Deprivation

The Brethren Lords #4

by Ellie Sanders

CAPTURED, AUCTIONED, AND CLAIMED. BUT I WILL NEVER SURRENDER, NO MATTER THE COST...
I’m a prize. A treasure for the taking. A gift to be given to the highest bidder by our new Chapter Lord.


For two years, I’ve been locked away. Sequestered. They tell me it’s for my protection, but I know better. They’re waiting—waiting for me to be of age.



And on my twenty-first birthday, they hold an auction, not just for my virginity, but for me, all of me. When I’m paraded before them, I see all the men who once kissed my father’s boots, all hoping to claim me. But as the gavel falls, it’s not one of them who wins me. It’s someone far worse. Antonio. My father’s best friend. No, ex-best friend. He’s spent two years checking on me, comforting me, and now I understand why.



I belong to him now. His to do with as he pleases. But I won’t make it easy. I won’t simply surrender and let this monster devour me...

Genres: Dark Romance, Smut, Abuse

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication February 28, 2026

About the author

International bestselling author of Pitch Black Romance.


Ellie Sanders lives in rural Hampshire, in the U.K. with her partner and two troublesome dogs.

She has a BA Hons degree in English and American Literature with Creative Writing and enjoys spending her time, when not endlessly writing, exploring the countryside around her home.



Hit her up on her the following accounts.....

FB Group: The Hot Steamy Writer
Instagram: @hotsteamywriter
TikTok: @hotsteamywriter
Twitter: @hotsteamywriter

Reviews

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ow !! This one hurts. This is the most questionable HEA I have ever read!!! If you have read anything by this author before you know… which I hope you have because this is the 4th book in the series. Anyway I feel like mind f*ck doesn’t even scratch the surface of it. I admire Grace she was stubborn and tried until she could not. Antonio is the king of manipulation. If you want any a book to make you constantly ask can this get any worse look no further you found it!!! Please check TWs your mental health matters and this book is DARK.

[Alyssa Calhoun · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book makes you stop and say WTF every chapter in the best way. This book is beyond dark with themes I have never read before. Keeps you on the edge of your seat with utter shock. Dark beyond Dark. Ellie Sanders books shock me and are so well written.
was Antonio the worst MMC in this series? up to debate. Did Grace have it the worst in my opinion? Mentally? maybe. but can't get worse then Brynn lol

[MiSsE · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚠️MY REVIEW CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS!!⚠️

⚠️CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS!! THIS BOOK IS PITCH BLACK!!⚠️

“For all those readers who see the allure of a man with unimaginable power, be careful what you wish for, because power is never given, only taken.And once it chooses you, you will dance on its strings, over and over, until the monster decides the performance is done...”

Book 1 - FMC throws herself out of second floor window to get away from the brutality the MMC has inflicted upon her. She’s raped, sodomized, branded with a burn, but she can still walk and talk and ends up with a HEA with the MMC.

Book 2 - FMC has her spine broken by the MMC and has a lobotomy done. She herself is also raped, sodomized, tortured, has her damn tongue cut out, and is now paralyzed from the MMC breaking her spine on purpose so that she can’t fight him anymore. They end up with a HEA.

Book 3 - FMC literally has her eyeballs cut out of her head by the MMC so he can keep her vibrant eyes all to himself!! She is raped, sodomized, shared by multiple and I mean MULTIPLE MEN, and humiliated. She also had her CLIT CUT OFF!!! Now she’s pregnant and won’t be able to ever see what her child looks like because the H took that away from her, but… she’s in love with him now lol.

Now…. Book 4 *Sigh* …

I’ve been waiting oh so patiently for this one to come out. The other three are totally unhinged, and I just knew that this one would not be any different. At first I thought this one is not a bad as the other three, then I got towards the end and OMG! Yes, it is! My jaw was on the floor this entire book, but towards the end, it didn’t close, not even for one second!

I feel so dang bad for Grace. She didn’t deserve anything that was done to her. She’s a victim of circumstance. Auctioned off, she was forced to have her nipples and clit pierced, had a cattle prod shoved up her vajayjay and arse at a high voltage, beaten, treated like a whore, being used by multiple men, all by the hands and commands of Antonio. She has her ears cut off, raped repeatedly, has her nipple ring torn out by teeth, all done by the enemy. THEN the enemy gives her a choice… either take your own life or wait for Antonio to find her, well she’s so broken that she decides to take her own life, well tries to with a gun, blows her face off… but she SURVIVES! 😩 lawd jeezus take the wheel!

There’s a HUGE betrayal done by Antonio. I always wondered what his back story was in the other books. He’s a manipulative dirt bag. He has you fooled thinking he’s the good guy but he’s definitely far from it. And that ending, that twist, OMG!? And NO, there is no HEA! Not even close!

Grace is not like the others. She stays drugged, she doesn’t have a voice, she can’t stand side by side with her husband, not like the others. She is literally made into a whore. She doesn’t get to be a mom to her son, not anything else. I feel downright bad for her. Like it’s really messing with me how Antonio ended up treating her.

I cannot wait to see what the next chapter brings, cause the way this ends, all the twists, has me reeling!

* I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own 🖤

[Kirizal · Rating 5 out of 5]

i finished reading this book a few days ago but took a minute to process before reviewing because oh… my god. i’ve kept this review free of any proper spoilers, but i talk generally about a few points - nothing the trigger warnings list at the start wouldn’t clue you into but if you’re planning to go in totally blind then this might give away a bit!

So if you’re not already acquainted with Ellie Sanders’ Brethren Lords, definitely start at the beginning with Deviant. Although i think this book could be read as a standalone, having met Antonio as a side character through the previous books really added a lot and the plot running through all the interconnected stories is fantastic. i came for the extremely dark romance and stayed for the plot (and the extremely dark romance too, of course!). And, as always, do pay attention to the trigger warnings. These books go to some brutally dark places, they do it exceptionally well and very explicitly, and Deprivation may well be the darkest yet.

It’s also, i think, Ellie Sanders’ best writing yet. i found both Antonio and Grace to have compelling and unique inner voices, particularly Grace’s early chapters as she prepares herself mentally for the auction, and Antonio’s inner conflict about his feelings later in the book. Not to give too much away, but these two both go on huge journeys with the inner conflict between breaking and defiance from Grace and the shifting flavour of possession and control from Antonio. He’s a monster through and through - but never a two dimensional one.

Something i found really powerful was the way this book examined how Grace’s body is viewed by herself, by others, and by Antonio. Even mixed in with all the horrors Grace goes through, there was something weirdly beautiful about how the disgust and abuse she faces for her body is contrasted with the desire and admiration when viewed from a different perspective. As someone who has felt like i was at war with my body at times, i got a lot from both the catharsis of seeing the bad and the reassurance of seeing the good.

But don’t let that make you think Antonio is a lovely champion of body positivity - far from it. He’s exactly what you’d expect of a Brethren Lord - misogynistic, manipulative, possessive, cruel, and has no limits to the atrocities he’ll inflict. If you like reading about utterly irredeemable men, you’ll love (or love to hate) this one.

This book pushes right up against the edge of what can be considered dark romance - both in terms of just how dark it gets and an ending that really doesn’t qualify as HEA for anyone involved. If you like dark romance, erotic horror, and romantic tragedy then this blends elements of all three and kept me locked in from the first word. Very excited for book five and already counting the days!

[Scorysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a true masterpiece!!! Completely captivated me from the first page.🖤🖤🖤

Ellie surpasses herself every time.
I knew this book would be pitch black… but I didn’t expect it to get under my skin like this. It’s going to live in my head for a long time. 🖤
Ellie Sanders’s books don’t try to make anything easy or comfortable. It leans into the darkness, unapologetic, unsettle you and stays with you for a very long time.
I love that none of the guys from the Brethren Lords softened or turned into a safe version of a dark MMC.
And I really like that there is no HEA in her books. That's what makes them so unique.

Before you start reading it,
⚠️Check your trigger warnings!⚠️
Those two pages aren’t for decoration.

Antonio has officially become my favorite from the Brethren Lords. He completely owns this book. He is obsessive, controlling, terrifyingly self-assured. The way he thinks and justifies everything… the way he’s protecting what’s his… it’s disturbingly magnetic. He is definitely a master manipulator. Sometimes I hated him. And yet I rooted for him. 😬🫠🖤 He isn’t a safe character to love… but that’s kind of the point. 🤭 He’s compelling in the most dangerous way, and I was hooked on every moment he was on page.🖤

Grace’s journey hurt to read. 💔 You can feel the tension building page after page. Witnessing what she becomes, how her fire fades — and what is done to her — is heartbreaking and brutal. The emotional weight never lets up.

The dynamic between them is intense, suffocating, and completely addictive.
Power, obsession, and dependency wrapped into something that impossible to escape from….
Even for readers. 🖤

Thank you, Ellie, for letting me join your ARC reader group! Deprivation was an unforgettable journey. 🖤

[Jan Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 4 in The Brethren Lords series. I have loved every single book in this series and all have been 5 star reads. So Thank you Ellie for sending me this ARC. The way I screamed when I saw the email 🤣🖤.

Please note these books are PITCH BLACK! The triggers I have listed in the post do not even cover the surface of the trigger warnings to this book. Please take note of your mental health!

But if like me you are trigger-less and love a dark read you will love this book. the Queen of Pitch black has done it again!. Another amazing read. This book is dark, it is brutal, it is relentless but yet I couldn’t put it down.

The MMC, Antonio.. is not moral grey he is an absolute dirt bag! Do not fall for his moments of kindness, he is not redeemable.. he is pure manipulation! The games he plays with the FMC, Grace are awful.. just when you think he can’t get any worse.. he absolutely can!! There is no light there is no mercy!

Poor Grace! She tried so hard to not fall for this lies, manipulation and games! Yet even when she failed and fell for it all she still had the rug pulled from under her. What she goes through is nothing short of horrific. A complete rollercoaster.. a dark, deranged one at that. My heartbreaks for Grace.

As with the others in this series it has a questionable HEA, but I think Grace might have the least happy ending out of them all so far. At least the others are somewhat happy with the life that I’ve been forced to accept.

If you want a dark (and I mean pitch black), gripping, unforgettable book that you will not be able to put down this is for you… I highly recommend the whole series 🖤

[Novellaworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Deprivation by Ellie Sanders
Brethren Lords #4

Holy Mother of God and all that is unholy—Ellie Sanders does it again. And somehow, with every book, she outdoes herself.

This is the fourth book in the Brethren Lords series, and Antonio is easily one of the most despicable, manipulative MMCs I’ve read in a long time. Absolutely vile. Calculated. And completely unforgettable. I hated him… and still devoured this book.

⚠️ Check your trigger warnings. Seriously. ⚠️
They are there for a reason. Two pages is not a menu choice. Do not underestimate this story. This is pitch-black, black-hole dark—no light, no mercy.

Grace’s story hurt. There is no HEA for her, and that broke my heart because she had fire. She fought with everything she had, and the entire time I was begging the universe to give her even a sliver of peace.

Captured. Auctioned. Claimed.
Grace isn’t just sold—she’s offered as a prize. Locked away for four years “for her protection” until she’s of age. Until the auction begins.
And when the gavel falls, it’s not a stranger who claims her—it’s Antonio. Her father’s best friend. The man who checked on her. Comforted her. Waited.

This book is brutal, unflinching, and relentless. It doesn’t soften the darkness or offer easy comfort, and that’s exactly why it hits so hard.

Ellie Sanders writes fearlessly. The criticism and hypocrisy only highlight the power of her storytelling. Deprivation is disturbing, gripping, and impossible to forget.

Thank you, Ellie, for the privilege of reading this ARC.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

**4 ⭐️ | Pitch Black and Committed to the Descent**

This book does not flirt with darkness. It dives straight in and never comes up for air.

The atmosphere is suffocating from the beginning — the isolation, the auction, the buildup of power and control. You feel the weight of Grace’s confinement and the inevitability of what’s coming. The tension isn’t rushed; it simmers, tightens, and then locks into place.

Grace’s endurance is honestly staggering. Two years of isolation alone would have hollowed most people out. The psychological pressure layered on top of that? Brutal. Watching her survive in an environment designed to control and reshape her made this deeply gripping.

Antonio is not morally gray. He’s not a tortured antihero. He’s calculated, obsessive, and fully aware of what he’s doing. His strength isn’t in physical dominance alone — it’s in patience, strategy, and long-term psychological control. He plays the long game, and that’s what makes him so compelling to read. Every move feels deliberate.

What makes this a strong 4-star read for me is how fully it commits to its tone. There’s no soft redemption arc sweeping in to balance the scales. If there’s a “win” here, it belongs to Antonio — not Grace. And that imbalance feels intentional. The story doesn’t pretend to offer equal healing or tidy closure. It stays true to its darkness all the way through.

This is pitch black dark romance. Uncomfortable. Intense. Immersive. It doesn’t hand out hope easily — and that boldness makes it stand out.

If you like your dark romance unapologetically shadowed, psychologically heavy, and fully committed to the descent, this one absolutely delivers.

[Leanne Marshall]

Deprivation. Where do I start?

First of all Ellie takes first place for master gaslighter as always because why did I believe Antonio is a good man? 😂 even through out the first half of the book I was like ‘ahhh I can’t see how she’s gonna make him a monster’
Then I quickly realised Antonio is an absolute head mashing manipulative… 😂
How he works everyone around him and uses them as pieces in his game is crazy, how he uses other people then shows himself as the calm peace after the storm to confuse these women.

Chapter 19 is one of the most beautifully written chapters in a book iv ever read.

Grace is unwavering in her strength with all that is thrown at her but the mental abuse she endures is heart breaking-wagering between love and hate for a man who has done awful things to her loved ones and put her through pain and misery since she was taken.

Chapter 69? Don’t gaslight me with some love making. 😒

“Then why are you so upset?” BOOM YES GRACE!

Her and her mother together absolutely BROKE ME. Her strength again I absolutely adore grace. They thing she goes through but still has that strong defiant streak that he had no choice but to dull in some way to keep his control!

I felt at one point maybe Antonio was gonna kinda redeem himself. Don’t be like me and believe that 😂

Ellie has absolutely smashed it again with this books.

Utterly unhinged.

[Mandy Brocklehurst · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is not a fluffy romance it’s pitch black and very dark.
It don’t disappoint its exactly what you’d expect from this series. Antonio is a true villain that I thought was softer kinder Lord but nope he’s just more subtle and sneaky with his technique to break and mould. He plays mind games. He’s manipulating and cruel and twisted. His process is twisted and methodical. He plays to win and each step is a move on his chest board. He knows how to get everything going his way. I was gobsmacked by this book and the lengths he went to for Grace. That poor girl never stood a chance in his game his utter and complete ownership. He was steps ahead at every turn. The utter horror she went through was astounding. My heart was breaking for her at every point in this book. She was strong and never gave up she always had fight in her. But even she had a breaking point. The twists in this book were so good and I can’t wait to see how they play out in Konstantine’s book. Just when u think these books at get any worse Ellie pulls it off flawlessly. The ending to this one was hard for sure and I will be thinking about it for a long time.

[Mikaela Ellesjö · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤 My review for Deprivation 🖤

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
💔💔💔💔💔

My god this book was dark! Take that PITCH BLACK warning seriously 🖤

As always when it comes to one of Ellie's books it is written to PERFECTION! You get all the feels. I was sad, hopefull, furious and then my heart broke for Grace...

She was a fighter and I was rooting for her throughout the entire book!! I wanted to SCREAM at Antonio, I absolutely hate him!! This series has some of the most  unhinged, coldhearted, brutal MMC I've read about but I think Antonio takes the price for being the worst!! This is book 4 in the series and every book so far has had kind of an HEA but in this book the HEA is questionable...

This book is such a mind f*ck! Some pages Antonio is almost loving and caring only for the next page to be a brutal reality check where he is cold, distant and uncaring. You get your hopes up for Grace only to be broken in the next page/chapter.


This book is gripping, dark (pitch black), well written, unforgettable, shocking.. even though it's beyond dark it's an amazing read that will keep you captived!!


A huge thank you to Ellie for giving me this book as an ARC 🖤

[Hannah Bobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. I didn’t know what to expect since it seems like every book gets darker and darker and seemingly worse for the FMC. I really thought I had read it all when it comes to these pitch black (horror) romances but I don’t think I’ve ever felt worse for our FMC Grace. there’s physical torture and gore as you would expect in these captive books but the psychological damage done is a new level of sadistic behavior.

it was unique because our main MMC Antonio not only has a harem but passiveness becomes perverse when he allows other men to use her as well. this is all about domination - yes it’s used as punishment but the moral of the story is that Antonio loves to hold all the cards and Grace is his biggest prize of all.

If you have body image triggers I would definitely sit this one out. Grace is verbally, physically, and emotionally degraded for her appearance and is perceived as “fat” - this isn’t a passing mention this is built in the foundation of her training as Antonio’s pet. This has a lot of degradation and humiliation heaped in abundance with forced feeding as another chain in her captivity. This will break your heart and the ending was a surprise but don’t read the blurb for “Decimation” if you don’t want any spoilers.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I want to say thank you to Ellie Sanders for allowing me to read an ARC copy of deprivation.
Okay where to start…. First if you have read the previous 3 brethren lord series books, you would have seen Antonio pop up in them and already have a potential idea of his character.
But jeez strap in… as Ellie said this man is MANIPULATIVE!!
And then if you can call it when he finally getting everything he wants, he throws it all away.
Now onto Grace, again if you’ve already read this series you know these FMC’s have it rough… I’m going to say Grace has now taken that pedestal from Brynn… and that’s saying something!
After all that I still enjoyed it, looking forward to the next in the series.
Definitely check trigger warnings, there are many. I would say these books are pitch black.
Happy reading!

[Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ate this up, zero crumbs, rent was DUE. When I say I want dark, I mean ruin me spiritually dark. This author always comes with two pages of trigger warnings and I skipped every single one because I enjoy chaos. I have very few hard limits and this book laughed at that. Antonio is easily one of the cruelest H I’ve ever read, and I’ve been deep in the trenches. The man does not flirt, he terrorizes. The mind games layered on mind games with Grace were diabolical. You think it’s heading toward a “my body betrayed me” moment and nope, rug snatched, soul crushed. Can we bring back books with the Heroine actually hates the Hero. He loves her so obsessively he practically destroys her, and I eat that up every time. I had to invent new tags for this review. I’m a slut for sharing and this delivered and then some. I need the next installment immediately.

[Hallie Raine · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

I LOVE AN ELLIE SANDERS BOOK
she is an auto buy author of mine and in my top 3 favorite dark romance authors. she has yet to write a bad book.

this is book 4 in the brethren lords series with an irredeemable mmc. this book will make you stare at a wall for hours and make you ask yourself what you just read.

this book was amazing tho. i loved every bit of grace and her defiance. she went through absolute he||. the poor girl couldn’t catch a break. being tied to antonio tho i doubt she ever will.

‼️PLEASE CHECK YOUR TR!GGERS. THIS BOOK AND SERIES AS A WHOLE IS NOT FOR THE FAINT OF HEART‼️

anyways read this book. read the whole series. read everything she has wrote. you won’t be disappointed.

drops on 2/28💓

[Athena, the goddess of books · Rating 5 out of 5]

How can you give a one star review to a book that hasn’t appeared yet? Or how can low rate a book because it has grape in it and other things when you have a three pages trigger warnings?
So, back to the book…with every one in the series I thought the male protagonist, because it is hardly a hero, more like a villain, wait till you meet Antonio. I was curious about him after reading the previous book and this one didn’t disappoint. Poor Grace I think she has it the worst of them. Now I am really anxious to read about Konstantin and Leandra, I really think she will be the icing of the cake.

[Devin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace was put through HELL by not only the MMC but also other characters in the book. I am surprised that she endured all of while keeping her sanity intact that long!! I loved the transition from 4 to 1 (iykyk) as I normally do like the MMC having eyes only for the FMC. The plot twist and mutilation of Grace had my jaw dropped. Learning of all the plans made and tricks pulled, they were all very clever and I am excited for this series to continue! Overall, I am speechless, I adored the book but also feel bad for Grace and all she endured.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deprivation (The Brethren Lords #4) is pitch-black perfection—Ellie has done it again. The first three books were excellent, and this one absolutely did not disappoint. The MMC is pure manipulation, the definition of a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and watching everything unfold was disturbingly addictive. Dark, twisted, and unhinged in the best way… with a very questionable HEA. As always, check your trigger warnings. 🖤😮‍💨

[Jacqueline Haynes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! This book ripped my heart out and left it on the ground and i would still read it all over again! Ellie is such an incredible author, with such a way of writing where you feel like you’re in the main characters body. The MMC quite literally manipulated my brain through the whole book! I can’t wait for the fifth book🖤🖤

[↬ Ⓛ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best manipulative irredeemable piece of sh.t award of the year goes to Antonio. I enjoyed this one. If you guys have read and watch the handmaids tale series, I feel like this is smth you can read. But don’t expect romance. I feel played by Antonio softness just like how Grace did. Ellie was like, SIKE.

*arc*

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was slow and suspenseful, luring you into a false sense of security. But in true Ellie style you absolutely get the rug ripped out from under you in a scream inducing way. Grace you poor baby you did not deserve any of that. Antonio oh so much arrogance which will ultimately be your downfall.

This was dark and disturbing and Antonio is the puppet master. Aside from the fact he is a irridemabke human he is an excellent organiser. He has everyone at his bec and call to do his awful bidding when it comes to Grace. He is a master manipulator and the things Grace goes through - at his and the hands of other are emotionally horrific.

The ongoing story continues, returning characters make appearances (Conrad I still hate you, actually I hate you more now). Antonio is forced to make questionable decisions that will have massive consequences.

I am genuinely scared for book 5 😅

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another crazy, fu##ed up ride from Ellie! Can't wait to see how this journey ends with Decimation!