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AUDIO REVIEW: 'Fated: Blood and Redemption' by Bey Deckard


Title: Fated: Blood and Redemption

Series: Baal’s Heart #3

Author: Bey Deckard

Narrator: Michael Ferraiuolo/Iron Works Studios

Published: April 11, 2015

Audio: August 10, 2017

Publisher: Self-Published Genre: Historical Romance; Dark Erotic Romance; Adventure Romance; Historical Fantasy

Length: 401 Pages/13 Hours and 2 Minutes

Tags: Gay; M/M; Menage; M/M/M; BDSM; D/s; Established Couple(s); Pirates; HFN; Audiobook; CW: Kink (Various); CW: Murder, Torture, Rape, Violence (They’re Pirates)

About Fated: Blood and Redemption With the captain’s mind in shambles, Jon and Tom set out to find the passage home through the black mountain range, hoping to find a cure for Baltsaros’s madness. However, when the men are forced to part ways, darkness takes root in the schism created; fate, lust, and vengeance become obsessions threatening to tear apart the fragile bonds holding the three together.

Following on the heels of Sacrificed, Fated takes the pirates on a quest to find those responsible for the captain’s bloody beginnings. But can they survive what awaits them where past and present meet?

REVIEW:

I am so happy to be back with three of my favorite guys! Fated: Blood and Redemption, by Bey Deckard, is book three in his Baal’s Heart trilogy. These little gems are best read in order and I assure you if you do you will not be disappointed.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous reviews of Caged: Love and Treachery on the High Seas and Sacrificed: Heart Beyond the Spires, the first two books in the series, these stories are simply brilliant and author Bey Deckard does it yet again.

He manages to hold you hostage with his words and the widely talented Michael Ferraiuolo expertly translates that brilliance with his voice.

Fated: Blood and Redemption begins with a memory from young Tom’s days as a slave. He has killed yet another master and he’s been sorely punished for it. If you have read the first two books I dare you to say a bad word about my “Tomcat”. Tom is such a resilient young man and has overcome so many hardships. I have thoroughly enjoyed his evolution throughout this series. He’s become someone the Captain and Jon can count on and has truly matured.

Tom will always remain my favorite character in this series. He is rough and gruff and he’s got that cocksure attitude that makes you either want to smack him or kiss him. Tom has really come a long way in terms of the way he thinks and acts. His relationship with Jon has flourished and he now can readily say the words “‘I love you’”. He is also fiercely protective of the Captain, whom he calls “Da”. He is Baltsaros’ champion even when he’s mad at him. I love Tom’s loyalty. It wasn’t always easy for Tom to submit and the many flashbacks and scenes in Fated really drive home how deeply scarred Tom was while under the hand of slavery. Rest assured this is not a case of ‘magic penis’ and the reader/listener really sees the progression of Tom and the Captain’s relationship.

Jon has grown as well throughout the series, maturing and coming into his own. He’s still the same Jon in that he over thinks and analyzes things, qualities Tom just chuckles about, and he still has powerful dreams of trying to piece together a fortune he was told of by an old lady.

Captain Baltsaros is slowly trying to piece his mind back together and throughout the tale we see flashbacks from his point of view. The memories provide the audience with a view into his mind and possible origins of his bloodlust. He recounts a story from his childhood that left me breathless.

One of the things I enjoy most about the Baal’s Heart series is the evolution of all the men within the triad and outside of it.

Each man truly compliments the other and it is a thing of beauty to see how they all come together. Although that’s not to say the men have an easy time of it but Bey Deckard expertly navigates all of their strengths and weaknesses.

The inner workings of their triad has come under some strain: There are misunderstandings and hurt feelings but underneath it all there is the love that each man feels for the other.

In this third book we see young Jon take the role as Captain of Baal’s Heart. Captain Baltsaros is still recovering from the various tortures at the hand of the evil Emperor in book two. His mind is still in shambles and he alternates between quiet and madness. Their plan is to head home to Madierus and have Abetha help “cure” their Captain.

Unfortunately the return home for the men isn’t the smoothest of sailings and problems and situations arise. Jon is stressed with the role of Captain on his head and Tom is right by his side to help while Baltsaros is “safely” ensconced in the cage in their bedroom. The Captain’s mental state is a cause for concern for both Tom and Jon and they deal with the stress in different ways.

Fated focuses on the here and now but we also get glimpses into the Captain’s past as well as Tom’s and even young Jon. We see how Baltsaros and Tom first met and we get to see how their relationship came to be.

What I love about Bey Deckard’s writing is that he firmly places the reader/listener right in the thick of the action, and of course the more quiet times as well.

Throughout the narration I felt as if I were a passenger into all of their inner thoughts and dreams.

Michael Ferraiuolo is just simply amazing. I know I’ve said it before but I’ll say it again, with just his voice he truly brings this story to life. He breathes life into each character and simply nails all of the accents and tones. I think the most important thing in being a narrator is emotion and Michael Ferraiuolo’s voice is magic as he portrays the emotions of each character magnificently.

As usual the supporting characters are amazing and Mr. Ferraiuolo does each one so brilliantly. Again Michael is each character but truly shines with the way he tells the story.

Mr. Deckard writes an amazing tale and Michael is along for the ride brilliantly bringing these men and their tale to life.

In the famous words of Oliver Twist, “‘Please Sir, I want some more!’”, this is how I feel about a Bey Deckard story. And if Michael Ferraiuolo is narrating, sign me up!! Fated: Blood and Redemption definitely ends on a HFN and I just know there’s much more to this tale. In fact, I believe the ex-slave from the Emperor’s palace, Saban, has a story to tell, especially because of his ‘friendship’ with Tom. Hint, hint!

An audiobook of Fated: Blood and Redemption was provided to Kimmers’ Erotic Book Banter, by Bey Deckard, at no cost and with no expectations in return. We offer our fair and honest opinion on behalf of our readers.

Amazon/KU/Audible

Meet the Author

Artist, Writer, Dog Lover

Born and raised in a small coastal town in northern Québec, Bey spent his early summers on his uncle’s boat and running wild on the beaches of the surrounding islands, lighting fires and building huts out of driftwood and fishermen’s nets. As an adult, he eventually made his way to university and earned a degree in Art History with a strong focus on Anthropology. Primarily a portrait painter and graphic artist, Bey sat down one day and decided to start writing.

Bey currently lives in the wilds of Montréal with his best buddy, a ridiculous, spotty pit bull named Murphy.

For more from by Bey be sure and visit his website.

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