BRUTAL. INTENSE. PASSIONATE. THE WORLD OF THE SCARRED SOULS. They call me 901. I am a monster, a killer, a champion. In the blood pit I am a god. I have no name, no family, and no identity. When master says fight, I fight…until I am the only one left standing. I have one goal, to fight so well that I am freed. I don’t need friends, I don’t need women. They are weaknesses. I am strong. Until I … am strong.
Until I see her. She is gorgeous and kind and off-limits to me. She was stolen as a child to be the worst type of slave and now master wants her. What he wants, he gets. With a smile, she melts my brutal heart. I have never wanted anything more.
I need to make a choice. Freedom or Love. I cannot choose wrong.
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Here it is…..the conclusion.
Where it all ends.
Master Arziani.
The Blood Pit.
Raze. Reap. Valentin.
The Scarred Souls.
In this book we meet 901 and 152 (Inessa, who we met when she was much younger).
In the Blood Pit 901 is a god. Possibly the most conditioned out of all the characters from this series…..but not in other ways…he knew was what was going on and I think that was worse.
‘For the briefest of moments, life pumped back into my dead heart. For a split second it made me feel alive. And in that short second, I was reborn.’
152 now has the elevated status of High Mona to Master Arziani (and that is not a good thing). Drugged, abused and used. But maybe one good thing comes from it?
You find love in the most unlikely of places. And this series proves that. So raw, so sweet, so innocent and so beautiful.
I liked the last book, so even though the premise didn’t sound wonderful to me, I wanted to give this a try. Too much of the slave/master scenario, and too much trauma, so this one just wasn’t for me. Too graphic with the depravity for me. People are given certain drugs that mess with their minds, so they are slaves to a sort of mind control; lots of rape happens. 152 is one of those slaves, and so is 901. 901 wins her, 152, because he’s the best fighter in the Blood Pit. Also, the Master wants to “break” 901 down by giving him someone to care about. The writing is good and I like the hope shining through the darkness type of scenario, so I’m going with a 3 rating.
Well for me Tillie Cole certainly left the best to last but i suppose it was always going to happen between these four books, even as much as loved Luka, Kisa, Zaal and Talia and Zoya and Valentin this book and Inessa and Ilya were no exception.
Being Valentins sister i knew we would get all the boys back in the story’s next i loved the few chapters of Luka we got to see what this three were doing and thinking, and i just admit i loved the plan that all came together.
Again we were back in the outs of hell and i feel like Inessa was the one that suffered the most and the part she was playing and being drugged was just such a horrid story to read but there is nothing better than reading a character be so strong and resilient.
Ilya was just a mad mad man who was out to survive and do things his way but of course he was caged up and breed to fight but i loved his character as well.
I must admit i was a massive fan of Maya she was one of my favourite characters in this book and my heart absolutely broke for especially towards the end when she had no one but that’s what i love about this group of friends no one is ever left out
This story is of taking back your freedom and really surviving and trusting and believing in others to help you through and i loved how these four men came together.
This book was dark and violent but i am so glad i read this series it was different and such a good storyline over all 4 books and the as much reading that page gave me all the happiness i was sad for it to end.
If your not opposed to violence and a dark story this series is a must read
What a fantastic finale to the Scarred Souls Series! The darkness and evil continues with Inessa and Ilya’s story that’s just as heartbreaking and horrifying as the other books in this brilliant series. There’s also more of Luka, Zaal, and Valentin, as they fight for freedom and wreak their bloody revenge! If you like your romance darker than dark, you’ll love this!
Whoa!!! This book was intense. Full of Action. Wonderful amazing characters.
This is the last installment of Scarred Soul series and it perfectly wrapped up this world.
Raze Luka, Reap Zaal, Ravage Valentin and Riot Ilya. In this series we get their story and while each book focuses on a new couple, the storyline is one that keeps building.
You will fall in love while at the edge of your seat while thinking “this can’t he happening” It’s a rollercoaster ride you won’t want to get off of till the very end.
AND even with this being a dark romance (or maybe it should be because it is a dark romance. IDK) I was totally crying at the end of this book.
YES. We do get a HEA but it does not come easy and my heart broke for their past and cried for their future.
We would maim.
We would slaughter.
We would kill.
Together, we would fucking raze hell.
I purchased this book via Amazon. It is book 4 in the series and because they are all connected, it’s best to begin with book 1. This is not a hearts and flowers love story. It’s dark and tragic and may have triggers for some. Ultimately this story is about people who overcome the horrific life they found themselves in through no choice of their own and find happiness. And love.
Triggers:
murder, assault, rape, forced drugging, flashbacks to childhood kidnapping, human trafficking/slavery
**spoilers**
I’m not going to give much here since if you read from the first book, you already know what the story is about. This is the final book in the series and like the first three, it’s gripping, terrifying, heartbreaking and then there is justice and peace. Grab a few tissues. The author does a great job writing about the human spirits ability to overcome awful things that are done to them.
Enjoy.
I loved it, how she made a dark twisted story into a love story takes talent. I loved the uber alpha warrior men and the women who love them. I loved the whole brotherhood, finding your soulmate and destroying those who fuck with you or your love ones
What a magnificent end to this series! This one just like the ones before, consumed me completely! Never did I want a male to meet his female as much as I did with this one. And lord I wanted the Master to meet the most gruesome of ends!!!
901 and 152 meet under the worst of conditions but what grows from that is truly beautiful. I am sad to see the end of this series but my heart is truly full!
OMG this series has just been phenomenal, and Riot is no exception!! I have loved each and every one of them, each so very individual in their storylines and yet so connected as well. Something about those tortured fighters only being able to be reached by that one woman calls to me. The men are so Alpha, domineering, possessive and over the top – but in these storylines this really works, and is incredibly HAWT!!
This is the story of 152 (194/Valentin’s sister), taken with her brother and raised to be a Mona, but she has been noticed by Master Arziani, who wants her all to himself.
901 is the Blood Pit’s undefeated champion, frightened of nothing or no one, including Master Arziani. This is creating a problem for the Crime Boss, as 901 is not following orders to make this kills drawn out and give the spectators something to watch.
Its not until 152 appears on the arm of Master Arziani, capturing the attention of 901 with her beauty, who fails to hide his appreciation from his Master, that a plan starts to form in Master Arziani’s head, of using 152 to get to 901, and to bring him to heel.
Valentin is still determined to free his sister from the Blood Pit, and along with Zaal and Luka plans are afoot to bring down the Blood Pit and Master Arziani once and for all.
A brilliant storyline yet again, although different to the others in this series, as the majority of the story takes place within the Blood Pit whilst they are still captive, unlike the other books where they are freed quite early on. I love the feels between 901 and 152, how 901 tries to resist his feelings, how 152 finds herself caring for the most brutal of warriors yet underneath this he is sweet and caring towards her.
I read this in one sitting, devouring the pages, it really had me on the edge of my seat, unsure of how this would all end. Dark, gritty, violent with lots of abuse dealt out, this series is not for the faint hearted – but I have loved every minute of it. Another highly recommended read from Tillie Cole.
I have been waiting to listen to this book since I first started this series last spring. This was a perfect ending to the series, the characters all went back to the place where all the drugs and violence started (the blood pit). Scarred Souls is definitely not a typical bad boy or alpha male romance. These stories are dark and intense, both the hero’s and heroine’s have have gone through dramatic experiences, they have been robbed of their freedom and humanity since a young age. They have fought, survived and are scarred.
Riot brought back the key males from the previous books as they travelled to rescue Valentine’s sister. I honestly can’t say which male was my absolute favorite, but Illian is right up there with all the others. Even though the story is focused on Illian and Anessa, I loved how they brought everyone together for the end and the connection they all formed from the experience was wonderful.
***5 ‘You are in my scarred soul’ Stars***
From how Ravage ended and knowing that 152 was a Mona, sex slave, I knew that this one would be hard to stomach, not that the previous three were, but this was the first time we would be in the mind of a female slave and if you thought Raze, Reap and Ravage were dark and disturbing you ain’t seen nothin’ yet. Tillie Cole unapologetically went balls to the wall with Riot, proving once again why she is not only one of my favorite authors, but one of my favorite dark romance authors out there.
It was hard not to bleed for 901 and 152. Both were taken by the Wraiths at a young age and through drugs and fear molded into what Master Arziani wanted them to be. 901 is the Champion of the Blood Pit and 152 is one of the most beautiful of all the Mona. Both are coveted by Arziani because they, in his delusional mind, are a physical representation of his Godhood. What he doesn’t see is the inner strength that simmers in both of them that, if ever let to boil over could lead to his downfall. The thing with these two is that underneath the layers of protection they had to cast over themselves to survive were two people with amazing hearts that deserved to get out of that h*ll hole by any means necessary.
As with the previous books, there is a kind of insta-lust that happens between the characters that hits them both and then they are off and running towards their HEA, but of all the couples I felt that 901 and 152 were so evenly matched that it made absolute sense to me that they would end up falling in love with each other. They may be used in different ways, but they both live the horror of it every day and in each other they find a soulmate who will understand exactly what they went through and what they had to do to survive.
With this being the last book in the series, to say sh*t hits the fan is an understatement, but the end result is absolutely satisfying. Luka, Zaal and Valentin play critical roles in the book as do their women, Kisa, Talia and Zoya and I loved what was shown to us in the epilogue. I will reiterate, Riot is dark, brutal, crazy and chock full of triggers, but it’s all worth it in the end, if you can suspend reality for a few hours. Also, this is not a standalone, don’t start here. Go back and read from the beginning so you can truly appreciate this brutal world and how love can grow in it. The fact that this is the last book is bittersweet for me. Raze was my first introduction to the world of Tillie Cole and I was hooked, so to say good-bye to these characters is difficult, though I do give Ms. Cole mad props for not dragging the storyline out unnecessarily, but at least I can console myself with the fact that there are audiobooks so I can dive back into the crazyness whenever I need a fix, especially of Raze/Luka.
~ Copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley ~
This was such a wonderful ending to Tillie Cole’s Scarred Souls series. I practically cried as the Epilogue described all the happily ever afters.
Riot was nothing short of a story about resilience and survival as we meet the last characters to find love amidst the horrible world thrust upon them from a young age.
152 was introduced briefly in Ravage as her brother Valentin escaped slavery from Mistress Azriani and found love while still desperate to get back and save his sister.
While her brother was trained to be a ruthless killer, 152 was raised to be a mona whose sole purpose is to please her Master. With her elevation to High Mona her fate is controlled by the Master of it all.
901 is a champion. The Azriani Pit Bull. Savage and undefeated, he’s the best fighter at the Blood Pit. He is also strong willed and determined to avoid anything that could pose as a weakness. This includes rejecting 152…no matter how beautiful she may be.
But while 901 is strength in the flesh, 152 is strength in the heart and sole. She was truly a shining light amidst a life in an underground hell.
I tell you, a lot of this was like watching Gladiator. The scenes with 901 in the ring were so descriptive and so vivid…it was amazing and adrenaline fueled.
This does not disappoint and was an outstanding conclusion to the series!!
I’m a huge fan of this series, I like how dark and twisted it is yet still a love story.
Her pairing of couples are always spot on 901 and 152. 901 is a disobedient warrior who does want he wants which infuriates his master. His master needs him to be compliant so he needs to find a weakness, his high mona 152.
The pairing of 901 and 152 despite their circumstances they find mutual understanding I found it sweet and romantic how they have each other back, how they lusted for each other.
She writes the best sex scenes, they’re fuck scenes that turn into make love moment, erotic but romantic.
I love this series because it’s a different way to see love and romance.
The brotherhood and the partnership.
* ARC PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR FOR AN HONEST REVIEW *
Riot is one of those stories that sticks with you long after you’re done reading it. It’s dark, gritty and raw, but with a core of beauty. Ilya, 901, and Inessa, 152, are slaves to the Georgian criminal mastermind of the Arziani family. She’s a submissive sex slave and he’s the most prized warrior within the Blood Pit. “Because I was the Russian Pit Bull. The collector of souls. This was my domain. The Blood Pit was my arena.” The Master has always tried to make 901 submit to him. But, 901 refuses to submit beyond the fighting he has to do for his life. 152 is the Master’s newest Mona, his newest pet slave. He seems to be more excited about her than he is about his usual slaves. But, as excited as he is about his newest pet, he’s more thrilled with the idea of getting 901 to submit to him. So he comes up with a plan to use 152. He plans on making her become 901’s one and only weakness, then he’ll use her against 901 to gain his submission.
I have to say that I haven’t hated a character as much as the Master in a long, long time. But, I truly hate the him. He’s sick, twisted, psychotic and truly evil. Not a villain I love to hate, I simply hate him with no love in the equation. But, there is love in the equation for Ilya and Inessa. And their love is beautiful, even as they’re surrounded by blood and evil. In each other they find their soul mate. She sees the beauty buried beneath his hulking, scarred exterior. She thought that “this deadly warrior was beautiful. He was simply … more.” In her, he sees the light to guide him from the dark he lives within. She “pumped life back into my dead heart.” In each other they find the only happiness they’ve known for a long time, if ever. “Happy. Together, we make happiness.” And ultimately, they find freedom with each other, and within each other. ”
Although Riot is rife with violence and bloodshed, the ending more than makes up for all the sadness and evil that came before, it’s a really fitting, beautiful ending. Thank you, Tillie, for this beautiful, brutal story!
This was the end, but . . . . . . It could also be a beginning.
The Blood Pit is still running as usual and Master Arziani is still playing with people as toys in his Personal Hell . This time he is obsessed with this beautiful girl and makes her his High Mona. 152 is sweet, innocent and totally drug hazed. She now belongs to the Master who subjects her to unthinkable abuse to keep her in line. She meets 901 in Blood Pit and then in a sadistic game , is given to him to play with whore out to an animal
901 is an undefeated champion who fights and kills to earn his Master money. But as fate would have it, they fall in love. Exactly Not what the Master wanted. And so torture becomes a new routine for them.
This book is number 4 in the series and I got a sense of Dejà Vu. But the best part is the end . The clans coming together is the most fitting conclusion .
I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and it gave me closure !
“You are in my heart. You are in my scarred soul.”
Riot is the last book in the Scarred Souls series, so I really tried to read slow to drag it out as much as possible. We met 152 in Ravage and I was intrigued by her right away. I couldn’t wait to read her story, and see what would happen to her. Tillie Cole didn’t disappoint and hooked me to the story right away.
“We didn’t have names. Our numbers weren’t welcome in this moment. Right now I was his beautiful, and he was my brave warrior”
The moment Master sees 152 he becomes obsessed and has to have her for himself. She becomes his High Mona, his personal consort. However the moment he sees that his most disobedient undefeated champion of the Blood Pit shows interest, the Master thinks of a plan to get 901 fully under his control. He gifts him 152 to then use her as a bargaining chip. I loved both 901 and 152, they were both such intriguing characters and very likable. My heart broke for both of them because they had went and still went through so much during their captivity. However both were strong and didn’t lose hope.
To see them develop feelings for each other was beautiful, and it was very innocent. 192 is a warrior who doesn’t want anything or anyone becoming his weakness. So he tries to keep a distance from 152. A lot of horrific and heartbreaking things happen at the compound, and I cried a couple of times.
“I wish I knew your name. I want so much to know the name of the male who has brought me home to his heart.”
This book had it all. There was a lot of action, fighting, romance, darkness and very emotional scenes. Both 901 and 152 were amazing characters and I loved them together. I also loved that Luka had a couple of chapters, and that the gang fought to once and for all destroy the evil Arziani empire. The ending was perfect and I would love a bonus epilogue or even a novella because I love this series so much. Tillie Cole concluded this series perfectly and I am going to miss every character!