Priest #5

ARC provided by author

Author: Sierra Simone

Thanks, @thesierrasimone  for the copy. 

Well, well, well… he’s here. The youngest Bell, who’s been hinting at his naughtiness from appearances peppered through the series and the Sierra-verse. And he delivers. 

We get formally introduced to Ryan when a statue of Lucifer shows up in the middle of a square… and it has his face. A little  mystery to everyone but him. He knows exactly who carved his semblance as the Morning Star. It was… HER.

We also find that Birdie Cooper, Ryan’s former art teacher at college, is the artist. So does Ryan and that ends a seven-year pursuit of his obsession. His Birdie. He can’t pass up the opportunity to have her all to himself. He’ll resort to anything. Literally. Well, that won’t be a problem as rules are meant to be broken. 

Birdie is purity and piety incarnate. And why would she be afraid of the Devil when she is already living in hell? A hell caused by many unfortunate events but that was turned unbearable by Ryan himself. 

Now he’s here, making her question her Faith, her morals, her sanity. She can survive a deal with the Devil – will she survive falling in love with him?

I wasn’t ready for Ryan Bell. Much like Birdie, he lured me into his web and I willingly surrendered. He’s not like any of the Bells you’ve already met. How can Sierra make a suffocating, one track minded obsession so alluring? Like Birdie, you question your beliefs, your morals and your ability to resist temptation. 

Birdie is a fascinating character. Her despair, her despondency, her resignation to a life of suffering and her internal conflict worsen when she realizes that her truest, happiest self is this man who can, and most probably will, be her ruin. 

This is the least ‘religious’ in the series but dare I say the most… spiritual. I saw myself questioning many things. Ryan Bell is the worst thing that can happen to you, so you are safe from anything else..

This is Sierra at her finest. I’m perpetually in awe of how absurdly talented she is.

Ryan Bell… May God have mercy on us all.

Representation: Ry is (“at least”)  bi and Birdie is questioning herself. 

Content notes: Seriously?  (Check you triggers. This is not a walk in the park. Seriously.)