Summary: Who would have thought that a character like Pyramid Head would have his own love story? A horror romance with Silent Hill vibes.
Title: Devoured (The Primal Sins Collection Series)
Author: Sephyrra
Page Count: 341
MY RATINGS:
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Cover Image Source: Sephyrra
There was nothing left for me. Only judgment.
St. Dymphna's is where they lock up women like me. The ones who killed their husbands. The ones who won't stop screaming. The ones nobody wants to remember exist.
But this place is wrong. Something lives in these walls—something ancient and hungry.
Then I saw him. Eight feet of scarred muscle behind a metal mask. Red eyes that burn through the dark. A nightmare that shouldn't exist but does.
I was supposed to be another broken woman for the doctors to play with. Another meal for whatever feeds on guilt and madness here.
I should have been his perfect victim too.
But I didn't break.
I bit back.
And he saw something in that darkness—something that made him stop. Something that made him watch instead of strike.
Now in this asylum where something ancient demands its sacrifices, where a masked monster decides who lives and who dies—I'm learning that some prey are more dangerous than their predators.
Horror romance with a plus-size heroine, enemies-to-lovers. Asylum horror drowning in gore, feminine rage, and obsession.
I didn't realize I'd have to listen to Barney's songs multiple times just to save myself from the temporary heart attacks this book could give me.
I mean…I honestly don't think I have any serious triggers. But reading this HORROR ROMANCE made me question myself HOW? Like, how was I even able to get through it??? I told myself I could read it in two days, but it took me almost two weeks to finish.
This one is a heavy read for me because I've seen a lot of things here that I've never read in other dark romances. It's something sinister and full of dark secrets. Please always read the trigger warnings carefully before you read the book, especially if you are very sensitive when it comes to body shaming. The FMC (Zahra) is plus-size and received so much hate and shame from her husband, Theo.
The author (Sephyrra), really gets into Zahra's depression in a few chapters, digging into everything she's gone through since she was a kid: after her parents died, she was taken to an orphanage, passed through different families who would adopt her, until her marriage to Theo. Her sadistic husband (who has no remorse), didn't care when Zahra was badly hurt after her three miscarriages.
🔴 Friendly reminder: Theo has some lines here that are just heartbreaking to read, especially when he's shaming Zahra. I honestly had to skip some of the stuff he said because it was so painful. If you're reading this and feel that way too, just know that you can skip those parts. It won't affect the story much at all.
I don't want to give away too many spoilers, but when Zahra gets sent to the psych ward called St. Dymphna, that's when she starts slowly figuring out why the Executioner (MMC who looks like Pyramid Head Daddy from Silent Hill) keeps showing up in her dreams. I'm totally in love with his character and how he cares for Zahra in a real "till death do us part" kind of way.
Can you imagine someone who looks like a total nightmare can care for you in a way that feels more human than any human ever has? His loyalty and devotion to Zahra despite his monstrous nature completely defy all expectations! He's not just her protector—he's literally the only thing keeping her sane in a world full of pain. It's wild to see how a monster can have a love so strong it breaks all the rules.
And one last thing. I know you'll meet some people here who are so annoying you'll want them to just disappear (I've been there and couldn't count how many times I made a face while judging them in silence, haha!😂 ). But please, give them a chance. You'll probably think they're the bad guys at first, but trust me, you need to hear their backstory.
Sephyrra really did her best to make the story feel like it has Silent Hill vibes. I didn't even realize someone like the Executioner could have his own love story. And of course, find his happily ever after, even in the dark chaos of an asylum. It's crazy how the path to true love in this book is so dark, violent, and twisted, yet it still feels so right. It really shows how skilled the author is to make a messed-up romance like that feel so real and believable.
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NOTE: This is my personal opinion about the book. My goal is to share my experience, not to change anyone's perspective. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.