The Decimation of Mae by DH Sidebottom

The Devil visited me three times in my life; albeit, my short life. Not in the physical sense, you must understand, but very much literally. 

He was persistent, resolute and tenacious. His ruthless greed to annihilate me was utterly disturbing. I am sure if he had hierarchy, the man at the top would have dragged his arse into Hell’s prison for his unscrupulous methods. 

I was just fifteen when I first became aware of what he was capable of. This initial taste of him set the playing field for how my life was to be lived – for want of a better word. 
He mocked me, showed me mercilessly how he played the game and how he liked to cheat at said game. He ridiculed and taunted me until, six months later, he won and took something of so much importance from me that I would never be the same again. 

His second visit was, in my eyes, so much more cruel and heartless. I know we’re talking about the Devil here, and yes, you have a right to say he had no heart but even then, even when I was so utterly broken, I begged to differ and hoped – no, prayed – that somewhere deep in the caverns of his black, tortured soul there was something that beat and confused his emotions once in a while. 

The third visit was somewhat different than the other two. He tried, and at first succeeded to bring me to my knees once and for all, but then something happened. God finally intervened and altered Satan’s intention; he sent hope and morphed the Devil’s minion into an Angel, hoping to break and shatter the anguish and suffering. He gave the ability for me to feel pleasure in pain, order in the chaos and light in the darkness. 
But in giving me a reprieve, he also gave me something that would finally and ultimately obliterate me. He gave me the capability to love, therefore giving me the ability to be destroyed. 
And Satan made sure that I was destroyed. Cruelly, viciously and sadistically. 

I am Mae Swift, and this is the story of my decimation. 

***WARNING*** 
This story doesn’t contain hearts and flowers, it doesn’t even contain the word ‘love’. It isn’t for the fainthearted, nor those who want romance and happy ever afters. It’s dark, in fact it goes beyond the dark realms of misery and despair. It contains disturbing scenes of sexual violence, cruelty and torture. It also includes self-harm, pain addiction and brutalisation. 

Please bear this in mind before purchasing this book. Thank you.

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Review by Brittany

Warning: This book is dark. Do not read if you are not okay with kidnapping, rape, violence, or hot and sweaty rough sex.

                Mae Swift has been dealing with the death of her family for the longest time. Bouncing from foster home to foster home, she never felt loved or wanted. Until one night she met Daniel, a good looking older man that saved her from a possible sexual assault.

                At twenty-one, she was still a virgin, only wanting to connect physically with someone she loved. But she had this undeniable pull towards Daniel, and she knew that if he asked for it, she’d give it to him without an argument…

                Except he didn’t ask.

                He took.

                This is just the beginning of the decimation of Mae.

                Three years later, she’s still cutting her wrists to try and deal with the pain of that night. The night her innocence was stolen from her.

                Little did she know, she was being watched.

                Little did she know, that a few days before Christmas, she was going to be taken and turned into stock. Trained to please her the buyer she would meet in six months time.

                Little did she know, Daniel was back.

                I had heard so much about this book before I decided to one-click it. I was so excited to read this dark erotic romance. That’s my favorite genre. I love reading about the taboo. And I don’t know how to really explain what I want to say and have it really make sense, but I’ll try my best.

                I didn’t get what I was expecting… but I got more than I thought I was going to get. Make sense?

                I wanted more darkness. I didn’t want a happy love story. Which it’s not, but there is love. Or maybe it’s Stockholm Syndrome. Either way, I got more than I expected.

                The last actual chapter will probably tear you up. It’s very heartbreaking. But the epilogue almost heals that hurt all the way. So, there’s the bad, and then there’s the good. I really wanted more bad, but the good was so great, that I really don’t mind that I didn’t get what I wanted.

                There is more to Daniel than you think, and if you’ve read the book, you know what I mean. He’s more than a manipulative rapist. He’s capable of feeling actual human emotions. Shocking, I know. But it’s true.

                I am really in love with this book, and is on my list of favorite dark books this year. There is another book out, the Salvation of Daniel that is next on my list. I can’t wait to read more about him. I really hope I get to learn more about his past.

                Five stars for DH Sidebottom. I think she did a marvelous job with this book, and she definitely has me hooked. 

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Video Review by Brittany

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