For a book published in 1796, this book could easily be a made for TV movie. Indeed, the series "Supernatural" has some similarities. 
 By the end of the book, I was thinking he won't go there. He did. That's not to say the book was predictable. It's more that I was shuddering and feared what would happen next. 
 There is romance, holy vow breakage, sex, murder, rape, a woman pretending to be a man, and more. By the way, did I mention this was written in 1796. At one point, I was thinking this scene couldn't even be on television today. 
 One of my favorite quotes is "Rather, redouble your outward austerity, and thunder out menaces against the errors of others, the better to conceal your own." Since this "advice" was given to a monk who was learning how to sin, it reminded me greatly of today's Clergy Sex Scandals. Maybe, this book should be required reading for clergy. Sadly, it would be too scandalous.