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Mother of Manipulation: Where Faith is a Weapon and Love is a Lie
"A mothers love can be a prison. Hers was a weapon."Jamal Price has spent years rebuilding his life—a stable marriage, a newborn daughter, and a hard-won peace—all to escape the suffocating grip of his narcissistic mother, Beatrice. But when tragedy strikes and Beatrice slithers back into his world, Jamal’s fragile resolve shatters.
Beatrice Price is a master manipulator, to strangers shes a charm, to Jamal, she is the architect of his nightmares. Her narcissism knows no bounds—gaslighting, guilt, and God are her tools. Now, she wants control over his new family, and she’ll exploit every secret, every scar, to get it.
As Jamal battles her relentless schemes, the ghosts of his childhood the barn where he and his siblings were punished, the chilling silence after his sister Jasmine’s death, and the suffocating lies Beatrice spun to bury her sins. To protect his daughter, Jamal must confront the truth about his mother’s cruelty—and the dark legacy she’s determined to continue.
Beatrice Price is a master manipulator, to strangers shes a charm, to Jamal, she is the architect of his nightmares. Her narcissism knows no bounds—gaslighting, guilt, and God are her tools. Now, she wants control over his new family, and she’ll exploit every secret, every scar, to get it.
As Jamal battles her relentless schemes, the ghosts of his childhood the barn where he and his siblings were punished, the chilling silence after his sister Jasmine’s death, and the suffocating lies Beatrice spun to bury her sins. To protect his daughter, Jamal must confront the truth about his mother’s cruelty—and the dark legacy she’s determined to continue.
285 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 15, 2025
9 people are currently reading
44 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
December 24, 2025
this book was absolutely amazing. from page one I was drawn in. this story grips you and keeps you reading wanting to know what's going to happen next. I was so engrossed with this book, I read it in one sitting.
this story focuses on a mother who doesn't know love. the discipline, abuse, and manipulation she puts her children through is devastating.
even after they're grown, they still live with fear and it just pulls at your heart. I felt so bad for Jamal and Darius. but I loved that they found love outside of their mother's rule.
this is a very emotional read. it talks about child abuse, manipulation, and traumas after the fact.
so please keep that in mind if you read this book.
it was a very good book overall though. a few mistakes here and there, but nothing that throws of the amazing story that this is.
it was haunting and dark. so keep that in mind.
thank you Athena for allowing me to read this for you. ❤️
this story focuses on a mother who doesn't know love. the discipline, abuse, and manipulation she puts her children through is devastating.
even after they're grown, they still live with fear and it just pulls at your heart. I felt so bad for Jamal and Darius. but I loved that they found love outside of their mother's rule.
this is a very emotional read. it talks about child abuse, manipulation, and traumas after the fact.
so please keep that in mind if you read this book.
it was a very good book overall though. a few mistakes here and there, but nothing that throws of the amazing story that this is.
it was haunting and dark. so keep that in mind.
thank you Athena for allowing me to read this for you. ❤️
February 22, 2026
I liked the premise and the plot of this book decently well. I could see where it was going, and it was engaging at certain times, but there were parts of this that had me struggling a little. First would be the consistencies with character descriptions. One of our female characters is described in the beginning as have darker blonde hair, but in a flashback memory, she is seen as having black hair on one page and then two pages later has blonde hair again. Another instance, was the 3 year old child. In the beginning of the book, this child is seen as being in a walker (what babies use) and as babbling, which doesn’t seem standard for a 3 year old in good health. But later in the book, the child is seen as walking and talking like a typical 4 year old, and these instances take place in less than a year of each other. It just doesn’t seem plausible in reality. Secondly, the timelines on the book threw me off as well. Most of it happens in the present time with glimpses into the past, but these glimpses almost happen at random times and doesn’t flow well within the book. You also don’t realize you have travelled back until you read within the context and then you notice. I think having chapter headers could solve this problem. And lastly, the points of view the book is told in, is kind of sporadic. It is told in third person, but you got the POVs of 3-4 people, and sometimes it changes within the same chapter. It always kind of confused me as to whose thoughts we were listening to. I feel like clear chapter headers could work to help this, or just focusing on one person’s POV throughout the whole book. Just seemed a little chaotic.
Aside from these points, the plot of the book was very interesting and a good take on how manipulation and control can ruin relationships within families. And just shows that sometimes the people you trust fully aren’t blood related family at all.
Aside from these points, the plot of the book was very interesting and a good take on how manipulation and control can ruin relationships within families. And just shows that sometimes the people you trust fully aren’t blood related family at all.
January 15, 2026
This book truly had all the ingredients to be an incredible read, which honestly made the disappointment sharper. I was immediately drawn in, and there were moments where I thought yes, this is about to come together, but the execution never fully landed.
The story struggled with flow and cohesion. The constant back-and-forth in time felt underdeveloped and often confusing, making it hard to stay immersed. I found myself frustrated by the pacing, wishing it would either move faster or build toward something more intentional.
Unfortunately, the climax didn’t arrive until the final two pages, which left the entire reading experience feeling unbalanced. There was so much potential here, but the lack of structure and payoff kept it from becoming the powerful story it clearly wanted to be.
The story struggled with flow and cohesion. The constant back-and-forth in time felt underdeveloped and often confusing, making it hard to stay immersed. I found myself frustrated by the pacing, wishing it would either move faster or build toward something more intentional.
Unfortunately, the climax didn’t arrive until the final two pages, which left the entire reading experience feeling unbalanced. There was so much potential here, but the lack of structure and payoff kept it from becoming the powerful story it clearly wanted to be.
January 15, 2026
ummm wow!! when i say I was addicted to reading this and didn't want to stop. I was hooked from the first chapter. if you like unhinged and want a character to hate, this book gives you one. I took off one star as I dont think thrillers need to be quite this long and a cliff hanger for a book 2..I love thrillers cuz they generally wrap up at the end with a nice little bow. This is def worth the read though. all characters were very flushed out and the author told you their back stories so you understood them now.
February 18, 2026
3.5-4 Stars
This is a psychological thriller that kept my interest until the end.
The MMC survived a mother’s abuse and a father’s indifference, only to be dragged back into the toxic relationship, after he has started anew. The trauma he and his siblings haunts his dreams and one incomplete memory is the key to the truth of his sister’s death.
This story is about overcoming trauma and learning to face the past in order to move forward. There is a heavy theme of child abuse if many forms, be prepared if this might trigger you.
This is a psychological thriller that kept my interest until the end.
The MMC survived a mother’s abuse and a father’s indifference, only to be dragged back into the toxic relationship, after he has started anew. The trauma he and his siblings haunts his dreams and one incomplete memory is the key to the truth of his sister’s death.
This story is about overcoming trauma and learning to face the past in order to move forward. There is a heavy theme of child abuse if many forms, be prepared if this might trigger you.
February 9, 2026
That was the fastest I’ve ever I’ve ever read a 400 pg book before. The way this book sucked me in and kept me reading for more. I couldn’t stop. The pacing was great, and the way the story unfolded was perfect. What the heck was that ending!!?? How dare you make me throw my kindle across the room! 5 stars… chefs kiss!
February 9, 2026
this book was amazing!!! the way it grabs you in the first page! I was HOOKED!!! The story was heartbreaking but also amazing! the ending had me throwing my kindle! I need more of their story like yesterday! chefs kiss!!!
January 17, 2026
OMG!!! This book was absolutely amazing! I loved the ending how it ended on a cliffhanger and im so excited to read the second book in the series, Mother of Manipulation 2 when it comes out in February!!!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews