Crescendo by Rachel Haimowitz

4 Stars

Song of the Fallen - Book 2

I've had this in my TBR pile forever it seems and I wonder why? I loved the first book - Counterpoint - a lot, but for some reason I never got around to reading this one. I shouldn't have waited so long. Why? First off, because I enjoyed it, but secondly, because it follows right on the heels of the first novel (they could really be two halves of a whole epic brick of a fantasy novel) and I had forgotten many of the little bits and bobs of the plot that would have been nice to remember reading this one.

As I said, I enjoyed this one a lot. An epic fantasy, elves, dark creatures, big battles, intimate fights, slaves and magic songs, at the heart of it is the love story between Freyrik and Ayden, man and elf. I liked that the love story, while being very very important, didn't overshadow the plot of the book, but was like one half of the whole.

I did get the feeling, however, that near the end, the author just wanted to be finished with the story. It felt a little rushed. I would have liked more of Rik with the elves and how that bridge got built. I'd have liked to see it instead of just being told about it. I would also like to have seen more of some of the secondary characters, especially the some of the elves that we only really get to meet near the end of the book. And I would also have like more depth to the solving of the problem of the 'dark elves'.

But, I did like it a lot. :)

The Flesh Cartel - Permanent Record by Heidi Belleau and Rachel Haimowitz

4.5 STARS

The Flesh Cartel - Episode 11

I really enjoyed this installment of The Flesh Cartel. We got more into both Mat's and Dougie's thought processes about where they're at now. It's more Mat's story this time around, I think. About how he feels about Dougie's (seeming to him) betrayal, about Roger and about all his thoughts, fears and resignation for the future. There's also some time in Dougie's head and I find it totally fascinating to see where the boy is now as compared to his arrival at Nicolai's, for instance. I also think it was a very wise move on the part of the authors to remind us that Dougie is young. 24, I think? And we learn more about what will be expected of him by his new owner, Allen.

As well, we are introduced to Nate, the detective and his partner Louise. He's had a crush on Mat for a long while and he finds the disappearance of the brothers to be... unsettling. :)

I dread the next installment. It's not going to be easy to read, I don't think. But that's part of why I love this serial. It's tough, it makes you want to turn away, it's fascinating in it's horror and it continues to break my heart.

The Flesh Cartel - False Gods by Rachel Haimowitz and Heidi Belleau

5 STARS

The Flesh Cartel - Book 10

This series continues to shock the hell out of me. In a good, horrifying way. 

This installment brought back the terror, edge-of-my-seat, WTF'edness of the first 'episode'. 

Dougie... oh, Dougie... no... it's Douglas now. I'm awful, I want him to stay with Nikolas. And Mat... oh poor Mat... I fear for him. Bigtime. I cannot believe how invested I am in this series. It's horrifyingly raw and gritty and I cannot turn my eyes away. Heidi and Rachel... amazing authors.

The Flesh Cartel - Trials and Errors by Rachel Haimowitz and Heidi Belleau

5 STARS

The Flesh Cartel - Book 9

Intense, intense, intense! I LOVED this look inside the minds of Dougie and Mat, seeing how they've changed and how they've not changed. 

I'm not certain what to think of Nikolai in all this, what his total plan is. All things point to the final episode in this season as being one helluva doozy. And is it so wrong of me to want Dougie to go back to Nikolai if indeed he's even left? Maybe the man's mind games have worked their magic on me! 

Exceptional writing in this episode, intriguing insight and I can't wait for the next one!

The Flesh Cartel - Loyalities by Rachel Haimowitz and Heidi Belleau

4 STARS

The Flesh Cartel - Book 8

Well first off, I think readers might be losing sight of what this series is. It's NOT romance, it's NOT erotica, it's a mind-fucking psycho-sexual story. For either - never mind both - Mat and Dougie to emerge from this as anything approaching who they were at the beginning would be a fairy tale of the most huge proportions. 

That being said, the most interesting thing about this installment was the step into the starring limelight that our quiet right-hand man, Roger, takes. VERY intersting. Jeremy the cook, as well, had some interesting tidbits to add to the picture. Nikolai... what will he do next. Mat... Dougie... what will their next decisions be and will THEY be making them or having them made for them. 

Fascinating... utterly fascinating.

The Flesh Cartel - Brotherhood by Heidi Belleau and Rachel Haimowitz

5 STARS

The Flesh Cartel - Episode 6

I forgot to rate this when I finished it! Oops!

Again, another disturbingly stellar installment of The Flesh Cartel. Horrifying at times, disturbing, deep, heartbreaking. I'm so addicted. :)

Counterpoint by Rachel Haimowitz

4 STARS

Song of the Fallen - Book 1

I love it when two of my favorite genres, fantasy and romance come together successfully. (Especially written by an author I've come to really enjoy.) 

In Counterpoint, that's exactly what happens. 

I had a few nitpicks - I wasn't quite clear how Ella was able to get by so easily, I had a tough time getting a visual in my head for both Ayden and Freyrik (probably more my fault than the author's), and I found myself wondering a lot about Kona. But, all this is small potatoes, really. :)

The elf and the human falling in love, we see it a lot in fantasy. When it's done badly, it's BAD, when it's well done, it's the story of Ayden and Rik. The emotions take their time to develop, they're questioned and studied by the characters involved and in the end, you believe it because it seemed so damned natural. 

Another thing that was so well done was the epic battle scene. It flowed, it was detailed, you could hear and smell the battle. The author obviously did her homework because it worked perfectly!

My only real complaint is the cliffhanger at the end. I knew this was the first of a series, but the ending totally caught me off guard. I'm not a huge fan of the dum-dum-duuuum endings, preferring a resolution to the current storyline with the hint, the suspicion, the feeling that something else is coming. Your mileage may vary. :)

Anyway, I loved it and am looking forward to reading Crescendo, book 2 of the series. If fantasy and romance turns your crank, I can highly recommend Counterpoint.

The Flesh Cartel - Wins and Losses by Heidi Belleau and Rachel Haimowitz

5 STARS

The Flesh Cartel - Episode 5

This installment of The Flesh Cartel packs as heavy an emotional punch as the first of the series did for me. Just when you think there might be a bit of a let up in what Mat and Dougie are forced to experience and endure, WHAM, Heidi and Rachel gut-punch you. 

This is some seriously well-written stuff, my friends. I had thought the brothers' world small and shrunken before, but in this volume, it shrinks and tightens around them even more. The hurt, the pain, the dashing of a sudden small glimmer of hope; I choked up more than once, I have to admit. 

What it takes to write this series must be incredibly draining, I would think. Rewarding too, because they make it work. 

And I don't know if I'm supposed to hate Nikolai, but I don't, so maybe all his tactics and mind-fucking are working on me! Next installment due at the end of the month. I will be waiting.

The Flesh Cartel - Consequences by Heidi Belleau and Rachel Haimowitz

5 STARS

The Flesh Cartel - Episode 4

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 learn who holds their existence in his hands. Heidi and Rachel are masterful writers in their crafting of Nikolai, at least in my estimation because now I'm pulling for HIM! Another wonderful episode and now it's down to the business of waiting another month for Episode #5. *grumble* Is it March yet?

The Flesh Cartel - Choices by Rachel Haimowitz and Heidi Belleau

5 STARS

The Flesh Cartel - Episode 3

And it continues. Episode 3 kept up everything that was great about episodes 1 & 2. We finally get to really meet Nikolai Petrovic and watch the man go to work. It's horrifyingly fascinating.

Mat and Dougie continue to break my heart but I can't help feeling that they are in a better place with Nikolai than they ever were back at the processing centre. At least, at first look, it's not as inhumanely brutal. I may be in for a rude awakening at some point, though. *LOL* 

If you have the wherewithal to tackle this series, I highly recommend it. The writing is wonderful, Heidi and Rachel are totally on their game. And while the premise might be out there, the looks we get into the minds of our main characters are utterly fascinating. And real, I think. And now I must wait with impatience for the next installment. February 4th... it's not THAT far away! *LOL*

The Flesh Cartel - Capture by Rachel Haimowitz and Heidi Belleau

5 STARS

The Flesh Cartel - Episode 1

I'm giving this 5 stars because it's SO outside my comfort zone and I couldn't put it down. I think it's probably the most hardcore thing I have ever read - if you're going to read it, HEED THE WARNINGS!

It was released for pre-order download last night at midnight, so I downloaded before heading off to bed. It's violent, it's intense and it's so dark and painful; but I could not put it down. 18K+ words, so not a really long read - it's part one of a serial - I figured I'd read the first chapter before turning out the lights and read the rest today, but I COULD NOT put it down! 

It scares me that I enjoyed it so much. Maybe the distance between me reading in my bed and the brothers being kidnapped and subjected to violence and degradation rendered it safe for me? I don't know. 

But what I do know is that the authors do a spectacular job of writing. I think that's what made this so good to read, getting me past the initial reticence I would have for such violent, triggering fare. A friend of mine wrote a fanfic once that went to many of the dark places that Rachel and Heidi are taking us and I had the same reaction I loved it and I hated that I loved it. *LOL* This is what a good writer will do, I think. Get past those boundary walls you have set up and open your eyes to something different. I am eagerly awaiting the second episode in this serial. Eagerly.

Sublime - Collected Shorts by Rachel Haimowitz

4 STARS

Continuing the tales of Nicky and Devon as they explore many, many aspects of a D/s relationship. In these assorted short stories, there's something for everyone. I think my favourite was "Milk Run". Devon is a lovely, devious, mischievous Dom, especially when his Nicky steps out of line. :) There's a sweetness to Devon and Nicky that I just love and they are just perfect for each other. Loved it!

Master Class by Rachel Haimowitz

4 STARS

Master Class Series - Book 1

Now this, my children, is BDSM, unlike that shady shit. The author certainly knows her stuff. My personal taste would have been to have more insight into the characters of Nicky and Devon outside of their Dom and sub roles, but what the author has done actually works for me in the context of the hard-to-please Dom finding his perfectly-matched sub. 

I found myself reading the book not as a novel, but as a series of short stories, scenes if you will, working their way up to the moments that Nicky actually submits completely. 

The humiliation was a bit much for me and I do have a total squick with faceslapping, but there was enough warning in the summary of the book to not be a problem for me. 

What I loved a lot, were the looks into Devon's thoughts during the last scene; the reasons why he was doing what he was doing to Nicky. This is NOT BDSM-Lite by any means. So yes, I will be picking up the second book of this series and definitely add Rachel Haimowitz to my preferred authors list.