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Sex, Death, and Money: Season 1
This season, on the most unfiltered reality show in the universe, the one to watch will be human … Succubi treat all other species as livestock. Gene seeds from every corner of the universe are bought and sold for sustenance, for labor … for fun. Yet, for all their advantages over natural breeding programs, gene seeds are not without risk. Occasionally, such seeds retain episodic memory of a past life. These seeds – called ghosts – are routinely destroyed when discovered. Succubi, however, are ruled by their desires. Wherever there’s potential for profit, exceptions get made. Division Four specializes in generating livestock to serve as competitors in the popular reality game Sex, Death, and Money. After a dry spell, desperate to show results, the division director cut corners and red tape to acquire a gene seed from a previously unknown species. She was promised a specimen of rare ability. She has no idea …
This book is violent and does not fade to black. It features dystopian themes, harem, aliens, and conduct unbecoming a gentleman. You have been warned.
This book is violent and does not fade to black. It features dystopian themes, harem, aliens, and conduct unbecoming a gentleman. You have been warned.
408 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 31, 2023
141 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
July 11, 2023
This showed up as a "you might also like" but I forget the context. Which is just as well because I have no idea what might have prompted this dirty little story to show up on my radar. And I'm even less sure why I ended up finishing it. I mean, it's dark and the central theme is more about slavery than anything else (even sex). And I hate that crap.
Taz (we never learn his real name) is isekai'd into this world to become a slave to compete in a reality show featuring sex and death. Since he's a government assassin, he's more than capable on at least the death bits. Which he shows right quick when he kills one of his jailors. And the action picks up from there with Taz resisting every chance he gets, but not having a lot of chances.
I'm going to ding this story for the misleading marketing. The cover screams sex farce and the blurb hints at humor. Also, there is exactly zero money anywhere in the story. Seriously, slaves don't get money so adding it to the title is just author shenanigans. Also, the sex is more than a little icky with dom/sub play and a lead who explicitly sucks at both (and doesn't want to learn).
I got through this by skipping pretty much all of the sex. And I still have no idea why I bothered. I'm going to give it a second star because the writing is descriptive, the characters consistent, and the action is good. But it's not a story I recommend in any way unless your kink is way darker than most (okay, I have no idea if that statement is true as I'm hardly a kink sexpert, but it feels that way to me).
A note about Steamy: There is a lot of sex. Most of it is alien sex and involves non-human anatomy in ways that I didn't find interesting. So I skimmed most of it. Even skimming, it was way outside of my steam tolerance.
Taz (we never learn his real name) is isekai'd into this world to become a slave to compete in a reality show featuring sex and death. Since he's a government assassin, he's more than capable on at least the death bits. Which he shows right quick when he kills one of his jailors. And the action picks up from there with Taz resisting every chance he gets, but not having a lot of chances.
I'm going to ding this story for the misleading marketing. The cover screams sex farce and the blurb hints at humor. Also, there is exactly zero money anywhere in the story. Seriously, slaves don't get money so adding it to the title is just author shenanigans. Also, the sex is more than a little icky with dom/sub play and a lead who explicitly sucks at both (and doesn't want to learn).
I got through this by skipping pretty much all of the sex. And I still have no idea why I bothered. I'm going to give it a second star because the writing is descriptive, the characters consistent, and the action is good. But it's not a story I recommend in any way unless your kink is way darker than most (okay, I have no idea if that statement is true as I'm hardly a kink sexpert, but it feels that way to me).
A note about Steamy: There is a lot of sex. Most of it is alien sex and involves non-human anatomy in ways that I didn't find interesting. So I skimmed most of it. Even skimming, it was way outside of my steam tolerance.
June 8, 2023
Great
Very well written. Looking forward to another in the near future I hope. It read very smoothly and the characters in the story were great.
Very well written. Looking forward to another in the near future I hope. It read very smoothly and the characters in the story were great.
June 5, 2023
I So Missed This!
This was a fantastic book. I read a LOT, and have for a LONG time. It’s extremely rare now for me to physically not be able to put a book down to the point I lose sleep. This was one such book. It’s just so good!
This was a fantastic book. I read a LOT, and have for a LONG time. It’s extremely rare now for me to physically not be able to put a book down to the point I lose sleep. This was one such book. It’s just so good!
June 5, 2023
Incredible Novel
Such a good plot with a wonderful masculine main character with real development. The perfect amount of smut and wonderful world building. Read it. Read it now!
Such a good plot with a wonderful masculine main character with real development. The perfect amount of smut and wonderful world building. Read it. Read it now!
May 26, 2024
Dark, Grim, and Violent with grotesque sex scenes
This is The Hunger Games with explicit sex scenes. The MC is a vicious killer, enslaved and trapped in a hell world that he is trying to escape through death. The sex scenes are all with non humans.
In DUNE during the Gom Jabbar scene Reverend Mother Gaius Mohiam says:
"You've heard of animals chewing off a leg to escape a trap? There's an animal kind of trick. A human would remain in the trap, endure the pain, feigning death that he might kill the trapper and remove a threat to his kind."
The Main Character in SDM is going for the second one. As the first Human to be enslaved by these aliens he is trying to spare all future humans the same fate by being so damn scary that they never ever want a second human on their world.
I thought this was noble in a F'ed up kind of way, but as the story goes on we find out the MC is just a mass murdering A-hole.
This is The Hunger Games with explicit sex scenes. The MC is a vicious killer, enslaved and trapped in a hell world that he is trying to escape through death. The sex scenes are all with non humans.
In DUNE during the Gom Jabbar scene Reverend Mother Gaius Mohiam says:
"You've heard of animals chewing off a leg to escape a trap? There's an animal kind of trick. A human would remain in the trap, endure the pain, feigning death that he might kill the trapper and remove a threat to his kind."
The Main Character in SDM is going for the second one. As the first Human to be enslaved by these aliens he is trying to spare all future humans the same fate by being so damn scary that they never ever want a second human on their world.
I thought this was noble in a F'ed up kind of way, but as the story goes on we find out the MC is just a mass murdering A-hole.
June 20, 2023
Another excellent start.
I was a little worried about reading another series by the author if they could continue to deliver.
So far, so good.
A much different protagonist in this story, it seems quickly that instead of being a nice guy, we get ourselves someone who's rather despicable. And I will admit, that could be an instant turnoff, causing skepticism.
I stuck with it though and was able to greatly enjoy though. As with other characters, he does slowly grow, and it was enough growth for me to care enough to enjoy the rest of the story.
If I did have any slight quibble, the end is... a stopping point, not quite a cliffhanger, but almost arbitrary feeling. I imagine when getting a chance to read the next installment it'll probably make better sense so not really a huge gripe.
Overall so happy to get some more great Cebelius content in my life.
I was a little worried about reading another series by the author if they could continue to deliver.
So far, so good.
A much different protagonist in this story, it seems quickly that instead of being a nice guy, we get ourselves someone who's rather despicable. And I will admit, that could be an instant turnoff, causing skepticism.
I stuck with it though and was able to greatly enjoy though. As with other characters, he does slowly grow, and it was enough growth for me to care enough to enjoy the rest of the story.
If I did have any slight quibble, the end is... a stopping point, not quite a cliffhanger, but almost arbitrary feeling. I imagine when getting a chance to read the next installment it'll probably make better sense so not really a huge gripe.
Overall so happy to get some more great Cebelius content in my life.
June 7, 2023
Very well done, although I found the MC's relentless hostility a bit much. This was intentional to set up him getting some character development, though it did take most of the book to get that process really started.
This seems tangential to his Tartarus stories, but that may be just me. It would be an interesting cross-over if it did arrive in later books. Whether that happens or not, I look forward to Season 2.
This seems tangential to his Tartarus stories, but that may be just me. It would be an interesting cross-over if it did arrive in later books. Whether that happens or not, I look forward to Season 2.
August 12, 2023
Mixed Feelings
WARNING: There will be spoilers!
If you are still reading, I’m assuming you don’t mind spoilers.
I am so torn over this book. There are parts to love, and yet…
Taz, the MC of the work, is almost the clinical definition of a sociopath. As such, I found it difficult to sympathize with him, despite him being little more than a gladiatorial slave. HIs life is horrific, and it’s easy to see how he could be so dark. And I believe the author knows this about Taz, as the most common thing said to him is some variation of “What is wrong with you?”
His casual slaughter of beings with no remorse or second thought reminds me of the villain that the author created for his second Celestine series, and he openly admitted that character was irredeemable. Taz feels the same…but I don’t know.
Why don’t I know? Because this isn’t a full book. NOTHING—and I mean NOTHING—gets resolved. It introduces a lot of characters and situations, and then…it stops. He tells you at the end that this was a series of bits that he wrote for his Patreon. It’s not a complete story at all, nor does he promise that more is coming. That was so amazingly frustrating. What’s here is well done, but ultimately it’s empty.
That said—if I weren’t already happily married—I would marry Pala in a heartbeat. She is now my Amazonian Dog-Wife, and you can’t change my mind. The author creates very compelling characters at every turn, and most of the time (waving hi to the TAP series) they come with solid stories.
This time…not so much.
WARNING: There will be spoilers!
If you are still reading, I’m assuming you don’t mind spoilers.
I am so torn over this book. There are parts to love, and yet…
Taz, the MC of the work, is almost the clinical definition of a sociopath. As such, I found it difficult to sympathize with him, despite him being little more than a gladiatorial slave. HIs life is horrific, and it’s easy to see how he could be so dark. And I believe the author knows this about Taz, as the most common thing said to him is some variation of “What is wrong with you?”
His casual slaughter of beings with no remorse or second thought reminds me of the villain that the author created for his second Celestine series, and he openly admitted that character was irredeemable. Taz feels the same…but I don’t know.
Why don’t I know? Because this isn’t a full book. NOTHING—and I mean NOTHING—gets resolved. It introduces a lot of characters and situations, and then…it stops. He tells you at the end that this was a series of bits that he wrote for his Patreon. It’s not a complete story at all, nor does he promise that more is coming. That was so amazingly frustrating. What’s here is well done, but ultimately it’s empty.
That said—if I weren’t already happily married—I would marry Pala in a heartbeat. She is now my Amazonian Dog-Wife, and you can’t change my mind. The author creates very compelling characters at every turn, and most of the time (waving hi to the TAP series) they come with solid stories.
This time…not so much.
July 5, 2023
Well...
Tax, a surely, repurposed soul has a big problem. He ain't on Earth anymore and the big aliens are keeping him in the dark. Frustration leads to base instincts and the river turns red. Yet another fun read from Cebelius. Cheers.
Tax, a surely, repurposed soul has a big problem. He ain't on Earth anymore and the big aliens are keeping him in the dark. Frustration leads to base instincts and the river turns red. Yet another fun read from Cebelius. Cheers.
July 9, 2023
not just smut
The characters are chefs kiss the story is wonderful the smut is smutty. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book. I’m a little bit of a snob when it comes to harem books because I often find the characters are just flat and only really there for the mc to get off with however this book has been written with a fine hand I feel like all the characters are people who are living their lives and are all there for reasons not just cause the author needs bodies to do freaky things with not that freaky things don’t happen just it’s not their only purpose. The mc is a masterpiece in the anti hero demographic if you like your heroes to also be ruthless and smart yet also love dogs you will not be disappointed. I can’t wait for the next book.
The characters are chefs kiss the story is wonderful the smut is smutty. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book. I’m a little bit of a snob when it comes to harem books because I often find the characters are just flat and only really there for the mc to get off with however this book has been written with a fine hand I feel like all the characters are people who are living their lives and are all there for reasons not just cause the author needs bodies to do freaky things with not that freaky things don’t happen just it’s not their only purpose. The mc is a masterpiece in the anti hero demographic if you like your heroes to also be ruthless and smart yet also love dogs you will not be disappointed. I can’t wait for the next book.
November 4, 2024
Good, more poly than harem. The culture has no concepts of monogamy, so you should expect women with a past not related to the MC, it happens pretty late, and may turn some off. If you’ve read any of this author other works, you know what to expect here, large women, in more ways than one. And the ‘aliens’ are greatly detailed physiologically. Great plot and good conveying of tension. The MC is completely normal though, good or a bad thing depending on what you are looking for. I personally found it refreshing to read about a completely mundane person put in anything but situation. Good chemistry comes later in the book.
June 26, 2023
Flexibility is underrated...
And I mean physical, mental AND emotional flexibility. Cebelius creates those kinds of characters with style and seeming ease, and they do it in a way that I can't help but but get drawn in by. I love these journeys Cebelius' stories take us on. Taking an often broken protagonist through ALL the stages of healing them, and through that, making them a better person that can, in turn, maybe even help those around them... And maybe even the readers?
It's also really REALLY fun to read.
And I mean physical, mental AND emotional flexibility. Cebelius creates those kinds of characters with style and seeming ease, and they do it in a way that I can't help but but get drawn in by. I love these journeys Cebelius' stories take us on. Taking an often broken protagonist through ALL the stages of healing them, and through that, making them a better person that can, in turn, maybe even help those around them... And maybe even the readers?
It's also really REALLY fun to read.
September 26, 2023
Fun then got boring.
Taz gets woken up on an alien world and is forced into a tv show game show, fighting and fucking is the game and he'll die if he loses.
That's the main plot and starts with fun, some good fighting, and killing mixed with sex scenes but then it becomes like some Harem books where the guy can't lose and is the best at everything and everyone wants him. I get it's a fantasy book but when the main character can do everything you get quickly bored as there's no build or progress.
I skipped the last %15 of the book.
Taz gets woken up on an alien world and is forced into a tv show game show, fighting and fucking is the game and he'll die if he loses.
That's the main plot and starts with fun, some good fighting, and killing mixed with sex scenes but then it becomes like some Harem books where the guy can't lose and is the best at everything and everyone wants him. I get it's a fantasy book but when the main character can do everything you get quickly bored as there's no build or progress.
I skipped the last %15 of the book.
Read
July 22, 2023Different
I was surprised as it's not the normal fight bad guys bed beautiful girls in a series it has depth and back story. It teazes you about the past and infers things and it has great world building i enjoyed.
Not your normal protagonist weak to strong no more a think about everything going on like chess every move has a counter move etc, that is not to say sexy girls sex and fights dont exist they do as well, a gripping read.
I was surprised as it's not the normal fight bad guys bed beautiful girls in a series it has depth and back story. It teazes you about the past and infers things and it has great world building i enjoyed.
Not your normal protagonist weak to strong no more a think about everything going on like chess every move has a counter move etc, that is not to say sexy girls sex and fights dont exist they do as well, a gripping read.
Read
June 17, 2023Excellent story
This story has so many twists and turns! Action, adventure, intrigue. It keeps you guessing. The premise of a deadly game show, the back ground infighting, potential for revenge, all of it keeps you turning pages. The sex is weird and wonderful, a balloon chick, ten foot tall hot dog women and succubus wow, just wow. I'm so ready for the next book!!!!!
This story has so many twists and turns! Action, adventure, intrigue. It keeps you guessing. The premise of a deadly game show, the back ground infighting, potential for revenge, all of it keeps you turning pages. The sex is weird and wonderful, a balloon chick, ten foot tall hot dog women and succubus wow, just wow. I'm so ready for the next book!!!!!
June 21, 2023
Oddly Compelling
Cebelius has recurring themes of violence, power, lust, and love, all explored with consideration and maturity. SDM continues that, with a story I found difficult to put down.
The characters are smart, distinct, and capable. Some are even likable. The action is visceral and flows well.
Recommended for adults.
Cebelius has recurring themes of violence, power, lust, and love, all explored with consideration and maturity. SDM continues that, with a story I found difficult to put down.
The characters are smart, distinct, and capable. Some are even likable. The action is visceral and flows well.
Recommended for adults.
May 31, 2024
Nice edge on it.
Battle Royale style death games run by asshole succubus-aliens, except this involuntary contestant is a trained and hardened spec ops soldier. Avoids sentiment, and isn't afraid to make the main character a ruthless amoral killer. Not perfect, but a nice find. Decently written as well.
Battle Royale style death games run by asshole succubus-aliens, except this involuntary contestant is a trained and hardened spec ops soldier. Avoids sentiment, and isn't afraid to make the main character a ruthless amoral killer. Not perfect, but a nice find. Decently written as well.
July 6, 2024
The first time I truly considered giving up on this audiobook was 33min and 20 seconds in. That being the first time the author uses the MC as a f-up sock puppet.
7h26m into the story and I am going to drop it here. It truly suffers from smart/stupid. Smart and then all of a sudden stupid to forward plot. Its just to annoying to keep on listening.
DNF: at the 7h26m mark.
7h26m into the story and I am going to drop it here. It truly suffers from smart/stupid. Smart and then all of a sudden stupid to forward plot. Its just to annoying to keep on listening.
DNF: at the 7h26m mark.
June 9, 2023
I read it
I really didn't like the MC. The story was well done and everything was good. I ave liked or empathized with most of his other MCs this one not so much. Oh well can't win them all.
I really didn't like the MC. The story was well done and everything was good. I ave liked or empathized with most of his other MCs this one not so much. Oh well can't win them all.
June 15, 2023
Will this author ever miss?
If you are a fan of any of his first series, you will more than likely be a fan of this one. Do yourself a favor and gamble on it.
Gripping writting and extremely interesting world building. And maybe even a familiar furry face.
If you are a fan of any of his first series, you will more than likely be a fan of this one. Do yourself a favor and gamble on it.
Gripping writting and extremely interesting world building. And maybe even a familiar furry face.
June 20, 2023
not for me
Parts of this book were great others not so much, not a personal fan of the manipulation games especially with how sometimes Taz handles it one way and then the next time he handles it another with little reasoning it just kept pulling apart his character to me
Parts of this book were great others not so much, not a personal fan of the manipulation games especially with how sometimes Taz handles it one way and then the next time he handles it another with little reasoning it just kept pulling apart his character to me
June 28, 2023
Interesting at times but inconsistent and hard to actually get through.
Not precisely bad, but I don't think I really enjoyed much of what I read. Problems include the unlikeable and occasionally sociopathic main character, the obsessive weirdness of the aliens and and alien sex, and the sheer banality of the gameshow that is presented as core to the plot. The biggest problem though is the apparent lack of a long term goal or mystery... what's our reward for actually reading this?
I almost gave up a bunch of times, and am unlikely to read any future installments.
Not precisely bad, but I don't think I really enjoyed much of what I read. Problems include the unlikeable and occasionally sociopathic main character, the obsessive weirdness of the aliens and and alien sex, and the sheer banality of the gameshow that is presented as core to the plot. The biggest problem though is the apparent lack of a long term goal or mystery... what's our reward for actually reading this?
I almost gave up a bunch of times, and am unlikely to read any future installments.
July 16, 2023
A great time
This book had a fantastic story and interesting characters. The relationships between the characters in particular felt organic and believable. Honestly, I was not sure what to expect when I first started reading, but I'm glad I found it.
This book had a fantastic story and interesting characters. The relationships between the characters in particular felt organic and believable. Honestly, I was not sure what to expect when I first started reading, but I'm glad I found it.
July 17, 2023
unexpectant fun
Just as cebelius says in the afterword, this was unexpected fun. I did not expect to like it given the blurb but it was and continued to be engaging and novel. I do hope he writes a season 2 soon.
Just as cebelius says in the afterword, this was unexpected fun. I did not expect to like it given the blurb but it was and continued to be engaging and novel. I do hope he writes a season 2 soon.
July 19, 2023
i love cebelius books until this one idk i jus couldn't really like the mc new world was interesting the characters different but still fascinating and the story was good kept me coming back to it slower than usual i guess jus i didnt really care for Taz the only real hiccup
July 23, 2023
Angry and hot and a game show, awesome!
This is kinda like dungeon crawler Carl with a harem. Well written, hot, and the MC isn’t afraid to kill which is different than most books. Please finish this sooner rather later my good author
This is kinda like dungeon crawler Carl with a harem. Well written, hot, and the MC isn’t afraid to kill which is different than most books. Please finish this sooner rather later my good author
August 7, 2023
I read the first two chapters - the first was so “alien” that I could not connect with the character. The second chapter was so ridiculous that I decided to quit the book. Pretty disappointed because I know the author can write well when he wants to
July 15, 2024
I’m starting to think I need to take a book hiatus for 5 years at least. This is so I can listen to and enjoy series that get completed. This book was excellent but incomplete. Says Season 1 on the cover but it’s more like Season 0.2 in length.
I’ll totally pickup the second audiobook though.
I’ll totally pickup the second audiobook though.
November 9, 2024
On brand
This novel gives you exactly what it says on the tin, graphic reality TV for demons and a guy who hates being in it. It's a very enjoyable story, though I'm not xenophilic enough to enjoy explicit scenes with the various alien species
This novel gives you exactly what it says on the tin, graphic reality TV for demons and a guy who hates being in it. It's a very enjoyable story, though I'm not xenophilic enough to enjoy explicit scenes with the various alien species
May 27, 2025
Good, but ends rather abruptly. I guess we get the character growth we were expecting, but there are several plot lines left completely dangling. If it were KU I probably would have given 5 stars, but if authors expect actual money for their work, I expect their work to be of a higher caliber.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews