I absolutely devoured this book in two sittings. This was my first introduction to dark romance, and it did not disappoint! The tension was *chef’s kiss*, Amaya was a strong FMC, and Cade was hot in a Dexter Morgan way. One of the things I liked most about it aside from the romance was the depiction of how women are demonized when it’s convenient for society and the struggle women go through just to survive. The story also touches on the plight of special needs people in a society that often shows its indifference and cruelty to people who are simply different. And, and I’m not gonna lie, I’m here for the unhinged-ness. (If you know, you know). Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

Father Cade recently transferred parishes to a town in Vermont that is brimming with corruption. He has a dark secret that he tries to keep in check; however, it’s proving difficult in a town as evil as Festivalé. And then he meets Amaya, a woman who completely distracts Cade from his work at the church.

This book took some effort to get into. The first 20% or so was heavy on Father Cade going on about his faith and his need to repent for his demons. I gave myself til 25% for it to mellow out on the constant faith references. And it did. The story pivoted more to Cade and Amaya trying to stay away from each other since they know they can’t be together. There is a ton of sexual tension and it wouldn’t be an Emily McIntire book without quite a bit of spice. I wasn’t able to finish Priest, but I assume fans of Priest would like this book.

“She will be my downfall, because I am just a man, and for her, I am weak.” - Father Cade

I can’t say I am surprised to confirm this is still a 5 star series for me. I have loved every single one and at this point I wil read absolutely anything Emily has or ever will write. In Crossed, we get to POV of Father Cade, the new priest of Norte Dame as well as Amaya, the town “witch” she is indebted to another man thanks to her mother who left her and her little brother after ruining Amayas reputation, she is also a dancer at a club a town over which is where they meet. This is the literal definition of a forbidden romance as she is engaged to a POS man and he is a PRIEST. It’s a sloww burn done so well you won’t want to put the book down. He is a stalker and a murderer and Amaya knows that, and she likes it. By the end, she has a monster of her own she lets out and he gives up everything for her. There was also an unexpected plot twist towards the end. All in all, I’m obsessed and Emily is they only person who can make a stalker/murderer swoon worthy.

Crossed ended up being the kind of book you find yourself unable to put down. The story unfolds slowly but consistently, keeping the reader on their toes and looking forward to what will come next. The tension between Cade and Amaya shifts into intense chemistry as the story progresses giving way to a really interesting relationship dynamic. Highly recommend Crossed to any reader looking for a dark romance that does an excellent job of bringing darker elements into the mix of the story while concluding in an extremely satisfying way.

Thank you to the publisher, NetGalley and (most importantly) Emily McIntire for the opportunity to be an early reader of this amazing book! The never after series has been one of my favorite series since it became prominent on tik tok a few years ago, and to see it evolve and grow into what it is today has been such a pleasure. This series in my staple for recommending my customers who are looking into the dark romance genre and want a nice introductory series! Everything about this series from book 1 to now is phenomenal and I truly hope it never ends🤍

This book from the Never After series is about The Hunchback of Notre Dame. If you love twisted Disney tales with dark romance vibes you will enjoy this series. I loved this book, but I’m very sad that this one is the last book in this series. Thank you Emily McIntire for this amazing series.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the arc of this book.

*Disclaimer: Crossed is a dark romance. If you have any triggers there is a full list of trigger warnings available on the authors website.*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶.5

Honestly it took me a little while to get into the story line of this one but when I did I absolutely loved it. The spice was great and the tension building between the two main characters was incredible!

If you're into forbidden romance (priest/stripper) and morally grey men then you'll love this book!

This is a dark and captivating fractured fairy tale inspired by The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Father Cade Frédéric, a seemingly holy man with hidden darkness, meets Amaya Paquette, a beautiful enigma leading a double life. Their intense and twisted relationship unfolds in the despair-riddled town of Festivalé, Vermont. The story's many twists and slow-burn romance kept me engrossed. The exceptional writing created an atmospheric and tense narrative. This story delves into mature themes such as religious trauma and stalking, making it the darkest installment in the Never After series. With its complex characters and unique reimagining of classic elements, this book is a compelling and enthralling read. A must-read for fans of the series.

“And then I lean in and I worship her. The way I was born to do. She is my salvation. My hope. My temptation. My blood. My everything.“

Read if you like:
- Dark romance
- He kills for her ✨
-‘Touch her and die’
- 🌶️🌶️
- Priest/stripper
- Forbidden love

This book was a good slow burn dark romance. It’s a loose retelling of the hunchback of Notre Dame. The mmc Cade is a priest who is a man of faith but anlso going through some religious trauma. The fmc Amaya is a stripper who has been harassed and treated badly all her life. She’s dances to pay her debts and take care of her little brother. They both have ‘darkness’ in themselves and learn how to live with and not hide from it. I really liked the character development that the main characters go through, I did like the romance but I wanted more. At times it felt like a lot was going on with the plot that it overshadowed the romance development. Overall a good read especially if you like dark retellings. Also please check content warnings before starting.

“There’s darkness in us all, petite pécheresse. We just have to learn to control it.”

Crossed is not for the faint of heart, but if you have gotten this far with Emily McIntire’s steamy fractured fairytales then you know what to expect – something dark and twisted. Father Cade has a sinister streak and Amaya is the perfect Esmeralda-esque character, so when their paths cross you get a deliciously dark story.

Check out my more detailed thoughts below…
Characters: The leading man of Crossed is Father Cade Frédéric, a priest from Paris who at the opening of our story is settling in Festivalé, Vermont. This hero, or should I say this villain is not just emotionally toured – he’s very into self-flagellation. A priest was the perfect corrupt hero for Emily to tackle, and he is one of her darkest yet. As readers will read the first chapter opens with him strangling someone to death. Amaya is the town pariah, so she is the perfect heroine for Cade. As in previous stories in this world, the hero doesn’t truly corrupt the heroine rather he celebrates and loves her for the whole picture of her no matter how sinful a side of her may be. Fans of the first book, Hooked should enjoy this one, as Amaya is reminiscent of Wendy if life had thrown more at her.
Setting: This story is set in small town Vermont – a grimy, gossipy place. It is extremely corrupt as one man basically runs the town and enjoys unlimited power. That is until Cade and his religious authority shows up. Readers will love how he messes with than man who is trying to marry Amaya.
Pacing: I found the pacing super compelling. I read about one hundred pages before golfing to bed and then woke up the next day to finish the rest. I just needed to see our characters give into their undeniable sexual chemistry and descend into being more and more sinful.
Romance: With such forbidden characters like this of course the sex is hot and sinful. I did get really emotionally invested in them too. Plus I was a sucker for how Cade not only fell for Amaya but also her little brother Quinten. This should be stressed that this book is not for the faint of heart – no redemption and character growth furthering the corruption.

WOW that was intense! This was my first Emily McIntire book and it won't be my last. I loved how she interpreted the Hunchback story. I now have to go back and read the other books in this series. The characters were created very well. I really felt for Amaya, but especially for Cade. I loved the setting as well. I would love to get this for my tiny rural library but fear that my very conservative, mostly Catholic, patrons would string me up by my toes. I am going to read the others in the series and see about purchasing them.

Woah. That was intense.

This was such a unique take on this story and it really was so unexpected. At times it was hard to read, seeing what both Amaya and Cade were going through. Also, poor Quinten!

This book has many triggers and was shocking at times. This is not the type of town you want to find yourself in. With corruption and cruelty all around.

I was also very hesitant to start to fall for Cade. I kinda wanted Amaya to take Quinten and run for it. But watching Cade's journey and his struggle with his faith and how he views himself, I started to have a change of heart.

I was sucked into this story and it was hard to take breaks.

Ultimately, I enjoyed myself and I really just wanted a bit more of the romance. We don't have much time for them to just "be" together. As it is a very forbidden romance.

I look forward to more from this author.

I know I didn't read "Priest" for a reason but when you come up with the Hunchback of Notredame retelling with that dark romance-type vibe, that centers around the priest and Esmerelda, then by all means, Father Cade take the wheel. Although after reading this novel, it just didn't hit as much as I thought it would. I love the Never After series but this doesn't go up to the same high pedestal I put for the other books. I think it had to do with the fact that this book was SLOOOOOOOOW, or how Father Cade being in distress about his religion and his complicated feelings for Amaya, and was conflicted about them both for the entire book was just repetitive and tiring. I liked the characters individually, but I just don't see it for them to be together and it just didn't work out for me.

Thank you for letting me read this arc.


WHERE DO I START — Forbidden love, Dark Romance, mommy issues.
I loved this book sooooooo MUCH!!! The chemistry—the tension, and longing was absolutely amazing. This is by far my favorite of the series—it has surpassed scarred(which is my favorite).

Will be rereading in the future.

She is temptation and she has bewitched him entirely from the moment he laid eyes on her... but she is forbidden especially for him... but this holy man's obsession will consume them both. Father Cade Frédéric is a holy man, he was raised in the streets of Paris and has since dedicated his life to the church, yet he has one little secret... he has a monster inside of him... that urges him to get rid of the demons and darkness in those around him. It's his sickness, one he can't help but give into... until he meets her. Amaya Paquette is thought to be a witch, she is the town outcast. She is a beautiful girl forced into a very difficult life after her mother abandoned her and left her to fulfill all her debts and she takes care of her younger brother. Amaya has only one passion, dancing, and she she works as a pole dancer at night in order to find a way to pay for her brother's therapy bills, their home and living... and all the debts that her mother owes to Parker, the man who runs the town of Festivalé's, the very same man who became obsessed with her and will do anything to have her. Ever since he assaulted her and took her virginity without her consent Amaya has never felt attraction or the want of it... yet when she makes eye contact with a beautiful stranger with a french accent something awakens in her. Cade and Amaya can never be, yet they edge temptation every time they see each other, becoming consumed with the growing connection... yet Cade's inner demons might spell Amaya's undoing... and the fact that he has become obsessed with her might make her the next person he kills because he can't stand to have such temptation living in front of him... or can he? This was a DARK ROMANCE and oh boy was it a fun inspired take on the hunchback of notre dame. I would highly recommend you read the trigger warnings before you go into this one and this one really REALLY leans into the "by falling for the villain I am becoming one myself" and the "she is my new religion" trope and I live for it. I had a blast with this one and Cade and Amaya were such a pair! They're both dealing with a lot of childhood trauma and have a lot of baggage, they're twisted but completely perfect for each other.

*Thanks Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, Bloom Books for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Father Cade has always believed in God and his higher power until he comes across Amaya as the new priest in their little Vermont town. He lets his demons come to light only to find its Amaya who is is savior. Amaya is tired of being the town's witch; she only looks out for her best friend and her younger brother. But when Father Cade comes to town, things go topsy turvy in her heart.

When I found out Emily McIntire was going to take on my favorite fairy tale/ classic story in this series, I knew I was going to love it. The Hunchback of Notre Dame was begging for a retelling as this dark and lusty Never After book and it gave me everything.

I loved Father Cade and Amaya. Both of their perspectives were distinct and stunning to read about. I loved their romance which was not will they/ won't they but either death or life. Their coming together took forever and I was so excited to read through every bit. Quinten was a perfect adaptation and I adored his relationship with Cade.

Did I love the movie as a kid and find weird feelings about the song Hellfire? Yes. Does this book do everything to bring that song to life and then some? Absolutely.

Emily McIntire is dealing with a lot, but she did not come to play with Crossed. This is a dark Hunchback of Notre Dame which features Amaya who is a down-on-her-luck dancer who goes by Esmeralda on stage and Father Cade, the latest priest to come to the town she lives in.

While Father Cade is trying to stay away from her, he really can’t as everything about her draws him in. It only gets worse as we find out about Cade’s dark secrets and how they are connected to Amaya and her job. Honestly, this book goes in so many different directions yet it ended up being a thrilling and exciting romp.

Along with following this forbidden attraction between the two, Amaya is taking care of her brother, Quinten who is autistic and possibly having to marry someone she hates. Cade is also struggling with his urges. In typical Emily McIntire fashion though, everything falls together but not in the ways you might expect.

Frankly, I don’t want to give too much away about the plot because I feel like Crossed is better to go into without knowing much. With how captivating her writing is, you’ll quickly be up to speed and be rooting for Amaya and Cade to get together. Her writing continues to get stronger with each book and I feel like it gets me even more excited for the next book in the series.

If there’s one thing I didn’t love, I will say that the last 25% felt a little action-packed in comparison to the rest of the book. It did feel a bit jarring but I can see why she made that choice within the story. Either way, it did feel like I couldn’t put the book down which was probably what she intended.

If you’re a fan of Emily McIntire or even if you’re looking for a dark Hunchback of Notre Dame reimagining, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. Considering everything Emily McIntire is going through, I applaud her for writing this book.