Review: Dominion: Ascension by D.A. Murray

🔥 Overview
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where women wield absolute control, Dominion: Ascension is a bold dystopian thriller that flips traditional power dynamics on their head. D.A. Murray crafts a visceral narrative exploring survival, rebellion, and the cost of dominance in a fractured society. With its unrelenting pace and stark world-building, this novel grips readers from the first page to its explosive climax.

🔍 Key Strengths
⚔️ Provocative Premise – The matriarchal dystopia is both refreshing and unsettling, challenging gender norms with brutal honesty.
🌍 Immersive World-Building – Murray paints a vivid, gritty landscape where every alliance is fragile and every rule is enforced with iron will.
💥 High-Stakes Conflict – The tension between the ruling elite and underground dissenters drives a plot thick with betrayal and revolution.
🖤 Complex Characters – Protagonists and antagonists alike are layered, their motivations blurring the line between hero and villain.

⚠️ Considerations
📜 Pacing Shifts – Some sections rush pivotal moments, while others linger on atmospheric detail, creating occasional tonal whiplash.
🔮 Thematic Familiarity – Fans of The Handmaid’s Tale or The Power may recognize echoes, though Murray’s execution carves a distinct path.

⭐ Score Breakdown (0–5 Stars)
✍️ Writing Style → ★★★★☆ (4/5)
🎭 Character Depth → ★★★★☆ (4/5)
🌐 World-Building → ★★★★★ (5/5)
⚡ Plot Momentum → ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Overall: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)
A scorching rebellion against the status quo—where power doesn’t just corrupt; it consumes.

🎯 Perfect For Readers Who Love
📖 Feminist dystopias with teeth
⚔️ Stories of societal collapse and resistance
🖤 Morally gray characters in impossible choices

🙏 Gratitude
Thank you to NetGalley and D.A. Murray for the advance review copy. Dominion: Ascension is a firebrand of a novel, demanding attention and sparking conversation long after the final page.

(Note: Review based on an uncorrected proof; final publication may vary.)

Dominion: Ascension is a breakneck exploration of gender roles and the societal norms placed on women. The heroine and narrator of the story, Danielle, is a relatable example of a daughter wanting her mother’s approval but loathing her mother’s attitude. I couldn't decide whose side I was on until the end of the book. That tension really intrigued me.

The transformation from naive and eager to love to relentless made Dani the type of main character that invited me to question my own reality. The world depicted in Dominion: Ascension made me wonder if there is a haven in the way men and women relate to each other.

Dominion: Ascension explores the consequences of imbalance in gender, governance, and truth. I was impressed by the way the themes were addressed in unorthodox way. The caste system had me in a chokehold.

The adventures made the book irresistible for me. I'm not a huge romance fan but the steam in the book was perfect. It was just spicy enough to make sense given the tension but not overbearing. I was completely engulfed in the world-building. I couldn't put the book down from Chapter 35 forward. I was up all night reading. I loved the dynamics of characters.

This is just the beginning. I'm extremely excited to see more of characters like Gideon and Caris in the series. I'm also excited to read a novel like this from a woman of color.

This is a true Dystopian fiction, and was thought-provoking, exciting, and unique. I found the feminist society intriguing and the characters very interesting.

Thank you to NetGalley for this gifted eARC in exchange for my honest review. I appreciate it!

Wow this was a dystopian nightmare of a book. The initial response I had was a swell of feminist pride, but that quickly devolved into a growing sense of wrongness. I found myself feeling for Robbie and I was rooting for them to find Haven. Haven was its own brand of nightmare. This had action and it had suspense. Yet, it had the core of a love story. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.

June 20, 2025
Dominion Ascension by D. A. Murray is a riveting dystopian, post apocalyptic novel set in the fictional country of Dominion. After the four-year great war ended in 2030, and destroyed the United States, 26 unified Republics were formed. The story is told by investigative journalist, Dani Matthews, who is reporting on the enslavement and emasculation of men through chemical weapons rendering them infertile and cognitively impaired as a result of the great war. Men are limited to domestic servitude and pleasure giving.
Women control everything. They emerge as captains of industry, lead the government, and create policy. They decide that boys from aged 12 will become Breeders and, propagate Dominion offsprings. In their quest to create a utopian society, women suppress expressions of dissent, particularly by the Breeders. Dani’s investigation into what happens to the Breeders after they reach 30 leads her to reconnect with Robbie, a childhood friend. Now in his mid-20’s he expressed to Dani his desire to leave Dominion and be free. Dani and Robbie embark on a long and arduous journey to the remote region of Haven in their fight for freedom. Their struggle to survive kept me frantically turning the pages and, I can’t wait to read what comes next.
Author D. A. Murray draws inspiration from Margaret Atwood, Octavia Butler, and slave narratives of resistance, as well as the present political climate.

I thought this book was a good dystopian sci-fi read that reminded me a lot of Octavia Butler. As a guy I found it to be a good exercise in empathy with the gender role-reversal and appreciate that it was not anti-man, unlike some of the fiction that is popular these days. In particular, I liked how the main character is complex and likable and shows several sides of the Dominion world as we follow her story. I did think there was quite a lot of scene setting narration, but I attribute that to it being a sci-fi novel and needing to build up the world. Overall I would say this is an excellent debut for a first-time published author!

Whether you are a man or a woman; humans are humans. This book asks what it means to be a human. Following the journey with the protagonist through this sensual dystopian novel takes you away with the author's descriptive and detailed writing. You will be transported to this new world while asking so many questions we all face today about relationships, equality, and basic human rights. I highly recommend this book. From the epic dangers to the spicey love scenes, it is pure entertainment!!!

Dominion: Ascension is a bold and thought-provoking dystopian debut that subverts traditional power structures and delivers a gripping tale of rebellion, identity, and survival.

The story follows Dani Matthews, an investigative journalist and daughter of a high-ranking official, who begins to question the foundations of Dominion’s society. When she reunites with her childhood friend Robbie, now a Breeder, the two embark on a dangerous journey to uncover the truth and find Haven, a rumored sanctuary for escaped Breeders. Their path is fraught with peril, secrets, and a growing bond that challenges everything they’ve been taught.

D. A. Murray crafts a richly imagined world with sharp social commentary, emotional depth, and a slow-burn romance that adds heart to the high-stakes plot, which is both unsettling and empowering.

This book was interesting, with a wonderful world! I loved the characters, and the world building was masterful and unique! I was interested from beginning to end! I would recommend this book to everyone!

Dominion by D. A. Murray is a phenomenal dystopian fiction.
A thought- provoking debut that kept me glued to the pages.
I was swept into the story from the very first page. I immediately loved the story, the world-building, and the characters.

This book asks what it means to be a human and makes you question everything! Following the journey with the protagonist through this dystopia takes you away with the author's descriptive writing. You are absolutely transported to this new world. This book makes you ask so many questions, many of which we all face today. Whether it be about relationships, equality, and basic human rights. I highly recommend this book.

I was really excited to read this book about a world where women are in control of society and men are forced into assigned roles. I did sometimes feel as if I were reading a nonfiction book learning about the happenings of an unknown civilization instead of being entirely immersed in a work of fiction. Despite that, I wanted to know how the story would unfold. I'll probably give this a reread at some point.

Dominion Ascension by D.A. Murray is a dark, gripping sci-fi fantasy that blends high-stakes action with an undercurrent of mystery and intrigue.
Murray crafts a vivid, unsettling world where survival depends on power plays, fragile alliances, and difficult choices.
The pacing keeps tension simmering, balancing explosive confrontations with quieter moments that deepen character connections.
Plot twists land hard, shifting the ground beneath readers and raising the stakes with every chapter.
It’s an intense, cinematic start to what promises to be a thrilling series.

I enjoyed the concept of this book. A dystopian flip on a male ran world. What would it be like to reverse that and how would it even work. Murray put some thought into this and it is reflected in the world building that occurs in the beginning chapters. Everything is very descriptive so you can easily follow along with the plot. While it read like a freshman novel, it was interesting and something I'd recommend for a book club bec the discussion would be very interesting.

In the remains of a world torn apart by war, Dominion rises, a society where women hold the reins of power and the future is re-invented. Through Dani Matthews’s eyes, we are in a society where men are commodities and freedom is a dream.

This novel confronts themes of gender, autonomy, and rebellion. Dani’s journey, from the heights of Dominion’s ruling class to the uncertainty of Haven, is both harrowing and tender. Her connection with Robbie, a Breeder haunted by his gilded cage, is beautifully drawn, lending a pulse of hope to the dystopian gloom.

Suspenseful and thought provoking, with the strongest question: Who gets to shape the world, and at what cost? “Dominion” stays with you, reflecting the complication of power, love, and the human will to be free.

This book was out of the ordinary as a read for me but I enjoyed it and look forward to reading more from D.A.Murray.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review.