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Backdoor Politics
Kamal is a by-the-book mercenary and hitman who keeps to himself, dealing with the brutal politics of the Bosnian underworld. He has very few ties to the world around him since the war that left him broken and betrayed by his lover. An encounter with a fellow mercenary, whose job it is to kidnap the son of the only man Kamal ever loved, leads Kamal to do something irrational.
In an isolated cabin in the mountains of Bosnia with his hostage, Kamal follows the well laid-out plan of his predecessor, but somewhere along the way things get personal. The boy in his care becomes more than just a stand-in for his father, but a job is a job and Kamal is a professional. When questions and tensions begin to mount, Kamal begins to put the pieces together for himself and doesn't like what he finds.
Can Kamal get his revenge and the boy or will he have to settle for one or the other?
(M/M - See publisher's website for content labels.)
210 pages, Paperback
First published November 7, 2017
3 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
About the author
C.L. Mustafic
12 books48 followersCL Mustafic is a born and bred American mid-westerner who mysteriously ended up living in a tiny Eastern European country. Left with too much time on her hands – let’s be honest here it was the lack of television channels in her native language – and too many voices in her head trying to fill the silence, she decided to give her life-long dream of writing a novel a shot. So now between shuttling kids back and forth from various activities, risking her life on the insanely narrow, busy streets of her new home town, she loses herself in her own made up world where love always wins.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
December 17, 2017
**** 4.5 Stars ****
You know when you pick a book and think: let's give it a go with your most tired and condescending sigh, as a result of many attempts of finding a good dark read?
Oh well, that was me.
We have a saying in Portuguese for what happened here:
"Ela saiu com o rabo entre as pernas."
Which means something like feeling ashamed and humiliated. Shame on me!
Backdoor Politics is my first read by this author and I am truly impressed by his ability to keep this real.
A brilliant, wicked, mindfucking read. It was dark, gritty, intense and most importantly, believable.
Besides, it was so immoral and sinfully obscene! Filthy, people, with a BIG age gap.
This is not a romance. Kamal is no hero. In fact, he is bad, very bad.
and insane.
We get to watch a sick but extremely compelling dynamic between a captive and his captor to unfold. Later, that will lead and develop into a bizarre relationship but who am I to judge? They are happy and so am I.
Yep. Sometimes.
There was a moment when I thought why the hell this is happening? this king of sexual torture? it doesn't make sense... and my answer came at 75% . It was the moment I had to bow to the author's Machiavellian imagination, because let me tell you, when everything started to be unraveled, I realized that the whole plot was masterfully done.
"Oh, he loved the first moment of penetration. The feeling of being possessed left him breathless with its meaning. He may not ever know what it felt like to be loved, but he was owned, which he was sure in those moments felt just as good."
You know when you pick a book and think: let's give it a go with your most tired and condescending sigh, as a result of many attempts of finding a good dark read?
Oh well, that was me.
We have a saying in Portuguese for what happened here:
"Ela saiu com o rabo entre as pernas."
Which means something like feeling ashamed and humiliated. Shame on me!
Backdoor Politics is my first read by this author and I am truly impressed by his ability to keep this real.
A brilliant, wicked, mindfucking read. It was dark, gritty, intense and most importantly, believable.
Besides, it was so immoral and sinfully obscene! Filthy, people, with a BIG age gap.
This is not a romance. Kamal is no hero. In fact, he is bad, very bad.
and insane.We get to watch a sick but extremely compelling dynamic between a captive and his captor to unfold. Later, that will lead and develop into a bizarre relationship but who am I to judge? They are happy and so am I.
Yep. Sometimes.
There was a moment when I thought why the hell this is happening? this king of sexual torture? it doesn't make sense... and my answer came at 75% . It was the moment I had to bow to the author's Machiavellian imagination, because let me tell you, when everything started to be unraveled, I realized that the whole plot was masterfully done.
"Oh, he loved the first moment of penetration. The feeling of being possessed left him breathless with its meaning. He may not ever know what it felt like to be loved, but he was owned, which he was sure in those moments felt just as good."
December 2, 2017
1.5 rounded up to 2 because I may not have enjoyed the story, but it was at least well written.
Well I wanted to read something edgy and dark, and this book delivered way more. It started off pretty strong then went downhill.
Kamal is a seriously messed up, heartless character. I think he is the worst anti-hero I have ever read about. I wouldn’t have shed one tear if he ended up dying in the end.
Zijad is Kamal’s victim. That’s all I can see him as. We don’t get his pov until the epilogue, and even at that point, I still see him as nothing more than a victim.
This book was not only disturbing, but so damn boring at times because of the endless Kamal monologues. None of which expressed remorse or any level of humanity.
Yes, I’m pissed off because I actually expected some level of romance. I kept waiting on Kamal to show his human side. Aside from the abuse, the only emotion he expressed towards Zijad was possessiveness, but that didn’t stop him from raping other people.
I wanted dark and got pitch black.
Well I wanted to read something edgy and dark, and this book delivered way more. It started off pretty strong then went downhill.
Kamal is a seriously messed up, heartless character. I think he is the worst anti-hero I have ever read about. I wouldn’t have shed one tear if he ended up dying in the end.
Zijad is Kamal’s victim. That’s all I can see him as. We don’t get his pov until the epilogue, and even at that point, I still see him as nothing more than a victim.
This book was not only disturbing, but so damn boring at times because of the endless Kamal monologues. None of which expressed remorse or any level of humanity.
Yes, I’m pissed off because I actually expected some level of romance. I kept waiting on Kamal to show his human side. Aside from the abuse, the only emotion he expressed towards Zijad was possessiveness, but that didn’t stop him from raping other people.
I wanted dark and got pitch black.
September 11, 2018
I love a novel that completely wraps me up and then lingers so I can’t get it out of my mind. With a dark and disturbing story line and characters who could be your next-door neighbors, C.L. Mustafic’s Backdoor Politics is spine-tinglingly perfect. This one’s a must read for any fan of dark erotica!
Backdoor Politics has an incredible plot which unfolds gradually and is structured to build our anticipation. There were so many ways the story could go that I truly had no idea what would happen next or how it would end. The suspense is wonderful.
When the contract to capture and torture his ex-lover’s twenty-two year old son falls into his lap, Kamal doesn’t debate what he’ll do for a moment. This is his story, and C.L. Mustafic brings us inside the mind of one of the most deliciously monstrous characters I can imagine.
While the traumatic experiences of his life have influenced him, deep down in his core Kamal is still human. Yes he has suffered incredible physical and mental trauma, but that’s just the stuff that happened to him. Kamal doesn’t see anything wrong or odd about his actions.
This is truly my favorite character in literature, the dark protagonist who makes no excuses and doesn’t seem to second guess himself. In the depths of his own mind Kamal weighs his choices and ponders his decisions, but he accepts the status quo.
As he calmly washes his face and brushes his teeth the morning he begins the torture, Kamal contemplates having his ex-lover’s son in this position. Torn between fond memories of the boy’s father and the depth of his betrayal Kamal considers this to be, “Either the greatest or worst thing he’d had happen to him.” Kamal’s ambivalence is chilling and Mustafic doesn’t miss a chance to show us the depths of his crazy.
As the flashback scenes gradually explain the relationships between the characters, Mustafic really gets into Kamal’s mind. She delves deeply into his thought process and shows how close to the surface his emotions are. It was disturbing for me to see how normal he could seem.
Backdoor Politics is a dark and frightening tale and C.L. Mustafic doesn’t pull any punches, either with the characters or the plot. The pacing is perfect, wrapping me up in Kamal’s sadistic mind and building the suspense to the highest level. I’m going to warn you the descriptions of the torture Kamal inflicts are grisly but if you are a fan of dark erotica, then you’ll enjoy this as much as I did!
Backdoor Politics has an incredible plot which unfolds gradually and is structured to build our anticipation. There were so many ways the story could go that I truly had no idea what would happen next or how it would end. The suspense is wonderful.
When the contract to capture and torture his ex-lover’s twenty-two year old son falls into his lap, Kamal doesn’t debate what he’ll do for a moment. This is his story, and C.L. Mustafic brings us inside the mind of one of the most deliciously monstrous characters I can imagine.
While the traumatic experiences of his life have influenced him, deep down in his core Kamal is still human. Yes he has suffered incredible physical and mental trauma, but that’s just the stuff that happened to him. Kamal doesn’t see anything wrong or odd about his actions.
This is truly my favorite character in literature, the dark protagonist who makes no excuses and doesn’t seem to second guess himself. In the depths of his own mind Kamal weighs his choices and ponders his decisions, but he accepts the status quo.
As he calmly washes his face and brushes his teeth the morning he begins the torture, Kamal contemplates having his ex-lover’s son in this position. Torn between fond memories of the boy’s father and the depth of his betrayal Kamal considers this to be, “Either the greatest or worst thing he’d had happen to him.” Kamal’s ambivalence is chilling and Mustafic doesn’t miss a chance to show us the depths of his crazy.
As the flashback scenes gradually explain the relationships between the characters, Mustafic really gets into Kamal’s mind. She delves deeply into his thought process and shows how close to the surface his emotions are. It was disturbing for me to see how normal he could seem.
Backdoor Politics is a dark and frightening tale and C.L. Mustafic doesn’t pull any punches, either with the characters or the plot. The pacing is perfect, wrapping me up in Kamal’s sadistic mind and building the suspense to the highest level. I’m going to warn you the descriptions of the torture Kamal inflicts are grisly but if you are a fan of dark erotica, then you’ll enjoy this as much as I did!
November 19, 2018
4,5 stars
Quite VERY DARK!! But it was better than I expected.
It was extremely well written AND surprised me big time!
Loved it! It kept me on the edge 🙈🙈🙈
I've read it in one sitting. Lately that doesn't happen much. But this one was that good. It was really hard to read some parts, some scenes are horrific, but I just needed a good ending. And I think I got it. The author kept Kamal's cold blooded attitude until the end. But I hate it when a character changes overnight.
One thing bothered me: Kamal used too many Serbian words. Sometimes full sentences. At least I think it was Serbian. But without any translation it just left me wondering what he meant.
It was extremely well written AND surprised me big time!
Loved it! It kept me on the edge 🙈🙈🙈
I've read it in one sitting. Lately that doesn't happen much. But this one was that good. It was really hard to read some parts, some scenes are horrific, but I just needed a good ending. And I think I got it. The author kept Kamal's cold blooded attitude until the end. But I hate it when a character changes overnight.
One thing bothered me: Kamal used too many Serbian words. Sometimes full sentences. At least I think it was Serbian. But without any translation it just left me wondering what he meant.
September 17, 2017
4.5 Stars rounded up
Pfft. Fuck. Okay. Well... there's this book I just finished.
I feel like I've just been released from something so utterly jarring and frightening. It hit some major hard limits for me on more than one occasion.
I'll gather my thoughts and review it properly shortly, but when I look at my Kindle notes I keep seeing the words dysfunction or dysfunctional throughout.
Backdoor Politics is nothing if not methodical and calculated and very, very fucked up - which equals Kamal. Power and politics mesh with someone so broken, so psychopathic, to get what it wants. Kamal helps those that are more adept with the veneer they show to polite society and have the money to pay for dirty deeds. Dirty people with money paying to remove whoever gets in their way. It doesn't matter who that someone is. And there are always innocents that pay the price. Sometimes a job is done not because of money but because of a brutal past that completely broke you but won't let you forget, that tricks you into feeling something that is complex.
There is a deeply twisted relationship at the very core of this book. Kamal and Zijad. It's hard to explain but I'll give it a go on the blog later.
Do not go into this book thinking-
It's a bit of rough BDSM or kink.
It's an assassin romance book.
Do not even think love. It is a relationship, and it takes all types, but it's nowhere in the ballpark of love.
Think... well... think dysfunction. And death and kidnapping and humiliation and rape.
Just so I'm clear on how I feel - it is a well written and atmospheric book, full of tension and suspense and psychological terror. You certainly experience every moment of the book. It is ballsy. While not the same, I'd say this book would be in the wheelhouse of readers who like books like Better the Devil You Know - but this is a longer reading experience - and The Flesh Cartel #1: Capture series. Maybe Fog: A Novel of Desire and Retribution.
Just know there are a few powerful and need to be heeded trigger warnings. I'll list them on the review on the blog, but I'm certain ForbiddenFiction have their own tags and warnings.
Pfft. Fuck. Okay. Well... there's this book I just finished.
I feel like I've just been released from something so utterly jarring and frightening. It hit some major hard limits for me on more than one occasion.
I'll gather my thoughts and review it properly shortly, but when I look at my Kindle notes I keep seeing the words dysfunction or dysfunctional throughout.
Backdoor Politics is nothing if not methodical and calculated and very, very fucked up - which equals Kamal. Power and politics mesh with someone so broken, so psychopathic, to get what it wants. Kamal helps those that are more adept with the veneer they show to polite society and have the money to pay for dirty deeds. Dirty people with money paying to remove whoever gets in their way. It doesn't matter who that someone is. And there are always innocents that pay the price. Sometimes a job is done not because of money but because of a brutal past that completely broke you but won't let you forget, that tricks you into feeling something that is complex.
There is a deeply twisted relationship at the very core of this book. Kamal and Zijad. It's hard to explain but I'll give it a go on the blog later.
Do not go into this book thinking-
It's a bit of rough BDSM or kink.
It's an assassin romance book.
Do not even think love. It is a relationship, and it takes all types, but it's nowhere in the ballpark of love.
Think... well... think dysfunction. And death and kidnapping and humiliation and rape.
Just so I'm clear on how I feel - it is a well written and atmospheric book, full of tension and suspense and psychological terror. You certainly experience every moment of the book. It is ballsy. While not the same, I'd say this book would be in the wheelhouse of readers who like books like Better the Devil You Know - but this is a longer reading experience - and The Flesh Cartel #1: Capture series. Maybe Fog: A Novel of Desire and Retribution.
Just know there are a few powerful and need to be heeded trigger warnings. I'll list them on the review on the blog, but I'm certain ForbiddenFiction have their own tags and warnings.
November 7, 2017
Wow, this is a difficult review to write. This is one dark, violent story. Which, of course, lured me right in. 🙂 This story takes place in or around Bosnia, much of the background going back to a time when the country was in war-torn turmoil. Kamal grew up during that time, barely surviving, and that’s before he is betrayed in the worst way by his lover and best friend Orhan. Now, he is a highly paid, successful deadly mercenary.
When his MAWB (Mercenary Acquaintance With Benefits) calls for a hookup, he learns of the job to acquire, torture and who knows what else to Orhan’s son, Zijad, a boy Kamal once thought of as his own. There is a lot of backstory to Kamal’s (and Orhan) relationship with Orhan, but he simply cannot allow someone else to handle this task. He doesn’t hesitate to change the playing field and take the job over himself.
Once he has Zijad, he doesn’t have a come to Jesus moment and suddenly care about the boy. No, he carries on with the explicitly detailed orders of torture even instituting a few of his own. But, you can see his resolve crumbling just a little bit as his interactions with Zijad take place and Zijad’s reactions are not quite what Kamal was expecting.
There are a lot of twists and turns outside of the actual kidnapping. The whos and whys behind what this was supposed to accomplish come to light, and all is not what it seemed initially. In the end, Kamal is left having to re-establish his position as mercenary to show he is the one holding the cards. One thing he becomes certain of is that he wants what belongs to him, and that is now Zijad. With little love lost between father and son, Zijad makes a choice – opting for a life where he is wanted, and cared for, even if not loved.
One thing that I kept wishing for through this story was some translation of the foreign phrases/dialog. I enjoy how having the foreign words helps set the scene, but I also want to know what they are actually saying just as much. But, as for the rest, while it was difficult to stomach at times, especially with the feeling that this couldn’t end in anything but a major case of Stockholm Syndrome, I was turning pages quickly to get to the end of this engaging suspenseful story. If you love a well-written dark (and sometimes violent) story that will keep you on the edge of your seat, be sure to give this one a try. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author in the future!
Review written forLove Bytes Reviews .
November 8, 2017
Backdoor Politics by C.L. Mustafic is a beautifully wicked story that I never wanted to end! The story is focused around hitman and problem solver, Kamal, who takes jobs for people in need of situational fixes and guaranteed winning. His latest job, he comes upon, causes him to cut ties with a close friend and make snap decisions about whether he can face his past or not. With multiple forces at play, Kamal is never really sure he knows who he fighting for or who he is battling against. Things go south really fast ehen during the job of a lifetime he starts to find himself desiring his captive. What will he do if he has to pull the trigger on the man he is quickly finding out, fits him perfectly. Would his captive ever be able to return Kamal's desire and needs?
This is a wickedly twisted story! If you enjoy dark, gritty, amorale stories then this one is for you! Please check out the story page at ForbiddenFiction prior to purchasing ~ this will give you details and content warnings so you can enjoy the story!
4.5 stars / 5 Flames / 5 Wicked Sins
Review Copy of Backdoor Politics provided by ForbiddenFiction for an honest Review.
December 18, 2017
Phew - I’m not sure how to review this ... it was all kinds of fucked up, dark, gritty and did I mention dark ? I wasn’t quite expecting the harshness of this book when I read it, especially when coming off a glut of sugar sweet Xmas books - this took me back into the darker corners of depravity. Well written, completely consuming and had me thinking, “ surely there is a moment of light ?” This is a classic Stockholm Syndrome story with a hell of a lot of humiliation/ brutality involved. Tread lightly if you’d prefer warmth or sweetness- you won’t find it here. If you appreciate the darker side of life, give this a crack !
March 12, 2025
*****ARC GIVEN FOR HONEST REVIEW*****
*****10+ stars*****
Now....How to review this book.......
Here goes......
Let's start with Kamal....He is a complex character...Your going to hate him and in a way your going to love him too........He is an assassin...He is not a nice man but there's something there that will draw you to him....Something that will make you want to love him although you really hate him....He is brutal....He is uncaring but also he cares in his own way.....A way that not many people could cope with........
Zijad is a young man who goes through hell in this book.....He is kidnapped...abused....raped.....beaten....held in the dark...no sound....no nothing......You will love Zijad but what he goes through will rip you apart.......
This book shouldn't be taken lightly but let me tell you why you should read it....If your looking for romance you won't find it in this but if your looking for a dark dark read then open it...sit back and enjoy....Don't feel bad for loving this because that's why I did...I loved this book....I don't know what it says about me but I love my dark reads....Think Jack L Pyke meets Kol Anderson (and if you haven't read those two then go on...run along and buy Don't and Broken..You can thank me later ;) ).....This author I swear is Jack L Pykes Twin.....I know we all love our romance but life just doesn't give us what we all want......
This is the first book I've read based in Bosnia....So I have to mention this.....I've read a few books with words from other countries i......Greek...Italian...There will be words that will probably confuse you...Thank god for Google..This didn't distract from the story...I'd like to think I have a bit more knowledge on certain words and countries now...The only problem I had was pronouncing Zijad's name...but another quick visit to Google sorted that....This book isn't for the light hearted...It will rip you apart...You will want to hug Zijad and probably want to throttle Kamal...a lot......I'm not giving anything away but there is parts that will have you cringing..there are also parts that will have you wanting to hug Zijad tight and maybe even holding Kamal tight...Yes he did go through a bad time too.....In all you really need to read this.....Take it all in and when you get to that ending...decide whether Kamal really is as bad as he seems x
I want to thank Jack L Pyke for thinking about me when this author was looking for ARC reviewers...I love her books and am always on the look out for new dark authors...and this author hooked me from the very first chapter....I wish her luck with this book and any others after x
*****10+ stars*****
Now....How to review this book.......
Here goes......
Let's start with Kamal....He is a complex character...Your going to hate him and in a way your going to love him too........He is an assassin...He is not a nice man but there's something there that will draw you to him....Something that will make you want to love him although you really hate him....He is brutal....He is uncaring but also he cares in his own way.....A way that not many people could cope with........
Zijad is a young man who goes through hell in this book.....He is kidnapped...abused....raped.....beaten....held in the dark...no sound....no nothing......You will love Zijad but what he goes through will rip you apart.......
This book shouldn't be taken lightly but let me tell you why you should read it....If your looking for romance you won't find it in this but if your looking for a dark dark read then open it...sit back and enjoy....Don't feel bad for loving this because that's why I did...I loved this book....I don't know what it says about me but I love my dark reads....Think Jack L Pyke meets Kol Anderson (and if you haven't read those two then go on...run along and buy Don't and Broken..You can thank me later ;) ).....This author I swear is Jack L Pykes Twin.....I know we all love our romance but life just doesn't give us what we all want......
This is the first book I've read based in Bosnia....So I have to mention this.....I've read a few books with words from other countries i......Greek...Italian...There will be words that will probably confuse you...Thank god for Google..This didn't distract from the story...I'd like to think I have a bit more knowledge on certain words and countries now...The only problem I had was pronouncing Zijad's name...but another quick visit to Google sorted that....This book isn't for the light hearted...It will rip you apart...You will want to hug Zijad and probably want to throttle Kamal...a lot......I'm not giving anything away but there is parts that will have you cringing..there are also parts that will have you wanting to hug Zijad tight and maybe even holding Kamal tight...Yes he did go through a bad time too.....In all you really need to read this.....Take it all in and when you get to that ending...decide whether Kamal really is as bad as he seems x
I want to thank Jack L Pyke for thinking about me when this author was looking for ARC reviewers...I love her books and am always on the look out for new dark authors...and this author hooked me from the very first chapter....I wish her luck with this book and any others after x
November 20, 2017
★★★★☆ ~ 4 Stars
Dark and twisted and not a love story, a relationship, yes, but not love. This is on my DMC shelf which is short for Depraved Minds Club. You can check this shelf to see if other books on this shelf would be your cup of tea and if you still go for it, you've been warned. Letting my shelves
Kamal is a survivor of the Bosnian war and he was the scars, both physically and mentally, and is a sociopath assassin for the local mobster. When a job comes up to kidnap his former lover's son, who is now a politician, he does whatever he has to do to make that happen.
What happens next changes both his and his victim's life.
Dark and twisted and not a love story, a relationship, yes, but not love. This is on my DMC shelf which is short for Depraved Minds Club. You can check this shelf to see if other books on this shelf would be your cup of tea and if you still go for it, you've been warned. Letting my shelves
Kamal is a survivor of the Bosnian war and he was the scars, both physically and mentally, and is a sociopath assassin for the local mobster. When a job comes up to kidnap his former lover's son, who is now a politician, he does whatever he has to do to make that happen.
What happens next changes both his and his victim's life.
December 19, 2017
Unapologetic, Disturbing & Dark - I finished this days ago but cannot figure out how to properly review this one. Please read Jan’s review it’s perfect or many others.
What got me was this was narrated from a broken man raised through wartime, it’s so disturbing this book made think and me want to know more and the reality is most disturbing
What got me was this was narrated from a broken man raised through wartime, it’s so disturbing this book made think and me want to know more and the reality is most disturbing
November 24, 2017
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.25 stars
Backdoor Politics is dark, gritty, and contains scenes of torture, rape, and murder, which may be a trigger for some readers. This was an uncomfortable story to read and C.L. Mustafic does not shy away from her use of detail — even when I wished she would. An example of this is following Kamal’s cold-blooded murder of his lover and fellow hired gun when he dismembers the body to dispose of it. Mustafic’s description made me want to turn my head away, hoping that when I looked back, it would be over, but I think it’s more important that Kamal’s ruthlessness and immorality are revealed. As much as I detested the many acts which Kamal commits, I found I could not hate him in the way I thought I should. There are times during which he has Zijad in captivity that even he questions the plan of depravity, but this does not stop him.
The only breaks that Mustafic allows her reader are when Kamal’s memories overcome him — but these are not always good. In choosing to set her stories in Bosnia, Mustafic cannot ignore that her adult characters would have grown up in a war zone, experiencing horrors that many of her readers will not be able to comprehend. Kamal’s memories remind us that at a young age he was starving, watching people from his own village die daily, and witnessing stuff of nightmares. Matched with losing the man he loved, I think this is the main reason why I could not hate Kamal. I hoped for some redemption from him though — but I whether this comes or not, I won’t say.
Backdoor Politics is written in third-person, but focused on Kamal, apart from the epilogue. As much as I enjoy first-person narration, Mustafic’s choice of writing style worked for me because it means that the story is driven by actions rather than emotions. As readers, we do not want to connect with a character like Kamal and as Mustafic comments in her author’s note, “the story’s focus would have changed had I switched point of view to include (Zijad’s) experiences.” I also think that to have given us Zijad’s reactions would have made Backdoor Politics even more traumatic; the information we already have enough to know that this young man is in pain, humiliated, and confused.
Read Kirsty’s review in its entirety here.
4.25 stars
Backdoor Politics is dark, gritty, and contains scenes of torture, rape, and murder, which may be a trigger for some readers. This was an uncomfortable story to read and C.L. Mustafic does not shy away from her use of detail — even when I wished she would. An example of this is following Kamal’s cold-blooded murder of his lover and fellow hired gun when he dismembers the body to dispose of it. Mustafic’s description made me want to turn my head away, hoping that when I looked back, it would be over, but I think it’s more important that Kamal’s ruthlessness and immorality are revealed. As much as I detested the many acts which Kamal commits, I found I could not hate him in the way I thought I should. There are times during which he has Zijad in captivity that even he questions the plan of depravity, but this does not stop him.
The only breaks that Mustafic allows her reader are when Kamal’s memories overcome him — but these are not always good. In choosing to set her stories in Bosnia, Mustafic cannot ignore that her adult characters would have grown up in a war zone, experiencing horrors that many of her readers will not be able to comprehend. Kamal’s memories remind us that at a young age he was starving, watching people from his own village die daily, and witnessing stuff of nightmares. Matched with losing the man he loved, I think this is the main reason why I could not hate Kamal. I hoped for some redemption from him though — but I whether this comes or not, I won’t say.
Backdoor Politics is written in third-person, but focused on Kamal, apart from the epilogue. As much as I enjoy first-person narration, Mustafic’s choice of writing style worked for me because it means that the story is driven by actions rather than emotions. As readers, we do not want to connect with a character like Kamal and as Mustafic comments in her author’s note, “the story’s focus would have changed had I switched point of view to include (Zijad’s) experiences.” I also think that to have given us Zijad’s reactions would have made Backdoor Politics even more traumatic; the information we already have enough to know that this young man is in pain, humiliated, and confused.
Read Kirsty’s review in its entirety here.
October 1, 2017
Note: I received an ARC for free in exchange for an honest review.
I loved this book! However, be forewarned. This is a very, very dark read. It has many triggers (rape, violence, murder, physical abuse and maiming), so definitely not for everyone. But if you’re tired of cookie-cutter, sappy m/m romances with predictable HEA endings, this might be for you.
I'm pretty picky about my dark m/m stories. I definitely love erotica, but like romance, it can also become boring without a good plot/sex balance. When I find myself wishing a sex scene would be over with so that the plot can move along, it's not a good sign. This book has a great balance between plot and sex. And I want a plot where the sex enhances it or is part of it. The sex in this – wow, super hot and really kinky! More than once I found myself having to take a break from reading.
The cover is fantastic and goes well with the plot, although I can't say that I cared for the title. I don't dislike it - I'm just not sure it captures the spirit of the story. If the summary is not read first, a reader may think the story has to do with American politics, which it doesn’t. Not at all.
The main character, Kamal is an assassin/mercenary, dealing mostly with the Bosnian underworld. He’s cold and uncaring, which makes him one of the best in his line of work. Through a series of events, he ends up part of a kidnap plot of a young man, Zijad, who is the son of an old lover - a lover who once betrayed Kamal.
The story is told through Kamal’s point-of-view, which worked very well as we get to see first-hand how damaged he is. Kamal is not a likable person, and there will be readers who probably can’t get through the opening scene and will quit the book. I love the darker, more evil, types of characters, though, because they are the ones who are the most complex. It was no different for me concerning Kamal. I wanted to see how he was going to handle the treatment of Zijad, and to know what was Zihad’s father’s betrayal. Flashbacks to the past allowed tidbits of Kamal’s history to come to light, and by the end of the story, the author had effectively led us into forming an emotional connection to Kamal. I wanted him to triumph.
You’ll have to read the book to find out if he does. If you love dark stories, you won’t be disappointed.
I loved this book! However, be forewarned. This is a very, very dark read. It has many triggers (rape, violence, murder, physical abuse and maiming), so definitely not for everyone. But if you’re tired of cookie-cutter, sappy m/m romances with predictable HEA endings, this might be for you.
I'm pretty picky about my dark m/m stories. I definitely love erotica, but like romance, it can also become boring without a good plot/sex balance. When I find myself wishing a sex scene would be over with so that the plot can move along, it's not a good sign. This book has a great balance between plot and sex. And I want a plot where the sex enhances it or is part of it. The sex in this – wow, super hot and really kinky! More than once I found myself having to take a break from reading.
The cover is fantastic and goes well with the plot, although I can't say that I cared for the title. I don't dislike it - I'm just not sure it captures the spirit of the story. If the summary is not read first, a reader may think the story has to do with American politics, which it doesn’t. Not at all.
The main character, Kamal is an assassin/mercenary, dealing mostly with the Bosnian underworld. He’s cold and uncaring, which makes him one of the best in his line of work. Through a series of events, he ends up part of a kidnap plot of a young man, Zijad, who is the son of an old lover - a lover who once betrayed Kamal.
The story is told through Kamal’s point-of-view, which worked very well as we get to see first-hand how damaged he is. Kamal is not a likable person, and there will be readers who probably can’t get through the opening scene and will quit the book. I love the darker, more evil, types of characters, though, because they are the ones who are the most complex. It was no different for me concerning Kamal. I wanted to see how he was going to handle the treatment of Zijad, and to know what was Zihad’s father’s betrayal. Flashbacks to the past allowed tidbits of Kamal’s history to come to light, and by the end of the story, the author had effectively led us into forming an emotional connection to Kamal. I wanted him to triumph.
You’ll have to read the book to find out if he does. If you love dark stories, you won’t be disappointed.
June 12, 2019
Holy hell that was an awesome dark read. I need to collect myself before I write my review.
First there are major triggers in this one, and they are on page not off. Kidnapping, rape, abuse and murder. Kamal is a cold hearted assassin and we find out how he came to be this way. He was betrayed by the only man he ever loved at the end of the war and that closed his heart off. We do see him with a lover, Julien, who is also a fellow assassin, and that ends well satisfying on several fronts. While with him he finds out that Julien’s next assignment is the son of Kamal’s former love and decides that he is going to be the one to take the boy not Julien. How he dispatches Julian is pretty brutal. Thus the story actually surrounds the time that Kamal breaks down Zijad and basically turns him into a sub, though I don’t think he really registers that he is a dominant and Zijad is a submissive, and how he goes about doing it was at times hard to read but I couldn’t put it down. The ending was perfect, but I would have liked to see them several years down the road to see how they are doing. I also think at the end, Kamal loved Zijad, as well as he could.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
First there are major triggers in this one, and they are on page not off. Kidnapping, rape, abuse and murder. Kamal is a cold hearted assassin and we find out how he came to be this way. He was betrayed by the only man he ever loved at the end of the war and that closed his heart off. We do see him with a lover, Julien, who is also a fellow assassin, and that ends well satisfying on several fronts. While with him he finds out that Julien’s next assignment is the son of Kamal’s former love and decides that he is going to be the one to take the boy not Julien. How he dispatches Julian is pretty brutal. Thus the story actually surrounds the time that Kamal breaks down Zijad and basically turns him into a sub, though I don’t think he really registers that he is a dominant and Zijad is a submissive, and how he goes about doing it was at times hard to read but I couldn’t put it down. The ending was perfect, but I would have liked to see them several years down the road to see how they are doing. I also think at the end, Kamal loved Zijad, as well as he could.
ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
December 21, 2017
Very dark and very enjoyable!
November 8, 2017
Wow! I'm not sure where to start, but I absolutely loved this book! If you're not a fan of dark stories, then I would definitely pass on this one. I think the only book I've read this dark is Better the Devil You Know, which I also loved. I think Kamal is one of the worst human beings I have ever read about. I tried to find one redeeming quality about him, but he was still a fascinating character to read. If you enjoy dark stories without romance, this is the book for you.
An ARC was generously provided, by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
An ARC was generously provided, by the author, in exchange for an honest review.
March 16, 2019
The writing was good, but I can't give this a good rating. Just too much torture porn
October 20, 2017
I was so intrigued by this book. I love dark theme books and this was just what I was looking for. It had some low moments but overall I really loved it.
Kamal wasn't a likable MC, which was very interesting to me, he didn't make me like the book any bit less because I didn't liked him. I find it hard to believe anyone will like him, but he is a very intriguing character and it was great getting to know him. Zijad, on the other hand, was a lovely character. I loved him from the start. Every reaction and every emotion coming from him felt very realistic, it wasn't difficult to care for him. The psychological elements used on him were really interesting.
I struggle a little when the book started because it was at such slow pace that I got a little bored, but I keep reading and it got so much better, although considering how slow it was at the beginning, it felt a little rushed at the end, but it was very exciting and I liked it. The plot was great, there are some amazing twist that I definitely didn't see coming. I really don't like books about politics, and this one has some important political influence, at least the part we don't often get to see, the darkest part of it, but it wasn't something I couldn't deal with. It made me wonder how much of such events could be true.
There are some flashback of Kamal's life that help to understand him a little better, but it didn't help me to care for him. It did helped to understand his attitude towards some people, but not to feel any empathy for him. I think his emotions, mostly, remain a mystery and I liked it that way. I’d read very few books like this, where I loved the book even if I didn’t liked the main character.
The relationship between Kamal and Zijad is hard to explain. I ended up caring for them and want them together, but it was hard for me to get there. We only get to see Kamal’s point of view for most of the book and I do think the story was better told that way, but I kept wonder what was Zijad thinking at some points.
What I liked the most about the book were the first moments of Zijad on it. It was great not knowing what to expect. I couldn’t even guess what the actual plan was or how far Kamal would go, who he will be loyal to. It was a really great book. I had a great time reading, but I love dark theme books and I generally love the villains on them. Even though I think anyone who like dark themes would like it, I think the book lacks some important warnings, so before reading it beware this book content non-con, dub-con, graphic violence, abduction among others elements that could be triggering and might not be suitable for any reader.
Kamal wasn't a likable MC, which was very interesting to me, he didn't make me like the book any bit less because I didn't liked him. I find it hard to believe anyone will like him, but he is a very intriguing character and it was great getting to know him. Zijad, on the other hand, was a lovely character. I loved him from the start. Every reaction and every emotion coming from him felt very realistic, it wasn't difficult to care for him. The psychological elements used on him were really interesting.
I struggle a little when the book started because it was at such slow pace that I got a little bored, but I keep reading and it got so much better, although considering how slow it was at the beginning, it felt a little rushed at the end, but it was very exciting and I liked it. The plot was great, there are some amazing twist that I definitely didn't see coming. I really don't like books about politics, and this one has some important political influence, at least the part we don't often get to see, the darkest part of it, but it wasn't something I couldn't deal with. It made me wonder how much of such events could be true.
There are some flashback of Kamal's life that help to understand him a little better, but it didn't help me to care for him. It did helped to understand his attitude towards some people, but not to feel any empathy for him. I think his emotions, mostly, remain a mystery and I liked it that way. I’d read very few books like this, where I loved the book even if I didn’t liked the main character.
The relationship between Kamal and Zijad is hard to explain. I ended up caring for them and want them together, but it was hard for me to get there. We only get to see Kamal’s point of view for most of the book and I do think the story was better told that way, but I kept wonder what was Zijad thinking at some points.
What I liked the most about the book were the first moments of Zijad on it. It was great not knowing what to expect. I couldn’t even guess what the actual plan was or how far Kamal would go, who he will be loyal to. It was a really great book. I had a great time reading, but I love dark theme books and I generally love the villains on them. Even though I think anyone who like dark themes would like it, I think the book lacks some important warnings, so before reading it beware this book content non-con, dub-con, graphic violence, abduction among others elements that could be triggering and might not be suitable for any reader.
November 24, 2017
I think I've read this novel before in Adult fan-fiction years ago, the blurb is so much similar along with the names, and I was hunted by it, cos the way story has been written and it was my first story that has so much Violence and hurting to another person, but I'll, no, WANTED to read it again and wanted to go back to those time when I wanted to hurt Kamal and Orhan (Zijad's father) to hurting sweet and innocent Zijad who was being punished for the deeds that his father did, not him and I read it.
but as the story progress I started to understand Kamal's emotions too, even though he has kidnapped Zijad, tortured him, raped him, manipulate him, but he has helped and recovered him too that was very great part of the story.
The best scene were Kamal's interaction with baby Zijad, at that time he treat him as his own son and give him chocolates and another one was when Kamal went to Orhan's house and there he saw how Orhan (Zijad's father) treat his son (Orhan's ignorance to his son's medicine hurt me, how can a father treat his own son like that when the son needed his father the most) I think this was when Kamal made up his mind to be with Zijad and flee with him. and Revenge Part was hard to read...I wish I could read Orhan's thoughts too 'bout when Kamal wanted his son the way Kamal once has wanted him.
The end was much better from what i thought, because Zijad needed the control in his life that Kamal give him, both loves each other that was satisfying.
This author decided to published the story which was very GOOD decision, Such Story needed to be published.
but as the story progress I started to understand Kamal's emotions too, even though he has kidnapped Zijad, tortured him, raped him, manipulate him, but he has helped and recovered him too that was very great part of the story.
The best scene were Kamal's interaction with baby Zijad, at that time he treat him as his own son and give him chocolates and another one was when Kamal went to Orhan's house and there he saw how Orhan (Zijad's father) treat his son (Orhan's ignorance to his son's medicine hurt me, how can a father treat his own son like that when the son needed his father the most) I think this was when Kamal made up his mind to be with Zijad and flee with him. and Revenge Part was hard to read...I wish I could read Orhan's thoughts too 'bout when Kamal wanted his son the way Kamal once has wanted him.
The end was much better from what i thought, because Zijad needed the control in his life that Kamal give him, both loves each other that was satisfying.
This author decided to published the story which was very GOOD decision, Such Story needed to be published.
November 8, 2017
Backdoor Politics by C.L. Mustafic
4 stars
M/M Dark BDSM
Triggers: Rape, Kidnapping, Torture, Murder, Psychological torture, war zone murders
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Do Not ignore the triggers. This book is VERY dark and not for someone who might occasionally like a dark romance. I didn't think this was a romance at all, despite the premise.
A cold blooded killer with an occasional lover, a horrible betrayal in his past and a new job that will bring everything together. Kamal doesn't really have a heart. He has skills and uses those skills to obtain wealth or favor.
There is a lot going on in this story, but the majority of it is Kamal and Zijad (Mali) and the psychological torture that Kamal puts Zijad through. At first, I wasn't sure if it was to get back at the person who betrayed him - Zijad's father. But I think in the end, it was the only way that Kamal knew how to love - brutally and with a lot of rules.
Zijad is subjected to torture, rape, beatings and ultimately, a release back to his family. However, you also were given a glimpse at how he viewed himself - he knew that his father hated him and that he was a disappointment to him.
Overall, this was a story about love, but a very non-traditional kind of love. It was almost a Stockholm syndrome situation, but both captor and victim came under each others' powers.
4 stars
M/M Dark BDSM
Triggers: Rape, Kidnapping, Torture, Murder, Psychological torture, war zone murders
I was given this book for an honest review by Wicked Reads.
Do Not ignore the triggers. This book is VERY dark and not for someone who might occasionally like a dark romance. I didn't think this was a romance at all, despite the premise.
A cold blooded killer with an occasional lover, a horrible betrayal in his past and a new job that will bring everything together. Kamal doesn't really have a heart. He has skills and uses those skills to obtain wealth or favor.
There is a lot going on in this story, but the majority of it is Kamal and Zijad (Mali) and the psychological torture that Kamal puts Zijad through. At first, I wasn't sure if it was to get back at the person who betrayed him - Zijad's father. But I think in the end, it was the only way that Kamal knew how to love - brutally and with a lot of rules.
Zijad is subjected to torture, rape, beatings and ultimately, a release back to his family. However, you also were given a glimpse at how he viewed himself - he knew that his father hated him and that he was a disappointment to him.
Overall, this was a story about love, but a very non-traditional kind of love. It was almost a Stockholm syndrome situation, but both captor and victim came under each others' powers.
April 18, 2018
Kamal is a dangerous and very dark man for hire. He does as his client wishes, be it torture, rape, or murder, and he does it without question. His darkness was born of war and genocide, and it has shaped who he has become. Nothing stops him from getting the job done, nothing will stand in his way. When he gets wind of a job involving the son of his former lover he decides to take the job, even though it doesn't belong to him. Zijad is the son of a political leader who happens to have betrayed the assassin known as Kamal. Will Kamal take out his hatred on the son, or will he come to understand that Zijad is not his father?
This book is DARK, very very dark. Part of it is set during the Srebrenica massacre, and some of the accounts of things that happened are based on real accounts of it. This book is not for the faint of heart. It does a very good job of showing the darkness war can breed in a person, and takes you on a journey through the mind of a killer.
This book is DARK, very very dark. Part of it is set during the Srebrenica massacre, and some of the accounts of things that happened are based on real accounts of it. This book is not for the faint of heart. It does a very good job of showing the darkness war can breed in a person, and takes you on a journey through the mind of a killer.
September 28, 2020
I don’t know why this book hadn’t shown up sooner in my search of dark and grittier MM books. But it was exactly what I needed after reading a lot of enjoyable fluff.
When I read the blurb, I didn’t expect that Kamal would be such a sick motherfucker (like literally :0), but he definitely was. And even though I was shocked reading some of the atrocities, I still couldn’t and didn’t want to stop reading this book. I loved it!
And I’m not going to try and explain why, because Jan’s review explains everything better than I would ever possibly can.
When I read the blurb, I didn’t expect that Kamal would be such a sick motherfucker (like literally :0), but he definitely was. And even though I was shocked reading some of the atrocities, I still couldn’t and didn’t want to stop reading this book. I loved it!
And I’m not going to try and explain why, because Jan’s review explains everything better than I would ever possibly can.
July 14, 2018
NO. Just no. This book is clearly not for me. DNF at 10% and I'm certainly not gonna waste my time reading the rest of the book. Maybe i'll check out something else by this author sometime in the future...
January 20, 2018
I think this is an "it's not you it's me" situation. I like dark, edgy reads, mind games, some violence, so it's not my issue here. I think I just expected something else....for sure it was HEA for Kamal, even for Zijad, just not for me.
November 25, 2017
3.5 stars!
August 2, 2019
BEWARE. THIS BOOK IS NOT ROMANCE. NO ROMANCE WHATSOEVER. ZIJAD IS A VICTIM OF KAMAL FROM BEGINNING TO END.
Holy shit, this was dark. I wasn’t expecting it to be so dark since usually writers water down their hitmans/contract killers to weak characters at the end. Oh noo. This one started dark, got darker and ended dark as fuck.
A “healthy” dose of Stockholm syndrome, sexual, mental, physical abuse, extreme manipulation, humiliation, brainwashing. Think of a trigger, it’s probably here. The hitman rapes and tortures (and enjoys immensely) other people and the other MC, kills humans and animals alike and has 0% remorse. He is deranged and he gives no fucks. Whatever he needs to do to complete a contract or exact revenge, he will do. You know how some hitmen would never harm woman and children? Well this one took that rule and shoved it up his ass. (There are no children being murdered, except for a teenager, but the hitman does extremely traumatic things in front of them that will scare and scar a child for life. He pinches a baby girl so the girl would cry and he shots the mother of a toddler in front of them surely scaring that child forever).
The only reason I am not giving this 5 stars is because some scenes really disgusted me too much and I dint know they were coming (like mentions and handling of piss, excrement, vomit and there is one scene when they mention a character, not a main one, sexually abusing a pregnant woman to the point that she gives birth prematurely and the main character, the hitman, having sex with a guy, killing him by suffocation while having sex and continuing to have sex with him for a few seconds after he is dead because he enjoyed the dead spasms. The hitman also stomps and kills a dog and the writer explains the scene with details). I am telling you, this shit was dark but those scenes I dint see coming and they had me shook. Also I will never understand how a victim can come to enjoy and crave their abusers touch but I guess I’ve never been a victim of abuse so I wouldn’t know.
Holy shit, this was dark. I wasn’t expecting it to be so dark since usually writers water down their hitmans/contract killers to weak characters at the end. Oh noo. This one started dark, got darker and ended dark as fuck.
A “healthy” dose of Stockholm syndrome, sexual, mental, physical abuse, extreme manipulation, humiliation, brainwashing. Think of a trigger, it’s probably here. The hitman rapes and tortures (and enjoys immensely) other people and the other MC, kills humans and animals alike and has 0% remorse. He is deranged and he gives no fucks. Whatever he needs to do to complete a contract or exact revenge, he will do. You know how some hitmen would never harm woman and children? Well this one took that rule and shoved it up his ass. (There are no children being murdered, except for a teenager, but the hitman does extremely traumatic things in front of them that will scare and scar a child for life. He pinches a baby girl so the girl would cry and he shots the mother of a toddler in front of them surely scaring that child forever).
The only reason I am not giving this 5 stars is because some scenes really disgusted me too much and I dint know they were coming (like mentions and handling of piss, excrement, vomit and there is one scene when they mention a character, not a main one, sexually abusing a pregnant woman to the point that she gives birth prematurely and the main character, the hitman, having sex with a guy, killing him by suffocation while having sex and continuing to have sex with him for a few seconds after he is dead because he enjoyed the dead spasms. The hitman also stomps and kills a dog and the writer explains the scene with details). I am telling you, this shit was dark but those scenes I dint see coming and they had me shook. Also I will never understand how a victim can come to enjoy and crave their abusers touch but I guess I’ve never been a victim of abuse so I wouldn’t know.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2022
DNF at 55%
I know this is going to be an unusual criticism, but this didn’t feel twisted enough for me. It’s absolutely dark and detailed about its violence, but I think the fact that our narrator is dispassionate about the whole thing makes it not sexy or interesting. It’s somehow more sadist’s day at the office than really leaning into the humiliation/degradation that make those acts transgressive. Sad that this didn’t work for me.
I know this is going to be an unusual criticism, but this didn’t feel twisted enough for me. It’s absolutely dark and detailed about its violence, but I think the fact that our narrator is dispassionate about the whole thing makes it not sexy or interesting. It’s somehow more sadist’s day at the office than really leaning into the humiliation/degradation that make those acts transgressive. Sad that this didn’t work for me.
May 9, 2020
I really looked forward to that one. But I might have reached my limit darkness wise, especially for the many innocents and how graphic and detailed. Also the boy came around more than a bit quick, while the father was... less than realistic.
December 12, 2021
3,5 Stars.
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