Sacrificing Zoriah

by Emily Klepp

I drift through life from one tragedy to the next, praying for death to have mercy on my soul. Until my saviors guide me out of the dark and awaken something sinfully brutal within me. It doesn’t stop the shadows from creeping back in. I was never supposed to escape, and they want me back. Will I survive the sacrifice, or will I be another forgotten soul?

THIS IS A DARK ROMANCE WITH VERY HEAVY TRIGGERS. READER'S DISCRETION IS HIGHLY ADVISED.

Genres: Dark Romance, Abuse

299 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 11, 2025

About the author

Visit my Linktree here -> https://linktr.ee/emilykleppnovels

Emily Klepp is a Western North Carolina native residing in eastern Tennessee with her loving husband and two beautiful children. She has been writing since she was fourteen years old as a way to cope with her anxiety. She hopes to help others be able to speak their truth by writing about topics that are considered too taboo for societal norms.

Reviews

[Bookaholic__Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded to 4

I love books involving cults so I knew I would love this one. I really loved Zoriah's character as well as Roman and Huxley. I couldn't wait for them to all be vindicated. The spice was good, especially the CNC aspects. The only thing I didn't really care for was the inclusion of her extra partners, it just seems a little too far fetched and a bit excessive. Considering what she went through though, I can kind of understand her wanting multiple partners and using that as a way to overcome her trauma.

[MorallyDarkReadz · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5/5 Stars
Spice: 5/5 – Pitch Black, Primal, and Cathartic
Genre: Pitch Black Erotic Romance | Trauma Bonding | Survivor Smut

“She was broken open—and inside the ruin, she found her power.”

Sacrificing Zoriah by Emily Klepp is not for the faint of heart. It’s raw, brutal, and drenched in pain—but it’s also one of the most emotionally honest portrayals of survival I’ve ever read. This book doesn’t flinch. It doesn’t soften. It throws you into the darkest depths of human cruelty—and somehow, it still manages to carve out a story of resilience, healing, and reclamation.

Zoriah’s story begins in hell. Kidnapped by a cult, subjected to unspeakable violence, and robbed of all autonomy, she’s a shattered soul just trying to survive. And in that darkness, she meets Huxley, her brother’s best friend and a fellow victim. Their trauma bonds them, but it’s more than shared pain—it’s the first flicker of hope, of connection, of something human.

But Emily Klepp doesn’t stop there. The second half of this story shifts into something equally powerful. Roman, Zoriah’s boss, and Ben, his loyal assistant, don’t just save her from the cult—they become part of her rebirth. Her healing isn’t linear. It’s messy, erotic, complicated—and beautifully consensual. Through surrender, she finds freedom. Through submission, she rediscovers choice. And through her lovers, she finds herself.

This isn’t a romance built on rescue—it’s built on respect, control, and letting go. And it’s pitch black smut in the most honest, reverent, and filthy way.

🔥 Spice Rating: 5/5 🔥
Dark kink. Power exchange. Consent-driven submission. Pain and pleasure blended in ways that feel like therapy and punishment all at once. These scenes mean something, and they’re written with such emotional precision it made my chest ache.

Tropes & Themes:
• Pitch black romance
• Captivity and trauma
• Trauma bonding
• Brother’s best friend
• Multiple love interests (Huxley, Roman, Ben)
• BDSM | Submissive awakening
• Consent as healing
• Found power through surrender
• Dark smut with emotional weight

This book is violent, erotic, and soul-wrenching. But at the heart of all the ruin, there is love. Not the clean kind—but the kind that sees every scar and stays anyway.

Zoriah’s journey is one of strength—strength in surviving, strength in choosing, and strength in letting go.

If you’re ready for a romance that lives in the shadows and still finds light, Sacrificing Zoriah is unforgettable.

[Erin Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨🔮🌞🌕🍄🌕🌞🔮✨

ARC REVIEW

Sacrificing Zoriah - Emily Klepp

4.5/5⭐️

📚📚📚
This one is seriously DARK! But once again it’s another Emily Klepp book I completely devoured from beginning to end! The emotional rollercoaster this brought me on I wasn’t ready for but the journey was so good! I did binge it in one sitting! Zoriah our FMC has seriously been through some of the worst situations with abuse and cults but finds strength to keep moving. The guys just left me speechless and in love with them all! Overall without giving too much away I loved this one and recommend adding to your tbr! Just check your triggers first!

📚📚📚
If you like to read:
- Billionaire romance
- Boss x employee
- Brothers best friend
- Detective x Victim
- Poly harem
- Total power exchange
- brat x dom
- CNC
- Free use / no safe words
- Rough / extreme sm3x
- Trigger heavy
- Trauma healing
… You should definitely check this out

📚📚📚

Thank you so much for sending me a copy for an honest review in my own words. #giftedcopy

✨what’s something you do to cope with stress?

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[Cassie's Comment · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 ⭐️ This is generous


This is MY personal opinion, as I know there are people who love this book and have raved about it. Obviously, please make your own decision, as not everyones opinion will line up with mine, but I will admit that I have no idea how this book got 4-5 star ratings....


Context:

I LOVE dark romance books. Haunting Adeline wasn't even dark to me, so the 'darkness' in this book was not even a deciding factor for my rating because it wasn’t even dark, just a dark concept with trauma scenes thrown in. 


This could have been such a good book. The story line could have been amazing, but it fell extremely flat. I hate giving bad ratings on books, but I don't think I have ever rolled my eyes and had to put a book down, as many times as I did this one. And the second hand embarrassment...... It was a lot. Again, I still have absolutely no idea how this book is getting 4-5 star ratings, unless the reviews are being written by 14-15 year old girls. Completely baffled. 


Storyline:

Bear with me and give me a moment to cringe while I remeber what all I read..... I will also be breaking it down because I ended up writing more than I anticipated. 


Z= Zoriah: Main femal character


R= Roman: Zoriah's boss


Ben: Random male with no backstory which is best friends with Roman


Dad: Zoriah's dad


Brother: Zoriah's brother


H= Huxley: bestfriends brother



Okay, Zoriah (main female character. We will call her Z) is kidnapped by her best friend, her bestfriends dad, and her bestfriends brother (H). They are part of a churchy cult and the friend used Z as a 'sacrafice' for repent for her sins. As part of the deal, Z is to be r*ped by all the male members of the cult, for 3 days. 


*You would think this is a setup for a jaw dropping dark romance...... Um, no. No its not. Again, dark concept, but it was just 'trying to get dark shock value' from lack-luster trauma scenes. 


Z doesn't show up for work, so her boss, of 6 months, contacts Z's brother and father to let them know. (Boss is Roman, we will call him R).


This random best friend of R, Ben, is all in with finding Z and just becomes part of the story with no introduction like 'Oh, Ben knows Z's info and is worried about her, even though Z states she barely knows him but from work' 😒. 


*Okay, whatever, we can overlook this. 


Z escapes, thanks to H (whom was forced to participate in the kidnapping and r*pe). She runs to R's house, naked, and shows up covered in blood, cum, other body fluids, etc (shes a mess). 


*A little context, she was knocked out and taken to the cult place. She woke up in the house, but mentions that she knows that R's house is not too far away.... HOW!? This does not make sense. 


R puts Z in a bath (the f*ck, give that girl a SHOWER) and he bathes her, because shes too tired and weak (would be believeable if the rest of the chapter she acted tired and weak, which she did NOT). Z's brother, father, and Ben come into the bathroom and they all crack jokes, flirt, laugh and chat it up (Z included, like nothing happened). Yes, shes still naked in the tub while this is taking place, being washed by her boss, and Z (yes the supposedly traumatized woman whom doesnt act it), R, Ben, Dad, and brother all act as though she didn't just escape being raped by 49 men for 3 days. *WHERE IS THE TRAUMA!? 

She also had no nudity shyness, even infront of a man she didn't really know (Ben), her DAD and her BROTHER and was like "I'm naken, but y'all dont have to leave" 🤨 It was super f*cking weird. 


That same night she escaped (and had the weird community bath with everyone talking, laughing, and watching), she then confesses her love to R ( her boss) and he confesses his love to her (his assistant) and Z asks R if they are dating and he says "yes." They also act like nothing happened (still) and she's inner-dialoging and outwardly flirting and stating that she wants him to f*ck her and that she wants to make him (R) mad so that he will hate f*ck her. He responds to this with "Do not make me have to spend the rest of our lives making up for what I will do to you." 


*SHE JUST ESCAPED BEING R*PED FOR 3 DAYS BY 49 MEN! WHAT!!??? (again, where is the trauma. She acts like nothing happened. SO many eye rolls). 


Z was branded on her lower back, by the cult,  when she was kidnapped and R put some expired burn cream on her back and tells her she'll be fine, his moms a nurse, even though its expired (btw, it gets infected by the next morning). They crack jokes and Z tells R that he can't handle her and he quips back with childish, cringy sexual, weird responses. Again, the same night she escaped.


The guys (R, Ben, dad, brother) told Z they don't want her to be alone, so the next day Z goes to the office with all of them. They all warn her that there was a rumor that was started that R kidnapped Z and that the press is there.... 


*SHE HAD TECHNICALLY ONLY MISSED 2 DAYS OF WORK FOR F*CKS SAKE! Make it make sense, please! Why would the employees make up such a outlandish rumor!? 


Anyways, they did the press conference and when they were supposed to be going inside to work, Z says "feed me" with a laugh (after getting explosively upset with the press) and they all go get food instead of work.... Just bizarre. 


Three weeks after Z escaped, she mentions watching R masturbate in the shower, daily. She joins R in the shower and tells him that she wants to give him oral and she wants to be used by him (okay, I don'thate the concept). 


R wants to respect her boundries, but Z wants to be brutalized and says she wants him to take what he wants and she doesn't want a safe word , but oral is her limit (even though her internal dialogue is all about how much she wants him to screw her).... R says he wants her to fight him and lose and he wont be nice... 


R ends up face f*cking Z in the shower so hard that she throws up all over both of them and he still doesn't stop. He tells her to "choke on it b*tch" and "Look at you. Too f*cking weak to get away" and she is just good with it. 


*Again, where is the believeable trauma response!


*Also, during this scene, she starts sucking him off, and within the same paragraph, there is Z inner-dialog about how shes read a bunch of smut, so she should know what to do, and that R speaks spanish... The very next paragraph is a reminiscence of R's parents background and how his mom reacted when told about what happened to Z. 


*I just.... I dont.... what!? I LOVE dialogue and especially dirty talk in my books (require it), but the writing.... Ugh! She was a r*pe survivor! "Too weak to get away." Talking about R's parents during a sexual scene.... Come on! Place and time, place and time. There are also much better phrases that could have been used by the mmc. And again, WHERE IS THE TRAUMA RESPONSE!? I think the author was trying to make her tough and to laugh through the trauma, but it just came off childish, immature, embarrassing, cringy, completely off, and almost unreadable. 


Then, the guys (R, Ben, Dad, and brother) let Z stay home alone (though they were EXTREMELY adamant that she was to be with someone at all time). She gets drunk and they all come home from work and she starts freaking out on her dad (which has been a drunk for over 19 years, but just magically stops drinking with small mentions of short term and minor side effects)... Um, no.


It ends with her being giggly and everyone leaves but R and Ben, then R starts talking to Z about being in a threesome with him and Ben and Z is all for it (with her cringy and childish remarks), but wants to add her friends brother, H to the mix because 'they are trauma bonded and they love eachother...' 🤦‍♀️ 

Then, immediately after, they all get naked in bed together and Z talks about her r*ape as jokingly and nonchalant as if she's talking about a funny night out with friends (UGH, WHY!).  


This is FAR from all of it, but Z even goes "Am I too drunk to concent" and R says "Far too drunk to concent, think of this as your punishment (for getting drunk)" and Z says "Oh, golly," and R says "What" and Z says "That is code for you two are sexy as f*ck and I want you inside of me." (cringe so hard I had to shut down my app and return to the madness later on). 


Next (same scene) the "Oh golly" apparently really did it for them, so they start taking clothes off and Z continues to joke about her rape 🙄 (its several pages of immaturity at it's finest and took me a solid hour to get through the chapter). Then, R and Ben tease her, but do nothing sexually to her, and she tells both R and BEN that she loves them and goes to sleep (stoooooooop! You don't even know Ben!!!!!). 


I stopped reading the book after this. This was page 170 of 299. I. Just. Cant. 


Wait, no, I have to push on... I continued. 


*Also, to add, Z stated that shes a virgin, but when she was six, her and her mother were r*ped and her mother was killed. She knew that it was the cult leader and her friends dad (who kidnapped her) whom did it, but went on vactions and hung out with her friend and her family with no fear... and then nonchalantly mentions to the guys (and the reader) that the dad made her suck his d*ck during a vacation they went on. WHAT!?!?!? Sorry, I had to add that tidbit of information. 


It skips to a week later, but back stories to how for the past week, R brutally throat f*cks Z (alllll over the house, car, office) and Ben likes to watch, though he's been given concent to join, he doesn't. 


*3 pages into this chapter, I really can't read more. I hate the characters. They are so immature and irritating. I just hate them. 


*Came back the next day to read more. I hate to be a quitter, but damn, its so hard to continue on with this book. 


More immiture and cringy banter between R, Ben, and Z. It ends with Ben throat f*cking her while R holds her hips down. Now, during this scene, she develops orgasm fear and then begs R to eat her out.... Okay, we move on. 


Z and R go out of town for a 3 day meeting. This chapter is the most tolerable, so far. Just normal immature and cringy storyline. 


Okay, back to the bullshittery. The next chapter, Z talks about R buying a house, plane, car, etc, since he is always in that town (not sure where they are). 


R says "Would you like to see our new home" and Z goes on to say "I don't like the word we" and "Why did you say we." Ma'am, he didn't... He said "our" not we. 


Then, R tells Z that her name is on the house and he is going to marry her and if they seperate, then she gets half of eveything... 


*Huh? 


Then, its a short paragraph of talk and then Z pops off with "We are already married now, arent we" and R replies with "Just need your signature" because he has the papers in the car.... 


*(insert dumbfounded meme... Where in the f*ck did that come from) and there was NOTHING to signify that he had a marriage license already or ANYTHING. 


THEN, Z makes a comment to R about how she wonders if she can call Ben her husband too because she think it will make him cry... 


*B*tch, ugh! 


THEN AGAIN, R and Z get into the rental car and R holds Z's hand and with NO other story context or talks, she says "You are going to corner me, aren't you" and R doesn't know what shes talking about (who would) and Z says "f*cking me." 


*Where did that come from!?!?!? You would think I would be used to the lack of context, lack of response and emotion, and randomness in this book, but I guess not. 


Then R says he will corner her and Z gets excited and in this scene she also signs the marriage papers and is then shocked that there is no prenup... 


*He already told her that everything would be halved and shes shocked theres no prenup....  UUUUUUUUGH, this book!!!!


*Holy mother of God, why am I still reading this!?!?!? I'm invested, I'm not a quitter, I WILL continue. 


Okay, nope. The next few pages did it for me. I couldn't read on, but R follows her into the bathroom of a fancy restaurant and plugs the sink, fills it with water, and shoves her face in it as he has sex with her. I'm all about it, but the actions just dont match R, as a character, or responses from a 'traumatized' Z (or ANY SA survivor). I got to page 190 of 299 and quit. 

[Sauieh Noushin · Rating 5 out of 5]

YYEESSS!!!! Emily... woman... you know the way to this woman's pussy LMFAO!!! The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but the way to THIS woman's heart is through her pussy, which is a filthy whore for these hot, dominant, DARK, rough men who will do anything for their woman. And these late bloomers you have creep in at the last minute that are so unsuspecting and have the biggest cocks and are the ABSOLUTE DARKEST!!!! FUCK YES WOMAN!! You know the way 🤣🤣🤣😈😈😈🔥🔥🔥
Anyways let's be serious for a minute. This book was amazing. We learn so much over the course of this book that no one really had the truth of what was done to Zoriah. She suffered so much at the hands of her evil "best friend" and her father and their weirdo cult.
Everyone had their own trauma, but never shared it with others. When there was finally understanding between Zoriah and her father, it was truly heartbreaking to hear his experience. Huxley sacrificed himself for Zoriah. Roman suffered his sisters death and nieces trauma. Ben and Lance were more of the rocks. They helped stabilize and keep everyone on track. Corbin was so loving and supportive.
I don't know if I would call it a hidden meaning or not, but the blatant brain washing of those believing in cults and getting swept up in religious corruption is truly sickening. Knowing how easily people will follow those who twist religion to their benefit and hurt others is demented but the justice that they meet.... chefs kiss!!!! I evil cackled at Haleys demise 😈😈
A story of strength, perseverance, sacrifice, growth, overcoming addiction, facing truths, and finding love and support.

[Neapolitan670 📚🖤 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phew! Please read the triggers before as there are acts of 🍇 and SA.

Little did she know as her brain had put it in a box, until it is triggered when she is kidnapped by a cult bringing forth a multitude of memories and nightmares. She escapes to her boss’s house, from here on she seeks out being in a controlled situation with all her guys. Still the cult is on the move and with the one love who helped her escape. Will her nightmares continue? Will she find her love? Can she break the cycle?

Once again Emily, pulls you into this world of trauma and the fight to come out the other side by whatever means the FMC needs to cope. I couldn’t put this down mainly because I was right there with Zoriah mentally giving her the strength to carry on and seek her revenge. I actually wish this bit had been drawn out a lot more, like really ensuring they felt everything that was done to her and Huxley 😈

[Chaos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yep this book was EXACTLY what I wanted from this author. This book was brutal, unexpected, and very spicy. The way Riah coped with everything is similar in the way I coped with my trauma. Add on all the religious trauma and its no wonder Riah needed an escape. I love all the guys but my favorite is Lance. He wasnt in it until the end but his traumatized face and him repeating he was a professional had me laughing so hard. He's awesome. Riah is a freaking bad ass and handled herself so well after going through some intense lows and healing. Another amazing aspect of the book was the healing of Jim and him ending up sober. It was such an unexpected gift for Riah and I think helped her so much. This book, like her others, aren't to be taking lightly but they are so good. Another hit!!

[Lisa Serrano-Arnold · Rating 4 out of 5]

Go for it if you're into intense, psychological dark romance and okay with all the triggers. If you're looking for gritty, raw, emotionally charged darkness Emily delivers again. A truly heart breaking read, her writing brings painful experiences to life—making you feel every bit of Zariah's emotional fall & her fight towards healing. Healing isn’t easy for her, it's messy and hard earned.

Check the triggers ALWAYS!!!!
Skip if you prefer gentle, light-hearted, rescuing-hero stories—or if you're triggered by violence.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoriah is living life working for the billionaire a hole. When her friend Hailey invites her out to a new bar. Only that was never the plan. Her plan was to offer Zoriah as a sacrifice to become right with god. Hails brother Huxley is trying his hardest to get Zoriah out. Finally she’s free and runs to get boss. Determined to get Hux out too. This is by far one of my favorite books from Emily!

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good dark book .. I love that zoriah learns to fight and each of her men give her different things she needs and the way her brother and dad have unconditional love and care

[Chaotic Bookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet again, another great read from Emily Klepp.
Twists and turns, betrayal, trauma and healing. It’s a wild journey of heartbreak and emotions.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't get enough of Emily Klepp's books! Definitely read the content warnings before diving in. If you're ok with them, then you're gonna love this book! It's a quick read but packed full of action, you won't be disappointed.

[addictedtodarkromance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Zoriah works as an executive assistant for Roman Tolson, a billionaire, whose company invests in other companies.

One night, her best friend, Haley, wants her to go to a new bar that just opened. They've been friends since elementary school when she moved into town. She's never been the greatest friend, though, but Zoriah puts up with her as she doesn't have anyone else. But Haley ends up betraying her.

Zoriah is kidnapped (with Haley's help) by a Religious cult called 'The People of Christ Church' and is subjected to horrible sexual acts (there is detail in some of it, so please read TW!). She was scared, humiliated, and she had no say in how people used her body. :( It's here that she finds Huxley, her brother's best friend, and even though he is also being forced to do things, he does his best to help Zoriah.

I liked the overall story of survival and how the guys (Roman, Huxley, Lance & Ben) were there for her in whatever way she needed. Both she and Huxley were strong and didn't let their past dictate their future. They found comfort in each other. The other guys were dominant, caring and productive of her. My heart broke for those who were subjected to the cult and what happened to them there.

There were plenty of spicy scenes 🥵, but they started a little later in the book, which made sense due to the trauma that she endured. She found comfort in giving up control and being submissive, and the guys were happy to be the ones in control.

I do want to explain my star rating: The story felt a little rushed, and the character development wasn't as strong, so it was a little hard to fully connect to them, and the story moved a little too fast. The way they spoke felt unnatural. I think the author was trying to give us context, but it's generally not how people speak. Also, when she escapes, it felt like she wasn't really physically hurt much, but she would have been super sore and injured from what she was subjected to. There were also times where it felt a little awkward with her brother and father; they were a little too involved a certain parts.
 
Overall the story did have my heart racing and I wanted to know how it was going to end. The guys were great with her and I enjoyed the little twist!

*If the blurb sounds interesting to you, I would still highly recommend you giving this book a go! Emily does put her heart into stories and tries to bring to life people's journey of trauma, and that healing comes in all different forms. And I think that's wonderful. :)
 
Overall: 3.75 out of 5 ⭐⭐⭐.75
Spice/Heat Intensity: 5 out of 5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Main Characters: Roman, Huxley, Lance, Ben, & Zoriah
Darkness: 5 out of 5 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤 (Very Dark Themed - detailed at the beginning)
Type of book: MMMFM, Why Choose, Duel 1st Person POV
Reading Order: Standalone Novel
Title: Sacrificing Zoriah
Audiobook: n/a as of July 2025
Epilogue: Yes
Ending Type: HEA
 
 
*Descriptive Trauma/Trauma Bonding
*Brother’s best friend
*2 of the MCs - both🍇 and SA (By Cult Members)
*Incest (not the MCs)
*MMMFM (Why Choose - entered the relationships at different times)
*Very Dark Themed
*Religious Cult
 
 
🛑⚠️ This book has very dark themes, so there are descriptive parts that may be extremely offensive or triggering to some. Please check the TW/CW before reading! 18+ ⚠️🛑
 
*I received an early copy of this book & am voluntarily leaving this review.

[Kayla Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would definitely consider this as more of a pitch black romance than a dark romance. Trigger warnings are essential with this one. There are more SA scenes than actual sexy scenes and could be highly traumatizing.

I am a sucker for why choose/reverse harems, however, it did not flow in this book very well for me. You don’t get any kind of relationship build up with the guys, it’s just kinda ‘here’s a guy and I’m in love with him and he loves me but we’re not gonna show any kind of character growth between any of them’ plus let’s throw a random one into the last five chapters. It just fell flat for me, which was disappointing because I loved Pretty in Lace which was released right before this.

However, I do thank Emily for giving me a chance to read and review this ARC read for free.

[Brita Mackay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zoriah seems to drift through life from one tragedy to the next, praying that death will take mercy on her soul.

That is till her saviours find her and guide her out of the darkness and they awaken something within Zoriah that is sinfully brutal.

But, it doesn't stop the shadows from creeping back into Zoriah's mind. She knows she was never meant to escape their grasp, and now that she's escaped they'll do whatever they have to to get her back.

Will Zoriah manage to survive the sacrifice? Or Will she just be another long-forgotten soul?

YOU'RE MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS!!! Please read and take the trigger warnings seriously, reader discretion is highly advised. There are some themes and scenes that are not suitable for all readers. And there are some scenes that could be triggering for some readers. Please remember that your mental health always comes first.

Themes & Tropes: Pitch Black Romance, Captivity and Trauma, Trauma Bonding, Brother's Best Friend, Multiple Love Interests (Roman, Ben, Huxley, Lance), BDSM/Submissive Awakening, Consent as Healing, Found Power through Surrender, and Dark Smut with Emotional Weight.

“She was broken open—and inside the ruin, she found her power.”

Sacrificing Zoriah A Dark Billionaire Romance by Emily Klepp is not for everyone and you are going to have to be strong of heart to read this book. This book is raw, brutal, and absolutely drenched in so much pain. But, at the same time, this book is one of the most beautifully and emotionally honest portraits of survival I have ever read.

Emily doesn't pull away from anything in this book and she doesn't soften the blows. Emily throws you into the deep end into the deepest darkest depths of human depravity – and among it all, Emily still manages to ink out a story full of resilience, healing, and reclaiming your life, in whatever form that may take.

Zoriah's story truly begins when she was six years old. She had been out with her mom and upon arriving home, they found two men in their home and her mom calls Zoriah's dad and he tries to rush home. All the way he has to listen to his wife and daughter being assaulted over and over again. And then a shot rings out. When he arrives home, he finds his wife is gone and she has protected their daughter Zoriah.

Years later Zoriah finds herself being kidnapped by her so-called best friend Haley, her brother Huxley, and their dad. She's taken into a cult, subjected to being branded and violence that I can't put words to and she's robbed of all her autonomy and she's left as a shattered soul, wandering through her mind, just trying to survive and get out.

Then out of the darkness comes Huxley, Haley's brother, and she learns another victim of the cult. Together they are bonded by their shared trauma, it's morethann just shared pain though – Huxley is a flicker of hope for Zoriah, a connection to humanity and a chance that maybe she could escape.

Emily doesn't stop with that though. She gives us something in the second half and shifts it into something powerful. When Zoriah doesn't show up for work that Monday her boss Roman and Ben his loyal assistant go searching for her. When she escapes and finds herself at his gate, Roman does everything he can to protect her and take care of her. And together Roman and Ben start to be her rebirth. There is no linear healing for Zoriah. There is no such thing as linear healing for anyone. Healing is a messy, complicated thing and for Zoriah it is also erotic and ever so beautifully consensual. And it's through her surrender, she finds her true freedom and in her submissio,n she discovers she has choice and through her choice of lover,s she finds her authentic self.

This book is not a romance and it's not built on rescue. Rather this book is built on mutual respect, control, and letting go. And in the most reverent and honest way this is the pitchest black of smut.

Zoriah finds her power in the dark kink, power exchange, submission thatis driven by her consent, she finds that in her pain and pleasur,e she is finding both punishment and therapy. And in all these scenes they mean something so much more, there is such an emotional depth and precision to these scenes that it made my heart ache so much.

This book is hard to read, it is violent, and I shuddered at the violence and I cried, it's erotic and it's a gut punchthate pulls at your soul. The heart of the story is not only of ruin,but it's the story of love and redemption and finding your true self. This isn't clean or neat, but this is the kind of story where you have to see each and every scar and know there's a reason for it.

I loved Zoriah's story. This was truly a story of finding your strength – in surviving, choosing, and most of all in letting go of the pain of your past and the things that hold you back.

Sacrificing Zoriah is truly a romance that will forever live in the shadows and will find the light through youitss readers. This is a book that I highly recommend and one that you'll never forget and want to read over and over again. And Emily Klepp is an authorwhomt I can't recommend enough. I love the way she promotes mental health through her writing.

[Mars Rads · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 Stars

The dark romances that Klepp writes are not for those easily triggered. They are dark and raw and it can be hard to read what her characters are forced to go through. But for me, this is what I love about these stories. The main characters struggle and go through something that absolutely shapes them, and they are forced to find a way to love in a world that has been forever changed. This book had an extra element that really called to my interests, and that’s the introduction of a religious cult. I am obsessed with religious cults and the evil that they hide behind religion. I found that this book read very fast and I was completely hooked in the story. Not only did I want to learn more about the cult, but I wanted to see how the FMC coped with not only what had happened to her, but also what her life looked like with multiple love interests and the dynamic of their relationship.

My heart ached for Zoriah and what she went through as the sacrifice. She was far too good and far too trusting of people that only wanted to hurt her. She seemed to be such a pushover, but she reached in deep and found the strength that she needed to survive. Her ordeal completely changed her life and shaped how she wanted to proceed. I appreciated each of the men for what they were to her and how she was with each. Roman was the respectable but pining boss. Ben was pulled into her orbit just being around her. And Huxley was the one who could understand what she had gone through and where she was coming from. They each had their role in her life and became the perfect unit.

This book is not for everyone. It is dark. There is SA and religious abuse. But I love reading a dark and gritty book that makes me feel. There is definitely plenty of spice between Zoriah and her men. Some may not appreciate how hypersexual Zoriah is after her ordeal, but I always appreciate that point because often this is the result of someone who has been assaulted. This book is fantastic if you are fan of dark, gritty romances that cause you to feel. Not for everyone but very good if this is your type of read.

[Erin Stapel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another banger by Emily. Yes, it's dark, yes, read your warnings, yes, it makes you wonder what happened to you to enjoy reading things like this. Zoriah is tough, she's strong, but it still doesn't prevent bad things from happening to her. With the help of a few men who will burn down the world for her and do anything to help fight for her, she learns how to heal again. It is an amazing story that, regardless of the trauma, regardless of the pain, you can still see her reach her HEA.

Blurb:
Sacrificing Zoriah by Emily Klepp is not for the faint of heart. It’s raw, brutal, and drenched in pain—but it’s also one of the most emotionally honest portrayals of survival I’ve ever read. This book doesn’t flinch. It doesn’t soften. It throws you into the darkest depths of human cruelty—and somehow, it still manages to carve out a story of resilience, healing, and reclamation.

Zoriah’s story begins in hell. Kidnapped by a cult, subjected to unspeakable violence, and robbed of all autonomy, she’s a shattered soul just trying to survive. And in that darkness, she meets Huxley, her brother’s best friend and a fellow victim. Their trauma bonds them, but it’s more than shared pain—it’s the first flicker of hope, of connection, of something human.

But Emily Klepp doesn’t stop there. The second half of this story shifts into something equally powerful. Roman, Zoriah’s boss, and Ben, his loyal assistant, don’t just save her from the cult—they become part of her rebirth. Her healing isn’t linear. It’s messy, erotic, complicated—and beautifully consensual. Through surrender, she finds freedom. Through submission, she rediscovers choice. And through her lovers, she finds herself.

This isn’t a romance built on rescue—it’s built on respect, control, and letting go. And it’s pitch black smut in the most honest, reverent, and filthy way.

[Inthemindofasmut · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Our sinful little slut,” Ben says sweetly. “If not for God, come for all the demons that lurk, Riah. Show them who owns you.”

Whatever you expect this book to be, it will not be it. That I promise you.

Zoriah is as far from a meek and mild FMC as you can get. Kidnapped by members of a cult that is determined to make her theirs, Zoriah must fight for her survival in all of the inexplicable ways that you can think of.

The intricate layers of pain and soul-shattering woven between the words on the pages add a level of dimension to Zoriah as a character that fills you with fury for her, and you'll want to jump into the pages with a pitchfork, ready to help her slay her demons. She soon realises, though, that she's been betrayed by her best friend on a level she never expected, and the roots of the cult run deeper than she could ever have imagined when her brother's best friend, Huxley, enters the room, tasked with 'whipping her into submissive shape'. Unbeknownst to the cult leaders, though, Zoriah and Huxley trauma bond, and before you know it, a plan is born.

When Zoriah's boss, Roman, and his assistant Ben save her, it's not your everyday rescue mission, with Zoriah being a shining example of a Phoenix rising from its ashes.

This book was a savage story of betrayal, persistence, and sheer determination to survive against all the odds. But also, it shows that when you least expect it, the people already in your life can surprise you.

“She was broken open—and inside the ruin, she found her power.”

[Reba Densley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Zoriah. Even after everything she goes through she doesn't let it effect her life. She fights. She's a fighter. She was traumatized when she was a little girl and lost her mom. Her dad is a drunk due to loosing her mom and he just couldn't cope. She works for Roman and secretly has feelings for him but won't say anything. Her supposed friend wants to hang out and ends up helping with Zoriahs kidnapping. She's taken and brutalized for 3 days by people who think their doing it for GOD. Her brother's friend wants to help her yet he's being brutalized and hurt as well. Huxley helps her finally get away and she runs straight to her boss Romans home. There she gets help and soon Roman, his best friend Ben, Zoriahs dad and brother are all staying at Romans to help protect her. She ends up with Roman and Ben and soon Huxley once he escapes from the cult. Once their all together they all help Zoriah and Huxley deal with their trauma and they develop even deeper feelings for Zoriah. The FBI comes in to help and soon Zoriah is adding Lance to her harem. Soon they get both leaders that are the cause of so much pain and trauma for both Zoriah and Huxley before finally being able to move on and grow together.

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book? It doesn’t whisper your name—it drags you by the throat, sinks its nails into your soft spots, and makes you thank it for the pain.

Zoriah is not your delicate flower of a heroine—she’s broken, bleeding, and begging for release, but not the kind that brings peace. No, the kind that sets fire to her soul. She’s been toyed with by fate, chewed up by tragedy, and just when she thinks death is the only escape…enter the sinful saviors.

Let’s talk about them.
These men (or monsters?) don’t offer salvation in the holy sense—they worship her ruin. They don’t fix her…they feed the beast inside her, pull her from the pit, and teach her how to bite back. And oh, does she learn.

Fever dream wrapped in barbed wire—trauma, temptation, and a creeping darkness that keeps grabbing at her ankles. There’s no sweet slow burn here—this is a descent, and it’s wet with blood, lust, and power. You won’t know whether to scream, swoon, or crawl back for more.

There’s sacrifice, but don’t expect it to be clean.
There’s love, but it’ll hurt you first.
And Zoriah? She’ll make you believe that sometimes, the only way to survive… is to become the thing they fear.

This is my honest review in exchange for an ARC 🖤💥

[Jayne limb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is dark so I strongly advise you read the trigger warnings. Zoriah lives a peaceful life were she goes to work and goes home and does more work. She has a best friend Haley who she has known most of her life zoriah was also secretly in Love with her boss Roman. Little does she know that Roman is so in love with her too. Zoriah always sees the best in people so when Haley was stealing her stuff she didn't mind it she thought that's what friends do. Until Haley done the worst thing a friend could ever do and sacrificed zoriah to her father and his people. Zoriah suffered horrendous things while she was kidnapped and she also figured out the same thing was happening to her brother best friend Huxley who she also loved. Huxley promised he would get zoriah away from these horrible people and he would try and escape himself I'm not going to tell you wether they do or not you will have to find out yourself. I devoured this book in one sitting it was so hard to put down and it definitely pulls you in from the beginning I felt like I was feeling everything zoriah and Huxley went through myself. As I said at the beginning this book is dark so again id suggest you read the trigger warnings

[Tonika · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 I dunno why or how this book is harsher than any Emily Klepp’s other book, but it definitely is. This is top 5 most depraved book I’ve read. Some aspects def had me uncomfortable, but I knew what I was getting into when I got this book, and through it all I still couldn’t put it down. If your looking for dark and smutty look no further.

So this book starts off on a good foot, domineering boss, self conscious executive assistant no qualms all good. Then you get to chapter 2 and it goes to hell in a second. Zoriah and Huxley , wow all I can say, the things they had to go through. Yet, they all crawled themselves out of their holes and came out the other side.

Key points in no particular order:
– betrayal
– kidnapping
– parental death
– SA F/F & M/F M/M MMFM
– morally grey MMC’s
– alcoholism
– bodily function play
– multi POV
– familial fornication
– CNC for rough b. d. s. m. MMFMc’s
– shame/praise k!*k
– RH
– breathe play/passing out
– as HEA as it can get
– redruM
– Trauma bonding
– trauma healing

[Hannah Bobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book wrecked me. the amount of trauma that Zoriah faced would have broken any other character but she finds the way to face down all of her demons. definitely needed some tissues in a few places and a good cuddle with my dog because you really feel for these characters.

it’s hard to explain why this book is so beautifully written without spoiling it for the next reader but the pain Zoriah goes through can be felt on and off the page. this really is a dark romance but there are thriller aspects that make this a fast paced journey. I wouldn’t make plans once you start because you’re not going to want to put it down.

there are so many triggers it would be hard to list them all - this is definitely one of Emily’s darker books. the way Emily works through dark themes and mental awareness to trauma is what makes her an amazing author.

** also, Hayley sucks… like really is the worst kind of friend **

[Persephone Roze · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW! PLEASE read the trigger warnings and take care of your mental health. This book is soo heavy and deals with a ton of abuse situations that are incredibly brutal.

Zoriah has had a rough life and that is putting it lightly. This book is more about her dealing with the trauma that stems from the opening events in this book than anything else and she deals with it pretty drastically.
Riah is strong and is a survivor. She proves that with her reverse harem of strong and delicious men. This was a quick read for me and worth reading. I did feel like it fell a little short in the character development area though. There wasn't enough development of the characters to make them real to me, which lead to them not really being super believable interaction wise. Their conversations and actions didn't quite feel true and accurate to real life. Other than that, this was a therapeutic journey for the characters and well done pathway to healing that wasn't what you'd expect.

[Read, Run and Rescue · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review. Short and sweet and what a ride the SMut was SMutting. This is not my first book from this author , that being said I really enjoyed this one. I mean who doesn’t love a good dark romance that’s a reverse harem and that involves a cult!!! Shut up and take my money! I mean there were some horrible things done to our FMC Zoriah but she dealt with her trauma in some maybe not typical ways, but who cares? I loved the banter she had with her men and her family. Her poor dad and brother were such good sports. I loved her unhinged attitude . If I had one issue it would be everyone fell fast and hard but I think maybe the trauma they endured led to that.I would have read another 300 pages of this story. It was fast paced and easy to read and I was flipping those proverbial pages (ebook) as fast as I could. Well done Emily and thanks for introducing me to my new favorite phrase “dick magic “

[Ariel Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zoriah is such a fighter! She is the embodiment of a strong FMC and I love her character.

Losing her mother at a young age, she is introverted and quiet with not many friends. I think her lack of friends is on her though. She is rather independent and it was both her independence and her fire that got her through her trauma and kept her fighting!

Roman just wants Zoriah to himself but is afraid to do anything since she is his secretary. When she doesn't come to work and doesn't answer his calls, he goes looking for her.

Huxley is someone who just wants to protect Zoriah and get her away from the cult that grabbed her. He has been in love with her for the longest time and it's only after their shared trauma that he admitted it to her.

Sweet, but willing to speak her mind and set boundaries are what made me love Zoriah as a character! This book was so good and definitely worth the read!

[Irish_I_was_reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You do whatever comes naturally, and we will be there to help."

This book is classified as Dark Billionaire Romance, and is a standalone. It does have a trigger warning list: SA, gang grape, spicy torture, kidnapping, cult rituals, NON/CON scarification, forced ritualistic marriage, religious aboose, forced Os, sodomy, forced sticky guzzling, NONCON pseudo incest, revenge grape, CONNONCON, degradation, mention of CSA, mention of unaliving of parent, drinking, graphic unaliving, rough spice.

The book is written in first person. This book has multiple point of views: Zoriah, Roman, and Huxley. Zoriah has a masters degree in business administration and works as an executive assistant to Roman. She is a walking doormat and just lets people take advantage of her. Roman is Zoriah's boss who helps her, alongside Huxley, and is friends with her brother. Huxley is close friends with Zoriah's brother.

[Ashley Bolan · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those that are new to Emily Klepp please check your trigger warnings. This book can be rough for someone who has triggers. Emily always does a fantastic job with her trauma stories. She always has the characters heal in different ways from their trauma. It may not be like we would think it would be but that the thing about trauma. No one is the same in the way they heal. I love how each character is unique and they all heal in a multitude of ways. We have two major survivors in this book. We have Zoriah and Huxley. They are long time friends and they are put in a horrific position. Luckily they had each other to get through the situation. It took them a while to get back to each other but they finally did and they both had help to heal from their trauma. I really like how Emily always gives her characters multiple people and outlets to find the healing that works best for them. If you like a good dark poly romance with dark romance themes this is the book for you.

[Shawnna · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟
5 🌶💦🥵🔥🩸
5 🖤😈🔪🔫🖤 (dark)
5 🤔🫣🫢🫨😵 (wtf)


Before I get into the review, I cannot stress enough: Please read the trigger warning page. The book is a very dark taboo. This story deals with very, very, very dark tropes and events. READ THE TRIGGER WARNING PAGE.

If you love dark taboo stories, then this is the one for you. Emily Klepp is a master of writing dark, forbidden taboo romances. I love how each book she writes gets darker and darker. Nothing is off-limits in her books.

Now, if though this is a dark taboo romance, it also has so much emotional in it. I felt the pain and betrayal that Zoriah and Huxley. So much happens to these two. There were times when I saw redd and wanted to jump into this book to help and get revenge for these two. Very rare does a book get a reaction out of me. Emily Klepp stand up and take a bow. 👏👏👏👏

Holy smokes!!! That is what I have to say about the smut in this book. I learned about some new kinks that I didn't know existed. They definitely had my eyes popping out at times.

I can't wait to read Emily Klepp next dark taboo smut materpiece.

[Dee Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

LET ME JUST SAY EMILY KLEPP HAS BECOME THE QUEEN OF TABOO WRITING IN MY MIND. Sacrificing Zoriah is a dark twisted heavy romance that I felt deep. The FMC Zoriah is a boss on her own right. After everything she went through being kidnapped by a cult, surviving unspeakable violence, and just dealing with so much craziness going on it all changed when she met her lovers. Huxley her brother's best friend who she trauma bonded with due to his past saved apart of Zoriah. Then in the Second half of the book came along Roman and Ben her boss and the boss is Loyal assistant. Her lovers together gave Zoriah a rebirth and a better look on life. I absolutely love this book. I'm so glad I read this is was amazing and I look forward to many more amazing books by Emily Klepp.
PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS WITH THIS BOOK. IT IS A HEAVY DARK BOOK THAT MAY NOT BE OKAY FOR EVERYBODY.