Deliverance

by Katelyn Taylor

Being a member born into a secret society is nothing like what you would expect. Our world is dripping in diamonds and gilded in gold, but it’s also built atop the blood and bones of innocents. The wronged and the shamed haunting this town, this world, this society.

Maggie Bartlett had accepted the fact that she would never have control over her destiny. That she would always be a puppet in their play. A queer woman in a Puritan man’s world is one of the most dangerous things to be. But what good is life without a little danger?

In a society where everything comes at a price, the real question is...what are you willing to lose in the pursuit of your Deliverance?

Genres: Dark Romance, Lesbian, Enemies To Lovers, Dark, Audiobook, Forced Proximity, Smut

506 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 24, 2025

About the author

Katelyn Taylor writes dark and contemporary romance and is known for twisted love stories with toe-curling smut, heart-breaking angst & plot twists that keep readers up all night.

If you like your romance with a side of unhingedness & spice, get ready to cry from your eyes to your thighs.

Welcome to the Taylorverse!

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read 1: 4/20/25-4/24/25
Read 2: 6/24/25-6/25/25

4.5/5 ⭐️
4/5 🌶️

Did you read Katelyn’s Gallows Hill trilogy and say to yourself: I need more? If you answered yes, read this book immediately! It takes place the summer immediately before Deceit (book 1) and follows Maggie, Skyla’s best friend, and her step-sister, Bridgette. If you recall, Bridgette was after Skyla’s fiancée, Asher and was a total you-know-what to her. This book offers that peek behind the curtain of why certain things happened.

Did you say you always wanted a taboo, super hot, super gay, sapphic yearn fest? Yes? HOLY HELL. If you weren’t bi going into this, you may be after reading it. But, don’t be fooled — this book has so much depth. It explores some deep and dark topics. They’re done in a very thoughtful way and yet Katelyn doesn’t tiptoe around them. She dives in and takes us on the whole ride.

Her characters are flawed, but full of so much depth. They both change - for the better - over the course of the book. They gave great banter. They gave all the emotions. They made me sweat! 🥵

Thank you Katelyn for providing me with electronic ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

[Nerlie౨ৎ🎧📚 · Rating 1 out of 5]

⋆˚࿔ 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
1⭐️

Deliverance—honestly, what a fitting title because I was finally delivered from this torture.

I hate Asher so much. Truly. I don’t think anything could make me like this man—except maybe his death. How can someone be that unbearable? Every time he opened his mouth, I wanted to scream. God, I hate him.

Aside from my rage toward him, the book was just… boring. I kept waiting for something to happen, for it to get interesting, and it never did. The last 40% was especially painful—I was counting the minutes.

When I finally reached the end, I almost cried from joy. 🥲 That’s how bad it got.

⸻

⋆. 𐙚 ˚ 𝐏𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 ⋆. 𐙚 ˚
I was hoping this would be the book that finally made me fall in love with this author… unfortunately, it just wasn’t the one.

[MJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sapphic taboo romance. But just fyi, there are some MF spicy scenes in this book. But majority of the spice is sapphic.
That’s being said, I did really enjoy this. I’m a sucker for a dark sapphic romance. It had a great plot and did cover some dark themes, so be sure to check triggers and other reviews.

Written in first person with 2x POV’s. Narrated in duet by Heather Firth & CJ Bloom. Stepsisters (not blood related), Taboo/Forbidden Relationship, Dark Academia, Forced Proximity, Secret Society. 17x Spicy Scenes (3 of these are MF).
Some of the main triggers: Homophobia, Suicide and SA (on and off page).

[Smutty Little Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book 🥹🥹🥹

[tane'a · Rating 5 out of 5]

so glad i get to experience katelyn taylor’s books in my lifetime

[Tia Toro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yeah so I wasn’t expecting to cry with this one. But I did. I cried a lot, actually.

Deliverance follows Maggie Bartlett, if you have read the Gallows Hill trilogy (Deceit, Descent, Demise) you will recognize Maggie as Skyla’s best friend. Not long after Maggie’s father’s death, her mother remarries to Harry Benton, giving her a new step-sister, Bridgette Benton. Bridgette is the GU resident bully, and only ever wanted Asher Putnam, and she would have done anything to have him. That is, until Maggie comes along. In a society where queer relationships/sexual interactions are forbidden, they must hide in dark corners and closed doors, or risk their lives.

Maggie is just such a likeable character, I feel like her inner monologues and personality make her the most relatable character amongst everyone. & the way she sees through Bridgette, and sees her at her core for who she is, is just so fucking cute.
If you have read the Gallows Hill trilogy, you will know Bridgette thrived with torturing Skyla, and was just a bitch. Bridgette even admits to it. However, in this book, we get her story and it is nothing less than heartbreaking. It gives you a new perspective as to why she latched on to Asher the way she did. The pain she described feeling in chapters 35-37, just hit home, as I’m sure many people can relate to those feelings of hopelessness and loneliness.

This story definitely has dark elements & themes, so please, check your triggers warnings.

Though it is an emotional read the more you get into the story, it ended in such a beautiful way & I just loved it.

I definitely recommend reading the Gallows Hill trilogy prior to reading Deliverance, as it will contain spoilers for the trilogy. There is also a lot of character crossover.

Thank you Katelyn Taylor for providing me with this ARC copy, I adored it 🥹😭

[Leandra Parsons · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review
I have been excited for Maggie’s story since we met her back in Deceit. So getting this ARC was one of my most anticipated for the year. She is the best friend of Skyla in the Gallows Hill trilogy. Bridgette Is the mean one we see through out that trilogy too and we do see that same persona here in this book but with this being her book we saw the depth of why. I love Maggie I was drawn to her chapter instantly. While this book did revolve around spice! Which was very spicy and I absoulty loved it! It Also had some very well plot points. I had three big what the fuck moments and 2 very shocking ones that just made me blink irraticly. I love in this book and the triology they are connected but it doesn’t 100% focus on that and you don’t get bored because “you read this already” I am defiantly not a fan of Asher before Skyla and when he met her before they actually had a realationship. I love Brad, he’s such a good brother to Bridgette. Bridgette is such a miss understood chapter and i went from not linking her to almost loving her so i would say this book was very sucsessful!

[carliereadssss · Rating 5 out of 5]

I mean.. this story blew me away. This was my first sapphic read and it did NOT disappoint.

Step-siblings? Sign me right up for that. Immediately yes. But also, one of the siblings as a mean girl, but sheds her layers for the more chill, laid back, fully open and gay step sister.. ABSOLUTELY YES. I love when a bratty girl gets with someone who can mellow her out and make her see she doesn’t have to always have the mean girl persona up ALWAYS.

Maggie & Bridgette were HOT, but they also go through SO much trauma in this story it will leave you in tears and wondering.. do I need to go to therapy? Because I questions that multiple times while reading this.

This is an incredibly dark read IMO so, please don’t go into this thinking otherwise. Although, I could NOT recommend it enough. The spice to plot ratio is absolutely PERFECT.

*thank you Katelyn Taylor for my eARC*

[jezz.readss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliverance 🕯️💋
ARC review

5 ⭐️
4 🌶️


My sapphic romance virginity has officially been taken by none other than Katelyn Taylor 🔥

I knew that I had to prepare myself for this one, very scared that this was going to break the organ in my chest. No word of a lie, it definitely did, I had tears streaming down my face like I just got dumped in the rain during the climax of a 2000's rom-com.

Upon the death of her father, Maggie’s mother remarries, bringing her into the fold of the Brenton family, where she meets her new stepsister Bridgette.

Bridgette, the university’s mean girl, who has eyes for anything and everything that is Asher Putnam. Until of course, Maggie enters her life. In a secret society where queerness is the ultimate taboo, their connection is dangerous, forbidden, and impossible to resist. But will the secret that binds them be the one that breaks them?

I adored Maggie from the GU Trilogy, and this book made me fall head over heels for the girl. I was instantly drawn to her, she was chill, sharp, mature, and effortlessly suave. That flirty confidence, dry humour, and zero-fucks attitude? Total badass. I was obsessed. Like, girl, can I have one of you?

Bridgette shocked the hell at of me. Her character development was nothing short of amazing but absolutely heartbreaking. God did this girl make me cry. We finally get why Bridgette is the way she is, and after everything she’s been through? My heart was in shambles.

Katelyn touches on some pretty heavy topics in this book, and it absolutely wrecked me. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse, Katelyn smacked a curveball straight to my chest and said, ‘here, enjoy, #sorrynotsorry’.

The spice? Okay miss girl, I see you. I expected nothing less from Katelyn after GU, and she did not leave me disappointed. A new experience for me that had me wanting more 👀🫦

I highly recommend reading the GU Trilogy before starting Deliverance, to gain a better understanding of the timelines and relationships in this book!

Tropes:
💋Sapphic Dark Romance
🖤Stepsisters
💋Forbidden Love
🖤Secret Society
💋Bi Awakening
🖤Dark Academia

[Lena · Rating 1 out of 5]

this book pissed me off baddd

i seen a review on tt and ran!

the first half of this book was soooo good ,, then came the HIGHLY UNEEDED part of Bridgett with asher, he was legit a thorn in my side the whole fucking book.

this book was incredibly disappointing, it has nothing to do with bi-phobia but when i read a lesbian book im expecting lesbian, as i said the first half of this book was good then came the “third act breakup” in which they WERE CLEARLY TOGETHER and bridgett cheated.

for the second half/ major parts of this book felt with them hooking up with other ppl. it’s a lesbian book i don’t want to read abt our other fmc sleeping with another man IM SORRY!

i feel like these other reviews were paid for lowkey 😭. this book had so much potential, but yet another lesbian book can’t just be abt lesbians. this secret society aspect also sucked.

[khadeja · Rating 2 out of 5]

when she said mommy i expected a milf not like…….. her 20 yr old stepsister 🤷‍♀️

[K · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars!!
My first FF! It was spicy and drama filled! I ate that shit up. Heavier than i expected so check the triggers. I cannot wait to go back and read the Gallows Hill series now after meeting Skyla and her men!

[Sophie Stanley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this in less that 24hours. 6 FCKING STARS

[mkay ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5/5 fucking starssss!!!

Thank you so much to Katelyn Taylor for letting me be an ARC reader for this amazing novel, I am so unbelievably honored.

This book was amazing, hands-down the best lesfic book I have ever read. And the fact that I read the main series made this so much better, just knowing the backstory of the other characters, highly recommend to read Gallows Hill series first!!

But basically, this book had drugs in it. I could not put it down!

Also- the smutty scenes- hello? THE BEST, NO OTHER AUTHOR COMPARES.

Y'all better pick this book up right now istg-

Maggie and Brigette have my heart, and so do you Katelyn. Thank you for writing us a whole book about our favorite lesbians!! 💋

(I would devour a book 2 if you wrote it... Just throwing it out there)

[Courtney ☮️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maggie has always lived on the fringes—being a lesbian in a patriarchal society obsessed with legacy will do that to a person. She’s still reeling from her father’s death, and her mother’s quick remarriage only deepens the wound. To make matters worse, her new stepsister, Bridgette, is the epitome of privilege: manipulative, beautiful, and laser-focused on winning the favor of the next heir to The Brethren, just to escape her own father’s iron grip. But curiosity cuts both ways. Bridgette finds herself drawn to Maggie’s unapologetic defiance and freedom. And with the parents conveniently away, boundaries blur. What begins as tension turns into something far more dangerous.Yet summer can’t last forever. At Gallows Hill University, reputation is everything, and secrets are currency. As the girls’ lives become increasingly entangled, they’ll discover that some secrets are worth killing for—and not everyone makes it out alive.


Wow! What a welcoming back to Gallows Hill. Deliverance starts the summer before Skyla comes to Gallows Hill and continues on through all 3 of Skyla’s books and a little beyond. I really had such a dislike for Bridgette through the first 3 books, but as we all know, there are always two sides to the story. I love that we got better inside to both Bridgette and our favorite first redhead, Maggie. Be sure to check trigger warnings, especially if you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community. If you loved Deciet, Descent and Demise, you will surely love Deliverance!

[Tyler | bookishwithty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished Deliverance by Katelyn Taylor—my first read from her—and now I know I have to dive into the rest of her books! Deliverance was nothing like what I was expecting for a step-sister, FF dark romance… it was a wild ride packed with emotional moments, a whole lot of plot, juicy side character energy, and some seriously hot girl-on-girl scenes (I say this in the most respectful way.)
The trauma hit deep, the character growth was so well done, and now I definitely need Skyla’s story. I really enjoyed this one—the plot, the spice, and the bits of wisdom woven throughout. 4.5 stars!

[Ashley Martinez · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this is not my first sapphic romance, it’s my first stepsister romance 😅 and listen- dont knock it until you try it.
I didn’t expect the emotional rollercoaster this book would put me through with. Bridgette’s trauma absolutely broke my heart — her pain felt so raw and real. I loved Maggie’s character and her ability to see right through Bridgette’s bullshit. This book is dark and has a lot more to it than stepsisters hooking up, definitely check your trigger warnings and keep tissues handy.

[Talina Jacobsen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I gasped, I giggled, I cried, I felt all the emotions possible with this book. I would literally die for all of these characters 😄

Man they go through so much but it is worth it to see them happy omg

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

~Arc Review~
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶🌶

~Deliverance~Katelyn Taylor~

"To love but never truly have. To want but never touch. Only staying connected, only existing between exchanged parchment and ink."

♡ I have loved every single book that I have read by Katelyn Taylor & Deliverance was no different. This was my first Sapphic read & it did not disappoint! The writing was phenomenal & in true Katelyn fashion, the spice did not disappoint! This book put me through some emotional whiplash, so make sure you bring your tissues! Maggie & Bridgette's story was an absolute masterpiece & was well worth the wait!♡

~As Always Happy Reading~

[Allie DeMars · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I liked it. It just wasn’t my favorite sapphic romance. However, the spicy parts were elite 🌶️🤌🏼

I did enjoy the forbidden romance and secret society aspects of the plot. But it just got kind of boring when it came to the actual dynamics of friendships, the back and forth between the main characters and such.

Trigger warning for suicide, SA and other dark topics. 🫶

[Sam Coons · Rating 5 out of 5]

My first ARC read 💋🕯️

Gallows Hill has begun to feel like home! I dove head first into the universe that Kaitlyn Taylor made and honestly, I never want to leave. We all knew that there was something extra going on behind the scenes of the Gallows Hill trilogy and this remarkable standalone novel shows us exactly what we’d been missing. The story of Maggie and Bridgette gives us one of my favorite tropes - forced proximity. And did I mention it is a slow burn?! Dark romance provides a safe place for those who have lived through this or own story of trauma and pain. This books explores themes such as some heavy themes from questioning one’s self-worth to struggling with sexual identity. A read that was just as spicy as it was heart wrenching. I will read anything Kaitlyn ever writes about this group of characters.

[Danny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh I love Maggie! I’ve loved her since reading the Gallow Hills series and it was so good seeing everyone again! I missed my Vincent 🖤

This book was so much darker than I thought. The trauma and abuse Bridgette and Maggie went through was so awful, especially Bridgette that suffered since she was young, her attitude made a little bit more of sense once I read more about her family and her story, damn I feel so bad for her 😭

This was a rollercoaster, the same way I loved everything, it was so hard to read sometimes, I just felt all that was happening so deeply that I had to take some breaks from it, that’s why it took me so long. The ending was perfect though, Maggie and Bridgette deserve all the happiness, especially after everything. They can finally be free now.

[Brelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED IT TO BE!!
I was so excited to go back to Gallows Hill, I was really missing Skyla and the gang so being able to see them, and different perspectives of events we learned about in Gallows Hill was such a treat.

The spice. When I tell you, I did not think the spice in the GH trilogy could be topped but KT said “hold my beer” and BROUGHT IT!! Maggie and Bridgette had me melting !!
I was so extremely excited when it was announced that Deliverance would be sapphic, and it did not disappoint at all. The romance, the steam, the spice, the BANTER.

Maggie is an all time top FMC.

[m b · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did I read a different book than everyone else? What the fuck

[Alyssa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into Deliverance so excited for Maggie and Bridgette’s story but also wondering how the hell Katelyn would make me like Bridgette after all the shit she pulled against Skyla in the Gallows Hill trilogy. Well, not only did she make me love Bridgette, she made me fucking ACHE for her. I wanted to crawl through the pages and give her the biggest hug. NO ONE deserves the kind of torture she endured from her own damn family. Maggie and Bridgette are officially my new book girlfriends and I don’t see them ever being replaced!

Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Quantity of spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Quality of spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
*There are 17 spicy scenes in Deliverance. I’ve included the pages/chapters at the bottom of this review. Not all of the spicy scenes are between the two MCs, these two go through A LOT between the times when they’re actually together.*

First, before you start Deliverance, make sure you take those trigger warnings at the beginning seriously! I don’t have a lot of triggers, but honestly, some parts of this book made me sick to my stomach for what these characters endured.

Maggie and Bridgette have grown up in the same cult like community called the Brethren but were never friends. It isn’t until Maggie’s mom married Bridgette’s dad that they’re forced to spend more time together. Maggie is openly gay, which is frowned upon by the Brethren but she gives zero fucks! Bridgette is pretty much sleeping her way through the Legacies in the hopes of securing a powerful husband, but when Maggie sets her sights on Bridgette it’s impossible for her to resist. Never having been with a woman before, it’s hard for Bridgette to accept that she’s falling for Maggie and something happens which drives a wedge between them for a lonnnngggg LONG time.

I swear it felt like both women just continued to take one punch to life after another. Maggie enduring torturous conversion therapy from Bridgette’s dad. Bridgette being forced into a marriage to a much much older man & her father’s best friend, where he r@pes her any chance he gets. The reveal about her father truly had me wanting to vomit and completely understanding the life decisions she was making. I could not even fathom enduring that for YEARS & feeling like you had absolutely no one to help you. My heart breaks for her even as I type this. I know this book is one that will live with me for the rest of my life.

Seeing everything they went through together and apart, everything they overcame.. ugh it was just beautiful. Two women destined to be together and fighting tooth and nail to get there 💕

🌶️ Favorite Spicy Scene Quote 🌶️

”Lay down. Rub your pussy against mine,” Bridgette gasps between kisses.
My pussy pulses at her words as my fingers tangle into the back of her hair.
”Ask me nicely,” I say as I yank her hair gently.
“What?” she gasps.
“Beg mommy to grind her pussy against yours, baby B,” I murmur against her lips.
She shudders in my arms as she lets out a whimper.
“Please mommy. I want to feel you.”
“That’s my good girl.”

🌶️ Spicy Scenes 🌶️

1. Ch 1 Pg 9
2. Ch 5 Pg 48
3. Ch 7 Pg 67
4. Ch 8 Ph 77
5. Ch 9 Pg 90
6. Ch 11 Pg 106
7. Ch 13 Pg 131
8. Ch 16 Pg 164
9. Ch 18 Pg 179
10. Ch 19 Pg 191
11. Ch 23 Pg 224
12. Ch 33 Pg 309
13. Ch 37 Pg 348
14. Ch 40 Pg 389
15. Ch 41 Pg 394
16. Ch 43 Pg 420
17. Ch 44 Pg 433

[Willie Mercedes · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the heart-thumping tale of Deliverance, meet Maggie Bartlett, our star navigating life's rollercoaster. If you've journeyed through the Gallows Hill trilogy (Deceit, Descent, Demise), you'll remember Maggie as Skyla’s best buddy. And guess who's back? The no-nonsense Bridgette, ready to show us her softer side, lurking beneath that tough exterior.

Maggie's world is a swirl of emotions as she mourns her dad's passing, just before her mom ties the knot again. On the flip side, Bridgette's been raised under the crushing weight of society's rulebook, hiding secrets in the shadows.

Enter their world where parental expectations loom large, and same-sex relationships come with a hefty price tag. This duo faces some wild hurdles, especially Bridgette, who’s caught in a whirlwind of new emotions for Maggie. Meanwhile, Maggie rocks her identity with pride, waving her flag as an openly gay individual without a hint of hesitation.

Things to know
Explicit language, explicit sexual scenes, abuse, conversion therapy, sexual assault, rape, incest, self-harm, attempted suicide, graphic torture, cheating, breath play and wax play, sapphic romance, stepsisters, secret society, bi-awakening

[⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ e l i ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

MAN.. i went into this book thinking it would be a enemies to lovers, taboo WLW dark romance, heavily smut leaning. the dark bit being like.. the gothic vibes of gallows hill university and the bretheren. i was mistaken. this book is tragic, devastating, and heartbreaking all in one. bridgette and maggie's story is a roller-coaster. i also felt like i wasn't going to be shocked much by what was happening, because half of this is telling the events that we knew from the other 3 gallows hill books, but from b & m's POV. yet again, i was proven wrong. this book lured me in with the "shocking" step sister aspect, then pushed me off the edge and abruptly ripped my heart out at every turn in the second half. incredible story. beautiful characters. overwhelmingly impressed by katelyn's ability to make you fall in love with characters you previously swore you hated!

[BigAzzReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself enjoying this book a lot more than I thought I would.

First of all, hate Bridget. Spoiled and a brat and entitled and everything you would imagine a rich kid to be. Kind of insufferable, even after you find out part of her back story. Not my fav.

Loved Maggie. No issues with her. I like her sass and confidence.

Asher? Don’t know what it is about him but I liked him even when he was a prick. I know, I KNOW. And clearly there’s something else going on with the guys and Skyla (spelling? Listened on audiobook).

I’m not sure what the other books are about but PLEASE tell me there’s going to be some sort of magic situation involved with witches and all that.

Anyway. I will read the other books when I get a chance!

[Amanda Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Sarah Loves Spice]

READ YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS.

Beautiful and heartbreaking and DISTURBING.