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Possessing Violet
Corrupt Obsession
This is the prequel to Corrupt Idol, which documents Jesse Sampson’s descent into obsession as he falls for his step-sister, Violet Carr.
It was love at first sight. Violet brought color back into his world after his father died. She needed him as much as he needed her. They weren’t just family, they were best friends. They spent every waking moment together. Everything was perfect… until it wasn’t.
He thought nothing could keep them apart, but he underestimated the hold their conservative, religious background and parent’s approval had on Violet. It stopped her from acknowledging what was between them. To committing to him. And it drove him over the edge.
He didn’t know love could turn him into a monster. He didn’t know that love could become a corrupt obsession that would ruin everything and leave him with nothing. But that’s exactly what happened.
Author's This is an erotic novel with triggers and mature themes that may make readers uncomfortable. Please read with caution.
It was love at first sight. Violet brought color back into his world after his father died. She needed him as much as he needed her. They weren’t just family, they were best friends. They spent every waking moment together. Everything was perfect… until it wasn’t.
He thought nothing could keep them apart, but he underestimated the hold their conservative, religious background and parent’s approval had on Violet. It stopped her from acknowledging what was between them. To committing to him. And it drove him over the edge.
He didn’t know love could turn him into a monster. He didn’t know that love could become a corrupt obsession that would ruin everything and leave him with nothing. But that’s exactly what happened.
Author's This is an erotic novel with triggers and mature themes that may make readers uncomfortable. Please read with caution.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 31, 2025
About the author
Dinah Harper
3 books922 followersDinah Harper will have you squirming in your seat and looking around to make sure no one can see what you’re reading. The Possessing Violet Series is the first of many erotic novels she has planned.
Please be patient. She is currently under contract for several projects as dark romance author, Mia Knight. When she resumes her work as Dinah Harper, she will update her website/blog. You can sign up to her newsletter to stay informed about future releases!
Please be patient. She is currently under contract for several projects as dark romance author, Mia Knight. When she resumes her work as Dinah Harper, she will update her website/blog. You can sign up to her newsletter to stay informed about future releases!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 198 reviews
April 1, 2025
toxic codependent step siblings with a side of some good ol’ religious guilt 🚬🚬 seated for their sequel in 2055.
April 3, 2025
I've been anticipating an update to this series for years, so I jumped at the chance to read this prequel. I knew halfway through it would be a five star read, but I'll admit that this book feels a lot darker than the original story. I don't know if that's just because I haven't read the first novel in a while, but this one felt completely stripped of any romanticization.
It felt like a very honest, sometimes incredibly frightening portrayal of what it would be like to grow up with a sociopathic individual who's set their sights on you. That opening scene where Jesse first meets Violet when they're kids and you can see him instantly connect with her and unconsciously channel all his focus from the loss of his dad onto this new person was very well done. In some ways Violet is a much more self aware person than Jesse because there's a line where she notes that she doesn't want to lose her individuality and give all of herself to one single person because she recognizes how unhealthy that is. That's where their disconnect lies though because despite the fact that they're both pretty codependent characters, it's only Jesse who essentially centered his whole entire world around Violet before he even grew up properly.
Not to put all the codependency issues on them though because I have A LOT to say about the family dynamics in Corrupt Obsession and how they contribute to what occurs. Dinah Harper really nailed what it's like growing up in an environment with an intensely religious patriarch, specifically one who makes a scapegoat of women for the poor behavior of men. Not only does Violet's father encourage the codependency between them (that scene where he's carrying his wife into the house after she fell asleep in the car and Jesse's right behind him doing the same with Violet made it glaringly obvious how blurred the lines were getting it was fascinating) but he also acts like it's his daughter's actions that control how Jesse reacts to them, completely fucking up his daughter in the process. Her getting the most of the blame for Jesse almost killing Tucker because she tried to sleep with him cementing the idea that even if he's punishing Jesse for being violent it was also his right to do what he did because of her behavior is so manipulative.
And Jesse being a very sociopathic figure uses Violet's father's idealization of him to his advantage, along with the religion they were both brought up under and which he only abandons when it doesn't get him what he wants, which is Violet. I don't care how lovingly the dad is portrayed through his daughter's biased perspective, the bottom line is that he blatantly ignored the sexual abuse going on in his own house because he simply did not want to see it. The way she behaves once Jesse leaves for the army? Completely abnormal and definitely not sibling behavior, but it just gets ignored. This book introduces a lot of heavy topics but the way Dinah Harper handled them is so true to life and what really happens in situations like these.
But on a different note, it was great seeing the origin story to Jesse and Violet's insane relationship. This author usually starts her stories with the characters already having so much history so I loved seeing beyond that for the first time. If you like obsessive crazy heroes and really emotionally intelligent and interesting heroines I'd definitely recommend this series. Fingers crossed the sequel comes out soon.
*I received this arc in exchange for an honest review
TW: non-con, misogyny
It felt like a very honest, sometimes incredibly frightening portrayal of what it would be like to grow up with a sociopathic individual who's set their sights on you. That opening scene where Jesse first meets Violet when they're kids and you can see him instantly connect with her and unconsciously channel all his focus from the loss of his dad onto this new person was very well done. In some ways Violet is a much more self aware person than Jesse because there's a line where she notes that she doesn't want to lose her individuality and give all of herself to one single person because she recognizes how unhealthy that is. That's where their disconnect lies though because despite the fact that they're both pretty codependent characters, it's only Jesse who essentially centered his whole entire world around Violet before he even grew up properly.
Not to put all the codependency issues on them though because I have A LOT to say about the family dynamics in Corrupt Obsession and how they contribute to what occurs. Dinah Harper really nailed what it's like growing up in an environment with an intensely religious patriarch, specifically one who makes a scapegoat of women for the poor behavior of men. Not only does Violet's father encourage the codependency between them (that scene where he's carrying his wife into the house after she fell asleep in the car and Jesse's right behind him doing the same with Violet made it glaringly obvious how blurred the lines were getting it was fascinating) but he also acts like it's his daughter's actions that control how Jesse reacts to them, completely fucking up his daughter in the process. Her getting the most of the blame for Jesse almost killing Tucker because she tried to sleep with him cementing the idea that even if he's punishing Jesse for being violent it was also his right to do what he did because of her behavior is so manipulative.
And Jesse being a very sociopathic figure uses Violet's father's idealization of him to his advantage, along with the religion they were both brought up under and which he only abandons when it doesn't get him what he wants, which is Violet. I don't care how lovingly the dad is portrayed through his daughter's biased perspective, the bottom line is that he blatantly ignored the sexual abuse going on in his own house because he simply did not want to see it. The way she behaves once Jesse leaves for the army? Completely abnormal and definitely not sibling behavior, but it just gets ignored. This book introduces a lot of heavy topics but the way Dinah Harper handled them is so true to life and what really happens in situations like these.
But on a different note, it was great seeing the origin story to Jesse and Violet's insane relationship. This author usually starts her stories with the characters already having so much history so I loved seeing beyond that for the first time. If you like obsessive crazy heroes and really emotionally intelligent and interesting heroines I'd definitely recommend this series. Fingers crossed the sequel comes out soon.
*I received this arc in exchange for an honest review
TW: non-con, misogyny
April 2, 2025
It's been a long time since a story has been 5 stars for me. This was exactly the messy toxic masterpiece that is so difficult to find these days, and I'm so glad to have read it.
May 26, 2026
В приквелі авторка влаштовує такі емоційні гойдалки, що в якийсь момент мене просто викинуло з цієї каруселі. Під кінець книги я була настільки емоційно виснажена, що хотілось просто сісти, дивитись у стіну й мовчати годинами. Як вона це робить - для мене загадка 🚬 Я буду читати все, що напише ця жінка 🙌
І ще раз: перед читанням ОБОВ’ЯЗКОВО ознайомтесь із тригерами. Це не навчальна тривога 🚨
Також дуже раджу починати серію саме з першої частини, а вже потім братися за приквел. Бо спочатку ми бачимо лише верхівку айсберга, а тут - занурюємось у самі глибини цього кошмару.
Ще в першій книзі я не могла до кінця зрозуміти Вайолет. Мені було її шкода, але водночас залишались питання до її вчинків. Після приквелу питань більше немає. Її безмежно шкода. Це просто дитина, яка хотіла любові й родини настільки сильно, що була готова віддати за це абсолютно все.
І найбільший жах у тому, що всі, хто мали її любити, захищати й берегти - зрадили її найжорстокішим способом.
Її батько викликав у мене лють чи не найбільше. Його зламане его, образа на дружину й власна слабкість зруйнували життя доньки. Він не просто був поганим або неуважним батьком — він свідомо заплющував очі на все, що відбувалось у нього під носом. Бо у його світі жінка мала бути зручною: дружиною, домогосподаркою, матір’ю. І коли дружина пішла, всю провину він переклав на дитину.
А в Джессі він побачив ідеального сина - готовий продукт, яким можна пишатись.
Релігія в цій історії - окремий жах. Їхня сліпа віра настільки затьмарила їм очі, що вони власноруч ламали життя своїм дітям і ще й були переконані, що роблять правильно.
«Немає нічого, що міг би зробити Джессі, чого не можна було б пробачити.»
«Ніхто не ідеальний. Дай Джессі милість, Вай, аби одного дня хтось зробив те саме для тебе.»
І Джессі… я до останнього намагалася його виправдати. Бо він теж - продукт цього середовища. Релігійного тиску, вседозволеності, абсолютної довіри від суспільства й батьків, які буквально розв’язали йому руки та підсунули Вайолет. Певний час його навіть важко ненавидіти, бо у своїй викривленій реальності він справді вірив, що кохає її, а вона кохає його у відповідь.
І певний час у них навіть були стосунки, з яких, можливо, могло б щось вийти… якби знову не втрутилися батьки та церква.
«У церкві вони обговорювали любов так, наче це було якесь ніжне, мирне почуття, яке впорядковує життя і робить тебе цілісним. Любов зводила його з розуму. Вона була жорстоким, безжальним господарем, який змушував його робити всілякі перекручені, підлі речі. Любов була безперервним голодом, колючкою, що занурювалася все глибше в його серце. Його любов не мала меж — не було межі, яку б він не перетнув, нічого, на що б він не наважився заради кількох годин спокою від цього всепоглинаючого болю.»
І саме це робить історію ще страшнішою.
Бо десь приблизно на 70% книги Джессі остаточно перетворюється на монстра. І тоді приквел та перша книга нарешті складаються в одну цілісну картину. Ти бачиш, як він методично ламає Вайолет: забирає в неї відчуття дому, безпеки, друзів, ізолює від усього світу, а потім ще й насміхається з того, що вона не може його здати.
І від цього боляче буквально фізично.
«— Джессі? — важко дихала вона.
Він нахилився, поцілував її в чоло і прошепотів:
— Господи, прости мене за те, що я збираюся зробити.»
💔
Найболючіше - бачити Вайолет на початку історії. Живу, світлу, життєрадісну. І порівнювати з тим, ким вона стала наприкінці.
«Це поле синіх квітів завжди буде його версією Едему, а Вайлет, хотіла вона того чи ні, була його порочною, дикою спокусницею, Євою.»
Ця книга буквально розбиває серце
І ще раз: перед читанням ОБОВ’ЯЗКОВО ознайомтесь із тригерами. Це не навчальна тривога 🚨
Також дуже раджу починати серію саме з першої частини, а вже потім братися за приквел. Бо спочатку ми бачимо лише верхівку айсберга, а тут - занурюємось у самі глибини цього кошмару.
Ще в першій книзі я не могла до кінця зрозуміти Вайолет. Мені було її шкода, але водночас залишались питання до її вчинків. Після приквелу питань більше немає. Її безмежно шкода. Це просто дитина, яка хотіла любові й родини настільки сильно, що була готова віддати за це абсолютно все.
І найбільший жах у тому, що всі, хто мали її любити, захищати й берегти - зрадили її найжорстокішим способом.
Її батько викликав у мене лють чи не найбільше. Його зламане его, образа на дружину й власна слабкість зруйнували життя доньки. Він не просто був поганим або неуважним батьком — він свідомо заплющував очі на все, що відбувалось у нього під носом. Бо у його світі жінка мала бути зручною: дружиною, домогосподаркою, матір’ю. І коли дружина пішла, всю провину він переклав на дитину.
А в Джессі він побачив ідеального сина - готовий продукт, яким можна пишатись.
Релігія в цій історії - окремий жах. Їхня сліпа віра настільки затьмарила їм очі, що вони власноруч ламали життя своїм дітям і ще й були переконані, що роблять правильно.
«Немає нічого, що міг би зробити Джессі, чого не можна було б пробачити.»
«Ніхто не ідеальний. Дай Джессі милість, Вай, аби одного дня хтось зробив те саме для тебе.»
І Джессі… я до останнього намагалася його виправдати. Бо він теж - продукт цього середовища. Релігійного тиску, вседозволеності, абсолютної довіри від суспільства й батьків, які буквально розв’язали йому руки та підсунули Вайолет. Певний час його навіть важко ненавидіти, бо у своїй викривленій реальності він справді вірив, що кохає її, а вона кохає його у відповідь.
І певний час у них навіть були стосунки, з яких, можливо, могло б щось вийти… якби знову не втрутилися батьки та церква.
«У церкві вони обговорювали любов так, наче це було якесь ніжне, мирне почуття, яке впорядковує життя і робить тебе цілісним. Любов зводила його з розуму. Вона була жорстоким, безжальним господарем, який змушував його робити всілякі перекручені, підлі речі. Любов була безперервним голодом, колючкою, що занурювалася все глибше в його серце. Його любов не мала меж — не було межі, яку б він не перетнув, нічого, на що б він не наважився заради кількох годин спокою від цього всепоглинаючого болю.»
І саме це робить історію ще страшнішою.
Бо десь приблизно на 70% книги Джессі остаточно перетворюється на монстра. І тоді приквел та перша книга нарешті складаються в одну цілісну картину. Ти бачиш, як він методично ламає Вайолет: забирає в неї відчуття дому, безпеки, друзів, ізолює від усього світу, а потім ще й насміхається з того, що вона не може його здати.
І від цього боляче буквально фізично.
«— Джессі? — важко дихала вона.
Він нахилився, поцілував її в чоло і прошепотів:
— Господи, прости мене за те, що я збираюся зробити.»
💔
Найболючіше - бачити Вайолет на початку історії. Живу, світлу, життєрадісну. І порівнювати з тим, ким вона стала наприкінці.
«Це поле синіх квітів завжди буде його версією Едему, а Вайлет, хотіла вона того чи ні, була його порочною, дикою спокусницею, Євою.»
Ця книга буквально розбиває серце
March 26, 2025
started really promising and scandalous but the second half was repetitive
March 26, 2025
3.8
Step sibling- dark erotica. This book is not a romance .. yet that’s very important I think to start tagging and understanding genres going forward to many readers & authors aren’t understanding that .. especially given recent books.. iykyk
Okay the author takes us back w Jessie & vi and tbh I’m really glad she did so many wanted a sequel but I’m glad we got a prequel bc corrupt idol doesn’t have any depth .. tbh even the author admitted when she wrote that she just wanted to write noncon & and was really thinking abt the character.
I think that’s why so many ppl who Iove CI i honestly didn’t bc I didn’t really get it .. like all they did was have sex all the time so I thought it was boring 😴 like give me some backstory here
Luckily the prequel provides that in ten fold I loved reading how it started how they both fight they’re inner demons & what they feel is wrong or right definitely a push/pull feeling with both of them with themselves & to eachother
Straight up for me Jessie isn’t really that crazy .. a lot of ppl think he’s a psychopath or unfeeling … but eh no he’s not but to me anyway
Jessie’s problem is not that he doesn’t feel it’s that he feels TOO much he’s like an asshole in love and crazy but only for the heroine not anyone els he’s Mr nice guy to the rest of the world. Tbh .. after reading this book I’d think vi is more of a clinical psychopath or sociopath maybe not full compacity but def something she’s very unfeeling in her teenage years to me and not just bc of what Jessie does to her granted a lot if trauma plays in her decisions & growth.
The prequel offers a more complicated & Complex insight into their relationship while Jessie is the aggressor & strong purser .. violet while a victim is imo is just as in love w Jessie but do to to her trauma does not act on it.
OTT JP/ hero ✅
Step siblings ✅
Unrequited love but not really✅
Sporty hero/ reserved heroine✅
He pushed his c$m back in/no condoms✅
Religious trauma✔️
Non/con ✅
Dub con✅
They date other ppl but both loose they’re virginity to eachothers✅
There no real ow or man drama but I have a feeling in the sequel there’s gonna quite a bit w Jessie .. 👀
Step sibling- dark erotica. This book is not a romance .. yet that’s very important I think to start tagging and understanding genres going forward to many readers & authors aren’t understanding that .. especially given recent books.. iykyk
Okay the author takes us back w Jessie & vi and tbh I’m really glad she did so many wanted a sequel but I’m glad we got a prequel bc corrupt idol doesn’t have any depth .. tbh even the author admitted when she wrote that she just wanted to write noncon & and was really thinking abt the character.
I think that’s why so many ppl who Iove CI i honestly didn’t bc I didn’t really get it .. like all they did was have sex all the time so I thought it was boring 😴 like give me some backstory here
Luckily the prequel provides that in ten fold I loved reading how it started how they both fight they’re inner demons & what they feel is wrong or right definitely a push/pull feeling with both of them with themselves & to eachother
Straight up for me Jessie isn’t really that crazy .. a lot of ppl think he’s a psychopath or unfeeling … but eh no he’s not but to me anyway
Jessie’s problem is not that he doesn’t feel it’s that he feels TOO much he’s like an asshole in love and crazy but only for the heroine not anyone els he’s Mr nice guy to the rest of the world. Tbh .. after reading this book I’d think vi is more of a clinical psychopath or sociopath maybe not full compacity but def something she’s very unfeeling in her teenage years to me and not just bc of what Jessie does to her granted a lot if trauma plays in her decisions & growth.
The prequel offers a more complicated & Complex insight into their relationship while Jessie is the aggressor & strong purser .. violet while a victim is imo is just as in love w Jessie but do to to her trauma does not act on it.
OTT JP/ hero ✅
Step siblings ✅
Unrequited love but not really✅
Sporty hero/ reserved heroine✅
He pushed his c$m back in/no condoms✅
Religious trauma✔️
Non/con ✅
Dub con✅
They date other ppl but both loose they’re virginity to eachothers✅
There no real ow or man drama but I have a feeling in the sequel there’s gonna quite a bit w Jessie .. 👀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 3, 2025
I have been waiting for her to make a comeback since like forever.
Wishes do come true y'all
Wishes do come true y'all
May 6, 2025
Shit. This is long.
I didn’t realize I had so much to say.
Warning: This is a thorough review that was written just as much for my sake as it was for any other potential reader's. This means that it may contain potential spoilers as I sort out my thoughts and feelings on a very complex and sensitive subject matter. Reader's discretion is advised.... but seriously, though-- it's a prequel of a book that was written 6 years ago. We all pretty much know what happened. We just needed to see it unfold for ourselves.
So-- originally, I wasn't too excited about a prequel for this story because I had been largely anticipating the SEQUEL. After having now read it, though, I am so very happy that inspiration struck during a re-read of Corrupt Idol for the author and the idea for a prequel was then planted and executed. If you read my review for Corrupt Idol, you'll see that I had a lot of questions and felt there were a lot of layers missing from the original story, especially in regards to the backstory of how this chaotic relationship began between our MC's, Jesse and Violet. We only got Violet's perspective and oftentimes she felt like an unreliable narrator because she was constantly contradicting herself. Unfortunately, I kind of ended this installment with the same uncertainty and questionable feelings as I did the first one. So let's get into it, shall we???
Key Points:
- Dual POV told in 3rd person
- MMC is Jesse (briefly 14, but spends the majority of the story at age 18, senior in high school)
- FMC is Violet (briefly 13, but spends the majority of the story at age 17, junior in high school)
- Dual Virgins
- OM drama-- Violet has one particular boyfriend, Tucker, whose advances become the catalyst to setting Jesse's poor behavior in motion
- I wouldn't consider there to be any cheating, even though Tucker and Violet are "technically" dating when things cross the line with Jesse... it's in the loosest since possible and they never see each other again afterwards.
When Jesse first meets Violet at age 14, he is immediately drawn to her in a way that he can't explain, nor has he ever felt before.
He vows from that day forward to protect her, both emotionally and physically, and to hold her as someone dear and precious to him. But he knows from the very get go that it's not brotherly love or affection that he feels for her. He has been walking a very thin line from day one and he's always been careful not to cross it. The only problem is, the older she gets the more beautiful and charming Violet becomes and other boys start to notice too. Whereas Jesse has always been protective of her, it gets complicated when he does not have the authority to stop her from being interested in boys. This kind of becomes the source of his sexual obsession with her. He doesn't have the right to prevent boys from pursuing her now that she's older and is allowed to date, but he’s also not in the position to pursue her himself. So what does he do? He starts stealing her underwear and jacking off in them. Eventually, even that's not enough to sate his lust, though, so he starts sneaking into her room late at night through their adjoined bathroom and starts jacking off to the sight of her sleeping.
But over time, he gets even more brazen by coming on her sheets and, eventually, her face...
Until of course Violet finally realizes what he's doing and then just pretends to sleep until he's done. But hearing all the sounds he's making and feeling the evidence of his orgasm, gets her body reacting in ways she doesn’t understand. Pretty soon, she’s looking forward to his secret nightly visits and pleasuring herself once he leaves. She’s never confronted him about it and, as far as she knows, Jesse is unaware of her knowledge of the situation. On one of the occasions, Violet thinks he’s not coming and her body is desperate for relief after waiting so long in anticipation for him. She begins to pleasure herself and as the sensations increase in pleasure, Jesse walks through her bathroom door, making her stop on the verge of release. He can smell Violet’s arousal and starts jacking off immediately. Violet tries to continue to pleasure herself in the hope that Jesse won’t notice, but right when they’re about to climax, he calls her name and they hold each other’s gaze as they both come in unison. This sends Violet into a panic and she would rather pretend like it never happened. She decides now is the time, more than ever, that she needs to get herself a boyfriend. So she does and over the course of a couple of months, she goes through several of them trying to forget and bury the feelings she has for Jesse. As one would imagine, this is torture for Jesse to have to witness. His only comfort is that he feels certain that Violet would never let any of them other guys be with her in any way that is remotely intimate. He’s certain until one day he’s at football practice and hears a rumor of how Violet’s current boyfriend, Tucker, slept with her and then shared her with his band buddies too. Jesse sees red and walks off the field in search of Tucker. It’s quite unfortunate that when he finds him, he finds him with Violet and with his hand down the front of Violet’s pants. This is actually the first time this has ever happened with Tucker or with anyone else for that matter, but Jesse doesn’t know that. He attacks and almost beats Tucker to death. Then forces Violet to leave with him. He begins a line of questioning to Violet and she doesn’t quite understand and just keeps feeding him random answers in hopes that he’ll stop asking questions and will calm down. This backfires, however, because Jesse thinks Violet is confirming the rumors that were spread and something in him snaps at the thought of Violet being with someone other than him. He attacks her in his anger and assaults her, finding out the hard way that she is in fact still a virgin…
Jesse then pleasures her and is determined to continue their sexual explorations together. For the first time ever he can actually see a future with the girl he’s loved since the first moment he saw her.
Violet indulges in all her sexual urges for the next couple of days with Jesse, but has some inner turmoil as to whether it’s right or wrong. Overall, though, she’s enjoyed being with him. It isn’t until they go to church Sunday and, in hearing the pastor’s sermon, Violet begins to think that God is sending her a subtle message that she needs to stop what she’s doing with Jesse.
This is when all hell breaks loose and the chaos of Jesse’s and Violet’s relationship begins. It’s also why it’s so confusing to form a solid opinion of the whole situation. We know that Violet was enjoying the changes in her relationship with Jesse. We know that she was consensual after their first encounter and she was promoting the idea of having a relationship with Jesse, albeit a secret one, but a relationship all the same. BUT then she hears the sermon, severe guilt ensues, as well as the fear of losing Jesse in the long run, and she changes her mind.
But even then, she’s clearly experiencing some inner turmoil as to what she really wants. We as readers get mixed signals.
And Jesse certainly does. He’s so close to having everything he ever wanted, and he’s trying like hell to hold onto it as hard as he can. When he can’t convince Violet, though, something in Jesse snaps again and he lets the darkness consume him.
This is essentially when Jesse starts to flat out rape Violet all the time. And despite the regret and self-loathing that sometimes follows, he can’t seem to stop himself.
Violet can’t bring herself to tell anyone and seek help even though she’s slowly dying inside from having to endure everything that Jesse is putting her through. For one, she doesn’t want to destroy their family and how can the knowledge of something like that NOT destroy her mother and father? Also, she doesn’t think she could handle people looking at her and knowing what’s going on. It just makes it all feel too real, while as it is now, she can still pretend that everything is fine amidst everyone’s ignorance. She has hope of finally being ok when she finds out that Jesse enlisted in the military and will be leaving soon. She’s literally counting down the days and convinced that she’s going to be so much happier. Jesse, however, is struggling, but feels it’s the best thing for everyone for him to leave.
Then of course in true Violet fashion, we start getting mixed signals from her again because she literally falls apart right before Jesse leaves. Then admits that she misses him once he does.
So like I said, it’s just sooooo difficult to form a concrete opinion of what’s right and what’s wrong and what the truth of it all was or is. Jesse was wrong to assault Violet repeatedly just because he wasn’t strong enough to accept that she didn’t want to be with him in that way. But then you have to also wonder that if even in her own mind she was questioning things and contradicting her words with actions all the time, is it possible that she was confusing the hell out of him too? It doesn’t excuse his behavior at all. Wrong is wrong, but it sure as hell does help one understand him a lot more. And you know for a fact that in his mind, in his own, weird, twisted way, he was acting out of only intense love for Violet. Man, I’m just so genuinely conflicted over all of it.
I would like to just squeeze in randomly that I feel like the timeline is a little muddled in this story. Per the text, Jesse is around 14 or so when he meets Violet who is then 13, but later at the end, Violet is thinking about how hard it's going to be to live without Jesse when he leaves since he's been a part of her life for the last "six" or so years. Jesse is supposed to be 18 when he leaves for the Airforce so the math's just not mathin' there. It's also why I was so confused when Violet is arguing with Jesse as to why she thinks it's so morally wrong for them to be together.
They had only been raised supposedly as "siblings" for the past four years. Even less time than that because she caught him jerking off to her sleeping in her room nine months previously which might as well be another year taken off the total time they were "like siblings" because she knew then that something wasn't right. For the record, Jesse NEVER looked at her as his "sister". I'm not saying it gives him a pass for his poor behavior. I'm just saying that he never viewed her as a sister and I don't think anyone would have found fault in him for feeling that way, given how old they were when they first met. It just felt strange to have that point hammered on throughout the text when they weren't "raised" together. They were already teenagers when they met.
Anyway, I think I’ve rambled on and on about this enough. I enjoyed it and I’m STILL looking forward to reading the sequel. I just hope and pray it doesn’t take another six years for us to get that one. I need closure, something fierce, and would like to see a HEA for these two. They’ve both been through enough.
I didn’t realize I had so much to say.
Warning: This is a thorough review that was written just as much for my sake as it was for any other potential reader's. This means that it may contain potential spoilers as I sort out my thoughts and feelings on a very complex and sensitive subject matter. Reader's discretion is advised.... but seriously, though-- it's a prequel of a book that was written 6 years ago. We all pretty much know what happened. We just needed to see it unfold for ourselves.
So-- originally, I wasn't too excited about a prequel for this story because I had been largely anticipating the SEQUEL. After having now read it, though, I am so very happy that inspiration struck during a re-read of Corrupt Idol for the author and the idea for a prequel was then planted and executed. If you read my review for Corrupt Idol, you'll see that I had a lot of questions and felt there were a lot of layers missing from the original story, especially in regards to the backstory of how this chaotic relationship began between our MC's, Jesse and Violet. We only got Violet's perspective and oftentimes she felt like an unreliable narrator because she was constantly contradicting herself. Unfortunately, I kind of ended this installment with the same uncertainty and questionable feelings as I did the first one. So let's get into it, shall we???
Key Points:
- Dual POV told in 3rd person
- MMC is Jesse (briefly 14, but spends the majority of the story at age 18, senior in high school)
- FMC is Violet (briefly 13, but spends the majority of the story at age 17, junior in high school)
- Dual Virgins
- OM drama-- Violet has one particular boyfriend, Tucker, whose advances become the catalyst to setting Jesse's poor behavior in motion
- I wouldn't consider there to be any cheating, even though Tucker and Violet are "technically" dating when things cross the line with Jesse... it's in the loosest since possible and they never see each other again afterwards.
When Jesse first meets Violet at age 14, he is immediately drawn to her in a way that he can't explain, nor has he ever felt before.
"The sight of her eyes filled with tears made his heart stutter. He’d seen many girls cry, but none of them made him want to drop to his knees and beg her not to."
He vows from that day forward to protect her, both emotionally and physically, and to hold her as someone dear and precious to him. But he knows from the very get go that it's not brotherly love or affection that he feels for her. He has been walking a very thin line from day one and he's always been careful not to cross it. The only problem is, the older she gets the more beautiful and charming Violet becomes and other boys start to notice too. Whereas Jesse has always been protective of her, it gets complicated when he does not have the authority to stop her from being interested in boys. This kind of becomes the source of his sexual obsession with her. He doesn't have the right to prevent boys from pursuing her now that she's older and is allowed to date, but he’s also not in the position to pursue her himself. So what does he do? He starts stealing her underwear and jacking off in them. Eventually, even that's not enough to sate his lust, though, so he starts sneaking into her room late at night through their adjoined bathroom and starts jacking off to the sight of her sleeping.
But over time, he gets even more brazen by coming on her sheets and, eventually, her face...
Until of course Violet finally realizes what he's doing and then just pretends to sleep until he's done. But hearing all the sounds he's making and feeling the evidence of his orgasm, gets her body reacting in ways she doesn’t understand. Pretty soon, she’s looking forward to his secret nightly visits and pleasuring herself once he leaves. She’s never confronted him about it and, as far as she knows, Jesse is unaware of her knowledge of the situation. On one of the occasions, Violet thinks he’s not coming and her body is desperate for relief after waiting so long in anticipation for him. She begins to pleasure herself and as the sensations increase in pleasure, Jesse walks through her bathroom door, making her stop on the verge of release. He can smell Violet’s arousal and starts jacking off immediately. Violet tries to continue to pleasure herself in the hope that Jesse won’t notice, but right when they’re about to climax, he calls her name and they hold each other’s gaze as they both come in unison. This sends Violet into a panic and she would rather pretend like it never happened. She decides now is the time, more than ever, that she needs to get herself a boyfriend. So she does and over the course of a couple of months, she goes through several of them trying to forget and bury the feelings she has for Jesse. As one would imagine, this is torture for Jesse to have to witness. His only comfort is that he feels certain that Violet would never let any of them other guys be with her in any way that is remotely intimate. He’s certain until one day he’s at football practice and hears a rumor of how Violet’s current boyfriend, Tucker, slept with her and then shared her with his band buddies too. Jesse sees red and walks off the field in search of Tucker. It’s quite unfortunate that when he finds him, he finds him with Violet and with his hand down the front of Violet’s pants. This is actually the first time this has ever happened with Tucker or with anyone else for that matter, but Jesse doesn’t know that. He attacks and almost beats Tucker to death. Then forces Violet to leave with him. He begins a line of questioning to Violet and she doesn’t quite understand and just keeps feeding him random answers in hopes that he’ll stop asking questions and will calm down. This backfires, however, because Jesse thinks Violet is confirming the rumors that were spread and something in him snaps at the thought of Violet being with someone other than him. He attacks her in his anger and assaults her, finding out the hard way that she is in fact still a virgin…
“I’ll never forgive myself.” He stroked her cheek. “I promised myself I’d never hurt you, that I’d always protect you. I failed on both counts today, and I can’t take it back. Can you forgive me?”
Jesse then pleasures her and is determined to continue their sexual explorations together. For the first time ever he can actually see a future with the girl he’s loved since the first moment he saw her.
"Violet wanted him, but she didn’t want to want him. She’d done her best to keep their relationship platonic, but yesterday he broke through. He wasn’t going to let her withdraw. She was just as susceptible to their chemistry as he was. He’d chain her to him with bonds of the flesh and fulfill sexual desires she tried to keep hidden. She so badly wanted to be a good girl, but she wasn’t, just like there was another side to his wholesome facade. He had to destroy Violet’s image of him as her brother and make her see him as a man. He would make her love him, regardless of the title he carried."
Violet indulges in all her sexual urges for the next couple of days with Jesse, but has some inner turmoil as to whether it’s right or wrong. Overall, though, she’s enjoyed being with him. It isn’t until they go to church Sunday and, in hearing the pastor’s sermon, Violet begins to think that God is sending her a subtle message that she needs to stop what she’s doing with Jesse.
“This message has been on my mind all week,” Pastor Sonny began, gravely eyeing the congregation. “How one sin can change the trajectory of your life. We assume one tiny sin won’t hurt, that no one will find out about it, but no sin escapes God’s notice.”
This is when all hell breaks loose and the chaos of Jesse’s and Violet’s relationship begins. It’s also why it’s so confusing to form a solid opinion of the whole situation. We know that Violet was enjoying the changes in her relationship with Jesse. We know that she was consensual after their first encounter and she was promoting the idea of having a relationship with Jesse, albeit a secret one, but a relationship all the same. BUT then she hears the sermon, severe guilt ensues, as well as the fear of losing Jesse in the long run, and she changes her mind.
"She wanted everything to go back to the way it had been when she had nothing to hide, and she felt safe and clean and there was no threat of being exposed. [....] She hadn’t expected this to be so excruciating. Why did doing the right thing feel like she was killing a part of herself? She felt drained, sad, and lonely."
But even then, she’s clearly experiencing some inner turmoil as to what she really wants. We as readers get mixed signals.
And Jesse certainly does. He’s so close to having everything he ever wanted, and he’s trying like hell to hold onto it as hard as he can. When he can’t convince Violet, though, something in Jesse snaps again and he lets the darkness consume him.
“Last week was a dream for me. Taking your virginity and then having you surrender so completely, giving me everything…” One hand balled into a fist at his side. “Now, you say you want to forget it ever happened, and I’m supposed to go back to treating you like a sister.” He shook his head. “It doesn’t work that way, baby.” [...] He leaned down, kissed her forehead, and murmured, “Lord, forgive me for what I’m about to do.”
This is essentially when Jesse starts to flat out rape Violet all the time. And despite the regret and self-loathing that sometimes follows, he can’t seem to stop himself.
"It was always going to end this way. If he was presented with the opportunity to have her, he didn’t have the will to resist. Even if it jeopardized his freedom. Even if it wrecked their family. Nothing compared to the absolute bliss of possessing her. He would pay any price to have her. To be buried inside of her where he belonged."
Violet can’t bring herself to tell anyone and seek help even though she’s slowly dying inside from having to endure everything that Jesse is putting her through. For one, she doesn’t want to destroy their family and how can the knowledge of something like that NOT destroy her mother and father? Also, she doesn’t think she could handle people looking at her and knowing what’s going on. It just makes it all feel too real, while as it is now, she can still pretend that everything is fine amidst everyone’s ignorance. She has hope of finally being ok when she finds out that Jesse enlisted in the military and will be leaving soon. She’s literally counting down the days and convinced that she’s going to be so much happier. Jesse, however, is struggling, but feels it’s the best thing for everyone for him to leave.
“How am I going to live without you? I miss you already, and you’re right here.” His hand fisted in her hair. “I’m going for both our sakes, to give us time and space to regain some sanity.”
Then of course in true Violet fashion, we start getting mixed signals from her again because she literally falls apart right before Jesse leaves. Then admits that she misses him once he does.
"She swallowed the lump in her throat. The worst part was, she did miss him, and she hated herself for it. [...] Internally, she was screaming that same bloodcurdling cry she had the day he left. It was the grief-stricken wail of a woman who had lost someone she didn’t think she could live without, but she had no choice."
So like I said, it’s just sooooo difficult to form a concrete opinion of what’s right and what’s wrong and what the truth of it all was or is. Jesse was wrong to assault Violet repeatedly just because he wasn’t strong enough to accept that she didn’t want to be with him in that way. But then you have to also wonder that if even in her own mind she was questioning things and contradicting her words with actions all the time, is it possible that she was confusing the hell out of him too? It doesn’t excuse his behavior at all. Wrong is wrong, but it sure as hell does help one understand him a lot more. And you know for a fact that in his mind, in his own, weird, twisted way, he was acting out of only intense love for Violet. Man, I’m just so genuinely conflicted over all of it.
I would like to just squeeze in randomly that I feel like the timeline is a little muddled in this story. Per the text, Jesse is around 14 or so when he meets Violet who is then 13, but later at the end, Violet is thinking about how hard it's going to be to live without Jesse when he leaves since he's been a part of her life for the last "six" or so years. Jesse is supposed to be 18 when he leaves for the Airforce so the math's just not mathin' there. It's also why I was so confused when Violet is arguing with Jesse as to why she thinks it's so morally wrong for them to be together.
“But we were raised as siblings. I never saw you as anything else until…” She shook her head wildly..."
They had only been raised supposedly as "siblings" for the past four years. Even less time than that because she caught him jerking off to her sleeping in her room nine months previously which might as well be another year taken off the total time they were "like siblings" because she knew then that something wasn't right. For the record, Jesse NEVER looked at her as his "sister". I'm not saying it gives him a pass for his poor behavior. I'm just saying that he never viewed her as a sister and I don't think anyone would have found fault in him for feeling that way, given how old they were when they first met. It just felt strange to have that point hammered on throughout the text when they weren't "raised" together. They were already teenagers when they met.
Anyway, I think I’ve rambled on and on about this enough. I enjoyed it and I’m STILL looking forward to reading the sequel. I just hope and pray it doesn’t take another six years for us to get that one. I need closure, something fierce, and would like to see a HEA for these two. They’ve both been through enough.
May 28, 2026
Це не той випадок, коли ви отримуєте пікантну історію з табуйованими стосунками, де обоє кайфують від забороненого майже всю книгу. Це історія про біль, страждання, руйнацію, деградацію, втрату себе та повільне згасання.
Джессі на початку книги й наприкінці - ніби дві різні людини. Авторка дуже добре показала його шлях як антигероя. Не було відчуття, що почуття, думки, а потім і дії взялися нізвідки. Він ніби поступово оголював свою темну сторону, приміряючи її на себе, мов костюм, аж поки не злився з нею в одне ціле. Такий собі Веном, бо в якийсь момент уже важко повірити, що це той самий добрий і чутливий хлопчик із початку книги. Пробудження монстра в ньому змальоване чітко, послідовно й моторошно.
Вайлет так сильно мріяла про родину й так віддалася цьому бажанню, що була готова приховувати те, що чинив Джессі. Її потреба догоджати, бути «зручною», тягнеться ще з дитинства, де вона сама почувалася незручною ношею для батька: її було «занадто багато», вона була надто гучною. І поки в Джессі росте темрява - у Вайлет згасає світло. За цим боляче спостерігати.
Вони ніби їдуть назустріч одне одному на двох автівках. І в момент зустрічі, впродовж тих кількох днів, усе, хай і трішки збочено, але ніби стає на свої місця. Усі наче дозволяють собі насолодитися тим, що відбувається. Але щойно вони розминаються й далі рухаються кожен у свій бік, набираючи швидкість, усе починає руйнуватися. Бо саме після цього Джессі в геометричній прогресії нарощує свою жорстокість, а Вайлет - руйнується. І в якийсь момент я вже не відчувала ні збудження, ні симпатії до героя.
Поки ти ще не знаєш, куди тебе приведе ця історія, тут є моменти, які можуть працювати в межах жанру. Так, це табуйовані стосунки, бо нехай не по крові, але юридично вони все ж брат і сестра. Ми звикли до подібних історій і приблизно розуміємо, що вони можуть запропонувати. Але не тут. Ця книга - не про це. Тут, як і в багатьох реальних випадках, жертва відчуває свій викривлений варіант потягу до ґвалтівника, але навіть у цьому відчуваються біль і розпач.
Роль релігії та бажання батьків мати ідеальних дітей, із якими ніколи немає проблем, тут теж важлива. Але я не можу назвати це першопричиною. Я не побачила, що саме релігія пробудила монстра. Підживила - можливо. Але сам монстр уже жив усередині. Чому - загадка.
Я досі не знаю, як це оцінити. Читалося важко, хоча написано добре. Але це точно не той тип книги, який хочеться проковтнути за день. Історія жахаюча й гнітюча.
4/5 ⭐️
Джессі на початку книги й наприкінці - ніби дві різні людини. Авторка дуже добре показала його шлях як антигероя. Не було відчуття, що почуття, думки, а потім і дії взялися нізвідки. Він ніби поступово оголював свою темну сторону, приміряючи її на себе, мов костюм, аж поки не злився з нею в одне ціле. Такий собі Веном, бо в якийсь момент уже важко повірити, що це той самий добрий і чутливий хлопчик із початку книги. Пробудження монстра в ньому змальоване чітко, послідовно й моторошно.
Вайлет так сильно мріяла про родину й так віддалася цьому бажанню, що була готова приховувати те, що чинив Джессі. Її потреба догоджати, бути «зручною», тягнеться ще з дитинства, де вона сама почувалася незручною ношею для батька: її було «занадто багато», вона була надто гучною. І поки в Джессі росте темрява - у Вайлет згасає світло. За цим боляче спостерігати.
Вони ніби їдуть назустріч одне одному на двох автівках. І в момент зустрічі, впродовж тих кількох днів, усе, хай і трішки збочено, але ніби стає на свої місця. Усі наче дозволяють собі насолодитися тим, що відбувається. Але щойно вони розминаються й далі рухаються кожен у свій бік, набираючи швидкість, усе починає руйнуватися. Бо саме після цього Джессі в геометричній прогресії нарощує свою жорстокість, а Вайлет - руйнується. І в якийсь момент я вже не відчувала ні збудження, ні симпатії до героя.
Поки ти ще не знаєш, куди тебе приведе ця історія, тут є моменти, які можуть працювати в межах жанру. Так, це табуйовані стосунки, бо нехай не по крові, але юридично вони все ж брат і сестра. Ми звикли до подібних історій і приблизно розуміємо, що вони можуть запропонувати. Але не тут. Ця книга - не про це. Тут, як і в багатьох реальних випадках, жертва відчуває свій викривлений варіант потягу до ґвалтівника, але навіть у цьому відчуваються біль і розпач.
Роль релігії та бажання батьків мати ідеальних дітей, із якими ніколи немає проблем, тут теж важлива. Але я не можу назвати це першопричиною. Я не побачила, що саме релігія пробудила монстра. Підживила - можливо. Але сам монстр уже жив усередині. Чому - загадка.
Я досі не знаю, як це оцінити. Читалося важко, хоча написано добре. Але це точно не той тип книги, який хочеться проковтнути за день. Історія жахаюча й гнітюча.
4/5 ⭐️
May 28, 2026
5/5
авторка не перестає мене дивувати!
в приквелі вона глибоко занурює в душі головних героїв та їх стосунки між собою.
це жорстоко, боляче і спотворено. це не пікантний табуйований роман, а жахлива життєва історія сповнена потворними діями хлопця, який обрав шлях лиходія, знищуючи єдину людину, яка любила його всією душею, окрім хіба що матері.
в цій книзі описується те, на що зазвичай не хочуть дивитися, що запекло уникають.
я в захваті, як чітко і правдоподібно зображена релігійна й сексуальна травматизація, та її наслідки. як реалістично авторка показала церкву, особливо, підхід до проповідей, і вплив цього на психіку. як фанатичні батьки недбало ставляться до потреб власних дітей і не помічають, що вони згасають, падаючи в прірву, без можливості врятуватися. як страх перед думкою оточуючих паралізує людину. до чого призводить зосередженість на тому, щоб виглядати зразковими перед іншими. як дитина може опинитися без жодної опори, в тотальній небезпеці прямо на очах сімʼї та громади, якій байдуже. як когнітивні викривлення призводять до руйнації особистості. як патріархат, що має повну підтримку релігії, підживлюючись біблійними принципами, знищує жінок зсередини, розвʼязуючи руки чоловікам. як ті, хто мав захищати і берегти, зраджують щодня і ніколи не приносять вибачення. як монстри користуються всіма вище переліченими факторами і трощать тіла й душі на своєму шляху.
очевидно, Мія Найт вкрала шматочок мого серця цією історією. вона завоювала мою прихильність, обираючи справді похмурі жорстокі теми, і майстерно їх розкриваючи.
вона не прикрасила монстра гірляндами, щоб він виглядав милішим, а показала його справжнє обличчя, настільки огидне, що він сам жахався себе.
окремий бал хочу поставити за реалістичну демонстрацію проповіді в церкві. маніпуляції зі сцени, підкріплені цитатами та історіями з біблії, з ціллю максимально вплинути на кожного слухача. і як же ж це працює! тут можна в деталях побачити, що релігійна система побудована на трьох основних стовпах: страх-провина-сором. це настільки сильні емоції, які дають величезний контроль над натовпом. бачу, що авторка ретельно дослідила цей аспект 🔥
це може бути важко і неприємно читати, але це не змінює правди: навколо нас безліч людей, що пройшли або проходять через подібне, і подумки благають по допомогу, бо їх голос втрачений у вирі насильства.
авторка не перестає мене дивувати!
в приквелі вона глибоко занурює в душі головних героїв та їх стосунки між собою.
це жорстоко, боляче і спотворено. це не пікантний табуйований роман, а жахлива життєва історія сповнена потворними діями хлопця, який обрав шлях лиходія, знищуючи єдину людину, яка любила його всією душею, окрім хіба що матері.
в цій книзі описується те, на що зазвичай не хочуть дивитися, що запекло уникають.
я в захваті, як чітко і правдоподібно зображена релігійна й сексуальна травматизація, та її наслідки. як реалістично авторка показала церкву, особливо, підхід до проповідей, і вплив цього на психіку. як фанатичні батьки недбало ставляться до потреб власних дітей і не помічають, що вони згасають, падаючи в прірву, без можливості врятуватися. як страх перед думкою оточуючих паралізує людину. до чого призводить зосередженість на тому, щоб виглядати зразковими перед іншими. як дитина може опинитися без жодної опори, в тотальній небезпеці прямо на очах сімʼї та громади, якій байдуже. як когнітивні викривлення призводять до руйнації особистості. як патріархат, що має повну підтримку релігії, підживлюючись біблійними принципами, знищує жінок зсередини, розвʼязуючи руки чоловікам. як ті, хто мав захищати і берегти, зраджують щодня і ніколи не приносять вибачення. як монстри користуються всіма вище переліченими факторами і трощать тіла й душі на своєму шляху.
очевидно, Мія Найт вкрала шматочок мого серця цією історією. вона завоювала мою прихильність, обираючи справді похмурі жорстокі теми, і майстерно їх розкриваючи.
вона не прикрасила монстра гірляндами, щоб він виглядав милішим, а показала його справжнє обличчя, настільки огидне, що він сам жахався себе.
окремий бал хочу поставити за реалістичну демонстрацію проповіді в церкві. маніпуляції зі сцени, підкріплені цитатами та історіями з біблії, з ціллю максимально вплинути на кожного слухача. і як же ж це працює! тут можна в деталях побачити, що релігійна система побудована на трьох основних стовпах: страх-провина-сором. це настільки сильні емоції, які дають величезний контроль над натовпом. бачу, що авторка ретельно дослідила цей аспект 🔥
це може бути важко і неприємно читати, але це не змінює правди: навколо нас безліч людей, що пройшли або проходять через подібне, і подумки благають по допомогу, бо їх голос втрачений у вирі насильства.
May 27, 2026
Дуже похмура і токсична книга 🙈
Автор вміє вивести на емоції, було важко читати її, дуже шкода Вайолет, яка опинилась у пастці на самоті, бо поруч не було жодної людини, якій вона змогла б довіритись. Джессі, який маніпулював її страхами, чхав на її межі і фактично стер її як особистість. І їх стосунки це замкнене коло жертва-кривдник, яке вони так і не змогли розірвати.
Якби він зупинився і не повертався. Якби вона знайшла в собі сміливість не мовчати.
Автор вміє вивести на емоції, було важко читати її, дуже шкода Вайолет, яка опинилась у пастці на самоті, бо поруч не було жодної людини, якій вона змогла б довіритись. Джессі, який маніпулював її страхами, чхав на її межі і фактично стер її як особистість. І їх стосунки це замкнене коло жертва-кривдник, яке вони так і не змогли розірвати.
Якби він зупинився і не повертався. Якби вона знайшла в собі сміливість не мовчати.
May 6, 2025
I tricked myself into thinking that it could've been a different outcome for Jesse and Violet and then was painfully reminded that they were always on a crash course for heartbreak and betrayal.
Honestly Violet's religious trauma and Jesse's monstrous inner patriarch/ deep misogyny doomed them in way that was irreversible.
If only Jesse could have reassured Violet that she wasn't just an object to use and he communicated how deep his feelings went she wouldn't have withdrawn so much. His violence as a response to her uncertainty as a deeply traumatized 16 yo girl was disturbing to say the least.
Everything she accused him of being he ended up becoming until he was repeatedly raping her and completely numb and disinterested in her pain.
I still can't get over how none of the rape would've happened if Jesse just told her how much he wanted to be with her but he derailed them by deciding what Violet was ready to hear when homegirl just wanted reassurance that he wasn't using her like all of the other girls.
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
Major trigger warnings
Not safe for the safety readers
Dual V
- Both H and h have experimented to 2nd base with others. (h is in a relationship with another boy and H is 1 year older and was actively "dating" other girls but never went further than 2nd --> they both perform oral on each other for the first time)
Heavy OWD/OMD (this is the main catalyst for their relationship)
NON CON ( PLEASE BE AWARE)
THREE different On Page Rape/ Sexual Assault by H on the h
Lots of domestic violence and sexual violence (between the H and the h)
No HEA - Please be aware of this as it is an interconnected series
I was so disappointed because I remember vividly how much Jesse says that he never intended to use and discard Violet when they were first starting out but reading the prequel it's painful to realize how many times he did just that when all she wanted was reassurance that he wasn't just using her like all the other girls like Marissa, Madyson, etc. The 2 🌟 were for the beginning of the story but I can't get over how badly he hurt Violet in that field and on the church stage.
Honestly Violet's religious trauma and Jesse's monstrous inner patriarch/ deep misogyny doomed them in way that was irreversible.
If only Jesse could have reassured Violet that she wasn't just an object to use and he communicated how deep his feelings went she wouldn't have withdrawn so much. His violence as a response to her uncertainty as a deeply traumatized 16 yo girl was disturbing to say the least.
Everything she accused him of being he ended up becoming until he was repeatedly raping her and completely numb and disinterested in her pain.
I still can't get over how none of the rape would've happened if Jesse just told her how much he wanted to be with her but he derailed them by deciding what Violet was ready to hear when homegirl just wanted reassurance that he wasn't using her like all of the other girls.
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
Major trigger warnings
Not safe for the safety readers
Dual V
- Both H and h have experimented to 2nd base with others. (h is in a relationship with another boy and H is 1 year older and was actively "dating" other girls but never went further than 2nd --> they both perform oral on each other for the first time)
Heavy OWD/OMD (this is the main catalyst for their relationship)
NON CON ( PLEASE BE AWARE)
THREE different On Page Rape/ Sexual Assault by H on the h
Lots of domestic violence and sexual violence (between the H and the h)
No HEA - Please be aware of this as it is an interconnected series
I was so disappointed because I remember vividly how much Jesse says that he never intended to use and discard Violet when they were first starting out but reading the prequel it's painful to realize how many times he did just that when all she wanted was reassurance that he wasn't just using her like all the other girls like Marissa, Madyson, etc. The 2 🌟 were for the beginning of the story but I can't get over how badly he hurt Violet in that field and on the church stage.
August 8, 2025
4.5⭐️
4🌶️
⚠️Safety ↓ contains spoilers
This is the prequel to Corrupt Idol and honestly I’d recommend reading that book first.
I’m glad I didn’t read this first, it takes away some of the suspense & angst in book 1 after seeing how things played out before.
This one was more taboo. It details the MCs life at home as step siblings throughout hs. So seeing all the family interactions makes it & them first meeting each other ups the forbidden vibes tenfold…🫣👀🥵💧
This was enjoyable in a way entirely different than book 1. It’s a development of MCs crossing the line & coming to be how they were by book 1. Needless to say - inhaled it. 🤭
The emotional/romantic/love aspect of this one rlly hit home. It was sweeter & more innocent (at first), making me rlly root for the MCs.
We build up to the dub con (it’s softer at first).
🖤🖤🖤🖤
——TROPES & SUCH——
•step siblings
•religious guilt
•taboo
•push-pull
•hs
•j/p hero
•found family
•dual virgins !!
slight somno, dub con, non con, risky, semi public
——SAFETY——
⚠️TW/CW:Dub con, non con, religious guilt (Christian)
⚠️Cliffhanger (read book 1, hea)
🚫No cheating
~OPD (not rlly):
╰┈➤ both MCs date other ppl before they rlly get together
(have sex)
╰┈➤ 1 OM scene w/ h making out/petting
4🌶️
⚠️Safety ↓ contains spoilers
This is the prequel to Corrupt Idol and honestly I’d recommend reading that book first.
I’m glad I didn’t read this first, it takes away some of the suspense & angst in book 1 after seeing how things played out before.
This one was more taboo. It details the MCs life at home as step siblings throughout hs. So seeing all the family interactions makes it & them first meeting each other ups the forbidden vibes tenfold…🫣👀🥵💧
This was enjoyable in a way entirely different than book 1. It’s a development of MCs crossing the line & coming to be how they were by book 1. Needless to say - inhaled it. 🤭
The emotional/romantic/love aspect of this one rlly hit home. It was sweeter & more innocent (at first), making me rlly root for the MCs.
We build up to the dub con (it’s softer at first).
🖤🖤🖤🖤
——TROPES & SUCH——
•step siblings
•religious guilt
•taboo
•push-pull
•hs
•j/p hero
•found family
•dual virgins !!
slight somno, dub con, non con, risky, semi public
——SAFETY——
⚠️TW/CW:Dub con, non con, religious guilt (Christian)
⚠️Cliffhanger (read book 1, hea)
🚫No cheating
~OPD (not rlly):
╰┈➤ both MCs date other ppl before they rlly get together
(have sex)
╰┈➤ 1 OM scene w/ h making out/petting
May 16, 2025
5 horrified / devastating ⭐️’s (this book had me up until 3am😴)
It’s almost like we have a Pavlov’s Dog situation. I think that’s what it’s called. Where her body is unwilling conditioned to respond to Jesse, even though she doesn’t want it her body is responding differently.
So sad and also unintentionally sending mixed signals to Jesse.
He should’ve just told her how he felt instead of constantly raping and abusing her.
Chapter 16 was absolutely devastating. heartbreaking. Sickening. Distressing. Diabolical. Jesse - burn in hell!
Violet, my heart breaks for you 💔❤️🩹😢
Jesus take the wheel!!! Not brutalising her on the church stage their parents got married on. 😞. Their origin story is obsidian- it’s not dark.😖
Having said that, Dinah knows how to write a book. I like her writing style, she evoked a plethora of emotions from me whilst reading their story - in this book and book one.
I understand Violet more and I’m devastated by what she was put through at the hands of her abusive step-brother Jesse.
Jesse, you are one sociopathic, manipulative motherfucker. I hope you get what’s coming to you.
Dad, you’re a misogynistic, sexist arsehole. One rule for Jesse and a crippling rule for Violet.
I can’t wait for the final instalment in this series.
It’s almost like we have a Pavlov’s Dog situation. I think that’s what it’s called. Where her body is unwilling conditioned to respond to Jesse, even though she doesn’t want it her body is responding differently.
So sad and also unintentionally sending mixed signals to Jesse.
He should’ve just told her how he felt instead of constantly raping and abusing her.
Chapter 16 was absolutely devastating. heartbreaking. Sickening. Distressing. Diabolical. Jesse - burn in hell!
Violet, my heart breaks for you 💔❤️🩹😢
Jesus take the wheel!!! Not brutalising her on the church stage their parents got married on. 😞. Their origin story is obsidian- it’s not dark.😖
Having said that, Dinah knows how to write a book. I like her writing style, she evoked a plethora of emotions from me whilst reading their story - in this book and book one.
I understand Violet more and I’m devastated by what she was put through at the hands of her abusive step-brother Jesse.
Jesse, you are one sociopathic, manipulative motherfucker. I hope you get what’s coming to you.
Dad, you’re a misogynistic, sexist arsehole. One rule for Jesse and a crippling rule for Violet.
I can’t wait for the final instalment in this series.
April 4, 2025
I really enjoyed getting the backstory for these two. Their push and pull, teen angst, religious guilt, sibling bonds, and raging hormones all created a toxic cocktail of lust and obsession that put the event of Corrupt Idol into perspective. I will say that the book got a bit repetitive as it went on but, aside from that, I really enjoyed it and will be re-reading Corrupt Idol to see if it hits differently now. A bit bummed as it seems that the sequel is a long way off...
May 26, 2026
4.7 ⭐️
What a tragedy 🫂
What a tragedy 🫂
March 29, 2025
I read CI when it first came out and I desperately wanted the sequel immediately. It’s been so long that I’ll admit that the book fell to the recesses of my mind, so I was pleasantly surprised when I got the news of the prequel. Unfortunately, I need her to abandon her obligations to her other series because these characters are her best work and I need the sequel now more than ever.
The thing I enjoy the most about dark erotica shines here. It’s not about a character doing the most insane acts to garner a reaction from readers, but the build-up, the palpable emotion, the forces that drive characters to each other despite all the glaring reasons they shouldn’t be together. The backdrop of a conservative, religious, Southern upbringing juxtapositioned with raging hormones and poor impulse control, creates a maelstrom of toxic, all-consuming obsession on both characters part. Seeing how each of their desires were manifested and the polar opposite way each of them responded was something. Interestingly enough, this book reminds a bit of Untouchable, a book I’ve tried and failed to find comparable reads to, but I much prefer Violet to Zoey.
**This is not a romance**
The thing I enjoy the most about dark erotica shines here. It’s not about a character doing the most insane acts to garner a reaction from readers, but the build-up, the palpable emotion, the forces that drive characters to each other despite all the glaring reasons they shouldn’t be together. The backdrop of a conservative, religious, Southern upbringing juxtapositioned with raging hormones and poor impulse control, creates a maelstrom of toxic, all-consuming obsession on both characters part. Seeing how each of their desires were manifested and the polar opposite way each of them responded was something. Interestingly enough, this book reminds a bit of Untouchable, a book I’ve tried and failed to find comparable reads to, but I much prefer Violet to Zoey.
**This is not a romance**
Read
March 31, 2025I don't know what rating to give this book because I can't seem to—nor do I think I ever will—digest everything that happened here...
Jesse and Violet's story is so intense and toxic in the way that I like, but in this book, it went so far past my own limits that I just can't excuse it. However, for certain reasons, I still like them, and I hope that in the next book, the author makes them seek help to improve their relationship, because if it stays like this, I'm dropping the rest of the series.
Anyway, Jesse is even worse than those famous dark romance characters...
Jesse and Violet's story is so intense and toxic in the way that I like, but in this book, it went so far past my own limits that I just can't excuse it. However, for certain reasons, I still like them, and I hope that in the next book, the author makes them seek help to improve their relationship, because if it stays like this, I'm dropping the rest of the series.
Anyway, Jesse is even worse than those famous dark romance characters...
March 26, 2025
I had a chance to receive the ARC of this book and the only thing I can say is the angst was giving.
When I first read the corrupt idol I was a bit skeptical of jesse but as I read his POV I think i can understand him better now and why he did it.
This book was a very good read if you are into taboo romance and dub-con the author did an amazing job writing this you could feel the angst and anguish through the pages. I can’t wait for the next book.
When I first read the corrupt idol I was a bit skeptical of jesse but as I read his POV I think i can understand him better now and why he did it.
This book was a very good read if you are into taboo romance and dub-con the author did an amazing job writing this you could feel the angst and anguish through the pages. I can’t wait for the next book.
April 14, 2025
3.5 Stars. Maybe.
This has been a LOOOOOONG awaited continuation (though a prequel) of Corrupt Idol. It was needed background, and though I can really only remember 1 scene from the previous book, this information seems vital. And it makes me want to go back and reread what was one of my all-time favorite dark stepsibling books.
The problem that I have with it, is that, for me, there is basically zero romance here on either side, and for the most part, I just felt gross reading it. Anyone who has read Corrupt Idol knows that it was mostly noncon, but for some reason that book read as a sexy kind. This book was the creepy kind, and I couldn't seem to feel anything more than sympathy for Violet, leading to a simmering rage towards Jesse, and I never seemed to get past that. I will be sure to reread Idol, and hopefully get back to that yummy feeling that I had with the initial read, but what I'm feeling now, I am just not sure if that's possible anymore, having gone through everything with Vi now.
This has been a LOOOOOONG awaited continuation (though a prequel) of Corrupt Idol. It was needed background, and though I can really only remember 1 scene from the previous book, this information seems vital. And it makes me want to go back and reread what was one of my all-time favorite dark stepsibling books.
The problem that I have with it, is that, for me, there is basically zero romance here on either side, and for the most part, I just felt gross reading it. Anyone who has read Corrupt Idol knows that it was mostly noncon, but for some reason that book read as a sexy kind. This book was the creepy kind, and I couldn't seem to feel anything more than sympathy for Violet, leading to a simmering rage towards Jesse, and I never seemed to get past that. I will be sure to reread Idol, and hopefully get back to that yummy feeling that I had with the initial read, but what I'm feeling now, I am just not sure if that's possible anymore, having gone through everything with Vi now.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2025
Yesssss can’t wait!
March 24, 2025
This was such a heart wrenching story.
You bet your ass the ending made me cry!
You bet your ass the ending made me cry!
April 3, 2025
Wow.
If Corrupt Idol had me flabbergasted, Corrupt Obsession took me out of this world, spun me around, and left me in complete dismay.
When Dinah had mentioned that she was going to write a prequel for book 1, showcasing what happened before and what led to Jesse and Violet's relationship being the way it is, I was not expecting all this emotional damage.
True to her nature in writing for her other name, Mia Knight, Dinah's main male character is such a complex character. Jesse is relentless, possessive, obsessive, and down right exhausting to the point I was wondering where all his troubled characteristics were coming from. It truly surprised me to know the depths of Jesse's obsession with Violet and the lengths he took once he had her. Especially since he seemed a bit more 'tamed' in book 1.
Jesse and Violet's relationship as step siblings began with a really good foundation. They got along and even Violet was looking forward to the idea of her having a family. One that she had believed lost when her mother walked out, leaving her in the care of her father and those close among them. With her desire to have someone to love, it's no surprise to me, as a reader, that she latched on quickly to Lynne and Jesse. As the story progressed and things got more turbulent between Jesse and Violet, my heart really went out to Violet. Not only was she confused by Jesse's actions, but her own emotions betrayed her and the religious guilt caused everything to be entirely too much. As someone who grew up in church, that's a feeling I know all too well and it was perfectly executed in the book.
Once again, there's a lot of non con in this book. I wouldn't even consider this a 'dark romance' anymore given that most of these interactions were used against Violet in a way to demonstrate the 'affection' Jesse has towards her and to somehow make her change her feelings about him in a way that would favor him.
"I used to think you were heaven sent," she said in a hollow voice. "I loved you more than I loved myself. I made so many excuses for you because I didn't want to believe the truth."
What really gutted me over all of this was that Violet really didn't have an escape. Jesse is literally the embodiment of a sociopath, making it difficult for anyone to believe he's capable of what he's done and he knows it very well. He had various advantages over Violet including age, height, build, and the wit to come up with believable lies causing him to be quite the manipulator. Violet was still 17 and didn't have much options to find reprieve which further caused turmoil. Violet stood her guard and had a strong character through out it all. Knowing this, my heart shattered when she became a shell of herself to find some way to disassociate.
This book ends with Jesse leaving to the Air Force but still haunting Violet's everyday life even when he's not there. Obviously, to those who have read book 1, we know what happens next. As much as I love complex characters and a HEA for everyone, I may be one of the few who hopes Violet will get the ending she deserves. If it's with Jesse it's still a mystery, but honestly, if it's not with him, I wouldn't be mad.
I give this a 5 star rating because it takes extreme still to write such intricate and complex characters that you're not sure whether to root for or not. The plot of this story is very, very intricate and 'messed up' to say the least. However, this is what personally keeps me engaged and traps me into a book. I look forward to what this story will unfold.
-eARC for honest thoughts and opinions.
If Corrupt Idol had me flabbergasted, Corrupt Obsession took me out of this world, spun me around, and left me in complete dismay.
When Dinah had mentioned that she was going to write a prequel for book 1, showcasing what happened before and what led to Jesse and Violet's relationship being the way it is, I was not expecting all this emotional damage.
True to her nature in writing for her other name, Mia Knight, Dinah's main male character is such a complex character. Jesse is relentless, possessive, obsessive, and down right exhausting to the point I was wondering where all his troubled characteristics were coming from. It truly surprised me to know the depths of Jesse's obsession with Violet and the lengths he took once he had her. Especially since he seemed a bit more 'tamed' in book 1.
Jesse and Violet's relationship as step siblings began with a really good foundation. They got along and even Violet was looking forward to the idea of her having a family. One that she had believed lost when her mother walked out, leaving her in the care of her father and those close among them. With her desire to have someone to love, it's no surprise to me, as a reader, that she latched on quickly to Lynne and Jesse. As the story progressed and things got more turbulent between Jesse and Violet, my heart really went out to Violet. Not only was she confused by Jesse's actions, but her own emotions betrayed her and the religious guilt caused everything to be entirely too much. As someone who grew up in church, that's a feeling I know all too well and it was perfectly executed in the book.
Once again, there's a lot of non con in this book. I wouldn't even consider this a 'dark romance' anymore given that most of these interactions were used against Violet in a way to demonstrate the 'affection' Jesse has towards her and to somehow make her change her feelings about him in a way that would favor him.
"I used to think you were heaven sent," she said in a hollow voice. "I loved you more than I loved myself. I made so many excuses for you because I didn't want to believe the truth."
What really gutted me over all of this was that Violet really didn't have an escape. Jesse is literally the embodiment of a sociopath, making it difficult for anyone to believe he's capable of what he's done and he knows it very well. He had various advantages over Violet including age, height, build, and the wit to come up with believable lies causing him to be quite the manipulator. Violet was still 17 and didn't have much options to find reprieve which further caused turmoil. Violet stood her guard and had a strong character through out it all. Knowing this, my heart shattered when she became a shell of herself to find some way to disassociate.
This book ends with Jesse leaving to the Air Force but still haunting Violet's everyday life even when he's not there. Obviously, to those who have read book 1, we know what happens next. As much as I love complex characters and a HEA for everyone, I may be one of the few who hopes Violet will get the ending she deserves. If it's with Jesse it's still a mystery, but honestly, if it's not with him, I wouldn't be mad.
I give this a 5 star rating because it takes extreme still to write such intricate and complex characters that you're not sure whether to root for or not. The plot of this story is very, very intricate and 'messed up' to say the least. However, this is what personally keeps me engaged and traps me into a book. I look forward to what this story will unfold.
-eARC for honest thoughts and opinions.
March 23, 2025
"He took what he wanted, what he needed, or he’d go insane. He didn’t hold back, couldn’t"
Dinah/Mia does it again! She creates absolute magic on the page!
We get to see how Jesse & Violets journey begins and this takes you through so many emotions, I was crying!
Absolutely amazing and like with everything I cant wait for the next read from her!
Following Dinah/Mias journey through patreon/ream and know how much blood sweat &tears went through this!
*I received a advanced readers copy
Dinah/Mia does it again! She creates absolute magic on the page!
We get to see how Jesse & Violets journey begins and this takes you through so many emotions, I was crying!
Absolutely amazing and like with everything I cant wait for the next read from her!
Following Dinah/Mias journey through patreon/ream and know how much blood sweat &tears went through this!
*I received a advanced readers copy
April 2, 2025
4 stars
This gave the necessary depth that Corrupt Idol lacked. Adding in Jesse’s POV helped with that. The yearning and the suffering between Jesse and Violet maaaaade this! I think some people might get frustrated with their push/pull dynamic but I enjoyed their messy journey.
I’ll definitely be rereading Corrupt Idol again. Kind of sad though that Dinah Harper will be putting this series on hold for the foreseeable future as she has commitments under her other pen name Mia Knight.
This gave the necessary depth that Corrupt Idol lacked. Adding in Jesse’s POV helped with that. The yearning and the suffering between Jesse and Violet maaaaade this! I think some people might get frustrated with their push/pull dynamic but I enjoyed their messy journey.
I’ll definitely be rereading Corrupt Idol again. Kind of sad though that Dinah Harper will be putting this series on hold for the foreseeable future as she has commitments under her other pen name Mia Knight.
April 2, 2025
This was so fucking good! I devoured every bit of their toxic, codependent relationship and I have zero regrets. The intensity, the sheer emotional chaos!!!! I rarely find books as good this. It wasn’t perfect but it kept me hooked enough to ignore everything. It’s going to take me a long time to get over these two and honestly? I don’t even want to.
May 15, 2026
Violet’s anguish completely broke me in this. I understood why she did what she did in Corrupt Idol and the behavior towards Jesse. This prequel had everything I expected and more. I truly hope the author comes back with a sequel soon because I cannot wait for it!!
February 3, 2026
This story is dark, toxic, and so emotional. This made me love Jesse even more.
March 30, 2026
Way better than Possessing Violet, loved the back story. First half was 4 stars, last half was 2. Got quite repetitive at the end😕
June 14, 2025
Да, категорията dark romance се състои предимно от захаросани нелепици или от откровена гадост. Рядко има нещо хем да е истински dark, хем да е romance. Тази предистория определено покрива и двата критерия, като си играе и с любимия ми мотив “забранена любов”, ама наистина забранена! Не нещо от сорта - “аз съм романтична авторка и искам да пиша нещо забранено, но не искам да плаша скучаещите домакини и издателите, затова ще хвана двама напълно позволени герои, но ще твърдя, че са страшно забранени, пък каквото стане, все ще се продаде.”
Тук той има смелостта да отстоява избора си, но - видял се отблъснат - откача… А тя е страхливка, интересуваща се единствено от хорското мнение. Започналото в тази книга завършва чак в следващата, и се е получило много добре! Ще се радвам, ако авторката напише трета част за тези две откачени, но сладки създания, които просто и съвсем истински не могат един без друг.
3,5⭐️
Тук той има смелостта да отстоява избора си, но - видял се отблъснат - откача… А тя е страхливка, интересуваща се единствено от хорското мнение. Започналото в тази книга завършва чак в следващата, и се е получило много добре! Ще се радвам, ако авторката напише трета част за тези две откачени, но сладки създания, които просто и съвсем истински не могат един без друг.
3,5⭐️
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