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The Flesh Cartel #15-19
The Flesh Cartel, Season 5: Reclamation
In the exciting final season of the Flesh Cartel. . .
With the help of the FBI, Mat Carmichael has let himself be re-taken by the Flesh Cartel. Objective? Rescue his brother, exact revenge, and destroy the entire organization from the inside.
FBI Special Agent Nate Johnson will be playing backup, of course, but to get Dougie out alive, Mat will need to make sure his brother is out of Allen’s clutches before calling in the troops. Now that Mat’s back in bondage, though, there’s no way he can do it alone. He’ll have to ask for help from the only man within the Cartel who cares about Dougie’s welfare: Nikolai. And even knowing it will destroy him, Nikolai delivers.
Bringing down the Cartel should have been the hardest part, but it doesn’t take long to realize that the real challenge has only just begun. Dougie doesn’t know how to be free anymore, and Mat is forced to admit that he may no longer be strong enough to help himself, let alone his brother. But with loved ones in their corner and their love for each other banked but not extinguished, Mat and Dougie learn that you can come home again, no matter how desperate the circumstances you’ve left behind.
With the help of the FBI, Mat Carmichael has let himself be re-taken by the Flesh Cartel. Objective? Rescue his brother, exact revenge, and destroy the entire organization from the inside.
FBI Special Agent Nate Johnson will be playing backup, of course, but to get Dougie out alive, Mat will need to make sure his brother is out of Allen’s clutches before calling in the troops. Now that Mat’s back in bondage, though, there’s no way he can do it alone. He’ll have to ask for help from the only man within the Cartel who cares about Dougie’s welfare: Nikolai. And even knowing it will destroy him, Nikolai delivers.
Bringing down the Cartel should have been the hardest part, but it doesn’t take long to realize that the real challenge has only just begun. Dougie doesn’t know how to be free anymore, and Mat is forced to admit that he may no longer be strong enough to help himself, let alone his brother. But with loved ones in their corner and their love for each other banked but not extinguished, Mat and Dougie learn that you can come home again, no matter how desperate the circumstances you’ve left behind.
288 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 2014
35 people are currently reading
130 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Haimowitz
41 books719 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 34 reviews
June 23, 2017
An excellent conclusion to a series that will change you. The story of Mat & Dougie is probably one of the darkest reads I have ever read, it is so very raw - there were times I felt like I was thrown into another world. These two authors created a tale that takes you on a visceral journey; you will experience what Mat and Dougie go through from the beginning (pre-abduction, the abduction or "procurement," transport, check-in, medical and profile creation, storage, auction, awaiting pickup, transport to their trainers, training, party hosting, sample of product, more training, attempting to escape, punishment, training, final sale.... new owners, life as slaves, a second shot, the FBI, a sting, therapy, beginning again, the trial, & so much more) just imagine all the emotion, the pain, the fear -this book is full of it. Underneath all that, what these two brothers go through physically, emotionally, sexually, - there are things that can't be undone, the personality changes they go through as brothers and individuals, it is very emotional. There comes a point when you wonder, what is going to be left of these two after all these monsters have their fun. In the end, after all the trials...when everyone goes home...when the cartel members are all serving multiple life sentences, will there be enough of Mat & Dougie left to start again?
The supporting characters in this series are great and again so real.
I recommend this series -- however you must understand when I say Dark, Twisted, and Depraved - I mean it. On a scale of 1-10 for darkness, this book is a solid 8 out of 10 ... there might even be some 9/10 scenes-- trigger warnings: across the board.
5+ star series
The supporting characters in this series are great and again so real.
I recommend this series -- however you must understand when I say Dark, Twisted, and Depraved - I mean it. On a scale of 1-10 for darkness, this book is a solid 8 out of 10 ... there might even be some 9/10 scenes-- trigger warnings: across the board.
5+ star series
Read
November 7, 2022I don't think I have ever read a darker, more heartwrenching series.
This is a story of heartbreaking, brutal torture and abuse, with two brothers that quite literally fight through hell and back to save one another. It was extremely difficult to read, to the point that I felt genuinely sick, and I don't think I could ever reread it. However, the writing was absolutely phenomenal. The way the authors so brilliantly delved into the psychological torture and mind control was a master class.
As for Dougie and Mat, my god those poor brothers. You cannot help but love them and root for them, no matter what. I'm glad we finally got to see them at peace and safe.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the romance subplot between Mat and Nate as it felt too contrived/rushed, but I can overlook it.
Overall, this was a truly moving series. If you are looking into picking it up, I would absolutely recommend looking up some spoilers or content warnings first - this has some of the darkest shit you will ever read.
This is a story of heartbreaking, brutal torture and abuse, with two brothers that quite literally fight through hell and back to save one another. It was extremely difficult to read, to the point that I felt genuinely sick, and I don't think I could ever reread it. However, the writing was absolutely phenomenal. The way the authors so brilliantly delved into the psychological torture and mind control was a master class.
As for Dougie and Mat, my god those poor brothers. You cannot help but love them and root for them, no matter what. I'm glad we finally got to see them at peace and safe.
I wasn't the biggest fan of the romance subplot between Mat and Nate as it felt too contrived/rushed, but I can overlook it.
Overall, this was a truly moving series. If you are looking into picking it up, I would absolutely recommend looking up some spoilers or content warnings first - this has some of the darkest shit you will ever read.
November 24, 2014
I avoided reviewing this when I finished it a few months ago because I was in denial that it was all over. This is one of my absolute favorite series and I'm still sad that I have no future episodes to look forward to. I'm almost tempted to take away a star because of that disappointed feeling, but I can't because it ended exactly the way it should. This story was a hell of a ride, and I'm so glad I decided to read it despite my initial wariness.
P.S. I will love Mat forever.
P.S. I will love Mat forever.
April 13, 2018
Not for the faint hearted, these books cover every kind of traumatic event you could possibly conceive in one story.
The writing is exemplar though throughout and it never felt salacious no matter how depraved or degrading the situation went to.
The final chapter sees the brothers brought out of the darkness and slowly begin the process of putting their lives back together and, while it's painful to experience, there is hope and light and love which gives a sense of peace and that moving on will be possible.
The writing is exemplar though throughout and it never felt salacious no matter how depraved or degrading the situation went to.
The final chapter sees the brothers brought out of the darkness and slowly begin the process of putting their lives back together and, while it's painful to experience, there is hope and light and love which gives a sense of peace and that moving on will be possible.
Read
March 25, 2017I'm gonna start off by letting you know I won't be rating this.
I can't.
So back story: I end up in a conversation with a woman in a shop. Turns out we both love Ty and Zane from the Cut & Run series. So she says "Blah blah blah. There's a Ty and Zane cameo in this series The Flesh Cartel. Blah blah blah" I'm hoping those blah blahs were moments I wasn't paying attention and she was very seriously telling me what kind of story I would be getting myself into. I hope she told me this. Because she recommended this book to a stranger and, duude, we did NOT know each other well enough for her to let me go into this blind. No one should start this series blind.
I bought the first part (season?) and I started it without reading the blurb. That was my chance to read the warning. I wish I had. The entire story is one huge trigger. I don't even really have book triggers and this was a trigger for me. Trigger is too tame a word. I didn't finish it. I didn't finish because I became literally, physically sick. And I know the difference between literal and figurative. The abuse these two go through was just too graphic for me. After my bout of retching I decided enough was enough and left it at that.
I think leaving the story unfinished let it fester in my brain. I couldn't leave Mat and Dougie where I did. It had to get better for them, right? So fast forward to now a year and a half later and I decide to finish. But I knew it would get worse before it got better so I decided to read the last part (season) and completely skip the middle. This was definitely for the best because I was able to know some of the awfulness in the context of their memories which was bad enough. I had enough on my plate getting to the end.
Mat shines (SHINES) through the story (or the parts I read). He is indomitable and the love he has for his brother is frankly awe-inspiring. I think Mat will stick with me for a very long time. Dougie was more of a mixed bag. I hated him sometimes but I was always desperately pulling for him. I'm glad these men came out the other side. And I hope that is the take away. The human spirit is resilient and can transcend even the most vile of experiences.
I can't rate this and I can't recommend it either. I didn't read the entire series and what I did read made me feel ick. You need a set of brass ovaries to read The Flesh Cartel and I just didn't have what it takes.
After I finished I spent an hour switching between faith in humanity sites like this and this to bring some light back to my brain and this and this to see if there's a way to help.
Good luck to those of you who make it through the entire serial. I look forward to reading what you have to say about it.
I can't.
So back story: I end up in a conversation with a woman in a shop. Turns out we both love Ty and Zane from the Cut & Run series. So she says "Blah blah blah. There's a Ty and Zane cameo in this series The Flesh Cartel. Blah blah blah" I'm hoping those blah blahs were moments I wasn't paying attention and she was very seriously telling me what kind of story I would be getting myself into. I hope she told me this. Because she recommended this book to a stranger and, duude, we did NOT know each other well enough for her to let me go into this blind. No one should start this series blind.
I bought the first part (season?) and I started it without reading the blurb. That was my chance to read the warning. I wish I had. The entire story is one huge trigger. I don't even really have book triggers and this was a trigger for me. Trigger is too tame a word. I didn't finish it. I didn't finish because I became literally, physically sick. And I know the difference between literal and figurative. The abuse these two go through was just too graphic for me. After my bout of retching I decided enough was enough and left it at that.
I think leaving the story unfinished let it fester in my brain. I couldn't leave Mat and Dougie where I did. It had to get better for them, right? So fast forward to now a year and a half later and I decide to finish. But I knew it would get worse before it got better so I decided to read the last part (season) and completely skip the middle. This was definitely for the best because I was able to know some of the awfulness in the context of their memories which was bad enough. I had enough on my plate getting to the end.
Mat shines (SHINES) through the story (or the parts I read). He is indomitable and the love he has for his brother is frankly awe-inspiring. I think Mat will stick with me for a very long time. Dougie was more of a mixed bag. I hated him sometimes but I was always desperately pulling for him. I'm glad these men came out the other side. And I hope that is the take away. The human spirit is resilient and can transcend even the most vile of experiences.
I can't rate this and I can't recommend it either. I didn't read the entire series and what I did read made me feel ick. You need a set of brass ovaries to read The Flesh Cartel and I just didn't have what it takes.
After I finished I spent an hour switching between faith in humanity sites like this and this to bring some light back to my brain and this and this to see if there's a way to help.
Good luck to those of you who make it through the entire serial. I look forward to reading what you have to say about it.
July 1, 2021
The Flesh Cartel
Wow. I don't even...
This final season soothed and calmed my soul in a way I didn't even realized I needed so much. I feel warm again. I like the cold, but you can only appreciate it if warm follows.
This series was brutal, not two ways about it. In fact, take all the synonyms of the word from a thesaurus and all related words apply here.
It's definitively not a read for everybody. Tread carefully.
I feel something which I don't quite know what it is, thinking about how much I enjoyed the series, but I did. While it burned a hole through my soul, I still did. While the cold froze my heart, I still did.
I fell in love with Mat right away cause impossible not to. I felt my breath stilled in my lungs when he was in pain, so I felt suffocated a lot these past days.
I read through the series one book after another until this moment. The end to Mat and Doug's story. A new beginning, really.
I don't remember being so grateful while reading as when I first read Nate being introduced to the story for the first time. It was a long way still, but help was on the way. I could sorta breathe better, feel a little warmth even, with him in the picture.
I couldn't love them, Mat and Nate, more.
Like I said, this is not for everybody. But it was for me. I'll be reading this again, I know that for a fact.
I just need a moment in time first.
No matter what.
Wow. I don't even...
This final season soothed and calmed my soul in a way I didn't even realized I needed so much. I feel warm again. I like the cold, but you can only appreciate it if warm follows.
This series was brutal, not two ways about it. In fact, take all the synonyms of the word from a thesaurus and all related words apply here.
It's definitively not a read for everybody. Tread carefully.
I feel something which I don't quite know what it is, thinking about how much I enjoyed the series, but I did. While it burned a hole through my soul, I still did. While the cold froze my heart, I still did.
I fell in love with Mat right away cause impossible not to. I felt my breath stilled in my lungs when he was in pain, so I felt suffocated a lot these past days.
I read through the series one book after another until this moment. The end to Mat and Doug's story. A new beginning, really.
I don't remember being so grateful while reading as when I first read Nate being introduced to the story for the first time. It was a long way still, but help was on the way. I could sorta breathe better, feel a little warmth even, with him in the picture.
I couldn't love them, Mat and Nate, more.
Like I said, this is not for everybody. But it was for me. I'll be reading this again, I know that for a fact.
I just need a moment in time first.
No matter what.
September 5, 2019
So extremely good
This series is just....wow...the noncon aspect, while devious enough, has nothing on the psychological aspects in this story. Those are the parts that broke me, it hurt so very good. I’ve read stories with similar topics but none have come close to this depth of feeling. This series really dives into that mental aspect of sexual slavery. It was so detailed all the pain, confusion, betrayal and sometimes hope....and then crushed hope. A book that makes you despise people that you would also like to fiercely protect. The ending was great, so healing and mostly to the readers I would think. That little end tidbit I almost didn’t see from Nikolai ugh why you gotta break my heart again. Definitely a 5+ star read
This series is just....wow...the noncon aspect, while devious enough, has nothing on the psychological aspects in this story. Those are the parts that broke me, it hurt so very good. I’ve read stories with similar topics but none have come close to this depth of feeling. This series really dives into that mental aspect of sexual slavery. It was so detailed all the pain, confusion, betrayal and sometimes hope....and then crushed hope. A book that makes you despise people that you would also like to fiercely protect. The ending was great, so healing and mostly to the readers I would think. That little end tidbit I almost didn’t see from Nikolai ugh why you gotta break my heart again. Definitely a 5+ star read
January 1, 2021
Brilliant conclusion
Mat sacrifices everything to bring Dougie home. But being rescued is definitely not the end of the suffering. They both need time to heal.
We go through their recovery process. I’m glad this was covered in the book. The aftermath is almost as bad as the actual abuse. I cried more at this part than anything else I read before. Heartbreaking pain.
But rest assured you get an HEA the brothers Doug and Mat. This story will stay with you forever. So powerful. To overcome all that adversity and come out of it, it’s a triumph of the human spirit, truly.
A difficult read but I’m glad I did it. Remarkable writing and satisfying conclusion.
Mat sacrifices everything to bring Dougie home. But being rescued is definitely not the end of the suffering. They both need time to heal.
We go through their recovery process. I’m glad this was covered in the book. The aftermath is almost as bad as the actual abuse. I cried more at this part than anything else I read before. Heartbreaking pain.
But rest assured you get an HEA the brothers Doug and Mat. This story will stay with you forever. So powerful. To overcome all that adversity and come out of it, it’s a triumph of the human spirit, truly.
A difficult read but I’m glad I did it. Remarkable writing and satisfying conclusion.
November 12, 2019
No. Of course i didnt sob my eyes out while reading this series. Okay, so that's a lie; i am still sniffling and wiping at tears right now. Doug's and Mat's story will stick with me forever.
December 25, 2021
This season was considerably mellow. It showed the boys trying to overcome and heal from their trauma. There were a lot of setbacks, hurts and knockdowns but they kept at it with their sheer determination and resilience. It was nice, heartbreaking at times and even lovely (when Nate came into the picture as a love interest), but far far nicer.
This was a good ending if we consider that the things mentioned in this book actually happen in real life. However, since this WAS just a book, I considered the ending to be okayish. I wanted a scene where Doug came face to face with everything he'd done to Mat.....the guilt overwhelming a character is a guilty pleasure plot of mine....but very very unfortunately, that didn't happen. We just see that they worked it out through therapy but nothing is truly expressed, ya know?! I very much wanted that subplot to be there and it's disappointed me that it wasn't.
Other than that, it was fairly nice.
P.S- I want a another book with Nikolai in it!! 🖤😈 I love the twisted, demented bastard
This was a good ending if we consider that the things mentioned in this book actually happen in real life. However, since this WAS just a book, I considered the ending to be okayish. I wanted a scene where Doug came face to face with everything he'd done to Mat.....the guilt overwhelming a character is a guilty pleasure plot of mine....but very very unfortunately, that didn't happen. We just see that they worked it out through therapy but nothing is truly expressed, ya know?! I very much wanted that subplot to be there and it's disappointed me that it wasn't.
Other than that, it was fairly nice.
P.S- I want a another book with Nikolai in it!! 🖤😈 I love the twisted, demented bastard
June 11, 2020
Extremely hard subject matter to read. The sex slave issue that has plagued the world for millennials. This series is not for the faint of heart. This read will take readers into the very hard and dark reality of the sex slave trade. Some make it out alive and some don't. Even though this is fiction it does in fact mirror reality.
I wished I could have given this a higher rating but I couldn't with what happened between Mat and Dougie being brothers. I feel the authors went a bit to far that way.
I wished I could have given this a higher rating but I couldn't with what happened between Mat and Dougie being brothers. I feel the authors went a bit to far that way.
July 19, 2020
It's been a few years now since I first read this series, so I'm going to do one overall series review because I can't remember what happens in which episode and don't want to misguide anyone.
Mild spoilers ahead, but not really anything you can't get from the blurbs, but read on at your own risk.
I'm a dark reader. Like, seriously dark. The darker, the better. And The Flesh Cartel pays out, with a vengeance. Mat and his brother Dougie are kidnapped out of their home by a group of brutes whose job it is to literally take pretty young things to be sold into sexual slavery. But it isn't just sexual slavery, it's a billion-dollar underground crime organization known as The Flesh Cartel who pedals in literal human bodies. They have trainers who break the pretty humans only to rebuild them into perfectly obedient slaves, willing to do anything their owners might ask of them and then some.
This series shows us everything. Leaving nothing out. We see the moment Mat and Dougie are taken all the way through to their (very, very eventual) rescue and even on after that. I believe this series is unique in that. Because we see every moment of psychological, physical, mental, and emotional torment and change, from day one, until they are distanced enough from their hell that a cobbled together future can almost be seen. Not the same perfect future they had before their ordeal, but a new version with its own positives (and, certainly, negatives).
If you like dark, and if you want to see a story that takes the reader on the full journey, then I highly recommend this whole series.
Mild spoilers ahead, but not really anything you can't get from the blurbs, but read on at your own risk.
I'm a dark reader. Like, seriously dark. The darker, the better. And The Flesh Cartel pays out, with a vengeance. Mat and his brother Dougie are kidnapped out of their home by a group of brutes whose job it is to literally take pretty young things to be sold into sexual slavery. But it isn't just sexual slavery, it's a billion-dollar underground crime organization known as The Flesh Cartel who pedals in literal human bodies. They have trainers who break the pretty humans only to rebuild them into perfectly obedient slaves, willing to do anything their owners might ask of them and then some.
This series shows us everything. Leaving nothing out. We see the moment Mat and Dougie are taken all the way through to their (very, very eventual) rescue and even on after that. I believe this series is unique in that. Because we see every moment of psychological, physical, mental, and emotional torment and change, from day one, until they are distanced enough from their hell that a cobbled together future can almost be seen. Not the same perfect future they had before their ordeal, but a new version with its own positives (and, certainly, negatives).
If you like dark, and if you want to see a story that takes the reader on the full journey, then I highly recommend this whole series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2019
Over the top
I accidentally came across this series which is definitely not the genre I read. I was intrigued. I found the story line to be unique and different. The characters were well developed but I felt it was way too over the top and a littleridiculous at times .The authors threw everything at the two main characters that they can think of. It did give me a picture of bondage and yes I had to Google a few things to see if they exist and yes the do like certain cages and mouth restraints. Though I found the takedown anticlimactic when we knew Allen was very evil and sadistic it would have been nice if the authors wrote about legislature realizing the jig was up but we didn't get that. I feel a novella would be good to see how they were doing and if Doug ever got his ever after. This series is not for the faint of heart. It is extremely dark and disturbing but I did read the series in one week
I accidentally came across this series which is definitely not the genre I read. I was intrigued. I found the story line to be unique and different. The characters were well developed but I felt it was way too over the top and a littleridiculous at times .The authors threw everything at the two main characters that they can think of. It did give me a picture of bondage and yes I had to Google a few things to see if they exist and yes the do like certain cages and mouth restraints. Though I found the takedown anticlimactic when we knew Allen was very evil and sadistic it would have been nice if the authors wrote about legislature realizing the jig was up but we didn't get that. I feel a novella would be good to see how they were doing and if Doug ever got his ever after. This series is not for the faint of heart. It is extremely dark and disturbing but I did read the series in one week
June 10, 2021
Those dates probably are not correct, but I know I read it in a couple days so good enough.
This series was overall really good and I’m glad I read it, even though it was hard. I don’t know if I’ll read a book quite like this anytime soon, I may need some very soft light things next. But I really did love them.
For this book in particular, my biggest complaint is the lack of closure with Nikolai. I understand that the characters got closure, and that is good, but I felt that for me as a reader I did not. He was such an important and integral character, but then he was not addressed that much nor did I get the chance to see too much in his head.
I know this part of the series is the freedom and the healing, but I wish I could have gotten even a little more headspace with Nikolai before it ended.
This series was overall really good and I’m glad I read it, even though it was hard. I don’t know if I’ll read a book quite like this anytime soon, I may need some very soft light things next. But I really did love them.
For this book in particular, my biggest complaint is the lack of closure with Nikolai. I understand that the characters got closure, and that is good, but I felt that for me as a reader I did not. He was such an important and integral character, but then he was not addressed that much nor did I get the chance to see too much in his head.
I know this part of the series is the freedom and the healing, but I wish I could have gotten even a little more headspace with Nikolai before it ended.
July 21, 2018
More than five stars for everyone of these books....
The conclusion was perfect the big brother Mat the lovely Mat who always thought he had to protect Doug at all times through those frightening moments and there were plenty of those..
The horrific times they had at the hands of evil .... sadists and so much more..
Out of the darkness into the light and for Mat and Doug.
Doug who had to work had to be free of Nikolai Petrovic and the megalomaniacal Allen Smythe-Kennedy.
FBI Special Agent Nate Johnson has so many strong feeling for Mathias “Stonewall” Carmichael who feels the same ........... Honestly a perfect series ........... wonderful...
The conclusion was perfect the big brother Mat the lovely Mat who always thought he had to protect Doug at all times through those frightening moments and there were plenty of those..
The horrific times they had at the hands of evil .... sadists and so much more..
Out of the darkness into the light and for Mat and Doug.
Doug who had to work had to be free of Nikolai Petrovic and the megalomaniacal Allen Smythe-Kennedy.
FBI Special Agent Nate Johnson has so many strong feeling for Mathias “Stonewall” Carmichael who feels the same ........... Honestly a perfect series ........... wonderful...
July 18, 2024
I was afraid I'd like this one less since the tone seemed to be different, with more focus on the police's side, but I was so, so wrong. It's perfect. Somehow, it manages to be even darker than the others, with more violence more psychological trauma, which I didn't think was possible at this point. I know I said it already, but this series has so much empathy for its characters, it's amazing, gripping, and powerful.
It doesn't brush of the trauma with a quick, easy happy ending, but truly, deeply explores it's long lasting effects
I cried so many times reading this, sometimes out of happiness or relief, other times because it was just too sad, depressing, and painful
It doesn't brush of the trauma with a quick, easy happy ending, but truly, deeply explores it's long lasting effects
I cried so many times reading this, sometimes out of happiness or relief, other times because it was just too sad, depressing, and painful
December 31, 2024
Mind blowing!!!😍😍😶
Thank you for this tremendously important work!😘 Yes, it is extremely raw and will make you bleed! The detail of damage and in body, mind and soul is beautifully vicious. Life is so bittersweet no matter who you are. Pain and love go hand in hand. I know some disagree. That you can have love...just love. But humans aren't built that way. We also know that these horrors exist. Nikolai has his place in this world and I applaud the authors for giving him so much humanity with his monster!!! We all have a monster lurking within. This series strikes deep and is exceptionally well created and brought to life! Enjoyable with warnings!!!😘
Thank you for this tremendously important work!😘 Yes, it is extremely raw and will make you bleed! The detail of damage and in body, mind and soul is beautifully vicious. Life is so bittersweet no matter who you are. Pain and love go hand in hand. I know some disagree. That you can have love...just love. But humans aren't built that way. We also know that these horrors exist. Nikolai has his place in this world and I applaud the authors for giving him so much humanity with his monster!!! We all have a monster lurking within. This series strikes deep and is exceptionally well created and brought to life! Enjoyable with warnings!!!😘
February 20, 2024
What am I supposed to do without Mat & Doug now...this season was filled with love, family, & healing even though I feel empty with their story being over.
Dougie->Douglas->Doug. He's just Doug now and he's healing, thank God, because he continued to get sketchier before he got better. (poor saintly Mat)
Mat, sweet baby angel, finally gets all the love & support he deserves.
Random Mistress at bar is MVP.
Prepare to cry extensively - for multiple emotions.
Dougie->Douglas->Doug. He's just Doug now and he's healing, thank God, because he continued to get sketchier before he got better. (poor saintly Mat)
Mat, sweet baby angel, finally gets all the love & support he deserves.
Random Mistress at bar is MVP.
Prepare to cry extensively - for multiple emotions.
January 13, 2026
While the story continues to focus on the brothers and their bond throughout fighting back. I was disappointed by the lack of showing the raid and the brief summation of the trial. These things were pushed as big plot points yet barely came up in the end. It's like the story that did not hold any punches in the first three volumes became rather soft in the final volume. It was okay in the end, but like the stronger emotional Rollercoaster it was at the beginning of the brother's story.
May 13, 2020
Intense
This book is not for the faint of heart I had some reserve at first but it just sweeps you in and hold you .. it's a must read ...just find you something happy and lite to read afterwards to balance it out
This book is not for the faint of heart I had some reserve at first but it just sweeps you in and hold you .. it's a must read ...just find you something happy and lite to read afterwards to balance it out
March 21, 2024
This series is incredible and beyond anything I could’ve imagined going in. It made my heart physically ache as I read it and I got so immersed that I repeatedly had to take breaks while reading just to process the depth of the story. Very difficult read but very worth it.
January 1, 2025
Series review. Dark thriller broken neatly into several arcs. At its core, a story of brotherhood and resiliency in the face of immense trauma. Heed the trigger warnings. Hard to rate because of the gratuitous violence and manipulation but well written. Averages out to about four stars.
August 12, 2020
I liked the ending. How Mat and Doug healed, albeit unrealistically, from their captivity. However, this whole series is basically reading about torture porn which is a hard NO for me.
August 13, 2020
Don't go into this expecting an HEA. Or anything even remotely close to a happy moment even. This is a psychosexual thriller/horror and it delivers in stunning fashion.
June 19, 2023
Beautiful, hard-earned, and well-deserved ending for the brothers. Hard series to read but well worth it. “No matter what.”
December 20, 2017
I love books that have dark themes. I wish there were more series like this. I fall into stories that are dark and gritty and show human nature at its best and worst; the Hell that Doug and Mat face, changes both in different ways. The mental abuse is as brutal as the physical. Mat's determination to save himself and his brother is relentless. I know I will be rereading this series and if anyone can recommend something similar, I would be most grateful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2025
I did it! I managed to finish the serie.
I won't lie and say it was a piece of cake. It wasn't an easy read but definitively a good one.
Ok, I could hardly give more than 1 star for the first 12 episodes/books. The reason is that I found it to hard, going on was just boring for me, and I didn't enjoy the first 3 seasons. I have definitevely no TW, I can read anything and everything. I love dark and twisted books. But the first 12 books were just smut and porn, porn and smut, boring, too long, not interesting at all. Just no my drug you know. Plus, I hated the frustration, Doogie giving in in Nikolai's mind games and lies, Mat helpless and powerless to punch the fucker. It was dusgusting. I wanted to puke. Not because of the smut but because of the psychological part. I waited so much for rebellion, for Mat beating Nikolai's ass dead. But I suppose there would't have been a story after that. Great villain dead, MCs victims killed by the staff. End of the story.
Anyway, all that frustration lead to the point I couldn't stop. Because I wanted so badly my fucking HEA-justice. Eager for a payback any kind. So much I wanted DNF after the 1, 2, 4, 5th book — skipped eventually the smut scenes cause I fealt like I had an overdose of boring sex, then a break, long break, chapter 1 break, chapter 2 break, 10 pages just porn: break... — I just couldn't stay hanging like that. So I spoiled myself by looking at readers reviews, just to see if it's worth it. I saw HEA, I saw FBI, I saw cartel down, I decided to go on.
And definitevely it was worth it. Thrilling. Fair.
I loved the serie cause it not ended with a love affair between abuser/victim. I loved it because the authors took time, step by step, to explain how hard the recovery was, how deep the brainwashing destroyed Doogie, I loved that the human traffic cartel was taken down, I loved the last confrontation between Doogie and Nikolai so much, I even liked Roger suicide as the only option for the poor guy.
I have some reserves/regrets.
I'm still frustrated about Nikolai's whereabouts. I would have liked more payback, I would have enjoy to see him suffer, be raw fucked in a jail. Authors left us with doubts and questions. What's with him in Russia after the trials? Does he goes on with his damn business? I loved the great villain as much as I hated him. I found it unfair anyway to let him live freely after all his deeds, or at least not happyly.
I was also frustrated not having details about the assault on the paradise island with the SWAT. I wanted so badly to see Allen's defeat. It would have feel so fucking good to see his defeated face, disgrace. I fealt disappointed to land up directly after that in the hospital with Doggie beeing saved.
Anyway I recommend the serie for readers with no TW at all.
I won't lie and say it was a piece of cake. It wasn't an easy read but definitively a good one.
Ok, I could hardly give more than 1 star for the first 12 episodes/books. The reason is that I found it to hard, going on was just boring for me, and I didn't enjoy the first 3 seasons. I have definitevely no TW, I can read anything and everything. I love dark and twisted books. But the first 12 books were just smut and porn, porn and smut, boring, too long, not interesting at all. Just no my drug you know. Plus, I hated the frustration, Doogie giving in in Nikolai's mind games and lies, Mat helpless and powerless to punch the fucker. It was dusgusting. I wanted to puke. Not because of the smut but because of the psychological part. I waited so much for rebellion, for Mat beating Nikolai's ass dead. But I suppose there would't have been a story after that. Great villain dead, MCs victims killed by the staff. End of the story.
Anyway, all that frustration lead to the point I couldn't stop. Because I wanted so badly my fucking HEA-justice. Eager for a payback any kind. So much I wanted DNF after the 1, 2, 4, 5th book — skipped eventually the smut scenes cause I fealt like I had an overdose of boring sex, then a break, long break, chapter 1 break, chapter 2 break, 10 pages just porn: break... — I just couldn't stay hanging like that. So I spoiled myself by looking at readers reviews, just to see if it's worth it. I saw HEA, I saw FBI, I saw cartel down, I decided to go on.
And definitevely it was worth it. Thrilling. Fair.
I loved the serie cause it not ended with a love affair between abuser/victim. I loved it because the authors took time, step by step, to explain how hard the recovery was, how deep the brainwashing destroyed Doogie, I loved that the human traffic cartel was taken down, I loved the last confrontation between Doogie and Nikolai so much, I even liked Roger suicide as the only option for the poor guy.
I have some reserves/regrets.
I'm still frustrated about Nikolai's whereabouts. I would have liked more payback, I would have enjoy to see him suffer, be raw fucked in a jail. Authors left us with doubts and questions. What's with him in Russia after the trials? Does he goes on with his damn business? I loved the great villain as much as I hated him. I found it unfair anyway to let him live freely after all his deeds, or at least not happyly.
I was also frustrated not having details about the assault on the paradise island with the SWAT. I wanted so badly to see Allen's defeat. It would have feel so fucking good to see his defeated face, disgrace. I fealt disappointed to land up directly after that in the hospital with Doggie beeing saved.
Anyway I recommend the serie for readers with no TW at all.
January 31, 2016
This is what I've been waiting for, right? Rescue of my boys and you know by the description for this book, that they were.
Mat - he has been consistently my favorite of the two brothers. His primal need to protect Dougie always broke my heart. I've always felt that Mat was grounded and knew who he was and even though he had to make nice with the enemy in order to get Dougie back, I never once doubted that he did what he did because of the person that he has always been. Brother. Protector.
I was glad to see that the two boys didn't just snap out of it once they were rescued, that would have been completely unrealistic.
Loved seeing Mat move with the detective.
Dougie - I continue to have mixed feelings for him. In some ways, I think that he's just as manipulative as Nicolai. I really wanted to feel more empathy but nothing about him ever felt real (beyond the first season).
Mat - he has been consistently my favorite of the two brothers. His primal need to protect Dougie always broke my heart. I've always felt that Mat was grounded and knew who he was and even though he had to make nice with the enemy in order to get Dougie back, I never once doubted that he did what he did because of the person that he has always been. Brother. Protector.
I was glad to see that the two boys didn't just snap out of it once they were rescued, that would have been completely unrealistic.
Loved seeing Mat move with the detective.
Dougie - I continue to have mixed feelings for him. In some ways, I think that he's just as manipulative as Nicolai. I really wanted to feel more empathy but nothing about him ever felt real (beyond the first season).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 8, 2020
I hate to admit that I enjoy dark, f*cked up sh!t, but I do. And this whole series is exactly that. It's probably the most f*cked up thing I've ever read, but like a train wreck, I can't look away. However... if you and your heart can withstand the whole thing, the ending is pretty satisfying.
Read
March 20, 2016Unable to rate fairly.
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