This book. THIS BOOK. This book is the first of Jescie Hall's book I read (thanks to Bookstagram) and I think I highlighted 70% of This Sik Luv. Have I booked to get a quote tattooed on my body - yes I have.

I have never read a book like this. The only thing its perhaps comparable to is Haunting Adeline by H.D Carlton with the spice level and some of the content - but this is ON ANOTHER LEVEL. Here is my forever warning, READ THE TWs, this book has a long list of them so PAY ATTENTION.

This Sik Luv is a dark (very dark) romance with the weight of sexual sin and religious trauma at the heart of it. There is a long list of trigger warnings (you can find them on Jescie's IG) ranging from CNC and knife play to somnophilia - which you should read before start the book.

Brief Synopsis

Briony is set to be the first female Magnus Princeps - a fact that is upsetting some members of the Church. But Briony has a stalker. A stalker who leaves her notes with daggers in her bedroom. A stalker who wants her to bloom outside of her religion and see the truth of that is hidden from her. A stalker who seeks revenge and wants to help her revel in sin.

Characters

Let's talk about the big sexy, scary man in the room - Aero. Aero is possibly the most morally black character I've read - and loved, of course. Aero takes what he wants with no apologies, and despite his dark af nature, his backstory makes you understand his actions (to an extent at least) and motivations.

I think there is the misconception and comparison with Zade from Haunting Adeline - but I don't think the comparison can be, or should be, drawn. They are totally different characters with different relationships to the FMC.

Aero is dragging Briony from the darkness into the light (or perhaps the other way around) and helping her escape the stifling patriarchal conditioning of her religion.

Oh, and he wears a mask. Is rather large downstairs... and he's pierced.

Briony - I loved her. I loved her finding herself and unravelling the truth and lies of what she's been taught and born into. I loved her choosing her sexuality and her power and leaning into what made her feel good despite what she'd been fed all of her life.

I loved how she transformed, with Aero at her side, into someone who sought revenge with a fire in her belly. And how she helped heal Aero and cause an internal shift.

Their relationship is absolutely toxic and dangerous and depraved - but it still brings their growth, their healing, their truth. It's an awakening for both of them and it was incredible to read.

Spice

The spice in this book is kinky and taboo AF. It has so many spicy scenes that include: consensual non-consent, degradation, anal, knife play, somnophilia, spitting, blood play, breath play, gun play, humiliation... when I say the list goes on I mean it. READ THE TWs folks!

But gods, it got me excited about things I'd never even considered before... The book is very heavily spice / smut focussed, but I didn't once think it was predictable or too much and fed into the plot perfectly in my opinion.

And the dirty talks... oh my Gods. This was one of the things that made this book so deliciously spicy.

"Beg for my cum, church girl."

This book will absolutely not be for everyone. But I adored it. It was dark, depraved, a touch sacrilegious. Its a woman finding her power, accepting her sexuality and sins with a man by her side, edging her into the darkness. It is spicy af and will give you some new kinks if you're anything like me...

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5

️️️️️ / 5

But I have said it once (or three times) and I will say it again - this book is full of trigger warnings. Read them! This Sik Luv is amazingly written, addresses some hard hitting topics, is full of spice and kinks, and I loved every second.

Find more of my favourite quotes here!