Dominion by Addie E. Citchens: Book Review

As I continue to read through the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction Longlist titles, I remain consistently endeared by stories of powerful women from all walks of life, told through stories that represent the authors that wrote them. Addie E. Kitchens’ Dominion took me on a journey to 1980’s Mississippi, to a Black Gospel Church.

Dominion’s chapters lay us out into the teachings of Dominion’s Reverend Sabre Winfrey, Jr. and his weekly service notes. Our two main perspectives give us a glimpse into the life of a reverend’s wife - Priscilla, ‘First Lady’ of the church, and Diamond, who is dating Priscilla’s son, ‘Wonderboy’.

Priscilla’s chapters reveal her past and  her daily sacrifice as a proud Black woman trying to be the wife and mother she is expected to be. We get her internal monologue and realise her struggle as she fights the patriarchal society she’s found in, and the poor decisions of the men around her.

Diamond is young, and feels stuck in her circumstance. With absent parents and an expectation to lead her siblings through life, we watch her fall in love with Wonderboy, whose own internal battles seep out into their story and leave us wondering if he will crumble before he gets the chance to make a name for himself.

I was hooked to the story, I felt the humidity, I heard the choir and I sensed the belonging of this community, albeit tangled in a web of secrets. An immersive read, and one I am really glad I picked up. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a spectacular fiction title deserving of its accolades.