Tainted

Cardinal Sin #1

by Kady Ash

Aiden:
The mark of the tainted ruined my life.
I didn't ask for it. I didn't have a say in what happened, and yet I'm marked forever because of it.
One little inverted cross burned into the back of my neck and my whole life goes to shit. My parents don't want me, I can't keep a job, and I'll never find anyone brave enough to marry me now.
The only person who still cares about me at all is my step-brother Maverick, and if he's not careful... I'll be dragging him down with me, too.

Maverick:
Everything about Aiden is off-limits. He's tainted, he's my step-brother, and he's not the one I'm currently betrothed to.
I never should've let him move in with me when our parents kicked him out, but I did, and something tells me I'm going to pay for it.
Maybe that's what I've wanted all along.

Genres: M M Romance, Forced Proximity, Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, Religion, Smut

234 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 20, 2023

Reviews

[Trinity · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 🌶🌶🌶/5

TW - fictional religion with extremely harmful beliefs, religious trauma, drugs, rape (plot point, recounted), suicidal thoughts, murder, graphic violence, cutting (as penance)

CW - drug-induced DubCon bordering NonCon, breath play, somnophilia, pain play, TPE, size difference, voyeurism, degradation, exhibitionism, sadomasochism, bondage, impact play, spitting, cockwarming, edging, one MMM scene

Tropes - MM, taboo - step brothers, forbidden, forced proximity

this. was. hot.

Aiden (MMC) and Maverick (MMC) live in a very religious society with harmful beliefs and if you step out of line, you become tainted which is indicated by an inverted cross that will appear on your neck showing that your damned in this world and the next. Aiden had his virtue taken from him but their God doesn't care and he was tainted anyway and shunned from society to the point where his parents kicked him out and he now lives with his step brother, Maverick.

The two MCs have had a thing for each other for a while and whilst their religion has nothing against being gay, pre-marital sex will have you tainted anddddddd there's also the fact that they're step siblings. They want to find a way to make it work but things end up going as left as it can get and one thing leads to another.........

This was a very, very hot and quick read, defo recommend if you are into taboo / forbidden books

Scale:
⭐️ - would've DNF'ed / continued out of spite
⭐️⭐️ - shit, but whatever
⭐️⭐️⭐️ - meh, could've been better
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - lit 👅
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - loved it, inject this shit into my veins 🤪

🫑 - no smut
🌶 - no point
🌶🌶 - mediocre at best
🌶🌶🌶 - standard smut, hot
🌶🌶🌶🌶 - 🥵 okay, some CW
🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 - fuck me 🥵🥵 CWs / filthy with a side of filth - see Poison / Room Twenty-Two: Hide and Seek/ The Naughty List

[Shedevilreads Bookstagram · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tainted by Kady Ash is a taboo m/m romance. This is the first book in the Cardinal Sin series and can be read as a standalone.

This is the first book of Kady's that I have read, and it definitely won't be my last. The chemistry between Aiden and Maverick is off the charts! I loved getting both of their points of views throughout the book. It really brought the story to life.

I can't wait to dive into the next book in the series Unholy.

I would recommend this book if you like taboo romances, forbidden romances, m/m romances, or forced proximity romances.

[Rin (indefinite hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoilers ahead I’m not hiding.

The author said in the content warning it’s dub-con bordering on non-con. No. It’s straight up non-con. It’s rape. By one MC to the other MC.

And the MC that did the raping had been raped himself. 😖

Fun times.

Even not factoring in that the world was weird because there was no background info on the religious cult they were in. Just felt like we were missing a ton of info. Whole thing was just messy.

[Nikki Reads Smut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Info:
Standalone 🥇, HEA 🥰
First Person Narrative Dual POV👩‍❤️‍👨
Sub-Genre: Er0tic Romance💓, D@rk Romance🖤, Er0tica😏
Trope: Forb!dden Love, F0rced Proximity🔒, MM👨‍❤️‍👨
Category: Step Siblings, Roommates, Master D0m, Relig!on✝️, T@boo
Burn Rate: Slow burn🥵
Spice Rating: 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶
D@rkness Rating: 🖤🖤🖤🖤

ARC Review:
I loved this book on a lot of levels. It's super frickin hot and taboo. The characters are great with so much internal conflict. And there is a solid message.

Whenever I read erotica, I'm aware that usually the plot isn't solid, cause that's not the point of the book. While I classify this as erotica, the story is still solid. It's a story the resonates with our society and our belief systems. There is a solid point to this story. I don't want to give much away, but it does touch on the dark side of religion. It's a fictional religion, but it deals with the unfair treatment and judgement of some religions and the people who practice them. It is also heavy on hypocrisy.

The spice is sexy. The main couple’s chemistry is off the charts. It's slow for the full-on burn, but they have lots of fun in-between and it's actually important to the story line. You will feel edged yourself. I recommend this to anyone who is into taboo dark romance. If you have any issues with depictions of religion this may not be for you. It will have you thinking.

K!inks and Tr!ggers:
N0n-C0n, D*b-C0n, R0ugh S3x, Praise🗣️, Somn0ph!lia😴, Dr*gging💉, Degr@dation🤬, Sp!t play💧, Bre@th Play😮‍💨, Edg!ng, Publ!c Play/Exhibit!onism📢, Graphic Murd3r, Mas0chism, Su!cide, Past R@pe (Not Main Couple), Facef*cking😵, Facial, Queening👸, C0ck Sl@apping🍆👋🏻, TPE Dynamic, Org@sm Denial, Vict!m Bl@ming, B!ting🦷

[Erin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so hot, amazing plot line and most of all, it was utterly beautiful. I’m so happy they got their HEA and were able to find peace in this messed up world. I want that type of love, where you can’t just settle for a piece of someone. Where life would be utterly tragic to not have them in it. Having to watch from the sidelines, knowing they are just as miserable if they don’t have you.. that all your misery is for nothing, just placating someone else.. that would be the worst type of torture.

Please for the love of everything, read the trigger warnings before you dive into this!!!! It will not be for everyone, so don’t blame the author if you blindly stumble across something you don’t like..

[Tania ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish the fantasy religion was more developed

[Foxy Vixen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.85

My scale for praise goes as follows:

1 bad
2 OK
3 good
4 really good
5 very good
6 great, excellent, unbelievable!

Characters mostly really good, plot mostly really good, sex mostly really good.

It was explicit and I really liked what they did, they had kind of a loose D/s vibe for the most of the book, and had a really nice dynamic, and some hot scenes. I really enjoyed the UST for like the first half? of the book, they still did alot of sexual stuff, everything except fucking, and somehow it was so much hotter watchin them struggle and edge themselves, then just regular sex would've been.

Their pining and lust was so hot, especially as it lead to small explosions when they sporadically came together messily, just using each other to get off in different ways, and the sexual tension was thicker than London fog!

They eventually started a TPE dynamic that I really enjoyed, but I guess I wish they would've done a little more with it, went a little further, but I still really enjoyed it, they had some hot scenes because of it.

As usual even though he was a strong in control Dom, he was a little too kind for me. But he was much better than most, especially in the end, and I liked that he was relatively stoic in the first part of the book, and overall he absolutely wasn't too mushy, and he actually had something of a mean sadistic streak too, which I really appreciated.

And he wasn't afraid to make the bottom feel like he just used him for his own rough pleasure, as it was both their kink. So he wasn't afraid to take him roughly while ordering him around, like he deserved, while withholding orgasms, which was lovely. And he talked a little dirty too, not alot, but a little, and I really appreciated that.

There was alot of hot scenes that I really liked, but mostly I just wish they would've gone harder and further.
It wasn't perfect, but I have to say that they came way closer then most, which I'm really happy for.

I also liked that the sub was a little needy, and had a really healthy sexual appetite, that was hot, he was constantly in need of cock in some form, to be happy, which I really like.

Sadly sometimes there was some tiny grain missing to give me that electric feeling of sparks under my skin when I read it, but it was VERY VERY close, and I certainly really liked all they did and how it was portrayed, and they actually partially succeeded in some scenes, and they absolutely came closer to that feeling than any other book I've read in a long while (except another book by this very author.)

I really liked the MC's, they may have been a little shallow in their characterization, but honestly I didn't care, and the story didn't suffer for it.
I still had a pretty clear picture of who they where as people.

I knew what drow them, what goals they had, what obstacles they needed to overcome, and their base personalities where at least pretty developed, which is the most important part. It was easy to understand them and root for them.

I really like the top, he was hot, especially in their dynamic, I especially loved the mean streak that came out in the end.

Overall I really liked this book, it was very well written, hot, and so I will definitely read this again, and I will also look for other books by this author, as I really liked her storytelling and her turn of frase. Sadly she seems to write more m/f than m/m, which really bums me out, as I'm only interested in the latter.

So I'm impatiently holding my thumbs and praying on my knees at the same time, for more hot (hopefully full Tpe m/m relationships) with alot of hot filth and dirty talking included, to be written by this great author!! Please! 🙏 😍

[Danielle Graves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC copy in return for an honest review

This book is heavy on the triggers so I recommend reading the warnings before hand. It features everything from SA, religion, forbidden love, step siblings, non-con, somnophilia, MM and more.

It might seem strange to describe a book written about someone who has been SA’d and then ostracised as beautiful but that’s exactly what this book was. It was so well written and the writer did such an amazing job of portraying the two main characters emotions and actions.

Aiden and Mav are step brothers who live in a community that is heavily reliant on religion - a community that disapproves of sex before marriage so when Aiden is assaulted even though it was non-consensual he is shamed by his family and community. Forced to wear a mark that identifies him as tainted and causes him to be shunned by everyone. Everyone except his stepbrother Mav.

This book covers the shame Aiden feels at having been assaulted and how that assault affects his life - the religion and mark mean he has no future. Forced out of his parents house he moves in with Mav and then we get to explore their feelings for each other and how the religion and community affects their chances of having a relationship together because the mark and the fact they are step brothers means they can’t marry so any sexual encounters will damn Mav too. The author goes on to explore their feelings towards each other, towards their religion, towards their community and what is deemed morally right and to push their boundaries and see how far they are willing to go before they decide what’s more important their relationship or religion.

I found the author did a really good job of portraying realistic feelings of somebody who has been SA’d and the hyper sexuality that can follow such an event.

A good mix of plot and spice meant I read this book in one sitting and enjoyed every moment of it. There were some twists that I didn’t expect and I was championing their relationship with every turn of a page.

[꒰ঌAlejandra໒꒱ ♥️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tainted is the second book by Kady Ash that I’ve read, and I absolutely adore her work! This is another taboo romance but with a MM relationship and a sprinkle of cult like religion. However Tainted also deals with inner turmoil, s-assault, and giving in to your inner most desires. Live your life how you see fit not how others will judge you for it.

For smut, this book hit me in my feels. It subtlety takes you through the mental state of someone who has been through trauma, all while still being wickedly smutty. If you take the time to peel back the layers of this book, you’ll see that it’s not just smut. It questions your beliefs, your true beliefs not just what others say. Makes you think about what’s fair and what is true salvation. Push the boundaries of the norms and make you think before you judge others. Makes you think and blush, sometimes at the same time. Chefs kiss.

Spice level (1-5): 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ smut
Kink level (1-3): ⛓️⛓️ breath play, toys, butt play, cum play, edging, D/s, MM, exhibitionism, joint master-bay-shun, somnophilia, pain play

After being s-assaulted, Aiden becomes one of the “tainted” along with a mark on his neck for everyone to see. Being tainted is like being an untouchable. No one wants to be near you in fear that what sullies you will rub off on them. You won’t be able to keep a job since your mark is bad for business. You won’t be able to find someone to marry. In their religion, sex before marriage is sinful and you will be magically marked by The Saint for your transgression, and be denied entrance to The Light. Even if you’re the victim. Aiden is now down on his luck and to make matters worse his parents kick him out of the house. Not wanting his little brother to be homeless, Maverick, Aiden’s older stepbrother agrees to take him in. Now that they are in close proximity and Aiden is now 18, there is very little standing in the way of finally seducing him. Except that Maverick’s soul would also be damned. But can years of temptation and need be avoided when you’re so close? Would having what you want more than anything be worth a life of damnation?

I’d recommend Tainted to the small few that can handle taboo romance in that far away corner that most don’t dare to reach. The trigger warnings are extensive. Read them. This isn’t grey dark romance, this is darker than that. Keep in mind this book is about two male stepbrothers. If reading male x male smut is not your thing, don’t pick up this book. If criticizing a made up religion bothers you, don’t read this book. A big chunk of the book references assault. If that’s a trigger for you, skip this book. They also refer to each other as brothers, although they are not blood related. Not your cup of tea? You know the drill. If you enjoy MM taboo romances with dark undertones that break free from the mold, Taint is for you. Enjoy.

Warning: Reading this book may make you wary of people offering you tea. If it sounds fancy don’t drink it. May make you not want to shake peoples hand. May make you crave white chocolate macadamia nut cookies. May make you not trust anyone. May make you want to be around like minded people. May make you think differently about life. May make you question your religious journey. May make you give in and kiss your crush. May make you have a new exciting idea for a gift. Read responsibly.

*I received an Advance Reader Copy for free and I’m leaving an honest review of my own volition. All thoughts are my own.*

[Heather Douglas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may have been my first MM romance but thanks to Kady it won't be my last. Please check TW/SW before reading, there are some heavy topics throughout this book (SA, religion, forbidden love, stepsiblings, etc.)

Tainted follows Aiden and Mav who are step siblings living in a very heavy religion community. A community that believes $ex before marriage is a huge crime and you will be considered tainted. You will receive a mark behind your ear so everyone can know what you did, and you will be outcasted by pretty much everyone. Unfortunately, one day Aiden gets SA and even though it was non-consensual he was still marked and cast aside by everyone except Mav. When his parents couldn't handle his behavior anymore, they kick him out and he goes to live with his stepbrother Mav. This is where it gets spicy.

Mav has always had feelings for Aiden, but he never acted out on them due to his religion and not wanting to be tainted. But when Aiden moves in with him, he starts to struggle with what's right and wrong. After Aiden's assault, he becomes almost free spirited where he doesn't care anymore since he is already tainted and will be headed to The Shade (hell) instead of The Light (heaven). He suspects how Mav feelings about him, but he must be sure. So, time and time again he does little things that push Mav's emotions until they are toeing the line of what will get Mav marked.

Kady does an amazing job portraying the feelings of not only Aiden and how he is after the assault but also Mav's feelings of battling his will. You see and understand both these characters that has your heart breaking at times and still hoping they can receive their HEA. Tainted will throw you through an emotional rollercoaster with several plot twists that you won't see coming. But all in all I FLEW through reading this novel and loved every second of it. Thank you Kady Ash for an ARC copy of Tainted. You opened my eyes to a new trope now!

[Ishaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5✨

It was my first MxM romance and I enjoyes it! It wasn't dark well maybe not for me but I loved their chemistry so much, and oh the way Mav took care of Aiden has my heart🥹🫶
The story is about two step brothers Aiden and Maverick, who are so attracted to each other but there religion has a rule that if you have s*x before marriage then a burning sign marks your neck that is the proof that you've sinned. Well Aiden is already marked because he was r@ped by a man when he was 17, but Mav is doing everything to save himself.
But when their parents kick Aiden out of their house and since he has the mark on his neck, no one will hire him for a job and he doesn't have anywhere else to go to because no one wants to stay in contact with thr marked ones. So ofcourse Mav helps him and offers him to move in with him. And oh it's the beginning of their love🤭
My heart also breaks for the pain Aiden went through because he didn't want this and he's being a little sh!t and pain in the a$$ for Mav and does everything to convince him that's he's the better choice for him and not his fiancee 😂
But at the end yeah everything is good, so overall the story was good. I liked it.

[Gina Burkart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dark taboo romance. That is based on a dark fantasy religious beliefs. The chemistry between the the stepbrothers is so steamy and hot. The story pulled me right in tell the very ending. This story is about a young man that is in love with his older brother and has been tainted against his will. Aiden is kicked out by his parents and his old brother asks him to live with him. Aid try’s everything to get his brother to be with him tell their parents bring a girl over for a arranged marriage. The day before Aid thats things in His own hands as maverick had it all planned out to keep his relationship with his brother and just have a marriage by paper. This story is a fast pace with many triggers.,

[Crystal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kady Ash knows how to write a spicy romance!! This story has everything you could want in a dark romance. The story takes place in a modern setting with a religious twist. Premarital seggs is a cardinal sin and those that partake (willingly or not) become tainted, and marked as such. This is the world that Aiden and Maverick live in and it plays such a huge factor at every stage of their relationship. I spent the entire book rooting for these two and felt like I just had to hold on tight and hope for the best.
Tropes: MM / Step-brother / Praise / Size difference / 🪢 / Dub-con / Non-con / D/s / Public seggs / Somnophilia

[Idalia Helaena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh, this dark and spicy taboo romance was everything I didn’t know I needed. This book was flipping fantastic, but there are trigger warnings galore, so please be kind to yourselves and check those out first before picking this up. But if you do, I promise you will not regret it. Aiden and Maverick’s story was hella angsty, but it was so. Freaking. Good. The plot drew me in from the very beginning, and I loved how unique and addicting this world was. Aiden and Mav’s chemistry was impossible to deny, and I loved them as a couple so much. I highly recommend for those who love a good taboo and/or stepbrother romance!!!

[Tyler Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start?!? I’m a lover of all MM romances but boy did I LOVE this! It was twisted and sweet wrapped up in one delicious package.

I really enjoyed this authors take on the cult like life the boys are living in and the punishment for sinning. This is definitely a darker romance that you should check your triggers for but it’s a must read if you’re into dark romance.

The MCs have a chemistry like no other and it’s fun to watch the religious thoughts turn in mavericks head, where as Aidens thoughts are already tainted from the get go. All in all you need to read this book.

[French Press Bookworm Blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

good but

I was intrigued by the storyline. And I enjoyed the characters and world that was built but at times it felt rushed there wasn’t really a backstory and I don’t say this often but I wanted more storyline for the amount of 🔥🔥🔥 that is in this story. Without a bit more depth it’s hard to feel the heat in the moment or the connection with the characters. That being said I’ll keep an eye out for more from the author.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is trigger heavy and dark but so freaking fantastic!! I use trigger lists like a shopping list and go into all books blind.

I super enjoyed this one!! I mean step-brother romance with a touch of a cult and just a little touch of paranormal… I mean come on!!

I’ve read two books by Kady now and I’ve loved them both!!

[The Book Hangover · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a dark MM romance that is based on a fictitious religion and even though it is full to the brim with deliciously sinful smut there is also a decent storyline. It is a quick spicy read with sizzling chemistry, kinks and a touch of taboo. Please check your TW though as this has heavy themes.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another smash from Kady. Kady really takes on a tough topic in religious fanaticism and the cult like following of religion some societies exhibit and combines it with a taboo MM romance that is sickeningly hot. As always with dark/taboo romance, CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS and be kind to yourself.

[Shawn Cha · Rating 5 out of 5]

love it

I know a lot of ppl are not going to be happy to read how aiden and Mav got together but I really liked it. If you’ve ever been so in love it makes you that kind of crazy then u just my kind of crazy.

[Joelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Erotica made boring...the writing was so robotic

[Kassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

🥰🥵🔥

Wow this book was amazing.
This is my first book from this author And I can't wait to read more from this author.

[Quinn · Rating 1 out of 5]

First miss for me from this author - I didn’t like the world, I didn’t like the plot, and I didn’t like the characters.

[Katiie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning of the book felt off to me. I felt I jumped in in the middle of the story.

I pushed through and so happy I did. It was seriously a great story!!

I couldn't stop reading it.