The Book
Falling for the Butcher Saint
The Saints of Slaughter · Book 1
My name is Angel DeMartin. To my devout followers, I am the butcher saint, El Santo Encarnado. If they only knew the real reason men fear my name. Don't let the designer leather fool you. I am no saint. I lost my faith many years ago. I am a mere husk, performing for a crowd that doesn't see the monster underneath. That was until one catastrophic night left me with a throne I never wanted and a grief I refuse to feel. Now, I am in the market for a weapon. I need muscle. I need someone who annoys the living hell out of me but is still useful enough to keep around.
My name is Kashton Laurent. If we're using government names, then it's Kashton Laurent II. I've spent as long as I can remember being the strong one. The big brother who makes sure everyone else survives the hellhole we call life. My hands carry the scars of my past and soon the mistakes of my future. Conning people was my gig, right up until the opportunity of a lifetime fell into my lap. It was supposed to be a simple job. Now, I'm dragged into the middle of a literal cult. It turns out the biggest payout I've ever seen comes with a catch: a freezing, violet-eyed king who is as dangerous as he is arrogant. I just need a lead on my brother, but I'm quickly realizing that dealing with this saint might cost me way more than just my pride.
Two men who are a complete contradiction. One who only knows how to buy loyalty. The other who only lives when he feels useful. Neither of them trusts a soul, let alone each other. As a buried conspiracy claws its way to the surface, these two discover that some things cannot be purchased. Now, they must decide if the heat between them is just another transaction, or the one thing in this rotten world worth freezing for.
Fire meets ice. A saint meets a stray. A slow burn where the body count is only just beginning.
Release date:
Pre-Order NowContent Warnings
- Graphic violence
- Explicit content (18+)
- Dark themes
The Series
The Saints of Slaughter
Welcome to a world where salvation is sharp. In the Saints of Slaughter series, the line between monster and savior is written in blood. These aren't saints you pray to for forgiveness. These are men you call when you need a body buried. From the blood-soaked altars of the Butcher Saint to the shadow court, this series follows dangerous, morally grey men and the chaotic loves that bring them to their knees.
Book 1
Falling for the Butcher Saint
The story of Angel and Kash — a freezing, violet-eyed saint and the con man dragged into his cult. Fire meets ice in a slow burn where the body count is only just beginning.
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Book 2
[ Title To Be Revealed ]
Coming Soon
Book 3
[ Title To Be Revealed ]
Coming Soon
About the Author
Manuel Cross
Hey sinners, I'm Manuel Cross, author of Falling for the Butcher Saint, Book 1 of The Saints of Slaughter series. If you like dark MM romance, morally grey characters, and a dash of sanctimonious chaos, you've come to the right place. Check me out!
Author Statement
To my hopefully soon-to-be readers and anyone who stumbles upon my work.
It is no secret that my body of work is drenched with religious iconography, saints, prayer beads, and holy sacraments. I would like to take this moment to tell you a bit more about myself and my brand.
Growing up as a gay Puerto Rican, I was surrounded by faith, family, and silent judgments. It was the same kind of environment that raised me, fed me, and demanded love, while prayers for the sinner went out daily. To reiterate, I understand this kind of tension not as a theory, but as a lived experience.
All that is to say, my work is not a mockery of faith; instead, it is intended to shed light on a path where benevolent faith can exist during a time of rising, extreme christian nationalism.
What this looks like:
- I honor those with genuine belief, the quiet, personal, soul-deep kind.
- I carry zero tolerance for the institutions that choose to weaponize faith for their own malevolent intentions to control, exclude, or break people.
- My character arcs are about deprogramming from a narrative that uses religious authority figures as cover for who we are or aren't allowed to be.
Furthermore, the choices of my brand are deliberate, maintained with deep respect for those who love the very thing used to make them feel less than. There remains a carefully drawn line that my work lives on.