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House of Sin
Welcome to The Oily Cat, where desire meets danger and justice is served with a seductive twist.
Rules are simple here: follow them, and you'll survive; break them, and you won't. Bernadette, the madam of the brothel, makes sure no one forgets this. She protects her girls with fierce devotion, and beneath her calm facade, lurks a woman capable of anything to keep them safe.
So, when a stranger arrives carrying sinister secrets that refuse to stay buried, something shifts. Old wounds resurface, new games are played, and Bernadette must decide how far she’ll go to defend what’s hers.
With every calculated seduction and buried truth brought to light, The Oily Cat transforms from a den of desire into a crucible of reckoning. As the town’s self-righteous veneer begins to splinter, the line between predator and prey blurs, until no one is safe.
House of Sin is a darkly erotic thriller full of lust, power, and consequences—where every kiss can cut, and every sin demands its price.
Rules are simple here: follow them, and you'll survive; break them, and you won't. Bernadette, the madam of the brothel, makes sure no one forgets this. She protects her girls with fierce devotion, and beneath her calm facade, lurks a woman capable of anything to keep them safe.
So, when a stranger arrives carrying sinister secrets that refuse to stay buried, something shifts. Old wounds resurface, new games are played, and Bernadette must decide how far she’ll go to defend what’s hers.
With every calculated seduction and buried truth brought to light, The Oily Cat transforms from a den of desire into a crucible of reckoning. As the town’s self-righteous veneer begins to splinter, the line between predator and prey blurs, until no one is safe.
House of Sin is a darkly erotic thriller full of lust, power, and consequences—where every kiss can cut, and every sin demands its price.
- GenresDark RomanceHistorical
478 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 14, 2026
About the author
Brittnay J Sears
2 books30 followersBrittnay J. Sears is a shower-singing, kitchen-dancing author with a dark sense of humor and a passion for writing fierce female characters who don’t play nice. A self-proclaimed survival show expert (despite zero training) and a lifelong horror movie junkie, she believes a little chaos makes for the best stories.
Brittnay J. Sears currently lives in Montana with her husband and four sons.
Brittnay J. Sears currently lives in Montana with her husband and four sons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 66 reviews
July 30, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ A story about found family and the choices you make after your world changes catastrophically. One of my favorite things about this book; it feels really good to see people get what they have coming. I loved that they stuck to their rules, and people saw consequences when it was deserved.
I loved the empowered women in this story. The FMC had a strong backstory that showed her emotional trauma, and how it led her to make the choices she did. And she helped other women’s who also needed a hand.
It was nice to see the other girls backstories, and learning their motivations too. As well as the priest who was an example of someone who could support and appreciate others who were trying their best.
It felt like the climax occurred quickly, and it could’ve been woven together a bit more carefully. I read an ARC, and these are my honest thoughts. A
I loved the empowered women in this story. The FMC had a strong backstory that showed her emotional trauma, and how it led her to make the choices she did. And she helped other women’s who also needed a hand.
It was nice to see the other girls backstories, and learning their motivations too. As well as the priest who was an example of someone who could support and appreciate others who were trying their best.
It felt like the climax occurred quickly, and it could’ve been woven together a bit more carefully. I read an ARC, and these are my honest thoughts. A
Did Not Finish
July 14, 2026 DNF at 42% but would recommend
Review of Arc received from author and The Author Agency
This is a book that grabbed my attention straight from the summary. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect to the story and found along the way that maybe it just wasn’t for me (but it’s one that I would definitely recommend for others).
Overall I would say that this is a great story for those who are interested in a gritty historical fiction. It is a reverse Jack the Ripper retelling with some mystery and deals with some heavy topics.
Bernadette (Birdie) runs her brothel with every woman who is under her roof being protected, every client knows the rules, and any man who crosses the line doesn’t leave. Birdie is fiercely protective of those she cars about. She’s been through hell and is stronger for it now.
The concept of it is still so interesting to me and it saddens me that I wasn’t connecting to or invested in the story. Maybe it was my mindset when I began it, maybe it was for other reasons, I am still unsure.
That being said, I would still absolutely recommend this book to others. Just because I wasn’t connecting doesn’t mean that you won’t. This is a story that I may come back to at some point in future and try again.
What to expect:
⭐️ Reverse Jack the Ripper
⭐️ Morally Gray Heroines
⭐️ Found Family
⭐️ Predator Becomes Prey
⭐️ Men Are Not Safe Here
⭐️ Beauty Used As Bait
⭐️ Brothel Setting
⭐️ Female Dom
Review of Arc received from author and The Author Agency
This is a book that grabbed my attention straight from the summary. Unfortunately, I struggled to connect to the story and found along the way that maybe it just wasn’t for me (but it’s one that I would definitely recommend for others).
Overall I would say that this is a great story for those who are interested in a gritty historical fiction. It is a reverse Jack the Ripper retelling with some mystery and deals with some heavy topics.
Bernadette (Birdie) runs her brothel with every woman who is under her roof being protected, every client knows the rules, and any man who crosses the line doesn’t leave. Birdie is fiercely protective of those she cars about. She’s been through hell and is stronger for it now.
The concept of it is still so interesting to me and it saddens me that I wasn’t connecting to or invested in the story. Maybe it was my mindset when I began it, maybe it was for other reasons, I am still unsure.
That being said, I would still absolutely recommend this book to others. Just because I wasn’t connecting doesn’t mean that you won’t. This is a story that I may come back to at some point in future and try again.
What to expect:
⭐️ Reverse Jack the Ripper
⭐️ Morally Gray Heroines
⭐️ Found Family
⭐️ Predator Becomes Prey
⭐️ Men Are Not Safe Here
⭐️ Beauty Used As Bait
⭐️ Brothel Setting
⭐️ Female Dom
Review of advance copy received from Author
“ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪꜱ ꜱɪɴ, ꜰᴀᴛʜᴇʀ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀ ʟᴀʙᴇʟ ᴡᴇ ᴘᴜᴛ ᴏɴ ᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴇꜱɪʀᴇꜱ? ʜᴇʀᴇ, ᴡᴇ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴄᴀʟʟ ɪᴛ ꜱɪɴ, ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀʟʟ ɪᴛ ꜰʀᴇᴇᴅᴏᴍ.”
— 𝕭𝖊𝖗𝖓𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖊.
💚 She's a wounded brothel owner
💚 Reverse Jack the Ripper.
💚 First person multiple POV
💚 A found family that kills together
💚 A brilliantly written antagonist POV
💚 No romance, revenge only
💚 Beautiful character art
In Indonesia, there's a famous song about prostitutes that calls them "night butterflies" to soften the term.
But in this book, I think "warriors" or "fighters" suits Bernadette and her girls (and ofc, Emil!) much better.
I'm honestly still in shock. I came in expecting a thriller set in the early 1900s, about evil women who enjoy killing men for fun and leave their bodies for an incompetent police force that hasn't evolved much even today. Instead, what I got was this hell made found family, a group of broken people who were simply fighting for their freedom.
This is one of those moments when I'm glad I didn't read the synopsis. Imagine my face looking like the famous Pikachu meme the entire time because I?? did?? not?? see?? that?? coming?? 😧
Telling the story mostly through Bernadette's POV was such an interesting choice. We've seen older protagonists before, but what if she's not only older, but also a wife and a grieving mother?
"𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙣𝙤 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙧-𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩, 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚."
The way this author wrote about grief, y'all 😭 Sears has this incredible ability to turn it into something beautiful while keeping it raw and painfully real. I almost cried over fictional people who only appeared in brief flashbacks, is that normal?? I'm not even a fan of poetic prose because it usually leaves me confused. But this one is chef's kiss mwah mwah 😘🤌 Sears didn't try to turn her book into a collection of poems. Her writing is just naturally elegant.
"𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚.”
I really loved Bernadette's character. She was strong, unbreakable, and a fierce mama bear to her girls. Maeve, Elona, and Violet each shone in their own way, and I could tell them apart almost immediately, which says a lot, considering I have the memory of a grandma in her nineties. I can't choose a favorite. I can't decide who was the best. Every one of the girls felt special, even though not all of their pasts were fully explored. I just wanted to hug them, braid their hair, and drink tea together. Maybe with a little tequila mixed in. Who cares? 🤧
"𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 ‘𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩,’ 𝙤𝙧 ‘𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣,’ 𝙤𝙧 ‘𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡.’ 𝙎𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩—𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨. 𝙉𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚’𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙩.”
I also adored our established couple, Emil and Nell. Most couples plan dates around candlelit dinners or walks in the park. Emil and Nell pick wild flowers for each other and then go burn rapists together. How romantic is that? 🥺 Talk about a power couple. Who says you can't be sweet and productive at the same time? Be like Emil and Nell, everyone!! Loyal, devoted, and stupidly romantic 🥰
Emil's presence was necessary, but I appreciate that Sears didn't use him as some kind of shield to say, "see? I don't hate men." House of Sin isn't that simple. This isn't a story about hating men, because there are good men. There are good women. What this book explores is the uglier side of humanity, what fear can turn people into, and how monsters, like the antagonist, can even use God as a disguise.
This is a heavy subject, but Sears handled it with care without making it feel like she was preaching about right and wrong. She trusted her readers to make their own judgments, and she wasn't afraid to let her characters do terrible things.
“𝙄𝙛 𝙄’𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙠, 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙣 𝙨𝙬𝙖𝙢𝙥.”
I do wish the antagonist had appeared sooner. As much as I loved this book, the first 50% felt a little repetitive. At times it almost read like a diary. An interesting diary, but still. Seeing Bernadette survive every scratch and every hardship was important, but I think that section could have been tightened a little.
That's honestly the only flaw I found, and it almost made me give the book four stars. But then the antagonist's POV showed up, and I changed my mind faster than Barry Allen could run. I'm a sucker for a well written villain POV, especially in first person, where you get to crawl inside their twisted mind and watch them justify every horrible thing they do. It was just ooooh boy, brilliant 😩 I've read 38 books so far this year, and I can confidently say Sears writes the best villain monologues I've come across. Hats off to an author who can make me deeply uncomfortable while making it impossible to stop reading!!
“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚; 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙. 𝙒𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚.”
Bonus point for the the chapter titles, bcs they were always spot on!! I've said it before, and I'll say it again: chapters with actual titles are always better than chapters that are just numbered or labeled with the speaker's name.
And the artwork? Hello??? I had to stop myself from flipping ahead because every time I turned the page and found another illustration, it felt like getting a little treat. They were so beautiful that I immediately went to the author's Instagram to see more 😍
The ending had me in an absolute chokehold. Seriously, I forgot my coffee and let it go cold because I was completely glued to the pages. I didn't move from my bed, phone in hand, holding my breath, thinking, hell yeah, this is what feminine rage looks like 😈 It was intense, delicious, and SATISFYING.
I didn't want to agree with the villain when they said "maybe violence was the answer" but for Bernadette and her family, it truly felt like the only answer left, and one that was completely justified. Who wants to watch a whore burn?
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧. 𝙄 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚.”
— 𝕭𝖊𝖗𝖓𝖆𝖉𝖊𝖙𝖙𝖊.
💚 She's a wounded brothel owner
💚 Reverse Jack the Ripper.
💚 First person multiple POV
💚 A found family that kills together
💚 A brilliantly written antagonist POV
💚 No romance, revenge only
💚 Beautiful character art
In Indonesia, there's a famous song about prostitutes that calls them "night butterflies" to soften the term.
But in this book, I think "warriors" or "fighters" suits Bernadette and her girls (and ofc, Emil!) much better.
I'm honestly still in shock. I came in expecting a thriller set in the early 1900s, about evil women who enjoy killing men for fun and leave their bodies for an incompetent police force that hasn't evolved much even today. Instead, what I got was this hell made found family, a group of broken people who were simply fighting for their freedom.
This is one of those moments when I'm glad I didn't read the synopsis. Imagine my face looking like the famous Pikachu meme the entire time because I?? did?? not?? see?? that?? coming?? 😧
Telling the story mostly through Bernadette's POV was such an interesting choice. We've seen older protagonists before, but what if she's not only older, but also a wife and a grieving mother?
"𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙣𝙤 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧, 𝙣𝙤 𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙫𝙚𝙧-𝙝𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙤𝙧 𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙚𝙩, 𝙬𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙠𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙨 𝙗𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙚. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙄 𝙖𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙙, 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙮 𝙗𝙡𝙤𝙤𝙙, 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙚."
The way this author wrote about grief, y'all 😭 Sears has this incredible ability to turn it into something beautiful while keeping it raw and painfully real. I almost cried over fictional people who only appeared in brief flashbacks, is that normal?? I'm not even a fan of poetic prose because it usually leaves me confused. But this one is chef's kiss mwah mwah 😘🤌 Sears didn't try to turn her book into a collection of poems. Her writing is just naturally elegant.
"𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙮 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙗𝙤𝙩𝙝 𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙨, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝙄 𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙜𝙚.”
I really loved Bernadette's character. She was strong, unbreakable, and a fierce mama bear to her girls. Maeve, Elona, and Violet each shone in their own way, and I could tell them apart almost immediately, which says a lot, considering I have the memory of a grandma in her nineties. I can't choose a favorite. I can't decide who was the best. Every one of the girls felt special, even though not all of their pasts were fully explored. I just wanted to hug them, braid their hair, and drink tea together. Maybe with a little tequila mixed in. Who cares? 🤧
"𝙋𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙞𝙣𝙜 ‘𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙩,’ 𝙤𝙧 ‘𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣,’ 𝙤𝙧 ‘𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙛𝙪𝙡.’ 𝙎𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢. 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙨𝙖𝙛𝙚𝙩𝙮, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙚, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮, 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩—𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮’𝙧𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨. 𝙉𝙤𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚’𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙞𝙩.”
I also adored our established couple, Emil and Nell. Most couples plan dates around candlelit dinners or walks in the park. Emil and Nell pick wild flowers for each other and then go burn rapists together. How romantic is that? 🥺 Talk about a power couple. Who says you can't be sweet and productive at the same time? Be like Emil and Nell, everyone!! Loyal, devoted, and stupidly romantic 🥰
Emil's presence was necessary, but I appreciate that Sears didn't use him as some kind of shield to say, "see? I don't hate men." House of Sin isn't that simple. This isn't a story about hating men, because there are good men. There are good women. What this book explores is the uglier side of humanity, what fear can turn people into, and how monsters, like the antagonist, can even use God as a disguise.
This is a heavy subject, but Sears handled it with care without making it feel like she was preaching about right and wrong. She trusted her readers to make their own judgments, and she wasn't afraid to let her characters do terrible things.
“𝙄𝙛 𝙄’𝙢 𝙜𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙖 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙮 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙢𝙪𝙘𝙠, 𝙄 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙣 𝙨𝙬𝙖𝙢𝙥.”
I do wish the antagonist had appeared sooner. As much as I loved this book, the first 50% felt a little repetitive. At times it almost read like a diary. An interesting diary, but still. Seeing Bernadette survive every scratch and every hardship was important, but I think that section could have been tightened a little.
That's honestly the only flaw I found, and it almost made me give the book four stars. But then the antagonist's POV showed up, and I changed my mind faster than Barry Allen could run. I'm a sucker for a well written villain POV, especially in first person, where you get to crawl inside their twisted mind and watch them justify every horrible thing they do. It was just ooooh boy, brilliant 😩 I've read 38 books so far this year, and I can confidently say Sears writes the best villain monologues I've come across. Hats off to an author who can make me deeply uncomfortable while making it impossible to stop reading!!
“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚; 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙞𝙣 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙝𝙖𝙙 𝙙𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧. 𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝, 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙩𝙤𝙪𝙘𝙝 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙞𝙥𝙥𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙖𝙩 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙨𝙖𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙧𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙄 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙𝙣'𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙥 𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙙. 𝙒𝙖𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚.”
Bonus point for the the chapter titles, bcs they were always spot on!! I've said it before, and I'll say it again: chapters with actual titles are always better than chapters that are just numbered or labeled with the speaker's name.
And the artwork? Hello??? I had to stop myself from flipping ahead because every time I turned the page and found another illustration, it felt like getting a little treat. They were so beautiful that I immediately went to the author's Instagram to see more 😍
The ending had me in an absolute chokehold. Seriously, I forgot my coffee and let it go cold because I was completely glued to the pages. I didn't move from my bed, phone in hand, holding my breath, thinking, hell yeah, this is what feminine rage looks like 😈 It was intense, delicious, and SATISFYING.
I didn't want to agree with the villain when they said "maybe violence was the answer" but for Bernadette and her family, it truly felt like the only answer left, and one that was completely justified. Who wants to watch a whore burn?
“𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙙𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙮 𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙛𝙚𝙖𝙧. 𝙄 𝙛𝙖𝙘𝙚 𝙞𝙩. 𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙢𝙚.”
July 21, 2026
I loved how strong willed these characters were after everything that had be thrown at them, they never gave up. Through all their grief they were so courageous and how they were they for each other and made a family with each other was the best.
July 14, 2026
Welcome to The Oily Cat, where desire is currency, and breaking the rules is a death sentence.
Hands down, the best book I've read all year, and I've read a few!
It's not a light read, but it's a riveting story. I was glued to the pages, and two days later, I find myself wanting to pick it up again, only to realise I've already reached the end.
Please do take care to read any content warnings. For me, I'm glad I didn't, and I'm not going to list any for fear of potential spoilers.
I love how empowered these women were. Bernadette's strength shows we get to choose how we deal with grief and hard times. We can let it bring us down or rise above it...maybe not to the extent she did, but what an amazing character.
I see this is listed as, The Oily Cat Book 1, which hints at a second book, and I'm here for it.
Thank you to the publisher for approving my ARC request, via NetGalley
Hands down, the best book I've read all year, and I've read a few!
It's not a light read, but it's a riveting story. I was glued to the pages, and two days later, I find myself wanting to pick it up again, only to realise I've already reached the end.
Please do take care to read any content warnings. For me, I'm glad I didn't, and I'm not going to list any for fear of potential spoilers.
I love how empowered these women were. Bernadette's strength shows we get to choose how we deal with grief and hard times. We can let it bring us down or rise above it...maybe not to the extent she did, but what an amazing character.
I see this is listed as, The Oily Cat Book 1, which hints at a second book, and I'm here for it.
Thank you to the publisher for approving my ARC request, via NetGalley
July 4, 2026
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced reader copy of House of Sin by Brittnay J. Sears in exchange for an honest review.
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5 Stars)
House of Sin follows Bernadette “Birdie” and the women she fiercely protects—Maive, Violet, Nell, and Elona. Birdie owns a brothel and runs it with strict rules. She doesn’t tolerate disrespect from the men who walk through her doors, and when problems arise, she can always count on Emil, her loyal bouncer and a trusted friend who shares a painful past with her.
The story is told primarily from Birdie’s perspective, and I really appreciated how much time was spent exploring her past. It gave me a much deeper understanding of why she is the woman she is today. Despite carrying so much grief and constantly being judged by the townspeople because of her “whore house,” Birdie remains incredibly resilient. Her determination to protect the women she considers family was one of my favorite parts of the book.
When a mysterious man arrives in town with sinister intentions and dangerous secrets, Birdie knows she’ll do whatever it takes to keep her girls safe.
I really enjoyed this story overall. It grabbed my attention right away, and I was immediately invested in Birdie and her world. One thing I found myself doing throughout the first part of the book was constantly wondering, “Is this the stranger?” Every time a new man was introduced, I was convinced he was the one I’d been waiting for. Looking back, I think the author intentionally built that suspense, and it definitely kept me guessing.
SN: I wanted a bit more spice ! 🌶️ It was definitely in there but I would put it at a 2.5/5 for spice.
Around the 25–40% mark, the pacing slowed a little for me, but once it picked back up, I couldn’t stop reading. The suspense continued to build, and I found myself eager to see how everything would play out.
The ending definitely left me wanting more. While it felt like a cliffhanger to me, it also made me excited to continue Birdie’s story and learn more about the Oily Cat. I’ll definitely be picking up the next installment to see what happens next.
TikTok: Portiaafterdarkreads
⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (3.5/5 Stars)
House of Sin follows Bernadette “Birdie” and the women she fiercely protects—Maive, Violet, Nell, and Elona. Birdie owns a brothel and runs it with strict rules. She doesn’t tolerate disrespect from the men who walk through her doors, and when problems arise, she can always count on Emil, her loyal bouncer and a trusted friend who shares a painful past with her.
The story is told primarily from Birdie’s perspective, and I really appreciated how much time was spent exploring her past. It gave me a much deeper understanding of why she is the woman she is today. Despite carrying so much grief and constantly being judged by the townspeople because of her “whore house,” Birdie remains incredibly resilient. Her determination to protect the women she considers family was one of my favorite parts of the book.
When a mysterious man arrives in town with sinister intentions and dangerous secrets, Birdie knows she’ll do whatever it takes to keep her girls safe.
I really enjoyed this story overall. It grabbed my attention right away, and I was immediately invested in Birdie and her world. One thing I found myself doing throughout the first part of the book was constantly wondering, “Is this the stranger?” Every time a new man was introduced, I was convinced he was the one I’d been waiting for. Looking back, I think the author intentionally built that suspense, and it definitely kept me guessing.
SN: I wanted a bit more spice ! 🌶️ It was definitely in there but I would put it at a 2.5/5 for spice.
Around the 25–40% mark, the pacing slowed a little for me, but once it picked back up, I couldn’t stop reading. The suspense continued to build, and I found myself eager to see how everything would play out.
The ending definitely left me wanting more. While it felt like a cliffhanger to me, it also made me excited to continue Birdie’s story and learn more about the Oily Cat. I’ll definitely be picking up the next installment to see what happens next.
TikTok: Portiaafterdarkreads
July 14, 2026
This is a new author to me and also the first book in The Oily Cat series which gave me an instant thrill to be starting a brand new series.
I loved the front cover of this one - as well as the title - which gave me maybe Victorian era brothel vibes and I knew that it would be filled with underhand deals and bad reputations and I couldn't wait to find out what else...
Now, you may already know, that I do not read blurbs before reading books. I generally go off the vibes of the titles, cover images and any tags I've spotted - and this book is definitely testament to the reason I hate reading blurbs.
There was so much going on in this book and every time something new came to light, I was shocked. I definitely didn't see lots of things coming and this is exactly how I love my reads.
Having said this - I would recommend that if you're prone to content problems, this is one to check out those warnings before diving in.
There are lots of difficult topics explored throughout this read and lots of potential issues.
Bernadette was such a wonderful character to get to know and I loved the way that she protected all those under her roof.
An inspiration - but obviously only in strength of character - I won't be dealing with things in the way she did anytime soon, but what an amazing woman.
I enjoyed this role reversal which works so well in this environment and era.
The way these woman were treated - and written about in many other works - begged for this kind of retribution and Birdie was the perfect character to exact this.
This was a dark and grubby read but such a powerful one too and I can't wait to see how things might progress through the series.
I loved the front cover of this one - as well as the title - which gave me maybe Victorian era brothel vibes and I knew that it would be filled with underhand deals and bad reputations and I couldn't wait to find out what else...
Now, you may already know, that I do not read blurbs before reading books. I generally go off the vibes of the titles, cover images and any tags I've spotted - and this book is definitely testament to the reason I hate reading blurbs.
There was so much going on in this book and every time something new came to light, I was shocked. I definitely didn't see lots of things coming and this is exactly how I love my reads.
Having said this - I would recommend that if you're prone to content problems, this is one to check out those warnings before diving in.
There are lots of difficult topics explored throughout this read and lots of potential issues.
Bernadette was such a wonderful character to get to know and I loved the way that she protected all those under her roof.
An inspiration - but obviously only in strength of character - I won't be dealing with things in the way she did anytime soon, but what an amazing woman.
I enjoyed this role reversal which works so well in this environment and era.
The way these woman were treated - and written about in many other works - begged for this kind of retribution and Birdie was the perfect character to exact this.
This was a dark and grubby read but such a powerful one too and I can't wait to see how things might progress through the series.
July 17, 2026
Thank you to the author and the author agency for the advanced reader copy of this spicy reverse Jack the Ripper story. This was a spicy fun time full of feminine rage.
The female main character is assaulted by some men in her village on the night of her husband's funeral, and in an attempt to take her power back and provide shelter for other women in need she opens up a brothel. In the brothel if the men do not follow her rules they never leave.
If this sounds like something you would enjoy, I definitely recommend checking it out. I had a good time with it. Make sure to check trigger warnings as there is an assault, quite a bit of fire and brimstone preaching and also some back door spicy time.
3.5 ⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
The female main character is assaulted by some men in her village on the night of her husband's funeral, and in an attempt to take her power back and provide shelter for other women in need she opens up a brothel. In the brothel if the men do not follow her rules they never leave.
If this sounds like something you would enjoy, I definitely recommend checking it out. I had a good time with it. Make sure to check trigger warnings as there is an assault, quite a bit of fire and brimstone preaching and also some back door spicy time.
3.5 ⭐️
🌶🌶🌶
July 6, 2026
*ARC READER*
House of Sins follows Bernadette, “Birdie”, as she navigates life after the loss of her husband and son. She endures quite a bit but meets her found family as she forms her business the Oily Cat. It’s a brothel that causes quite a stir among the religious community. Especially when a new priest finds himself in town and drawn to one of Birdie’s girls.
I really enjoyed the book and read it in less than five hours. Brittnay J. Sears does an amazing job in developing her characters, although, I would have liked to see a little more of Violet and Maeve’s stories. We did get a glimpse into what brought them into Birdie’s life.
Thank you The Author Agency and Brittnay J. Sears for this amazing read!
House of Sins follows Bernadette, “Birdie”, as she navigates life after the loss of her husband and son. She endures quite a bit but meets her found family as she forms her business the Oily Cat. It’s a brothel that causes quite a stir among the religious community. Especially when a new priest finds himself in town and drawn to one of Birdie’s girls.
I really enjoyed the book and read it in less than five hours. Brittnay J. Sears does an amazing job in developing her characters, although, I would have liked to see a little more of Violet and Maeve’s stories. We did get a glimpse into what brought them into Birdie’s life.
Thank you The Author Agency and Brittnay J. Sears for this amazing read!
July 20, 2026
4 ⭐️ | 2.5 🌶️
• Reverse Jack the Ripper
• female døm
• morally grey heroines
• brøthel setting
• predator becomes prey
• found family
This is truly such a unique book. I don’t read many erotic thrillers and this was exactly what I needed!
Talk about feminine rage here. YES! Women taking their power back while letting men think that they’re in control is evvvvverything and I had the best time.
🌶️ “You’re pretty when you’re obedient, but you’ll be beautiful when you beg.”
👏🏼 Outside, the world might be hard and cruel. But in here? We make our own rules. And God help the man who dares forget them.
PLEASE CHECK TW BEFORE READING!!!
Thank you to the author agency for the e-arc!
• Reverse Jack the Ripper
• female døm
• morally grey heroines
• brøthel setting
• predator becomes prey
• found family
This is truly such a unique book. I don’t read many erotic thrillers and this was exactly what I needed!
Talk about feminine rage here. YES! Women taking their power back while letting men think that they’re in control is evvvvverything and I had the best time.
🌶️ “You’re pretty when you’re obedient, but you’ll be beautiful when you beg.”
👏🏼 Outside, the world might be hard and cruel. But in here? We make our own rules. And God help the man who dares forget them.
PLEASE CHECK TW BEFORE READING!!!
Thank you to the author agency for the e-arc!
July 28, 2026
House of Sin was an incredible dark historical romance thriller, and I'm already counting down the days until Book 2!
This story was dark, gripping, and impossible to put down. The blend of suspense, romance, and revenge kept me hooked from beginning to end, and I can't wait to see where the series goes next.
Tropes / What to Expect:
- Reverse Jack the Ripper
- Female Dom
- Beauty/Girls Used as Bait
- Morally Gray Heroines
- Found Family
- Predator Becomes Prey
- Men Are Not Safe Here
- Brothel
If you're a fan of dark historical romances with morally complex characters, high stakes, and plenty of suspense, this is one you won't want to miss!
This book includes a dedicated page listing its content warnings and potential triggers. If you prefer to check trigger warnings before starting a book, I highly recommend reading that page first so you know what to expect.
And as an added bonus, this book even has its own playlist! It made the reading experience even more immersive, and I absolutely loved that extra touch.
This story was dark, gripping, and impossible to put down. The blend of suspense, romance, and revenge kept me hooked from beginning to end, and I can't wait to see where the series goes next.
Tropes / What to Expect:
- Reverse Jack the Ripper
- Female Dom
- Beauty/Girls Used as Bait
- Morally Gray Heroines
- Found Family
- Predator Becomes Prey
- Men Are Not Safe Here
- Brothel
If you're a fan of dark historical romances with morally complex characters, high stakes, and plenty of suspense, this is one you won't want to miss!
This book includes a dedicated page listing its content warnings and potential triggers. If you prefer to check trigger warnings before starting a book, I highly recommend reading that page first so you know what to expect.
And as an added bonus, this book even has its own playlist! It made the reading experience even more immersive, and I absolutely loved that extra touch.
July 27, 2026
A Woman the World Calls Sinful… But I Called Her a Protector
Some books introduce you to a heroine.
Others introduce you to a legend.
For me, Bernadette "Birdie" became the latter.
From the opening pages, House of Sin completely transported me into another time. The writing, the dialogue, the atmosphere, and even the names felt wonderfully rooted in the late 1800s or early 1900s. I wasn't simply reading about this world—I felt like I had stepped into it. Brittnay J. Sears creates an immersive setting where every detail, from the brothel to the church to the mining town, feels vivid and believable.
Before starting this book, I expected a darker story centered around a brothel. While that setting is undeniably important, what I found was something much more meaningful. At its core, this is a story about survival, responsibility, community, and the lengths one woman will go to in order to protect those society has forgotten.
Birdie immediately became one of the most compelling heroines I've read in quite some time.
She isn't kind because life has been kind to her.
She isn't strong because she never breaks.
She's strong because she has broken, and every piece of herself she managed to put back together became another brick in the safe haven she built for other women.
That distinction mattered so much to me.
One of the first things that caught my attention was the strict set of rules inside The Oily Cat.
"No Glove, No Love."
"No Back Talk."
"No Dwelling."
"No Touching Without Permission."
On the surface, they sound intimidating. The consequences for breaking them are even harsher. Yet the more I read, the more I realized those rules weren't about fear—they were about protection.
Every rule existed because Birdie refused to let another woman become powerless.
That completely changed the way I viewed the brothel.
It wasn't simply a place where people came for pleasure.
It was a sanctuary.
A home.
A family.
That family dynamic became one of my favorite aspects of the novel. I loved the scenes where the women gathered around the dinner table, laughing about strange clients, gossiping, teasing one another, and simply existing together. Those quieter moments gave the story warmth and reminded me that even in the darkest circumstances, people still find ways to build joy and community.
Birdie's relationship with the town fascinated me as well.
I found it incredibly moving that she visited the church not to ask for forgiveness, but because it still connected her to the community. Even more touching was the priest's quiet understanding. Rather than condemning her, he recognized why she did what she did and understood that her choices protected more people than many would ever realize.
Those confession scenes were among the most powerful in the book. They revealed the side of Birdie she rarely allowed anyone else to see—a woman carrying unimaginable grief while trying to convince herself never to cry, never to falter, and never to let her girls see how heavy that burden truly was.
The repeated reminder she gives herself—
"Don't let anybody see you cry. Get it together."
—broke my heart every single time.
Learning about her past only made those moments more devastating. Understanding the tragedy that shaped her life added incredible emotional depth to every decision she made. Suddenly, her determination, her protectiveness, and even her harshness made perfect sense. She wasn't acting out of cruelty. She was acting out of love, grief, and an unwavering promise to never allow others to suffer the way she had.
Another thing I appreciated was how unapologetically capable Birdie is. She doesn't wait for someone to save her. She doesn't hope someone else will solve her problems. She makes difficult decisions herself, shoulders the consequences, and stands between danger and the women she considers family.
That kind of heroine is rare, and Brittnay J. Sears writes her with remarkable conviction.
The atmosphere deserves special recognition as well. Every chapter feels heavy with tension, history, and secrets. The world feels gritty without ever losing sight of the humanity of the people living within it. The pacing steadily builds, allowing emotional moments to land just as powerfully as the darker, suspenseful ones.
By the time I reached the final page, I wasn't thinking about the setting anymore.
I was thinking about Birdie.
About resilience.
About sacrifice.
About the quiet strength it takes to keep showing up for others when you're carrying your own heartbreak.
If you enjoy historical fiction with morally complex heroines, found family, emotional depth, suspense, and women who refuse to let the world define them, House of Sin deserves a place on your shelf.
This wasn't a story about sin.
For me, it was a story about love expressed in its fiercest form: protection.
Some books introduce you to a heroine.
Others introduce you to a legend.
For me, Bernadette "Birdie" became the latter.
From the opening pages, House of Sin completely transported me into another time. The writing, the dialogue, the atmosphere, and even the names felt wonderfully rooted in the late 1800s or early 1900s. I wasn't simply reading about this world—I felt like I had stepped into it. Brittnay J. Sears creates an immersive setting where every detail, from the brothel to the church to the mining town, feels vivid and believable.
Before starting this book, I expected a darker story centered around a brothel. While that setting is undeniably important, what I found was something much more meaningful. At its core, this is a story about survival, responsibility, community, and the lengths one woman will go to in order to protect those society has forgotten.
Birdie immediately became one of the most compelling heroines I've read in quite some time.
She isn't kind because life has been kind to her.
She isn't strong because she never breaks.
She's strong because she has broken, and every piece of herself she managed to put back together became another brick in the safe haven she built for other women.
That distinction mattered so much to me.
One of the first things that caught my attention was the strict set of rules inside The Oily Cat.
"No Glove, No Love."
"No Back Talk."
"No Dwelling."
"No Touching Without Permission."
On the surface, they sound intimidating. The consequences for breaking them are even harsher. Yet the more I read, the more I realized those rules weren't about fear—they were about protection.
Every rule existed because Birdie refused to let another woman become powerless.
That completely changed the way I viewed the brothel.
It wasn't simply a place where people came for pleasure.
It was a sanctuary.
A home.
A family.
That family dynamic became one of my favorite aspects of the novel. I loved the scenes where the women gathered around the dinner table, laughing about strange clients, gossiping, teasing one another, and simply existing together. Those quieter moments gave the story warmth and reminded me that even in the darkest circumstances, people still find ways to build joy and community.
Birdie's relationship with the town fascinated me as well.
I found it incredibly moving that she visited the church not to ask for forgiveness, but because it still connected her to the community. Even more touching was the priest's quiet understanding. Rather than condemning her, he recognized why she did what she did and understood that her choices protected more people than many would ever realize.
Those confession scenes were among the most powerful in the book. They revealed the side of Birdie she rarely allowed anyone else to see—a woman carrying unimaginable grief while trying to convince herself never to cry, never to falter, and never to let her girls see how heavy that burden truly was.
The repeated reminder she gives herself—
"Don't let anybody see you cry. Get it together."
—broke my heart every single time.
Learning about her past only made those moments more devastating. Understanding the tragedy that shaped her life added incredible emotional depth to every decision she made. Suddenly, her determination, her protectiveness, and even her harshness made perfect sense. She wasn't acting out of cruelty. She was acting out of love, grief, and an unwavering promise to never allow others to suffer the way she had.
Another thing I appreciated was how unapologetically capable Birdie is. She doesn't wait for someone to save her. She doesn't hope someone else will solve her problems. She makes difficult decisions herself, shoulders the consequences, and stands between danger and the women she considers family.
That kind of heroine is rare, and Brittnay J. Sears writes her with remarkable conviction.
The atmosphere deserves special recognition as well. Every chapter feels heavy with tension, history, and secrets. The world feels gritty without ever losing sight of the humanity of the people living within it. The pacing steadily builds, allowing emotional moments to land just as powerfully as the darker, suspenseful ones.
By the time I reached the final page, I wasn't thinking about the setting anymore.
I was thinking about Birdie.
About resilience.
About sacrifice.
About the quiet strength it takes to keep showing up for others when you're carrying your own heartbreak.
If you enjoy historical fiction with morally complex heroines, found family, emotional depth, suspense, and women who refuse to let the world define them, House of Sin deserves a place on your shelf.
This wasn't a story about sin.
For me, it was a story about love expressed in its fiercest form: protection.
July 27, 2026
*** ARC Review ***
Rating 4.5/5 ⭐
Spice 2.5/5 🌶️
Thank you to Brittnay J. Sears and Twisted Chaos for selecting me as an ARC reviewer.
The premise, Jack (Jane?) the Ripper, but make her the madame of a brothel, in turn a turn of the century town. What did we get? A story full of survival and grit. A story that shows the strength of women, the resilience of the soul, and the pure determination of making it to the other side, even when all the forces in the world are steadfast in their pursuit of their destruction.
This story tore through my heart and made me feel the totality of female rage. Birdie lost everything, and when she thought she couldn't lose more, she did. After knowing her background, I was expecting her to follow a path where she found pleasure in killing and being “the Ripper”, but the book surprised me again, by portraying the power of a woman, with her “village” behind her (not the town, but her chosen family), to rise up, after being pushed so far down that others wouldn’t have made it through the other side. Not only did she make it, but she built a safe space for other scorned and shunned women, where they could take their power back. Birdie teaches us to do good for goodness’ sake, not for a misguided route to salvation, but just because our own humanity calls us to take care of one another. Her work in the soup kitchen and the clothing drive, her efforts with Elona’s art, and her rescuing of Maeve in her time of need with a bad client. Birdie gives her heart and protection out to everyone in need, not expecting anything in return. Her character is in great contrast with the congregation, the pious women that attend, and Father Frederick (we’ll get to his other side in a second). They act in their own self-interest, their souls’ salvation through their religion, without actually understanding what it actually means to love thy neighbor.
The contrast of Father F and Birdie as the pious vs the madame, the evil and the good, the sinner and the saint was beautifully done in this book. Adding to that, the bystanders that do nothing (sorry Father C, you actually did nothing to help the Oily Cat girls), created such a powerful vehicle to talk about what it means to care for one another. Birdie became the matriarch in a family of outcasts, and by uniting them, she gave them the strength and power to stand against those who would see them harmed (sometimes literally).
The ending gutted me, after everything Birdie and the rest of the girls went through. However, they stood there, holding each other. At the end of the day, they got out with what mattered most. Life won't ever get easier, there’s no tally for "you've suffered 5 times, now everything is smooth sailing”; life will continue its course of entropy, and all you can do is keep on going. I’m excited to see if there will be a book #2.
PS. I gave it 4.5 stars instead of 5 because the storyline of Birdie helping Elona get her art in the gallery felt a lot like “white savior complex”, and was off-putting from that sense.
PPS. in my head-canon, Birdie and the girls went to church at the next Mass, and sat in front, in their dresses from the last scene, heads held high. As if nothing touched them.
Additional notes:
Why did it take me forever to pick up this was 1910?
That was one hell of a dedication - Coolio!
The birthday tradition was fantastic. None of my friends wants to do it!
Favorite Quotes:
But fear not, for she has been given Your angels. She has fought back, and through your strength, she has banished the darkness.
I don't spiral. I unravel gracefully
The line between sin and salvation is far more blurred than you ever imagined.
He used to leave coins wrapped in torn hymnal pages ion our nightstand after we gave him what he wanted, like he could pay for his sins and still sleep beside his wife at night.
Violet, Elona, and Mave stood beside me, and I watched them as a mother watches her daughters live in a world where they will never be loved as they should be.
Rating 4.5/5 ⭐
Spice 2.5/5 🌶️
Thank you to Brittnay J. Sears and Twisted Chaos for selecting me as an ARC reviewer.
The premise, Jack (Jane?) the Ripper, but make her the madame of a brothel, in turn a turn of the century town. What did we get? A story full of survival and grit. A story that shows the strength of women, the resilience of the soul, and the pure determination of making it to the other side, even when all the forces in the world are steadfast in their pursuit of their destruction.
This story tore through my heart and made me feel the totality of female rage. Birdie lost everything, and when she thought she couldn't lose more, she did. After knowing her background, I was expecting her to follow a path where she found pleasure in killing and being “the Ripper”, but the book surprised me again, by portraying the power of a woman, with her “village” behind her (not the town, but her chosen family), to rise up, after being pushed so far down that others wouldn’t have made it through the other side. Not only did she make it, but she built a safe space for other scorned and shunned women, where they could take their power back. Birdie teaches us to do good for goodness’ sake, not for a misguided route to salvation, but just because our own humanity calls us to take care of one another. Her work in the soup kitchen and the clothing drive, her efforts with Elona’s art, and her rescuing of Maeve in her time of need with a bad client. Birdie gives her heart and protection out to everyone in need, not expecting anything in return. Her character is in great contrast with the congregation, the pious women that attend, and Father Frederick (we’ll get to his other side in a second). They act in their own self-interest, their souls’ salvation through their religion, without actually understanding what it actually means to love thy neighbor.
The contrast of Father F and Birdie as the pious vs the madame, the evil and the good, the sinner and the saint was beautifully done in this book. Adding to that, the bystanders that do nothing (sorry Father C, you actually did nothing to help the Oily Cat girls), created such a powerful vehicle to talk about what it means to care for one another. Birdie became the matriarch in a family of outcasts, and by uniting them, she gave them the strength and power to stand against those who would see them harmed (sometimes literally).
The ending gutted me, after everything Birdie and the rest of the girls went through. However, they stood there, holding each other. At the end of the day, they got out with what mattered most. Life won't ever get easier, there’s no tally for "you've suffered 5 times, now everything is smooth sailing”; life will continue its course of entropy, and all you can do is keep on going. I’m excited to see if there will be a book #2.
PS. I gave it 4.5 stars instead of 5 because the storyline of Birdie helping Elona get her art in the gallery felt a lot like “white savior complex”, and was off-putting from that sense.
PPS. in my head-canon, Birdie and the girls went to church at the next Mass, and sat in front, in their dresses from the last scene, heads held high. As if nothing touched them.
Additional notes:
Why did it take me forever to pick up this was 1910?
That was one hell of a dedication - Coolio!
The birthday tradition was fantastic. None of my friends wants to do it!
Favorite Quotes:
But fear not, for she has been given Your angels. She has fought back, and through your strength, she has banished the darkness.
I don't spiral. I unravel gracefully
The line between sin and salvation is far more blurred than you ever imagined.
He used to leave coins wrapped in torn hymnal pages ion our nightstand after we gave him what he wanted, like he could pay for his sins and still sleep beside his wife at night.
Violet, Elona, and Mave stood beside me, and I watched them as a mother watches her daughters live in a world where they will never be loved as they should be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance reader copy sent by the Author.
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 stars
What to expect:
Reverse Jack the Ripper • Morally grey heroines • Predator become prey • Brothel setting • Female Dom • Beauty used as bait • Men are not safe here • Found family •
This book was so good. The characters were phenomenal, the setting was perfect, the plot was interesting and action packed at times.
This is an emotional story about a woman who loses everything but picks herself back up and creates a place where women can feel safe and empowered.
We follow our FMC Bernadette, owner of The Oily Cat brothel. She runs it with ruthless precision. Her girls are not to be messed with, and if you don't follow the rules, you never leave.
Until a stranger arrives with sinister secrets and a past that refuses to stay buried. Now with everything hanging in the balance, Bernadette soon learns how far she will go to keep control and protect those she loves.
I loved Bernadette, she has suffered tremendous loss. She lost herself for a while, until tragedy strikes again. That was the turning point for her.
She isn't the woman she used to be, she's stronger, more determined and fiercely protective. She will do anything it takes to keep her business and her girls safe. I really enjoyed her character.
There are some amazing characters in this book. Maeve, Elona, and Violet all work at The Oily cat. They all have very different backgrounds, and all bring something different to the story.
Nell and Emil, I loved their relationship. There not your normal couple. Neither is afraid to do what's necessary to protect their family.
The Oily Cat, what a vibe. It oozes temptation and freedom. You can just be yourself when you step through those doors. And as long as you follow the rules you will leave lighter then when you arrived.
The plot of this book was interesting, not what I was expecting. I thought it was going to go in a different direction. With that being said I had the best time, I flew through it. There were plenty of high-stake scenes. I didn't want to put it down. I had to know how it was going to end.
The found family element to this book was so lovely I just wanted to give them all a big hug. They have all been through so much. Their family dinners were everything! It just shows what we can endure to keep our family safe.
The Author touches on some heavy subjects, but the way it was written was perfect. It left you to make up your own mind, what was right or wrong. The feminine rage was epic!!! 👏🏽
The chapter headings were so good, subtle foreshadowing. I loved the art scattered throughout this book it was beautiful.
The ending did have me stressed; I wasn't sure which way it was going to go. I was turning pages like a mad woman.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to the Author and Hayling Bookstorm LTD for the arc copy of this book. 🩷
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 stars
What to expect:
Reverse Jack the Ripper • Morally grey heroines • Predator become prey • Brothel setting • Female Dom • Beauty used as bait • Men are not safe here • Found family •
This book was so good. The characters were phenomenal, the setting was perfect, the plot was interesting and action packed at times.
This is an emotional story about a woman who loses everything but picks herself back up and creates a place where women can feel safe and empowered.
We follow our FMC Bernadette, owner of The Oily Cat brothel. She runs it with ruthless precision. Her girls are not to be messed with, and if you don't follow the rules, you never leave.
Until a stranger arrives with sinister secrets and a past that refuses to stay buried. Now with everything hanging in the balance, Bernadette soon learns how far she will go to keep control and protect those she loves.
I loved Bernadette, she has suffered tremendous loss. She lost herself for a while, until tragedy strikes again. That was the turning point for her.
She isn't the woman she used to be, she's stronger, more determined and fiercely protective. She will do anything it takes to keep her business and her girls safe. I really enjoyed her character.
There are some amazing characters in this book. Maeve, Elona, and Violet all work at The Oily cat. They all have very different backgrounds, and all bring something different to the story.
Nell and Emil, I loved their relationship. There not your normal couple. Neither is afraid to do what's necessary to protect their family.
The Oily Cat, what a vibe. It oozes temptation and freedom. You can just be yourself when you step through those doors. And as long as you follow the rules you will leave lighter then when you arrived.
The plot of this book was interesting, not what I was expecting. I thought it was going to go in a different direction. With that being said I had the best time, I flew through it. There were plenty of high-stake scenes. I didn't want to put it down. I had to know how it was going to end.
The found family element to this book was so lovely I just wanted to give them all a big hug. They have all been through so much. Their family dinners were everything! It just shows what we can endure to keep our family safe.
The Author touches on some heavy subjects, but the way it was written was perfect. It left you to make up your own mind, what was right or wrong. The feminine rage was epic!!! 👏🏽
The chapter headings were so good, subtle foreshadowing. I loved the art scattered throughout this book it was beautiful.
The ending did have me stressed; I wasn't sure which way it was going to go. I was turning pages like a mad woman.
I highly recommend this book.
Thank you to the Author and Hayling Bookstorm LTD for the arc copy of this book. 🩷
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2026
Rating: 4.5/5
Some books pull you in with romance. Others hook you with mystery. House of Sin managed to do both while wrapping everything in a wonderfully gritty historical setting that completely surprised me.
This was my first book by Brittnay J Sears, and I honestly had no idea what to expect. I rarely read blurbs, so I went into this based purely on the title, the gorgeous cover, and the overall vibe. Looking back, I'm so glad I did because every revelation genuinely caught me off guard.
Set in an early 1900s mining town, this story explores grief, survival, vengeance, female empowerment, and found family in a way that feels both emotional and incredibly compelling. Bernadette "Birdie" is the owner of The Oily Cat, a brothel built not only as a business but as a sanctuary for women who have nowhere else to go. Despite carrying unimaginable loss, she refuses to let grief define her, instead becoming fiercely protective of every woman under her roof.
Birdie quickly became one of my favourite heroines. She isn't perfect, and she's certainly not always gentle, but every decision she makes comes from a place of love, loyalty, and determination. I loved how much time the author spent exploring her past because it made her strength feel earned rather than simply written that way.
The found family was easily one of my favourite aspects of the book. Watching these women stand beside one another through impossible circumstances gave the story so much heart. Their loyalty to one another often became just as compelling as the suspense surrounding the mystery unfolding in the background.
Speaking of suspense... I spent the first half of the book convinced I knew who the mysterious stranger was. Every time a new man appeared, I thought, "This has to be him." Clearly, the author knew exactly what she was doing because she kept me guessing far longer than I expected.
The pacing slowed slightly for me around the middle, but once the story found its rhythm again, I flew through the rest. The final chapters had me turning pages far faster than I probably should have, and now I'm left eagerly waiting for the next instalment.
This isn't what I'd call a spicy read (I'd personally rate the spice around 2.5/5), but that never felt like a negative because the emotional weight, suspense, and incredible cast of characters carried the story beautifully.
If you enjoy historical fiction with dark themes, morally grey women, found family, vigilante justice, female empowerment, and stories where resilient women refuse to remain victims, I think you'll really enjoy this one.
I can't wait to return to The Oily Cat.
Thank you to Brittnay J Sears and The Author Agency for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Some books pull you in with romance. Others hook you with mystery. House of Sin managed to do both while wrapping everything in a wonderfully gritty historical setting that completely surprised me.
This was my first book by Brittnay J Sears, and I honestly had no idea what to expect. I rarely read blurbs, so I went into this based purely on the title, the gorgeous cover, and the overall vibe. Looking back, I'm so glad I did because every revelation genuinely caught me off guard.
Set in an early 1900s mining town, this story explores grief, survival, vengeance, female empowerment, and found family in a way that feels both emotional and incredibly compelling. Bernadette "Birdie" is the owner of The Oily Cat, a brothel built not only as a business but as a sanctuary for women who have nowhere else to go. Despite carrying unimaginable loss, she refuses to let grief define her, instead becoming fiercely protective of every woman under her roof.
Birdie quickly became one of my favourite heroines. She isn't perfect, and she's certainly not always gentle, but every decision she makes comes from a place of love, loyalty, and determination. I loved how much time the author spent exploring her past because it made her strength feel earned rather than simply written that way.
The found family was easily one of my favourite aspects of the book. Watching these women stand beside one another through impossible circumstances gave the story so much heart. Their loyalty to one another often became just as compelling as the suspense surrounding the mystery unfolding in the background.
Speaking of suspense... I spent the first half of the book convinced I knew who the mysterious stranger was. Every time a new man appeared, I thought, "This has to be him." Clearly, the author knew exactly what she was doing because she kept me guessing far longer than I expected.
The pacing slowed slightly for me around the middle, but once the story found its rhythm again, I flew through the rest. The final chapters had me turning pages far faster than I probably should have, and now I'm left eagerly waiting for the next instalment.
This isn't what I'd call a spicy read (I'd personally rate the spice around 2.5/5), but that never felt like a negative because the emotional weight, suspense, and incredible cast of characters carried the story beautifully.
If you enjoy historical fiction with dark themes, morally grey women, found family, vigilante justice, female empowerment, and stories where resilient women refuse to remain victims, I think you'll really enjoy this one.
I can't wait to return to The Oily Cat.
Thank you to Brittnay J Sears and The Author Agency for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was such an unexpected read, and I’m so glad I took a chance on a new-to-me author. It’s completely different from what I usually gravitate toward, but that’s exactly what made it so memorable.
Set in a thriving mining town in the early 1900s, this story is steeped in grief, vengeance, survival, and female empowerment. Bernadette has suffered unimaginable loss after the deaths of her husband and only child. Rather than allowing herself to drown in her grief, she builds The Oily Cat—a refuge where women can reclaim their independence, find safety, and take back the power the world has tried to steal from them.
This isn’t your typical dark romance. It’s gritty, atmospheric, and unapologetically centered on morally gray women who refuse to be victims. The “reverse Jack the Ripper” concept was incredibly refreshing, turning the usual narrative on its head in a way that had me cheering far more often than I expected. Watching predators become prey was deeply satisfying, and the found family woven throughout the story gave it an emotional heart beneath all the darkness.
The historical setting was immersive, the women were fiercely protective of one another, and Bernadette was the kind of heroine you can’t help but admire—even when she’s making ruthless decisions. She’s a woman forged by tragedy, driven by purpose, and willing to spill blood to protect those under her roof.
If you’re looking for something a little different that blends historical fiction with dark themes, morally gray heroines, female dominance, and a healthy dose of vigilante justice, this is absolutely worth picking up.
⭐️ Reverse Jack the Ripper
⭐️ Morally Gray Heroines
⭐️ Found Family
⭐️ Predator Becomes Prey
⭐️ Men Are Not Safe Here
⭐️ Beauty Used as Bait
⭐️ Brothel Setting
⭐️ Female Dom
Thank you to The Author Agency for the ARC. This review is only my opinion.
Set in a thriving mining town in the early 1900s, this story is steeped in grief, vengeance, survival, and female empowerment. Bernadette has suffered unimaginable loss after the deaths of her husband and only child. Rather than allowing herself to drown in her grief, she builds The Oily Cat—a refuge where women can reclaim their independence, find safety, and take back the power the world has tried to steal from them.
This isn’t your typical dark romance. It’s gritty, atmospheric, and unapologetically centered on morally gray women who refuse to be victims. The “reverse Jack the Ripper” concept was incredibly refreshing, turning the usual narrative on its head in a way that had me cheering far more often than I expected. Watching predators become prey was deeply satisfying, and the found family woven throughout the story gave it an emotional heart beneath all the darkness.
The historical setting was immersive, the women were fiercely protective of one another, and Bernadette was the kind of heroine you can’t help but admire—even when she’s making ruthless decisions. She’s a woman forged by tragedy, driven by purpose, and willing to spill blood to protect those under her roof.
If you’re looking for something a little different that blends historical fiction with dark themes, morally gray heroines, female dominance, and a healthy dose of vigilante justice, this is absolutely worth picking up.
⭐️ Reverse Jack the Ripper
⭐️ Morally Gray Heroines
⭐️ Found Family
⭐️ Predator Becomes Prey
⭐️ Men Are Not Safe Here
⭐️ Beauty Used as Bait
⭐️ Brothel Setting
⭐️ Female Dom
Thank you to The Author Agency for the ARC. This review is only my opinion.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First, I want to thank The Author Agency and Brittnay J. Sears for the gifted eARC copy of House Of Sin to read and provide my honest, spoiler free review.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
House of Sin has completely hooked me from the very beginning. The entire premise of a brothel with rules…rules that can get you punished if they are broken. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I first started this book but I absolutely loved every moment of it.
This author did such an incredible job at making this story come to life. Bernadette is such a powerful, beautiful soul that has been through some of the worst things yet still became a powerhouse running her own brothel. The found family in this book has to be up there with one of my all time favorites. Emil, Nell, Maeve and more are all incredible people who have formed such a tight knit family where no one could hurt them…and if they did get hurt..the customers were clearly dealt with.
The topic of grief and loss was handled so well in this story and I absolutely appreciated everything that this author did. The emotions, the reality of how life is once you lose your entire reason for living is just so preciously yet truthfully handled that I found myself loving this authors writing style immediately. I loved everything about this book and I really want to read more from this author as soon as possible.
Bernadette’s story has touched me so deeply and I find myself wanting to reread her story from the very beginning all over again. Bernadette has become one of my all time favorite FMCs and I can’t wait to see what more will come to the Oily Cat.
My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
My Thoughts:
House of Sin has completely hooked me from the very beginning. The entire premise of a brothel with rules…rules that can get you punished if they are broken. I didn’t know what I was getting myself into when I first started this book but I absolutely loved every moment of it.
This author did such an incredible job at making this story come to life. Bernadette is such a powerful, beautiful soul that has been through some of the worst things yet still became a powerhouse running her own brothel. The found family in this book has to be up there with one of my all time favorites. Emil, Nell, Maeve and more are all incredible people who have formed such a tight knit family where no one could hurt them…and if they did get hurt..the customers were clearly dealt with.
The topic of grief and loss was handled so well in this story and I absolutely appreciated everything that this author did. The emotions, the reality of how life is once you lose your entire reason for living is just so preciously yet truthfully handled that I found myself loving this authors writing style immediately. I loved everything about this book and I really want to read more from this author as soon as possible.
Bernadette’s story has touched me so deeply and I find myself wanting to reread her story from the very beginning all over again. Bernadette has become one of my all time favorite FMCs and I can’t wait to see what more will come to the Oily Cat.
July 14, 2026
Book Rating: ⭐ 5/5
Spice Rating: 🌶️ 2.75/5
House of Sin completely took me by surprise...I was not sure what I was going to get here. I went in expecting a dark historical story set around a brothel, but what I got was a powerful story about grief, revenge, survival, and found family that was to die for!
Bernadette was everything!!!! She is ruthless, unapologetic, and fiercely protective of the women under her care. YES PLEASE. Watching her turn her pain into strength and build a place where her girls could feel safe was incredible. She is one of those FMCs who completely commands every scene she is in and I was living for her.
What I loved most about this story was that it wasn’t just about revenge. It was about the bonds formed between people who have been hurt by the world and found a family in each other. The Oily Cat felt like more than just a setting; it felt like a home built by people who refused to let their past define them. I wanted to be a part of this family so bad when reading!
Brittany J. Sears also handled heavier topics like loss and trauma with so much care. The writing was beautiful without losing the darkness of the story, and I was completely invested from beginning to end. I will be reading more for sure! The villain POV was unsettling in the best possible way and added such an interesting layer to the story.
Overall, House of Sin was dark, emotional, and completely unforgettable! A story with feminine energy that we need more of! If you love morally gray characters, fierce women, found family, and a story where revenge is served with a side of feminine rage, you will eat this book right up!
Spice Rating: 🌶️ 2.75/5
House of Sin completely took me by surprise...I was not sure what I was going to get here. I went in expecting a dark historical story set around a brothel, but what I got was a powerful story about grief, revenge, survival, and found family that was to die for!
Bernadette was everything!!!! She is ruthless, unapologetic, and fiercely protective of the women under her care. YES PLEASE. Watching her turn her pain into strength and build a place where her girls could feel safe was incredible. She is one of those FMCs who completely commands every scene she is in and I was living for her.
What I loved most about this story was that it wasn’t just about revenge. It was about the bonds formed between people who have been hurt by the world and found a family in each other. The Oily Cat felt like more than just a setting; it felt like a home built by people who refused to let their past define them. I wanted to be a part of this family so bad when reading!
Brittany J. Sears also handled heavier topics like loss and trauma with so much care. The writing was beautiful without losing the darkness of the story, and I was completely invested from beginning to end. I will be reading more for sure! The villain POV was unsettling in the best possible way and added such an interesting layer to the story.
Overall, House of Sin was dark, emotional, and completely unforgettable! A story with feminine energy that we need more of! If you love morally gray characters, fierce women, found family, and a story where revenge is served with a side of feminine rage, you will eat this book right up!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"This is not a story of survival. This is a story of vengeance".
Or it's both.
In this book we meet Bernadette, owner of 'The Oily Cat' , a formidable force to be reckoned with who protects her girls to the very end against physical threat, hypocrisy and the judgment of society- and Brittnay Sears makes us love her.
We have 18 chapters to really get to know Bernadette before our villain arrives and we get to see both sides of her, the confident Madame who has no leniency for sinners who break the rules of The Oily Cat, and through flashback chapters we see how her whole world burned to the ground and just how broken she had to become to rise from the ashes and choose to not just survive, but to live.
This is a well written, thought provoking book and I both loved some characters and loved to hate others. Brittnay really shows us that the world isn't black and white and is more complex than "saint or sinner"- Bernadette (whilst being the owner of The Oily Cat) is not the traditional Madame and what she's found in her girls is both a home and family- all of the girls are there for their own reasons but they're there by choice... "Different ghosts, same shadows".
Through Father Cyrus we see tolerance and understanding, through Father Frederick we see pious hypocrisy and the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing who you dislike on sight- he oozes off the pages and at points made me feel a little sick. Mrs Henderson just really needed a slap- IYKYK.
If you've ever watched "Harlots" on Netflix, you'll enjoy stepping through the doors of The Oily Cat.
Or it's both.
In this book we meet Bernadette, owner of 'The Oily Cat' , a formidable force to be reckoned with who protects her girls to the very end against physical threat, hypocrisy and the judgment of society- and Brittnay Sears makes us love her.
We have 18 chapters to really get to know Bernadette before our villain arrives and we get to see both sides of her, the confident Madame who has no leniency for sinners who break the rules of The Oily Cat, and through flashback chapters we see how her whole world burned to the ground and just how broken she had to become to rise from the ashes and choose to not just survive, but to live.
This is a well written, thought provoking book and I both loved some characters and loved to hate others. Brittnay really shows us that the world isn't black and white and is more complex than "saint or sinner"- Bernadette (whilst being the owner of The Oily Cat) is not the traditional Madame and what she's found in her girls is both a home and family- all of the girls are there for their own reasons but they're there by choice... "Different ghosts, same shadows".
Through Father Cyrus we see tolerance and understanding, through Father Frederick we see pious hypocrisy and the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing who you dislike on sight- he oozes off the pages and at points made me feel a little sick. Mrs Henderson just really needed a slap- IYKYK.
If you've ever watched "Harlots" on Netflix, you'll enjoy stepping through the doors of The Oily Cat.
Review of advance copy
Thank you to the publisher and Hayling Bookstorm for sending me an advance reader copy (ARC) of House of Sin as an ebook in exchange for an honest review.
House of Sin isn't my usual reading style, but I ended up really enjoying it. Brittnay Sears has a writing style that is smooth, engaging, and easy to follow. Her descriptions made it easy to picture the characters, settings, and emotions throughout the story, keeping me immersed from beginning to end.
As a work of dark historical fiction, this is ultimately a story about women overcoming incredible obstacles and coming together to create their own version of family. Each of the main characters carries heartache from their past, but they also find the strength and resilience to move forward in their own way. The themes of women supporting one another and finding empowerment despite difficult circumstances were woven beautifully throughout the novel.
While it wasn't a perfect fit for my personal reading preferences, I'm glad I stepped outside my comfort zone. The compelling characters, emotional depth, and vivid storytelling made this a worthwhile read, and I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy dark historical fiction with strong themes of resilience, found family, and women's empowerment. I'll definitely be interested to see what Brittnay Sears writes next.
House of Sin isn't my usual reading style, but I ended up really enjoying it. Brittnay Sears has a writing style that is smooth, engaging, and easy to follow. Her descriptions made it easy to picture the characters, settings, and emotions throughout the story, keeping me immersed from beginning to end.
As a work of dark historical fiction, this is ultimately a story about women overcoming incredible obstacles and coming together to create their own version of family. Each of the main characters carries heartache from their past, but they also find the strength and resilience to move forward in their own way. The themes of women supporting one another and finding empowerment despite difficult circumstances were woven beautifully throughout the novel.
While it wasn't a perfect fit for my personal reading preferences, I'm glad I stepped outside my comfort zone. The compelling characters, emotional depth, and vivid storytelling made this a worthwhile read, and I'd recommend it to readers who enjoy dark historical fiction with strong themes of resilience, found family, and women's empowerment. I'll definitely be interested to see what Brittnay Sears writes next.
Review of advance copy
Have you ever read a historical fiction with a DARK, unhinged FMC? No? Yeah, me either. Chile… this was such a good time.
As soon as I picked this book up, I was completely locked in. I’m talking stayed up until 3 a.m., knowing I had to be up by 6 to get ready for work. Then, when I got to work, I still managed to find time to finish the rest of it. And it was so worth it.
Set in the early 1900s, The Oily Cat is a brothel run by a femdom who is determined to protect her ladies by any means necessary. At The Oily Cat, beauty becomes bait, charm becomes a weapon, and when men cross the line, consequences will be paid.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
My girl Bernadette is unhinged to the highest power, and she has absolutely no qualms about it. But she has to be. She’s been through so much in her life that taking control is the only way she knows how to survive. And she teaches her girls to hold that same power for themselves.
Bernadette protects what is hers, and she does not hesitate when someone threatens the women under her care. She is dark, ruthless, and completely unapologetic, and I loved every minute of it.
This was the first book I’ve read by Brittany J. Sears, but it definitely won’t be the last. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series.
5 stars ⭐️
I received this ARC from The Author Agency in exchange for my honest review.
As soon as I picked this book up, I was completely locked in. I’m talking stayed up until 3 a.m., knowing I had to be up by 6 to get ready for work. Then, when I got to work, I still managed to find time to finish the rest of it. And it was so worth it.
Set in the early 1900s, The Oily Cat is a brothel run by a femdom who is determined to protect her ladies by any means necessary. At The Oily Cat, beauty becomes bait, charm becomes a weapon, and when men cross the line, consequences will be paid.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
My girl Bernadette is unhinged to the highest power, and she has absolutely no qualms about it. But she has to be. She’s been through so much in her life that taking control is the only way she knows how to survive. And she teaches her girls to hold that same power for themselves.
Bernadette protects what is hers, and she does not hesitate when someone threatens the women under her care. She is dark, ruthless, and completely unapologetic, and I loved every minute of it.
This was the first book I’ve read by Brittany J. Sears, but it definitely won’t be the last. I cannot wait for the next installment in this series.
5 stars ⭐️
I received this ARC from The Author Agency in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is the story of female independence. How secrets never stays hidden, and when backed in a corner, even the meek have teeth.
This book follows Birdie and her 'girls' as they navigate brothel life in Butte, Montana. They each carry a history, a story, and a hope for something better. But when a newcomer threatens them, they either have to choose between resistance and surrender.
The story had a moderate pace to it that I felt wasn't all necessary but it was entertaining. The characters were all well developed with their own personalities, skill sets, histories and wounds. This book was an easy read from start to finish switching between timelines for an indepth look at the main character, supported by multiple POV chapters.
I definitely felt like some of this was unnecessary but it didn't detract enough from the enjoyment of the story, overall.
Great for readers of old frontier settings with a little bit of feminine rage and solidatiry. Readers definitely need to be open minded about female liberation and choices with what they do with their bodies otherwise you just won't enjoy it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Brittnay J Sears for the opportunity to ARC read in exchange for an honest review.
This book follows Birdie and her 'girls' as they navigate brothel life in Butte, Montana. They each carry a history, a story, and a hope for something better. But when a newcomer threatens them, they either have to choose between resistance and surrender.
The story had a moderate pace to it that I felt wasn't all necessary but it was entertaining. The characters were all well developed with their own personalities, skill sets, histories and wounds. This book was an easy read from start to finish switching between timelines for an indepth look at the main character, supported by multiple POV chapters.
I definitely felt like some of this was unnecessary but it didn't detract enough from the enjoyment of the story, overall.
Great for readers of old frontier settings with a little bit of feminine rage and solidatiry. Readers definitely need to be open minded about female liberation and choices with what they do with their bodies otherwise you just won't enjoy it.
Thank you to Netgalley and Brittnay J Sears for the opportunity to ARC read in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2026
I was super excited that I was selected to read this ARC and can’t thank the author enough for giving me this opportunity. When I was looking at the book initially, the synopsis is what really jived with me and made me very interested in what was written.
I found the story to be well written and I absolutely loved the different POV’s with the characters. How she developed them all was awesome, Bernadette’s found family of Bad Ass women and a Priest was both fun and surprising if I’m being honest, but I still truly enjoyed this book and can’t wait for book 2.
I loved how Bernadette was a strong and fierce FMC and loyal to the girls in her care. The way she turned her pain into strength and her ability to build a place for those girls to feel safe was incredible.
There were some heavier topics in the book; like loss and trauma and I felt that the author handled those topics with knowledge and care. Enjoyed how the author was able to keep with that dark theme throughout the book.
Overall, House of Sin was a dark, emotional, and unforgettable in the best way. If you like an FMC who is fierce, loyal, morally gray characters in general, fierce women, found family, feminine rage and revenge. Then this book is for you!!
I found the story to be well written and I absolutely loved the different POV’s with the characters. How she developed them all was awesome, Bernadette’s found family of Bad Ass women and a Priest was both fun and surprising if I’m being honest, but I still truly enjoyed this book and can’t wait for book 2.
I loved how Bernadette was a strong and fierce FMC and loyal to the girls in her care. The way she turned her pain into strength and her ability to build a place for those girls to feel safe was incredible.
There were some heavier topics in the book; like loss and trauma and I felt that the author handled those topics with knowledge and care. Enjoyed how the author was able to keep with that dark theme throughout the book.
Overall, House of Sin was a dark, emotional, and unforgettable in the best way. If you like an FMC who is fierce, loyal, morally gray characters in general, fierce women, found family, feminine rage and revenge. Then this book is for you!!
Review of advance copy received from Author
House of Sin by Brittnay J Sears
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I absolutely fell in love with this book! The writing snagged me from the very first page. It flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter, and every line packs a punch.
I am completely head-over-heels in love with our FMC, Bernadette. Her story is tragic and raw, and her strength is astounding. This woman is a savage who will not stand by while her girls—or any other women—are treated with malicious intent. Anyone who crosses that line has a death wish.
I did not see any of the twists coming. I dove in expecting a fun, smutty, 1900s brothel story. Boy, was I wrong!
This book was thrilling and suspenseful. I wanted to punch some characters in the face. I cried. I fist-pumped. I cheered.
This book sits high on my favorites shelf, and I will absolutely be continuing Bernadette’s story at The Oily Cat to see what happens next.
As always, please check the trigger warnings before reading. Some topics may be difficult, and your mental health matters.
Thank you, Brittnay, for the early copy and the beautiful PR box for House of Sin. I’m officially a forever fan and cannot wait to see what happens next for Birdie, the girls, and The Oily Cat.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I absolutely fell in love with this book! The writing snagged me from the very first page. It flows seamlessly from chapter to chapter, and every line packs a punch.
I am completely head-over-heels in love with our FMC, Bernadette. Her story is tragic and raw, and her strength is astounding. This woman is a savage who will not stand by while her girls—or any other women—are treated with malicious intent. Anyone who crosses that line has a death wish.
I did not see any of the twists coming. I dove in expecting a fun, smutty, 1900s brothel story. Boy, was I wrong!
This book was thrilling and suspenseful. I wanted to punch some characters in the face. I cried. I fist-pumped. I cheered.
This book sits high on my favorites shelf, and I will absolutely be continuing Bernadette’s story at The Oily Cat to see what happens next.
As always, please check the trigger warnings before reading. Some topics may be difficult, and your mental health matters.
Thank you, Brittnay, for the early copy and the beautiful PR box for House of Sin. I’m officially a forever fan and cannot wait to see what happens next for Birdie, the girls, and The Oily Cat.
July 11, 2026
𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐛𝐢𝐫𝐭𝐡, 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐦𝐞 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞.
House of Sin by Brittnay J Sears
5⭐️
3🌶️
I devoured this book! Really, anything Brittnay writes (check out The Left Hand if you haven’t yet!!). She has a way of writing stories full of suspense, dark characters with even darker stories.
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was on the edge of my seat! Birdie is a queen. She rose up from the ashes, turning her trauma into strength. She is the epitome of resilience. While she is looked down upon by her community, she has the biggest heart and gives all that she has so others aren’t without. She always shows up.
HoS is not for the faint of heart. Brittnay has been transparent regarding possible trigger warnings, provides a TW list at the very beginning of the book, and urges readers to check them before reading. This book explores many topics that some readers may find distressing. Please check trigger warnings before reading! Your mental health matters. 🖤
Thank you Brittnay for the gifted ARC and the amazing PR box! I’m forever a fan of you, your writing and The Oily Cat. 🖤
House of Sin by Brittnay J Sears
5⭐️
3🌶️
I devoured this book! Really, anything Brittnay writes (check out The Left Hand if you haven’t yet!!). She has a way of writing stories full of suspense, dark characters with even darker stories.
I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I was on the edge of my seat! Birdie is a queen. She rose up from the ashes, turning her trauma into strength. She is the epitome of resilience. While she is looked down upon by her community, she has the biggest heart and gives all that she has so others aren’t without. She always shows up.
HoS is not for the faint of heart. Brittnay has been transparent regarding possible trigger warnings, provides a TW list at the very beginning of the book, and urges readers to check them before reading. This book explores many topics that some readers may find distressing. Please check trigger warnings before reading! Your mental health matters. 🖤
Thank you Brittnay for the gifted ARC and the amazing PR box! I’m forever a fan of you, your writing and The Oily Cat. 🖤
July 15, 2026
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
House if Sin is a standalone about Bernadette, a woman running a Brothel in 1910.
I liked the story, the premise was intriguing and the topic different than usual. This isn't a romance, but a tale of a hard life, fought day after day. Bernie is resilient, she would do anything to protect those she loves, and it shows in every action.
The reverse Jack the Ripper, a woman killing men for being cruel towards women, it's definitely a powerful character choice, especially for the time in which the novel is set.
However, two huge things didn't completely work for me. The hysterical setting was cool, but phrases and mannerism weren't always in line with the period.
Most of all, however, is the way the story is told. It resembles more a collection of events, not always linked or following a precise time line. It didn't really feel like a coherent work, but a series of short stories. The back and forth between past and present was interesting in giving context, but this disjunction didn't really work throughout the book.
Still, the story was interesting, and I would for sure recommend the book.
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
House if Sin is a standalone about Bernadette, a woman running a Brothel in 1910.
I liked the story, the premise was intriguing and the topic different than usual. This isn't a romance, but a tale of a hard life, fought day after day. Bernie is resilient, she would do anything to protect those she loves, and it shows in every action.
The reverse Jack the Ripper, a woman killing men for being cruel towards women, it's definitely a powerful character choice, especially for the time in which the novel is set.
However, two huge things didn't completely work for me. The hysterical setting was cool, but phrases and mannerism weren't always in line with the period.
Most of all, however, is the way the story is told. It resembles more a collection of events, not always linked or following a precise time line. It didn't really feel like a coherent work, but a series of short stories. The back and forth between past and present was interesting in giving context, but this disjunction didn't really work throughout the book.
Still, the story was interesting, and I would for sure recommend the book.
Review of advance copy received from Author
O.M.G. That first chapter? Slow clap. Standing ovation. I was hooked instantly. Was here for all those vibes. "A true gentleman knows when to die quietly" 👏💯
But the plot went in a direction I genuinely didn't see it heading! What I actually got was something so much more layered than a reverse Jack the Ripper story.
Brittnay J. Sears gives quite a few characters a depth, nuance and emotional weight that completely reshapes what you think this book is going to be and where your thoughts linger. We end up with a bad ass found family, grief, trauma, humanity, vengence, survival, and the unraveling of where the moral line stands.
I went in expecting more spice and straight up darkness, but what I got instead was something that leans more into humanity, taboo themes, and emotional complexity ...and honestly, Sears handles it all so well.
If you're looking for a take-no-shit FMC that'll off a man in her brothel but also sit down in church and show up to help the less fortunate, Bernadette and the other ladies (and Emil!) at The Oily Cat might be right up your alley 😉
But the plot went in a direction I genuinely didn't see it heading! What I actually got was something so much more layered than a reverse Jack the Ripper story.
Brittnay J. Sears gives quite a few characters a depth, nuance and emotional weight that completely reshapes what you think this book is going to be and where your thoughts linger. We end up with a bad ass found family, grief, trauma, humanity, vengence, survival, and the unraveling of where the moral line stands.
I went in expecting more spice and straight up darkness, but what I got instead was something that leans more into humanity, taboo themes, and emotional complexity ...and honestly, Sears handles it all so well.
If you're looking for a take-no-shit FMC that'll off a man in her brothel but also sit down in church and show up to help the less fortunate, Bernadette and the other ladies (and Emil!) at The Oily Cat might be right up your alley 😉
July 17, 2026
What a good surprise! It was my first time reading this genre or type of book (historical steamy thriller?) and it was captivating!!
Let me say this was such an immersive story. The author had me believe I was watching a movie while reading. You could really imagine yourself in the scenes. From the way the decors are described, the language and the ambiance, it takes you back to the 1900s.
This is a dark book do not be mistaken. It’s brutal, infuriating, revolting and yet, it was empowering at the same time.
Seeing those women stick together and protect eachother against the men who see them as just objects to be used felt freeing. Not the revenge itself but the fact they fought back and didn’t want to let the world completely trample them. Bernadette and her girls are a team. The found family element was my favourite part of the story!
There is sorrow, profound grief and desperation. It’s a raw retelling so please check your TW.
I truly enjoyed House of Sin and will happily continue the series!
Thank you so much Brittnay J. Sears and The Author Agency for this thrilling ARC.💕
Let me say this was such an immersive story. The author had me believe I was watching a movie while reading. You could really imagine yourself in the scenes. From the way the decors are described, the language and the ambiance, it takes you back to the 1900s.
This is a dark book do not be mistaken. It’s brutal, infuriating, revolting and yet, it was empowering at the same time.
Seeing those women stick together and protect eachother against the men who see them as just objects to be used felt freeing. Not the revenge itself but the fact they fought back and didn’t want to let the world completely trample them. Bernadette and her girls are a team. The found family element was my favourite part of the story!
There is sorrow, profound grief and desperation. It’s a raw retelling so please check your TW.
I truly enjoyed House of Sin and will happily continue the series!
Thank you so much Brittnay J. Sears and The Author Agency for this thrilling ARC.💕
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
"This is not a story of survival. This is a story of vengeance."
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A dark and gritty story which follows Bernadette - a woman whose life is shattered by tragedy, forcing her to rebuild from nothing. She finds purpose in opening a brothel, creating a refuge where she can protect other women. As the book explores some heavy themes, please make sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in.
The story is compelling, with complex character that keep you interested throughout. It perfectly blends dark historical fiction with resilience, found family, and female solidarity. And I absolutely love the chapter names! I do wish it was slightly more plot, than character driven (but that's a personal preference). I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark historical fiction with a strong sense of sisterhood!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Brittnay J Sears for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A dark and gritty story which follows Bernadette - a woman whose life is shattered by tragedy, forcing her to rebuild from nothing. She finds purpose in opening a brothel, creating a refuge where she can protect other women. As the book explores some heavy themes, please make sure to check the trigger warnings before diving in.
The story is compelling, with complex character that keep you interested throughout. It perfectly blends dark historical fiction with resilience, found family, and female solidarity. And I absolutely love the chapter names! I do wish it was slightly more plot, than character driven (but that's a personal preference). I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark historical fiction with a strong sense of sisterhood!
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and Brittnay J Sears for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I am honestly blown away. This was such a badass group of women who faced such insane circumstances and still were always thrown to the wolves to come back victorious. I also LOVED how many POV's we got throughout the story and the depth we got to explore all of our characters. While I have some serious words for HIM, I do have to say that his story perfectly wrapped up in the most beautiful of bows.
I am trying to figure out how to write this review spoiler free, and the amount of times I've had to remove portions of this is insane. So I am going to think and come back to add, but here is what I'm going to say for now.
Badass women deserve badass stories. And THIS RIGHT HERE is the most badass of them all. Brittnay did such a phenomenal job throughout the entire book that keep everything interesting, breathtaking, and devastating in the most amazing ways. I cannot wait to see what the second book holds, and you bet your bottom dollar I'm going to be waiting in line.
I am trying to figure out how to write this review spoiler free, and the amount of times I've had to remove portions of this is insane. So I am going to think and come back to add, but here is what I'm going to say for now.
Badass women deserve badass stories. And THIS RIGHT HERE is the most badass of them all. Brittnay did such a phenomenal job throughout the entire book that keep everything interesting, breathtaking, and devastating in the most amazing ways. I cannot wait to see what the second book holds, and you bet your bottom dollar I'm going to be waiting in line.
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