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Blood Baptism #1
Rapture
A Dark MM Romance about capture and captivation.
When Adrian Price is abducted, he doesn't expect the handsome and elusive Jackson Monroe to be his captor. But the longer he's locked in Jackson's apartment, reading journals, eating home cooked meals, and praying for escape, the more he begins to understand the killer who caged him.
Faith, desire, obsession, and hunger clash when a bloody courtship becomes a struggle for power—over oneself and each other.
*this book contains sensitive material. for detailed information about the content, please visit saint harlowe's website*
When Adrian Price is abducted, he doesn't expect the handsome and elusive Jackson Monroe to be his captor. But the longer he's locked in Jackson's apartment, reading journals, eating home cooked meals, and praying for escape, the more he begins to understand the killer who caged him.
Faith, desire, obsession, and hunger clash when a bloody courtship becomes a struggle for power—over oneself and each other.
*this book contains sensitive material. for detailed information about the content, please visit saint harlowe's website*
97 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 1, 2023
12 people are currently reading
1160 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews
December 15, 2023
First: TW: Cannibalism ON PAGE and others …
Second: please don't judge me. I needed something really really dark after all the fluffy Christmas stories. I'm definitely ready to read something light and nice again now.
So, this is not a nice story and you can't sugar coat it either. It is simply dark and disturbing. I'm also absolutely not ok with the plot.
Still, I can get a lot out of the writing style and the way this awful stuff is told is really something else and needs to be appreciated accordingly.
What's missing in my opinion is depth, because I don't understand Adrian even though you're constantly in his head. I would have been really interested in why he is the way he is. Without a bit more depth, it feels like he's just "with" Jackson on a whim. And I would also have liked to understand his transsexuality better. It doesn't need to be explained in detail, but somehow something is missing for me.
Second: please don't judge me. I needed something really really dark after all the fluffy Christmas stories. I'm definitely ready to read something light and nice again now.
So, this is not a nice story and you can't sugar coat it either. It is simply dark and disturbing. I'm also absolutely not ok with the plot.
Still, I can get a lot out of the writing style and the way this awful stuff is told is really something else and needs to be appreciated accordingly.
What's missing in my opinion is depth, because I don't understand Adrian even though you're constantly in his head. I would have been really interested in why he is the way he is. Without a bit more depth, it feels like he's just "with" Jackson on a whim. And I would also have liked to understand his transsexuality better. It doesn't need to be explained in detail, but somehow something is missing for me.
January 5, 2024
1.5/5
I feel like it was trying to be too deep with all the religious metaphors, but then OnlyFans was mentioned and yeah. Also, spitting in the place where you just committed murder is not the smartest idea.
I feel like it was trying to be too deep with all the religious metaphors, but then OnlyFans was mentioned and yeah. Also, spitting in the place where you just committed murder is not the smartest idea.
March 6, 2023
In a very short amount of words and pages, Rapture exceeded all expectations I had for this book (and they were high prior to the release). The way Saint Harlowe combines dark topics with flowery writing, and gorgeous heart-wrenching lines absolutely threw me into a state of disarray. This is by far one of my favorite books I’ve read. The obsession Jackson and Adrian share with each other is so horrifying and poetic. The ending gripped me by the throat and shook me around like a ragdoll. I wish I had more to coherently say about it - but in short or I would like to somehow figure out how to dissolve this into my body so it’s always with me.
April 22, 2023
Too fucked up that I couldn’t even see their connection. And the thing about “fucked up” is, sometimes it just means boring.
It had the biblical element which was poorly done btw so I didn’t care about anything here. He kept claiming how he has to forgive to God but there was no depth on his relationship with his God. That just made me annoyed everytime he mentioned “God”. Definitely didn’t give me the creeps or eerie feelings. Not as dark as I thought. Just two men with kinks.
I am not the guy to complain about writing but the writing in this book is definitely not for me. The attempt of being lyrical and hint of a beautiful prose was obvious. However, it wasn’t consistent at all. Some parts were overly done and some parts were too beautiful it was confusing.
I should’ve raged. Should’ve panicked, screamed, and flipped the table. But Jackson simply finished chewing, swallowed, and blotted his lips with a cloth napkin, and I simply sat there, holding my fancy crystalware, trying to parse his biblical riddle.
I was. I wasn’t. A thousand different feelings stampeded through me, all synonymous with desire, all cousins of fear. Distressed, dismayed, horrified, aching.
I wanted to run, I wanted to stay, I wanted to vomit, I wanted to kiss him, I wanted to impale myself on a rusty wood saw, I wanted to pluck my own eyes out, I wanted to pulverize his flesh like orange pulp, I wanted to undo all he’d done to me. I wanted to be who I’d been before he took me. I wanted to know who I had the capability to become in the role of his consequence, his judgement. I wanted everything and nothing. I wanted to live, I wanted to die.
Did he want something? 🙂
Anyway, moving on.
Overall, no depth and boring. Especially with the kidnap trope. Why did he stay? Because he was a dumbass.
It had the biblical element which was poorly done btw so I didn’t care about anything here. He kept claiming how he has to forgive to God but there was no depth on his relationship with his God. That just made me annoyed everytime he mentioned “God”. Definitely didn’t give me the creeps or eerie feelings. Not as dark as I thought. Just two men with kinks.
I am not the guy to complain about writing but the writing in this book is definitely not for me. The attempt of being lyrical and hint of a beautiful prose was obvious. However, it wasn’t consistent at all. Some parts were overly done and some parts were too beautiful it was confusing.
I should’ve raged. Should’ve panicked, screamed, and flipped the table. But Jackson simply finished chewing, swallowed, and blotted his lips with a cloth napkin, and I simply sat there, holding my fancy crystalware, trying to parse his biblical riddle.
I was. I wasn’t. A thousand different feelings stampeded through me, all synonymous with desire, all cousins of fear. Distressed, dismayed, horrified, aching.
I wanted to run, I wanted to stay, I wanted to vomit, I wanted to kiss him, I wanted to impale myself on a rusty wood saw, I wanted to pluck my own eyes out, I wanted to pulverize his flesh like orange pulp, I wanted to undo all he’d done to me. I wanted to be who I’d been before he took me. I wanted to know who I had the capability to become in the role of his consequence, his judgement. I wanted everything and nothing. I wanted to live, I wanted to die.
Did he want something? 🙂
Anyway, moving on.
Overall, no depth and boring. Especially with the kidnap trope. Why did he stay? Because he was a dumbass.
March 26, 2023
i did like the writing, i liked the religious metaphors, i also liked the plot, i liked the characters and their relationship, i enjoyed the obsession and the passion, i liked the cannibalism ✨
what i absolutely hated was listening to the characters talk to each other. what a bunch of pretentious and empty words. everything they said just felt like meaningless words thrown together to make them sound as tragic as possible. everytime they had a conversation it took me out of any kind of enjoyment i was experiencing
therefore, 3 stars. which doesn't even seem fitting but it's the best i can do
read as part of 202-Queer 🌈✨
what i absolutely hated was listening to the characters talk to each other. what a bunch of pretentious and empty words. everything they said just felt like meaningless words thrown together to make them sound as tragic as possible. everytime they had a conversation it took me out of any kind of enjoyment i was experiencing
therefore, 3 stars. which doesn't even seem fitting but it's the best i can do
read as part of 202-Queer 🌈✨
April 22, 2024
Edited after I found out author was pretending to be lantix.
March 5, 2023
I have been unmade, then broken, then put back together wrong but better.
March 1, 2023
It was fucked up and I enjoyed it immensely :D
I don't read a whole lot of erotica cause I'm enby and ace and picky but I do enjoy it once in a while, and all the dark stuff (that I do enjoy, depending on what exactly it is) I know about is usually very cishet and uninteresting to me so this was a great match for my picky taste. Satisfied the hannigram itch but make it trans and sexy(ier), so that was fun tbh
I don't read a whole lot of erotica cause I'm enby and ace and picky but I do enjoy it once in a while, and all the dark stuff (that I do enjoy, depending on what exactly it is) I know about is usually very cishet and uninteresting to me so this was a great match for my picky taste. Satisfied the hannigram itch but make it trans and sexy(ier), so that was fun tbh
March 1, 2023
This was just delicious.
I devoured this in one go like a starved man, and my only complaint is I want more. Adrian and Jackson are under my nails and in the back of my throat and it’s delightful.
Mind the CW’s when you read, but this was *chefs kiss* 💕
I devoured this in one go like a starved man, and my only complaint is I want more. Adrian and Jackson are under my nails and in the back of my throat and it’s delightful.
Mind the CW’s when you read, but this was *chefs kiss* 💕
May 2, 2024
this book made me bite everything in sight and wish cannibalism was kosher so I could have a Jewish version too. When the sequel comes out I will be so evil
September 15, 2025
Erotic cannibalism between (budding) murderers with religious angst. Just how I like it. 10/10 would and will recommend.
June 13, 2023
this book has completely rotted my brain
March 2, 2023
can’t even pretend that I feel normal about this, this is the good good stuff
Read
April 22, 2024Removed my rating and review because this author is a fraud.
Read
April 24, 2024One of Freydis Moon’s alts 👎🏻
May 29, 2023
I don’t know how to review this.
Read
April 21, 2024rating/review removed
May 27, 2024
1.5. woohoo boy this was a ride (not necessarily a good one). ok sure, fast paced whatever but my guy developing Stockholm syndrome in 2 days???? girl... he's not even that hot HIS NAME IS JACKSON AND HES A FUCKING EDGELORD (and he's so stupid my fucking GOD). anyway, this was like reading a meh hannigram fic but without cannibal puns and no ugly suits which is like a pizza with nothing. not even tha cannibalism could save this and I'm not pretentious when it comes to eating people:/ I had too high hopes for this
October 13, 2023
I wanted him to chew through my throat, or crush my ribs, or lock his teeth around my clavicle.
(DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)
Oh yeah, this was so really fucked up and totally dysfunctional and cruel and hach, I LOVE IT. *cough*
I can’t write a matter-of-fact comment on this one, hurr.
The writing was fucking brilliant, even if there are some mistakes in the Kindle edition. I couldn’t care less this time because it was SO WELL written, I could bathe in the words. I’m about to cry.
The story is destructive and twisted and yeah, that’s all I have to say. I love our protagonists and distribute lots of air kisses.
(DEUTSCH)
Oh ja, das war so richtig fucked up und total daneben und grausam und hach, ICH LIEBS. *hust*
Ich kann hier keinen sachlichen Kommentar schreiben, hurr.
Der Schreibstil war intergalaktisch toll, auch wenn in der Kindle Edition einige Fehler sind. Ist mir diesmal voll egal, denn es war SO GUT geschrieben, ich könnte in den Worten baden. Ich weine hier gleich.
Die Geschichte ist destruktiv und abartig und ja, mehr hab ich nicht zu sagen. Ich liebe unsere Protagonisten und verteile ganz viele Luftküsse.
(DEUTSCH WEITER UNTEN)
Oh yeah, this was so really fucked up and totally dysfunctional and cruel and hach, I LOVE IT. *cough*
I can’t write a matter-of-fact comment on this one, hurr.
The writing was fucking brilliant, even if there are some mistakes in the Kindle edition. I couldn’t care less this time because it was SO WELL written, I could bathe in the words. I’m about to cry.
The story is destructive and twisted and yeah, that’s all I have to say. I love our protagonists and distribute lots of air kisses.
(DEUTSCH)
Oh ja, das war so richtig fucked up und total daneben und grausam und hach, ICH LIEBS. *hust*
Ich kann hier keinen sachlichen Kommentar schreiben, hurr.
Der Schreibstil war intergalaktisch toll, auch wenn in der Kindle Edition einige Fehler sind. Ist mir diesmal voll egal, denn es war SO GUT geschrieben, ich könnte in den Worten baden. Ich weine hier gleich.
Die Geschichte ist destruktiv und abartig und ja, mehr hab ich nicht zu sagen. Ich liebe unsere Protagonisten und verteile ganz viele Luftküsse.
March 27, 2024
This is a quick erot!c horror with absolutely unhinged themes including captivity, a serial k!ller, power imbalances and a toxic relationship. It also has a trans main character and beautifully descriptive language. This was an expertly paced novella, as nothing was given to you too quickly or ended rushed.
April 24, 2023
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🪵Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
🥵Spice: 🌶️
✍️My Review: I am at that point where I read a story about a cannibal and think, oh my god he’s adorable and sweet. Also can he capture me sometime?
I loved this little short story. I do think there was so many missed opportunities to dive into further detail but all in all it was a fun read.
🪵Burn: 🔥🔥🔥🔥
🥵Spice: 🌶️
✍️My Review: I am at that point where I read a story about a cannibal and think, oh my god he’s adorable and sweet. Also can he capture me sometime?
I loved this little short story. I do think there was so many missed opportunities to dive into further detail but all in all it was a fun read.
March 28, 2023
Absolutely delicious! Recommend for lovers of Hannibal, the Sinners Duet, and Lovely Bad Things!
April 4, 2023
If you like the darker romance with a bit of cannibalism, stalker-, killervibes and MM romance then this is a book for you. I have always liked horror movies, so no suprise here, i absolutely loved this book. Check trigger warnings before reading but if you don't have any.... Go for it!
Our main charachter gets abducted, thinking this is it... if i don't find a way out of here, it's over. But his kidnapper feeds him delicous food, takes him on dates, all the good stuff and along the way he finds out why.
I can't wait to get the physical copy to have on my bookshelf and also to annotate the hell out of it :D
Our main charachter gets abducted, thinking this is it... if i don't find a way out of here, it's over. But his kidnapper feeds him delicous food, takes him on dates, all the good stuff and along the way he finds out why.
I can't wait to get the physical copy to have on my bookshelf and also to annotate the hell out of it :D
March 22, 2023
please don't look at me keep scrolling
April 26, 2024
i’ve just ✨✨✨suddenly✨✨✨ had a realisation that this book is actually bad and you shouldn’t read it (saint is also freydís moon and it won’t let me change my reviews on their books)
April 25, 2023
[🇮🇹 giù]
This is the novella I didn't think I could like and absolutely loved.
It's more than dark, "problematic" can't even apply, there's consensual nonconsent, fight and run, kidnap (literal kidnap, Stockholm syndrome if you want, but no!), cannibalism, literally, Hannibal style. And i loved every page.
It's deep into Catholicism (apparently i have a kink for religious theme taken and torn and deviated from, must come with being raised a Catholic in the purity culture). There's a lot of confession and church, heaven and purgatory and hell talk.
It's hot, raw, bloody and gory, and I'm going to start the second one this minute because it just happened to have been released today!
Ma questa novella mi ha stecchito. All'inizio non ero nemmeno convinta del tutto, pensavo fosse una variazione sul tema sindrome di Stoccolma con un ragazzo rapito da un pazzo. E invece sarà la scrittura, sarà che è davvero dark (non morally grey, qui siamo proprio oltre)(oltre tipo cannibalismo e omicidio brutale)(e non alla Necessary evils, per dire, proprio realistico), o sarà che ho un kink per i romance con una deviazione cattolica (vedi il precedente che ho letto di Freydis Moon) ma tutto questo citare paradiso inferno e purgatorio, e confessione, comunione, santi etc, in mezzo a omicidio, giochi er0tici violenti, səx toys e role play mi intriga moltissimo. Il misticismo connesso all'erotismo.
Cmq saint harlowe autobuy author subito (e infatti il seguito di questa novella uscito oggi mi sta già aspettando)
This is the novella I didn't think I could like and absolutely loved.
It's more than dark, "problematic" can't even apply, there's consensual nonconsent, fight and run, kidnap (literal kidnap, Stockholm syndrome if you want, but no!), cannibalism, literally, Hannibal style. And i loved every page.
It's deep into Catholicism (apparently i have a kink for religious theme taken and torn and deviated from, must come with being raised a Catholic in the purity culture). There's a lot of confession and church, heaven and purgatory and hell talk.
It's hot, raw, bloody and gory, and I'm going to start the second one this minute because it just happened to have been released today!
Ma questa novella mi ha stecchito. All'inizio non ero nemmeno convinta del tutto, pensavo fosse una variazione sul tema sindrome di Stoccolma con un ragazzo rapito da un pazzo. E invece sarà la scrittura, sarà che è davvero dark (non morally grey, qui siamo proprio oltre)(oltre tipo cannibalismo e omicidio brutale)(e non alla Necessary evils, per dire, proprio realistico), o sarà che ho un kink per i romance con una deviazione cattolica (vedi il precedente che ho letto di Freydis Moon) ma tutto questo citare paradiso inferno e purgatorio, e confessione, comunione, santi etc, in mezzo a omicidio, giochi er0tici violenti, səx toys e role play mi intriga moltissimo. Il misticismo connesso all'erotismo.
Cmq saint harlowe autobuy author subito (e infatti il seguito di questa novella uscito oggi mi sta già aspettando)
July 16, 2023
4.5
Hannibal / Hannigram fans this one's for you
I wanted him to hold me down. I wanted him to chew through my throat, or crush my ribs, or lock his teeth around my clavicle. I wanted him to kiss me.
I wanted to eat his heart. I wanted to see inside him—highways of veins, polished organs, elegant bones—like a treasure chest.
Rapture grabbed me by the throat, and as it squeezed, sliced me open, only stitching me back together at the end of Ravage but left behind a hollowness. This was SO GOOD, pure dark, delicious goddess.
My extra favorite part, the one that made me go bat shit apart from the whole book in general, was when religious references were weaved with eroticism. I've never read catholic eroticism, but my god did it take my breath away.
"You're my forbidden fruit." Another open kiss. Cotton, soaked. "Dangling there, unused to being eaten."
Then Jackson devoured Adrian. Ugh tell me you wouldn't lose your mind too.
But why half a star off? Because I only mostly enjoyed the writing. The writing style is beautiful, but there were times when it felt forceful on the lyrical/flowery prose that it became frustrating or confusing to read.
Hannibal / Hannigram fans this one's for you
I wanted him to hold me down. I wanted him to chew through my throat, or crush my ribs, or lock his teeth around my clavicle. I wanted him to kiss me.
I wanted to eat his heart. I wanted to see inside him—highways of veins, polished organs, elegant bones—like a treasure chest.
Rapture grabbed me by the throat, and as it squeezed, sliced me open, only stitching me back together at the end of Ravage but left behind a hollowness. This was SO GOOD, pure dark, delicious goddess.
My extra favorite part, the one that made me go bat shit apart from the whole book in general, was when religious references were weaved with eroticism. I've never read catholic eroticism, but my god did it take my breath away.
"You're my forbidden fruit." Another open kiss. Cotton, soaked. "Dangling there, unused to being eaten."
Then Jackson devoured Adrian. Ugh tell me you wouldn't lose your mind too.
But why half a star off? Because I only mostly enjoyed the writing. The writing style is beautiful, but there were times when it felt forceful on the lyrical/flowery prose that it became frustrating or confusing to read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 107 reviews