The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! đ
sara_mb's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
As always itâs was as great as I thought it would be. I was a bit nervous at first with the fact it was her first lgbtq+ book of the series and wasnât sure how it was gonna flow. It was beautifully written, deep and reflective. It spoke about mental health issue, suicidal tendencies and sexuality. I love everything about it, the spice and emotion, perfect â¤ď¸
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicide attempt, Addiction, Death of parent, Mental illness, Death, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual content, Cancer, Death, Mental illness, Terminal illness, Death of parent, and Infidelity
katierosecrane's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I loved the subject matter of religion in a spicy romance book! The series is really good I liked the first two books best though. This book while I enjoyed it was too similar to the first book's plot. I do like that it was queer. Some portions of the book it found it repetitive like, <I am stuck between the two things I love the most and can't have one without the other.>
One of my favorite parts of the book is when <he is talking about his depressive episode. I felt very connected to the character in this chapter because of how Simone wrote about it. She explained it through subtle things that go through your mind and how it affects the people around you.> Lastly, the ending is perfect. not dragged out for ten more chapters after the climax, but keep concise and still connected to the material.Â
One of my favorite parts of the book is when <he is talking about his depressive episode. I felt very connected to the character in this chapter because of how Simone wrote about it. She explained it through subtle things that go through your mind and how it affects the people around you.> Lastly, the ending is perfect. not dragged out for ten more chapters after the climax, but keep concise and still connected to the material.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Sexual content, Child death, Alcohol, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
jonezzzing's review against another edition
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Cursing
Minor: Homophobia, Sexual assault, Death, and Suicide
readingwithrylanne's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
It's no secret that I love the Bell brothers. Aiden is my second favorite of the three, but I just didn't end up loving this overall book quite as much as I did Priest and Sinner. This book was just a little bit too long and got a tad boring at times. I also struggled to truly fall in love with Elijah because I felt like he spoke before he thought often, hurting Aiden in the process. I didn't cry with this book like I did the others, but I loved Aiden's character and watching him grow through his struggles. Getting to explore some different monasteries in other countries was also a really cool element (even though if I remember correctly, Sierra did say that the monasteries themselves were fictional), and the spice, naturally, was top tier, as per usual with Sierra Simone. I still loved Saint, just not as much as the others in the series!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Sexual content
Moderate: Grief
Minor: Cancer, Sexual assault, and Death
readingwithleslie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Mental illness, and Infidelity
Minor: Death of parent, Grief, and Death
sdupont's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Saint is a solid read in the Priest series. Sinner was my favorite of the trilogy but I did enjoy Saint. I feel like this book wouldâve benefitted from more of Elijahâs POV, I felt like we didnât get enough from his side out of the article/journal excerpts. The romance fell flat by only getting one characters true perspective, especially one that spends much time alone, in silence, or in prayer.Â
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Death
Minor: Death of parent and Rape
miaisabelle7's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Suicide
Minor: Sexual assault
honey_pie's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As a stand-alone book, this is rly good, but compared to the rest of the series it fees like a lot more of the same⌠but gay this time
Like for all I love aiden and elijah it was honestly pretty predictable and didnât get good until after halfway throughÂ
Like for all I love aiden and elijah it was honestly pretty predictable and didnât get good until after halfway throughÂ
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicide attempt, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Suicide
browningwithabook's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
criticalgayze's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I know I normally say that strict "romance" is not for me, but I really dug this book. I think a big part of that is that the characters' own struggles with sexuality and faith are very relatable to me.
Oh, and this one was hot. 9.5/10 on the level and content of the steam. (Slight point deduction for referring too much mouth licking and referring to genitalia as "my/his sex" and to closed mouths as having "seams.")
After a novel built on the back of will they/won't they angst, I do think the revelation/resolution comes too fast without any kind of real interior or assisted awakening or growth; however, I think this is a strong novel overall with great steam, characters, and writing.
Quotes:
Thereâs only the aching knowledge that you yourself are a kind of momentary prayer, uttered with reverence, spoken softly into the air, and then finished with a gentle and loving selah. (Page 10)
The thing about falling in love is that by the time you realize itâs happened, itâs already too late. Your boyfriend already has sprinkles for you in the pocket of his Tom Ford suit. Youâve already had bubble gum kisses on a warm city night. (Page 59)
My reflexive dislike vanishes in the face of a reality I shared with him before monkhoodâ which is that safety is contingent on space, on who is in that space, and even though I am wearing the robes of the god- man who chose people from the margins to share his heart, I know that his spaces and believers have often been the least safe of all. (Page 121)
âYou bring me closer to God, Elijah,â I tell him softly. âSimply by existing.â (Page 403)
Oh, and this one was hot. 9.5/10 on the level and content of the steam. (Slight point deduction for referring too much mouth licking and referring to genitalia as "my/his sex" and to closed mouths as having "seams.")
After a novel built on the back of will they/won't they angst, I do think the revelation/resolution comes too fast without any kind of real interior or assisted awakening or growth; however, I think this is a strong novel overall with great steam, characters, and writing.
Quotes:
Thereâs only the aching knowledge that you yourself are a kind of momentary prayer, uttered with reverence, spoken softly into the air, and then finished with a gentle and loving selah. (Page 10)
The thing about falling in love is that by the time you realize itâs happened, itâs already too late. Your boyfriend already has sprinkles for you in the pocket of his Tom Ford suit. Youâve already had bubble gum kisses on a warm city night. (Page 59)
My reflexive dislike vanishes in the face of a reality I shared with him before monkhoodâ which is that safety is contingent on space, on who is in that space, and even though I am wearing the robes of the god- man who chose people from the margins to share his heart, I know that his spaces and believers have often been the least safe of all. (Page 121)
âYou bring me closer to God, Elijah,â I tell him softly. âSimply by existing.â (Page 403)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, Drug use, Infidelity, and Death