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A FREE peek into the dark, twisted world of a broken girl and her unrelenting future captor. Find out what goes on behind closed doors in the world’s most depraved cult…
When I first met Jolie Chastain, we were just kids. Our paths crossed for one short day before diverging, and now we’re worlds apart.
I’m richer than sin, and I always get what I want. Always.
Jolie is a member of the country’s most enigmatic cult, and almost everything about her is a mystery. There’s no mystery about how I feel once I catch a glimpse of her, though.
She’s all grown up now, and she has no idea she’s caught my attention. She has no idea I want her. She has no idea I’m searching for her.
When I find her, I’m going to conquer her. Own her. Maybe I’ll even decide to keep her.
Watch out, Jolie… I’m coming for you.
Torn is the free prequel to the Original Sin trilogy.
When I first met Jolie Chastain, we were just kids. Our paths crossed for one short day before diverging, and now we’re worlds apart.
I’m richer than sin, and I always get what I want. Always.
Jolie is a member of the country’s most enigmatic cult, and almost everything about her is a mystery. There’s no mystery about how I feel once I catch a glimpse of her, though.
She’s all grown up now, and she has no idea she’s caught my attention. She has no idea I want her. She has no idea I’m searching for her.
When I find her, I’m going to conquer her. Own her. Maybe I’ll even decide to keep her.
Watch out, Jolie… I’m coming for you.
Torn is the free prequel to the Original Sin trilogy.
73 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 26, 2019
189 people are currently reading
276 people want to read
About the author
Stella Hart
33 books304 followersStella Hart is the dark romance pen name of Alessandra Hart. She loves animals, red wine, and rainy days where she can curl up inside and plot new books instead of having to go out.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 28, 2019
Stella Hart gives us another little quick tease of what’s to come in her newest captive romance series. Jolie is essentially this girl raised in a religious cult. Mason is the boy she only met once who promised to come back to visit her in ten years. Many things happen setting up the plot for the future. I didn’t find any of it shocking, because cults. What I can say is that I’m excited to see where this all goes. From the sneak peek of Taken, it somehow took a turn that I wasn’t expecting. I get the feeling that the kool-aid being sipped is too tasty and appealing for a certain “hero” to resist. But that’s to be seen! Can’t wait for the next book!
Available now!!
Free on iBooks, and will be free on amazon soon! (Amazon has to be 99¢ for a day I think.)
*ARC provided by Booksprout!*
Available now!!
Free on iBooks, and will be free on amazon soon! (Amazon has to be 99¢ for a day I think.)
*ARC provided by Booksprout!*
May 20, 2019
This was interesting...
February 28, 2021
I love the way Stella Hart writes, and this is a perfect example of why! I’ve read quite a few stories about cults, and the majority end up being pretty similar. Although this is about a cult, at the end of chapter 1, a very surprising, unexpected event happens, taking us somewhere totally different! I detest predictability, so I was thrilled by this awesome twist. I’ve never read about anything similar happening in a cult or religious story! I loved all of it, but I did often wonder how Jolie’s father could afford to support 230 people and pay taxes for so many years. Hopefully, we will find out later in the series!!
As always, this book flows well and is very well written. However, it would’ve been even better if it was professionally proofread. For examples, view spoiler.
As always, this book flows well and is very well written. However, it would’ve been even better if it was professionally proofread. For examples, view spoiler.
June 21, 2019
Ok, I’m intrigued. 👀
Want to read
March 30, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (3/30/2019)! 🎁
Blurb:
When I first met Jolie Chastain, we were just kids. Our paths crossed for one short day before diverging, and now we’re worlds apart.
I’m richer than sin, and I always get what I want. Always.
Jolie is a member of the country’s most enigmatic cult, and almost everything about her is a mystery. There’s no mystery about how I feel once I catch a glimpse of her, though.
She’s all grown up now, and she has no idea she’s caught my attention. She has no idea I want her. She has no idea I’m searching for her.
When I find her, I’m going to conquer her. Own her. Maybe I’ll even decide to keep her.
Watch out, Jolie… I’m coming for you.
Blurb:
When I first met Jolie Chastain, we were just kids. Our paths crossed for one short day before diverging, and now we’re worlds apart.
I’m richer than sin, and I always get what I want. Always.
Jolie is a member of the country’s most enigmatic cult, and almost everything about her is a mystery. There’s no mystery about how I feel once I catch a glimpse of her, though.
She’s all grown up now, and she has no idea she’s caught my attention. She has no idea I want her. She has no idea I’m searching for her.
When I find her, I’m going to conquer her. Own her. Maybe I’ll even decide to keep her.
Watch out, Jolie… I’m coming for you.
March 28, 2019
This is a prequel Original Sin, we get to see how Jolie and Mason meet, Jolie only 7 and Mason 18. He promises to come back to visit her in 10 years. Will he? Fast-paced intriguing read am looking forward to more. I loved it!
March 11, 2020
A great start to the series
April 17, 2019
The story of the cult itself was interesting. If you can overlook the whole seven-year-old falling for a teenage boy thing (at seven I found boys universally disgusting - can't say my opinion has changed much!!), a cult which seemingly fakes a doomsday event in order to isolate and groom its young female followers... that could be quite the story. Cults interest me very much.
Unfortunately, Torn is merely a prequel and from reading an excerpt and the synopsis of Taken, I really don't like where the story is going. Having had a look through Stella Hart's profile, it's clear that this captive/dark romance thing is her bag. And if that's what you're into, then that's your call. What I really don't like, beyond the whole captive thing, is the idea of taking as a captive a young woman who(se):
- mother has been killed
- father is a misogynistic cult leader
- has been brainwashed
- has been groomed to act as a slave and subjugate her every need and desire to men
- has been taught that it is her duty - her wish, even - to take pain for men's sexual gratification
- has been kept captive in this environment for around a decade.
I spoke a little bit about this kind of thing in my review of My Viking Vampire. IMHO sex full stop, but especially BDSM should always come from a healthy place. When it doesn't, it's just more trauma heaped on top of trauma. It's compounding abuse. And I have no desire to see it be glorified.
Unfortunately, Torn is merely a prequel and from reading an excerpt and the synopsis of Taken, I really don't like where the story is going. Having had a look through Stella Hart's profile, it's clear that this captive/dark romance thing is her bag. And if that's what you're into, then that's your call. What I really don't like, beyond the whole captive thing, is the idea of taking as a captive a young woman who(se):
- mother has been killed
- father is a misogynistic cult leader
- has been brainwashed
- has been groomed to act as a slave and subjugate her every need and desire to men
- has been taught that it is her duty - her wish, even - to take pain for men's sexual gratification
- has been kept captive in this environment for around a decade.
I spoke a little bit about this kind of thing in my review of My Viking Vampire. IMHO sex full stop, but especially BDSM should always come from a healthy place. When it doesn't, it's just more trauma heaped on top of trauma. It's compounding abuse. And I have no desire to see it be glorified.
March 30, 2019
Seems like this is gonna be more darker than the previous books of Stella Hart
When I received the ARC from Stella hart, I was very excited to read and review this book. The prequel consists of four chapters completely in the past two in late nighties and two in 2010. It was pleasing to read the first chapter to read it from a seven years old girl's POV about her first crush, the next was terrifying to read about and the fourth was normal. But the third where the part of how woman are treated really irritated me, like hell. It was not New Eden, it was New Hell. I hated Prophet Jacob more than I hated Tobias King of Dark Dynasty. I'm really waiting to read how Mason saves Jolie from the Hell called New Eden in the upcoming books of Original Sin.
PS: Stella Hart is really good in naming the communities in her series. The Circle (Heartbreaker), Crown and Dagger (Dark Dynasty) and now New Eden (Original Sin)
When I received the ARC from Stella hart, I was very excited to read and review this book. The prequel consists of four chapters completely in the past two in late nighties and two in 2010. It was pleasing to read the first chapter to read it from a seven years old girl's POV about her first crush, the next was terrifying to read about and the fourth was normal. But the third where the part of how woman are treated really irritated me, like hell. It was not New Eden, it was New Hell. I hated Prophet Jacob more than I hated Tobias King of Dark Dynasty. I'm really waiting to read how Mason saves Jolie from the Hell called New Eden in the upcoming books of Original Sin.
PS: Stella Hart is really good in naming the communities in her series. The Circle (Heartbreaker), Crown and Dagger (Dark Dynasty) and now New Eden (Original Sin)
June 22, 2019
Based on what Mason has planned, is she really being saved?
Out of the frying pan and into the fire? Jolie and Mason meet as kids. She's growing up in a freaky, depraved, religious cult, and he's a rich kid who gets what he wants. He promises to come back for her. Of course, they're just kids, but it's not just puppy love. He has other reasons...
He's searching for her, intending to find her and take her. I wouldn't call it a "rescue" because he's planning to keep her all to himself--as a captive and maybe worse (for now, that is...you know how dark romances go). So, it's not really a rescue.
I want to learn more about the New Eden cult. There's definitely more story to be told about them, and it's going to be twisted. Then again, the cult could be so twisted that even with the dark stuff Mason plans, Jolie will still believe she's been saved. Maybe. Or she could see him for the monster he is.
Out of the frying pan and into the fire? Jolie and Mason meet as kids. She's growing up in a freaky, depraved, religious cult, and he's a rich kid who gets what he wants. He promises to come back for her. Of course, they're just kids, but it's not just puppy love. He has other reasons...
He's searching for her, intending to find her and take her. I wouldn't call it a "rescue" because he's planning to keep her all to himself--as a captive and maybe worse (for now, that is...you know how dark romances go). So, it's not really a rescue.
I want to learn more about the New Eden cult. There's definitely more story to be told about them, and it's going to be twisted. Then again, the cult could be so twisted that even with the dark stuff Mason plans, Jolie will still believe she's been saved. Maybe. Or she could see him for the monster he is.
March 29, 2019
I want to start this review by saying that this does seem like a promising series. However, this prequel was just a little too long and a little slow moving for me. On one hand, the length was nice because we definitely got to see a lot of the backstory to how Jolie was raised and the ultra religious/cult world she grew up in. At the same time, throughout the four chapter prequel, there was only a little wee interaction between Jolie and Mason and not much information on Mason at all. Like I said before, I do think this series looks promising and am really looking forward to reading book one and seeing what happens when Jolie and Mason see each other again. I just would have preferred the prequel be part of book one instead of a separate book.
*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is my honest review.*
*I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is my honest review.*
March 28, 2019
I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book. Wow, just phenomenal! Torn is a prequel to this new upcoming series that you will not want to miss out on. Yikes, I don’t even know where to begin here. Jolie and Mason meet, he’s 18 and she’s 7 and smitten, but the life she’s living is a little strained with their beliefs of her father and his flock as he calls them being raise in a cult and has literally no idea. Promises are made, and Jolie can only hope he’ll be back for her one day. A series of actions happen putting lives in danger and shaping lives as well. You get a little taste of Taken at the end of Torn to get you amped up for what’s to come and I can’t wait to see what Mason has up his sleeves to find Jolie. Awesome read, loved it, recommend this book.
March 29, 2019
5 darkest stars for this one h€ll of a prequel
I just can't get my head around this one. It is a one great and very raw announcement of the new series. From the sneak peak to the another part I guess it will be dark, it will bring a lot of angst, twisted situations, cruel even. If you are ready for a really dark psychological thriller I think this is the place to start. I hope for the great connection of the plot to the romantic story but I think the road to that will be very very long and not so easy for the main characters and people around them. And I'm on board with that with an open mind. Can't wait to read next parts. But knowing this author I'm positive that I will get a great series with fantastic story that will keep me on my toes.
I just can't get my head around this one. It is a one great and very raw announcement of the new series. From the sneak peak to the another part I guess it will be dark, it will bring a lot of angst, twisted situations, cruel even. If you are ready for a really dark psychological thriller I think this is the place to start. I hope for the great connection of the plot to the romantic story but I think the road to that will be very very long and not so easy for the main characters and people around them. And I'm on board with that with an open mind. Can't wait to read next parts. But knowing this author I'm positive that I will get a great series with fantastic story that will keep me on my toes.
April 25, 2019
Title: Torn (Original Sin 0.5)
Author: Stella Hart
Review by Ma.
Torn is the Prequel for the new Trilogy Original Sin. In this story we've seen a glimpse of seven years old Jolie Chastain and sixteen years old Mason Ashwood how they're story began and most importantly how they've met.
I admits I'm so into cult story plot, this theme is really holds my interest, there's something abt it that truly intrigues me, I find it unusual and engaging for me. And Torn stands by all means. I love it the sweet attraction of young Jolie towards the charismatic boy Mason. And I cannot wait to read the 1st book in this Trilogy ever since Ive got a sneak peak of it. 🤗
-Blogg 22💛
Author: Stella Hart
Review by Ma.
Torn is the Prequel for the new Trilogy Original Sin. In this story we've seen a glimpse of seven years old Jolie Chastain and sixteen years old Mason Ashwood how they're story began and most importantly how they've met.
I admits I'm so into cult story plot, this theme is really holds my interest, there's something abt it that truly intrigues me, I find it unusual and engaging for me. And Torn stands by all means. I love it the sweet attraction of young Jolie towards the charismatic boy Mason. And I cannot wait to read the 1st book in this Trilogy ever since Ive got a sneak peak of it. 🤗
-Blogg 22💛
March 28, 2019
Excellent prequel
I loved this prequel that gives a little idea of the birth of a sect
Jolie is raised in a religious community where her father is a kind of preacher/chief. At 7, she meets Mason, who comes few hours with his parents and who he's older. He promises to come back to see her when she turns 18 years old. But a few days later, an attack kills her mother and the whole community burrows to rebuild a community under the ground. Between brainwashing and child's promise, this prequel really makes you want to read more.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
I loved this prequel that gives a little idea of the birth of a sect
Jolie is raised in a religious community where her father is a kind of preacher/chief. At 7, she meets Mason, who comes few hours with his parents and who he's older. He promises to come back to see her when she turns 18 years old. But a few days later, an attack kills her mother and the whole community burrows to rebuild a community under the ground. Between brainwashing and child's promise, this prequel really makes you want to read more.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book
March 29, 2019
Jolie Chastain didn't like boys when she was 7 years old. That is, until she met the handsome Mason who was with his parents visiting her father. Jolie is happy when Mason promises to come back for her when she turns 18. Trust fund kid Mason Ashwood doesn't plan to visit Jolie. That is, until Mason sees a photo of the beautiful Jolie who's now 18. But first, he'll have to get past Jolie's doomsday prophet father who's hiding the women in his flock.
Torn is an intense, intriguing and engrossing prequel to the Original Sin series. I can't wait to read Taken, Book 1 of the Original Sin series.
Torn is an intense, intriguing and engrossing prequel to the Original Sin series. I can't wait to read Taken, Book 1 of the Original Sin series.
April 4, 2019
This book is a wonderful intro to a new series that I’m now looking forward to reading. This is a well written prequel that gave me just enough to spark my interest in the new series. It’s very well written and introduces the background and the main characters that shall be in the series. It’s a really strange plot and one I was not expecting, if you enjoy dark novels then read this prequel so you are ready for what promises to be a wonderfully dark twisted tale! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 28, 2019
Jolie was seven when she met mason for the first time. A chance meeting with the teenage boy and his parents. A pact was made which was never to be carried out. This prequel has the starting of what I know will be an amazingly dark romance. If you have loved this author's other work you can bet this new series will have you hooked too. It's a new age cult with dark middle aged beliefs which might stir up mixed feelings in some as the treatment of woman is archaic. I can't wait for more.
April 19, 2019
This was a very tempting and intriguing taste of what you can look foward to in this dark romance series. Intense, twisted, dramatic and compelling, this quick introduction to Jolie and Mason will lure you in with its overall feeling of anticipation and suspense will leave you wanting to know so much more. I'm so looking forward to reading this series and seeing the story unfold for these characters.
April 20, 2019
Molding Minds
Jolie is raised in the South by her mother and father. Her father has created a whole new world where he molds peoples minds to think like him.
Mason is dragged along with his parents to visit an old business contact. What he finds is a cute green eyed girl who make an impression. When he leaves he makes a promise to her, will he be able to keep that promise?
Mind Boggling prequel to a cult following precheaching of a mad man.
Jolie is raised in the South by her mother and father. Her father has created a whole new world where he molds peoples minds to think like him.
Mason is dragged along with his parents to visit an old business contact. What he finds is a cute green eyed girl who make an impression. When he leaves he makes a promise to her, will he be able to keep that promise?
Mind Boggling prequel to a cult following precheaching of a mad man.
March 23, 2021
I love LOVE stories about cults! 😍 And this prequel was a REALLY GOOD start of an hopefully amazing series!! Can't wait to read the other book(s) in the series!!
March 28, 2019
SPELLBOUND! INTENSE!
Riveting! A fantastic start to this series that kept me engrossed with head reeling twists that took a minute to sink in because they are definitely dark and crazy as all get outs wicked that once you start you won't be able to come up for air until you reach the cliffhanger ending that will have you pleading wanting and desperately needing to read more!
Riveting! A fantastic start to this series that kept me engrossed with head reeling twists that took a minute to sink in because they are definitely dark and crazy as all get outs wicked that once you start you won't be able to come up for air until you reach the cliffhanger ending that will have you pleading wanting and desperately needing to read more!
March 29, 2019
Another dark and twisted treat from the pen of Stella Hart.
Torn sets the scene for a story surrounding a Doomsday cult and a girl called Jolie. There are many questions thrown up by this prequel and I can’t wait to find out all about it when the rest of the series releases. A highly promising start.
Torn sets the scene for a story surrounding a Doomsday cult and a girl called Jolie. There are many questions thrown up by this prequel and I can’t wait to find out all about it when the rest of the series releases. A highly promising start.
March 29, 2019
Excellent prequel for this new series.
This is a great prequel for the Original Sin series. It shows you how Jolie and Mason met and what happened to Jolie and her family that fateful day. This is an intriguing prequel and I can't wait to read this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a great prequel for the Original Sin series. It shows you how Jolie and Mason met and what happened to Jolie and her family that fateful day. This is an intriguing prequel and I can't wait to read this series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 30, 2019
Jolie was raised in a religious cult and she met Mason when she was very young. One chance encounter and a promise made will take the two of them on a dark and twisted journey. This prequel is a sneak peak about a woman caught in a rich man's web and I look forward to reading the rest of this series.
February 21, 2022
In this novella, we meet Jolie who is 7 years old, and Mason who's 15. Mason visited Jolie and her parents in Lousiana with his parents for unknown reasons, but the fathers knew of each other. Seems that Jolie's father has formed a cult where he has changed the minds of the parishioners. Since this is the beginning I will have to read the next book to understand what is happening.
March 29, 2019
Stella can't write a bad book if she tried. Another winner! A quick read that promises to be an ahmazing dark series. Yes, said ahmazing!!! A pact made as kids not meant to be carried out but, does it? So good!!! I need more now.
March 29, 2019
I loved Jolie & Mason's story. It was an intriguing tease. There was a lot I didn't agree with in this prequel... But so far the story is wonderful. I'm voluntarily leaving an honest review for a copy of the book via booksprout.
March 30, 2019
This is a prequel to a new series from this talented author. Jolie and Mason meet as children, and now as adults something happens and he wants to find her. This is a dark story with a cult background, and I was intrigued and hooked throughout. I look forward to reading more in this series.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews