Addie E. Citchens’ Dominion is a powerful Southern drama set in Dominion, Mississippi, centered on Reverend Sabre Winfrey, his gifted son Emanuel (“Wonderboy”), and the women who love them. When Wonderboy’s life takes an unexpected turn, long-hidden tensions ripple through their community.

Exploring themes of patriarchy, power, and societal expectations, Citchens delivers a bold, tender, and thought-provoking debut praised for its vivid storytelling and cultural insight. A must-read for fans of literary Southern fiction.

2.5/5. I feel as if the “sins of the father plague the sons” theme that this story was going for was shrouded by so many unnecessary characters. The dual narration between Diamond and Priscilla, while understood, did not do the story justice to me because Diamond was never anything serious to Wonder. I hated how such important details were almost relegated to the sidelines to make room for Diamond’s internal monologue. This is a book about patriarchy and the son mirroring the father, her internal rants about how much she hates high school did not serve that. I found myself frustrated when after Wonderboy revealed that he was the one who killed the dog, not his dad, instead of anything coming of that, the next chapter was almost immediately about Diamond and her angst. I felt as if there were a lot of ideas but they felt like a lot of loose ends trying to be tied together instead of one contiguous seamless narrative. This is highlighted even more in the end especially with the resolution.

Yet another PHENOMENAL novel for 2025. I truly don't know if I'll be able to do this book justice in this review, it's been a couple of days since I finished reading and my mind just...wow. Addie E. Citchens has crafted something truly unforgettable with Dominion, this book impacted me on such a deep level that I can't explain in words.

Dominion, a typical Southern town in Mississippi, is ruled by the Winfrey family. Reverend Winfrey is the town's prophet, revered as a king among kings, and he rules with an iron fist alongside his First Lady, Priscilla. His five sons are his legacy, and he expects greatness above all else. The greatest of them all, Wonderboy, is the next coming of Christ...supposedly. Wonderboy is the embodiment of perfection itself, sacred to the town of Dominion. This story is not told through him, though, but rather his mother and girlfriend--the two women that love him most in the world. It's through their eyes that we watch the cracks begin to show that may lead to the downfall of the men they love most. Although, there are three sides to every story....and the truth will come out eventually. What would you sacrifice to keep your loved ones safe? Would they do the same for you? Is love truly worth losing yourself and your identity?

I couldn't stop myself from reading this entire book in one day. I was stuck watching in horror as the drama unfolded, my stomach churning and my brow furrowed. Citchens weaves in so many pertinent social issues into this story, and refuses to shy away from the grotesque truth. Systemic racism, toxic masculinity, evangelicalism, and the other ropes that bind us in fear and oppression. Dominion is absolute and unyielding.

If you're going to read ANY of my recommendations this year, let it be this novel. Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for providing me an ARC in exchange for my honest feedback!

[TW: Animal death, Rape, Sexual Assault, Violence, Death, Drug Abuse]

Dominion is a stunning debut novel that weaves together drama, brutality, humor, and a profound exploration of the human condition, all while detailing the fall from grace of the Winfrey family. Dominion is told through three distinct perspectives – through Priscilla, “Wonderboy’s” mother, through Diamond – Wonderboy’s lover, and an intentionally ambiguous viewpoint.

At the heart of the narrative is Wonderboy, the perfect picture of a pastors son – handsome, intelligent, sporty, friendly, and always respectful of the women around him. His family, his friends, and both Priscilla and Diamond believe he is the definition of perfect. The majority of the school would willingly throw themselves at Wonderboy, Diamond included. However, as revealed early in the prologue, they both like each other, sneaking wistful glances at each other during the Sunday sermon.

“I had heard so many things about what that child did with them lips. Merciful father, say it aint that one. Manny was special, my baby –I couldn’t bear to have him turned out by some wordly hussy.”

Of course, Priscilla wasn’t fond of Diamond, both due to her “stripper” name and her poor upbringing. Diamond didn’t grow up with the comfort of a stable home, had to scrounge for food, and faced childhood abandonment by both parents, a sharp contrast to the affluent Winfrey family. Naturally, Diamond is drawn to him regardless.

What then is detailed is the heart wrenching drama of a woman who loses herself, her sense of identity, and her passions all to a man who may not be as flawless as he seems.

“They weren’t much younger than me, but I felt ages older, maybe light-years. Old enough that a future I wasn’t ready for was staring me in the face.”

Priscilla’s inner turmoil runs parallel to Diamond, her struggles within marriage and the actions of her husband. Watching the slow reveal and descent into both knowledge and acceptance only made the conversations she had all the more raw, touching, and uncomfortable.

“On the evening of February 14, 1976, my husband explained to me that because Eve ate the apple, I would have to eat the snake. I knew in the scheme of things, this probably wasn’t so bad a thing to do, especially since this was my husband, but try as I could, I could not get comfortable with it.”

Each women directly faced different challenges from their families and their lovers. They also watched the patriarchy play – with haunting quotes such as these, marking how subservience has dominated not only society, but religion as well.

“To woman he gave a womb, and to man he gave dominion-that’s what I teach my boys because that’s what the living Word say.”

Dominion is an unforgettable read, although something I wouldn’t typically pick up off a shelf. Citchens has a stunning debut novel that masters southern diction, where dialogue flows effortlessly. Not only is it an enjoyable read, it does excellent work analyzing the human condition and the consequences of the patriarchy.