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The Monster and the Masochist: A Dark Sapphic Romance
Not yet published
Expected 10 Sep 26- GenresDark RomanceLesbianLGBT
Kindle Edition
Expected publication September 10, 2026
About the author
Alexandra St. Pierre
10 books2,280 followersLover of all things dark and twisted.
Harbinger of characters with black cat energy.
Love is love.
🌈
Harbinger of characters with black cat energy.
Love is love.
🌈
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
August 28, 2026
My lesbian heart was screaming the second I found out this series was getting a dark sapphic romance. I knew I would be obsessed. I struggle to find well done dark, heavy, messy, traumatic, toxic sapphic content, and I knew Alexandra St. Pierre would never let me down.
Theo absolutely shattered me. Her story is a brutal reminder of why I don't trust churches or most people in it. The shame and guilt causing her coping mechanisms, of seeking out pain because she thought she deserved it, made my heart hurt for her. Watching this rough underground fighter completely surrender control to the polished put together lawyer was perfection. The dynamic is everything. I loved Theo’s commitment of pushing all the buttons, and being completely irresistible to apparently more than just Cass 😂 You cannot blame anyone for immediately crushing on Theo.
And the spice was spicing. The praise, degradation, possessiveness, pain and edging 🥵
I love that these women aren't watered down to make them more palatable. They aren't flowery or sweet. They are toxic, broken, strong, and messy. They make mistakes, they have unhealthy coping mechanisms, and have complex human experiences.
Also, i always appreciate the character art throughout this authors books. These two are the exact reason I needed a Kindle Colorsoft. I gotta have the full experience.
And I can’t forget the appearances of my favorites of this series! Cal, Ryan, Vox, Naomi were obviously going to be here, but then I screamed when Dakota, Logan, and Ronan show up.
This was such a wonderful addition to this series. I started it at after dinner, and could not go to sleep until I finished it.
Theo absolutely shattered me. Her story is a brutal reminder of why I don't trust churches or most people in it. The shame and guilt causing her coping mechanisms, of seeking out pain because she thought she deserved it, made my heart hurt for her. Watching this rough underground fighter completely surrender control to the polished put together lawyer was perfection. The dynamic is everything. I loved Theo’s commitment of pushing all the buttons, and being completely irresistible to apparently more than just Cass 😂 You cannot blame anyone for immediately crushing on Theo.
And the spice was spicing. The praise, degradation, possessiveness, pain and edging 🥵
I love that these women aren't watered down to make them more palatable. They aren't flowery or sweet. They are toxic, broken, strong, and messy. They make mistakes, they have unhealthy coping mechanisms, and have complex human experiences.
Also, i always appreciate the character art throughout this authors books. These two are the exact reason I needed a Kindle Colorsoft. I gotta have the full experience.
And I can’t forget the appearances of my favorites of this series! Cal, Ryan, Vox, Naomi were obviously going to be here, but then I screamed when Dakota, Logan, and Ronan show up.
This was such a wonderful addition to this series. I started it at after dinner, and could not go to sleep until I finished it.
Currently Reading
August 29, 2026Buddy read with Kelly!
Did Not Finish
August 28, 2026Thank you to the author for the ARC. All thoughts are my own.
DNF @30%
Honestly I'm just bored. I didn't feel this had the same spark as The Mercenary and the Mortician and that's okay as that's a tough act to beat. Most of the reviews I've seen for this are glowing and I'm so happy for the author. It just wasn't for me, and that's okay.
DNF @30%
Honestly I'm just bored. I didn't feel this had the same spark as The Mercenary and the Mortician and that's okay as that's a tough act to beat. Most of the reviews I've seen for this are glowing and I'm so happy for the author. It just wasn't for me, and that's okay.
August 29, 2026
This book… this fugging book! It was everything! I can’t put into words how amazing this book was. It was emotional, it was so so funny, it was powerful. It was purely everything. The relationship Cass and Theo built was so perfect! It’s so hard to talk about this book without giving spoilers but I’ll say that the monster was such an amazing character and I absolutely loved how similar to Callum Cass is. I wasn’t sure if I would vibe with her from Merc and Mort and she is actually so funny and HOT! The spice was spicy and kinky haha the way the books was so perfectly balanced between emotional destruction and so much comedy. Ugh it was everything! And I LOVED how much of Callum we got to have in this book as well. He is such a trip. It’s gunna so crazy for me to say this but I think I might actually like this book better than Merc and Mort and much is absolutely insane bc you know how obsessed I am with that book!
August 29, 2026
This is my very first FF book I read the other in the series and loved Theo in Ryan and Cals book so I took a chance on it
Alexandria did it again she was able to make you feel so intensely about these characters! Chapter 1 was necessary to the book but oh my god it hurt so much! Theo poor sweet Theo no wonder she tries to hurt herself so much!
Theo and Cassandra were truly made for each other because they had what the other needed; people look at Theo and think she’s the dominate one but she needs someone to trust and put her in her place and Cassandra could do that!
Cassandra needs a partner because she told her firm she was getting married so she asks Theo and of course Theo is over the moon because she’s in love with Cass! What they both didn’t expect was for it to become very very real the monster in Cass’s head got possessive over their little fighter but it also helped when she needed to slay the one who hurt Theo!
I hated when Theo was doing SO good and ran into that pos again and she backslid!
It took her awhile to open up but she finally told Cass what happened and she let Cass enter her nightmares and Cass’s monster ended the father!
Theo had these little qtips her dad gave her as a magic sword so when Cass got her a diamond encrusted necklace with a Qtip on it I swoooooned!
Theo got better but so did Cass because once she had people who openly loved her and someone to come home too the monster went quiet in her head!
I love that we got Ryan and Cal!!! Cal popped up so much and so did Ryan! Cass connected with Vox to help her too
But the ending of that second epilogue was mean LOL I want more!!!
I really didn’t know what I was getting into when I started but I enjoyed it so much!! One of the absolute best parts was the illustrations to see them on their wedding day!? Gorgeous!
Fav quotes
“A… Q-tip?” I’d asked incredulously, and he almost looked offended. “It’s obviously a magic wand, Theo, don’t be ridiculous.”
“Puh-leassseee, Theo? Do this. For me.” “Why do you want me to hook up with your sister so bad?”
“Because, Theo. She came to sit by your bed every day when you were healing. She cares about you. She’s just… not good at letting people in. She needs a push, and honestly, I don’t think there’s anyone on this planet that’s good enough for her.” I raised a surprised eyebrow at this, and he gave me a sly grin. “No one… except maybe you.”
‘We’re not killing the barista, ‘Come now. Just one little barista. It would be easy. All you would need to do is learn her schedule. We could follow her home. I bet she screams so pretty… Besides, she was flirting with your street fighter. Don’t you want to punish her for that?’ ‘Theo is not my street fighter. Besides, I’ve told you a thousand times. We can’t just go killing innocent people. We’ll end up in prison.’
‘Let me have the street fighter, then, if you do not want her. I bet you she screams even prettier than the barista.’ Rage and fear coursed through me at the thought of my monster setting its sights on Theo. “Theodora is off limits. You are forbidden from killing her.’ ‘I do not have to kill her to make her scream.’
Don’t look at my masochist like that, you little fuck.
‘All jokes aside… Are you okay?’ ‘I am now, princess.’ As if something as simple as texting me had made whatever she’d been going through better.
“TheodoraFairviewWillYouPleaseFakeMarryMe?”
But… the fact that Theo cared more about how this marriage would impact me than about how it would impact her was incredibly touching.
My. Wife. My god… I was so. Fucking. In love with her…. She was going to break my damn heart.
A sexy threat, but still a threat. It was hostile, and intense, and so, so fucking hot. “I expect you to be waiting for me when I get home from work, Theodora,” she hummed softly.
“Hey, princess. Welcome home. You have a good day at work?” she asked, and the easiness of it all settled deep in my chest.
Our room? Damn. Guess I wasn’t moving out after all…
“Way to go, Theo.” I smirked to myself. “Just bagged yourself a psycho.”
“Red is a complex color. It can be used to represent both love and fury,” Iris said softly. “It’s perfect for someone as fierce as Cassandra.”
“You have a ring for me?” “Uhh, yeah, but don’t worry about it.” She frowned, her expression strangely soft. “Can I see it?” “Uhh, I mean, yeah, but if you don’t like it, like I said, you should just wear the one you have.” “Theodora. Show me the fucking ring,”“Theo… it’s beautiful,” she said, her voice gentle. Before I knew what was happening, she was slipping off the ring she’d bought for herself and returning it to her tiny purse that had clearly been designed for mice. “Put it on me,” she ordered, holding out her now bare left hand. Fuck. Me.
Theo’s vows
“Cassandra. I don’t know if you remember this, but when you first came to stay here, I made an off-hand joke about being your knight in shining armor.” “Do you remember what you said to me? You said, ‘Please, I slay my own dragons “Well, in these last few weeks I’ve gotten to know you… And I’ve never known something to be truer than that statement. “You’ve always slain your own dragons, Cassandra. You slayed your first dragon at thirteen years old, and you never looked back. With nothing but sheer willpower and determination, you clawed your way out of one of the worst situations any child could ever find themselves in and continued to ruthlessly cut down every single obstacle life has ever tried to throw at you. Your strength is more than incredible. It’s awe-inspiring. You’re one of the most impressive women I’ve ever met, and it’s so clear to me that you don’t need any help navigating your way through this often cruel and unforgiving world we’ve all been forced to co-exist in. You’ve proven time and time again that you’re stronger than the rest of us, and I’m dazzled by you every day. So as I stand here before you, I struggle to find the words to explain what I can offer to someone who doesn’t need anybody.”
“I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I think I’ve figured it out… So, without further ado, this is what I vow to be, for the woman who needs no one…”“After a long day of slaying dragons… when you’ve won the battle, but you’re left bleeding and raw… I promise I’ll always be there to help tend to your wounds. On those days when you’re tired of fighting… When you’re feeling weak, or your sword is too heavy to carry… I’ll be there, every time, to help remind you how strong you are. On your highest days, when you come out the victor and need someone to celebrate with, I’ll be right there, ready to celebrate with you. And on days where it’s all just too much, and you’re afraid that maybe this time, the monsters might win… Days where you’re outnumbered and you need a safe place to rest until you’re ready to fight again… I’ll be there to hold you and remind you that you’re not alone.”
“I know you don’t need a knight in shining armor, Cassandra,” she whispered, her minty breath dancing across my cheek. “But I’m hoping you’ll let me be your home.”
almost didn’t hear my monster as it rumbled in my chest. ‘Yes… I think we shall keep this one…” It rumbled ominously. ‘This one is ours.’
“You and your monster are very observant.”
Only Tiffany & Co could make a Q-Tip look elegant. The Q-Tip pendant was made of two teardrop beads that were connected to a delicate two-inch silver rod. I’d also taken the liberty of asking them to embed a tiny diamond on each end. I didn’t know if diamonds had any ‘magic,’ but I couldn’t imagine adding them would hurt. Theo deserved all the diamonds in the world as far as I was concerned. I ran my thumb over the true-to-size re-creation of Theo’s makeshift magic wand
‘She needs to understand that she is no longer permitted to hurt herself like this,’ my monster growled. It was pacing its cage in agitation, and I sighed. ‘Make her come back.’ “We can’t make her stop fighting. It’s her whole life.” ‘No. WE are her whole life. She will come home, and she will obey.” “She’s not going to like it,” I whispered, and my monster snarled. ‘Too bad.’
“I’m afraid if I tell you the truth, you’ll look at me differently… Or think I’m even more fucked up than you already do.
“Yeah. I have all those things. I also have a sentient voice in my head that tells me to kill people.”
“Does it have a real name? We can’t just call it your monster. People are going to think we’re insane.” Cass frowned at me, looking adorably confused. “Theo… we are insane. And I mean… Yeah, it probably does have a name. I’ve just never really–” “I think we should call it Sue,” I said matter-of-factly. “It feels like a Sue.”
“Theodora. I just told you I have a homicidal voice in my head that’s as real to me as you are. If you don’t think that makes me fucked up, then I don’t see how anything you can tell me about yourself will even rank on the universal scale of fuckedupery.” “Fuckedupery is definitely not a word.” “It’s a word if I say it is.”
I’m going to take care of you. Always. Always. Always. …Why did I believe her?
‘This man that hurt her… He is the one she is trying to drown with the alcohol. He haunts her from within,’ my monster rumbled as I gently stroked my broken girl’s tear-stained cheeks. ‘Not for fucking long. We are going to kill him.’ ‘Naturally. But killing him in this world will not be enough. She needs to purge him from her soul, or she will never be truly free.’ ‘That won’t be so easy.’ ‘But not impossible. We killed both your mother and her memory. We can help our street fighter with this as well.’ ‘We need to be delicate about this.’ ‘Give her the silver charm. We will use it as an anchor when the opportunity presents itself.’
“You… you really had this made for me? You don’t think it’s… stupid that I’m a grown ass woman using Q-Tips as magic wands?” “You are a lot of things, Theodora Fairview, but stupid is not one of them.”
“Now, next time he comes for you and you feel like you need to drink the pain away, I want you to hold this…” I took her hand and closed her fist around the thin silver rod of the charm. “And remember that you don’t need to fight him alone. You will call me, and I will drop everything, and we will think of three good things together.”
“This is a direct link to me. Every time you hold it, you’ll remember that you have me now, and I won’t let anyone hurt you. Not even the memories in your head. Do you hear me?”
“Fine. But don’t take too long. I missed you while you were gone.” The surprised look on her face took me aback. Again, I was struck with the impression that she almost couldn’t believe I was telling her the truth, and as endearing as it was, it frustrated me a little bit. “Really?” she asked doubtfully, and I frowned.
Why did she still seem so surprised every time I showed her an ounce of affection? “She doesn’t believe she’s worthy,” my monster hummed as it idly checked the sharpness of one of its long, curved claws. ‘For how intelligent you are, you can be rather dense at times, little killer.’
Theo had dropped her mask with me a long time ago, and I hadn’t even noticed. As the realization rolled through me, I felt my breath catch. It felt like a privilege. An honor, and something I was desperate to never fuck up.
‘No need to be jealous, little killer. She is ours. And after this, the whole world will know if they didn’t already.’
It was him. Holy fucking shit, this was real. This wasn’t a flashback. He was literally standing there… staring at me!
“Theo… please…” she gasped, and it took me a second to realize that her cheeks were wet too. She was… crying? “Baby, please…” she choked as she gently stroked my cheeks with her thumbs, and the pure look of devastation on her face struck a chord deep inside me. “Theo… please. Please, tell me what to do to help you.” Suddenly, the world stopped spinning and time seemed to freeze as I realized that Cassandra Walker wasn’t just crying… she was begging. Cassandra didn’t beg. Not ever.
“I would kill for you, Theodora, do you understand that? If someone hurt you, I will fucking destroy them… but I don’t… I don’t know what I’m supposed to do when the person fucking hurting you… is you.”
“Please, Theo. Please stop hurting the person I fucking love more than anything. Please stop hurting my wife.”
“The way my wife talks about you… I was expecting some huge, scary monster.”“Yes. Scream for me, tiny man. I’ve waited so long to hear your pitiful shrieks.”
“Don’t worry, Theodora. You’re safe now. My monster would never hurt you. It protects us,”
“I’ve got you, sweet girl. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“Let’s go home,” she whispered. Then she carried me out of the room I’d been trapped in for decades. And she didn’t look back
I smiled to myself as she instinctively stretched out her arm so I could curl up in what we affectionately called ‘my nook.’
“Fine, you fucking psycho.” “I’m the masochist. You’re the psycho. Don’t get it twisted.”
“Baby… I… I fucking love you so much,” she whispered, and a fierce wave of possessiveness rolled through me at her words. “I love you too, Theo,” I murmured, tugging her closer into me so I could feel every inch of her pressed against me. “I… I never thought I would hear you say that.”
“Last night you… You called me your wife. Did you… Did you mean that?”“Theodora, you are my wife.” “Yeah, but… I thought… I thought it was supposed to be fake.”
“It hasn’t been fake for me for a long time,” I whispered, and the look of awe that spread across her perfect face was something I would treasure until the day I died. I’d put that look on her face. Me. “It… It was never fake for me,” Theo admitted. She cradled my face between both her hands, and she brushed a calloused thumb across my cheek, sweeping away a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen.
“I’ve been in love with you for a long time, Cassandra. I never thought…” Her shoulders shook as she struggled to get a hold of her emotions. “I never thought you would ever love me back.”“I love you so much it fucking hurts,”
“You… You know him,” she whispered, and the smoldering pit of rage in my gut turned to ice. “I do?” I asked carefully, staying as still as I could, worried that if I made any sudden movements, she might lose her nerve. “Yeah…” She choked on the word, and I hung there, frozen and barely breathing as I waited for her to finally tell me who it was. “It’s why… It’s why I was so afraid to tell you. I thought… I thought you might pick him… over me.” “What?”
“Y-yeah. I’m sorry. It was before I knew you loved me, and you’d literally married me over him, so I figured if it came down to him or me, you’d pick him, and I… I didn’t think I would survive it if that happened.”“
I am the one who owes you an apology. I’m so fucking sorry, Theo. I’m sorry I’ve been so blind. I’m sorry I made you feel like I would choose a literal fucking pedophile over you. I don’t know what I did to make you feel that way, but I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never feel that way again.”
“I can understand why you didn’t trust me with this, Theodora. Clearly, I hadn’t given you reason to. I was literally defending him for Christ’s sake… but, I hope you know now, that there is nothing more important to me than you. Especially not some stupid fucking job. I would sooner burn that firm to the ground than choose that man over you.”
“Your brother was waiting for his dark angel to come… but it seems you were waiting for your monster.”
“You’re welcome, by the way.” He grinned. “For what?” “For hooking you up with my sister. Say: Thank you, Callum.” I snorted, rolling my eyes. “Thank you, Callum. You fucking nutcase.” “Takes one to know one, apparently,” he snarked, shooting me an amused wink.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Muscles.”
I realized that morning that… I didn’t want to die. Not anymore. I wanted to go home to my hot wife and make vegan food and play Smash Bros I wanted to maybe find a way to use what skills I had to help other people who had been through something similar to me. Maybe I could teach people how to defend themselves from people like Samwell… Maybe I could make a real difference in this world, instead of just letting myself fade away into nothing. I just… wanted.
“So wait… Why is she here? Did you hear what I said? About the hit?” I asked, pulling away from Theo to glare at the large Russian woman who was currently sitting rather demurely on Jerry’s shitty couch. “Oh yeah, we know about the hit. Svetlana was just telling us about it before you went all Rambo and busted in here, guns blazing.” Cal smirked, shooting me a teasing grin.
“You said that I was family, and we don’t turn our backs on family. Well, that goes both ways, Muscles. We’re not going to let anything happen to you. We’re a team. You fuck with one of us, you fuck with all of us. That’s what family’s all about, right?”
“He said if I prayed, I would be saved,” the girl whispered, and a growl built in my throat as I watched a tear spill down her cheek. “I prayed and prayed, but none of the angels listened.”
“We listened,” I said, my voice a low growl. “We came. Now you are safe. Stay here, we will take the rest of them too.”
‘Hello, little killer,’ it purred, and I frowned at how tired it sounded. ‘You okay? I thought you’d be bouncing off the walls. You massacred three people today.’
‘Then why are you so tired? Are you sick?’
‘No, I am not sick, Cassandra. I am resting.’ ‘Okay… but you’ll wake back up, right?’
‘If you ever need me again, yes, I will wake up.’ ‘Wh–What does that mean?” I
‘It means, little killer, that you are safe now. You have found your place in the world, and you no longer have any need for me.’ ‘B-but… No! I didn’t agree to that! I still need you–I–” ‘You do not need me, Cassandra, and that is a good thing. It is all I ever wanted for you. It means you have found a safe place to rest your head.’ ‘But… I don’t want you to go…” I whispered, and my monster opened its great, reptilian eyes one last time, that lazy smile still tilting the corner of its mouth. ‘But you must let me go, little killer. It was my job to protect you, but it is clear that I am no longer needed. And for that, I am grateful. I can rest easy knowing that you are surrounded by people who love you, and that you are now safe.’ A tear spilled down my cheek as my monster settled deeper into the shadows, its large eye closing again… though this time it felt final. ‘It has been an honor, Cassandra. I know that you will continue to make me proud.’‘Goodbye,’ I whispered. ‘Thank you for protecting me.’
Theo’s Gym: Self-defense for the Girls, Gays, and Theys.
Callum exploded into the room, and we all turned in unison to find him barrelling through crowds of people to get to us. “I’m getting maaaarrrieddd!!!!” he bellowed, slamming into me hard enough that I let out an abrupt ‘oof.’
Alexandria did it again she was able to make you feel so intensely about these characters! Chapter 1 was necessary to the book but oh my god it hurt so much! Theo poor sweet Theo no wonder she tries to hurt herself so much!
Theo and Cassandra were truly made for each other because they had what the other needed; people look at Theo and think she’s the dominate one but she needs someone to trust and put her in her place and Cassandra could do that!
Cassandra needs a partner because she told her firm she was getting married so she asks Theo and of course Theo is over the moon because she’s in love with Cass! What they both didn’t expect was for it to become very very real the monster in Cass’s head got possessive over their little fighter but it also helped when she needed to slay the one who hurt Theo!
I hated when Theo was doing SO good and ran into that pos again and she backslid!
It took her awhile to open up but she finally told Cass what happened and she let Cass enter her nightmares and Cass’s monster ended the father!
Theo had these little qtips her dad gave her as a magic sword so when Cass got her a diamond encrusted necklace with a Qtip on it I swoooooned!
Theo got better but so did Cass because once she had people who openly loved her and someone to come home too the monster went quiet in her head!
I love that we got Ryan and Cal!!! Cal popped up so much and so did Ryan! Cass connected with Vox to help her too
But the ending of that second epilogue was mean LOL I want more!!!
I really didn’t know what I was getting into when I started but I enjoyed it so much!! One of the absolute best parts was the illustrations to see them on their wedding day!? Gorgeous!
Fav quotes
“A… Q-tip?” I’d asked incredulously, and he almost looked offended. “It’s obviously a magic wand, Theo, don’t be ridiculous.”
“Puh-leassseee, Theo? Do this. For me.” “Why do you want me to hook up with your sister so bad?”
“Because, Theo. She came to sit by your bed every day when you were healing. She cares about you. She’s just… not good at letting people in. She needs a push, and honestly, I don’t think there’s anyone on this planet that’s good enough for her.” I raised a surprised eyebrow at this, and he gave me a sly grin. “No one… except maybe you.”
‘We’re not killing the barista, ‘Come now. Just one little barista. It would be easy. All you would need to do is learn her schedule. We could follow her home. I bet she screams so pretty… Besides, she was flirting with your street fighter. Don’t you want to punish her for that?’ ‘Theo is not my street fighter. Besides, I’ve told you a thousand times. We can’t just go killing innocent people. We’ll end up in prison.’
‘Let me have the street fighter, then, if you do not want her. I bet you she screams even prettier than the barista.’ Rage and fear coursed through me at the thought of my monster setting its sights on Theo. “Theodora is off limits. You are forbidden from killing her.’ ‘I do not have to kill her to make her scream.’
Don’t look at my masochist like that, you little fuck.
‘All jokes aside… Are you okay?’ ‘I am now, princess.’ As if something as simple as texting me had made whatever she’d been going through better.
“TheodoraFairviewWillYouPleaseFakeMarryMe?”
But… the fact that Theo cared more about how this marriage would impact me than about how it would impact her was incredibly touching.
My. Wife. My god… I was so. Fucking. In love with her…. She was going to break my damn heart.
A sexy threat, but still a threat. It was hostile, and intense, and so, so fucking hot. “I expect you to be waiting for me when I get home from work, Theodora,” she hummed softly.
“Hey, princess. Welcome home. You have a good day at work?” she asked, and the easiness of it all settled deep in my chest.
Our room? Damn. Guess I wasn’t moving out after all…
“Way to go, Theo.” I smirked to myself. “Just bagged yourself a psycho.”
“Red is a complex color. It can be used to represent both love and fury,” Iris said softly. “It’s perfect for someone as fierce as Cassandra.”
“You have a ring for me?” “Uhh, yeah, but don’t worry about it.” She frowned, her expression strangely soft. “Can I see it?” “Uhh, I mean, yeah, but if you don’t like it, like I said, you should just wear the one you have.” “Theodora. Show me the fucking ring,”“Theo… it’s beautiful,” she said, her voice gentle. Before I knew what was happening, she was slipping off the ring she’d bought for herself and returning it to her tiny purse that had clearly been designed for mice. “Put it on me,” she ordered, holding out her now bare left hand. Fuck. Me.
Theo’s vows
“Cassandra. I don’t know if you remember this, but when you first came to stay here, I made an off-hand joke about being your knight in shining armor.” “Do you remember what you said to me? You said, ‘Please, I slay my own dragons “Well, in these last few weeks I’ve gotten to know you… And I’ve never known something to be truer than that statement. “You’ve always slain your own dragons, Cassandra. You slayed your first dragon at thirteen years old, and you never looked back. With nothing but sheer willpower and determination, you clawed your way out of one of the worst situations any child could ever find themselves in and continued to ruthlessly cut down every single obstacle life has ever tried to throw at you. Your strength is more than incredible. It’s awe-inspiring. You’re one of the most impressive women I’ve ever met, and it’s so clear to me that you don’t need any help navigating your way through this often cruel and unforgiving world we’ve all been forced to co-exist in. You’ve proven time and time again that you’re stronger than the rest of us, and I’m dazzled by you every day. So as I stand here before you, I struggle to find the words to explain what I can offer to someone who doesn’t need anybody.”
“I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I think I’ve figured it out… So, without further ado, this is what I vow to be, for the woman who needs no one…”“After a long day of slaying dragons… when you’ve won the battle, but you’re left bleeding and raw… I promise I’ll always be there to help tend to your wounds. On those days when you’re tired of fighting… When you’re feeling weak, or your sword is too heavy to carry… I’ll be there, every time, to help remind you how strong you are. On your highest days, when you come out the victor and need someone to celebrate with, I’ll be right there, ready to celebrate with you. And on days where it’s all just too much, and you’re afraid that maybe this time, the monsters might win… Days where you’re outnumbered and you need a safe place to rest until you’re ready to fight again… I’ll be there to hold you and remind you that you’re not alone.”
“I know you don’t need a knight in shining armor, Cassandra,” she whispered, her minty breath dancing across my cheek. “But I’m hoping you’ll let me be your home.”
almost didn’t hear my monster as it rumbled in my chest. ‘Yes… I think we shall keep this one…” It rumbled ominously. ‘This one is ours.’
“You and your monster are very observant.”
Only Tiffany & Co could make a Q-Tip look elegant. The Q-Tip pendant was made of two teardrop beads that were connected to a delicate two-inch silver rod. I’d also taken the liberty of asking them to embed a tiny diamond on each end. I didn’t know if diamonds had any ‘magic,’ but I couldn’t imagine adding them would hurt. Theo deserved all the diamonds in the world as far as I was concerned. I ran my thumb over the true-to-size re-creation of Theo’s makeshift magic wand
‘She needs to understand that she is no longer permitted to hurt herself like this,’ my monster growled. It was pacing its cage in agitation, and I sighed. ‘Make her come back.’ “We can’t make her stop fighting. It’s her whole life.” ‘No. WE are her whole life. She will come home, and she will obey.” “She’s not going to like it,” I whispered, and my monster snarled. ‘Too bad.’
“I’m afraid if I tell you the truth, you’ll look at me differently… Or think I’m even more fucked up than you already do.
“Yeah. I have all those things. I also have a sentient voice in my head that tells me to kill people.”
“Does it have a real name? We can’t just call it your monster. People are going to think we’re insane.” Cass frowned at me, looking adorably confused. “Theo… we are insane. And I mean… Yeah, it probably does have a name. I’ve just never really–” “I think we should call it Sue,” I said matter-of-factly. “It feels like a Sue.”
“Theodora. I just told you I have a homicidal voice in my head that’s as real to me as you are. If you don’t think that makes me fucked up, then I don’t see how anything you can tell me about yourself will even rank on the universal scale of fuckedupery.” “Fuckedupery is definitely not a word.” “It’s a word if I say it is.”
I’m going to take care of you. Always. Always. Always. …Why did I believe her?
‘This man that hurt her… He is the one she is trying to drown with the alcohol. He haunts her from within,’ my monster rumbled as I gently stroked my broken girl’s tear-stained cheeks. ‘Not for fucking long. We are going to kill him.’ ‘Naturally. But killing him in this world will not be enough. She needs to purge him from her soul, or she will never be truly free.’ ‘That won’t be so easy.’ ‘But not impossible. We killed both your mother and her memory. We can help our street fighter with this as well.’ ‘We need to be delicate about this.’ ‘Give her the silver charm. We will use it as an anchor when the opportunity presents itself.’
“You… you really had this made for me? You don’t think it’s… stupid that I’m a grown ass woman using Q-Tips as magic wands?” “You are a lot of things, Theodora Fairview, but stupid is not one of them.”
“Now, next time he comes for you and you feel like you need to drink the pain away, I want you to hold this…” I took her hand and closed her fist around the thin silver rod of the charm. “And remember that you don’t need to fight him alone. You will call me, and I will drop everything, and we will think of three good things together.”
“This is a direct link to me. Every time you hold it, you’ll remember that you have me now, and I won’t let anyone hurt you. Not even the memories in your head. Do you hear me?”
“Fine. But don’t take too long. I missed you while you were gone.” The surprised look on her face took me aback. Again, I was struck with the impression that she almost couldn’t believe I was telling her the truth, and as endearing as it was, it frustrated me a little bit. “Really?” she asked doubtfully, and I frowned.
Why did she still seem so surprised every time I showed her an ounce of affection? “She doesn’t believe she’s worthy,” my monster hummed as it idly checked the sharpness of one of its long, curved claws. ‘For how intelligent you are, you can be rather dense at times, little killer.’
Theo had dropped her mask with me a long time ago, and I hadn’t even noticed. As the realization rolled through me, I felt my breath catch. It felt like a privilege. An honor, and something I was desperate to never fuck up.
‘No need to be jealous, little killer. She is ours. And after this, the whole world will know if they didn’t already.’
It was him. Holy fucking shit, this was real. This wasn’t a flashback. He was literally standing there… staring at me!
“Theo… please…” she gasped, and it took me a second to realize that her cheeks were wet too. She was… crying? “Baby, please…” she choked as she gently stroked my cheeks with her thumbs, and the pure look of devastation on her face struck a chord deep inside me. “Theo… please. Please, tell me what to do to help you.” Suddenly, the world stopped spinning and time seemed to freeze as I realized that Cassandra Walker wasn’t just crying… she was begging. Cassandra didn’t beg. Not ever.
“I would kill for you, Theodora, do you understand that? If someone hurt you, I will fucking destroy them… but I don’t… I don’t know what I’m supposed to do when the person fucking hurting you… is you.”
“Please, Theo. Please stop hurting the person I fucking love more than anything. Please stop hurting my wife.”
“The way my wife talks about you… I was expecting some huge, scary monster.”“Yes. Scream for me, tiny man. I’ve waited so long to hear your pitiful shrieks.”
“Don’t worry, Theodora. You’re safe now. My monster would never hurt you. It protects us,”
“I’ve got you, sweet girl. He can’t hurt you anymore.”
“Let’s go home,” she whispered. Then she carried me out of the room I’d been trapped in for decades. And she didn’t look back
I smiled to myself as she instinctively stretched out her arm so I could curl up in what we affectionately called ‘my nook.’
“Fine, you fucking psycho.” “I’m the masochist. You’re the psycho. Don’t get it twisted.”
“Baby… I… I fucking love you so much,” she whispered, and a fierce wave of possessiveness rolled through me at her words. “I love you too, Theo,” I murmured, tugging her closer into me so I could feel every inch of her pressed against me. “I… I never thought I would hear you say that.”
“Last night you… You called me your wife. Did you… Did you mean that?”“Theodora, you are my wife.” “Yeah, but… I thought… I thought it was supposed to be fake.”
“It hasn’t been fake for me for a long time,” I whispered, and the look of awe that spread across her perfect face was something I would treasure until the day I died. I’d put that look on her face. Me. “It… It was never fake for me,” Theo admitted. She cradled my face between both her hands, and she brushed a calloused thumb across my cheek, sweeping away a tear I hadn’t realized had fallen.
“I’ve been in love with you for a long time, Cassandra. I never thought…” Her shoulders shook as she struggled to get a hold of her emotions. “I never thought you would ever love me back.”“I love you so much it fucking hurts,”
“You… You know him,” she whispered, and the smoldering pit of rage in my gut turned to ice. “I do?” I asked carefully, staying as still as I could, worried that if I made any sudden movements, she might lose her nerve. “Yeah…” She choked on the word, and I hung there, frozen and barely breathing as I waited for her to finally tell me who it was. “It’s why… It’s why I was so afraid to tell you. I thought… I thought you might pick him… over me.” “What?”
“Y-yeah. I’m sorry. It was before I knew you loved me, and you’d literally married me over him, so I figured if it came down to him or me, you’d pick him, and I… I didn’t think I would survive it if that happened.”“
I am the one who owes you an apology. I’m so fucking sorry, Theo. I’m sorry I’ve been so blind. I’m sorry I made you feel like I would choose a literal fucking pedophile over you. I don’t know what I did to make you feel that way, but I will spend the rest of my life making sure you never feel that way again.”
“I can understand why you didn’t trust me with this, Theodora. Clearly, I hadn’t given you reason to. I was literally defending him for Christ’s sake… but, I hope you know now, that there is nothing more important to me than you. Especially not some stupid fucking job. I would sooner burn that firm to the ground than choose that man over you.”
“Your brother was waiting for his dark angel to come… but it seems you were waiting for your monster.”
“You’re welcome, by the way.” He grinned. “For what?” “For hooking you up with my sister. Say: Thank you, Callum.” I snorted, rolling my eyes. “Thank you, Callum. You fucking nutcase.” “Takes one to know one, apparently,” he snarked, shooting me an amused wink.
“Wouldn’t miss it for the world, Muscles.”
I realized that morning that… I didn’t want to die. Not anymore. I wanted to go home to my hot wife and make vegan food and play Smash Bros I wanted to maybe find a way to use what skills I had to help other people who had been through something similar to me. Maybe I could teach people how to defend themselves from people like Samwell… Maybe I could make a real difference in this world, instead of just letting myself fade away into nothing. I just… wanted.
“So wait… Why is she here? Did you hear what I said? About the hit?” I asked, pulling away from Theo to glare at the large Russian woman who was currently sitting rather demurely on Jerry’s shitty couch. “Oh yeah, we know about the hit. Svetlana was just telling us about it before you went all Rambo and busted in here, guns blazing.” Cal smirked, shooting me a teasing grin.
“You said that I was family, and we don’t turn our backs on family. Well, that goes both ways, Muscles. We’re not going to let anything happen to you. We’re a team. You fuck with one of us, you fuck with all of us. That’s what family’s all about, right?”
“He said if I prayed, I would be saved,” the girl whispered, and a growl built in my throat as I watched a tear spill down her cheek. “I prayed and prayed, but none of the angels listened.”
“We listened,” I said, my voice a low growl. “We came. Now you are safe. Stay here, we will take the rest of them too.”
‘Hello, little killer,’ it purred, and I frowned at how tired it sounded. ‘You okay? I thought you’d be bouncing off the walls. You massacred three people today.’
‘Then why are you so tired? Are you sick?’
‘No, I am not sick, Cassandra. I am resting.’ ‘Okay… but you’ll wake back up, right?’
‘If you ever need me again, yes, I will wake up.’ ‘Wh–What does that mean?” I
‘It means, little killer, that you are safe now. You have found your place in the world, and you no longer have any need for me.’ ‘B-but… No! I didn’t agree to that! I still need you–I–” ‘You do not need me, Cassandra, and that is a good thing. It is all I ever wanted for you. It means you have found a safe place to rest your head.’ ‘But… I don’t want you to go…” I whispered, and my monster opened its great, reptilian eyes one last time, that lazy smile still tilting the corner of its mouth. ‘But you must let me go, little killer. It was my job to protect you, but it is clear that I am no longer needed. And for that, I am grateful. I can rest easy knowing that you are surrounded by people who love you, and that you are now safe.’ A tear spilled down my cheek as my monster settled deeper into the shadows, its large eye closing again… though this time it felt final. ‘It has been an honor, Cassandra. I know that you will continue to make me proud.’‘Goodbye,’ I whispered. ‘Thank you for protecting me.’
Theo’s Gym: Self-defense for the Girls, Gays, and Theys.
Callum exploded into the room, and we all turned in unison to find him barrelling through crowds of people to get to us. “I’m getting maaaarrrieddd!!!!” he bellowed, slamming into me hard enough that I let out an abrupt ‘oof.’
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2026
ARC Review
★★★★★ 5 stars
I loved this book!!!!
This was my first sapphic book EVER, and what an amazing way to start. Alexandra St. Pierre absolutely knocked it out of the park with her first FF romance. (Not surprised by that at all tho 😅)
Cassandra and Theodora—Cass and Theo—are both fucking badass, and I loved watching these two finally find their way to each other and discover what it means to actually let someone in, heal together, and realize that sometimes you don’t have to slay your dragons alone. Sometimes you get to have someone beside you who is willing to grab a sword and slay them with you.
The story was great, emotional, funny, the plot kept me hooked, and the spice was SPICY 👀🔥
I started this ARC yesterday around 5 p.m. and finished it at 1 a.m. tonight, so safe to say I was invested.
I also freakin LOOOVED seeing characters from the previous books show up throughout this one!!!!
Speaking of which…
VOX AND NAOMI. I NEED YOUR BOOK RIGHT FREAKING NOW.
And I have to mention the author’s note because it genuinely got to me, and I’m so grateful for it. Thank you so much for sharing something so personal and for making us feel seen, girl!!
So yeah. Five stars. No hesitation.
Jeebus Alex, another GREAT one!!!
Now please give me Vox and Naomi. I am begging. 😭
★★★★★ 5 stars
I loved this book!!!!
This was my first sapphic book EVER, and what an amazing way to start. Alexandra St. Pierre absolutely knocked it out of the park with her first FF romance. (Not surprised by that at all tho 😅)
Cassandra and Theodora—Cass and Theo—are both fucking badass, and I loved watching these two finally find their way to each other and discover what it means to actually let someone in, heal together, and realize that sometimes you don’t have to slay your dragons alone. Sometimes you get to have someone beside you who is willing to grab a sword and slay them with you.
The story was great, emotional, funny, the plot kept me hooked, and the spice was SPICY 👀🔥
I started this ARC yesterday around 5 p.m. and finished it at 1 a.m. tonight, so safe to say I was invested.
I also freakin LOOOVED seeing characters from the previous books show up throughout this one!!!!
Speaking of which…
VOX AND NAOMI. I NEED YOUR BOOK RIGHT FREAKING NOW.
And I have to mention the author’s note because it genuinely got to me, and I’m so grateful for it. Thank you so much for sharing something so personal and for making us feel seen, girl!!
So yeah. Five stars. No hesitation.
Jeebus Alex, another GREAT one!!!
Now please give me Vox and Naomi. I am begging. 😭
Review of advance copy received from Author
5⭐️
This is the best sapphic book I’ve read, and I’m so HAPPY about it I cried. In a book with devastating trauma and violence, you might not expect to feel so seen and validated. But as a gender non-conforming lesbian, this book did SUCH a good job and this review is going to be a love letter.
Before we get to why I loved it so much, let me just tell you a little bit about the story. I will warn you now that this book has incredibly dark themes, such as childhood SA, so please stay safe.
This book follows Theo and Cassandra as they navigate a crazy marriage of convenience, relationship, and a whole lot of trauma. At the beginning of the book, Theo is already absolutely head over heels for Cass, but our dearest “Cuntzilla” is not interested in her advances, though the monster that lives inside her is somehow darkly possessive of Theo. We learn about Theo’s extremely difficult childhood trauma where she was repeatedly SAed and basically tortured while she felt she had to stay in silence. Growing up, Theo became a bad ass fighter, who honestly lives for the pain and just tries to forget sometimes. Now on the other hand, Cass is a bad ass lawyer, who is going head-to-head with her colleague Nolan to try to make partner. They’re told they have to work together on a case to defend a terrible client, but are pretty much given no choice. All this kind of backs Cass into a corner, where she blurt out that she has a fiancé. She does not, in fact, have a fiancé. However, Theo is absolutely happy to fill that role when she is asked.
If you just want to know what this book has quickly, you’ll get:
-fake marriage
-badass femme lawyer / badass (sweetheart)butch underground fighter
-some of the most difficult themes of trauma you’ll have to read about (but it’s worth it)
-fantastic revenge, don’t worry
-U Haul lesbians
-absolutely fire bedroom dynamic
OK, I think I’m going to need to break this review into parts because I need to talk about so much of it.
The plot:
The plot of this book was very well thought out, paste well, and although it didn’t really have any exciting plot twist or anything like that, it gave exactly what was necessary for the characters and did not disappoint. I was interested the entire time, and though I normally find extremely short chapters to be a little bit, annoying, it didn’t bother me at all in this book nor does it ever bother me with this author because I think that she is a genius.
Theo:
Her character was obviously so close and important to the author. You could absolutely tell that the author just poured her heart into Theo, and it made her such a loveable character, and it made you just feel for her in the deepest of ways. I think any woman, or person for that matter who has dealt with even a little bit of what Theo has had to go through could empathize with her on a really deep level. I also absolutely love that although Theo is this Butch, strong, muscular lesbian, that she absolutely has a soft submissive side. I absolutely loved that the author made her a nuanced character and didn’t just make her a Butch stereotype. Her story was so lovingly taken care of and I love her so much.
Cass:
This lady first and foremost was freaking HOT. She was so bad ass. She completely had me drooling after her the same way that Theo was. I thought that the author’s choice to have her kind of dark in our thoughts represented by a “monster” was a really interesting way to show how her own trauma kind of developed and manifested I guess. I absolutely loved that the more feminine of the two ladies was always shown to be so competent and so COOL.
Their relationship:
Personally, I love a fake dating relationship. I think it is something that is always a fun trope to throw into a book when you can. I thought it was so funny that these ridiculous lesbians were basically immediately thrown into a “fake” marriage but then immediately just moved in with each other and fell in love so quickly. As as the lesbian way. I thought it was great. 😂 but on a more serious note, I felt that their relationship, although it definitely wasn’t perfect, was so well done. The characters didn’t always notice or understand everything about each other, and that was very realistic. And then at the same time, their sexual chemistry was absolutely fire. Like, every time they had a sexual or amorous seen together I was literally blushing. They were really respectful of each other while still being so sexy. 😛 And on a more serious note, the way that those two characters were so “that’s MY WIFE and I will KILL YOU,” was just so good.
General thoughts (maybe mild spoilers but I’ll be vague):
This book had so many elements that I really wanted to see, and even though there were so many elements that were very difficult to read, I feel like they were handled so well. I literally found myself whisper-screaming “F*CK YEAH” at least three times during this book. The ending was so satisfying and there were so many moments that were also just so moving. Something that really affected me which I did not expect was the character of Nolan. Nolan is the lawyer that works with Cass and is initially a complete piece of trash. But he gets this kind of redemption arc that just demonstrates what I wish people in real life could truly be like, and for some reason, it just affected me so much. I think because I wish that people who are ignorant, would just take the time to correct their behaviour when that bad behaviour is pointed out. Anyway, it seems like such an insignificant part of the story, but it really affected me.
I do lastly wanna say that if you are a queer person, especially a queer woman, this book may be very difficult for you to read. The main bad evil man in the story SAs young queer girls on purpose because they are queer. It’s absolutely disgusting and it’s incredibly difficult to read about. Please stay safe. And I am also just so thankful about how well the author handled it and how she added resources for those who struggle with the kind of things Theo had to go through at the end of the book, paragraph.
To me, if a book can make me smile, cry, and emote verbally with how into it I am than that is automatically a five star read for me. I know that a lot of people (myself included) read mostly MM books when it comes to queer romance, but even if that is your preference, I really employ you to give this book a chance if you like dark romance because this book was incredible. ❤️ Alexandra’s writing is so good that she got me excited for a book about a straight couple. And my gay ass hasn’t read a straight book in a MINUTE hahaha.
This is the best sapphic book I’ve read, and I’m so HAPPY about it I cried. In a book with devastating trauma and violence, you might not expect to feel so seen and validated. But as a gender non-conforming lesbian, this book did SUCH a good job and this review is going to be a love letter.
Before we get to why I loved it so much, let me just tell you a little bit about the story. I will warn you now that this book has incredibly dark themes, such as childhood SA, so please stay safe.
This book follows Theo and Cassandra as they navigate a crazy marriage of convenience, relationship, and a whole lot of trauma. At the beginning of the book, Theo is already absolutely head over heels for Cass, but our dearest “Cuntzilla” is not interested in her advances, though the monster that lives inside her is somehow darkly possessive of Theo. We learn about Theo’s extremely difficult childhood trauma where she was repeatedly SAed and basically tortured while she felt she had to stay in silence. Growing up, Theo became a bad ass fighter, who honestly lives for the pain and just tries to forget sometimes. Now on the other hand, Cass is a bad ass lawyer, who is going head-to-head with her colleague Nolan to try to make partner. They’re told they have to work together on a case to defend a terrible client, but are pretty much given no choice. All this kind of backs Cass into a corner, where she blurt out that she has a fiancé. She does not, in fact, have a fiancé. However, Theo is absolutely happy to fill that role when she is asked.
If you just want to know what this book has quickly, you’ll get:
-fake marriage
-badass femme lawyer / badass (sweetheart)butch underground fighter
-some of the most difficult themes of trauma you’ll have to read about (but it’s worth it)
-fantastic revenge, don’t worry
-U Haul lesbians
-absolutely fire bedroom dynamic
OK, I think I’m going to need to break this review into parts because I need to talk about so much of it.
The plot:
The plot of this book was very well thought out, paste well, and although it didn’t really have any exciting plot twist or anything like that, it gave exactly what was necessary for the characters and did not disappoint. I was interested the entire time, and though I normally find extremely short chapters to be a little bit, annoying, it didn’t bother me at all in this book nor does it ever bother me with this author because I think that she is a genius.
Theo:
Her character was obviously so close and important to the author. You could absolutely tell that the author just poured her heart into Theo, and it made her such a loveable character, and it made you just feel for her in the deepest of ways. I think any woman, or person for that matter who has dealt with even a little bit of what Theo has had to go through could empathize with her on a really deep level. I also absolutely love that although Theo is this Butch, strong, muscular lesbian, that she absolutely has a soft submissive side. I absolutely loved that the author made her a nuanced character and didn’t just make her a Butch stereotype. Her story was so lovingly taken care of and I love her so much.
Cass:
This lady first and foremost was freaking HOT. She was so bad ass. She completely had me drooling after her the same way that Theo was. I thought that the author’s choice to have her kind of dark in our thoughts represented by a “monster” was a really interesting way to show how her own trauma kind of developed and manifested I guess. I absolutely loved that the more feminine of the two ladies was always shown to be so competent and so COOL.
Their relationship:
Personally, I love a fake dating relationship. I think it is something that is always a fun trope to throw into a book when you can. I thought it was so funny that these ridiculous lesbians were basically immediately thrown into a “fake” marriage but then immediately just moved in with each other and fell in love so quickly. As as the lesbian way. I thought it was great. 😂 but on a more serious note, I felt that their relationship, although it definitely wasn’t perfect, was so well done. The characters didn’t always notice or understand everything about each other, and that was very realistic. And then at the same time, their sexual chemistry was absolutely fire. Like, every time they had a sexual or amorous seen together I was literally blushing. They were really respectful of each other while still being so sexy. 😛 And on a more serious note, the way that those two characters were so “that’s MY WIFE and I will KILL YOU,” was just so good.
General thoughts (maybe mild spoilers but I’ll be vague):
This book had so many elements that I really wanted to see, and even though there were so many elements that were very difficult to read, I feel like they were handled so well. I literally found myself whisper-screaming “F*CK YEAH” at least three times during this book. The ending was so satisfying and there were so many moments that were also just so moving. Something that really affected me which I did not expect was the character of Nolan. Nolan is the lawyer that works with Cass and is initially a complete piece of trash. But he gets this kind of redemption arc that just demonstrates what I wish people in real life could truly be like, and for some reason, it just affected me so much. I think because I wish that people who are ignorant, would just take the time to correct their behaviour when that bad behaviour is pointed out. Anyway, it seems like such an insignificant part of the story, but it really affected me.
I do lastly wanna say that if you are a queer person, especially a queer woman, this book may be very difficult for you to read. The main bad evil man in the story SAs young queer girls on purpose because they are queer. It’s absolutely disgusting and it’s incredibly difficult to read about. Please stay safe. And I am also just so thankful about how well the author handled it and how she added resources for those who struggle with the kind of things Theo had to go through at the end of the book, paragraph.
To me, if a book can make me smile, cry, and emote verbally with how into it I am than that is automatically a five star read for me. I know that a lot of people (myself included) read mostly MM books when it comes to queer romance, but even if that is your preference, I really employ you to give this book a chance if you like dark romance because this book was incredible. ❤️ Alexandra’s writing is so good that she got me excited for a book about a straight couple. And my gay ass hasn’t read a straight book in a MINUTE hahaha.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A big thank you to Alexandra St. Pierre and her team for allowing me to beta-read this amazing story. I've been vibrating at a frequency that could shatter glass with how much I've been wanting to talk about it, but couldn't until now.
If you loved/went feral for The Mercenary and the Mortician as I did, then you will love Cass and Theo's story. Do not skip this book because it is a complete knockout (sorry, not sorry for the pun). Everyone from Merc and Mort makes an appearance in some capacity. You will get more Cal and his Ginger Snap, Vox, Naomi, Iris, and a certain throuple from another amazing book in the series.
Alexandra St. Pierre has this amazing skill of kidnapping my emotions and shoving them through a meat grinder with every book she writes. I'm sure my tears help feed her writing and keep making her more powerful. She'll most likely evolve goddess-like powers any day now.
Cass and Theo's story is a roller coaster of raw emotion. Both of these women have gone through so much and have had their trauma shape their lives with such magnitude and subtle ways that the healing arc in this story feels so fucking good. Both of them go through such a journey that, at times, I had to put the book down to keep my head from exploding. These are two women who have had unbelievable trauma happen to them, so being vulnerable and open to others is extremely hard. I am the same way, so the whole time I was rooting for them but also yelling at them to let them be there to catch the other when they fall.
If you thought Cal was ruthless in Merc and Mort, Cass makes Cal look like a puppy with how ruthless she can be. And I'm not just talking about her in the courtroom. Cass' journey in this was amazing, fascinating, heartbreaking, and full of feminine rage. I have never read a character quite like Cass before. I won't go into specifics, but her inner demons are loud in this. It made getting to know Cass so wonderfully creepy and exciting. Her journey with her sexuality in this book is also a powerful plot point. The care and love that ASP put into this aspect of Cass was beautiful and felt real.
Theo. My Theo. I love her and wanted to wrap my arms around her and never let go. The pain she is in and the self-destruction she goes through are something that lingers with me still. Every punch Theo goes through, literally and figuratively, could be felt in the pit of my stomach. The pain that radiates off of her is palpable, but so is the hope. The hope that maybe one day she will be free and feel deserving of something bright, and that love, not darkness, will stem from her life. Theo's healing arc is messy, raw, and complicated. I thought it was treated with such care without any kind of rose coloured glasses put on for us readers.
The ending with Cass and Theo... well, I won't say anything spoilery, but I will say that the way that ASP handled it was one of the most breathtaking and unique ways to handle something so dark and horrific. Never have I read anything quite like it. It was almost fairy tale-like, where the hero must find the strength within to slay the monster.
Aside from the trauma and healing journey these two go through, there is SPICE. AND THE SPICE IS SPICING, PEOPLE. I won't go into super specifics to avoid spoilers, but the intimacy and vulnerability between these two when they get together is incredible. With Cass navigating her new feelings about her sexuality and Theo's trauma, the spice in this is both hot AF, and also healing. There was more than one occasion where Cass had me wanting to grovel and say 'yes, sir'. 🥵 Also, straps. We love straps on women in this house.
Oh, and Theo in a suit. It's fine. I'm fine. *sweats*
THE CLIFFHANGER AT THE END HAD ME CACKLING. IYKYK. 😂
I honestly could wax poetic about this book and characters for a lot longer, but I don't want to bore anyone who may have read to this point. If you have read this far, then thank you.
This book is definitely another five-star for me. I love the world of Silent Hollow that ASP and Alina May have created. The Monster and the Masochist is definitely about healing, vulnerability, trust, and fighting for something better. Cass and Theo's journey as individuals and as a couple is something I still feel so deeply today, even after reading it months ago.
Alexandra St. Pierre, thank you for another uniquely complex and amazing story.
If you loved/went feral for The Mercenary and the Mortician as I did, then you will love Cass and Theo's story. Do not skip this book because it is a complete knockout (sorry, not sorry for the pun). Everyone from Merc and Mort makes an appearance in some capacity. You will get more Cal and his Ginger Snap, Vox, Naomi, Iris, and a certain throuple from another amazing book in the series.
Alexandra St. Pierre has this amazing skill of kidnapping my emotions and shoving them through a meat grinder with every book she writes. I'm sure my tears help feed her writing and keep making her more powerful. She'll most likely evolve goddess-like powers any day now.
Cass and Theo's story is a roller coaster of raw emotion. Both of these women have gone through so much and have had their trauma shape their lives with such magnitude and subtle ways that the healing arc in this story feels so fucking good. Both of them go through such a journey that, at times, I had to put the book down to keep my head from exploding. These are two women who have had unbelievable trauma happen to them, so being vulnerable and open to others is extremely hard. I am the same way, so the whole time I was rooting for them but also yelling at them to let them be there to catch the other when they fall.
If you thought Cal was ruthless in Merc and Mort, Cass makes Cal look like a puppy with how ruthless she can be. And I'm not just talking about her in the courtroom. Cass' journey in this was amazing, fascinating, heartbreaking, and full of feminine rage. I have never read a character quite like Cass before. I won't go into specifics, but her inner demons are loud in this. It made getting to know Cass so wonderfully creepy and exciting. Her journey with her sexuality in this book is also a powerful plot point. The care and love that ASP put into this aspect of Cass was beautiful and felt real.
Theo. My Theo. I love her and wanted to wrap my arms around her and never let go. The pain she is in and the self-destruction she goes through are something that lingers with me still. Every punch Theo goes through, literally and figuratively, could be felt in the pit of my stomach. The pain that radiates off of her is palpable, but so is the hope. The hope that maybe one day she will be free and feel deserving of something bright, and that love, not darkness, will stem from her life. Theo's healing arc is messy, raw, and complicated. I thought it was treated with such care without any kind of rose coloured glasses put on for us readers.
The ending with Cass and Theo... well, I won't say anything spoilery, but I will say that the way that ASP handled it was one of the most breathtaking and unique ways to handle something so dark and horrific. Never have I read anything quite like it. It was almost fairy tale-like, where the hero must find the strength within to slay the monster.
Aside from the trauma and healing journey these two go through, there is SPICE. AND THE SPICE IS SPICING, PEOPLE. I won't go into super specifics to avoid spoilers, but the intimacy and vulnerability between these two when they get together is incredible. With Cass navigating her new feelings about her sexuality and Theo's trauma, the spice in this is both hot AF, and also healing. There was more than one occasion where Cass had me wanting to grovel and say 'yes, sir'. 🥵 Also, straps. We love straps on women in this house.
Oh, and Theo in a suit. It's fine. I'm fine. *sweats*
THE CLIFFHANGER AT THE END HAD ME CACKLING. IYKYK. 😂
I honestly could wax poetic about this book and characters for a lot longer, but I don't want to bore anyone who may have read to this point. If you have read this far, then thank you.
This book is definitely another five-star for me. I love the world of Silent Hollow that ASP and Alina May have created. The Monster and the Masochist is definitely about healing, vulnerability, trust, and fighting for something better. Cass and Theo's journey as individuals and as a couple is something I still feel so deeply today, even after reading it months ago.
Alexandra St. Pierre, thank you for another uniquely complex and amazing story.
Review of advance copy received from Author
First all the thank you’s and love to Alexandra St. Pierre team for allowing me to read a ARC copy in exchange for my honest review. To say I was excited for this book is an understatement.
Now I’ll admit I’m new to Alexandra St. Pierre’s books. I literally only read the Mercenary and the Mortician like 3 months ago. But ever since I’ve read Cal & Ryan’s story I’ve been forcing everyone and their mother to read it to. So when I found out that Theo and Cass were getting their own book. I probably looked like a crazy person at how much I was foaming at the mouth to get my hand on this book. And let me say this now Cass & Theo’s book did not disappoint. I devoured this in less than 48hrs of it arriving on my kindle. And I can’t freaking wait for everyone to get their hands on it because Cass & Theo’s story is just as impactful and resonating as Ryan & Cal’s was. Not only will Alexandra put you through the emotional depths of hell. She’ll also make you burst out laughing. All your favorite characters are back including Vox, Naomi, Ryan, Iris, Cal and many more ;)
Now when I say emotional rollercoaster I mean it please check your trigger warnings. However, even with that said Alexandra does an amazing job taking us on these ladies emotional journey. It’s not easy, there is no sugar coating but the healing and vulnerability they find in themselves along the way is truly raw and inspiring. I think many women and men will relate to this and make the same connections I did.
Aside from the healing journey, let’s talk about Spice! And yes ladies and gentlemen the spice is spicing! Now I’ll be honest I haven’t dabbled in reading a lot of sapphic romances. So my experience is very limited in this department. However, what I did read was phenomenal and left me wanting more books just like this.
Lastly I want to vaguely mention the ending but Alexandra you’re paying for my therapy bill 😂 that cliffhanger/tease. How dare?!? And now I have to wait FOREVER. Can I already admit that my grabby hands for book 3 are ready and waiting! But I digress. Job well done you had me cackling and I can’t wait for the next one!
Overall, I cannot say enough good things about this book and this series. Do yourself a favor and pick up the Mercenary and the Mortician now so you’re ready for September so you can devour this bad boy! Because it’s 100% worth it!
Now I’ll admit I’m new to Alexandra St. Pierre’s books. I literally only read the Mercenary and the Mortician like 3 months ago. But ever since I’ve read Cal & Ryan’s story I’ve been forcing everyone and their mother to read it to. So when I found out that Theo and Cass were getting their own book. I probably looked like a crazy person at how much I was foaming at the mouth to get my hand on this book. And let me say this now Cass & Theo’s book did not disappoint. I devoured this in less than 48hrs of it arriving on my kindle. And I can’t freaking wait for everyone to get their hands on it because Cass & Theo’s story is just as impactful and resonating as Ryan & Cal’s was. Not only will Alexandra put you through the emotional depths of hell. She’ll also make you burst out laughing. All your favorite characters are back including Vox, Naomi, Ryan, Iris, Cal and many more ;)
Now when I say emotional rollercoaster I mean it please check your trigger warnings. However, even with that said Alexandra does an amazing job taking us on these ladies emotional journey. It’s not easy, there is no sugar coating but the healing and vulnerability they find in themselves along the way is truly raw and inspiring. I think many women and men will relate to this and make the same connections I did.
Aside from the healing journey, let’s talk about Spice! And yes ladies and gentlemen the spice is spicing! Now I’ll be honest I haven’t dabbled in reading a lot of sapphic romances. So my experience is very limited in this department. However, what I did read was phenomenal and left me wanting more books just like this.
Lastly I want to vaguely mention the ending but Alexandra you’re paying for my therapy bill 😂 that cliffhanger/tease. How dare?!? And now I have to wait FOREVER. Can I already admit that my grabby hands for book 3 are ready and waiting! But I digress. Job well done you had me cackling and I can’t wait for the next one!
Overall, I cannot say enough good things about this book and this series. Do yourself a favor and pick up the Mercenary and the Mortician now so you’re ready for September so you can devour this bad boy! Because it’s 100% worth it!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Going into this, I honestly wasn’t sure how I’d feel. As a strictly MM reader, diving into an FF romance was a little outside my comfort zone, but Alexandra St Pierre writes pure magic—and this book was exactly that. ✨
We have Cass, a structured, closed-off lawyer haunted by a childhood of abuse and neglect at the hands of her mother. At just 13, Cass killed her mother with the help of her “monster”—the inner voice that has protected her throughout her life, but also constantly urges her to kill.
Then there’s Theo, her bubbly, flirty, seemingly confident sister-in-law. Beneath the surface, Theo is struggling with her own demons. She’s an illegal street fighter, chasing the pain and adrenaline that temporarily quiet the memories of the sexual abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of a minister who tried to “pray the gay away.”
When Cass takes on a truly despicable client—a child predator who refuses to have a single woman represent him—she pretends she’s getting married. Theo, secretly obsessed with Cass, happily steps in to play the part. What starts as a fake marriage quickly becomes anything but, as the two fall into an emotional, intense and incredibly sexual relationship.
But when Theo reveals her past, Cass discovers that her client is the very man who abused Theo. And her monster? It wants blood.
With the help of Cass’s brother and friend, they uncover a horrifying truth about the extent of the abuse being unleashed on others. Cass finally unleashes her monster, taking down the men responsible, rescuing victims and capturing the man who destroyed Theo’s childhood. She brings him to Theo, giving her the chance to confront her abuser and finally begin breaking free from her demons.
This book had everything—angst, hurt, abuse, healing, mental health and substance abuse representation, revenge, found family and a love that blooms when neither of them expected it. ❤️🔥
I went into this unsure about stepping outside my usual MM romance, and I came out completely blown away. Cass and Theo found each other exactly when they needed to, and their hard-earned, beautiful HEA was so incredibly deserved.
A powerful, emotional and dark romance that completely surprised me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We have Cass, a structured, closed-off lawyer haunted by a childhood of abuse and neglect at the hands of her mother. At just 13, Cass killed her mother with the help of her “monster”—the inner voice that has protected her throughout her life, but also constantly urges her to kill.
Then there’s Theo, her bubbly, flirty, seemingly confident sister-in-law. Beneath the surface, Theo is struggling with her own demons. She’s an illegal street fighter, chasing the pain and adrenaline that temporarily quiet the memories of the sexual abuse she suffered as a child at the hands of a minister who tried to “pray the gay away.”
When Cass takes on a truly despicable client—a child predator who refuses to have a single woman represent him—she pretends she’s getting married. Theo, secretly obsessed with Cass, happily steps in to play the part. What starts as a fake marriage quickly becomes anything but, as the two fall into an emotional, intense and incredibly sexual relationship.
But when Theo reveals her past, Cass discovers that her client is the very man who abused Theo. And her monster? It wants blood.
With the help of Cass’s brother and friend, they uncover a horrifying truth about the extent of the abuse being unleashed on others. Cass finally unleashes her monster, taking down the men responsible, rescuing victims and capturing the man who destroyed Theo’s childhood. She brings him to Theo, giving her the chance to confront her abuser and finally begin breaking free from her demons.
This book had everything—angst, hurt, abuse, healing, mental health and substance abuse representation, revenge, found family and a love that blooms when neither of them expected it. ❤️🔥
I went into this unsure about stepping outside my usual MM romance, and I came out completely blown away. Cass and Theo found each other exactly when they needed to, and their hard-earned, beautiful HEA was so incredibly deserved.
A powerful, emotional and dark romance that completely surprised me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 28, 2026
ALEXXXXXX I'M SENDING YOU MY THERAPY BILL!!!!!
Seriously. This book did things to me....>_>
Thank you again Alex for letting me live in your brain!!!!!! I've been foaming at the mouth for MONTHS to talk about this story.
Alex has this terrifying ability to grab my emotions and shove them through a meat grinder. I swear my tears fuel her.....I know she enjoys it.
If you went feral for Merc and Mort, you're gonna lose it over Cass and Theo. Do NOT skip this. Some familiar faces make an appearance, Cal and his Ginger Snap, Vox, Naomi, Iris ect. All my favorite bbs!!!!!
Cass and Theo's story is raw emotion. Both have been through unimaginable trauma, and watching them heal was so damn satisfying. I was rooting for them while yelling at them to JUST LET THE OTHER PERSON CATCH YOU.
Cass is ruthless. I thought Cal was intense but Cass makes him look like a golden retriever. Her inner demons are LOUD and getting to know her was wonderfully creepy. The way Alex handled her sexuality journey felt so real.
And Theo. MY THEOOOOOOOOOOO. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and never let go. Her pain and self-destruction stuck with me. Every punch she took, I felt. But through the darkness, there was hope. Her healing was messy, raw, and treated with honesty. No rose-colored glasses.
The spice? SPICING, PEOPLE. 🥵 Hot AF and healing at the same time. Cass had me wanting to say "yes, ma'am." Also, straps. We love straps. And Theo in a suit? Yummmmm.
Side note there is one scene with a certain insect.....LMAO
Nolan. Alex KNOWS I was ready to throw hands with him. But instead of making him a villain, she pushed for conversation. Because that's how we grow......by having the hard conversations. I respect that.
The ending was soooo satisfying!! Now I'm counting down to the next book... IYKYK!!! lmao
*I received this ARC from the author, all thoughts are my own.*
Seriously. This book did things to me....>_>
Thank you again Alex for letting me live in your brain!!!!!! I've been foaming at the mouth for MONTHS to talk about this story.
Alex has this terrifying ability to grab my emotions and shove them through a meat grinder. I swear my tears fuel her.....I know she enjoys it.
If you went feral for Merc and Mort, you're gonna lose it over Cass and Theo. Do NOT skip this. Some familiar faces make an appearance, Cal and his Ginger Snap, Vox, Naomi, Iris ect. All my favorite bbs!!!!!
Cass and Theo's story is raw emotion. Both have been through unimaginable trauma, and watching them heal was so damn satisfying. I was rooting for them while yelling at them to JUST LET THE OTHER PERSON CATCH YOU.
Cass is ruthless. I thought Cal was intense but Cass makes him look like a golden retriever. Her inner demons are LOUD and getting to know her was wonderfully creepy. The way Alex handled her sexuality journey felt so real.
And Theo. MY THEOOOOOOOOOOO. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and never let go. Her pain and self-destruction stuck with me. Every punch she took, I felt. But through the darkness, there was hope. Her healing was messy, raw, and treated with honesty. No rose-colored glasses.
The spice? SPICING, PEOPLE. 🥵 Hot AF and healing at the same time. Cass had me wanting to say "yes, ma'am." Also, straps. We love straps. And Theo in a suit? Yummmmm.
Side note there is one scene with a certain insect.....LMAO
Nolan. Alex KNOWS I was ready to throw hands with him. But instead of making him a villain, she pushed for conversation. Because that's how we grow......by having the hard conversations. I respect that.
The ending was soooo satisfying!! Now I'm counting down to the next book... IYKYK!!! lmao
*I received this ARC from the author, all thoughts are my own.*
Review of advance copy received from Author
6 STAR READ
This is the third book in the Silent Hollow Series, and a dark sapphic romance.
I feel like no review I write can do this book justice. The Monster and the Masochist was a 6 star read for me. This was the type of book that made me feel so strongly and deeply and will stay with me for a long time. Both Theodora and Cassandra are such strong women who have experienced trauma and being able to see them heal braught tears to my eyes. 🫶
Alex has a unique way she tells a story and I know that’s why I fall in love with all of her books. These two fierce women have such different but strong alluring personalities. Theo is the epitome of cool, laid back and confident. She’s an underground street fighter that’s fearless. Underneath her calm exterior she struggles fighting the demons she’s plagued with due to trauma she has experienced. Cass is a high power defense attorney, who is well off and always put together. Although she also has a sentient voice in her head telling her to kill people. Their personalities are both alluring in different ways, the push and pull between them at the begining of this book was written so perfectly. The buildup between these two and the way these two strong personalities collide was one of my favorite parts about this book.
The dynamic between these two women was everything I could have hoped for. I could really feel how difficult it was for Theo to be vulnerable but the way Cass responds to her and wants to protect her is so beautiful. Cass and Theo are both unapologetically themselves and I loved that about them. The chemistry between these two was off the charts, and the character art was AMAZING!
Thank you for putting another beautifully written book into the world Alex, and I’m lucky to have read this as an ARC🫶.
I will never look at a q tip the same way 🥹
The cameos we got of Cal, Ryan, Ronan, Dakoda, and Logan WAS PERFECTION 🥹.
This is the third book in the Silent Hollow Series, and a dark sapphic romance.
I feel like no review I write can do this book justice. The Monster and the Masochist was a 6 star read for me. This was the type of book that made me feel so strongly and deeply and will stay with me for a long time. Both Theodora and Cassandra are such strong women who have experienced trauma and being able to see them heal braught tears to my eyes. 🫶
Alex has a unique way she tells a story and I know that’s why I fall in love with all of her books. These two fierce women have such different but strong alluring personalities. Theo is the epitome of cool, laid back and confident. She’s an underground street fighter that’s fearless. Underneath her calm exterior she struggles fighting the demons she’s plagued with due to trauma she has experienced. Cass is a high power defense attorney, who is well off and always put together. Although she also has a sentient voice in her head telling her to kill people. Their personalities are both alluring in different ways, the push and pull between them at the begining of this book was written so perfectly. The buildup between these two and the way these two strong personalities collide was one of my favorite parts about this book.
The dynamic between these two women was everything I could have hoped for. I could really feel how difficult it was for Theo to be vulnerable but the way Cass responds to her and wants to protect her is so beautiful. Cass and Theo are both unapologetically themselves and I loved that about them. The chemistry between these two was off the charts, and the character art was AMAZING!
Thank you for putting another beautifully written book into the world Alex, and I’m lucky to have read this as an ARC🫶.
I will never look at a q tip the same way 🥹
The cameos we got of Cal, Ryan, Ronan, Dakoda, and Logan WAS PERFECTION 🥹.
Review of advance copy received from Author
The way i screamed when I saw this in my email. After falling in love with both Cass and Theo in The Mercenary and The Mortician, I was super excited for them to have their own book!
Both of these women have very very heavy trauma. Cass' being her mother when she was a child and Theo's being something that happened when she was at school, to which she's never told anyone so its been eating her alive for many years.
Like her brother , Cass is an absolute badass. She would destory everything in her path for Theo.
And Theo, while battling her demons, she still wanted to make Cass happy and loved.
There were definitely moments where I wanted to shake them both, tell them to commicate, but I also couldn't stop rooting for them.
Watching both Cass and Theo go through their trauma was absolutely heartbreaking. But watching these two women heal each other was beautiful. Their dynamic is so addictive because you never quite know which direction things are going to go. There’s obsession, vulnerability, control, stubbornness, and enough emotional chaos to keep me completely invested.
I found myself getting more invested in them as the story progressed, especially as their feelings became harder for either of them to ignore.
I loved having all the past characters come back from the previous books too. Some giving a little comedic relief while there are some dark things happening.
The last few chapters though. Theo getting the closure she needed. And Cass finally healing from her trauma and being set free. The amount of tears I cried In these last few chapters.
Then theres the cliffhanger ( dont worry these girls get their happy ending ).. I was rolling up.. the next book in the series by Alexandra is gonna be great if that is how its going to go down 😂
Thank you so much for letting me Arc read my favourite series 💕
Both of these women have very very heavy trauma. Cass' being her mother when she was a child and Theo's being something that happened when she was at school, to which she's never told anyone so its been eating her alive for many years.
Like her brother , Cass is an absolute badass. She would destory everything in her path for Theo.
And Theo, while battling her demons, she still wanted to make Cass happy and loved.
There were definitely moments where I wanted to shake them both, tell them to commicate, but I also couldn't stop rooting for them.
Watching both Cass and Theo go through their trauma was absolutely heartbreaking. But watching these two women heal each other was beautiful. Their dynamic is so addictive because you never quite know which direction things are going to go. There’s obsession, vulnerability, control, stubbornness, and enough emotional chaos to keep me completely invested.
I found myself getting more invested in them as the story progressed, especially as their feelings became harder for either of them to ignore.
I loved having all the past characters come back from the previous books too. Some giving a little comedic relief while there are some dark things happening.
The last few chapters though. Theo getting the closure she needed. And Cass finally healing from her trauma and being set free. The amount of tears I cried In these last few chapters.
Then theres the cliffhanger ( dont worry these girls get their happy ending ).. I was rolling up.. the next book in the series by Alexandra is gonna be great if that is how its going to go down 😂
Thank you so much for letting me Arc read my favourite series 💕
August 29, 2026
Where to start ... Q-tips, Sue, Cuntzilla. This was my first FF read and I am hooked.
Cass & Theo built walls around themselves that are equally high. Cass tries to warn her that if she allows Theo in, there is no way out. She consumes them. And that is exactly what Theo needs.
Even though it was supposed to be a fake marriage, Theo wrote her own vows! This is when I knew Cassandra would slay both their dragons. “Cassandra. I don’t know if you remember this, but when you first came to stay here, I made an off-hand joke about being your knight in shining armor. Do you remember what you said to me? You said, ‘Please, I slay my own dragons.’”“I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I think I’ve figured it out… So, without further ado, this is what I vow to be, for the woman who needs no one…I know you don’t need a knight in shining armor, Cassandra, but I’m hoping you’ll let me be your home.”
Cass may be called Cuntzilla around the office, and owns that that is her nickname, but she loves Theo so fiercely, before she even realizes it herself. When she finds out about the Q-tips, she doesn't make fun of her or think less of her. Her first thought was how to help her. When she comes up with the talisman idea and gives the gift to Theo, it broke me. “This is a direct link to me. Every time you hold it, you’ll remember that you have me now, and I won’t let anyone hurt you. Not even the memories in your head. Do you hear me?”
I also loved we got to see a POV from The Monster and Cassandra was able to heal, while also helping Theo.
the redemption of Nolan throughout the book was so sweet. As small as it may seem to some, I felt it had a huge impact throughout the book.
I could keep going on and on about these two extremely powerful and strong, yet broken women find themselves and heal together...
Thank you Alex for the early viewing,
Cass & Theo built walls around themselves that are equally high. Cass tries to warn her that if she allows Theo in, there is no way out. She consumes them. And that is exactly what Theo needs.
Even though it was supposed to be a fake marriage, Theo wrote her own vows! This is when I knew Cassandra would slay both their dragons. “Cassandra. I don’t know if you remember this, but when you first came to stay here, I made an off-hand joke about being your knight in shining armor. Do you remember what you said to me? You said, ‘Please, I slay my own dragons.’”“I’ve given it a lot of thought, and I think I’ve figured it out… So, without further ado, this is what I vow to be, for the woman who needs no one…I know you don’t need a knight in shining armor, Cassandra, but I’m hoping you’ll let me be your home.”
Cass may be called Cuntzilla around the office, and owns that that is her nickname, but she loves Theo so fiercely, before she even realizes it herself. When she finds out about the Q-tips, she doesn't make fun of her or think less of her. Her first thought was how to help her. When she comes up with the talisman idea and gives the gift to Theo, it broke me. “This is a direct link to me. Every time you hold it, you’ll remember that you have me now, and I won’t let anyone hurt you. Not even the memories in your head. Do you hear me?”
I also loved we got to see a POV from The Monster and Cassandra was able to heal, while also helping Theo.
the redemption of Nolan throughout the book was so sweet. As small as it may seem to some, I felt it had a huge impact throughout the book.
I could keep going on and on about these two extremely powerful and strong, yet broken women find themselves and heal together...
Thank you Alex for the early viewing,
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Monster and the Masochist by Alexandra St Pierre Arc review 🥊👠👩🏻💼🖤
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Characters: Theo and Cassandra
Tropes: Sapphic Romance, Street fighter x defence attorney, feminist rage, fake marriage, healing arc, U-Haul lesbians, all the cameos
* Please read trigger warnings before reading as this is a dark romance *
Review: I haven't read many sapphic romances and I have to say this was amazing, Alexandra just writes stories so deeply meaningful, her words written with such power it just blows your mind. she grabs you and your emotions and takes you on a wild roller coaster and you don't want to get off because its pull you in.
Theo and Cassandra were some of the most amazing powerful women I ever met they weren't written as weak women, they didn't let men tear them down, the became power and the queens of the book.
Theo oh Theo her story broke my heart, I wanted to wrap her up and give her a hug. she was so strong, fighting her demons and having Cassandra being her knight in shining armour 😭 her vulnerability, her struggles and the shame and guilt causing her coping mechanisms, of seeking out pain because she thought she deserved it, made my heart hurt for her. It made me angry and reiterated the fact why I never trust churches or the people in them and then we have Cassandra she was such a powerful women holy shit she slayed, even having her own demons haunting her she stepped and proved she was not to be messed with. at time I did get a little confused with the monster but learning about her past made it make sense this monster who keeps her up and protects her from the harm that is the world. and them together was fucking badass and powerful and in the end the piece of shit of the world do not WIN
also Alexandra author note had tears in my eye
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Characters: Theo and Cassandra
Tropes: Sapphic Romance, Street fighter x defence attorney, feminist rage, fake marriage, healing arc, U-Haul lesbians, all the cameos
* Please read trigger warnings before reading as this is a dark romance *
Review: I haven't read many sapphic romances and I have to say this was amazing, Alexandra just writes stories so deeply meaningful, her words written with such power it just blows your mind. she grabs you and your emotions and takes you on a wild roller coaster and you don't want to get off because its pull you in.
Theo and Cassandra were some of the most amazing powerful women I ever met they weren't written as weak women, they didn't let men tear them down, the became power and the queens of the book.
Theo oh Theo her story broke my heart, I wanted to wrap her up and give her a hug. she was so strong, fighting her demons and having Cassandra being her knight in shining armour 😭 her vulnerability, her struggles and the shame and guilt causing her coping mechanisms, of seeking out pain because she thought she deserved it, made my heart hurt for her. It made me angry and reiterated the fact why I never trust churches or the people in them and then we have Cassandra she was such a powerful women holy shit she slayed, even having her own demons haunting her she stepped and proved she was not to be messed with. at time I did get a little confused with the monster but learning about her past made it make sense this monster who keeps her up and protects her from the harm that is the world. and them together was fucking badass and powerful and in the end the piece of shit of the world do not WIN
also Alexandra author note had tears in my eye
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW:
The Monster And The Masochist by Alexandra St Pierre
Release Date: 10th September 2026
Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶.5
⚠️Please Check Trigger Warnings ⚠️
🅃🅁🄾🄿🄴🅂
🥊Dark FF Romance
⚖️ Fake Marriage
🥊Feminine Rage
⚖️ Healing
🥊Street Fighter X Defense Attorney
“𝕀’𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕤𝕥. 𝕐𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕤𝕪𝕔𝕙𝕠. 𝔻𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕚𝕥 𝕥𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕕.”
For my first FF romance I can say I'm happy I read one written by Alexandra St Pierre. She knows how to capture emotions that are needed in books like this and turn them into something great.
“𝕀’𝕧𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕗𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕥 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕚𝕗 𝕀 𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕪 𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦, 𝕚𝕥’𝕝𝕝 𝕓𝕖 𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕪𝕠𝕦, 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕠𝕕𝕠𝕣𝕒. 𝕀𝕥’𝕝𝕝 𝕟𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕘𝕠.”
Right from the beginning your implanted into the story and given so much you're left wanting to just read this in one sitting. The whole story line doesn't let up and is written in a way that your given answers you wanted before you even realise you wanted them. You've got two expectional MFCs who both are dealing with their own trauma and ends up healing each other is the most imaginative ways. They're love story started out in book 1 of the silent hollow series and has been expanded into something others need to experience.
“𝕀 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕕 𝕒 𝕜𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕣𝕞𝕠𝕣, ℂ𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕣𝕒,” 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕕, 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕪 𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙 𝕕𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕔𝕣𝕠𝕤𝕤 𝕞𝕪 𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕜. “𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕀’𝕞 𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕝𝕝 𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕓𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕙𝕠𝕞𝕖.”
The Monster And The Masochist is exactly what's written in the title! It will give you so much and will leave you wanting more from these characters. Alexandra really knows how to capture the emotions that give you a whirlwind of a time when reading her books.
Thank you to the author and her team for gifting me this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!
The Monster And The Masochist by Alexandra St Pierre
Release Date: 10th September 2026
Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶.5
⚠️Please Check Trigger Warnings ⚠️
🅃🅁🄾🄿🄴🅂
🥊Dark FF Romance
⚖️ Fake Marriage
🥊Feminine Rage
⚖️ Healing
🥊Street Fighter X Defense Attorney
“𝕀’𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕞𝕒𝕤𝕠𝕔𝕙𝕚𝕤𝕥. 𝕐𝕠𝕦’𝕣𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕡𝕤𝕪𝕔𝕙𝕠. 𝔻𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕘𝕖𝕥 𝕚𝕥 𝕥𝕨𝕚𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕕.”
For my first FF romance I can say I'm happy I read one written by Alexandra St Pierre. She knows how to capture emotions that are needed in books like this and turn them into something great.
“𝕀’𝕧𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕖𝕟 𝕗𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕚𝕥 𝕓𝕖𝕔𝕒𝕦𝕤𝕖 𝕚𝕗 𝕀 𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕪 𝕞𝕠𝕟𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦, 𝕚𝕥’𝕝𝕝 𝕓𝕖 𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕠𝕣 𝕪𝕠𝕦, 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕠𝕕𝕠𝕣𝕒. 𝕀𝕥’𝕝𝕝 𝕟𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕘𝕠.”
Right from the beginning your implanted into the story and given so much you're left wanting to just read this in one sitting. The whole story line doesn't let up and is written in a way that your given answers you wanted before you even realise you wanted them. You've got two expectional MFCs who both are dealing with their own trauma and ends up healing each other is the most imaginative ways. They're love story started out in book 1 of the silent hollow series and has been expanded into something others need to experience.
“𝕀 𝕜𝕟𝕠𝕨 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕕𝕠𝕟’𝕥 𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕕 𝕒 𝕜𝕟𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥 𝕚𝕟 𝕤𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕣𝕞𝕠𝕣, ℂ𝕒𝕤𝕤𝕒𝕟𝕕𝕣𝕒,” 𝕤𝕙𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕚𝕤𝕡𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕕, 𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕞𝕚𝕟𝕥𝕪 𝕓𝕣𝕖𝕒𝕥𝕙 𝕕𝕒𝕟𝕔𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒𝕔𝕣𝕠𝕤𝕤 𝕞𝕪 𝕔𝕙𝕖𝕖𝕜. “𝔹𝕦𝕥 𝕀’𝕞 𝕙𝕠𝕡𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕪𝕠𝕦’𝕝𝕝 𝕝𝕖𝕥 𝕞𝕖 𝕓𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦𝕣 𝕙𝕠𝕞𝕖.”
The Monster And The Masochist is exactly what's written in the title! It will give you so much and will leave you wanting more from these characters. Alexandra really knows how to capture the emotions that give you a whirlwind of a time when reading her books.
Thank you to the author and her team for gifting me this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
🖤 ARC REVIEW 🖤
omg I genuinely cannot believe I got accepted to ARC read this book 😭 This was my first ever FF book and honestly… what a fucking introduction because I am OBSESSED.
From the very beginning, I was completely hooked. Theo had my heart from chapter one and Cass?? WHAT A FUCKING QUEEN. I absolutely loved her attitude, her personality and the way she carried herself. These two together were everything I wanted and more.
I wasn’t expecting the dynamic between them to be quite like it was, but I fucking LOVED it. Their chemistry was insane and I was fully invested in their relationship from the start. The banter, the tension, the vulnerability… no wonder I finished it in 24 hours😮💨
I loved how much depth both characters had too. They’re both dealing with their own shit and I really enjoyed seeing how their relationship developed alongside everything they were going through. The portrayal Cass’ “beast” was something I was not expecting, but it took the book to a whole new level.
Also… the Q-tip references had me absolutely crying😭 IYKYK.
Having Cal & Ryan / Logan, Dakota & Ronan crumbs in this sealed the deal, I will forever love those boys with my whole heart🫶🏻
This book had me laughing, screaming, getting emotional and constantly needing to know what was going to happen next. And the ending?! GIVE ME VOX NOW 🤤
Most importantly, I loved how much this book made me feel. Theo and Cass completely pulled me into their story and I genuinely didn’t want it to end.
Alexandra St. Pierre never fkn misses!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No spoilers, but trust me when I say… you need to read this 🫠🖤
omg I genuinely cannot believe I got accepted to ARC read this book 😭 This was my first ever FF book and honestly… what a fucking introduction because I am OBSESSED.
From the very beginning, I was completely hooked. Theo had my heart from chapter one and Cass?? WHAT A FUCKING QUEEN. I absolutely loved her attitude, her personality and the way she carried herself. These two together were everything I wanted and more.
I wasn’t expecting the dynamic between them to be quite like it was, but I fucking LOVED it. Their chemistry was insane and I was fully invested in their relationship from the start. The banter, the tension, the vulnerability… no wonder I finished it in 24 hours😮💨
I loved how much depth both characters had too. They’re both dealing with their own shit and I really enjoyed seeing how their relationship developed alongside everything they were going through. The portrayal Cass’ “beast” was something I was not expecting, but it took the book to a whole new level.
Also… the Q-tip references had me absolutely crying😭 IYKYK.
Having Cal & Ryan / Logan, Dakota & Ronan crumbs in this sealed the deal, I will forever love those boys with my whole heart🫶🏻
This book had me laughing, screaming, getting emotional and constantly needing to know what was going to happen next. And the ending?! GIVE ME VOX NOW 🤤
Most importantly, I loved how much this book made me feel. Theo and Cass completely pulled me into their story and I genuinely didn’t want it to end.
Alexandra St. Pierre never fkn misses!
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
No spoilers, but trust me when I say… you need to read this 🫠🖤
August 29, 2026
I literally just finished this book and immediately went into Alex’s DMs to tell her that it had me in tears and that I freaking LOVED it. 😭🖤🫂
First off, as a tall woman myself, having both of these women be actual tall women who are also hot, badass, and absolute forces to be reckoned with was the best thing ever. 🙌🏻
Cassandra is definitely a force to be reckoned with. I love her exactly for who she is. She has literally faced hell head-on, fought her way out, and come out the other side completely unapologetic about who she is. 👠
And the love she develops for Theo? Incredible. I loved watching that relationship unfold.
Then there’s Theo. After The Mercenary & the Mortician, she had came across as rough around the edges and tough as hell, so I absolutely loved getting to see a softer side of her in this book. And when I say softer, I do not mean weak—because Theo is absolutely NOT weak. We just get these little glimpses of her vulnerability, and honestly, those moments made her feel so much more human and made me love her even more.
This is honestly probably my favorite sapphic romance I’ve read. I love that these women are allowed to be vulnerable while still being incredibly strong, capable, badass, and—let’s be honest—HOT. They never had to sacrifice their strength to have softness, and I absolutely loved that.
And I HAVE to mention Nolan. If you’re reading this book, keep reading. I hated that man. But his character arc is one that I genuinely wish we could see more of because somehow, against all odds, I actually ended up liking him. And I did NOT see that coming.
⭐️ Five stars, without a doubt.
First off, as a tall woman myself, having both of these women be actual tall women who are also hot, badass, and absolute forces to be reckoned with was the best thing ever. 🙌🏻
Cassandra is definitely a force to be reckoned with. I love her exactly for who she is. She has literally faced hell head-on, fought her way out, and come out the other side completely unapologetic about who she is. 👠
And the love she develops for Theo? Incredible. I loved watching that relationship unfold.
Then there’s Theo. After The Mercenary & the Mortician, she had came across as rough around the edges and tough as hell, so I absolutely loved getting to see a softer side of her in this book. And when I say softer, I do not mean weak—because Theo is absolutely NOT weak. We just get these little glimpses of her vulnerability, and honestly, those moments made her feel so much more human and made me love her even more.
This is honestly probably my favorite sapphic romance I’ve read. I love that these women are allowed to be vulnerable while still being incredibly strong, capable, badass, and—let’s be honest—HOT. They never had to sacrifice their strength to have softness, and I absolutely loved that.
And I HAVE to mention Nolan. If you’re reading this book, keep reading. I hated that man. But his character arc is one that I genuinely wish we could see more of because somehow, against all odds, I actually ended up liking him. And I did NOT see that coming.
⭐️ Five stars, without a doubt.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I'm not sure where to start with reviewing The Monster & The Masochist, I genuinely feel speechless after finishing. Tearing myself away from this book was almost impossible, I ruined my sleep pattern and I would do it again to experience a book so perfect.
I loved Theo and Cass in the Mercenary & the Mortician, from their first meeting the tension between them was unbelievable and I just knew I was going to love their story.
Theo is the most down bad woman in creation and honestly same because I'd crawl through broken glass for Cassandra. But if Theo fell like the first rain of spring, Cassandra fell like a monsoon. I thought Callum fell hard for Ryan but Cass for falling for Theo was unmatched. Cass and her monster are crimson red flags of possessiveness and rage but I would be colour blind for them.
Cass is a force of nature, with a softness and warmth for the people who are hers. I loved watching her grow from this cold, detached, psychopath into a psychopath with warmth and love.
I just wanted to wrap Theo in a blanket and hold her because she deserved to feel safe in a way she wasn't able to for so long. Theo was battling so much and it wasn't a straight forward journey - dealing with trauma and PTSD could never be. But Theo didn't need a blanket, she needed a sadistic lawyer who would tear the world to pieces to see her smile.
I'm yet to read something by Alexandra St Pierre that isn't phenomenal and this was no different. I genuinely feel so honoured to have been able to ARC read the Monster & the Masochist. Everyone needs to read this book it's immaculate. I'm just gonna be desperately waiting for Vox and Gnomes books now.
I loved Theo and Cass in the Mercenary & the Mortician, from their first meeting the tension between them was unbelievable and I just knew I was going to love their story.
Theo is the most down bad woman in creation and honestly same because I'd crawl through broken glass for Cassandra. But if Theo fell like the first rain of spring, Cassandra fell like a monsoon. I thought Callum fell hard for Ryan but Cass for falling for Theo was unmatched. Cass and her monster are crimson red flags of possessiveness and rage but I would be colour blind for them.
Cass is a force of nature, with a softness and warmth for the people who are hers. I loved watching her grow from this cold, detached, psychopath into a psychopath with warmth and love.
I just wanted to wrap Theo in a blanket and hold her because she deserved to feel safe in a way she wasn't able to for so long. Theo was battling so much and it wasn't a straight forward journey - dealing with trauma and PTSD could never be. But Theo didn't need a blanket, she needed a sadistic lawyer who would tear the world to pieces to see her smile.
I'm yet to read something by Alexandra St Pierre that isn't phenomenal and this was no different. I genuinely feel so honoured to have been able to ARC read the Monster & the Masochist. Everyone needs to read this book it's immaculate. I'm just gonna be desperately waiting for Vox and Gnomes books now.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I’m going to be very honest here and state that this was my first sapphic romance read. Not that I have anything against a capital F capital F relationship it’s just normally Eileen towards mostly MM reads and then MF reads. However, I knew going in that whatever Alex wrote would be exceptional and I wasn’t wrong. Not only did she change my mind in regards to sapphic romance. I’ve already picked up another and am pleased with this new book as well.
𝖂𝖊𝖑𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖊 𝖇𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖙𝖔 𝕾𝖎𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖙 𝕳𝖔𝖑𝖑𝖔𝖜…
Here we are back again with two POWERHOUSES. Each one of these women stands out on their own merit. I assumed going into the story that Theo would be our protector, our savior but mannnn was I wrong. Cassandra Walker is no one’s damsel in distress. She doesn’t need protecting and she will literally kill for those she loves, mainly Theo.
This may not be true for everyone who reads this book however, Alex really brought these two women to life so much so that I saw myself in each of them at different points in my own life. Theo‘s childhood trauma….been there lived that. Cass’s fierce independence and ruthlessness? Thats how I live my life day-to-day. The Monster..I like to think of this as everybody’s own inner voice, inner monologue or inner demons, in my case. Seeing what these two women have lived through and survived through, really got to me and really made me believe in their emotions and their psyches. Watching them grow as individuals and then as a couple, was inspiring and so heart warming.
Bravo to Alex for creating another masterpiece, another couple and story that will live rent free in my head for days and months to come.
𝖂𝖊𝖑𝖈𝖔𝖒𝖊 𝖇𝖆𝖈𝖐 𝖙𝖔 𝕾𝖎𝖑𝖊𝖓𝖙 𝕳𝖔𝖑𝖑𝖔𝖜…
Here we are back again with two POWERHOUSES. Each one of these women stands out on their own merit. I assumed going into the story that Theo would be our protector, our savior but mannnn was I wrong. Cassandra Walker is no one’s damsel in distress. She doesn’t need protecting and she will literally kill for those she loves, mainly Theo.
This may not be true for everyone who reads this book however, Alex really brought these two women to life so much so that I saw myself in each of them at different points in my own life. Theo‘s childhood trauma….been there lived that. Cass’s fierce independence and ruthlessness? Thats how I live my life day-to-day. The Monster..I like to think of this as everybody’s own inner voice, inner monologue or inner demons, in my case. Seeing what these two women have lived through and survived through, really got to me and really made me believe in their emotions and their psyches. Watching them grow as individuals and then as a couple, was inspiring and so heart warming.
Bravo to Alex for creating another masterpiece, another couple and story that will live rent free in my head for days and months to come.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Alexandra St Pierre has done it again!!!!! I swear every book I’ve read of hers has been 5 stars, I will literally read ANYTHING she writes.
Please check your trigger warnings because this book does have some pretty heavy topics.
Yes, yes, yes give me more Theo and Cass! They were absolutely everything, their chemistry was off the charts! These women were so hot for each other it was insane. I love me a good FUCK IT moment, and what Cass wanted she freaking took!!!! Theo was fighting some very real demons it and it made it hard for her to fully trust, it broke my heart. But Cass loved her through it and proved time and time again she wasn’t going anywhere. Although maybe her antics were a little crazy sometimes but it didn’t matter Theo loved her women crazy. When we finally get their love confessions it was so raw and beautiful and don’t even get me started on Theo’s marriage vows!! *brb crying* Cass’s gift to Theo at the end was so satisfying I was like hell yeah, that man deserved everything that happened to him. She really was that B when her monster came out to play and they did not play about their little masochist!!
This book had me sobbing, laughing, and just fully invested the entire time. And I absolutely loved all the cameos especially of Cal & Ryan and can’t forget Vox that man is a saint in my eyes! I can’t wait for everyone else to read this and excited to see where the rest of the series goes.
Tropes
-street fighter x defense attorney
-queer awakening
-religious trauma
-U-haul lesbians
-fake marriage
-feminine rage
-healing arc
Please check your trigger warnings because this book does have some pretty heavy topics.
Yes, yes, yes give me more Theo and Cass! They were absolutely everything, their chemistry was off the charts! These women were so hot for each other it was insane. I love me a good FUCK IT moment, and what Cass wanted she freaking took!!!! Theo was fighting some very real demons it and it made it hard for her to fully trust, it broke my heart. But Cass loved her through it and proved time and time again she wasn’t going anywhere. Although maybe her antics were a little crazy sometimes but it didn’t matter Theo loved her women crazy. When we finally get their love confessions it was so raw and beautiful and don’t even get me started on Theo’s marriage vows!! *brb crying* Cass’s gift to Theo at the end was so satisfying I was like hell yeah, that man deserved everything that happened to him. She really was that B when her monster came out to play and they did not play about their little masochist!!
This book had me sobbing, laughing, and just fully invested the entire time. And I absolutely loved all the cameos especially of Cal & Ryan and can’t forget Vox that man is a saint in my eyes! I can’t wait for everyone else to read this and excited to see where the rest of the series goes.
Tropes
-street fighter x defense attorney
-queer awakening
-religious trauma
-U-haul lesbians
-fake marriage
-feminine rage
-healing arc
Review of advance copy received from Author
The Monster and the Masochist by Alexandra St. Pierre
I had the honor of reading an ARC of The Monster and the Masochist by Alexandra St.
Pierre. Not only has every single book by this author been a hit in my eyes, The Mercenary and the Mortician is my favorite book.I can happily report my favorites will share the spot with The Monster and the Masochist, she has done it again!!!! I can’t contain myself.
The spectrum of feelings I went through when I read this book…..tearing up, giggling,
anger, crying, fury, laughing…..Cass and Theo have found a place in my heart, of course Suetoo. I did not think it was possible to harvest such strong feelings for fictional characters, if Cass or Theo called me, looking for help-I would be there in a heartbeat. Alexandra St. Pierre’s writing is superb, the characters are so well written, you feel like you have known them for years.
Theo, such a gentle and kind human that harbored so much pain and fear for so many
years. She needs to be protected at all costs. I love Theo and I love who she allowed herself to become at the end. Cass, the strong bad ass with a dark past, who did not give up on Theo, the protector with a possessive streak. *Swoon* Nolan, I wanted to shank him for just breathing but he grew on me when he made the decisions he did. I am so glad we got to see Cal and Ryan,
Vox and Naomi, and Iris. I love them all!!! M&M is a book I have been looking for in the sapphic dark romance department and I will be rereading…..definetly at least once more.
I had the honor of reading an ARC of The Monster and the Masochist by Alexandra St.
Pierre. Not only has every single book by this author been a hit in my eyes, The Mercenary and the Mortician is my favorite book.I can happily report my favorites will share the spot with The Monster and the Masochist, she has done it again!!!! I can’t contain myself.
The spectrum of feelings I went through when I read this book…..tearing up, giggling,
anger, crying, fury, laughing…..Cass and Theo have found a place in my heart, of course Suetoo. I did not think it was possible to harvest such strong feelings for fictional characters, if Cass or Theo called me, looking for help-I would be there in a heartbeat. Alexandra St. Pierre’s writing is superb, the characters are so well written, you feel like you have known them for years.
Theo, such a gentle and kind human that harbored so much pain and fear for so many
years. She needs to be protected at all costs. I love Theo and I love who she allowed herself to become at the end. Cass, the strong bad ass with a dark past, who did not give up on Theo, the protector with a possessive streak. *Swoon* Nolan, I wanted to shank him for just breathing but he grew on me when he made the decisions he did. I am so glad we got to see Cal and Ryan,
Vox and Naomi, and Iris. I love them all!!! M&M is a book I have been looking for in the sapphic dark romance department and I will be rereading…..definetly at least once more.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This was easily a 5-star read for me. I honestly don’t think any review could do The Monster and the Masochist justice. This book made me feel so deeply, and I know these characters are going to stay with me for a long time.
Theo and Cass are both such strong, complex women, and I loved how unapologetically themselves they were. Theo, the fearless underground fighter with so much pain hidden beneath her calm exterior, absolutely shattered my heart. Cass is her perfect opposite—the polished, powerful defense attorney who is just as broken and messy in her own way. Watching them slowly learn to trust each other and become vulnerable was beautiful and, at times, heartbreaking.
Their dynamic was EVERYTHING. The tension, the push and pull, the chemistry… absolutely off the charts. I especially loved seeing Theo, who is so used to fighting and being in control, slowly surrender that control to Cass. And Cass’s instinct to protect her? My heart. 🥹
I also really appreciate that Alex never waters her characters down. These women are toxic, broken, strong, messy, and complicated. They feel human, and I love that about this series. And of course, the spice was spicing. 🔥
And I loved getting glimpses of some of my favorite characters from the series. Cal, Ryan, Vox, and Naomi were already such a treat, but seeing Dakota, Logan, and Ronan show up had me screaming. Those little appearances made this book feel even more special.
Alex has such a unique way of telling a story, and this series continues to wreck me in the best possible way.
Theo and Cass are both such strong, complex women, and I loved how unapologetically themselves they were. Theo, the fearless underground fighter with so much pain hidden beneath her calm exterior, absolutely shattered my heart. Cass is her perfect opposite—the polished, powerful defense attorney who is just as broken and messy in her own way. Watching them slowly learn to trust each other and become vulnerable was beautiful and, at times, heartbreaking.
Their dynamic was EVERYTHING. The tension, the push and pull, the chemistry… absolutely off the charts. I especially loved seeing Theo, who is so used to fighting and being in control, slowly surrender that control to Cass. And Cass’s instinct to protect her? My heart. 🥹
I also really appreciate that Alex never waters her characters down. These women are toxic, broken, strong, messy, and complicated. They feel human, and I love that about this series. And of course, the spice was spicing. 🔥
And I loved getting glimpses of some of my favorite characters from the series. Cal, Ryan, Vox, and Naomi were already such a treat, but seeing Dakota, Logan, and Ronan show up had me screaming. Those little appearances made this book feel even more special.
Alex has such a unique way of telling a story, and this series continues to wreck me in the best possible way.
August 30, 2026
Advance Readers Copy Review
You know when a book hits extremely close to home, and you come away feeling a mixture of emotions, ones you don’t even know how to begin to unpack? Yeah, this book is one of those.
This is a 6 star read. Alexandra St Pierre… you are THAT woman. Thank you. Thank you for putting your heart, soul, fucking everything, into this book.
It shows the ugly side to suppressing trauma, it shows how every single person processes trauma in different ways, and no one’s experience out does the other. It shows women supporting women and making a difference in the world by just being unapologetically themselves.
Cassandra - Ohhh how I love her so much. She was perfection. She had me giggling and kicking my feet, reminding me of all my favourite FMCs rolled into one, fucked up psycho. She’s delicious and dangerous and someone I would crawl and beg just to have her look in my direction.
Theodora - Yearner of the fucking century. Her inner monologue destroyed me at times but oh my word, what a woman she is! I love her. I love her so much and her strength through everything is so inspiring. The way she loves is wholeheartedly. She’s one of the most beautifully written characters I’ve ever read, and one of my all time favourite FMCs.
I will never get over this book. It was funny, emotional, hard hitting, and dark. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and I really didn’t want this experience to end.
Huge thank you to the author for the opportunity to have an ARC of this.
You know when a book hits extremely close to home, and you come away feeling a mixture of emotions, ones you don’t even know how to begin to unpack? Yeah, this book is one of those.
This is a 6 star read. Alexandra St Pierre… you are THAT woman. Thank you. Thank you for putting your heart, soul, fucking everything, into this book.
It shows the ugly side to suppressing trauma, it shows how every single person processes trauma in different ways, and no one’s experience out does the other. It shows women supporting women and making a difference in the world by just being unapologetically themselves.
Cassandra - Ohhh how I love her so much. She was perfection. She had me giggling and kicking my feet, reminding me of all my favourite FMCs rolled into one, fucked up psycho. She’s delicious and dangerous and someone I would crawl and beg just to have her look in my direction.
Theodora - Yearner of the fucking century. Her inner monologue destroyed me at times but oh my word, what a woman she is! I love her. I love her so much and her strength through everything is so inspiring. The way she loves is wholeheartedly. She’s one of the most beautifully written characters I’ve ever read, and one of my all time favourite FMCs.
I will never get over this book. It was funny, emotional, hard hitting, and dark. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough and I really didn’t want this experience to end.
Huge thank you to the author for the opportunity to have an ARC of this.
Review of advance copy received from Author
***I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review***
First, I want to thank Alexandra and her team for approving me for an ARC of my first-ever sapphic romance 🙏
Theo and Cass are perfect for one another. I love Theo's masochism and the journey she has to fight the demons haunting her. And then we have Cass, who has her own monster that just wants to be let loose and would do anything to protect the ones she loves.
These women both have their fair share of trauma, and the way they complement each other was so beautifully written by Alexandra.
“I tried. I tried to think of three good things, but… It’s not working anymore. I don’t… I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to be like this. I just… I want it to be over. I just don’t know how to make it stop.” - This right here broke my heart 🫶
This book made me cry way more than The Mercenary & the Mortician, but also made me laugh way too hard too (ESPECIALLY the "spider" scene, which I will forever not ever laugh 🤣).
Shoutout to bringing in all of our favorite characters so far from the series too! Cal was a riot as always, and Ryan being his calm self to him always makes me giggle. Seeing Ronan, Logan, and Dakota again was so fun (I love my little throuple). And don't even get me started on VOX, which in the last chapter I was howling at Cal's discovery. It makes me eager for when we get his book ❤️
First, I want to thank Alexandra and her team for approving me for an ARC of my first-ever sapphic romance 🙏
Theo and Cass are perfect for one another. I love Theo's masochism and the journey she has to fight the demons haunting her. And then we have Cass, who has her own monster that just wants to be let loose and would do anything to protect the ones she loves.
These women both have their fair share of trauma, and the way they complement each other was so beautifully written by Alexandra.
“I tried. I tried to think of three good things, but… It’s not working anymore. I don’t… I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to be like this. I just… I want it to be over. I just don’t know how to make it stop.” - This right here broke my heart 🫶
This book made me cry way more than The Mercenary & the Mortician, but also made me laugh way too hard too (ESPECIALLY the "spider" scene, which I will forever not ever laugh 🤣).
Shoutout to bringing in all of our favorite characters so far from the series too! Cal was a riot as always, and Ryan being his calm self to him always makes me giggle. Seeing Ronan, Logan, and Dakota again was so fun (I love my little throuple). And don't even get me started on VOX, which in the last chapter I was howling at Cal's discovery. It makes me eager for when we get his book ❤️
Review of advance copy received from Author
When I saw that Theo and Cass were getting their own story, I couldn't wait to dive in. Receiving an ARC for this book has been an absolute honour!
I absolutely loved The Monster in this story and felt it was a perfect fit for the trauma the characters experienced. Childhood truama is such a difficult subject to write about and it was done so carefully. I don't want to say too much and spoil the plot, so I'll leave it at that!
Theo and Cass are simply perfect for each other and provide exactly what the other needs to heal. I found myself laughing out loud at some of their early interactions, and I think their relationship was developed extremely well.
"It was always death by a thousand papercuts with her." — Cassandra Walker
"Well, it was officially Niagara fucking Falls in my damn pants. Holy fucking shit." — Theodora Fairview
What I always love about Alexandra’s books is that the main characters are never ashamed of their sexuality and homophobes always get called out.
I also loved the feminine rage in this and seeing women being 'girls' girls' (apart from the odd few 🤬). As Cassandra put it:
"Having haters just means you have something they don’t and they’re salty about it.” — Cassandra Walker
On top of the main romance, I loved seeing cameos from characters across the series, and I am so looking forward to seeing how the series progresses.
This is my ARC review for The Monster and the Masochist by Alexandra St. Pierre.
I absolutely loved The Monster in this story and felt it was a perfect fit for the trauma the characters experienced. Childhood truama is such a difficult subject to write about and it was done so carefully. I don't want to say too much and spoil the plot, so I'll leave it at that!
Theo and Cass are simply perfect for each other and provide exactly what the other needs to heal. I found myself laughing out loud at some of their early interactions, and I think their relationship was developed extremely well.
"It was always death by a thousand papercuts with her." — Cassandra Walker
"Well, it was officially Niagara fucking Falls in my damn pants. Holy fucking shit." — Theodora Fairview
What I always love about Alexandra’s books is that the main characters are never ashamed of their sexuality and homophobes always get called out.
I also loved the feminine rage in this and seeing women being 'girls' girls' (apart from the odd few 🤬). As Cassandra put it:
"Having haters just means you have something they don’t and they’re salty about it.” — Cassandra Walker
On top of the main romance, I loved seeing cameos from characters across the series, and I am so looking forward to seeing how the series progresses.
This is my ARC review for The Monster and the Masochist by Alexandra St. Pierre.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Once again Alex has me speechless! Amazing book, 5 stars is not enough!
This book was heavy with Theo’s traumatic past. What she went through as a child broke my heart, and her feelings of shame and guilt really came through. I loved how realistic her healing journey felt, she didn’t just one day wake up being over her traumas, but instead there were setbacks along the way and she really needed to work hard with herself. And of course Cass helped too!
And Cass!! She made her way high up on my favorite FMCs list! I love her so much! I loved how strong both the FMCs were, and yes, they were also toxic in their own ways and in no way “perfect”, but that just made them even more lovable.
I loved the banter between Theo and Cass in The Mercenary and the Mortician and the banter continued to be amazing in this book too. Same with the chemistry between them! And the spice!! Definitely spicing 🫠🔥
And of course I loved seeing my babies Cal & Ryan! Those two have a special place in my heart, and I need a friend like Cal in my life lol.
I don’t even know what to say, other than that I loved this book and I highly recommend checking it out! But please check the TW/CW before reading
I can’t wait for Vox & Naomi’s book!
“You fight the living because you have not yet learned how to fight the demons in your heart,”
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
This book was heavy with Theo’s traumatic past. What she went through as a child broke my heart, and her feelings of shame and guilt really came through. I loved how realistic her healing journey felt, she didn’t just one day wake up being over her traumas, but instead there were setbacks along the way and she really needed to work hard with herself. And of course Cass helped too!
And Cass!! She made her way high up on my favorite FMCs list! I love her so much! I loved how strong both the FMCs were, and yes, they were also toxic in their own ways and in no way “perfect”, but that just made them even more lovable.
I loved the banter between Theo and Cass in The Mercenary and the Mortician and the banter continued to be amazing in this book too. Same with the chemistry between them! And the spice!! Definitely spicing 🫠🔥
And of course I loved seeing my babies Cal & Ryan! Those two have a special place in my heart, and I need a friend like Cal in my life lol.
I don’t even know what to say, other than that I loved this book and I highly recommend checking it out! But please check the TW/CW before reading
I can’t wait for Vox & Naomi’s book!
“You fight the living because you have not yet learned how to fight the demons in your heart,”
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving a review. Receiving ARC didn’t affect my opinion of the book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from Author
ARC REVIEW The Monster & The
Masochist by alexandrastpierrebooks
Okayyyy Theo & Cass
I knew I was going to like these
two, but I was NOT prepared for how much I was going to love them.
Two badass women, both carrying their own kind of darkness, thrown into a fake marriage that quickly becomes anything but fake.
Theo is an underground fighter with walls for DAYS, and Cass is a powerful defense attorney with her own little monster whispering in her head. Individually? Unhinged. Together?
Absolutely fucking perfect.
What really got me was how much HEART was underneath all the darkness. Both of these women have been through hell, and watching Theo slowly allow herself to be vulnerable while Cass basically says cool, give me your demons too had me Their chemistry was insane, but the emotional connection and character growth made this one hit so much harder.
And listen... the Q-TIP?!
If you know, YOU KNOW.
Between that and Cass's little gift to Theo, Alexandra St. Pierre had me questioning what exactly I was reading in the BEST possible way.
This book had me laughing, tearing up, kicking my feet, and rooting for two beautifully fucked-up women to get their HEA.
Dark sapphic romance + fake marriage + lovable psychopaths + healing + two women who would absolutely ruin someone for each other?? YES.
There's isn't any amount of stars I could give this book that would give it justice
I'm going to need 3-5 Business days to recover now
Masochist by alexandrastpierrebooks
Okayyyy Theo & Cass
I knew I was going to like these
two, but I was NOT prepared for how much I was going to love them.
Two badass women, both carrying their own kind of darkness, thrown into a fake marriage that quickly becomes anything but fake.
Theo is an underground fighter with walls for DAYS, and Cass is a powerful defense attorney with her own little monster whispering in her head. Individually? Unhinged. Together?
Absolutely fucking perfect.
What really got me was how much HEART was underneath all the darkness. Both of these women have been through hell, and watching Theo slowly allow herself to be vulnerable while Cass basically says cool, give me your demons too had me Their chemistry was insane, but the emotional connection and character growth made this one hit so much harder.
And listen... the Q-TIP?!
If you know, YOU KNOW.
Between that and Cass's little gift to Theo, Alexandra St. Pierre had me questioning what exactly I was reading in the BEST possible way.
This book had me laughing, tearing up, kicking my feet, and rooting for two beautifully fucked-up women to get their HEA.
Dark sapphic romance + fake marriage + lovable psychopaths + healing + two women who would absolutely ruin someone for each other?? YES.
There's isn't any amount of stars I could give this book that would give it justice
I'm going to need 3-5 Business days to recover now
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! This was my first real introduction to sapphic romance and it has definitely opened the door to the genre for me. My TBR has expanded exponentially because of it :)
Maybe minor spoilers ahead....
Theo's journey was beautifully written, especially the way her childhood trauma and its lasting effects were portrayed. Her trauma responses, coping mechanisms and internal monologues had me STRESSED at times, but watching her slowly begin to heal, grow and bloom throughout the story was *chefs kiss*
Cass is an absolute badass, and I really enjoyed watching her character develop throughout the book. There's so much more to her than initially meets the eye, and I loved seeing those layers unfold.
And the cameos?! They had me giggling and honestly made me want to go back for rereads. That said I would recommend reading the Silent Hollow duology first. While this book can be read on its own, I think having the foundation of Cass and Theo's relationship and history from those books would make their romance feel more natural. Without that background, some aspects of their relationship may come across as a little insta-love.
Overall, this was such a fun read with plenty of heart, some emotional moments, and characters I genuinely enjoyed getting to know.
ARC read and honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! This was my first real introduction to sapphic romance and it has definitely opened the door to the genre for me. My TBR has expanded exponentially because of it :)
Maybe minor spoilers ahead....
Theo's journey was beautifully written, especially the way her childhood trauma and its lasting effects were portrayed. Her trauma responses, coping mechanisms and internal monologues had me STRESSED at times, but watching her slowly begin to heal, grow and bloom throughout the story was *chefs kiss*
Cass is an absolute badass, and I really enjoyed watching her character develop throughout the book. There's so much more to her than initially meets the eye, and I loved seeing those layers unfold.
And the cameos?! They had me giggling and honestly made me want to go back for rereads. That said I would recommend reading the Silent Hollow duology first. While this book can be read on its own, I think having the foundation of Cass and Theo's relationship and history from those books would make their romance feel more natural. Without that background, some aspects of their relationship may come across as a little insta-love.
Overall, this was such a fun read with plenty of heart, some emotional moments, and characters I genuinely enjoyed getting to know.
ARC read and honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Okay, so where do I even begin?? 🤔🤔
Firstly, this was my first actual sapphic romance. I've read FMF/MFF, but hadn't just read FF, and I can honestly say ASP did a phenomenal job.
Secondly, as someone that views religion as basically like a dark horror with cult-like tendencies...my heart was all for Theo, Sweet Girl.
Thirdly, Cass- Pretty Girl, her and her monster was everything in this book. I loved the back and forth banter between them and, without spoiling, toward the end; I cried with her.
The cameos were great. I'm gonna need Vox's book like yesterday. 😂😂
The love, protection, possessiveness, obsession, and fight between Theo and Cass made for a wonderful, brutal, and profound love story and I was disappointed to have to put this book down and be an adult throughout the day.
My heart broke for Theo, my heart healed with Cass, and my heart is whole for both.
Oh, and Nolan, good for him for taking the time to learn, correct his actions, and becoming a better character throughout the book WITHOUT being prompted or told what to do after realizing his mistake. I was proud of the guy.
Yes, the spice; spiced, but I was here for the plot from the first page.
ASP, great job with the continuation of this series!! Theo and Cass's story is literally one for the books and is well deserved.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶
Firstly, this was my first actual sapphic romance. I've read FMF/MFF, but hadn't just read FF, and I can honestly say ASP did a phenomenal job.
Secondly, as someone that views religion as basically like a dark horror with cult-like tendencies...my heart was all for Theo, Sweet Girl.
Thirdly, Cass- Pretty Girl, her and her monster was everything in this book. I loved the back and forth banter between them and, without spoiling, toward the end; I cried with her.
The cameos were great. I'm gonna need Vox's book like yesterday. 😂😂
The love, protection, possessiveness, obsession, and fight between Theo and Cass made for a wonderful, brutal, and profound love story and I was disappointed to have to put this book down and be an adult throughout the day.
My heart broke for Theo, my heart healed with Cass, and my heart is whole for both.
Oh, and Nolan, good for him for taking the time to learn, correct his actions, and becoming a better character throughout the book WITHOUT being prompted or told what to do after realizing his mistake. I was proud of the guy.
Yes, the spice; spiced, but I was here for the plot from the first page.
ASP, great job with the continuation of this series!! Theo and Cass's story is literally one for the books and is well deserved.
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 🌶🌶🌶🌶
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