Reap (Scarred Souls)

I absolutely LOVE this series! Zaal and Talia were fantastic! I cannot express how absolutely excited I am to get my hands on the next part of the story! Couldn't put this book down! Another 5+ Star read by Tillie Cole!

So worth the wait. I love this. There was nothing I disliked . I would absolutely recommend this to everyone. I am so excited for the next one. It has to be about Zoya, Zaal is going to be so surprised, confused and excited. This is going to be amazing....

Perfection. Absolute perfection. Tillie Cole's writing astounds me. She has an amazing ability to evoke incredible emotions through her writing. Zaal and Talia's story was incredible and I'm chomping at the bit to read the next story in this series. I need it NOW, NOW, NOW!

Just when I think Tillie Cole couldn't possibly write a book as good as her last, she proves me wrong! Loved this one as much as REAP... Please tell me when number 3 is coming out.. I cannot wait! Really!

Got to be one of my favorite books ever!!!! Tillie Cole has got to be one of my favorite authors. Gripping and heart wrenching. This book was one I could not put down. I was enraptured from beginning to end.

Loved it! The second of the "scarred souls" series and I can't get enough! I will be waiting on pins and needles till I find out who the mystery girl is at the end! Zeal and Talia are ❤️❤️❤️

The problem with great books, is that when they have a sequel, we tend to have expectations. And I'm proud to say that this sequel, surpassed my expectations. I absolutely loved it. The story was great, the writing, characters came full circle. And of course, I'm very excited with the cliffy. Zola, was a scene stealer at a young age. Can't wait.

Words cannot express how much I love this book and all her other books. I literally stopped what I was doing until I finish reading. This is a must read if you haven't read it. The sweetest love story that would make you laugh and cry and fall in love all over again. It was definitely worth the wait. Can't wait til her me next book releases

Words cannot express how much I love this book and all her other books. I literally stopped what I was doing until I finish reading. This is a must read if you haven't read it. The sweetest love story that would make you laugh and cry and fall in love all over again. It was definitely worth the wait. Can't wait til her me next book releases

Better than the first novel in this series (which is saying a lot because the first book was amaze balls!). The writing style was definitely more refined in this book and it was great to see characters from the first book continue to make appearances in this story. Looking forward to the next one!

This is the second book in the Scarred Souls: Raze and Reap series and this must be read after the first book in order to fully understand and appreciate this story.

It begins with Luka driven to fulfill his promise to his friend and brother in arms, 362, by seeking revenge on 362’s captors. It’s through his quest that he discovers 212/Zaal and rescues him. Zaal is more damaged and more drugged than Luka ever was and it’s his story that is told.
Talia Tolstaia, Luka’s younger sister, is drawn to the savage beast, 212, that’s holed up in the same dwelling that she escaped to so that she could get away from the Bratva and all that entailed.

Of course, Talia and Zaal form a bond as she’s the one to bring him back to humanity. Tillie captured beautifully the raw power and rage yet innocence and tenderness of 212/Zaal and what he’d endured.

“Because…you are…for me.”

I latched onto Zaal almost instantly and my heart broke for that 8 year old boy who’d had so much loss, pain and brutality. Like Luka/818 in Raze, Zaal was taken at a young age and beaten, broken, drugged and molded into a killing machine for the Georgina Bratva.

I felt a bit disconnected from Talia and perhaps it was the long gap between Raze, which I freakin’ loved, and this book. I felt a stronger connection to her in Raze, she seemed to make more of an impression on me than she did in this one. It’s not to say that I didn’t like her because I did but I felt like something was missing.

This story is dark, sad and at times, brought out anger in me for the injustice and degradation in the world. Tillie has a natural talent for taking us into the depths of hell on earth and revealing all its ugliness and the ruthlessness of man. Yet, she also shows us that with all things there is a balance and at the other end of the spectrum, she also gives us hope and shows us the relentless power of love and it’s healing force.
While mainly told through the POV of Talia and Zaal, Tillie gave us moments from Luka’s POV and let me tell you, this girl was in heaven!
Luka is my fav and it was truly wonderful to feel his driving passion to honour his friend, 362, and his love for Kisa, Talia and his new found brother, Zaal. It was also gratifying to see him growing into his destiny as Bratva knayz - the Russian Mafia prince.

Finally, I must say, Tillie gave us one hell of a teaser with the way in which this ended. It’s not a cliffhanger of sorts as this story does have a conclusion but it gives us a sneak peek at what’s to come. I’m looking forward to it!

RANDOM RAZE THOUGHT (these will occur a handful of times throughout the review, FYI): OMG OMG OMG! I’m sooooo happy to get more of Luka and Kisa. Raze was a top read of all time for me. It’s one of my go-to re-reads when I’m in a book funk and I always recommend it to people looking for a dark read. (And I’ve forced A LOT of people to read it.)

I know, I know. The book is called Reap, not Raze: Part Deux. BUT! The mafia storyline continues throughout this book. The best part is that its from Luka’s POV! Hence my excitement!

Now, let’s get back to Reap. After all, this is SUPPOSED to be his story...

Unfortunately, the romance fell very short for me. Tillie knocked it out of the park when she wrote Raze and set the bar high. Maybe a bit too high because this connection wasn’t even close. It felt so... forced, rushed, bizarre, I could keep going. I wasn’t wowed or blown away by this forbidden connection, nothing stood out to me. I think this is a first because every other one of Tillie’s books has affected me, her characters stay with me. As they say, there’s a first time for everything...

RANDOM RAZE THOUGHT: I’m loving the continuation of his story! SERIOUSLY! The romance aspect of it may be a bit dull for me but I’m thoroughly enjoying watching this man grow into this new lifestyle. He’s becoming the man he was born to be and it’s so exciting to experience!!!

As I mentioned earlier, I’m so thankful the mafia aspect of the story continued. It’s one of the main reasons I kept reading and didn’t DNF it. Then this happened....

RANDOM RAZE THOUGHT: OMG HIS CHAPTERS/STORY LINE ARE WORTH THIS READ! Oh. My God. YES YES YES! The amount of love this man has for his family speaks VOLUMES. He gives me Wrath vibes!!!!

YES! I’m looking forward to the continuation of this series for this reason and to see how the mafia drama pans out.

Lastly, I went into this book aching for a dark read and was let down. It didn’t satisfy that craving....

*RANZOM RAZE THOUGHTs were typed out as I was reading the book.

Reap (Scarred Souls #2) by Tillie Cole
Prisoner 221 has been held captive since the age of eight when he was taken along with his identical twin brother. They were experimented on made to take an obedience drug that forces them to obey every command of their captors while erasing any memory of who they were before. 221 can no longer remember his life before—all he knows is torture, destruction and death.
Talia Tolstaia is a Russian Bratva princess. All her life she has dreamed of finding a one true love, a lasting love, a bond stronger than all others. She is loyal to her family but feels smothered and overwhelmed needing a break from her family obligations she goes away to their family vacation home for some much needed peace. Her quiet is short lived when her brother brings a captive to their home and hides him out in the basement below the peaceful vacation house. When Talia first sets eyes on the bulky beast of a man who is her family’s enemy she can’t help but be intrigued by his story. He’s damaged and scarred physically and mentally, Talia knows she should hate him, fear him but she can’t help but love him.
My Review:
The story of Talia and Zaal’s love was emotionally draining and I loved it. His pain calls to her, she wants to help him. The only way she can is to cleanse him physically but in the process she is cleansing his soul. Washing away his dark memories with the touch of her soft hands. Their bond is instantaneous and grows stronger the more time they spend together.
You are…for me? – I am…for you. Forever.
Emotional, heart breaking story of lost and broken souls brought together in an unexpected way.
My heart broke when I realized along with Talia that Zaal hasn’t seen the sun in years. How can someone live without seeing the sun or having real human contact in years. Unimaginable cruelty. By the end of the book Zaal begins to remember once the drugs leave his system. He gets his revenge but there are other threats lurking in the shadows. I loved how Luka and Zaal share a bond of common pain though not blood they are truly brothers by experience.
I look forward to the next book in the series Ravage. All the books can be read as standalone. This was the first book for me from Tillie Cole I will definitely go back and read Luka’s story Raze.

Talia Tolstaia is tired. She’s surrounded daily by murderers, rapists and thugs at her job organizing The Dungeon’s death matches. She knows it’s all part of the Bratva life – and as the daughter of the head a leading family Talia also knows she’ll never escape it. But that doesn’t stop her from dreaming. Needing a break from it all, she goes to the family’s Hampton home and whiles away the hours dreaming of a peaceful life.

While Talia is resting in the Hamptons her brother, Luka AKA Raze, has tracked down the twin brother of the boy who saved his life in the gulag. Unfortunately, Zaal has been turned into something horrible: a completely obedient and bloodthirsty killing machine. He goes by 221 and has no memory of who he is, where he came from or even that he’s human. He only knows his Master and his thirst to kill.

Luka captures 221 from his Master and takes him to the Hampton home in an attempt to save 221 as his brother had saved Luka. But the drug 221 has been on for twenty years is powerful and they begin to lose hope they will save 221. Talia was originally furious that Luka had brought the enemy into her home but as she watches 221 on the security monitor she gains empathy for the broken man. When 221 stops moving altogether Talia rushes in to check on him – and starts to fall under his spell.

221 doesn’t understand who the woman is or why she doesn’t bear a number like him, but he wants her. She’s soft, kind and smells good. When Talia washes the blood from 221, he continually softens towards her. And when he thought she was being threatened by her own guards, he moved to protect Talia. Such actions break her heart and open her eyes to the man within the tortured animal.

Days go by and the two only grow closer. 221 is experiencing everything for the first time, from sand on his toes to the wind in his hair. Talia is fighting her head and her heart with the knowledge that she shouldn’t be with the enemy – but he’s hers. Nothing could be more certain to either of them. They belong to each other. As the poison clears from 221’s body and Zaal begins to emerge again a threat arrives ready to tear the lovers apart.

Zaal is reminded of his past: how his family had been slaughtered in front of him and his twin brother Anri. How the “Master” had enslaved him so completely that he was robbed of his identity, his brother and twenty years of his life. Zaal also remembers that his family and Talia’s are enemies and that he is supposed to hate her. But he can’t.

Zaal’s story is painful, heart-rending and just plain sad to read. Experiencing his almost childlike discovery of kindness, the beach and love made me feel warm inside. And I loved how Talia struggled against family duty and true love – it was a real struggle and made the redemption found with each other all the more sweet. I couldn’t stop myself from welling up and I didn’t even try – their love story was too good to deny the emotion. I would definitely call this a triumphant addition to Tillie Cole’s collection of emotional roller coasters. Please pick it up and give this book a go – but be prepared for the waterworks. There are some powerful emotions and situations happening between the pages – and they’re all worth it.

4 of 5

ARC provided for a honest review through NetGalley. (Scarred Souls containing both Raze and Reap)

“You are…for me.”

This story follows prisoner 221 who had been kidnapped and knows nothing about has past or who he once was. He is beaten, drugged and forced to become a monster. He is given a drug that makes him follow his master’s commands. Every command. Being the prototype for this new drug, he is his master’s prized possession. Seeing revenge against 221’s master, Luka attacks and frees 221. Now 221 must remember who he once was and accept his past to be able to move forward. Everything becomes even clearer when a gorgeous woman walks into his life.

Just like the first book, Raze (Book 1. Go read it first!), this story is INTENSE. There are some scenes that are difficult to read but in the end add to the story. This story is heartbreaking, heartwarming and enlightening. I really enjoyed that it picked up from the last book, Raze, and still followed Luka and Kisa but focused on Talia and 221. I was THRILLED that this book followed Talia. I really enjoyed her from the last book and definitely wanted to know more about her!

The dialogue. Wow. Tillie Cole has a way with dialogue and interactions, especially in this book. She has built wonderfully strong and complex characters that grow throughout the storylines but one of the best parts of this story is the interactions and dialogue between the characters. There are many moments that I had to stop reading to let all the words sink in. I found myself agreeing and nodding “yes!” because it all felt perfect. Tillie does such a wonderful job of communicating how her characters are feeling through their words and actions. This makes the story so captivating, exciting and satisfying. I did not want to put the book down. I wanted to know what the characters would say next or what they would do.

Book 2 in the Scarred Souls series is another amazing Russian/Georgian mafia story that is dark, brutal and real.
Talia is the sister of Raze/Luka from book 1 and this story is hers. She is habitually alone and is the rebel in her family. She doesn't play by the rules, but she wants love and happiness like her friend and brother. Will she ever get the chance?
And then we have 221/Zaal. He is Luka's redemption. He is a brother of one of Raze's fellow prisoners. And he must act out 326's revenge for him since he is no longer here. Will Luka get revenge and will Zaal let him? With 2 enemy mafia families looking to help one another, how is that all going to play out in the end?
I liked that we still got to see Luka and Kisa from book 1 because they were so sweet and I adored them. But Zaal and Talia's story is both sweet and endearing. Their connection is crazy, but it's nice to see a connection brought out from something as dark as what Zaal and Luka had gone through.
"She took the fire and pain away. SHe made me feel...safe."
Trust, truth, revenge, family and safety are at the core of this story and Tillie's done an amazing job and bringing the darkness together with the light. Loving this series!

Oooh, I really liked Zaal’s story. His innocence was so beautiful and his connection to Talia was breathtaking.

Based along the same lines as Raze, Reap tells the story of another lost soul who, under the control of the Georgian’s, has been drugged and forced into a life of mind control. Zaal only has the urge to kill and with the drugs coursing through his system, his mind is beyond reach; that is until Luka sets off in search of him. Zaal is Anri’s twin brother and Luka knows that he must reach him for the sake of Anri’s lost revenge.

Once released though, Zaal becomes even more crazed as he tries to come down off the drugs and with his mind possibly lost forever, he is left chained beneath the house where Talia is currently living. Watching him on the security footage though, Talia’s heart calls out to this painfully damaged man and fearing that he may be dead, she heads into his cell to see for herself. What she finds though makes her realise that Zaal’s mind could still be reached, despite the way he has lived his life for the last two decades.

This was yet another violent and abusive story but one with perhaps more of a romance angle that Raze. Whilst Raze was a second chance romance, Zaal and Talia’s story was one of total innocence and painfully sweet as this damaged man tries to understand his emotions towards Talia.

This book, as well as Raze, completely blew my mind. I wasn’t expecting what I found within the pages of these books but what I did find will live with me for a very long time.

I loved, loved, loooved this!!! Reap is an incredible, heart-pounding, romantic read I was utterly enthralled with. I’m such a fan of the way Tillie Cole writes – it’s dark, powerful, addicting. Her stories are riveting, and her characters are intense yet lovable. I had high expectations for Reap after loving Raze – and I’m so glad to say Reap is another winner from one of my favorite authors!

The Scarred Souls series is not for the faint of heart. It’s dark, gruesome at times, and yet I can’t stop reading it. Reap is the story of 221, also known as Zaal Kostava, and Talia Tolstaia. It could be read as a standalone, but I think it’s much easier to understand Reap if you’ve read Raze, because we also get some chapters in Luka’s POV, who was the main character in Raze. Reap is a bit of a continuation of Raze, though it is still firmly Zaal and Talia’s story.

For over 20 years, Zaal has been known as 221, an enslaved fighter who, under the influence of forced drugs, is a soulless killing machine for his ‘master’. He and his twin were abducted at a young age and forced into horrible, tragic circumstances. But it turns out that Zaal’s twin is none other than the one person Luka owes his life to, and Luka is determined to pay his debts by saving Zaal.

Talia, Luka’s sister, may be the daughter of one of the leading Russian mobsters, but she struggles with the responsibilities that come with the role. When she grows tired of the Bratva life, she runs away to a private beach house – but everything changes when Luka shows up with a feral, beast of a man and chains him up in the basement. Talia grows intrigued by Zaal, who’s the son of her family’s enemy, until her obsession with him grows and one day she can’t help but go to him.

Our desperate gazes met.
He took a deep breath.
Then he whispered, “You are … for me?”
And I knew I was done.
Trampled, heart-flattened, done.

This book kept tearing my heart open and filling it with love for the characters over and over again. My heart broke for Zaal, for the tragedy that happened to him and his family. I nearly wanted to cry, the story got so emotional sometimes. But then with Talia, Zaal finds family, love, again, and my heart would ache with happiness for the two of them. Tillie Cole has a talent at conveying such powerful love between her couples, and Zaal and Talia’s romance by far is my favorite.

“Zaal Kostava, you’ve stolen my forbidden heart.”

The Scarred Souls series is dark romance at its finest. The love story is stunning, written perfectly to balance out the dark parts of the book. I don’t know how Tillie Cole does it, but every time, I am just so blown away by the sheer brilliance of the writing and the gorgeous love between her characters. I have to admit, I loved Reap even more than Raze, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the third book (whose main character is one I’m SO excited for)!

“My heart, it is full, Talia. It is full, for you.”