Wicked is the Flesh

by J.M. Failde

Marcelo

I don the mask, becoming more than Father Marcelo Serrano—stand-in priest at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Belmouth, Massachusetts. I become more than Father Marcelo, the coveted exorcist who’s traveled the world to rid it of demons for the Vatican.

I become more because of her.

Junia Forester. My little songbird. It is for her I don the mask, it is for her I become Salvation.

For June, I will find the demons plaguing her day and night, and I will stop the very real—very human—evil that torments her.

I will break her in order to break her free.

June

I have been a shell of myself for as long as I can remember, hiding deep within the confines of my own skin. But the moment my fingers touch the keys of the cathedral’s organ—I am free. The moment my hands create music, I don’t linger in the Hell that is my mind, thinking of my body or my mother or anything that brings my pain, that brings me back to my own reality. The music unlocks my soul bit by bit, unraveling every tether I have knotted tight. It’s my only escape, my only solace—

Until my Salvation creeps into my bedroom at night. Until he tears the fabrics binding me. Until he breaks me free.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance

392 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2025

About the author

J. M. Failde spent just over one hundred fortnights rigorously studying the complexities of the English language at Florida International University in her vivacious hometown, Miami. While she is not conjuring up stories, she can be found searching for el chupacabra, befriending the ghost in her house, or dying her hair a new shade of blue. Failde currently resides in her gothic manor on the outskirts of Atlanta, Georgia, with her partner, Mike, and her familiar—the round but feisty calico cat, Maki. Follow her on Instagram @jmfailde.

Reviews

[Grim Rainbow (Leslye) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If my neck hadn’t started feeling like it was about to fall off from hours of reading with my head bent down, I absolutely would have finished this in one sitting. I had to force myself to take breaks and pace it out - yes, it was that good. I might be a little biased (I’ve five-starred every single one of J.M. Failde’s books), but no matter the genre, I genuinely love her writing. That said, this one might just be my favorite of hers yet.

This book is a blend of incredibly spicy and surprisingly suspenseful. Sure, I figured out the mystery and the twists early on, but it never once took away from the thrill of the journey - right up to the very last sentence. Plus, there’s an adorable cat companion, so major bonus points for that.

That said, this is a dark romance. There are some deeply triggering moments and a long list of content warnings that shouldn’t be ignored. But if you’re the kind of reader who treats those warnings like a checklist when picking your next intense read, then you absolutely need to add this one to your list.

[ciin_leest · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing from start to finish! I started in it and I just couldn't put it down. If your'e looking for a good book about demons, priests, and a whole lot of depth and growth in the characters this book is an amazing book to pick up. 

It was so easy to put June in my heart. The things she has gone through were rough and a lot. And the girl deserved a break. Luckily that break came in a whole lot of godly package in the form of Marcelo. (Where can I find one of my own?) 

Not only June has been through a lot, Marcelo took a hard road to where we started te book too. And I loved how it all came together while reading. 

Julie has an amazing writingstyle, she has an great eye for detail and knows how to keep the reader entertained! And then the spicy scenes 🥵 well let me say I liked every second of them. The book kept me totally hooked, the twists and turns kept me on edge, the depth made me fall in love with the characters. This book was a total package! 

⭐⭐⭐⭐,5

Thank you J. M. Failde for this ARC to read and review! 

[mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

in the name of the father, the son AND the holy spirit?? amen???

[Kassyreadsalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Wicked Is The Flesh

Author: J.M. Failde

Synopsis: Marcelo

I don the mask, becoming more than Father Marcelo Serrano—stand-in priest at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Belmouth, Massachusetts. I become more than Father Marcelo, the coveted exorcist who’s traveled the world to rid it of demons for the Vatican.

I become more because of her.

Junia Forester. My little songbird. It is for her I don the mask, it is for her I become Salvation.

For June, I will find the demons plaguing her day and night, and I will stop the very real—very human—evil that torments her.

I will break her in order to break her free.

June

I have been a shell of myself for as long as I can remember, hiding deep within the confines of my own skin. But the moment my fingers touch the keys of the cathedral’s organ—I am free. The moment my hands create music, I don’t linger in the Hell that is my mind, thinking of my body or my mother or anything that brings my pain, that brings me back to my own reality. The music unlocks my soul bit by bit, unraveling every tether I have knotted tight. It’s my only escape, my only solace—

Until my Salvation creeps into my bedroom at night. Until he tears the fabrics binding me. Until he breaks me free.

Review: What a spicy and suspenseful read! The romance was on point! The chemistry between June and Marcello was perfect! I was rooting for them the entire book! It is a dark romance and I do recommend looking up triggers for this book! June’s mom has to be one of the worst moms I have read had the displeasure of reading about! She made me so angry and I give props to the author because it takes a lot for me to feel angry at a character! I will be thinking about this book for a long time!

[Kaylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The spice, the priest, the cat, the demon princes the WHOLE BOOK just wow 😱🤭😍

[Julianne is reading… · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting story. Loved the concept & I love me a kinky priest. Spicy scenes were ok nothing too crazy. I wish there was more depth to why the fmc was important to the story cuz I didn’t really feel that was addressed while reading. Kind of anticlimactic ending & felt unresolved. It was empowering to read about this fmc & her healing journey. I really like the backstory to the mmc bcuz it really put depth to why it’s important what he does. Worth a read.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

So this was a super spicy story, but also good plot.
Yall, poor June. Her mother just treats her terribly. Even at 25, June is controlled so much by her mother. Her spirit is beaten down. The only time she feels at peace is when she's playing the organ at her church.
But even at church her mother finds ways to blame June for something.
Then there's Marcelo, a priest who specializes in exorcisms. After witnessing the deaths of his parents and older sister to a demon, he's made it his life mission at revenge.
What he didn't expect while on his new job was finding himself infatuated with someone.
June.
He knows it's wrong, as a priest. But he's also one to break rules. He doesn't believe in some of the rules created by man.
But his intrigument of June reveals the truth of what happens behind the closed doors of her home.

This is fast paced. The spice hits very quickly into the story. The mysterious events happening within the church and around it is very intriguing.
There's also the cat that is just attached at the hip with June. Diablo. Later finding out why was so fun.
The truth behind what was going on was a bit shocking.
The spice though, yea if you're in the mood for smut, but also plot. This is for you.
The ending was great, it was a happy ending for our characters.

thank you J.M. Failde for the arc. 🫶🏻

[Haali M · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a complicated relationship with organized religion is such a common experience for so many people, myself included. As such, Father Marcelo really drew me in. He’s gritty, raw, and passionate. Aka amazing!

June’s life is so brutal and unfair. How the world lets stuff like that happen to people I will never understand, but I thought it was so cool to watch her journey of self exploration and the amount of mental/emotional energy she put into being true to herself. You go girl!

Loved the way the Princes were brought into this story, and how much attention to detail the author gave to the intricacies throughout. Honestly, Father Marcelo can take me to the confessional any time. Hehehe

Thank you so much to J.M. Failde for the gifted review copy. It was so good!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Britt Rygiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

First of all let me start by saying please look at the trigger warnings! It’s there for a reason!!!

Second of all wow! 🤩

There’s Marcelo who is a priest but not your normal priest, he’s covered in tattoos! Did I mention he’s an exorcist?! He goes off to Massachusetts because there is talk of demons and possibly a cult.

Then enters Junia/June. A quiet/timid plus size girl who goes to church several times a weeks with her mother and stepfather. Her mother constantly is shaming her and her stepfather makes her uncomfortable.

When Marcelo and June meet worlds collide! Marcelo wants her and she wants him! What could possibly stop them from being together?!

Spice level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

The books is also fast paced which is a plus for me! Would love for there to be a second book!

[Sara Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A much deserved 5 stars for sure. This book had all the makings of an unforgettable read. A beautiful FMC, a smoking hot "priest", a creepy demonic cult, an adorable furry companion, and so much delicious spice. June is a devout Catholic who is being sheltered and abused by her mother and creeptastic step-father Daren. Marcelo became a priest for one reason only, to become an exorcist and exact revenge for what happened to his family at the hands of a demon. When unusual happenings bring Father Marcelo to the small town of Belmouth, he is introduced to June and his obsession with her begins. Between their growing feelings for each other, June's tragic home life, the discovery of a long standing satanic cult, and the appearance of multiple high level demons, Marcelo and June have more on their plate than they bargained for. The twists were fantastic and I was not expecting who the "bad guy" turned out to be. Failde is going to be an instant buy author for me going forward.

[Laura Kerkhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowsers! If you haven’t read this book then now is your chance. It’s like Supernatural meets naughty romance. Father Marcelo is demon hunter and by his own words a bad priest. Marcelo goes to a sleepy little town to figure out whether a demon is at work there or not. Enter June the church organist. She is really reserved and for good reason. Her mother and step father are truly awful people. I wanted to jump through the book and smack them both around. As June and Marcelo get to know each other, Marcelo takes it as a sign from God that they are meant to be together. This book pulls you in from the start and just keeps you hooked all the way through!

[Yolanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marcelo is a unique priest not one of your normal priest but everyone looks up to him. He deals with exorcism and demons surrounding churches. He is then put to the test when he takes on a job that complicates his job that he normally finishes in 3 days. He meets June who complicates his task. His relationship with June changes the type of priest he is and complicates how he's supposed to finish his job. Their romantic tension brings a whole new layer to the story, making you wonder how it will all play out. Read and let me know your thoughts on this dynamic duo.

Xoxo

[Molly Serra · Rating 4 out of 5]

phew!

This book was intense, but in a satisfying way. I'm not a religious person, I tend to stay away from organized religion- but this book approaches Catholicism through demon hunting with enough reverence that felt authentic and integral to the story- not an afterthought but well thought out. The characters grew within their faith and in their love, and I'm here for it! The spice was spicy! And Diablo was just the comedic relief I needed to offset some of the intensity with the familial abuse.

[Hana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love romance mixed with supernatural and this books is that but I feel like the build up didn't pay off in terms of overall plot. The relationship and tension was great but the overall story itself wasn't interesting once the reveals began. It seemed rushed especially compared to the slow pace set in the first half of the book.

🌸 A small town that seems ordinary on the surface but is rooted in evil
🌸 Hot priest by day, masked exorcist by night
🌸 Abused FMC who finds her strength
🌸 Demons
🌸 Church "activities"
🌸 "I'm not a good man" MMC

[Gabby Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

🔮make sure to read the trigger warnings before reading as there is some sensitive topics in this novel 🔮

Absolutely enamoured by the writing in this novel. From the start all the way to the end I was HOOKED✨✨ I have definitely found a new book boyfriend to obsess over and this novel will be sitting in my brain for WEEKS. if you want a dark romance that genuinely makes you kick your feet, this is the one for you!!

[Frommailenesbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much for this ARC! 🥵

Man, do I love me some forbidden, and this book gave it to me! Also, how hot June has to be that she had Marcelo almost writing poetry with the way he spoke to her about herself? My God 😍 They just make sense together. This book was SO good 🤭

Also, are we getting the nun's story? Becayse your girl has to know how THAT happened 👀

[Silvia Martinez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. i couldn't put it down. The plot was good. The characters were great. I loved Marcelo and June. Great character development and, of course, just overall a great story. it's sweet, it's spicy. I loved it. I do wish the conflict wasn't resolved so quickly, but overall, it's a great read

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

ughhhh this book was absolutely delicious! the spice was amazing and well-written, as was the plot! i don’t want to spoil anything, but if you love priests, (light) stalking, demon hunting and the idea of getting freaky in a church, then def recommend. i thoroughly enjoyed this book and know that Father Marcelo will live rent free in my head forever.

[Bookish Venturess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing book. I loved the characters as well as what they went through. The fact that he was willing to break his vows for her, let’s just say to hot. This was a very spicy and interesting book. If you’re looking for sin, spice, rituals and demons this is definitely the book for you.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really fun

I deeply enjoyed this book. The description of the mask is confusing, but I was so deeply entertained. It felt like watching an episode of Supernatural. There are some dark elements, plenty of spice, and generally just entertaining.

[Marti · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 ⭐️s

[Leed · Rating 5 out of 5]

our Father indeed 🙏🏻🐈‍⬛

[Claire Johns · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was fantastic, never in a million years would I believe that I would be feral for a priest but here I sit. I have a sneaking suspicion that this book is going to live rent free in my mind for a while. An exorcist priest battling demons with a sweet but abused woman… who knew thats what I needed in life. Marcello Serrano will be your next book boyfriend and I highly recommend meeting him sooner rather than later. As always check the trigger warnings in order to protect yourself but otherwise buckle up on this romantic suspense and a journey into Hell.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

The.mouth.on.Father.Marcelo😮‍💨🥵🫠
Y’all need to give Wicked is the Flesh a read. A absolutely randomly picked this up on SYKD and I’m so happy I did. You’ve got a super hottttt demon kIlling Father who travels to a small town up north. And behold— he meets the gal that “breaks” his vows and boy was I there for it. Truly. The plot line was great, but it was Father Marcelo and that mouth and that mouth of his that I’m still thinking about.

💬 “…When I touch you, June—and please, be aware I will touch you, vows be damned—I want you to know without a doubt it is because I want to, and not because you asked.”

[Nyxie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What. A. Ride. 🥵

I love me some priest dark romance but this one was top tier!

I loved that June was plus size and how I connected with her. She had so many thoughts and feelings I know too well. Also, Marcelo being Puerto Rican and there was some spanish in the book? I almost cried! 🇵🇷 It's so rare to have my people represented or integrated in books like this.

Only reason it's not 5 stars it's because I would have preferred to have more plot then spice but still thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Thank you to the author for the ARC