Duce by Kai Tyler
Dystopian Male/Male Romantic Thriller
World's End Series, Book 1
To celebrate the upcoming release of Sicario: book 3 in the World's End series, by Kai Tyler, Duce, the first book in the series is on sale at $0.99/£0.99.
BLURB
Parties and orgies...
those are the things Carlos Carmichael wants to do. It's the only way he knows
to deal with his life as the son of a notorious cartel boss. He'll get whatever
he wants by any means necessary.
Until he tangles with a man who plays by totally different rules.
Dante Orsino has been raised in the old ways of honor, loyalty and respect of the business. His role as mafia underboss is more than just a job. It also makes him an heir to one of the biggest families in the Southern Territories.
When Carlos meets Dante and plays a silly game, their weekend tryst sparks a deadly cartel war.
For Dante there's no other life except—the life. And he wants Carlos in his. But in the New World, a gay man is a dead man. Can he find a way to keep everything he loves and stay alive?
In a new world gone mad, even the good guys are bad. Welcome to the World's End series.
Until he tangles with a man who plays by totally different rules.
Dante Orsino has been raised in the old ways of honor, loyalty and respect of the business. His role as mafia underboss is more than just a job. It also makes him an heir to one of the biggest families in the Southern Territories.
When Carlos meets Dante and plays a silly game, their weekend tryst sparks a deadly cartel war.
For Dante there's no other life except—the life. And he wants Carlos in his. But in the New World, a gay man is a dead man. Can he find a way to keep everything he loves and stay alive?
In a new world gone mad, even the good guys are bad. Welcome to the World's End series.
BOOK REVIEW
It’s been a while since I have read any MM as it’s not really something I grab when browsing books. However, I like variety so when the chance came to read Duce by a new author, I thought ‘well why not.’ I’m glad I did.
Duce is played out in a dystopian setting. The world has changed, the northern hemisphere is no longer habitable and the southern hemisphere, especially in what looks like Latin America is ruled by Mafia families where power is the key to success and survival. Being Gay in this world is not fully accepted, something that in many areas is seen as illegal.
The book starts off with a BIG hook. Death. It’s not clear who has died and as the book unravels so does the answers to what happened at the start. After the exciting start we get to know the main character Dante - A mean and moody gangster who know what he wants and how to get it, usually by the use of his gun. Throughout the book we get glimpses of how he works but not a real understanding of him. It’s only when we link the beginning to the events in the last part do we get into his skin more. Carlos on the other hand is like an open book. He enjoys sex and lots of it, know what he wants and because he is rich, often gets it. On this occasion he plays a trick to get his guy which doesn’t pan out the way he thought.
We see the intense sexual attraction right at the start. Kai takes time to show us how these two feel. I found it got in the way of moving the story onto the solving of the mystery at the start of the book – which I was dying to get to. However I can see why she did it that way as we get an insider’s view of what these two are like and their desire for each other impacts the rest of the story.
Duce is filled with mystery, suspense, guns and sex. It’s a fast paced world where it’s dog-eats-dog. I liked the first person narrative where each chapter changes point of view. We hear Dante and Carlos telling the story as they see it which helps get to know these characters more – and in the end build a strong bond where you root for all to be well for them.
I found the last part of the book was jammed packed with action/events. I really wanted the author to slow down and give me, the reader time to process everything that was going on. It was here I had to re-read to fully understand how all the threads came together.
All in all a great read and one I enjoyed. It’s one of those books you devour in one sitting. Well done Kai Tyler. I hope to read more of you.
Reviewed by
BUY LINKS
EXCERPT
Copyright 2015 Kai
Tyler
*****
At the bar, I ordered brandy, swallowed a sip, and then took the curved stairs up to the VIP area. Men sat on dark leather sofas arranged so they overlooked the main jam-packed club area below. I found a single-seater armchair in the corner of the lounge to perch on, my back to the wall.
I never liked sitting in a room with my back exposed. I preferred to see trouble before it found me. Problems were never far away, vacation or not.
From here, I watched male dancers in nothing but jockstraps on raised, caged platforms dotted around the club, sweat and glitter making their toned bodies glisten.
After tossing back the shot, I caught the eye of a young waiter who sauntered over and took my refill order. Waiting for the drink, I took my time to survey the other people in the lounge. A group of three thirty-something-year-old men sat in the section next to mine. Two of them looked like a couple by the way they touched each other.
The third met my gaze and flashed a set of white teeth as he smiled. Arching his brow and lifting his hand, he enquired if he could come over. He was good-looking with dark- brown hair and a well-built body under the t-shirt. Even his trousers seemed to hide a reasonably-sized shaft.
I tried to picture holding the man down, kicking out his legs and taking him over the table. My cock gave an unenthusiastic twitch. I was still too tense to entertain company. With an almost imperceptible shake of my head, I dissuaded him from getting up. The man shrugged and tipped his drink in salute.
The waiter brought my refill. I took a sip and relaxed into the leather chair, welcoming the gentle alcoholic haze in my mind that stripped away my agitation. My gaze trawled, exploring every male form in sight.
Another group of men sat a few sofas away. These were younger than me, too fresh-faced to be nothing more than just barely legal. Boisterous, they talked and laughed in loud voices, drawing attention.
I spotted him and my world skewed.
The boy—he appeared more boy than man—was whispering something to the person sitting next to him, when his blond lashes lifted in a slow, teasing manner.
My heart stopped and my skin prickled. If I wasn’t usually cool under duress, I would’ve been drooling.
The lad was what? Twenty? Twenty-one? Cute as hell in a smart mint-green polo shirt and navy trousers made of expensive shiny fabric that clung to a lean body. He came across as prep-school material and looked young enough to still be in college. Face like a fucking angel, dirty blond hair that flopped over his face, and pink lips that pouted in the way fashion models did.
I had no problem picturing the gioventù on his knees, that mouth stretched around my girth.
As he rose from the sofa, his dark and huge eyes shone with mischief. One of his friends laughed and lowered his head toward the low table, a rolled note in his right hand.
Columns of white powder lined the glass-topped surface and the man leaned over, sniffing half of the line before he straightened and repeated the action with the other nostril. Finally, he tilted his head back, pinching his nose.
My lip curled down, my jaw tightened, and I averted my gaze. The drug remained illegal, but just like homosexuality, it was freely available in Exilado for the right price.
I shouldn’t begrudge the young men their vices any more than I should condemn myself for having sex with other men. Still, I couldn’t help the weight of disappointment that settled on my shoulders. I’d seen the damage addictive drugs could wreck on perfectly normal lives. I’d taken an oath to keep the toxic substances out of Vincenzo territories. San Torino wasn’t my turf and there was nothing I could do other than ignore the young men snorting the white powder.
"Can I buy you a drink?" Blond boy had ambled over and stood only inches away, his lips curled in a ten kilo-watt smile.
My gaze held captivating eyes of dark green. For a moment, I forgot my disgust at what I’d just seen the gioventù’s friend do and simply admired the specimen before me. The flawless skin, the perfect nose, and the slender body of a person on the cusp of manhood made me increasingly aware of my own increasing heart beat.
Damn. He was beautiful. I didn’t think I’d ever described another man with such a word, which reminded me exactly why the lad wasn’t my type. I liked them tougher than he looked. Not delicate. Not someone I had to worry about breaking.
"I've got a drink." I gave a gruff reply and lifted my glass to my lips but I might as well have been drinking water as all my senses honed in on the person in front of me.
Undeterred, the boy lowered his body in the chair opposite and extended his hand. "I'm Carl. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
I stared at the manicured, slender fingers that didn't look as if they'd seen a day's labour, reinforcing the feeling Carl wasn't for me. It didn't stop me from picturing them stroking my skin as my cock sprang to life.
"I didn't invite you to join me." My tone remained cool, in contrast to the heat riding my blood.
"You didn't."
"I'm not interested."
"I bet I could make you interested." Carl leaned across and settled his hand on my thigh.
*****
At the bar, I ordered brandy, swallowed a sip, and then took the curved stairs up to the VIP area. Men sat on dark leather sofas arranged so they overlooked the main jam-packed club area below. I found a single-seater armchair in the corner of the lounge to perch on, my back to the wall.
I never liked sitting in a room with my back exposed. I preferred to see trouble before it found me. Problems were never far away, vacation or not.
From here, I watched male dancers in nothing but jockstraps on raised, caged platforms dotted around the club, sweat and glitter making their toned bodies glisten.
After tossing back the shot, I caught the eye of a young waiter who sauntered over and took my refill order. Waiting for the drink, I took my time to survey the other people in the lounge. A group of three thirty-something-year-old men sat in the section next to mine. Two of them looked like a couple by the way they touched each other.
The third met my gaze and flashed a set of white teeth as he smiled. Arching his brow and lifting his hand, he enquired if he could come over. He was good-looking with dark- brown hair and a well-built body under the t-shirt. Even his trousers seemed to hide a reasonably-sized shaft.
I tried to picture holding the man down, kicking out his legs and taking him over the table. My cock gave an unenthusiastic twitch. I was still too tense to entertain company. With an almost imperceptible shake of my head, I dissuaded him from getting up. The man shrugged and tipped his drink in salute.
The waiter brought my refill. I took a sip and relaxed into the leather chair, welcoming the gentle alcoholic haze in my mind that stripped away my agitation. My gaze trawled, exploring every male form in sight.
Another group of men sat a few sofas away. These were younger than me, too fresh-faced to be nothing more than just barely legal. Boisterous, they talked and laughed in loud voices, drawing attention.
I spotted him and my world skewed.
The boy—he appeared more boy than man—was whispering something to the person sitting next to him, when his blond lashes lifted in a slow, teasing manner.
My heart stopped and my skin prickled. If I wasn’t usually cool under duress, I would’ve been drooling.
The lad was what? Twenty? Twenty-one? Cute as hell in a smart mint-green polo shirt and navy trousers made of expensive shiny fabric that clung to a lean body. He came across as prep-school material and looked young enough to still be in college. Face like a fucking angel, dirty blond hair that flopped over his face, and pink lips that pouted in the way fashion models did.
I had no problem picturing the gioventù on his knees, that mouth stretched around my girth.
As he rose from the sofa, his dark and huge eyes shone with mischief. One of his friends laughed and lowered his head toward the low table, a rolled note in his right hand.
Columns of white powder lined the glass-topped surface and the man leaned over, sniffing half of the line before he straightened and repeated the action with the other nostril. Finally, he tilted his head back, pinching his nose.
My lip curled down, my jaw tightened, and I averted my gaze. The drug remained illegal, but just like homosexuality, it was freely available in Exilado for the right price.
I shouldn’t begrudge the young men their vices any more than I should condemn myself for having sex with other men. Still, I couldn’t help the weight of disappointment that settled on my shoulders. I’d seen the damage addictive drugs could wreck on perfectly normal lives. I’d taken an oath to keep the toxic substances out of Vincenzo territories. San Torino wasn’t my turf and there was nothing I could do other than ignore the young men snorting the white powder.
"Can I buy you a drink?" Blond boy had ambled over and stood only inches away, his lips curled in a ten kilo-watt smile.
My gaze held captivating eyes of dark green. For a moment, I forgot my disgust at what I’d just seen the gioventù’s friend do and simply admired the specimen before me. The flawless skin, the perfect nose, and the slender body of a person on the cusp of manhood made me increasingly aware of my own increasing heart beat.
Damn. He was beautiful. I didn’t think I’d ever described another man with such a word, which reminded me exactly why the lad wasn’t my type. I liked them tougher than he looked. Not delicate. Not someone I had to worry about breaking.
"I've got a drink." I gave a gruff reply and lifted my glass to my lips but I might as well have been drinking water as all my senses honed in on the person in front of me.
Undeterred, the boy lowered his body in the chair opposite and extended his hand. "I'm Carl. It’s a pleasure to meet you."
I stared at the manicured, slender fingers that didn't look as if they'd seen a day's labour, reinforcing the feeling Carl wasn't for me. It didn't stop me from picturing them stroking my skin as my cock sprang to life.
"I didn't invite you to join me." My tone remained cool, in contrast to the heat riding my blood.
"You didn't."
"I'm not interested."
"I bet I could make you interested." Carl leaned across and settled his hand on my thigh.
ABOUT KAI TYLER
Kai loves writing stories about forbidden men and relentless love, about gangsters with heart, antiheroes who do what they need to do to survive in a crazy world. These men commit to the lives they lead 100%—with heart, body and soul and when they fall in love you can be sure they bring the same level of passionate devotion to the people they love.Kai's debut dystopian MM romance novel, Duce, was an All Romance eBooks Top 50 Bestseller when it came out in 2015. Visit www.kaityler.com to connect with Kai.
CONTACT & MEDIA INFO:
Website: http://www.kaityler.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KaiTylerAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaitylerauthor
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