The First Rebel: A Dark Why Choose Stepbrother Cult Romance

by Jus Synn, Kamila Garza

He was supposed to save me.
Instead, he taught me how to burn.

These men have always been the fire in my chaos—reckless, devoted, and far too willing to follow me into the dark.
But the Sanctum doesn’t stay buried.
Its symbols return.
Its whispers crawl back through the cracks we thought we sealed.

Now every touch feels like a warning.
Every kiss tastes like defiance.
And I can’t tell if Nico is my salvation… or the spark that sets the ruins alight.

Ash still protects.
Rafe still bleeds.
Cassian still preys.
But this time, I’m not the vessel they made me.
I’m the rebellion they never saw coming.

The First Rebel is where faith fractures, desire blasphemes, and survival demands sin.

280 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[Aracely · Rating 5 out of 5]

⚠️Check TW’s before reading⚠️

🖤 This is book 4 in The Step Sins Saga, in order to read this one you need to have read the prequel and the first 3 books. These are not standalones, you will be very confused if you don‘t read them in order.

🖤Jus and Kamila, I got beef with y’all!! What do you mean you are gonna leave us with that cliffhanger?! *insert tt sound “emotional damage”* I will be sending over my therapy bill 😂. Also, I have fully convinced myself that what happened at the end didn’t actually happen, cause it can’t. I need answers, like now please 🥺. Anyways, moving on from that emotional wreckage, Lorelei is such a fucking bad ass. She doesn’t take shit from anyone and she goes after what she wants, and I lover her for it! Also, I will admit that y’all were right when you said that Talia was trying. Hey, Talia, my girl…that thing I said about you last time…yeah, I take it back. Okok, and now on to the boys, Nico surprised me!! Those scenes with him 👀 were fucking hot! Like SIRRRR, this is a Wendy’s!! Omg and that pegging scene?! Yeah, it was all kinds of hot, they all can get it! Anyways, I’m loving this series so far and cant wait to see what y’all have in store for the next one!

📚Book Type: book 4 in The Step Sin Saga

✨Tropes/CW’s
🧎🏽‍♀️Pegging
🧎🏽‍♀️Why choose
🧎🏽‍♀️Bi & polyamory rep
🧎🏽‍♀️Hurt/Comfort
🧎🏽‍♀️Mutual obsession
🧎🏽‍♀️Found family/cult survivors
And more!

[Ashley Fields · Rating 5 out of 5]

The First Rebel is book four in the Step Sins series, and this series is just f l y i n g by. 👏🏻 And the deeper we get into the story, the more I'm falling in love with it. It's so so so unique and the world building is amazing.

I was honestly so excited for Lorelei the entire book - she's sober, her relationships with her men are solid(ish,haha), she's not taking any shit from Sanctum - or anyone from that matter, & she's going after what she wants. She's growing so much & ready to blow some shit up.

The plot progressed a ton in this book - Lo & the guys (and Talia, who I will begrudgingly admit was much more tolerable in this one 😂) are much closer to helping Lo's mom and taking down the entire system. BUT... those last two chapters 👀 What seems like happened better not have really happened. 😬🥺 I'm in complete denial until I get book five. 🙃

[jor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This cliffhanger was brutal omg😭

Each book that gets released ends up being my favorite. Despite the cliffhanger in this one, the spice and the relationships in this were so good!! I feel like we got to know Nico a lot more in this and he has jumped to being one of my favorites. Lo was able to catch a bit more of a break this book until well...😂 I had a few favorite quotes throughout because Synn and Garza did their big one with this book, but my top two are:

“You taste like big trouble,” he mutters, voice raw. She laughs—broken, high. “Then eat me like you’re on death row.”

“Yeah. I was trying to impress someone.” “Who?” “Does it matter?” “Yes.” My voice slips. “Who?” She meets my eyes, steady, then looks away. “You.”

I am so excited for the next installment! I can't believe we're getting close to the end already but I need the next one like I need air 😂

[Elvina Elshad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is it normal to fall in love with a new MMC in every single book? Because I do every time. Still, Cassian owns a permanent spot in my heart, though Nico is giving him serious competition. Their relationships are so intense, raw, and emotionally consuming that I can’t even choose a favorite.
And Lo? I completely understand her. If I were her, I wouldn’t be able to choose either.

The First Rebel is the fourth book in The Step Sins Saga, and it takes everything you thought you knew about these characters and turns it into a storm of obsession, passion, and rebellion.

Please make sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in, this series isn’t for the faint of heart.

🔥 Tropes
• Dark Why-Choose Romance
• Forbidden Love
• Mutual Obsession
• Pegging
• Morally Grey Characters

[Dark Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 4 in the Step Sins saga, and you should read the books in order. It's also a dark romance - check triggers before reading.

I enjoyed this "episode" of the series more than the past 2 - I had a much easier time understanding what was going on without losing that heady, fever-dream-like feeling. Lo really comes into her own and begins to understand what role she must take - and we begin to explore further into her and her boys' past. Talia gets a bit more redemption here, and Nico's back in the picture with some smokin' hot spice.

Loved this and the emotional stress of the cliffhanger is too much to take - I need the next one ASAP!

[Kat Jowett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I'm finally understanding this and it is amazing! I cannot wait for the last book. It is dark and delicious and not going to lie I'm still kinda worried about the authors state of mind...Girl are you ok? Do you need a hug?

Seriously though this Is a fantastic series dark, dangerous and deranged.
I 100 percent recommend for those dark romance girlies and the psychological romance ladies I think this is right up your street.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 5 of The Step Sins series. Please watch your triggers.

The characters were very well written and complex and complicated and compelling. Plot evolves to a showdown. The world building continues to impress. Recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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

This book is like sin wrapped in velvet! See what I did there? Welcome to the party Nico!!!! I’m sorry for what I said about Talia in my last review.but the ending has me like :/(