We all know this book should have been about a relationship between Inessa and Maya.
Joking aside, this isn't a bad ending to this series. It gave me most of the things I wanted and the relationship was pretty good. These last few books have just felt a little repetitive because the plots of all these books are so similar which is why I can't give this more than three stars.

The plot of this book is that all the characters from the previous books are coming to the arena that our new hero, 901, is at in order to finally shut down these fighting rings. I think this makes sense as the conclusion of this series. It's a good escalation and it makes sense given the experiences of the characters. At the same time, Valentin's sister Inessa is being held captive at this ring and 901 is the champion there. I thought their plot line was a lot more boring. Inessa's role is being a sort of sex slave for the person running the ring and then she's given to 901 in order to break him. I thought some of this plot line was over the top just for the shock value. When all the books in a series are really similar, you have to figure out ways to up the dark each book and in a dark romance series, that usually means make each book darker. Sometimes this works for me, sometimes it doesn't and this time, it just seemed a bit much.

I did enjoy the romance here though. One of my problems with book three was that I didn't think it pulled off the "really tough guy who thinks he's a monster is softer for the person he falls in love with" thing very well. I thought it was done a lot better in this book. It was set up well that there was a real threat to Inessa and it made 901 make some tough choices. As I said up top, I kind of thought that the relationship between Maya and Inessa was even stronger and this book could have really set itself apart if it went that way but I did still like the actual relationship too.

Now that I've finished this whole series, I can say that I thought the first two books were stronger than the last two. I also just personally don't love the "everyone is married and pregnant" ending to romance series but that's just a preference of mine. I definitely think the first book is the best and then for me, it went a bit downhill from there. But I've also seen people say they loved the series more and more as it went on so who knows what you'll think! I'm happy I read this series but I definitely think I need a break from mafia romances for a while! ( )

DNF ( )

Another great book in the series. We got to spend most of the time in the pits and see how incredibly brutal it is down there. The romance and the action were both top-notch quality.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. ( )

Riot by Tillie Cole
Scarred Souls #4

In a place where a person is just a number and is expected to do as they are told without question two people manage to defy the odds, live, love and survive. These two people are Inessa - #152 and Ilya - #901.

Both were taken from childhood and trained to become what Master Arziani and his sister determined their future would be. Inessa was to be a whore and Ilya became “Pit Bull” the to-the-death-fighter dominating the Blood Pit. Both managed to survive by focusing, suppressing much and getting on with the life they were forced into.

When this story begins Master is trying to break #901 and he has brought #152 in to be his Mona (personal sex slave). With a twisted mind and no limits to his machinations, predations and predilections Master is definitely someone you don’t want to be on the wrong side of.

While #’s 901 and 152 are suffering there are three men working to find and free Inessa. One is her brother, Valentin - # 194, who promised he would return for her. With Luka (818) and Zaal (221) a plan is devised to infiltrate, overthrow and put an end to Master and his games. A bloody bloody plan that spills quite a bit of blood!

I loved the strength of the characters – all of them – throughout this series. In this book we have a couple enduring but never giving up. They find strength in themselves, in anger, in revenge, in helping those around them – wherever they can. We find men who become closer than brothers who understand one another as no one else can. We find women that love men who have done unspeakable things but can see their core of gold. In this book there were also three other characters that made an impact: Maya (000) - young, scarred, serving others; #140 – a gladiator that loved and lost and fought and dreamed of revenge; and #667 – another pit fighter who finally had enough.

I am thankful to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book. This is my honest review.

4.5 Stars ( )

Sadly, Riot is the last book in the Scarred Souls series, and we leave the evil Master and the tortured souls in the Blood Pit with a bang.
152 has become Master's obsession, he wants to possess her in all ways. 901 is his undefeated champion, but he is not fully under his control yet so Master gifts him 152 to gain his compliance. But his plans back fire, at first 901 doesn't want anyone becoming his weakness, but soon 901 and 152 start to develop feelings for each other.
And freedom becomes a dream they both covet dearly.
The Blood Pit is a terrible place and horrendous things happen there.
The story is dark and gritty, and full of heartbreaking emotions (yep! I cried) wow! what a story.
A great conclusion, I highly recommend it! ( )