They are the Fallen. A brotherhood of murderers whose nature compels them to kill. But guided by their leader, Gabriel, the Fallen have learned to use their urges to rid the world of those it is better off without.For Raphael, sex and death are intertwined. Where there is one, there must be the other. He is a lust killer, luring his victims with the face of an angel and a body built for sin. And … for sin.
And Raphael lives to sin.
His newest mission takes him into the sadistic underworld of Boston’s secret sex clubs, and puts him face to face with his greatest fantasy made flesh.
Maria is everything he’s ever dreamed of, the kill he’s always longed for. She’s not his target. And he knows he must resist. But the temptation is too strong…
Yet Raphael is not the only one with a mission. Maria is not quite what she seems. And as her secrets and Raphael’s unravel, Maria begins to question everything she thought she knew—about evil, about the place she calls home, and about the beautiful sinner she was sent to destroy.
Dark Contemporary Romance. Contains sexual situations, violence, sensitive and taboo subjects, offensive language and topics some may find triggering. Recommended for age 18 years and up.
The Fallen: Genesis a prequel novella in The Deadly Virtues Series and MUST be read before RAPHAEL (DV: book one).
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OBSESSED! That’s what I am. This story blew my mind and my heart with ALL THE FEELS! After reading the prequel I was more than excited to read book 1. When I started Raphael my thoughts were ~ How can this possibly go down the HEA road? How dark is dark? because Tillie Cole makes it perfectly clear this will be “DARK” and dark it was.
I was soo ready for some dark romance and this book delivered. Even hours after reading, a day after finishing, my mind was back with Raphael and Maria. #bookhangover
Seeing the ugly in some of the characters then
Seeing true love grow where I thought LOVE would never even stand a chance, where even the thought of “love” was an impossibility… It’s the most heartwarming and romantic feeling and I wanted to cry.
I just absolutely loved this book and Raphael 100% stole my heart. And Maria I’m in total awe of her. She’s strong and determined.
Now I cannot wait to experience the rest of this series
QUOTE “You’re mine, Maria, my little rose.”….I will make it so you can’t breathe without me. Can’t awaken without seeing my face in your mind. You’ll dream of me . . . and I’ll consume you. And when all is said and done, I’ll own you. You’ll never be rid of me. You’ll give me all I have ever wanted. Dreamed of. Finally . . . my little rose.”
Omg this book was a very dark twisted read that I absolutely loved which is crazy because of the insane story and what happens. Raphael and Maria are absolutely perfect for each other and there story is truly amazing and what they both went through is something no one should go through. Through tragedy they found there salvation in exchange other. I can’t wait too read the next book in this crazy, twisted series.
3.5 stars
Such a twisted & disturbing dark romance read.
A lot of the storyline reminds me of this author’s Hades Hangmen series. The church stuff, the sexual abuse, the violence, the revenge, the kidnapping of the heroine… The similarities were crazy-familiar at times.
Unfortunately, unlike in that series, I didn’t feel a strong connection to the main characters… namely, Maria. I loved her compassion for the guys & what happened to them but her accepting her inevitable death so easily, believing (& stating) over & over that she was saved so she could heal Raphael’s soul… literally laying down her life (in a coffin) for him… It was a bit much for me & frankly, it annoyed me often.
As for Raphael… I couldn’t help but be intrigued by him. His obsession, his possessive nature, his blood lust, his sexual preferences, seeing him experience certain emotions for the first time… He was a dark & dangerous Hero who scared the crap out of me. Really wouldn’t want to run into him in a dark alley.
Definitely interested in seeing where this storyline will go. With all the blood that was spilled in this book, these Fallen guys are bound to be even scarier than they were in this one & that has me on pins & needles. Now to find out whose HEA (as much as it can be one) is up next… I vote the resident vampire, Michael.
After reading The Fallen: Genesis I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Raphael’s story. I have very mixed feelings about Raphael. Some parts of the story were absolutely fantastic but then some of it feel flat for me. I got bored and it felt repetitive in parts.
This is not a usually romance story, Raphael doesn’t see a HEA in his future. He has a dark fantasy that he wants to fulfill with “the one”.
Maria is that one, she is submissive, obedient, beautiful skin and long blond hair. Basically Raphael’s wet dream. I couldn’t connect with Maria, as much as I enjoyed their relationship, she just kind of accepted her fate and didn’t fight it. For me a normal person would of fought at every opportunity.
There’s a lot of sex involved in this story and I found myself skipping parts. I wanted the grit of the story that involved the Brethren, trying to stop them and kill them.
I think The Fallen: Genesis set us up for a dark read but this one didn’t feel as dark. I would of liked less romance and more of them fighting the Brethren.
All in all I really enjoyed the story, it made me want to keep reading. I’m eager to get my hands on the other boys books.
At a young age, Raphael was orphaned and learned that evil exists. Now at 25 years old, Raphael lives with his fallen brothers in an attempt to channel his pain and disturbing compulsions. During this time, Raphael has been searching for the one who can give him the longstanding peace he so desperately needs. Upon finding Maria, Raphael prepares for his ultimate fantasy.
“The true beauty of the kill lay in the remaining perfection in the aftermath. The elegance of the slow death without mutilation.”
From the beginning, the sinister nature of this setting captured my interest. The level of corruption is far reaching and the continued abuse at the hands of those in power is demoralizing. For Raphael, he endured and his memories are still forefront despite his effort to right such wrongs in his own way.
“Not anymore. Not again. He wouldn’t let himself –”
Overall, the connection between the brothers is the strongest plot element for me. The way they accept each other and their urges is disturbingly intriguing and yet endearing. Raphael is so lost at times and I felt for him. As for Maria, I liked how she accepted her fate and reconciled her own painful past in order to make certain sacrifices for Raphael.
Raphael is a story set in a dark landscape where the characters must overcome or accept their destiny. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.
Let me start this review by saying that you will absolutely need to read the prequel novella, The Fallen: Genesis, before you can start this one. Now it’s pretty awesome, so it’s not like it will a chore. I myself really enjoyed it and it definitely left me with hundreds of questions and a craving for more…
So…those of you who have already met “The Fallen”, know who Raphael is. He is one of the 7 men in the brotherhood of murderers. He is the man with the face of an angel…but don’t let his good looks fool you 😛
An angel he is definitely not….especially since strangulation is what really get’s his blood pumping…Even cutting off the blood supply to his own finger gives this guy a hard-on.
Like all the others, Raphael has his own bloodthirsty fantasy…and his new mission has led him right to it…or I should say her.
Maria is everything he has ever wanted…to be with..and to kill…
She is pure and innocent and the perfect bait for The Brethren to use against Raphael. They know about his ultimate fantasies…they know what he dreams of.
Maria is was the exact opposite of Raphael….and yet…she was perfect for him. She was his Rose.
She is just as broken as he is inside. I actually felt so sad for both of them.
“She would be the saint to his sinner. The light to his dark. The chastity to his lust”
How can he just pass up a chance to fulfill his utmost fantasy…he just can’t.
I was absolutely intrigued once again, by this book. That said, I do have to be honest and say that this series does bore some resemblance to the Hades Hangmen series. Not that I’m complaining about that fact, because I love that series.
That said, The Hades series is still my favorite so far, especially Ky….but who knows what will happen in the future. I am particularly curious about Michael’s story, so far he is my favorite and I have good feelings about him and his book 😉
An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review
“It was the scars underneath that cut the deepest. The scars that sliced into the soul, that clawed at the flesh of the heart. That mutilated the mind.”
Noticing a slight change in Tillie’s way of telling us a story. I like it. It suits.
Blown away! By the main characters story and also the story that evolves around them – the priest’s story. You kind of expect the cruelty and submission and a blank state of mind. But what the priests are doing, it’s repulsive really, and yet so intoxicating. Like a car wreck and yet you can’t stop looking. Brilliant!
Oh man, oh man, where to begin!
This book was everything I expected and more. There where parts that left me speechless, broke my heart into million pieces and some just had my anxiety to the roof. My god so many emotion where brought by this exhilarating and dark story.
Warning*** there are many triggers here, it’s dark, and a rollercoaster of emotions.
This story centers around Raphael, the beautiful Fallen with golden eyes, the man molded for sin and Maria the perfect woman for Raphael, his dream come true. Tillie Cole wrote a story of unconventional love in a while I world of sin.
Two broken souls that found each other in the darkness, clawing at the reality of what their life’s have become. One living freely in sin and the other living by the grace and love of God. They are So different but the need for each other is palpable, so much that you can’t help but to feel for them. A beautiful dark masterpiece!! I don’t wanna give anything away, this book is truly one that needs to be read blind. Dive in it and bask in the bloody darkness, but remember the prequel The Fallen: Genesis needs to be read first. You get a glimpse of everyone in this story and the anxiety just grows to see where Mrs. Cole is gonna take us next. I’m living for this men and I’m ready for more.
5 pitch black stars!!
Escaping the hands of the Brethren at the Holy Innocents Home for Children wasn’t without repercussions. Raphael was deemed one of The Fallen, and his escape from the confines of the priests hasn’t gone unnoticed. Those seven souls endured unthinkable abuse at the hands of the priests that make up the Brethren.
Raphael is living without the restraints of his captivity. Thanks to Gabriel, Raphael and his ‘brothers’ are now free from the Brethren. Each of the young men has unusual tendencies for death. Gabriel is aware of the nature of each of his brothers, and required them all to vow to never take the life on innocents. The rule is there so Raphael and his brothers control their impulses…..until now.
There has always been a fantasy lurking within Raphael’s psyche. It’s a desire so dark and desperate that Raphael cannot resist the call. When the fantasy is brought to life in an effort to contain Raphael, the consequences begin to spiral out of control. With chaos and the depths of Raphael’s darkness swirling all around, there is no predicting just how far this fallen soul will tumble.
Whew…..how in the world can I put into words how I feel about Raphael?? Raphael is the first book in the Deadly Virtues series by Tillie Cole, and it is one you will not forget anytime soon. There is darkness paired with ruthless intent that pulls readers on a journey that will consume you. This is definitely not a story for the faint of heart; in fact, Raphael will test your boundaries in more ways than one. One thing is certain; I can honestly say you have NEVER read a book like Raphael before. Tillie Cole has once again found a way to create a unique story plot that borders on the unthinkable. A true testament – if there ever was one – on the creativity that exists only in the imagination of a truly talented writer.
“Then he’d kill her. And he’d keep her in his room forever in the coffin that made her look so, so beautiful . . . Then she would never ever leave him again.”
If expectations were high for Tillie Cole’s new book, the final product does not disappoint. Was it dark that the readers wanted? That’s what they’ll find. High to tenth power.
After all that was presented in The Fallen, the previous book, the seven boys fled from hell and today live in the mansion with Gabriel coordinating their killings. Upon receiving a new target, Raphael will begin his story. The person who he must kill is a woman involved in girl trafficking, and to find her he must plunge into the underworld of sex clubs. But other forces also inhabit these places, on a sick journey to eradicate the evil of the world, and Raphael ends up being seen in one night.
After so long disappeared, the news that one of the sevens was seen will make the Brethren think very well and put together the ideal plan to capture Raphael. Even if for this an innocent novice is used as bait.
Maria is about to make her vows and become a nun. But a request for help to capture a dangerous man will make her believe that she is helping God and pleasing him. Thrown into a world she does not know, she will discover very quickly that her target is smarter and more dangerous than she thought. Captured by Raphael, she will be the embodiment of his greatest desire: the perfect death.
Raphael, like his brothers, is thirsty for blood. But of all the lives he has taken, his supreme fantasy has not yet been reached. But the woman with all the features that he longs for, that is in his power, seems conjured to please him. Or to lure him.
And in this game of submission and power, where the ultimate goal will be to “break” Maria, the characters’ past is revealed, and they have more in common than they imagine. But as much as their journey is being pleasurable, the end is already outlined. And Raphael will kill Maria.
None of the characters are normal. Nor are they sane. Maria suffered in the hand of a psychopath, sought shelter in the convent and is now a prisoner again. And she accepts that. Raphael despite psychopathy, suffer a great trauma caused by the death of his mother and the abuses he suffered. He acknowledges that Maria cares for him. But even so, the thirst for blood speaks louder. But despite this, there are tender and sweet moments between the two. He cares about her, even though he does not know how to recognize the feeling.
Revelations will be made, the other characters participate in the plot, Gabriel is still on his way to self-punishment, a glass coffin like in Snow White story will be a crucial piece, as well as a greenhouse full of flowers.
The book is dark, intense, uncomfortable. And very, very good. I found myself repeatedly cheering for the couple, feeling sorry for Gabriel, understanding Raphael’s behavior and wanting Maria to run away. Several emotions were awakened.
The action takes place in the final part of the book, with all the seven facing the past. And with that, the war will begin. The Brethren want revenge. Just like The Fallen.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest Review *
Raphael is one of the 6 Fallen who avenge those that can not avenge themselves by killing certain members of society who harm others. His latest target is a lady who is a trafficker of young girls. Yet everything changes in a moment when another woman walks into the bar he is in and he knows that she is the one for him.
Sister Maria is pledging herself to God but when she is asked by Fathers Quinn and Murray to trap a killer that they need to bring to justice she agrees to take on the task. Yet when she meets Raphael he evokes feelings in her that she has never felt before.
Raphael is not willing to let Maria go as she provides him with a feeling of calm that he hasn’t felt anymore but will Maria be able to handle his demands and will God show her the right path?
Wow – this is the beginning of an incredible series!!
I loved Raphael and his brothers who were led by Gabriel as they were “damaged” but after the worst people in society because of what they had been through. Raphael survived on sex and murder and he had a certain type which Sister Maria just happened to be.
Sister Maria was so naive and I understood why she felt like she had to serve God after everything she had been through as a child. She put her trust in Fathers Quinn and Murray not being aware of the type of men that they truly were.
There was so much chemistry between Maria and Raphael although they were two completely opposite people who had both been hurt very badly in the past. I liked when Maria finally really began to understand everything and see why Raphael was hurting so bad. They both healed each other in a way but Raphael still had certain plans for Maria.
There was a certain conversation between Maria and Gabriel that was So important and made Maria really open up her eyes and made her see everything completely differently.
The end got pretty intense when Maria made a very bad decision and I was freaking out a little about what was coming! I knew Raphael would come but I wasn’t sure what was going to happen after. I definitely did a happy dance when that part was over and a few people definitely got what they deserved!
Then I began freaking out a little with what Raphael had in mind but I had my fingers crossed for the ending I wanted!
I was totally shocked at the very end of the book and I can’t wait to see what’s coming!!!
I have been so anxious for this book ever since the end of Genesis!! Raphael was so much more than I expected and everything that I wanted!!
Raphael was tortured and tormented and beat until he was broken. His past is tragic and now he fully embraces his darkness. I loved that Raphael showed vulnerability at the perfect times. He was all alpha and such a determined individual. When he meets his ONE that is when we really start to see a transformation come from him. Maria is one strong woman. She has been through so much tragedy and for a bit she let her fear rule her life but after meeting Raphael we see Maria letting go of her fear and her past and just living for the now and for Raphael.
These two characters are like phoenix’s who have risen from the ashes. They have risen from their tormented pasts and have been given a new life; one that they thrive in. They learn so much from each other and their love for each other burns so bright in such a dark world. I LOVED Gabriel and the other Fallen brothers. Getting to know each other them and seeing their close knit relationships was wonderful to read about. I am SO excited for the next books of this series!!
I couldn’t wait to read this one after reading the prequel The Fallen, I was so looking forward to seeing how this darkly captivating and quite unique story was going to continue. I was not disappointed, it’s an awesome read I inhaled in one sitting, transported to their world I just couldn’t put it down.
I love this world and this story line that Tillie has created, each of the seven boys have suffered greatly at the hands of The Brethren, each have their own unique personalities, their own darkness, their own type of killer instinct and I can’t wait to read more about each and every one of them.
Raphael has a unique fantasy about his ‘one’ kill, the ultimate perfect kill that drives his lust in unique ways. The Brethren know this and plan to use Maria as a set up to lure Raphael out of hiding, knowing he would not be able to resist her, she would be his fantasy come to life.
Maria is a complete innocent, about to take her final vows to become a nun, but is talked into helping The Brethren in an attempt to prove her worthiness to the church.
The main focus of this story is the relationship between Raphael and Maria, she is the light to his darkness, she makes him feel where he has never felt before, she is exactly what he needs to be able to live, while he looks at her as his perfect kill. But Maria knew in her soul that this was her purpose for being here, she was supposed to save Raphael even if this meant sacrificing herself in the process.
Don’t get me wrong, this is very dark, twisted and abhorrent at times in its content, it will push your boundaries as you sit there thinking ‘why the hell am I reading this’ yet being completely captivated and unable to put it down – so good is this story and the writing by Tillie. Emotionally it will leave you in tatters and wreck your soul as you learn more about The Fallen boys and how wretchedly broken they are.
This series won’t be for everyone, but I highly recommend giving it a go, it’s a fantastic dark read.
Omg! Tillie is back and she is pulling out all the stops with this new series! It’s intense and emotional, and sometimes just plain sick. I freaking LOVED it. Raphael just rocked my world! It’s so dark and deeply depraved. It’s everything wrong, but it’s so, so right.
If you like dark reads, the kind with allllll the warnings, you gotta dive into this series. It’s crucial that you read The Fallen: Genesis before you read Raphael. It will give you the background on these amazing, insane characters. I highly recommend this series!
Darkly Seductive and Deadly Addictive!!
Yes I am totally addicted to Tillie Cole’s new Deadly Virtues series. Words cannot express how much I am in love with these beautifully damaged, deeply disturbed “Fallen”. Tillie Cole writes the broken souls so well. Her ability to extract so many different feels and emotions from her readers is a true talent. This book is a shock inducing page turner that will keep you in suspense right until the last page. If you have read Tillie before then you know the score. Although I think this book is her darkest to date. It should certainly come with a health warning. When you read this book you will probably need rehab for the book hangover that it leaves you with.
Raphael, our beautiful resident lust killer. With the face of an Angel, Raphael has no problem luring his victims into his web of seduction. For Raphael, sex and death go hand in hand so you can guess how he likes to kill! His M.O, is strangulation. To feel the euphoria as he is draining life from his victims with his bare hands is his addiction, he craves the hit like a junkie. But there are rules to “The Fallen’s” existence in the outside world, and Raphael and his brothers must keep their dark desires under control.
On Raphael’s latest “Revelation” mission he is distracted by a vision. A beauty that has stepped right out of his dreams, his ultimate fantasy come to life. Now nothing else matters but making her “his” and fulfilling a lifelong dream to keep her by his side forever. Maria has no idea what is about to happen to her life. Her sheltered existence is about to be blown apart by a nuclear collision. She is just a susceptible to Raphael’s beauty as any other woman but as their eyes connect something deeper pulls them together. But secrets are poison to the soul and what Maria is hiding could very well get her killed.
Ok I am going to stop talking because I really want to spoil the story for anybody. It should be a case of WHEN not IF you read this book.
“One dweller of dark, one dweller of light, brought together to collide? To share the burdens of their pasts…..to heal?”
This line just sums up the entire book perfectly. I am super excited to find out whose book will be next in the series. I would say I am patiently waiting but that is a total and complete lie because I am utterly impatient to get my hands on the next book.
Raphael by Tillie Cole is the first book in her new Deadly Virtues series, which does include the prequel The Fallen: Genesis, which recommend reading first. This story is dark, captivating, and taboo. Raphael is one of the fallen. He is not a good man, but directed by their leader, he goes after those that deserve it. But when Maria enters his life, she pushes his limits and not in a good way. Will she be his downfall or his redemption? Can a man like Rachael be redemption? Full of secrets and dark desires, this book will consume you.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
I literally have no words at the moment! (I started that sentence 20 minutes ago!). I went and made lunch for my daughter to take to school tomorrow, so I could gather my thoughts and my emotions. I am still trying to scoop them up off the floor!
Honest to God (no pun intended!), I don’t know how she does it but Tillie Cole just keeps on delivering! If you have read the prequel, which you need to do before you read this. You know that this is not going to be an easy read. I am not being dramatic when I say there were tears, lots of them but what a read. I am struggling to put into words without giving spoilers just how this book grips you and does not let go until the last word is read………and even then, it doesn’t truly leave you.
Excuse me now whilst I go rock in a corner and drink wine……until book two!
J’avais lu et adoré le prequel, Fallen : Genesis , qui nous expliquait les origines des Déchus et l’existence des Frères. Il est primordial de lire le prequel afin d’appréhender au mieux ce 1er tome. La saga Deadly Virtues va se focaliser sur 7 personnages qui vont représenter les 7 Péchés Capitaux . Nous partons donc à la découverte de la luxure aux côtés de Raphael qui ne conçoit pas le sexe sans la mort. Les deux font partie de sa façon de vivre , ou devrais je dire de survivre, et on ne sortira pas indemne de son histoire qui est à couper le souffle.
Raphael est donc l’un des 7 enfants qui ont vécu l’horreur à Holy Innocent Home for Children et c’est grâce à Gabriel qu’il en est sorti vivant. Gabriel est leur leader et celui qui leur permet de vivre une vie la plus normale possible étant donné les conditions dans lesquelles ils ont été élevés. Il ne vit que pour ses missions qu’on lui donne lors d’une cérémonie entre les Déchus . Ils ne tuent que des personnes pires qu’elles , c’est dire qu’ils sont un peu les Robin des Bois des temps modernes. Raphael était sans doute le plus discret du groupe mais cela ne veut pas dire qu’il est le plus posé ou le moins touché. Il aspire à son rêve : à savoir trouver celle qui représentera son fantasme le plus absolu et il espère que cela se réalisera à chaque nouvelle mission. Il est le plus proche de Michael mais ses autres frères ne sont pas en reste et on sent qu’ils peuvent compter les uns sur les autres. Leur organisation secrète pourrait voler en éclat quand il décide de désobéir sciemment aux commandements de Gabriel. Il risque de tuer quelqu’un qui n’a pas été désigné pour être tué et de plus il emmène cette proie au Eden Manor .
Quand on va le voir au contact de Maria , on va espérer qu’il trouve en elle sa rédemption. Tous les deux sont des êtres brisés qui ont tenté de se construire de manière bien différente. Si lui est le démon ( ne l’a t-on d’ailleurs pas toujours défini comme tel depuis sa plus tendre enfance?) , elle est l’ange qui apportera de la Lumière dans ses Ténèbres. A son contact, nous allons le voir sous un nouveau jour mais attention de bien garder en tête que Tillie Cole nous offre une Dark Romance et non une romance tout court. La complexité de ce personnage est tellement intense et intéressante. J’avais envie d’en découvrir plus à son sujet pour comprendre ce qui l’a emmené à devenir celui qu’il est devenu aujourd’hui et je n’ai pas été déçue. Il va se retrouver de nouveau sur la route de son ancien tortionnaire et on sent que les séquelles physiques, émotionnelles et psychiques sont toujours bien là. Maria pourra t-elle sauver son âme?
Maria Agnes est sur le point de devenir à 22 ans une des soeurs de Our Lady of Grace. Elle va prêter serment à Dieu quand on va lui confier une mission de la plus haute importance. Elle est l’incarnation de la tentation et pourrait mettre un terme au mal selon les Pères Murray et Quinn. Elle ne se rend pas compte de l’implication des deux hommes dans une intrigue qui va la dépasser outre mesure. Elle incarne clairement la pureté et l’innocence mais nous allons découvrir que son histoire est bien plus complexe qu’il n’y paraît. Elle est dévouée à Dieu , cela ne fait aucun doute vu les choix qu’elle va effectuer et les sacrifices qu’elle va accepter. J’ai adoré ce personnage car ce que je vais découvrir à son sujet via ses actes ou ses paroles est tout simplement admirable. Elle va entrer dans la vie de Raphael mais elle aura aussi des répercussions sur d’autres personnages clés. Je ne vous parlerai pas en détail de ce personnage hors norme car si je le faisais , je vous gâcherai la surprise et cela serait bien dommage.
Bref, la saga Deadly Virtues de Tillie Cole va nous promettre des tomes géniaux, intenses , sombres, violents mais tellement intéressants et complexes. La religion est intrinsèquement liée à l’intrigue et toutes les métaphores sont fortement bien trouvées. Les sept péchés capitaux seront parfaitement incarnés par nos 7 anges déchus et j’ai hâte de découvrir quand le prochain tome sera publié mais surtout sur quel personnage il va porter. Si vous lisez en VO, c’est LE roman à ne pas manquer.
Tillie Cole is off to a heady start with this new series; . Cole drives the tension in unpredictable ways all while emphasizing the complex and tortured relationships between her obsessive and pathological characters. It is everything your corrupt little soul craves.
Many abhorrent things have been done in the name of religion, and this band of damned and forsaken brothers have been witness to the nefarious and narcissistic acts from the Brethren; a corrupt sect of priests cloaked behind the institution of religion formulated to eradicate the evil that infected the souls of young boys
As a young orphan boy, Raphael and been taken to Purgatory and was Father Murray’s first to cleanse. Father Murray had once been a young boy burdened with demons, but was purged and pledged his allegiance to the Brethren. He had failed in exorcising the evil that plagued Raphael when Raphael and his six brothers escaped. It’s years later and Father Murray has a second chance to correct that failure.
Bred from the perverse brutalizations he received while incarcerated in Purgatory, Raphael has developed a paraphilic sexual preference. His obsession is asphyxiation and he gets gratification from pain. Now toss in an instrumental innocent and angelic accessory used for bait and the story jumps to a new level of sinfulness.
~ . . .~
It was prophesied that Maria’s spiritual calling was that she one day was to walk side by side, hand in hand with the damned, just like Jesus. She would provide the goodness, the tenderness, the love that Raphael had been deprived of since a small child. Her faith was strong, but could she pull him from the dark depths of his own purgatory? She would pay the sacrifice to save this damned and forsaken soul. Was her love and faith enough to heal and provide him salvation?
As expected, delivers dark themes, torture, tragedy and murder! It is socially deviant with generous helpings of seduction, lies, manipulation and control.
Say your Hail Mary’s and pray for The Fallen.
5* !!
Tillie Cole destroyed me.
Destroyed me with this story, plot, characters and her words so much I need a moment to breathe again. There is a thin line between fiction and reality. The main theme in Deadly Virtues series got straight to my heart because of the brutal, sad facts revealed to us these days.
I devoured Raphael at one go. After The Fallen: Genesis I became obsessed with seven broken boys. You need to read the prologue to understand Raphael and next books.
Tillie Cole in a beautiful, yet tragic way showed us Raphael and Maria story. Develop of their relationship, feelings, intimate moments and final union (after which I hold my breath). They both needed themselves to heal, to be cherished and loved. Because when pain and hurt are your only partners your soul is lost.
Raphael gives us insight into depraved Brethren world, it’s victims, who finally broke. We also have an occasion to read about other members on The Fallen into action (Gabriel completely own my heart).
Raphael is a story about two souls, one obsessed with a need to kill and second with a need to heal. The story about people who uses their power in an unforgivable and depraved way. The story about broken souls who deserve to be loved. You just need the right people on your path.
I can’t wait for the next books!
Let us begin…