Fallen

The Dark Necessities Prequels #2

by Felicity Brandon

She should have run while she had the chance...

Lily Simpson escapes, leaving her brooding captor to rot, but she's still not free. Unable to resist the forbidden temptation Ethan Reilly offers, Lily is once again drawn back into his dangerous web of power and submission.

When they travel north, their desire blooms into something even darker--something Lily both detests and adores in equal measure. But when she learns of the fate of her best friend, everything changes. The question is, will there be a second opportunity to escape Ethan's clutches?

Suspenseful, thought-provoking, and peppered with breathtaking scenes, this fast-paced psychological, dark romance will haunt you.

This book contains dark and twisted scenes. You have been warned...

Genres: Dark, Romance, Dark Romance, Contemporary

355 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 26, 2019

About the author

USA Today bestselling writer of dark, suspenseful romance.

Find Felicity here:
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/FelicityBrandon

Reviews

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark and Depraved Erotic Romance!

“Fallen” picks up right where “Flawed” left off with heart pounding action, suspense and heightened apprehension. Frequently, serial novels tend to lose steam along the way but with “Fallen”, the second Dark Necessities Prequel, the suspense continues to intensify along with the scorching heat! The twists and turns just keep coming, hurtling the reader on a roller-coaster ride of emotion. “Fallen is a dark, twisted, highly emotional psychological chiller/thriller, impossible to put down. Professionally written and extremely fast-paced, the plot flows seamlessly, pitting predator against prey. Ethan, the antihero, is a deadly psychopath with an otherworldly connection to the heroine, Lilly, who is intelligent and imbued with an indelible strength. Both characters are complex and struggle with deep-seated emotional needs as well as issues. “Fallen” is not a standalone novel, ends on a cliffhanger and is expressed in dual POV.

Caution: “Fallen” portrays Ethan as a darkly depraved individual who exudes control and sexual dominance through elements of humiliation, subjugation and physical as well as psychological punishment. Please heed the authors warning related to content.

Disclaimer: No Kindles were seriously harmed while reading this novel. Children 18+ only due to dark themes and sexually explicit content within an unequal power exchange dynamic.

Disclaimer for the Disclaimer… The term “seriously harmed” is not intended to include: overheating, scorch marks, minor melting or inconsequential fire that can be put out with an extinguisher. Fire retardant gloves highly recommended while reading. Reviewer is not responsible for run-on sentences, questionable grammar or misplaced commas.

RATING DETAILS (Based on 1 to 5 Gold Stars):
STEAM FACTOR: 5 Scorching Hot, Decadent Stars!
WRITING STYLE: 5 Professional Stars!
PLOT: 5 Riveting Stars!
ENGAGING CHARACTERS: 5 Darkly Depraved Stars!
CONCLUSION: 5 Stalk the Author Stars!

*** I voluntarily received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review ***

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/19/2021)! 🎁

[KittyLuvr · Rating 5 out of 5]

**15++ Stars** INTENSE STELLAR DEPRAVED SUPERB TWISTED HORRIFYING MESMERIZING
I just finished 'FALLEN', & Ms Brandon again demonstrates what a beautifully twisted, brilliant & maniacal GENIUS she is in crafting a story.
Ethan (anti-H) has re-captured his Little Flower, Lily (h), & she has MUCH to answer for: imprisoning him, running from him, betraying his trust. But will Lily be able to survive Ethan's punishments & 'lessons'? Will Ethan be able to continue to rein in his 'darkness' when his anger at Lily's transgressions are so livid?
Ethan demands perfection & complete honesty from his Little Flower, or else.
But, Ethan hasn't been completely truthful with Lily himself, & Lily is honing her ability to read Ethan's mind. Just how long may he be able to keep this last secret from her? And if he isn't able to do so, what then will happen between he & his Little Flower? For Lily is made of sterner stuff then it appears.

How can this writer be anything other than superb when her writing ability, her plot & her characterizations virtually FORCE me to LIKE Ethan & voluntarily plunge deeper & deeper under his spell? How may I fault Lily for her decisions & actions when I am just as guilty as she when it comes to Ethan? HOW can the author take such a reprehensible, heartless, lethal character & cause me to gravitate towards him, despite his past, his crimes, his depravity, his cold cruelty, his mocking & harsh punishments? HOW?
I was so affected by the author's writing in this book: it was flawlessly smooth, deceptively enticing, beautifully evocative in it's darkness & depravity, suspense, terror & fear.
I FELT Lily's terror, rage, confusion as bit by bit she continues to see Ethan's darkness revealed despite her innocence & love trying, hope against hope, to believe he isn't the complete monster she fears he really is. And at each reveal I felt Lily's frantic attempts to hold her head above the water & try to out maneuver & survive an older, more powerful, brilliant predator focused on keeping her forever.
And Ethan: The reader is drawn into his POVs, to see the conflicting & dangerous feelings the outwardly cold predator has for his Little Flower. How even Ethan must combat his natural proclivities & darkness to preserve the one woman (other than his sister) he truly does not want to permanently harm. His mind is logical, precise, completely amoral & is focused only on his wants, needs & dark depraved desires. All of which center on Lily.
The writing swirled me voluntarily into the horrifyingly intense journey that BOTH Lily & Ethan are taking in order to find their way, in their way, to their version of a HEA. . . .
I thought FALLEN would be like falling down Alice's rabbit hole. IT'S NOT, it's a BLACK HOLE from which there is NO ESCAPE . . . .

[EducatedBookFreak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This psychological, emotional, twisted and all around amazing book will have you riding a rollercoaster of emotions and feelings. Hang on tight! You’re in for the ride of your life!!

Let me just say Felicity Brandon is a master at dark romance. It’s the kind of writing that has you questioning why you love it so much, but you can’t stop reading! She had me hooked on Ethan with part one, but part 2 is WOW!! I love her descriptions, situations and all around writing period. I have never felt so wrapped up in darkness as I do this book. I don’t know whether to scream at Lily or be jealous, wishing I was her. She is flawless at her writing and knows exactly how to suck you in with her words. A definitely must read for dark romance lovers.

Lily and Ethan’s story continues. Secrets have been revealed they are even more intense! Ethan is more dominating than ever and it is getting more intense. Cliffhanger - YES! I am left waiting to see what happens. Please bring on the next part ASAP!!

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG another out the park read by Felicity! I have read her other books and I am blown away by each one and I have to say that Lily and Ethan's story is amazing.

Lily escapes her captor and things she is free but she isn't because she still had Ethan and he is dark and brooding and willing to do anything to keep her but he is not exactly what you would call a good guy. He can be evil and do things to Lily that are not nice but Lily can't help what her heart wants. She is going to have to decide whether she will stay with Ethan or walk away and try and be free.

[Philomena Callan Cheekypee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Flawed is a must read before you read Fallen as this continues where Flawed ends.

After the way Flawed ended I couldn’t wait to read this. I wasn’t disappointed.

Ethan and Lily’s story continues...

Crikey what can I say about this book... it was bloody brilliant. I was literally stuck to my kindle from start to finish.

Fabulous dark and twisted read. I can’t wait to read the final book of this trilogy.

[Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just wow, I think to myself as I shut the book and immediately start this review. Felicity Brandon never, ever disappoints me when I pick up one of her stories, and in this second installment of this trilogy (Flawed is part one), she took me by the hand and led me down the proverbial rabbit hole into a domain of dark love, and I mean really dark love, but love It truly is. This is what this author does so well. How is it I can recognize love within this type of bizarre scenario? Because she’s really good at combining opposites: love-hate, resentment-desire, confusion and certainty. I love her ability to create complex relationships, encompassing both light and darkness.

Ethan, a very scary, sexy guy. Lily, seemingly innocent but, huh, kinda into the extremes of things. An odd but perfect coupling, I think.

Murder, mayhem, angst, sensuality, love, psychism, all bundled together in a truly delicious story. Now, I’ve got to wait for the final book to come out so it can knock me senseless too. I can’t wait...

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!! Ms. Brandon has written another book that I just floored me. But I have to be honest here, I still don't like Ethan and I hurt for Lily. She wants to do the right thing now that she knows what he is about but at the same time, she still loves and wants to please him. And just because I don't like Ethan at the moment doesn't mean I don't find him intriguing! He's dark, he's twisted and he knows what he wants. I stayed up late into the night reading this because I just couldn't put it down!!!! In book 2, we get way more into the story of Ethan and Lily and you have to wonder if he is going to be redeemed in the last book!! I will read the last book because the need to know is great!!! When the author can take me places that I don't normally go, to me that is the sign of someone who knows what she is doing. What will happen in the last book? Can anything good come out of this relationship? I wanna know. Felicity Brandon has written something that has pulled me into the deep, dark areas of my brain that I never really knew were there. Bravo!!!!

[Saskia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second book in the series. It is not a standalone, you need to read these books in order.

The book starts right off where the previous book ended with Lily running away. I actually enjoyed this book more than the first one. The relationship between Lily and Ethan is establish and now that she knows his secret she has a choice to make and I loved seeing her struggle with her emotions.

Lily is so torn by what she feels for Ethan and her feeling of what is right and wrong. And those clash and confuse Lily. Her emotions are all over the place.

The relationship between Lily and Ethan also changes when his domination becomes deeper and even more pronounced. I enjoyed this dynamic a lot.

And then Felicity Brandon left me hanging for more. It is a good thing the next book is coming out soon.

[Lisa Pellizzi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ethan is getting out of hand!

Very fast reading in this book! Lily seems very simple to me and Ethan extremely aggressive! It’s like she really wants to take it too far. She knows about his past, then seems shocked about it like he wasn’t serious the first time. That’s why she seems simple to me. Dying to read the next continuation, I have to keep reading about them, knowing so much from the first 3 novels. Great reading as always Felicity. Just too fast! Also great sex as usual.

[KReader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily and Ethan are back in prequel #2 an this book is just as dark and maybe even more disturbing than Flawed. But I simply cannot get enough! Can't wait for the next book.

I read a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Louise H's Book Thoughts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made my feelings ricochet like a squash ball around a court

Wow, wow, wow. There were times when I almost liked Ethan, and there were times when I hated that man - especially by the end! How Ms Brandon aims to convince me that he deserves Lily is beyond my ability to imagine. I just know that he is one sexily gorgeous but very bad man.

There were a couple of occasions when I wanted to give Lily a good shake out of her naivety. However she IS only 18 and therefore I could understand these decisions. And so often it was a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea! I loved her inner strength, whilst the real life me would never agree with some of her choices, the fictional me loved every twist and turn arising from those decisions.

This book had me on the very edge of my seat for the vast majority of it, the tension is unparalleled and I don't know how Ms Brandon managed to maintain it for so long. Honestly this is both gripping and twisted, a truly dark read that has the ability to horrify at the same time as it titillates - and in equal measures.

Despite knowing the ultimate outcome for this couple, since both the prologue of book one AND the Dark Necessities Trilogy tell us, I'm still not sure if I want Lily to stick with Ethan or toss him aside. Ethan is an entire game of Snog, Marry and Kill all on his own. I absolutely adored some of the depraved games he forced Lily to play, probably as much if not more than she did. At the same time I hated his twisted thinking and illogical logic. So often his reasoning was UNREASONABLE and that is what makes him such a great anti-hero.

Oh Ms Brandon thank you so much for Ethan and Lily - I can not wait for the conclusion of their epic story!

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure how Felicity Brandon does it, but she just gets to me with her dark & twisty self. Fallen is another story that got under my skin is crazy ways that horrified me in ways that had me conflicted. See, I wanted to look away, and yet, I couldn't look away either because my dark & twisty self needed to be fed. Ethan is a bad mofo, and while I did have some empathy for him, it's gone now, and I want Lily to end him. Can he be redeemed, well, that's what Ms. Brandon does so brilliantly, her anti-heroes can always be redeemed, but I'm not convinced that Ethan will be. I love me some Lily, and since she still loves him, well, I guess I'll have to stay tuned, but again, I won't be upset if she ends him. Obviously, there are so many twists & turns that the twists have turns on them, & the turns are all twisted up, so who the hell knows what the eff is gonna happen now. All I can say is f-bombs are the order of the day when I read any of Ms. Brandon's stories. Can whatever this is between them be salvaged & be called a relationship?! And more importantly, will Ethan be in any semblance redeemed?! Stay tuned, and in the meantime, one click this mind screw if you're brave enough! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Hanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fallen picks up right where we were left in Flawed.
It’s scary,intense and had my heart pounding and I can’t get enough!
Ethan’s feelings for Lily are getting more complex.
He wants,he demands so much more from her.
He sees himself as her protector and as her disciplinary.
Lily also knows what she feels for Ethan is twisted and wrong.
But she can’t deny her feelings.
In this book I feel Lily getting more stronger.
She is slowly starting to lose the innocence and naivety she had in bk.1.
She’s starting to think more with her mind and not her heart.
Like Ethan is using their mind connection to his advantage.
Lily is starting to do the same.
I love the intensity of their relationship.
It’s so intricate and so dangerous.
Revolving around and swirling in darkness.
Ms. Brandon delivers a stunning edge of your seat story.
She continues the thrill and rawness in this book just like the first part.
The emotional and psychological aspects are getting more extreme as I get more and more into the lives and minds of Ethan and Lily.
Looking forward to what this amazing author has in store for us in the final book.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lily is conflicted. What is she supposed to feel about her “crazy lunatic serial killing boyfriend”? She loves him. And that’s the problem.
Fallen starts just where the last ended and man is it intense!!
How will Lily survive? Will she remain the same sweet, naive girl, or will she adapt? I’ll be honest, this book, this series, is a roller coaster ride. It is a ride for the characters. And it was also a serious ride for my emotions. I struggled in the first book to like Ethan at all. (I mean, c’mon, he is a serial killer.)
What I really appreciate about this book/the series is that it seems more realistic than a lot of these types of books (not that I mind fluffy sexy brain candy- those books are fun and have their place). But this book definitely is not that. It grapples with serious issues. Lily is not just a mindless woman who gets so turned on by Ethan that she can overlook everything he has done and is. She truly struggles with it all. And thus, is the dilemma for the book. And my dilemma. Well done Ms. Brandon. You have Lily (and me) truly hooked.
I cannot wait until the final book.

[E Loprete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh My!!! Fallen part 2 of the Dark Necessities Prequels by Felicity Brandon will have you in an agitated state of suspense as the story continues with the aftermath of Lily fleeing from Ethan once she finds out his secret. Ethan must now try and free himself from the locked room and locate Lily using his mind to communicate with her. Now that Ethan's secret has been revealed, Lily finds herself still drawn into his world of power and submission, but finds herself struggling with her decision and the love she has for Ethan.

This is a twisted, dark, intense, psychological and emotional romance story that will have you on edge from beginning to end as you find yourself apprehensive for Lily's well being once they return to his home. The relationship and dynamics between Ethan and Lily are changing as his domination of Lily is more powerful than ever. Who is going to prevail this ordeal? Now we are left hanging, wondering what is going to happen next. Can't wait for part 3!!! I voluntairly reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

[Gaynor Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fork in the road

For a brief moment in time Lily is free and Ethan the captive. But like any good web builder Ethan has captivated his butterfly and slow draws her back to be wrapped up in his dark spell to be slowly wrapped in his silken threads, captivated, dominated and controlled.
This dark tale continues with Lily unable to break free but torn by what she now knows is the truth. Will she follow him down the dark path ahead and become another "victim" of Ethans, or a willing partner in his evil.
More please!

Merged review:

Fork in the road

For a brief moment in time Lily is free and Ethan the captive. But like any good web builder Ethan has captivated his butterfly and slow draws her back to be wrapped up in his dark spell to be slowly wrapped in his silken threads, captivated, dominated and controlled.
This dark tale continues with Lily unable to break free but torn by what she now knows is the truth. Will she follow him down the dark path ahead and become another "victim" of Ethans, or a willing partner in his evil.
More please!

[Anne Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Fallen Stolen Future

I am still very drawn in this 2nd book of the Dark Necessities Prequel Series of Ethan and Lily’s story but still unsure if I like either of these two totally flawed, dark, fallen characters in their twisted journey and view of life with their obsessional love for one another! But nevertheless I can also guarantee to readers that Felicity Brandon always produces absolutely amazing reads, that keep you reeling and raw, with not much happiness for Ethan and Lily, even though they both actually do love one another in their eerie journey.
Lily is recaptured by Ethan and her punishments ensue for locking him in the basement at the end of book 1! In Ethan’s way he is hurt and bewildered at her transgression and will not make the same mistakes again with her! The serial killer is now in her head! Surely this cannot be her future ideal man!
I voluntarily reviewed this book after receiving a free copy

[Lindarhc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity has done it again this is the second book and continues on from book one. Lily managed to escape from Ethan. He went into the basement when Lily was asleep but she woke up and locked him in and ran out the front door. That is how book one ends but in book 2 Ethan gets out of the basement and goes to the door to see if he can connect with Lily. When he finds her she is hurt and Ethan helps her to his car.
Ethan decides to get away from the house and packs up so they can leave. He gives Lily a ring to pretend they are husband and wife.
They are happy and then everything changes when Lily finds out something. She is getting better at reading Ethan’s mind so he has to be careful. I cannot wait to read the next book. I received this ARC for an honest review I have given.

[Christy Kremsreiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I don’t have words except to say miss Felicity has blown my mind with this book. I can not believe how much I do not like how Ethan treats Lily most of the time and she loves him anyway and even though I feel sorry for Lily I just wish she had tried a little harder to stand up to him or get out of the situation. Ethan was such a twisted and deranged kind of monster and Lily was the sweet and innocent new toy he wanted.

I couldn’t put this book down especially the more I got into it. Ethan’s morbid way he shows love to Lilly and the way he treats her with his control issues just blows my mind and that she was actually able to put up with it for so long holy sh*t. This book is filled with angst and will Fck with your emotions till the end. This is an emotionally charged, dark psychological thriller you won't be able to put down.

[Terri Trawets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intensely Twisted!

This is an unusual, sensual, erotic, intense story uniting a confessed serial killer with an innocent and confused young woman. Ethan knows exactly who he desires and the behaviors he will accept. He is a forceful Dominant, Lily a fervent submissive.

I love the way we see shame vs. anticipation, debasement vs. arousal, misery vs. elation, potency vs. subservience, humiliation vs. enthusiasm, apprehension vs. compliance, and punishment vs. pleasure. I love the way my emotions are tugged and twisted every which way!

There is an entire unknown world in front of Lily. She is intrigued and frightened, and eager to learn. Ethan knows exactly what he is doing, and is more than excited to openly share these experiences with the woman he loves.

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The highly anticipated book 2 in Felicity Brandon’s Dark Necessities series, Fallen blew my mind. I don’t know how she does it but the story just keeps getting better and better. The complex turns in the storyline and the intriguing characters. Felicity has put my emotions on a rollercoaster through out this book. I’m not sure where the story can go next but I sure am game for the ride. In Fallen we continue to enjoy Ethan and Lily’s whirlwind romance. The all consuming obsession and passion that they share for each other will make your heart race and bite your nails. I can hardly sit still while I wait for the next book in the series to come out. I highly recommend this book to everyone, it is a dark romance in all the right ways.

[Lisa Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW what an intense twisted story where there is very little light or even hope only darkness every where you turn and no way out, Ethan is one aggressive powerful and very overwhelming master and so clever and he is becoming down right scary in his control of Lily his light and she is so sweet and wants to do the right thing obey or not to obey and be punished. I was glad to see her try her hardest to stand up for herself but the attraction of love and hate is very strong as we see these two move on to a more complicated relationship with Ethan holding the reigns. The character development is very strong and just pops off the page not knowing what Ethans going to do next or if Lily will run again and face the wrath. I cannot wait to find out.

[Coral · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I’m going to start with this book is written very well and has a great story arc. Since it is a series it picks up where the 1st one ended and ends in a cliffhanger. At times I really felt like lily had to have had stock Holme syndrome with the way she acted to Ethan when he did certain things (no spoilers here). At other times I felt like the connection was genuine and they really did care for each other. Also I’m still not sure how I feel about the mind reading concept. For those reasons I’m giving this book 4 stars instead of 5. It is dark and somethings just made me cringe in a bad way. All in all though it is a good book and I will finish the series.

[Foodiegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my Lily is in so much trouble with Ethan. Such dark delicious trouble. This is not your usual romance but Ethan is anything but normal. Lily is such an innocent but she can't help the way she is drawn to Ethan's Darkness! I just need to know if Ethan is going to continue with his murderous ways or will Lily be able to redeem him, or will Lily be able to handle the future, is there a possible HEA for these two troubled people? I am sure Ethan loves Lily just as she loves Ethan, can they find happiness in each other? Do they actually have a future??? So many questions? Hurry with the next book, please.

[Mary S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness I have not like reading books where is more then one but lately I have been enjoying them and this one is not any different. Ethan wow that man he definitely has me on edge don't know if to love him are be afraid of him. But the sure thing is I need to know what future Lily and Ethan are going to have are they going to find a happy ever after in their twisted way or what will become of them? I'm so anxious for the next one need to know what will happen to this dangerous obsession of them.

[Nancy Daher Mastreno · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fallen

Hard to review this story. Well written and edited, but the torture and deprivation Ethan thinks is just and okey it really hard to read. Lily is a weak link and my hope for her is fading. How anyone can think that love would be given to or from anyone who treats another person as Ethan abuses Lily on nearly every page of the book is disgusting. She must be as sick minded as he is. Not sure I can finish this series as it just so horrible to think people can treat someone they claim to love in the manner Ethan treats Lily.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was part two of Ethan and Lily's story. Intense. Emotional. The chemistry between these two is off the charts. But Ethan's secrets are no longer a secret from Lily. However, what will prevail? Lily's need to do right, or her love for Ethan? And what is going to happen at Ethan's family's home? Lily is scared and I'm scared for her! It is amazing what Ms. Brandon creates. Cannot wait for part three!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The depravities of Ethan just get darker. His sheer dominance over Lily is frightening and intensely erotic. Even after confessing his murderous past Lily can justify her passionate feelings for Ethan and ignore the angel/devil voices in her head. While reading this book you forget how young Lily is and how her perception and passion is overshadowed by Ethan’s sheer will and magnetic personality.

I read and reviewed a copy of this book.

[Ruchika Mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading taken trilogy by Ms Brandon, I had thought there couldn't be a less likable hero than Connor. No, Ethan tops him. I really wish felicity writes hero to fall in love with because they just exists in books. This love story of lily n Ethan is as twisted n dark as it can be. The power balance is never equal. The antihero always holds more or less the whole power. But hats off of thinking n executing a brilliant idea