But I can say this: M. has this ability to take a prompt and run with it, and end up somewhere complI can't rate this, since I write with M. Caspian.
But I can say this: M. has this ability to take a prompt and run with it, and end up somewhere completely different than I ever expected her to go. And I love that so, so much.
Warning: this is not a fluffy romance.
This is a story where the world burns and, after following Cian's journey, there's a part of you that knows it deserves to.
Not for the faint of heart. This is a story that will punch you in the face and then kick you when you're down. Days after reading it, I'm still bruised.
It's a freebie, so I don't want to rate it badly, because freebies are awesome.
The writing is good, the plot is solid, but I didn't buy into the relaIt's a freebie, so I don't want to rate it badly, because freebies are awesome.
The writing is good, the plot is solid, but I didn't buy into the relationship at all. Not Talya. He was good. Stockholm Syndrome all over the shop for Talya. It was Micah I didn't believe. A-Grade asshole turns into Reformed Do-Gooder all because of the love of a good man? Well, boy.
I'm not sure why I didn't love this more. I mean, I love slave fic, I've written slave fic...and all the components are there. They just didn't quite work for me - YMMV.
I think I would have preferred if Micah had stayed a bastard, because his transformation didn't feel very natural.
One day I'm gonna write some slave fic where it's all good and Stockholmy, and then the slave stabs his master in the eye with a knife. Which is how I think I would have liked this one to end. :) ...more
Huh. Well, how do I review this graphic (and dialogue-free) story?
Okay, I've labelled it both non-con and dub-con, because I'm really not sure. And bHuh. Well, how do I review this graphic (and dialogue-free) story?
Okay, I've labelled it both non-con and dub-con, because I'm really not sure. And because there's no dialogue, I tend to interpret if differently each time I read it.
Story line: whilst hunting, a cute blond caveman stumbles across a bunch of caveman cousins, from a slightly different evolutionary track.
Blond caveman joins them beside the bloody carcass of a...I'm gonna say mammoth, and is then...well, you know, right?
I really liked the pictures here. It starts off nice and sunny, there's even a butterfly, but at the end there's a blood red sky and animals being torn apart. It's a brutal, savage world, and the hunter definitely becomes the prey.
So now we're into the training phase. Stupid me, this is where I thought that Dougie, at least, would begin to find -- well, not comfort exHoly crap.
So now we're into the training phase. Stupid me, this is where I thought that Dougie, at least, would begin to find -- well, not comfort exactly, but maybe an end to terror. And I know that I shouldn't be thinking "Well, when he gets Stockholm Syndrome he'll be happier" but, seriously, at this point it seems like Dougie's best option. This story twists all my logic up and completely fucks me over.
So, yeah, Dougie. I'm screwed up enough that I want for Dougie what Nikolai wants -- I want him to be a happy slave. Except watching Nikolai driving doubt into Dougie's mind -- doubt that Mat can respect him for taking the least line of resistance, doubt that Mat can forgive him for what happened at the auction, doubt that Mat even cares -- is horrible. Necessary, but horrible. A part of me just wants Dougie to give in, to accept what Nikolai is offering, because he's not going to be able to think his way out of this.
(Note to everyone: you probably don't want me beside you in a hostage situation. I don't think I would be very good for morale.)
At least Mat wasn't being tortured as much in this episode, I thought foolishly. Because, hell, that scene when (view spoiler)[Nikolai orders Mat to inject himself with the syringe (hide spoiler)] was intense. And shattering. (view spoiler)["Stab him in the neck, Mat!" I kept shouting at my kindle, but of course that was never an option. (hide spoiler)] For me, this was the episode where I really started to understand Mat better. I understand why he can't stop fighting, why he needs to resist even though he can't possibly win.
And Nikolai? Well, watching him is like watching a high wire act. How the hell is he doing that? How the hell can he keep his balance ? I hate Nikolai, but he is fascinating. On one hand he's a monster, of course he is, but -- if this is a situation the brothers can't escape from, and it sure looks that way -- he's also their only hope of survival. He's showing them the rules to this new life. He's torturing them, but he's also teaching them how to stay alive. Make no mistake, I want Nikolai to end up with a bullet in the head, but at this point he's necessary.
I don't know if this series with have a happy ending. I don't know if that could be in any way possible, or if I even want it. But I can't stop reading now. I'm invested now, and I need to know where this is going.
I hate The Flesh Cartel. I love it. I hate it. I love it. And around and around I go... ...more
This book to me, as it slaps me over the head: "Why are you hitting yourself? Why are you hitting yourself? Why are you hitting yourself?"
Me to the bThis book to me, as it slaps me over the head: "Why are you hitting yourself? Why are you hitting yourself? Why are you hitting yourself?"
Me to the book: "Leave me alooooone!"
I have a total love-hate relationship for this series. The torture and sexual assaults are so gut-wrenching and visceral that it is actually horrible to read. But I can't stop. Maybe I'm like Mat - looking for a fighting chance. Or maybe I'm like Dougie - hoping for a glimmer of kindness. But holy hell, this was another intense ride.
Hey, Rachel and Heidi, I think I see a tiny little bit of hope you left over there. Stomp on it for me, okay? Yep, that's it. You got it.
In this episode, we get a better look at Nikolai. And I almost want to like him, to believe he's not as bad as everyone else who's had Mat and Dougie in their power, but that's not true, is it? A more civilised monster is still a monster. His logic and his intelligence don't make him a better man. Because while he's being almost kind to Dougie (considering the circumstances...which Nikolai could change, of course, if he really wanted), at the same time he's torturing the hell out of Mat. Which is the logical and intelligent thing: the brothers require different training, after all. See? A monster.
And that's the very clever thing about this series. You think they're only fucking with Mat and Dougie's heads? No way. They're fucking with all our heads as well.
I hate it. I love it. I hate it... more, please! ...more
From the moment his captors rip Brennan's teeth out, you know you're not in for your usual "Oh, he kOh, why is this a WIP? I want to read it all now!
From the moment his captors rip Brennan's teeth out, you know you're not in for your usual "Oh, he kidnapped me but he turns out to be really hot and I think I love him" kind of slave fic. And I mean that as a compliment, I promise.
This is raw, visceral, and horrifying.
I also mean that as a compliment.
Brennan's journey is not a nice one. The tiny moments of respite only serve to make the horror more stark.
No Stockholm Syndrome here. No giving in. Every time he sees a chance to escape, Brennan takes it. And every time he fails, his punishments get more vicious. There are real-world consequences here as well. No magic fixes once Brennan's ordeal is over. He's got terrible injuries, a family who doesn't know how to deal with what he's been through any more than he does, and two very scary predators out there who (since this is a WIP) have so far not been found.
I love this. I hate it. I want to read more of it. ...more
Okay, so this isn't really going to be a proper review, because this story is not finished. This instalment of The Flesh Cartel takes us up to the aucOkay, so this isn't really going to be a proper review, because this story is not finished. This instalment of The Flesh Cartel takes us up to the auction, where Mat and Dougie are purchased by Nikolai.
And holy crap -- I need to read the rest! I need to know what happens when Dougie and Mat are trained by Nikolai.
Because at the beginning, you see, Nikolai sees Dougie and thinks he has "...a mouth for reciting poetry with his head in his master's lap. And a mind for it, too" which made me cautiously optimistic for Dougie. Because okay, he would still be a slave, but at least he would be a cherished slave. This is the compromise I am making with my conscience (and probably one Dougie will make as well), but just when I was picking my way through the ethical minefield where there is such a thing as "okay" slavery, Nikolai changed the game again. (view spoiler)[ In the end he writes of Dougie "Put the pretty one into complete isolation. Freeze him. Water only, no food. Have him hear no one, see no one, touch no one until my own men arrive for transport. Make him feel abandoned. Make him feel like the last man on Earth." (hide spoiler)]
I think I have Stockholm Syndrome. I really want to believe that Nikolai is the safest and best option for Dougie. And I want Dougie to feel safe!
And Mat? Shit, at this point I can't even imagine that Mat's going to get anything like a happy ending. (view spoiler)[ "The poor bastard seemed perfect for his client's needs. Nikolai felt sorry for him already--to be denied the gift of culture, or devotion, of joy and peace in service. To be doomed to a life of suffering and misery..." (hide spoiler)]...more
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