A dark romance unlike anything you’ve read before.I joined the Cloister to find the truth. But I’ve discovered so much more, and the darkness here is seducing me, pulling me down until all I can think of is him. Adam Monroe, the Prophet’s son, a dark prince to an empire that grows by the day. He is tasked with keeping me safe from the wolves of the outside world. But the longer I stay at the … outside world. But the longer I stay at the Cloister, the more I realize the wolves are already inside and under the Prophet’s control. If Adam discovers the real reason I’m here, he’ll bay for my blood with the rest of them. Until then, I will be Delilah, an obedient servant of the Prophet during the day and Adam’s Maiden at night.
Author’s Note: If you have a trigger, this book will pull it. The Maiden is the first book of The Cloister Series, which is now complete with The Prophet and The Church.
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Wow! What an amazing and thrilling read…. Darkness with a suspense element will keep you hooked from page one until the end. You’ll race to get book two because that ending will leave you hanging, begging for more. Definitely will push you outside your comfort zone. I highly recommend this read if you enjoy dark and twisted.
This is my first ever read by Celia Aaron and guys….
MY. MIND. HAS. JUST. BEEN. COMPLETELY. BLOWN.
Rarely have I come across a novel with a religious theme, so for me personally The Maiden was a rare treat where I was able to delve into the world of religion and what it encompasses.
But this isn’t your ordinary religious read, but a twisted and dark tale about the depths of punishment and torturous behavior others are willing to put the innocent through for their God. A cult that brainwashes those that choose to live with the monsters under false pretenses of a safe and better life. A following of the insane who embark on creating hell on the innocent victims of the church and preying on their vulnerabilities.
But there is one woman, Delilah who although is there by her own free will, has other reasons for being there.
She is willing to sacrifice her body, mind and soul to hunt those that killed and destroyed her heart. She will become one of The Protectors toys to get the answers that she so desperately needs.
Delilah will find the truth in amongst the vial monsters that she has willingly given herself over to.
But Delilah needs to be aware of the one Protector that will break her, punish her and take from her.
His name is Adam and he will break his Maiden.
I absolutely loved this novel. It captivated me from beginning to end and I was completely spellbound by every dark, torturous, depraved and gut churning page. For me The Maiden was perfection at its finest and I can’t rate it highly enough.
5 stars
This series has got me completely enthralled, my interest is piqued and I am salivating for more. The Maiden obviously lays the groundwork for the following books in the series, and oh Mother of Mary, what an introduction! Ms. Aaron sure has done her homework!
Many cults cloak themselves behind the institution of religion, they twist and test the faith of their followers in order to fulfill their own narcissistic objectives. The Prophet of The Heavenly Ministries does exactly that, he hides behind the guise of faith while committing the worst types of sin. He instructs and allows the most abhorrent things to be done in the name of religion, all for his own pleasure and purpose.
Delilah submerges herself within The Cloister seeking answers to her sister’s unaccountable fate. She is compelled to partake in their ritualistic practices where she encounters Adam, the son of the Prophet. Adam is appointed to be her Protector, but who will protect her from him. He is dark, cryptic and a tad truculent.
The overall creation that Aaron has provided us is one of brilliance. The powerful plot, the intense storyline, the perplexing characters, the polished delivery, the impeccable grammar and structure all combined into one product that resulted in an un-put-downable book. She has done a fantastic job of building up the sexual tension which boded well with the excellent character development, drawing the reader into the palpable chemistry between the two main characters!
This is the first book of Celia Aaron that I have read and found it to be very good. The book is about a Religious Cult. This is a dark twisted read that has you hooked from the beginning until the end. It does end in a cliff hanger though.
I recommend this book.
I’m not sure what to think about this book. I liked both Adam and Delilah enough but I also found the story boring in spots. I liked all the dark and twisted stuff…. I know, that’s wrong but it moved the story forward past the times that I felt my self wanting to give up. There was a lot of cult and religious stuff and while I understood that going in I still found my self struggling with it. Those were the times I felt like o should stop reading and move on but the characters and the grit kept me hooked. I do plan to read the next one because of the cliff hanger. I’m glad I waited for them all to be out. It was a very detailed book but because of that o could picture what was going on. Also, the duel POV helped me really connect with both Delilah and Adam. 3 stars #2OCCJD
TAKE ME TO CHURCH god golly THIS SERIES is already everything! Now that I’ve literally been checking my kindle one last time before bed to see if I have book 2- I can finally put into words how amazing book 1, “The Maiden” is. This is going to be tough, because in truth I think this book was so totally perfect in every imaginable way. I’m going to start with the one thing that always amazes me so much with this author-the facts! You can tell there was a ton of effort put into researching groups that are operated much like the Cloister. In the back of my mind the whole time I was like “this probably actually happens!” I absolutely 100% applaud this story because I’ve never, ever read anything like it before. The uniqueness of the plot and creativity of each and every character has me wanting to go back and start the story so I can fall in love all over again with it. Another favorite thing about this book was that it had the perfect amount of susepense and twisted violence-it wasn’t overdone at all and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole book. This is definitely a book you binge read all night because you won’t be able to put it down.
On a scale from 1-10 on the hotness scale, 10 being the most sizzling hot story ever, this book is probably a 20. I’m still fanning myself over reading some things that happened-and ADAM!!! I can’t wait to read more of him. I’m going to go ahead and add the next part of this series to “most anticipated reads of 2018” because I simply am so excited to read more. An absolute must read!! – By Victoria
I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher to review for Stephanie’s Book Reports.
The Maiden is the first book in Celia Aaron’s the Cloister Series. There are three books total in this series and I am going to go ahead and tell you that you will be getting a huge cliffhanger at the end of this book. However the next book is out in May and the third in June. This too is a dark series and will contain triggers if you are sensitive to them.
First of all Holy Freaking Cow!!!! This book is crazy in the best way possible. We meet Delilah who has joined the Cloister to look for answers about her missing sister. I don’t think she expected any of what she was going to get when it came to being a maiden for Heavenly Ministries which is lead by the Prophet or a power hunger believer in heave and as far as I can tell Father Fire so Satan. The Maidens are pure girls who are lured away from their families and basically trained to be good submissive little girls or possibly a fate much worse than death. I am telling you this book will push your boundaries. However I am super invested in the story In Delilah and in Adam. I can not wait to get the next book in my hand and see what happens next.
Oh my God…I can’t even with this book! Celia took this to the next level! I am such a fan of taboo, so hearing that she was writing this new taboo series had me dying of anticipation. Such a great plot…secret cult…hottie bad/hero…strong determined heroine trying to uncover the truth…suspense, heat, dark & twisty, mystery, and hope. Wow, how in the world?!?! This book was beautifully written, so vividly described…heart pounding and toes curling! Delilah is such an amazing character, her intensity..her courage to go into the dark to find answers…wow..freaking loved her! And Adam? Gah! Hot…smoldering hot..good guy? Or bad? Feeling things he’s never felt before…him and Delilah have ah-mazing chemistry! Seriously, this book was EVERYTHING! Can’t wait for the rest of the series!
I have read my fair share of dark erotica. Although I found this to be well written and assured by the author there is light and redemption to come. I don’t know that I would have read these books had they not been available on KU. I am on to book 2 hoping to find less darkness, but if not I will make my own escape!!
I seriously can not wait to read the other books in this Trilogy. This book had me devouring pages like a demented mad woman.
It’s intensely dark deliciousness. Not one for the faint hearted this book is a Dark read lovers wet dream.
These types of books just draw me in, I’ve always had a curious fascination with Cults and everything associated with them.
Even though this book is a work of Fiction, places like these actually exist and that’s the scariest thought of all.
This book starts with a girl who willingly joins the Cloister to find the answers she desperately wants.
Once she’s in though it becomes apparent that things aren’t as they seem and she might of made the biggest mistake of her life when she finds herself on the radar of the Prophets son Adam.
He sees something in her, a spark, something different from the other sheep and he wants to explore what it is.
I’m gonna say this I love Adam he intrigues me, you’ll either love him or hate him but I see something there and I’m not writing him off just yet. You will have to make up your own mind about him when you read this one.
I was completely engrossed in this book it’s Jaw on the floor shocking at times but completely necessary.
Celia didn’t hold back with this one she writes Dark really well. I love how her twisted little mind works.
The Cloister is under the strict rule of the Prophet. His teachings are law, go against them at your peril….
I’m obsessed with anything to do with cults and religion, this book consumed me. Think the FLDS, Manson and Warren Jeffs and a certain hit TV show and you’ll get an idea what’s in store for you.
In this first book of the trilogy we meet the Prophet of Heavenly Ministries the self styled all knowing leader of a religious cult.
Delilah is looking for life’s answers and willing enters the cult as a Maiden. Adam the Prophet’s son is tasked as her protector but don’t let the title fool you.
In minute detail we experience the horrors of what the Maidens must endure to be prepared for their future in the order. The connection between Adam and Delilah is intense, temptation is not something Adam ever thought he would feel.
This is a dark addictive story, I think I’m going to have to stalk the author for book two especially after that ending.
Delilah is a young girl who joins this religious group, Heavenly Ministries, and volunteers for their maiden program in what’s known as the Cloister. On her first night in the Cloister, she’s put under the charge of the oldest son of the Prophet, Adam Monroe. Adam is no stranger to new Cloister maiden’s but something about Delilah’s starting to get under his skin.
Delilah may play the part of the devout young woman but her motivations for joining the Cloister are not purely spiritual. While she’s trying to search for answers she gets more immersed in life at the Cloister and finds herself unprepared for the trials that await an expectant maiden.
Adam Monroe’s been living life as the Prophet’s devout, oldest son since he was twelve and his dad came home proclaiming that God had spoken to him. With Adam’s brother and mother both immersed in Heavenly Ministries too, the family business keeps everyone on a tight leash. Adam is one of the Protectors who are tasked with training the Maidens and the intriguing Delilah lands in his care.
I definitely liked Adam. He’s got a bit of a devil-may-care attitude and he’s ruthless when needed. I’m curious to learn more about his past and what else goes on at Heavenly Ministries (you know he’s got all the dirt). He definitely makes for an intriguing male lead.
Delilah on the other hand is almost entirely a mystery. We don’t even know her real name (which is why I keep putting it in italics, because that’s the name given to her when she joins the Cloister). I think it’s harder for me to like her because I feel like I don’t know her all that well. We only really know the person she presents, the devout daughter of Heavenly Ministries.
This was definitely an intriguing start to my time in the Cloister. I feel like I still have a lot of questions and I’m eager to get them answered.
**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book
5 DARKNESS STARS!! Holy freaking darkness from the first page. I loved this story so much, I devoured it in sitting. The dark part of my heart is HAPPY, with this new series, The Cloister. This story kept me on the edge of my seat with all the craziness of the cult, sexiness and secrets. Delilah and Adam need to tell you their story and you need to hear it. Celia Aaron is the queen of darkness and she has turned the heat up on this series. I can’t wait for the next book in this series. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
Holy…
Yeah, I can’t even begin to describe the tension coursing through my body. Or the uncontrollable urge to wrap my hands around a neck and squeeze until…
Celia Aaron may not make friends with the subject matter but what a freaking story. I can’t even tell you how on edge I am still! The nerves, the increased heart rate, and the flat out fear all create a perfect storm.
But you should know once you start, once you join The Cloister, you wont be allowed to leave. You WILL need direct supervision. You will have a Protector for your safety. You won’t be able to refuse book two.
Reviewed for Sweet Spot Sisterhood
This is an absolutely spellbinding, and suspenseful romance that kept me in it’s grasp from start to finish. I went in blind and was blown away with this experience. I loved how expertly Ms. Aaron drew us in with a unique tale that was seductive, mysterious and many times horrifying. Each facet of this story was cleverly unfolded to keep you guessing and turning the pages to discover what would happen next. Delilah is such a strong, brave and smart young woman. But the Cloister is designed to break you down to your very foundation. Will she be strong enough to accomplish what she came for? Her protector, Adam, is the eldest son of the Prophet. He is there to prepare and train her. But he is so intrigued by her that he breaks all the rules. He believes he has become a monster but is just as much a prisoner as everyone else. With all their secrets, Adam and Delilah are playing with fire and they are about to be burned! I found the topic of this story so intriguing. The mystery of it lends to much of the suspense and the pace is fast and exhilarating. I was always trying to predict what is going to happen next and the twists and turns kept me guessing, which I love. This story held me captive and I loved every minute of this twisted, horrifying, seductive, steamy story. I can’t wait for what is in store for Delilah and Adam!
Holy S*$t! I needed a few days before writing my review. I needed time to digest, time to enjoy the story, let it resonate within me before trying to do it justice in a review. I still don’t know that I can but I will try and this review will be short because all I really want to say is BUY IT and READ IT!
This story is dark, with blunt aggression, passion in the most unlikely places and interesting and complex characters. I was absorbed into the story from the first page and left unfulfilled in the best way. I will not reveal any of plot because this is a story that must be experienced. I do believe that every person who reads it will have different feelings that are invoked. Even in darkness love can bloom and this story is the perfect example of that. Please be aware of the warnings as this is a dark story and there were scenes that were difficult to read and could cause issues with some readers.
If you are a fan of this author’s Acquisition series then this is the story for you. It is part one of a three part series and I cannot wait for them all to be published. I will be doing a marathon reading session at that time and reading them all again back to back. I received and ARC and am leaving and honest review.
The Maiden by Celia Aaron is the First book in The Cloister series. This is the story of Adam and Delilah. I this book is a mind blowing book for sure! It has the darkness of the darkest romances. It keeps you on the edge of your seat for sure. Delilah enter into the The Cloister to the answers she needs. But as a Maiden she will have to endure training giving by Spinners. When Adam sees Delilah she wakes something in him that he hasn’t felt for along time…if every. Adam is the son of the Prophet and takes the step to have Delilah in his control.
This book is perfect for the hardcore Dark Romance lovers but may not be for people that have triggers or not in to the Dark romance book.
I can’t wait for more book in this series…loved it!
What did I just read? My favorite Celia book ever, that’s what! I don’t give away stars – ever! But I would give a 100 right now if I could. I loved this book so, so much. Proudly waving my fan-girl flag right now. Celia you are amazing! I am desperate for the next 2 books!
Holy mother of all the raw & gritty dark romances! The Maiden takes the top spot on my list of favorite reads that get my insides all twisty and knotted up. I was on the edge of my seat from start to finish and kind of want to re-read it to just hang on to this level of excitement that is raging within my body – I feel it deep down in my soul!
Delilah and Adam are sexy, tangled perfection. Their chemistry is so strong – it was tangible. The pull they both feel – hit them both so hard – reading their thoughts and reactions rocked me. Delilah is a strong heroine which I love, love, love. She is keeping incredibly dangerous secrets. I am utterly fascinated by her. Adam is a handsome, powerful, mysterious full blown Alpha hero. A protector in theory however he too has secrets. We get these glimpses of what ‘could be’ between these two if not for the complex, twisted, involvement in the Cloister and it’s inner workings. This amazing tale consumed me!
I cannot freakin’ wait for book 2 The Prophet. I need to know what happens next. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started reading. Celia had posted a few warnings about triggers and she was concerned the story was going to be too dark. She seemed legit worried so I hope all the great reviews put her mind at ease. I think this was her best work yet. I adore everything about it and am excited for more Delilah & Adam’s brand of deliciousness.