OH. DEAR. GOD. This is my first book by Emily, and I actually found it hard to put down! Definitely read the triggers before you go into this one! It's definitely a villain story, dark romance. Don't go in expecting a fluffy romance! This is the most recent and last book in the Never After series, i believe. I will be buying the whole series! I liked the high stakes. Fast paced writing. These are very adult, dark takes on disney reimaginings. I don't remember much about The Hunchback of Notre Dame, that this one is loosely based on. I do know this is about a troubled priest, and a girl who dances with the stage name 'Esmeralda' and it is super spicy. If you like Scarlett St Clair, Katee Robert, Raven Kennedy, then these books are for you!

I think I’ve found my comfort author. My comfort reads. I’m always stumped when I get this question, but the Never After Series is definitely at the top of my list! The 5th installment of the Never After Series, Crossed is a sexy, sinful play on The Hunchback of Notre Dame! - This is a stranger to enemies to lovers slow burn, a DARK romance about a Priest who is a serial unaliver and an exotic dancer with a dark past.

Crossed is a dark reimagining of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Please check TWs this book is probably the darkest in the series. Father Cade Frédéric is a priest who has recently moved to the town of Festivalé and is tasked with improving the town through faith. Cade has a lot of childhood trauma that has followed him into adulthood. Whilst many see him as a devout figure in their community he has a monster within him that he believes gives him the power to rid the world of evil and sin (NOT A FANTASY NOVEL JUST POINTING THIS OUT!) It is not long before Cade becomes ensnared by Amaya, an outcast in the town who only feels the most safe and free when she is dancing as her alter ego Esmeralda, at a strip club away from Festivalé. She also has the responsibility of taking care of her younger brother Quinten who is neurodivergent and also treated badly by the townsfolk. Cade is fighting a battle with his inner demon as he has the urge to kill Amaya for leading him astray, not necessarily from his faith but from his mission to rid the world of evil and sin. However deep down he feels lust and love for her which then leads to his past trauma resurfacing. The two are very broken people who carry a lot of pain from their childhoods. In Amaya’s case she feels that she has no control over her life and takes everything that is thrown at her whilst doing her best to ensure Quinton has the best life possible. Cade on the other hand deals with things differently in private. I don’t want to give too much of the plot away and suggest going in blind but again check TWs! This was such an interesting take on The Hunchback of Notre Dame. As always Emily seeks to reimagine these stories in a dark and twisted way, rather than a literal retelling which I love as you really don’t know what direction things will go in. I enjoyed how twisted Cade was and Amaya’s growth near the end, this was the slowest of slow burns but made sense because of the roles both played in this story. Just wish there was more communication between the two when it came to certain things but overall it was another great Never After book!

The author writes obsessive lust (and autistic children) really well. I’m glad this book isn’t a love triangle.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Disclaimer: please read the trigger warnings before reading this book. I always love when a book gives you a playlist at the beginning! This is a book you read for a good time. There are a lot of plot points and themes that seem fairly unrealistic or implausible. Many characters get away with more than what is realistic in the “real world”. With that said, it was still an enjoyable read. There was more to the book than just smut, which added interest and dimension to the characters. Overall, a fun read with a lot of dark/heavy themes.