4.3 stars

If this author writes it then I will read it. No matter the genre. This is very different than I'm used to reading from her but there is still a familiarity to her work. Her subtle nuances and stylistic choices are always sublime.

I love her characters and darker elements. However, I struggled in this book as I'm not a huge fan of fighting in books, so I found myself skimming over some of those parts of the story. The actual story where the characters connected, past and present, was very good. ( )

* 4.5 stars * I always love a dark, erotic read and this one did not fail. It was an emotional journey, not a lot of surprises but still a lot of feeling and passion. The connection between Raze and Kisa was undeniable. ( )

This book will give you
an adrenaline surge from
all of the violence.

[(Rating flopped between 2 and 3 stars while reading) I had to write a review in the form of a haiku for a reading challenge. Haiku is suppose to be 3 lines 5, 7, 5 syllables. I think I did it. If not, I tried.] ( )

Wow! Gritty, grueling and grim this story is one of endurance and a will to live through unimaginable conditions. Raze is indomitable and amazing. Falsely accused, taken from a life of privilege, forced to kill to survive and finally free and able to get revenge he begins to remember…and part of his memories include Kisa.

Kisa is a “princess” of the Bratva. Supposedly pampered and privileged she has suffered since the day the love of her life and her brother were both ripped away from her. The man that steps in, Alik, is a psychotic, perverted, killer and he has claimed her – for better or worse – mostly worse. She, too, has endured more than most and is a survivor.

This is a book of survival, romance, love, family and much much more. I read Reap, book two in the series, before this one but it did not matter. Both are superb books and though dark definitely worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the copy of this book to read and review. ( )

**** I received an arc in exchange for an honest review ****

I absolutely love Tillie Cole's writing and this book was no disappointment.

What we have here is a deeply captivating, dark read, that pulls you in right from the start.

This book is written in a way that you can actually believe that these types of things happen in today's society.

818 is a boy that was ripped from his life and family in the most horrific way, betrayed by people that he thought as family and blamed for a despicable act.

We follow him throughout his years that I think that will haunt anyone that reads this book, I mean could these things really happen?? It's a question that I do find myself asking.

Kisa is another soul that is trapped within a devastating situation, and one that she feels that she is unable to escape as she finds it is within her duty after losing someone that she felt was her other half.

We follow these two in the hope that they find each other and get the HEA that they both deserve.

Tillie has written such a beautiful read and from page one you will be lost within the words of this book. I cannot wait to see what Tillie comes up with next.

If you don't like dark reads that contains explicit and non-consensual sexual situations, excessive violence, disturbingly sensitive and taboo subjects, offensive language and mature topics. This is not the book for you.

( )