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Review

“You know what they call a sociopath with a conscience?”
… “They call her ‘Mistress’”

4.5 stars and a very satisfying finale to an amazing series

More than just a fascinating, heart-pounding and engrossing read, The Original Sinners series has been an experience. Reading these books is like entering a different world and I have loved every moment that I’ve spent with these incredible characters – the dynamics are some of the best and most intriguing I’ve read. I’m devastated that it’s over, but Tiffany Reisz has finally revealed the last remaining secrets from the lives of Nora, Søren and Kingsley, taking us full circle and showing us just how deeply complicated, intense and interwoven these three are. And OMG, I loved it!

The book picks up right where The Virgin finishes – everybody is gathered in Scotland for a wedding. We get to see that wedding, which is pure gold and which I read with a huge smile on my face, and after the big event is over, Nora and Søren escape quietly and open up to each other about the only parts of their lives they have yet to share.

No more secrets. No more lies. Nothing between them anymore and never again.
“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned,” she began her confession.

Yes, this is where we get to see the transformation of Eleanor the sub to Nora the dominatrix. With her King by her side guiding her, Nora comes to discover who she truly is, and he shows her how to embrace it.

“The real you. I’ve seen her.”
“What does she look like?”
Kingsley sighed and smiled. “She’s beautiful. Dangerous. All eyes are on her when she walks into a room. Men fear her but not because she’s the enemy. They fear her because she alone can show them who they really are. They fear this knowledge but will pay any price for it.”
“Is she happy?” Elle asked.
“She’s powerful. She can make her own happiness when she wants it.”

And even knowing what she is sacrificing by following this new path, she embraces her new life, and I loved watching her take charge and become the ball-busting smartass that we know she is.

Her hotline rang.
“Mistress Nora’s House of Ill Repute. How may I direct your cock?”
“You aren’t cute,” Kingsley said.
“I beg to differ. I’m fucking precious.”

I love the continued exploration of the Nora/Kingsley relationship. Again, they go through a lot in this book, with their dynamic constantly shifting, and I absolutely love the deeply emotional yet dirty and playful relationship that they have.

“I hate you,” Kingsley said.
“That hurts, King. That stings.”
“Do you know what hurts? Having an erection and being two seconds from coming and your domme stops sucking you off.”
“That is a very sad story. Tell me more.”
“I’ve created a monster.”

Following Nora through her training, and the establishment of ‘Mistress Nora’ onto the scene, we see her take on not only her dangerous competition, but also new and old friends and lovers as she creates the life for herself that she has always wanted. But there is still a gaping hole in her heart, for accepting her new life means losing the biggest part of her old life – Søren.

Nora cannot let go of the man who owns her heart, and as devastating as that is for her, seeing Søren so broken and devastated without the woman he loves in his life is heartbreaking.

“I didn’t leave you to hurt you,” she whispered.
“But it did.”
“I spent seven years on the receiving end of pain. I’m ready to be on the giving end.”
“Did you have to start with me?”

The intensity of the relationship between Nora and Søren never ceases to amaze me. They love each other so deeply, but they have reached a point where neither of them are able to compromise who they are and what they want in order to be together, yet at the same time neither of them are able to let go. And even though I knew what was going to happen and where they were going to end up, watching them go through all that they do to get to that point was painful yet beautiful.

“Come back to me,” he said against her lips.
“I can’t.”
“Come back to me,” he said against her neck.
“I won’t.”
“Come back to me,” he said, lifting her skirt to her hips.
“I don’t…”
“You can’t say you don’t want to come back to me because we both know you do.”
“Not enough to do it.”
“Not yet. But you will.”

This book is very much Nora’s, but the presence of Kingsley and Søren in her life continues to build upon the dynamic between the trio, and every moment between them is something very special. We learn more about their turbulent past, and how it shapes who they are in the present – both individually and as a group – and I thought it was brilliantly done.

The story of their past takes us right up to Nora meeting a young College student – a moment which changed her life in ways she could never have imagined. And in the present, we see our beloved characters all happy and content in their lives, and we even get to see a great reunion and a very special meeting that, I will admit, had me tearing up. 

Full of all of the drama, intensity, kink-a-licious steaminess and laugh-out-loud sarcastic humour that I have come to expect from Tiffany Reisz, this is another wonderful exploration into the lives and relationships of three amazing characters – the Queen, the King, and their God (and the ones that they love) – set against the dark and dirty underworld of kink, where anything can and does happen.

The writing is brilliant as always, and this is a great ending to an amazing series. I love the way that Reisz has revealed her story to us, and now that all has finally been revealed, I look forward to rereading this series all over again and experiencing it in a completely different way.

I loved it – 4.5 stars.

An Advanced Reader Copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Original Sinners series

For more information, see our Original Sinners Series Info page