Review: The Flesh Cartel #1: Capture by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz

The Flesh Cartel #1: Captured by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haomowitz
Riptide Publishing
Short Story: 70pgs
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
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.)

Review:
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 and can make too much of it.

4.5 Pants Off