Take a photo of a barcode or cover
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A trama gira em torno da Tiernan de Haas, uma adolescente de 17 anos que perde os pais num suicídio duplo. Mas a real é que ela já vivia como órfã — os pais eram totalmente ausentes, e quem cuidava dela de verdade era a assistente da mãe, Mirai. Depois da tragédia, ela recebe uma ligação de um tio distante oferecendo abrigo. O detalhe? Ele mora num lugar superisolado, onde durante seis meses do ano não tem contato com o mundo nem acesso à internet. Mesmo assim, ela resolve aceitar o convite.
O livro acompanha a jornada de amadurecimento da Tiernan e também das pessoas ao redor dela. A convivência entre eles é intensa, cheia de tensão, conflitos, desejo e muita coisa não resolvida. E quando o inverno chega — junto com o isolamento total — a história realmente esquenta, com cenas bem explícitas e momentos que definitivamente não passam despercebidos.
A escrita da Penelope é direta, envolvente e sem filtro. Os personagens são bem humanos, cheios de falhas e camadas, o que torna tudo mais real — e às vezes até desconfortável. Mas é esse desconforto que faz a gente seguir lendo.
Resumindo: Credence não é pra todo mundo. Mas se você curte histórias intensas, com personagens imperfeitos e situações fora do comum, vale a pena encarar.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Sexual content, Suicide
Moderate: Violence, Suicide attempt
Minor: Pregnancy
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Incest
Minor: Suicide
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Sexual harassment
Minor: Abandonment
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Credence is an interesting read. It is definitely not for the faint hearted. If you like dark erotic novels, this would be vanilla ice cream.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest
Minor: Suicide
challenging
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have so many thoughts about this books:
- What the fuck
- What the fuck
- WHAT THE FUCK
Yall I ain’t religious but man I feel like I gotta go to church after this book and cleanse my brain. This was insane, quite literally pornography. Why why why is the main character always an underage virgin. This book actually made me hate men more because omg, ew. He was her step UNCLE and her LEGAL GUARDIAN. Don’t even get me started on the brothers, I thought the couch scene was bad but it quite literally got worse then even more terrible. They all need to be institutionalised. The brushed over SA, the ownership ‘she’s ours’ and the constant sexual harassment made me actually want to start a war with men and Penelope Douglas. Nothing about this was sexy and it was honestly disturbing, like I am deeply disturbed. Yall need therapy period. Once again, curiosity killed the cat, I will NEVER take recommendations from tiktok again.
I DNF but I count it as read due to the horrors it put me through and I want the stat
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicide, Violence, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Violence, Blood, Death of parent, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Mental illness, Rape, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment
Minor: Pregnancy
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Everyone needs therapy in this book. 😅
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Abandonment
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I can’t believe I just finished reading Credence—a 465-page book—in less than two days. That’s how hooked I was. I couldn’t put it down. The story completely consumed me, and despite all its red flags, toxicity, and morally questionable moments, I ended up loving it.
Let’s get this out of the way first: Yes, this book is problematic. There are aspects that directly contradict my personal values—like the fact that Tiernan is technically still blood-related to Jake, Noah, and Caleb. Even though it’s a step-cousin/step-uncle situation, Jake and Tiernan’s father were blood brothers, which means there’s still a biological connection. Thinking too hard about that part makes it uncomfortable, so I had to mentally shove that under the rug just to enjoy the story.
Then there’s the fact that Tiernan was still a minor when some of the intimate situations began unfolding. The uncle-niece, cousin relationships were unsettling at times, and it took some effort to overlook those details. However, once I separated myself from the real-world implications and focused on the characters, their growth, and the story’s development, I fell completely in love with it.
One of my favorite things about Credence is how every character evolves throughout the story.
• Tiernan starts out as this emotionally detached girl, completely isolated from the world because of her parents’ neglect. Her parents’ obsessive love for each other was so deep that there was no room left for her. That kind of love is rare and passionate, but also damaging when it excludes a child. It shaped Tiernan into someone who felt small, unimportant , and unworthy of love. But as the story unfolds, she grows into someone stronger, more self-aware, and independent. She learns what she wants, what she doesn’t, and makes her own choices—good or bad, they’re hers to make.
• Jake also undergoes huge character growth. At first, he’s possessive and controlling, but by the end, he realizes that he has to let go—not just of Tiernan, but also of his sons. He learns that he can’t keep people tied down just to avoid being alone.
• Noah had my heart at some points, and honestly, I felt bad for him because his feelings for Tiernan seemed so genuine. But there was closure for me when, at the end, he realizes he’s actually in love with racing. That moment made me feel better about how things turned out for him. He deserved his own path, and I love that he followed his dreams instead of clinging to something that wasn’t meant to be.
• Caleb was wild from the very beginning. His introduction into the story was feral, chaotic, and borderline terrifying, but the way his character was written—silent but expressive—made me fall for him over time. He didn’t need words to show how much he cared for Tiernan. He was always watching, always there, even in his quietness. And what really sealed it for me was the moment he chose not to stay in that car—the same place his mother abandoned him in when he was four. That was the turning point. He refused to let his trauma define him any longer. He spoke up, he communicated, he fought for Tiernan. That moment showed how much he truly loved her and how far he had come.
Unlike other dark romance books (cough Den of Vipers cough), Credence didn’t just romanticize toxicity—it showed that messy relationships like that don’t end well. There was a realization that what they had at the cabin wasn’t sustainable, and I loved that.
Everyone got a proper resolution:
• Tiernan finished school and built a career for herself.
• Noah pursued his passion for racing.
• Jake and Mirai found love.
• And most importantly, Tiernan and Caleb built a family—one built on love, not trauma.
After reading Den of Vipers, which leaned way too hard into violence and toxicity without any real resolution, Credence felt like a better dark romance. It had its controversial moments, but it also had growth, healing, and closure.
Yes, it’s still problematic in many ways. Yes, the entire “I slept with three men from the same household” situation is insane to think about in a real-life context. But in the end, the story worked. The characters made sense together. The relationships developed, and their arcs felt satisfying.
Would I recommend Credence? Yes, but with caution. It’s not for the faint of heart. You have to be comfortable with dark, taboo themes and willing to separate fiction from reality. If you go into it knowing it’s a dark, twisted, toxic romance with a deep emotional core, you’ll be hooked—just like I was.
Let’s get this out of the way first: Yes, this book is problematic. There are aspects that directly contradict my personal values—like the fact that Tiernan is technically still blood-related to Jake, Noah, and Caleb. Even though it’s a step-cousin/step-uncle situation, Jake and Tiernan’s father were blood brothers, which means there’s still a biological connection. Thinking too hard about that part makes it uncomfortable, so I had to mentally shove that under the rug just to enjoy the story.
Then there’s the fact that Tiernan was still a minor when some of the intimate situations began unfolding. The uncle-niece, cousin relationships were unsettling at times, and it took some effort to overlook those details. However, once I separated myself from the real-world implications and focused on the characters, their growth, and the story’s development, I fell completely in love with it.
One of my favorite things about Credence is how every character evolves throughout the story.
• Tiernan starts out as this emotionally detached girl, completely isolated from the world because of her parents’ neglect. Her parents’ obsessive love for each other was so deep that there was no room left for her. That kind of love is rare and passionate, but also damaging when it excludes a child. It shaped Tiernan into someone who felt small, unimportant , and unworthy of love. But as the story unfolds, she grows into someone stronger, more self-aware, and independent. She learns what she wants, what she doesn’t, and makes her own choices—good or bad, they’re hers to make.
• Jake also undergoes huge character growth. At first, he’s possessive and controlling, but by the end, he realizes that he has to let go—not just of Tiernan, but also of his sons. He learns that he can’t keep people tied down just to avoid being alone.
• Noah had my heart at some points, and honestly, I felt bad for him because his feelings for Tiernan seemed so genuine. But there was closure for me when, at the end, he realizes he’s actually in love with racing. That moment made me feel better about how things turned out for him. He deserved his own path, and I love that he followed his dreams instead of clinging to something that wasn’t meant to be.
• Caleb was wild from the very beginning. His introduction into the story was feral, chaotic, and borderline terrifying, but the way his character was written—silent but expressive—made me fall for him over time. He didn’t need words to show how much he cared for Tiernan. He was always watching, always there, even in his quietness. And what really sealed it for me was the moment he chose not to stay in that car—the same place his mother abandoned him in when he was four. That was the turning point. He refused to let his trauma define him any longer. He spoke up, he communicated, he fought for Tiernan. That moment showed how much he truly loved her and how far he had come.
Unlike other dark romance books (cough Den of Vipers cough), Credence didn’t just romanticize toxicity—it showed that messy relationships like that don’t end well. There was a realization that what they had at the cabin wasn’t sustainable, and I loved that.
Everyone got a proper resolution:
• Tiernan finished school and built a career for herself.
• Noah pursued his passion for racing.
• Jake and Mirai found love.
• And most importantly, Tiernan and Caleb built a family—one built on love, not trauma.
After reading Den of Vipers, which leaned way too hard into violence and toxicity without any real resolution, Credence felt like a better dark romance. It had its controversial moments, but it also had growth, healing, and closure.
Yes, it’s still problematic in many ways. Yes, the entire “I slept with three men from the same household” situation is insane to think about in a real-life context. But in the end, the story worked. The characters made sense together. The relationships developed, and their arcs felt satisfying.
Would I recommend Credence? Yes, but with caution. It’s not for the faint of heart. You have to be comfortable with dark, taboo themes and willing to separate fiction from reality. If you go into it knowing it’s a dark, twisted, toxic romance with a deep emotional core, you’ll be hooked—just like I was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Incest, Sexual content
Moderate: Pedophilia, Rape, Suicide, Grief, Death of parent, Abandonment
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Death of parent