Title: The Dominion and the Sugilite (Episodes 35 | 36)
Author: B.J. Frazier
Publication Date: March 5 - Sept 15, 2026
Genres: Erotica | Sci-fi
Protagonist Gender: Various
If you're new to The Dominion and the Sugilite, it's a serialized erotic science-fantasy soap opera by B.J. Frazier, set on a female-ruled planet where erotic power exchange underpins a fantasy-themed society fueled by the magic of gems known as sugilite.
Although I've been on top of my reading, I am behind in my reviews. So, with episode 40 coming up soon (the Season Four finale!), it's time to get caught up!
With so many personal conflicts of authority having come to a head in the last two episodes, we shift more into cultural conflicts in episode 35, starting with that of the Dominion and the Naturalists, as illustrated by tension between Geo and Obadiah. We see Geo struggling to walk a fine line between respect for both cultures, trying to honor one while remaining true to the other, but all Obadiah sees is challenge and disobedience.
At the same time, we watch as Dayra and Neelam continue to walk their own fine line between what the Dominion expects of them and what they want of one another. For all its progressiveness in terms of the power exchange, kink, and male submission, the very question of female submission is taboo, which forces both women to fake the right kind of submission publicly to enjoy their own privately. What I love about their dynamic is that, while it's still full of kink and sex, there's a strong romantic component there that we don't get to enjoy too often.
In something of a parallel to the questions of submission explored around Dayra and Neelam, we also get a peek into Chantal's psyche and her reluctance to be dominant. Ironically, it's Ailsa who tries coaching her through it, and if you're not clear on why that's ironic, then you clearly have some catching up to do as well!
That being said, we also get some heartfelt conversations between Geo and Naqqi that reveal more of Geo's heart, which continues into episode 36, where we find out more about why he's so hurt by what he sees as Aurora's betrayal. There's love there, a fondness that goes back before her rise to power, and it's heartbreaking to see him so hurt. The two men carry a great deal of this episode, and their conversations, I dare say, prove why the interspecies event is so important.
Pebbles carries much of this episode as well, and things appear to be coming to a head, but not in a good way. She continues her aggressively sexual ways, acting far out of the norm for herself, and I fear that the future consequences of her actions are only growing more dire. She's an exquisitely intuitive dominant with a flair for cruelty, but no understanding (or appreciation) for boundaries and limits. By the end, she thrust herself unwanted into a situation that could go very, very wrong, but which also may prove to be the breaking she needs.
My sincere thanks to the author for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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