Deprivation - PART TWO: A Dark Captive Romance

by Ellie Sanders

Genres: Dark Romance, Erotic Horror, Secret Society, Audiobook

410 pages, Paperback

Published February 28, 2026

About the author

International bestselling author of Pitch Black Romance.


Ellie Sanders lives in rural Hampshire, in the U.K. with her partner and two troublesome dogs.

She has a BA Hons degree in English and American Literature with Creative Writing and enjoys spending her time, when not endlessly writing, exploring the countryside around her home.



Hit her up on her the following accounts.....

FB Group: The Hot Steamy Writer
Instagram: @hotsteamywriter
TikTok: @hotsteamywriter
Twitter: @hotsteamywriter

Reviews

[Anna Nenna · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yet another one marketed in the wrong category as dark, pitch black romance - here on GR and another on one of my subscriptions - it also doesn’t have a HEA!
Nothing is safe about this content!
FMC is beaten severely by MMC (broken jaw and bones), he continues to sleep with OWomen, there is non consensual sharing, forced FF scenes, grape, orgies and so many other stuff that is nowhere near safe territory! Humiliation might seem an understatement to describe this tragedy!
This is yet another relentless, depressing loop of human cruelty that serves zero romantic purpose!
Enter at your own risk!
Btw for those wondering- the audio is in duet style!

[Kristy aka Brooksie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Antonio McCrae, aka The King Maker, is a modern-day Game of Thrones Littlefinger. A master manipulator of powerful men, working behind the scenes to help run an unstoppable organization that runs countries, companies, and cities, being ruthless and cutthroat. He is cunning, cruel and calculated. He will stop at nothing, do anything, destroy anyone who gets in his way, and when he wants something, such as an old adversary's daughter, Grace, whom he manipulated and then murdered to get who he wanted on this dark, twisted throne of the organization he pulls the strings for, he will have her. In the way his organization handles these situations, she is held captive in a facility for several years until she turns 21. Untouched by any man, she is auctioned off as such, and her owner can claim her for himself in any way they see fit. Which is exactly what Antonio does. 

You would think that, given the amount spent to buy her, he would treat her as special and precious, but it is the complete opposite. He has no respect for the women he takes, and he makes sure that once she gets back to his mansion, she is trained like the others. To obey, be absolutely compliant in all his wants and needs. To defy him is to be brutally punished, both during her "training" and afterward. Grace's treatment and torture are unimaginable throughout this book. Just when you think she will get a reprieve from her horrific treatment, it's all a lie.   

“How do you bring down a King? You capture his Queen.”

Warning‼ This is a very dark story and is described as erotic horror, NOT romance. There is no HEA. Please check triggers ‼

Although this book was extremely difficult to listen to at times with what the FMC goes through, it was like a car accident. I couldn't look away. I did, however, have to take a few breaks because it is very heavy. This is the darkest book I have listened to thus far, so the warnings are there. Look up the triggers before diving into this story. If you cannot handle extreme dark trigger-riddled stories, do not read/listen to this book. It is not fair to the author to give a review based on the content if it is something you cannot handle. The narrators did an excellent job in their roles of this audiobook. 

Thank you to the author, @hotsteamywriter, and @bluenoseaudio, for the advanced ALC of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review. As always, I appreciate the opportunities Bluenose gives me to listen to these books prior to their release. 

If you read 24690 by A.A. Dark, in my opinion, this book is darker than that.

[Bree Black · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this one on KU so part 1 and 2 were together. So far this one was my least favorite of the series, not because it wasnt good, but because i didnt care much about the MMC story. I wouldnt say that this FMC had the worst story of the bunch, but she may have the worst ending/reality that she has to deal with. You would have to read it and make up your mind on that front. I have a hard time imagining anyone having a worse fate that the girl in one of the previous books that was paralyzed and lobotomized...

[Tanja · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️ (for Part 1&2) this book made me feel all the emotions. The MMC was complex and pitch black. The last 30% were epic! The Brethren Lords is a unique Series!
As all Books in this series this should only be read by extremely dark romance/Horror Readers!

[viktoria🤍 · Rating 4 out of 5]

in-fucking-sane

[Chanel No.1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought I hated Conrad more but this asshole takes the centre stage. Poor Grace 😩 At some point I was rooting for her de@th .. she deserved the way out

[Just Virginie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review – Deprivation by Ellie Sanders

Woop woop — book four of the Brethren Lord series is finished, and once again it was one hell of a ride.

This time we follow Antonio, also known as the Ringsmaker, and Grace. At first you might think Antonio is the slightly softer one among the brothers… but that assumption disappears very quickly. He is another completely unhinged, morally pitch-black MMC, and the monster living inside him is very real.

Grace, on the other hand, completely impressed me. I loved her strength and determination. Despite everything she’s forced to endure, she keeps her mental strength and refuses to break. Watching her hold on to that resilience made her such a compelling character.

And of course… this book ends on another brutal cliffhanger. Which means now the waiting begins until the next book releases. And after everything this series has put me through, I already know I’ll be diving straight back in. 🖤🔥

[Kaprii Roper · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didnt think ellie could sink darker but they there she goes!
Antonio is just sick! The deepest darkesy depths of hell is where he was born.
I thought the other books the girls had it bad but then poor grace got thrown in to the mix!

Ellie doesn't write romance, or any form of fluffy cloud and i live for it. Are we all sick probably but let's be that together.

I haven't read anything darker than these books
They are well written, a great story and the blackest of the blackest.
Highly recommend to those black hearted girlies not looking for a HEA but the devil himself.

[Brittney]

📚 Deprivation
🖋️ Ellie Sanders
✨ The Brethren Lords
🎧 Performed in duet by Sarah Mills and Alex Robertson
🏛️ Publisher: Blue Nose Publishing

🖤 One phrase: pitch black erotic horror that does not blink.

This sounds less like romance and more like a full descent into something brutal, claustrophobic, and deeply unsettling. A captive heroine, extreme power imbalance, coercion, and a man with absolutely no redeeming qualities? Yeah, this is clearly meant to be read as dark erotic horror, not a love story, and I actually like that the review you shared makes that distinction so clearly. The audiobook is listed as The Brethren Lords, narrated by Sarah Mills and Alex Robertson, and published by Blue Nose Publishing.

What makes this one stand out is the intensity. From your notes, it sounds like the audio performance made everything feel even more disturbing and immersive, which honestly feels perfect for a book like this. My favorite part of your take is how clearly you framed it for the right reader: pitch black, deeply upsetting, and absolutely something to check trigger warnings for first.

✨ Tropes & vibes
🖤 pitch black erotic horror
⛓️ captivity
😮 age gap
👁️ coercive control
💀 secret society
🚫 no HEA
🔥 disturbing audio intensity

📖 Read this if you like
🖤 books that go far past dark romance
⛓️ deeply unsettling captive stories
🎧 audiobooks that heighten the intensity
🌑 stories meant to disturb more than comfort

This sounds like the kind of book that leaves you staring at a wall after and questioning your life choices.

#audiobook #pitchblack #secretsociety #nohea #fyp

[Charlene's Bookish Archives · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an intense continuation of Grace and Antonio’s story, and it definitely kept me hooked from beginning to end.

Grace has been through an unimaginable amount, but what really stood out to me was her determination not to let everything that has happened take away her strength. She refuses to simply accept her circumstances, and I loved seeing that fight in her throughout the story.

The atmosphere was dark, tense and filled with uncertainty. There was always the feeling that something could go wrong, which kept me turning the pages and wondering how Grace and Antonio's story would unfold.

Antonio is such a complicated character, and there were definitely moments where I wasn't sure what to make of him. His history with Grace and her family adds so many layers to the story, and the revelations and emotional conflict kept things interesting.

What I enjoyed most was the sheer emotional intensity. This isn't an easy or lighthearted read, but it certainly made an impact. Grace's resilience and determination were the heart of the story for me.

Deprivation is a dark continuation filled with secrets, danger, betrayal, complicated characters and plenty of emotional turmoil.

Definitely check the content warnings before picking this one up, because the themes are extremely dark, but if you've already started Grace and Antonio's story, this is a gripping continuation that brings even more twists and intensity.

Five stars for keeping me completely invested in their story. 🖤⭐

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yeah, I finished it but I'm still sitting here wondering how I feel about what happened, having questions about things with no one to get answers from and left actually feel more sorry for Grace than the first 3 FMC'S.

Someone said that they believe that Grace has it worse and that there is no happy ending while others state that it ends with a "happily for now". I'm here to tell you Grace gets no kind of happy. At least with the previous books you can see the twisted love/obsession the MMC has for the FMC. Antonio just has obsession with no love.

Antonio is Cruel, when you think he's getting better.....he's not!

I'm just stuck on the ending. Like is she kept in a continues drugged state? Is she so fat now that she cant walk? And how can Antonio go from being totally distraught and screaming out when he finds her....begging her to not die......staying by her bedside...... to doing the end scene. So she's just a dog now, he shut off the feelings?

[Tabathareads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie Sanders knows how to write pitch black stories, and this book is no exception. If you have read the earlier books in this series, you already know exactly what kind of ride you are signing up for. This is not a dark romance with a few dark elements sprinkled in. It fully embraces the darkness, so definitely heed the trigger warnings.

That said, I continue to be completely invested in this world and these characters. The tension, the twisted dynamics, and the overall atmosphere kept me hooked from beginning to end. Sanders has a way of pulling me into these stories even when they push well outside my comfort zone.

My only real complaint is that this one felt a little too long. There were points where the pacing dragged, and I think the story could have been tighter. Even so, I still had a great time with it and will absolutely keep reading anything set in this world. A solid 4 star read for me.

[Vickers422 · Rating 5 out of 5]

BLACK. This book is the absence of light. The way Ellie Sanders writes makes you fall onto the pages and into the characters heads. Her words are dark dark poetry. Chapter 18 is so hauntingly beautiful I read it three times. With each book in the series you can see her writing evolve.
This book is a musical not fit for a person's ears who may be offended or uncomfortable with the slightest words of any sort of assault. With that said Ellie Sanders makes you want to cheer for the FMC, Grace's strength and motivation that is on an edge of a knife. Then with that same knife Ellie Sanders makes you later question your resolve for the MMC Antonio. Only to plunge that knife into your heart, over and over again. However, your heart was already bleeding for poor Grace. Only a magnificent artist can orchestrate such a beautiful awful piece of fiction. Thank you Ellie Sanders.

[Paige (wingsandsmut) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another pitch black book in the Brethren Lords series and I couldn’t stop listening. Be sure to check your TW because this book and series is VERY dark and not romance, definitely more erotic horror! Antonio has NO redeemable qualities and I truly don’t know how Grace stayed as strong as she did. I feel like the audio really elevated this book and made it so much more intense! Sarah Mills performed as Grace and Alex Robertson was Antonio - both of them were new to me narrators, but they did a fantastic job with this audio!

𝔚𝔥𝔞𝔱 𝔱𝔬 𝔢𝔵𝔭𝔢𝔠𝔱:
🖤pitch black erotic horror
🖤age gap
🖤power imbalance
🖤secret society
🖤no HEA

Thank you to Ellie Sanders and Blue Nose Audio for letting me listen and review an ALC of this!

[Lauri Walston · Rating 5 out of 5]

holy cheeseballs!!! I've been part of this journey for awhile and even though the books are hard to read (triggers) the story line is fantastic!! It's like watching a car wreck or something traumatic... you don't want to watch it but you do. These books have me in a trance, you are well aware that you should not victim shame it's just not done. This series though has you thinking of how you the victim made it worse for them ... then it gets you thinking if the book itself changed your own way of thinking?! rationally you wouldn't side with the villain, right??!!

all in all I love these books!

alc review 5 🤩
duet narrations 5 ⭐

NO HEA
NOT A ROMANCE
NOT A LOVE STORY
READ THE WARNINGS IF YOU HAVE TRIGGERS

[Luis León · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 (otra vez, en general al libro completo, con los dos volúmenes, le doy un 4.5)

" pero después de la oscuridad que he soportado, este sentimiento, por peligroso que sea, es lo único que parece real" - Grace.

bueno, esté es un final diferente, no es un final """"feliz""""" como los otros. aquí ni siquiera hay una pizca de luz al final del túnel, y ya entiendo por qué alguien dijo que Grace era la que había tenido el peor destino de las otras.

Antonio es un monstruo, es incluso más irredimible que los otros mmc's.

recuerdo que no quería que esté libro se acabe, también que Antonio me gustó un poco pero no, nadie debería de tener un crush por este monstruo.

necesitaba leer el final de Grace, la curiosidad es fuerte.

menos de 48 horas me duró la segunda parte de este libro.

[Ashlee Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I actually ARC read this one. Per usual Ellie DID NOT DISAPPOINT. Antonio is the cold, calculating, manipulative. Grace is fierce, even when she doesn’t see it. Ellie doesn’t just tell this horrific story, she immerses you in this world of f*cked depravity and power. Do not go into this book thinking that it is “dark romance”. If you read it as dark romance, you’re either going to be traumatized or complaining about it because there’s NO ROMANCE. Not really.. anyway. You’ve been warned. So don’t review it as such. This is a perfect example of psychological erotic horror. Grace’s situation is the stuff of nightmares and the fact that there are men out there who are just like Antonio is even more terrifying.

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind blown! That is what I have to say about this book. Antonio was a MONSTER but Ellie Sanders writes monsters so well. I’ve listened to all the audios in this series and this one has definitely took the cake for the most unhinged. Antonio wins Grace at an auction and puts the poor girl through hell. I would definitely check trigger warnings before listening but I would 1,000% recommend this book to my unhinged loving friends.

Sarah Mills and Alex Robertson are two new to me narrators but they did an incredible job narrating this book. I would definitely listen to them again. Thank you Blue Nose for allowing me to ALC this book and thank you Ellie Sanders for writing your unhinged MMCs! 🙌🏽

[alisha jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not sure how to feel after this one. Make sure to check your triggers because this dark - pitch black there is no redemption happening.

I feel like grace got the worst outcome of all the FMCs and I am heartbroken for her. For all she went through and what she will go through.

Antonio is on my shit list. He is unreasonable piece of shit.

Ellie has done another great job writting this one. My heart is broken and the audio was done so well you can hear the emotion put into these characters that make them come alive.

[Samantha aka samsbookspam · Rating 5 out of 5]

what to expect:
pitch black plot!!
forced sharing
cultish/religious themes
NO HEA
captivity
secret society

y'all this one lol good lord have mercy... is this series messsedddddd up?! Very. Did i eat up every book so far? sure did. I can't really tell you much...our FMC is auctioned off to the highest bidder and is now literally a captive, with a beyond twisted individual. As usual Ellie had my jaw dropping at many twists and turns but again...ate it up! lol

Duet narration by Sarah Mills and Alex Robertson!

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Sanders’ Deprivation is pitch black, disturbing, and completely impossible to put down.

The tension is constant, the emotions hit hard, and the psychological darkness never lets up. Read the trigger warnings.

Poor Grace. Antonio, you are the worst.

Sanders isn’t afraid to push boundaries, and every moment is disturbing and pitch black and impossible to ignore.

A brutal, addictive, unforgettable read that left me emotionally wrecked and desperate for the next book.

[Janene · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG what can I say. Ellie you did it again. What a book this was. I done the audio aswell and safe to say effective visual were definitely a force to be reckoned with. Antonio is as intended the worst MMC in the series so far, I had such visceral reactions to this. Grace what can I say, her strength definitely showed as much as it was obliterated. Highly recommend this but definitely check your triggers this is PITCH BLACK. I loved it

[Nyx Hollow · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is depraved. Like… pitch black, no light at the end type of dark.
Check trigger warnings before you even think about starting it.
Antonio is irredeemable—and that’s what makes it so intense.
The writing is so descriptive you feel every scene.
And Grace? The way she holds on… unreal strength.
The narrators made this completely addictive.

Thank you blue nose for the ALC

[Athena, the goddess of books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Antonio definitely takes the cake in the Villains series. Even though Conrad's actions might be worse, at least Brynn is happy because of her condition, whereas Grace lives in hell until the very end. I am looking forward to Konstantin's story!

P.S. Make sure to check the TW list—it’s a loooong one! Also, this isn't an HEA in the traditional sense, so don't say you weren't warned!

[Jordan Voller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was soooo long to where I actually put it down for awhile because I lost interest in it. Once I picked it back up I did get into it and enjoyed the ending.
Not sure how this one got banned bc it wasn’t as dark as the first two. Those will forever be my favorite of the series. Now onto the 5th!

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy cow, that was the darkest story I've ever read. Just when you think it can't possibly get any worse, it does, and then it does again, and again and somehow manages it again! Jesus Christ, I don't know what depths of hell Ellie Sanders gets her inspiration from because it's truly terrifying. If you want a proper horror book that's gonna sit with you, this is the one.

[Kendra Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not for the faint of heart! It is pitch black. I know the themes in this book are rough to swallow but the story in this series is addicting. I absolutely loved all the books! I recommend these to anyone interested in taking a step into the dark side.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listen. This one was hard to listen to but I couldn't stop. I don't even know if I have my thoughts together for this review yet. The audio totally elevated the story and made it that much darker! This one is not for everyone.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Sanders is my bestie…..yes yes yes

[Sydia Robin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long and exhausting. I did not feel anything for these 2. Disappointing