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Dominion #3
Retribution
Eve trains as a Blood Witness and Vampire Hunter for the Council of Clairveaux's Special Cases Unit. As she prepares to protect humanity from Dominion, she's torn between the beautiful de Cernay brothers, Michel and Julien.
378 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 10, 2012
40 people are currently reading
492 people want to read
About the author
S.E. Lund
85 books1,037 followersS. E. (Elizabeth) Lund is a writer who lives on the side of a mountain in beautiful British Columbia, Canada with her family of humans and animals. She read Dracula when she was ten, and has been warped ever since. She reads many genres and writes in a few, including paranormal romantic suspense, high fantasy, and YA SF/F. Her books are available on Amazon Kindle, which can be read on any PC, Mac or Smartphone with the Kindle App, available in the App store and at Amazon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
November 2, 2016
1 Mundane-Star! ☆
The first two books were cool. This one was a little hard to get through. I was constantly bored reading about Eve's memory loss and how she wants to know her past but Michel just wont tell her. But then, finally when she finds out that Michel killed her mother, she gets mad at him, after telling him she wouldn't. So much drama... So much filler convo and events stuffed in that i kept glancing around my apartment for anything to do besides read.
And i thought i would like Eve falling in love in Julien more... She constantly goes back and forth between loving and hating either brother. It got to a point where I'm now a little bored with her whole romantic life.
The only good parts were the sex scenes. They didn't disappoint ;) Hot, erotic and lip-biting good. Even though some parts seemed a little repetitive, it was still good.
I don't know what happened with the story? It became very repetitious and dull.
Sadly this was one of the few books that i just couldn't finish. I went from falling asleep while reading it, to skimming over paragraphs but even that soon became a waste of time.
The first two books were cool. This one was a little hard to get through. I was constantly bored reading about Eve's memory loss and how she wants to know her past but Michel just wont tell her. But then, finally when she finds out that Michel killed her mother, she gets mad at him, after telling him she wouldn't. So much drama... So much filler convo and events stuffed in that i kept glancing around my apartment for anything to do besides read.
And i thought i would like Eve falling in love in Julien more... She constantly goes back and forth between loving and hating either brother. It got to a point where I'm now a little bored with her whole romantic life.
The only good parts were the sex scenes. They didn't disappoint ;) Hot, erotic and lip-biting good. Even though some parts seemed a little repetitive, it was still good.
I don't know what happened with the story? It became very repetitious and dull.
Sadly this was one of the few books that i just couldn't finish. I went from falling asleep while reading it, to skimming over paragraphs but even that soon became a waste of time.
December 15, 2012
5.0 Stars!
This book is as it should be....sexy, sensual, dangerous, powerful vampires. Put them in with a world that is scarey, deadly and uncertain...Add in plenty of players with their own agendas hurling toward the war for humanity and top it off with a girl who is torn between two gorgeous identical twins and you have yourself a great story.
Book One - Set the story, introduced the characters and brought us into the complicated world that Michel and Julian live in....
Book Two - Added more layers to the story, taught us more about the history of these characters and gave us details on what was going on. It confused us and we felt as cornered by indecision as Eve did.
Book Three - Let us see things come to a head. The world fell away the battle was on and an outcome emerged. But it is not the end of the story...We are only half way there. Like any good story we take a deep sigh of relief at the end, and then just when we are feeling safe and happy, the evil rears it's ugly head just to let us know they may have lost the battle but the war is far from over...they will be back!
My summery of the character of Eve: She started out a brilliant, talented, protected, frightened, angry, deprived young woman. She saw her mother murdered, her father who adored Eve is now mentally ill and living in an asylum. Although she has had some supportive foster parents growing up there have been others who abused her. She saw her mother murdered and has had a very difficult upbringing.
She has lost her faith in people, in life, in God. She has abandoned the things of beauty in her life - The things her parents wanted for her: music, dance the arts. She has replaced them with scientific and what she can prove. She has withdrawn internally, to take up her mother's cause as a vampire hunter and dedicate herself to fighting what killed her mother.
She becomes drawn into this scarey world in which vampires exist. In researching her mother's papers she meets Michel and slowly falls in love with him and later his brother Julian. Through them she learns more about the Vampire Hunting background her mother had, and the twin vampire brother's background and history. Although, she struggles issues of self confidence, trust and attraction and love....she slowly grows over the series to transformed into a more confident woman, who learns to fight and becomes resigned to the horrible world she now exists in.
Michel, a former priest, who still has faith in God, has wanted her to submit, to accept his rule without questioning, to just follow his lead and trust him. But so much like religious faith Eve has abandoned this type of thinking....blind faith. She has become very ridged, scientific, she needs proof that a God exists before she will believe in him. Likewise she needs information and to understand everything before she will follow Michel blindly.
Julian, a former knight, solider, is very concrete, is willing to provide enough information for Eve to make up her mind as to whether she wants to fight with him. He understands Eve's inner workings of her mind and her unwillingness to make any decision without deliberating the facts. He is sometimes exasperated by that but is tolerant and understanding. He is willing to indulge her, knowing that this is the type of woman Eve has become...trusting what she can see, understand and lean on.
Soren is an "ancient" who sired the vampire Margarita, who is Michel's and Julian's Sire. He is powerful and is one of very few who can control/compel Michel and Julian. He is evil and is toying with Eve and the twins. All she knows is that he wants to harness Eve in some way and eventually make her a slave. She is out to destroy him.
Eve has been self mutilating for years to deal with her inner pain, which is buried deep inside her. She cuts her self so that by feeling physical pain of the injury is an outlet for her inner pain. She secretly desires the ability to surrender herself to someone, be subordinate to that strong man. (Michele) But trusting her soul and mind to someone terrifies her so she constantly steps back into what is comfortable and familiar. (Julian)
She so much wants to submit to Michael but her inability to do so causes her to go back and forth Eve moves from one brother to another. In one of the books she comments that she feels like a pawn on a chess board....and she is told, she is not a pawn, rather the queen; A piece that is the most powerful, is protected at all costs and the reason wars were fought. She never get's a real understanding of why she is so important strategically in this world....or why either of the brothers want her so much. So she withdraws to what is comfortable.
Julian treats her as a lover who is invaluable to him. He plays the boyfriend, he romances her, treats her like gold and she loves that. There is a scene where he is picking her up at school leaning on his car dressed in jeans in a t-shirt and hot, hot, hot...everyone is staring and that man is waiting for her....he is hers and she marvels at how lucky she is. We all would love that experience. But despite her love and need for this man....deep inside her soul she still yearns for Michel.
Julian calls Michel insane and tells her that there are more than one way to beat Soren...to fight next to him as an equal. This appeals to her. It is comfortable, after all she is a modern woman...aren't men and women equal? She is in Julian's world, his equal she thinks and can feel control because she can decide what she does and doesn't do. She even starts to wonder if Michel even really loved her? Why would a man want me as a subordinate? He wants that so he can win in this war at any cost....even the cost of Eve.
But Michel proves to be even more powerful than Julian....he is able to swing into her life and let her know he will wait forever for her that he wants her to willingly come to him...that submitting to him is the only way to fight this war and he can not tell her why that is important without her dying. Eve is further frustrated. He begs her over and over to come away with him....her soul sings for him...but she cannot hurt Julian. While Michel has wanted her love but is willing to forgo it to win the war, even if it means both her and his demise, Julian, who has been so loving and desperate for her love would put her first....she believes.
This war is a war between two factions who both wish vampires to step out of the the shadows, hiding, and darkness to rule the world. Humans will not be the primary beings ruling any longer. But what form that enslavement of humans takes is different. One wants to control technology to control humans (Blackstone) and the other wants to control the church, replace God with their own. (Soren) Julian and Michel want neither. They are both committed to fighting the enslavement of Humans. They both believe there is a different relationship with humans that can be achieved. After all Vampires need humans...and Humans can benefit from Vampires.
While Julian and Eve are living undercover she meets several friends and one person in that group of friends is Dylan who appears to have something special about him. He is very mathematical, empirical and analytical, much like Eve...He starts to tell her more about the plot for Blackstone to emerge victorious. She sees him demonstrating the ability to alter the memory of humans and keeps it to herself. She needs to find out more about him. Soren also decides it is time tn enter Eve's life and she learns more about what he is and what his relationship is to her. He compels the twins to behave.
The world does start to fall apart, just as Michel had predicted and Eve must make decisions. She has come to the conclusion that she will probably die and that it is okay. That if this is to happen she will do what she can do to save humanity and at least give her death meaning. She also makes a decision about Julian and Michel. About who she wants to commit to, to be with.
To continue would mean giving away the end of this installment of this wonderful series and it would take hours to go over all the scenes, titbits of information, review conversations and explain all the twists and turns. I would rather say that the author has created a world in which Eve brings the reader which is rich with drama, dialogue, dangerous, sexy, emotional and action packed. This is a fabulous story, wildly wonderful characters and enough emotion and romance to capture my interest....I could not put it down and stayed up late to read it.
The author said there were two more books planned in this series. The little sample at the end of this book tantalizes as to what trouble Eve and "the boys" will be confronting in book four and I just can't wait to read it. Hurry Ms. Lund!
Great Read!
Book Trailers: http://youtu.be/dOraKHgxIe8
http://youtu.be/99vR3-I7AwY
Author website: http://selund.com/
This book is as it should be....sexy, sensual, dangerous, powerful vampires. Put them in with a world that is scarey, deadly and uncertain...Add in plenty of players with their own agendas hurling toward the war for humanity and top it off with a girl who is torn between two gorgeous identical twins and you have yourself a great story.
Book One - Set the story, introduced the characters and brought us into the complicated world that Michel and Julian live in....
Book Two - Added more layers to the story, taught us more about the history of these characters and gave us details on what was going on. It confused us and we felt as cornered by indecision as Eve did.
Book Three - Let us see things come to a head. The world fell away the battle was on and an outcome emerged. But it is not the end of the story...We are only half way there. Like any good story we take a deep sigh of relief at the end, and then just when we are feeling safe and happy, the evil rears it's ugly head just to let us know they may have lost the battle but the war is far from over...they will be back!
My summery of the character of Eve: She started out a brilliant, talented, protected, frightened, angry, deprived young woman. She saw her mother murdered, her father who adored Eve is now mentally ill and living in an asylum. Although she has had some supportive foster parents growing up there have been others who abused her. She saw her mother murdered and has had a very difficult upbringing.
She has lost her faith in people, in life, in God. She has abandoned the things of beauty in her life - The things her parents wanted for her: music, dance the arts. She has replaced them with scientific and what she can prove. She has withdrawn internally, to take up her mother's cause as a vampire hunter and dedicate herself to fighting what killed her mother.
She becomes drawn into this scarey world in which vampires exist. In researching her mother's papers she meets Michel and slowly falls in love with him and later his brother Julian. Through them she learns more about the Vampire Hunting background her mother had, and the twin vampire brother's background and history. Although, she struggles issues of self confidence, trust and attraction and love....she slowly grows over the series to transformed into a more confident woman, who learns to fight and becomes resigned to the horrible world she now exists in.
Michel, a former priest, who still has faith in God, has wanted her to submit, to accept his rule without questioning, to just follow his lead and trust him. But so much like religious faith Eve has abandoned this type of thinking....blind faith. She has become very ridged, scientific, she needs proof that a God exists before she will believe in him. Likewise she needs information and to understand everything before she will follow Michel blindly.
Julian, a former knight, solider, is very concrete, is willing to provide enough information for Eve to make up her mind as to whether she wants to fight with him. He understands Eve's inner workings of her mind and her unwillingness to make any decision without deliberating the facts. He is sometimes exasperated by that but is tolerant and understanding. He is willing to indulge her, knowing that this is the type of woman Eve has become...trusting what she can see, understand and lean on.
Soren is an "ancient" who sired the vampire Margarita, who is Michel's and Julian's Sire. He is powerful and is one of very few who can control/compel Michel and Julian. He is evil and is toying with Eve and the twins. All she knows is that he wants to harness Eve in some way and eventually make her a slave. She is out to destroy him.
Eve has been self mutilating for years to deal with her inner pain, which is buried deep inside her. She cuts her self so that by feeling physical pain of the injury is an outlet for her inner pain. She secretly desires the ability to surrender herself to someone, be subordinate to that strong man. (Michele) But trusting her soul and mind to someone terrifies her so she constantly steps back into what is comfortable and familiar. (Julian)
She so much wants to submit to Michael but her inability to do so causes her to go back and forth Eve moves from one brother to another. In one of the books she comments that she feels like a pawn on a chess board....and she is told, she is not a pawn, rather the queen; A piece that is the most powerful, is protected at all costs and the reason wars were fought. She never get's a real understanding of why she is so important strategically in this world....or why either of the brothers want her so much. So she withdraws to what is comfortable.
Julian treats her as a lover who is invaluable to him. He plays the boyfriend, he romances her, treats her like gold and she loves that. There is a scene where he is picking her up at school leaning on his car dressed in jeans in a t-shirt and hot, hot, hot...everyone is staring and that man is waiting for her....he is hers and she marvels at how lucky she is. We all would love that experience. But despite her love and need for this man....deep inside her soul she still yearns for Michel.
Julian calls Michel insane and tells her that there are more than one way to beat Soren...to fight next to him as an equal. This appeals to her. It is comfortable, after all she is a modern woman...aren't men and women equal? She is in Julian's world, his equal she thinks and can feel control because she can decide what she does and doesn't do. She even starts to wonder if Michel even really loved her? Why would a man want me as a subordinate? He wants that so he can win in this war at any cost....even the cost of Eve.
But Michel proves to be even more powerful than Julian....he is able to swing into her life and let her know he will wait forever for her that he wants her to willingly come to him...that submitting to him is the only way to fight this war and he can not tell her why that is important without her dying. Eve is further frustrated. He begs her over and over to come away with him....her soul sings for him...but she cannot hurt Julian. While Michel has wanted her love but is willing to forgo it to win the war, even if it means both her and his demise, Julian, who has been so loving and desperate for her love would put her first....she believes.
This war is a war between two factions who both wish vampires to step out of the the shadows, hiding, and darkness to rule the world. Humans will not be the primary beings ruling any longer. But what form that enslavement of humans takes is different. One wants to control technology to control humans (Blackstone) and the other wants to control the church, replace God with their own. (Soren) Julian and Michel want neither. They are both committed to fighting the enslavement of Humans. They both believe there is a different relationship with humans that can be achieved. After all Vampires need humans...and Humans can benefit from Vampires.
While Julian and Eve are living undercover she meets several friends and one person in that group of friends is Dylan who appears to have something special about him. He is very mathematical, empirical and analytical, much like Eve...He starts to tell her more about the plot for Blackstone to emerge victorious. She sees him demonstrating the ability to alter the memory of humans and keeps it to herself. She needs to find out more about him. Soren also decides it is time tn enter Eve's life and she learns more about what he is and what his relationship is to her. He compels the twins to behave.
The world does start to fall apart, just as Michel had predicted and Eve must make decisions. She has come to the conclusion that she will probably die and that it is okay. That if this is to happen she will do what she can do to save humanity and at least give her death meaning. She also makes a decision about Julian and Michel. About who she wants to commit to, to be with.
To continue would mean giving away the end of this installment of this wonderful series and it would take hours to go over all the scenes, titbits of information, review conversations and explain all the twists and turns. I would rather say that the author has created a world in which Eve brings the reader which is rich with drama, dialogue, dangerous, sexy, emotional and action packed. This is a fabulous story, wildly wonderful characters and enough emotion and romance to capture my interest....I could not put it down and stayed up late to read it.
The author said there were two more books planned in this series. The little sample at the end of this book tantalizes as to what trouble Eve and "the boys" will be confronting in book four and I just can't wait to read it. Hurry Ms. Lund!
Great Read!
Book Trailers: http://youtu.be/dOraKHgxIe8
http://youtu.be/99vR3-I7AwY
Author website: http://selund.com/
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2015
The war is on, the world is suffering, our cast of characters has increased by one new important player - Dylan. Dylan turns out to be an person of interest to Eve, even though he is currently associated with Blackstone.
I found the threat to the world to be fascinating... I know each time I go to a gas station I briefly think about the effect that petrochemicals have on my life (mainly what I have to pay for it, & its environmental effect on the world) but I have never considered the BIG PICTURE...well lets just say I give more thought to it now.
I find that I personally am much like Eve - as a child I was always asking why and it drove my Father crazy...Eve is still questioning everything in this book, and Michel is at his wits end at times. He continues to want Eve to submit fully to him and trust his decisions, he states that she is critical in saving the world, but that he can not share the fine details as each action creates a reaction, thus possibly changing the outcome of the events.
The brothers continue to have different ways of dealing with Eve, her importance to the salvation of mankind and the covenant with the vampires. Both love her and want to do everything to keep her happy, and have an void in the existence when she is not with them. As Eve continues to move between brothers, in an attempt to foil Blackstone and Dominion, Soren continues to use Eve as tool against the brothers, insuring their submission to him and their participation in his plans.
Blackstone and Soren continue to be the enemies, and mankind is non the wiser to what is going on. Eve continues to have feelings for both brothers, and continues to learn more about her history, purpose and her mother from each of them. Dylan our new character, brings more of Eve's history to the forefront (and we learn his importance to her), and has an active role attempting to destroy Soren.
The continued plot development is excellent, the descriptive & character elements awesome - the threat to mankind very real. All in all a very enjoyable read. I probably should have read these books slower, as it will be difficult to wait till the next book is out, but I'll be watching for it.
I also hope that further work by this author is as fantastic as this series is - these books are in my top 15 of best reads overall
I found the threat to the world to be fascinating... I know each time I go to a gas station I briefly think about the effect that petrochemicals have on my life (mainly what I have to pay for it, & its environmental effect on the world) but I have never considered the BIG PICTURE...well lets just say I give more thought to it now.
I find that I personally am much like Eve - as a child I was always asking why and it drove my Father crazy...Eve is still questioning everything in this book, and Michel is at his wits end at times. He continues to want Eve to submit fully to him and trust his decisions, he states that she is critical in saving the world, but that he can not share the fine details as each action creates a reaction, thus possibly changing the outcome of the events.
The brothers continue to have different ways of dealing with Eve, her importance to the salvation of mankind and the covenant with the vampires. Both love her and want to do everything to keep her happy, and have an void in the existence when she is not with them. As Eve continues to move between brothers, in an attempt to foil Blackstone and Dominion, Soren continues to use Eve as tool against the brothers, insuring their submission to him and their participation in his plans.
Blackstone and Soren continue to be the enemies, and mankind is non the wiser to what is going on. Eve continues to have feelings for both brothers, and continues to learn more about her history, purpose and her mother from each of them. Dylan our new character, brings more of Eve's history to the forefront (and we learn his importance to her), and has an active role attempting to destroy Soren.
The continued plot development is excellent, the descriptive & character elements awesome - the threat to mankind very real. All in all a very enjoyable read. I probably should have read these books slower, as it will be difficult to wait till the next book is out, but I'll be watching for it.
I also hope that further work by this author is as fantastic as this series is - these books are in my top 15 of best reads overall
September 30, 2013
Gauche--best adjective I can think of to describe Ms. Lund's Dominion series. The plot is less than novel, possibly bordering on hackneyed--hot vampires bent on world domination and subjugation of humans, yada yada. Others have already done a much better job of summarizing the series than I have want or time to. The grammar is at time atrocious and the world building, while complex, closely resembles verbal diarrhea (a flowing mess after which nothing is left but noxious fumes). It seems that there are numerous $5 words inserted into the text randomly (if you are counting, I have added $20 worth in this critique thus far). And I would have to doubt the tenacity of any editor who stamped this manuscript with their seal of publication.
One of my favorite parts of any book is the denouement. Is there closure? If not, is there sufficient evidence to suggest that the writer took me on the journey not in order to provide me with a gift wrapped ending but rather a lesson in morality, sacrifice, love, etc.? Is there one in Dominion series, you might ask? Well, I don't suppose I will never know since the series is incomplete, there have been no additional books since 2012 and I cannot find anywhere on Ms. Lund's website where future publication dates are posted, although several other readers have made mention of two additional books. Since it was utterly forgettable, I doubt I shall seek out the proposed additional books.
I think my final bill is $30.
One of my favorite parts of any book is the denouement. Is there closure? If not, is there sufficient evidence to suggest that the writer took me on the journey not in order to provide me with a gift wrapped ending but rather a lesson in morality, sacrifice, love, etc.? Is there one in Dominion series, you might ask? Well, I don't suppose I will never know since the series is incomplete, there have been no additional books since 2012 and I cannot find anywhere on Ms. Lund's website where future publication dates are posted, although several other readers have made mention of two additional books. Since it was utterly forgettable, I doubt I shall seek out the proposed additional books.
I think my final bill is $30.
August 5, 2015
As much as I was hanging out for this book and hoping for explanations and some clarity, this is just going downhill for me. Our Eve is caught bewteen the two 800 year olda sexi vampire brothers and can't choose. She loves them both. They both tell her snippets of information, but nothing really makes sense as everything they are saying seems to contradict each other. She's with one of them for a while, then things change and she's now with the other. There is so much sex in this book that it's actually uncomfortable and boring. I found myself just flipping the pages because I was sick of reading them. And the language... It really bugs me how the word 'fuck' is used all the time. Isn't there another way of expressing what they're doing? It really made me quite angry. I don't mean to say that they made love, because it sure as hell was never that, but maybe having sex? And the BDSM stuff also was a tad too much. This whole book was just a tad too much. It could have been written with over 100 pages less and it would have made more sense. It's so bloody complicated, so weird, so much that by the end it wasn't enjoyable at all. And the ending... I think I'm only going to read the last book out of obligation. Because I have no idea where it all could go and frankly I stopped caring around midway through after the gazillions time they fucked.
What a shame to ruin such a promising story.
What a shame to ruin such a promising story.
December 19, 2012
I have fallen in love with this series! It just gets better and better! Michael and Julien are the stuff really good dreams are made of! Honestly sometimes Eve gets on my nerves constantly questioning and not stopping even when she knows better... but she is so young and I guess a lot of us were exactly the same way! And villains? I can not imagine one scarier than Soren. I was able to finish this book in 2 days despite several moments where I had to stop because tears kept me from being able to read! The teaser for the next book has me waiting on edge again for the next release... sigh. I love where this series has taken me and hope it goes on for a long time.
February 26, 2013
The review is for Dominion, Ascension and Retribution as this series is soo good I could not stop for a break!
This was a great roller coaster - woo-hoo! Wanna do that again!
This is the one of the better paranormal,dark urban fantasy,steamy,romance,suspense thrillers that I have read - fans of the X-files and the Makers Song Series by Adrian Phoenix will enjoy these books. There were soo many twists, turns and switch backs that I had whiplash by the cliffhanger end!!! (yes this one also had one!)
http://www.facebook.com/EroticaBookClub
http://www.facebook.com/gina.tobin.14
This was a great roller coaster - woo-hoo! Wanna do that again!
This is the one of the better paranormal,dark urban fantasy,steamy,romance,suspense thrillers that I have read - fans of the X-files and the Makers Song Series by Adrian Phoenix will enjoy these books. There were soo many twists, turns and switch backs that I had whiplash by the cliffhanger end!!! (yes this one also had one!)
http://www.facebook.com/EroticaBookClub
http://www.facebook.com/gina.tobin.14
January 8, 2013
A very good, heavy sexual, and dark read. A little slow on story plot and a little long in sexual relationship for me. However, still they are very worthy, well developed, and well written books by a new super up and coming indy author. You must start with book one or you will miss the dance of story through them all. There are still two to come that I shall read the day they are published; but book three stops at just the right point with a clif-hanger that is perfect. I wish other authors handled them as well. I am sure most of you will enjoy this set as well!
January 12, 2013
5 stars!!! Awesome series!!! The erotic scenes between Eve, Michel, and Julien have gotten even hotter! Then there is the power struggle for Dominion from the the opposing fanatics, Blackstone and Soren's minions. You are never sure who is working for good or evil! And there is the introduction of a new character with a surprising connection! This story keeps evolving in uniquely unpredictable ways that keeps me glued to my reader! I can't wait to see what is next for Eve, Michel, and Julien!!!
January 9, 2013
Amazing! I'm so glad I stumbled across this series. This is the third book in the Dominion series and I loved all of them. The story is fast paced and just seamlessly carries on from the second book. As with the previous two books there are some hot and steamy sex scenes. If you like sexy vampires with powers of telepathy etc, a love triangle, a bit of history, religion and science, then I would definitely recommend these.
April 29, 2015
Where do I start with this book. Besides the typo mistakes it wasn't to bad. While reading this book all I wanted to do a times is kill Eve. I have no idea how Michel,and Julien are twin vampire brothers that were changed by the same vampire in the 1200's. I wonder sometimes how they can put up with her. I would have handed her over to the enemy along time ago. Eve at times is a very annoying character, she jumps from loving one brother too the next and then back again.
July 31, 2017
This book was by far the best of the series so far. There was a actual story line that moved in a forward direction. It didn't just repeat itself like the first to books seem to.
For me to read a book in one day, you know it had to be pretty darn entertaining. All of the questions from the first two books were finally answered. Eve, became a much better main character. I've always loved the two brothers, but I'm a pushover for vampires. Love them in every way. The boys couldn't do anything wrong.
Our bad guy, Soren, even got way more interesting.
So, if you can make it through the first two books, this book ties it up nicely and is a hell of a good read.
For me to read a book in one day, you know it had to be pretty darn entertaining. All of the questions from the first two books were finally answered. Eve, became a much better main character. I've always loved the two brothers, but I'm a pushover for vampires. Love them in every way. The boys couldn't do anything wrong.
Our bad guy, Soren, even got way more interesting.
So, if you can make it through the first two books, this book ties it up nicely and is a hell of a good read.
October 16, 2018
DNF
I couldn’t continue this story. This is book 3 and nothing is happening and dragging on. Michel and Julien are assholes who have done nothing but screw up Eve’s life. Eve is also a fucking cry baby and I just can’t handle her personality anymore. When she lost her memory due to another one of Michels mistakes, I just kept thinking like how stupid is this guy? He’s been around for 800 years and he’s this dumb? I don’t plan on reading anymore of this series. It’s not for me. Too much drama that isn’t written very well.
I couldn’t continue this story. This is book 3 and nothing is happening and dragging on. Michel and Julien are assholes who have done nothing but screw up Eve’s life. Eve is also a fucking cry baby and I just can’t handle her personality anymore. When she lost her memory due to another one of Michels mistakes, I just kept thinking like how stupid is this guy? He’s been around for 800 years and he’s this dumb? I don’t plan on reading anymore of this series. It’s not for me. Too much drama that isn’t written very well.
July 9, 2017
A little disappointed with the third book, and is it just me but I'm kind of bothered by the fact that Eve just refuses to choose between the two brothers? She keeps saying how she doesn't want to be like Margueritte but I really don't see a difference...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 5, 2025
3.5 stars
The series started off so well, but there has been so much repetition of the same angst and the plot has taken WAY too long to move forward. I peeked at reviews for books 4 and 5, and it seems that the repetition and unending angst continues. Getting off of the train here.
The series started off so well, but there has been so much repetition of the same angst and the plot has taken WAY too long to move forward. I peeked at reviews for books 4 and 5, and it seems that the repetition and unending angst continues. Getting off of the train here.
April 24, 2018
Mesmerized
Couldn't put this book down either. Gripping from beginning to end. Wish I was a vampire too!! Can't wait for the next read.
Couldn't put this book down either. Gripping from beginning to end. Wish I was a vampire too!! Can't wait for the next read.
December 27, 2022
🔸4 stars🔸
May 3, 2015
I didn't hate it! I know, normally that wouldn't be a recommendation for a book But considering how I felt at the end of book two, a basic, 'I didn't hate it' is high praise indeed.
Michel never managed to endear himself to me and for much of this book I wished he would disappear again. But at the VERY end, he showed a side I could maybe like. Eve was still pitiful. She just showed no real volition. She basically went with any man who came for her. Yea, she complained about it, but when Michel came for her she went with him, then when Julien showed up she scarpered with him, then Michel took her again, and then Dylan snatched her up and she just floated along with him too. She went along with Soran's plans and basically allowed herself to be used by everyone. She was a seriously, wimpy woman who I didn't enjoy at all. BUT, I didn't want to slowly scrape the skin from her scalp as I did throughout Ascension. That's an improvement right? Julien however, Julien I fell a little in love with. I think it was the first time in the whole series I actual connected with a character. Too bad he was so easily controlled.
I'm still lost about Michel's insistence on total submission from Eve. It just made no sense. Every-time Eve asked why he wanted it, he responded with some variation of, "I don't want it, you do" (which already annoys me because it inferred she was too stupid to even know her own feelings, but he of course could) or "we have to do it to fool Soran." Both answers bother me.
The first because it's an occluded fallacy. It ignores the fact that he wanted it very much and not just for her benefit. It's what he liked in general. This was made apparent on numerous occupations, though he seemed to continue to deny it. Plus, if it really were just for her, all that would be needed would be sexual domination, which she was willing to give him. It was blind control of the rest of her life she chafed about and that non-sexual domination (what she wore or ate, whether she was or wasn't on birth control, where she lived, when she was allowed to speak, etc) in no way addressed her personal issues that submission was claimed to free her from.
Second, how exactly was her act of submission supposed to fool the super-evil, TELEPATHIC bad-guy? It just wouldn't. So why bother with the act? It all felt like Michel's lie to get control of her, which made me hate him and lose respect for her for allowing it.
Though most of the writing was fine, the whole 'for' thing became like nails on a chalkboard to me. Here is an example sentence, "He pulls me into his arms and I let him, not fighting his touch for I need it now." Multiply that by about 400. The patter started to grate.
The book did drag a bit in the middle, but Eve was finally allowed to leave the bedroom long enough to participate in at least some of the action—even if it was blindly, without being told the details (little more than an animate tool). I swear there wasn't a single man in the book(s) who thought she deserved to know anything, let alone be party to a decision and she let this pattern ride. I still think the vampire/angel Biblical battle plot is an interesting one. Too bad it's being drug over so many books. Though this book does actually have a conclusion of sorts, a new arc was established at the tale end. So, there must be more books to come. I'm afraid I won't be looking them up though.
Michel never managed to endear himself to me and for much of this book I wished he would disappear again. But at the VERY end, he showed a side I could maybe like. Eve was still pitiful. She just showed no real volition. She basically went with any man who came for her. Yea, she complained about it, but when Michel came for her she went with him, then when Julien showed up she scarpered with him, then Michel took her again, and then Dylan snatched her up and she just floated along with him too. She went along with Soran's plans and basically allowed herself to be used by everyone. She was a seriously, wimpy woman who I didn't enjoy at all. BUT, I didn't want to slowly scrape the skin from her scalp as I did throughout Ascension. That's an improvement right? Julien however, Julien I fell a little in love with. I think it was the first time in the whole series I actual connected with a character. Too bad he was so easily controlled.
I'm still lost about Michel's insistence on total submission from Eve. It just made no sense. Every-time Eve asked why he wanted it, he responded with some variation of, "I don't want it, you do" (which already annoys me because it inferred she was too stupid to even know her own feelings, but he of course could) or "we have to do it to fool Soran." Both answers bother me.
The first because it's an occluded fallacy. It ignores the fact that he wanted it very much and not just for her benefit. It's what he liked in general. This was made apparent on numerous occupations, though he seemed to continue to deny it. Plus, if it really were just for her, all that would be needed would be sexual domination, which she was willing to give him. It was blind control of the rest of her life she chafed about and that non-sexual domination (what she wore or ate, whether she was or wasn't on birth control, where she lived, when she was allowed to speak, etc) in no way addressed her personal issues that submission was claimed to free her from.
Second, how exactly was her act of submission supposed to fool the super-evil, TELEPATHIC bad-guy? It just wouldn't. So why bother with the act? It all felt like Michel's lie to get control of her, which made me hate him and lose respect for her for allowing it.
Though most of the writing was fine, the whole 'for' thing became like nails on a chalkboard to me. Here is an example sentence, "He pulls me into his arms and I let him, not fighting his touch for I need it now." Multiply that by about 400. The patter started to grate.
The book did drag a bit in the middle, but Eve was finally allowed to leave the bedroom long enough to participate in at least some of the action—even if it was blindly, without being told the details (little more than an animate tool). I swear there wasn't a single man in the book(s) who thought she deserved to know anything, let alone be party to a decision and she let this pattern ride. I still think the vampire/angel Biblical battle plot is an interesting one. Too bad it's being drug over so many books. Though this book does actually have a conclusion of sorts, a new arc was established at the tale end. So, there must be more books to come. I'm afraid I won't be looking them up though.
February 24, 2015
Retribution is outstanding, head-spinning and heart-wrenching! Wish I could give it more than 5 stars! 5++
I loved the first two books of this series. Dominion hooked me from the very beginning and it was an amazing story throughout. Lots of back story to learn but well worth it. Ascension was really good, though not my favorite. Not because of the writing but because of some of the events that occurred and the behavior of the characters; more frustration than anything. Still love the book and the series though. So of course, I wanted to continue reading the series and book 3 Retribution did not disappoint! (Read it when it was released; just realized I never reviewed it here on Goodreads.)
So, Book 3 - Retribution: Talk about the roller coaster ride, with twists and turns and several 'I did not see that one coming' turn of events in this installment. Several things happen to challenge Michel, Julien and Eve. Some good decisions made, some not-so-good decisions made, but all kept me turning pages to find out how they managed to get through it and what would happen next. While the first two books had pretty major 'aghhh-inducing' cliff hanger endings, the author was a little gentler with the ending of Retribution but there are definitely loose ends to be cleaned up in the final book. Looking forward to it! So, if you like PNR/UF, mystery/suspense, a bit of action and a good bit of steaminess, and you liked Dominion and Ascension, book 3 still has all that and more! (Note: Be sure to read Dominion and Ascension, in order, before reading Retribution.)
I loved the first two books of this series. Dominion hooked me from the very beginning and it was an amazing story throughout. Lots of back story to learn but well worth it. Ascension was really good, though not my favorite. Not because of the writing but because of some of the events that occurred and the behavior of the characters; more frustration than anything. Still love the book and the series though. So of course, I wanted to continue reading the series and book 3 Retribution did not disappoint! (Read it when it was released; just realized I never reviewed it here on Goodreads.)
So, Book 3 - Retribution: Talk about the roller coaster ride, with twists and turns and several 'I did not see that one coming' turn of events in this installment. Several things happen to challenge Michel, Julien and Eve. Some good decisions made, some not-so-good decisions made, but all kept me turning pages to find out how they managed to get through it and what would happen next. While the first two books had pretty major 'aghhh-inducing' cliff hanger endings, the author was a little gentler with the ending of Retribution but there are definitely loose ends to be cleaned up in the final book. Looking forward to it! So, if you like PNR/UF, mystery/suspense, a bit of action and a good bit of steaminess, and you liked Dominion and Ascension, book 3 still has all that and more! (Note: Be sure to read Dominion and Ascension, in order, before reading Retribution.)
January 13, 2013
This 3rd installment in this 5book series once again opens immediately after its predecessor ends. While Eve is healing from her injuries she finds she has no memory of the last dozen years or so, possibly putting her effectively away from the war. After re-meeting Michel, Eve decides once again that she loves him. Subsequently she discovers information from her own hand and memories which could put her back into the fight and away from Michel and into Julien, Soren or Blackstone’s paths.
Once again I have to give a standing ovation to the excellently woven tale while confessing I’ve yet to become a fan of the heroine Eve. Despite the multiple genre’s crossed this works still defies being pigeon-holed and fits equally within paranormal, urban fantasy, erotica, romantic suspense and myster equally. Great chemistry, wonderful sex scenes and equally perfect action pieces keep the pages moving rapidly. The multi-layered deCernay twins test your moral compass as they still are willing to go to any length to get Eve as their personal adept and the factions (Blackstone, Soren, etc.) are murky enough that there is no clear line drawn. I was glad that there was more for Julien this time out and I enjoyed the newer secondary characters in their support role.
This is a series that can be cumbersome to follow even reading in order (with the omissions, switchbacks and seemingly double-cross) but would be close to impossible to follow if read out of order.
Once again I have to give a standing ovation to the excellently woven tale while confessing I’ve yet to become a fan of the heroine Eve. Despite the multiple genre’s crossed this works still defies being pigeon-holed and fits equally within paranormal, urban fantasy, erotica, romantic suspense and myster equally. Great chemistry, wonderful sex scenes and equally perfect action pieces keep the pages moving rapidly. The multi-layered deCernay twins test your moral compass as they still are willing to go to any length to get Eve as their personal adept and the factions (Blackstone, Soren, etc.) are murky enough that there is no clear line drawn. I was glad that there was more for Julien this time out and I enjoyed the newer secondary characters in their support role.
This is a series that can be cumbersome to follow even reading in order (with the omissions, switchbacks and seemingly double-cross) but would be close to impossible to follow if read out of order.
August 12, 2016
I am really in love with this series and can't put it down!!!! I am glad to see Eve starting to get tougher and make difficult decisions.
In this book we learn more about Soren (ugh!) and his diabolical plan to take over the world. I was starting to worry that everything that is happening with Michel and Julien's relationship with Eve was all part of Soren's crazy compulsions.
I really like the introduction of Dylan and am glad Eve has someone she can trust completely. I am still finding it hard to trust either of the brothers because of their relationship with Soren. However, I am still hopeful that their love for Eve will prevail!!!
Also, I am still hopeful that Eve, Michel and Julien will finally have the ménage à trois I have been dying to read about!!! ;-) Pretty please with sugar on top S.E. Lund!?!?!?!?!
In this book we learn more about Soren (ugh!) and his diabolical plan to take over the world. I was starting to worry that everything that is happening with Michel and Julien's relationship with Eve was all part of Soren's crazy compulsions.
I really like the introduction of Dylan and am glad Eve has someone she can trust completely. I am still finding it hard to trust either of the brothers because of their relationship with Soren. However, I am still hopeful that their love for Eve will prevail!!!
Also, I am still hopeful that Eve, Michel and Julien will finally have the ménage à trois I have been dying to read about!!! ;-) Pretty please with sugar on top S.E. Lund!?!?!?!?!
January 20, 2013
★★★★★★★
I felt like I needed more stars for this book. Retribution is, by far, my favorite book of this series, up to this point. There are a lot of revelations in this book to most of the mysteries & questions that are left lingering from reading Dominion & Ascension. The feeling of satisfaction from this is almost as overwhelming as the emotional roller coaster rides & plot twists we are faced with in this book. I wait in anticipation of the next book in this series to find out what new adventures this author takes us on as we explore what Eve & the gorgeous twins will have to go through to fight Dominion, as well as, figure out a way to have their cake & eat it too - pun intended. :-)
I felt like I needed more stars for this book. Retribution is, by far, my favorite book of this series, up to this point. There are a lot of revelations in this book to most of the mysteries & questions that are left lingering from reading Dominion & Ascension. The feeling of satisfaction from this is almost as overwhelming as the emotional roller coaster rides & plot twists we are faced with in this book. I wait in anticipation of the next book in this series to find out what new adventures this author takes us on as we explore what Eve & the gorgeous twins will have to go through to fight Dominion, as well as, figure out a way to have their cake & eat it too - pun intended. :-)
December 6, 2014
Ugh. The only thing I have suffered as much (well, more--much more, actually) was Robin Hobbs' Soldier Son series. Ugh. The misery, hoping there would be something at the end of the slog to make it all worthwhile.
And then nothing of the sort. At least SS taught me to cut my losses. I thought I was into a 3-book series here and (not surprisingly, because the actual intrigue seems destined to be something always alluded to so the crap parts of the story can take center stage), as it seems clear there will be no end, I'm done. Even my OCD won't keep me reading.
Bleagh. The D/s crap pissed me off and Eve clearly should have just been an actual heroine, picked Julien, and let the other crap sort itself out. Absolute bollocks, the whole mess.
And then nothing of the sort. At least SS taught me to cut my losses. I thought I was into a 3-book series here and (not surprisingly, because the actual intrigue seems destined to be something always alluded to so the crap parts of the story can take center stage), as it seems clear there will be no end, I'm done. Even my OCD won't keep me reading.
Bleagh. The D/s crap pissed me off and Eve clearly should have just been an actual heroine, picked Julien, and let the other crap sort itself out. Absolute bollocks, the whole mess.
March 6, 2017
I rate this as 3.5. Dominion books 1 & 2 had my complete attention. I was so conflicted about Michel, Julien and Eve; concerning struggles with each other while dealing with events that affected their lives. I purchase book 3 immediately after completing book 2. At this point I'm looking forward to reading about out the overly hyped mystery and suspense that has been slowly building up from previous books. I want answers!!. What I read was more back and forth love triangle. Some answers came but it didn't happen 87% into the book. For me, the character Soren was the highlight of the book. Just about everything dealing with him made me laugh; he was too funny. I love a charming bad guy. At this time I'm not interested in reading book 4 of the Dominion series. It's on my to read list.
April 7, 2013
The 1 star I give this book is all Julien`s, because I liked the storyline and I love Julien. I Really like Julien as a character, he is wonderful everything a guy is supposed to be like. But I just HATED the parts with Michel, I had to skip parts of that story because I thought it was just so full of crap I almost barfed.( Could we kill him please?) I don’t get what this has to do in here and I don’t like the 50 shades of grey vibe. Since I hate those books that ruins the reading experience overall for me with this book. What I hoped was a great series turned out to be something I hope I forget super-fast, yuck!!!
July 9, 2015
4 stars
There was a few typo's, but the story got me in anyway. I have to say, I really really wanted to hit,shake,stake Eve. For Gods sake woman get a grip, grow a backbone and make sensible choices. She annoyed me beyond compare. She is determined not to be like Margurite, but she is with both brothers anyway, just not at the same time. I love both the twins, and don't really understand all the negative comments about Michel. He tried so hard to do the right thing, even though he craved and loved her. Julien is no contest, he is just loveable no matter what.
I still really enjoyed this book, and have just started book 4
There was a few typo's, but the story got me in anyway. I have to say, I really really wanted to hit,shake,stake Eve. For Gods sake woman get a grip, grow a backbone and make sensible choices. She annoyed me beyond compare. She is determined not to be like Margurite, but she is with both brothers anyway, just not at the same time. I love both the twins, and don't really understand all the negative comments about Michel. He tried so hard to do the right thing, even though he craved and loved her. Julien is no contest, he is just loveable no matter what.
I still really enjoyed this book, and have just started book 4
October 21, 2013
Ok this whole series just got too crazy with the whole twin brothers fighting for the same girl, and the said same girl just being a nitwit about the whole thing. I was starting to get annoyed in the 2nd book, but I plowed through it just to see what would happen, but at this point, I really don't care. The characters are not well developed and I find myself actually hating the main character. Not to mention the bad grammar and sentence structure actually bothered me (whereas normally I can deal with it, not this time). I'm done with this series.
May 27, 2015
More and more and more twists in this series. I have to admit, I really am falling in love with these characters. The writer gives you so much insight to how they feel and what they feel they have to do. It's rare considering the entire series is all first person and what Eve is doing and thinking. I'd love to have a read along that had the twins point of view and to explain some of the things that Eve doesn't experience personally. But even with that one view, it really gets into everyone's head as to where they stand. Love this series.
Read
June 30, 2016So Eve has found herself in the heart of a war she never knew was coming. Michel can't understand why Eve won't just submit to him and trust that he can make the right decisions to see them through this battle. The world is in utter chaos as all petrochemicals have all denigrated. The world is basically back to the stone age. Julien, Michel, and Eve have quite the complicated relationship which is trying at times. Soren is now using Eve as tool but won't share is plans with anyone. Twists and turns at every corn in this third installment.
August 9, 2016
This is the worst book of the series, and the historical aspects of the story are very intriguing. The problem is the series goes downhill from here so if you start reading it, you'll be less satisfied with every subsequent book you read. The author tries to create a love triangle and add more tension as the books progress. Instead she just makes the heroine annoying and the story unnecessarily convoluted.
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