀
3⭐️
3🌶️
Book 1 - Priest updated rating to 4 ★
Book 1.5 - Midnight Mass 3.5 ★
Book 2 - Sinner 5 ★
Book 3 - Saint 4.5 > 5 ★
June 1, 2026
I’ve read it twice already, and I will probably read it a billionty times, because I’m mad for this book. Bought the floral cover, bought the model cover (cost me a fortune in shipping fees from the US but I needed it in my life).
I’m definitely going to hell, but only if Ryan Bell is there waiting for me. If his brothers could be there too, even better.
At one point, I think I nearly fainted reading this book, because I forgot to breathe. I’m still shaking. Who needs oxygen anyway, it’s for lightweights. I can live on this book. I could eat it for breakfast and dinner and tea and still be gagging for more.
I once promised Sierra Simone that I would give her my next born child in return for her writing something I wanted - it was in the days of New Camelot, when she was hurting my beautiful Embry. My baby days are over, but I was thinking maybe I could offer up a grandchild; I haven’t got any yet, but I was quite prepared to put the offer in writing at one particular part in the book, but then she gave me just what I wanted without having to sacrifice a child. I clapped joyfully and cheered so loud that I think she could have heard me all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. That scene is why I think I might be consigned to hell. Don’t care though #worthit. Honestly you will know what I’m on about when you read it.
I’m forever in awe of the mastery of Sierra’s writing. I didn’t just love Ryan Bell and Birdie Cooper, I worshipped them. I want to put them on a little altar and kneel at their feet.
PS. Please can we have a bonus chapter on what happened in London? I might re-offer that grandchild. Or maybe I could offer to feed Sierra pomegranate seeds.
I’m definitely going to hell, but only if Ryan Bell is there waiting for me. If his brothers could be there too, even better.
At one point, I think I nearly fainted reading this book, because I forgot to breathe. I’m still shaking. Who needs oxygen anyway, it’s for lightweights. I can live on this book. I could eat it for breakfast and dinner and tea and still be gagging for more.
I once promised Sierra Simone that I would give her my next born child in return for her writing something I wanted - it was in the days of New Camelot, when she was hurting my beautiful Embry. My baby days are over, but I was thinking maybe I could offer up a grandchild; I haven’t got any yet, but I was quite prepared to put the offer in writing at one particular part in the book, but then she gave me just what I wanted without having to sacrifice a child. I clapped joyfully and cheered so loud that I think she could have heard me all the way across the Atlantic Ocean. That scene is why I think I might be consigned to hell. Don’t care though #worthit. Honestly you will know what I’m on about when you read it.
I’m forever in awe of the mastery of Sierra’s writing. I didn’t just love Ryan Bell and Birdie Cooper, I worshipped them. I want to put them on a little altar and kneel at their feet.
PS. Please can we have a bonus chapter on what happened in London? I might re-offer that grandchild. Or maybe I could offer to feed Sierra pomegranate seeds.
September 27, 2026
4.25⭐️ James Bell was pretty much a walking talking red flag at the beginning of the story but he was also narrated by Jacob Morgan so they kind of cancel each other out… right? 🤷♀️
Jokes aside, this was one of my favourites in the Priest series! However, it’s definitely more on the morally questionable side of things when in comparison to the previous books.
Jokes aside, this was one of my favourites in the Priest series! However, it’s definitely more on the morally questionable side of things when in comparison to the previous books.
August 19, 2026
The audiobook gave me goosebumps like 70% of the time. It's sooo good! Sierra Simone - she never miss!
July 12, 2026
My brain is leaking out of my ears after this one (derogatory)
September 23, 2026
The Devil – Sierra SimoneTropes
😈 Age Gap
⛪ Forbidden Love / Student & Teacher
💰 Money for Pleasure
🌶️ Super Spicy
🙏 Church & Religion
👀 Stalking
💕 Crush
🔥 Dark Romance
Ryan Bell.
Now THIS is the fourth Bell brother and the baby brother of the Bell family. He may look like an angel, but YES, he is the devil. 😈
Ryan has the good looks, the bad intentions, and somehow underneath all of that, a kind heart. Basically, he's beautiful, sinful, and completely irresistible.Then we have Birdie, a woman who has already been given a tough hand in life. Every girl dreams about her knight in shining armor coming to rescue her...
😇Birdie gets the devil instead. 😂😈apparently, sometimes the devil comes looking like Ryan Bell.
This book was INCREDIBLE.
It gave me the dark romance I wanted while keeping that same church and religious atmosphere that I've loved throughout this series. Sierra Simone knows exactly how to mix forbidden romance, complicated characters, religion, desire, and darkness into a story that keeps me completely invested.
I loved every minute of this book.
Sierra Simone can do no wrong for me. I have loved this entire series, and I'm so happy I was able to get my hands on a signed copy because she has officially become one of my top favorite authors.
I absolutely plan on reading more of her work.Verdict
SUPER RUINED. 😭🔥
I actually had to read this book in small pieces because I didn't want it to end. That's how much I was enjoying myself.
Ryan Bell, you beautiful little devil. 😈
This series gave me exactly the dark, forbidden, sinful romance I came for, and I'm genuinely sad to be reaching the end.
😈 Age Gap
⛪ Forbidden Love / Student & Teacher
💰 Money for Pleasure
🌶️ Super Spicy
🙏 Church & Religion
👀 Stalking
💕 Crush
🔥 Dark Romance
Ryan Bell.
Now THIS is the fourth Bell brother and the baby brother of the Bell family. He may look like an angel, but YES, he is the devil. 😈
Ryan has the good looks, the bad intentions, and somehow underneath all of that, a kind heart. Basically, he's beautiful, sinful, and completely irresistible.Then we have Birdie, a woman who has already been given a tough hand in life. Every girl dreams about her knight in shining armor coming to rescue her...
😇Birdie gets the devil instead. 😂😈apparently, sometimes the devil comes looking like Ryan Bell.
This book was INCREDIBLE.
It gave me the dark romance I wanted while keeping that same church and religious atmosphere that I've loved throughout this series. Sierra Simone knows exactly how to mix forbidden romance, complicated characters, religion, desire, and darkness into a story that keeps me completely invested.
I loved every minute of this book.
Sierra Simone can do no wrong for me. I have loved this entire series, and I'm so happy I was able to get my hands on a signed copy because she has officially become one of my top favorite authors.
I absolutely plan on reading more of her work.Verdict
SUPER RUINED. 😭🔥
I actually had to read this book in small pieces because I didn't want it to end. That's how much I was enjoying myself.
Ryan Bell, you beautiful little devil. 😈
This series gave me exactly the dark, forbidden, sinful romance I came for, and I'm genuinely sad to be reaching the end.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 Stars
Birdie + Ryan
Seven years ago Ryan Bell was in Birdie's art class.
Birdie was a pretty sought after wood-carving artist for Christian sculptures and she taught one art class at this religious college.
She was 29 and he was 22 - when he seduced her in her workshop.
She obviously got fired and hid back home on her family's old farm and she didn't make another religious sculpture for years until...
Ryan Bell never gave up looking for her and now he finally has new clues to find this woman - the one he could never get out of his head.
But innocent shy little Birdie could never want him with all his kinks and whatnots - so he has to blackmail her a little bit.
══════════════════
Well...that was ... kind of adorable.
The reader is warned at the beginning that this would be a very dark book with a pretty heartless hero. But I didn't see it that way at all.
Up until I've read half the story, I didn't know what Sierra was going on about with all the darkness and bad guy and whatnot.
I loved Ryan - obviously. We love all the Bell boys!
But even with the kinkiness and the 'blackmail' and the 'forcing' her to be with him and with her past and her family - it wasn't dark or bad. It was sweet.
Of course there are secrets and darkness and thoughts and stalkerish and controlling things, but they are both so obviously in love with each other that it's all just so very adorable.
As always in Sierra's books... I could've done without all those endless religious parts - I hate religion - but the rest of the book was sweet and sad and heartbreaking and erotic and sweet and adorable and I just loved reading it.
DEViL was such a sweet reverse age-gap love story with some very dark and serious parts. But it was also so very adorable and sexy and funny and so much more - READ IT!
If you can't click the buy-links
from your phone - click ► HERE!
💜
💜
August 24, 2026
4.5 stars rounded up!
I think of all the characters in the series, I see myself in Birdie more than any other character. I'm still dealing with that fact 😂
I think of all the characters in the series, I see myself in Birdie more than any other character. I'm still dealing with that fact 😂
September 9, 2026
Found out her real name is Mary and that was my last straw.
Real rating: 0.25
Edit: I finished it bc there’s one thing I hate more than a bad book and that’s giving up on one of my Hoopla borrows. Not to mention, I lost the receipt.
So, by sheer force of will, I managed to finish this sludge and I can now say—fully informed—that this is not only the worst book I’ve read this year, this is also one of the worst books I’ve read in /many/ years. It’s commendable, in a way, that she managed to write a book worse than Priest.
I’ve now read (to completion) 4 Sierra Simone books and I now wholeheartedly believe that Saint and, to a lesser extent, Sinner are outliers in Miss Simone’s work in the sense that they’re actually—good.
I thank my lucky stars every day that I read Saint first and then Sinner bc Lord knows I would’ve never made it if I read Priest first. And I sure as hell would’ve never even attempted the series if I read Salt Kiss first.
Real rating: 0.25
Edit: I finished it bc there’s one thing I hate more than a bad book and that’s giving up on one of my Hoopla borrows. Not to mention, I lost the receipt.
So, by sheer force of will, I managed to finish this sludge and I can now say—fully informed—that this is not only the worst book I’ve read this year, this is also one of the worst books I’ve read in /many/ years. It’s commendable, in a way, that she managed to write a book worse than Priest.
I’ve now read (to completion) 4 Sierra Simone books and I now wholeheartedly believe that Saint and, to a lesser extent, Sinner are outliers in Miss Simone’s work in the sense that they’re actually—good.
I thank my lucky stars every day that I read Saint first and then Sinner bc Lord knows I would’ve never made it if I read Priest first. And I sure as hell would’ve never even attempted the series if I read Salt Kiss first.
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