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The Path of Temptation #5
The Prayers We Pray
Be careful what you pray for - because even gods can be tempted.
The Temple of Temptation is broken. The system is failing the priests who serve faithfully, but Zeal isn't missing. He's simply powerless - or was.
As more priests believe in our god, the balance of power has been shifting. Temptation is thriving. Miracles are happening. The High Priest is struggling. In his attempts to control me, he's making it almost impossible to help the other gods.
Something has to give, and I'm worried it might be me.
With the last semester of my initiate training underway, things are supposed to be looking up. I finally have instructors who are grading me fairly. I no longer feel like a failure. However, my ties to the nobility of our barony have drawn just a little too much attention. The wrong kind.
The High Priest wants to get rid of me. My enemies want to destroy me out of jealousy. The nobility wants to put me in my place. My lovers want to protect me at all costs because things are starting to get dangerous.
None of that will stop me because gods aren't the only ones to answer prayers.
I am the voice of Zeal. I walk with the Blade, the Shield, the Temptation, and the Shadow. We are the devoted, five priests determined to serve our gods in any way they demand - but the divine holds no power over men who don't believe. Faith offers little to those who think they are the ones who should be worshipped.
Gods want love. Men want power. Everyone knows temptation.
To save Zeal, I'm tempted to destroy everything...
Even our traditions.
The Prayers We Pray is book 5 of a 6 book series.
Possible Triggers: Discussions of rape and assault, domestic violence, bullying, suicide, harassment, consensual pain and battery, shaming, sexual sadism, minor violence, and more adult themes.
The Path of Temptation series features a strong woman and the men who love her. Graphic language, adult situations, and potentially triggering violence that are suitable for a mature audience are included.
This is a love story, and while difficult topics are included, they are handled as respectfully as possible, because sometimes finding love isn't easy.
The Temple of Temptation is broken. The system is failing the priests who serve faithfully, but Zeal isn't missing. He's simply powerless - or was.
As more priests believe in our god, the balance of power has been shifting. Temptation is thriving. Miracles are happening. The High Priest is struggling. In his attempts to control me, he's making it almost impossible to help the other gods.
Something has to give, and I'm worried it might be me.
With the last semester of my initiate training underway, things are supposed to be looking up. I finally have instructors who are grading me fairly. I no longer feel like a failure. However, my ties to the nobility of our barony have drawn just a little too much attention. The wrong kind.
The High Priest wants to get rid of me. My enemies want to destroy me out of jealousy. The nobility wants to put me in my place. My lovers want to protect me at all costs because things are starting to get dangerous.
None of that will stop me because gods aren't the only ones to answer prayers.
I am the voice of Zeal. I walk with the Blade, the Shield, the Temptation, and the Shadow. We are the devoted, five priests determined to serve our gods in any way they demand - but the divine holds no power over men who don't believe. Faith offers little to those who think they are the ones who should be worshipped.
Gods want love. Men want power. Everyone knows temptation.
To save Zeal, I'm tempted to destroy everything...
Even our traditions.
The Prayers We Pray is book 5 of a 6 book series.
Possible Triggers: Discussions of rape and assault, domestic violence, bullying, suicide, harassment, consensual pain and battery, shaming, sexual sadism, minor violence, and more adult themes.
The Path of Temptation series features a strong woman and the men who love her. Graphic language, adult situations, and potentially triggering violence that are suitable for a mature audience are included.
This is a love story, and while difficult topics are included, they are handled as respectfully as possible, because sometimes finding love isn't easy.
658 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 17, 2021
332 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 98 reviews
December 19, 2021
There was a lot of this book that was just rehashing of things we have been over in other books. There was something that had basically been forgotten about as a plot point that was brought up, and disregarded almost as quickly as it came up. There were new points brought up and shoved in our faces, but then they too were disregarded. The pacing was all over the place. It was a struggle to get though it. I want to love the world and the characters and it's getting really hard to care. I want to know how the story ends so I will be reading book six, but this book was a lot of things that we had covered to death.
January 3, 2022
I’m pretty frustrated by the constant building of the characters feelings towards each other. The first few books I could understand, but this is book 5! I literally scrolled half the pages because it was the exact same over and over, book after book. We know how they feel about each other! Maybe the author is trying to drag out the series because we enjoyed the story? I don’t know. I loved the few actual climax points, but this just made me not care to read the next one. Bummer.
July 12, 2022
Over it 😒
How many times are they gonna repeat they don’t know what to do? Especially Narianna.
Narianna has to be spoon fed everything in order for her to understand basic shit. Wraythe was getting on my nerves this book because he’s never been known as a buff air head. Now all of a sudden he don’t know shit—he would’ve already pieced together mentally? 🤨 Eladehl has gotten better but I feel like Talin lost his personality somewhere between book 3 and 4. Like his character is so bleh.
The lunch meetings with Maela became really pointless and an inconvenience. The time they should’ve spent training,—because realistically their only real threat is death. Everything else has a perfect solution—outing Kinen, going to the other temples, they spent with Maela doing unnecessary shit. 😒
I’m also tired of the supposed “act” Narianna has been putting on. I’m suppose to believe she’s strong and only meek when needs be. But this entire series, she’s been meek even when she doesn’t, just so she doesn’t upset others. That doesn’t sound very strong to me. The one time she put Ciella in her place Fr, it was Zeal who did it. She hit Tishlie once—𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 twice, and then continued to let them get away with their behavior.
Ion know…if I find out they tried to poison my family and I, I would immediately whoop ass. Especially cause Narianna knows how to fight, there’s no reason for her to not really act against them Frfr.
Also when Talin stopped that father and son duo from hurting Narianna, Narianna annoyed me. Why would you try to stop Talin from intervening, when clearly they have something against you and are trying their damnedest to get to you and harm you? That whole thing annoyed me because the slap could’ve been prevented had Narianna not intervened. Now Talin feel even more guilty about shit he shouldn’t.
Also another thing, let’s not use Tath death as a reason to excuse his vile behavior. Everyone goes through things, that doesn’t excuse shit behavior. Narianna is for sure not the only person that Tath has taken advantage of, and if not for them, she certainly wouldn’t have been the last.
Then Pia got on my nerves. I didn’t like her from the first book. Everybody making excuses for her like her behavior is okay. She hasn’t just now been acting like this. She’s been excusing her sons behavior because “my son would never do such a thing” or “he was raised this way…he shouldn’t have been humiliated”. Like girl, a sexual assault victim just told you what your son just tried to do to her, why are you excusing this. Especially as a woman yourself. 🤨
^But Pia been on some weird shit since she was introduced, so Taths’ death is not a good excuse for her fool behavior.
In all, the series started to annoy me and I could no longer ignore the excessively long books that are quite repetitive, just because they happen to have good climaxes. I definitely skimmed this whole book 🤷🏾♀️😭.
How many times are they gonna repeat they don’t know what to do? Especially Narianna.
Narianna has to be spoon fed everything in order for her to understand basic shit. Wraythe was getting on my nerves this book because he’s never been known as a buff air head. Now all of a sudden he don’t know shit—he would’ve already pieced together mentally? 🤨 Eladehl has gotten better but I feel like Talin lost his personality somewhere between book 3 and 4. Like his character is so bleh.
The lunch meetings with Maela became really pointless and an inconvenience. The time they should’ve spent training,—because realistically their only real threat is death. Everything else has a perfect solution—outing Kinen, going to the other temples, they spent with Maela doing unnecessary shit. 😒
I’m also tired of the supposed “act” Narianna has been putting on. I’m suppose to believe she’s strong and only meek when needs be. But this entire series, she’s been meek even when she doesn’t, just so she doesn’t upset others. That doesn’t sound very strong to me. The one time she put Ciella in her place Fr, it was Zeal who did it. She hit Tishlie once—𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘣𝘦 twice, and then continued to let them get away with their behavior.
Ion know…if I find out they tried to poison my family and I, I would immediately whoop ass. Especially cause Narianna knows how to fight, there’s no reason for her to not really act against them Frfr.
Also when Talin stopped that father and son duo from hurting Narianna, Narianna annoyed me. Why would you try to stop Talin from intervening, when clearly they have something against you and are trying their damnedest to get to you and harm you? That whole thing annoyed me because the slap could’ve been prevented had Narianna not intervened. Now Talin feel even more guilty about shit he shouldn’t.
Also another thing, let’s not use Tath death as a reason to excuse his vile behavior. Everyone goes through things, that doesn’t excuse shit behavior. Narianna is for sure not the only person that Tath has taken advantage of, and if not for them, she certainly wouldn’t have been the last.
Then Pia got on my nerves. I didn’t like her from the first book. Everybody making excuses for her like her behavior is okay. She hasn’t just now been acting like this. She’s been excusing her sons behavior because “my son would never do such a thing” or “he was raised this way…he shouldn’t have been humiliated”. Like girl, a sexual assault victim just told you what your son just tried to do to her, why are you excusing this. Especially as a woman yourself. 🤨
^But Pia been on some weird shit since she was introduced, so Taths’ death is not a good excuse for her fool behavior.
In all, the series started to annoy me and I could no longer ignore the excessively long books that are quite repetitive, just because they happen to have good climaxes. I definitely skimmed this whole book 🤷🏾♀️😭.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2021
what exactly was resolved here?
I really am disappointed with this book.
Did I enjoy it? Yes! Was it another story that I couldn’t put down? Ehhhh, mostly.
As always, Hadley outdid herself in trying to weave a tale that was sex positive, focusing heavily on the issue of consent and gender roles. But here’s the thing, all the intricate details and thought provoking comments uttered by the characters I’ve come to genuinely enjoy about this book was what doomed it. Suddenly, it just felt preachy. People should pursue the sexual desires in a healthy and safe way, wholeheartedly agree. Even Anver’s asexuality seemed to get blurred here, which is part of growing and learning about one’s tastes. But add that on top of all the homophobic stereotypes, toxic masculinity, and now the newly introduced topics of a woman’s role and worth. It felt a bit too much and did nothing to the overall storyline.
This could’ve been whittled down to a novella due to the sheer fact that we hardly got any growth from the characters and there was barely any movement about Anver and the other gods or spending more time at the Temple of All Gods to lend a bit more credence to Nari’s threat about what she’ll do if not allowed to continue on her Path of Temptation.
I was underwhelmed and largely disappointed with this filler of a novel that was supposed to be a conclusion 🙄
I really am disappointed with this book.
Did I enjoy it? Yes! Was it another story that I couldn’t put down? Ehhhh, mostly.
As always, Hadley outdid herself in trying to weave a tale that was sex positive, focusing heavily on the issue of consent and gender roles. But here’s the thing, all the intricate details and thought provoking comments uttered by the characters I’ve come to genuinely enjoy about this book was what doomed it. Suddenly, it just felt preachy. People should pursue the sexual desires in a healthy and safe way, wholeheartedly agree. Even Anver’s asexuality seemed to get blurred here, which is part of growing and learning about one’s tastes. But add that on top of all the homophobic stereotypes, toxic masculinity, and now the newly introduced topics of a woman’s role and worth. It felt a bit too much and did nothing to the overall storyline.
This could’ve been whittled down to a novella due to the sheer fact that we hardly got any growth from the characters and there was barely any movement about Anver and the other gods or spending more time at the Temple of All Gods to lend a bit more credence to Nari’s threat about what she’ll do if not allowed to continue on her Path of Temptation.
I was underwhelmed and largely disappointed with this filler of a novel that was supposed to be a conclusion 🙄
January 9, 2022
Ugh, repetitive drivel. The whole plot could have been resolved with one guy knifing a high priest 2 books ago. Im supposed to believe an entire class of priest is solely devoted to protecting other priests from harrm to the point of sacrificing their own lives but yet when the priests start getting pushed to self harm no one steps up and kills the guy responsible?
Im supposed to buy a god of rage that is capable of affecting his environment enough that several orders of magnitude of power lower he was able to move a giant stone statue cant stomp the guy trying to kill his lover? Or possess someone to again knife the completely unguarded guy responsible.
This book is stupid. Every single thing about this plot is stupid.
I ended up skipping past most of it but I'm pretty sure even the smut was copy-paste from previous books.
Im supposed to buy a god of rage that is capable of affecting his environment enough that several orders of magnitude of power lower he was able to move a giant stone statue cant stomp the guy trying to kill his lover? Or possess someone to again knife the completely unguarded guy responsible.
This book is stupid. Every single thing about this plot is stupid.
I ended up skipping past most of it but I'm pretty sure even the smut was copy-paste from previous books.
April 16, 2023
Favourite read
This series is one of my favourite comfort reads. The world building is phenomenal and the way these characters developed throughout the series so far is mind-blowing. I love how they thrive in this found family and how it extends as the series progresses.
This series is one of my favourite comfort reads. The world building is phenomenal and the way these characters developed throughout the series so far is mind-blowing. I love how they thrive in this found family and how it extends as the series progresses.
July 30, 2022
Will enter a full review of this series when I've read the last and final book of this series...
So bye for now!
Overall Rating:
4*~ A Good Read
So bye for now!
Overall Rating:
4*~ A Good Read
December 19, 2021
Sensual, sexual series...
...and a cliffhanger. Part of me is screaming, because I thought this was the finale and cliffhanger! More of me is just excited for another chapter of this series.
Overtly, proudly sexual, this is best read by the open-minded. Gods exist, with the belief and passion of their followers. Focused on the education of Nari and her four impressive men, the politics of the community, and the eternal power struggle of weak-minded men over strong women, I love so much about this series and author.
An example of the writing:
"You are a woman. In this world, men do not like women who dare to tell them what to do. Maela is supposed to make heirs. You are supposed to fulfill their fantasies. They are supposed to be the new gods, ruling this world that we let happen in our absence. The strong took control, but these men have yet to realize that they are only strong in one small way."
Essentially, a group of misfits makes their own family, and draws strength from each other. Women are often traumatized, yet fierce despite (because of?) said trauma. The men that stand with them are protective, each hotter than the other. And, oh, sex. Open minded, multiple partner, no guilt, mind-blowing sex. This is similar to other series by the same author, yet each has a unique world and tone.
...and a cliffhanger. Part of me is screaming, because I thought this was the finale and cliffhanger! More of me is just excited for another chapter of this series.
Overtly, proudly sexual, this is best read by the open-minded. Gods exist, with the belief and passion of their followers. Focused on the education of Nari and her four impressive men, the politics of the community, and the eternal power struggle of weak-minded men over strong women, I love so much about this series and author.
An example of the writing:
"You are a woman. In this world, men do not like women who dare to tell them what to do. Maela is supposed to make heirs. You are supposed to fulfill their fantasies. They are supposed to be the new gods, ruling this world that we let happen in our absence. The strong took control, but these men have yet to realize that they are only strong in one small way."
Essentially, a group of misfits makes their own family, and draws strength from each other. Women are often traumatized, yet fierce despite (because of?) said trauma. The men that stand with them are protective, each hotter than the other. And, oh, sex. Open minded, multiple partner, no guilt, mind-blowing sex. This is similar to other series by the same author, yet each has a unique world and tone.
December 25, 2021
I love this series, but…
I found myself skipping a lot in this book it seemed to drag really badly and I was really looking forward to this series coming to an end/a resolution. Upsetting to find out that there isn’t one (yet)
I found myself skipping a lot in this book it seemed to drag really badly and I was really looking forward to this series coming to an end/a resolution. Upsetting to find out that there isn’t one (yet)
June 4, 2023
4-4.25-ish⭐️’s - as with most series’ and with books this long, there is a tendency for repetition in terms of laying out or reminders of the previous plot history of characters, which is understandable, but there were a few times where the ‘reminder’ sections became a bit too redundant and took over way too much of a chapter. There’s a nuanced approach, so I can’t blame anyone except my nature to binge the heck out of a series and be annoyed with the “we already know” voice in my head, when in reality many who read these books when released have waited FAR too long and need those sections to ‘catch up’.
That said, I was listening via Audible and this book specifically had some very glaring issues with production. Several times there were the narrator’s re-do of a sentence that an editor didn’t delete, so I’d hear the sentence twice. There were other times where it felt like production cut out a chunk of a paragraph, practically mid-word, as if I was on a phone call and went through the dreaded “dead spot” in a house and cut out for a second and missed crucial words.
Thankfully my neurotic tendencies that typically note these issues, were bypassed by being enthralled with the plot. But, to be that B, unless the author was the owner of the production company, these issues were bad enough that the author should be pissed with them based on an assumed good chunk of money that was paid to make this medium happen. As an audiobook consumer, I LOVE and appreciate the heck out of an author that reproduces their written word to audio, so I feel the accountability on the production company’s quality is an important measure to uphold. Until this book, there weren’t many issues. This one had issues what were mildly insulting.
PS: If there’s an intern-level off-hours part time job that entails listening to pre-published audiobooks to vet for quality, send me an application link! I don’t have formal training credentials, but I am an avid listener/reader/hobby writer and neurotic enough to point out mispronounced words (ie: fête isn’t pronounced as ‘feet’ 👀😖) and bad editing.
That said, I was listening via Audible and this book specifically had some very glaring issues with production. Several times there were the narrator’s re-do of a sentence that an editor didn’t delete, so I’d hear the sentence twice. There were other times where it felt like production cut out a chunk of a paragraph, practically mid-word, as if I was on a phone call and went through the dreaded “dead spot” in a house and cut out for a second and missed crucial words.
Thankfully my neurotic tendencies that typically note these issues, were bypassed by being enthralled with the plot. But, to be that B, unless the author was the owner of the production company, these issues were bad enough that the author should be pissed with them based on an assumed good chunk of money that was paid to make this medium happen. As an audiobook consumer, I LOVE and appreciate the heck out of an author that reproduces their written word to audio, so I feel the accountability on the production company’s quality is an important measure to uphold. Until this book, there weren’t many issues. This one had issues what were mildly insulting.
PS: If there’s an intern-level off-hours part time job that entails listening to pre-published audiobooks to vet for quality, send me an application link! I don’t have formal training credentials, but I am an avid listener/reader/hobby writer and neurotic enough to point out mispronounced words (ie: fête isn’t pronounced as ‘feet’ 👀😖) and bad editing.
August 30, 2024
August 2024
Kindle edition
Somethings change and others stay the same. The core five remain strong together, branching out with crushes and orbiting moons. The emotional fallout from Tath and what they did to him, as well as suicide. I liked that Anver played a bigger role, shadow of the gods. Curious about Nari’s new ambition crush.
I’m not sure Tish and Celia are even trying anymore. One attempt at poisoning and that’s pretty much it, other than words. Kinen was annoying, mainly moving off page, playing the bully game of rumors and lies. Pretty much the result of the outside temple.
Thiemo’s friendship was nice. Pia was annoying. The bad started to feel like it was outweighing the good. Talin was a lot more defensive and more stabby. The whole trying to punish and resign women was an ongoing theme. Not too sure about going into the last book.
Kindle edition
Somethings change and others stay the same. The core five remain strong together, branching out with crushes and orbiting moons. The emotional fallout from Tath and what they did to him, as well as suicide. I liked that Anver played a bigger role, shadow of the gods. Curious about Nari’s new ambition crush.
I’m not sure Tish and Celia are even trying anymore. One attempt at poisoning and that’s pretty much it, other than words. Kinen was annoying, mainly moving off page, playing the bully game of rumors and lies. Pretty much the result of the outside temple.
Thiemo’s friendship was nice. Pia was annoying. The bad started to feel like it was outweighing the good. Talin was a lot more defensive and more stabby. The whole trying to punish and resign women was an ongoing theme. Not too sure about going into the last book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2022
i completely had no idea that the fifth book had come out.
after reading a few reviews, i'm getting the vibe that this is apparently information overload - yikes😬 - so i'm kind of scared to get into this, but i gotta see this through.
please excuse while i go bury myself in a blanket burrito with my kindle
after reading a few reviews, i'm getting the vibe that this is apparently information overload - yikes😬 - so i'm kind of scared to get into this, but i gotta see this through.
please excuse while i go bury myself in a blanket burrito with my kindle
Read
February 9, 2022Spoilers and rant ahead........
Ms. Auryn Hadley, thank you for yet another installment in this series but you are a liar, liar, pants on fire.
I delayed reading this book because I was under the assumption that it was the last one. But I had nothing on my tbr shelf that was appealing to me so I decided to dive in.
I was reading and enjoying myself then Xenia came in (but why FF? seriously, why?), I thought to myself, "its's ok, this is the last book. It will probably be one scene which I can skim!" Unfortunately, that won't be the case, as it turns out this won't be the last book, which should make me oooooooh so HAPPY but I can't be happy because I have to look forward to Nari fawning over Xenia *rolling my eyes*. I enjoyed Ela fawning over Thiemo, though.
I specifically look out for books with MM interaction, and completely, unequivocally skip, jump, trot away from books (no matter how raving the reviews are) that have a whiff of FF. It is such a turn off aaaarrrrgggghhh. Auryn, why oh why!! I liked the FF in the background with Amerlee, Shalsa and Irila. I even stomached Tishlie's scene, but this, aaaarrrggghhh.
Rant over.
We saw more action with Anver *giggles*
Zeal was.......I don't even know.
Ela........amazingness just.
Wraythe........this guy is soooo sorted, like you wouldn't believe.
Nariana, I like you sometimes and other times I don't know what to do with you.
Talin, ummmh yeah, sorry
Yamina.......that's what's up!!!!! Hope it sticks!
I would like to note that we reallllllllly need a GLOSSARY, I had to write down notes, which god/goddess went with which color, which emotion, which High Priestess/Priest went with which Temple? Which Priest or Priestess belonged to which Path/Temple?
It was soooooo frustating because I kept on forgetting but after I made my notes and consulted them then it got better but Ms. Auryn Hadley please, a glossary, thank you. I still don't have Charisma's color filled......I can't seem to find/remember it.
Ms. Auryn Hadley, thank you for yet another installment in this series but you are a liar, liar, pants on fire.
I delayed reading this book because I was under the assumption that it was the last one. But I had nothing on my tbr shelf that was appealing to me so I decided to dive in.
I was reading and enjoying myself then Xenia came in (but why FF? seriously, why?), I thought to myself, "its's ok, this is the last book. It will probably be one scene which I can skim!" Unfortunately, that won't be the case, as it turns out this won't be the last book, which should make me oooooooh so HAPPY but I can't be happy because I have to look forward to Nari fawning over Xenia *rolling my eyes*. I enjoyed Ela fawning over Thiemo, though.
I specifically look out for books with MM interaction, and completely, unequivocally skip, jump, trot away from books (no matter how raving the reviews are) that have a whiff of FF. It is such a turn off aaaarrrrgggghhh. Auryn, why oh why!! I liked the FF in the background with Amerlee, Shalsa and Irila. I even stomached Tishlie's scene, but this, aaaarrrggghhh.
Rant over.
We saw more action with Anver *giggles*
Zeal was.......I don't even know.
Ela........amazingness just.
Wraythe........this guy is soooo sorted, like you wouldn't believe.
Nariana, I like you sometimes and other times I don't know what to do with you.
Talin, ummmh yeah, sorry
Yamina.......that's what's up!!!!! Hope it sticks!
I would like to note that we reallllllllly need a GLOSSARY, I had to write down notes, which god/goddess went with which color, which emotion, which High Priestess/Priest went with which Temple? Which Priest or Priestess belonged to which Path/Temple?
It was soooooo frustating because I kept on forgetting but after I made my notes and consulted them then it got better but Ms. Auryn Hadley please, a glossary, thank you. I still don't have Charisma's color filled......I can't seem to find/remember it.
June 26, 2024
I enjoyed the development of other characters in this book, especially Zeal, as well as the fact that it finally seems like we'll get a major showdown and resolution to the political story arc. There is some heavy-handed feminism in this book, as well as the "if they come for women, they'll come for you next" messaging; it's not the best, but it's fine. This book, like all the others in the series, still feels unnecessarily long and bogged down by conversations about what happen/will happen/what people think about what happened/how people feel about what happened.
December 1, 2022
Is it all falling apart or just breaking enough to heal as something new and better? Strains within the priesthood and society are growing more pronounced and the weight on Nari's shoulders heavier. Luckily she is not and never will be alone again. Her guys, partners, family are all there to make it work. One way or another. But the bond goes both ways and Zeal is feeling it.
September 14, 2025
These books do not need to be this long. We could have done this all in 2, maybe 3 books. I’m not even enjoying it at this point, but I am so invested I don’t feel like I can stop either. Sorry to everyone but mostly Claire for who I have become during these books.
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January 21, 2025Anver from The Path of Temptation is asexual!
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
https://www.tumblr.com/aspeccharacter...
December 21, 2021
Complicated, Poignant and Passionate
This is the fifth book in a continuing series. The previous books need to be read in order to understand this one. The book ends at a natural point in the narrative, however, there is definitely a lot more story to tell. One book is still to be released in the series and it is due out in the first part of 2022.
It’s the final semester as initiates for the five Priests of Temptation. The High Priest still doesn’t know that there are four more priests on this path than were originally declared and it’s the biggest open secret in the temple.
Calseth is coming apart at the seams after centuries without the gods walking amongst the people. The laws that the whole country are based upon have become ignored and swept away when inconvenient. Without the oversight of the gods the High Priests have taken the power left behind and kept it for themselves. The barons have let them because it gave them the excuse to steal their own slice of the power vacuum. As the centuries have gone on the poor, the women and the different have become stripped of their protections. Finally it appears that some of the High Priests have started to apply the conventions of the nobility to the rules of the temples that they rule, in particular Kinen of Temptation.
After waiving the protections for the students on the say so of Tath, Baron Ranndor, the mess that occurred as a result looms over The Five. Attending Fresh Start in Merci’s temple, the 6 gods gather to provide Talin, Anver, Ela and Wraythe with the sight, so they too can see the gods in the same way that Nari can. It takes a great deal of Zeal’s power but it hoped that being able to see the gods will help them all. When Maela confronts Kinen about the Temple Accounts once more it results in a huge argument which ends in Kinen taking a more proactive approach to dealing with Nari’s perceived threat to his status.
This book, more than any other in the series, really looks at the society of Calseth. It shows us the nobles and their relationship to the temples, along with how the merchants, middle and working classes are supposed to fit. We begin to see how the temples have been protected to a certain extent by their isolation from society, but that protection has been eroded by the centuries without direct access to their gods. Kinen has spent the last 18 months preparing for the final stage of his battle against his perceived enemy Nari, not realising that if he’s just accepted her she would have been happy to leave him in position as High Priest. Now at the start of this final semester Kinen starts to show where he’s been hiding for the last few months whilst they were enjoying a little bit of peace. He’s been slowly dismantling all the support structures that could possibly protect Nari. What he doesn’t understand is that just by reason of her existence Zeal has more power than he’s had in centuries and he’s not willing to sit by and watch a non-believer destroy his temple and his priests.
This book was superb. I enjoyed every page and hated when I came to the end, especially as the sixth book isn’t out yet. This book is Auryn Hadley at her most decadent, complicated and passionate best. The book is filled to the brim with sex, emotions and found family (her favourite themes). The bond between The Five and Zeal becomes much tighter and all-encompassing and watching Anver, in particular, come into his own is gloriously well written. Anver is asexual and it is incredibly rare for romance authors to delve into this aspect of human sexuality, probably because it isn’t widely understood by the general population. To have such a wonderfully well written character find his path to happiness and satisfaction after experiencing so much confusion and misunderstanding with a religion where lust is a huge part of the worship, is a delight to read.
Though technically the book focuses on Nari, Zeal’s Chosen, I really enjoyed the different POVs showing Anver, Wraythe, Ela and Talin. All the characters are important to both Zeal and the story. The story was rich and filled with complicated emotions. The characters evolved individually as well as collectively as their relationship deepened. I really enjoyed working out what snippets from previous books connected with tiny strands of plot progression in this book that we may see fulfilled in the last book in the series.
This book is so rich in detail, in the same way as the previous books that I find myself wanted to start at the beginning again and try to work out what I missed the first time round. I know I’ll have missed somethings because every time I re-read any of the books in this series I discover something new, matter how many times I re-read them. I loved this book so much and I can’t wait for the next one in the series so I’ll be able to binge the whole lot from start to finish and know exactly how it all ties together and ends.
This is the fifth book in a continuing series. The previous books need to be read in order to understand this one. The book ends at a natural point in the narrative, however, there is definitely a lot more story to tell. One book is still to be released in the series and it is due out in the first part of 2022.
It’s the final semester as initiates for the five Priests of Temptation. The High Priest still doesn’t know that there are four more priests on this path than were originally declared and it’s the biggest open secret in the temple.
Calseth is coming apart at the seams after centuries without the gods walking amongst the people. The laws that the whole country are based upon have become ignored and swept away when inconvenient. Without the oversight of the gods the High Priests have taken the power left behind and kept it for themselves. The barons have let them because it gave them the excuse to steal their own slice of the power vacuum. As the centuries have gone on the poor, the women and the different have become stripped of their protections. Finally it appears that some of the High Priests have started to apply the conventions of the nobility to the rules of the temples that they rule, in particular Kinen of Temptation.
After waiving the protections for the students on the say so of Tath, Baron Ranndor, the mess that occurred as a result looms over The Five. Attending Fresh Start in Merci’s temple, the 6 gods gather to provide Talin, Anver, Ela and Wraythe with the sight, so they too can see the gods in the same way that Nari can. It takes a great deal of Zeal’s power but it hoped that being able to see the gods will help them all. When Maela confronts Kinen about the Temple Accounts once more it results in a huge argument which ends in Kinen taking a more proactive approach to dealing with Nari’s perceived threat to his status.
This book, more than any other in the series, really looks at the society of Calseth. It shows us the nobles and their relationship to the temples, along with how the merchants, middle and working classes are supposed to fit. We begin to see how the temples have been protected to a certain extent by their isolation from society, but that protection has been eroded by the centuries without direct access to their gods. Kinen has spent the last 18 months preparing for the final stage of his battle against his perceived enemy Nari, not realising that if he’s just accepted her she would have been happy to leave him in position as High Priest. Now at the start of this final semester Kinen starts to show where he’s been hiding for the last few months whilst they were enjoying a little bit of peace. He’s been slowly dismantling all the support structures that could possibly protect Nari. What he doesn’t understand is that just by reason of her existence Zeal has more power than he’s had in centuries and he’s not willing to sit by and watch a non-believer destroy his temple and his priests.
This book was superb. I enjoyed every page and hated when I came to the end, especially as the sixth book isn’t out yet. This book is Auryn Hadley at her most decadent, complicated and passionate best. The book is filled to the brim with sex, emotions and found family (her favourite themes). The bond between The Five and Zeal becomes much tighter and all-encompassing and watching Anver, in particular, come into his own is gloriously well written. Anver is asexual and it is incredibly rare for romance authors to delve into this aspect of human sexuality, probably because it isn’t widely understood by the general population. To have such a wonderfully well written character find his path to happiness and satisfaction after experiencing so much confusion and misunderstanding with a religion where lust is a huge part of the worship, is a delight to read.
Though technically the book focuses on Nari, Zeal’s Chosen, I really enjoyed the different POVs showing Anver, Wraythe, Ela and Talin. All the characters are important to both Zeal and the story. The story was rich and filled with complicated emotions. The characters evolved individually as well as collectively as their relationship deepened. I really enjoyed working out what snippets from previous books connected with tiny strands of plot progression in this book that we may see fulfilled in the last book in the series.
This book is so rich in detail, in the same way as the previous books that I find myself wanted to start at the beginning again and try to work out what I missed the first time round. I know I’ll have missed somethings because every time I re-read any of the books in this series I discover something new, matter how many times I re-read them. I loved this book so much and I can’t wait for the next one in the series so I’ll be able to binge the whole lot from start to finish and know exactly how it all ties together and ends.
January 2, 2022
I absolutely love Aurlyn Hadley (and here it comes) but I feel like someone else is just filling her book with useless pages of information from previous books or scenes that has already been gone over too much already. Her characters are starting to sound like whiners with all the repeating — it’s not fair — I’m not good — I’m not good enough — I don’t know how etc etc. What happened to reads like , The Wolf, The Aluri, Gamer Girls . I had to stop reading Violet’s book because of all the preachie/teachie about different LGBTQ terminology. I just want to be lost in the story to escape the worlds mess. If you hit a point I would like to know about in detail, I’ll look it up myself! Anyway, I love the characters and the story made up and around the gods but this far in, I would have thought more would have been done in all temples than just Temptation. Love the spin in the Barony as well. If the next book is going to be the last please don’t fill it with repetition.
December 6, 2025
Amazing once again
This series is honestly in my top 5 RH of all time.
This book definitely did not disappoint. Great steam as usual. I love how this series is filled with so many steamy scenes and yet every single one is relevant to the plot. None of it is simply added in for the sake of it. Every scene gives more development to the plot or a particular character.
I really liked the realistic grief at the end of this book. The way that you can really hate a family member, and yet you still feel love for who they are to you. The behaviour of Tath at the end was very realistic to someone in his position mentally. I like that this book is written so well that even though I hated him, I could still feel sad for him. These characters are human, flaws and all. Beautifully written and I can't wait for the last book.
This series is honestly in my top 5 RH of all time.
This book definitely did not disappoint. Great steam as usual. I love how this series is filled with so many steamy scenes and yet every single one is relevant to the plot. None of it is simply added in for the sake of it. Every scene gives more development to the plot or a particular character.
I really liked the realistic grief at the end of this book. The way that you can really hate a family member, and yet you still feel love for who they are to you. The behaviour of Tath at the end was very realistic to someone in his position mentally. I like that this book is written so well that even though I hated him, I could still feel sad for him. These characters are human, flaws and all. Beautifully written and I can't wait for the last book.
March 14, 2022
This book is absolutely stunning, just like every other book of yours. Thank you for putting your soul into these books, because I can feel it. I always have and always will look forward to a release of yours because each is a literaty work of art. No story of any medium will ever be loved by every individual, so please don’t take the disappointed reviews here to heart. What I can tell you is I adore your writing because you don’t just make sentences from your words. Instead, you make a world come to life, you make Nari’s emotions my emotions. Your skill in the way you weave words is unparalleled.
December 26, 2021
Grouchy, this is not the last book as expected
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Everything is falling apart and getting really hard and desperate. Women are the target and they must be pushed back into their place and let the men rule. Atgh, so much like real life, but we won't let them and will fight to be equal always. This book ends in a mess. As I stated in my title, I'm not too happy there will be an additional book when we thought it would be a 5 book series. I hate being strung along for more revenue and not knowing it up front. Not the ending and it's just a mess right now.
I'm not sure how I feel about this book. Everything is falling apart and getting really hard and desperate. Women are the target and they must be pushed back into their place and let the men rule. Atgh, so much like real life, but we won't let them and will fight to be equal always. This book ends in a mess. As I stated in my title, I'm not too happy there will be an additional book when we thought it would be a 5 book series. I hate being strung along for more revenue and not knowing it up front. Not the ending and it's just a mess right now.
September 16, 2024
***5 Stars***
Overall,
Again Auryn has done it. I love this series and the worlds she creates. I love the characters and the found family. This is the Penultimate book in this series. The main group is finally having some sucsess in their class and can breathe. Howver, the high priest is getting starting to make changes throughout the temple, which are making a lot of waves (and they are big ones). Nari is starting to really find her place in the temple and her relationship with her gaudians is one to be jealous of. So good, I cant wait for the next and final book!
Overall,
Again Auryn has done it. I love this series and the worlds she creates. I love the characters and the found family. This is the Penultimate book in this series. The main group is finally having some sucsess in their class and can breathe. Howver, the high priest is getting starting to make changes throughout the temple, which are making a lot of waves (and they are big ones). Nari is starting to really find her place in the temple and her relationship with her gaudians is one to be jealous of. So good, I cant wait for the next and final book!
December 30, 2021
not a complete cliffhanger but not a conclusion either
This series has been so good, I’m actually excited it hasn’t ended and naturally sad I have to wait for more. But the wait is always worth it when the writer is Arryn Hadley! I usually buy all her books in a series and then wait to read until the conclusion is published, but she caught me out with this one! She what’s yet to write a series I haven’t loved and her takes on sex, gender, and love are refreshing and will keep me “coming” back every time
This series has been so good, I’m actually excited it hasn’t ended and naturally sad I have to wait for more. But the wait is always worth it when the writer is Arryn Hadley! I usually buy all her books in a series and then wait to read until the conclusion is published, but she caught me out with this one! She what’s yet to write a series I haven’t loved and her takes on sex, gender, and love are refreshing and will keep me “coming” back every time
December 21, 2021
Auryn Hadley is DANGEROUS to readers everywhere! She will play with your emotions. She will make you cry. She will make you laugh. She will leave you hanging, dying for more, More, MORE! She will steal your sleep. If you have the courage to brave her worlds, then I dare you. Read EVERYTHING has written or will write in the future.
February 3, 2022
Why did you read this book?
It's a RH, I love the series, and I am a fan of the author.
What format did you read this book in?
Read it as an ebook on Kindle.
Is this an educational book or a book for entertainment?
I read this book for pure entertainment purposes.
What genres do you think this book belongs to?
Fantasy, Gay and Lesbian, Paranormal, Religion, Romance.
What was your favorite part in the book? *Spoiler*
When Zeal admits he had something to do with Talin's brothers death, and he feels bad about hurting his loved ones. I like that he is influenced and connected to the group and can feel human emotions now.
Who would you suggest this book to?
Anyone who like slow burn, long fantasy, RH, romance stories.
What is your general opinion/ rating of this book?
I still love the series but this one was a bit lackluster for me that's why it lost a star. However, I still love the world and the characters. I can't wait until the next book.
How intense are the intimacy scenes?
GRAPHIC! If that's not your thing avoid this series. (MMM,MM, MF)
At what “burn” level is the romance?
Med-hot burn.
Love interests, how many of them are there and what gender?
There are 5 love interest all male. (Although, there was a female kind of added. Not sure if she is a love interest yet so I left her out. )
Wrathe- Eladehl guardian. Big teddy bear type.
Anver- Found his way back to the group. Is a guardian to on of their enemies. Plays the role of their shadow in this book. (Going where they can't)
Talin- Nariana guardian. Was part of Temptation Baron's house hold. Barely controlled himself from killing the people attacking Nariana this book.
Eladehl- Nariana partner and priest of the body. Learn to control his violence this book.
Zeal - Temptation God. Sadly was gone for most of this book. Developed human emotions in this book.
EXTRA
Any trigger warnings?
Racial and Religious: Microaggressions, Prejudice,
LGBTQ+: Homophobia, Forced Outing of Character
Mental Health: Suicide, Hanging (by suicide), PTSD, Emotional Abuse, Panic Attacks
Sexual Content: Explicit Sex Scene, Masturbation, Blowjob, Human Trafficking, Sex Slaves
Violence and Death: Death, Death of a Loved One, Suffocation, Burning People, Physical Abuse, Escalating Violence
Other: Slut Shaming, Body Shaming, Female Oppression, Forced Marriage, Adultery
It's a RH, I love the series, and I am a fan of the author.
What format did you read this book in?
Read it as an ebook on Kindle.
Is this an educational book or a book for entertainment?
I read this book for pure entertainment purposes.
What genres do you think this book belongs to?
Fantasy, Gay and Lesbian, Paranormal, Religion, Romance.
What was your favorite part in the book? *Spoiler*
When Zeal admits he had something to do with Talin's brothers death, and he feels bad about hurting his loved ones. I like that he is influenced and connected to the group and can feel human emotions now.
Who would you suggest this book to?
Anyone who like slow burn, long fantasy, RH, romance stories.
What is your general opinion/ rating of this book?
I still love the series but this one was a bit lackluster for me that's why it lost a star. However, I still love the world and the characters. I can't wait until the next book.
How intense are the intimacy scenes?
GRAPHIC! If that's not your thing avoid this series. (MMM,MM, MF)
At what “burn” level is the romance?
Med-hot burn.
Love interests, how many of them are there and what gender?
There are 5 love interest all male. (Although, there was a female kind of added. Not sure if she is a love interest yet so I left her out. )
Wrathe- Eladehl guardian. Big teddy bear type.
Anver- Found his way back to the group. Is a guardian to on of their enemies. Plays the role of their shadow in this book. (Going where they can't)
Talin- Nariana guardian. Was part of Temptation Baron's house hold. Barely controlled himself from killing the people attacking Nariana this book.
Eladehl- Nariana partner and priest of the body. Learn to control his violence this book.
Zeal - Temptation God. Sadly was gone for most of this book. Developed human emotions in this book.
EXTRA
Any trigger warnings?
Racial and Religious: Microaggressions, Prejudice,
LGBTQ+: Homophobia, Forced Outing of Character
Mental Health: Suicide, Hanging (by suicide), PTSD, Emotional Abuse, Panic Attacks
Sexual Content: Explicit Sex Scene, Masturbation, Blowjob, Human Trafficking, Sex Slaves
Violence and Death: Death, Death of a Loved One, Suffocation, Burning People, Physical Abuse, Escalating Violence
Other: Slut Shaming, Body Shaming, Female Oppression, Forced Marriage, Adultery
April 8, 2022
4 Stars.
i was planning on leaving a review on the last book of the series and give an over all review but decided it couldn’t wait, although i will give my final thoughts on the last book when it’s released
this series is truly amazing, the plot flows smoothly for me ( yes all books tend to run back in circles and repeat the same information again and again ) but i find it necessary in the moment
i do feel like some things within the series could have been left out instead of being ‘fillers’ therefore we wouldn’t have had to read all six books, it could have been shorten
But maybe it was on purpose? considering there is six gods? i’m just assuming here though…
but i love this series so much that i’m grateful that there’s this many, i honestly don’t want this series to end
i do highly recommend this book, it’s definitely not your typical reverse harem but it’s a beautiful one for sure
i was planning on leaving a review on the last book of the series and give an over all review but decided it couldn’t wait, although i will give my final thoughts on the last book when it’s released
this series is truly amazing, the plot flows smoothly for me ( yes all books tend to run back in circles and repeat the same information again and again ) but i find it necessary in the moment
i do feel like some things within the series could have been left out instead of being ‘fillers’ therefore we wouldn’t have had to read all six books, it could have been shorten
But maybe it was on purpose? considering there is six gods? i’m just assuming here though…
but i love this series so much that i’m grateful that there’s this many, i honestly don’t want this series to end
i do highly recommend this book, it’s definitely not your typical reverse harem but it’s a beautiful one for sure
December 22, 2021
Wow!
I'm not going to lie, I was anxious for this entire book, but that's a good thing. It means that yet again, Auryn Hadley has sucked me into her world and made me care about her characters so much, I fret for them, lol.
This series explores the liminal places of relationships. Space where people are not one thing or the other. There's is no black and white, only billions of gradients of grey. There's power and passion, cruelty and kindness and there's a depth of writing that most indie authors only dream of.
This is yet another wonderful book in another phenomenal series by Auryn, and I equally anticipate and dread the next one which will conclude this series.
I'm not going to lie, I was anxious for this entire book, but that's a good thing. It means that yet again, Auryn Hadley has sucked me into her world and made me care about her characters so much, I fret for them, lol.
This series explores the liminal places of relationships. Space where people are not one thing or the other. There's is no black and white, only billions of gradients of grey. There's power and passion, cruelty and kindness and there's a depth of writing that most indie authors only dream of.
This is yet another wonderful book in another phenomenal series by Auryn, and I equally anticipate and dread the next one which will conclude this series.
July 12, 2022
This was my least favorite book out of the series. Starting in book 4 we begin to see lots of repetitive parts in the plot. By this book I was frustrated and started skimming through chapters because it felt like I had read it over and over again. I think the last three books could almost be condensed.
I loved the scenes that they did, it showed growth and felt relevant. It is just the repetitive hearing what each of their limits are and the struggles that they had. It felt like that is where the characters just became stagnant.
I love this series though and highly recommend for all of us reverse harem lovers. Hadley weaved an incredible story!
I loved the scenes that they did, it showed growth and felt relevant. It is just the repetitive hearing what each of their limits are and the struggles that they had. It felt like that is where the characters just became stagnant.
I love this series though and highly recommend for all of us reverse harem lovers. Hadley weaved an incredible story!
January 16, 2022
You HAVE to read this series.
Point blank. No synopsis. No spoilers. Definitely read the warnings in the book prior to reading, but if you aren't easily triggered or just aren't triggered...then get this series in whatever format you prefer; and delve into the deep and sometimes dark world that Auryn has created here. I have read a LOT of books 1000s easily in every genre and this series has been one of the most gripping stories I have ever read. If I could give more than 5 stars I would.
Point blank. No synopsis. No spoilers. Definitely read the warnings in the book prior to reading, but if you aren't easily triggered or just aren't triggered...then get this series in whatever format you prefer; and delve into the deep and sometimes dark world that Auryn has created here. I have read a LOT of books 1000s easily in every genre and this series has been one of the most gripping stories I have ever read. If I could give more than 5 stars I would.
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