This story starts as a dark paranormal romance, then slowly expands into more of a romantasy as the relationship deepens in the Underworld.
Dimitri I am Prince of the Underworld, Lucifer’s unwanted son. Judge. Executioner. Demon. I was born in darkness, shaped by it. Fear was the only thing I’ve ever needed, violence the only thing I’ve ever understood… until her. Rosa steps into my world with quiet strength and haunted eyes, and suddenly, the kingdom I rule feels unstable. She shouldn’t want someone forged from blood and sin. She shouldn’t look at me like I’m anything but danger—but she does. She awakens parts of me that were never meant to exist. And that kind of weakness has consequences, because demons like me don’t get happy endings. I will burn Heaven and Hell before I ever let her go.
Rosa I learned early that love hurts. Pain became normal. Silence became survival. Then Dimitri appears terrifying, ruthless, and somehow, the only place I feel safe. Around him, I’m not fragile. I’m finally—not broken. I am seen, wanted, claimed. But loving a Demon Prince comes with a cost. When some secrets come to light, they won’t just destroy us. They will set the entire Underworld on fire. In a world built on sin and judgment, love is the most dangerous thing of all.
*Please note this is an expanded and reimagined version of Sinful Desires
I live in Pennsylvania, with my amazing husband and four beautiful children. Two boys and two girls. Some things about me, I am a romance junkie, I am addicted to coffee, and I love dancing and listening to music.
It has always been a dream of mine to write for a living. I love the art and creativity of writing, especially romance of course.
I was born in California and as a child growing up, my family and I moved around a lot and that gave me a large passion, a driving desire for writing and reading, the older I have gotten the greater my desire grew to become an author.
I love sitting on the front porch watching the creek in peace. It is where I find my creative drive. I love baking with my family, but I also enjoy lazy time, relaxing and spending quality time with the whole family.
I went into this expecting a dark romantasy with slow- burn tension, morally grey characters, and emotional payoff. Unfortunately, this wasn't it
The writing reads closer to a B-tier web novel, with heavy reliance on telling rather than showing. Characters are frequently described using broad, repetitive traits instead of being allowed to reveal themselves through action or dialogue. Dimitri, in particular, is introduced as terrifying and feared but this is reinforced through repetition rather than demonstrated in meaningful ways, which quickly dulled his impact.
Despite being marketed as a slow burn, the romantic progression moves extremely fast. By roughly 15% into the book, the relationship has already escalated into explicit physical intimacy, which undermines any sense of tension or anticipation. The early reveal of the mating bond at around 11% further collapses the pacing, removing the possibility for emotional development to unfold organically.
Several moments leaned heavily into familiarity genre tropes without subversion. The repeated "I'm not good for you" break up beats felt reminiscent of early paranormal romance in a way that boarded on cheesy rather than compelling. Later scenes raised more serious issues of tone and internal logic, particularly surrounding consent, trauma and the handling of intimacy immediately following violence, which felt deeply mismatched and uncomfortable.
Rosa, the main female character, had foundation for growth but was ultimately underwritten. Though positioned as resilient and powerful, her characterization often reduced her to passivity with emotional decisions driven almost entirely by the bond rather than personal agency. Moments that hinted at development repeatedly fizzled out before becoming meaningful. This was especially disappointing given the potential of her witch arc, which could have benefited from more page time and fewer repeated spice scenes.
The magic system also suffers inconsistency. In a story built around soul bonds and heightened awareness, key plot moments contradict their own rules, creating confusion rather than tension.
At over 500 pages, the lack of sustained character growth was difficult to overlook. One of the more compelling secondary characters, Ian, showed genuine emotional depth, only to be abruptly discarded to quickly resolve a subplot. This choice felt rushed and undeserved, especially compared to the attention given to less effective scenes.
There were moments that worked. Dimitri's groveling stood out as one of the more emotionally effective elements, and Rosa's support system following her power awakening was refreshing, if a little flat. I only wish this story had leaned into this a bit more.
Ultimately, this book may work for teasers who enjoy fast- paced, bond- forward romantasy with heavy spice and minimal focus on character evolution. Readers looking for slow- burn development, consistent worldbuilding, and emotionally earned relationships may find this one frustrating.
For context, I have read dark romances this just fell short for my expectations.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Demons, witches, and vampires, ooh my. This book has many supernatural creatures as par for the course they are not always friendly with each other😉. I found this book to be a good read. There were elements in this book that I did enjoy, but for me the pacing of the story was a bit disjointed, reducing it to a more simplistic take. The latter half of the book helped to close it out in a better fashion. Others might not object to it, so they'll have a higher rating.
Tropes contained: fated mates, found family, touch her and d!e, secret society, forced proximity, shadow mmc, first time.
I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.
For those who like things that happen fast, you probably going to like, but for me everything happen so fast and it’s a bit confusing. The writing is a little flat and it’s hard to keep going. The plot is good and had potential to be something really great but something’s are left unfinished and everything is rushed. Thank you for the ARC.
Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ Author: @j.s.rodriguez_author POV: Duel 1st person Gene: Dark Romantasy Triggers: Explicit sexual content, Gore & Violence, Murder, Child abuse, abandonment, attempted sexual assault, etc. Read Time: 6-8 hours Expected Publishing Date: OUT NOW
❤️ World Building: The world building was just incredible. It gave enough details that brought you into the book, but not so much that it feels heavy or drawn out.
❤️ The Characters: Rosa and Dimitri were fabulous main characters! I loved their dynamic, the bond making it so they can’t stay away from each other, no matter how hard they fight it. They were layered and complex with great character growth. The side characters stood out, especially Cassie, Rosa’s best friend. Girlfriends are such an important part of a girl's life, that seeing a strong, ride or die relationship is a wonderful thing to read!
❤️ The Story: The story was captivating. I couldn’t put it down. It drew you in and kept you wanting to read more. It was more complex and thrilling than just a spicy read. I was sad when it ended, I could have kept reading about this world and these characters. I hope there is more to come.
❤️🔥Overall: I highly recommend this book, so far I have adored everything I’ve read from @j.s.rodriguez_author, seriously check her out!!
Demon Fact Inspired by Dimitri: Asmodeus is definitely not the sort of demon you want to come up against. He is an influential member of the demon hierarchy and is said to command the power of 72 legions. As the demon prince of lust, it is Asmodeus’s job to ensure people give in to their carnal desires and explore the boundaries of sexual appetite. (www.thecoolist.com)
I was gifted this book free for my honest opinion, you know the drill 😉
Verdict: Did Not Finish. I tried, but the writing style wasn't for me. Characters had potential, as did the story. Would have loved to continue, but couldn't due to writing.
I would ike to first note that Throne of Sin and Desire is a reimagined and expanded version of an earlier book called Sinful Desires. I did not read the book before receiving this one. If it was availabled, I would have tried to read it. Though it was not on Kindle Unlimited and is listed as Temporarily Out of Stock everywhere I have tried to find it. Not sure what to take from that. Though, as this is a reimagined and expanded version of this book, we won't spend too much time on this.
The book opens with potential with the little blurb before the prologue, but I find myself struggling already by chapter two. Rosa, as a main character, has broken qualities. Nothing is wrong with it, but it just seemed a bit too forced and rushed. Like everything just starts crumbling, and a simple crack becomes instant destruction.
When this trope is nothing wrong with it, there are ways to do it and ways to not do it. I try to never DNF a book, ARC or not. Though it is already rough, I'm going to continue to meet the male main character, Dimitri.
Dimitri, as a character, is a little better. I thought chapter two, in which it is his POV, starts much better. Though I just can't with the writing.
I liked the concept of the story, but the writing isn't for me. I just can't continue this with the writing alone. It feels almost too forced. Less like a book and more like a script. I would have loved to explore more within the world. I would have loved to learn more about Rosa and her family. Gotten to know Dimitri a bit more. Though I just can't get on board when it comes to the writing.
Thank you to J.S. Rodriguez for the opportunity to read this early. As always, my thoughts are my own.
Throne of Sin and Desire is a dark romantasy packed with demons, witches, vampires, and a morally gray Demon Prince who very much lives in “touch her and die” territory. Dimitri is intense, possessive, and dangerous, while Rosa brings a quieter strength shaped by trauma and survival. Their dynamic—shadowed, obsessive, and emotionally charged—is the heart of this story.
There were elements I genuinely enjoyed. The supernatural world has strong foundations, the trope lineup is solid (fated mates, forced proximity, found family), and the latter half of the book pulls together more cohesively than the opening. Once the story settles into itself, the pacing improves and the stakes become clearer.
That said, the overall execution felt a bit uneven for me. Some scenes that should have carried more emotional weight felt rushed, and I found myself wanting deeper character development and smoother transitions—especially early on. The romance leans more instant than slow-burn, which may work for some readers but didn’t fully land for me.
Still, this feels like a great entry point into dark romantasy, especially for readers newer to the genre or fans of Hades x Persephone–style dynamics. There’s clear potential here, and I’d be interested in seeing this world expanded further.
OK Besties… The opening of "Throne of Sin and Desire" had me locked in immediately. Dimitri... Prince of the Underworld, poss€ssiv€ & obs€ss€d, 'touch her & di€' energy... sets the tone fast, dark, and dangerous. Rosa brings a quiet strength that contrasts beautifully with his brutality, and I loved watching their slow-burn tension and forced proximity simmer.
Alright, tea time... The writing has a simplicity that makes it an easy read, but I did find myself craving more emotional depth. A few scenes felt rushed or a little too short, especially in moments where the emotions should’ve hit harder. Some creative enhancements and smoother transitions throughout the novel, would’ve elevated the flow of the story.
Now, with that said, the plot kept me turning pages. The Demon x Witch dynamic, hidden truths, power imbalance, and restrained obsession still made this a solid, spicy, suspenseful read.
Power through, Besties... the story is addictive, darkly romantic, and such good potential.
My Ratings: ⭐ 3.5/5 ▪︎ 🥵 3/5
🥀 For my rating scale breakdown, head over to my Goodreads &/or Amazon profile! 🖤
In my honest opinion, it has so much potential but I struggled to get through it. The start hooked me and I was pretty excited to see where it was going.
I don't like how flat some of the scenes felt. To me, all the problems were just solved too quickly with the characters getting over it pretty fast which I feel is unrealistic. I would've liked to see more character development.
Rosa forgave Dimitri for his awful behavior without making him grovel enough. There were times where I thought that she would finally stand up to him properly without letting their bond influence how much of a baddie she decides to be in the situation. I felt like a lot of scenes were repeated and I was very confused through a lot of the book. Some scenes didn't make sense to me with their placement in the story line.
Rosa is so powerful yet acts like she's meek and small when she has all these powers that she barely used for some reason?
I don't want to make anyone feel bad about their writing, I simply didn't enjoy it as much as I thought I would. I would like to read more of the author's work to compare, so it's not a total train smash for me.
What a man... Well Demon that is. In some ways this was the classic women love to have what rejects them persona. It is cat and mouse for a majority of the book which is really triggering especially when they're fated mates and there is this rejection. It really emphasizes why I love the "I choose her" energy.
Worldbuilding in this is average, it doesn't feel overly complex. The characters are a tad more complicated with not much development other than the MFC and the MMC. In some areas it feels like the story is disjointed while it is trying to bring it all together and there is a lot that left me rereading a page going HUH (probably doesn't help that I read at 2am).
Great eye candy in the book, cool magic powers, interesting plot twists. Decent read! Give it a go! Oh... Spice level is relatively low so don't expect too much D action.
Tropes contained: fated mates, found family, touch her and d!e, secret society, forced proximity, shadow mmc, first time.
I was given an advanced copy for an honest review.
Throne of Sin and Desire is a seductive plunge into a world where power, obsession, and desire collide in the shadows. J.S. Rodriguez creates a realm dripping with tension — political intrigue, dark magic, and characters whose cravings are as dangerous as the weapons they wield.
At the heart of the story is a romance that is anything but safe. The passion between the leads simmers with darkness, desire, and defiance, drawing the reader into moments that are tense, intimate, and utterly consuming. Every glance, every touch, is loaded with unspoken power and peril, keeping hearts racing and stomachs fluttering.
Rodriguez’s gothic worldbuilding is rich and immersive. The throne they vie for is not just political — it’s a throne of temptation, sin, and ruin, and no one escapes unscathed. The stakes are high, the magic is dangerous, and the romance is intoxicatingly toxic in the best possible way.
I recently reread a book called *Sinful Desires* by J.S. Rodriguez, which has been revised into an extended version titled *Throne of Sin and Desire*. This new edition is fantastic! I absolutely love the dynamic between Rosa and Dimitri; they are truly meant for each other.
In this version, we get to see much more of their relationship, showcasing their power and connection. I particularly enjoyed the scenes with Rosa and her father; their interactions added depth to the story. Meanwhile, Ian's heartbreak over Cassie—especially knowing that his brother is her mate—has me intrigued for their story.
The ending was wonderful, but it left me wanting more of Rosa and Dimitri ruling together, as well as more about the hellhounds. Overall, I would give this book five stars! If you enjoy dark fantasy, I highly recommend it. The writing is captivating and keeps you on your toes with plenty of emotion. It’s available on Kindle Unlimited if you want to check it out!
Throne of Sin and Desire by J.S. Rodriguez starts as a dark paranormal romance, then slowly expands into more of a romantasy as the relationship deepens in the Underworld.
It's a dark romantasy packed with demons, witches, vampires, and a morally gray Demon Prince with heavy touch her and die vibes.
Dimitri is intense, possessive, and dangerous, while Rosa has strength from trauma and survival. —Together they exude a weighted essence of shadowed, obsessive, and emotionally charged—
The supernatural world - full of strong foundations and popular tropes (fated mates, forced proximity, found family). Once the story settles into itself, the pacing improves.
I feel like this may work for some but for others the writing may seem more amateur.
I do see great potential.
I recommend this to other readers who want to be introduced into dark romantasy.
Thank you to J.S. Rodriguez for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Maybe it was because I loved Wicked Little Witch so much, but this one didnt live up to my expectations. While Rosa had such potential yet was reduced to emotionally decisions based on the bond. I wanted more of her strength and resilience. Not bond decisions. This book was marketed as a slow burn and it definitely wasnt. By the 11% mark, they were already in the mate bond and sleeping together. I tried separating both books and the characters as they aren't the same but its hard when Wicked Little Witch was such an amazing story, build up, etc. I don't feel like these two books were written by the same author. I expected so much more. So much more growth with both Dimitri and Rosa and the story. There were good moments, like Dimitri actually showing remorse and groveling, and Ian, who was done dirty imo. I had high expectations but it wasnt for me.
Throne of Sin and Desire by J.S. Rodriguez 3.5/5 stars
Dark demon/witch romantasy, how can you go wrong with a book like that?? You can’t exactly! I enjoyed the overall story idea that J.S Rodriguez was portraying with this book. The beginning took off nicely but then I got a bit stumped towards the middle for some time before I was able to get back into it.
Dimitri gives of touch her and die, possessive vibes for the mmc while the fmc Rosa is quiet and reserved due to the circumstances surrounding her upbringing only to find out she’s an all out powerful witch.
Felt like important parts were rushed when they really should have been fleshed out more but it was a good quick read if you’re looking for one. That is if you are into a bit or should I say a lot of demon .. if you catch my drift haha
I think this is a great starter book for getting into dark romantacy! I was a bit apprehensive in the first couple chapters, it felt a little cheesy with the main characters falling almost instantly with little resistance or getting to actually know each other. I will say it got better and hooked me a short time later!
It is reminiscent of Scarlett St. Clair's Persephone x Hades series. It is a similar writing style IMO and I had the same feels of uncertainty in the beginning as well, but went on to really enjoy the series. So if you're a fan of that series, you will enjoy this book!
All in all an entertaining read, with some good spice 🌶 I wanted a bit more from the FMC, but did enjoy the moral greyness of the MMC. I think there could have been a bit more depth to the plot as well as more character development/back story. The end is a bit open ended, it feels like this world has a lot of potential for further exploration and development with some spin off books or side stories.
Worthy of a read, it did make me want to keep reading to finish the story, so it was engaging once I got through the beginning.
I received an ARC for this book. And I’ve promised to give an honest review. This is all my opinion, reflection and feelings.
This book is great, if you are new into the demon-lore, dark fantasy etc. There is everything you need; worldbuilding, character building, backstory, side characters and drama. And it’s an easy introduction, to what this genre can do.
Unfortunately, it feels rushed. This has been a really good idea, and still is. But there’s been crammed so much action and drama into such a short novel, that some places it just falls flat.
And as an avid reader of different genres, I got a bit disappointed. Because you start the book, hearing about FMC’s tragic backstory, and her life is still tragic, she has never fallen in love, her adoptive mom is d*ad and her “dad” hates her. It all gets crammed in, so fast, and then suddenly her life changes to the extreme. Everything feels right and gets magically solved because of a guy. *Obviously* And then *suddenly* this guy sends mixed signals, and that makes her feel like everything is against her, just like her childhood. And then everything gets unraveled, thrush’s are revealed and *obviously*, she is a powerful woman, who is to be admired and treasured. No need for protection, even though she has needed it the whole book. And then the book ends, kinda suddenly, (with a shift, to a new story, about her friends lovelife and drama?)
I liked the concept of this book..give me a possessive MMC any day but I did feel it lacked depth which really pulls you into a world. Easy read but everything was very pointed...transitions from one scene to another lacked world building and character building which caused me to have to guess on some things, taking me out of the story. The second half got better but I never really knew the destination or goal of the subplot beyond the relationship and the subplot had so much potential to make an amazing story. The first half got a little repeatable for me with the "I need to stay away but can't". Overall I do think people can enjoy this depending on what you like. Ending gives a little Hades Persephone vibe.
⭐️I received this as an early review copy from the author. Opinions are my own⭐️
This story had traumatic moments, please read your triggers.
This was a 3 star read at best. It had the makings to be great, but fell flat. It was fast paced and lacked the character building that was desperately needed. This was marketed as a slow-burn dark romantasy. It was way too fast paced for the slow burn part. It didn't have the world building either. Descriptive terms were used, but I didn't feel pulled into the world like I normally would in a fantasy book.
This story had good bones, but the execution wasnt there.
I demolished this book in just over 24 hours….. there is so much tension between the MMC and FMC and I couldn’t get enough of it! The MMC can be a huge d i c k and at times I was like come tf on dude. FMC wasn’t as dramatic as I wished she would be but she was perfect. Dimitri and Rosa start out on a high and end on a high. There was a huge part of the book that took me for whirl but it was so refreshing for Rosa!!!
This book was beautifully written.
Can I also say Cassie is my bestie 🤣 loved her ugh
Wow, this book grabbed me and kept me reading till the last page was read. Once you start you discover that you cannot put this book down. The pace is perfect for the way that the story moves and it makes for an enjoyable and easy read. It has characters that no matter what happens you want to see them succeed and within a few chapters you are loving them. This book grabs you and keeps you wanting to know more. You will not be disappointed about this book and in fact once you are done you are wanting more. A must read, for sure.
Rosa feels like she is powerless and hates that’s she’s the damsel and even when she finds out she’s actually OP, her damsel ways still come to the surface. This is the introduction of Rosa becoming a “bad bitch” as well as a monster fucker.
Btw said monster is a bastard demon prince who acts as judge, jury, and executioner. The majority of the souls we see feel his wrath tend to be men who assaulted women, human trafficking, sexual abuse, physical abuse to women and children. And apparently he’s really fucking powerful
This was so much fun to read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Rosa was adopted as a child , lost her adopted mother and left to her abusive stepfather. Her only escape is her friend Cassie and Cassie's mother. What she doesn't know is her Mother is alive and sent her away for her safety. Eleanor sends the Demon Prince Dimitri to bring her daughter home before her 21st birthday. He immediately realizes Rosa is his Mate. Will Rosa accept both sides of him, will she accept her own powers? Great spicy read with an amazing cast of characters I hope to hear/read more about
I liked the concept of the story, but the writing style didn’t quite work for me. I felt like the story had a lot of potential that wasn’t fully explored, especially when it came to world-building and the development of the side characters. I would have loved to spend more time in the Underworld and see Rosa’s relationship with her parents explored in more depth.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Goodreads Review — A Throne of Sin & Desire ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A fast-paced dark romantasy that wastes absolutely no time pulling you in. A prince of the underworld? Umm, yes please. Pair that with a sweet, innocent FMC and the contrast is chef’s kiss.
Possession, obsession, a touch of “good girl” energy, and just enough darkness to keep things deliciously tense—I was hooked, line and sinker. A fun, addictive read that delivers exactly what it promises.
'In a world built on sin and judgment, love is the most dangerous thing of all.'
The characters drove the storyline and they were very compelling and complex and complicated. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building was excellent and impressive. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.
Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I enjoyed this book. It’s a Romantasy with so many different characters. We got witches, demon, vampire, and more. Love the intro where so much action happens from the start. Definitely will be reading more from this author!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
If you want a fast paced fantasy, this is the book for you. I loved that even though it was a fast paced book, it still flowed really well. I do wish there was more information about the FMC learning her powers but I liked all the different aspects with demons, witches, vampires, etc. I also thought it was cool that the demons were fated mates.
throne of sin and desire I thought this dark romantasy was a really good fast paced read I did enjoy the world building I liked how there was a few different dynamics of realms in this book you had demons, vampires, witches and more. Dimitri is a morally gray mmc he's a touch her and d!e type of demon, obsessed with his mate rosa she's a witch although she doesn't know it she has a fight in her that keeps her safe time and time again, the tension between the mmc and fmc is high keeps you on the edge of your seat.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.