Book of the Month Riot by Tillie Cole

Last year I had the pleasure in reviewing the book Ravage by Tillie Cole, this is one that's part of her Scarred Souls series. Now being one of my favourite authors and having read all of the other novels in that series, I was a little excited when I was asked if I'd like to review the latest Scarred Souls story, Riot. Carrying on from the end of Ravage, this is the final installment in the set and let me tell you, you are in for a bumpy ride. 

Stolen by the Arziani Georgian crime mob as a child, 152 was raised and conditioned to be a Mona—the most subservient of the Arziani Blood Pit slaves.  152 has been living in a drug-induced fog for most of her life, but now she can finally think clearly when she is gifted to one of the death match fighters.  152 will have to fight for what she wants and ultimately make an impossible choice.

If you read Ravage then you will know that 152 is in fact Valentin's (194) sister, when he escaped the horrors of the slavery that he was kept in, he unfortunately was unable to save his sister but now the time has come to grant her the much desired freedom that she wants and deserves but in order for this to happen, blood will need to be shed. 

Now as a fan already I have been highly anticipating this book and I'm pleased to say that it did not disappoint. Although following the same pattern as the previous three books with romance coming to the forefront of the storyline, there was just as much passion and emotion throughout the pages.

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 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.

This is quite a dark and gritty story, it definitely isn't all hearts and roses but I think that's what makes it stand out from other books in this genre, makes it pack a punch. What you read is intense and ok some parts come off as slightly cheesy but the twists and turns keep you on the edge of your seat, I was almost certain not everybody would survive this time.

How would you feel having been held captive all your life about the thought of love, would you even know what that feels like, how to handle these types of emotions? Inessa (152) has felt the touch of a man before but never in a loving way and see how she copes is quite fascinating and there is this hope all the way through for a happy ending.

Through tragedy, we were both stronger. And through distance, our love was stronger. She was mine. I was hers. Her, the girl, whose soul matched mine. And I, the boy, who was made perfectly for her.

What I really liked about this book was that by the end there was a proper conclusion. I won't tell you how it plays out as I think you need to read it to get the full potential out of it. I will say this, there was a definite finality about it and as a reader this left me more than satisfied.

Action-packed, drama filled, not a moment wasted. Riot was well worth the wait and concludes what was a thrilling series.