The Maiden by Celia Aaron

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 328
Series: The Cloister Trilogy #1
Genre: Dark, Romance
Publish: April 3rd, 2018
Rating: 4.5 stars

Synopsis:

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 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. The Prophet will release in May, and the conclusion to the series, The Church, will release in June.

Review:

So I thought instead of sorting my kindle in A-Z with author’s last name, why not do it with my TBR instead. Now reading my TBR from A-Z this is the first book on the list. I will finish this series before moving on to the other book by Celia Aaron.

Before we start this review, I want to point out that not all Christians and Conservatives think this way.

Welcome to The Cloister. It is lead by The Prophet Leon Monroe. The Prophet has a mass of followers. Among which women who are virgin, of a young age, and can easily be brainwashed follow the Prophet to the Cloister. In the Cloister, over the next twelve months, these maidens that were recruited will be trained to be a “woman of God”.

“Shameful. All of you. Your bodies are shameful. We have twelve months to try and mold you into females that God and the Prophet can be proud of…
The Cloister was created by the Prophet to train young women, such as yourselves, to follow the Lord’s teachings and obey His will. Some things that happen here may confuse you.
They may even scare you, but be assured that everything is done in accordance with the Prophet’s plan for your life. You will understand in time

The hierarchy of the Cloister is Prophet, Protector, Spinner, then Maiden. In the Cloister we see The Prophet worship the Heavenly Father and the Father of Fire.

If I told him the real reason for the fire, he’d probably die of shock. Only my father’s inner circle knows that he serves two masters. The God above and the one below.

Told in dual POV between Adam and Delilah, the Maiden tells of Delilah infiltrating the Cloister to find the killer of her sister. Adam is the firstborn son of The Prophet, but he isn’t on favor with daddy dearest.

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.

Though Adam is against his father, he does what he says because he knows what the punishment is for disobedience.

After all, I’m a monster, too.

The way the Prophet views women makes me sick. Unfortunately there are men who believe women should be like in the Old Testament. Thankfully not many of them are around.

The teaching Spinner turns red, her round cheeks seeming to expand. “If you aren’t in perfect obedience to your husband, you will get cancer, you will lose your ability to bear children, you will get fat, and your children will sicken and die. Any number of horrible outcomes can be thwarted if you are in perfect obedience to your husband.” She shakes her head in an attempt at motherly disapproval. “Being in harmony with your husband and obeying him in all things are the keys to living a happy, healthy life. And, as the Prophet teaches, the only way to enter His heavenly Kingdom

Seriously… Glad my church doesn’t believe something like this. I shook my head and rolled my eyes at the spinners. These women who help “train” other women to be the “perfect” wife. Ick!

I love Aaron’s writing. The way she can make someone like the Prophet, someone who could be very real, is amazing. I couldn’t help but think of the Prophet like Jim Jones.( Don’t drink the Kool-aid.) I think that’s why The Prophet scared me. Because someone can be so charming he can get a big following. This is way more believable than The Handmaid’s Tale. I could see this happening.

But my father is a showman. And he can work a crowd like a ventriloquist with one hand up the dummy’s ass.

Now once again not all Christians and men are like the Prophet and his followers.

Now the romance that is happening between Adam and Delilah is getting my little black heart its fill. I think the next book the real darkness will come out, especially with that ending. I can’t wait to see what is in store for this couple.

The Prophet will keep you safe from the wolves, but there’s no stopping his lions from ripping you apart.