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The Flesh Cartel #1
Capture
In this first installment of the exciting new psychosexual thriller, The Flesh Cartel, orphaned brothers Mat and Dougie Carmichael are stolen in the night from their own home. Taken to a horrifying processing facility, they are assessed, microchipped, and subjected to unspeakable brutality—all in preparation for sale to the highest bidder.
In a world where every person has a price, the beautiful and subduable PhD student Dougie is highly prized. His brother, a rough-edged MMA fighter, is less desirable—and potentially too dangerous—but he still has his own appeal.
Abused and locked up under round the clock surveillance, with no idea where they are or even why they’ve been taken, escape seems impossible, which leaves staying together their only hope. And after being separated once by the foster system, they'll do anything to keep it from happening again. Anything at all.
(Publisher's note: This title contains material some may find objectionable or trigger-inducing, including explicit violence, non-consent, and forced incest.)
In a world where every person has a price, the beautiful and subduable PhD student Dougie is highly prized. His brother, a rough-edged MMA fighter, is less desirable—and potentially too dangerous—but he still has his own appeal.
Abused and locked up under round the clock surveillance, with no idea where they are or even why they’ve been taken, escape seems impossible, which leaves staying together their only hope. And after being separated once by the foster system, they'll do anything to keep it from happening again. Anything at all.
(Publisher's note: This title contains material some may find objectionable or trigger-inducing, including explicit violence, non-consent, and forced incest.)
75 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2012
55 people are currently reading
2897 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Haimowitz
41 books720 followersM/M erotic romance author, freelance writer and editor, sadist with a pesky conscience, shamelessly silly, proudly pervish. I'm a twitter addict (@rachelhaimowitz), and I blog every M/W/F at Fantasy Unbound. To learn all about my current and upcoming projects, please stop by my website. I love to hear from folks, so feel free to drop me a line anytime at metarachel (at) gmail (dot) com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 343 reviews
December 12, 2012
Amazing and unbelievably compelling...No hearts and flowers. No beautiful prose or fluttering of eyelashes. No sickly sweet, honeyed words of endearment. This is a Psychosexual Thriller. This is dark, This is raw and it will hurt your heart!
Before I impart my incoherent ramblings on you, as to just how wonderful this Novella is. I would like to give you some information to help you understand this series a little better.
This Novella/Episode is the first in the series of a Serial Story. A Serial Story being similar in concept to a TV Show such as; Lost, Vampire Diaries, Fringe, which are divided into episodes and seasons, with each novella being an episode. Therefore, as in all good TV shows each episode will end on a cliffhanger or note of suspense!...you know, the typical 'OMG...did you see' that has us all chatting round the coffee machine in the morning! This particular season being two novellas.
With a TV Show, especially the first in the season, you would expect it to start hard and fast, capture the imagination and to keep the viewers attention for the whole 60 mins. Well....OMFG, I was captured, my imagination on overdrive and if this is the first in the series, I am in, two feet fully planted and totally invested in the next novella, series, season..whatever! Sign me up.
I picked this book up and ran with it. No easy jog, not even a marathon. It was a sprint, for 90 minutes I was running, totally oblivious to all and everything around me, the whole time on an adrenaline high.
There are two main characters Mat and Dougie, we learn their story through alternating POVs, they are brothers totally devoted to each other, orphaned young and separated by the foster system. Mat will not let that happen again. He will do anything to take care of and support Dougie through College, even if that means he bounces in a local bar and cage fights for the extra money needed for tuition....often getting beaten to a pulp as a result. Dougie hates Mat fighting, refuses to watch him, his stomach in knots having to endure horror scenarios running through his head and the dread of seeing just how badly beaten up Mat will be when he returns home. If they thought life was difficult before, when four men break into the house and kidnap them, their nightmare begins....
I spent the rest of the book with my heart hammering in my chest, stomach clenched, mouth agape, nails chewed and fear running through me. I felt like a ghost watching what was going on, seeing everything but powerless, with no effect on the proceedings or the outcome no matter how loud I screamed! I knew these characters personally...intimately...I went through each and every atrocity with them, my heart breaking. I didn't have time to think, I just had to keep reading, even through tears, I had no time for tissues! 'read on' my head was saying, 'oh no' my heart was shouting!
Every thriller has a bad guy, but in this series it is a woman...BITCH!! If I could have crawled into the pages of the book, I would have gladly clawed her eyes out with my own fingernails!!......Phew! and breath. These two boys mean nothing to her, all she wants are pretty faces to auction for the best price possible! To prepare them for this they go through unbearable torture and degradation all, in order to de-humanise them.
Mat was helpless, but defiant, every instinct wanting to resist, but despite fighting against his restraints, he could do nothing. Powerless to their torture, he just hoped they were kinder to his brother.
Dougie, so young and sheltered by Mat. He wasn't used to pain, humiliation. Like a child, he was lost. Despite his Ph'd, he couldn't read these people didn't understand. He just wanted to go home. He wanted his brother.
So...I guess you now realise I loved this and the whole concept of this series, the excellent writing and the great character development. Unfortunately, I will not be able to have the gossip round the coffee machine in the morning! but I recommend that my friends who also like dark and dangerous, NOT for the feint hearted will read this so I can spill all these painful emotions and vent with others.
Just a note, this is not an m/m romance novel, there is sex between men...but it is definitely NOT of the romantic nature.
Heidi Belleau, Rachel Haimowitz...Excellent!!! You need to write quicker, I need more please.
Sinfully Sexy Book Blog
Before I impart my incoherent ramblings on you, as to just how wonderful this Novella is. I would like to give you some information to help you understand this series a little better.
This Novella/Episode is the first in the series of a Serial Story. A Serial Story being similar in concept to a TV Show such as; Lost, Vampire Diaries, Fringe, which are divided into episodes and seasons, with each novella being an episode. Therefore, as in all good TV shows each episode will end on a cliffhanger or note of suspense!...you know, the typical 'OMG...did you see' that has us all chatting round the coffee machine in the morning! This particular season being two novellas.
With a TV Show, especially the first in the season, you would expect it to start hard and fast, capture the imagination and to keep the viewers attention for the whole 60 mins. Well....OMFG, I was captured, my imagination on overdrive and if this is the first in the series, I am in, two feet fully planted and totally invested in the next novella, series, season..whatever! Sign me up.
I picked this book up and ran with it. No easy jog, not even a marathon. It was a sprint, for 90 minutes I was running, totally oblivious to all and everything around me, the whole time on an adrenaline high.
There are two main characters Mat and Dougie, we learn their story through alternating POVs, they are brothers totally devoted to each other, orphaned young and separated by the foster system. Mat will not let that happen again. He will do anything to take care of and support Dougie through College, even if that means he bounces in a local bar and cage fights for the extra money needed for tuition....often getting beaten to a pulp as a result. Dougie hates Mat fighting, refuses to watch him, his stomach in knots having to endure horror scenarios running through his head and the dread of seeing just how badly beaten up Mat will be when he returns home. If they thought life was difficult before, when four men break into the house and kidnap them, their nightmare begins....
I spent the rest of the book with my heart hammering in my chest, stomach clenched, mouth agape, nails chewed and fear running through me. I felt like a ghost watching what was going on, seeing everything but powerless, with no effect on the proceedings or the outcome no matter how loud I screamed! I knew these characters personally...intimately...I went through each and every atrocity with them, my heart breaking. I didn't have time to think, I just had to keep reading, even through tears, I had no time for tissues! 'read on' my head was saying, 'oh no' my heart was shouting!
Every thriller has a bad guy, but in this series it is a woman...BITCH!! If I could have crawled into the pages of the book, I would have gladly clawed her eyes out with my own fingernails!!......Phew! and breath. These two boys mean nothing to her, all she wants are pretty faces to auction for the best price possible! To prepare them for this they go through unbearable torture and degradation all, in order to de-humanise them.
Mat was helpless, but defiant, every instinct wanting to resist, but despite fighting against his restraints, he could do nothing. Powerless to their torture, he just hoped they were kinder to his brother.
Dougie, so young and sheltered by Mat. He wasn't used to pain, humiliation. Like a child, he was lost. Despite his Ph'd, he couldn't read these people didn't understand. He just wanted to go home. He wanted his brother.
So...I guess you now realise I loved this and the whole concept of this series, the excellent writing and the great character development. Unfortunately, I will not be able to have the gossip round the coffee machine in the morning! but I recommend that my friends who also like dark and dangerous, NOT for the feint hearted will read this so I can spill all these painful emotions and vent with others.
Just a note, this is not an m/m romance novel, there is sex between men...but it is definitely NOT of the romantic nature.
Heidi Belleau, Rachel Haimowitz...Excellent!!! You need to write quicker, I need more please.
Sinfully Sexy Book Blog
August 10, 2016
what.
the.
fuck.
There are no spoilers, so there's no need to tread lightly, but maybe you should anyway. (Contains cussing and explicit scenes.)
No matter what your secret tastes or dark desires, the Flesh Cartel—for the right price, of course—will hand-design the plaything of your dreams.
Me: Did that just-
Book: Yes.
Me: But-
Book: Deal with it.
Dougie is on his way to getting a PhD to get him and his brother out of the money rut. He works hard and comes back late, and always enjoys a steaming hot shower before his brother gets home. He wouldn't let him waste that much hot water. He starts freaking out because Mat has come home early. By the footsteps, it sounds like he brought friends, but it wasn't really his brother.
Mat fights in illegal boxing matches in order to pay for Dougies's tuition and travel. But he has just lost a round, and another, and another. He lost the match. He leaves early, and when he gets back he finds his brother naked, with someone's fingers up his ass. Screaming.
The Flesh Cartel: an international, multi-billion-dollar black market that trades in lost souls. Or more specifically, their bodies.
The order of the kindle book is weird, why? There is a quick-and-scary summary of The Flesh Cartel business right at the beginning. Which I was like holy shit this is gonna be good! But we don't get straight in to the story, no, we get spoilers! It's the blurb, but because I hadn't read the blurb, it was a giant spoiler for me! I really recommend skipping the bit that says Episode 1: Capture... even if you have already read the blurb.
And even then, we don't really get to the story, we are shown Nicolai, who is waiting to purchase for himself (or his client?) some slave candy. Which I was confused with because that should have been after the main body, because it was in the future.
And then we get Mat and Dougie's perspectives (both separate) which is when it starts to get really good. But the beginning was genuinely confusing as fuck. But from their parts, I was addicted!
Because I had tried to erase the blurb and spoilers from my mind, I had somewhat forgotten a little bit. So, when Dougie was funny, I was amused.
It was a rare joy to have a good long soak in a shower as hot as he liked without Mat flushing the toilet or chiding him about their electric bills. Rarer still to be able to get out of the shower and sit around naked in front of the TV, drip-drying onto his towel and letting his balls air out.
but it then quickly took a turn for the worse and my adrenaline was pumping and I was like "Oh, fuck." "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, no!"
Mat and Dougie are really cute with their brotherly love, where they're both willing to take the brunt of the agony for each other in order to keep them safe.
But he clung to the one consolation amidst all the shame, the humiliation, the agony, the misery: At least Mat was okay. At least they were leaving him alone.
They were right to keep Mat in the cage. He didn't care if his legs were asleep, he’d learn to fly if it meant he could kill these fuckers.
If I'm going to be brutally honest, I cried... and cried... and cried. It's genuinely just so powerful and scary and heartbreaking.
This is not dark. This is like there being moaning-from-your-attic-while-finding-your-dead-cat-under-your-covers-and-your-entire-family-being-murdered dark.
In order to make these last, I'm rationing one per week... *breathes a deep, shuddering breath* (I gave in 20 hours later)
Do I recommend? No. F.U.C.K. N.O. Save yourself the pain!
To see my next review for The Flesh Cartel please click the link below.
-----------------------------------------------
Auction (The Flesh Cartel #2) - HERE
the.
fuck.
There are no spoilers, so there's no need to tread lightly, but maybe you should anyway. (Contains cussing and explicit scenes.)
5 “Around here, you kneel when a better walks into the room,” stars.(Here's a picture of me just after finishing, just like Jesse, high off of drugs.)
No matter what your secret tastes or dark desires, the Flesh Cartel—for the right price, of course—will hand-design the plaything of your dreams.
Me: Did that just-
Book: Yes.
Me: But-
Book: Deal with it.
Dougie is on his way to getting a PhD to get him and his brother out of the money rut. He works hard and comes back late, and always enjoys a steaming hot shower before his brother gets home. He wouldn't let him waste that much hot water. He starts freaking out because Mat has come home early. By the footsteps, it sounds like he brought friends, but it wasn't really his brother.
Mat fights in illegal boxing matches in order to pay for Dougies's tuition and travel. But he has just lost a round, and another, and another. He lost the match. He leaves early, and when he gets back he finds his brother naked, with someone's fingers up his ass. Screaming.
The Flesh Cartel: an international, multi-billion-dollar black market that trades in lost souls. Or more specifically, their bodies.
The order of the kindle book is weird, why? There is a quick-and-scary summary of The Flesh Cartel business right at the beginning. Which I was like holy shit this is gonna be good! But we don't get straight in to the story, no, we get spoilers! It's the blurb, but because I hadn't read the blurb, it was a giant spoiler for me! I really recommend skipping the bit that says Episode 1: Capture... even if you have already read the blurb.
And even then, we don't really get to the story, we are shown Nicolai, who is waiting to purchase for himself (or his client?) some slave candy. Which I was confused with because that should have been after the main body, because it was in the future.
And then we get Mat and Dougie's perspectives (both separate) which is when it starts to get really good. But the beginning was genuinely confusing as fuck. But from their parts, I was addicted!
Because I had tried to erase the blurb and spoilers from my mind, I had somewhat forgotten a little bit. So, when Dougie was funny, I was amused.
It was a rare joy to have a good long soak in a shower as hot as he liked without Mat flushing the toilet or chiding him about their electric bills. Rarer still to be able to get out of the shower and sit around naked in front of the TV, drip-drying onto his towel and letting his balls air out.
but it then quickly took a turn for the worse and my adrenaline was pumping and I was like "Oh, fuck." "Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, no!"
Mat and Dougie are really cute with their brotherly love, where they're both willing to take the brunt of the agony for each other in order to keep them safe.
But he clung to the one consolation amidst all the shame, the humiliation, the agony, the misery: At least Mat was okay. At least they were leaving him alone.
They were right to keep Mat in the cage. He didn't care if his legs were asleep, he’d learn to fly if it meant he could kill these fuckers.
If I'm going to be brutally honest, I cried... and cried... and cried. It's genuinely just so powerful and scary and heartbreaking.
This is not dark. This is like there being moaning-from-your-attic-while-finding-your-dead-cat-under-your-covers-and-your-entire-family-being-murdered dark.
In order to make these last, I'm rationing one per week... *breathes a deep, shuddering breath* (I gave in 20 hours later)
Do I recommend? No. F.U.C.K. N.O. Save yourself the pain!
To see my next review for The Flesh Cartel please click the link below.
-----------------------------------------------
Auction (The Flesh Cartel #2) - HERE
August 18, 2023
this is like a very gruesome, fucked up, bloody car crash you just can't look away from. very brutal and devastating. i'm guessing it gets even worse in the other books.
December 29, 2012
This book is the first instalment of The Flesh Cartel series.
The 90 page instalment 'Capture' is fast paced, complete with angst, pain, misery, trauma and indescribable cruelty towards the two brothers Mat and Dougie.
Guards subject them to sexually depraved acts which made my face tighten with tension, then relax once it was over only to repeat the trauma again a couple of pages later. The scenes were relentless and yet I still wanted to read further.
The love the brothers have for each other is the only positive element to this book. Their willingness to suffer each others pain broke my heart and filled me with even more compassion for them.
I was hooked from the first word until the last and had to delve straight into the 2nd volume
FAVOURITE QUOTES
"But he clung to the one consolation amidst all the shame, the humiliation, the agony, the misery: At least Matt was ok. At least they were leaving him alone"
"The beating stopped. Matt blinked sweat out of his eyes and swallowed back a moan, part misery, part relief. Short lived, though. A moment's shuffling behind him, and whatever they hit him with next was a thousand times worse than what'd come before"
I have a feeling if I read books like this all the time this rhyme would be true of my soul
Would I recommend this book to others?- Yes, but only if you don't mind unrelenting sexual pain and torture
Why did I like it so much?- Because I have a seriously warped mind which loves to be f**ked with
The 90 page instalment 'Capture' is fast paced, complete with angst, pain, misery, trauma and indescribable cruelty towards the two brothers Mat and Dougie.
Guards subject them to sexually depraved acts which made my face tighten with tension, then relax once it was over only to repeat the trauma again a couple of pages later. The scenes were relentless and yet I still wanted to read further.
The love the brothers have for each other is the only positive element to this book. Their willingness to suffer each others pain broke my heart and filled me with even more compassion for them.
I was hooked from the first word until the last and had to delve straight into the 2nd volume
FAVOURITE QUOTES
"But he clung to the one consolation amidst all the shame, the humiliation, the agony, the misery: At least Matt was ok. At least they were leaving him alone"
"The beating stopped. Matt blinked sweat out of his eyes and swallowed back a moan, part misery, part relief. Short lived, though. A moment's shuffling behind him, and whatever they hit him with next was a thousand times worse than what'd come before"
I have a feeling if I read books like this all the time this rhyme would be true of my soul
Would I recommend this book to others?- Yes, but only if you don't mind unrelenting sexual pain and torture
Why did I like it so much?- Because I have a seriously warped mind which loves to be f**ked with
October 21, 2016
5 DARK and full of PAIN stars!
DARK erotic, BDSM and NON CONSENT - such a FRIGHTENING cocktail!
This story is disturbing and heartbracking!!
This review has been posted at Dirty Books Obsession.
I was very curious about this series after my friend ***Ralu*** recommended it to me. She told me this is not an easy read and it may not be my cup of tea, even if I don't get scared easily. In fact I am pretty hard to shock. But THIS BOOK SHOCKED THE HELL OUTTA ME!!!
I fell in love with the writing style of Rachel Haimowitz and Heidi Belleau. They created such a heart wrenching story!!!
I just ... I can't even pun into words what this book did to me. It tore my heart open and made me want to cry for Mat and Dougie!
I hated the plot, of course. I hoped with every chapter they will escape and find a place to hide from the tortures, but nothing prepared me for ALL the pain they had to endure.
I already read some of the next books and I am amazed and still shocked by the way this story is developed. As you are a witness to ALL the horrors but your hands are cuffed and it pains you so much that you can't intervene and stop everything!
I can't give it less than 5 STARS because these authors are geniuses!
DARK erotic, BDSM and NON CONSENT - such a FRIGHTENING cocktail!
This story is disturbing and heartbracking!!
This review has been posted at Dirty Books Obsession.
I was very curious about this series after my friend ***Ralu*** recommended it to me. She told me this is not an easy read and it may not be my cup of tea, even if I don't get scared easily. In fact I am pretty hard to shock. But THIS BOOK SHOCKED THE HELL OUTTA ME!!!
I fell in love with the writing style of Rachel Haimowitz and Heidi Belleau. They created such a heart wrenching story!!!
I just ... I can't even pun into words what this book did to me. It tore my heart open and made me want to cry for Mat and Dougie!
I hated the plot, of course. I hoped with every chapter they will escape and find a place to hide from the tortures, but nothing prepared me for ALL the pain they had to endure.
I already read some of the next books and I am amazed and still shocked by the way this story is developed. As you are a witness to ALL the horrors but your hands are cuffed and it pains you so much that you can't intervene and stop everything!
I can't give it less than 5 STARS because these authors are geniuses!
December 8, 2016
Posted at Outlaw Reviews
I never cared for serials, because I couldn’t stand waiting a whole week to find out what was going to happen. Thanks to advances in television, I can now watch my favorite shows whenever I want to. I no longer have to worry about missing an episode if I can’t be home a certain night. I can wait until an entire season is out and spend all weekend watching it.
I am the same way with books, preferring to start a series when it is completed rather than impatiently waiting for the author to finish the next installment. Now that I’ve read the first episode in The Flesh Cartel series, I will have to delay gratification until the next installments are done. And thank goodness for that, because this story is very dark, intense, erotic, harsh and brutal. It is best digested in smaller bites. If you are thinking of reading this, heed all the warnings. This story is definitely not for the faint of heart.
Flesh Cartel #1: Capture is told from the perspective of two brothers, Mat and Dougie. Mat, the older brother, is a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter. He also works as a bouncer to support his younger brother and enable him to complete his PhD in psychology. Unexpectedly, both men are kidnapped from their home and subject to unspeakable terror. They are then carted away in a van where Mat is caged and forced to watch Dougie being brutally raped by multiple assailants. Later they are taken to a facility where they are processed, hosed down, sexually abused, filmed, and soon to be trained in preparation to serve the very rich and kinky clientele the Flesh Cartel caters to.
There are enough loose ends and unanswered questions to make me want to continue reading, despite the fact that I was a trembling mess by the end. Dougie and Mat care deeply for each other and I care enough about them to see how they cope with this unexpected twist in their lives. I am left wondering why the Cartel has targeted Dougie and what will the brothers have to do in order to stay together and survive. Mat has the brawn and Dougie has the brains, but the way things are right now, their situation could only get worse before it gets better. I will definitely be tuning in for Part 2.
*ARC received from Riptide Publishing through NetGalley.
I never cared for serials, because I couldn’t stand waiting a whole week to find out what was going to happen. Thanks to advances in television, I can now watch my favorite shows whenever I want to. I no longer have to worry about missing an episode if I can’t be home a certain night. I can wait until an entire season is out and spend all weekend watching it.
I am the same way with books, preferring to start a series when it is completed rather than impatiently waiting for the author to finish the next installment. Now that I’ve read the first episode in The Flesh Cartel series, I will have to delay gratification until the next installments are done. And thank goodness for that, because this story is very dark, intense, erotic, harsh and brutal. It is best digested in smaller bites. If you are thinking of reading this, heed all the warnings. This story is definitely not for the faint of heart.
Flesh Cartel #1: Capture is told from the perspective of two brothers, Mat and Dougie. Mat, the older brother, is a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighter. He also works as a bouncer to support his younger brother and enable him to complete his PhD in psychology. Unexpectedly, both men are kidnapped from their home and subject to unspeakable terror. They are then carted away in a van where Mat is caged and forced to watch Dougie being brutally raped by multiple assailants. Later they are taken to a facility where they are processed, hosed down, sexually abused, filmed, and soon to be trained in preparation to serve the very rich and kinky clientele the Flesh Cartel caters to.
There are enough loose ends and unanswered questions to make me want to continue reading, despite the fact that I was a trembling mess by the end. Dougie and Mat care deeply for each other and I care enough about them to see how they cope with this unexpected twist in their lives. I am left wondering why the Cartel has targeted Dougie and what will the brothers have to do in order to stay together and survive. Mat has the brawn and Dougie has the brains, but the way things are right now, their situation could only get worse before it gets better. I will definitely be tuning in for Part 2.
*ARC received from Riptide Publishing through NetGalley.
September 20, 2014
Just like the main characters, I'm left terrified and looking for answers...
This book goes beyond graphic...
kidnapping and abuse...
gang rape...
forced incest...
emotional torture...
Proceed with extreme caution.
If you find the stomach to take on the seventy-five haunting pages of this story, then you'll be rewarded with a tale full of dark intrigue which hooks you immediately. You can feel the darkness settle around you even after you've put the book down...
Mat is a MMA fighter.
Dougie is a PHD student.
They were struggling to keep their heads above water, and now they're fighting for their lives. Ripped from their home by a group of strangers and forced to endure a series of unspeakable acts... Forced to watch each other suffer...
But Why?
I do not know what this series holds for Dougie & Mat, but let me be clear:
This is not BDSM Romance,
This is not MM Romance,
This is not Stockholm Syndrome disguised as Romance.
And I can't wait to go back for more...
***I read this book as part of The Flesh Cartel, Season 1: Damnation which was provided to me by Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review***
Sublime service, made to order.Some books require a stern warning for the unsuspecting reader:
The Flesh Cartel: an international, multi-billion-dollar black market that trades in lost souls. Or more specifically, their bodies.
This book goes beyond graphic...
kidnapping and abuse...
gang rape...
forced incest...
emotional torture...
Proceed with extreme caution.
Highly Organized and frighteningly efficient, the Flesh Cartel could teach even the KGB a thing or two about breaking a human mind. Fortunately for their ultra-rich clients, they're just as skilled at putting people back together again - as perfect pets, well-trained and eager to please.As JaHy told me, this series isn't just dark, it's pitch black...
If you find the stomach to take on the seventy-five haunting pages of this story, then you'll be rewarded with a tale full of dark intrigue which hooks you immediately. You can feel the darkness settle around you even after you've put the book down...
No matter what your secret tastes or dark desires, the Flesh Cartel - for the right price, of course - will hand-design the plaything of your dreams.Brothers.
Mat is a MMA fighter.
Dougie is a PHD student.
They were struggling to keep their heads above water, and now they're fighting for their lives. Ripped from their home by a group of strangers and forced to endure a series of unspeakable acts... Forced to watch each other suffer...
But Why?
I do not know what this series holds for Dougie & Mat, but let me be clear:
This is not BDSM Romance,
This is not MM Romance,
This is not Stockholm Syndrome disguised as Romance.
He almost whimpered Don't hurt me again, but managed to bite it back. Like it'd mattered worth a damn anyway. Hadn't yet. They actually seemed to like it when he begged.This is a thrilling, terrifying tale packed into an unassumingly small package...
And I can't wait to go back for more...
***I read this book as part of The Flesh Cartel, Season 1: Damnation which was provided to me by Riptide Publishing in exchange for an honest review***
September 30, 2012
I do not say this lightly: PROCEED WITH CAUTION. Seriously. There's a reason Riptide and the authors put warnings on this book.
If you live in a fairly "normal", vanilla world, and your only real exposure to things shocking and violent and cruel are through books (<- me), this could be a very difficult one to read. (not that it would be any easier on those who have experienced such things first hand...I can't say)
As I read this book, I cried, screamed "NO!" and "STOP, please STOP!", retched, felt nauseous, horrified, and found myself desperately begging to believe that this can't POSSIBLY be happening in any corner of this world in real life. After finishing this, I'm still in shock and want to crawl into a fetal position, wrapped in a warm blanket and read a Winnie the Pooh book or something.
Book 1, as a setup to a greater story, is fantastic. However, be aware that you don't get to know much about Dougie & Mat (other than their fierce loyalty to one another). And you feel about as lost as they do as to what's going on. So, this story's success to "entertain" (<- that feels like the wrong word to use here, but I don't know another...) will lie in how book 2 plays out...
Authors: There's a point to all of this, yes? Meaning, everything laid out in this book is part of a bigger storyline, I hope. There's a reason you're taking us through this, I have to believe. I don't need a HEA (I can't even imagine there could be one in this story), but I need to know there's a reason I'm reading this and you're setting it up to reveal more...that would make it worth it.
Last thing, this is NOT a BDSM book, nor a M/M ROMANCE (at least, book 1 isn't). I'm not sure why its categorized as such, but it has NOTHING to do with either genres.
And now...*deep, deep breaths*
November 3, 2014
2,5 abused shocking stars.
Certainly not for the faint-hearted.
Boo! It was heavy. Even for me.
It was good written, no doubt. But the story....Poor guys!..
How I hated myself for not be able to put it down!..
Though as I had seen that there were already 10 parts of this series- at least it was on the 27 September 2013 - I've got a bit confused.
Do I really want to read all this depressive stuff?!
I don't have a certain answer to this question. Not yet.
But I'll read the next part.
Definitely.
January 16, 2013
~~~
Attention:
Per Riptide Publishing:
Reader discretion advised. This title contains the following sensitive themes:
explicit violence
forced incest
non-consent
Brutal, graphic, terrorizing and raw.
This book was a sprint, with hurdles. Flying right out of the blocks there was no slowing down until crossing the finish line when I was gasping for breath and shaking.
THE CHARACTERS:
I found the two main characters to be vivid, real and so likeable that they are quite the antithesis to the crude nature of the story. Fascinating.
Mat - The fighter. The underdog just trying to survive so that his brother can live.
Dougie - Sweet, breakable and intelligent. His gentle nature is heartbreaking. He loves his brother more than himself and is smart enough to know that's a terrible weakness.
THE WRITING:
I found the writing flawless. I think it would have been easy to spin me right out of the story if the writing hadn't been spot on. With the seriousness of the subject, I was so focused that I would have noticed a lack of perfection.
THE STORY:
Brutal erotica focusing on the raw world of skin trade. We start with the abduction of the two brothers which barely gives us a hint of what is to come. Scary, graphic and even gruesome. None-the-less captivating and gripping. The story, in fact, is all the more consuming for it's intensity. Honestly, I don't think this story could, or should be told with less violence and in your face realism.
Mat and Dougie are the only reason I was able to catch my breath. I found myself grasping on to their humanity and begging that they will be able to hang on to it. Which is precisely why I have to read on. Even knowing the story will hurt me, I have to know more.
~~~
Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com
Attention:
Per Riptide Publishing:
Reader discretion advised. This title contains the following sensitive themes:
explicit violence
forced incest
non-consent
Trauma. Shock. It's too big, too fresh to be real yet.
Brutal, graphic, terrorizing and raw.
This book was a sprint, with hurdles. Flying right out of the blocks there was no slowing down until crossing the finish line when I was gasping for breath and shaking.
THE CHARACTERS:
I found the two main characters to be vivid, real and so likeable that they are quite the antithesis to the crude nature of the story. Fascinating.
Mat - The fighter. The underdog just trying to survive so that his brother can live.
Dougie - Sweet, breakable and intelligent. His gentle nature is heartbreaking. He loves his brother more than himself and is smart enough to know that's a terrible weakness.
THE WRITING:
I found the writing flawless. I think it would have been easy to spin me right out of the story if the writing hadn't been spot on. With the seriousness of the subject, I was so focused that I would have noticed a lack of perfection.
THE STORY:
Brutal erotica focusing on the raw world of skin trade. We start with the abduction of the two brothers which barely gives us a hint of what is to come. Scary, graphic and even gruesome. None-the-less captivating and gripping. The story, in fact, is all the more consuming for it's intensity. Honestly, I don't think this story could, or should be told with less violence and in your face realism.
Mat and Dougie are the only reason I was able to catch my breath. I found myself grasping on to their humanity and begging that they will be able to hang on to it. Which is precisely why I have to read on. Even knowing the story will hurt me, I have to know more.
~~~
Take a look at my Male/Male Romance Book Blog:
http://www.attentionisarbitrary.blogspot.com
May 10, 2017
Great characters, terrible, cruel plot, but that was clear right from the start.
I am a bit disappointed, though, that these books seem to be short novellas (with 18 installments?!) instead of a few novel format books. So we have to pay for 18 books the size of about 5 novels? Seems strange to me...
So after reading book one, I don't know anything at all about what's going on and I don't feel too invested in finding out what's behind all this. Maybe if it had been longer, some things would be clearer, but like this, I'll just quit here.
Edit: I started this series again in May 2017 and yeah, I'm hooked. I'm literally putting my life on hold to finish this series...
I am a bit disappointed, though, that these books seem to be short novellas (with 18 installments?!) instead of a few novel format books. So we have to pay for 18 books the size of about 5 novels? Seems strange to me...
So after reading book one, I don't know anything at all about what's going on and I don't feel too invested in finding out what's behind all this. Maybe if it had been longer, some things would be clearer, but like this, I'll just quit here.
Edit: I started this series again in May 2017 and yeah, I'm hooked. I'm literally putting my life on hold to finish this series...
June 28, 2017
5 huge, f**kingly terrifying stars!!!
It was dark, it was non-con, it was hardcore, it was twisted and it was sick and f**ked up as hell!!!
But what a writing style!!!
Definitely a most intense start of any series I've ever read - but at least the readers know right from page 1 what to expect...
And I'm on it!
It was dark, it was non-con, it was hardcore, it was twisted and it was sick and f**ked up as hell!!!
But what a writing style!!!
Definitely a most intense start of any series I've ever read - but at least the readers know right from page 1 what to expect...
And I'm on it!
February 2, 2019
Whoa!!! This dark is graphic! Amazing how much these authors put in so few pages.
Thanks so much for the loan Jillie. I'm on to the next one. 😱
Thanks so much for the loan Jillie. I'm on to the next one. 😱
July 30, 2017
5 Very dark Stars
Ummmm! What the F**k! I Loved it !
My Heart
November 17, 2012
I wanted to like this more than I did. Were there brutal elements in there that should have shocked me? Sure. But, for me, I don't know enough about the characters for it to really gut me. It's like when I hear about someone dying on the news. Yeah, I find it tragic and sad, but if I found out it was the barista that gave me my morning coffee every day or a coworker etc, it would certainly hit me harder. So, reading about these awful things didn't invite me into the characters' horror. I needed more development with them before I was thrown into the story.
Also, I"m not sure, but I think the way it was described didn't really frighten me, and I don't know why. I"m a very visual person and smells also really affect me. I never was able to really see the incidents happening. There were so many textures, sights, and smells that I feel like the characters would have been hyper aware of during that ride, and I missed out on that.
Also, I'm more of a fan of psychological thrillers than say gore etc. I think getting into the minds of all of the characters more than their actual actions also would have read better for me.
I do see that Dougie is more of the thinker, and Mat is more of the emotional one, so I'm intrigued to see how each will develop into their new roles. Which one will break first, and will they break due to logically understanding this is their only choice now or will it be due to emotions getting the best of them?
I think as more of the story comes in, and I read more about the characters themselves I should 'enjoy' it more. Right now though I think this first serial needed to be fleshed out more for me to love it.
Also, I"m not sure, but I think the way it was described didn't really frighten me, and I don't know why. I"m a very visual person and smells also really affect me. I never was able to really see the incidents happening. There were so many textures, sights, and smells that I feel like the characters would have been hyper aware of during that ride, and I missed out on that.
Also, I'm more of a fan of psychological thrillers than say gore etc. I think getting into the minds of all of the characters more than their actual actions also would have read better for me.
I do see that Dougie is more of the thinker, and Mat is more of the emotional one, so I'm intrigued to see how each will develop into their new roles. Which one will break first, and will they break due to logically understanding this is their only choice now or will it be due to emotions getting the best of them?
I think as more of the story comes in, and I read more about the characters themselves I should 'enjoy' it more. Right now though I think this first serial needed to be fleshed out more for me to love it.
October 2, 2014
Challenge Read from Noah (who's trying to kill me, I think)
Let me clarify that 4 star rating.
"Really like" isn't exactly accurate.
It's well written as I've come to expect from both of these authors.
It's disturbing as fuck.
Some parts don't make a lick of sense.
So many questions. A bajillion questions, I still have.
I'd be interested in continuing with the series. Not if I have to spend 6.4K on 90 kajillion little episodes.
I'll wait for a bundle.
p.s. Christ Almighty, Noah!
Let me clarify that 4 star rating.
"Really like" isn't exactly accurate.
It's well written as I've come to expect from both of these authors.
It's disturbing as fuck.
Some parts don't make a lick of sense.
So many questions. A bajillion questions, I still have.
I'd be interested in continuing with the series. Not if I have to spend 6.4K on 90 kajillion little episodes.
I'll wait for a bundle.
p.s. Christ Almighty, Noah!
September 23, 2012
Mat and Dougie have not had the easiest life. Mat is a fighter, through and through, but the hard knocks keep coming and even with Dougie as inspiration he knows that his chances are growing slimmer in the ring . He has spent most of his adult life making sure Dougie had everything he needed to make himself a success. Whether it was a home, textbook, or food Mat worked hard to provide for Dougie. After all that work the payoff seems to be within the brothers grasp as Dougie is almost done with his school when one fateful night everything changes. Dougie, home before Mat for a change, takes the opportunity to relax and unwind not knowing the danger that creeps closer nor the target on his back. When the brothers find themselves in a life or death situation each one must reach down inside to find the courage to go on - for each other and for themselves.
The first episode of The Flesh Cartel starts with a bang, or should I say punch. Mat is the kind of character that has the girls and boys swooning with his rough edges. Dougie is the all American type boy, the boy next door, the one you want to bring home to Mom and Dad. In spite of Mat's grittiness you sense in him a real desire to do the right thing, and his love and protection of Dougie tests all bounds and limits of human endurance. Dougie is more fragile, not only physically but emotionally. You get a real sense that Mat's taken his knocks for him, and Dougie is not equipped to deal with the horrific event which befalls him.
The dramatic tension and suspense tingle your senses. The prose is tight and smooth though there is choppiness where it fits the story. You might forget to breathe as you turn the page because even you, the reader, are not sure who is going to make it out of this situation alive. The focal point of the brothers gives you two points of view with which to see, feel, and hear the actions. At this stage it is the "who" that is in play - with a little "why" thrown in for good measure. This is raw, elemental, violent, and unapologetic. Underneath it though the characters are what keep you interested and move you forward. It reads very much like the episode it is and not like a novella - this is part of a greater whole and it shows. Most similar to a TV show episode. The beauty of this format is that development can occur in a different fashion and using different scales and with different viewpoints. What might be forsaken in the rush to get a whole book out gets plenty of time here. The setting, the utter horror that this could exist slaps you in the face. No mincing words or feeling, no sugar (or really any) type of coating. I'm going to say this just one time: Heed the warnings. While I do not know where this is going, or what the end will look like, right now it is not for those who like their kink or their romance to come wrapped in a bow with a nice box of chocolates. The Flesh Cartel is more like peeling back the covering of something that goes bump in the night. As a device I have not been too fond of serial stories - having found few that can measure up and make me believe I got value for my money. This is not the case here - and much like I might obsessively wait for each episode of a favorite TV show I will now turn my eyes to the next episode of Dougie and Mat to find out what happens.
** Disclosure - a review copy was provided to the reviewer by Netgalley for an honest review **
If you enjoy this book you might like the BDSM Group
We will be doing a Buddy Read of this series starting 1st week of October 2012 at
The Flesh Cartel MM Capture/Slave BUDDY READ Discussion
The first episode of The Flesh Cartel starts with a bang, or should I say punch. Mat is the kind of character that has the girls and boys swooning with his rough edges. Dougie is the all American type boy, the boy next door, the one you want to bring home to Mom and Dad. In spite of Mat's grittiness you sense in him a real desire to do the right thing, and his love and protection of Dougie tests all bounds and limits of human endurance. Dougie is more fragile, not only physically but emotionally. You get a real sense that Mat's taken his knocks for him, and Dougie is not equipped to deal with the horrific event which befalls him.
The dramatic tension and suspense tingle your senses. The prose is tight and smooth though there is choppiness where it fits the story. You might forget to breathe as you turn the page because even you, the reader, are not sure who is going to make it out of this situation alive. The focal point of the brothers gives you two points of view with which to see, feel, and hear the actions. At this stage it is the "who" that is in play - with a little "why" thrown in for good measure. This is raw, elemental, violent, and unapologetic. Underneath it though the characters are what keep you interested and move you forward. It reads very much like the episode it is and not like a novella - this is part of a greater whole and it shows. Most similar to a TV show episode. The beauty of this format is that development can occur in a different fashion and using different scales and with different viewpoints. What might be forsaken in the rush to get a whole book out gets plenty of time here. The setting, the utter horror that this could exist slaps you in the face. No mincing words or feeling, no sugar (or really any) type of coating. I'm going to say this just one time: Heed the warnings. While I do not know where this is going, or what the end will look like, right now it is not for those who like their kink or their romance to come wrapped in a bow with a nice box of chocolates. The Flesh Cartel is more like peeling back the covering of something that goes bump in the night. As a device I have not been too fond of serial stories - having found few that can measure up and make me believe I got value for my money. This is not the case here - and much like I might obsessively wait for each episode of a favorite TV show I will now turn my eyes to the next episode of Dougie and Mat to find out what happens.
** Disclosure - a review copy was provided to the reviewer by Netgalley for an honest review **
If you enjoy this book you might like the BDSM Group
We will be doing a Buddy Read of this series starting 1st week of October 2012 at
The Flesh Cartel MM Capture/Slave BUDDY READ Discussion
January 15, 2022
Well, I definitely need minute after that one, maybe a month or year even.
Not sure how I am going to rate it. It's horrific, yet I couldn't stop reading. I just know I need something light and fluffy ASAP!
Not sure how I am going to rate it. It's horrific, yet I couldn't stop reading. I just know I need something light and fluffy ASAP!
November 7, 2013
Scared but can´t look away!!!
This book dragged me through every single emotion imaginable! I was gripping the reader, hanging onto every word. Every time I was in this loop I had to remind myself that this was fiction and that even though I was disgusted, I still loved it! OMG!
October 7, 2012
This review can be found at The Armchair Reader.
This book tells the tale of Mat, an MMA fighter, trying to support him and his brother and Dougie, an inspiring Ph. D student, being taken in the middle of the night and required to withstand numerous brutal and horrifying actions to stay alive. They’re taken by multiple men, raped, abused and then forced to cooperate in being processed to become slaves. Mat is dangerous but Dougie is his weakness and his kidnappers know it. If he doesn’t cooperate, Dougie’s dead but Dougie’s too scared to do anything but endure their torture. This is the story of two brothers taken and forced into a new brutal world with no answers as to why they were targeted.
This was a great book. It’s powerful, intense and well written. It’s wonderfully brutal and captivating. I was sucked into the story from the beginning and fascinated with the play of events. It’s a great start to a new serial that’s sure to keep me on the edge of my seat. We get almost immediately thrown into violence, rape and kidnapping but we also get to know Mat and Dougie a bit, too. I winced a few times over what was happening and my heart clenched at what these boys went through.
Some of their abuse is told instead of shown so it’s not as brutal it could have been but then some of it is told in excruciating detail that lets you know just how much pain these boys are in. They’re treated like dogs, microchipped, chained and, in Mat’s case, caged. They’re forced to perform sexually, humiliated into orgasms, inserted with all types of objects and tested how much they want to live by requiring Mat to rim Dougie to stay alive. It’s intense and dark but not as much as I was expecting. The fact that Mat is gay while Dougie is straight is heartbreaking because Dougie gets most of the abuse and assault. I felt horrible for these guys, it’s shocking what they go through but I couldn’t stop reading once I started.
My main problem, though, is that I had a ton of questions from the start that weren’t answered which is understandable considering it’s a serial but also kind of frustrating. Still, I was plagued with these questions! It kept bugging me why Dougie was targeted, why would they stalk him, put so much effort into learning about him and Mat’s schedule. It seems like a lot of work for just one guy when there are numerous street kids out there that seem easier to obtain. Beyond that, I felt like, at times, the blurb gave more information than the actual story did. I also had trouble with the POV changes. In my converted copy, there was no indication that it switched from Mat to Dougie, or vice versa, which got me confused and pulled me slightly out of the story several times because then I had to go back and reread a few passages.
This book gives a hint of the workings of an underground slave auction. I’m curious where it heads and I really can’t wait to see how it all plays out and what Nikolai (who’s only mentioned in the beginning) has to do with it. There’s also no romance but I’m curious if one will develop (oh man, I hope one develops!).
In the end, this was a wonderful start to a new serial. Definitely recommended to those brave enough to read or those looking for something dark and gritty to pass the time.
This book tells the tale of Mat, an MMA fighter, trying to support him and his brother and Dougie, an inspiring Ph. D student, being taken in the middle of the night and required to withstand numerous brutal and horrifying actions to stay alive. They’re taken by multiple men, raped, abused and then forced to cooperate in being processed to become slaves. Mat is dangerous but Dougie is his weakness and his kidnappers know it. If he doesn’t cooperate, Dougie’s dead but Dougie’s too scared to do anything but endure their torture. This is the story of two brothers taken and forced into a new brutal world with no answers as to why they were targeted.
This was a great book. It’s powerful, intense and well written. It’s wonderfully brutal and captivating. I was sucked into the story from the beginning and fascinated with the play of events. It’s a great start to a new serial that’s sure to keep me on the edge of my seat. We get almost immediately thrown into violence, rape and kidnapping but we also get to know Mat and Dougie a bit, too. I winced a few times over what was happening and my heart clenched at what these boys went through.
Some of their abuse is told instead of shown so it’s not as brutal it could have been but then some of it is told in excruciating detail that lets you know just how much pain these boys are in. They’re treated like dogs, microchipped, chained and, in Mat’s case, caged. They’re forced to perform sexually, humiliated into orgasms, inserted with all types of objects and tested how much they want to live by requiring Mat to rim Dougie to stay alive. It’s intense and dark but not as much as I was expecting. The fact that Mat is gay while Dougie is straight is heartbreaking because Dougie gets most of the abuse and assault. I felt horrible for these guys, it’s shocking what they go through but I couldn’t stop reading once I started.
My main problem, though, is that I had a ton of questions from the start that weren’t answered which is understandable considering it’s a serial but also kind of frustrating. Still, I was plagued with these questions! It kept bugging me why Dougie was targeted, why would they stalk him, put so much effort into learning about him and Mat’s schedule. It seems like a lot of work for just one guy when there are numerous street kids out there that seem easier to obtain. Beyond that, I felt like, at times, the blurb gave more information than the actual story did. I also had trouble with the POV changes. In my converted copy, there was no indication that it switched from Mat to Dougie, or vice versa, which got me confused and pulled me slightly out of the story several times because then I had to go back and reread a few passages.
This book gives a hint of the workings of an underground slave auction. I’m curious where it heads and I really can’t wait to see how it all plays out and what Nikolai (who’s only mentioned in the beginning) has to do with it. There’s also no romance but I’m curious if one will develop (oh man, I hope one develops!).
In the end, this was a wonderful start to a new serial. Definitely recommended to those brave enough to read or those looking for something dark and gritty to pass the time.
October 15, 2012
Four stars because it's only the first instalment...I completely expect it to jump to five stars by the end...
This was brutal. I pretty much mean that in a good way, but if you're at all concerned about the warnings then this might not be the series for you.
All I can say is that the opening episode of The Flesh Cartel packs a hell of a punch, and I can't want to see where it goes from here.
This was brutal. I pretty much mean that in a good way, but if you're at all concerned about the warnings then this might not be the series for you.
All I can say is that the opening episode of The Flesh Cartel packs a hell of a punch, and I can't want to see where it goes from here.
October 13, 2012
~ CRAZY GOOD!!!~
4.5
I just don't have the words to describe how this story just turned my world on its head. I had seen the warnings and read about how intense it was but it is a different feeling when you start to reading. My heart literally felt like it was going to come out of my chest, and I noticed that my breathing had changed (I even stopped breathing at one point). You get sucked in and once it has you, there is just no letting you go.
Mat is a MMA fighter and all he has on his mind is winning. Winning means money and that money will be able to help provide for his brother to finish his PhD. Dougie knows what Mat gave up for him to provide that he gets the best. Now he comes home with bruises and money and Dougie has no clue what's doing but whatever it is, it can’t be good. Suddenly Dougie is faced with men breaking into his home, and maybe the reasons for Mat bruises have finally caught up to him.
What comes to pass is a plan so sinister that it left me shaking (quite literally). For me the impact lies with the writing and the emotional web it spins. Yes, there is violence and it is crippling but it's experiencing that violence through Mat that broke me. Imagine someone hurting the most precious person in your life, and you are helpless to stop it. You can only sit there locked in a cage and do nothing. That scared me. The brothers are then taken to a facility to be cleaned, made to perform, and speak to robots passing as people. Because only robots can be so unfeeling, uncaring, at the pain they are inflicting.
From the get go this book screams sex, most of it extremely violent and all of it non-consensual. It’s like watching a movie mystery take shape, and all question just leads to WHY. Why the hell are they doing this? Why did they choose Dougie? What will happen next? How will Dougie remain any form of normal after this? Can this shit get any worse? Seriously, can this shit get any worse? I am on the edge of my seat in anticipation.
This really played on a few fears of mine (hey Heidi and Rachel get out of my head). No matter how crazy or how unbelievable the story there is a fine line of realism. People/children are taken everyday due to human trafficking and pushed into a life of sexual slavery. All I kept thinking not like this, I hope never like this because that fucks my shit up and by shit, I mean my mind. It also feels like science fiction, some dystopian world made of taking unsuspecting humans and turning them into the perfect sex mates/pets (broken and without a thought of their own). I think fans of the manga Ai No Kusabi would like this one. It really has that feel.
So yes, The Flesh Cartel is explosive, it’s wicked, and it’s violent. It is made of awesome. Do be cautious when going into reading this one, there are warnings for a reason. Use them; there should be no surprises so no one can complain (just saying). Get ready for vile characters (they probably go home to their spouses and kids) that will make your blood boil and all you wanna do is go Jet Li on their asses. It’s not a romance, there is no fluff and stuff but there is love. It shines through in Dougie and Mat, which makes your heart break even more for them.
I do not know what expect in the next episodes but I am freaking looking forward to it. I just know shit is about to get critical, after all its Heidi and Rachel. I have my big woman pants on (or off) and I am ready.
All I can say is "dolla dolla billz yawl" money makes people evil when you have it and can make too much of it.
4.5
I just don't have the words to describe how this story just turned my world on its head. I had seen the warnings and read about how intense it was but it is a different feeling when you start to reading. My heart literally felt like it was going to come out of my chest, and I noticed that my breathing had changed (I even stopped breathing at one point). You get sucked in and once it has you, there is just no letting you go.
Mat is a MMA fighter and all he has on his mind is winning. Winning means money and that money will be able to help provide for his brother to finish his PhD. Dougie knows what Mat gave up for him to provide that he gets the best. Now he comes home with bruises and money and Dougie has no clue what's doing but whatever it is, it can’t be good. Suddenly Dougie is faced with men breaking into his home, and maybe the reasons for Mat bruises have finally caught up to him.
What comes to pass is a plan so sinister that it left me shaking (quite literally). For me the impact lies with the writing and the emotional web it spins. Yes, there is violence and it is crippling but it's experiencing that violence through Mat that broke me. Imagine someone hurting the most precious person in your life, and you are helpless to stop it. You can only sit there locked in a cage and do nothing. That scared me. The brothers are then taken to a facility to be cleaned, made to perform, and speak to robots passing as people. Because only robots can be so unfeeling, uncaring, at the pain they are inflicting.
From the get go this book screams sex, most of it extremely violent and all of it non-consensual. It’s like watching a movie mystery take shape, and all question just leads to WHY. Why the hell are they doing this? Why did they choose Dougie? What will happen next? How will Dougie remain any form of normal after this? Can this shit get any worse? Seriously, can this shit get any worse? I am on the edge of my seat in anticipation.
This really played on a few fears of mine (hey Heidi and Rachel get out of my head). No matter how crazy or how unbelievable the story there is a fine line of realism. People/children are taken everyday due to human trafficking and pushed into a life of sexual slavery. All I kept thinking not like this, I hope never like this because that fucks my shit up and by shit, I mean my mind. It also feels like science fiction, some dystopian world made of taking unsuspecting humans and turning them into the perfect sex mates/pets (broken and without a thought of their own). I think fans of the manga Ai No Kusabi would like this one. It really has that feel.
So yes, The Flesh Cartel is explosive, it’s wicked, and it’s violent. It is made of awesome. Do be cautious when going into reading this one, there are warnings for a reason. Use them; there should be no surprises so no one can complain (just saying). Get ready for vile characters (they probably go home to their spouses and kids) that will make your blood boil and all you wanna do is go Jet Li on their asses. It’s not a romance, there is no fluff and stuff but there is love. It shines through in Dougie and Mat, which makes your heart break even more for them.
I do not know what expect in the next episodes but I am freaking looking forward to it. I just know shit is about to get critical, after all its Heidi and Rachel. I have my big woman pants on (or off) and I am ready.
All I can say is "dolla dolla billz yawl" money makes people evil when you have it and can make too much of it.
October 13, 2013
****4 WTF Stars****
OK...ladies....give me a break on this review...this is the first book I have read that deals with men on men rape scenes or just men on men (unless it was a ménage a trois) - Oh yeah - I did read "Beyond Eden"
Oh well, forget all that and HEAR THIS!!
This book was MESSED UP - I mean it really MESSED UP!! It left me with a WTF feeling in the pit of my stomach.
I do have to say though, for a short story, I was captivated through the whole thing and do you want to know a secret??
This is just between us and you can't tell my therapist this......I kinda got turned on from some of the scenes!
Now remember...that's between us - I don't want my medication raised again or be banned from reading these "mind fuck" books!
So about the book - Mat and Dougie are brothers. Mat is a fighter and Dougie is obtaining his PhD. One night Dougie gets captured at home by some dudes who want his "virgin ass" It just so happens that Mat comes in before it happens and he is taken also.
Where are they? Who has them?
Beats the hell out of me....oh no....it was Mat and Dougie that hell was beaten out of.
Off to the next - The Auction
November 10, 2012
At times I felt like I was watching an action flick made for teen aged boys.(Dude, what can we come up with next to keep them in their seats?) This isn't really a book, it's a segment, meant to be followed by many other segments. There are at least 6 Flesh Cartel 'books' listed here on Goodsreads, most not yet published. At 3 bucks a pop, what eventually might turn out to constitute a Book, would be upwards of $18, depending on how many cliffhanger endings they can come up with. In a rush to get on with the proceedings, the authors, unfortunately, neglected to take time to develop any characters. The victims are 2 pretty brothers bent on protecting each other, and
the bad guys are oh so despicably evil!...especially the bitch in heels. Maybe I'll give number 2 a try to see if anything gets Fleshed out. Pun intended.
the bad guys are oh so despicably evil!...especially the bitch in heels. Maybe I'll give number 2 a try to see if anything gets Fleshed out. Pun intended.
October 3, 2012
Mat and Dougie are brothers who have unfortunately caught the attention of some not so good people. Specifically, Dougie is the desirable virgin to be raped and then trained. Mat is just along for the ride.
This is a BDSM non con fantasy story which is what makes it so appealing. It's only the beginning of this series. The initial installment is filled with a wet dream of dark gritty rough treatment. The rape of young Mat is nasty and detailed out well. It doesn't go into extreme specifics, yet just enough for the dark side to shine through.
The initial processing of both brothers is a prison sexual violation fantasy. The only issue I had was the flipping between the two brothers during the processing. It was disorienting trying to ascertain who was being cleaned and violated whilst enjoying it or resisting it. It would have helped to have one processed than the other.
This is a promising new series from the talent Ms. Haimowitz and new to me author Ms. Belleau. This story reminds me of one of my favourite dark non con authors, J.J. Argus. The utter desperation and fear emanating from Dougie is delightful. The futile resistance from Mat enhances the non con. I am interested in learning more about this world. The auction with the masked buyers is intriguing. I can't wait to learn more about this world of the depraved filthy rich. The book is recommend for m/m readers who enjoy the dark slavery theme with no HEA in sight.
*ARC from http://www.netgalley.com/*
This is a BDSM non con fantasy story which is what makes it so appealing. It's only the beginning of this series. The initial installment is filled with a wet dream of dark gritty rough treatment. The rape of young Mat is nasty and detailed out well. It doesn't go into extreme specifics, yet just enough for the dark side to shine through.
The initial processing of both brothers is a prison sexual violation fantasy. The only issue I had was the flipping between the two brothers during the processing. It was disorienting trying to ascertain who was being cleaned and violated whilst enjoying it or resisting it. It would have helped to have one processed than the other.
This is a promising new series from the talent Ms. Haimowitz and new to me author Ms. Belleau. This story reminds me of one of my favourite dark non con authors, J.J. Argus. The utter desperation and fear emanating from Dougie is delightful. The futile resistance from Mat enhances the non con. I am interested in learning more about this world. The auction with the masked buyers is intriguing. I can't wait to learn more about this world of the depraved filthy rich. The book is recommend for m/m readers who enjoy the dark slavery theme with no HEA in sight.
*ARC from http://www.netgalley.com/*
August 20, 2013
Very short review. No, no more torture of any kind for these two guys please!! Poor Dougie and Mat, I can't think that their suffering (or mine) is over yet by any stretch of the imagination!! Why am I reading this sort of book..I blame you Kol Anderson, getting me hooked on your books (Aaron, poor Aaron) and now I'm addicted to this series....oh dear, what am I to do.....4 stars
July 30, 2013
Holy shit WTF was that?? Damn that was torture...well, it was for Matt and Dougie. Everyone's (with the exception of M& D) are assholes. I have so many questions but I'm too lazy to type them all out.....Off to book 2. God I hope Mat uses his UFC skills and beats the hell out that cunt Dorothy .
February 3, 2014
Nope! Nope! Nope! NOPE! This series was not for me. Gratuitous violence with little to connect me to the characters beyond the sheer horror of abuse. I know there is potential there for a compelling story and I can't deny that these women are talented writers, but I just can't find pleasure in reading about this kind of suffering.
December 22, 2012
Violence, non con and BDSM. I'm not ashamed to say I loved every minute of it!
October 18, 2014
The Flesh Cartel #1: Capture is by far the most disturbing short story I've ever read. My stomach was in knots. My whole body shook with anger. I had a grip on my Kindle that quite possibly could've broken it if I didn't check myself. This is NOT for the feint of heart. This story is dark, wicked, and extremely intense.
Mat is an underground cage fighter. Winning fights means winning money that will financially keep Dougie in school and the bills paid. Dougie is a graduate student who is determined to get his PhD so he can eventually get his brother out of the hard life where he comes home battered and bruised.
Mat and Dougie had a rough childhood. Mat feels responsible for Dougie because as children they were orphaned and separated. Mat will never let anything happen to Dougie again. The love and devotion these two brothers have for one another is endearing. But what these two have been put through is nothing compared to what they are subjected to when four men break into their home, kidnap and violate them, and then bring them to a facility where they are prepared to be sold at an auction.
They've survived so much in their life, but will they survive this?
Mat, being extremely protective of Dougie, wants to fight against everything that is happening to them. But the more he fights, the worse he makes the situation. Not able to fight back, Mat is forced to submit to whatever it takes to save his brother and himself.
Dougie is subjected to so much from the beginning. I couldn't believe I was reading any of it. It was sick, disgusting, and, sadly, this happens all the time in human trafficking situations. Dougie started out weak in the beginning, but his strength and desire to live is what saved both him and Mat from being killed.
Because this story is from both brothers POVs, I was inside both of their heads. I could FEEL their pain and suffering. Dougie's will to live and Mat's protective instincts were so raw and so real. I felt so overwhelmed by this short 75 page story that I felt completely out of sorts the rest of the day.
What happens to these two is hard to put into words. It's sinister. It's wrong. Oh, so very wrong. Imagine being completely powerless and having to watch someone you love more than anything being humiliated over and over. This story shattered all my boundaries. I spent most of the time reading this story with a death grip on my Kindle. I have so many questions that I'm dying to know. Who are the characters at the beginning of the story? Who is the woman in charge? (I hope Mat and Dougie get their vengeance against this bitch!) As disturbed as I am by this story, I'm compelled to find out what happens with Mat and Dougie until I've reached the end of the story.
-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review
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