Dominion

Ascension

Fiction - Dystopia
312 Pages
Reviewed on 04/16/2026
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Essien Asian for Readers' Favorite

Dominion rose from the ashes of the Great War. Where avarice had motivated men to push the planet to the brink, the women stepped up and pulled together, determined to redirect a dying planet. Now they rule supreme, subjugating the men to a functional caste system designed to focus on their core skills. Despite the peace and prosperity that have resulted from this unusual arrangement, not everyone is satisfied with it. Danielle Matthews, daughter of an important figure in the regime and a tenacious reporter, believes there is more to this utopia than meets the eye. When she stumbled upon Robbie, a childhood friend, her determination to help him break the bonds of subjugation sees her making an unexpected journey of discovery in D.A. Murray's Dominion.

D.A. Murray pays special attention to the minor details, from the extensive origin story that explains the Great War’s effects on the populace to Dominion's detailed power structure, which explains how males are placed in society. This tempts perceptive readers to contemplate how, with the present state of global affairs, Murray's narrative can easily transition from fiction to reality. The dialogue switches between casual and investigative. The descriptive narrative style emphasizes Danielle's sometimes unconventional interaction with the people she interviews. What stands out in the author's delivery is the way strategically placed clues connect like a jigsaw puzzle that immerses readers in the intrigue. Murray's Dominion stands out in a class of its own, with a thought-provoking plot and pacing that starts sedately but graduates to breakneck speed as it approaches the conclusion.

Asher Syed

Dominion: Ascension by D.A. Murray is set in a postwar nation, run by women, that assigns males to a fixed life track through a testing system, known as Illegis. The “Breeder” track puts men in state-run reproduction programs under strict oversight. Danielle Matthews is attending the Ascension Gala, a ceremony honoring her mother for designing Illegis, when a Breeder named Robbie escapes. The incident drives Danielle to Colin, a Breeder whose mother holds a senior office. Colin brings Danielle into the Colony, the facility that houses Breeders, where her investigation reveals that men marked for release may not actually reach their promised destination. Danielle follows evidence tied to Robbie’s flight route across official sites and hidden settlements, raising more questions than answers, including those surrounding her father’s unexplained death.

Dominion: Ascension by D.A. Murray is a unique shift to the more traditional gender rule speculative future that is prevalent in the genre, and the author does an excellent job of breathing life into it through Danielle's point of view. Murray charts a believable descent from familiar civic order into rigid hierarchy, showing how consent is cultivated through ceremony, surveillance, and sanctioned instruction. I love a good conspiracy, and this is exactly what Murray offers. The connection between Danielle and both her parents makes her the perfect driver. She has benefited by way of her mother's family notoriety, but at what cost? Fear reshapes conduct, narrows conversation, and rewards obedience, all rendered in scenes set in a world that is textured and real through a brilliant setting. The end is satisfying and a masterclass in how to effectively use a cliff-hanger strategy. I look forward to seeing where it goes next.