The Desecration of Saint Agatha

by Jessa Riot

Faith. Flesh. Sacrifice.

Sister Mallory has spent her life in devotion—but devotion is not enough. The whispers of Saint Agatha call to her, demanding more. More discipline. More pain. More proof of faith.

As the lines between ecstasy and agony blur, Mallory’s descent becomes inevitable. Visions of martyrdom consume her. Her body becomes an altar. Her suffering, a prayer.

But when the fires of devotion burn too hot, when the flesh fails before the spirit, will she find salvation—or something far more unholy?

A blasphemous descent into religious horror, transgressive erotica, and visceral body horror, from the author of Father Forgive Me.

43 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 10, 2025

About the author

Jessa has spent her life in the theatre studying the power of words. In response to the pandemic halting live performances, coupled with a devastating hurricane, she leaned into the unexpected change. Shifting into a less demanding phase of life, Jessa decided to explore one of the few interests she had always been too busy to pursue. Writing. As a former director and actor, manipulating language into a story and dialogue not intended to be performed, has created a welcome challenge. Always unapologetic and introspective, her art explores the dark, dirty, and depraved humanity lurking within us all.

Reviews

[Eunice Hayward · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good evening, Darlings of Darkness,

Jessa strikes again with her signature move dropping a book out of nowhere like a literary ninja. And let me tell you, the books she casually drops? Absolute bangers. The Desecration of Agatha is no exception. This little monster of a book will have your head spinning with everything that goes down. It may be short, but it packs a damn punch, so check those triggers before they check you. We read responsibly in this household.

Now, don’t come looking for spoilers because I am saying nothing. The only thing I’ll tell you is this if you’ve read Father, Forgive Me, then you need to pick this one up ASAP. And if you haven’t read Father, Forgive Me yet… seriously, what are you waiting for? This story is a masterclass in what happens to the human mind under extreme stress, and oh, my poor bleeding heart Agatha wrecked me. But let’s be real, Jessa always makes me suffer for at least one character.

Go read it. Devour it. Then come scream with me.

Yours in madness,
E

[Danielle Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Perhaps she is lost in the memory of that divine glory, or maybe she is revisiting the suffering she endured for that fleeting moment of rapture. Either way, her porcelain form bears no witness to the perversion unfolding before her, and she will never tell.”

This story was incredible. I could have read a thousand more pages of this writing style and not have batted an eye. I don’t usually compliment the interior design of books, but I really enjoyed this one. I loved the beginning, where there’s a playlist to go with the book. Right down to both the Apple and Spotify links.

Then the story? Incredible. Brutal. Wild body horror. But it’s told in such a unique and beautiful way. At the end, I read the author’s note and couldn’t help but find it so relatable; perhaps that’s why I am obsessed with this story, but I honestly think anyone would love it. Especially those who favor religious horror and/or body horror. It’s also a nice, quick read. Easy to read in one sitting. I cannot promote this book enough. There’s definitely a reason it’s sitting at the top of the Godless charts. This is another new to me author that I will be both binge-reading and keeping my eye out for. OBSESSED.