Reviews

Be My Sinner by A.L. Maruga

shedevilreads's review against another edition

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5.0

Be My Sinner by A.L. Maruga is a dark, sinful, and demanding gothic stalker romance that pushes all the boundaries of exploring sin and vengeance while exposing the existence of an organized secret religion. 

All I can really say about this book is WOW! AL is an amazing author. She does an amazing job pulling me into her books and keeping me hooked until the very end. I am loving the chemistry between Dinah, Sammy, Abraham, and Ezekiel. I can't wait to see how their relationship will play out over the course of the series. 

Let me just say the cliffhanger was absolutely amazing! It left me begging for more and wanting to seek my own revenge for Dinah. I can't wait until the next book in the series Be My Sacrifice is announced. 

I would highly recommend this book if you're looking for a dark romance, stalker romance, gothic romance, enemies-to-lovers romance, age gap romance, or MMFM romance.

laur_mere's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

5.0

🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 🖤🖤🖤🖤🖤
“Pain and blood really are the sexiest f*cking shit. Forget sweet words and caresses; give a girl a little blood, some much-needed vengeance, and a sharp blade, and watch her cream her panties like a little sl*t.”

“They mistook me for a sheep when, in truth, I was a lion. They underestimated me, just as they had underestimated my female ancestors for centuries. In the end, the only way to combat a predator is to transform into a greater one. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. F*ck that; all I do is want. I crave violence. I want to be consumed by a seething rage. I yearn to witness the blazing fires of hell, unleashed upon those who callously buried me in a shallow grave, forsaking me to rot without a second thought.”

Holy f*cking sh*t! I am in awe, this book had me by the throat the entire time. The writing had me so immersed in the characters and their inner dialogues, I was panicking and lusting right along with them. I loved being able to hear them argue with themselves, internally rage, and be completely consumed with desire for each other.

I knew going into this book that it was going to end in a cliff hanger and DAMN, what an ending! I don’t want to give anything away, so if you love DARK romance with MMFM and a dystopian setting, read it. I can NOT wait for book 2! Bravo!!

booksbystarlightandshadows's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? N/A
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This not for the faint of heart - this book is D A R K.  There are 50+ trigger warnings for this one; if it is considered a trigger, the chances are it is in this book! Parts of this were quite tough to read but I enjoyed AL Maruga's Casbury Prep series so I am trusting the process.

Dinah is on a mission to take revenge on those who wronged her family in this post-apocalyptic world where women have no agency and are expected to be completely subservient to the men of the household. Dinah has been sequestered away for years while awaiting to be called as a Sacred Wife to one of the Brotherhood heirs but she has used this time to her advantage to plot the Order's downfall instead.  

The majority of this book is setting up the dynamics between all the characters focussing on Dinah, Sammy, Abe and Zeke.  Each of these relationships is different but the chemistry is on fire! Dinah is really interesting as she is ready to dive into her dark side head first with Sammy enabling and supporting her but also pulling her back from the ledge when she needs it.  Zeke and Abe are a whole other thing and I'm interested to see how book two is going to play out when it comes to them. After the set up in book one there are also several side characters I have my eye on as well as wanting to find out more about the mystery surrounding Gabriel. I'll definitely be adding it to my TBR.

My interpretation of the star system;
3 stars - I enjoyed it; would read the author again
4 stars - I really liked it; I am invested and definitely want more from this author/series
5 stars - I loved it; I engaged with this book completely and I have added all the authors works to my TBR 




bookishluvinjunkie's review

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

AL Maruga never fails to deliver the best dark and depraved books, and this one was no different! Check trigger warnings before reading. 

Dinah grew up in a twisted world of religion and a male dominated society. She saw things that no child should have to see, and from that darkness she became, The Sinner. She had her protector, but she was no wallflower, and if you were her target, then no amount of prayer would save you. 

The twists and turns in this book will have you on the edge of your seat until the very last page. The spice is off the charts hot! If you love dark, touch her and you die, enemies to lovers, gothic, age gap, and so many more, then you do not want to miss out on this series. I can't wait to see how this story continues. 

triciacoker's review against another edition

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dark fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 50+ trigger warnings was a siren's call I was only too happy to answer and Be My Sinner did not fail to deliver on every dark promise. This is not a book for the faint of heart or the clutcher of pearls but for readers who like to walk on the wild side, who enjoy stalkers, whychoose, gothic romance, age gap, secret society, and more twists than a roller coaster - well this is your next favorite read. Dinah is a fantastic female main character, strong but realistic, carrying flaws to balance her strengths. Sammy is her dark shadow, the knight she could have had in a better world. Zeke and Abe are two sides of a tarnished coin who give sensual chills with their devilish deeds and misdeeds. No one character is purely good here, carrying varying shades of grey which made me like it all the more. Some are blacker then others, though, to cater to any taste. The world is darkly gothic and feels old world, but is set up in a future which could so easily be our own in ways that make this book feel more poignant. AL Maruga crafts it all with decadent elegance that is dipped in filth. Book two can't come soon enough! 

kkeele's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

 Intense, engrossing, dark. "The thing about sinners is that we love to feast, and I am the biggest one of them all. Then I hide in the shadows, always watching, always ensuring her safety." Be My Sinner brings us a rich plot with well developed characters and of course prepped with spice, and don’t forget the betrayal. Let’s all go on an emotional rollercoaster ride! 

gaelicgirl's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

5/5 ⭐️ 
Steam:  4.75/5
Strong Language:  5/5
Characters:  5/5
Plot:  5/5

Be My Sinner is the first book in the Brother of the Sacrament series.  The books need to be read in order for maximum enjoyment.

Dinah is existing in a world dominated by men.  I say existing, not living, because the strict, patriarchal and religious society that she was born into views women as good for only two things:  breeding and sex.  When someone tries to break with the strict teachings, they and their family pay the ultimate price. She knows this all too well.  Such a penalty was paid by her own family, and it turned Dinah into the remorseless, vigilante unaliver she is now.

Three men find themselves at the epicenter of Dinah’s life.  Each has a different motive and reason for being there.  Samuel is a fierce protector.  Zeke is a jealous and cunning foe.  Abe is a possessive and reckless rogue.  Each finds themselves entangled in her web or has she fallen into a trap of their own making?

This novel is dark.  Full stop.  It has high steam, dirty scenes that will cause even the most experienced reader to blush.  The depraved acts, sacrilegious undertones, and sadistic push/pull between the beguiling characters will thrill and entice dark romance readers.  Be sure to read the content warnings, as they are extensive.  A thrilling read.

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