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Gods and Slaves #1
Dominion
"Blood, lusts, and passion fuel the gods."
In a world controlled by the Celestial Gods of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water, the life of a slave is inconsequential. A relationship between the god and human, outside of instant gratification, is strictly forbidden. To the gods, all humans exist to serve them, but only those who have influence over the masses have been spared a certain degradation of servitude as long as they carry out the wishes of the gods.
When Mateo is captured by bandits and taken into slavery. He has no idea what his future holds, but he knows it can't be good. He is from the badlands, places so far removed from the gods’ temples, that they are practically barren. The people of the celestial cities look upon them as blasphemers, and less than human. He is poor, he has no influence, no education, and no skills that he could use to elevate himself to a status deserving of the gods' mercy. So, when he's sold off to a Ludus to be trained as a gladiator if he survives the Trial of Fate, his curse and his hope for salvation become unified. Either in life of death, he will pay tribute to the gods and respect their Dominion.
Eloy is the powerful and merciless God of Fire and like the flames he controls, his temper and desires run just as hot bordering on insatiable. When he sets his eyes on Mateo for the first time, he becomes intrigued. Watching the human fight so bravely, ignited his passion in an intensity that can only be matched by his lust for blood and entertainment. Being a god with millions of humans worshiping him, he’s used to getting exactly what he wants and right now, he wants Mateo.
WARNING: This novella series is not for sensitive eyes, as it is brutal, dark, raunchy, and in your face with its lewd, crude, and rude attitude. I'm talking no-holds-barred bloody battles and dirty, wet, messy sex with hot, animalistic men who have no inhibitions. They take what they want when they want it, and they don’t have to be nice about it. This series is intended for very mature readers who are looking for something out of this world to read.
In a world controlled by the Celestial Gods of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water, the life of a slave is inconsequential. A relationship between the god and human, outside of instant gratification, is strictly forbidden. To the gods, all humans exist to serve them, but only those who have influence over the masses have been spared a certain degradation of servitude as long as they carry out the wishes of the gods.
When Mateo is captured by bandits and taken into slavery. He has no idea what his future holds, but he knows it can't be good. He is from the badlands, places so far removed from the gods’ temples, that they are practically barren. The people of the celestial cities look upon them as blasphemers, and less than human. He is poor, he has no influence, no education, and no skills that he could use to elevate himself to a status deserving of the gods' mercy. So, when he's sold off to a Ludus to be trained as a gladiator if he survives the Trial of Fate, his curse and his hope for salvation become unified. Either in life of death, he will pay tribute to the gods and respect their Dominion.
Eloy is the powerful and merciless God of Fire and like the flames he controls, his temper and desires run just as hot bordering on insatiable. When he sets his eyes on Mateo for the first time, he becomes intrigued. Watching the human fight so bravely, ignited his passion in an intensity that can only be matched by his lust for blood and entertainment. Being a god with millions of humans worshiping him, he’s used to getting exactly what he wants and right now, he wants Mateo.
WARNING: This novella series is not for sensitive eyes, as it is brutal, dark, raunchy, and in your face with its lewd, crude, and rude attitude. I'm talking no-holds-barred bloody battles and dirty, wet, messy sex with hot, animalistic men who have no inhibitions. They take what they want when they want it, and they don’t have to be nice about it. This series is intended for very mature readers who are looking for something out of this world to read.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 23, 2017
About the author
Nicholas Bella
85 books1,044 followersI'm the author of deliciously dark, sexy, and thrilling MM fiction. I've written paranormal, erotic urban fantasy, dark romance, and contemporary stories with characters who are rude, sassy, charming, arrogant, and hotter than sinners in hell. They tell me what they want and I just follow orders.
When I'm not hunched over my keyboard typing away, I love to watch movies and TV shows (even have my own review blog!) I'm a bad influence on readers because I corrupt them with salacious tales of possessive men staking their claims on people who make their blood rise in certain places. I know...I should be ashamed, but I'm shameless. I'm a public menace that can't be stopped.
Check out my literary wares to find your next addiction.
Join my VIPs if you're the type who enjoys spoiling yourself with exclusive content and rewards.
I love interacting with my readers, so hit me up and follow me on my Social Media.
When I'm not hunched over my keyboard typing away, I love to watch movies and TV shows (even have my own review blog!) I'm a bad influence on readers because I corrupt them with salacious tales of possessive men staking their claims on people who make their blood rise in certain places. I know...I should be ashamed, but I'm shameless. I'm a public menace that can't be stopped.
Check out my literary wares to find your next addiction.
Join my VIPs if you're the type who enjoys spoiling yourself with exclusive content and rewards.
I love interacting with my readers, so hit me up and follow me on my Social Media.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
July 27, 2018
This is not exactly a romance, well, at least, this first book isn’t. This is about how Mateo’s life was upended when he was captured by the bandits from his home of badlands and being sold into slavery and being debased from as a human. Not for the faint of heart, this novella is full of non-con, dub-con and atrocious human debasing acts. God Eloy truly intrigued me although he plays a very small yet vital role in this book. He is cruel and seems incapable of empathy but then again, he is a god and not a human. I’m eager to see how Nicholas Bella is going to portray a beautiful love story between an immoral and a mortal. Off to book 2. Thank the gods that the second book is already out.
4.5 Fortune favored the gods and was favored by the gods stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
4.5 Fortune favored the gods and was favored by the gods stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
June 24, 2019
⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱*Had Potential, I Guess*⋰⋱⋰⋱⋰⋱
The book centers around Mateo (19), a man captured by bandits and taken into slavery, where he is going to be trained to become a gladiator or die trying. Mateo has little skills and only his force of will to live is what's keeping him alive. Unfortunately, he's graced with a pretty face, meaning not only does the gladiators and the dominus want a piece of him, but the god of fire as well. Overall, though the book has an interesting concept: you all know I love a good gladiator book, I didn't feel this one all that much.
I couldn't connect with any of the characters, specially not Eloy. In fact, I disliked the god immensely. He didn't feel like an alpha male, more like a male used to getting his way. I didn't feel his power, nor is godly beauty. He just felt like a man who is too high on himself and is obsessed with sex. Mateo was alright. Was weak to begin with, but got stronger and smarter as time went, but he wasn't anything special. Also, the book wasn't sexy or hot. The only reason I'd continue the series is to get closure and because of the fact that I had leaving a series unfinished. Awesome cover though. Trigger warnings:
Characters:
→ The four gods: the God of Fire, Eloy, the God of Water, Kijani, the God of Wind, Simeon, and the God of Earth, Odessa.
→ Rama, Mateo's dominus.
→ Kodac and Cervantes, gladiators of Rama. Cervantes, Mateo's doctore (trainer). Kodac, Rama's assistant?
→ Haraka, Boris (), Feilong, Sonder, Osiris, Helix, and Titus, gladiators of Rama/of the celestial city of Fiary; Fiary was the city of the celestial God of Fire, Eloy. Titus was the champion.
→ Marcus and Jorome, prisoners alongside Mateo. Both died in first test.
→ Tomas, the medicus of Rama
→ Isabella, Mateo's mother and his sister, Madeline. (Only mentioned.)
The gods watched it all unfold over those many millennia, seeing that even after their last intervention with the great flood, humanity had not learned its lesson. The four of them came to the conclusion that humans could not be trusted to hold domain over the kingdom that they’d been given. The fifth god—Hersi—the one who held dominion over all life—agreed. They knew that they had to do something, and that something came in the form of the Great Calamity.
Quick basic facts:
Genre: - (Adult) Dystopian
Series: - Series, Book One.
Love triangle? -
Cheating? -
HEA? -
Favorite character? - None.
Would I read more by this author/or of series? - Unsure.
Would I recommend this book/series? - Unsure, but if you like dark themes it might be for you.
Will I read this again in the future? - No.
Rating - 2.5 stars.
June 5, 2017
There were so many things wrong with this book, I decided to make a list:
*Poor writing - this book lacked competent editing. (Parish instead of Perish, lots of missing commas, lots of passive sentences)
*Poorly written - this book read more like a catalog than a story rich with world building and catastrophic history. Every scene lacked emotional or sensory depth. It felt like each scene was written out, by hand, as a bullet point list, and then slapped together in a Word doc to form sentences.
*Bad Gay Porn - this book was just one big, poorly made gay porn. The sex lacked any tension or erotic development. It was like "insert TAB D(ick) into slot A(ss)" and then upload input (cum). It was mechanical, boring, and lacked all semblance of good, erotic fiction. Also, where the hell were all the women? There was one woman in the book (besides the slave) and she was a goddess who was mentioned off-hand a few times and described in a scene without much depth. She wore a blue dress, had green eyes, and looked on over the arena with bloodlust... Okay, so where are all the slave women? I understand this author was going for the LGBT angle here, but most gladiators were also very into women. Even the dominus would have had a wife. It was like the world, post-cataclysm, was one big sausage fest.
*Flip-flopping POV - I can't tell you how many times the POV changed mid-scene, repeatedly, from the MC to the antagonist to some other random dude in the room, then back to the MC. Then there would be whole scenes in one POV, so I know this wasn't an intentional pattern. It was just poor writing and scene building by an author who cares little for his craft and more about throwing cocks together on the page.
*Laughable Fight Scenes - this book is about gladiators training and fighting in the arena for the gods' favor. The fight scenes were so slow, jumbled, and poorly formed, they were laughable. I think Mr. Bella was trying to write a SPARTACUS: Blood and Sand/Gods of the Arena fan fiction and failed miserably.
*WTF - the blurb of this book makes the reader think the gods, especially, Eloy would have a major part in the book's development. He is barely there, other than two to three scenes were he's showing what a complete asshole he is, and then the one where he rapes (of course, he's a god, he doesn't consider it rape) the MC with his *12 inch cock*! A FOOT-LONG COCK! Holy shit! Not only is this physically impossible to be pleasurably impaled by a 1-foot cock, it sounds incredibly painful. The human pelvis doesn't just contain some kind of flesh sleeve where cocks of all lengths can safely plunder the depths. Women have a cervix and then a uterus--which is an exit, NOT and entrance. Now, anal sex is obviously doable, but with a foot-long penis you are literally pushing your rock-hard penis into the sigmoid and then transverse colon, which runs the risk of perforation, sepsis, and then a painful, agonizing death. So, as sexy and fantastic as a 12 inch penis sounds on paper, it performs more like one of Vlad's impaling spikes than a tool of pleasure. Anyway, all that so say Eloy (with the 12 inch, god-penis) completely disappeared for the last 2/3rds of the book.
This book was a poorly written, thrown together, ignorant, stupid, and utterly terrible excuse for erotic gay fiction.
*Poor writing - this book lacked competent editing. (Parish instead of Perish, lots of missing commas, lots of passive sentences)
*Poorly written - this book read more like a catalog than a story rich with world building and catastrophic history. Every scene lacked emotional or sensory depth. It felt like each scene was written out, by hand, as a bullet point list, and then slapped together in a Word doc to form sentences.
*Bad Gay Porn - this book was just one big, poorly made gay porn. The sex lacked any tension or erotic development. It was like "insert TAB D(ick) into slot A(ss)" and then upload input (cum). It was mechanical, boring, and lacked all semblance of good, erotic fiction. Also, where the hell were all the women? There was one woman in the book (besides the slave) and she was a goddess who was mentioned off-hand a few times and described in a scene without much depth. She wore a blue dress, had green eyes, and looked on over the arena with bloodlust... Okay, so where are all the slave women? I understand this author was going for the LGBT angle here, but most gladiators were also very into women. Even the dominus would have had a wife. It was like the world, post-cataclysm, was one big sausage fest.
*Flip-flopping POV - I can't tell you how many times the POV changed mid-scene, repeatedly, from the MC to the antagonist to some other random dude in the room, then back to the MC. Then there would be whole scenes in one POV, so I know this wasn't an intentional pattern. It was just poor writing and scene building by an author who cares little for his craft and more about throwing cocks together on the page.
*Laughable Fight Scenes - this book is about gladiators training and fighting in the arena for the gods' favor. The fight scenes were so slow, jumbled, and poorly formed, they were laughable. I think Mr. Bella was trying to write a SPARTACUS: Blood and Sand/Gods of the Arena fan fiction and failed miserably.
*WTF - the blurb of this book makes the reader think the gods, especially, Eloy would have a major part in the book's development. He is barely there, other than two to three scenes were he's showing what a complete asshole he is, and then the one where he rapes (of course, he's a god, he doesn't consider it rape) the MC with his *12 inch cock*! A FOOT-LONG COCK! Holy shit! Not only is this physically impossible to be pleasurably impaled by a 1-foot cock, it sounds incredibly painful. The human pelvis doesn't just contain some kind of flesh sleeve where cocks of all lengths can safely plunder the depths. Women have a cervix and then a uterus--which is an exit, NOT and entrance. Now, anal sex is obviously doable, but with a foot-long penis you are literally pushing your rock-hard penis into the sigmoid and then transverse colon, which runs the risk of perforation, sepsis, and then a painful, agonizing death. So, as sexy and fantastic as a 12 inch penis sounds on paper, it performs more like one of Vlad's impaling spikes than a tool of pleasure. Anyway, all that so say Eloy (with the 12 inch, god-penis) completely disappeared for the last 2/3rds of the book.
This book was a poorly written, thrown together, ignorant, stupid, and utterly terrible excuse for erotic gay fiction.
July 24, 2018
Cheese and crackers!!! That was some good reading material! I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It is a mix of urban fantasy and gladiators tales' of old. The story is full of despair and hope, lust and pain, blood and death - very satisfying.
Mateo is a young man captured to become a slave. Nothing funny about that one. His world as he knows it is over and he does not think he will survive much longer. When he is bought by the owner of the ludus it does look like he will not make it - he is smaller that the rest of the fighters with no experience. But a chance or maybe Lady Luck make sure that he pulls through. It's due to his good looks, his keen mind and determination that he lives to fight another day after that. This book tells us about making the best of the worst situation and choosing the lesser of two evils. It's very naughty and sometimes painful, full of men with big....talents, ;-) Yes, you get the drift. I highly recommend it!
Mateo is a young man captured to become a slave. Nothing funny about that one. His world as he knows it is over and he does not think he will survive much longer. When he is bought by the owner of the ludus it does look like he will not make it - he is smaller that the rest of the fighters with no experience. But a chance or maybe Lady Luck make sure that he pulls through. It's due to his good looks, his keen mind and determination that he lives to fight another day after that. This book tells us about making the best of the worst situation and choosing the lesser of two evils. It's very naughty and sometimes painful, full of men with big....talents, ;-) Yes, you get the drift. I highly recommend it!
September 7, 2019
Great start of this series!!! I'm looking forward to more.
September 2, 2019
Loved it even more on the reread and cannot wait to see what happens next. ❤️
***
Well...if Master Bella has not gone and done it again! This was so bloodydamn great. My heavens...and so worth the wait! It has been at least 6 months since we began to be teased with promises of gladiators, hard core sex, graphic violence and language and this one delivers...and delivers brilliantly.
I cannot wait to see where this goes from here.
The world building here is just so well done and the characters being formed rival what I loved so much about The New Haven Series. Mateo is such a strong and incredibly rich character and of course seeing how his relationship with Eloy grows or changes as the story progresses will be just awesome to see. Plus there is Titus, who I love already.
In the earlier days since arriving at the ludus, Mateo had been meek, afraid and uncertain of what would be his fate. He now had some understanding, and he also began to see that if he were to survive, he had to cast away whatever timid feelings he had. He was in a world of warriors and barbarians. They were used to taking what they wanted, giving no apologies, and killing for sport and glory. If he was going to rise in status, he had to become someone new, someone without fear and doubt. He had to become a gladiator.
Indeed he does.
I cannot recommend this one enough! Bravo Master Bella on another winner!!
***
Well...if Master Bella has not gone and done it again! This was so bloodydamn great. My heavens...and so worth the wait! It has been at least 6 months since we began to be teased with promises of gladiators, hard core sex, graphic violence and language and this one delivers...and delivers brilliantly.
I cannot wait to see where this goes from here.
The world building here is just so well done and the characters being formed rival what I loved so much about The New Haven Series. Mateo is such a strong and incredibly rich character and of course seeing how his relationship with Eloy grows or changes as the story progresses will be just awesome to see. Plus there is Titus, who I love already.
In the earlier days since arriving at the ludus, Mateo had been meek, afraid and uncertain of what would be his fate. He now had some understanding, and he also began to see that if he were to survive, he had to cast away whatever timid feelings he had. He was in a world of warriors and barbarians. They were used to taking what they wanted, giving no apologies, and killing for sport and glory. If he was going to rise in status, he had to become someone new, someone without fear and doubt. He had to become a gladiator.
Indeed he does.
I cannot recommend this one enough! Bravo Master Bella on another winner!!
October 25, 2018
If you're into disturbing shit... Be my guest...
May 25, 2017
3.25 stars
This series I will have to warm up to. Bella is one of my favorite authors but sometimes we don't see eye to eye.
The prologue stated that in the year 2012 the world was destroyed. BUT, the way the characters converse make me think of Roman times not the future. I can understand badlands, even lushlands which makes my mind think futuristic because of the year. Maybe that's just me.
Don't get me wrong it still gory, erotic Bella, so have no fear. Enjoy!
This series I will have to warm up to. Bella is one of my favorite authors but sometimes we don't see eye to eye.
The prologue stated that in the year 2012 the world was destroyed. BUT, the way the characters converse make me think of Roman times not the future. I can understand badlands, even lushlands which makes my mind think futuristic because of the year. Maybe that's just me.
Don't get me wrong it still gory, erotic Bella, so have no fear. Enjoy!
June 20, 2017
2.5 stars.
Kinda PWP.
Kinda PWP.
June 27, 2017
Lol this was horrible and not what I expected. "Out of this world" my ass. I thought it was gonna be the hero and the god only but everyone was actually fucking everyone and the god treated him like shit the one time he fucked him. Everyone also had a god complex which was beyond fucking annoying and the word "god" was probably said about 500 times. It doesn't even have anything to do with it being dark because I've read books that would make this look like nursery rhyme. I actually thought Mateo was gonna be a badass and not submit at all, hell I thought somehow he would turn out to be the God of War or some shit like that.
The sex was the best thing about this and it wasn't even good. You're telling me they did all that shit to cleanse the world just to go around and make it worse than it already was?? Lmao gimme a fucking break. I see all these good reviews and wonder if it's probably just me that feels this way. Then again I've read tons of mm paranormal/dystopia books with similar plots(the whole big powerful man treating the hero like shit) that ended up being pretty fucking amazing. Maybe my expectations are too high I guess.......
The sex was the best thing about this and it wasn't even good. You're telling me they did all that shit to cleanse the world just to go around and make it worse than it already was?? Lmao gimme a fucking break. I see all these good reviews and wonder if it's probably just me that feels this way. Then again I've read tons of mm paranormal/dystopia books with similar plots(the whole big powerful man treating the hero like shit) that ended up being pretty fucking amazing. Maybe my expectations are too high I guess.......
July 3, 2017
Will try again....
I did find it a bit repetitive in the beginning and I have to say it didn't flow as well as his New Haven and Demon Gate Series. In fact, the chemistry between the characters in this book didn't capture my attention as it had in his previous books. I am hoping as the story develops, that will change. I will give it a few more tires to establish itself.
I did find it a bit repetitive in the beginning and I have to say it didn't flow as well as his New Haven and Demon Gate Series. In fact, the chemistry between the characters in this book didn't capture my attention as it had in his previous books. I am hoping as the story develops, that will change. I will give it a few more tires to establish itself.
December 12, 2022
Story 5/5
Narration 5/5
Narration 5/5
May 23, 2017
Mateo is nineteen when he is captured by bandit to be sold as a slave.
Rama, the owner of a ludus, bought Mateo and send him in the arena in offer to the four celestial gods. Odessa, Simeon, Kijani and Eloy.
Mateo knew that he’ll lose his battle against a trained gladiator, but he wants to live, he wants to survive and gain his freedom, so he fought, with all his strength, hope and will. When he was about to lose, the God Eloy spared his life. Why, no one really knows, the gods do whatever they want.
In order to honor the god, Mateo will be trained to become a gladiator himself, and maybe, maybe gain his freedom.
I was waiting this book, I was excited that the boss, Nicholas Bella will have offer a new story with a new theme.
As a huge fan, of his work, I've read everything, but I remembered how I felt the very first time I read my first Nicholas Bella’s book. It was Chained in the darkness, season 1 on the New Haven series. I remembered I was a little bit traumatized by Noel fate. I felt his desperation; I felt his fear. But the more I've read this series, the more I became immune. The more I read Nicholas’s books, the more I become used to his unique style. So, I was waiting this book, because I was curious to know what story Nicholas would tell us…
Dominion is more than another book by Nicholas Bella. Dominion is the beginning of a news amazing adventure.
I thought I was immune to him…. well, Nicholas have just slap me (in a good way) and reminded me that he is THE boss. I felt every emotion than Mateo feel. I was Mateo, I was him hopeless, I was him fighting in the arena, I was him hurting, bleeding and scared. I was him being more confident, stronger, determinate.
Not only, did he makes me feel all this emotions (pleasant and unpleasant) but the story was great, it’s a mix between Gladiator and Spartacus.
When I thought I knew the author, when I thought I was immune, Dominion swept all my certitudes at once and left me with my heart pounding.
I can only recommend this book, you will not regret it.
Rama, the owner of a ludus, bought Mateo and send him in the arena in offer to the four celestial gods. Odessa, Simeon, Kijani and Eloy.
Mateo knew that he’ll lose his battle against a trained gladiator, but he wants to live, he wants to survive and gain his freedom, so he fought, with all his strength, hope and will. When he was about to lose, the God Eloy spared his life. Why, no one really knows, the gods do whatever they want.
In order to honor the god, Mateo will be trained to become a gladiator himself, and maybe, maybe gain his freedom.
I was waiting this book, I was excited that the boss, Nicholas Bella will have offer a new story with a new theme.
As a huge fan, of his work, I've read everything, but I remembered how I felt the very first time I read my first Nicholas Bella’s book. It was Chained in the darkness, season 1 on the New Haven series. I remembered I was a little bit traumatized by Noel fate. I felt his desperation; I felt his fear. But the more I've read this series, the more I became immune. The more I read Nicholas’s books, the more I become used to his unique style. So, I was waiting this book, because I was curious to know what story Nicholas would tell us…
Dominion is more than another book by Nicholas Bella. Dominion is the beginning of a news amazing adventure.
I thought I was immune to him…. well, Nicholas have just slap me (in a good way) and reminded me that he is THE boss. I felt every emotion than Mateo feel. I was Mateo, I was him hopeless, I was him fighting in the arena, I was him hurting, bleeding and scared. I was him being more confident, stronger, determinate.
Not only, did he makes me feel all this emotions (pleasant and unpleasant) but the story was great, it’s a mix between Gladiator and Spartacus.
When I thought I knew the author, when I thought I was immune, Dominion swept all my certitudes at once and left me with my heart pounding.
I can only recommend this book, you will not regret it.
May 25, 2017
I loved “Dominion”, the first book of Gods and Slaves series by Nicholas Bella.
The events take place on Earth Around 2212. The few humans that live on Earth after the big cataclysm provoked by the gods in 2012, knows that Gods are real and they are cruel.
The Celestial Gods of Earth, Wind, Fire and Water controls human life. Those Gods wants to be venerated by the humans. They demand sacrifices of flesh and blood. Two Gods have an insatiable thirst for lust and violence. Odessa, goddess of Earth and Eloy God of fire.
Humans who don't want to worship the gods are banished from the Celestial cities and used as slaves by those who want the God’s favors.
Mateo a 19 years old man is captured by supporters of slavery and sold to Rama, a dominus, as a sacrifice for the Gods. Mateo need to survive in the arena against a trained Gladiator. Mateo fought with all he has. Eloy mesmerized by Mateo's desire to stay alive spare his life.
After that first fight Mateo's journey really begins in Rama’s ludus. Mateo wants his freedom, for that, he needs to fight and become the best Gladiator.
Like I said I love this story. I can't wait to read more about Eloy, Mateo and Titus (if you read this amazing story you will know who he is)
I don't want to say more about this book, you need to read it. It's an excellent story full of sex between men, of course, in a cruel world where only the strongest can survive. I highly recommend it!!
The events take place on Earth Around 2212. The few humans that live on Earth after the big cataclysm provoked by the gods in 2012, knows that Gods are real and they are cruel.
The Celestial Gods of Earth, Wind, Fire and Water controls human life. Those Gods wants to be venerated by the humans. They demand sacrifices of flesh and blood. Two Gods have an insatiable thirst for lust and violence. Odessa, goddess of Earth and Eloy God of fire.
Humans who don't want to worship the gods are banished from the Celestial cities and used as slaves by those who want the God’s favors.
Mateo a 19 years old man is captured by supporters of slavery and sold to Rama, a dominus, as a sacrifice for the Gods. Mateo need to survive in the arena against a trained Gladiator. Mateo fought with all he has. Eloy mesmerized by Mateo's desire to stay alive spare his life.
After that first fight Mateo's journey really begins in Rama’s ludus. Mateo wants his freedom, for that, he needs to fight and become the best Gladiator.
Like I said I love this story. I can't wait to read more about Eloy, Mateo and Titus (if you read this amazing story you will know who he is)
I don't want to say more about this book, you need to read it. It's an excellent story full of sex between men, of course, in a cruel world where only the strongest can survive. I highly recommend it!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Want to read
May 28, 2017
June 26, 2017
"Some reach the top flying, others crawling".
I kind of approached that one quite skeptically; perhaps because of the description I excepted it to be mostly smut.
But I actually liked it. It felt somehow different and I was glad to find the main character was not the strongest/bravest/most magnificent warrior out there.
A promising start to the series and I am interested in seeing the continuation.
I kind of approached that one quite skeptically; perhaps because of the description I excepted it to be mostly smut.
But I actually liked it. It felt somehow different and I was glad to find the main character was not the strongest/bravest/most magnificent warrior out there.
A promising start to the series and I am interested in seeing the continuation.
May 29, 2017
From the mind of Nicholas Bella he puts to ink and paper a story of gods and gladiators with his own special twist.
The detail will draw you in the characters and the way the writer sets the scenes will have you reading until the end.
The gods with their air of entitlement, the mortals split in their beliefs. You’ve heard the saying the rich gets richer? Who has the harder fight? The mortals that has to continue to garner the favor of the gods? Or the mortals forced to live in the badlands struggling in their meager existence?
For Mateo the struggle was real everything he thought he knew gone up in the dust of his new life and puts a whole new meaning to fight or die for him. I loved this character (smiles)
There are four gods each have their own elemental power, living and ruling earth as they see fit. The Mortal under their care work continuously to keep the gods happy and angry god withholds their most precious gifts. How do you keep a god pleased and gain favor? One way is the Games, full gladiator, blood and guts to to the death fights.
I really enjoyed this story It was like I was right there in the stands watching the fight, great scene! Nope that’s all I’m saying (smiles) Full of detail and varying emotions. Very tense loved it. Great start of a new series!
Want to read
June 2, 2017WARNING: This novella series is not for sensitive eyes, as it is brutal, dark, raunchy, and in your face with its lewd, crude, and rude attitude. I’m talking no-holds-barred bloody battles and dirty, wet, messy sex with hot, animalistic men who have no inhibitions. They take what they want when they want it, and they don’t have to be nice about it. This series is intended for very mature readers who are looking for something out of this world to read.
The WARNING tho... 😁☝
MARKED!!!!
February 27, 2024
Wild launch to a devilish series
Imagine a cross between Rome and gladiator and you will get the gods and slave series. I did want To wait until I finish the entire series to give a review. This 1st book was an amazing launch to the series. But be prepared it is downright degrading if you have any triggers please put this book down and move no further. If you like it down dirty nasty Then enjoy this read. The best part of it is the world building is next level.
There isn't a ton of originality in the setting Until you get to book 2But this 1st book don't let it's gladiator feel Keep you from seeing what's being developed between all of the characters. Mateo, A recently kidnapped outlander, Initially made slave then turned gladiator Is strong willed and beautiful. Elroy Is selfish, self involved and ignorant Of the world he created But taken hostage by the beauty that is Mateo. Lust at first sight!
Originality⭐⭐⭐
Character development⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice🌶🌶🌶🌶
Noncon⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Imagine a cross between Rome and gladiator and you will get the gods and slave series. I did want To wait until I finish the entire series to give a review. This 1st book was an amazing launch to the series. But be prepared it is downright degrading if you have any triggers please put this book down and move no further. If you like it down dirty nasty Then enjoy this read. The best part of it is the world building is next level.
There isn't a ton of originality in the setting Until you get to book 2But this 1st book don't let it's gladiator feel Keep you from seeing what's being developed between all of the characters. Mateo, A recently kidnapped outlander, Initially made slave then turned gladiator Is strong willed and beautiful. Elroy Is selfish, self involved and ignorant Of the world he created But taken hostage by the beauty that is Mateo. Lust at first sight!
Originality⭐⭐⭐
Character development⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice🌶🌶🌶🌶
Noncon⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
May 25, 2017
Review to come.
Want to read
October 20, 201910/20/19 Currently FREE via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072HF3ZBF/...
December 17, 2019
After reading the New Haven series of books Nicholas Bella was one of my favorite authors. This was an ok story and I’m going to continue to read the other books in this series. However, I’m hoping to become more attached to the main characters.
September 23, 2020
Full review after book #3 in the series. Oh, boy...
July 31, 2019
2,5* siendo muy benevolente, para toda la serie
La historia no resulta nada atractiva El desarrollo de la trama es sumamente infantil
Y la química entre los MC es inexistente
Realmente floja
La historia no resulta nada atractiva El desarrollo de la trama es sumamente infantil
Y la química entre los MC es inexistente
Realmente floja
August 31, 2023
Here for a good time not a long time? Or something?
May 26, 2017
No Love Stories from Bella
This is the 900th(exaggeration) book by NB I've read. I do enjoy NB's work, it's a bit different, that is in respect to what I usually read(m/m erotica or romance) not different bad, just different. There's NO tiptoeing around with Bella's reads. They are at times crude and straight out unexpected, but ALWAYS enthralling and engrossing and NEVER boring. I can never put them down, my husband swears NB and I have an affair through NB's books! I can most assuredly say DONT skip over this first book in Nicholas Bella's new God's and Slaves Series, it's the bomb!!
This is the 900th(exaggeration) book by NB I've read. I do enjoy NB's work, it's a bit different, that is in respect to what I usually read(m/m erotica or romance) not different bad, just different. There's NO tiptoeing around with Bella's reads. They are at times crude and straight out unexpected, but ALWAYS enthralling and engrossing and NEVER boring. I can never put them down, my husband swears NB and I have an affair through NB's books! I can most assuredly say DONT skip over this first book in Nicholas Bella's new God's and Slaves Series, it's the bomb!!
May 27, 2017
From the Kirrachi badlands Mateo was kidnapped by Bandits .
Many were taken all ages and sexes.
They were chained together in the bowels of the ship , that is the beginning of Mateos new life .
Auctioned off he then began his journey.
Nicholas Bella can write a fantastic story he weaves in and out and you follow without hesitation.
This new series Gods and Slaves grips you from the very first paragraph it's outstanding penmanship .
I could smell the sweat and body fluids and could see everything that's how good the writing is.
I seriously cannot wait till the second book in this series .
Written as Pat Jay
Many were taken all ages and sexes.
They were chained together in the bowels of the ship , that is the beginning of Mateos new life .
Auctioned off he then began his journey.
Nicholas Bella can write a fantastic story he weaves in and out and you follow without hesitation.
This new series Gods and Slaves grips you from the very first paragraph it's outstanding penmanship .
I could smell the sweat and body fluids and could see everything that's how good the writing is.
I seriously cannot wait till the second book in this series .
Written as Pat Jay
Read
February 14, 2023Quickest nope I’ve ever noped
Dnf at 5%
it got so gross I couldn’t
TW for making someone drink urine (if I’m saying it’s gross I’m gonna tell you why)
Dnf at 5%
it got so gross I couldn’t
TW for making someone drink urine (if I’m saying it’s gross I’m gonna tell you why)
January 9, 2023
(Whole series review.) This series is hit and miss. I don't regret reading it, but it didn't turn out to be as great as I had initially expected. Overall, I like the concept and most of the world building, but there are some serious problems that require star deductions. Getting into that...
The absolute most egregious thing for which I am deducting two whole stars: Eloy never apologizes to Mateo for raping him the first time they meet, nor does he talk about it with Mateo in any significant manner. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't require such things when the story fits the action (or lack of, in this case). The rapist is a total dickbag that doesn't care about what he did because he never loves or cares about anyone ever? Okay, sure, no apology, no remorse, you get no complaint from me. But! That's not what happened in this series. Eloy fell deeply in love with Mateo. Like deeeeeep in love. He had a single paragraph (lol) of internal reflection where he felt shame, but he never voices it directly. Mateo and Eloy skirt around the topic when Mateo calls him out on his violence, but Eloy brushes it off, mostly. It was real-deal rape, doing serious physical and psychological damage to Mateo. So, nope, fuck you book. You don't get to sweep MC/MC rape under the rug and then have the MCs just be fine with it when they are supposed to be madly in love and devoted to each other. Nope nope nope. Minus 2 stars. Yep, two. It would have been three if not for that single paragraph of Eloy's internal remorse.
Next thing... this series should have been WAY longer. It's only around 300 pages total. That's just a single novel, and not even a particularly long one. I don't understand the reason for separating it into 3 books. Regardless, while it doesn't feel incredibly rushed (surprisingly), the short length combined with the extensive scenes/periods that are covered results in a shallow feeling to the world. It's not bad writing, it's just there literally aren't enough words on the pages to make it feel substantive. The concept was cool, I think, as was the world building. But then the books shit the bed a bit by just glossing through stuff at a high level. This also had the side effect of making most of the plot predictable.
There was so much room for more depth... For example, how about adding in some scenes involving Hersi and the other gods? I'd like to know what Hersi thinks of all this shit, especially Kijani because that fuck didn't suffer enough. A decent amount of the story revolved around Hersi trying to make the world a better place through the gods, but who fucking knows what he actually thinks because [who the fuck knows?]. Maybe insert some scenes where the gods express true remorse for the things they've done (e.g. Eloy for throwing a servant into a lion pit to be mauled to death just because that servant didn't get Eloy off well enough...). Or, another idea, have some time leap to Mateo and Eloy later in life, Eloy accepting his aging and mortality, enjoying how positively they have changed the world over several decades and appreciating that earthly life with Mateo. I'd even love to see Mateo and Eloy die and go to the afterlife/heaven together. Will Eloy and Mateo be together for eternity then? Maybe Mateo dies too soon for one reason or another, and Eloy decides to return to heaven (i.e. kill himself) to be with him, really demonstrating how much he loves him. It's one thing to give up the idea of immortality, but quite another to actually die. Let's see what that's like. Seriously, so, so, so many fucking ideas that should have been explored in another 300 pages to this series. Minus 1 star for lack of depth.
Another thing... the whole modern technology in ancient Roman culture thing was a bit weird. It's not crazy or prohibitive to reading the books, but it can snap one out of the immersion at certain points.
Finally, these books rip off Spartacus (TV series) so, so much. There are so many situations that could have been taken from the show almost verbatim. It's not to the level of plagiarizism, but it's not very original for those that have watched the TV series. That said, I happen to really enjoy Spartacus and thus this (a gay version of it with gods) was an enjoyable world.
This is an alright series for a quick read. It includes some rape and violence, but it is NOT overly dark. I would say it's "dark-ish", and that's really only book 1 in certain places. The other two books are very mild. If you can watch Spartacus, you can read this.
It was a great idea, but the execution fell flat, sadly.
The absolute most egregious thing for which I am deducting two whole stars: Eloy never apologizes to Mateo for raping him the first time they meet, nor does he talk about it with Mateo in any significant manner. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't require such things when the story fits the action (or lack of, in this case). The rapist is a total dickbag that doesn't care about what he did because he never loves or cares about anyone ever? Okay, sure, no apology, no remorse, you get no complaint from me. But! That's not what happened in this series. Eloy fell deeply in love with Mateo. Like deeeeeep in love. He had a single paragraph (lol) of internal reflection where he felt shame, but he never voices it directly. Mateo and Eloy skirt around the topic when Mateo calls him out on his violence, but Eloy brushes it off, mostly. It was real-deal rape, doing serious physical and psychological damage to Mateo. So, nope, fuck you book. You don't get to sweep MC/MC rape under the rug and then have the MCs just be fine with it when they are supposed to be madly in love and devoted to each other. Nope nope nope. Minus 2 stars. Yep, two. It would have been three if not for that single paragraph of Eloy's internal remorse.
Next thing... this series should have been WAY longer. It's only around 300 pages total. That's just a single novel, and not even a particularly long one. I don't understand the reason for separating it into 3 books. Regardless, while it doesn't feel incredibly rushed (surprisingly), the short length combined with the extensive scenes/periods that are covered results in a shallow feeling to the world. It's not bad writing, it's just there literally aren't enough words on the pages to make it feel substantive. The concept was cool, I think, as was the world building. But then the books shit the bed a bit by just glossing through stuff at a high level. This also had the side effect of making most of the plot predictable.
There was so much room for more depth... For example, how about adding in some scenes involving Hersi and the other gods? I'd like to know what Hersi thinks of all this shit, especially Kijani because that fuck didn't suffer enough. A decent amount of the story revolved around Hersi trying to make the world a better place through the gods, but who fucking knows what he actually thinks because [who the fuck knows?]. Maybe insert some scenes where the gods express true remorse for the things they've done (e.g. Eloy for throwing a servant into a lion pit to be mauled to death just because that servant didn't get Eloy off well enough...). Or, another idea, have some time leap to Mateo and Eloy later in life, Eloy accepting his aging and mortality, enjoying how positively they have changed the world over several decades and appreciating that earthly life with Mateo. I'd even love to see Mateo and Eloy die and go to the afterlife/heaven together. Will Eloy and Mateo be together for eternity then? Maybe Mateo dies too soon for one reason or another, and Eloy decides to return to heaven (i.e. kill himself) to be with him, really demonstrating how much he loves him. It's one thing to give up the idea of immortality, but quite another to actually die. Let's see what that's like. Seriously, so, so, so many fucking ideas that should have been explored in another 300 pages to this series. Minus 1 star for lack of depth.
Another thing... the whole modern technology in ancient Roman culture thing was a bit weird. It's not crazy or prohibitive to reading the books, but it can snap one out of the immersion at certain points.
Finally, these books rip off Spartacus (TV series) so, so much. There are so many situations that could have been taken from the show almost verbatim. It's not to the level of plagiarizism, but it's not very original for those that have watched the TV series. That said, I happen to really enjoy Spartacus and thus this (a gay version of it with gods) was an enjoyable world.
This is an alright series for a quick read. It includes some rape and violence, but it is NOT overly dark. I would say it's "dark-ish", and that's really only book 1 in certain places. The other two books are very mild. If you can watch Spartacus, you can read this.
It was a great idea, but the execution fell flat, sadly.
August 1, 2018
At the time of writing this review, I have already started the next in this series which is not a compliment because this wasn't a great read and truthfully that ending felt chopped off, like someone took an unfinished manuscript cut off the latter third and ended the book on a semi-important point.
This book lacked completion, the story didn't end when the book did and that is why I read the next one and the story carries on like it never stopped which would have been an extremely jarring thing if you actually had to wait for the sequel to come out. Because the sequel just carries on, leaving almost anyone who starts it, feeling like the are missing out on something after a while because, it never ends. At this point, in this review I sound like a conspiracy theorist to myself and I should acknowledge the fact that since I started reading the sequel immediately after this one, I don't if what I hypothesize is true. But what is definitely true is that chapter one of the second book is, it doesn't appear to be, it isn't like, it is the twelfth chapter of the first book because even now as I type up this review I don't feel like I finished anything and I actually found myself second-guessing prior to clicking that I'm finished button on Goodreads.
This book features a land where all continents are one and are ruled by four Gods hungry on lust and bloodthirst. The only way to move up in life is to please the Gods, for those who have the favour of the Gods have all the comforts of life or are just better off than the ones who don't worship the Gods, for the Gods don't spare any mercies for the ones who defy them. I don't know why but I continuously find myself doubting the veracity of this world. All continents joined together yet only four cities and these cities are close enough that you can travel in hours to reach the stadium where all gladiatorial fights take place. So, exactly what happened to the rest of the World, is it under water, completely uninhabitable and if technology still exists how come people don't figure out new things very day and actually grow up and leave this dependency on the Gods behind and somehow, the explanation that the Gods simply won't allow it doesn't ring true because they might be all powerful but they are not immortal, they definitely can be killed since that was the initial plan, for them to all die after remaking the Earth. I also doubt the fact that they are omnipresent so that can definitely be the foundations of an uprising. I just find myself resisting this world too much, at very word. Also what, are these Gods only the Gods of Earth, not the Universe that they could only think of the Earth to have fun on, like seriously what about the rest of the universe and how is people who can build universes find humans so fascinating, like didn't you create us, huh?
Anyhow, Mateo is an idiot because I don't like him because of his thing with Eloy. Eloy is a horrible god, I don't like him and I don't understand what has Mateo so taken with Eloy and please, it's because he is a god is not a good enough reason. Knowing humans we can hate gods especially such spiteful, egoistical gods who are just oppressors by another name. I would have definitely been the Queen of the Badlands in such a world. I hate these gods and nothing the author tells me or shows me about them makes me like them, I don't even like how drunk on power they are. Also, Mateo acts like he is above everybody and seriously he attempts to befriend no one, he is playing a game with everyone, hard to like such a character and impossible to like a book whose main character you find hard to like. The only thing about this story that speaks to me is Mateo's struggle for freedom, the rest just gets me seeing red.
While this hasn't been an enjoyable read if you are someone like me you learn to appreciate the books that are barely tolerable so that you can live your life. Because really good books always mess up my schedule so this way I am sleeping and eating on time and reading a book which is apparently something I subsist on, so for now, I am reading the sequel but after that is over and I am done railing on it, I'm definitely not coming back for the third if the second is just more of this.
This book lacked completion, the story didn't end when the book did and that is why I read the next one and the story carries on like it never stopped which would have been an extremely jarring thing if you actually had to wait for the sequel to come out. Because the sequel just carries on, leaving almost anyone who starts it, feeling like the are missing out on something after a while because, it never ends. At this point, in this review I sound like a conspiracy theorist to myself and I should acknowledge the fact that since I started reading the sequel immediately after this one, I don't if what I hypothesize is true. But what is definitely true is that chapter one of the second book is, it doesn't appear to be, it isn't like, it is the twelfth chapter of the first book because even now as I type up this review I don't feel like I finished anything and I actually found myself second-guessing prior to clicking that I'm finished button on Goodreads.
This book features a land where all continents are one and are ruled by four Gods hungry on lust and bloodthirst. The only way to move up in life is to please the Gods, for those who have the favour of the Gods have all the comforts of life or are just better off than the ones who don't worship the Gods, for the Gods don't spare any mercies for the ones who defy them. I don't know why but I continuously find myself doubting the veracity of this world. All continents joined together yet only four cities and these cities are close enough that you can travel in hours to reach the stadium where all gladiatorial fights take place. So, exactly what happened to the rest of the World, is it under water, completely uninhabitable and if technology still exists how come people don't figure out new things very day and actually grow up and leave this dependency on the Gods behind and somehow, the explanation that the Gods simply won't allow it doesn't ring true because they might be all powerful but they are not immortal, they definitely can be killed since that was the initial plan, for them to all die after remaking the Earth. I also doubt the fact that they are omnipresent so that can definitely be the foundations of an uprising. I just find myself resisting this world too much, at very word. Also what, are these Gods only the Gods of Earth, not the Universe that they could only think of the Earth to have fun on, like seriously what about the rest of the universe and how is people who can build universes find humans so fascinating, like didn't you create us, huh?
Anyhow, Mateo is an idiot because I don't like him because of his thing with Eloy. Eloy is a horrible god, I don't like him and I don't understand what has Mateo so taken with Eloy and please, it's because he is a god is not a good enough reason. Knowing humans we can hate gods especially such spiteful, egoistical gods who are just oppressors by another name. I would have definitely been the Queen of the Badlands in such a world. I hate these gods and nothing the author tells me or shows me about them makes me like them, I don't even like how drunk on power they are. Also, Mateo acts like he is above everybody and seriously he attempts to befriend no one, he is playing a game with everyone, hard to like such a character and impossible to like a book whose main character you find hard to like. The only thing about this story that speaks to me is Mateo's struggle for freedom, the rest just gets me seeing red.
While this hasn't been an enjoyable read if you are someone like me you learn to appreciate the books that are barely tolerable so that you can live your life. Because really good books always mess up my schedule so this way I am sleeping and eating on time and reading a book which is apparently something I subsist on, so for now, I am reading the sequel but after that is over and I am done railing on it, I'm definitely not coming back for the third if the second is just more of this.
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