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Villains & Vices #1

Depraved Devotion

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The Joker meets Pen Pal in this dark, forbidden romance where a criminal psychologist enters a game of cat and mouse with her serial killer patient.

My patient is stalking me… and he’s a psychopath.

I’ve dedicated my life to understanding the darkest corners of the human psyche, but nothing prepares me for him. Ghost. The man is a brilliant, ruthless serial killer who thrives on chaos. Just like his cult following enrapt by his brutality and beauty, he’s completely unhinged. And he’s obsessed with me.

So when Ghost turns himself in and demands to speak to me, I’m forced to confront the beautiful monster sitting across the glass. And the one inside—the one lurking in my own fractured soul. Ghost's rapt attention brings goosebumps to my skin and sends chills down my spine. I choose to believe my reaction is based in fear. When I'm alone in bed, it's harder to convince myself.

As boundaries fade and the line between doctor and patient blurs, Ghost proves to know more about me than possible. Soon, I’m faced with a What am I willing to pay to unveil the truth about my haunted past? Because to Ghost, the price is me. All of me.

Depraved Devotion is Book 1 in the Villains & Vices duet. It contains explicit sexual content and a morally gray hero that's OTT/JP, a stalker who falls first, has Touch Her & Die energy, and is willing to do whatever it takes to have her. A complete list of the TWs can be found below.

stalking/obsession, blackmail/coercion, breaking and entering, violence, murder, dubious consent, off-the-page rape set in the past, parental grief

Audible Audio

First published December 9, 2025

389 people are currently reading
9395 people want to read

About the author

Morgan Bridges

13 books2,537 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 469 reviews
Profile Image for becs ౨ৎ⋆.˚ (semi-ia + comment restriction).
81 reviews63 followers
December 23, 2025
the cliffhanger ending??? i need the second book now 🫠 as someone who has studied and loved criminal psychology, crim law, forensics, and more in undergrad, this was such an entertaining read!! i loved how there was so much push and pull, knowing that this is wrong and should be forbidden but not being able entirely resist. it was so good 😩 come on, a criminal psychologist and a serial killer patient/stalker?? i was hooked!! it’s so easy to read in my opinion. i loved how despite how dark and serious the themes are, you were able to let out a laugh or two because of the mmc at times! i was also a huge fan of how the fmc was written 🙂‍↕️ she stands her ground for the most part and doesn’t give in easily at all. i’m also just a sucker for the cat and mouse dynamic in dark romance 🫡🫶🏽 lol i highly recommend if you’re looking for a quick read and you like dark romance!!

———

halting my north shore read because this is way shorter and seems right up my alley 🙂‍↕️💓 please don’t disappoint i have high hopes!!
Profile Image for luna ♡.
118 reviews142 followers
December 26, 2025
THAT'S HOW THE BOOK ENDS?? I NEED THE SECOND BOOK NOW PLEASE!
Profile Image for Omnya Ali (Free Palestine).
801 reviews256 followers
January 6, 2026
I don't know what to say literally. I'm speechless. These are the perfect characters & plot for the joker retelling, I don't think that there is another story that compared to it I've ever read or seen till now!!🤌​🫠​ .This had everything I want . Everything I need in a dark romance story 😭😭🖤🔥The audiobook was perfect too🤭🖤🤌​🫠​
Profile Image for Bee.
74 reviews12 followers
Currently reading
January 29, 2026
pre:read
I feel like I'm slumping so I just need to switch it up with something unhinged
Profile Image for mia:).
89 reviews3 followers
January 31, 2026
psychopathic, obsessed inmate hottie?? immediately yes.🙂‍↕️😩🤩🖤 ghost had me in a chokehold. 🙂‍↕️. geneva pissed me off like girl, WAKE UP, that man is so in love with you 😭. i devoured this.🤭 the ending?? perfect. the way he protects her???😩😩 insane. my dark romance soul is FED.

“You can play whatever games you want, but you’re not going to get inside my head, Ghost.” “Aren’t I already?”

“No one touches what’s mine. You don’t lay a hand on her. You don’t even look at her. Now, you’re going to pay for all of that.”


👻🖤🙂‍↕️🤭
Profile Image for brittany:).
247 reviews91 followers
January 12, 2026
🗣️Hey Alexa play Gangsta by Kehlani 🎧😈

This is exactly how Depraved Devotion by Morgan Bridges feels from start to finish 🖤👻 It genuinely reads like what I imagine The Joker and Harley Quinn’s origin story to be. If you’ve watched Suicide Squad and remember that little flashback Harley had, this feels like a fully expanded, darker, more twisted version of that 🃏💜 I enjoyed it a lot. The dynamic between a criminal psychologist and her brilliant, violent, obsessive patient is disturbing in the best way. The obsession, manipulation, blurred boundaries, and moral decay are constant, and the tension feels like it’s always simmering just under the surface 🩸🪞

The atmosphere is heavy and unhinged, the chemistry is dangerous, and the psychological push and pull kept me glued to the pages , I read it in one sitting😵‍💫🔥 I had fun with this one and I’m absolutely hooked, but BEWARE… it ends on a serious cliffhanger that will leave you on edge, staring at the wall, and immediately needing the next book 😭📖

💬“Do you think of a ghost as something that represents the dead, or do you see it as something that haunts the living?”


Pre read:
This is marketed as The Joker meets PenPal….so naturally this is a must read for me🖤🦋😈🃏
Profile Image for Melissa.
551 reviews64 followers
November 26, 2025
3.5/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶️

Depraved Devotion scratches that dark-romance itch without dragging you fully into the abyss. In a lot of ways, it gave me Darkly, Madly duet (author: Trisha Wolfe) vibes—same cat-and-mouse tension, same brilliant-but-broken dynamic—but delivered in a much lighter, more accessible way. Where Trisha Wolfe goes gritty, intense, and psychologically brutal, Morgan Bridges keeps things palatable for a wider audience while still playing in the shadows. It’s dark romance, but with training wheels.

The story itself is addictive: a forensic psychiatrist confronted with a serial killer who is equal parts unhinged, magnetic, and terrifyingly fixated on her. The push-and-pull between control, obsession, and identity is compelling, and the “doctor vs. monster vs. her own darkness” angle gives the book a delicious tension.

As for the audiobook, the duet narration was fine—easy to listen to, well-paced, and generally solid. However, I really wish they’d cast a different male narrator for Ghost. For a character who’s supposed to radiate danger, charisma, and psychological depth, the performance fell a little flat. He didn’t quite capture the layers or the seductive menace that make Ghost such a pivotal force in the story, and it dulled some of the impact of the darker scenes.

Overall, this is a great pick if you want a serial-killer romance that’s moody and addictive without being overwhelmingly dark. If you love the vibe of Trisha Wolfe’s work but want something more approachable—or simply want a dark romance you can binge in audio—this one fits the bill.
Profile Image for Leo.
5,011 reviews634 followers
December 14, 2025
Got the audiobook for review.

I was curious to read a romance book with a joker/harlequin kind of pairing as I liked the idea of it but never liked it in batman. However I loved it in this book. I was hooked on the story and the couple. Twisty, dark yet sexy and romantic. It ended in a cliffhanger and I wish I could pick up book two right now.
Profile Image for A Rush Of Emotions.
1,435 reviews4 followers
November 24, 2025
Wellllll this book was fun. This was a random Netgalley read now because I had read and LOVED another dark romance and let me tell ya...spot on with this rec Netgalley!

This book features a heroine, Geneva, who is a criminal psychologist. She's been closely following the criminal called Ghost, and when we first meet her she's on her way to watch him get indicted. Ghost is a CHARACTER! Everything you would imagine a psychopathic serial killer would be is Ghost in a nutshell. Unapologetically brutal in his killing. At first, it made me question how his character could be in any way redeemable. Slowly, this author weaves the tale of how Ghost and Geneva are intertwined more than we initially think. His obsession with Geneva is based on something primal, and for a man like Ghost that obsession becomes devotion.

Geneva was a fun character, always giving me that "common sense" thinking that is much needed with an outlandish romance like this. She denies her attraction as long as any sane person would be able to, and I think that made this pairing seem more real because if it was too insta on her side I'd doubt the rawness of their emotions.

In this book you'll get to see a fairly level headed woman fall deep for a psychopath...but of course there's always two sides to a person's story so finding out all the intricacies of what makes Ghost the man he is, is half the fun. This book ends on one heck of a cliffhanger, so enjoy this dark ride and come back for more when book 2 releases.
Profile Image for Ang ⛤˚☽˚⟡ ݁₊ ..
41 reviews42 followers
January 30, 2026
I had higher hopes for this one, it wasn’t bad. It definitely deserves the three stars, but the plot really was not there. If you just want a good time then this is absolutely the book for you. I read it in 2 sittings It was good enough that i want to read the next one 🤭🤣
Profile Image for ˚ʚ yahaira ɞ˚.
31 reviews13 followers
December 18, 2025
THIS IS MY LONGEST REVIWE YET!!!!!

Okay, so I read this immediately after seeing June’s review and honestly? She didn’t lie. This was wildly entertaining and had me locked in from start to finish.

Geneva, our FMC, is a criminal psychologist and a damn good one. I mean sis was reading people down to the tea. She's been following the case of a serial killer named Ghost, who happens to be our MMC.

Now Ghost is something else. seriously. I am not strong enough to unpack that man. On paper, he’s labeled a psychopath and serial killer, and yes, he is brutally violent, cold, manipulative, and a walking parade of red flags. And yet…here i am. Hooked. Addicted. I fear I love him. What makes Ghost terrifying is also what makes him fascinating. His obsession with Geneva isn’t casual AT FUCKING ALL. THE MAN IS OBSESSED ON ANOTHER LEVEL. JOE GOLBERG...?? He risks everything for her. He kills for her. He goes to prison for her. What really works is how grounded Geneva stays for as long as humanly possible. She doesn’t instantly fold or romanticize what Ghost is. She fights the attraction, questions it, and approaches him with logic and self-preservation, which made the slow unraveling of her feelings feel earned rather than ridiculous. Watching a level-headed woman fall for someone this dangerous somehow made the romance feel more real, not less.

I went into this completely blind and instantly got Joker x Harley Quinn vibes (which, if you know me, is basically my kryptonite). And that ending?? That cliffhanger??? I’m feral. Counting down the days until book two because I am not okay and I need answers immediately.

If you like dark romance, morally irredeemable men, intelligent heroines, and obsession dialed up to an alarming level, read it now. This ride is unhinged and I loved every second of it. 🖤
Profile Image for Tiffany.
510 reviews6 followers
December 10, 2025
As with other books I have read by this author, I find I absolutely love the idea behind the plot and not so much the execution. When I seen this compared to Pen Pal, I jumped at reading it because I absolutely love that book. I did not get "Pen Pal" vibes from this at all. When it comes to the Joker references, I am admittedly clueless.

Ghost is a serial killing psychopath who has fixated on Dr. Geneva Andrews. She is dedicated to her work and just happens to be making a name for herself with her research on subjects such as Ghost. She begins this book with a very "I don't need a man only my job" attitude which pretty much evaporates the moment she sets eyes on Ghost in the court room. Ghost himself is basically a superhero with the way he is intellectually superior to everyone around him. (eye roll)

I didn't connect with either character. There was zero chemistry. Both characters came across almost as adolescents the way they are written. I listened to the audiobook, narrated by Savannah Thomas and Ash Beverly. They did an great job, but unfortunately I just didn't enjoy this one.

This is a review of the audiobook.
Profile Image for F ౨ৎ .
229 reviews1 follower
December 31, 2025
“Because, Geneva, even chaos has its moments of clarity, and in you, I found mine.”

an obsessed criminal psychopath x psychologist book, this was everything I needed.
Profile Image for ⋆.˚ Ariana ᡣ&#x10b69;ྀིྀི.
631 reviews52 followers
January 3, 2026
2.5 -͟͟͞☆


”Sometimes, when you look at yourself too closely, you don’t like what you see. It’s amazing what the mind is capable of when it’s pushed in just the right direction.”

I picked this book up on a whim. I read that it’s about a psychologist and her psycho patient, and I was sold.

While the story was interesting, especially when I had nothing better to read, it lacked many things.
I didn’t like how Ghost was already obsessed with Geneva, even if it was explained why later in the story, it still felt flat. And we didn’t get to see the professional side of Geneva at all, except for when she was the keynote speaker as an alumni in the university; it was well done, which made me wish that the author included how Geneva reached to such conclusions.
Despite the fun of it all, the characters lacked depth. Ghost was at times funny, while Geneva was…horny.

The romance between them cannot be called love but a sick relationship based on sexual desires.

Anyways, I’m curious to see how the next book will play out.
Profile Image for Penelope DeWeerd.
68 reviews5 followers
January 8, 2026
This one was very mid for me. 😫 I found that I didn’t have any connection to the characters or care what happened to them.

I loved the plot and setting, but unpopular opinion: this fell flat. Here’s hoping that the next book can redeem it! 🤞🏻

The number of hilarious quotes in this book were up there though! 😂 My favorite one was…

⛓⃝    ️⃝     ️⃝  ⛓⃝         ️⃝  ⛓⃝    ️⃝  ⛓⃝    ️⃝     ️⃝  ⛓⃝     ⛓️

“𝕄𝕒𝕣𝕔𝕠!
ℙ𝕠𝕝𝕠, 𝕞*𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕗*𝕔𝕜𝕖𝕣. ℕ𝕠𝕨 𝕤𝕙𝕦𝕥 𝕦𝕡! 𝕀’𝕞 𝕥𝕣𝕪𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕤𝕝𝕖𝕖𝕡.”
Profile Image for Heathers_readss.
882 reviews181 followers
September 10, 2025
This was soooo good! I haven’t read the previous book by the author but I found it didnt matter.

I really enjoyed “ghosts” character, at first I thought he was a little overly quirky but soon his charm won me over and I found myself chuckling to his little quips and responses to the guards.

This book definitely makes me curious about a pen incacerated love interest 😆😆

Perfect for those who love dark romance, stalker style obsession based relationships, and anyone who loves an intelligent woman / psychology / criminology and delving into the minds of a psychopath / serial killer (a hot one at that 😂)

Thank you to forever publishing for the netgalley gifted copy!

Publish date : December 9th 2025
Profile Image for megan ◡̈.
882 reviews608 followers
December 6, 2025
this book was SO much fun. i’ve been dying to start one of morgan’s books so when i saw that this was likened to the joker movie and between a criminal psychologist and her serial killer patient i was IMMEDIATELY sold and had to download it. if there is one thing i love in my dark romances its a psychologist and serial killer. i was very much hoping for obsession by harleigh beck vibes and oh boy did it deliver!!! (not as dark ofc but still, it gave me the same excited feeling).

once i started this book i simply couldnt stop unless i had to, it was so addictive from start to finish. the narrators do a PHENOMENAL job bringing geneva and ghost to life, especially with it being duet style audio it made it feel impossible to put down.

i am so fully invested in these two, the cliffhanger at the end feels SO diabolical still even though i finished this almost 12 hours ago. i am simply addicted and i cannot wait for book two to provide some (hopeful) relief and even more insanity from these two!!
Profile Image for Marija Unkind.
99 reviews20 followers
January 26, 2026
Well… that was fun 🙂‍↕️
I genuinely loved this book. He’s a serial killer, she’s a criminal psychologist. Ahhh, perfection 🖤

Ghost? WOW. What a character. Dark, unsettling, intelligent and exactly how a serial killer should be written. This is the kind of portrayal I’m always hoping for when I pick up books like this.

Their dynamic is intense and addictive, the pacing never drags, and the story kept me hooked the whole way through. Dark, twisted, and thoroughly entertaining 🖤

Can’t wait for the second book! I need to know more and that cliffhanger will give me hangovers for days 😀

“And you're flame and wrath encased in a wall of ice and control.”

“The cemetery is quiet.
It's the kind of silence that seeps into your blood and flows through your veins, until you're either overcome with grief or peace.”

“I must say, Doc, I'm really enjoying the verbal foreplay. Insult me again. I like it.”

“M. I. N. E.
Magnolias bloom, masking death's decay.
Illuminating the shadows, where I wait.
Never let the flame that binds us fade.
Every breath you take is mine to claim.”
Profile Image for daniella.
227 reviews442 followers
December 16, 2025
This book's concept really grabbed me. The story of a forbidden romance between a psychopath and a psychologist was fantastic. The narration was superb, and I especially loved how Ghost was portrayed. It really let you into his mind. The fact that it was a duet made the story even better, as it kept the characters distinct. I'm really looking forward to the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Athena &#x1f497;.
800 reviews10 followers
January 4, 2026
2.5⭐️ Thank you, NetGalley and Forever Publishing for an ALC of Depraved Devotion.

The production of the audiobook was well crafted. I always appreciate duet narration and the audio narrators did a great job. It is because of the quality of the audio that I decided to raised my rating a little higher.

As for the story itself, I love the premise. Harley Quinn and The Joker had me in an unhinged chokehold in The Suicide Squad back in the day so I was pretty excited to jump into this audiobook. Sadly, the actual execution did not live up to the hype. The two POV chapters are both heavy on the internal monologue. Also, the author does a lot of telling with little to no showing. I can’t stand when an author doesn’t trust their readers to come up with their own conclusions. I also felt like the writing was a little too repetitive for my taste. Another thing I am not a fan of is FMCs that “aren’t like the other girls” and right from the start the FMC comes across as just that. I failed to connect with her whatsoever throughout the entirety of the story. The lust between the FMC and MMC was instantaneous yet lacked any sort of chemistry. Unfortunately, this book wasn’t for me but I could see others really enjoying it.
Profile Image for ashlee ❤.
1,949 reviews106 followers
November 25, 2025
Geneva + Ghost

-dark romance
-stalking/obsession
-psychopath x psychiatrist
-joker/harley quinn coded
-touch her & 💀
-blackmail

this was soooo hot & i lovedddd the whole psychopath x psychiatrist angle...thoooo i am SOOOO intrigued by ghost...& his goals...being in jail...cause like he is soooo powerful it seems! i can't wait for more!!
Profile Image for Courtney.
316 reviews38 followers
January 5, 2026
4 stars
3 for spice

This book is so dark and intense in the best possible way, I read it so quickly. Depraved Devotion is a dark stalker romance with a very Joker and Harley Quinn type relationship dynamic, it is a very taboo romance. The MMC is obsessed and only has eyes for the Doc, while I like the slow build and more curiosity of her feelings. You really get the intense emotions and the suspense in every interaction these characters have. I was so drawn in, so the writing was really on point. There was great action and not a dull moment. Both main characters were fascinating, complicated mystery pasts, both brilliant, and very unpredictable. The only negative thing I have to say was the ending just developed and wrapped up too quickly but I really enjoyed reading it.
I received an ebook, via Netgalley. This review is my own honest opinion.
Profile Image for Lily Nocturne.
65 reviews1 follower
December 5, 2025
Depraved Devotion was an absolute hit for me. The duet narration was phenomenal. Ash Beverly delivered an incredible performance—his emotional depth and the way he brought Ghost to life was unmatched. And Savannah Thomas , the FMC narrator, was fantastic. She held her own flawlessly beside Ash. Together, they were dynamic, pulling out every emotion and making you feel like you were right there in the middle of the chaos with them.

I loved how well Savannah portrayed the FMC’s internal struggle. Sure, it could get frustrating—but honestly, who wouldn’t be battling with themselves in that situation? It made the character feel real, layered, and human, and it grounded the story beautifully.

The storyline hooked me within the first two chapters. Dark, gripping, emotional—exactly the kind of messy intensity I love. And that cliffhanger? Absolutely vicious. I’m itching for the next part because I need answers immediately.

Highly recommend this audiobook if you love powerful narration, emotional depth, and a plot that refuses to let go.
Profile Image for Kate.
11 reviews72 followers
December 31, 2025
You think you’ve read dark romance? THINK AGAIN! I was incredibly honored to receive an advanced reader copy through NetGalley and 🔥OH! MY! GOD! 🔥
Or should I say OH! MY! GHOST! 👻
I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this rollercoaster 🎢
Do yourself and your brain a favor and grab this!
Profile Image for Eliza.
236 reviews8 followers
November 28, 2025
Story ♾️⭐️
Spice 🌶️
Audiobook ♾️⭐️

Depraved Devotion by Morgan Bridges is the first book in Villains & Vices series. You Guys!!!! This book!!! Is absolutely EVERYTHING! From the writing, to the story telling, plotting and audiobook, this is absolute PERFECTION. It will drag you into this amazing sexy, psychological suspenseful ride that is hard to put away. If you are a fan of dark romance, Joker, Criminal minds, Mind hunters, this one is just for you. The writing is rich and captivating, the terminology and lingo of characters is matching not only the vocation but their personality as well!

Savanah Thomas as Geneva, is a very good match, if you don’t know Savanah, her voice is of a Goddess, but what makes her always shine is her ability to convey emotions with amazing clarity. She gave us even more insight into the FMC thru her performance. Geneva is a strong, career driven as a criminal psychologist that works on very sensitive cases and even helped put away criminals that would’ve done even more harm. Her work is very important to her, but what happens when lines get blurred and work, passion and personal feelings collide?

Ash Beverly as Ghost, first of all, where did u guys hid this gem? He is the star of the book, and not because he is a male, his performance as a psychopath is so on point. He maintained the composure of the entire book with the perfect cadence, detachment, but not, unfeeling. He accentuates his control of every situation and analyzing at any moment. If you are like me and you have watched a lot of criminal documentaries, specially serial killers, Ash channels Mason, that cold detachment but passion of everything he did and how.

Let’s not forget Morgan has pored the perfect foundation for this performance, she wrote an unforgettable story. The tension and atmosphere of this book is so magnetic, dark and the psychological conflict of a cat and mouse game, makes it even more addictive. The spice is intoxicating and hot, but very sensual, as a slow burn, the build up and the tension is as good as having 10 spice scenes. This book is perfection and I simply cannot wait for next year for book two, Geneva and Ghost have invaded my dreams and mind, I just cant stop thinking of them!

This is a message just for Morgan: ma’am are you ok? That cliffhanger is just pure evil!!! What do you mean I have to wait until June 2026 to find out? All jokes aside, I’m obsessed with this book and your writing and can’t wait to read more from you!

Thank you Morgan, Hachette Audio, NetGalley, and your teams for providing and approving this ALC! The review and all the opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Little Ghost.
47 reviews2 followers
November 27, 2025
Rating: 5 ⭐ 2 🌶️

WOW WOW WOW!!! 🤯🔥
Psychopath meets Psychologist. He is a serial killer and her task is to analyze him without falling for his tricks. The question is whether she can resist him and his mind games. 😈🧠💥
I read the blurb and instantly fell for the promise of a “Joker/Harley Quinn vibe”. I was not disappointed at all. 😭🙌 I absolutely love a good psychopath and a dangerously captivating criminal, and this story delivered exactly that in the best possible way.
When I say I devoured this audiobook, I mean I binged it from start to finish and only paused because sleep was physically necessary. I was hooked from the very beginning. Everything about this experience felt like perfection and it has easily become one of my favorite reads of the year. ✨📚💖
The narrators were phenomenal. Ash Beverly portrayed Ghost with the perfect Joker-like energy while still creating a unique and unforgettable character. He captured the unsettling charm and twisted charisma so well that I am now completely obsessed with Ghost. I kept thinking, “Oh mama, I’m in love with a criminal.” 🎶😳🔥
Savannah Thomas was equally amazing. She expressed every conflicting emotion with such clarity that I felt everything right along with her. She brought the internal struggle to life in a way that made the whole story even more gripping.
The entire story was pure chef’s kiss 👩‍🍳💋. The tension was delicious, the atmosphere was dark and magnetic, and the psychological conflict pulled me in deeper with every chapter. The emotional push and pull was so intense that I could not stop listening.
The spice was incredibly hot. 🔥😮‍💨 It was not overly explicit compared to other dark romances, but the tension made it feel even more powerful. Sometimes the build-up is far better than constant steam, and this book proved that beautifully.
I cannot get enough of this world. I am literally obsessed. 😭🔥📖 It feels like a crime that I have to wait until 2026 for the next book. The cliffhanger left me with so many questions and I need answers immediately. 😱🫠
Until then, I will simply be here thinking about Ghost nonstop. 😈🖤

I want to thank NetGalley, Hachette Audio and Morgan Bridges for this ALC! All opinions are my own.
Profile Image for thebeespot72.
1,758 reviews186 followers
December 19, 2025
Morgan Bridges' most recent release, Depraved Devotion, is described as The Joker meets Pen Pal. Immediately, I was intrigued because I loved both. Geneva is a criminal psychologist, and Ghost is a serial unaliver who is in prison. First, I loved the story. Hands down one of the best suspense stories I’ve read this year. I purposely edged myself — get your mind out of the gutter. What I mean is that I slowed my pace because I not only wanted to savor the story but also knew that every detail was likely critical. And I love that about these types of books. There were those moments of, “Wait a minute, let me go back to this part and piece this together,” but that only led to more questions.

Ghost is one of those brilliant minds. Almost like Hannibal Lecter from The Silence of the Lambs—most definitely having that vibe. But as with The Joker, he is unpredictable, explosive, very much a loner, and obsessed with Geneva. The way the story evolves beyond the doctor-patient relationship is incredibly well done, drawing you in with high suspense, steamy scenes, questionable actions, and Geneva’s introspection.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Ash Beverly and Savannah Thomas and enjoyed the story. All in all, I can’t stop thinking about Depraved Devotion. It’s a book I do wish I had buddy read with someone, as it left on a cliffhanger. Book 2 is due to be released on June 23, 2026. I will be waiting!

Thank you to Forever Books for the gifted copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Profile Image for madi ꨄ︎.
15 reviews
January 17, 2026
3.75 ⭐️
I highly enjoyed everything about this book, from the character dynamics to the storyline. I immensely enjoyed Ghost’s ominous character and past (which isn’t touched on but can be inferred about). I also loved Geneva and her complex character.

I will say, I was getting tired of the author’s writing and usage of phrases. This author specifically overuses phrases like: “It isn’t just ___; It’s ___” and “It wasn’t just about ___. It’s about ___”.

I do think the author redeemed herself by making the spicy scenes hot but not frequent. I feel as if I get bored when sex scenes take up 50+ percent of dark romance books, because I really do enjoy dark romance plots. The scenes were amazing, yet took a bit to get there and felt very natural, which made them 10x better. I’d rate 🌶️🌶️🌶️

I did feel like certain parts of the plot were not touched on enough, like Ghost’s past—which i’m sure will be a huge part of book 2—and there were a few plot holes. I thought the concept of this book was amazing and not as common nowadays with the whole serial killer x psychologist - or maybe i’m just not looking in the right place.

But, I got icked out easily by Ghost’s conflicting morals.
He seems to hate rapists, yet says things like “It’s not rape if you give it willingly”, which was said the first time the mcs had intercourse. It also was not mentioned whatsoever why he kills—again, i’m sure it’ll be mentioned in the next book—and who he kills. Does he only kill men? Women? Maybe even children? And why? Not sure how to feel about Ghost just yet!

I hope the next book clears all of this up!
Profile Image for ✨Wendy✨| downtherabbitholes.
468 reviews126 followers
December 26, 2025
Depraved Devotion by Morgan Bridges

Format: Audiobook
Narrators: Savannah Thomas and Ash Beverly

📖- 4
🎙️- 4.5
🌶️- 2

Read the Trigger Warnings

Non Spoiler Audiobook Review 🎧
Before going into this story, you need to be aware this is a duet and this book ends on a cliffhanger. Depraved Devotion is a forbidden dark romance that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. I listened to the audio (of course I did 😉) for this book and fell into the darkness right along with the characters. As the author, Morgan Bridges stated, this is a Cat and Mouse psychological thriller.

Told in duet by Savannah Thomas and Ash Beverly. They gave these desperate, unstable and unhinged characters a pulse, that should have unnerved us, but instead, we just get sucked in deeper into the madness.

Ms. Bridges has mastered how to make us fall for the villain. Ghost should not be a likable character; he’s a convicted serial killer, after all. Yet, we cannot help but feel an attachment and maybe even empathy for him. His gentleness with the FMC seems so out of character and goes against everything we think we know about psychopaths. Both the FMC and the MMC cross lines and boundaries, pushing this into the forbidden category, while leaving us wanting more with Ghosts’ devious, thought-out plans.

Remember this ends on a cliffhanger, so when that ending HITS it hits, and then it’s over. Now we wait for what’s coming next in this dark, twisted world.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to listen to this audio.
Profile Image for PJ.
23 reviews12 followers
December 8, 2025
Story: 5 ⭐️
Audiobook: 5 ⭐️
Narrators: Savannah Thomas & Ash Beverly

Thank you Hachette Audio for this ALC in exchange for an honest review.

The Performance
Savannah Thomas beautifully captured Dr. Geneva Andrews’ intelligence as a criminal psychologist, and her vulnerability as a woman still living with the aftermath of personal tragedy. Ash Beverly, where have you been all my life? He delivered a believable and powerful performance as Ghost, which made me think of Ghost as the perfect mix between Heath Ledger’s unhinged Joker and Jared Leto’s darker, sexier Joker. Together, their voices made this audiobook a captivating listen.

The Story
Love, love, love the Joker and Harley Quinn vibes in this book! Geneva and Ghost’s romance had me spellbound and begging for more. There was never a lull in the pacing, and if I didn’t have to adult, I would have finished this book in one day. The cliffhanger was brutal but consider the stakes raised. Morgan, you have me at the edge of my seat and impatiently waiting for what happens next.
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