The Doll and The Domination Review
Melissa’s Rating: 5 stars
On Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Publication Date: January 1st, 2024
Page Count: 588
HEA: Not yet. Ends on an epic cliffhanger.
Version: eBook and physical
“When this is over, you’ll know how much I love you. Because this time, it’s my turn to help you remember me.”
Song pairing: I’m Coming For It by UNSECRET, Sam Tinnesz, and GREYLEE
~ Leading up to the final battle.
I feel like I am now in “the void.” With my thoughts. With my questions. With my sadness and shock for how this book left off. It was one epic ride throughout.
Picking up right where the last book left off, Dessin, Skylenna, and their new found family find themselves enslaved in a cruel prison at the hands of the most horrid breed of people. Oh, the things they went through. But one saving grace was that they had each other.
One minute I would be on the verge of tears, and the next I would be cracking up, most likely because of Niles. When you grow to love a character and their silly antics so much, it breaks your heart when they break down and lose it. These characters formed a special bond through their trials and friendship—a group of found family misfits whose hearts beat as one.
“I don’t think you understand. If I ever lost you, I wouldn’t last the week. There are no alters my brain could split off to bear that kind of pain. There’s nothing my mind could do to protect itself from that loss. I would simply stop breathing and find you again in the afterlife.”
This book was full of barbaric survival games and voyeuristic-themed Fun House Nights, designed solely to entertain the prison guards. Punishments were taken to another level. Prisoners faced bloodthirsty inbred monsters with cages on their deformed heads, memory-altering mind phantoms, gruesome dismemberment, and more. The Vexamen Prison made the Emerald Lake Asylum seem like a retreat.
“We will not leave this prison until you’ve paid for what you’ve done in blood.”
Did I mention this was an intense ride? I was constantly on edge, waiting for the next nightmare to unfold, hoping these characters wouldn't suffer a dire fate. They were all put through hell.
Everything came full circle in all the books. The way the author laid out the entire plot and all the twists from the very beginning was masterful, introducing new characters and situations throughout that seemed insignificant at first, only to stun you when they resurfaced later. AND THAT EPILOGUE—just… WHAT?!!
This series has been the perfect blend of being both plot and character driven, and so far a perfect five star series for me. It has shifted my whole taste in books a bit and put me in a complete book hangover. I know I’ll read anything Brandi writes from here on out.
“Because my rage, my heartbreak knows no bounds. I may not know how deep my power runs, but I can promise you this. Those who stand in my way will see my true face. Judge, jury, and executioner. Those who raise their swords against us, will watch as I bring heaven and hell with me!”
Tropes:
🪡 fantasy romance
🪡 dystopian fiction
🪡 found family
🪡 forbidden
**The photos used in my edits are not owned by me. My edits are solely for personal use and are not intended for distribution or sales. All credit for the original images goes to their respective owners.