The Sinner
L.O.R.D.S, Book #2
By Shantel Tessier
ISBN# 9798367835427
Author’s Website: shanteltessier.com
Brought to you by OBS reviewer Heidi
Warning: a VERY Dark Romance
Review
*Beware of Spoilers*
“My sinful, sinful, Little Demon
In my dreams, you will see
That you are what I want you to be
You’re my demon
I’m your devil
And I will keep you chained in hell forever”
Easton Bradley Sinnett aka Sin has watched over his ‘little demon’, Elli, for years from the shadows. Their families were close as their fathers were best friends. However, Elli’s father committed suicide when she was only twelve years old. After that Elli’s life went downhill quickly. Sin didn’t know how bad things were until he became a Lord and found out the things that she has endured.
When a Lord dies, if he has a Lady, she is eventually gifted to another Lord. And, so Elli’s mom married James. James groomed Elli over the next several years to be his perfect plaything. He took her virginity at sixteen and continued to rape her and pass her to others to rape until Sin killed him two years ago. It was a Lord assignment and it opened his eyes in the most horrific way.
“If she wants to watch this house burn, I’ll hand her the fucking matches.”
Ellie caught Sin after he killed James, but she didn’t know it was him as he was disguised all in black and his face covered with a mask. Since then, he has kept an eye on her, thanks to the camera he later installed in her room, and comes to visit often. He always wears the disguise though.
Now Sin is in his senior year, he’s a full Lord now, and their vow of celibacy is over. Sadly, he can’t take Elli as his chosen since she’s not on the list. However, he can have sex with whoever he wants and he is ready to claim his little demon once and for all. He will let her know under no uncertain terms that she belongs to him. And, he’s ready to dispose of the masked stranger who Elli has come to rely on so heavily. He wants her to rely on him … the real him. He can be everything she needs.
“I enter her French doors, not even bothering to be quiet. She has been crying. What in the fuck happened that she wanted to see me? The masked me? Not Easton Bradley Sinnett.
I’m fucking pissed. Jealous of myself that she didn’t call Sin. Was I not enough yesterday and last night? Did she think I was fucking around? That she doesn’t belong to me?”
However, things are about to change for Elli in more ways than any of them could have anticipated. It’s been two years since Sin killed James and now her mom is getting married again, being handed off to another Lord. This one being one that James had shared Elli with before. And, Lincoln fully expects her to put her skills to good use … on him.
Linc is also in charge of the House of Lords, where the initiates live until they graduate. That means he’s in charge of Sin. And, Linc is forcing Sin to take his chosen whether he wants to or not. And, he lets Sin know that Elli will be right down the hall for his use, if Sin doesn’t comply.
This book was so incredibly dark. I have read some out there stuff, but this one is probably the darkest I’ve ever read. I actually didn’t like the first 60-70% of this book. I was yelling at it; just mad I was wasting my time. My toxic trait is always finishing a book I start. This one definitely made me jealous of those that can DNF (Did Not Finish) a book when I was reading that first 60-70%. Then out of the blue, the book sucked me in and I couldn’t put it down.
Why did I dislike the majority of this book so much? “Seeing” how badly Elli was treated was hard to take. And, honestly Sin was really no prize during most of this book. He tortured this poor girl just as much as anyone else. Sometimes including his two best friends, although he would not allow them to have sex with her. They were still there as an intimidation factor and a couple extra sets of hands to help him out. I’m unsure what they got out of it. Everything was chalked up to she needs pain to get off and her fantasies are multiple guys taking her will away and all that nonsense. How can that be her fantasy when that’s been her life?
Sin pierced her nipples, branded her, tattooed his name on her back and countless forced sex situations all without her consent. I can’t tell you how many times he carried her unconscious body from one place to another. Sometimes she wasn’t even conscious for the sex. And he’s always calling her his whore or slut … just like those that raped her before. That’s a hero for you! I just never could understand how he could hate James and Linc so much and be so close to doing the same things with her. He does morph into the hero she needs by the end, but it took a lot to get there.
I was honestly ready for poor Elli to follow in her dad’s footsteps and commit suicide to get away from all these power-tripping guys that were just using and abusing her. I can truthfully say I have never wanted a character to do that before this book. However, she endured and came out the other side … eventually.
“I realize I’d do anything for him. To be his little demon. When I burn the world down and they ask me why, I’ll tell them the devil asked me to do it. And I wanted to make him proud.”
There were so many depraved people in this novel that preyed on a young girl that it was sickening. One of them really shocked me as he seemed like a good guy. He turned out being one of the worst perpetrators. And, sadly the story has a vein of believability as does the previous book. Rich men that think they are untouchable and can get away with anything. This series really does walk the line of wtf!?! I’ll give the author props for making such a twisted world that does feel real. Especially when she can make you like the story by the end of it all.
This book also introduces us to a new nightmare. Carnage. The place where the vile Lords and Ladies are taken to disappear. Carnage is run by the mysterious Spade brothers, where they enjoy … and I do mean enjoy … torturing the unfortunate souls that live within their walls. The Spade brothers are evil, but still answer to their own moral code and I can’t wait to get to know them. I see they have a book further down the line so that will be something to look forward to. Although I do feel for the girl that will have to take on all three of them.
I also am seeing the next generation of Lords and Ladies being created in these epilogues. The Lords really do seem to be rather intent on getting their Ladies pregnant. And, apparently, they always get what they want. I’ve never read a series when ‘did you tamper with her birth control?’ was such a common question. And, the true answer has been yes in both of these first two books. *shakes head* The girls in this world better learn about IUDs quick!
“If I can’t have her, no one will. But I also would never want to survive in a world where she doesn’t exist. Death would be heaven compared to a life without her being mine.”
