Palaces of Thorns Series by James Ashwood

“If they are so weak as to fall prey to a demon, even here in front of God and the Church, they aren’t fit to serve as anything but a lesson.”A virgin at twenty-six, Magda Church has long been over the brutal religious stigma her parents imposed on her and would rather get the whole “virginity” thing over and done with... more“If they are so weak as to fall prey to a demon, even here in front of God and the Church, they aren’t fit to serve as anything but a lesson.”A virgin at twenty-six, Magda Church has long been over the brutal religious stigma her parents imposed on her and would rather get the whole “virginity” thing over and done with. In a last-ditch effort to gain some control over her sex life—or lack thereof—and finally have a normal relationship, she agrees to see a therapist that specializes in sex and relationships.What should be a simple therapeutic session launches Magda deep into a world she never knew existed before, involving demons, secretive religious sects, and monsters unlike anything she’d ever imagined possible. Worse yet, those very monsters have begun stalking her for reasons she has yet to understand... and she's terrified about what that could mean for her.All Caleb Knight wants to do is find a way to get out of the the secretive religious cult that’s kept him under its watchful eye his entire life. Trained to be an elite, deadly assassin from childhood, he has been forced to hunt down demons or face the cruel, twisted punishments meted out for failure.When he meets Magda and discovers that they’ve both been caught up in a twisted and deadly scheme by the people in charge of the organization, he knows he must do everything in his power to protect her from his tormentors.Whatever it takes, the organization—and the true demons behind it—must not be allowed to get their way.He will die before letting them hurt her.Author's The Wickedness of Man is the first of a new dark paranormal romance series. Please see note inside book regarding potential CWs. less

“You’ve never stopped praying since the first night you met Benedict, and it’s never done a single stroke of good. If God exists, he doesn’t listen to you.”In the shadows of faith and fear, love can become a weapon.Magda Church never wanted to be a monster. She only wanted a normal life, a normal relationship, and to leave her painful past behind. But the day she met Caleb Knight, everything changed... more“You’ve never stopped praying since the first night you met Benedict, and it’s never done a single stroke of good. If God exists, he doesn’t listen to you.”In the shadows of faith and fear, love can become a weapon.Magda Church never wanted to be a monster. She only wanted a normal life, a normal relationship, and to leave her painful past behind. But the day she met Caleb Knight, everything changed. Losing her humanity—and discovering she may never have been “normal” to begin with—was just the beginning.Now, transformed into demonic creatures hunted by the very cult that once controlled Caleb, Magda and Caleb have no choice but to run. But their every step is shadowed by the organization’s agents and Harry Benedict, the archbishop’s vengeful A man whose single-minded obsession with Magda grows more dangerous every day.The deeper they delve into the organization’s twisted plans, the more Magda and Caleb uncover truths about each other that threaten to tear them apart. Their mysterious bond might be the key to their salvation—or the catalyst of their destruction.In a world where betrayal hides behind holy robes and monsters wear the faces of men, Magda and Caleb must fight for their lives, their freedom, and the fragile hope keeping them together.When the divine and the damned are indistinguishable, can love survive—or will it condemn them both?Perfect for fans of dark romance and supernatural horror, this is a haunting tale of sacrifice, forbidden desire, and the battle for redemption.Author's The Deeds of the Flesh is the second of a new dark paranormal romance series. Please see note inside book regarding potential CWs. less