Her Dark Protector

The Gates of Fortorus #1

by Felicity Brandon

"Fortorus they called it—for the brave—but as we passed through the colossal iron gates inside the prison, I knew better. This place wasn’t about fortitude or resilience. It wasn’t about hard work or stamina. This was a place to put us until they decided what to do with us. It was a place to torment us, to break us down.
It was hell."

Great Britain, 2024.
A dark, dystopian place where rights have been eradicated and the rule of law is controlled by white, overbearing men with expensive educations and dangerously high cholesterols. Women are rounded up, and herded into a prisoner camp called Fortorus. The door to liberal democracy slammed shut.
That's where I find myself.
Alone and helpless.
At the mercy of the malicious men in charge.
But in the midst of this bleak nightmare, I forget the most basic rule of all.
Never fall in love with the enemy...

Genres: Dark, Romance, Dystopia, BDSM, Dark Romance, Erotica, Military Fiction

Unknown Binding

First published September 1, 2020

About the author

USA Today bestselling writer of dark, suspenseful romance.

Find Felicity here:
Website: https://felicitybrandonwrites.com/
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Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/felicitybran...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FelicityBrandon

Reviews

[JenMcJ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was interesting and well written but I'm not going to continue with the series. The author goes out of her way to build overwhelming animosity between men and women into the story to such a degree that it's hard to connect to the story. These are concentration camps. The guards (men) hate women and yet none of them are raped in captivity; they are however, starved, whipped, humiliated, killed and disregarded completely up to and including death. It was one step too far out of reality to pretend rape is not central to this culture. If you are going to do this, you have to go all the way and show the power imbalance accurately and account for the trauma that causes. Doing it halfway is clearly designed to leave us room to eventually forgive Harper. The author knows that Harper would be impossible to use as a love interest in anyway if the book espoused what would really be happening in this situation and it stared the reader and Caroline in the face. Even leaving that out the reality is that Harper👏 is👏 a👏 concentration👏 camp👏 warden👏. There is no redeeming that. You just can't do it.

The character of Harper is so misogynistic toward women in general, it's almost impossible to see any of the ways he treats Caroline as anything but contempt, even when he's being "caring". The abusers handbook is all over this relationship and I'm not here for it. Harper is old enough to remember and know that women are capable of running their own lives, he's actively working to eradicate their prior lived lives for his own personal gain. That's a hill you can't come back from. You can't pretend like he doesn't know better. He absolutely does. He's just 100% on board for abusing, suppressing, enslaving and killing women deemed undesirable AND a big part of this is how he's going to grow his concentration camp because he's at capacity. That's too much for me to forgive all around.

All that said, I also found this book preachy (and since when does Great Britain have a President?) and although I totally got the back and forth Caroline goes through in her head for her survival, it was exhausting to read over and over.

All of that was a lot but then when I didn't find the sex scenes really very erotic, I realized I had to just give up on the series. Caroline has no ability to actually consent in this relationship. Even though she finds Harper attractive and talks herself into finding the humiliation exciting, she is at all times aware that she is doing all of this to further her own survival. Nothing makes that clearer or disgusted me more than the foot worship scenes. At no time did I feel like Harper was anything but a condescending, smug asshole looking down on his "thing" he owns and controls.

Something to know: If you like men's feet, you may love this but if you have an aversion, there are parts of this that will be possibly very hard to get through.

[Felicity Brandon]

"Fortorus they called it—for the brave—but as we passed through the colossal iron gates inside the prison, I knew better. This place wasn’t about fortitude or resilience. It wasn’t about hard work or stamina. This was a place to put us until they decided what to do with us. It was a place to torment us, to break us down.
It was hell."

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/6/2021)! 🎁

[Badh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my sweet and holy fuck. This was soo good. Felicity Bradon has written a story that just grabbed me and wouldn't let me go. I mean, seriously. This has the feel of one of my all time favorite books, The Handmaid's Tale. It's the same kind of dystopian society kind of feel.

Caroline is such a fascinating character. She's so torn over what she feels like she should do and what she does do, and I really loved watching the conversations she was having in her head with herself over everything. I wonder how I would react if I were in her position.

I can't wait for the next book in the series, because it's going to be so good.

[E.J. Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is a more modern Handmaid's Tale with the UK taken over by a reformist party built on the subjugation of women. With the surge of hate politics over the last decade, it feels all too plausible. The heroine is one of the "undesirables," unable to breed for the "new order." She's assigned to a concentration camp where she catches the attention of the camp commander.
What ensues is a complex blend of humiliation and degradation play interwoven with the politics of hate and gender oppression. It made me cry for the heroine, made me want to beat the anti-hero over the head with a whiskey decanter before kneeling at his feet, and gave me hope.
This is an amazing series, compellingly written, frighteningly realistic, and fascinating. Highly recommended.

[JD (on semi-hiatus) · Rating 1 out of 5]

By now I know not to read this author, but as someone who self-identifies as Jewish, I was concerned when I saw reviews here and on Amazon remarking on allusions to the Holocaust. Reading the sample on Amazon told me all I needed to know.

Let me just say this: we all have our lines in the sand and this is one of mine: exploiting the Holocaust -- or comparisons to the Holocaust -- for erotic purposes is offensive. And this is Reason #890 for why I don't subscribe to the prevailing belief that erotica excuses everything.

[Innie | Kindledallnight · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm going to give this a 3 because I didn't hate the book. I actually like the concept and the theme of it, but it's an extremely slow-burning book, and I don't really like slow-burn books.

This is dystopian, though 2024 is not really dystopian to me because it's 4 years into the future, it's hard to think the world has changed this much in only 4 years, I think that's a bit of an impossibility.

Because it's a dystopian setting, I am fully expecting Harper to be pretty much how he is here, and it's not bothering me at all, simply because I like dark romance and I'm fully aware this is fiction, ergo anything goes.

But as I said, this is a very slow burn, it had its ups and downs - I found the sex to be very short, which is a shame. The whole foot fetish thing is really not up my alley - though I did find it slightly amusing because I was more thinking he's taking the piss.

That Britain has a President here was just really weird to me, because nothing was said about the Royal family to explain how there's a President? For that to work there needs to be a tiny history lesson here on why Britain suddenly has a President, and there isn't, so it ends up not making much sense to me and I just found it weird and not fitting into the story.

I'm unsure about weather or not I am going to continue the series, I think I might - but I'm a sucker for happily ever afters and babies and so forth, and I don't see that happening in this setting. But I could be wrong.

All in all I gave it a 3 because I didn't hate it, and I did finish it, but there is def. room for improvement. And also I didn't find this dark enough inside the actual camp, just a bunch of rumours about what goes on and what can happen, but apart from that very little gritty details, which doesn't sit well with me when I am reading Dark Dystopian Romance. These kind of books need the gritty details in them.

[Suze Prescot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fear-filled Future

2024 and men have reasserted their roles, to the extent that women are incarcerated. Caroline, author and feminist, finds herself sleeping in a barracks, eating only rice, and living in daily fear of being noticed.
This dystopian novel (replace women with immigrants and it is happening now) puts women at a severe disadvantage, punishments on a whim. Brandon writes some deep thoughts, covers salient points about how society can turn on a sixpence. Of course, because this is Felicity Brandon, there is an exploration of sexual desires, and where punishment and degradation can cross the line.
Part one of a series, it raises questions about how safe we are from our government, and how thin the line is between abuse and desire.

[Skeleton · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't make erotica about concentration camps. It's majorly unacceptable

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not a fan of this one

I skimmed over a lot of this story. The massive repetitive inner- monologues of Caroline, the main female character, made the whole thing feel stilted. These monologues often occured between a question and response which added to the sense of delay and disconnect.

The premise is definitely dark but the repeated correlations made with the Holocaust felt supremely disrespectful and uncomfortable. To make events and manipulations that are known to have happened in the actual Holocaust the subject of an erotic fantasy are just a line too far for me. I couldn't get into the fantasy element with so many blatant references to historical events.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about this yet. I know there is more coming in the near future but I had a hard time connecting to Commander General Harper. Maybe that will change as this series goes on but I did like Caroline. She's tough, she's feisty and scrappy. Women are nothing in this new world but Caroline isn't going to let that stop her. She has plans. Ms. Brandon's writing is wonderful and while I'm not sure where this is going, I'm totally on this train ride to see where she is taking us!

[KittyLuvr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is a superbly written journey into a deeply dark, depressing, dismal dystopian future where women are abused chattel.
Normally while dystopian stories aren't necessarily my trope, I have & do read & enjoy them.
But in this case, there was a lot more story devoted to the political background for the plot than I personally cared for. I do applaud Ms. Brandon for providing this explanatory (& honestly to some extent, needed) background story exposition. It demonstrates the thought & care she put into this 'terrifying future'. And this does delve DEEP into the politics that precipitated & launched her dystopian Fortorus world, to the point I felt in some places I felt I was eyebrows deep in a history book.

HOWEVER, that said, Ms. Brandon's writing is, as always, stellar at pulling the reader into whatever world/situation she creates. She is a pure genius at immersing her reader in her creation via her deft word craft skills as well as her writing style. They both cause her story & characters to sinuously wrap around a reader's imagination until they can see, hear, FEEL what the characters do. And that can range from sensually erotic, erotically depraved, horrifying, heartwarming, inspirational, INTENSE. She is masterfully deft at making the most implausible of situations seem horrifyingly plausible & readers are mesmerized by possibilities that chill the mind as well as blood to envision.

But in the darkest of her plots (& make no mistake: this one IS dark & horrific) she is consummately gifted at placing a subtle crack of light that may seem as though lighting a match in a cave yet IS a spark of light & hope. And in this world where women are deemed dangerous, worthless, to be mere chattel; have been forcibly ripped from their careers, homes & family & herded into the Fortorus 'retraining' facility, Caroline is that spark of light & hope. Intelligent, observant, determined to survive, she waits for an opportunity to escape or in some way assist in defeating the vicious male dominated H*ll in which the women of Great Britain attempt to exist.
And enter Commander General Harper, supreme lord & master of Fortorus as well as the life & death of the tens of thousands of women incarcerated within its gestapo like managed prison walls. Handsome, huge, dominant & intelligent he stumbles across Caroline one night & takes her for his.
And Caroline submits to him in order to survive, to plot, to learn anything that might aid her fellow prisoners or her cause.
But Harper wants more than a bedfellow. Caroline's spirit & intelligence as well as her beauty enflame his dominance & need for her complete & abject submission to him in all ways. And Caroline is confused & bitterly upset with herself at how she comes to realize she possesses a dark side that craves & in fact, enthusiastically responds to Harper's intense erotic demands & humiliations.
But Harper is not only one of 'them', he is a trusted high echelon official of the hated new government. And Caroline finds her emotions & mind battered back & forth from lust to rage to horror to determination. She feels hope that just maybe Harper is coming to care for her & then loathing that she does hope for that. She feels moments of safety, protection & rest in his arms & then anger that reignites her fierce focus on destroying the male-controlled world in which she's less than nothing.
Torn between her heart that is falling for her ruthless captor & her spirit that cries for justice for herself & the sisterhood of women, Caroline submits & watches, listens & learns, waits . . . .

This is a dark & erotic story that enthralls & mesmerizes the reader. Inclusive of Ms. Brandon's signature deliciously depraved & thrilling erotic scenes, this one DOES make the reader pause & THINK; brings ice to the readers spine; creates a glimpse into horrifying possibilities. But most of all, the deft & superb writing smoothly whirls the reader from reality into an imaginary yet historically plausible tragic & dismal alternate future.
Horrifying, chilling, dark, erotic.
Not for the faint of heart.
Excellent.

[Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

If it’s one thing Felicity Brandon can do, it is that she can rouse my emotions, oftentimes to a fever pitch. And these emotions run the entire gambit. I tend to put myself in the place of her main female characters, although in some cases we are not of the same mind, at all. While I can often find male dominance in certain scenarios alluring, that dominance needs to be tempered with respect. But respect for women is not a part of this dystopian world that this author has created.

You see, the males in this tale have convinced themselves that women are to blame for most of the negative aspects in their lives. Yes, apparently the art of honest self reflection isn’t a part of their world. As a result, female rights are destroyed and women are placed in camps to be “properly trained,” or more accurately stated constantly punished for being who and what they are. It’s a difficult and dark read.

As I said, I often put myself in the place of these female characters and I know I’d be plotting my revenge, slowly, surely, with patience, intellect and intent, no matter how long it took. In this case, the main female in this story and I are somewhat alike. She’s appearing to acquiesce, but she’s not a doormat. She’s biding her time, waiting for something to come along that she can grab a hold of and find her way to freedom again. She wants to survive.

Would men actually act this way given the chance? Well, for millennia women were without many rights and subject to the will of men, so I guess that, yes, some would. Careful gentlemen, women can be quite dangerous if pushed far enough. And in this story, my oh my but they are pushing.

The book doesn’t simply end; there is more to come, and I’m very curious to see how this plays out. So despite how uncomfortable this book made me at times, I just have to see where this story goes. I love Felicity Brandon books because she takes me to places I haven’t been. She makes me angry, sad, happy, satisfied and even stimulated in wonderfully erotic ways. I love her darkness and if entering the shadows appeals to you, read this book.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply stunning read, engrossing and entertaining that’s dark and devious
This book tells the story of the world and the way it has changed since the government and the politics and everything that usually controlled society had overnight been totally annihilated as it had taken away any women’s rights. Those that were not considered as unsuitable for society had been incarcerated into huge prison where they were brutally ruled over by males that thrived on their newly acquired power.
Caroline was once an author and like other women now had been incarcerated in this hell and had seen women being whipped and abused in a numerous way and since their incarceration had known that no one cared if they lived or died.
In an attempt to gain some medicine for one of the women injured during a punishment when she was caught and almost raped by the prison guards until she had been rescued by The Commander General of the camp, Harper who had expected payment for his generosity in the form of Caroline’s submission.
Harper is a high official in the system and yet he appears to despise the system and as she begins to have some feelings for him, she is aware that her feelings for the other woman is just as strong and she wants justice for them all. She gives him her submission and her body and mind she is always alert to the goings on around her, always watching the goings on in the camp looking for any opportunities they might use in their favour.
This is a wonderfully written book and I can assure you that you will be engrossed by this story it is most captivating and will hold you within its grasp.
I cannot wait for future books by this marvellous author, her books never fail to intrigue me.
I voluntarily received and review an Advanced Reader Copy
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the great writing.

[Anna]

Oh Ms. Brandon surely does know how to weave a tale that brings out emotions in the reader. This book brought out a lot of anger in me... anger at the state of the world. I like apocalyptic books but this one is set only *four years from now*! And what a crazy world it is. The political climate is such that women have been pushed back hundreds of years. Thousands are locked up, treated as less than human, and their fate is unclear. The book definitely kept my attention, but it was brutal at times, and very unsettling. I like Caroline, but honestly, I am not sure how I feel about the General Commander. I wish we could have seen his POV. I think that is the way Ms. Brandon likes it- to keep us on edge as readers. It to make books easy, but emotions and situations complex. I definitely recommend.

[Angel T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my guilty pleasure for 2 straight days... because that's all if took for me to finish it. I just could not put this endlessly sexy and forbidden story down. The first chapter is horrific, describing the horrific living conditions of a camp housing thousands of women that have been deemed unsuitable for the new society ran by men. Women have not purpose further than the amusement of men and the ability to bare children.

Our protagonist, Caroline, is everything that has been taken out of the new world. She embodies kindness, empathy, friendship and love. When she risks her life to get life saving medication for a friend in need, she is found by the commander general of the camp. He instantly is obsessed with her. All I got to say about the rest of the book is... good god was that sexy. I really do mean it when I say it was the sexiest book I have ever read.

Now to be clear. This book is defiantly an acquired taste. It is dark and abusive and the whole premises had me questioning what I was doing. However, if dark and sexy is your thing, this book is for you. Just be prepared. This was a wild ride of a story.

[Coral · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thing I thought as I was reading this is it’s a naughty handmaids tale! This dystopia set in Great Britain hooked me from the very first chapter. It has all the dark angst you want in a dystopian romance. The main character goes from being a prisoner with a bleak future to someone willing to not just escape the camp but survive and help other people do the same. And of course it wouldn’t be a Felicity Brandon book with out some extra steamy scenes thrown in. There is a serious D/s relationship between the two main characters and I can’t wait to see how it evolves over the next couple of books.

[HaleyJo · Rating 2 out of 5]

It could have been good...

This book had the makings of a great story with the world building created by the author, but fell very flat. Once Harper and Caroline meet, the flow of the story is lost. There's nothing for the reader to grasp on to, no direction of where this tale might lead. It's just Caroline's extreme differential emotional POV. You never get a feel for any personality from Harper, only the snippets of what Caroline believes he may or may not be. There is too much back and forth pertaining to Caroline's conscious to give the story any real depth.

It could have been great. The dystopian world created for this was very unique.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book is eerie and dark. The idea of losing all your rights and who you are is insane and terrifying. The men who run Fortorus are deviant, small-minded, sick individuals. I cannot tell if Commander General is a somewhat good guy or just as twisted as his generals but able to put on a saner face. I cannot wait to find out how the women of Gamma rise up against their suppressors.

I read and reviewed a copy of this book.

[Lena · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dark, very dark story. The first book in a serie.
It’s captivating! The background story - the change in the society gives me a stomach ache. The interaction between Harper and Caroline however, gives another kind of ache.
Can’t wait for the next book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book

[Cassandra Doon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grabbed this as a freebie from the author.
What a great short story read.
It’s short enough to read on your lunch break, long enough that your not left wanting more, Spivey enough you need to make sure your boss dosnt read over your shoulder and captivating enough to make you forget your at work.
Only issue is, it’s so good you end up buying the next book lol

[Gaynor Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark future

Hmmmm this one will twist your brain! How easy it is to see this agenda actually take place in this twisted world. Women robbed off everything, subject to torture, death, defilement, imprisonment and with no recourse.
Harper offers a tantilizing, humiliating, debasing option to Caroline and while she fights her feelings both good and bad, revenge and freedom are a dream. Harper...well I have my suspicions all is not what it seems with him...
Discipline, heat and a gripping thought provoking story!

[E Loprete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Protector by Felicity Brandon was a hard book to read as you get a look at what life would be like in Great Britain in the year 2024 where women will have all their rights taken away. We find that women are now to blame for everything that has gone wrong in Great Britain as they are captured and placed in a prison called Fortorus to be reconditioned. Rights , liberty and freedom for these women are all taken away as these overbearing vile over educated men are making all of the rules for a new world order as all laws have been eradicated. This is a dark, eerie story full of angst and suspense about Caroline who is a tough feisty young women and her journey at Fortorus where the women are broken and used until these men decide what to do with them. But Caroline with all of her fortitude vows to fight back as she will not give in. While trying to help a sick friend, Caroline is taken to Commander General Harper and is told she will be working with him at his home. Will General Harper end up being as evil as his other Generals and what part will he play with Caroline. Will Caroline end up hating her captor or will she give her heart away and succumb to his advances or will this be the end of her fight for freedom? What role will General Harper play with his interconnection with Caroline? Will the women of Gamma be able to rise up and fight these men who are suppressing them? This story will have you on edge from beginning to end, as Felicity gives her readers a lot to think about especially with what is happening in the world today. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced copy of this book. I guess we have to wait for the next book for answers about what happens next in this dark dystopian story.

[mali · Rating 3 out of 5]

The writing was good, the storyline very interesting and the characters were well rounded.
But from the blurb I thought the story and the mmc would be very very different.

[Mom2three · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like the title says, this is a dark, dystopian captive romance. It's not just dark in the physical sense, it's also got a psychological element to it that particularly disturbed me. Maybe it's because of the my somewhat grim outlook on the future, but this one didn't seem too out of the realm of possibility for me. That fear made this one more intense and I had to put it down a few times because I was on the edge of having a panic attack. That's not to say that the book isn't one I recommend because I absolutely recommend it, it was just more emotional for me. That's also a testament to Ms. Brandon's amazing talent as an author. It felt real. It felt more like a glimpse into the future than just another steamy read. This series may end up being my all time favorite Ms. Brandon series - it's that good. For all the dark, it also had a lot of heat and I can't wait to see where this journey leads. I'm blown away with the impact this one is having one me.

[Lisa Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a beginning this is fast paced and very intriguing I couldn't believe this was happening it has your heart racing. Woman in a camp called Fortorus all rights gone dirt under the sadistic men's boots and let me just say I want to hurt them all.
Caroline my god she has a backbone and the mind to go with it and taken by Harper the Commander was downright intense. I don't know what to think what's the game maybe there isn't one I don't know but he sure is sexy. I held my breath through some,the writing is very descriptive and so well thought out I loved it and I really need more.I need to know all the things.

[Jackie Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Felicity Brandon has once again created a dark, dark world. The political changes and political captivity causes angst. Then we are introduced to the abuses within Fortorus which, in contrast, make the elements ofBDSM portrayed seem tame. Knowing Ms Brandon’s work, I expect the remainder of the series to increasingly push personal triggers. Game on, Ms B, I look forward to seeing how far you’ll take me!

[Terri Trawets · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is filled with women who have lost all of their previous freedoms. Their meager living conditions are wrought with terror, humiliation, degradation, oppression, undeserved punishments, menial labor, sexual attacks, shame, forced compliance, depression, and anxiety.

The men who control these women and their punitive environment are for the most part sadistic brutes. They are contemptuous of women having any “rights” or freedom or. The men run Fortorus by intimidating and severely punishing the women under their jurisdiction

On a mission of mercy, Caroline is taken in hand by Harper, the Commander General of Fortorus. Why? What will he do with her? My inquisitive nature has been thoroughly aroused and I cannot wait for more!. .

[Suzanne Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this captivating story. It had plenty of hot chemistry, lots of twists and turns with plenty of emotional highs and lows. The book is well written with strong characters and a dark plot where women are blamed for all the evils of the world. This intense and emotional journey continues in the next book and I can't wait. I recommend this book to everyone who enjoys intense and dark romances.

[Mandy Sawyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This world is a much darker place than I thought possible. I should of known better when Felicity is writing. This book had me torn as the world blames women for a lot that is not their fault. Looking forward to the next book.