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It has been a while since I've read a book by Kait and paranormal romance, so Original Sinner definitely revived my need for them. If I didn't have to go sleep, I would have listened to this whole book in one sitting. I was captivated the entire time and the narrators did a fantastic job bringing Charlotte and Lucifer to life.

Overall, I enjoyed this one and I'm looking forward to whatever come's next of this world, which I hope we do get more after how things end. The one thing I was hoping for more of was just the overall feeling that Lucifer truly loved Charlotte. And I think we just needed a bit more time with that.

5 stars to the narration by Isabelle Turner and Ethan Reid, both narrators I have no listened to before. And I'll definitely add to my favorite list and keep a lookout for more by them!

Thank you to Brilliance Audio and Montlake for the ALC and digital advanced copy.

Thank you again to Net Galley for let me have this Arc!

I did really enjoy this book, alot different to what I have been reading recently. Was nice to go back to this kind of fantasy realm.

I adore anything Seven Deadly Sins ❤️🥵
Great vibes ✅️
Spice ✅️

An all round great read, would recommend!

A big shout out and thank you to the author for providing me with a complimentary copy of Original Sinner in exchange for an honest review!

This might be one of the most challenging books to review, because all the aspects of it that were enjoyable are inextricably entwined with all the aspects of it I struggled with.

Let me start with the things that worked really well for me, because… why not?

The writing has a certain tenor to it that you see—and are often drawn to—in shows with dark themes and intense tones. With murder mystery and emotional turmoil within characters as they find what’s true to them, paired with paranormal aspects and handling PR nightmares, the book certainly reads a little like the show Lucifer.

There are a lot of religious and moral values that are questioned in this book. At the beginning of the book, the author writes a small note speaking about being fearless and reclaiming her joy and when you read the book you would agree that it’s the perfect way to describe this book: as a reclamation of oneself against what we’re taught to think/believe/feel. There are many things you can appreciate about this book and all the moments in this book that handle thoughts about, and understanding, one’s own faith and doubts are some of my favourite that I will always hold dear.

The world building was honestly really simple to follow. Outside of the fact that most of the characters are well known—and even if some of the names might be a little different from what is familiar—the world created by Ballenger exists in the real world with magical elements added in. Truly, it hardly felt too much like a book with fantasy elements it. It felt too real for that. I would call that a well done book in the magical realism genre, for sure.

The pace in this book is fairly even, the events flow into one another for the most part and it’s not a hard to book to read as such.

Here begins the parts of the book that were difficult for me.

The primary characters. As compelling as many parts of their personalities, situations and life stories were, there was a lot of gaps in the progress of their relationship to me. I do feel it had amazing potential of being a very deep connection/relationship, but it was never explored. It went from hate to… love in a few pages and I was left reeling from the swift pace of it.

The secondary characters were few and promptly disappear after a few scenes. Imani was honestly my favourite. She’s a black woman, works in the hero’s company, reports directly to him and has a fantastic introduction scene. She’s intelligent, fantastic at her job, shrewd paired with the awareness of how to deal with power and empower those around her at the same time. Also she’s fantastic at looking the Devil in his eyes and telling him he’s wrong. I loved her, however… she just … disappears after the first maybe 50%. There was only one—as far as I can remember—Indian character who was … well he was one of the hero’s staff members in the house. It wasn’t even an official role, but I’m pretty sure he’s a butler. Personally I would’ve loved to not see the only Indian character in the book being a butler…

The plot was honestly a lot of things all together at once. What the book initially seems to be about disappears, then the book seems to be about something else in the middle and that sort of takes a step back too … and then a whole new plot thread appears and acts as the catalyst to a swift paced last 10%. However, the ending makes it feel like this might not be a standalone in a series… which I for some reason presumed it would be.

Please check trigger warnings, there are themes in this book that can be difficult for some. Happy reading.

I enjoyed this book. It was a fresh take on the seven deadly sins as they are celebrities within the human world. The story centers around Lucifer and Charlotte, who is an employee of his. I found the story to be a bit slow at parts but it did pick up speed and I found it to be an overall enjoyable read.
Thank you to the author, Kait Ballenger, NetGalley and the publisher, Montlake, for a copy of this book!

I unfortunately had to soft DNF this book.
At the time I picked it up it was not what I was looking for, but will come back to it another time.

This was a fantastic read. First time reading this author

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read this book

This was such a fun dark twist on the seven deadly sins! I literally salivate for any romance that has Lucifer as the hero so Original Sinner did not disappoint. Can't recommend enough!

This dark romance is set in an interesting world where the 7 deadly sins are personified billionaires who rule NYC. The main female character is a human named Charlotte who is exploring her religious beliefs and gets tangled into a family where the bounds of good and evil are blurred beyond her imagination.

🌶️🌶️🌶️/5

I picked this one up for the world building but it didn’t quite deliver for me. The male mc dialogue and pov felt a little cheesy right of the bat. I’d still mention it to romance readers for a cliche/raunchy romp.

4/5 ⭐️
2.5/5 🌶

- MMC Lucifer x VMFC employee
- Duel POV
- Who Did This to You?
- Burn the World Down for Her
- Blackmail Dating

This takes place in a semi-modern-day NYC. Lucifer runs the town with his siblings who all reflect the 7 deadly sins. Our FMC is running from her past and finds her present (and she hopes her future) working far away from her hometown and for the literal Devil himself. Things start to unfold and feelings start to get messy.

I enjoyed the aspect of Charlotte's past and how it was brought back to haunt her. I am hoping there will be additional books from Lucifer's other siblings, they were very colorful characters.

Thank you Kait and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Original Sinner, the Prince of Darkness, the Devil or Lucifer. I don’t care what you call him, but he is alluring, enticing and deceiving. This tale of good versus evil and everything in between grabbed me with both hands and didn’t let me go until I finished the last word of it. Charlotte and Lucifer’s characters are engaging and their chemistry is raw and consuming. Be prepared for all your vices to be fulfilled in one sinful book.

3.5 stars for this original (get it) book about sin(ners)(get it again??!)!! This book has everything: demons representing the seven deadly sins, battles for power of the biblical persuasion, exploration of life post-escaping fundamentalism, and unexpected love!

This book was exactly what I thought I was signing up for!! It wasn’t that deep, thoroughly entertaining, and had all the fun lil elements that make a paranormal romance such a rollicking good time!!

Thanks so much to Kait Ballenger and NetGalley for a chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

What a powerful addictive read!

Lucifer was everything you would expect him to be, temptation, cold, unforgiving, cruel, danger, irresistible but sometime when that one person connects, you can be someone better.

He did warn her at the beginning of their fake relationship about love and now he would burn the world down for her, she just didn’t realize it!

I love the way this author portrays all the sins in each family member and how they all interact.

An entertaining read that will keep you up all night!

Recommended 5***** read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Wow a very different take on the deadly sins. I love the irreverance and heat that is in this book. There are multiple warnings at the beginning of the book warning off people who might be triggered by the topics therein. I found the story facinating.

Lucifer is at the top of the foodchain in NYC. HIs brothers and sisters are there with him....but will Lucifer be able to get redemption? Having each one of the deadly sins represented by a person is a different take on said sins and having them all...hmmmm...I'll be getting into spoiler territory if I finish this sentence!

I enjoy the book although it seemed to go either really fast or really slow. Go forth and read!

This is a unique take on Lucifer and his siblings. Starkly sensual it takes the reader into a twisted world where anything goes. I chuckled at the "six flags over Jesus" scene. The revealing of "The Handler" was a real shock. What a remarkable read this is.

I loved the plot and concept of this book, the mesh of storyline and spice was well balanced I didn't find it all smut and no plot (nothing wrong with all smut but this has both!) Looking forward to more in the series

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

I really tried to like this book. I really did. But the premise is too ridiculous. There's virtually no worldbuilding and the plot is nonexistent. At least there is chemistry between the two leads but I personally need more from a book.

I really liked this!
Was a different style than I’m used to reading but in a good way. Loved the plot

—hell comes to the big city (urban fantasy style)

—daddy content

—recovering from purity culture

Heat Index: 8/10

The Basics:

New York City was permanently changed when the Seven Deadly Sins came to town (literally, in very hot human-ish form), and now Charlotte has a job working PR for none other than Lucifer himself. But the big boss may want something a bit beyond the standard issue services from her—and you know what they say about deals with the devil...

The Review:

There is an immediate audience I know will probably love this book. And that is the audience for the TV series Lucifer. Like, seriously, if you enjoy that show—don't walk. RUN. The snark, the city scene, the sexy devil in love with a human woman he can't quite figure out, the inter-demonic politics (but not too heavy), the way the paranormal interacts with the contemporary... that's what you'll get here. With less procedural crime stuff, which in my opinion is a good thing.

Am I a Lucifer fan? I mean, I'm kind of ambivalent on the whole thing. So while I don't have a lot to critique about this novel, I can't necessarily say that it blew me away. The writing quality is solid, the sex scenes are really good (yes, you do get a "daddy" in there for real), it just didn't do a ton with the concept. It's essentially a BDSM romance with some paranormal flair; I don't think it's fair to compare it to Kerri Maniscalco, for example.

It reminds me a bit more of Sara Cate, actually. The kink isn't too intense, nothing super unexpected happens. Lucifer is a little dark, but he doesn't go super far on any level. Charlotte is the more unexpected character, to be honest—she comes from a background heavily rooted in purity culture, and has to deal with that as she comes to terms with her true desires. And, you know. Literally sleeps with the devil. It's an unexpected detail that I really appreciated!

The Sex:

If you already read a lot of kinkier books, nothing here will SHOCK you, but it is.... quite hot. Sort of standard issue, but with the added bonus of helping Charlotte work through her issues.

Where I think Original Sinner could've differentiated itself more is relying less on tropes and more on plot, really building its supernatural world as something other than a source of power for Lucifer and his cohorts. It's a nice book, it just could've been more.

Thanks to Montlake and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Who doesn't love a morally gray MMC? Blushing innocent MMF? It's like the ultimate pairing in a sinfully fast-paced dark romance.
Charlotte, escaping her past, winds up working for Lucifer himself and finds herself in a sticky situation to play the devil's finacee.
Original Sinner gives us dual POV, seven deadly sins, lotsa spice, a dash of religious trauma, and some playroom action. Definitely go through the TW before reading if that's something you need to do.

I thought the plot was an exciting premise, I liked the setting of the seven sins living in modern New York City and being rich celebrities vying for more media coverage. The characters had varying levels of growth to them and I liked how they interacted with each other. Personally, I found some of the scenes a little on the cringe side (which I think is fun TBH) but they were well written and I thought they were an interesting progression on the relationship between the MCs.

Great start to a new series, I say! I would continue with the series to see where it goes.