The Flesh Cartel #3: Choices by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz

The Flesh Cartel #3: Choices by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz
Riptide Publishing
Short Story: 67pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
The Flesh Cartel returns for a compelling second season with "Choices." Brothers Mat and Dougie Carmichael thought nothing could be worse than being snatched from their home and brutally dehumanized in preparation for sale as sex slaves. But they learn their suffering has only just begun when they’re shipped to their new master’s home.

Professional trainer Nikolai Petrovic is a master of his trade. His ultra-rich clientele pay him to create perfectly tailored playthings, and Mat and Dougie are the latest in a long line of men who have walked into his remote mountain home as terrified victims and left it permanently altered: subdued and obedient, ready and even eager for a life of service.

To achieve this, Nikolai must take a drastically different tack with each brother. Dougie, manipulated with affection and denial. Mat, controlled by pain and fear. The one thread in common for both men is choice. Nikolai prides himself on never forcing, but will Mat and Dougie submit willingly to his vision, or will they first need to learn the price of disobedience?

This title is part of the The Flesh Cartel, Season 2: Fragmentation serial.

Review:
Warning: This review is more rant than review. I cuss a lot, hate on Nikolai, and want him to be killed by gigantic black bears.

Choices picks up right after where episode 2 left us, where Dougie has to get all up in Mat to make sure that they get sold together. I don't even need a refresher, because all the episodes are tattooed to my brain. I might be permanently scarred, and the way I feel about this series is just too hard to place in words. I fucking love it, but then I feel like it’s too much of the same thing (like how much more disgusting can they get short of killing either Dougie or Mat). Let’s just get this out there, I hate everyone in this series that isn't Dougie or Mat, so yeh that goes for two faced ass wipe Nikolai. I don't think he can redeem himself ever, even if he cuts off his balls in penance.

Dougie and Mat have left the facility, Dougie placed in isolation and Mat placed with lunatic guards on something as wholesome as an RV. The trepidation of not knowing what to expect is deep within his gut but at least there is the norm of rape and cum in his face. Just another one of those same shit different day. Downside, he doesn't know where his brother is, and he's feeling both the guilt and the rage. While Dougie is pretty much close to losing his mind, being locked in the dark without water, food, and no other human contact. He struggles with what might be worse the daily tortures or suddenly none. It's a hell on earth for the Carmichael brothers.

Then in comes, saviour Nikolai who I hate more than everyone combined. He's there to train the brothers, and bring them to their full potential, but I only have two words for him: Fuck You. He's doing the double task of good cop, bad cop with his choices/consequences speech and I am calling "bullshit" but I do give him credit that he's an excellent manipulator, but what can I say...when you're on top the only thing left is down. So I see him being a nasty bastard for some time, with his "I'm so excellent at training slaves and I know everything". Your neutral feelings mean squat, just makes you all the more bastard, because at least with facility we knew that they were just disgusting. Nikolai is something else entirely.

Nothing big happened in this one, unless you count Nikolai being in the whole damn episode. It’s clear now that Dougie and Mat will be put through the grinder during training, and they better have their wits with them because ultimate trainer man of consequences is about to bring his A-game. I wanna commit character murder in the worst way.

It’s quite apparent what my feelings are for this serial, but I do love it because its bringing out such strong emotions in me. I fear to think that people can be so cruel, but then you think of the selling of flesh/human trafficking in reality and I know that they can be. What I am really wanting is all these MOFOing bastards to get covered in all natural honey and get dumped in a bear (giant black bears) infested forest *nods head* and they rip them apart from the legs up.

The Flesh Cartel is...sick, genius, terrifying, too much, not enough, and so totally addictive I can't wait to read episode 4 (though douche face is gonna be all up in that one too).

Be afraid, be very afraid!

SideNote: That cover is so awesome it pisses me off, Nikolai looks way too cool in that chair *grrr*

4 Pants Off

Review: Epi #1 Capture

Review: Epi #2 Auction

Review: Flesh Cartel: Auction by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz

The Flesh Cartel: Auction by Heidi Belleau & Rachel Haimowitz
Riptide Publishing
Short Story: 60pgs
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
In episode two of The Flesh Cartel, the dark purpose behind Mat and Dougie Carmichael’s abduction is revealed. Though Dougie is protected from the worst of the guards’ brutality, he’s disgusted to find himself halfway to broken—despairing of escape and terrified of pain. Mat holds onto hope despite repeated rapes and beatings, but threats toward his brother teach him well to lay aside his pride and pick his battles carefully.

Worn down by days of unrelenting fear and abuse, Mat and Dougie are packaged and marketed with the same ruthless efficiency as any consumer product: Dougie the prettyboy twink, Mat the rabid pit bull. They are led to the auction block as the showpiece of the house’s collection.

Mat would rather be beaten to death than play the role of obedient slave for sale, but Dougie, desperate not to be separated from his brother, strikes a deal with the pitiless Madame who runs the auction house and controls both their fates. It might just be enough to keep them together—slaves, but together—assuming Mat even wants to be after Dougie fulfills his end of his deal with the devil.

(Publisher's note: This title contains material some may find objectionable or trigger-inducing, including explicit violence, non-consent, and forced incest.)

Review:
I don't even have the words, no freaking words. The second instalment in this explosive serial is just as gut wrenching, heartbreaking, and brilliant just like the first (probably even more so).

Auction is the continuation of where Captured left us, with Dougie and Mal processed and placed in the facility. There status as a human being completely stripped from them, raped and abused their future seems uncertain. You would think finally being placed the abuse would stop, but each day they are meant to suffer and treated no better than animals. Mal is slowly losing his will to fight back, because what is the point; he still has to listen to them torture and rape his little brother. All he can do is scream his throat raw but it never stops it never ends. Dougie thinks of himself as weak, because he never fights back and takes it like the good little hole they call him. If only he was as strong as his brother, if only....

Seriously, this book was just so heart wrenching and excellently written.  Slowly all is being revealed, and we get a closer look into how this slave facility works and how they pick their targets. Plus, all the mind fuck that goes on there. They are able to utilize the brothers and bend them to their will so they can get the best possible amount of money for them when they go up for auction. Dougie the pretty, obedient one and Mat the ruthless thug built like a fighter. Apart they could probably fetch a decent amount of money, but together "cha ching!"

As much as I love this series, I am having a problem with this slave business. If I were a client on this creepy elusive list I would want nothing from these guys no matter how pretty the merchandise. I don't do used goods, and man do these guys get used. I just don't understand, this clientele is willing to spend so much and yet they don't care that even the guards has been all up in it (unless they do not know).

This brings me to the people who work at the facility. I'm just wondering if they picked them up on the highway to hell. How can people be so abusive (were they already like that or did the perks of the job look so pretty they couldn't resist that downward spiral to bastardry). Like that, Stanford experiment back in 71 where regular guys went bat shit crazy after being given a bit of power. Yes, these guards fascinate me cause of their evilness.

This read was once again an emotional roller-coaster for me. So much brutality that never lets up. Just when I thought there would be a little breather for the boys, shit goes awry and becomes worse. What they have to see done to each other, what they have to do to each other makes cringe. Yet, they still manage to hold on to some semblance of themselves. Auction ends on a high gripping scene that has me anticipating Season 2 (gawww) Psychosexual indeed!

Should You Read It? If you loved the first, then it’s a guarantee you will love this one. Lots of info is slowly unfolding, the characters are interesting, and the story gripping. Heidi & Rachel deliver some excellent writing with nothing spared for those with delicate sensibilities. I am both thrilled and horrified about what will happen next. The reader gets to know Nicholai a bit better and I am anticipating if I am going to like him or completely hate his guts. Awesomely written, explosively tragic, and I just can't get enough.

SideNote- I pray for the day when someone will put an explosive in the Madame's mouth and watch her head explode (oh beautiful day will you ever come true!)

4.5 Pants Off

Review: The Flesh Cartel: #1 Capture

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