The Master and The Marionette
Books | Fiction / Horror
4.5
Brandi Elise Szeker
Skylenna has left the Chandelier City, The Emerald Lake Asylum, and the twisted societal restraints of women to run away with the patient everyone fears. Dessin.As they hide in the unchartered forests surrounding the city, Skylenna learns that the mystery of the infamous Patient Thirteen is far from over. There are still the missing pieces of her past and a master plan that relies on Skylenna trusting Dessin with blind faith. And with each dangerous situation comes a new alter, a new personality to meet, a new man that deepens her attraction.It isn't until they run into unexpected allies and ancient colonies of the forests that they learn of a reason to go back to the asylum willingly. But Skylenna doesn't have the luxury of obtaining her old conformist position. This time around, she must accept a new role as the twelfth patient of The Emerald Lake Asylum.Simulated drownings, force-feedings, whippings, and life within the torturous cage of Demechnef. Skylenna begins to wonder how much of this game she'll be able to endure.Will Dessin prove she means as much to him as he does to her? Or is the master merely playing with his marionette?Disclaimer: This book contains explicit content and dark elements and may be considered offensive to some readers. Check trigger warnings before reading. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by underage readers.This is a dark dystopian society that is intended to be problematic. Please note that this is a fictional world and in no way reflects on the author's personal beliefs. We will see the society grow and correct its moral compass over the series.This book contains: gratuitous violence, depression, mention of suicide, gratuitous torture, eating disorder, hallucinations, misogyny, mention of pedophilia, romanticized mental illness, gore, mention of child abuse, decapitation, female oppression, hostage situation, Stockholm syndrome, degradation, starvation, brainwashing, body shaming, sexually explicit scenes, and religious trauma.
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More Details:
Author
Brandi Elise Szeker
Pages
368
Publisher
Red Oak Publishing, LLC
Published Date
2022-08-17
ISBN
9798985593440
Community ReviewsSee all
"I really wanted to love this book, I really did. I just think the story was a little all over the place, and some of the lines were cheesy and inorganic. I keep waiting for this big reveal, or this huge twist, but I feel like I've been following the carrot on the string for a while and my legs are getting tired."
V H
Valerie Hansel
"I was looking forward to this book from the moment I read the first. I understand that some people had issues with the first book, they either disregarded the extensive trigger warnings, were unaware of their own triggers and issues or forgot that these books are a work of dark fiction set in a world other than our own.<br/><br/>PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS AND ASK OTHERS IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT READING THIS SERIES!<br/><br/>Pros:<br/><br/>Very few authors are willing to take on mental health issues without a filter. Specifically, DID, dissociative identity disorder also known a multiple personalities, is terribly misunderstood. Each person who suffers from the disease does so in their own way for their own reasons. The author here does a beautiful job of capturing the subtle differences that occur with a switch between alters within one person. I also greatly appreciate that the author acknowledges that her version may not be accurate (though from what I witnessed of someone with the disease it is very spot on) and she gives solid resources for those who want to learn more from a more accurately scientific/medical stance.<br/><br/>The author does an excellent job of allowing the reading to not only witness the pain characters go through but to feel it if they have any care or sympathy.<br/><br/>I am so glad that some of our dearest, most tortured souls from book one have returned in book two to form a found-family unit. I think this is going to be essential for finding ways to become strong and to heal the wounds of the past for all of them. I love the analogy of a pack of wolves and that the author specifically has them travel as a pack.<br/><br/>Cons:<br/><br/>I think for some people the scenes of torture and use of mind altering drugs will be too much to get through which is very valid and fair but also means they will miss out on what I feel might become a classic one day. Our society is currently headed down a dark path and books like this are very important for reminding us that not all means are acceptable.<br/><br/>The cliffhanger is brutal and while the wait for book three won’t be endless I know it’s going to be floating around in my mind until the series is done and all the questions have been answered."
Rene Burrows