Creed: Submission

Confessions of Creed #1

by Odessa Harlow

"Do you know how long it takes a person to die once their body’s engulfed in flames?

Four minutes."

Hope was the cruelest thing I ever carried. It told me if I was quiet enough, obedient enough, lovely enough, I could be more than a Doll. But my starting price was a billion dollars, and now I'm Creed.

Three men and me. Sharpened into weapons. Hollowed out into machines. Sold as death incarnate. Any contract with Creed attached meant someone was bound to burn alive.

We were taught to carve the humanity out of ourselves until nothing remained but what our buyers wanted. Submission was survival in our world, but bodies have a way of cataloging hurt, even when we beg them to forget.

And mine is so bruised, so broken and stitched, blood leaking from every crevice of my soul that I simply must confess this to you—all that Creed did—we did.

✦ ☠︎ ✦ ☠︎ ✦ ☠︎ ✦

What you’ll find within the Confessions of Creed:
• Captive heroine
• Trauma bond
• Found family (brutal and twisted)
• Forbidden love
• Silent/broken hero
• "Touch Her and Die" protectors
• Black ops missions
• Female rage

✦ ☠︎ ✦ ☠︎ ✦ ☠︎ ✦

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Amazon, Military Romance

321 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 25, 2025

Reviews

[Caitlin_ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

The gasps I gusped the ENTIRE time reading this…

Coming from someone not so easily impressed, READ THIS RIGHT NOW.

Actually, to warn you, this is NOT a story for the faint of heart…or stomach.

So, take a deep breath, read the trigger warnings, CAREFULLY, and dive in.

This is achingly traumatic, and in moments extra tender and so very, unapologetically, raw.

The ending is a whopping cliffhanger, and also doesn’t make a lot of sense, but I’m confident in this author to get us there in book 2.

Note: there IS s*exually explicit content in this (in addition to SA), but it’s not the hot and fun kind; it’s tender and very very emotional between MCs.

✔️ Strong & Resilient FMC
✔️ Protective, loyal MMCs
✔️ Contract-to-hire killers, but not by choice
✔️ Found Family
✔️ GUT WRENCHING VERY DARK THEMES

⚠️⚠️⚠️ TW: R*pe (a lot of it), torture, violence, child abuse…the list goes on so BE MINDFUL.

Preread

There’s a trigger warning for “emotional destruction” from the author. Apparently I’m a masochist, so here we are!

[makayla ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was dark, gut wrenching, and beautifully written. this is a deeply, deeply dark book, one i would’ve never imagined myself reading. check your trigger warnings- look out for yourself. please. the topics are insanely heavy and this book is not meant to be romanticized. while yes, there’s a beautifully tragic love story, that’s the least of what this book is about. if you have the stomach for it (which believe me, i didn’t and had to put it down a few times) i would recommend. i was going to put a pause on this book because of how deep it was, but i couldn’t because it was so well crafted and like nothing i’ve read before. it dealt with all the topics in a way that was real and raw. other than this, the plot was so interesting and had me hooked, which i feel so awful for even saying because of the topics addressed, but it reeled me in. i’ll remember this book for a long time.

[Niamh Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 stars- I highkey really enjoyed this? There were a few spelling errors which kinda threw me off. The plot was acc really dark which was different for me but it wasn’t awful. It was such a short and quick read and lowkey the ending is really good. Also love the man love interest!

[Kathryn Young · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need need need book two I’ll be an arc reader I’ll literally do anything cause I need to know where Mrs. Creed goes next!!!!!

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve just had my gut ripped out 20 times in 200 pages!

Arden is going to go full rage and I’m absolutely here for it. Kane is a sweetheart, as is Thorne. Rafe is breaking my heart.
On to book two, immediately.


Highlights

That look—that assumption that I’d fold—lit something savage in me.

I wasn’t becoming a Creed. I already was one. Viktor had just called me Doll instead.

It was then I realized, despite living near his orbit for over a decade, that it wasn’t that Rafe Creed didn’t want to talk; it was that he couldn’t hear.

“Mr. Halden,” he growled. “If you could so kindly send a fucking medic, your billion dollar asset is bleeding out all over the floor, and let me assure you—if Arden Creed dies, so will you.”

Kane had thought briefly to kill me, and it’d made him the smartest person in that cell.

“If the choice is to use me or lose a Creed, fucking use me. Promise it. Just do what Halden wants and we’ll get the fuck out of here.”

It was him. It had always been him.

Any kiss was a gun in that fucking place, and we’d all just riddled ourselves with bullets by letting Rafe Creed's heart reach toward mine.

Any kiss was a gun in that fucking place, and we’d all just riddled ourselves with bullets by letting Rafe Creed's heart reach toward mine.

The walls he had up melted, his lips curving with a relieved grin. You’re always welcome in my bed, beautiful. You don’t need to ask. Beautiful. He'd called me beautiful.

There's beauty in the dark. At least, I fucking hope there is. Otherwise, what's the point of all the pain and suffering? The point? I heaved a sigh. To make rich men richer.

As long as you're here, alive, with me—that's enough. You've been mine to protect for as long as I can remember, and I'll die before I let go of you. So no, Arden, I know exactly what I said and I meant it.

If we ever find a space between hells again, he signed, every movement sharp with his determination and love, you won't venture into the next one without a ring on that finger.

[Lyndsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m calling it now: this deserves to blow up and I think it will. It takes so much talent to write something this dark and yet have the person reading it yearning for more. I saw a TikTok video for it and tried it on a whim seeing there were only 10 reviews. DO IT. READ IT. BUT CHECK YOUR TRIGGERS!!!! This isn’t your typical dark romance where the dark is the spice or a morally grey bad boy. The dark is ACTUALLY dark scenarios and an extremely horrible but somehow captivating plot. I felt the same way reading this as I did reading A Little Life or Alchemised or Flock (if you know you know). I can’t stop thinking about Arden and I’ve never fallen for side characters in the way I have with this book. I need book 2 immediately but also I’ve no plan to rush it for the author. Whatever magic they cooked into this, I want it in the sequel too so take your time girl but also…GIMME. I’ll beta read, arc read, whatever you need!

[Aaliyah Jasmin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god. This story was heartbreaking, full, and REAL, even if I couldn't fathom living this life. All of the characters were real - living people surviving in the worst of the worst. How do I even begin to describe this story? The plot was THICK, the twists and turns so heartstopping. I have never read a book that sucked me in this fast. Each chapter being a confession was captivating. The end was SUCH a shock, I almost hollered. They all deserve so much better, even the ASL teacher.

I am so sad :'(

[Josalyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. To follow the heartbreaking story and at each step hold so much hope that maybe they will catch a break but to be utterly rocked with more pain and suffering is astounding. I genuinely felt so much emotion hoping just for once Arden wouldn’t be hurt. I am genuinely so emotionally wrecked from watching Arden go through so much along with Rafe, Kane, and Thorne. This is a understated masterpiece

[Mik · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was truly terrible, like nightmare fuel meets sadness meets absolute absurdity. You don’t want to ever imagine what Odessa writes in this book and that’s what makes reading it so cruel. It is truly the worst of the worst, yet it is written so well and is so captivating and almost hopeful that I couldn’t stop reading no matter how sick I felt over what these characters were going through. It’s haunting, and I am on the edge of my seat for the next book.

[Daveena · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book just flowed so nicely, it felt like I was watching a HD movie in my head 😂. This book was amazing, gut wrenching but amazing and not for the faint of heart, it started off bad for these characters and it got worse and then it got worser. I usually don’t read book series that are not completed because I can’t do the waiting but I did it for this and now I regret it as I have to wait for the second.

[Emory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read it in one sitting. Very traumatic, but stayed for the found family. I am really hoping for some kind of happy ending for the Creed, but who knows. Also, I am not sure what is going on in the very first chapter because I kind of felt like that was forgotten by the end of the book. There was no call back to it. Anyways, I am looking forward to the next book and seeing where it goes.

[Hilda Barrioz · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely stunning

The perfect mix of darkness, heartbreak, hope and shock. The characters are written in a way that they take on life of their own and you can feel their emotions with each word you read. This book is absolutely going to live rent free in my head forever

[Goob · Rating 5 out of 5]

seriously such a gut wrenching read and the writing style is so wonderfully done i just had to finish it. i would definitely read the second book because i need to know what kind of ending the CREED family will have!!!

[Reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is DARK, the whole time my brain was in shambles… this book is very very good but please read the warning beforehand this is not a funny story! I need to read book 2 if there is one if not SHE NEEDS TO GET TO WRITING!

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! This book had me completely on edge and hooked. I could not put it down. There is so much heartache and pain with a mixture of hope. The ending was the perfect twist. Seriously need more of these characters!!!

[Naomi Hickman · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

This was amazing. I just wish there was more 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️. It leaves on a cliffhanger and grrr. I want more.

[kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

i need the next book to be published like yesterday

[Syrenidie Vonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved everything about this book. The characters, how it’s written and the CLIFFHANGER!! I read this book in a day and immediately need a second one.

[Norah · Rating 4 out of 5]

bro I actually enjoyed this book but now there is no second book out

[Elianah · Rating 4 out of 5]

GIVE ME BOOK 2 RIGHT NOW!

[bay · Rating 4 out of 5]

honestly ‘fucked up’ is too tame of a term for what this book is. What’s also fucked up is that it’s an unfinished series and I went into it thinking it was a stand alone.

[Davia Haywood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully heartbreaking.

[Kenzie Bruscini · Rating 1 out of 5]

My reaction through the whole book:🥴😶

[Ellie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Crushed my soul, put it back together to crush it again and repeat the process. The trauma that these characters experience is intense. I couldn’t put it down. I am anxiously waiting to see where the story goes and how the characters grow. I’m scared to read more but I can’t wait at the same time.