Once upon a time, I was a monster.A predator who seized women just to get my kicks.And then along came Lily. Lily–the light that chased my demons away.Consumed with love for her, I finally put the sins of those torrid times behind me, until one dark day, everything changes.I’m lured back into the shadows, the monster awoken again and now it will take every ounce of Lily’s submission to pull me … Lily’s submission to pull me back from the brink.
My betrayal sends our lives into a spiral of despair, and with justice looming on the horizon, it’s time we faced The End.
Forbidden is a gripping, powerful, and emotional page turner with a breathtaking climax for fans of dark romance with a twist of true crime. It is the third in The Dark Necessities Prequels trilogy.
This book contains dark and twisted scenes. You have been warned…
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What a fabulous conclusion to Felicity Brandon’s A Dark Necessities Prequel, Forbidden truly lives up to its title. This book took me in and spit me out with the biggest book hangover. I found that this book made me run a gamut of emotions within me with the highs and the lows of Felicity creative story telling capabilities. It always amazes me how each book just grows upon each other and its hard to see them end. I loved her compelling characters Connor and Lily overwhelming love for each other and that they would do anything for each other. This book has it all its romantic, dark, and intriguing. I’m sorry the book had to end. I highly recommend it to everyone.
Oh my goodness! What an ending to Lily and Ethan story! From the first book I have read I would have imagine what the ending would be but I didn’t think that it would hit me this hard. It was so heartbreaking the consequences Ethan had to face as was Lily as well. Now I’m going to read how the sons survive after what have become of them since I started this series all backwards wish me luck that I will survive Connor story.
**15+++ Stars** I just put my Kindle down after finishing ‘Forbidden’ & I am in flat out awe of this stellar author: her writing skills, her characters, the plot, EVERYTHING is simply put, OUTSTANDING.
For an author to be able to wield her craft such that the reader actually moves beyond Ethan’s (anti-anti-H) heinous past actions, to understand Lily’s (h) ability to forgive him & still love him to the very depths of her heart & soul . . . . Despite all Ethan’s done, to his victims & to Lily, what shines through all the darkness, depravity, deviance is the complete & total unconditional love they have for each other. That takes superb talent & ability, which IMO this author has hands down.
And that is what I was focused on, what carved out my heart & shredded it, enabled me to care so MUCH for Ethan in spite of his horrifying sins: his absolute unyielding love for Lily. And Lily, in spite of her knowing of Ethan’s sins, resolving that she loved him too completely, too deeply to do anything other than cleave to her lover, her Master, her husband for as long as they both lived. Even the darkest things may love, love hard & love true.
This is a stunning & SUPERB series conclusion about a pair of SUPERBLY written characters. This is a heart wrenching & beyond gut wrenching tale & the author takes us on this devastatingly bittersweet journey, down what seems to be an inevitable path. My emotions were intense for this one, I felt raw & agonized as Ethan began to admit the mistakes his darkness had caused him to perpetrate, how his darkness was inflicting heartrending pain he never intended for Lily, & how it was fracturing their lives. And, instead of feeling he was reaping what he sowed, I found myself becoming more & more conflicted, teary-eyed, agonized for both Ethan & his Lily.
The author’s writing is so smooth, so deft, so all encompassing that I forgot where I was, my surroundings, I was with Ethan & Lily as they realize the past has come to the present & an accounting is eminent. As a reader I felt as though the darkness was palatable & closing in on me too, I felt more & more claustrophobic, more agitated, more upset for these characters.
So again, I cannot state strongly enough just how superb this conclusion, as well as this entire series, is. If as a reader you want to be immersed, challenged, your emotions wrung dry & shredded, love writing & characters that seem to suck you into their world away from yours, that make you invested in them & CARE . . . .
Then read this entire series & especially this phenomenal conclusion.
A Violently Overpowering Story of Love… When I started this series I was expecting a twist on the typical tale of a sadist and his masochist. Albeit perhaps, a darker, more delicious telling of the many D/S trope books out there in the literary universe. But holy hell! What I got was so much more, ESPECIALLY in this installment!
The third and final book in Brandon’s Dark Necessities Prequel, “Forbidden” is the conclusion of Ethan and Lily’s story (or so you’re led to believe…). It begins almost immediately where “Fallen” ends, with Lily bound in the trunk. However, this installment also foreshadows the next series by introducing Ethan and Lily’s sons, Dalton and Conner, and gives you a glimpse at just how far reaching the Reilly darkness will eventually extend. It is a dark and chilling literary ride sure to give you emotional whiplash. And in short, it will gut you.
It will gut you, not because of Ethan’s return to the darkness after so many years of happiness with Lily and the anger his deeds inspire, not because of the introduction of Dalton and Conner and the affects their parents actions have, and not even because of Lily’s ending. No, what will gut you is the pure, illogical, emotional attachment you will develop to Ethan as you navigate the remainder of his abuses and you see his true heart and soul. Throughout this entire series one thing has remained perfectly clear; Ethan is not a good man. Ethan is a murderer, a predator. You don’t want to feel bad for him. You don’t want to cry for him. And, you certainly don’t want to share in his anguish over Lily’s despair. But despite logic you do, you feel deeply for him as you uncover the depth of his love for Lily. And despite all logic you will grieve for them both, at the undying love they have for each other, and ultimately for the loss of them.
Here, Brandon’s prose is impeccable. Her imagery perfection, she bleeds passion, anguish, and outright anger onto every page and it infects you instantly. To be honest, I wasn’t expecting the emotional disemboweling inflicted by this last book. But, the final chapters had me choking back sobs, tears streaming down my face.
Something I have said all along in my early reviews of the Dark Necessities Prequel, these books push you to intimately ponder whether or not a love can be so true, so fierce, that it extinguishes your sense of right and wrong? And it superbly obliterates normative psychological and sociological concepts of what a loving relationship looks like. It instead offers a stomach churning substitute; a love so violently overpowering it exterminates all logic, and replaces it with one containing the purist sadism and complete, unadulterated submission. A couple so seamlessly created for each other’s needs it can only be described as divine. It will make you think. It will make you feel things you may not want to. And, It. Is. Glorious.
Intense and Dark Felicity pulls you deeper into Ethans world.Love him or love to hate him you can’t help but wait to see where you go next.I didn’t want the ride to end,waiting to see where the story goes’ next.
I’ve been reading the Dark Necessities series from the time the first book released. I thought it was going to be a guilty pleasure, or maybe a delicious treat. I never thought that I would have become so enthralled in this series. The prequel trilogy has taken my heart through hell and back. It has wrung every drop of emotion out of my soul. Ethan and Lily are so very flawed, so twisted, and so beautifully crafted and created. I didn’t want the series to end, and I am absolutely going to have to re-read the original trilogy. But this was just exquisite torture. Beautifully done.
This is the 3rd and concluding part of this tantalising trilogy. Ethan and Lily’s journey is emotional, thrilling, gritty, dark, and powerful, all of which had me totally enthralled throughout. I look forward to finding out what this gifted author has for us next, and I highly recommend her work for all of those who enjoy a walk on the dark side!
Felicity keeps killing it. Like all the books before this one it is dark and twisted but definitely brings out all the feels. I loved Connor and Molly but Ethan and Lily have taken it to a new level. I was sad that their story came to an end but I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Dalton. Felicity never disappoints!
There were so much love and sorrow in the third book about Ethan and Lily.
This was the last book with Ethan and Lily. It explained a bit of Connor’s story and behaviour later on. You also got a little start on his story.
So many emotions!
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
Picking up where the last book left off then jumping forward 20 years to Ethan and Lilly’s finale then again to 2018 to their son, Connor’s dark plans. This is the perfect intro to Connor and Molly and The Dark Necessities Trilogy.
I read a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review.
Brilliant
Ethan and Lilly’s story in all it’s twisted, dark, depraved, deviant glory comes to a finale. With characters so well written, deeply flawed and monstrously human, you experience every facet of emotion you can think of and more. Ethan and Lilly are complex and enthralling characters that will take you on a journey from the light to the darkest dark and every shade in between.
Love comes in many forms and the heart cannot be controlled no matter what we desire. Can love sooth a savage beast? Maybe forever and maybe not…….
This book did not go where I expected. It is disturbing and intense. It was like being punched in the gut at times. Of course it had the dark Brandonesque sexiness. But this twisty story pretty much sucked it all out of me by the end. And that end. OMG. I won’t say more… but WOW!!!
Buckle up! This is one hella ride.
This amazing book had me riding a roller coaster of emotions, not to mention the twists and turns that kept me turning the pages of this well written story and the characters were written with such great detail and depth that Ethan and Lily had me totally captivated until the turn of the very last page!
Oh my goodness. Full circle. This was such an emotional journey with Ethan and Lily. A tragic love story of epic proportions. I loved the hook! I loved the back story of Connor and Dalton. What a fantastic plot! I knew what would happen, as all readers will, but it is no less powerful. Great set up! I cannot wait to read more, more, more!
Oh Ms Brandon, you and your twisted, dark mind have written the perfect conclusion for this trilogy. This book has serial killer, Ethan, going back to the dark side after 20 years. Poor faithful and loving Lily has been busy with their 2 sons and 6 salons and Ethan screwed up. The police and forensics guys are closing in. You will need tissues and probably a drink for the last half. It’s so good and bad. Besides, we all need an ugly cry every now and then.
This book brought me to tears! Only Felicity Brandon could make me fall for the bad guy and feel bad when his past comes back to haunt him! This was a wonderful conclusion to Lily and Ethan’s story even if it was a sad ending. I can’t wait to see where the dark necessities series goes from here! In this book we get the story told from two different people in law enforcement as well as from Lily and Ethan. I wasn’t as big of a fan of this but I understand that it was used to make everything more dramatic and suspenseful. Other then that I loved everything about it! You need to read the ending of Lily and Ethan’s story!
Book #2 ended with Lily in the boot (trunk) of Ethan’s car, kicking out the tail lights to try and grab someone’s attention. What follows was NOT what I expected, Ms Brandon did not travel the more expected (and cliched) paths with Forbidden. This led to a story that whilst, perhaps, not as filled with drama and angst as the previous two books, allowed us to really (re)connect with both characters, to fall in love with their love story and to understand the choices they ultimately made.
The epilogue, from Connor’s perspective, was rather a sucker punch to the gut. Not only that but it actually altered my perception of him somewhat. Would I have felt differently about him in his books had I read these first? Who knows, it’s a moot point. Very clever of you though Ms Brandon because I now desperately want to re-read his story!
Back to THIS book, and what a journey it took us on. There are some fairly significant time line jumps in this book, though excellent writing ensures you are always aware of WHEN you are in the story. It might have been nice to have had some missing events actually included in the story, though that would have been more for my own preference than it actually adding anything of true value.
The way Lily and Ethan strengthened their bond towards the end was at times scorching hot and yet also heart breaking. Even though the very first book pointed towards a very specific outcome at the end of this, a part of me was waiting – indeed hoping – for some ‘trickery fakery’ to occur. I’m not going to say if it did or not because *spoilers!*,
The emotion of this book, the strength of feeling, was brilliantly portrayed throughout. Did Ethan do enough to make me forgive him? I don’t think you CAN forgive a man for this heinous crimes he committed, but you can love him despite them. And love him Lily did. He clearly worshipped the very ground on which she walked. He also, as much as he could, loved his two sons. Sons that were going to be hurt as a consequence of his actions both past and present.
It goes without saying that Ethan was selfish, particularly when he ‘slipped’, but even then I couldn’t bring myself to hate him. Even when his actions would devastate those he loved, when the resulting ripples threatened to drown those around him, he still managed to stay wedged in both mine and Lily’s hearts. This was both the best and worst ending to their story, the conclusion I most and least wanted.
The Dark Necessities Prequel is an amazing trilogy. It is one that will raise you high before sending you crashing to the ground, broken into many pieces, before gluing you back together and starting the whole cycle again. It is full of delicious darkness, compelling kinkiness, terror, angst and love. I have loved following Lily and Ethan’s story and do recommend this story to those who like their stories on the depraved side.
This is the third book in the Dark Necessities Prequel. It is full of twists and turns and evil controlled by love. It is filled with a couple raising their children while also reacting to each other in physically unique and gratifying ways.
I have loved Lily from the moment she appeared in the stories. Ethan was more difficult to care for, but eventually, I did. I ached for the horror of Ethan’s childhood, and respected the caring father he strove to be for his own two sons. Lily and Ethan forged a passion that encompassed elements of Domination, submission, control and subservience in a way that thrilled and satisfied both of them. There was great joy and excitement to see the life Ethan and Lily forged between them. And, there was sad dismay as Ethan’s slipped back into the darkness that summoned his soul.
Felicity Brandon is a talented, erotic writer who manages to wring fear and pleasure from her readers. I delayed beginning this book because I knew how much I was going to be captivated and enthralled by Felicity’s intense and evocative words and story line.
I think I sat and stared into space for at least 10 minutes after finishing this one. I was dumbstruck and the emotional trauma was real. This story, even more than the first two, kept me glued to the pages. I felt sick to my stomach, my heart broke, I wanted to walk away at some parts, and yet I couldn’t get the story out of my head and I couldn’t put it down. Felicity Brandon has a way of dragging you deep into yourself and the lives of her characters. Their complexity make it difficult to both love them and hate them, and that is what makes her stories have such an impact on the reader. You want to reach into the story and kill some people, and at the same time you want to do nothing more than hold them close and shelter them.
Ethan and Lily’s story has been dark from the very beginning. It has been heartache, passion, obsession, violence, tenderness, fear, loathing, and all encompassing love. It is one of those stories that will stay with me forever.
I cant believe what I just read Outstanding is putting it mildly theres no words good enough to explain the emotions and intensity of these characters you want to hate everything and love them all at the same time because this is Ethan and Lily and they are so unique and beautiful characters and this is how they love, Im not sure if I hate Ethan or not but I was used to his ways it was who he was and I excepted that, his love for Lily and her devotion and forgiveness made her such a strong woman to deal with it all, she was so committed but it is so so intense every single moment. I loved seeing Connor and Dalton past and present and their thoughts. Hold on tight because there story is anything but normal and I loved it.