Bound by Sin

by E.K. Dusk

He found her. But the past isn’t finished with either of them—and this time, the one who needs saving might be him.
The deeper he dug the more the truth buried him. So when the past claws its way out of the grave, Zed learns that love and vengeance can’t both survive.

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2026

Reviews

[blossomingwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Second book and my goodness did that live up to the dark twisted trauma of the first book.

A little less religious trauma in this one but following the same themes.
Spicy. In unexpected ways, which from the first book I should have expected the unexpected.

This one was darker, more traumatizing in different ways, and so intense. A dark, dark romance.

[Jade 🖤 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zed is stalking Cat… but the deeper this story goes, the more you realise there’s another player involved lurking in the shadows. The entire time I kept asking myself:
Is he a protector… or another danger entirely? 👀

When Zed first sees Cat again, you can feel the obsession instantly reignite. The anger. The hurt. The desperation. The need for her. It’s intense from the very beginning.

And Cat? She lives constantly on edge, waiting for something in the dark to come for her. She feels his presence long before she actually sees him, and when she finally does? Her stomach drops and instinct immediately tells her to run.

The mystery throughout this book had me HOOKED. Every chapter pulls you deeper into the chaos and leaves you questioning what’s real and what isn’t.

Is someone really dead?
How deep does the Collective actually go?
Who’s lying?
Who can even be trusted anymore? 😮‍💨

One quote that absolutely HIT me was:

“I burned my entire world down for you… and I’d do it again before sunrise if you even looked like you were going to ask.”

Yeah… I FELT that. 🖤

And another Zed line that stayed with me:

“Did you think I wouldn’t find you, or die trying?”

The secrets slowly unraveling throughout this story were done so well. Watching Zed realise everything he believed may have been a lie? You feel his pain, betrayal, and heartbreak pouring off the page.

Then comes the new player entering the story… and when Cat ends up in his hands? GOD. The atmosphere becomes so cold, brutal, and suffocating. You can feel her despair in captivity. Shackled, trapped, freezing — it seeps into your bones while reading.

But what I loved most about Cat is that she never breaks.

She fights.
HARD.

She’s brave, fierce, ruthless, and absolutely a warrior in her own right. And when Scarlett comes into the picture? Her protective instincts fully take over.

And Scarlett… honestly wrecked me emotionally. My heart shattered for her 💔… and for Rylan.

The chemistry between Zed and Cat is explosive, obsessive, and addictive. And THAT ice cube scene?? 🥵🔥
H.O.T.

Also… those bonus scenes with Charlotte and Jonah???
EXCUSE ME.

The tension, the chemistry, the steam — I already need their story immediately 😩

This book was dark, emotional, intense, mysterious, and completely addictive from beginning to end.

[Kellysbookishbliss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Only the prologue alone has me on edge.. how?!
I already felt the tension and this is just the beginning.

After years of trauma, lies, betrayal, wrong use of power, abuse and eventually freedom, or the feeling of freedom. But that freedom has price and is it really freedom. Without knowing the full truth they all do their best in living their life until it all comes together again and the pieces of the puzzle falling in place.

In book one I had some feeling towards Zed! And even though he didn't do things the right way, he did it with the right heart and he definitely grew on me.

Even though the book is dark and you should definitely read the triggers, I loved it! But on the other hand I'm not ok. It feels like I'm still missing some pieces of the puzzle, so I hope there will be a next book because it can't end like this... right?

[Alexis Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very very nerve wracking but in a good way. I was so intrigued from the start and blew through the book to finish it. I loved connecting all the dots throughout the read and I loved all the side people Loved all the spice, betrayals, discoveries, depravity, push and pull and much more. The ending was really great

[M Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

🩶Review of Advanced Readers Copy from the Author!🩶

I have to say that I was wondering how Zed & Cat’s story would continue and what would happen next when I finished Written In Sin earlier this year, so I was so happy when I got this eARC!

🤍
Let me start by saying that I really enjoyed the pacing of this book, it felt like we had a lot of moving parts and things were moving along well! I always appreciate when an author can move throughout the story without it feeling rushed :) I also really enjoyed the fact that we can a clear idea of how Cat has progressed into her “new” life, it shows our girl grew in her new found freedom. We get a lot more time in this book to really see how Zed feels about how things went down in book 1 and how that’s affecting him and Cats relationship now in book 2! That being said, there are some flashbacks in this book which I think help GREATLY in us seeing where Zed literally was in the last book and what he was going through. I definitely am looking forward to reading the third book which I believe is about two side characters in this book (sorry no spoilers baddies!!) the side characters in this book were a big part of me liking it so much! Keep your eyes on them because they’re important 😉

❤️‍🩹
Now while I really did enjoy this there were a few things that took its from a 5 star, so let’s get to that 🫶🏻

Remember how I talked about pacing? I did love that we kept things moving but to be totally honest I can tell you if this happened in a weeks time or a six month time span. There were chapters where one scene would be happening with Zed and then the next chapter would start with Cat and it’s a completely different unrelated scene. And while I’m sure it was on purpose to show they’re both doing separate things it almost felt disjointed at times. The other thing that got to me was the almost inner monologuing. Now hear me when I say, sometimes I will rant in my head too! Buuut, it almost felt like too much. Zed, I love you brother but occasionally we can skip over the description of how perfect Catarina is (IMO).


Overall? I really enjoyed this and will definitely be interested in the next books to follow! I appreciate the opportunity to be a eARC reader for this and can’t wait to see what else E.K. has to give us 🫶🏻 if you’re considering reading the first two books in the desecrated doctrine series please be sure to read the trigger warnings and take them seriously! These books have dark themes and can be triggering to some readers!!

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound by Sin absolutely wrecked me in the best possible way. E.K. Dusk took everything that made the first book addictive and somehow made it darker, more emotional, and even more intense. From the very beginning I felt completely pulled back into Zed and Cat’s world and honestly did not want to leave.

What I loved most about this book was how raw and layered it felt. The trauma, the secrets, the manipulation from the cult, and the emotional scars these characters carry all felt so heavy and real. You can feel the pressure building with every chapter as the truth slowly unravels and the danger closes in around them. The suspense had me stressed the entire time because every answer seemed to uncover something even worse underneath it.

Zed completely owned this book for me. Watching him struggle between vengeance and love made him feel so human despite all the darkness around him. He is protective, broken, angry, and deeply loyal all at once. There were moments where my heart genuinely hurt for him because you could see how much he was carrying mentally and emotionally. And Cat was such a strong balance to him. I loved her resilience and the way she refused to completely break despite everything they had survived.

The chemistry between them is intense and emotional in a way that goes beyond just spice. Every interaction felt charged with history, pain, love, and desperation. You can feel how badly they want peace while knowing the past refuses to let them go.

This book had me completely hooked from start to finish. The tension, the twists, the emotional chaos, and the constant feeling that something terrible was about to happen made it impossible to stop reading. If you love dark romance with dangerous secrets, emotional depth, high stakes, and characters who feel beautifully damaged, Bound by Sin absolutely delivers. Five stars without hesitation.

[Crystal Emerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

🅰︎🆁🅲 🆁🅴🆅🅸🅴🆆
R A T I N G S:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️.5

☞T R O P E S
🥀Dark Romance
🥀Stalker
🥀Second Chance
🥀Revenge
🥀Secret Society
🥀Bondage + O Control
🥀Suspense

E.K. Dusk really said “hold my beer” with this sequel m. It’s darker, more emotional, and far more intense. Get ready for a ride because from the jump this book pulls you back into the depths of Zed and Cat’s world.

Let’s talk about the complexities and emotional build of this book. We get trauma, manipulation, buried secrets, and emotional damage that the characters carry throughout the entire book. The way EK builds tension in every chapter as truth comes to light is nothing short of witchcraft.

Zed battling between vengeance and love gave us a glimpse at his humanity despite the darkness encompassing him. He’s protective, broken, angry, and fiercely loyal all at once and this made him a star in this read for me. I also love how Cat balanced him perfectly. This complementary moment of their dynamic was beautiful. Cat’s resilience and refusal to let the past destroy the here and now is EVERYTHING, once again showing us the beauty in being a survivor.

I loved the intensity of their chemistry, every interaction deepens our appreciation of their emotional connection. We can see how fiercely they both crave any semblance of peace.

To say I was hooked from beginning to end is an understatement. I ran through this read and simply couldn’t put it down. The twists, emotional chaos, and suspense kept me flipping pages. For all readers who love dark romance laced with secrets, emotional turmoil, tension, and resilient but beautifully broken characters, Bound by Sin needs to be on your TBR.

Thank you to the author & Luna Literary for my eARC. Receiving an ARC did not impact my review of this read, all opinions expressed are my own

[Susan (Purplegalaxyreads94) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to give a huge thank you to E.K Dusk and Luna literary management for the gifted eARC of Bound By Sin to read and provide my honest and spoiler free review!

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

My Thoughts:
I am not new to Zed and Cat’s story by any means. I was able to arc read Written in Sin and the entire atmosphere and the dark themes that occurred in that book had me completely hooked. The ending left me wanting more and I was so thrilled to find out I was given a chance to arc read Bound By Sin. The continuation didn’t disappoint at all and I think it was a great way to add on to their story.

The pacing was honestly great! Picking up where we left off with Cat starting her new life yet watching behind her back every second truly brought the darker elements to the forefront whenever Zed was involved. Seeing how dedicated Zed was at finding her and keeping her with him just proved why he is such a great character. I did like that we got to see more into the mind of Zed with this book as I was curious to know more about what he was thinking, especially during the events that transpired in the first book.

Even though this book was less centered around the “church” elements, it still brought to the table all of the dark and raw elements. The aftermath of the “cult” and all of the secrets and emotional/mental trauma that affected both of our main characters still unraveled in its own dark and twisted way that had its impact on our main characters. Overall, I felt like this was a great way to continue their story and I was happy with how it happened!

[Jaida Bolden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Luna Literary and the author E.K. Dusk for the eARC!

3.25 stars

I really enjoyed getting back into Zed and Cat relationship in their dynamic. This book really did a nice job raising the steaks in their relationship and giving us even more detailed backgrounds about their characters.

The second book really digs deeper into not only their dynamic after the ending of the first book, but both their traumatic experiences with the Fellowship. We also got to experience a lot of characters that we like during the first book. While also highlighting other characters that we will hopefully get future books for.

I will say Zed in my opinion was the person I gravitated more towards in the book. Especially when he dealt with his traumatic background and pass being in the Fellowship. And even though he is supposed to be this semi morally gray character, he still has what I would be part of his humanity, consciousness, and regret when it comes to the love and betrayal that he experiences in the book. Cat being the strong female lead that she is always puts up a fight and does not take anything lying down. She was willing to sacrifice and do whatever it took to not only escape her pass but also forge a new life in future.

The reason I decided to give this 3.25 stars is because I personally still liked the first book better. However, I think that’s common in a lot of series. I also think the pacing of this book felt a little everywhere. Also, my personal opinion I still think this book leaves a lot of unanswered questions which is supposed to be purposeful. In hindsight, I don’t feel like Cat and Zed story has come to an end.

[Bailey Sanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.75/5)

Bound By Sin by E.K. Dusk absolutely delivered the gritty, emotional punch I was craving from book two. This installment digs deeper, hits darker, and raises the stakes in the best possible way.

Zed and his fierce heroine had me completely hooked. The tension between past and present is woven so tightly that I felt the pressure building with every chapter. I loved how the story flipped expectations — especially with the shift toward him being the one who might need saving this time. It added such a satisfying layer of vulnerability to Zed’s character.

The suspense element was chef’s kiss. As the truth slowly surfaced, the plot kept tightening its grip, and that looming question — love or vengeance — created nonstop emotional whiplash (the good kind). The chemistry is intense, the danger feels real, and the emotional stakes are sky-high.

The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is because there were a couple moments where I wanted just a touch more breathing room in the pacing. But honestly? I was glued to the pages the entire time.

If you love dark romance with high tension, messy pasts, and a hero who’s finally forced to confront his own breaking point, this sequel absolutely delivers. I am already desperate for what comes next. 🔥📖

[Alex Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of my dreams. 🩷

Cat left Zed bloody, broken, and abandoned in the aftermath of burning down the religious cult that stole everything from them.

Catarina has found a sense of calm in book 2 that comes with a new life she’s made for herself. She still feels haunted by her past life, like someone is always watching. We all know who is watching. It’s Zed, alive and angry from being left by the other half of his soul.
Slowly Zed makes himself known to Cat with his lurking presence closer by the day.
Cats new friends that have a troubled past nobody likes to talk about. Together they work at a club for people with specific tastes. That’s where Zed learns a ghost from his past isn’t a ghost at all. The farther Zed digs into his past, the more secrets unfurl.
So many lives ruined and torn apart by a religious cult that believes humans can be bought, sold, and trained like animals. But no longer will this group remain in hiding. Cat and Zed stumble upon a larger part of the cult that has even more secrets and in doing so Cat gets kidnapped back into the cult. Her friends and Zedidiah find and rescue her. But the ending leaves room for another book and even more suspense and secrets.

Thank you EK for starting your writings with me.

[Jaimee Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unhinged. Obsession. Addictive. Dark.

This is the 2nd book in the Desicrated Doctrine Series and it had me wanting to throw my Kindle across the room at times, but in the best possible way.

E.K. Dusk took this book and thought, you know what, let’s make it more intense, emotional and darker than Written in Sin.
I loved how we got a deeper glimpse into Zed and how what happened in Book 1 is affecting his feelings for Cat. The building tension between Zed and Cat was utterly delicious and unhinged.

Behind all the manipulation, lies and trauma, is a deep emotional story of rediscovery and as the truth begins to reveal itself the reader is left REELING 🤯

Just when you think it’s all going to be hunky dory, the reader is thrust into a brutal, heartbreaking and devastating moment that no one could walk away from without being changed forever.

Cat is a badass. She shows serious fortitude in the face of evil and is unbreakable ❤️‍🔥

The connection between Zed and Cat is inevitable. It goes far beyond any physical attraction. It is embedded in their souls so strongly, there is no way they can fight it, even through the damage and trauma they’ve inflicted on each other.

The book delivers on darkness, toxicity, trauma and brokenness and spice.

[Monmonreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy of Bound by Sin by E.K. Dusk and I am absolutely loving this book! If the first book had you hooked, this one has you in a complete chokehold. From the very beginning, the tension is nonstop and had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

The way Zed stalks Cat is both terrifying and impossible to look away from — he is always lurking in the shadows, always watching, and when he finally found her, I literally screamed. The suspense and emotional intensity in this story are on another level.

What surprised me most was how deeply emotional Zed’s character becomes. Beneath everything dark and dangerous, you really see his struggles, and somehow it makes him feel so heartbreakingly human. I honestly just wanted to give him the biggest emotional hug.

This book digs much deeper emotionally than the first one while still delivering all the obsession, tension, and darkness that made the series addictive in the first place. Definitely check the trigger warnings before going in because this story will absolutely wreck you — but in the best possible way.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ I loved getting back into the world of Cat and Zed.
Cat was trying to rebuild her life and be free. Zed was trying to get back what he lost. I loved the connection of their journey.

I felt the creepiness of Cat feeling watched. It felt super real to me while reading. Which I really enjoyed.

I really liked getting more into Zed's mind. He had so much going on. He had so much trauma and him trying to figure out how to live through that was so intense to read. His obsession and depth of love with Cat was so fierce. He will stop at nothing to have her back.

I absolutely love the strength of Cat's character. She is a force to be reckoned with. She is her own hero and will do anything to save herself.

I can't say much about what happened in the story because I don't want to spoil anything. But I will say I really enjoyed the story and it kept me intrigued, guessing and questioning people's motives.

Overall I enjoyed reading Bound By Sin. I can't wait for more.

Thank you to Luna Literary and the author E.K. Dusk for the eARC!

[Jocylena Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMFG… I finished this book and I am still trying to get my thoughts together.

I literally had to go back to book one because I needed to know if my mind was playing tricks on me or if one character was actually who I thought she was. Let me just say, some of my theories were correct… but I’ll be fucking damned because those twists; yes, MULTIPLE twists that hit so hard and were absolutely not what I was expecting.

And those bonus scenes? 🥵🥵🤯

Once again, E.K. Dusk didn’t just cook with this book, she ate and left no crumbs. I am completely obsessed with her writing, and at this point, anything this woman writes, I am signing up to read immediately.

Bound by Sin had me questioning everything, gasping out loud, and needing to pick my jaw up off the floor more than once. If you love dark romance with shocking twists, addictive storytelling, and characters that consume your every thought, this series is an absolute must-read.

[Harley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man oh man my Zeddy is back and the things he’s going to get into is going to blow your mind. I got lucky that I was able to get my hands on this after I’ve been asking and saying for months (since I read written in sin last summer) because I needed answers because what do you mean see you in 2026?!

So let’s just say for those of you that needed therapy after book 1 you will def need it after book 2. Sorry not sorry.

There are some major events a going on and some surprises that happen ( I’m not saying they are all good so if you think they are and find out what I mean don’t come for me because I warned you)

Now I will not give too much away BUT. Technically it’s not a HEA. Like maybe a little bit but not fully. And yes technically there’s a cliffy there and again once you read you will understand.

Now I need book 3 already because I have questions again and need answers!!

[Cazlovesbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zed finally found her, but some ghosts refuse to stay buried.

The more secrets he uncovers, the more dangerous everything becomes. Now the past is catching up to him, and Zed must choose between holding onto love or losing himself to revenge.

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this after reading the first book, and it definitely did not disappoint. It’s dark, emotional, and definitely triggering at times, but my God, it’s so good.

I love Zedediah. I honestly couldn’t even tell you exactly why, there’s just something about him. He’s dark and damaged, but fiercely protective of Cat, even after everything that happened in book one.

You absolutely need to read these books in order to fully understand the story and the characters.

DARK AND TRIGGERING

TOUCH HER AND D!E

HIDDEN IDENTITIES

SECRETS AND BETRAYAL

LOTS OF SPICE

STALKING

SECOND CHANCES

REVENGE

[Amanda Hicks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zed and Cat return as more secrets are revealed and they push against the power that is the religious cult they were trapped in. They navigate love, loss, and men that can’t seem to leave them alone.

This installment digs deeper, hits darker, and raises the stakes in the best possible way. The suspense element the plot kept tightening its grip, and that looming question — love or vengeance — created nonstop emotional whiplash (the good kind). The chemistry is intense, the danger feels real, and the emotional stakes are sky-high.

If you love dark romance with high tension, messy pasts, and a hero who’s finally forced to confront his own breaking point, this sequel absolutely delivers.

[Gimmie A Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting way to spend my sunday.

After the intensity that I felt reading Written by Sin, and the amount of unanswer questions I had, this was a good finale for Cat and Zed's story.

I have to confess that I was hoping a little more of stalker Zed, but! with that scene with the magic wand? Yeah, that made it for me 🔥.

Knowing The Fellowship wasn't over, and finding out that a few characters that I wasn't expecting to reappear, appeared made my anxiety come back.

Cat and Zed are finally happy, but not the fight against the cult they escaped, so I'll be patiently waiting for the next part to come.

[Dee Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really like this book. This is the second book in the desecrated doctrine series.
What drew me to this book was actually the blurb. The very first part of it said, "He found her. But the past isn’t finished with either of them—and this time, the one who needs saving might be him."
That's what drew me in more than anything to see what happened to the main characters and their past and everything. Together I'm not the character development was absolutely phenomenal. I thought everything about the book was phenomenal. I did go back and read book one because I was interested to see where it started. Overall, I'm hope and I can't wait to see what happens next.

[Michelle N · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of The Desecrated Doctrine Series keeps you on your toes. It picks up where book 1, Written In Sin, left off. Cat has moved on, or has at least tried. She can’t shake the feeling of being watched and there is good reason for that. Zed has found her and is even more obsessed with her than he was before. As the story evolves, so many questions are answered but just as many pop up. The Collective is so much worse than you think and we still have so much more of Zed’s story to learn about in the next book.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

OUT NOW!! Bound by Sin by @ek.dusk gave me the ending I needed but took me on a brutal trip to get there. I felt my heart break apart so many times in this story, I was completely engrossed in what was happening. My heart definitely still hurts from part of the story, but it's softened by the other revelations that were made.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Check your TW bc this isn't for the soft

Thank you @ek.dusk for letting me Beta read Written in Sin and @lunaliterary.management for giving me the opportunity to ARC read this one!

[Pretty_Poisons_Dark_Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Desecrated Doctrine stories. I would recommend reading the first book prior to this one. Book 2 is darker than the other and keeps you wanting more. It will definitely have you hooked. There isn't really a slow part to this story. The author did really well keeping things moving. The connection between the 2 main characters was really good! The twists in this book were amazing and unexpected. In my personal opinion - I don't feel as if you get a full HEA and there is a small little cliff hanger at the very end.

[Hailee Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

what.

Ok. So. I don’t even know where to start here. My brain is on over drive. First of all, Zed, character growth- amazing. Still unhinged, still hilarious, but definitely has grown as a human and learned that things aren’t always what they seemed inside The Fellowship.

Secondly, so many questions were answered, but then lead to new questions - LIKE WHAT WAS THAT ENDING?! Ma’am. I need answers. I hope there’s another book because what?!

But so so good otherwise. 5/5. Definitely recommend if you are into this sort of thing.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely a 5 star read. Please read Written By Sin first. The second books picks up, at the last page. Picking back up to Catarina and Zed's cat and mouse game. Bound By Sin had me at the edge of my seat. It answered questions I didn't know I had. E.K has such a great way of bringing the story to you, and making every plot twist better than the previous one. If you're looking for something that will have you hooked, look no further.

[Rose Aylett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bound by Sin by E.K. Dusk was toxic, obsessive, chaotic, and completely addictive. The chemistry had me hooked from the start, and the dark, possessive energy was EVERYTHING. Zed is manipulative, obsessive, devoted basically my favorite kind of fictional man. This book had me stressed, feral, and unable to put it down. And all the twist and turns with other characters had my mind blown! If you love morally gray men, toxic romance, and obsession that borders on insanity, definitely read this.

[LivingReadGirl666 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zed and Cat return as more secrets are revealed and they push against the power that is the religious cult they were trapped in. They navigate love, loss, and men that can seem to leave well enough alone.

Thank you to the author for the ARC. My opinions are my own.

[Mattie Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an intense, super sexy, and really great sequel to Written In Sin. I was really taken in immediately with the unknown fear that Cat had not knowing where Zed was, and the way they came back together was done so well! I am completely ready for what comes next!!

[Michelle R · Rating 5 out of 5]

The PLOT TWISTS

Go read this asap

[Sheryl B · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you loved the first book you’ll love this one. It does move faster but I’ve heard the author speak on how both books are to set up for the next one so I’m excited