The Pawn and The Puppet Series by Brandi Elise Szeker

The Emerald Lake Asylum is not a place most desire to go. Nineteen year old, Skylenna, however, made a promise that she must keep. Once hired, she only has one purpose—prove to the council that barbaric treatments, such as waterboarding, scalding baths, and beatings, are no longer the answer. But that all takes pause when she meets the source of terror in the asylum. A patient with a split personality—on one side, he’s the bloodthirsty genius, Dessin... moreThe Emerald Lake Asylum is not a place most desire to go. Nineteen year old, Skylenna, however, made a promise that she must keep. Once hired, she only has one purpose—prove to the council that barbaric treatments, such as waterboarding, scalding baths, and beatings, are no longer the answer. But that all takes pause when she meets the source of terror in the asylum. A patient with a split personality—on one side, he’s the bloodthirsty genius, Dessin. On the other, a hidden persona that is buried deep in his subconscious.When Dessin is caught in an attempted cell break, he faces execution if Skylenna can’t bring out his core personality and reveal his humanity. She has ninety days to save his life, and the only way to do that is to let him consume her into his world of moves, counter-moves, and master puppeteering. With each passing day, their bond deepens, a forbidden attraction forming against her best judgments. Little by little, Skylenna uncovers the sinister secrets of his past that turned him into the monster everyone else fears. And Dessin proves to have one weakness despite the terrifying, indestructible persona he presents to the world: her. less

War came and left. But no one made it out. Not really.Ruth, though valiant in heart, battles the worst of her demons yet. Unable to cope, she unwittingly presents Warrose with the challenge of bringing her back to life despite the darkness that now infects her mind. How far will one man go to deliver the woman he pines for from hell and back to the throne that calls her name?Marilynn must follow in the footsteps of the prophecy. The one that she must bear secrets to alone... moreWar came and left. But no one made it out. Not really.Ruth, though valiant in heart, battles the worst of her demons yet. Unable to cope, she unwittingly presents Warrose with the challenge of bringing her back to life despite the darkness that now infects her mind. How far will one man go to deliver the woman he pines for from hell and back to the throne that calls her name?Marilynn must follow in the footsteps of the prophecy. The one that she must bear secrets to alone. With the misogynistic Demechnef laws that stifle women, it's up to her and the man who carries the heart of gold to change the laws written. And with the Demechnef heir along the way, Niles has never gleamed so bright.From lambs into lions, this is only the beginning of a new era to come.Triggers: Accessibility issues, emotional distress, Infantilization, Loss of independence and dignity, suicidal thoughts, bullying, traumatic flashbacks, torture, depression, gore, sexism, eating disorder, mention of animal cruelty (off page), animal death, disturbing imagery, infantilization, graphic violence and gore, sexism and misogyny, self-deprecating language or negative self-talk, mention of kidnapping, mental health issues, sexually explicit content.Do not continue if you are unsure of the contents of this book. less

Skylenna has left the Chandelier City, The Emerald Lake Asylum, and the twisted societal restraints of women to run away with the patient everyone fears. Dessin. As they hide in the unchartered forests surrounding the city, Skylenna learns that the mystery of the infamous Patient Thirteen is far from over. There are still the missing pieces of her past and a master plan that relies on Skylenna trusting Dessin with blind faith... moreSkylenna has left the Chandelier City, The Emerald Lake Asylum, and the twisted societal restraints of women to run away with the patient everyone fears. Dessin. As they hide in the unchartered forests surrounding the city, Skylenna learns that the mystery of the infamous Patient Thirteen is far from over. There are still the missing pieces of her past and a master plan that relies on Skylenna trusting Dessin with blind faith. And with each dangerous situation comes a new alter, a new personality to meet, a new man that deepens her attraction. It isn’t until they run into unexpected allies and ancient colonies of the forests that they learn of a reason to go back to the asylum willingly. But Skylenna doesn’t have the luxury of obtaining her old conformist position. This time around, she must accept a new role as the twelfth patient of The Emerald Lake Asylum. Simulated drownings, force-feedings, whippings, and life within the torturous cage of Demechnef. Skylenna begins to wonder how much of this game she’ll be able to endure. Will Dessin prove she means as much to him as he does to her? Or is the master merely playing with his marionette? Disclaimer: This book contains explicit content and dark elements and may be considered offensive to some readers. Check trigger warnings before reading. It is not intended for anyone under 18 years of age. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by underage readers. This is a dark dystopian society that is intended to be problematic. Please note that this is a fictional world and in no way reflects on the author’s personal beliefs. We will see the society grow and correct its moral compass over the series. This book contains: gratuitous violence, depression, mention of suicide, gratuitous torture, eating disorder, hallucinations, misogyny, mention of pedophilia, romanticized mental illness, gore, mention of child abuse, decapitation, female oppression, hostage situation, Stockholm syndrome, degradation, starvation, brainwashing, body shaming, sexually explicit scenes, and religious trauma. less