Consequences (The Flesh Cartel #4) in Riptide Publishing

Aug 18, 2013 Debra ~~ seriously slacking on her reviews ~~ rated it really liked it

Shelves: part-of-series-or-serial, m-m, short-or-novella, bdsm, dark-and-disturbing

In this episode Nikolai ratchets up the mental manipulation of the brothers as the physical abuse continues.

Realizing that the loyalty shared by Dougie and Mat is the one thing that Nikolai needs to break in both of them, he begins planting the seeds of doubt in their minds, trying to play one against the other. Dougie knows what is going on thanks to his background in psychology and is scrambling for a way to keep himself from breaking, yet his fear of pain keeps him submitting. He is also not ...more

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Nov 08, 2012 BookAddict ✒ La Crimson Femme rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, bdsm, rape, sadistic, arc, requested-reviewed

Poor Nikolai, what is he to do? Two very different slaves and with opposite training needs. Will this be the undoing of Nikolai's exemplary record of perfectly trained sex slaves? *scoffs* Who cares about Nikolai? This story while evenly divided between Dougie and Mat, the one who moves me more is Mat.

The way Nikolai pokes at Mat both physical and psychological is devastating. It's clear, Nikolai sees the problem too. It may be, the one he's going to make the money on will end up a broken toy. H ...more

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Feb 01, 2013 Leigh rated it really liked it

Review also posted at Under the Covers Book Blog,

Well, here we are with episode #4 of the Flesh Cartel, the psychosexual serial, and this episode, CONSEQUENCES, truly enveloped the “psychosexual” aspect of the series. In the previous episodes, we have seen so many dark aspects of human trafficking at play – kidnapping, rape, torture, brutality, and mind games. But I think this episode truly embraced the mind games part so very, very well.

In this episode, Mat and Dougie are still at Nikolai’s hou Review also posted at Under the Covers Book Blog,

Well, here we are with episode #4 of the Flesh Cartel, the psychosexual serial, and this episode, CONSEQUENCES, truly enveloped the “psychosexual” aspect of the series. In the previous episodes, we have seen so many dark aspects of human trafficking at play – kidnapping, rape, torture, brutality, and mind games. But I think this episode truly embraced the mind games part so very, very well.

In this episode, Mat and Dougie are still at Nikolai’s house, as he has begun training them for his clients. In the previous episode, Nikolai begins to “teach” them that they have choices (ha!), but that their choices also have consequences. We see a little bit of Mat in this episode, and he continues to be head strong, fighting still for both his pride and for Dougie. After the tortuous consequences he received in CHOICES, though, he seems better inclined to make the “right” choice, but his mouth still gets him in trouble.

Nikolai is very focused on Dougie in this episode. He wants to teach him that if he submits appropriately, he can be rewarded greatly. But right now, this reward only appears as in the form of great sexual pleasure. While Nikolai believes that the rewards of submitting appropriately are so much more than that, I just cannot agree. And as much as it is comforting (for lack of a better word) to see Dougie receive pleasure for the first time in a long time, it is equally horrific, for he is still being raped, just not with the brutality as before. And of course, he is at such odds with it all since he loathes what it happening to him, but is still able to experience tremendous physical pleasure. It is a mind game – a mind fuck, if you will – of such epic proportions, and my heart just continues to break for him. I almost don’t know what it worse – the brutality he received in earlier episodes, or the fucked up “caring” he is receiving now. It truly is a toss up. Yet, I find myself rooting for him to make the “right” decision so that he doesn’t have to suffer the seemingly worst consequences for making the “wrong” choice. *sigh* Yes, it is a mind fuck for Mat, Dougie, and the reader as well. Kudos to Haimowitz and Belleau for being so damn good at their craft!

Another part of this episode that is bothersome is watching Nikolai repeatedly use words to break Dougie down, and not just with threats. But twisting events of his life in such a way that maybe one day, with enough repetition, and enough positive consequences delivered by his own hand, that Dougie just might start to believe him. And of course, it is all self-serving lies, and while Dougie as a psych major understands this, there will come a point I think, that he will start to doubt himself and believe Nikolai instead. Nikolai really gets to the heart of it (in his mind) with this quote:

“We are all creatures of our circumstances, Douglas. When those circumstances change, so too must we. Or be crushed by them. Don’t you want to be happy, Douglas? Don’t you want to live free of pain, free of fear?”

So, as I said at the outset, this episode truly plays on the psychosexual aspect of this series so very much. Eerily so – to the point where I feel like I really do have my own mind game going on. With each release, I loathe to read more of the abuse that Dougie and Mat have to endure, yet I am so engrained and fixated on the series and these characters, that I devour each episode the moment I get my hot little hands on it, and can’t wait until the next one. Haimowitz and Belleau clearly know their stuff if they can keep drawing in the reader for more torture. But like Mat and Dougie, I continue to have hope. Nikolai, though, has this to say about that:

“Hope,” Nikolai told him. “You hope for things. Hope is a fool’s game. Hope will only break your heart.”

Yet, I will continue to keep my hope alive, for the boys, and for me as a reader, because if I lose all my hope, then what’s the point, right?

Next episode up is called WINS AND LOSSES. Bring it!!

*ARC provided by publisher ...more

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Feb 24, 2013 Wyvernbride rated it it was amazing

I wish I would have never started this series. It’s so far out of my comfort zone I can not even describe it. For this fourth episode I really had to bring myself to read it.
The writing is truly exceptional and absolutely brilliant. Of course I want to know how all this will end.
It’s a horrible story, really. Above all the general idea to “make” slaves makes me sick. Then the pain and suffering of Doug and Mat … no words for that.
And Nikolai. I can’t even think about him. I don’t care much. I’m ...more

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Aug 25, 2022 Kerry rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, e-book-own, series, short-story, dubcon-noncon, kobo

Nikolai is an expert manipulator, knowing just how to play each brother even though they are so different. Both Mat and Dougie are still fighting their situation, but I think they're each getting closer to capitulating. ...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Shirley Frances rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2013, mm-read, mm-series, reviewed

Well, this was a mind blowing read and not only in the sense you're thinking of.

We find Dougie and Matt right where we left them off on The Flesh Cartel #3: Choices . Dougie trying his best to be compliant so as not keep being beaten and Nikolai treating him as a favorite pet and Mat suffering physically while Nikolai tries to break him to his will while keeping his fighting spirit intact.

As soon as the story began, the endless mind games were launched. This time around I was not tapping the Well, this was a mind blowing read and not only in the sense you're thinking of.

We find Dougie and Matt right where we left them off on The Flesh Cartel #3: Choices . Dougie trying his best to be compliant so as not keep being beaten and Nikolai treating him as a favorite pet and Mat suffering physically while Nikolai tries to break him to his will while keeping his fighting spirit intact.

As soon as the story began, the endless mind games were launched. This time around I was not tapping the hell out of my tablet in fury or expectation. Nope. I was taking my time analyzing, questioning, wondering what was wrong with me. I was carefully tapping to get to the next page to see if what I was thinking was correct or not. You see, in the previous episodes I've loathed Nikolai, but somewhere along the line I've come to admire him in a how-fucked-up-are-you-to-do-this? kind of way. I have to him credit, his mind is as brilliant as it is fucked up. He went directly to the heart of the boys without mercy and it fucking worked.

Once again Haimowitz and Belleau drew me into the story, but this time I was not only a spectator, I was a participant. Their writing affected just as much as if I were going through the mental onslaught along with Mat and Dougie. Like them I was kept in a constant state of doubt. Waiting for the other shoe to drop. Questioning my resolve and those of the boys, because like them I wanted the pain to go away for my boys. I wanted them to get some rest without having to look over their shoulder. To breathe without it inflicting any pain. I didn't want Mat and Dougie to suffer any more than what they had already endured.

On the other hand, deep inside I wanted them to be strong. To keep their bond intact and their loyalty in the fore front. I faltered, just like them. I felt their pain, hesitations, fears and frustrations. I understood why they each felt the way they did and why the confessed the things they did. Nikolai played them like a harp. Coaxing, going round and round until they fell in the trap, engaging them, correcting them, rewarding them and punishing them. It was a ruthless cycle of mental torment more than anything physical, but it was agonizing, repulsive, subtle, sly. Brilliant!

Rachel Haimowitz and Heidi Belleau have delivered another great episode to the Flesh Cartel serial. Engaging from beginning to end, emotions aplenty and twists and turns that mess with your mind. In other words, an excellent read! I can't wait for the next episode. And how screwed up am I for that?
...more

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Oct 29, 2012 Evaine rated it it was amazing

Shelves: e-books, m-m, psycho-sexual-thriller

Another fascinating installment in the Flesh Cartel series. :) This episode was heavy on the mind and light on the horrifying violence of previous episodes. The way Nikolai gets into the minds of Mat and Dougie is gripping, but what's this? Do we see Nikolai cracking just a little bit? Doubting his abilities? Ah, he is human after all. :)

"Consequences" is the title of this episode and indeed, that is what it is all about. Both of the brothers learn lessons, learn limitations and definitely lear ...more

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Dec 11, 2012 Marie33 rated it really liked it

Again we witness mat and dougies struggles for sanity. Mat, poor mat, so close to breaking and with the love for his brother the only thing keeping him going. Dougie, unsure and confused, obviously, but more accepting in a way. Its hard to work out who has it worse, physical or emotional torture, I'm not sure. I keep hoping that there will be a hea in the future, maybe the fbi will burst in and rescue them???? Who knows but at this point I doubt it. ...more

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Jan 27, 2013 Lilli *slowest reader ever* rated it really liked it

Shelves: m-m, contemporary, slavery, dark-and-devastating, nothing-romantic-at-all, scary-shit, violent-and-disturbing, abuse, kill-them-all

This was a very good installment. Not sure about some details. We'll see.

Still, let me sum this episode up with Mat's words:

"You suck. Um, sir."

And this didn't even hurt. ...more

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Feb 11, 2013 DayDreamer added it

Shelves: lgbtqa, arrogant-mofo, short-m-m, reviewed-or-kinda, proofs-for-my-masochism, pain, absofuckinglutely-nuts, made-me-rage, slavery, made-me-sick

Why do I keep reading this?

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