Member Reviews

Received ARC from NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

My mind is blown from this book, I have a major book hangover... This was a bite your nails, edge of your seat, kleenex box next to you book. Riot is the 4th book in the Scarred Sours series and is the final book. I wish this series wasn't coming to an end because I loved it, but what a way to go... This book tied all the loose ends up in a near little package so to speak. Riot is best read in order after the first three books. If you want updates on your favorite characters from the previous three books, don't worry you will get them!!!!

901/Ilya is the Blood Pit champion, 152/Inessa is the High Mona for the Master and is Valentin's sister. 901 won't obey, has no weaknesses and Master Arziani is determined to find one, when he catches 901 staring at 152. To break 901 he sends him 152.

The storyline flowed well and the book really put you right there in the story. I struggled to put the book down, and it was only because I had no choice and it was always in the middle of a major event. I shirked all my responsibilities because I couldn't put this book down. The characters felt real, and the heartbreak and devastation in the story was palpable. I loved the first three books, and thought it would be really hard to top them, but this one rivaled if not topped them. I loved seeing the updates on all the other couples, and the glimpse into life after. Definite 5 star read for me hands down!!!

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Well this final instalment certainly went the extra mile with both our leads having been kidnapped, drugged and used abysmally since childhood . 152 ( Inessa ) is the sister of 194 ( Valentin ) from the previous book Ravage and until recently had been at the whims of Mistress Arziani but as this book begins 152 is the slave of Master and he's elevated her to his very own High Mona which trust me is not something to choose or indeed desire!
901 , champion of the blood pit and a real pain in Masters backside! Yet Master is determined to find a weakness in 901 and exploit it because after all slaves are meant to be subservient . Master throws 152 and 901 together under impossible circumstances but it's not all smooth sailing. 901 knows full well what's Masters game is and pushes away 152 but beneath his cold exterior is a man with heart and soul and perhaps he understands 152 more than he thinks?
Wow a worthy final story that ties up so many loose ends. It's impossible to imagine how 152 survives the appalling life she's been subjected to but as the drugs wear off she slowly claws back more of her sense of self and worth. The romance felt a little bit like two survivors finding each other but doesn't suffer for it, just kind of feels like kindred spirits needing each other. I loved seeing characters from previous stories appear here but best of all the ending just felt right.
I won't lie these books are heavy on physical interactions and yet strangely I didn't find this book sexy. Compelling and thought provoking , harsh and even cruel but not for this reader erotic. The author gives us damaged, tortured characters that frequently have me holding my breath at the sheer degree of degradation they go through. Yet as they somehow hold on to hope and save themselves it's knowing they not only survive but go on to flourish with love in their lives that has kept me gripped from the start. Not fluffy , happy, stories but dark, twisted ones that bring enemies together to form allies they never could have imagined.
This voluntary review is of an advance reader copy that was provided for me and these comments are my honest opinion

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Best book I've read so far this year, hands down. I love this series and what Tillie Cole does with these trained fighters and assassins. I'm amazed at how ruthless they can be, yet are so tender that they tug at the heart strings. There's an innocence among the characters despite the violence which only connects us to them. Ilya and Inessa might be my favorite couple so far, but I can't decide, I love them all so much. And Maya...sweet, sweet Maya was such an addition to this story. Watching Ilya and Inessa fall in love had my fingers flying as they turned the pages. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Tillie Cole is the queen of combining the darkness and the light so that what's left is love.

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This is the first book I've read in the series and I enjoyed it and the characters a lot. I look forward to reading more books from this author. Although this book is part of a series it can be read as a standalone. I had no problems following the story even though I hadn't read the previous books.

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The final installment of the amazing Scarred Souls series took my breath away meaning that the author once again created magic with an emotional, intense, suspenseful and full of twists story!

One thing for sure is.... that lots of blood it's going to be spilled..

To be honest I'm really sad to see the series come to an end but well what they say? all the wonderful things come to an end when the time is right and in this particular series it was (either way I'm sad sad, i took it heavily when i read the last page...it's not a secret that I'm in love with all the books in the series)!!

As you know from the previous book it ended with a big cliff about Valentine's sister, so yeah you got it right that's her story and 901's who believe me you are going to love from the first pages.. at least i did!! I won't say much about the plot, i don't wanna spoil anything it's better if you read it with no further info.. cause the author created some good twists and wow scenes and you have to be surprised!!

The plot develops steadily keeping the suspense and once again i was feeling everything the characters were living inside the story. 901 and 152 will warm your heart and you will be filled with sweet/sad, innocent and passionate emotions.

In addition i was pretty excited to read all the characters from the previous books were part of the epic conclusion. I definitely recommend the series and I'm looking forward to see what else the author has in store for us!!

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An absolutely explosively good end to the series, it's left me wanting more even though I feel like their stories are complete!! Full review here http://www.mamamummymum.co.uk/2017/01/book-of-month-riot-by-tillie-cole.html

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This is the first time I've read a book in the Scarred Souls series by Tillie Cole, about boys and girls snatched from orphanages or the streets or families and raised to be underground fighters (to the death) or as sex slaves. It was shocking, horrifying and I'm sad to think that these things are in fact happening in the world today.

The writing is sparse and economical, the words used are simple and stark, and I thought it's fitting for the situations our characters are in. Yet, for all that, the emotions are abundant--both when they were alone and together. What they went through is also relatable--the yearning and fight for identity, for freedom and for love under a master who is determined to reduce them to the most basic level.

While I'm amazed at the world the author has built, and while our characters did defeat the evil master at the end, I find myself wishing I'd known more about Master Arziani. I mean, why did he build this "world" where he's the master? Why? Who is he in the real world? I'm not sure if these questions and more were revealed in the previous books, but the info would've given depth to the story.

Fans of the series would be happy to see cameo roles by the heroes and heroines of the previous books, but more the men than the women. Though I didn't know who they were, I was able to piece together who they were in a "previous life", and so while it may be confusing at first, the author was able to provide enough information to guide the newbie reader along.

The book was written from alternative points of view (901, 152 and Luka), and I enjoyed reading this story, especially those stolen moments between the hero and heroine where they found themselves in each other and in their love. Well worth a read!

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I've been following this family and their history since "Raze"and I e had my heart ripped so many time that I e lost count !!! Each time I swear never again !!! Well now we all know how that's worked out for me 😂

Now Riot was supposed to be a book I never would read but once you'repart of this family you just can't let go .....I needed my fix !!

However , I would strongly recommend you read Raze , Reap and Ravage before you start Riot.

"152" was stolen as a child , drugged to be a submissive slave , to be used and abused as a sex slave or a mona. The drug would make her crave release. She was also used to make her older brother do as he's told ....
When Mistress is slain she's sent back to Master . Master is obsessed , always has been .... .

Master also has another obsession , "901" .....his prize fighter with a a will of his own , has taken no mo a and will not show Master any weakness bur Master is determined to break him....

Master "donates" his mona to "901" and he fights all the way but her agonising pain and pleas for release is simply just to much to bear he realises she as much a victim as he is and helps her ..

Master thinks he's won but he doesn't know the power of love , family,commitment,loyalty and sacrifice .
Once I finished Riot I felt a sense of peace , closure if you like ❤

Tillie Cole is phenomenal at what she does and never disappoints !!!!!

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Riot is the epic and thrilling conclusion to The Scarred Souls Series. In this final book, our characters will be put to the test in the most unimaginable ways. The stakes have never been higher. Riot is incredibly well written, raw and intense. This story is not going to be an easy one and at times, it might be hard to read. The situations and circumstances our characters will experience are not easy, but I promise that the journey will be worth it. It is not all dark. There are some light moments among the dark. There is hope in unimaginable circumstances. There is unexpected love that will last a lifetime.

Riot will grab on to you from the beginning and just hits the ground running. There is never a dull moment and you will be on the edge with anticipation. This book was everything that I wanted and more. I enjoyed every minute of this story from beginning to end and loved seeing this series come full circle. Fans of this series, you are going to love this epic and heart-pounding ending.

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RIOT was another gripping addition to this series. It was raw and full of emotion. The character were so well written. This book is full of action and redemption. Loved it!

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4.5 stars!! Absolutely loved it..
I did not want this series to end!! These characters have been put through so much and watching them try and rehabilitate themselves through love and perseverance has been a fantastic ride.. Tillie Cole is an amazing author and can completely immerse you into her stories... This ending brought closure to us as the readers but most importantly to these scarred men!

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Riot
Tillie Cole

Nothing made me more happy then seeing Riot hit my kindle. This series seriously is like a drug, trust me the addiction is bitter sweet. If I could give Riot 6 stars I without a doubt would. Are there touchy subjects YES. If you do not like dark then no I would not recommend this book for you. But I have to warn you, you will be missing out. Missing out on flawless writing, story telling, emotional roller coaster and most of all TRUE LOVE CONCURS ALL.

Riot picks up from where Ravage leaves off. Only you are in the underground world of death, doom, and darkness. It's Master's kingdom and what Master wants Master gets. Including breaking everyone of their humanity. Each child has been stripped of their name and given a number. So many years have gone by pumped full of drugs they no longer remember a life outside of these walls.

"I don't know what the world outside is like, but I know that this place of blood and pain is wrong. I feel it in my heart. I feel it with everything I am."

Men and boys fight to the death in matches. Women are only good for two things, to service the men (especially Master) and cleaning up the messes.

"667 had told me that we-all under Master's rule- were the same. We had to protect one another. "

Dispute these deplorable conditions they each man and woman find a way to love and love so deep that when their love is taken away so is their soul.

"I couldn't stand this sight. Couldn't stand this strong male feeling so torn. I opened my mouth to speak, when his gaze glazed over and he said sadly, "First he makes you want them. He makes you need them in your heart. Then he takes them away, he takes them away so that you'll do anything to get them back""

Master played many mind tricks on those held captive. They never knew when their worst fear would become reality.

""I thought having a female would make me weak. I thought wanting someone, being with someone, needing her, would destroy my place here in the pit" he paused, then said, "But since I let you into my heart, since I let you into my soul, you have made me stronger. I want more than fighting and death. I want more than this pit. And I want that with you. Only you. ""

There are so many twists that I refuse to spoil. This final book in the Scarred Souls series is about more then two main characters. It's about the ultimate fight to live no matter what life puts in your way. That if you let love in right down to your very soul, you can make even the darkest of situations become brighter.

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I was THRILLED to get my hands on the next Tillie Cole novel. Add that plus the fact that it's about 152 and 901 and it just doesn't get much better than that.

Riot is the fourth and final book in this series. You must read them all to get characters back history and to get the true feelings of what's going on. Plus, it's TILLIE COLE, why wouldn't you want to?! We meet 152 in the previous book and I swear my heart broke a thousand times for her. She's so strong, the poor thing, the hell that she lives in. A whore, stolen, drugged and abused.

901- he is the most fierce warrior in the blood pit *fans self*.

Master, who is Satan himself. He must be stopped and there's only one person who can.

Emotional, dark, gripping love story between a warrior and a slave. My favorite of the entire series!

“You are in my heart. You are in my scarred soul.”

My rating: 4/5 stars
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks for allowing me to read this book.

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3.5 Stars
Riot is the book where everyone finds their revenge and the people who are responsible for the cruel fate of previous characters finally come to justice. I didn’t like so much this book is was darker have more explicit content that some of the other readers may find it disturbing. For me was in this book too much. The characters are develop and we see how they are surviving the cruel world they are living in. Inessa and Ilya are both several times cruel punished and there is a lot of blood. It is great that we see how they fall in love unplanned. But the author is true to herself and ends the story beautifully.
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

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Hands down, Riot is my favorite book in the Scarred Souls series. I can even point out the exact reason. 901 and 152 have both been under Master’s control (his very special drug cocktail) for so long that they don’t even know their own names. They don’t remember what outside is like. They are simply going through the motions of a slave life like good little obedient properties. Deep down they know something isn’t right with their lives. Their subconscious thoughts tell them there is more. It’s that moment when they start questioning and wanting more. They become aware to the fact that there is more and they want it. I loved every single second of it!

Inessa/152 was introduced in Ravage. She’s Valentin’s baby sister and the sick people that tried to make him a monster have turned her into a sex slave. Valentin’s punishment for disobeying his Mistress was his sister being sent to Georgia and to the Master that is obsessed with her. Once in Master’s possession he puts her on a different drug cocktail. This new cocktail makes her very obedient and needy of the Master’s touch. It also keeps her memory blurred.

The Blood Pits ruling Master is a very greedy power hungry sadistic psycho. He has a love hate relationship with 901. 901 is the Blood Pit’s champion fighter. He is undefeated. 901 doesn’t play in the sport of blood. He enters the pit, makes his kills as quickly and efficiently as possible, and quickly returns to his cell. Master desperately wants to find 901’s weakness so that he can exploit it. Master wants 901 to play in the blood sport. He needs 901 to make a show out of his kills. Master sees that 152 is the perfect tool to getting a weakness to exploit out of 901.

Tillie Cole treats her readers to one hell of a climatic ending to this series. She brings all her tortured scarred souls back in this installment. The hero’s of the previous books get the ultimate revenge when they cash in on the pound of flesh that is due to them for the hell that they’ve been through.

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Tillie Cole has done it again, she has given us a book with so much grit, heartache, love, fighting and above all else the story of friendship even in times of fighting to stay alive. This book is the story of 901, the best fighter the blood pit has to offer and master needs to find a way to be able to control him. So master thinks a good woman could possibly do just that however, it does that and so much more. 152 is the woman the master wants and controls but 901 thinks he can save her. Can 901 get 152 away from master? Or will master once again find a way to control 901 and bring him to his knees or death? This is a must read book and I can't wait to see what this author has to offer us in the future. This series has been one of my all time favorite series of all times, so realistic and so well written you can't put the book down until you are done. It's well worth the book hangover you will get from reading it all night long.

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4.5 shockingly good stars

ARC generously provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

I love Tillie Cole's books and her writing, however I have never read one in her Scarred Souls series, I had no idea what I was in for. It reminded me a bit of the Spartacus series on Starz a few years back, well the first season at least.

152 wakes up not knowing who she is or where she is, her memories are gone due to the years of heavy drugs she has been under, all she knows is now she has been chosen as the high Mona and her job is to serve the Master and only him. It doesn't matter that the master is an evil man and repulses her because the drugs they inject her with make her body want him.

901 is fierce warrior, but he knows he is really a slave to the master. However, to keep a part of himself he will not give into the wishes of his master and drag out his fights. He kills quickly and returns to his cell, that is his life. He has turned down every Mona offered to him, he has seen how the master will use any attachment against his warriors.

The master only wants 152 for himself, he is obsessed with her, however he has seen 901 look at her, it is the only woman 901 has ever looked at so he must use what he has in order to get control over his greatest warrior, however he must part with the one thing he wants above everything else.

Wow, oh wow. So I haven't read the first three books in this series but I wasn't lost so I don't think it is a must, however I have now moved them up to my must read list. This is a dark romance story, but it amazing how these characters find each other and their strength is undeniable. I loved all the characters and loved how the book ended. There were only a few parts that I was a little behind on due to not reading the other series but it did not hinder my enjoyment of the book at all.

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ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. What an amazing conclusion to the Scarred Souls series! I loved the world Tillie created and the characters she put in it. I am sad to know this is the end, but at the same time I’m glad I found this series, cause it’s something I won’t forget.

Riot, the last book in this series, tells the story of Inessa (prisoner #152) and Ilya (prisoner #901).
Inessa is a sister of Valentine, that we’ve met in Ravage.
Inessa and Valentine, as we’ve learnt from the previous book, were both stolen from the orphanage at a young age and turned into slaves by cruel Mistress Arziani. They were both drugged and trained. Valentine to be an assassin and Inessa, to be a Mona - a sex slave.

Ilya (901) on the other hand, also stolen as a child, is the unrivaled champion of the Blood Pit run by Master Arziani. He is unbeatable, and although he mostly obeys Master’s orders and wins all the fights for him, he does not submit fully. He has nothing too lose, no weaknesses the Master could use against him. Until Inessa. She is the first woman to ever catch 901’s eye, even thought he resists her at the beginning. Unfortunately Master notices that interest and decides to give Inessa- his High Mona to 901, hoping that in time he will start caring for her and that she will become the weakness he was looking for in 901 for so many years.

Will Master Arziani succeed? Will Ilya and Inessa find love in the cruel world they were both forced to live in? Will they finally find their HEA?

I am not going to tell you that of course. To find out what happened to these two and if Luca, Zaal and Valentine that you’ve met in the previous books will finally find a way to destroy Master Arziani and his Blood Pit, you’ll have to read the book. What I can tell you though is that in my opinion it was a very good book. Heartbreaking and emotional at times, but still beautifull. A page turner. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down. I loved the story and the characters. Not only the main ones, but also the secondary ones, like Maya for example. I think that you’ll like it too. You should definitely give this series a try.

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Wow. Co za rewelacyjne zakończenie serii Scarred Souls! Muszę przyznać, że świat stworzony przez Tillie w tej serii oraz bohaterowie, których tu umieściła, bardzo mi się spodobali. Z jednej strony ubolewam, że to już koniec, ale z drugiej cieszę się, że w ogóle znalazłam tę serię, bo z całą pewnością zostanie ona w mej pamięci.

Riot, ostatnia część serii, opowiada historię Inessy (więzień #152) oraz Ilya (więzień #901).
Inessa, to siostra Valentina, którego mieliśmy okazję poznać w poprzedniej części zatytułowanej Ravage. Tam też dowiedzieliśmy się już, że rodzeństwo zostało w młodym wieku porwane z sierocińca i zmienione w niewolników okrutnej Pani Arziani. Oboje faszerowano specjalnymi narkotykami i trenowano do ich nowych ról – Valentina do bycia zabójcą, zaś Inessę do roli Mony, czyli seksualnej niewolnicy.

Ilya (901) z kolei, również porwany jako dziecko, to niezwyciężony mistrz podziemnego kręgu śmierci, prowadzonego przez brata Pani Arziani. Choć niepokonany dotąd Ilya wygrywa dla swego Pana wszystkie walki i właściwie wykonuje bez sprzeciwu jego rozkazy, to jednak nie jest całkowicie uległy, odmawiając sztucznego przeciągania swoich walk jedynie dla uciechy tłumu. To niezwykle drażni Pana Arziani, który wie, że pełną uległość więźnia 901 zdobędzie tylko jeśli znajdzie w nim jakąś słabość. 901 przez lata nie dawał Panu Arziani jednak tej satysfakcji, nie znajdując nic na czym by mu zależało. Do czasu. Wszystko zmienia się gdy do kręgu śmierci trafia Inessa, którą Pan Arziani czyni swoją prywatną niewolnicą. Inessa jako pierwsza kobieta wpada w oko 901, który choć usilnie się przed tymi uczuciami broni i za wszelką cenę stara się je ukryć, nie potrafi być na nią obojętny. Zainteresowanie to dostrzega oczywiście Pan Arziani. Chcąc w pełni ujarzmić 901 Arziani oddaje mu Inessę licząc, że temu zacznie z czasem na niej zależeć i że to ona okaże się słabością więźnia 901, na którą od lat czekał Arziani.

Czy plan Pana Arziani się powiedzie? Czy Ilya i Inessa znajdą miłość w niezwykle okrutnym świecie, w którym przyszło im żyć? Czy ich historia będzie miała szczęśliwe zakończenie?

Oczywiście nie mogę Wam tego powiedzieć ;) By dowiedzieć się jak potoczyły się losy Ilya i Inessy oraz czy Luca, Zaal i Valentine poznani w poprzednich częściach, znajdą wreszcie sposób by zniszczyć podziemne krwawe imperium Pana Arziani, musicie sięgnąć po tę książkę. Ja mogę Wam jedynie powiedzieć, że mi ona bardzo się podobała. Było w niej dużo emocji, często trudnych i bolesnych, fakt, ale myślę, że to właśnie dzięki nim ta seria zapada w pamięci. Jak już faktycznie usiadłam do czytania tej książki, to nie mogłam przestać. Polubiłam te postaci (zarówno te główne, jak i te poboczne jak choćby Maya) ich historie, cały wykreowany przez Tillie świat.
Moim zdaniem to bardzo fajna, godna uwagi seria. Polecam.

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I would like to thank Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I usually wait until closer to release date to read and review but I loved the book before this so much that I had to dive into it. The whole idea of underground slaves and this whole other world scares the crud out of me. I think that is why I find it so intriguing. Also the fact that love can be found everywhere and that goodness will over come and freedom isn’t lost.

Towards the end of the book I was in tears and my husband looks at me and asked why I was crying… Me… book. He shakes his head and said you know it is fake and these are characters. I like that this author made me love these characters so much that I could empathize and care for them. That these characters were so down trodden that they didn’t even know what love was but just that someone was gentle and kind and they craved that.

I have not read the whole series so I loved that I could be sucked in to the two later books and still not feel like I was lost or missing out. This is not one of the light, fluffy, clean romances if you are looking for that. This is dark and takes you to the world of slavery and abuse. I loved rooting for these characters and waiting for when Master would be taken down. The ending was wonderful and I loved the fact that they were all still brothers and family and left me feeling that the story was complete.

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I loved this book, it was refreshing, different and I really enjoyed it!

I am so excited for more, full review soon!

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