MARTYR
Series: Sterling Falls Rogues #3
Genre: Dark Romance
Author: S. Massery
Release Date: September 18, 2025
I thought surviving Sterling Falls was the worst of it.
I was wrong.Saint doesn’t remember the last two years—doesn’t remember the war we fought, the people we lost, or the way we burned for each other. To him, I’m a stranger. To me, he’s the man I can’t let go of, even if it feels like starting over with a ghost.
Reese shows up on the island, raw with regret and determined to prove he’s changed.
Kade follows, carrying secrets I’m not sure I want to uncover.We’re trapped together in a place meant to heal but built to break us. And beyond the waves of Isle of Paradise, Ouranos is tightening his grip on Sterling Falls, tearing the city I love apart piece by piece.
If we can’t put our past betrayals aside and fight as one, we’ll lose more than the town we swore to protect.
We’ll lose each other.And this time, there won’t be a second chance.
—
Nemesis and Warrior must be read prior for continuity.
Don’t go thinking we aren’t inevitable, babe.” Her eyelashes flutter, and her dark-brown eyes bore into mine. “Even with all the guilt trying to crush you from the inside out.”
Phew, what a ride! This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time, binge reading it well into the night. S Massery sure knows how to hook readers and this series had me in chokehold.
After the jaw dropping cliffhanger in book two, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this one. I was especially excited to hear that this will also be the conclusion and instead of a 4 book series will now be a trilogy. Having finished it, I have mixed feelings about it not having the fourth book.
Artemis continued to prove in this book why she’s one of my favorite S Massery FMCs. And Reese, Saint, and Kade were each amazing in their own right. The story was an absolute powerhouse with so many moving pieces, which I will also say I appreciate a whole lot more having read the Sterling Falls series.
And while I loved the story, I also couldn’t help but feel like it left me wanting more. The conclusion, though fitting, also felt a bit anticlimactic. I supposed with the villain being as big as he was, it just felt something was missing still. I fully appreciate the full circle moment of it all, but it still just felt sudden and quick. My other quibble is that I wish we spent more time on the poly element of the relationship between Tem and her men. While it felt natural, it also felt very sudden and slightly rushed, particularly the Kade and Saint part. I wanted more time with them, I wanted to feel the feelings and the chemistry. We got a great story, but I suppose I just wanted more on the relationship development. I would love to see a bonus epilogue and spend more time with these characters. I can understand why S Massery didn’t do a 4th book, but I also felt like this one could have been a touch longer.
Did I still enjoy it? Absolutely. It’s a series that I cannot recommend enough and if you love dark why choose, it’s a must read. I’d also be lying if I didn’t share that I was greedy for just a little bit more.
But maybe S Massery will take pity on us and give us a bonus epilogue in the future.
S. Massery:
S. Massery is a dark romance author who loves injecting a good dose of suspense into her stories. She lives in Western Massachusetts with her dog, Alice.
Before adventuring into the world of writing, she went to college in Boston and held a wide variety of jobs–including working on a dude ranch in Wyoming (a personal highlight). She has a love affair with coffee and chocolate. When S. Massery isn’t writing, she can be found devouring books, playing outside with her dog, or trying to make people smile.
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