| Title | : | Club Mephisto (Club Mephisto, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 137 |
| Publication | : | First published December 1, 2010 |
Molly finds herself immersed in a world of strict commands, pervasive sex, and creative torments. Over the course of a week, Mephisto strips away privileges Molly took for granted, and forces her to understand and acknowledge the depths to which she can be made to submit. But a surprising conversation the last day threatens Molly’s worldview, as does the strange closeness that develops between them. As the time of Master’s return draws near, Molly finds herself deeply and inexorably changed, and more determined than ever to live completely surrendered to her Master's will.
Publisher's Note: this BDSM fantasy novella depicts "total power exchange" relationships as well as acts of sadism, objectification, orgasm denial and speech restriction, caging, anal play and double penetration, BDSM punishment and discipline, M/f, M/m/f, M/m, orgy and group sexual encounters, and voyeurism.
This book is approx. 37K words in length.
Club Mephisto (Club Mephisto, #1) Reviews
-
This is about a BDSM relationship that goes even further into TPE -- total power exchange. It's a new and foreign concept to me, but hey, I hoped I was going to learn something through these characters. While it's certainly true that no author owes me an explanation for why her MCs do what they do, if she doesn't give me a little something to explain why a well-educated young woman would be happy in a 24/7 slave relationship, I'm not going to be buying into her story. Molly has nothing in her life except her master. BAM! She doesn't read, she doesn't cook or sew, she has no friends, she doesn't even shave her own ladybits. Molly is a beautiful cypher whose thoughts run to "You deserve this. You deserve the worst." while she's being whipped bloody. TSTL and sad.
Master and Mephisto are both abusive jackasses. Not my cuppa.
Edited to add: I hate finding out that a book is incomplete and that I'm required to buy MORE books to get the complete story AFTER I've bought it. Apparently this author and some reviewers think I'm being unfair in reviewing only this first book. Raspberries all around. Molly Weatherfield's CARRIE'S STORY is a far better book and answers the obvious questions for those of us who are curious readers and not insiders practicing a slave/master lifestyle. -
4 Master Mephisto Stars!
So here's the thing, I love a good BDSM book! I love the dark plot and subject matter, the intrigue of the characters, the allure, and the hot and steamy sex. However, 99% of the ones that I have read unfortunately are ALL sex and terrible writing with no story and even less emotion. In fact, I have a motto, you have to seduce my mind before you can seduce me...ya know?! Sex for the sake of sex, doesn't necessarily mean it's good sex! My one go to girl that knows how to do it right has always been
Kitty Thomas. So when my bestie recommended
Annabel Joseph and told me that if I liked Kitty, I would love AJ, I had to give her a try and OH HOLY HELL am I glad that I did!!!
This book grabbed me from the word go. Very different concept. This is a D/S, TPE book and it is in your face! Don't expect fluff and don't expect hearts and flowers. There is lots of hot dubious consent sex going on here, but it is exceptionally written and there is a ton more than just that going on in this book! But please know, it is a very controversial book and many people will read this and (rightfully so) hate Mephisto. AJ seems to have that same I-don't-give-a-fuck quality to her writing, like Kitty does, that I love! This book is disturbing and will make you feel uncomfortable and rip you out of your comfort zone. I was sucked in and that ending left me NEEDING to know more!
If you loved
Guilty Pleasures like I did, you will definitely enjoy this book! -
3.5 Stars
Before I start, I'd like to commend the use of condoms in this book. (I'm on a kick).
Hi guys! For those who don't know me, I'm Michele. I consider myself a sub in the bedroom. I like D/s, bondage, delayed orgasm, spanking, blindfolds, bodily restraint, etc. I love reading BDSM, and especially deep BDSM. Why am I giving you this background?
Well, while reading
Club Mephisto.
I have some things that I can't wrap my head around-
1- When she gets whipped by her Master/husband (Clayton), she doesn't receive the pleasure I'd expect. She is happy that whipping her gives him pleasure, but nothing more. And she feels guilty about it. I always thought a good Dom made sure that the sub was getting what she needed in conjunction with his desires.
2-Most importantly. Could someone explain cages to me? I really don't get that. She is put in a locked cage to sleep across the room. Not for punishment, thats just where she sleeps. She can't even completely stretch out. Also, the entire base of his bed is one gigantic cage. I understand subs sleeping on the floor or at the foot of the bed, but why the cage? I know it's part trust, but there's got to be more to it. I've thought about it over and over and can't figure out what purpose it serves. And if a Dom has a sub that is a good girl, why would he want her locked up? Wouldn't he want her next to him, so her body is open for his use? I get the exertion of power/domination of the sub is a big turn on, but why not bind her or cuff her? The thing is, I've read a lot of BDSM that had scenes that would never turn my crank, but I could still see why someone would want it, or the purpose. Like fire play. I'd never do it, but I understand that it's about trust and sensory.
Any insight would be much appreciated. Thank you.
PS-reading
Comfort Food made me way less uncomfortable than the cage thing does. And she was kidnapped!
This is actually the first in a trilogy, and the slave (Molly) is given to another Master (Mephisto) by her current Master/Husband (Clayton) while he is away for a week. Only one night did he allow her to sleep in bed with him, the other nights were the cage across the room or the cage under the bed. He also, for the entire week almost would not let her climax. It was torture for her. He put her in this double-dildo harness/chastity belt with cinnamon oil on it and made her sleep that way most of the time. He let her be used by man after man at his club with no climax for her. He said she was like those toy airplanes with the rubber band that you twist and twist, but he never lets her fly (until near the end) because he likes to watch her squirm and wiggle. She keeps thinking how much can he twist before the rubber band breaks.
I usually find BDSM arousing to read. This just turned me off. Not the giving of a slave to another. I LOVED that in Seven Day Loan. There were parts where Molly would glimpse her old life. She had a degree in environmental science. But she would lock it away like a painful memory.
I really couldn't figure out sleeping in the cage. Cage play, I get. I really do. To be locked in a cage for a couple hours, but to be kenneled like a dog?
But then another thing came up- when she was being used by all those men at the club, she could only drink water from communal dog bowls of tap water. I mean, I also get kitten and puppy play. I know I'm not "in the lifestyle", but I am of the opinion that a Dom should make sure a slaves basic needs are met. Water is basic. From a bottle. She was perfectly behaved. Can't she have a bottle? I mean she was used and used, and that was after all day cleaning the club with a glass didlo up her ass. She must have wanted to gulp water so bad. I felt sorry for her. I rarely feel sorry for the subs, but it didn't feel like she enjoyed her time with Mephisto in the slightest. -
So, Master goes out of town leaving his beloved Molly (who appears to have checked her brain at the door) in the charge of BDSM club owner, the handsome, Mephisto. Molly, who had no personality, except the one her masters tell her to have comes off as incredibly dull - she is a panting little puppy eager to please. Oh, and she is even sterilized- no pesky puppies to worry about. Perfect.
I had hoped when she was walking in the park that she might actually rediscover some small part of herself which for me would have redeemed the story. Alas, Molly will leave her desires behind because keeping her master happy is all that matters in her life. Sweet, brainless, Molly endures abuse that would leave most people hospitalized- all for master. Ah, nothing says love like bleeding whip marks on your backside.
Oh joy, Molly comes home and discovers that the week of sadistic abuse and sexual depravity was to be sure she was happy with her husband. Oh, and to make sure she will have another man to abuse her in case her Master should kick the bucket. Whereupon Molly says the only normal thing in the whole story "Is that even legal?"
I read a lot of BDSM and this was one of the most annoying stories yet. I like the female characters to have some sort of depth to them but Molly was so shallow - I wanted to slap her myself. -
If you are reading and rating this book as a stand alone, you are doing yourself and the author a HUGE disservice.
Yes, this book is more hard core on the BDSM, and there are some moments that were a cringe worthy for me. I have to admit, TPE is not quite my cup of tea in BDSM novels.
You have to take this book for what it is; a perspective from Molly's point of view, and the begging of a 3 part story. It certainly does not read like a Romance novel, as I've seen some people complain, but it is not meant to.
You have to read this book before
Molly’s Lips: Club Mephisto Retoldand
Burn For Youto get the full effect. This book was not my usual reading choice, but I am so glad that I read it. It put things in perspective for me when I finally read Burn for You, and I was able to enjoy that book so much more for it. -
This is unmitigatedshicewank-off material for the needy BDSMer. Or people who think they are BDSMers. I'm afraid the newsflash here is, that this is not how BDSM takes place, it's abuse instead, and no, this isn't either how poly takes place, it's instead a form of rape by proxy. Indeed, it is a sort of de-fanged rape-fiction, which fails to deliver the full quid.
Mind, I'm not against rape-fiction, nor against tortureporn, I love to wank off as much as the next woman. What I cannot abide is rape-fiction being sold to an unsuspecting public as BDSM.
What I also hate is that this kind of book has killed erudite BDSM stories for good in the past decade or so. Which means I lack reading matter. And that's not something I forgive easily.
And gosh am I tired of these silly tropes here... -
This is a book focused on total power exchange. If you don't enjoy TPE and only want to read about hot sex, this is not the book for you. I enjoyed this book more than I thought I would. The amount of control given up by an educated female was interesting, especially from her point of view. Her regret yet acceptance of what she left behind is discomforting yet what I enjoyed most about the book. The edge play was fantastic.
-
Ok, I want Mephisto to Master me. I don’t have any desire to be a pleasure slave, but he makes it look so damned good!
Club Mephisto will test your limits. It will bring you down; make you take a breath, and just when you think some flowers and roses are coming. BAM! There is a harsh punishment scene on the cusp of an orgasm that makes you scream at the book and beg for more all at once. This is the story of Molly, a very well educated woman that met a man in a BDSM, who later became her Master and husband. Molly, from what I can tell, lived a life of order and control. You would have to in order to gain a degree in college. She has taken to her role of pleasure slave easily it would seem. Longing to please her Master in any way that he deems fit.
HOT! So, taboo and wicked. This was a book about Total Power Exchange. I think, lately, with the whole boom in BDSM fanatics, peopledon’t honestly understand what Total Power Exchange is. It is not “We go in the bedroom and you top me for an hour, and then we are good.” No, if you are unclear on what a TPE is, then read this book. It is harsh, it is intense, and it will tangle your insides and make no apologies for it. When Molly’s husband lets her know he will be gone for a week on business, she is upset; only to find out that she will be, being cared for by club owner, Mephisto, an enigma to most of the club patrons. Molly even worked under him for a time, and still knows nothing about him. Just that no one owns Mephisto and Mephisto truly owns no one himself; the ultimate Master and trainer.
Molly is a pampered pleasure slave, her husband loves her and rightly so he married her. Mephisto is about to show her that she has been taking her pampered life for granted, and shows her the true meaning of being a slave. The story ripped at my heart and I really sympathized with Molly. Her experiences have only been with Clayton, her husband. And Mephisto owns her body and her soul by the end. He isn’t totally brutal, he has heart, and softness that comes out at times when he takes her places she hasn’t been in awhile. I have a few personal issues, but when I pushed them aside I could totally enjoy the book. It is difficult for me to understand why a husband would allow his wife to be humped by other men (There is an orgy scene at the club when she is owned by Mephisto.) And one after another she is filled and drilled. It was a hard concept for me to truly understand, but it didn’t deflect my enjoyment.
By the end of the story I was totally in love with Mephisto and Molly, and wanted inside Mephisto’s head so bad I wanted to scream! This is an intense, BDSM erotic novel that tests the very limits of the mind and soul. Would you go that far for ultimate pleasure? I highly recommend this book to anyone that likes BDSM, anyone that likes limits pushed, and darker BDSM literature. I honestly believe that Annabel rivals Anne Rice and her Sleeping Beauty books in her elegance in writing! -
24/7 slave submission is not my thing when it comes to bdsm and i KNOW it.....but my brain still decided to be an idiot and go ahead with this book. So take my rating with a grain of salt.
Despite that though, this book was disappointing cuz it had no plot whatsoever. Just sex. And sex. And yep, you guessed it, more sex. Absolutely little to no plot...with 24/7 submission. Consider me officially turned off. Sigh. 😑 -
I actually didn't write this review until I had read the other two parts of the trilogy.
I found this book extremely disturbing. I get the whole TPE thing and it seems like it can work for some people. But I just think there is a limit to how far and how long you can go. I don't care how consensual Molly was, I think Clayton kept her under too deep.
What I really really didn't like was any of the punishment scenes. It is one thing to push someone to their limits and even push them slightly farther. But this wasn't like that at all. This went way past punishment to sheer abuse in my opinion.
So last point: I had a working theory that what was really going on was an intervention. They were both worried about her and this was an attempt to figure out where she really was. You will have to read my review of the next book to see what I thought when I read it from Mephisto's perspective. -
![Michelle [Helen Geek]](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/users/1448463806i/5557851._CR0,13,200,200_.jpg)
11/13/2012 Hope's Full Review posted on:
http://www.2GeekGirlsReviewBooks.com
Hope is on today. We really have fun with this book. We spent some time talking together as we read it and how controversial the whole concept of Molly was to both of us. We saw Mephisto differently. It really was fun and very interesting. Today, I comment on Hope's review, her thoughts. Check it out.
Hope's Review:
Overall Rating = 3 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb = 3.5 / 4 = 3.75 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 3 Stars
Character Development = 2.5 Stars
Story Appreciation = 2.5 Stars
Worth the Chili = 4 Stars($2.99 Amazon)
I finish up the series tomorrow with a review of "Burn for You." Struggling through Molly and Mephisto is all made very worth it when you read the final in the series. If you haven't, you should.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
11/12/2012 Full Review posted on:
http://www.2GeekGirlsReviewBooks.com
Helen's Review:
Overall Rating = 4 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb = 5/3 = 5 Stars [Holy CRAP, Batman! Is the cover HOT or what??]
Writer’s Voice = 4 Stars
Character Development = 3 Stars
Story Appreciation = 4 Stars
Worth the Chili = 5 Stars [$2.99 on Amazon and B&N]
Check the blog for the full review.
This book was not even on my radar, but Michael was leading a group read of it. I wanted to participate because I love Michael's perspective. He started me on my fangirl craze with this author.
Club Mephisto made me anxious. I worried and wondered about Mephisto and Molly through the whole book. They just didn't feel right. You could tell so much more was going on than what you were gaining from the written word. The whole book was an enigma to me. This book is from Molly's POV. You have a sequel novella - Molly's Lips told from Mephisto's POV. Then, the second book in the series Burn for You. You must read the other two to get to Burn for You. If you don't read Burn for You, you are really missing a treat. Your appreciation for all the books in the series isn't really complete until you finish it.
I dragged Hope along with me. You'll see her comments on my review. She reviews the book tomorrow and I comment on her thoughts. We had great fun with it. This author is now one of my favorites. I'm reading her whole back list. Stay tuned for more Annabel Joseph.
Micheal is the BOMB at Group reads! THANK YOU - Michael!! -
★★ 2 STAR!
*Combine rating with Molly's Lips is ★★★ 3 SOLID STARS!*
I read almost all BDSM theme from Annabel Joseph. Some friends recommend to read this and they said it was scary and quite xtreme. I might agree with their opinion. There is nothing light about the BDSM from her books and I think they quite advanced. Of course, not for the faint of heart :p
Why is this only 2 stars? I have my reasons.
1. Molly lives as a 24/7 slave for Clayton, her Master and husband in vanilla world. They have 20 years ages difference but it doesn't matter for them. The story straight to Molly's present state. There are no details about her past before Clayton. Well, just a glimpse that she was a 'bad girl'.
2. Her Master leave her with Memphisto, a BDSM club owner and his best friend for a while. Clayton has business trip and Molly will be with Memphisto a whole week. Remember! Even they have 24/7 TPE, Molly still has her consent and limit and both party are agreed.
3. IMO, a whole week between Molly and Memphisto is a freakin' disaster. I couldn't feel any chemistry or spark. It was quite hard for me to understand their whole activities. From the speak restriction until orgasm denial which is quite painful and too forced. Hmm...
4. The whole story told from Molly's POV. Her mind is such a mess and very clingy to Clayton. I just realize that Molly is like a queen. She doesn't have any skills/social activity at the outside. Everything has to be through her Master. Clayton's fault is he never thinks about Molly's future. She's still young and need a firm hand beside with him.
The conclusion? This story should be as one book with the novella, Molly's lips. There is so much hole in the plot and there is no premise. Although I don't enjoy the story, I always love how Annabel Joseph created the BDSM world and different with the other. Club Memphisto plus the owner itself already fascinated me. There is nothing extreme so far. It's still acceptable. How is 24/7 TPE relationship could control both person and how intense it could be.
This book can't read as a standalone. In order to understand the whole story, you need to read Molly's Lips as well. -
Very interesting indeed, how someone can be pushed to the limits. It was haunting in the same way as Nine and a Half Weeks, to be a total helpless slave 24/7. But I guess it got too much for me after 3/4 of the way through. Maybe I'm losing my touch for extremes.
-
Review provided by
Black Lagoon Reviews:
Club Mephisto is the first novel I've read from BDSM romance author Annabel Joseph and I have to say, she's quite a writer! However, this novel didn't exactly sit easily with me and I found myself struggling a bit to get through it. Not because of the writing, but mainly because of the theme. It was a bit overwhelming and I just couldn't connect with the main character, Molly. Yet, despite my rankling about the main character, this was definitely a highly charged erotic novel and I must admit I am intrigued by Joseph's writing.
The world she creates within Club Mephisto is wonderfully painted with an unexpected cross section of characters in reference to means and wealth. The club itself is more upscale then one would imagine and it had a very 'behind the velvet ropes' sort of feel about it as it's exclusive to the max. But, aside from the club itself, the world of BDSM is also explored illustrating the dynamics between Doms and Slaves, which was quite eye opening to me as I had no idea how intense and how deeply this relationship went.
The characters themselves are nicely explored as I found this novel to be more of a character study then anything else. However, I found myself extremely disconnected from Molly, a 24/7 slave who completely gives both will and body to serve her Master. She's little more then a toy with very childlike thoughts regardless of the fact we come to find that she's very well educated. I would have expected something a bit deeper within her character, but I only found her whiny with her only thoughts being how she could get off. Mephisto, however, was quite a bit more interesting. He was thought provoking in his probing of Molly's slave status by putting her into situations that would incite the memories of her former life before her self inflicted servitude. His character is something of an enigma as we learn very little about his life outside of the club, but we as shown his iron will leaving any questions about his edicts to be unthinkable. Truly, this is one man it would be impossible to refuse do to his domineering personality. And also, one must consider Clayton, Molly's Master and husband. I actually sort of liked him, though we don't see much of him. His obvious love and devotion to his wife and desire to see her happy in both her lifestyle choice and with him was pretty sweet.
Yet, the themes of this novel really struck a chord in me and had me ginding my teeth a bit. Something about giving complete control in such a way as this was beyond disturbing. I kept waiting for Molly to grow the nerve to tell Mephisto to go to Hell, and yet it never came. I suppose it's the complete disregard for her desires that had me so irritated and the sadistic tendencies of the Doms within the story. Pain I understand, but to push well beyond the point where it's pleasurable seems ludicrous and unfathomable. Then again, I suppose if you aren't involved in the world you could never truly understand and I accept that can't pass too much judgement. In the end, everything that Molly experiences and allows to happen was her choice, freely made, to relinquish any claim to what happened to her body within a set of stipulations.
By the end of the novel though, I felt like little was learned by Molly from her time with Mephisto, making this sort of a rhetorical read. Since all of her time with Mephisto was meant to push her boundaries and open her eyes to how coddled she really was, pushing her to question her choices...I was just surprised that she went back to her old life so easily. I really expected more development as one of the goals to her time with Mephisto was to show her how to be much more then just a toy, and yet she never really surpasses that mind set. It was sad that she didn't clutch at the more productive lifestyle that Mephisto was trying to show her, where part of her time could be spent reclaiming a bit of her former self.
Overall, this was a quick read that was indeed eye opening and intense. While lots of the subject matter didn't sit well with me, it was still interesting and well written. Joseph's blunt writing style was refreshing, her unflinching attention to detail not leaving anything to be wondered at. In the end, if you're into hard core BDSM and TPE (total power exchanges) then this is for you, but if you're like me and crave a bit more connection to characters then this is probably one to shy away from. -
Firstly I have to say that I love Annabel Josephs' writing.
Next I am going to say how annoyed I was that this book finished at 67% on my kindle and the rest of the "book" was an excerpt of one of her other books "Mercy". Now that would not have been too bad except I have read Mercy twice.
Whilst I was expecting a longish book, I sort of ended up with a longish- short story.
I liked the storyline of Molly being 'babysat' by another Master whilst hers went away on business.
She had been treated quite gently by her Master/husband and she knew she was in for a bit of a rough-ride with Mephisto.
Lots of BDSM scenes and equipment being used, but nothing really out of the ordinary. Molly at times seems a tad confused about her feelings towards Mephisto in her week with him and at first can't wait for the week to be over. She does, however, come to care for him and is quite sad when their time is over.
Even though she says she loves the life she and her Master share, I think she might have tinges of regret to live such a cloistered life with him. There is a cook and housekeeper and she really has nothing to do but be her Masters pleasure slave/toy. We are told she has an interest (or maybe a degree) in environmental issues and Mephisto at one stage takes her to a creek area in a park and her knowledge comes right to the forefront automatically. It is here that she almost wistfully remembers her life before her Master.
I would have liked the book to be longer as I think there is more to explore once she is returned to her Master. -
This is my first Annabel Joseph book and will be my last. In a word, I found this book absolutely abhorrent, disgusting and revolting all at the same time. I've never breathed such a sigh of relief as I did when this one was over. I really don't know what appalled me the most about it and honestly, I would rather not relive it. Let me just say that I have learned from this book that books about TPE are DEFINITELY NOT MY THING. I may skim
Molly’s Lips: Club Mephisto Retold out of curiosity but this book with the edging and the anal training and the caging and the chastity harness just absolutely did nothing for me in any way shape or form. If it hadn't been safe, sane and consensual (the last being very DUBIOUS on the consensual), I don't think I could have finished it. Word to the wise...process with extreme caution. This is NOT for the faint of heart. -
I won this book in a BDSM Group celebration. From the marketing, I knew it would be intense, but I had to create a new shelf for this book - BDSM-intense. I really liked Molly and Mephisto. I'm less certain about Molly's Master, Clayton who seemed on the selfish side. TPE is one thing, but Molly literally has nothing in her life other than serving her Master. No where in the story is there any suggestion that she has friends, not even online ones. Even Mephisto (who is a pretty harsh Master) thinks its off, asking Molly if she happy.
While I have no trouble with the D/s dynamic, the attractiveness of the M/s dynamic often eludes me. What makes the story so interesting is Molly's total commitment to it and comfort with it. The idea of living a a 'vanilla' style or without a Master completely flips her out. She is so believable that it makes the entire book work. -
This is a really hard review for me to write. I enjoyed the story and will definitely be reading the others. My problem? I'm not into pain and there was a LOT of pain involved in this one. My other problem? I almost felt like Molly's masters saw her as a thing and not a person. Yes, I know it's a master/slave relationship, but it just felt off. Maybe that's because I don't get the Master/slave relationship dynamic.
So, this is why I'm torn and the review is hard to write.
I'm also not going to rate this one with stars. I don't feel like I can adequately rate it it. Maybe I'll feel differently after I read the others. -
I found this story about a bdsm lifestyle slave very compelling. Club Mephisto was written in a concise, crisp style that I enjoyed. I would best describe the author’s story-telling style as an economy of words yet still full in scope and very satisfying.
Molly participated in a 24/7 bdsm relationship with her husband, Clayton. Theirs was a total power exchange as Master and slave. The story indicated their M/s relationship took precedence over their marriage. Clayton was a wealthy, well-known businessman, who often entertained at home or attended splashy galas. The marriage happened mostly to provide a “vanilla” cover for the couple when they were in society’s eye. I found Molly to be a fascinating character but also someone who bewildered me. I simply could not relate to someone who thought of herself only as a “vessel;” with few exceptions, she had no will of her own. She made no decisions other than committing herself to follow the orders of her Master. At times she was so subdued, so flat, that I questioned whether she was as happy as she claimed to be. Some of my erotic romance reading makes certain bdsm activities sound very appealing. I have no personal experience with any bdsm activities, but I am dang certain I’m not cut out for the life of a 24/7 bdsm “slave.” I had very ambivalent feelings about Molly.
The crux of the story was that Clayton must be away on a week-long business trip. He planned for Molly to stay with a Master he trusts: Mephisto, the Dungeon Master who owns the club where he and Molly met, Club Mephisto. Molly was nervous and uncertain when she learned that Clayton had asked Mephisto to arrange some training activities for her so she wouldn’t be bored while Clayton was away, and perhaps she would learn something new. She knew Mephisto’s reputation for being strict, much harsher than her own Master, so she was worried how she would fare when she was left to Mephisto’s mercies.
The author guided us through the ups and downs of Molly’s week away from her husband/Master. She revealed Molly’s varied reactions to Mephisto and the paces he put her through. Molly spent a lot of her time in a state of suffering, both physical and mental, a result of the training she received from Mephisto. Her stay with him also seemed to be the catalyst for Molly to consider past parts of her life and feelings that she rarely pondered. In the end, her Master returned at the appointed time to retrieve her. Once they were back home, he revealed the ulterior motive he had for placing her with Mephisto. This was a little twist I did not see coming, one that increased the empathy I had for the three main characters. I enjoyed this book tremendously, and I’m looking forward to reading Molly’s Lips next. I wonder if reading the story from Mephisto’s POV will change how I feel about Molly! I give Mephisto’s Club 4 stars. -
When you read Annabel Joseph’s bdsm fiction, the impression you get is that you are reading the real deal. Not pretend, not make believe, but the way things are. The truth.
Molly Grace Belden Copeland is the 24/7 slave (and wife) to Clayton Copeland. She exists only to please him in a total sublimation of self. If that means accepting his beatings, then she’s happy to suffer. If she’s to crawl about naked on all fours on a leash, she’s as eager to please as a caged dog fed table scraps.
“She had long ago learned to hold her desires and wants silent like a secret in her heart, and wait to hear what he wanted. She lived to fulfill his needs.”
When her Master is called away on mysterious business, he loans her out to Mephisto, a bdsm club owner for safe keeping and (let’s call it) inservice training.
“I’ve arranged for someone else, another Master I trust, to watch over you and put you through your paces while I’m gone. That way I know you’re occupied and behaving yourself,” he tell her, but after she expresses gratitude at his foresight and cleverness, he warns, “Mephisto is an exacting Master. Much more so than I. I coddle you shamelessly.”
Under Mephisto exacting, brutal care, Molly is put through the paces of being beaten & whipped and used as a sex toy for Mephisto’s pleasure and that of his club patrons. Yet there is chemistry between them and a concern that Mephisto has for her that is evident throughout the book. Although he is much more brutal than Clayton ever thought of being, Mephisto expresses concern for Molly’s happiness and sees a person under the submissive. It is through him that the reader learns Molly’s full name and that she is quite educated, with a degree in environmental studies.
With face-slapping honesty, Annabel Joseph dissects a sadomasochistic total power exchange relationship. It’s not a comfortable read, but a compelling one that keeps you turning pages despite dismay (horror) at the brutality of the scenes. Her writing is superb and the story unfolds with well-paced precision. Club Mephisto is told entirely from Molly’s point of view. The next book, Molly’s Lips: Club Mephisto Retold, revisits what occurs during Molly’s week at the club from Mephisto’s point of view.
Club Mephisto is a 5 star read, but not for everyone. -
Wow! This is one of those not so fluffy D/s books. That is the great thing about Joseph's writing...she doesn't stay at any one end of the spectrum of the BDSM scene. For instance,
Comfort Object was on the lighter end of the spectrum and Club Mephisto is on the more intense end.
Molly and Master are married and in a total power exchange relationship. When Master is called out of town on business, he leaves her in the care of Master Mephisto. Mephisto is the handsome and intriguing owner of the Mephisto Club. Molly has spent many a night stealing glances at the Dom...wondering what it would be like to be his slave-to touch his body-to be at his mercy. Master leaves her in Mephisto's care for a week and Molly finds out just how lax her master really is and understands how her life could be very different as a slave with another Dom in charge of her every action.
✳✳ Reviewed on
I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews
___________________________________________________
If you like this type of book, you might enjoy one of these groups. Check us out!
Menage Readers
Erotic Enchants
Bookie Nookie's Erotic Lending Group -
This is not a fluffy bdsm book and it doesn't flirt with you first. This throws you straight in the world of Molly and her being given to another Master for a week while her real Master, and husband, is away on business.
Master Mephisto is fricken full on! He does not ease Molly into his domination within seconds of her husband leaving she is servicing him and obeying him in all things.
She is caged, whipped, denied speech, used by others, denied orgasms all in the name of submitting to this man(for a week). All the while I got the feeling that Mephisto may feel more for her that what he wants to.
This was definitely what I needed. It wasn't angsty and Molly is definitely a good servant, born for it even. I read through this easily and quickly as it is a fairly short read.
A very satisfactory read. -
2.25 stars. I never know what to expect with Ms. Joseph as an author, and this was certainly different from anything I've read from her before. It was difficult for me to connect to Molly. At first I thought she was sweet, then a doormat, then just one of those people who can't deal with life if someone isn't telling her what to do. She had not one friend or outside interest which I found sad since she was a college graduate.
Mephisto was also hard for me to like and I was uncomfortable with much of what he did to Molly. Note that Molly was never given a safeword, so he did what he pleased no mater her terrified reaction. I appreciated in the end that he did at least have some care and concern for Molly and her happiness. But it came after a lot of brutal treatment which I did not enjoy reading. Not a story I would ever re-read. -
That was some excellent BDSM erotica. The heroine goes to Mephisto for a week on loan from her permanent Master, so this is definitely not a romance. She forges an intense connection with Mephisto as he teaches her how to submit more fully, but she returns to her own Master at the book's close, and does so happily. The sex and BDSM is intense, hot and, most importantly, purposeful. Each scene is drawn to be shocking at first in its brutality, but then its meaning and goal becomes clear, and shows Molly growing as a character and a submissive.
Definitely not for the squeamish, as this is as much about s/m as is D/s, but it was an emotional read with wonderful characterization. -
Again another great Annabel Joseph book. I really wouldn't categorize this as a romance per se. This is more of a character study and I love that about Club Mephisto. One of the things I love about this author is that I can't predict a single thing about what's going to happen in her books. She brilliantly replicates the D/s experience in her books by keeping the reader as off kilter as a submissive. It's sexy, unpredictable, and thought provoking. Happy ending? I don't know if I would call it that. Satisfying experience for a reader - absolutely.
And I pray she brings Mephisto back. -
***Audiobook***
This story Is extremely hard for to me to comprehend because I'm so independent. Molly was not born into slavery. She chose it. It's a good story. It's very thorough in its explanations. Molly is definitely a trooper! -
On a bit of an Annabel Joseph binge a few weeks back, I purchased Club Mephisto. Club Mephisto is a classic example of the pain point readers of erotica may suffer from, and that's a lack of plot. This is a BDSM novella at about 125 pages. There is a warning at the beginning that the content may be triggering and it is certainly not a traditional romance by any stretch of the imagination. The relationship dynamics involve total power exchange. Molly is staying at Club Mephisto for a week while her master is away. Mephisto, while training Molly farther than she has been trained before, also takes her out in public to have ice cream and walk in the forest. Questions are asked of her - is she truly happy and content? - to set up for the next book in the series, but this is not for me. I didn't find it too much but in fact, was left unsatisfied by the series of physical descriptions enacted by characters with no definable personalities. I also don't read love stories in modern settings.
-
3.75
-
Nice book about a slave experiencing a different kind of Master.
-
Molly and her husband have a Master/slave relationship that includes total power exchange. Molly is a willing slave who happily follows her Master's bidding 24/7, she likes having the control taken out of her hands and she enjoys having a routine that she is made to stick to. When her Master has to go on a week long business trip he knows that Molly would be unhappy left on her own so he arranges for a friend of his to take over her care. Mephisto is the owner of a BDSM club, he lives the lifestyle but has never been interested in having a full time slave before. He has agreed to take on Molly as a favour for his friend but his desires are very different and Molly is going to have to learn a whole new set of rules while she is in his care.
I've read quite a few novels containing BDSM now and although it isn't a lifestyle I'm involved in I find it fascinating to read about. I've never really come across total power exchange before though, the few novels I've read that involved a 24/7 slave type relationship couldn't really be considered consensual so I was curious to find out why an intelligent young woman would willingly become a slave. As much as I don't envy Molly's lifestyle I did come to understand why it worked for her, there must be something quite appealing about leaving the decisions to someone else. It's probably liberating in a strange kind of way to give control to another person and it is obvious that Molly and her Master (and husband) have a very special relationship. They each offer the other something that the other needs and they both love each other deeply. I didn't feel that it was healthy for Molly to be so dependent on her Master for everything though, she wasn't capable of getting through a week without him on her own - even the thought of him leaving her for that long really upset her. I'd never really considered what a burden it must be for a Master to have someone so completely dependent on them all of the time, as much as they are the one who gets to make all the decisions they must also always have the slave's best interests at heart and make sure that they are safe and cared for. That is a huge responsibility to live up to!
The idea of loaning out your slave to someone else seems really odd to me but then again I'm not the kind of person who would want to be either a slave or a Master so I don't have a clue whether that is common practise or not. I happen to have a preference for exclusive relationships but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy reading about other alternatives. I could actually see why Molly's Master wanted to involve Mephisto though, he was worried that Molly would be completely lost if anything ever happened to him and he wanted to show her that she could survive without him and even be happy with someone else. Mephisto was an enigma, because the whole story is told from Molly's perspective we never really knew what his motivations were and he both fascinated and scared the crap out of me. I have since read the follow up to this story Molly's Lips which covers the same week in time but from Mephisto's perspective and I have to say I'd highly recommend reading both stories - it really makes a difference to how you see certain things when you get the chance to get inside Mephisto's head. I'm now looking forward to reading the final part of the story Burn for You and finding out what happens next.
At times Club Mephisto makes for uncomfortable reading, Mephisto takes Molly to some dark spaces and I certainly wouldn't want to swap places with her. In spite of that I thought it was a fantastic story. If you aren't afraid to push your boundaries, if you enjoy reading about the BDSM lifestyle or if you're even slightly curious about the idea of a total power exchange then I'd highly recommend reading this book. Do make sure you read Molly's Lips afterwards though - it won't even cost you anything because the author has published that story as a freebie (it can be downloaded free from Amazon for the kindle or in multiple formats via Smashwords).
