High Demand

Poison Apple Duet #1

by Michaela Jackson

It starts with an interview. It ends with a cultist determined to make her his.

Res

Lauressa Kleen left a cult when she was seventeen and has spent the last ten years resisting all attempts by her family to drag her back in. So she knows better than to fall for all Jaxson Devine’s manipulations and lies to get her to join him in The Sovereignty, no matter how charming and handsome he is.

But Jaxson knows all her desires. All her needs. All her fears. And he’s not above hurting her to get what he wants.

Eventually, she sees the truth in his lies. The benevolence in his manipulation. The love in his cruel obsession. Even worse, she’s craves the heat of his arms around her, burning the loneliness away every time he hurts her.

Jaxson

Jaxson Devine doesn’t believe in providence or divinity. He knows The Sovereignty is a scam. But a legal scam, all because someone decided it was a religion and made it untouchable. He’s not above using his place in The Sovereignty as the son of the Oracle to attain the one thing he Power.

Then he lays eyes on Lauressa Kleen and wonders if he might be mistaken about providence or divinity. Because only divinity could have created a woman as perfect as her. And only providence could have caused their meeting.

Now he covets her.

He’ll do anything to have her. He’ll shatter her and make himself the only one who can help her pick up the pieces. He’ll force her to make him her savior. And in the end, she’ll be grateful for it.

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Dark, Cult Classics, Enemies To Lovers

Unknown Binding

Reviews

[Gretchen Charles · Rating 1 out of 5]

turns out i do have hard limits in books

[Leanne Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well then

Very interesting book, but still not gonna get over the Menstrual cup like that was mad to do.😂 but I still enjoyed the book.

[Sahara · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 20%

[Mariam · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Look at you,” Jaxson says. “My Snow White. The most beautiful of them all. You are worth everything. You are perfection.”
I huff. Perfection.
“No. I’m not perfect,” I snap. “I won’t let you put me on that pedestal. I’m not some perfectly crafted object to be made someone’s prize. Least of all yours.”
Jaxson buries his face between my neck and shoulder and pulls me flush against him.
“Doesn’t matter what you want. You’re already on the highest pedestal. Whether you like it or not.”
“And what if I fall and break? What if I’d rather fall?”
“I’ll make sure you don’t.”
“That sounds an awful lot like control.”
“It is control,” Jaxson admits. “But if I can’t control you, how am supposed to be able to protect you from falling, Lauressa?”

I ADORE THIS!!!! EASY 4.5! This is literally a dark romance, cult, fairy tale retelling and whatever this genre is, i need more.

a perfect blend of mystery, intrigue, plot, character development, devious manipulation and softie-level caretaking, obsession and possession and the whole thing. We've got some dark plots and some dark smut, but also some sweet scenes that highlight the friendship that also goes into the romance which was SO UNEXPECTED from a cult book. its got me being like what the actual fuck am i reading while also swooning???



It's got the chase and the catch, the push and the pull, and SO MUCH MANIPULATION aaaah.

[Krystal Skye H. · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️

So I knew going into this book that I was going to have a bit of a struggle going into a plot about religion and cults. As fascinating as they are, I'm even less tolerant than Res is in this book lol I was able to look over most of it but definitely had to put down the book a few times and walk away. My mind just continued to drift to it, though, so it didn't last long.
****SPOILERS****
A bit of a beef with the security team committing suicide just because they'd seen Res naked. Extremely over the top and also very opposite of what Res is supposed to stand for, which is helping people and victims of cults. So, the security team, in this instance, would be the victims. But she moves on incredibly fast from Jaxson's murders/maimings of multiple people, and then they don't speak on it again until the end. Even then, it's in a teasing way, and it's shocking that she isn't shaken by it tbh.

I totally knew his dad was going to pull some BS!! Can't wait to get into the next one.

[Aislinn · Rating 1 out of 5]

y'all.....this was insane.

[Adi · Rating 1 out of 5]

....what?—

[Glendy · Rating 1 out of 5]

ଘ(੭ˊᵕˋ)੭━☆ﾟ*:. ੈ✩‧₊˚⁺✧.｡+.｡☆ﾟ:;｡+☆ﾟ¨ﾟﾟ･:..ﾞ

RATING: ONE OUT OF FIVE STARS.

.ೃ࿐

I have never in my life have I had such a bad time reading a book but I guess I should know better than to get my books from TikTok.

This book traumatized me in ways I have never been traumatized before. I'm talking the fully nine yards. Never in my life have I been shocked the entire book. It was just hit after hit after hit. I will not be moving on to book two. I barely finished the first one with my life why the fuck would I subject myself to further traumatization? No sir. Give it to the next bitch.

Sometimes I think the trigger warnings are a bit much for some books yet they are exceedingly well deserved for this book. The fuck I look like joining a cult, letting a man take out my diva cup and drink it, further religiously traumatize me, torture my ex boyfriend, and take out a man's eyeballs for fingering me? AND I have sex in front of my shitty family? NOPE. I feel bad for the FL.

I didn't think I knew what my limits were but this book is where I say FUCK NO. The only reason I even finished reading this book was because I could not believe my eyes that this is a book with a three star rating. Do yourself a favor and save yourself this trash read. If I could give it a negative rating I would but i'm stuck with a 1 star rating.

She's a VICTIM. And you know what? Fuck it, I'm a victim too for reading this shit.

MAMA there's trauma behind you! RUN.

[Eml · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has to be one of the most worst books I have ever read. this really amazed me and not in the right way. I knew this was a dark romance of course I have read plenty and I just find there is so many unneeded scenes. Please do read the TW those before the starting this, they are there for a reason. I just had hope even though I was not enjoying the book that maybe the plot would pull through. There was not needed for a lot of scenes especially the last one with her parents. disgusting. From both sides, of course. guys in a cult. Stalks girl and wants her to join the cult he doesn't even believe in or whatever. a lot of detailed nasty scenes. like why did he torture her ex? or anyone? and she made a bunch of people die? like? the ex wasn't even a horrible person. the book is just very disturbing. I would love to say more about how I hated this book but I hate to even mention the stuff that happened.

[Lucia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don't recommend people to read this book if you got it from tiktok. If you like very dark romances, then it is fine, but otherwise, don't attempt to read it as it will traumatise you.
*
*
*
The book was not what I expected. Overall, it was okayish for me, but I did not like it that the FMC became a victim of a cult at the end. I really wished she stood up for herself and possibly found a way to escape it. It was very hard for me to read this book because I was not a huge fan of the cult and MMC. I didn't like how the MMC kept on referencing the cult's teachings when he himself knew they weren't right . I hated that period cup scene. It was creepy and cringe. I had to skip the rest of that chapter and a few scenes of the next due to the MMC still talking about that. I was okay with blood and gore and the murders. This book could be way better. Left me on a cliffhanger, and so I will wait for the 2nd book. Maybe.

[Ally · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has trigger warnings, and they definitely need to be adhered to. This book was really good, though. It was fantastic writing, and the story was intriguing. I love the psychological aspect of it. It wasn't something I NEEDED to know the next line or what happened next, but it was definitely worth the time I spent reading it. Even if I did have a multiple month break a couple times lol. If I haven't stated already, I really enjoyed reading this but I probably wouldnt read it again until I've forgotten almost the entire thing. and I most likely wont be going to read the second book, just because it feels like one of those things where you got all the good stuff in the first book and the second book most likely wont hold my attention. so overall id rate this like a 3.8 stars.

[Carmen · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 57% - So I stopped reading this for a different reason then most. As stupid as this may sound, Res was getting so insufferable and very hypocritical to the point of me not being able to finish this. Although I understand why she feels the way she feels, I think it’s a little too far that in every other chapter she feels the need to remind readers that she is against organized religion, as if she literally isn’t obsessed with the concept. I don’t know why that kept rubbing me the wrong way, especially since I’m not that religious at all, but I just felt like it was getting super annoying and demeaning to the characters in her life that were.

[Peyton · Rating 4 out of 5]

read at your own risk

This book is very well written, however it is incredibily dark- there is lots of trauma, uncomfortable scenes, and appalling behavior. If you are religious, I recommened staying away from this book unless you want to start questioning your religion. If you have religious trauma, I wouldn’t recommend reading this, as it might bring up your own trauma again. I look forward to the second book, but please read this book at your own risk & pay attention to the trigger warnings

[MCrawDRKRead · Rating 3 out of 5]

So this was definitely a book with a new idea/direction for me. Wasn’t really sure what I was getting into when I started, but I didn’t love it/didn’t hate it. The ending was definitely one that makes you wonder what will happen next, so that was a good decision on the authors part. The female lead character was just okay for me- could take or leave her…I didn’t like how someone who went through so much could be that naive/trusting at the same time. The male lead is straight up psychopath and I’m all for it.

[ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my top reads for this year. Absolutely loved how Res & Jaxson relationship came together even if this is giving Stockholm Syndrome 🫶🏻 The banter, arguing, back and forth bickering…I LOVED IT. Also, can we talk about that ending??? When I say I lowered my kindle, mouth dropped open and eyes aimlessly wondering around my room…WHATTTT!! I’m going to need the next book NOW. 😭 Literally the best story line I’ve read in a long time.

Don’t put this on your TBR, read it now!

[Bug · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually genuinely really liked the content and the story. I thought it was interesting, in a dark way, and was immersed in the story. It would get 4 stars if it weren’t for the sheer number of grammatical errors - punctuation, incorrect word choice, incorrect tense/wrong pronoun for the character (not intentional), or superfluous words. That being said, I will still recommend it to some of my friends (that can handle dark content) as long as they can get through the grammar issues.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read ad re read this duet more times than I should have. It is two of three books I can read and read again I the same 6 month period.
High Demand is amazing. It has taking down a cult vibes, killing people for looking at the FMC and touching the FMC and spicy and a cute cat. Don't want to spoil it because I want people to read it. No dates for when I started it and finished it because this first book I have read at least 4 times.

[Kylie Swift 31 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely read the trigger warnings on this one!
.
Loved this so much! But also devastated the next book isn’t available yet! Jackson’s mission to take over his father’s role as the cult leader definitely added a refreshing take to the plot. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book! I can’t wait to read the next one. The only real thing I have to complain about is that there are quite a bit of errors on KU and it became confusing at times.

[Marissa Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

slowwww to get into. I'm not much into religion or cult book but it had a twist that I enjoyed once it got to it. Pre-ordered the next one. The ending was a little mind blowing but also forceable.

[E. C. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the whole idea, and the writing was pretty solid (typos here and there, but good flow). But the character development was a little off. Like, was Jax a crazy psycho or a rigid control freak? I wasn’t sure. But based on that one scene with his staff I’m leaning psycho.

And was Res a strong, smart, hacker badass or a lame sad girl? Again, hard to tell. But since her podcast and hacker skills sortof dropped off as a plot device mid book, I guess I’ll go with lame. AND, she’s is supposed to hate cults!! But then she decides to maybe lead one? That’s… frustrating.

Anyway, I’ll give book two a shot because that ending was great. But I’m not expecting too much.

[Haunting Fae · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun quick read! Quite a few grammatical errors and very repetitive with the words used but a decent read none the less!

[ashtonblackadder · Rating 2 out of 5]

He drank WHAT

[Addison · Rating 3 out of 5]

wow….okay

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Weird but interesting. Unsure of how I feel about it

[flor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m only 74% in and I’m kinda in shock by how much I got through it bc WHAT THE FUCK ?????????

[M Crow · Rating 3 out of 5]

dnf - just couldn't get into it. won't rate it less because I didnt read it all so can't accurately give it a score. so hitting it in the middle so it doesn't help tank a score unfairly.

[Mandaa S · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was worse than I imagined it to be. It was predictable almost through out the book and I did not like the ending. It had good potential but blew it..

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

well done!

A very tightly scripted dark hero story. Slow burn then instantly a small inferno then back to slow burn. Unexpected cliff hanger!!

[Victoria Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Favorite Quote:

“I decide to bite the poison apple.”