Be My Sinner

Brotherhood of the Sacrament #1

by A.L. Maruga

From author, A.L. Maruga comes this dark, sinful, and demanding gothic stalker romance that pushes all the boundaries of exploring sin and vengeance while exposing the existence of an organized secret religion.
This book explores many dark topics. Please beware of the T.W. before reading. Your mental health matters. The

Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. F*&k that; all I do is want. I want violence. I want to be consumed by rage. I want to see the burning fires of hell spread amongst those who buried me in a shallow grave and forgot about me—leaving me to rot without a single thought. Forgive my sins and trespasses, Father. I assure you; I know exactly what I do. The A Sacred woman must be pious, meek, and obedient. She must pray at the altar of the Brotherhood and seek salvation on her knees. Fornication is a sin, yet it’s used as a reward for some and a punishment for others. They expected me to wither away, die of loneliness, out of sight where their sins against me and mine no longer confronted them. The thing about sinners is that we love to feast, and I am the biggest one of them all. The I hide in the shadows, always watching, always ensuring her safety. A task that has become more difficult as the years have gone by. She has turned from a teenager into the stunning woman before me. A Sacred woman, filled with rage and out to cleanse this world of their sins. Can I keep her safe, or am I destined to pay the same price at the hands of the Order that I serve? The Forsaker & We are ruthless princes of the Order of the Brotherhood of the Sacrament, untouchable, sinful, and without remorse. We take what and whom we wish and use them for our unholy and depraved needs. She will be no exception. She belongs to us; she was always destined to be ours. Wolves in sheep's clothing have a need to eat, and we are ravenous. Are you ready to bow before the altar of the Brotherhood on your knees?

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, Why Choose, Enemies To Lovers, Stalker, Dystopia

Kindle Edition

Published November 14, 2023

Reviews

[ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was insane in the best way. It comes out swinging from page one and never loses momentum. The story is dark, addictive, and so well written that every scene feels like you’re right there in the chaos. The characters, the tension, the atmosphere—everything is described so vividly you can practically taste the obsession. I literally couldn’t stop reading.

✨ T r o p e s + T r i g g e r s ✨
Secret Society
MMFM | Why Choose
Slapping | Spitting
Gang Rape - Fully Detailed
Dub- Con | Non-Con
Multiple POV
Enemies to Lovers
Touch Her & Die
Bodyguard
Possessive | Obsession
Depravity

There’s 67 total triggers so I won’t list them all 🙃🫶🏻

[Thebookimburiedin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have the absolute pleasure of being an ARC reader for A.L. Maruga reading The Sinner.
@authoralmaruga

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Let me just start by saying read the trigger warnings. You will need them. Those who live for a long list, girl, the list is long. Lol

This world is a world where religion, the Brotherhood, Rules. Men, specifically, in the name of god, do their bidding to their families and god. Part of that is to produce heirs to their family name but also sons and daughters to continue their army to fight for god.

Women in this world are of little consequence. To be used in every way possible and to continue to be meek and mild. Produce children and obey your husband or your life is forfeit.

Though one such woman has proven that she will fight, bleed, and revel in the feel of their lives passing through her fingertips. Dinah is killing them all right back. Because of all that was taken from her, her family, and those she considered her champions that ultimately failed her. Will her new suitors fail her just as terribly as those before her?

This book absolutely threw me through many loops. I never really knew where it was going and the ending absolutely made me scream at my kindle! I almost threw it, which a book has never made me do. This was very well written and at times maybe a little too gory for me but I loved this book! Probably the darkest book I’ve read and I’m glad that I got the opportunity to ARC this one. Dark Romance readers this is a must!!! Just don’t throw your kindle!

[Amoyisreadingxoxo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Currently speechless, and screaming in AGONY from this cliffhanger🥲

This world is dark, dirty, and depraved and I found myself genuinely intrigued as I read to learn more about this story as it progressed. Dana was raised in the world where women and treated like dirt. When she find herself being alone in this world, a vow makes her change completely. She was such a strong FMC and I enjoyed reading about her so much!! Her quest to avenge was a gruesome one, and I loved it😭

The dynamic of Sammy, Zeke, and Abe had me shook🫨🫨
Especially when they all came together at the end before the chaos ensued, that scene had me 🫠🫠

I love this book SO MUCH, so now I’m promptly running off to read my arc for book 2 lol!🖤

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m still trying to take it all in, you know that feeling when you couldn’t put a book down and still try to process it 😬 For me it did have elements I had read before in other books, this did not take away all the other parts that were unique to this storyline or my enjoyment. Do read the trigger warnings. The strength of our FMC Dinah is one that all women should be proud of, her main man Sammy taught her well, her fortitude at serial deleting is brilliant, unfortunately, he couldn’t teach her to forget her past and those that still haunt it.

Enter Zeke and Abe, childhood friends of her brothers who are a higher part of the sacrament. Zeke being the one she was always supposed to marry and has the story progress with her vengeance, she is forced to carry this out, from here the story starts to heighten, you can sense it within the writing like foreboding 😱….

It is a gripping story that draws you in and keeps you reading until the end and boy, the twists, emotions, hate, love, pain and pleasure take its toll on your head and for those that need some spice with their plot this has that too 🌶️💋🖤

[Shedevilreads Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be My Sinner by A.L. Maruga is a dark, sinful, and demanding gothic stalker romance that pushes all the boundaries of exploring sin and vengeance while exposing the existence of an organized secret religion.

All I can really say about this book is WOW! AL is an amazing author. She does an amazing job pulling me into her books and keeping me hooked until the very end. I am loving the chemistry between Dinah, Sammy, Abraham, and Ezekiel. I can't wait to see how their relationship will play out over the course of the series.

Let me just say the cliffhanger was absolutely amazing! It left me begging for more and wanting to seek my own revenge for Dinah. I can't wait until the next book in the series Be My Sacrifice is announced.

I would highly recommend this book if you're looking for a dark romance, stalker romance, gothic romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, age gap romance, or MMFM romance.

[Darcy’s Good Opinion · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 ⭐️
Steam: 4.75/5
Strong Language: 5/5
Characters: 5/5
Plot: 5/5

Be My Sinner is the first book in the Brother of the Sacrament series. The books need to be read in order for maximum enjoyment.

Dinah is existing in a world dominated by men. I say existing, not living, because the strict, patriarchal and religious society that she was born into views women as good for only two things: breeding and sex. When someone tries to break with the strict teachings, they and their family pay the ultimate price. She knows this all too well. Such a penalty was paid by her own family, and it turned Dinah into the remorseless, vigilante unaliver she is now.

Three men find themselves at the epicenter of Dinah’s life. Each has a different motive and reason for being there. Samuel is a fierce protector. Zeke is a jealous and cunning foe. Abe is a possessive and reckless rogue. Each finds themselves entangled in her web or has she fallen into a trap of their own making?

This novel is dark. Full stop. It has high steam, dirty scenes that will cause even the most experienced reader to blush. The depraved acts, sacrilegious undertones, and sadistic push/pull between the beguiling characters will thrill and entice dark romance readers. Be sure to read the content warnings, as they are extensive. A thrilling read.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

Oh this is so dark, so very dark but sooooo good. Think Margret Atwood’s Handmaid’s Tale meets Elliott Rose’s Port Macbre series. It’s finished on an absolute cliff hanger and I am desperate to know what happens next.

There is so much going in this book. A. L Maruga does an excellent job of world and character setting and description. Despite the world being complicated, from the very beginning you understand what is going on (and if you don’t it’s because you aren’t meant to 😊).

None of the characters are particularly likeable. They couldn’t even be described as morally grey, they do terrible things - a whole heap of red flags but they are written well and you do kind of root for them. This is a why choose romance and the relationship dynamics between the characters are complex and multi-layered. Again beautifully written by A.L Maruga.

If you like a book with a whole heap of trigger warning, which despite being dystopian feels more and more likely to happen, this is an absolute belter

[SpankMeSmutty · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not usually the biggest fan of Dystopian stories but when I saw the endless Trigger list, I knew I had to check it out!

I love the concept of a girl becoming a revenge unaliver to go after all the men who hurt her family. It was an unhinged chaotic world with lots of steamy Smeggs thrown in.

I was fully expecting the cliffhanger but once it happened I was still shocked! 😩 I can't wait for the next book!

[Ya-ting · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heat: 4.5/5

Final rating is still pending; I’m vacillating between 3-4.

I enjoyed the story as a whole: I was totally on board with the vengeance serial unalivings by Dinah, who is unhinged in a bad way after being completely wrecked by the ruling uber-religious society. I’m totally in love with Sammy, her keeper-turned-teacher of the unaliving arts-turned-voracious lover. He keeps the balance in her head and does the tough job of drawing Dinah back into herself when she loses her place. The other two men, who desire to belong to Dinah, Ezekiel and Abraham, have yet to prove their worth to me.

Aside from Sammy, it felt like the characters just seemed to go from one extreme to the other in an instant. There’s no in between or subtlety with these guys. They’re all either angry f-king or angry unaliving. They love pain of all kinds: giving, receiving, watching others in pain. Again, Sammy seems to remain outside of this need to be sadist and masochist in one.

I felt like there was a lot of repetitive inner monologue that, if cut down a bit, could’ve helped streamline the narrative. I can appreciate that it might be difficult to prevent inner thoughts from getting too wild and off course, but at the same time, it is probably a challenge to keep thoughts from becoming too stagnant.

The setting and then spice were big highlights for me. Post-apocalyptic society can be difficult to pull off, but AL Maruga creates a believable, albeit very depressing, one. As repressed and suppressed as the women have become, the men have gone wild and the scenes in this book definitely paint a beautiful picture of endless debauchery. Dinah is a beautiful, deadly, and sexxxxual creature. Despite her demure upbringing, she doesn’t hold back from doing what she likes (Thanks Sammy!). Abe and Zeke are also big freaks, but we like that about them.

The cliffhanger was painful, and only serves to torture me because the next book is not ready yet!

[Darkdirtysmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was left broken

This book details the worse of the worse. When society falls and the rich become false prophets on the backs of those they deem less than. Where women are good for very little besides birthing the Brotherhood's next generation and if deemed unworthy they're treated as "gifts" to be traded and abused as seen fit.

Until the Sinner and her protector make it their mission to make those in the Brotherhood that have wronged her family pay by removing the men in that line. But as a Sacred Daughter she was destined to become a Sacred Wife and as the richest woman left in her families line, she's forced to marry someone she had a childhood crush on.

There's revenge, A corrupt society, betrayal, love found, and love lost, only to end on a cliffhanger. Check the trigger and content warnings before reading this. Where friends find comfort and love even if it's seen as sinful, but at what point does promises made contradict human emotions?

[spoiled demon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dnf due to a trope I just can’t do. Tried skipping the scenes but there were just too many lol.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ bc it had great potential! No fault of the authors 🫶

[Blondies Book Binge · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was awesome. My first by this author and definitely going to read her whole back log and continue this series. Pitch black, spicy, amazing characters and plot.
Dinah is an awesome FMC and her delicious main man Sammy taught her well. She’s a serial unaliver on a war path getting revenge for past wrongs towards her family. Zeke, the man she’s supposed to marry by force thanks to the brotherhood, and his forbidden love Abe added a whole nother dimension to the story. This book has some mf, some mm, some group action, twist after heart pounding twist. Huge fan! Easy five stars. And an epic first read of summer break. I’m so happy I stumbled across this series. I loveddd it and binged the whole book in 3 sittings.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was gifted an ARC of this book by the author after the ‘Zon took the book off Kindle. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

Well, that was a twisted and effed up ride of a story. I think I loved it? Yeah, I loved it 😅

The book wasn’t perfect, but what book is truly perfect? but The story was very good and well thought out. I loved how the world was hashed out and terrifying with its religious dystopian themes. The main characters are very much unhinged, but they’re lovable unhinged characters with Abe being my favorite.

If you liked the Mindf*ck series, I think you should give this one a chance. I look forward to the sequel after that cliffhanger.

- Dystopian where a corrupt religion takes over
- Lots of triggers (seriously, there was a Google Doc of them)
- MMFM relationship (spicy)
- Lots of Gore

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Shaunna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoa, this book is…dark. The author warns you in the beginning there are so many TW that there’s a link instead of listed out and she was not exaggerating. I guess I’d say this makes The Handmaid’s Tale look like a sunny-funny fairy tale. I’m kind of shooketh from the darkness and depravity but I’m still giving 4 stars because it’s written well and is a gripping, wild ride.

[Rachael Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

INCREDIBLE

I had to take a business day to breathe after everything that happened… incredible writing, I’m so in love with all of the characters in all their twisted ways.

I laughed, I cried, I definitely gasped- absolutely amazing and can’t wait for the next one! Honestly will be back to add more to my review because I’m still not sure I’ve fully processed it.

[Jinoascéa · Rating 5 out of 5]

• Someone should’ve told me that this book ended with cliffhanger cuz now what?? 😭 second book isn’t even on goodreads yet 😖

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶🌶

WOW! Dark, depraved, twisted, tortured and left me screaming and pleading for more at the end.

I can now wait to see what the other two have in store.

[Sarah Dykes · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars rounded up to 5.
Best dark romance I have read this year. If you are a lover of dark romance, this is a must read!

[Chloe Tattam · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I loved this book every character was so unhinged which I loved and I loved that Dinah was a serial killer and she was so unhinged

[Andi · Rating 1 out of 5]

be my sinner — ★☆☆☆☆ ( dnf 11% )

no . no , i’m sorry , i’ve slogged through 50 pages where there’s been maybe ten pages of plot . the rest has just been a bunch of fucking smut . and don’t get me wrong i’m not a prude , i love some good smut , but i barely even know the fucking characters . the first 13 goddamn pages was the fmc watching two of the mmc’s fucking this one girl until she died . thanks i guess , i know them so fucking well now .

there was technically a prologue that tried to introduce the world without any erotica , but it was so forgettable and bland that the first chapter completely steamrolled it out of my memory . i wanted to chuck my kindle out the window before i even got through chapter one .

honestly this type of shit pisses me off . if you’re an erotica just say so , don’t pretend that you have any fucking substance . not even storygraph labeled it an erotica , which would have saved me a lot of fucking time .

one star . dnf at 11% and i don’t feel bad about it .​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

[Dimitra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the chance to read this as part of the ARC-Team! Thank you so much for destroying me 🤣

I'm still broken... I finished this amazing book and I loved every bloody page of it...

But hell... this is one depraved world my girl has created here

First off we have Dinah. A real bad@ss in a world where women have nothing to say but "Yes, Sir" and spr€ad their legs. She's craving bl00d and d€structi0n and I can't get enough of her bathing in the bl00d of her enemies 🫠🫠🫠

This revenge plot here hit me right from the beginning ...

The men are interesting in this why choose. All of them are kinda possessive. But while two are very much into each other ❤️‍🔥 the other is just another level of sick 🥵

Just how we love our men 🥵😮‍💨

When all three men say "MINE" they mean it 🫠🫠🫠

5☆ on the story and plot

And hell... give me all 5 🌶 for all the 🍆 and s€x

Beware of the deranged people with a 🗡 + 🩸 k!nk

And the freaking cliffhanger... I need book two please? 🤣

This book has over 50 triggers and content warnings. Please be sure to check them out before jumping in. Even if you normally would just see that as a shopping list.

Your mental health matters! Please take care of yourselves first!

[Allyse Reinauer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Handmaid’s Tale meets Snow White and the Huntsman… but make it 🌶️🔥🌶️🔥🌶️

This embodiment of feminine rage and her men are living in a dystopian setting that bears an eerie familiarity as it pulls elements of current affairs.
Dark and poetic in juxtaposition to the chaos and filth. There are parts that are really hard to read, but there are many parts that are so enticing. And these men 🫠 there is no golden retriever for lightness or comedic relief in this little harem they are all dark and dangerous. Sign me up.

This would have been a 5-star read but I felt some of the dialogue was repetitive. The action was so good I just wanted to get back to it!

[Shelley L · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not usually a fan of dystopian stories but I had to check it out.
I love the concept of a girl becoming a revenge, and to go after all the men who hurt her family. It was an unhitched chaotic world with lots of yummy spice, throwing it.
I was expecting a cliffhanger, but once it happened, I was still in shock. I can’t wait for the next book.

[Toni Donaldson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most unhinged books I’ve ever read and I loved every minute of it so I’m not sure what that says about me. The ending was insane and I’ll be starting the second book asap

[Carrie W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a little warning....this series has devout religious themes. They're fucked up....but still.

The story takes place in a post apocalyptic world where there is no more democratic government, only the Brotherhood of something-or-other. Religious leaders and their families enjoy wealth and power while the rest live hand to mouth. Boys born into these families are princes, raised to get what they want by taking it...by force. Girls are told of their duties as "Sacred Wives", to serve her husband in all things. That is her only job. What that means is that they can be passed around among the leaders if that's what her husband wants. She can be assaulted and treated like a prostitute if that's what her husband wants. She can be killed if that's what her husband wants. You see where I'm going with this....

Dinah is raised in a wealthy home with a father who is a brotherhood leader. She's disillusioned when she's 10 yrs old and walks in a room where her mother is being gang-raped while her father sits in a chair in the corner watching. When she's 15, another leader takes Dinah (who is to be a "sacred wife" to his son, Zeke) and locks her away in a safe house until she comes of age to marry. He makes her watch her father being tortured and killed for betraying the brotherhood. Dinah's brother is now head of the family and her mother is forced to live the rest of her life out of the public as a "fallen woman", disgraced by her husband.

Dinah is guarded by Sammy, a "lowly" brotherhood guard, who was forced to join the army when he was a teen. For years, he guarded her and they became lover, soul mates, and best friends. When her brother is killed, Dinah is summoned to his funeral. There, she sees her brother's best friends, Abe and Zeke. She sees her mother for the first time since she was 15 but cannot spend time with her because of "status". Anyway, the funeral is presided over by the Holy Father...his appearance is rare so it's weird that he's there. Later, we learn that Dinah's mom is the Father's niece so Dinah is his 2nd niece. Anywho, her mom is distraught over everything happening in the world and her son's death...she tells Dinah to avenge her and proceeds to shoot herself. Now, Dinah is an orphan and she's raging mad. Dinah is forced to marry Zeke..again presided over the Holy Father...then forced to be watched by brotherhood leaders as her husband deflowers her. Zeke had the good sense to shove blood capsule up her so she should bleed....otherwise, off with her head!

She persuades Sammy to help her kill all the brotherhood leaders, In her efforts, Zeke and Abe figure out that Dinah is the "Unholy Ghost" who has been killing leaders and leaving scripture in blood on their wall. They decide to join the party. They're all a bit psycho,

There's lots that go on but the overall theme, men use religion as an excuse to abuse their women, do whatever the hell they want, and gain power by any means necessary. Abe and Zeke fuck women to death...LITERALLY! Like, no longer alive! They have to hide that fact that they're Bi...or the brotherhood would kill them. They have sex with each other, with women, separately and together. They've killed women, multiple! It's a bit fucked up, really. Lots of kinky spice in this book...so you won't get bored in that regard!

In the end, Abe and Zeke join the party but Zeke's father, Noah, is power hungry and manipulates Zeke to do the absolute worst of betrayals. Something that will separate the 4-some for, possibly, eternity. To be continued...

[Angy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, the book is very interesting and the plot will keep you hooked, but I feel I have to share things that are a bit of a trigger for me.

SPOILER/WARNING

This is a distopic future where women are treated as objects, only to be fucked and disposed. There's zero respect for them, and 2 of the MMCs are not any better than the men they call disgusting for their despicable actions, which are raping and abusing women constantly. Before you dive in I wanna warn you that they fuck women and kill them while fucking them, and there are a few scenes that may be very triggering for some. If that wasn't enough it seems like in this reality condoms DO NOT EXIST, so everyone always fucks without one, and it's not granted that these girls (the ones who survive their "encounters") are on any form of birth control😶. And they also cum inside them. I don't wanna be the one to ruin the experience and I understand that this can't exactly be put as a warning by the author, but because it is something that really bothers me and I don't think I am the only one I wanted to be the one to prepare if it is something makes you uncomfortable. I just think that no protection should be something strictly reserved to the love interests, or serious relationships (which are not in this book),not any girl they come across. I just don't know, it really gives me the ick. And okay that it won't happen, but in the real world having sex whitout protection only leads to STDs and unexpected pregnancy, and you should really be fucking stupid to be so careless. And yes, it's never mentioned they take some tests to be sure not to have anything before having sex with the FMC.
So I read the next book, where it is in fact talked about birth control for once. Obviously the FMC is on it, but if you read the second book it seems implied that the lower classes haven't access to it, and mainly two of the MMCs fuck on the REGULAR the maids in their house and random girls and cum inside them. These girls come for lower classes, the ones not allowed contraceptives so it's a fortune they didn't knocked up any of them seeing how it seems they cum inside every girl they fuck. And in fact one important character has had a son with one of those so it's obvious they don't really seem to care about having an unwanted child from a random fuck 🙃. At least, this is the impression given in the book. But by all means, again, this is just a WARNING for people that like me don't like to have MMCs that if it wasn't for the plot would have all kinds of STDs and many children around the world.
Aside from this, the book has really an interesting plot and development, it is beautiful, and I recommend reading it if pitch black stories and the triggers don't discourage you.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this Author. I picked it up through an ARC and am so pleased I did. It absolutely gripped me from the very beginning, so much so that I did not put the book down until I finished reading it.

We have the 4 main characters:-

Dinah - Sinner

Sammy - Protector

Abe-Liar

Zeke - Forsaker

Women have no say in their lives, and the Order of the Brotherhood of the Sacrament has ensured this. The Sacred Women born down the line of the founding fathers are merely bodies for their husbands to use and breed. And the greatest sinners of all are Brotherhood. What may apply to the populous doesn't apply to them. But they are rebels fighting for a better future.

Abe and Zeke are Prince's in the order and they have used and abused their positions to live their life their way. Have they faith and respect for their elders… No! They've witnessed their wrongdoings. All that matters to them are each other. They weren't always like this. They were friends with Gabe, Dinah's brother when they were younger. They were kind and thoughtful.

Dinah has been through so much. She has been taken away from her family and lived in seclusion with a soldier Sammy as her protector. But what she had to endure has changed this once trusting, loving, open girl. She is now a battle-hardened warrior thanks to Sammy. He has taught her over the years to protect herself. While doing so, Sammy found his heart had been taken by her. She is his soul mate. He lives and breathes for her and Dinah feels the same way. He will not let anyone take her away from him. But that is all about to change.

The Brotherhood is under attack. Someone is killing the families of the Founding Fathers. Who is it and why are they taking out entire bloodlines?

This is a dark, delicious, depraved story of a religious order, a new world order, which was supposed to be a better way of life for all. How the chosen few have taken power, money, and greed to excess. Who can people trust? Can people change so much and if so, can they be redeemed? Can their actions speak louder than words? Can their promises be upheld or do they sacrifice those they swore to protect? Lies, deceit, and treachery are in abundance.

An absolutely brilliant book and book 2 was picked up immediately to continue the story. A must-read! And I'll definitely be looking into more of her books, if this is the level of her writing.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Rarely does a book leave me speechless, but this is one of them. This book is dark, depraved and demented. There is a long list of trigger warnings with this story, and they are there for a reason. Please heed these warnings. Or, if you think the more trigger warnings the better – then this one is for you!

This story centers around a world that is ruled by a religious order called the Brotherhood of the Sacrament. This world is dark and ugly. It is ruled by men who portray themselves to be the most devout and pious, but they are nothing but false prophets. They are ruthless, greedy and exploit those they see as beneath them in order to live their privileged lifestyle.

Women are looked upon as property. Their only purpose is to breed the next heir or warriors to further the existence of this despicable group. They are expected to be meek, to be demure in all they do. These women are expected to obey their husbands without question, even if that means to be traded and abused by the other high-ranking men of the Order. Their life is of little consequence to these men. If a woman steps out of line, they will forfeit their own life.

Our FMC, Dinah, dares to buck the system. She vows to do all she can to take down the Brotherhood and seek revenge and retribution for the women that have suffered at these monsters hands. She is fierce, strong and a badass!

Sammy, Zeke and Abe are our MMC’s. They are an unlikely threesome but each of these men have played a role in her life and hold a different piece of her heart.

I loved and devoured every single word of this book! The world building was incredible, the plot was captivating, and the spice was oh so delicious! The chemistry between Dinah and her men was off the charts! There is revenge, twists and turns, and betrayal. There were so many times I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room! And that cliffhanger…absolutely heart wrenching!

This is the first book of this series, and I can’t wait to read the rest!

[rogue_reads_romance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be My Sinner is book one of the Brotherhood of the Sacrament series. I finished this book today and it completely crushed my soul. We are talking MAJOR book hangover folks. As noted in the blurb, it does end on a cliffhanger, and I need book two immediately. Tropes include: enemies-to-lovers, serial unaliver, age gap (10+), secret society, gothic romance aesthetics, religious undertones, revenge, villain romance, MMFM, he falls first, unhinged MMCs, protector/bodyguard, touch-her-and-die vibes. PLEASE read the 50+ TWs before you dive in. This book is DARK folks. Read on if you’d like more detail about my personal preferences, rating scale, and why I’m giving this book FIVE STARS and FIVE SPICE!

When I read, I am interested in the point of view (POV), the plot, and the spice. I prefer dual POV, I don’t want a predictable or bland plot, and I like my books HOT!

The story is told from four points of view, by the female main character (Dinah) and male main character(s) (Sammy, Zeke, and Abe). All the characters are completely dark and unhinged in their own way. I’m so thankful that this book was written from character POV because it really allows you to get a good feel for the significance of each character’s madness. Dinah is everything I love in FMC – wild, strong, smart, and loyal. Sammy is her lover/protector/bodyguard, and Zeke and Abe. . . well, you’ll see. I’m not handing out spoilers.

The story is based in a new world ruled by religion and a secret society. Women are not valued beyond producing heirs and providing pleasure when and how their partner sees fit. This book exposes all the dark parts of human nature. I didn’t find the plot predictable, and I was beyond shocked on more than one occasion by the depravity and violence (which I’m no mad about).

The spice was phenomenal. I can’t remember the last time a gave a book a 5/5 spice. It happens early, often, is well-written, and . . . creative 😉

[A. Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very dark novel. You won't find a lot of saviors, heroes, or white knights rushing in to save the day. The world has essentially been destroyed and recreated by the Brotherhood. The Brotherhood is a group of men who use to religion to justify everything they do. The women in this world are subjugated by these men and are worthless except for reproduction, sex, and money. It reminds me a bit of a another popular novel with white bonnets and red dresses that use religion to treat women poorly. The main characters in this novel are: The Sinner, The Protector, The Forsaker, and The Liar. I would argue that they sometimes switch positions in this novel. Meaning The Forsaker becomes The Liar , The Sinner becomes the Protector, and The Liar definitely becomes the Sinner. I don't think they all have just one clearly defined role. Maybe that's just me? The true devils in this world are the Brotherhood. Who can be so cruel and act like it is the Lord's will? The Brotherhood are the biggest hippocrites out there and serve themselves. The Brotherhood punishes women for what they force the women to do. It's about who has the most power and control. No one will give that act of playing God up easily. Along comes someone set on revenge. “Avenge all of those who cannot save themselves from this Order! You are demons, not holy men! You corrupt everything you touch! There is no goodness in any of you!" Definitely no goodness to be found in this novel. "For better or worse, we are all now tied together, four strings tied in one fucking messy knot. Will we ever be free?" I don’t think freedom exixts in this new world but especially not for women. So many questions 🤔 still. Be prepared because there's a pretty drastic cliffhanger. You might not want to read the end of this novel until book 2 is finished.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.