S
SusanAhh
February 18, 2018
Verified Purchase
I simply have to confess that I adore the character Soren, even though I was irrationally angry with him after the last book I read in this series, "The Mistress". I still have issues with the turn of events that the plot took in that book. (Sheesh...He's a fictional character???)
As enraptrued as I am with Soren, the sadist priest, I am with the other two characters in the series, Nora and Kingsley. In this book, The Saint, for awhile I was not sure until well into the narrative whose cremains Nora had in her possession. I was breathless at the thought that Soren had met his demise and Nora's palpable grief and her reminiscing was because he was gone. It was only a passing thought because of course she was in Bavaria, Germany. This is where her mother had some of her happiest memories and this is where she wished to be scattered.
Early on in the read, we meet Nico who is Kingsley's son. He was a result of a brief dalliance of Kingsley with Nico's mother. A large part of this book is Nora's telling of her initial encounter and early blossoming love story with Soren to Nico. There is very little plot movement in this book. The reader does not mind though. The writing is fascinating and compelling.
The narrative is once again lush with description, character development and emotion. It is also most appropriately seasoned with the mention of several traditional Catholic Saints. Some of my very favorites. During the recounting of her early love affair with Soren, something…
I Sit At The Feet Of Mistress Reisz
It shouldn’t surprise anybody that I loved Tiffany Reisz’s The Saint as much as I did. Considering how much I love The Original Sinners series, I expected nothing less in its prequel. Just as with the previous books, The Saint carried the same unapologetic, intelligent and witty view on sex, love, the Catholic church and kink.
Being a big fan of the series as I am, I have become familiar and fallen in love with Nora. But it was refreshing to read her when she was just a loud, brash and sarcastic teenager named Eleanor. I enjoyed learning who she was before becoming one of the most famous Dominatrixes turned popular erotica writer. Eleanor was both familiar and new figure. You could see those traits that will foretell who she will inevitably become in the future. I was constantly amused at those scenes where I can recognize the “Nora” within Eleanor. At the same time, she was a teenager filled with doubts, uncertainty, anger, fear and hope. It gave her a vulnerability that just made you want to go up, give her a hug and tell her that it will be okay and she will be just fine. I had just as much fun reading Eleanor’s story as I did reading Nora’s. Whether she’s a teenager or a fierce Dominatrix, she’s just as feisty and entertaining to read.
As a fan of Søren this book was like a big piece of chocolate cake that I just devoured. Just as with Eleanor, he carried his own strong presence that was hard to ignore. Like with Eleanor, there was something both familiar and new…
R
RoloPoloBookBlog
August 20, 2014
Verified Purchase
Book #5: The Original Sinners Series
(Book #5: The Original Sinners Series)
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 6 stars!!
What’s normal for me:
*I HATE reading a series out of order even if the books can be read as
standalones. I have actually stopped reading a book when I discovered a
preceding title in order to read the preceding title and then start the second book
again so I can maintain the series order. Yeah, I’m that kind of anal
*I LOVE backstory and history, especially in a long series. For me, the backstory
and the history is the heart of any series. This is the part where you get to dig
into the characters you know and love (or not!) and understand them a bit better.
I have the utmost respect for any author who can build (and that’s what it is,
building!) a history and a backstory for his/her characters and make it believable,
pertinent and, interesting.
*I am not the biggest fan of BDSM especially when it borders on something as dark
as sadism but, this author has a huge and very loyal following so I thought I
would give it a go.
*I rarely ever finish a book and then go straight to Amazon and buy every other
book in the series.
*I only use a five star rating system.
What happened with this book:
*I have not read the rest of this series and had no idea I was reading this book out
of order. When I realized my mistake I wasn’t even a little bit pissed.
*I got an amazingly detailed read with all of the backstory and history of two of the
major players in this series. I already know where…
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS - I love Soren...and yet I don't understand him, and sometimes I don't agree with his tough love. The story has Nora describing to Nico the way she first met Soren & eventually Nico's father Kingsley. The story flips between the present & the past & I really worried since I missed a few books in the series - Nora has a box containing remains & she is torn up about spreading the ashes. I feared Soren had passed away! So what drew new priest Soren to his Eleanor at the young age of 15? I was surprised to find that even at a young age Eleanor (Elle or Nora as she's called now) burned herself. During communion Soren takes note & thus begins the most fantastic friendship! As much as some of their early sexual relationship bothered me, I absolutely loved the time leading up to the loss of Eleanor's innocence! Soren saves the day when Eleanor is busted stealing cars for her father. The only requirement is that if Soren gets her out of serving time & takes care of her community service, Eleanor will obey him forever. Some of these initial moments in their friendship are monumental - Eleanor fell in love with Soren at first sight, will go wherever he asks her to go but only if he promises to give her "everything" in return. We definitely see a young Nora here, full of piss & vinegar, hilarious & funny loving & clever. They discuss the bible and a few things stand out to young Eleanor - the vision of Jesus having his feet washed, dried by the prostitute's hair. It…
"This was the beginning. This was the end." And I want more!!!
There are no words to describe how amazing these characters are and how well this story is written. It is smart, witty, funny, sad, hopeful and everything I want the perfect story to be. This has to be the best of the series yet. Don't start here, as this is book 5. You must read in order and I know you won't be disappointed if you go in with an open-mind.
This is Eleanor's story and her journey that got her to where she is now. It most definitely is not a retelling of what we thought we knew, but is all eye-opening and makes you understand Soren and her relationship that much better. I found Soren interesting in book 1, but my love has grown and grown for him with each book. And Nora? She has always been the feisty, funny and witty little vixen that opens Soren up like no one else. But the best part was seeing her grow from the young teen to her responsible and sexual self.
"I hate following the rules, but I would follow you into Hell and carry you back out again if I had to."
And so our journey begins with love, lust, lost, pain and pleasure. It is the beginning of Soren and Eleanor and the end of other lives.
Go in with an open mind and loving heart. You will definitely find both there. But in the most extreme and unique ways.
Tiffany is a goddess when it comes to her writing and the world she has created. I would follow HER and her words into Hell if she keeps developing these characters in the utmost profound ways. I am in awe!
"Life is a symphony composed by God,…
