Cleric of Desire

Tales from the Tarot

by Amanda Meuwissen

Giving tours of the city’s brothel underground while dressed as historical icon, Mad Madame Mattie, is the only time Jeffrey feels close to being in his right skin. It still isn’t his true self—he isn’t sure he knows who that is—but when dwindling sales and expanding gentrification threaten to take his safety net and sanctuary away from him, he will do anything to keep it.

Including making a pact with the incubus he finds chained in the tunnels.

Odai has served many masters and mistresses over the centuries, including Madame Mattie, but never before has one captured his attention so fully or given him hope that maybe, finally, he might have found the one who can free him from his torment. Every wish he grants only grows his desire to grant more and to nourish himself on the desires of the flesh that Jeffrey offers him.

He can only hope that Jeffrey will ask the right questions quickly enough to save himself from the doom that has befallen all masters before him.

Cleric of Desire is a standalone MM romance novel as part of the multi-author collaboration Tales from the Tarot. This book is based on the major arcana card The High Priest(ess).

Genres: Romance, Fantasy, M M Romance, LGBT, Paranormal, Queer, Demons

295 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2024

About the author

Amanda Meuwissen is a queer author with a primary focus on M/M fiction and romance. As the author of LGBTQ+ Fantasy #1 Best Seller, Coming Up for Air, LGBTQ+ Horror #1 Best Seller and #1 New Release, A Delicious Descent, and several other titles through various publishers, Amanda regularly attends local comic conventions for fun and to meet with fans, where she will often be seen in costume as one of her favorite fictional characters. She lives in Minnesota with her husband, John, and their cat, Helga.

Reviews

[Dani (Daniiireads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️, rounded up

Jeffrey, an underground tour guide for a brothel steeped in history, has his livelihood threatened when the owner reveals buyers are interested in purchasing the location.

Willing to do anything to save his home and job, Jeffrey makes a deal with Odai, an incubus, who he finds chained away in the very tunnels he gives tours nightly, to save Madame Mattie’s from being sold.

Over the centuries, Odai has had many masters, but none like Jeffrey. Odai quickly finds himself enamored with the wonderful man, and each new wish granted has him hoping that maybe Jeffrey will be the one who can save him from his curse and ultimately free him.

Honestly this was a surprisingly sweet story about self discovery, found family, freedom, and love. Jeffrey and Odai’s chemistry was fantastic, and their romance was so adorable and perfect—even with its hiccups.

[Cheeks · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When you have sought freedom all your life, you recognize it in those who stand before you."

Cleric of Desire is a phenomenal story that, at its core, explores the journey of self-discovery, finding your place in the world, and embracing who you truly are. The narrative intertwines the lives of Jeffrey, a tour guide who dresses as Mad Madame Mattie, a notorious brothel owner from the past, and Odai, the djinn/incubus he inadvertently sets free. While Odai is eager to grant Jeffrey's every wish, Jeffrey is uncertain of what he truly wants, apart from saving Madame Mattie's from being shut down.

Jeffrey's connection to the brothel-turned-museum goes beyond his love for his colleagues, his residence upstairs, his fondness for the neighborhood (despite the meddlesome Karens), or the fact that his best friend found her girlfriend there. It’s because when he steps into the role of Madame Mattie, he feels more authentically himself than ever before, though he can't quite understand why.

"Only we can really know who we are, and sometimes it takes a while to figure that out."

This unique, fun, and beautiful story captivated me. The characters were well-developed, and although the plot was somewhat predictable, it held my interest throughout. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a demiboy MC, an incubus love interest, meddling neighbors, a radiant demigirl, a grumpy best friend, wishes upon wishes, and plenty of spice.

4.75/5 Stars

On a personal note:
It took me some time to write this review. Although I devoured the book in a single day—I genuinely couldn't put it down—finding the right words to express my thoughts has been challenging. This difficulty isn't a negative reflection on the book itself, but rather a testament to how profoundly it impacted me. Before reading it, I thought I had a clear understanding of myself as a cisgender bisexual woman. However, Jeffrey's journey of self-discovery and his struggles with his identity as a demigender man revealed a connection I hadn't realized I was seeking. I've always felt out of sync with traditional notions of womanhood. Growing up, I was labeled a tomboy and was told I'd "grow out of it." Reader, I did not. Jeffrey's story resonated with me on a deep level, and through his experiences, I've gained a clearer understanding of myself.

I received this as an ARC and this is my honest review.

[christy - pr0bablyreadingsmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh i did not expect to get so emotional when i signed up to ARC read this. holy cow. i love odai and jeffrey so much. seeing jeffrey find himself and blossom into his identity is the most beautiful part of this book. the storyline and spice is also off the charts but my heart just loves lil jeffrey so damn much. him and odai must be protected at all costs.

five demidude stars

[Leigh Gaskill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was fantastic! I wasn’t surprised though, every book I’ve read from Amanda has been great!

The story is so intricate and paces out so well. And I’m glad we got Jeffrey and Odai’s POVs because that’s really the only way you can try to piece things together.

Extra points here for demiboy and demigirl (side character) rep. I haven’t seen this nearly enough. Jeffrey really struggles to figure out who he is and that is heartbreaking at times. The side characters and Odai are great support for him!

*𝙄 𝙧𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙥𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙚𝙭𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙞𝙚𝙬.*

[Ashley Matics · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by Amanda Meuwissen and it definitely won’t be my last!

The story of Jeffrey and Odai hooked me from the start. I don’t know anything about Tarot and what each card is supposed to represent, but this card was well explained in this book, and I feel like the whole book really represented that. Their love story felt sweet and organic, not at all forced or fake.

Jeffrey’s journey to figure out himself was amazing to read and felt like good representation.

I loved getting to know The Owner a bit more as I have read a few of the other Tales From the Tarot books. His role in this story was just the right mix of helpful and frustratingly unhelpful.

5/5, would definitely recommend.

[Cynthia M Brow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleric of Desire is the 3rd book in the multi author series Tales from the Tarot. Each book can be read as a standalone but why not enjoy the rest of the series. This is the story of Jeffrey a human and Odai an incubus. This was a sweet story of found family and learning about who you truly are. Amanda Meuwissen has done another amazing job of world building and character development. I loved the steam between Jeffrey and Odai. I can't wait to read whatever Amanda Meuwissen brings us next. I am also looking forward to the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book and series.

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great one from Amanda Meuwissen. I enjoyed this one more than I thought it would. It drew me in quickly and didn’t stray away from that. I was invested in the characters, the mystery, and the magic! Jeffery and Odai made a great match up. I loved the movie references and how they used the movies to bond!

[Natalie H · Rating 2 out of 5]

September 2024
Kindle edition

Not one I could get into, but not one that I wanted to DNF either. Jefferey and Odai were interesting with the whole unlimited wish thing, especially with Odai's violent impulses. I wanted to see how it all played out, so pushed through to the end. I just struggled with this one.

[Giulia’s bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

The way I was absolutely not prepared to like this story so much! OH MY GOD YOU GUYS.

These two had me rooting for them so hard! I was being the biggest cheerleader right from the first page.
I was really feeling the struggles with Jeffrey and his representation, how he viewed himself… I wanted to hug him and cocoon him away from all the bad things and just tell him that everything was going to be okay🥹 and then enters Odai and all hell breaks loose! Because daaaaaaamn… we do love horns and wings in this house🥵 and I mean… a genie/incubus/whatever he is? Yeah, sorry, daddy? Sorry… daddy??🫠

First of all: sparks were flying right from the start.
Second: all of Madam Mattie’s story was so freaking intriguing and I truly loved the struggle and fight Jeffrey and Odai had to go through to keep their place up and running.

So basically I loved all of it. And I’m kinda loving The Owner too.. cause you know, a weird, a bit spooky, really cool and very mysterious character with a top hat owning The Magic Shop that seems to be always open when you need it, really does make you wonder😏✨

[Molly Otto · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly remarkable tale of understanding identity and embracing it. Jeffrey runs the underground brothel tours of Madame Mattie, where he embraces his feminine size. When not embracing Mattie, he is the complete opposite in a shy nerdy man. One night after the tours, he comes upon an Odai, a dijin/incubus hybrid who changes everything. While Odai helps Jeffrey save Madame Matties, the two grow an unbreakable bond, yet they know it has to end if Odai can not be set free. So Jeffrey seeks the help of the Owner from the Magic Shop to see how to set his lover free. When the High Priestess card is drawn, he must learn to embrace his true self before he is able to set Odai free.
Amanda did an amazing job of tying fantasy into reality where the ties are so seamless that you feel this could be real. As with previous works from Amanda, expect kinks to explore that you may not know you have and enjoy the beautiful ride she lays out for us.

[Sheena · Rating 4 out of 5]

- shared universe
- paranormal
- gender identity

This is set in the shared Tales from the Tarot universe, and the card that inspired this story is the High Priest(ess). I don't really know very much about Tarot, but I liked how the meaning of the card was tied into the story and it made sense for Jeffrey. Jeffrey when we first meet him doesn't really know where he is on the gender spectrum, and doesn't know there's a word for what he is, and can't find himself. He meets Odai, who is a djinn cursed to grant wishes, among other things. These are two people trapped between two things both struggling to find that balance. Jeffrey has to find himself before he will be able to break Odai's curse.

Amongst all this there's the thread of trying to save the business Jeffrey works at, telling the story of Madame Mattie and coming up against opposition. I loved how Jeffrey ultimately resolved all that, with a little help from Odai too, and I liked the story overall. If anything the ending was a little too neat but I enjoyed the story and liked both Jeffrey and Odai, and was happy I got to see them get their HEA.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Lena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading "Cleric of Desire" was like diving into a world where fantasy and reality blend seamlessly, and I was completely entertained from the first page. Jeffrey's struggle with his identity resonated deeply with me—his sense of not quite fitting in, of only feeling somewhat at home when embodying the historical icon Mad Madame Mattie. I felt his desperation as his sanctuary, the underground brothel tours, came under threat, and I could sense the urgency in his decision to make a pact with Odai.

Odai, the enigmatic incubus, brought an alluring mix of danger and vulnerability to the story. His centuries-long servitude and the yearning for freedom were palpable, making him more than just a supernatural being—he felt real, layered, and compelling. The way his relationship with Jeffrey evolved was fascinating; every wish he granted seemed to deepen their connection, pulling them both into a spiral of desire and discovery.

In the end, "Cleric of Desire" was more than just a romance or a fantasy—it was a story about identity, desire, and the lengths we'll go to protect what makes us feel whole. I was completely absorbed by Jeffrey and Odai’s story and found myself rooting for them until the very last page.

[Emily Hernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeffrey and Odai's story was a fantastic journey of self-identity, love, and community. Anyone who has ever felt not-quite-right in their own skin will relate to what Jeffrey was going through in this book, and it was deeply moving to see him find and express his authentic self without fear of how he would be perceived. As Madame Mattie, Jeffrey led a series of night tours through a sprawling network of tunnels, sharing the history of the seamstresses who used to use them and speculating on the paranormal being who granted Madame Mattie her success. Little did he know, those wild claims were rooted in truth, and when he discovered Odai's amulet late one night it kickstarted a chain of events that changed his life forever. I was thrilled by the unexpected arrival of Odai, and it was fascinating to see Jeffrey scramble to figure out who he was and if it was safe to trust in the bargain they made. The two of them had incredible chemistry from their very first night, but that was only the beginning of their partnership. 

As Jeffrey made wish after wish, he and Odai started to turn things around for the tour business and find ways to breathe new life into the establishment. I loved seeing how well they worked together, but the insatiableness of Odai's desires kept me on edge as they veered more and more extreme. What started as a sweet connection and sexual exploration turned into a pressing search for answers and a means to free Odai from his curse, and despite how hard Jeffrey looked he couldn't find the key. In parallel, Jeffrey was struggling to find his sense of self, and he grappled with the duality of his gender expression throughout a large part of the book. Some of the things Jeffrey discovered about Odai were chilling, a reminder that every innocent wish has unintentional consequences and that time was their biggest enemy of all. As their journey reached its climax, I felt the frantic urgency that propelled them forward, and seeing their lust evolve into love only made me more invested in finding a solution. As with most curses, the answer ended up being shockingly simple but also deeply meaningful, and I'm not ashamed to admit that I teared up a bit when Jeffrey and Odai had their breakthrough moment. I couldn't be more satisfied with the way their romance left off, and with the business in good shape and their community supporting them, I know Odai and Jeffrey are ready to settle into a happy life together.

**I voluntarily read an ARC of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.

[Sreberko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I swear, I love every book that's written by Amanda. She makes the best mix of erotica, romance, and complex characters. Every MC has to deal with feelings of unfitness, face their fears, and understand themselves. Every MC has a charming side to them, all sprinkly-and-sugary, but also something darker, that may put him in a morally grey spectrum.

And I love it. What's not to love, really?

Jeffrey is a cinnamon roll that needs to be protected at all costs. Even though he doesn't like conflict, he is ready to fight for things that matter to him. He doesn't shy from responsibilities and is prepared to face the consequences of his actions. He isn't perfect, he is very confused through most of the book, and maybe because of that, I was cheering for him, ready to hug him when things get serious. His doubts about himself, and unsurness about Odai's feelings, were real and easy to relate to.

And yeah, Odai was precious too. I liked how his nature had both familiar and new elements, which kept me guessing on what solution to his situation Amanda would provide. I love how every paranormal character she does gets bits and pieces of fresh ideas, that make them unique. I love the sprinkle of darkness that they carry, that never overshades goodness in them but makes everything more complicated nevertheless.

The balance between angst, love, confusion and readiness to do everything for their SO was perfect. Amanda is one of the few writers who don't make me feel uncomfortable while reading angst. There is always a deep sense of *right* even when everything seems so *wrong*.

My only complaint is how short Odai's transition was in the end. I feel like we didn't get to see how it affected him, how he learned how to be *himself*. Jeffrey got this, and I'm sad there was not enough time to give to Odai too.

I still highly recommend this story, and if you like monster parts... Yes, that's here too. :D

I received the ARC from the author, and I'm leaving an honest and unbiased review.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

simply stunning, beautifully crafted, a must

Rating: 5🌈

Amanda Meuwissen is a author I find so fascinating. It’s in her approach to writing and storytelling that is so unique and intimate that makes her books stand out, as does this latest novel.

Cleric of Desire, a story in the fascinating multi-author magical Tales from the Tarot series, is one that’s very personal to Meuwissen. Don’t miss out on the author’s forward. In it the author gives the reader insight into what it means to be a demigendered person because she’s been through it.

This perspective and insight is one of the keys to understanding why Jeffrey’s gay demiboy journey feels so emotionally real. His struggles to find himself are so elusive at times because he feels that he’s seeing so much that doesn’t define him so it’s hard for him to discover himself. That raw frustration and hidden pain is relatable.

Meuwissen’s ability to bring Jeffrey and his journey vividly to life, within the parameters of an extraordinary universe that includes a sucubus seeking love/freedom as well as a historical area and LGBTQIA community finding unity? Just amazing.

This series is unique in that those fabulous covers are part of the story and are also a Tarot card that’s part of a deck.

The characters here are beautifully crafted, they exist within an exquisitely built location of historical significance and events, and the storylines weave together with a sense of wonder and mystery that compels the reader forward.

Highly recommended on every aspect.

I’d have a wall simply of these covers. Outstanding.

Cover art: Fae Quin
Cover design: Amanda Meuwissen

Tales from the Tarot is a massive multi-author paranormal & fantasy MM romance collaboration. These 22 books, each by a different author, highlight the Major Arcana cards in a traditional Tarot deck - with some liberties taken, such as The Empress card being The Consort, for an all MM or gay romance focus.

Tales from the Tarot- 22 books

[GreenwingReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeffrey is a tour guide for a historical brothel. Part of his job is to dress as the fascinating Madame Mattie as he leads the underground tours. Despite loving his job, Jeffery has been feeling unsettled. When the brothel is in danger of being sold to developers, Jeffery is desperate to save the place he considers home.

When he meets Odai, an incubus chained in the same tunnels that Jeffery loves, he strikes a deal to save Madame Mattie's. Odai can grant wishes, and he has done so for many people throughout the years, including Madame Mattie herself. But none of his previous lovers were able or willing to give him the freedom he so desperately desires. As their relationship progresses and deepens, Odai begins to wonder if, after all this time, Jeffery will be the one to save him before it's too late. Along their journey, both Odai and Jeffery learn things about themselves and each other that change the course of their lives.

The romance between Jeffery and Odai was very sweet. I genuinely liked both of them and was rooting so hard for everything to work out. There was plenty of steam, but also a lot of emotion.

Prior to this story, I'd never heard the term demi-gendered. I'd be lying if I said discovering it and its meaning, as well as seeing Jeffery's journey, didn't knock my own world off its axis for a minute. I had to sit in my feelings for a bit before posting this review because I am so grateful to Amanda Meuwissen for writing this story and introducing me to a new term that resonates so profoundly with what I am learning about my own identity.

I also follow Amanda on social media, and she shared that Madame Mattie was based on a real person, as were the brothel and "seamstresses," and history nerd that I am, I found that incredibly fascinating.

Overall, there is a lot to love about this story and Amanda's writing style. It's also a great addition to the Tales from the Tarot series. I can't wait to see what else this series has in store!

[Katriana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so happy to see another release this year that has a demi boy, and a demi girl character. I've only come across one other book that has had a demi-boy MC before I read this one, so for this story to not only have the MC be a demi-boy, but for there to also be a demi-girl side character was really cool!

Jeffery loves his job performing as Madame Mattie, he can be the closest he can get to his 'true self' whilst he's portraying her. But even though he feels the most at ease in his costume, there's still something that doesn't fit right. When the own let's him know that he's thinking about selling the shop, Jeffery is down on his luck.... Then a pretty amulet appears, as does an incubus who can grant wishes. What can go wrong?

I found the buildup of this story to be written well! I liked how Amanda created a beautiful and well detailed world before diving into the MC's relationship with one another. The creativity that went into writing Odai's character was terrific! You could tell Amanda put a lot of work into writing not only his character, but how much work she also put into creating Jeffery's.

All of the wishes added a nice touch to the story and kept things interesting. The whole time while I was reading I kept wondering what the 'correct' questions were, and wondering how Jeffery could set Odai free. I appreciated that Jeffrey's self discovery of himself happened gradually... He knew the things that didn't feel right, he just didn't have a name for it, Until CJ insisted on a makeover that led to him finding a name for what he's been feeling.

If you're looking for a high-heat, insta-lust romance story full of wishes, tail play, rude Karen's, slightly devious tendencies, wonderful friends, and not to mention if you want to find out about the wonderfully uniqueness of the Tarot Cards, this is the book for you!

[Autumn L · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jeffrey has always struggled to find out who he is. Now on top of that he’s losing the place he loves the most. Until one day after the tour the walls broke free of demon Odai. Odai who grant you as many wishes as you like, but after a while, a price will have to be paid. Then there’s Jeffrey, becoming who he truly is. Then the mystery of who Odai is. Will they be able to save the shop that Jeffrey love so much. What I like about Odai character is he’s willing to help Jeffrey even without using the wishes. I also like the way he describes Jeffrey from his personality to the way he looks and so much more. I also like that he grows to be his own person after everything that happens. Jeffrey’s character is amazing from the way the author describe how hard it is to find your self, and who you really are as a person. To him finally excepted that there is nothing wrong with who he wants to be and what he likes. I love the fact that he gains confidence to be himself. And try new things. And not worry about what other people think about him. I also like the fact that Jeffrey doesn’t want to own Odai. He wants to be with him without the power, so there is not a power play in place. They connected right away, and I found that to be amazing. I also like the fact they help each other out with the shop, and help each other out in a personal life. I like how they feel for one another. From the way, they look at each other, how happy, safe, and how they protect one another. The other characters in this book are so supportive of each other. I like that SJ takes time to help Jeffrey out. I like the way the magic shop owner describe the high priestess card. I am happy they both got what they wanted to do and be in the end.

[Megan McGrath · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first foray into an Amanda Meuwissen book, so I've been excited to read a new to me author. I was absolutely not disappointed! I'm only sorry that this was only the first. I will need to rectify that as soon as I can.

This was an incredibly engaging story! I love when we have a drag character that is so bold and confident in their attire and overall attitude, but their everyday persona is quite the opposite in contrast. Jeffrey had that combination in spades. His progression and shift throughout the story was really beautiful to experience. It's definitely something I'd never seen or considered before. There's always more to learn!
Odai was an extremely interesting character as an Incubus/Djinn. I don't think I've ever read about such an intriguing combination of paranormal-ness. 🙃 He was really smart and entertaining as well, and fit with Jeffrey surprisingly well. I really liked how their romance played out because it was such a fiery beginning, but then seemed to ebb and flow with their developing feelings. It was never an all or nothing situation. I also really liked the ending solution for Odai. It was really rewarding and deserved.

There was so much story to this story! 😀 It really kept me on my toes and I never wanted it to end. There's no way (for me) to summarize it well in a review without spoiling something. I really like the variety that a multi-author series brings to their general shared underlying subject. This book was very much unlike the others I have read so far and that's a wonderful thing. I look forward to more books in this series, as well as from this author.

I received an advance copy of this book and am volunteering my honest review.

[Tab_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ 3🌶️
MOOD: emotional, hopeful, reflective
TROPES: touch him & die
GENRES: contemporary romance, monster romance
FAV QUOTE: And he is just as hot as when he had wings. But not hotter, so there are some new kinks I now know I have.

MAIN CHARACTERS: Jeffrey (human) & Odai (incubus/djinn)
TAROT CARD: The High Priestess

THE GOOD: This is the first book I read in this 22-book series. The focus is on duality or two versions of one's self and maybe finding a balance. Jeffrey and Odai have their own internal extremes and then can also be seen as extremes given that one is a young human and the other an ageless djinn. The setting is realistic with a hint of magic and the side characters are believable and add to the story. I enjoyed following Jeffrey and Odai's story - both their romance and their individual character arcs.
THE NEUTRAL: While it is dual POV - which I liked - all the chapters are named for Jeffrey. It could have just been in the copy I received since it was an ARC but I found that odd cause looking at the table of contents I thought it was just one POV. I guess I would have just preferred the chapters to have numbers then and just labels for whoever's point of view it was when that section came up
THE MEH: No spoilers here, but I wasn't a fan of the wrap-up, so it isn't 5 stars. Not the ending-ending but what happens right before that.

CW: sexual content with unique anatomy, gender and sexuality discussions, historical representations of sex workers
DISCLAIMER: I received an advance review copy. This is my honest review.

[Jeanette Waters · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleric of Desire is book two in the multiauthor Tales from the Tarot series. Each of the twenty three stories have been assigned one of the 22 major arcana cards as story prompt. Card # 2 is The High Priestess. Amanda Meuwissen does explain the card's meaning. It symbolizes intuition, sacred knowledge, divine feminine, and the subconscious mind. Reversed it symbolizes information withheld, lack of personal harmony, and secrets. Which sums up Cleric very well.
Jeffrey loves dressing in the costume of Mad Madam Mattie and giving night tours through the tunnels below her brothel which is now a museum. Business is slowly disappearing and his boss is thinking of selling out. Rumor has it that Mattie's success was due to an incubus trapped in the tunnels. And it's true. Odai was a human, cursed into the form of an incubus. Jeffrey finds him and releases him. And they make a deal to save the museum. There's quite a few twists in the story. Odai grants wishes which start small but become darker and more violent. Jeffrey needs to find the key to freeing him before the incubus becomes too dangerous.
They're chemistry is sizzling steam, but it's also sweet and cuddly. Odai sees through the Mattie persona to the lost, not confident man. Jeffrey needs as much saving as Odai does. The worldbuilding is excellent. The secondary characters are supportive and funny. Found family. Cas and SJ need a book too.
This was a quick read. Enjoyable, A little quirky. Looking forward to the next Tarot story.

[Marion · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is part of the multi-author series Tales from the Tarot. Each book is a standalone read. This is the story of Jeffery and Odai. Jeffery is a confused young man who dresses in drag to play his performance of Mad Madame Mattie in the tunnels as his job. While in the costume, Jeffery is sexy, daring and confident. But when the costume comes off, he is shy, quiet and tries to hide. He doesn't feel confident or sure of what path he should be taking. Luckily that is where the tarot card comes in. The one addresses inner knowledge and both our MCs need that focus. Odai is a incubus who has been trapped in the tunnels for years. Jeffery inadvertently frees him. He is now Odai's master. Jeffery is not like other masters before him. He is kind and thoughtful. He thinks of Odai and him as a team. Both working towards saving his workplace. While Jeffery struggles with which path he should be following, Odai has his own worries. He must grant Jeffery's wish before the curse upon him forces Jeffery to send him away. So along with figuring out his own life, Jeffery must figure out how to break the curse and save Odai. Things just got a lot more complicated. This is their story. I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and easy to read. Once I started the book, the story kept me reading even when I shouldn't have. What a great book!

I received a complementary advanced review copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dawn Siemer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Monster romance

A young man meets a djinn, gets frisky then gets wishes. The wishes turn dangerous, and he must free the djinn, imprison him or accept the consequences. Mostly, it's a fun story, though not really my thing.

The main character discovers he's a "demiboy", which is a term I've never heard before. I think we used to call the boys "femme" and the girls "butch", but those terms might have negative connotations or mean slightly different things. SJ, who identifies as a "demigirl", is not butch. I've also heard the term "gender fluid" to mean something similar.

This book is almost an ode to the importance of labels. Some people need to know there are other people out there like them. Everyone needs to try things out, especially fashion, to discover what makes them most comfortable in their own skin. I really liked the store Fluid Fashion. If it doesn't exist in the real world, someone should get on that.

The only thing that really bugged me was the pomegranate. Has the author never eaten one? It's easy to see why pomegranates are associated with love and the underworld. They're heart shaped and have dark red juice, like blood. But unlike any other kind of fruit, you will be very sorry if you just try to bite one. There isn't just a fibrous peel. There is fibrous webbing throughout that is unpleasant to eat. That's why there's How To videos on YouTube about pomegranates. Eating a pomegranate is not sexy.

[Robert Alvarez · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Cleric of Desire," is the third book in the multi-author "Tales From the Tarot" Series, based on the 22 Major Arcana of the Tarot. This one was written by Amanda Meuwissen, and is based on Key II, The High Priestess. My softcover copy has a grand total of 294 pages, including end pages.

For several reasons, this multi-author series interests me very much; I AM a professional Psychic Reader who uses Tarot, as well as other Card Reading Systems, I AM a Gay man, and from a Tarot perspective, Key II, The High Priestess, is my Tarot Totem Card. I was especially curious about how the lore and the energy of The High Priestess Card was woven into this story.

I found the story of Jeffrey (also known as the titular "Cleric of Desire"), Odai, and the other cast of characters who were a part of this lovely story.

Jeffrey is a Gay man, who portrays a woman, Madame Mattie, who owned a business, which employed seamstresses and tailors who also provided other "services." Odai is an Incubus who is, Bisexual, although possibly, Pansexual. Cas is Jeffrey's BFF, who happens to be a Lesbian, and SJ, Cas' girlfriend, is also the owner of her own business, Fluid Fashion. Mr. B. owns the business which features Madame Mattie's and also manages the gift shop, that is a part of the business. Mrs. Sherman is the bane of Jeffrey's existence.

So far, I have read three in this series, and look forward to the other nineteen.

[Showarst · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cleric of Desire by Amanda Meuwissen is book 3 in the Tales from the Tarot multi-author universe. Jeffery is a postgrad student who gives tours dressed as infamous Madame Mattie, brothel owner from the past. He struggles to figure out who he is. He struggles with his identity and who he is. One night after a tour, he finds an amulet which introduces him to Odai, an incubus/djinn. He desires to give Jeffrey whatever his heart desires.

I loved the way that Jeffery and Odai fell for each other. Both of them had to come to terms with who they really were in order to be able to be together. I adore Jeffery. He cared about Odai so much and wanted him to have his freedom. If only he could figure out how to give him that.

In this one, we get to see the Owner a little more. I almost wish that this had been the first book as it gave us a glimpse of a character who is vitally important to all of these stories but who had played a very minor role in the other two books.

I loved this story very much and I am so excited to see where the next one in this series will take us!

I received an ARC from the author for my honest review

[Scatteredashes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great addition to the Tales from the Tarot series. Like the others, you can read this on it's own. We meet Jeffery when he is in character giving a (saucy) historical tour of the tunnels as Madam Mattie. He comes across a pendant and suddenly has a djinn able to grant him wishes. Jeffery's always been a bit sad and unable to understand what's missing in himself. I found his journey to finding that missing piece with his gender very relatable and it's books like this that are important for others who may struggle with something like this and doesn't even realize that this type of demi expression is possible! Jeffery and Odai (the djinn) are perfect together. I loved how Jeffery moved the relationship along at a decently slow pace in order to build a solid foundation for their relationship. The rules around the types of wishes Odai could grant made sense and fit. The side characters are really well done and I loved Jeffery's friends SJ and Cas. This was a fun read with some nice spicy scenes and a heartwarming self acceptance woven through.

[Mu · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off really strong. It has heavy themes of gender identity and finding oneself which is lovely! Jeffery embodies a lot of the elements of the High Priestess card. Feminine is divine and femininity is not exclusive to femme or AFAB people! I love that part.

The pacing of the book is very slow. While the mystery is intriguing, not too much happens. It feels like a nice jog at first, then walking, then a full on sprint at the end. It was a bit jarring especially since the whole mystery of Odai is solved within like one page at the end.

The tone is kept fairly light. The whole conflict wraps up in a nice little bow. It's not realistic so I did have some hang ups on it. It's not a bad thing necessary, if Karen was a LGBTQIA+ hating terf that would probably hit too close to home.

I liked a lot of Odai and Jeffery's relationship as well but it fell flat for me about like 50% mark. They're still lovely and sweet but just something is missing for me. I'm not sure what though!

Still it was a fun enough read and demi gender representation is awesome to see!

[Samantha Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Cleric of Desire is the the third book in the 22 multi-author series Tales From The Tarot that can be read as a standalone. This books serves to represent the High Priestess card, which is the second card in the tarots Major Arcana. The High Priestess is related to ones inner knowledge, when she appears it is an indication that it is time for you to listen to your intuition rather than intellectual thinking. The High Priestess is the divine feminine and holds the answers to religion, self, and nature and reflection on these will lead to personal growth.

The High Priestess is an excellent representation to Jeffrey our MMC who is struggling to figure out who he is. Jeffery who finds him self uncomfortable in his own skin is determined to save the only place he as ever felt comfortable, the museum known for featuring they notorious Mad Madame Mattie. In his desire to help the business he makes a pact with an incubus who goes by the name Odai. It soon becomes clear that Jeffery and Odai are in a race again time to not only save the business but to save themselves as well.

This may be one of my favorite books in the series that I have read so far. Amanda Meiwissen crafted wonderful characters and addresses the topic of discovering ones true self and accepting the duality that may reside in some of us. Jefferys journey of self discovery is wonderful and emotionally touching. Odai’s determination to go against his impulses that would eventually lead to him becoming too dangerous to be kept around is admirable, it speaks on the strength of love and fighting for your hearts desire.

[Aly York · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this book as an ARC. Amanda Meuwussen did a fabulous job with Jeffrey and Odai’s story. Cleric of Desire talks through what it is like not to feel like the gender you are assigned with biology. Jeffery goes on this journey of finding himself and falling in love with himself. He tries to save a historical landmark because he is passionate about history. Jeffery stumbles upon Odai and finds out what happens when you love someone so much you try to find a way to stop negative things from happening. Jeffery refuses to give up on finding solutions to all the problems. Along this journey not only does he find himself, fall in love with himself but he always falls in love with Odai knowing that it may not be a happy ending. This is an amazing, wonderful and lovely story that keeps you wanting to read more and more. It was hard to put the book down to go to bed until it was finished. I would recommend to friends.

[San Lemonade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cleric Of Desire by Amanda Meuwissen
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 stars

📚Third book in the “Tales from the Tarot” series

🟡High Priest(ess) card
🥰😍My first book by Amanda Meuwissen

🦄 Supernatural
😚📖Sweet and captivating story
🤓😏Jeffrey (MC, human): on self-discovery and does cross-dressing
😈Odai (MC, incubus & djinn): seeking freedom
➡️Pansexual Rep
➡️Demi-boy/Demi-girl Rep
🥵Spicy: human with a taste for forked tongue 😝, claws😏, and multifunctional tail😈
🤟💯Best side characters & found family

From the beginning to the end of the book, I was fully immersed in the story. The book focuses on Jeffrey's struggle to maintain the legacy of Madame Mattie, who is facing several threats, and his journey of self-discovery. Along the way, he helps Odai break free from a curse. Odai finds in Jeffrey a master like no other—gentle, respectful, and loving, no matter the form Odai takes. Their relationship grows beyond the compulsion of the curse.

In this journey, both characters struggle to find balance. Jeffrey is trying to discover his true self, figuring out who he is and staying true to that. Odai, on the other hand, knows that with time, it will become dangerous for him to remain free. Time is running out, and he is determined to fulfill Jeffrey's wishes as quickly as possible, while also racing to save Madame Mattie's business. Throughout it all, he cares for and supports Jeffrey, his precious and sweet human.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey fights to save Odai and release him from the curse, so he can become truly free. However, this isn't easy, as Jeffrey battles his own insecurities, including how to dress and feel good about himself.

➡️As someone I love very much says: “If you can't love yourself, how in the hell are you gonna love somebody else?”
⬆️I loved Jeffrey so much. I wanted to hug him with love and care and tell him everything is going to be okay. At times, it's heartbreaking to see his pain. But Odai is a great support for him, as are his friends and the enigmatic "The Owner," a spooky and mysterious person.

🧡🔁I'm definitely going to read this again

🤔🥺"Whatever our experiences... they are all just as authentic and valid."
— Quote from the introduction of "Cleric of Desire"


I received this book as a gift from the author and am voluntarily leaving this review.


My Reviews Of The Tales From The Tarot Series
2. The Magician's Heart by J.P. Jackson - 5 Stars
4. King Of Hollywood by Fae Quin - 4,5 Stars
5. My Minotaur Daddy by Laura Lascarso - 4 Stars
10. Found in Obscurity by A.M. Rose - 4 Stars

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