The Maiden (The Cloister Book 1) Kindle Edition

Celia Aaron specializes in writing stories that take place in the South, particularly Alabama. I think that puts a pretty unique flavor on her books. To me, they are like Flannery O'Connor meets dark romance meets thriller meets suspense. It's a really interesting mix, and one that I will stand in line to read each and every time. Along with all of that, Celia writes mindf$%#$ks really well. I mean, really well. And in the Maiden, we get to see that.In The Maiden, we get to see a really interesting look at religion and cults and beliefs, and how all of that can get mixed up together. We get to see how things can look perfect on the outside and yet be rotted on the inside. It's a view I really enjoyed reading.Delilah has joined Heavenly Ministries so that she can become a Cloister Maiden. They are one of the holy virgins that the Prophet has picked to be choice among women. She's supposed to be there for a year, and then move on. The problem is that Delilah knows better. She's there for one reason and one reason only. She's there to find out what happened to her sister Georgia, and she knows that this "church" has something to do with it. What she doesn't know is what happens in the Cloister and to the Maidens.Adam is the older son of the Prophet. His father used to just be the pastor of a local Baptist church until he decided that God talked to him and he created Heavenly Ministries. Now, it's a huge church with its own compound and police force and a reach all through the South. Adam doesn't believe in his father's teachings, but he does what his father says. That includes being a Protector to a Maiden and training her in all the things that she will need to know to be in perfect obedience to the Prophet and any future husband. Adam knows exactly what will happen to the Maidens in the Cloister because this isn't his first rodeo. He's had several other Maidens. But when he sees Delilah, he knows that there is something about her, something different from all the other Maidens, even if she seems to buy into everything his father says. That's why he trades his brother so that he can be her Protector.This book will set off every trigger you may have and some that you might not have even imagined. But, if you can get through all those triggers, what you are going to read is a book that is incredibly layered and nuanced. There are plots and plans and machinations. Every time I thought I could figure out what was going to happen, Celia Aaron took it a completely different direction and sent me spinning around. I would get my balance, try to figure it out again, and she would pull the rug out from under me. I was perfectly happy with that. I stayed up way too late reading this and read until I was cross-eyed because I couldn't put the book down because I just couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.I can't wait until the next book comes out. I'm not entirely sure how I'm supposed to wait, but I guess I'll try.

I don't understand how this book or series is categorized as a "dark romance" when there's nothing romantic in it. It is VERY DARK. I also don't understand why people love it. I couldn't get even halfway through the book before I couldn't stand it anymore. Women who are stupid enough to join this cult are held captive, tortured and raped. What's romantic about that?! Plus, there are women who are participating in the torture of other women. It's disgusting. I find nothing redeeming or edifying in this story at all. I highly recommend that it not be read.

After Delilah found out her sister died, she decides to do everything to discover the truth - and so, she joined a religious cult in search of answers, but nothing could prepare her for the nightmare waiting for her there..."𝗘𝘃𝗶𝗹 𝗶𝘀𝗻’𝘁 𝗮 𝗯𝗮𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗸𝗲𝘁, 𝗮 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗺 𝘀𝘂𝗻, 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿’𝘀 𝗸𝗶𝘀𝘀."The Cloister is a dark religious cult runs by a ruthless leader, that Satan himself would be afraid of, known as the Prophet. There, Delilah meets her "protector" (and I'm writing this with quotes, because his role includes everything BUT protecting her!)Adam Monroe is the the Prophets oldest son and his job is to train Delilah. At the beginning it was very hard for me to like him... I thought he was as evil as his father. However, as I the story progressed, I realized that he is a prisoner there, just like her.Between all the cruelty and torture taking place in "the name of God", Adam and Delilah cannot deny their attraction to one another, so they share stolen and forbidden moments of passion together.Instead of getting answers, there's only more questions... Will Delilah find out what really happened to her sister? Will she escape...??“𝗙𝗼𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗺𝗯.” 𝗜 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗲𝗸 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝘂𝗺𝗯. “𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘁, 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂.”I really liked that Delilah joined to find answers and not because of a blind faith, however I did not understand what was going through her head... The things she went through was NOT worth the truth!This is a dark erotic story. It has lots of kinky and dirty scenes - some were hot and some were just freaking nasty!!!Despite the parts that made my face twitch with horror, I was sucked into the plot from the start... I felt angry, scared, shocked and left curious to know where this story would develop in the next books!So If you like DARK and TWISTED, I really recommend this book...but if you like sweet and romantic? RUN!!!!!!!! lol

Celia Aaron at her dark and twisted best!!!Holy moly this book just shows how Celias crazy mind works.... and its fab!Delilah joins the cloister to be a maiden to try and find out what happened to her sister and how she was murdered.Adam is the son of the Prophet who runs the show and there is something about Delilah that makes him take notice of her.The things that these maidens go through in their training is unreal!!It certainly keeps you on your toes desperate to find out what happens next... and then boom it ends on a cliffhanger hahaWill get into book 2 as soon as i can to see whats next for these pair.Not a read for someone looking for something light and fluffy with a hea!

I loved this book its dark, scary and damn right addictive.The book is based on a group of girls who believed that they were there to do the prophets work.The cult trains them to be good maidens. Only Delilah know that this isn't the case.The story is really rather frightening to think that this thing does actually happen. There is violence, pain and abuse. The story is gripping and has been written really well.It is full of determination and hate. This is a Celia Arron classic dark story and I think this book exceeds her previous book. The story is mind blowing.Can't wait to read book 2

I was enjoying this, i could see the developing relationship with Adam and Delilah, but then it just ended in a massive cliff hanger and book two is over £4 can't see me finishing this story unfortunately.

I find it hard to say I enjoyed this book with it being so dark but hey I did enjoy it !I’m fascinated with books that are centred around cults and religion so reading this was a must. It is a dark read and yes it’s raw and brutal in places it’s not a book for all to enjoy but it’s written well and that cliff hanger it stopped my heart !!!!! Can’t wait for book 2 !!!

A face paced, heart trying to climb out of my chest, intriguing read that had me on the edge of my seat eager to find out what was going to happen next.