They have penned another excellent episode in Loyalties.~ Under the Covers
Just when I think that I can’t be shocked anymore than I already have in reading The Flesh Cartel, Haimowitz and Belleau prove me completely wrong! They have penned another excellent episode in Loyalties, one that leaves me wanting more…and then hating myself for doing so. Because, really, how much of a sadist must I be to keep wanting to read this torturous, albeit amazing, series?
Loyalties picks up immediately where Homecoming had stopped with its huge cliffhanger. Of course, I just knew that the big shocker wouldn’t actually take place, but nonetheless, I devoured this episode to make sure. The scary part of it all, though, is that I was almost sad that it didn’t. Don’t get me wrong – I don’t want anything to happen to my beloved Mat or Dougie, other than to escape and get sweet, sweet revenge. But seeing how that seems nearly impossible at this point, I was almost happy for Mat taking charge in ending the torture he’s lived and endured since his capture. While Mat wasn’t actually physically tortured in this episode, he is still being mentally tortured, both by Nikolai and Roger, as well as by himself. It is heartbreaking to see how his strength continues to be whittled down episode by episode.
And then Dougie, oh my sweet Dougie…I am as tortured and fucked up by Nikolai’s actions as Dougie is. One moment he is being treated decently, and I want to jump for joy, and then the next, he’s being treated worse than awful (and accepting it!), and I want to gouge out Nikolai’s eyes…with a spoon! But Haimowitz and Belleau continue to evolve the characters and their depth, and the plot keeps moving right on along at a good pace. Transformations continue on all levels – for those of the characters and for me as the reader. Dare I say that some of the sex scenes are even titillating to me?? Does that make me an awful human being? Just when I begin to wonder, though, Nikolai shows his true colors, devoid of humanity and decency, and I can rest assured that I’m not too fucked up. Yet.
*Review copy provided by publisher
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[about-author author=”Rachel Haimowitz”]
[about-author author=”Heidi Belleau”]
Thanks for the review Leigh.