4.4 (69 ratings)

Possessed: A Dark Gothic Romance (Pythonissam Filia)

Name: Possessed: A Dark Gothic Romance (Pythonissam Filia)
Rating: 4.4 (69 reviews)
Author: Ava Thorne
ISBN: B0GHFFL58Z

by Ava Thorne

demons

About this book

Set against the suffocating backdrop of the 17th-century Bamberg Witch Trials, this haunting dark romance explores the dangerous intersection of piety and perversion. Katharina, the daughter of a woman burned at the stake, lives under the protection of Father Heinrich, a man sworn to God but increasingly tempted by the girl he is meant to mentor. When a single forbidden act on Beltane shatters his vows, the boundary between divine devotion and demonic obsession dissolves entirely.

This is a slow-burn gothic masterpiece that thrives on atmosphere and psychological tension. As Heinrich’s faith crumbles, he becomes a vessel for something ancient and hungry, transforming his protective instincts into an unholy, possessive fixation. The narrative masterfully leverages the high-stakes terror of the Inquisition, making the forbidden love between a witch’s daughter and a fallen priest feel both inevitable and catastrophic.

If you are drawn to atmospheric historical settings, morally ambiguous alpha heroes, and the thrill of religious horror, this tale will consume you. It is an unsettling, visceral journey through the shadows of the human soul. Katharina must decide if the man who saved her is still human—or if she is destined to surrender to a darkness that threatens to damn them both.

Publication Date: May 25, 2026
ASIN: B0GHFFL58Z

Reader Reviews

Dark, unsettling, and deeply rooted in faith vs desire

April 15, 2026

I went into Possessed already knowing that Ava Thorne tends to write stories that don’t play it safe, and this one fully commits to that. Set during the Bamberg Witch Trials, the book explores how belief systems shape people—and how they can be used to control and punish. Katharina’s journey is centered around her internal struggle between faith and desire, and that tension drives the entire story. The romance is complicated and layered, especially with the added supernatural element, and it...

A Dark, Moody Romance on the Backdrop of Religion and Witch Trials

May 6, 2026

Possessed starts with the dedication, \"To the Catholic Church, thanks for the trauma, but for doing it with incredible symbolism and drip.\" And from there takes us to the 1600's in the brutal era of the Bamberg, Germany witch trials, pulling no punches in the illustration of religion and how it allows men to hold power over women or those it otherwise sees as weak. We follow Katharina, a woman who watched her mother burned at the stake when she was young, now working in secret to help other...

Burn it Down

May 10, 2026

I am not only possessed but completely obsessed! Katharina and Heinrich inspire me to free myself of any doubt and go after the true power inside me. *full review coming soon* )

Dark, fairly blasphemous, hot, and full of feminine rage for this Easter

April 6, 2026

\"Patience doesn't mean accepting injustice.\" If you're looking for something dark, fairly blasphemous, hot, and full of feminine rage for this Easter, look no further because Ava Thorne has once again delivered a scorcher of a novella in her Pythnissam Filia series. This time set during the Bamberg Witch Trials, our main character is Katharina, daughter of a condemned witch, trying her best to keep her head down and survive while helping what women she can with her knowledge of herbcraft and...

incredible love story

April 7, 2026

This book was so good. A beautiful love story of a witch and the priest who tries to save her from the pyre. You could tell that Heinrich loved Katherina with every part of his soul. This book had my emotions everywhere. I could only imagine what it was like being a woman during the witch trials and how men see women today especially if they are powerful. Such a great story and well written. I cannot wait to read more from this author. )