Reviews with content warning for Religious bigotry - Priest

Reviews tagging 'Religious bigotry'

Priest by Sierra Simone

26 reviews

beckyyreadss's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional tense fast-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 want to read this because it was all over the book community. I knew this book would have me questioning my morals the whole way through. But holy mother of balls, I feel like I'm going to hell for enjoying this book.

This book follows Father Bell. He is a priest and there are many rules a priest cannot break. A priest cannot marry. A priest cannot abandon his flock. A priest cannot forsake his God. Father Bell has had no problems playing by these rules for the last three years after a family tragedy set him on this path to priesthood. But this all changes when the sultry voice of Poppy Danforth sinks its claws in them through the screen of the confessional booth, and he can’t get her sins out of his head. It should be easy for Father Bell to put his impure thoughts of her to rest, considering the vows he has taken. It should be nothing to overcome what the sight and sound of her does to him, when his life with the Church meant everything. But the more he sees Poppy inside and outside of the church, the more she makes him feel like Tyler Bell instead of Father Bell. It gets worse once he has his first forbidden taste of her lips, Tyler can’t help but break all his rules for Poppy – no matter what it might cost them both.

I liked that it wasn’t all smut and no story, there was an actual story with actual characters with two very different family dynamics and very real traumas. I think Tyler’s head was a very intriguing and damaging place, knowing why he joined the church and trying not to go down the same road whilst falling in love was difficult and confusing for him. Also, I love the fact that he fell in love with a stripper which obviously added to the sin aspect of the book. Poppy, I thought was also a damaged character who didn’t understand why she was like this and instead of going to therapy she went to church. The smut was fire and honest to god, the alter chapter is going to be stuck in my brain for longer than normal.

I disliked the single POV, even though I was surprised to see that this was from a male’s point of view being the priest, I would have loved for this to be a dual POV especially with the last couple of chapters when they were apart. I liked the forbidden aspect of the story, but felt like it was easily pushed aside once Tyler got over his inner monologue and started sleeping with Poppy. I would have liked more of the forbiddenness.

I feel like I need to go to church after reading this book but I'm looking forward to Sean’s book.

Content Warnings

imiyhaa's review against another edition

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emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

WOW. um... what can i say. the smut was DEFINITELY there, the plot not so much for me. i didn't feel a genuine love connection between the mc's. their relationship felt rushed and unrealistic, but don't get me wrong their sexual connection was unmatched. the romantic part just fell flat for me but what can i say, i started it for the smut anyway. and in a way, it felt healing to my religious trauma tbh🤷🏽‍♀️

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kyrstin_p1989's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I’ve had beef with organized religion, and especially the Catholic Church, for a long time. The fact that this book is about a Catholic priest abandoning his vows for a pretty potential parishioner had initially steered me clear of reading it but the TikTok reviews about the spice had piqued my curiosity. This book is so steamy — mostly because there is so much of it that is taboo or not allowed. The God stuff I could take or leave —- but the spicy parts? Gimme a bunch more of that. 🔥

Content Warnings

soluunaa's review against another edition

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adventurous dark emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I read this for January’s Cliterature book club. This was for me an introduction into the world of spicy books. At first I was unsure if it was for me but I loved it.

The dynamic between the main characters was interesting and engaging. The spicy scenes never felt like too much (although if you are religious I would consider maybe not picking this book up).

The romance between the two man characters had me rooting for their love. However the last part of the book was not what I was expecting and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Regardless I cannot wait to continue on in the series.

Content Warnings

lifeofchrstnlvly's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

Although I didn't particularly enjoy it, I didn't dislike it enough to hate it. The more accurate description was I was able to tolerate it enough. There was little to no plot, and the characters were flat. In all honesty, their relationship appeared more lustful than loving. The smut was okay at first, but I eventually grew tired of it and skipped over those scenes about halfway through.

I only read this because it was book club #4's pick of the month. I know I could DNF it, but I wanted to finish it so I can join in the discussion.

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peneloperose's review against another edition

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tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

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fantaiil's review against another edition

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slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Why did I even finish that book?

It was just bad. I know it's my fault for choosing this, but I wouldn't have thought that the crash between spice and church would be THAT bad. Spicy Scenes and praying at the same time? Why? Also without bible knowledge a lot of passages don't make a lot of sense.

I kinda liked Poppy so I don't want to give the worst score... but Tyler? It felt like the author thought: "Mhmm... I need a Hobby to not just make him a cut out flat figurine... Ah let him just mention The Walking Dead a lot and that's it."

Also. The thing with his sister.

I wanted to read a spicy book with some romance... why did the sister had to be abused and had to commit suicide?

It was just sad and didn't add something to the story. It's a story about a priest "falling in love".... why add so much trauma?

And the end felt just absolutely unnecessary.

The months apart. Him going travelling. The search.

I can live with obvious endings. Of course. But unnecessarily spaced out... just to make the book a bit longer? No, thank you.

The only thing about the ending was a bit of her POV and that it was finally the ending.

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glitterdeww's review against another edition

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I had seen glowing reviews of this book from a BookToker that I follow. (No shade to them whatsoever, I'll still follow and pick up their suggestions.) Sierra Simone's writing was supposedly lush and beautiful, and that was main selling point. It was compared to... And I can barely say this... Madeline Miller.

...No. NO. Absolutely not. Can you swear on this app without getting flagged?? Fucking, No.

In case there's any doubt about my personal icks, I absolutely do not care about the context of clergy in erotica. That'd be totally fine with me if well crafted. But this is not for people that loved Fleabag's season 2, because the characters were flat, poorly written, and actually vile. Now, the writing itself was... Fine... whether or not that comparison pisses me off or not. It was fine, but so lazy. The... Love interest? Sex fantasy?... Was written for a misogynist ONLY. Absolutely no.

Content Warnings

mhairi_reads's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

”I was supposed to be a shepherd of the flock, not the wolf.”

Forgive me Father for I have sinned.

I will definitely be picking up more of Sierra Simone’s work after this. This was my first Sierra Simone read, but not the first book of hers I’ve seen highly recommended. Her writing was fantastic. She connected you to the characters and the story effortlessly. The pacing was great. Overall this was just a super quick, easy read. Full of smut and substance.

In Priest we follow Father Tyler Anselm Bell. A 29 year old Priest running a parish in Weston. The Priest before him was arrested and he has since taken over and grew his parish into what it is today. He is keenly aware of how hard he has worked to gain the trust of his parishioners after his predecessors discretions.

However Tyler Bell was not always destined to be a man of the cloth. He spent his younger years recklessly until a family tragedy steers him toward Priesthood, which he has since then become truly devoted to. He spends near every moment of his life dedicated to those in need of spiritual guidance. That is until he meets Poppy.

Poppy walks into the confessional booth one day and Father Bell’s world is flipped on its head. When she starts confessing her sexual sins and shows that she is not only comfortable with her carnal wants but she is also smart and well educated Father Bell is more than intrigued. The attraction between these two is undeniable and it grows rapidly. They begin an intimate relationship soon after and Tyler starts to question everything.

What will he choose? His Faith or Poppy?

This is more than just a smutty read. It tells a tale of a man searching for his calling in life, trying to find his true purpose. He is a true man of faith but he is a man with needs too.

As someone who was raised Protestant and not overly religious, the only issue I had was having to look up certain things that were mentioned because I had no idea what is was. Whilst that is of no fault of the authors it did keep taking me out of the story hence the 4 star rating but I am genuinely surprised at how much I loved this book.

Content Warnings

ecravens's review against another edition

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emotional funny tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

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