2.25 stars 🌟

After reading Cherry Auction, I was very intrigued to start this but unfortunately, this one was such a miss for me. First off, this book doesn’t explicitly say that this is part of a series and it doesn’t exactly read well as a standalone. Even after reading the first book in the series, it doesn’t make much sense. After the ending of Cherry Auction, it feels like there’s a lot of information that the reader doesn’t have and we’re just thrust into the next installment of this world. And aside from all of that, the book itself just doesn’t feel like it knows exactly what it’s doing or what it wants to be.

Compared to the first book, the writing and the plot feel very weak in comparison. Plus the story wasn’t all that believable. Not only that, but it doesn’t seem like the plot was made very clear. There is a lot that was pushed into the story and it felt like too much (in my opinion).

I did like the characters at the beginning, but the issues overall overshadowed them. I also didn’t love the Insta love aspect of this book. I felt that this story, and the characters would have benefited from having a slower burn with a lot more tension and character buildup rather than how rushed the story and its events were (more so in the second half of the book the start of this book wasn’t that bad). However, I did like the depth that these characters had. I loved the mental health representation that was done in this book.

I feel really sad saying all of this, considering how much I enjoyed the previous book. But I just don’t understand the amount of five stars that this book has. It just felt very messy overall, and in my opinion just wasn’t very well written.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC to review!

This was the a good mix of spice and plot. I enjoyed watching the relationship between Moria and Bane grow. I had no idea this was in a series so I am going to go back and read the first book. Excited to read more of Stasia Black's work!

I received this ARC through NetGalley recently. The blurb captured be straight away when I read it was about a priest who had a dark side. The first few chapters were incredible and pulled me in but as I kept going I found it got repetitive and lost interest. I understand the FMC was addicted to s3x but for me, there wasn’t enough build up when he gave in early on.

Note before reviewing: this is the second installment of a series called Carnal Games, centered around a BDSM club (Carnal) and a group of its regulars. Each book in the series focuses on a different couple. 7 Days (formerly titled Cherry Auction), follows Domnhall and Brooke; Unholy Obsession is about Domnhall's sister Moira and Bane. If you would like to read Unholy Obsession, do read 7 Days first; I read 7 Days prior to this ARC in order to best review it.

Stasia Stark writes erotica. The Carnal Games series involves BDSM related content. Unholy Obsession does not beat around the bush, instantly putting the centered couple together. When we start reading, we learn they've already had a sexual encounter at Carnal, and that it was a re-awakening for the both of them. For Moira, it was the first time in a long time she felt anything since falling out with her brother; for Bane, it was a reconnection with a part of himself he's felt he had to hide away for the past few years.

(I wish this scene was the actual start of the book, rather than mentioned as a memory / afterthought. Show, not tell! Although the couple's chemistry sizzles regardless, it would've helped drive home how and why they both experienced this first moment as highly impactful on their lives moving forward. Even a flashback would've worked. The scene is available as a bonus scene on Stasia Black's website, though.)

Despite sharing this indulgence together, these two people couldn't be more different from one and other. Moira ia a self-proclaimed sex addict, whereas Bane is a priest. A legitimate priest. A man of God who just happens to also be a dominant. (He's an Episcopal priest, so no vow of celibacy.)

I'm not religious, so I'm good with it. In fact, I didn't really experience their relationship or their brand of BDSM as all that dark or taboo, though I could understand mostly from Bane's own PoV chapters why it certainly is frowned upon in their lives and why it was an important plot point. And yeah, there is a scene that is very, very... well. Let's just say there's altar worship and then there's ALTAR WORSHIP, okurrrr. But none of it is shocking to me, and so it didn't feel as all that dark. 7 Days delivered more in that regard.

But this isn't to say 7 Days is the better book of the two. I think Unholy Obsession is, in terms of the romance. Moira and Bane both are very sympathetic characters with a lot of layers to them; Moira is feisty and goes through life with everything seemingly gliding off her like water off a duck's back, but she's very sensitive and vulnerable. And so incredibly misunderstood and unsupported. Treated like shit. I found her endearing in a way. Bane, 3 years her senior at age 25, is emotionally intelligent and mature, and he just gets Moira in a way no one else does. He sees her, but he also understands her and what she needs.

It's refreshing to read about a dominant personality who actually is a big fat teddy bear underneath it all and utilizes his dom role as a way to help his sub just be herself. There is no dubious consent. There is give and take despite their roles, especially when it comes to daring to be vulnerable and open. There is clear communication. There is safety, physically and emotionally. I love their relationship. Plot's gotta be plottin', that's the nature of the beast, but at its core, despite it all, their relationship is very solid. A bit of a whirlwind, but solid enough to be believable and to be invested in.

Now plot wise, Unholy Obsession takes a backseat to 7 Days. Because 7 Days is wild. It's just insane. Unholy Obsession focuses more on the romance and Moira's and Bane's personal growth both individually and together, whereas 7 Days is also a decent thriller. Some interesting shit does go down in Unholy Obsession, mostly involving Bane's family background, but I struggled with plot holes and a messy, confusing timeline. One side character's arc goes Off The Fucking Rails and it's distracting, abrupt and kinda unexplained. Another major plot point is explained away but then there's also another explanation that's not... really... clear? There is a lot of chaos in the timeline; the amount of months passed make no sense and are likely errors.

Furthermore, Stasia Black also focuses a bit too heavily on the couple featured in the third not-yet-published installment of Carnal Games. We're not reminded of who they are again, and then much of their relationship development is given away. Will book 03 be a parallel timeline? Probably. But I'm not sure I'm interested in reading that when I've basically read the epilogue already. Besides, Unholy Obsession hands down has the best male and female main character in Bane and Moira. I feel the Carnal Games series maybe hit a high there that's going to be hard to top. Do I need to read more about this band of people beyond this installment? For some of them, I already know their story. And the rest... well, they seem like assholes not really worth any more of my time.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was such a fun ride, and kept me on my toes! Such an interesting pairing and I really enjoyed the mental health rep. Overall I recommend if you want a spicy fun time!

I liked the way the author was able to make me care about the fmc and the mmc. The way she painted their traumas and their vices and showed how they dealt with the painful past they were dealt was masterful. It was a new kind of dynamic for me as a reader him being a priest was a fascinating character arc. As a person that rebelled against the religious bonds my family used to dole out my own personal trauma I could really empathize with the characters. Great read.

This was not for me. I struggled getting into this book. I found it really strange and while I do like “forbidden romances” something was missing. There was not enough tension I felt, lack of chemistry.

I did feel like I was missing a huge part of the story so I won’t consider this a standalone. I think maybe because there were so many side characters included and obviously they all have their background stories that felt like you needed to know prior to reading this.

So a dark romance between a priest and a sex addict wasn't on my bingo card this year, but that's exactly what I've just read.

Father Blackwood is an Episcopal priest, but his congregation is completely unaware that he's also a dom. From spending a Friday night at the sex club, Carnal, with a woman in chains, making her beg before spanking her with a Bible, to leading his flock in prayer from his church's altar, he's living two very different lives.

Moira is a young woman who enjoys hanging out at Carnal with her estranged brother and her friends. Unfortunately since meeting the new dom, Bane, at the club and being ruined in the best way possible, she now has a wildfire of an itch under her skin, and no attempts at scratching it have given her the relief she's desperate for.

This starts a wild ride with lots of spice and BDSM, but just when you think our two main characters might have found their happy ever after, it's all turned on its head. I don't want to spoil the twists and drama.

As someone who is medicated for my mental health, I do appreciate that mental health issues are explored in this book, and medication isn't demonised by the characters.

This is the first book from Stadia Blacks I've read, so this was my introduction to these characters.

Oh my lordy. I feel like I need to find my box of toys and then immediately go to church and find me my own Priest....
I mean not really but a girl can dream.
I loved the story line, wish there was more character development and backstory. But, besides that I very much enjoyed the writing, and the novel in it's entirety.

Okay, so I don’t usually read a lot of BDSM, but between that and the fact that the MMC is a priest—yeah, I was immediately intrigued (and maybe a little unhinged about it). The dynamic between the main characters is straight-up destructive at first—there’s stalking, there’s yearning, and there’s a whole lot of emotional turmoil. And for a guy who hates himself, this priest is surprisingly good at making the FMC feel better (in multiple ways, if you catch my drift).

One of the most emotional parts for me was the discussion around mental illness and whether or not meds actually help balance things. It hit hard, and I might’ve teared up. I wouldn’t necessarily call them “sex lessons,” but whatever they were, they were very interesting. That being said, about 30% in, I started feeling the length—this book is longggg and has a lot of jumping around without much real development.

I don’t have bipolar disorder, so I can’t speak on the accuracy, but reading from the FMC’s perspective was chaotic in a way that felt intentional and intense. Despite the things that didn’t totally work for me, I could not put this book down. It was addictive, messy, and a little bit unhinged—just how I like it. Solid four-star read!

I was looking for something to "read now" and was curious how Unholy Obsession would compare to Priest by Sierra Simone. It wasn't as similar as I expected, but if you enjoyed Priest you'll enjoy this as well.

Book friends, I picked up Unholy Obsession not quite knowing what I was getting myself into! For a quick summary, Bane is a priest with a troubled past and urges he can't seem to fully quench no matter how much he hides behind the collar. Moira is a sex addict who catches Bane's obsession after one night together at club Carnal. The two quickly become inseparable while trying to navigate the consequences of their pasts catching up to them.

This book crams a lot into the narrative, and you are going to get hints and peeks of:
--Billionaire romance
--Mental health issues including bipolar and dissociative identity disorder
--Mafia/kidnapping romance
--Marriage of convenience
--Third act breakup
--Dom/sub power dynamics (alpha male/bratty sub)
--Forbidden romance

I think it is important to note that this book is second of a series. I have not read any others and didn't realize this was not a standalone when I started reading, and so aspects of the narrative were difficult for me to follow without the backstory of why certain relationship dynamics existed. Much of the plot circles around these side characters, such as Moira's brother and his wife, and I didn't really understand a lot of the relationship history, and there were no clues to help me figure it out. I was also surprised that for a book labeled erotica, there really wasn't as much spice as I was expecting/wanting. The plot had a lot of twists and turns and I think that what started as a taboo dark forbidden romance really ended up as something very different and I can't quite track how we got there! I enjoyed Bane as a MMC very much, and I was curious enough about him and his backstory to keep reading!

Unfortunately, although this was a miss for me, readers of the series will likely enjoy it very much and have a deeper perspective on each character's history than I had!

Nothing against the book but it just wasnt for me. I'm not a fan of instant love/lust/obsession and thought that, based on the synopsis, the MCs met way before he became a priest and changed his life around instead of meeting just the night before...

After reading the first page, I was hooked.

It's a very sexy story, with two deeply flawed characters who somehow make each other better.

Moira is a sex addict and her life is spinning out of control. Bane took 180 from how he grew up and became a priest. His life is about to fall apart. He is still plagued by his father's upbringing and even though he did about everything to not turn out like him, he is plagued by it nonetheless. He is massively torn between what he knows is right and what he desires. And the thing he desires the most is Moira. But that lifestyle he so craves doesn't mesh well, with being a priest.

It's not the first in the series, so I felt a bit lost at the start. I want to love the book, but Moira made it almost impossible.. Even though a lot of her issues and behaviors were explained by the end, I still didn't like her character and had a hard time reading because of it. Bane on the other side, is deeply layered, troubled, and just the kind of guy, you end up obsessed with. The chemistry between them was off the charts.

The story is fast-paced and to the point, but I did feel like it could be a lot shorter.

While I liked it, I didn't immensely like it. I think part of it was due to liking the original characters (Domhn and MadAnna) and their storyline more. Bane's storyline conflicts seemed to get cleaned up too easily. I appreciate how the author wrote Moira's mental health struggles. Thanks for the opportunity netgalley and the publisher.

This book had me hooked from the very first page! Unholy Obsession is a forbidden, steamy, and completely addictive read about Father Bane Blackwolf and Moira, the woman who turns his world upside down. Their chemistry is off the charts, and the tension between them is everything.

Bane has dark desires he can’t ignore, so he turns to Carnal, a secret sex club, to satisfy them. That’s where he meets Moira—a woman struggling with sex addiction, trying to regain control of her life. One unforgettable night changes everything, and Bane can’t stop thinking about her. But when Moira shows up at his church, hoping to find redemption and prove herself to her brother, their connection only gets more intense…and way more complicated.

This book is full of angst, temptation, and sizzling tension that keeps you turning the pages. Stasia Black does an amazing job of balancing the forbidden romance with deep emotions, making you feel every struggle and stolen moment between Bane and Moira. If you love dark, taboo, and steamy reads, Unholy Obsession is one you don’t want to miss!

I read and enjoyed the first book in this series but really struggled to get into this book. Moira just seemed so needy and bane gave me “pathetic”. There are so many 5 stars on this book so maybe I’m just not in the right mindset or I’ve been ruined by Pam Godwin’s books giving me the sinner guidebook.
Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review.

5+++ STARS!! Stasia you have done it again. The gang is back and this book was better than Christmas. It gave me everything I wanted and so much more. That cliffhanger at the end though..!!! 🔥 I need more! If you are looking for another fast paced, delicious installment in this series look no further. I absolutely adored Moira and Bane and their development. I cried with Moira, I felt her pain, the tension and angst was just chef's kiss. READ THIS!!!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

Not for me unfortunately. Frankly, it was a mess imo.

Read up to chapter 18 and things didn't improve - if anything, it got wackier and weirder. Even the whole premise and intrigue of a forbidden romance with a priest pretty much died off the moment they were officially together (very early on in the book so I felt there wasn't enough tension or stakes built up).

The rest of the story felt like it didn't know what genre to be - billionaire romance, thriller suspense, marriage of convenience, assassin/mafia storyline, succession vibes in the last quarter??? The lack of direction and plot was further reinforced with random time jumps (including one right in the middle of a spicy scene lol). Even the smut couldn't save this book for me. I stopped caring around the time of the second random time jump (in which nothing plot-wise was actually happening so idk what the point of it was???).

The 'romance' had me scratching my head - there was no chemistry or connection. Lots of mentions of side characters and their individual character arcs which might be interesting to those who have read the author's prior works but the inclusion of all these other characters made me feel that this cannot be read as a standalone.

Appreciated the inclusion of various topics regarding mental health though.

Would not read again.

Overall rating: 0.25/5

The title delivers what it promises and summarises the book perfectly! I thoroughly enjoyed this dark and intense romance novel that felt like an emotional rollercoaster and kept me hooked from the start with its complex characters, suspense, intrigue, danger, sizzling chemistry and hot love scenes. I already knew Moira from the first part of the series, which I really enjoyed, and was curious to find out more about her story. Readers of the previous book „7 Days“ (previously titled „Cherry Auction“) know that Moira is a sex addict and doesn't quite have her life under control. But in the course of this book you realise that there is much more to it than that. Bane also has mental health issues brought on by his childhood with his hedonistic, controlling father. The chemistry between the two sizzles from the start and although they are totally different in nature, they are just right for each other. The other characters from the previous book and other members from the Carnal and previous events also play big roles, so I definitely recommend starting with the first installment of the series.
I can well imagine that some readers might find some scenes offensive or upsetting, that’s why I would advise reading the author's trigger warnings beforehand and taking them seriously.

Bane Blackwolf aka Father Blackwood turned to the priesthood to atone for his sinful and dissolute life under his father’s influence, to control his urges and to find peace. Nevertheless, he secretly visits Carnal in disguise and spends a hot night with Moira, whom he cannot forget afterwards and becomes obsessed with. He secretly observes her during the nights.
Since the incidents of the previous year, Moira's brother Domhn has broken off contact with her and she feels more alone and driven than before. The inner pressure, which she can only control with sex, is getting worse and worse. But after her night with dom Bane, she no longer has any satisfaction from it. On the run from a violent lover, she meets Bane again, who takes her to his parish house and begins her training in self-control and self-discipline...

If you enjoy dark BDSM romances with a lot of depth and emotion, you are sure to enjoy this book!

I received a free ARC of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and left voluntarily.