DiscoverEpic Fantasy

The Dominion - Destiny

By

Loved it! 😍

With the sacrifice of the person he loves most being the only way to save his people in an insurmountable war, Rupert challenges fate...

Rupert is facing impossible odds. Gaticus, his arch nemesis and a foe who will only be satisfied with the extinction of humanity across the globe, holds the high ground in every way. Only one goal supersedes this villain's desire for world domination: Rupert's sister. And Rupert is not about to let his sister die if there is another living being with breath to protect her.


In a heart-wrenching, breath-stealing fashion of utter darkness along the lines of a Helm's Deep moment from Lord of the Rings, the devastating realities of war, loss, and fragile, unpromised recoveries, The Dominion: Destiny is a tale that pulls you in right away and doesn't let you go.


Having read prior works in this series, I did not imagine the emotional toll that this book would take on me. Characters, over the course of the now three-volume series, have become friends, enemies, and more.


Very little of that matters, though, when it is life and death in its rawest forms that are waiting for you. Rupert is no longer an idealistic youth. Instead, we witness a battle-hardened warrior who must scrape up enough hope to keep himself breathing and his men fighting to their dying breaths.


Meanwhile, political power struggles, abandonment by allies, and twisted would-be rules scheming for Rupert's throne paints an even bigger picture of the odds stacked against this dwindling, defeated kingdom from very early on.


Despite the darkness of the story, hope sprouts up here and there, with a realistic, passionate, bitter-sweet love story at some point in the tale, and a promise for a potential future for all of these characters.


With writing so realistic and deep, I struggled with only giving it four stars. After giving it a second read, though, I feel that while I do love this book (and highly recommend it), there are two key factors that play into my four-star review.


The first is related to a key plot point that (even after reading twice) could be a potential oversight/hole. As this is a spoiler-free review, I will not go into that here, but it did not detract from the main storyline.


The second is the ending. This may be my personal preference, but as this is the third and final volume of The Dominion Trilogy, I was wishing there would be a solidly resolved ending for Rupert and the other players in the story (in case there is nothing more to come from this world). Instead, while the current book's plot felt resolved, the ending reads like a promise that more books are coming with two new potential plot lines. I wish I could have seen more of what happens to resolve those, but maybe Cloake is planning an entirely new series in this universe? *Crosses Fingers*.


With that being said, if you like epic fantasies that are on the darker side, pit destiny against strong-willed characters, and war against hope, this is a story I highly recommend. Cloake has really upped the bar with this book, and I truly hope there are more to come!


**Trigger Warnings: Genocide attempted/discussed, racism, slavery discussed, war, death, torture, rape, incest mentioned but not shown, cannibalism, death of a loved one, depression, suicidal ideation**

Reviewed by

I am a USA Today Bestselling author and developmental editor with 10+ years of experience. I am a huge fan of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, J.R.R. Tolkien, Clare B. Dunkle, and Timothy Zahn. I also enjoy indie works by Nicole Wells, Andrei Saygo, and Luke Courtney.

Under Threat

About the author

Chris Cloake was born in 1964 and began telling stories a couple of years later. He grew up in Kent, England. He is motivated to write by a deep interest in life, particularly the cruel, deeply flawed nature of people contrasted with their incredible creativity and inspiration. view profile

Published on September 26, 2022

100000 words

Contains mild explicit content ⚠️

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Reviewed by