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Holy Wrath
Not yet published
Expected 6 Jan 26In a city clinging to light during an age of darkness, all healer Ophelia wants is for a Saint to finally claim her and bless her with the power to work the Mysteries.
When she's tasked with caring for an injured prisoner, Ophelia sees the perfect opportunity to prove she's ready for her Sainting. The prisoner is none other than the Lupa Nox—the most dangerous warrior of the Sepulchyre, her homeland's sworn enemy. If Ophelia can convert the disarmingly beautiful knight's wicked heart to the Church of the Host, then the Saints will surely fight amongst themselves to claim her.
But the Lupa Nox insists that Ophelia's beloved god is a murderous liar and her city is built on blackened bones. It's easy enough to dismiss as blasphemy—at least at first. As Lumendei's gilded secrets begin to tumble from their hiding places and Ophelia herself uncovers a conspiracy, she's forced to consider that Nyatrix might be telling the truth.
And that saving the alluring knight's soul is the least of her problems.
A sapphic high fantasy, Holy Wrath is a standalone novel about the fierceness of queer love and two women who no longer want equality once they've tasted revenge.
Contains mature themes.
When she's tasked with caring for an injured prisoner, Ophelia sees the perfect opportunity to prove she's ready for her Sainting. The prisoner is none other than the Lupa Nox—the most dangerous warrior of the Sepulchyre, her homeland's sworn enemy. If Ophelia can convert the disarmingly beautiful knight's wicked heart to the Church of the Host, then the Saints will surely fight amongst themselves to claim her.
But the Lupa Nox insists that Ophelia's beloved god is a murderous liar and her city is built on blackened bones. It's easy enough to dismiss as blasphemy—at least at first. As Lumendei's gilded secrets begin to tumble from their hiding places and Ophelia herself uncovers a conspiracy, she's forced to consider that Nyatrix might be telling the truth.
And that saving the alluring knight's soul is the least of her problems.
A sapphic high fantasy, Holy Wrath is a standalone novel about the fierceness of queer love and two women who no longer want equality once they've tasted revenge.
Contains mature themes.
Audible Audio
First published April 8, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
May 20, 2025
this book is a gift to all the religiously traumatised sapphics out there
April 11, 2025
"Freedom is a knife sinking deeper and deeper into my flesh with every step I take."
"No more of your pain for the sake of a man's pleasure, his dominance, his ambition. No."
Wow, okay.
I don't know what's been happening lately that I just keep reading books with religious trauma, but it doesn't bother me at all, lol.
What a wonderful and original book.
Starting with the complex way in which this fictional world was created, definitely inspired by the catholic church. And at no point could I completely predict what would happen next or how it would end, and I loved that.
This book puts us inside the mind of the MC Ophelia, a girl that all of her life was used, rejected and manipulated, having a devout faith in a not so sincere religion.
What I liked the most was that Ophelia had to understand by herself what she was worth and take courage; leaving behind those who lied and made decisions for her.
And to see her heal; to feel her transformation, questioning and searching for independence, and realizing that she was destined for something much bigger than she thought; was so deep and wonderful.
The romance I wouldn't say was an "enemies to lovers" because I didn't feel it at any point as such; I would rather say that the main characters were two well-meaning women who unfortunately had to be born in different borders with their own traumas; that learn to trust each other.
And I definitely have a crush on Nyatrix. What a beautiful and interesting woman.
I won't deny it, there were scenes that took a little more effort for me to imagine, but I think it was more of a personal problem because this book uses a lot more complex english vocabulary words that I wasn't familiar with the translation yet. So I will definitely have to read it again later in case there were details I missed.
For those of you who like books with lots of angst and yearning, this one is for you, ahaha. It's definitely worth giving it a try.
"How, I wonder, could I ever say no the woman who made me want to forsake God?"
"Without the reassurance of an afterlife, wouldn't I fight until I am battered and bruised to make this world better?"
"No more of your pain for the sake of a man's pleasure, his dominance, his ambition. No."
Wow, okay.
I don't know what's been happening lately that I just keep reading books with religious trauma, but it doesn't bother me at all, lol.
What a wonderful and original book.
Starting with the complex way in which this fictional world was created, definitely inspired by the catholic church. And at no point could I completely predict what would happen next or how it would end, and I loved that.
This book puts us inside the mind of the MC Ophelia, a girl that all of her life was used, rejected and manipulated, having a devout faith in a not so sincere religion.
What I liked the most was that Ophelia had to understand by herself what she was worth and take courage; leaving behind those who lied and made decisions for her.
And to see her heal; to feel her transformation, questioning and searching for independence, and realizing that she was destined for something much bigger than she thought; was so deep and wonderful.
The romance I wouldn't say was an "enemies to lovers" because I didn't feel it at any point as such; I would rather say that the main characters were two well-meaning women who unfortunately had to be born in different borders with their own traumas; that learn to trust each other.
And I definitely have a crush on Nyatrix. What a beautiful and interesting woman.
I won't deny it, there were scenes that took a little more effort for me to imagine, but I think it was more of a personal problem because this book uses a lot more complex english vocabulary words that I wasn't familiar with the translation yet. So I will definitely have to read it again later in case there were details I missed.
For those of you who like books with lots of angst and yearning, this one is for you, ahaha. It's definitely worth giving it a try.
"How, I wonder, could I ever say no the woman who made me want to forsake God?"
"Without the reassurance of an afterlife, wouldn't I fight until I am battered and bruised to make this world better?"
April 22, 2025
I took longer than expected to finish this book
There were quite a few things I really liked about Holy Wrath, and others that didn’t quite work for me. The character dynamic is interesting. I’m usually drawn to sharp, punchy characters with a lot of bite — I love quick banter and wit — and here, the vibe was… very different.
That’s not inherently a flaw. Every book carries its own intention — and either it reaches you, or it doesn’t. In this case, even though I appreciated some parts of the relationship, I also felt distant. And the reason is Ophelia. She’s endearing in many ways, but she’s also profoundly damaged — consumed by trauma, self-rejection, doubts, and hunger for Nyatrix — and still so deeply stuck in all that pain. It made the reading experience emotionally heavy, sometimes even uncomfortable.
And this is where the book’s structure plays a huge role: the entire story is told from Ophelia’s point of view, and the pacing follows her inner world. So if, like me, you struggle to connect with the way she sees and feels things… you may feel held at a distance.
The religious themes didn’t speak to me personally either, which probably added to that sense of disconnection.
But that’s also what makes the book unique, and intentional. This is clearly an experience. If it resonates with you, then lucky you. But if, like me, you have trouble connecting with Ophelia, the whole experience becomes less fluid.
Still, it’s a story that lingers. And I do think it’s an experience worth trying.
There were also parts I really enjoyed. The scenes with Nyatrix were often compelling, and the world-building felt coherent and thoughtfully constructed. This was clearly a book that pushed me out of my comfort zone — and that, in itself, made it a valuable experience. There were several moments I genuinely loved, and even the discomfort I felt at times became part of that experience. It made me reflect on why I couldn’t quite click with Ophelia — I think I’m especially drawn to characters who are active, even in their submission, and Ophelia had something childlike in her passivity that made me uncomfortable.
PS: I read another review that mentioned the repetition of certain phrases — and I noticed that too. Some lines were beautifully written the first time, but seeing them reused later, unchanged, pulled me out a bit. It happened maybe twice — so really, nothing major. And if it had been more ordinary sentences, I probably wouldn’t have noticed. But because they stood out stylistically, they stayed with me.
There were quite a few things I really liked about Holy Wrath, and others that didn’t quite work for me. The character dynamic is interesting. I’m usually drawn to sharp, punchy characters with a lot of bite — I love quick banter and wit — and here, the vibe was… very different.
That’s not inherently a flaw. Every book carries its own intention — and either it reaches you, or it doesn’t. In this case, even though I appreciated some parts of the relationship, I also felt distant. And the reason is Ophelia. She’s endearing in many ways, but she’s also profoundly damaged — consumed by trauma, self-rejection, doubts, and hunger for Nyatrix — and still so deeply stuck in all that pain. It made the reading experience emotionally heavy, sometimes even uncomfortable.
And this is where the book’s structure plays a huge role: the entire story is told from Ophelia’s point of view, and the pacing follows her inner world. So if, like me, you struggle to connect with the way she sees and feels things… you may feel held at a distance.
The religious themes didn’t speak to me personally either, which probably added to that sense of disconnection.
But that’s also what makes the book unique, and intentional. This is clearly an experience. If it resonates with you, then lucky you. But if, like me, you have trouble connecting with Ophelia, the whole experience becomes less fluid.
Still, it’s a story that lingers. And I do think it’s an experience worth trying.
There were also parts I really enjoyed. The scenes with Nyatrix were often compelling, and the world-building felt coherent and thoughtfully constructed. This was clearly a book that pushed me out of my comfort zone — and that, in itself, made it a valuable experience. There were several moments I genuinely loved, and even the discomfort I felt at times became part of that experience. It made me reflect on why I couldn’t quite click with Ophelia — I think I’m especially drawn to characters who are active, even in their submission, and Ophelia had something childlike in her passivity that made me uncomfortable.
PS: I read another review that mentioned the repetition of certain phrases — and I noticed that too. Some lines were beautifully written the first time, but seeing them reused later, unchanged, pulled me out a bit. It happened maybe twice — so really, nothing major. And if it had been more ordinary sentences, I probably wouldn’t have noticed. But because they stood out stylistically, they stayed with me.
May 3, 2025
4.50🕊️
A map and a pronunciation guide?? Oh yeah, that on its own is a reason to continue through!
Though I do wish there was definitions for certain terms as I don’t know much about Christianity so I was a bit lost with certain things to which I don’t have the knowledge or understanding in. Yet that didn’t take from my enjoyment and full understanding.
This book was beautiful! The chemistry, religion and the guilt it can cause, the world building, the characters wants, intentions, and struggles was all so well done!
I teared up, I laughed, I smiled, I joyed, I even angered. Victoria Meir was excellent in invoking emotions. The epilogue was such a nice and validating conclusion, and acknowledgments really was proof of the life this story has and the meaning Victoria laced all throughout it.
I think the final fight was underwhelming to me. It started off very good and strong but the defeat felt too simple and I think that could’ve been done in the same way essentially but with more. It felt like it was missing some bolts.
Besides that and some repetition, the writing was beautiful! It’s so many things I can quote but here’s some of my favorites.
“I do not know what to say. My veins pound, and every instinct in my body tells me to run-and to keep running, perhaps until I hit the cliffs or the ramparts. When I do, perhaps I'll spread my arms, and perhaps I'll fly or I'll fall, but either way, I'd be free.”
😣
"Pleasure, Ophelia," she says, her teeth bared like a shadowed monster rendered in the margins of a manuscript. "Because he delights in your pain, your misery. Because to the men of the Host, there is nothing more satisfying than a woman's suffering."
A sick truth that brought me tears
“The men of the Host love nothing more than a woman's suffer-ing.
Is the suffering sweeter, I wonder, if the woman is considered beautiful? If they can take a thing they see as near-perfect and mar it with the teeth of a flail, the bite of endless rebukes? Is the reward a woman's beauty, or is it the ability to do with that beauty what they see fit?”
My GOSH Victoria!
The Lupa Nox. Death-Bringer. World-Eater. The last of the Fallen. So many dark and terrible things, I think, my entire body thrumming.
And yet I would worship her instead of Him.
😩
“Her beautiful mouth curves into a smile and I am lost. I would dedicate my bones in her honor, leave my body to strengthen her walls, fall upon her sword to keep her safe.”
🤧
‘And, most of all, I want to know that I can tell the most powerful warrior in these abandoned lands what I desire, and she'll give it to me. A feverish thrill spears me, damp heat pooling between my legs.’
"Your wish, my lady," the Lupa Nox whispers, "is my command."
I NEEDDDD HER
”How, I wonder, could I ever say no to the woman who made me want to forsake God?”
Aint that a fucking bar
Your honor, I love them
A map and a pronunciation guide?? Oh yeah, that on its own is a reason to continue through!
Though I do wish there was definitions for certain terms as I don’t know much about Christianity so I was a bit lost with certain things to which I don’t have the knowledge or understanding in. Yet that didn’t take from my enjoyment and full understanding.
This book was beautiful! The chemistry, religion and the guilt it can cause, the world building, the characters wants, intentions, and struggles was all so well done!
I teared up, I laughed, I smiled, I joyed, I even angered. Victoria Meir was excellent in invoking emotions. The epilogue was such a nice and validating conclusion, and acknowledgments really was proof of the life this story has and the meaning Victoria laced all throughout it.
I think the final fight was underwhelming to me. It started off very good and strong but the defeat felt too simple and I think that could’ve been done in the same way essentially but with more. It felt like it was missing some bolts.
Besides that and some repetition, the writing was beautiful! It’s so many things I can quote but here’s some of my favorites.
“I do not know what to say. My veins pound, and every instinct in my body tells me to run-and to keep running, perhaps until I hit the cliffs or the ramparts. When I do, perhaps I'll spread my arms, and perhaps I'll fly or I'll fall, but either way, I'd be free.”
😣
"Pleasure, Ophelia," she says, her teeth bared like a shadowed monster rendered in the margins of a manuscript. "Because he delights in your pain, your misery. Because to the men of the Host, there is nothing more satisfying than a woman's suffering."
A sick truth that brought me tears
“The men of the Host love nothing more than a woman's suffer-ing.
Is the suffering sweeter, I wonder, if the woman is considered beautiful? If they can take a thing they see as near-perfect and mar it with the teeth of a flail, the bite of endless rebukes? Is the reward a woman's beauty, or is it the ability to do with that beauty what they see fit?”
My GOSH Victoria!
The Lupa Nox. Death-Bringer. World-Eater. The last of the Fallen. So many dark and terrible things, I think, my entire body thrumming.
And yet I would worship her instead of Him.
😩
“Her beautiful mouth curves into a smile and I am lost. I would dedicate my bones in her honor, leave my body to strengthen her walls, fall upon her sword to keep her safe.”
🤧
‘And, most of all, I want to know that I can tell the most powerful warrior in these abandoned lands what I desire, and she'll give it to me. A feverish thrill spears me, damp heat pooling between my legs.’
"Your wish, my lady," the Lupa Nox whispers, "is my command."
I NEEDDDD HER
”How, I wonder, could I ever say no to the woman who made me want to forsake God?”
Aint that a fucking bar
Your honor, I love them
April 9, 2025
Welcome to my feral ARC review of Holy Wrath. Please don't ask me to see my notes, because they are *unhinged*.)
If you've never read a sapphic, gothic fantasy ... read this one.
If you ADORE sapphic, gothic fantasy -- and I'm not telling you what to do with your life except I AM telling you to read this book -- well, you'd be missing out to skip reading this one.
Holy Wrath just burrowed under my skin as soon as I started reading it. The healer and the (hot, hot) lady knight, against a backdrop of religious trauma? Love and revenge, with Victoria Mier's gorgeous prose? Say less.
I don't know if there's a Nobel Prize for yearning, but if there is, that committee should be studying Victoria's books and the way they make me feel. You've got hurt/comfort (an all-time favorite of mine), disability rep, femme rage ... all packaged up in the perfect poetry that I would recognize on a grocery list because I'd have a sudden longing for something I didn't even know I needed.
The dove and the wolf. The healer and the Lupa Nox. Oh, and a redemption arc for an instrument of torture (and I'm not talking about a character here).
Ophelia and Nyatrix will captivate you as thoroughly as they captivated each other.
If you've never read a sapphic, gothic fantasy ... read this one.
If you ADORE sapphic, gothic fantasy -- and I'm not telling you what to do with your life except I AM telling you to read this book -- well, you'd be missing out to skip reading this one.
Holy Wrath just burrowed under my skin as soon as I started reading it. The healer and the (hot, hot) lady knight, against a backdrop of religious trauma? Love and revenge, with Victoria Mier's gorgeous prose? Say less.
I don't know if there's a Nobel Prize for yearning, but if there is, that committee should be studying Victoria's books and the way they make me feel. You've got hurt/comfort (an all-time favorite of mine), disability rep, femme rage ... all packaged up in the perfect poetry that I would recognize on a grocery list because I'd have a sudden longing for something I didn't even know I needed.
The dove and the wolf. The healer and the Lupa Nox. Oh, and a redemption arc for an instrument of torture (and I'm not talking about a character here).
Ophelia and Nyatrix will captivate you as thoroughly as they captivated each other.
April 8, 2025
Thanks to the publisher and Victoria Mier for the ARC! Happy release day to this wonderful standalone sapphic high fantasy for my lapsed/ex-Catholics out there. I fear the closet has always been glass for me because the author actually made me question my sexuality after years (I’M NOT JOKING).
4.75 ⭐️
Holy Wrath is an adult, lesbian fantasy story that is engaging and filled with LOTS of romantic angst. The aesthetically-pleasing elements of the Catholic church were delicately, but beautifully woven into the crafting of the world and its magic system. I don’t practice my faith anymore due to personal reasons but as someone who was born and raised into the values and belief of the biggest Abrahamic Christian denomination, the author did a wonderful job at writing a harsh and sad story where the FMC is ridden with internal homophobia and constant guilt, driving her to “pray it all away”. Speaking from experience, no you fucking CAN’T. The character lives through these emotions everyday and even punishes herself for it in the name of a merciful god who blessed saints, and favors men to justify misogyny, objectification of women, their abusive mentality, and the disgusting purity and rape culture. What I liked about this book is how much it validated my feelings and talks mainly about religious trauma. Not only that, but it greatly justified my lack of faith. Moreover, I also want to highlight the disability rep because it was used by the church as a weapon against the FMC and ultimately dehumanized her, quite a common manipulation tactic to keep people in the faith. Lastly, the chemistry between the two women were AMAZING. The contrast in their personalities really drove the story forward and really focuses on how the queer community is still constantly degraded by followers of the Christian faith (I will not be elaborating). Overall, Holy Wrath is a fantastic and worthwhile read.
4.75 ⭐️
Holy Wrath is an adult, lesbian fantasy story that is engaging and filled with LOTS of romantic angst. The aesthetically-pleasing elements of the Catholic church were delicately, but beautifully woven into the crafting of the world and its magic system. I don’t practice my faith anymore due to personal reasons but as someone who was born and raised into the values and belief of the biggest Abrahamic Christian denomination, the author did a wonderful job at writing a harsh and sad story where the FMC is ridden with internal homophobia and constant guilt, driving her to “pray it all away”. Speaking from experience, no you fucking CAN’T. The character lives through these emotions everyday and even punishes herself for it in the name of a merciful god who blessed saints, and favors men to justify misogyny, objectification of women, their abusive mentality, and the disgusting purity and rape culture. What I liked about this book is how much it validated my feelings and talks mainly about religious trauma. Not only that, but it greatly justified my lack of faith. Moreover, I also want to highlight the disability rep because it was used by the church as a weapon against the FMC and ultimately dehumanized her, quite a common manipulation tactic to keep people in the faith. Lastly, the chemistry between the two women were AMAZING. The contrast in their personalities really drove the story forward and really focuses on how the queer community is still constantly degraded by followers of the Christian faith (I will not be elaborating). Overall, Holy Wrath is a fantastic and worthwhile read.
April 3, 2025
Thank you to the author, Victoria Mier, for providing me with an ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily with my only honest opinions.
✨ Sapphic Gothic Fantasy
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Touch her and die
✨ Disabled, Autistic-coded FMC
✨ Religious Trauma
✨ Feminine Rage
>Micro-Tropes and Content Warnings at bottom
I could not stop reading Holy Wrath. I would say I devoured it, but I think it may have consumed me instead. I stayed up way too late reading. I went to work sleep deprived. Any time I went to the bathroom, I was reading. I got to work at 6am with 50 pages left and told my coworkers I wasn’t going to do any work until I finished the book because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to think clearly. So, I guess the point is, I loved Holy Wrath.
The story itself is told in first person, single POV (Ophelia), and I think it works really well. This perspective lends itself well to the main character’s internal struggle between her religion, what is right, and truth. The reader is able to understand her on an in-depth level and empathize with her. There are times when I really just wanted to give her a hug and a pep talk. Her growth throughout the book is really great to see. I thought the representation of her physical disability/chronic pain was done really well. Even with the magic system her disability [Potential minor spoiler in the next sentence, skip to the next set of brackets if you want to avoid……….] isn’t just magic’d away. [………. You’re safe now.] Ophelia being autistic-coded makes a lot of sense with seeing things in black and white terms surrounding her religion.
As for Nyatrix? Um… yeah, obsessed. I’m not sure what else to say. I found her mysterious and compelling at first and then very real. She starts off larger than life and then we see the depth of her character as time goes on. The pair of them together balances out beautifully. I really loved their relationship. I made 143 highlights while reading, and the vast majority are directly related to their relationship. (And things Nyatrix says… heh.)
The world building itself was interesting and clearly heavily based in Catholicism. Seeing as a major theme in this book is religious trauma, that makes a lot of sense. There are also a lot of absolutely awful men in this book who end up getting what they deserve. I found it to be cathartic and empowering by the end (though some parts were a little hard to swallow due to their basis in reality). While religious trauma is a main theme, the end result is women taking back their power and what is owed to them.
For such heavy themes, the writing is beautiful and tells a clear, powerful message. Just a fantastic read that I highly recommend and will be thinking about for a long time.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Micro-tropes:
✨ Only soft for her
✨ The men will repent
✨ “I can’t fix her but she can make me worse”
✨ The Dove x The Wolf
✨ Incessant flirting
✨ “I am Death”
✨ Susceptible to beautiful women
✨ “Who did this to you?”
✨ “As you wish”
Content Warnings:
(this list may not be complete)
ableism, Catholicism/Christianity, religious trauma, cult brainwashing, homophobia, descriptions of wounds and injuries (mild to moderate), non-consensual s*xual touch, coercion to self-h*rm, self-flagellation (implied and depicted), sexism and gendered violence (discussed), depression, su*cidal ideation, victim blaming/shaming, comphet/religion-based guilt surrounding s*xual orientation, de*th, depictions of violence, attempted conversion
✨ Sapphic Gothic Fantasy
✨ Enemies to Lovers
✨ Forced Proximity
✨ Touch her and die
✨ Disabled, Autistic-coded FMC
✨ Religious Trauma
✨ Feminine Rage
>Micro-Tropes and Content Warnings at bottom
I could not stop reading Holy Wrath. I would say I devoured it, but I think it may have consumed me instead. I stayed up way too late reading. I went to work sleep deprived. Any time I went to the bathroom, I was reading. I got to work at 6am with 50 pages left and told my coworkers I wasn’t going to do any work until I finished the book because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to think clearly. So, I guess the point is, I loved Holy Wrath.
The story itself is told in first person, single POV (Ophelia), and I think it works really well. This perspective lends itself well to the main character’s internal struggle between her religion, what is right, and truth. The reader is able to understand her on an in-depth level and empathize with her. There are times when I really just wanted to give her a hug and a pep talk. Her growth throughout the book is really great to see. I thought the representation of her physical disability/chronic pain was done really well. Even with the magic system her disability [Potential minor spoiler in the next sentence, skip to the next set of brackets if you want to avoid……….] isn’t just magic’d away. [………. You’re safe now.] Ophelia being autistic-coded makes a lot of sense with seeing things in black and white terms surrounding her religion.
As for Nyatrix? Um… yeah, obsessed. I’m not sure what else to say. I found her mysterious and compelling at first and then very real. She starts off larger than life and then we see the depth of her character as time goes on. The pair of them together balances out beautifully. I really loved their relationship. I made 143 highlights while reading, and the vast majority are directly related to their relationship. (And things Nyatrix says… heh.)
The world building itself was interesting and clearly heavily based in Catholicism. Seeing as a major theme in this book is religious trauma, that makes a lot of sense. There are also a lot of absolutely awful men in this book who end up getting what they deserve. I found it to be cathartic and empowering by the end (though some parts were a little hard to swallow due to their basis in reality). While religious trauma is a main theme, the end result is women taking back their power and what is owed to them.
For such heavy themes, the writing is beautiful and tells a clear, powerful message. Just a fantastic read that I highly recommend and will be thinking about for a long time.
(beware potential spoilers below)
Micro-tropes:
✨ Only soft for her
✨ The men will repent
✨ “I can’t fix her but she can make me worse”
✨ The Dove x The Wolf
✨ Incessant flirting
✨ “I am Death”
✨ Susceptible to beautiful women
✨ “Who did this to you?”
✨ “As you wish”
Content Warnings:
(this list may not be complete)
ableism, Catholicism/Christianity, religious trauma, cult brainwashing, homophobia, descriptions of wounds and injuries (mild to moderate), non-consensual s*xual touch, coercion to self-h*rm, self-flagellation (implied and depicted), sexism and gendered violence (discussed), depression, su*cidal ideation, victim blaming/shaming, comphet/religion-based guilt surrounding s*xual orientation, de*th, depictions of violence, attempted conversion
March 18, 2025
I am still not sure I have the words to describe how much this book affected me. As a lapsed/ex-Catholic, there was so much here that I recognized, so much that mirrored some of my own questions growing up. Holy Wrath is a story of anger and rage, yes, but it is also so much a story about grief and discovery and that unending ache for wanting to find your place in the world. To find where you belong, and who will be there to support you and tell you that you are more than enough. That you are worthy of love and patience and compassion, and that you can be free to question and search and learn.
Ophelia has lived her life as a foundling, with an injured leg from childhood that gives her constant pain - a reminder of how different she is from everyone else in Lumendei - living under the grace of the Church. All she wants is to be able to take part, be able to use her gifts to save souls and bring them to the Church that saved her. She is engaged to Renault, an Apostle from a higher family. And yet, she yearns for more. When a warrior from the Sepulchyre is captured, it is Opehlia that has been tasked with her healing, and converting her to the Church.
Instead, Ophelia finds in the Lupa Nox, Nyatrix, a woman who only serves to make her question everything she has known. And to realize that the parts of herself she has long kept hidden and covered in guilt and shame may be what she truly needs to live. These two women lead us on a journey of secrets and lies, leading to the realization that what Opehlia (and Nyatrix) have been led to believe may just be illusions written by men and gods to maintain control and power.
The evolution of Ophelia’s understanding of her world, and herself, was achingly beautiful. Her exploration of herself with Nyatrix was intimate and gentle and yet full of a deep well of passion.
All of the religious fervor and world-building brought me back to many of the rituals and words still in my memories from a childhood brought up going to church. Reciting prayers, asking for forgiveness for things that I did that I truly did not understand why they needed to be repented for. Learning that men held all the power in a culture that was ultimately built upon the words of men, and not a god. A culture that looked very pretty on the outside, but held centuries of darkness if you dug even a little beneath the surface.
I absolutely loved this book. Really, I have loved all of Victoria’s books so much. She writes stories that dig deep into your soul and sit themselves within, finding a home and reflecting so much of the human experience. And I thank the author very much for the chance to read this book as an ARC.
Ophelia has lived her life as a foundling, with an injured leg from childhood that gives her constant pain - a reminder of how different she is from everyone else in Lumendei - living under the grace of the Church. All she wants is to be able to take part, be able to use her gifts to save souls and bring them to the Church that saved her. She is engaged to Renault, an Apostle from a higher family. And yet, she yearns for more. When a warrior from the Sepulchyre is captured, it is Opehlia that has been tasked with her healing, and converting her to the Church.
Instead, Ophelia finds in the Lupa Nox, Nyatrix, a woman who only serves to make her question everything she has known. And to realize that the parts of herself she has long kept hidden and covered in guilt and shame may be what she truly needs to live. These two women lead us on a journey of secrets and lies, leading to the realization that what Opehlia (and Nyatrix) have been led to believe may just be illusions written by men and gods to maintain control and power.
The evolution of Ophelia’s understanding of her world, and herself, was achingly beautiful. Her exploration of herself with Nyatrix was intimate and gentle and yet full of a deep well of passion.
All of the religious fervor and world-building brought me back to many of the rituals and words still in my memories from a childhood brought up going to church. Reciting prayers, asking for forgiveness for things that I did that I truly did not understand why they needed to be repented for. Learning that men held all the power in a culture that was ultimately built upon the words of men, and not a god. A culture that looked very pretty on the outside, but held centuries of darkness if you dug even a little beneath the surface.
I absolutely loved this book. Really, I have loved all of Victoria’s books so much. She writes stories that dig deep into your soul and sit themselves within, finding a home and reflecting so much of the human experience. And I thank the author very much for the chance to read this book as an ARC.
September 8, 2025
3.75/5 stars
i'm ngl this was a weeeeee bit boring in the middle, but the religious trauma sapphics and horniness made up for it 😝
i'm ngl this was a weeeeee bit boring in the middle, but the religious trauma sapphics and horniness made up for it 😝
November 7, 2025
oh i devoured this.. knew this was gonna be a five star read from the first page
July 26, 2025
3.5 rounded up ~ RTC 🗡️🕊️
May 7, 2025
“So easy, isn’t it, to swallow a lie—particularly if it’s coated in honey and you’re very, very hungry? The lie was simple, ingested in a single swallow, left to sow further falsehoods in my body. But the truth is larger, more complex. The truth does not fit neatly between my teeth, and it does not taste of wildflower honey on my tongue. It tastes of blood and soot and horror.”
-Touch her and you die (LOVED)
-Enemies to lovers
-Disabled MC
-Religious Trauma
Wow. I really didn’t want this book to end. It kept me on my toes the WHOLE time. There are not enough words to describe how fantastic this book is, and I would easily recommend it to anyone I know.
I haven’t read many religious trauma novels, but this one is by far the greatest one I’ve read. The author did an amazing job at taking the reality of many religions and what’s expected of women: Do as you’re told, wear what you’re told, speak when spoken to, follow your husband and don’t dare fall out of line.
Ophelia is seen as “weak”, “crippled”, saved even though she was born different. Everyone around her made her seem and feel as though she is a burden, almost perfect but not quite. All her life she’s been told how to be, who to love, and what to follow. Anytime she attempted to be herself, she was forced to hurt herself, even hate herself.
Nyatrix (also known as the Lupa Nox) is feared by all, the last of her kind. Known only to bring death, she’s captured by Ophelia’s people. These same people put Ophelia to the test, if she can turn Nyatrix into a follower, maybe she’ll be forgiven for her “sins” as they put.
Both characters have a tremendous amount of growth, and you cannot help but love both of them to death. Both wanting to protect those they love and write the wrongs that has been written into history. Throughout the book it made me ACHE because of the pain these two endured their whole lives at the hands of men and the God they serve.
A few things that I didn’t love:
Ophelia is made to be very oblivious and almost childlike at times, so it did feel weird during certain chapters to read how she acts. This brings me to the next thing I didn’t love (minor spoiler). Nyatrix is over 80 years old, although she doesn’t age as fast as everyone else, I had a hard time with their age difference but in the end moved past it because it is a fantasy novel and there are many things playing into it.
Overall, this is one of those books you could read for the first time again just to feel everything once more. As of 2025, this is my favorite book of the year.
-Touch her and you die (LOVED)
-Enemies to lovers
-Disabled MC
-Religious Trauma
Wow. I really didn’t want this book to end. It kept me on my toes the WHOLE time. There are not enough words to describe how fantastic this book is, and I would easily recommend it to anyone I know.
I haven’t read many religious trauma novels, but this one is by far the greatest one I’ve read. The author did an amazing job at taking the reality of many religions and what’s expected of women: Do as you’re told, wear what you’re told, speak when spoken to, follow your husband and don’t dare fall out of line.
Ophelia is seen as “weak”, “crippled”, saved even though she was born different. Everyone around her made her seem and feel as though she is a burden, almost perfect but not quite. All her life she’s been told how to be, who to love, and what to follow. Anytime she attempted to be herself, she was forced to hurt herself, even hate herself.
Nyatrix (also known as the Lupa Nox) is feared by all, the last of her kind. Known only to bring death, she’s captured by Ophelia’s people. These same people put Ophelia to the test, if she can turn Nyatrix into a follower, maybe she’ll be forgiven for her “sins” as they put.
Both characters have a tremendous amount of growth, and you cannot help but love both of them to death. Both wanting to protect those they love and write the wrongs that has been written into history. Throughout the book it made me ACHE because of the pain these two endured their whole lives at the hands of men and the God they serve.
A few things that I didn’t love:
Ophelia is made to be very oblivious and almost childlike at times, so it did feel weird during certain chapters to read how she acts. This brings me to the next thing I didn’t love (minor spoiler). Nyatrix is over 80 years old, although she doesn’t age as fast as everyone else, I had a hard time with their age difference but in the end moved past it because it is a fantasy novel and there are many things playing into it.
Overall, this is one of those books you could read for the first time again just to feel everything once more. As of 2025, this is my favorite book of the year.
May 15, 2025
Catholic guilt and woman rage ? Sign me up !
Holy Wrath is an interesting book, but could have used more refinement and editing. Despite its subject, it lacks nuance and the world building is a bit all over the place.
What works well is the familiarity of the Catholics elements : we (readers familiar with the Roman Catholic Church and its theology) just know what the author is talking about, because the world building that takes place in the first half of the book is basically two catholic priests dressed in a gilded cape of misogyny.
But past that, we don’t have a clear view of where we are : names like Nyatrix and Sergio (Sergio I just couldn’t take you seriously as a villain sorry it’s too much) cohexist, we have a magic system that makes no sense if you look closely at it and frankly doesn’t add much to the story…
The plot advance through weird jumps (the main plot I point is a deus ex machina) and Ophelia’s main motivations appears to be lust, despite the very valid reasons she might have to put the other stuff first. The romance lacks subtlety : they fall in lust and BAM everything changes and now they are in love and save the world ?
There is also many lose ends. What about the OG guys who fucked off overseas ? Don’t anyone wants to know what became of them ? Is the church entirely dismantled ? How did they de programed hundreds of people ?
I just wish Holy Wrath could have been what it is, but also more. It’s still a good book, and a refreshing read for someone who had dealings with religious trauma (although Ophelia being « magically cured » of her sexual trauma by a sexcapade with her main torture tool is… a choice). It could have been great.
I’ll definitely keep an eye out for the author’s next book though !
Holy Wrath is an interesting book, but could have used more refinement and editing. Despite its subject, it lacks nuance and the world building is a bit all over the place.
What works well is the familiarity of the Catholics elements : we (readers familiar with the Roman Catholic Church and its theology) just know what the author is talking about, because the world building that takes place in the first half of the book is basically two catholic priests dressed in a gilded cape of misogyny.
But past that, we don’t have a clear view of where we are : names like Nyatrix and Sergio (Sergio I just couldn’t take you seriously as a villain sorry it’s too much) cohexist, we have a magic system that makes no sense if you look closely at it and frankly doesn’t add much to the story…
The plot advance through weird jumps (the main plot I point is a deus ex machina) and Ophelia’s main motivations appears to be lust, despite the very valid reasons she might have to put the other stuff first. The romance lacks subtlety : they fall in lust and BAM everything changes and now they are in love and save the world ?
There is also many lose ends. What about the OG guys who fucked off overseas ? Don’t anyone wants to know what became of them ? Is the church entirely dismantled ? How did they de programed hundreds of people ?
I just wish Holy Wrath could have been what it is, but also more. It’s still a good book, and a refreshing read for someone who had dealings with religious trauma (although Ophelia being « magically cured » of her sexual trauma by a sexcapade with her main torture tool is… a choice). It could have been great.
I’ll definitely keep an eye out for the author’s next book though !
May 3, 2025
2.5 stars… i think this is a wonderful concept for a book and a great second or third draft of a book. the romance is cute, love the “who did this to you” trope and im a big fan of big scary goth girlfriend and sunshine girlfriend. HOWEVER the author needs religious therapy (i do too) and the interspersed latin words as normal words in their “language” at seemingly random are so annoying. i think this book as a whole would fix SO many of its problems if it was set in a medieval AU (on this earth) where Catholicism was in full control of the political sphere and where there’s some magic. the world is too underdeveloped and confused for me, and the plot is messy and the villains, while they have incredible potential, are buried in complicated and under explained plot points. words and descriptions are repeated way too often (if i have to read “she’s blackberries and asphodel” one more time i’ll scream) and the author tends to brush over juicy action sequences in favor of the main character’s thought reactions to the action which unfortunately is just a series of “i’m so scared” “she could die” “these scary people are attacking” instead of the author actually SHOWING us these fighting sequences. I will say, there’s so many good ideas in this, and i truly do love the disabled representation and the description of religious trauma related to sexuality, but this needed about 2-3 more rounds of story editing before it was published! i hope the author continues writing, i can see so much potential in their creativity.
Read
August 6, 2025Empezó increíblemente bien, descendió a los infiernos, a partir de la mitad resucitó y culminó decentemente bien.
El estilo ha sido un Vía Crucis, y mira que a mí me gusta un buen barroco, pero lo rococó que era no ha terminado de conectar conmigo.
El lore del mundo me ha gustado y sus reminiscencias del catolicismo me han ENCANTADO, especialmente el giro más dantesco, PERO, ha sido increíblemente difícil de seguir, especialmente al principio. En mi opinión, en algunos puntos faltaban explicaciones, especialmente de los palabros en latín (y eso que en mi caso particular, sabiendo la traducción, podía atisbar por dónde iban los tiros), ¿cómo se supone que voy a saber cómo encajan en este mundo sin una explicación, por obra y gracia del Espíritu Santo?
Los personajes a los que hay que detestar están tan bien hechos que más de una vez me han dado ganas de tirar el libro contra la pared. Y la protagonista, absorbida por el fanatismo sectario, también está genial descrita, aunque alguna que otra vez me haya puesto de los nervios. En algunos momentos las acciones de los personajes me han parecido que no tenían sentido, total, que ha sido un milagro que por una cosa o por otra no haya estampado el libro.
La relación ha sido un poco meh (encima instalove...) y me ha dejado super fría, pero, bueno, vale, me la he querido creer. Como el libro, también ha mejorado a partir de la mitad.
A pesar de todo lo negativo, la historia ha estado bien y me ha terminado gustando, tristemente, menos de lo que me hubiera gustado, porque, a priori, tenía todos los ingredientes para que fuera de diez.
P. D.: Un mayal no es lo mismo que un flagelo (flagrum), por el amor de Dios... Eso sí, la pobre autora habrá ido a dar con una de las pocas frikis que iba a reparar en un detalle tan nimio, pero es que esas cosas me tiltean que flipas... #traductora
El estilo ha sido un Vía Crucis, y mira que a mí me gusta un buen barroco, pero lo rococó que era no ha terminado de conectar conmigo.
El lore del mundo me ha gustado y sus reminiscencias del catolicismo me han ENCANTADO, especialmente el giro más dantesco, PERO, ha sido increíblemente difícil de seguir, especialmente al principio. En mi opinión, en algunos puntos faltaban explicaciones, especialmente de los palabros en latín (y eso que en mi caso particular, sabiendo la traducción, podía atisbar por dónde iban los tiros), ¿cómo se supone que voy a saber cómo encajan en este mundo sin una explicación, por obra y gracia del Espíritu Santo?
Los personajes a los que hay que detestar están tan bien hechos que más de una vez me han dado ganas de tirar el libro contra la pared. Y la protagonista, absorbida por el fanatismo sectario, también está genial descrita, aunque alguna que otra vez me haya puesto de los nervios. En algunos momentos las acciones de los personajes me han parecido que no tenían sentido, total, que ha sido un milagro que por una cosa o por otra no haya estampado el libro.
La relación ha sido un poco meh (encima instalove...) y me ha dejado super fría, pero, bueno, vale, me la he querido creer. Como el libro, también ha mejorado a partir de la mitad.
A pesar de todo lo negativo, la historia ha estado bien y me ha terminado gustando, tristemente, menos de lo que me hubiera gustado, porque, a priori, tenía todos los ingredientes para que fuera de diez.
P. D.: Un mayal no es lo mismo que un flagelo (flagrum), por el amor de Dios... Eso sí, la pobre autora habrá ido a dar con una de las pocas frikis que iba a reparar en un detalle tan nimio, pero es que esas cosas me tiltean que flipas... #traductora
August 20, 2025
4⭐
What a complex book with beautiful written characters that have amazing character development and a really good view about religion and getting away from what people want from you, and finding your own wants and needs.
The strongest part of this book, to me, was definitely the characters. I didn’t think much of Ophelia at the beginning, she’s very insecure and devoutes herself completely to her religion, not questioning anything that she’s asked and just following people around her, (she pissed me off a little in the first few chapters, not gonna lie) until she meets Nyatrix, the complete opposite of her and someone that shows her that she has a choice, that she can be free and follow her own path. I absolutely loved Nyatrix and how strong and kind she was, but loved even more how much she cared about Ophelia and gave her everything she didn’t know she could have. She always had a choice, always had a saying in what happened between and around them, and I adored how much they relied on each other.
The plot revolving around the religion and gods, while interesting and with a few plot twists that elevated the story, was at times confusing. It just felt like it was a lot of information thrown at the same time and there wasn’t really time to process it before more plot was introduced. I definitely got lost at times, but still could follow the story nonetheless.
What a complex book with beautiful written characters that have amazing character development and a really good view about religion and getting away from what people want from you, and finding your own wants and needs.
The strongest part of this book, to me, was definitely the characters. I didn’t think much of Ophelia at the beginning, she’s very insecure and devoutes herself completely to her religion, not questioning anything that she’s asked and just following people around her, (she pissed me off a little in the first few chapters, not gonna lie) until she meets Nyatrix, the complete opposite of her and someone that shows her that she has a choice, that she can be free and follow her own path. I absolutely loved Nyatrix and how strong and kind she was, but loved even more how much she cared about Ophelia and gave her everything she didn’t know she could have. She always had a choice, always had a saying in what happened between and around them, and I adored how much they relied on each other.
The plot revolving around the religion and gods, while interesting and with a few plot twists that elevated the story, was at times confusing. It just felt like it was a lot of information thrown at the same time and there wasn’t really time to process it before more plot was introduced. I definitely got lost at times, but still could follow the story nonetheless.
March 21, 2025
This book was heart wrenching and beautiful at the same time, I loved it.
Mier's writing is so immersive - every moment Ophelia suffered, I felt it right along with her. Watching her slowly recognize her trauma and begin to heal - with Nyatrix by her side - was absolutely beautiful. I also loved the romance; Ophelia and Nyatrix balance each other perfectly. 🥹
As someone who has always been frustrated by the gap between personal religious faith and the way the Catholic Church, as an institution, has used that faith to manipulate people and amass power and wealth, I found this story very satisfying to read. I loved Mier's reimagining of a similar twisted system in a fantasy setting.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this book to any fan of the gothic romantic-fantasy genre. It includes some classic tropes we all know and love ("Who hurt you?" 💘) while still being refreshingly unique 👌🏻
This is one of those stories that stay with you long after you've read the final page. I’m so grateful to have received this ARC! 💫
Mier's writing is so immersive - every moment Ophelia suffered, I felt it right along with her. Watching her slowly recognize her trauma and begin to heal - with Nyatrix by her side - was absolutely beautiful. I also loved the romance; Ophelia and Nyatrix balance each other perfectly. 🥹
As someone who has always been frustrated by the gap between personal religious faith and the way the Catholic Church, as an institution, has used that faith to manipulate people and amass power and wealth, I found this story very satisfying to read. I loved Mier's reimagining of a similar twisted system in a fantasy setting.
Overall, I’d highly recommend this book to any fan of the gothic romantic-fantasy genre. It includes some classic tropes we all know and love ("Who hurt you?" 💘) while still being refreshingly unique 👌🏻
This is one of those stories that stay with you long after you've read the final page. I’m so grateful to have received this ARC! 💫
April 7, 2025
HOLY WRATH by Victoria Mier
Healer Ophelia hopes to be claimed by a Saint and gain the power to perform the Mysteries. Tasked with caring for the Lupa Nox, a dangerous enemy warrior, she seeks to convert her to prove herself. But the Lupa Nox reveals dark truths about Ophelia’s god and city, forcing her to question everything she believes.
Holy Wrath left a profound impact on me, especially as a former Catholic. The novel delves deeply into themes of abuse, self-discovery, and healing, offering a raw and honest portrayal of the journey to break free from a controlling, patriarchal religious system. Ophelia’s personal evolution is a central thread—starting as a woman who believes herself broken and unworthy, and gradually transforming into someone who begins to embrace her own power, desires, and agency. Her relationship with Nyatrix, the fierce and powerful warrior, is equally transformative. What starts as a mission to convert Nyatrix becomes a beautiful, slow-burning romance, tender and filled with moments of passion that are as emotionally charged as they are physically.
The book’s exploration of faith and trauma resonated deeply, reminding me of the dissonance I felt growing up in a religious environment. The rituals, prayers, and unquestioning faith Ophelia clings to at first are sharply contrasted with the harsh truths revealed throughout the story, making the world of Holy Wrath feel hauntingly familiar. As Ophelia grapples with the secrets of her society and begins to question everything she’s been taught, the novel moves from an emotional exploration of grief and anger to a powerful tale of personal liberation.
I also loved how Ophelia’s disability is portrayed. Unlike so many stories where a character is magically “cured” by their powers, Ophelia’s journey is one of learning to live with and respect her own limitations, a refreshing and respectful approach. The dynamic between her and Nyatrix, where Nyatrix honours Ophelia’s needs and desires, was beautifully done.
Mier’s writing style is immersive and evocative, bringing the world and its characters to life in a way that is both poetic and gripping. Each scene is meticulously crafted, and the imagery is often so powerful that it lingers long after you’ve turned the page. There are moments where the prose feels almost lyrical, capturing the raw emotion of the characters in ways that left me re-reading certain passages to absorb them fully.
While I did find the first portion of the book a little slow due to Ophelia’s internal struggles, this is necessary to set up her eventual transformation. Her naivety and self-doubt are crucial to understanding her character arc, though it can be hard to stay immersed in her headspace during those early chapters. Once the story picks up and the tension builds, however, it becomes impossible to put down, especially as Ophelia begins to reclaim her autonomy and challenge everything she thought she knew about herself and her world.
Holy Wrath is a gripping and heart-wrenching read that offers an emotional journey of faith, personal growth, and the power of questioning the world around us. The delicate balance of romance, self-empowerment, and social critique makes it a memorable and strikingly beautiful novel.
MEMORABLE QUOTES:
“ ‘You have suffered, Ophelia,’ she murmurs. ‘How you wish to come to terms with that is your prerogative. But I need you to understand that you have suffered in a way many cannot imagine.’ ”
“ ‘If you only do the right thing to avoid punishment,’ she asks, ‘is that truly goodness? And can a god so eager to punish you truly love you?’ ”
“The truth does not fit neatly between my teeth, and it does not taste of wildflower honey on my tongue. I tastes of blood and soot and horror.”
“I wish I could still believe in Caelus, in that promise of eternal life, of a softer place after my body’s death where my soul may flourish forevermore.”
“Without the reassurance of an afterlife, wouldn’t I fight until I am battered and bruised to make this world better? Wouldn’t anyone?”
**Thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.**
@librisinetenebris
Healer Ophelia hopes to be claimed by a Saint and gain the power to perform the Mysteries. Tasked with caring for the Lupa Nox, a dangerous enemy warrior, she seeks to convert her to prove herself. But the Lupa Nox reveals dark truths about Ophelia’s god and city, forcing her to question everything she believes.
Holy Wrath left a profound impact on me, especially as a former Catholic. The novel delves deeply into themes of abuse, self-discovery, and healing, offering a raw and honest portrayal of the journey to break free from a controlling, patriarchal religious system. Ophelia’s personal evolution is a central thread—starting as a woman who believes herself broken and unworthy, and gradually transforming into someone who begins to embrace her own power, desires, and agency. Her relationship with Nyatrix, the fierce and powerful warrior, is equally transformative. What starts as a mission to convert Nyatrix becomes a beautiful, slow-burning romance, tender and filled with moments of passion that are as emotionally charged as they are physically.
The book’s exploration of faith and trauma resonated deeply, reminding me of the dissonance I felt growing up in a religious environment. The rituals, prayers, and unquestioning faith Ophelia clings to at first are sharply contrasted with the harsh truths revealed throughout the story, making the world of Holy Wrath feel hauntingly familiar. As Ophelia grapples with the secrets of her society and begins to question everything she’s been taught, the novel moves from an emotional exploration of grief and anger to a powerful tale of personal liberation.
I also loved how Ophelia’s disability is portrayed. Unlike so many stories where a character is magically “cured” by their powers, Ophelia’s journey is one of learning to live with and respect her own limitations, a refreshing and respectful approach. The dynamic between her and Nyatrix, where Nyatrix honours Ophelia’s needs and desires, was beautifully done.
Mier’s writing style is immersive and evocative, bringing the world and its characters to life in a way that is both poetic and gripping. Each scene is meticulously crafted, and the imagery is often so powerful that it lingers long after you’ve turned the page. There are moments where the prose feels almost lyrical, capturing the raw emotion of the characters in ways that left me re-reading certain passages to absorb them fully.
While I did find the first portion of the book a little slow due to Ophelia’s internal struggles, this is necessary to set up her eventual transformation. Her naivety and self-doubt are crucial to understanding her character arc, though it can be hard to stay immersed in her headspace during those early chapters. Once the story picks up and the tension builds, however, it becomes impossible to put down, especially as Ophelia begins to reclaim her autonomy and challenge everything she thought she knew about herself and her world.
Holy Wrath is a gripping and heart-wrenching read that offers an emotional journey of faith, personal growth, and the power of questioning the world around us. The delicate balance of romance, self-empowerment, and social critique makes it a memorable and strikingly beautiful novel.
MEMORABLE QUOTES:
“ ‘You have suffered, Ophelia,’ she murmurs. ‘How you wish to come to terms with that is your prerogative. But I need you to understand that you have suffered in a way many cannot imagine.’ ”
“ ‘If you only do the right thing to avoid punishment,’ she asks, ‘is that truly goodness? And can a god so eager to punish you truly love you?’ ”
“The truth does not fit neatly between my teeth, and it does not taste of wildflower honey on my tongue. I tastes of blood and soot and horror.”
“I wish I could still believe in Caelus, in that promise of eternal life, of a softer place after my body’s death where my soul may flourish forevermore.”
“Without the reassurance of an afterlife, wouldn’t I fight until I am battered and bruised to make this world better? Wouldn’t anyone?”
**Thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.**
@librisinetenebris
April 7, 2025
For everyone who has lived under the thumb of men who thought they were God.
🌸Victoria Mier🌸
🐺Holy Wrath 🕊️
What to expect:
🕊️Sapphic
🐺Fantasy
🕊️Standalone
🐺Gothic vibes
🕊️Who did this to you?
🐺Feminine rage
🕊️Religous trauma
🐺Lady KNIGHT?! 😮💨
🕊️Did I mention lesbians?
This was my first book from this author and I stumbled across one of the authors posts and just had to check this out! I am in love with the cover, but then I found myself really enamored with the story as well! Highly recommend checking this out when you get the chance.
🌸Victoria Mier🌸
🐺Holy Wrath 🕊️
What to expect:
🕊️Sapphic
🐺Fantasy
🕊️Standalone
🐺Gothic vibes
🕊️Who did this to you?
🐺Feminine rage
🕊️Religous trauma
🐺Lady KNIGHT?! 😮💨
🕊️Did I mention lesbians?
This was my first book from this author and I stumbled across one of the authors posts and just had to check this out! I am in love with the cover, but then I found myself really enamored with the story as well! Highly recommend checking this out when you get the chance.
April 18, 2025
Romantasy absolutely isn’t for me (even with lesbians)
April 8, 2025
4.25 ⭐️
Do you have religious trauma and/or Catholic guilt? Boy, do I have the book for you!
Holy Wrath really explores the ideas surrounding religion in a way that I personally loved to see. At its core, this is a story about questioning everything you’ve been told and knowing in your gut that something wasn’t right. Our main character, Ophelia, has lived nearly her whole life under the thumb of the Host. She has tried and tried to be what the church expected of her but always felt she was falling short. I loved getting to see her progression from the beginning of the book to the end. She makes huge strides toward ridding herself of that feeling telling her she wasn’t good enough. Nyatrix was a breath of fresh air for Ophelia, treating her not as a pious woman of the Host, but as an individual deserving of respect. For that, I’ll always love her.
A little hint of what you’ll find in Holy Wrath:
💜 Sapphic Fantasy
💜 Religious Trauma
💜 So, So Much Feminine Rage
💜 Disability Rep
💜 Who Did This To You?
I really enjoyed Holy Wrath, though it took me a little longer to read because it can be heavy at times. I found the world building interesting, and honestly I wouldn’t be mad at the idea of some sort of prequel because the history is RICH. However, Holy Wrath is a standalone, and I had no trouble following despite the heavy world building. Victoria takes a lot of inspiration from Catholicism while managing to make it feel unique at the same time. Overall, I’d definitely recommend Holy Wrath to anyone looking for a sapphic fantasy, especially one that deals with religious trauma and dismantling the system that caused it.
Thank you Victoria Mier for the early review copy of Holy Wrath! All opinions are my own!
Do you have religious trauma and/or Catholic guilt? Boy, do I have the book for you!
Holy Wrath really explores the ideas surrounding religion in a way that I personally loved to see. At its core, this is a story about questioning everything you’ve been told and knowing in your gut that something wasn’t right. Our main character, Ophelia, has lived nearly her whole life under the thumb of the Host. She has tried and tried to be what the church expected of her but always felt she was falling short. I loved getting to see her progression from the beginning of the book to the end. She makes huge strides toward ridding herself of that feeling telling her she wasn’t good enough. Nyatrix was a breath of fresh air for Ophelia, treating her not as a pious woman of the Host, but as an individual deserving of respect. For that, I’ll always love her.
A little hint of what you’ll find in Holy Wrath:
💜 Sapphic Fantasy
💜 Religious Trauma
💜 So, So Much Feminine Rage
💜 Disability Rep
💜 Who Did This To You?
I really enjoyed Holy Wrath, though it took me a little longer to read because it can be heavy at times. I found the world building interesting, and honestly I wouldn’t be mad at the idea of some sort of prequel because the history is RICH. However, Holy Wrath is a standalone, and I had no trouble following despite the heavy world building. Victoria takes a lot of inspiration from Catholicism while managing to make it feel unique at the same time. Overall, I’d definitely recommend Holy Wrath to anyone looking for a sapphic fantasy, especially one that deals with religious trauma and dismantling the system that caused it.
Thank you Victoria Mier for the early review copy of Holy Wrath! All opinions are my own!
May 10, 2025
I should have looked into trigger warnings before reading this book, but I have never had to before, and to be fair they weren’t made as clear as I think they should have been.
After finishing, I’ve found a list on the authors website so I would like to talk about that first:
This book features HEAVY amounts of Catholicism and religious references and beliefs and all that stuff, which might usually not be that bad if it didn’t include the character (who I think is supposed to symbolize Jesus) having to eat (??) his disciples, who in this book are his siblings, as well as around 300 children (??) to power himself, and then there’s the issue of him creating false saints for people to believe in to deal with ‘lesser issues’ (??) and then those who aren’t blessed by these false saints are deemed less worthy of almost everything (??)
And then there is the whole belief system that women are lesser than, only good for bearing children, making the husband happy, cooking, preparing food, being beautiful, healing and not much more. This also leads me to mention the rape attempt in this book, which was stopped, but the blame was put on the woman, even though there were two witnesses,
There is also heavy homophobia in this book, a woman thinking about another woman romantically is wrong and sinful, this also ties to another warning, when the first female main character admits to this, her future husband forces her to hit herself in the back over and over with a leather ‘flag’ (?) until she has wounds that need to be tended to regularly for the rest of the book, and then her ‘betrothed’ tells her how good she is and how well she did (????) Later in the book after she escapes and they meet again he verbally abuses her, and then gifts her the flag as a ‘reminder’
So fair to say there is quite triggering content in this book, which in my opinion should be made clearer than a section at the bottom of a ‘q&a’ section on a website.
I do know I should have done research first, but seeing as how much everyone seems to be enjoying this book I didn’t think I would have anything to worry about.
Changes I would recommend include a very clear trigger warning at the very beginning of the book instead of a link to the website, where even then you have to scroll to the bottom to find the trigger warning question. I would also change the wording from ‘non consensual sexual touch’ to rape or attempted rape, let’s call it what it is.
I did enjoy the love story between death and life though, that was cute.
After finishing, I’ve found a list on the authors website so I would like to talk about that first:
This book features HEAVY amounts of Catholicism and religious references and beliefs and all that stuff, which might usually not be that bad if it didn’t include the character (who I think is supposed to symbolize Jesus) having to eat (??) his disciples, who in this book are his siblings, as well as around 300 children (??) to power himself, and then there’s the issue of him creating false saints for people to believe in to deal with ‘lesser issues’ (??) and then those who aren’t blessed by these false saints are deemed less worthy of almost everything (??)
And then there is the whole belief system that women are lesser than, only good for bearing children, making the husband happy, cooking, preparing food, being beautiful, healing and not much more. This also leads me to mention the rape attempt in this book, which was stopped, but the blame was put on the woman, even though there were two witnesses,
There is also heavy homophobia in this book, a woman thinking about another woman romantically is wrong and sinful, this also ties to another warning, when the first female main character admits to this, her future husband forces her to hit herself in the back over and over with a leather ‘flag’ (?) until she has wounds that need to be tended to regularly for the rest of the book, and then her ‘betrothed’ tells her how good she is and how well she did (????) Later in the book after she escapes and they meet again he verbally abuses her, and then gifts her the flag as a ‘reminder’
So fair to say there is quite triggering content in this book, which in my opinion should be made clearer than a section at the bottom of a ‘q&a’ section on a website.
I do know I should have done research first, but seeing as how much everyone seems to be enjoying this book I didn’t think I would have anything to worry about.
Changes I would recommend include a very clear trigger warning at the very beginning of the book instead of a link to the website, where even then you have to scroll to the bottom to find the trigger warning question. I would also change the wording from ‘non consensual sexual touch’ to rape or attempted rape, let’s call it what it is.
I did enjoy the love story between death and life though, that was cute.
July 7, 2025
I think this is one of the times where I really wish the scoring system was out of 10, or that you could give half stars. I'm definitely between a 3 and 4 with this book, and even as I try to sort my thoughts to write this review, I'm going back and forth, "I did like this part... on the other hand, I didn't like this..." and so on.
What did I like about this book? First off, I enjoyed the writing of the book. At times I felt like it could be a bit much, or go on for a bit too long, but overall I was definitely enjoying it. Secondly, I appreciated the very obvious religious influence. It was very tough to read all of the misogyny and homophobia, both internalized and externalized, but I knew from the synopsis that I was eventually going to find some release for that. So, with that in mind, I did appreciate reading the inner turmoil as she was processing her feelings. Although, . I thought the overall setting was cool, and I appreciated that as much as there were inspirations, when we started moving away from them (or at the least the bit that I recognized) and more into the fantasy lore, I thought that was all very interesting. Third, I did really enjoy the romance. I loved Nyatrix's character. Super intense, and almost like a force of nature, but endlessly patient with Ophelia, and always checking in with her about her comfort levels and whether things were okay or not. Lastly, and a small thing, I appreciated that
What didn't I like about it? I liked the setup, the setting was cool, the lore was cool, and all of that was good. But in the end I disliked the execution of that side of the plot.
So yeah, overall, I enjoyed the romance aspect of the book. I don't think I mentioned it, but the mc . I also enjoyed the idea(s) on the fantasy side of the book. But, sadly for me, there were a few things about the execution of the fantasy side of the plot that just dragged down the book as a whole for me.
What did I like about this book? First off, I enjoyed the writing of the book. At times I felt like it could be a bit much, or go on for a bit too long, but overall I was definitely enjoying it. Secondly, I appreciated the very obvious religious influence. It was very tough to read all of the misogyny and homophobia, both internalized and externalized, but I knew from the synopsis that I was eventually going to find some release for that. So, with that in mind, I did appreciate reading the inner turmoil as she was processing her feelings. Although, . I thought the overall setting was cool, and I appreciated that as much as there were inspirations, when we started moving away from them (or at the least the bit that I recognized) and more into the fantasy lore, I thought that was all very interesting. Third, I did really enjoy the romance. I loved Nyatrix's character. Super intense, and almost like a force of nature, but endlessly patient with Ophelia, and always checking in with her about her comfort levels and whether things were okay or not. Lastly, and a small thing, I appreciated that
What didn't I like about it? I liked the setup, the setting was cool, the lore was cool, and all of that was good. But in the end I disliked the execution of that side of the plot.
So yeah, overall, I enjoyed the romance aspect of the book. I don't think I mentioned it, but the mc . I also enjoyed the idea(s) on the fantasy side of the book. But, sadly for me, there were a few things about the execution of the fantasy side of the plot that just dragged down the book as a whole for me.
April 16, 2025
Thank you to Victoria Mier for the arc! This was a really solid read. I really felt connected to the two main characters and the build of their romance was intriguing and also hot (duh!!!!). The only things I struggled with was the world building and the use of repetitive phrases. I felt I only really sorta understood what was going on about 75% in so all this time previous I was left mildly confused. There were certain phrases that were used repeatedly that I personally started picking up on and was confused by but it wasn't a major thing. All in all, I definitely recommend for those looking for a sapphic high fantasy with angst, anger and atmospheric writing.
dnf-2025
May 1, 2025Hoping this gets an audio, ebook is not working for me.
July 7, 2025
3.75 ⭐️s
May 11, 2025
Do you know how is having a wound and relentlessly poking it? This book is like that. A very detailed account at the poking, mind you.
I was kind of surprised with myself, I didn't know I was in the perfect mood for So.Much.Longing.
Desire, gay panic, guilt, being broken and tempted, to become whole and get lost in desire. How very Catholic indeed. By the way, loved the world building to pieces, the little twists here and there to make something so different and yet... well, that´s food for bigger minds.
Great characters, awesome intensity, tons of feelings, world record in wound poking. Good stuff.
I was kind of surprised with myself, I didn't know I was in the perfect mood for So.Much.Longing.
Desire, gay panic, guilt, being broken and tempted, to become whole and get lost in desire. How very Catholic indeed. By the way, loved the world building to pieces, the little twists here and there to make something so different and yet... well, that´s food for bigger minds.
Great characters, awesome intensity, tons of feelings, world record in wound poking. Good stuff.
April 9, 2025
4.5⭐️
Thanks to the author for the e-arc ✨ (all thoughts are my own and a review wasn’t mandatory)
What a rollercoaster!! Holy Wrath made me furious in the best way.
It was so infuriating and heartbreaking to feel Ophelia’s internal struggle, confusion and grief over having to deconstruct a system of belief that, while it upheld a patriarchal society and treated her like she was lucky to even be considered for certain things, was what she knew all her life. The first person pov worked perfectly for this.
It made me gain some perspective regarding religious guilt (and trauma) when she starts to question her place in the Host. She feels so remorseful that her simmering rage manifests like sadness, but with Nyatrix prodding the foundations of what she’s been taught, that anger boils over and it was such a treat to witness.
The worldbuilding was interesting, the mix of the catholicism-coded cult (inspired by the author’s own experience) with fantasy elements worked well to make an immersive setting.
The romance was a bit fast to develop but the hurt/comfort, the tension, centering Ophelia in a way she never was before 🙂↕️ Fated mates isn’t a trope I usually gravitate towards but I enjoyed it here!!
The prose was beautiful, a bit purple without being over the top, but a little repetitive (for ex the metaphors) and the pacing a bit uneven.
Thanks to the author for the e-arc ✨ (all thoughts are my own and a review wasn’t mandatory)
What a rollercoaster!! Holy Wrath made me furious in the best way.
It was so infuriating and heartbreaking to feel Ophelia’s internal struggle, confusion and grief over having to deconstruct a system of belief that, while it upheld a patriarchal society and treated her like she was lucky to even be considered for certain things, was what she knew all her life. The first person pov worked perfectly for this.
It made me gain some perspective regarding religious guilt (and trauma) when she starts to question her place in the Host. She feels so remorseful that her simmering rage manifests like sadness, but with Nyatrix prodding the foundations of what she’s been taught, that anger boils over and it was such a treat to witness.
The worldbuilding was interesting, the mix of the catholicism-coded cult (inspired by the author’s own experience) with fantasy elements worked well to make an immersive setting.
The romance was a bit fast to develop but the hurt/comfort, the tension, centering Ophelia in a way she never was before 🙂↕️ Fated mates isn’t a trope I usually gravitate towards but I enjoyed it here!!
The prose was beautiful, a bit purple without being over the top, but a little repetitive (for ex the metaphors) and the pacing a bit uneven.
March 29, 2025
Thanks to the author for an ARC!
I really, really loved this book; 4.5/5 for me. It touched on a lot of themes and tropes that I enjoy, and largely in really beautiful ways; the relationship between Ophelia and Nyatrix was beautifully developed, with tremendous tenderness that was all the more compelling for Nyatrix's wrath and power aimed in every other direction. It was a super slow burn, but that burn was hot all the way through and hot damn, just trust me when I say that the "bedroll" scene was one of the hottest scenes I've read in awhile.
Ophelia's transformation from a meek, self-loathing, and naive woman trapped within a violent patriarchal religious society to a woman with her own power, her own rage, and her own desires unleashed was extremely satisfying; for this reason, while I enjoyed the entire book, it was really in the second half that it became a "can't put down" read for me. The mythology and religious structures were developed well, with fantastic elements deftly incorporated, and that became even more true in the second half and then the last third in particular. I also really appreciated the portrayal of Ophelia as a disabled woman that wasn't "cured" by these magic facets, and the way Nyatrix respected Ophelia's abilities and Ophelia's own control and desires re: her physical needs. As someone that was heavily reliant on a cane for a period of time, that was really nice to see portrayed.
I also would be remiss to not mention just how impressed I was by the writing. Mier has a tremendous gift for language; often a story like this stands on character development and dynamics, worldbuilding, and plot, with the actual prose being solid but not necessarily extraordinary. Mier's use of figurative language, imagery, physicality, etc. was outstanding, and there are so, so many lines or paragraphs that captured a moment or a feeling with such power and poetry that I had to reread or sit with for a minute. I used my highlighter a lot more than I usually do with this book.
The only thing keeping me from giving this a full 5/5 is that for the first third or so of the book, it was a little bit of a struggle to be in Ophelia's head full time (she's the solo POV). While her naivete, the way she clings to her faith, and the way her life in Lumendei has broken her down into a person she believes to be worthless and wrong are all essential to establishing her character and the full story of her breaking free of these things, being in her head with her constant self-deprecation and, at times, frustrating attempts to ignore or justify anything that conflicts with her faith full time for a significant chunk of the book created a little lethargy for me as a reader in this first third. While all of these concepts and dynamics are necessary for this story and rang true, I just think this part of the story would have benefited from a tighter edit and/or the occasional dip into another character's POV. The writing, concept, and knowledge that it was building to her breaking free made it relatively easy to keep going, though, and after that first third, I couldn't put it down.
I really, really loved this book; 4.5/5 for me. It touched on a lot of themes and tropes that I enjoy, and largely in really beautiful ways; the relationship between Ophelia and Nyatrix was beautifully developed, with tremendous tenderness that was all the more compelling for Nyatrix's wrath and power aimed in every other direction. It was a super slow burn, but that burn was hot all the way through and hot damn, just trust me when I say that the "bedroll" scene was one of the hottest scenes I've read in awhile.
Ophelia's transformation from a meek, self-loathing, and naive woman trapped within a violent patriarchal religious society to a woman with her own power, her own rage, and her own desires unleashed was extremely satisfying; for this reason, while I enjoyed the entire book, it was really in the second half that it became a "can't put down" read for me. The mythology and religious structures were developed well, with fantastic elements deftly incorporated, and that became even more true in the second half and then the last third in particular. I also really appreciated the portrayal of Ophelia as a disabled woman that wasn't "cured" by these magic facets, and the way Nyatrix respected Ophelia's abilities and Ophelia's own control and desires re: her physical needs. As someone that was heavily reliant on a cane for a period of time, that was really nice to see portrayed.
I also would be remiss to not mention just how impressed I was by the writing. Mier has a tremendous gift for language; often a story like this stands on character development and dynamics, worldbuilding, and plot, with the actual prose being solid but not necessarily extraordinary. Mier's use of figurative language, imagery, physicality, etc. was outstanding, and there are so, so many lines or paragraphs that captured a moment or a feeling with such power and poetry that I had to reread or sit with for a minute. I used my highlighter a lot more than I usually do with this book.
The only thing keeping me from giving this a full 5/5 is that for the first third or so of the book, it was a little bit of a struggle to be in Ophelia's head full time (she's the solo POV). While her naivete, the way she clings to her faith, and the way her life in Lumendei has broken her down into a person she believes to be worthless and wrong are all essential to establishing her character and the full story of her breaking free of these things, being in her head with her constant self-deprecation and, at times, frustrating attempts to ignore or justify anything that conflicts with her faith full time for a significant chunk of the book created a little lethargy for me as a reader in this first third. While all of these concepts and dynamics are necessary for this story and rang true, I just think this part of the story would have benefited from a tighter edit and/or the occasional dip into another character's POV. The writing, concept, and knowledge that it was building to her breaking free made it relatively easy to keep going, though, and after that first third, I couldn't put it down.
April 7, 2025
actual rating: 4.5 stars
Three words. Gay religious trauma. UGH I am absolutely obsessed with these two characters: Ophelia, our Dove, and Nyatrix, our Wolf. Ophelia is a ward of the church of the First Son, having been saved from what she has been told was an attack by the church’s enemy. She is raised in a toxic patriarchal environment, simultaneously desired for her beauty, and shunned for her disabled leg that requires her to use a cane throughout the day while she works as a healer. Unknown to her, she fits into a plan for the church, and has been betrothed to a member of their elite.
Ophelia’s world begins to crack when one of the top warriors of the enemy - Nyatrix - is captured in battle and imprisoned by the church. Nyatrix is mouthwateringly swoon-worthy a tall, muscular lady knight, covered in tattoos and full of innuendo. If Nyatrix were around today, I very much get the feeling she would be an infamous “hey-mama” lesbian, posting thirst traps and all that good stuff.
The chemistry between these two is electric and their growing connection believable. Ophelia and Nyatrix are the heart of this story and really what pull it together and kept me turning every page.
I will say that I found some pacing issues, where I found myself wondering how the hell this standalone novel was going to wrap up in the last 100 pages. It manages in the end, but it comes out as a very lean story, focused more on the two characters, and I think the plot needed a bit more attention. I even think this story could have been given more meat, dual POV, or fleshed out events and been a great standalone or even a duology.
Another thing I found was that the first break in Ophelia’s faith happened a little too easily. We know she’s going to fall from the church and we see the dominos come down as the story progresses, but the first crack, I feel like she accepted it far too easily, even if it was coming from her betrothed. She has spent her life in total dedication to the church so I would have liked her come to a much slower acceptance and then we see the foundations of her beliefs start to fall apart.
My issues are quite small though and only really stand out because of how much I enjoyed these two characters and their story. Their steamy scenes too were very satisfying. There are only two, and I would have preferred them to be a bit more explicitly after so much build up and tension (very much personal preference), but oh they were delicious to read.
I’m obsessed with these characters and I will now go fangirl over all the character art of them. I wish I could draw so I could obsess over them even more!
*I received an eARC from the author. All opinions are my own*
Three words. Gay religious trauma. UGH I am absolutely obsessed with these two characters: Ophelia, our Dove, and Nyatrix, our Wolf. Ophelia is a ward of the church of the First Son, having been saved from what she has been told was an attack by the church’s enemy. She is raised in a toxic patriarchal environment, simultaneously desired for her beauty, and shunned for her disabled leg that requires her to use a cane throughout the day while she works as a healer. Unknown to her, she fits into a plan for the church, and has been betrothed to a member of their elite.
Ophelia’s world begins to crack when one of the top warriors of the enemy - Nyatrix - is captured in battle and imprisoned by the church. Nyatrix is mouthwateringly swoon-worthy a tall, muscular lady knight, covered in tattoos and full of innuendo. If Nyatrix were around today, I very much get the feeling she would be an infamous “hey-mama” lesbian, posting thirst traps and all that good stuff.
The chemistry between these two is electric and their growing connection believable. Ophelia and Nyatrix are the heart of this story and really what pull it together and kept me turning every page.
I will say that I found some pacing issues, where I found myself wondering how the hell this standalone novel was going to wrap up in the last 100 pages. It manages in the end, but it comes out as a very lean story, focused more on the two characters, and I think the plot needed a bit more attention. I even think this story could have been given more meat, dual POV, or fleshed out events and been a great standalone or even a duology.
Another thing I found was that the first break in Ophelia’s faith happened a little too easily. We know she’s going to fall from the church and we see the dominos come down as the story progresses, but the first crack, I feel like she accepted it far too easily, even if it was coming from her betrothed. She has spent her life in total dedication to the church so I would have liked her come to a much slower acceptance and then we see the foundations of her beliefs start to fall apart.
My issues are quite small though and only really stand out because of how much I enjoyed these two characters and their story. Their steamy scenes too were very satisfying. There are only two, and I would have preferred them to be a bit more explicitly after so much build up and tension (very much personal preference), but oh they were delicious to read.
I’m obsessed with these characters and I will now go fangirl over all the character art of them. I wish I could draw so I could obsess over them even more!
*I received an eARC from the author. All opinions are my own*
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