The Priest and the Adders

by E.N. Laurier

In 1998, as Father Peter Bryne reaches the age of forty, he is overcome by the weight of realizing that his life has been squandered in the service of the clergy. His world is turned upside down when an enigmatic stranger visits him in the confessional booth, leading Peter to grapple with his innermost desires. As he embarks on a pursuit of corruption, his path intersects with that of Malachi, a young man who is drawn to questions of morality and seeks Peter's companionship.

Amidst this internal struggle, will Peter Bryne succumb to temptation? Will he ultimately choose the path to Heaven or succumb to the allure of Hell?

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 14, 2025

Reviews

[Reid Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was INCREDIBLE!!! Laurier crafted a beautiful world full of religious, sexual, and romantic angst. Each of the three damn characters are so well developed with clear motivations and arcs.

[atlas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I did very much enjoy the take on fallen angels and also Malachis and Canes relationship with Peter. Especially Malachi.
But I'm too ace to understand how anyone can be /that/ horny. Not a single logical thought in the brain of that priest. So I did get annoyed at them for being idiots/not talking one too many times, for my taste.

[The Book Mage J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Choose me
Pick me
Love me
~
Uh! This book was the most beautiful love letter to love itself. From beginning to end of a lonely boy to a lonely priest searching to be loved. To two angels yearning for a love that will make them whole. This book encompasses love in its truest sense despite what the "big man" would say, blasphemy, abuse, murder (off page), blood, really hot sex, really hot sexual acts.
This book will stay in a very special place of my heart.

[Bernie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ate up every single filthy bit of this book and am still reeling from it. It’s absolutely fantastic. The author provides a very unique take on fallen angels and the parallels between the characters are so well done. It’s a very character driven story and they’re all dealing with their own version of trauma. All three of the main characters are complex and you can’t help but love them. Highly recommend reading this book if you love naughty priests, fallen angels, and religious trauma with a side of blasphemy.

[Eel · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a happy ending <3 This book is HEAVY on the angst. A Priest falling for an angel and having all that religious turmoil? I think we’ve all been there (if by angel you mean a bottle of tequila). Gave me all the feels and a new love for pidgins.

So grateful for my ARC copy!

[Percy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review so I'm going add some thoughts!

I HAVE NOT SLAMMED THE 5 STAR BUTTON THAT QUICK IN AWHILE. I AM IN LOVE!

Anywho. When I tell you I am feral for these three I mean it. Their dynamic is written so well and Cane is the perfect amount of snarky. Malachi is a sweetheart but still comes into his own later in the novel to give him an amazing personality that's a delight to read. The amount of angst here is absolutely perfect and it doesn't feel repetitive while Peter is trying to make sense of all the feelings in his head. He's a priest, but he's doing some very not holy things and he wrestles with that a lot, but it was very well portrayed.

His decision to let himself fall to be with the two fallen angels felt organic. He's obsessed with them and they're really the only true loves he's ever had, so he wants to be with them desperately in any way he can be. He's okay with giving up his position as a priest because of that love and it was phenomenal. The hints into his past meeting the pair as a child were interesting to read as well. It really gave a look into how lonely Peter has been for all his life and it helped his characterization a lot. My heart really hurt for him going through the hell that he did just trying to be a child.

Completely different, but Cane tempting him to touch himself in the confessional booth was so incredibly hot. The smooth talking demon undoes him and the internal torment it causes in Peter was delicious. The spicy scenes in this were so hot and written so well. I've got a few favorite quotes that I'm going to add because they are now rent free in my brain.

"You have?" Malachi inched closer. "Were you thinking of me? But you sinned because of me?" He closed his eyes, wincing.
"It is not a sin if it is for you."

"But wasn't that what love was, even among mortals? To love was to give someone the power to crush you."

ALSO monster anatomy?? The tentacles? The incubus body? Mwah, chef's kiss.

But yeah this book is now firmly imprinted in my brain and it definitely on a list of ones I can see myself rereading, which is incredibly high praise from me. Go read it and give this author some love, they've made an incredible story and they deserve the hype. Anyone with a blasphemy kink is going to love it.

[vrstal · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5. Highlights may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Content Warnings for book: Christianity, religious guilt, body horror, erotic horror, blood, gore, r slur, ableism, child abuse, internalized homophobia, sex with others on page

Kink: D/s themes, public sex, voice kink, tentacles, monster genitalia, praise kink, JOI, humiliation

Peter, Malachi, Cane. The Priest and the Adders is an interesting MMM horror-romance novel focusing on themes of Catholicism, corruption arcs, and falling in love with fallen angels.

I think I expected more going into this than I got — more horror, more eroticism, more something. The writing was enjoyable though, and I found the flashbacks valuable to understanding Peter’s psyche. I really loved Malachi. Sometime the connection between Malachi and Cane - and Cane and Peter - felt a bitch stretched. On poke band supernatural beings aren’t tied to our concepts of love, but on the other I wish we got more emotional moments between Peter and Cane.

There are certainly events of corruption and deception, but anything truly horrific happens off-page. I understand though, as those sorts of gory details not every author wants to focus on. So if you’re worried about gore, don’t be alarmed. Feel free to read this book.

I really enjoyed the imagery at the end when they all fuck, it was descriptive and grotesque and fascinating.

Overall, for a religious horror-ish romance featuring angels and devilish decisions, check this book out!

One thing to note for readers whom it matters: there are more detailed sex scenes with others and masturbation scenes than between the main throuple.

Thank you to the author for the ARC opportunity.

[Skyler Nightshade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tormented priest and the two newcomers who pull him between sin and righteousness. But salvation can come in many forms. This was a fun, wild ride! Perfect if you're craving gay romance with a side of violence and religious trauma.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

For fans of Sierra Simone’s book, Priest, who were missing the aspect of their favorite monster romance. I have no notes, five stars. I loved the lore of the fallen angels and demons. Can’t wait to see what else EN has in store.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly erotic and romantic

This book was absolutely incredible. Hot, intense, erotic- and also sweet, romantic, and even cute in places. Stunning job. I loved it

[Sophia Darling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two demons fall in love with a priest? This book is nasty in all the best ways. It's kind funny too.
The way they relate to each other is rather lovely.

[Kienn Nguyen · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so good... religious trauma, a gay priest, angels/demons/monsters... i enjoyed how it developed, also v high heat