Saint, Sorrow, Sinner

The Gideon Testaments #3

by Freydís Moon

An exploration of religious mythos, Brujería, and spiritual ascension…

Sophia De’voreaux never expected to escape Haven, but after a bloody confrontation in the Gideon Preserve, she finds herself under the protection of a rogue witch, her menacing guard, and their cautious friends.

Crumbling beneath an onslaught of ancient power, Sophia must put her reservations aside, because the Breath of Judas is no ordinary relic, and trusting the strange, dysfunctional group might be her only chance at ridding her body of its dangerous magic.

Before it’s too late.

Guided by Colin, Bishop, Tehlor, and Lincoln, Sophia leaves Colorado, seeking help from a mysterious mystic, Juniper Castle, and enters a race against time, chasing salvation, redemption, and a second chance at freedom.

Genres: Queer, Horror, Fantasy, Romance, Lesbian, LGBT, Magic

177 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 5, 2024

About the author

Freydís Moon (they/them) is a bestselling, award-winning author, diviner, and creator with an affinity for quirky, speculative storytelling. A lover of culture, mysticism, history, and language, they constantly find themself lost in a book, trying their hand at a new recipe, or planning a trip to a faraway place.

Content Warnings are available for prose and poetry on their Carrd and inside each book. Read with care.

This account is not actively managed by the author. Please use the contact available on their Carrd or reach out via Twitter with any questions regarding their work/creative opportunities.

Reviews

[Theo]

rating/review removed

[Hannah (hngisreading) · Rating 4 out of 5]

“To finding the unlikeliest friends in the most haunted places.”

What a beautiful ending to a great trilogy. I loved it more & more with each installment. Weird, witchy, & wonderful. This book and the religious trauma that Sophia suffers definitely hit me the hardest, but the found family healed me back up.

(But also, I would read 20 more installments, so, like, let’s go!)

[Me, My Shelf, & I · Rating 3 out of 5]

"She’s a clown car full of ghosts."

A satisfying little conclusion to a series where the main haunted houses are actually the people.

They're outcast and messy, wrapped up in religion, and covered in trauma, and covered in religious trauma, but by the end of this they've all managed to find a little home in each other. And reasons to keep living. And that's kinda beautiful?

Tehlor and Lincoln are for sure my favourites, though, as they bring the most banter and sarcasm and humor and stripped-to-the-bone honesty.

Does the dog die?:
There's a bunny named Hazel who is briefly sacrificed and comes back to life fully unharmed with a charming little rabbit hutch and snacks and everything. Honestly, the build-up where Sophia didn't want to kill the rabbit was worse to read than the actual execution (which lasted 1-2 sentences and was immediately reversed).

[alyssa✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

the found family in this book is everything to me <3

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait for the spin off series

[b (tobias forge's version) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series hit me much harder than I expected it to, and now I’m just lolling around, sad and unsure of what to do with myself now that I read it all in about 8 days and it’s over.

It was great seeing all of the characters from the previous books come together for the finale. They truly are a fucked up little family, and I love them all.

If you like lyrical writing, flawed but lovable characters, magic, creepiness, queer romance with a dash of spice, and plots that deal with religious trauma, grief, and redemption, why aren’t you reading The Gideon Testaments right this very moment?

[Littlebookterror]

[removed review]

I received an advanced reading copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Annalise · Rating 4 out of 5]

FOUND FAMILY WILL GET ME. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. A fantastic conclusion to this spooky trilogy, I’m obsessed with ALL the characters (if Lincoln’s my favorite, does that make me toxic?). I am very much invested in this world though because Juniper’s brother? Are we gonna meet him? But seriously, this series is amazing!!

[Krys (spicy.spine.breaker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t think I could possibly love Tehlor and Lincoln anymore, but this book quickly proved me wrong 😂 that arrogant power couple is *everything*. This book is somber and their “idgaf” vibe brought much needed and entertaining levity. Lincoln was always hiding laughter behind his hand. Tehlor was just a force.

Of course this book was about Juniper and Sophia though, and they were adorable.

Saint Sorrow Sinner was the perfect end to this trilogy.

[jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think hurt has a shelf life. Sometimes it has to.

content warnings: sexual content, body horror, animal death, horror, depiction of mania, discussion of sexual abuse, familial abuse, and religious abuse, bloody gore, drowning, depiction of panic, suicide ideation

[Holden Dingus · Rating 1 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: Below you will find my honest and original review. Some Troubling things have come out about this author not entirely being who they have claimed to be, faking their race and it's just been a whole thing. Please look into it before you decide to read this series.

Finding Renewal in the aftermath of tragedy

Our story starts almost immediately after the events of the second book. We follow Sophia Devereaux as she recovers from what Haven put her through. In the process she finds new faith, friends, and so much more as she processes the grief of losing her loved ones and their betrayal as well as having to exorcise a few ghosts of her own. She is haunted by what happened with the Haven cult and hopes to be able to move forward and keep on living, with Tehlor, Lincoln, Bishop, Colin, and the mysterious medium Juniper she may just be able to do that.

A story of overcoming past trauma and rekindling your life when it had all but been snuffed out this was a great read.

[Promiscuous Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Отличное окончание отличной трилогии, хоть и менее динамичное, чем две предыдущие части.

[alex (existential crisis™️) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

This was such an amazing ending. Like this entire series was 🥴🥰😍🥹😭🤯💘🫶🏽.

[Léa · Rating 4 out of 5]

this volume was kinda a mess at moments but I still enjoyed it

I love their friendship sm and the somewhat found family they became

+ I'm so gay for Juniper pls give me a chance

[clarissa.]

**4.5 stars on storygraph**

finding freydís moon’s books was such a gift. i adore this book and plan to read the rest of their books. (update: i no longer support this author)

[Keaira Vest · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75

truly love these books I was just expecting a little more OOOMMFF for the ending

[Care · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

I love this author and their work! This was the conclusions to such a good series! I highly recommend this series and this book as well as the others! These books are spooky, heartfelt, very diverse and inclusive! I really love each character and their stories!

[Neatlyunhinged · Rating 1 out of 5]

In denial. Might say goodbye to this series laTER MIGHT NEVER DO THAT WE'LL NEVER KNOW

[Sophia Buethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.75

[Dawnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was may favorite of the whole trilogy!

the writing was fantastic! so many great sentences, things that were being said and how they were formulated? fantastic! no other word for it.

the characters and how they worked together was great and i enjoyed the romance aspects of it as well.

i also felt the supernatural element of this entire series finally actually accumulated enough to make sense to me so that i could enjoy it.


i hate wanting to say this surprised me with how much i enjoyed and actually really liked it from start to finish but i think that’s the best way to say it.

with the other two books i struggled at one point or another -either the supernatural elements weren’t explained enough for me or i felt like since its under 200 pages i didn’t get to know the characters enough to actually care or what was happening just wasn’t what i wished would happen with those characters- something always made me go “mhm. it’s good but i didn’t really like it too much. i just wish i did.”

which might sound stupid but i think a lot of other people also experience going into a book/series wanting desperately for it to work for them.
i heard so many great things about this series and especially the first book and it just wasn’t what it was for most other readers for me.


BUT this book?! this book was that -it came and grabbed me and it just worked so well for me.


did the enjoyment of this book makes me want to reread the trilogy to see if it works better for me know and already knowing what to expect? yes absolutely!
i can’t right now but i will reread this entire series at one point soonish and i hope to love it more or at least enjoy this last book at least as much as this time around!


fantastic last book- even better book in its own and i can’t even say anything else but fantastic!

[Janette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not sure I can completely capture just how amazing and captivating this final installment of the Gideon Testaments truly is. While I found it less gruesome than the previous two books, it’s no less intense or compelling. In their gorgeous, flowing style, Freydís Moon delivers an enchanting tale steeped in religious ethos, mysticism, and power.

Tehlor and Lincoln may have escaped their final reckoning with Haven in the previous story, but there’s one lingering complication - the Breath of Judas. The very magic they sought to capture for themselves still resides within Sophia De’voreaux, and it’s a race against time to free her from its clutches before it consumes her altogether.

I really enjoyed seeing all the characters from this series come together to fight for Sophia. Each has their own gifts, and they must set aside their intertwined histories, personal differences, and the tension between them to fight for what's right. The addition of Juniper to the group is a game changer in more ways than one.

For a horror romance, I love the balance Freydís Moon strikes between the story’s romantic and darker elements. The attraction is undeniably present but doesn’t usurp the plot, adding to its breadth and depth in a way that’s wholly satisfying. The trans rep through this series has been phenomenal, and that’s true again here in the portrayal of the connection between Juniper and Sophia.

I can’t recommend this series enough. Each book is amazing on its own, but together, they’re a fantastic, dark, twisted journey. I definitely recommend reading them in order for maximum enjoyment and understanding.

*I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book*

[v0id_93 · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔮💜🕯️
‘To anyone who has ever been haunted by ghosts, or love, or loss, or anything at all: you will find your tether, you will find your way back home.’ -acknowledgement from Saint, Sorrow, Sinner

What a beautiful conclusion to the Gideon Testaments trilogy Freydís has crafted!

Picking up right where the previous book left off, this story follows Sophia, the sole survivor after escaping and slaughtering the members of Haven in the previous novella Wolf, Willow, Witch, and how she is possessed by The Breath of Judas. Seeking a way to exorcise Sophia of her possession, Colin takes everyone to meet his old colleague- the captivating Juniper Castle.

I don’t want to give too much away because the plot twists and revelations that were in here are best left to be experienced! But I will say the tenderness, over coming trauma, grief, found family, Brujería, religious mythos & over all growth amongst everyone was beautiful to read. Freydís is a master wordsmith and we are not worthy of their stories. Their ability to paint such vivid, visceral stories is nothing short of amazing!💜🔮🕯️
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This is the 3rd book and the first two should be read in order (in my opinion) to fully understand the story. 18+ check CW
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‘Sophia recalled the exact moment Daniel’s rib cage had snapped through his skin, bending like antlers. She’d wanted to wield that power, to break those bones, to be the last earthly thing he saw. But she’d plunged her hands—corpse hands—into her sister’s stomach instead. Tore through to her core. Unmade her.’
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‘she knew one thing for certain: no creation could exist without its creator, and she’d already met the devil.’
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‘She scolded herself for ruining the slow morning, still dewy and new, but every thought emptied the moment Juniper set her hands on either side of Sophia’s hips and rested her chin on the slope of Sophia’s shoulder. “Well, if you die, haunt me,” she said, so simply, before stepping away and opening the fridge. What a morbid thing, how those last two words weakened Sophia’s knees.’

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a BEAUTIFUL way to finish this trilogy? There’s a certain magic to the way that Freydis writes emotional connection between characters, and this book is so, so much more than a romance, but the heart of the interactions between Sophia and Juniper feel like acceptance. It feels like finding someone to call home.

Sophia is a testament (smirk) to anyone who’s felt lost inside themselves, pushed and pulled between one place and another, treated as expendable. It hurts to be treated like something rather than someone, and Sofia’s narrative screams with loss rage and grief over her past, the fact that she was destined to be expendable, and is now faced with an unexpected life dumped into her palms.

It was a joy to see the rest of the Gideon Gang all together in one book, Colin and Bishop, Tehlor and Lincoln, joined in their attempt to save Sophia’s life before the Breath of Judas can destroy her from the inside out. They’re all disaster queers, and I just adore their interactions, it felt like a true final arc which was so gratifying to read.

Sophia’s and Juniper’s relationship was the epitome of comfort. It was the feeling of “oh, I’ve been looking for you” written down amongst the hurt and healing and trauma of Sophia’s life. Juniper offers a pillar of strength for Sophia, and in turn is warmed by the surprising tenacity that Sophia discovers in herself. I adored them. The way that Freydis manages to craft such heavily emotive relationships in such a short time is nothing sort of admirable; their prose is lush, rich in feeling and totally addictive.

Because of the topic of this instalment - religious cults - I found this to be the heaviest in terms of religious imagery of the three in the Gideon Testaments. Sophia is chained to her belief, and in her journey to find herself she must challenge the foundation of her understanding about her place in the world - and so much of this is tied to her faith. Though I’m agnostic, I found the narrative powerful, gripping, as Freydis’ work always is.

Compared to the other two, I found this less “active”, plot wise. There was much more discussion and planning the main conflict between the Gideon Gang (you can’t change my mind they’re called this now) and the Breath of Judas. It felt much more slice of life than the other two instalments, particularly Wolf, Willow, Witch, which was heavy on action. However this wasn’t to its detriment, it allowed us a chance to explore Sophia’s trauma, and gave her space to find herself properly.

Not only is this gloriously comforting - despite the threat to Sophia’s life, how does Freydis manage it! - as all the Gideon Testament instalment, this puts trans and queer voices right to the forefront in a beautiful way in that celebrates the irrevocable and undeniable resoluteness of queer and trans existence. The world is queer normative, sure, but there’s a certain joy in Freydis’s rep, even while exploring elements of horror and trauma. It’s wonderful. Affirming.

Catch me rereading the entire trilogy immediately!

[Willie Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤🖤🖤

This trilogy is like a rollercoaster ride through a supernatural wonderland! Picture the gang from the first two books reuniting in a heartwarming yet spine-tingling "found family" plot twist. Each member brings their own magical mojo to the table, protecting Sophia from eerie foes like the Breath of Judas and a hair-raising extraction showdown. Seriously, this series is a must-read! While each book shines on its own, together they weave a spellbinding, shadowy, and complex journey. To get the full magical effect, dive into them in order – trust me, it's a wild ride!

Things to know
sexual content, body horror, animal death, horror, depiction of mania, discussion of sexual abuse, familial abuse, and religious abuse, bloody gore, drowning, depiction of panic, suicide ideation, trans woman rep, autism rep, ritualism, freedom, possession, ghostly horror, sapphic paranormal romance

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content warnings: body horror, blood, animal death, emotional abuse, panic attacks, rape, murder, gaslighting, religious bigotry, confinement, possession

I definitely enjoyed this, and I really do love the world that Moon has constructed in this series. However. I feel like I would have gotten more out of it if I'd read all three books back-to-back rather than with months in between. Because I remember the *gist* of what happened in the previous books, but this has such a strong connection to what happens in the second book especially that I feel like I was missing a lot of the nuance.

Anyway, that's a Me Thing not a Book Thing, so do with that information what you will. As always, I do wish these stories were 20-50 pages longer than they are just to fully explore the characters. But it was compelling and engaging and I'm really glad I read it.

[QueenLexy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this conclusion to the Gideon Testaments series!
This one felt quite a lot better to me than the other two and was lots of fun. All books in this series are really bingeable and they just hook you in.
The characters are great - Tehlor is my fave - and the relationships are fun and it just feels nice reading about them finding happiness.
I still have my issues with the writing here and there and still think that it gets confusing who is talking or what exactly is happening in busy scenes but overall these are fun and short stories.
I love the themes of different religions and the queernormativity in these books and enjoyed my time. Will be looking forward to what the author does next!

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series so much and everytime I think this series is over another book comes out and I'm all for it! Each book is a new perspective in a familiar world with a twist. The author does such a great job at writing different LGBTQ point of views and mixes in a dark horror aspect, with some romance too. It's a quick read that always leaves me wanting more. I love the characters, I especially loved Sophia and Juniper in this book. They are both survivors and found a family in this chaotic world that warms my heart. I could ramble more but this series is great and wonderful and can't wait to read more by this author.

[Phylicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

“To finding the unlikeliest friends in the most haunted places.”


4⭐️ It took me a minute to reorient myself to the world and the characters. Once I worked it out and remembered. I really enjoyed them all coming together in this story.

The religious folklore angle was amazing and very well researched. I again really enjoyed learning more about the different types of magic, rituals and the like. Very intriguing and entertaining.

This book played out like a movie in my head, so visceral at times and very immersive! I loved it!

[Plague Rat · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Well, if you die- haunt me..’

Trans rights readathon book 2/5

This book will have me screaming and kicking my legs to the end of my days. The loudest queer found family I’ve ever come across, nothing can make me more happy or more full of ache than this author and series. I will be forever returning, forever recommending, and forever reading Freydis Moon.

Rep: autistic MC, trans lesbian MC, bi mc, non-binary mc,
Trigger warnings : r*pe, necromancy, drug use, gore, body horror, animal sacrifice, religion, prayer, death.

[Kaity · Rating 2 out of 5]

Even though I’m not the target audience for this series (I don’t like horror or religious themes), I found myself thinking about this story and group of characters pretty often between books. Glad the whole gang was together for this last entry but it was unfortunately my least favorite couple/storyline.

Sapphic, autism trans and latine rep, slowish burn, age gap, mysticism and religion.


“Well, if you die, haunt me,” she said, so simply, before stepping away and opening the fridge.
What a morbid thing, how those last two words weakened Sophia’s knees.