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Decimation: A Dark Captive Romance
They took my name first. Then my face.
I was brought here to pay for sins that were never mine. Traded, reshaped, and punished until the woman I used to be is completely erased.
They say I look like her. They demand that I become her; become a living ghost. And when I fail, they remind me what happens to replacements that don’t fit their requirements.
For a long time, I believe there is only one man doing this. His cruelty and obsession simply wearing different moods like a living god who punishes and absolves at whim.
By the time I learn the truth, that there are in fact two of them, that they are twins, it’s already too late. I no longer remember who I was before they remade me.
And I don’t know if that loss terrifies me…or if surrendering to it is the only way I can survive.
I was brought here to pay for sins that were never mine. Traded, reshaped, and punished until the woman I used to be is completely erased.
They say I look like her. They demand that I become her; become a living ghost. And when I fail, they remind me what happens to replacements that don’t fit their requirements.
For a long time, I believe there is only one man doing this. His cruelty and obsession simply wearing different moods like a living god who punishes and absolves at whim.
By the time I learn the truth, that there are in fact two of them, that they are twins, it’s already too late. I no longer remember who I was before they remade me.
And I don’t know if that loss terrifies me…or if surrendering to it is the only way I can survive.
Audible Audio
Published September 2, 2026
About the author
Ellie Sanders
32 books725 followersInternational 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
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
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 2, 2026
This was one of my faves in the series. I love pitch black so I’ve enjoyed this series. I loved the narration , beautifully done. Plot, character development and storyline were all great as well! Solid listen.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Some audiobooks you listen to. Some audiobooks you experience. Decimation was the latter.
I genuinely thought I knew what I was getting myself into.
I’d already read the ARC. I’d already been completely wrecked by this book. I already knew the story, the twists, the darkness and the emotional devastation waiting for me.
And then Bluenose Audio dropped the ALC.
So naturally, I put it straight into my AirPods because apparently I hadn’t suffered enough the first time. 😂
And then I heard Joe Arden.
I honestly don’t know how to put his performance into words.
Joe didn’t simply narrate Decimation. He gave the character a voice, a presence and an intensity that made me feel like I was experiencing the story all over again. There were moments where I genuinely forgot I was listening to an audiobook because his delivery pulled me so completely into the scene.
His voice carried the darkness, the menace, the vulnerability and the emotion in a way that left me utterly speechless.
And then there was Juniper Reyes.
She was a completely new-to-me narrator, and what an introduction.
Absolutely phenomenal.
Her performance had such emotional depth. She brought vulnerability, strength, fear and determination to her character, and I found myself completely absorbed in her performance. She didn’t just tell me what the character was feeling—she made me feel it alongside her.
And together?
Joe Arden and Juniper Reyes were exceptional.
Their duet performance made the dialogue feel natural and immediate. There was something incredibly immersive about hearing the characters respond to each other rather than simply listening to alternating narration. It gave the story another layer, another heartbeat.
And for a book as dark and emotionally intense as Decimation, that mattered.
This is already a pitch-black, haunting story. It’s disturbing, uncomfortable, twisted and at times genuinely difficult to process. The trigger warnings are extensive for very good reason, and they absolutely need to be read before listening.
But the audiobook somehow made the darkness feel even more visceral.
There were moments when I sat completely still, AirPods in, just listening.
And then there were moments when I had to take one out and think…
“Did I really just hear that?” 😂
That’s the power of a great narration.
The story had already rocked my foundation.
These voices came along and kicked the foundations out completely.
I’ve listened to a lot of audiobooks, but performances like this are why I keep coming back to the format. When the casting is right, when the voices fit the characters and when the production allows those performances to breathe, the audiobook becomes something completely different from simply reading the words on a page.
And Bluenose absolutely delivered that experience.
I couldn’t have asked for a better cast to bring the final book of The Brethren Lords to life.
Joe Arden was outstanding.
Juniper Reyes was phenomenal.
Together, they were unforgettable.
And Ellie Sanders?
After everything this series has put me through, she somehow managed to create a finale worthy of it—and Bluenose gave it the voices it deserved.
This was my favourite book in the series.
Now it’s one of my favourite audiobook experiences too.
🎧 Joe Arden & Juniper Reyes
🎙️ Duet production by Bluenose Audio
My AirPods have officially survived The Brethren Lords.
I can’t say the same for me. 🖤
Five stars. Without hesitation. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I genuinely thought I knew what I was getting myself into.
I’d already read the ARC. I’d already been completely wrecked by this book. I already knew the story, the twists, the darkness and the emotional devastation waiting for me.
And then Bluenose Audio dropped the ALC.
So naturally, I put it straight into my AirPods because apparently I hadn’t suffered enough the first time. 😂
And then I heard Joe Arden.
I honestly don’t know how to put his performance into words.
Joe didn’t simply narrate Decimation. He gave the character a voice, a presence and an intensity that made me feel like I was experiencing the story all over again. There were moments where I genuinely forgot I was listening to an audiobook because his delivery pulled me so completely into the scene.
His voice carried the darkness, the menace, the vulnerability and the emotion in a way that left me utterly speechless.
And then there was Juniper Reyes.
She was a completely new-to-me narrator, and what an introduction.
Absolutely phenomenal.
Her performance had such emotional depth. She brought vulnerability, strength, fear and determination to her character, and I found myself completely absorbed in her performance. She didn’t just tell me what the character was feeling—she made me feel it alongside her.
And together?
Joe Arden and Juniper Reyes were exceptional.
Their duet performance made the dialogue feel natural and immediate. There was something incredibly immersive about hearing the characters respond to each other rather than simply listening to alternating narration. It gave the story another layer, another heartbeat.
And for a book as dark and emotionally intense as Decimation, that mattered.
This is already a pitch-black, haunting story. It’s disturbing, uncomfortable, twisted and at times genuinely difficult to process. The trigger warnings are extensive for very good reason, and they absolutely need to be read before listening.
But the audiobook somehow made the darkness feel even more visceral.
There were moments when I sat completely still, AirPods in, just listening.
And then there were moments when I had to take one out and think…
“Did I really just hear that?” 😂
That’s the power of a great narration.
The story had already rocked my foundation.
These voices came along and kicked the foundations out completely.
I’ve listened to a lot of audiobooks, but performances like this are why I keep coming back to the format. When the casting is right, when the voices fit the characters and when the production allows those performances to breathe, the audiobook becomes something completely different from simply reading the words on a page.
And Bluenose absolutely delivered that experience.
I couldn’t have asked for a better cast to bring the final book of The Brethren Lords to life.
Joe Arden was outstanding.
Juniper Reyes was phenomenal.
Together, they were unforgettable.
And Ellie Sanders?
After everything this series has put me through, she somehow managed to create a finale worthy of it—and Bluenose gave it the voices it deserved.
This was my favourite book in the series.
Now it’s one of my favourite audiobook experiences too.
🎧 Joe Arden & Juniper Reyes
🎙️ Duet production by Bluenose Audio
My AirPods have officially survived The Brethren Lords.
I can’t say the same for me. 🖤
Five stars. Without hesitation. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
September 3, 2026
Decimation is the final audiobook in Ellie Sanders’ erotic horror series, The Brethren Lords. First and foremost, check those triggers (of which there are many) before diving in to this very, very dark, captive romance. But if pitch black is your thing, this audio is definitely for you! I’m not going to touch on the plot much, because I don’t want to take the chance of spoiling anything. If you’ve read or listened to the earlier books in the series, you’ve heard pieces of what happens in this finale. But even if you know the “what,” it’s the “how” and the “why” that really tells the story. And Lordy, can Ellie Sanders tell a story! The plot is crazy twisted just like we lovers of this genre enjoy. The characters are high intensity and over-the-top in pretty much everything they do, but occasionally they let us see a glimpse of their heart (even if it’s mostly black). And the dialogue is so emotional and raw, that you can’t help but experience it right along with the characters.
Add in the insanely-good, duet-style narration from Juniper Reyes and Joe Arden, and you certainly feel as if you’re right in the middle of the action. Juniper Reyes is a new voice for me, but she absolutely nailed all the female characters, especially Leandra. This character ran the spectrum of emotions, and she truly made me feel every one of them. She made everything Leandra went through seem very real. Now, we all know how well Joe Arden can voice an unhinged character, but his portrayal of Lazarus is beyond unhinged. He gets you right into the character’s head. And hearing Joe portray this man who is physically and psychologically tortured—voicing his every thought—as Lazarus desperately tries to hold on to some semblance of himself and his sanity while being systematically unmade is an absolutely visceral experience. I honestly think this is one of Joe’s best performances to date, and that’s truly saying something with his career. So, if you enjoy erotic horror and/or pitch black, captive romances, this audio will 100% blow your mind! Strap in, folks, because it WILL get bumpy!
Add in the insanely-good, duet-style narration from Juniper Reyes and Joe Arden, and you certainly feel as if you’re right in the middle of the action. Juniper Reyes is a new voice for me, but she absolutely nailed all the female characters, especially Leandra. This character ran the spectrum of emotions, and she truly made me feel every one of them. She made everything Leandra went through seem very real. Now, we all know how well Joe Arden can voice an unhinged character, but his portrayal of Lazarus is beyond unhinged. He gets you right into the character’s head. And hearing Joe portray this man who is physically and psychologically tortured—voicing his every thought—as Lazarus desperately tries to hold on to some semblance of himself and his sanity while being systematically unmade is an absolutely visceral experience. I honestly think this is one of Joe’s best performances to date, and that’s truly saying something with his career. So, if you enjoy erotic horror and/or pitch black, captive romances, this audio will 100% blow your mind! Strap in, folks, because it WILL get bumpy!
September 6, 2026
OMFG!!!!! What a way to end a series....... Mind is blown.
Juniper Reyes and Joe Arden did an amazing job bringing this book to life.
It is very normal to connect Joe Arden with making you feel all the emotions with the way he doesn't just read you the story, he LIVES the story, he becomes the characters and makes you feel EVERYTHING, it is one of the reasons he is one of my favouirte male narrators.
To have Juniper come in and SMASH our FMC, with the same storytelling as Joe was breathtaking. She made you feel everything from her pain, to her raise to power and owning herself. Ellie couldn't have chosen two better narrators to finish this series and I wish I could go back and listen to it again for the first time because WOW.
This bok is not for the light hearted and while this is the only book in the series with a HEA it doesn't coming without a lot and I mean ALOT trauma among other things.
If you love the pitch black side of books then look no further, the Brethren Lords are waiting for you.
Juniper Reyes and Joe Arden did an amazing job bringing this book to life.
It is very normal to connect Joe Arden with making you feel all the emotions with the way he doesn't just read you the story, he LIVES the story, he becomes the characters and makes you feel EVERYTHING, it is one of the reasons he is one of my favouirte male narrators.
To have Juniper come in and SMASH our FMC, with the same storytelling as Joe was breathtaking. She made you feel everything from her pain, to her raise to power and owning herself. Ellie couldn't have chosen two better narrators to finish this series and I wish I could go back and listen to it again for the first time because WOW.
This bok is not for the light hearted and while this is the only book in the series with a HEA it doesn't coming without a lot and I mean ALOT trauma among other things.
If you love the pitch black side of books then look no further, the Brethren Lords are waiting for you.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’m gonna start out saying that this book is PITCH BLACK, check those trigger warnings. I have listened to the previous books and Decimation is just wild. Both Leandra and Lazarus have lived through the most horrific things but they did not break. Lazarus is absolutely unhinged and absolutely obsessed with Leandra. Juniper Reyes & Joe Arden did an amazing job bringing Decimation to life. Juniper did just a great job stepping in to Leandra shoes. And Joe always does amazing in unhinged MMC roles, he brings the crazy. I really liked this book and the series but it won’t be for the faint of heart. You must love pitch black books, good thing I do.
September 21, 2026
This book!
I think I might have reached my trigger limit. Some of these scenes were definitely the darkest I’ve read.
Each character in the book was so well thought out. All of the men were darkly depraved but you still wanted to know what made them tick. Why they did what they did.
The storyline was so well thought out and every scene necessary to paint a detailed picture.
There were times that I had to close the book and walk away but I always came back.
Ellie you have a gift!
Before reading this ensure you check the CW as they are there for a reason.
Thank you Ellie for sending me an advanced copy of the book.
I think I might have reached my trigger limit. Some of these scenes were definitely the darkest I’ve read.
Each character in the book was so well thought out. All of the men were darkly depraved but you still wanted to know what made them tick. Why they did what they did.
The storyline was so well thought out and every scene necessary to paint a detailed picture.
There were times that I had to close the book and walk away but I always came back.
Ellie you have a gift!
Before reading this ensure you check the CW as they are there for a reason.
Thank you Ellie for sending me an advanced copy of the book.
September 2, 2026
Before starting this book PLEASE DO CHECK OUT THE TRIGGER WARNINGS CAUSE THIS IS A PITCH BLACK BOOK.
Honestly when I started listening to this book I was like "where’s my morals" and then said to myself that I don’t have any left.
This is the book that will always stay with me even after I’m finished with this one. I didn’t just listened go this book, I devoured it and I can’t stop thinking about it.
I’d definitely recommend this book to all the pitch black readers.
Honestly when I started listening to this book I was like "where’s my morals" and then said to myself that I don’t have any left.
This is the book that will always stay with me even after I’m finished with this one. I didn’t just listened go this book, I devoured it and I can’t stop thinking about it.
I’d definitely recommend this book to all the pitch black readers.
October 4, 2026
Loved this audio. The narrator’s killed it. The emotion the devastation it all came into play with the audio you felt everything the characters felt they really brought them to life. Oh my word this book was so good and I loved Leandra she was the boss.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews