Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger – ARC Review & Honest Thoughts

A big thank you to NetGalley and Montlake for the opportunity to read an early copy of Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger! 🖤 I love a good dark romance and romantasy, so when I saw this book combined both? I was instantly excited to dive in. Sadly, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. 😔 But let’s get into the review and break down what didn’t work for me.

Summary of Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger

Seven deadly—and ultrarich—sins rule NYC, and though she came here to escape her past, one woman’s true path to freedom might be the devil’s bonds in this scorching hot romantasy from Kait Ballenger.

The seven deadly sins keep high profiles in the Big Lust runs brothels, Sloth’s a media streamer…you get the picture. Pride, though, he’s more mysterious. You might know him as Lucifer—temptation irresistibly embodied. The paparazzi are dying for some burning-hot gossip. So when someone publishes my scathing but

private

rant about him, they eat it up. And now my job is on the line. After all, he

is

my boss.

With his vicious siblings vying for his power, Lucifer needs to distract the press, so he reframes my tirade as a lovers’ spat, demanding I play the devil’s fiancée. I need to be a good girl, smile for the cameras, nothing more.

But cocky and cruel as he is, his darkness awakens something wicked in me. Sexy and in control, he might just be the cure—an extra dose of sin to heal me from a lifetime of shame and subservience.

And I like it.

Review of Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger

There’s a first time for everything… and this was my first time hate-reading a book. 😂 And honestly? It was kind of a wild (and unintentionally funny) experience. I was rolling my eyes so hard from the cringe and frustration, but somehow, I couldn’t stop reading. I’ll give the author that, Original Sinner kept me turning the pages, even if it was out of pure disbelief half the time. 👀

Plot Analysis of Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger

Okay, so imagine this: New York City, but make it run by Lucifer and the seven deadly sins. 😈 It’s all brothels, exclusive clubs, and scandalous headlines, basically, the whole city is one big temptation playground, and innocence is very much not invited.

Enter Charlotte, sweet, sheltered, freshly escaped from a super religious past, who somehow lands a PR assistant job… and ends up working directly for Lucifer himself. Casual, right?

But here’s the catch: Lucifer can see everyone’s sins, it’s kind of his whole thing, except Charlotte’s. She’s a total mystery to him, and it drives him absolutely insane. So naturally, his solution? If he can’t see any of her sins, he’ll just have to give her some. 😏

What follows is a deliciously chaotic mix of fake dating, steamy power games, and some serious tension in the workplace (and the playroom 👀). It’s dark, sexy, and completely unhinged.

Characters of Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger

Charlotte Bellefleur : I won’t lie, I really didn’t like our FMC. She frustrated the hell out of me. From the start, she’s written as this overly naive, innocent little thing… and I’m just not into that kind of character. It felt like she had no edge, no real agency, just wide eyes and pure vibes, which honestly gets old fast. But what really crossed the line for me? The sudden switch to full-on materialistic diva. 😩 The moment she started acting like she was some kind of celebrity just because she was dating the devil, talking about what she could DO and HAVE now, I was OUT. That whole “look at me now” attitude felt shallow and bratty, and it made it even harder to root for her. I tried, I really did… but I just couldn’t.

Lucifer : Let’s be real, we were all reading this and picturing Tom Ellis as Lucifer… and honestly, who could blame us? 😏🔥 But sadly, aside from the looks and a filthy mouth, this version of Lucifer didn’t leave much of an impression on me. He was kind of just… there. Sometimes cold, sometimes hot, and never fully fleshed out. I kept waiting for that moment where I’d get him or feel something deeper, but it never came. I couldn’t even decide if I liked him or not. He had the potential to be iconic, but in the end, he just felt a bit hollow.

The romance : I didn’t really feel the romance between them, LIKE, AT ALL. It was pure lust from the very beginning, and honestly, it stayed that way for most of the book. The chemistry wasn’t romantic or emotional; it was just physical. When the deeper feelings were finally introduced, I was already too indifferent to care. It didn’t feel earned. And the dynamic? Supposedly enemies to lovers, but… where were the enemies? 👀 There was no real tension, no conflict, no bite, just immediate attraction and a lot of steam. The emotional arc got completely lost in all the spice, and by the time the love part showed up, I wasn’t buying it.

Pacing & writing style

The writing in Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger just wasn’t for me, it felt all over the place. I struggled to connect with the story, especially with the enemies-to-lovers angle, which really didn’t land. There was no real tension or slow burn, just lust, right from the beginning. And let’s be real, just because the FMC says she hates him doesn’t automatically make it enemies-to-lovers. There has to be more to it than that.

I also couldn’t get behind the FMC. Her character felt inconsistent, one minute she’s this naive, innocent girl, and the next she’s standing toe-to-toe with the devil like she’s completely unbothered. Then suddenly she’s bratty and materialistic, bragging about being a “celebrity” because she’s dating Lucifer… I just couldn’t take it seriously. It felt like she was being written differently from scene to scene without a clear arc.

And the writing itself? It cringed me out. The number of times the word growling was used was actually wild. I started mentally counting and then gave up, it was constant. 😅

On top of that, there were several moments where I had no clue what was going on. Dialogue would shift mid-thought or happen inside her head without much clarity, and I had to reread multiple parts thinking I’d missed something, but nope, it just wasn’t clearly written.

That being said, I have to give the author credit, the pacing in Original Sinner was really solid. Even with everything that didn’t work for me, I stayed engaged the whole time. The story moved quickly, and there was always something happening that made me want to keep reading, even if I was rolling my eyes half the time. 😅

The plot itself was definitely predictable, but in a way that still managed to be entertaining. It had that chaotic, slightly addictive energy where you’re like, “Okay… I need to see how this all plays out.” So while the execution missed the mark for me in a lot of areas, I can’t say I was ever bored, and that counts for something.

Tropes and Trigger warnings of Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger

Tropes of Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger

• Enemies to lovers.
• Fake dating
• Forced proximity
• Dom/sub dynamic.
• Touch her and die.

Trigger warnings of Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger

• Nonconsensual drugging of secondary character
• Religious trauma
• Substance abuse
• Forced marriage and pregnancy
• Violence

Final Thought

Original Sinner had such a fun concept, dark romantasy, Lucifer as a love interest, and a city ruled by the seven deadly sins? Yes please. The setup had me all in. But sadly, the execution didn’t quite hit the mark for me. 😅

I’ll be real: the characters drove me a little crazy (okay, a lot). The FMC felt all over the place, and Lucifer… well, aside from the spicy lines and Tom Ellis vibes, he didn’t leave a big impression. The romance leaned hard into lust, and I just didn’t feel the emotional connection I was hoping for.

That said, I have to give credit where it’s due: the pacing was genuinely great. The plot moved fast, there was always something happening, and even though I wasn’t loving the characters, I couldn’t stop reading. It had that chaotic, addictive energy that makes you say, “Okay, just one more chapter…”

So while it wasn’t a win for me, if you’re into steamy, fast-paced romances that go all in on the spice and drama, this could still be your thing. For me, it’s a 1.5-star read, one star for effort and worldbuilding, and the extra half purely for the pacing and unintentional entertainment factor. 😂

Big thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the early copy of the audiobook! 💜 Even when a book isn’t quite my vibe, I’m always grateful for the chance to read and share my thoughts.

About the author

Practical Information for Readers

Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger Book Formats

Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger is available in various formats to suit every reader’s preference:

• Paperback: Ideal for readers who enjoy the tactile experience of holding a physical book.
• eBook: Convenient for on-the-go reading, available on all major e-reader platforms.
• Audiobook: Narrated with emotional depth, available on platforms like Audible.
• PDF Original Sinner : While some may search for a PDF version, it’s recommended to opt for legal eBook options to support the author.

Where to find Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger PDF

1. Amazon Kindle: Offers a user-friendly interface with customizable reading settings.
2. Barnes & Noble Nook: Another popular platform with a wide selection of e-books.
3. Apple Books: Provides seamless integration with Apple devices and a smooth reading experience.

Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger Age Rating

I’d recommend Original Sinner by Kait Ballenger to readers 19 and older, as it contains mature themes and explicit content. And please, don’t forget to check the trigger warnings before diving in, some elements may be sensitive or potentially upsetting for some readers.