Also in this series: Reap, Ravage, Riot
Series: Scarred Souls #1
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on June 16 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 272
Format: eBook
Source: Self Purchased
TO TAKE BACK LIFE, ONE MUST FIRST FACE DEATH...
Conditioned in captivity to maim, to kill and to slaughter, prisoner 818 becomes an unrivaled and unstoppable fighter in the ring. Violence is all he knows. After years of incarceration in an underground hell, only one thought occupies his mind: revenge... bloody, slow and violent revenge. Revenge on the man who wronged him. Kisa Volkova is the only daughter of Kirill 'The Silencer' Volkov, head of the infamous 'Red' bosses of New York's Russian Bratva. Her life is protected. In reality, it's a virtual prison. Her father's savage treatment of his rivals and his lucrative and coveted underground gambling ring-The Dungeon-ensures too many enemies lurk at their door. She dreams to be set free. Kisa has known only cruelty and loss in her short life. While working for her church-the only reprieve in her constant surveillance-Kisa stumbles across a tattooed, scarred, but stunningly beautiful homeless man on the streets. Something about him stirs feelings deep within her; familiar yet impossibly forbidden desires. He doesn't talk. Doesn't communicate with anyone.
He's a man beyond saving. But Kisa becomes obsessed with him. Yearns for him. Craves his touch. Needs to possess this mysterious man... ... this man they call Raze.
Raze is the first book in this overpowering and simply breathtaking series. Now I had recently read book two of the series and I knew I had to pick up Luca and Kisa’s story and I am so glad that I did because WOW. This book worked for me in so many ways. Of course I knew some back story of this couple before reading it, but I knew it would be a emotional roller coaster and it certainly was. There are some flashbacks that helps the reader understand what Luca and Kisa had together as children and what seperated them.
The story begins with alternating POV’s of both Luca and Kisa. Kisa is the daughter of one of the “red bosses” of the New York Russian Bravta. She lost her childhood sweetheart when she was a teenager and her brother on the same day. She is engaged to be married to a man who controls every move she makes and is overly obsessive with her and very rough in bed. But Kisa has resigned herself to her future, knowing that there isn’t another way. Luca has just escaped the fighting rings that he has been forced to fight in for as long as he can remember. Now he is free, and he has one pledge, Revenge on the one person that wronged him years ago and is the reason why he was forced to fight and be drugged and lose his memories. Kisa goes out with her church to help feed the poor and homeless. When a homeless stranger rescues her from being robbed and knifed, she forms a attachment to him. She doesn’t understand at first why she is so drawn to him. But when he begins training to fight in her father’s club, there are certain signs that he is familar to her. Hints that this dangerous yet compelling man was once the boy she grew up with and loved and never stopped loving…
Her eyes were light blue, his eyes the richest of brown, but the left iris was smudged with the girl’s light blue.
They matched.
God made them this way so they would recognize themselves as meant for one another when they were born, so they would always find each other no matter where they were on Earth.
What a wild story that had me on the edge of my seat and man oh man did I fall in love with this book. Now it is way more intense than book two for obvious reasons. And one of the true set backs I feel readers should be warned about is the sex scenes between Kisa and her fiancee. All I can say is its abusive and practically rape and my heart went out to the heroine who just hasn’t known anything different for a long time. This fiancee is DANGEROUS–in a very obsessive sketchy way, who would kill a man for just looking at her. But then we see the relationship she has with Luca and its completely different. Its like oil and water. When she and Luca start to reconnect, there is tenderness and true heart in their feelings and emotions. This is a very complex story and yes I guess you could say there is some cheating involved. Kisa is cheating on her fiancee, but I know she would break up with him if she could. She believes he will kill her and Luca if he finds out and timing is everything in how they handle her fiancee. It has some darker themes of course because this story is definitely not black and white….there is definite grey here. We see the effects of a long term abusive relationship. So I know not everone will be a fan of Kisa. Because on the surface she seems weak but she really isn’t. She has a certain inner strength that is rare to see, and has been manipulated since she was a teenager by a controlling and really dangerous man. What really did it for me in this book was her connection with Luca, and seeing Luca slowly get his memories back and find out about his family, what really happened to him and his frienship and teen romance with Kisa before he was taken.
There is such a heart breaking quality to this story, that just gravitates toward the reader and refuses to let go. I was completely swept up in this story and highly recommend it to those who love a deep and raw emotional romance with dark tones to it!! A COMPELLING ROMANCE YOU WON’T EVER FORGET!!
Books N Tunes Reading Challenge
He sure is scary looking
Yeah the cover is scary huh? I think book 2 is my favorite.
Lovely review! Now I’m even more interested in this series after hearing your thoughts on this one. 🙂 I’ll be chasing this book down soon!
Thank you Michele. I definitely know that you would love this series.
Wow!! You make this sound so good! The romance sounds intense and soft at the same time! Just perfect for me!
oh it really was…intense of course, but oh so romantic.
Ok so I have passed this book up many time, but now I am thinking perhaps I need to give it a go! Great review!
Ya know Samantha, this book and series is for you. I really think you need to give it a chance. I just know you would love it.
sold!! I will add it to my list!
Wonderful review! I think I am will have to add this one, it sounds like something I would enjoy.
Thank you darling. I definitely adored this book so much, and so SWOONY!!
OMG I loved this series!!! I just yesterday pimped it to TJ – she is going to love them.♡♡♡
Oh Its a fantastic series right? I just love it so much and definitely not what you expect. Very romantic considering the set up.
I’ve had this book for months but I haven’t read it yet, Renee. Yay, you make me want to start it NOW!!! Awesome review. Thanks for sharing. ?❤️
Oh Geybie, I just KNOW you would love this book so much. While I was reading it I was thinking of you because I know you would love it. It has a dark romance set up but its so tender and sweet too.
I read this one over the summer, Renee. You seem to have enjoyed it a bit more than I did but I’m committed to the series so we’ll have to confer once we’ve read more. 🙂 Great review!