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Reverend Sabre Winfrey, shepherd of the Seven Seals Baptist Church, believes in God, his own privilege, and enterprise. Besides the barbershop and radio station he owns, he has an iron hand on every aspect of Dominion, Mississippi, society. He and his wife, Priscilla, have five boys; the youngest, Emanuel, is called Wonderboy—no one sings prettier, runs as fast, or turns as many heads. After a surprising encounter with a stranger, Wonderboy finds himself confronted by questions he’d never imagined, and his response will send shock waves through the entire community. Told from the point of view of the women who love these two men, Dominion illustrates how we enable the everyday violence and casual sins of the patriarchy.
This book blew me away.
I love reading books set in church communities, and Dominion by Addie Citchens gave me everything I look for in that kind of story. After finishing it, all I could say was wow.
The story takes place in a small Mississippi town where the church is at the center of everything. Reverend Sabre Winfrey Jr. is a powerful pastor who is deeply respected, and his wife Priscilla works hard to maintain a picture-perfect image of their family. They have five sons, and their youngest, Emanuel, known as Wonderboy, is talented, charming, and adored by everyone. But nothing is as perfect as it seems. When a shocking event occurs, long-held secrets begin to surface and the entire community is shaken.
This book has everything. Intrigue, secrets, colorism, racism, classism, murder, drama, pregnancy, and so much more. Every chapter adds another layer, and just when you think you understand the characters, the story shifts and reveals something new.
Priscilla quickly became my favorite character. She is a soror, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and she is one of the first to truly see who Wonderboy is. Watching her break free from the need to uphold a picture-perfect life when it clearly is not was powerful. Priscilla has her faults, but she genuinely tries to do right by her family and herself in the best way she knows how. She felt real, complicated, and deeply human.
Wonderboy is the golden son on the surface, but beneath that charm is a darker reality that slowly comes into focus. Diamond, who is drawn to him, represents vulnerability and hope, and her storyline shows how easily love and trust can blind someone to the truth.
What made Dominion so compelling for me was how real the characters felt. No one is all good or all bad. Everyone is flawed, hiding something, and trying to protect themselves, even when it causes harm. The church setting is not just a backdrop. It shapes the power, the choices, and the silence within the town.
This book had me hooked from start to finish. It is messy, uncomfortable, heartbreaking, and unforgettable. If you love church dramas with deep characters, big secrets, and shocking twists, this is a must-read. I am still thinking about it days later. Seriously, I need people to talk about this book with.
The Book Review Template is perfect for taking quick notes on how you feel about the characters, theme, plot, or whatever seems important to you. Additionally, there are helpful phrases and descriptors to help write your review.
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