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Kill to Breathe
Not yet published
Expected 8 Aug 26Ellia survived the shooting in Manchester, but survival came at a devastating cost.
Struggling to heal after losing her voice and nearly losing her life, Ellia is forced to confront a terrifying death changed more than her body. The bond tying her to the men sworn to protect her has become darker, deeper, and impossible to ignore.
Jaxon is unraveling beneath the weight of failing to save her. August refuses to let her slip away again. And Arik and Cedar are pulled into a connection none of them fully understand after Ellia’s soul reaches for them during the moments she died.
As betrayal fractures the fragile trust between them and enemies close in from the shadows, Ellia must decide whether healing is possible in a world built on obsession, revenge, and dangerous devotion.
Kill to Breathe is a dark why choose romance filled with possessive love interests, emotional trauma, soul ties, betrayal, healing, and revenge.
Struggling to heal after losing her voice and nearly losing her life, Ellia is forced to confront a terrifying death changed more than her body. The bond tying her to the men sworn to protect her has become darker, deeper, and impossible to ignore.
Jaxon is unraveling beneath the weight of failing to save her. August refuses to let her slip away again. And Arik and Cedar are pulled into a connection none of them fully understand after Ellia’s soul reaches for them during the moments she died.
As betrayal fractures the fragile trust between them and enemies close in from the shadows, Ellia must decide whether healing is possible in a world built on obsession, revenge, and dangerous devotion.
Kill to Breathe is a dark why choose romance filled with possessive love interests, emotional trauma, soul ties, betrayal, healing, and revenge.
465 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication August 8, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review: Kill to Breathe (Scattered Souls Trilogy, #2)
Author: Ashborn Raven
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)
If a book can make you completely sacrifice sleep, barely survive on an entire pot of coffee at work, and immediately dive into the next book during your lunch break, you know you’ve found something truly special. After reading Book 1 in a single overnight sitting, I jumped straight into my Advanced Readers Copy - Kill to Breathe and Ashborn Raven did not disappoint. This sequel completely jacks up the pace, unravels dark secrets, and delivers a non-stop, suspense-filled plot that left my psyche reeling by the final page.
The last 10% of the book is pure, unadulterated action, culminating in an absolute powerhouse of a cliffhanger that has me desperately counting down the days until Book 3.
Welcome to the Reverse Harem: Meet the New Guys:
While the first book hinted at it with relationship between Ellia, Jaxon and August, book 2 firmly and unapologetically cements itself in the reverse harem genre. The dynamic shifts beautifully with the introduction of two incredible new love interests who now all work in tandem, and the chemistry is off the charts. The intimate scenes are raw, primal, and incredibly intense.
• Arik: We actually met him briefly in Book 1 when Ellia snuck out on her bike and asked him to ride with her. Their instant friendship blossoms into something much deeper here. He is kind, understanding, and incredibly supportive.
• Cedar: A complex tattoo artist who brings an immense amount of real-world weight to the story. He is stoic and serious but drawn to Ellia like a moth to a flame.
When Arik and Cedar step up to save Ellia in book 1, it cements a powerful bond that changes the entire trajectory of the series.
Flawed Characters and Gritty Realism:
This series isn't all sunshine and rainbows, and that is exactly why it works so well. The characters feel incredibly real because they make messy, human choices.
A prime example is Cedar's backstory: he has a girlfriend and a baby but decides to leave that relationship. While you don't always see that in traditional romance novels, it brings an admirable layer of realism to the book. Sometimes, two parents are genuinely better off mentally, co-parenting than staying together and being miserable. Raven handles these complex dynamics with fantastic emotional maturity.
On the flip side, the character growth introduces some intense friction. There is a lot of alpha male posturing in this book, and Jaxon completely rubbed me the wrong way in many scenes. His hypocritical-aggression crossed the line into behavior that felt entirely unwarranted and frustrating. The men are trying to keep Ellia safe—though quite poorly at times—and Jaxon’s attitude definitely makes him hard to root for at times. Ellia also makes silly and rash choices often enough that I would suck my teeth and roll my eyes. I say all of this just to point out that Ashborn Raven did an amazing job at developing her characters to where I found myself yelling at them from time to time as if they were real people with real flaws and of course, positive traits, I was totally immersed.
The Mystery of the Tether:
"That invisible tether. That magnetic pull. That gravitational force." (p. 414)
One of the most fascinating elements introduced in this sequel is the supernatural-feeling link connecting Arik, Cedar, and Ellia. They are all human, and while they all share mutual trauma, this bond goes far beyond a standard trauma bond. It is incredibly tangible; the new guys can genuinely feel Ellia's emotions and instinctively know what is happening with her. Interestingly, the original men admit to feeling it too, just nowhere near this strongly. I kept asking myself, "Are they shifters?!" because the telepathic connection mirrors a fated-mates trope so perfectly. Fortunately, Raven is an author who rewards her readers; several lingering questions from Book 1 were answered in this installment, proving she keeps up with her mysteries. I have high hopes that this fascinating, magnetic tether will be fully explained and explored in Book 3.
Final Verdict: Cinematic and Addictive:
Kill to Breathe is the perfect blend of slow-burn- yet- steady suspense and explosive plots (can we talk about the major plot twist in private because I need talk therapy?). It’s not just constant, mindless gun-blazing; it's the psychological tension of people living their lives in fear and on the run while trying to unmask a killer(s).
The plot unravels beautifully, the pacing is a massive step up from the first book, and the cinematic quality of the writing makes it easy to picture on a movie screen. If you love dark romance, genuine suspense, high-stakes reverse harem dynamics, and authors who aren't afraid to get raw, this is an absolute must-read. Just make sure you clear your schedule (and brew an extra pot of coffee)!
Author: Ashborn Raven
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 Stars)
If a book can make you completely sacrifice sleep, barely survive on an entire pot of coffee at work, and immediately dive into the next book during your lunch break, you know you’ve found something truly special. After reading Book 1 in a single overnight sitting, I jumped straight into my Advanced Readers Copy - Kill to Breathe and Ashborn Raven did not disappoint. This sequel completely jacks up the pace, unravels dark secrets, and delivers a non-stop, suspense-filled plot that left my psyche reeling by the final page.
The last 10% of the book is pure, unadulterated action, culminating in an absolute powerhouse of a cliffhanger that has me desperately counting down the days until Book 3.
Welcome to the Reverse Harem: Meet the New Guys:
While the first book hinted at it with relationship between Ellia, Jaxon and August, book 2 firmly and unapologetically cements itself in the reverse harem genre. The dynamic shifts beautifully with the introduction of two incredible new love interests who now all work in tandem, and the chemistry is off the charts. The intimate scenes are raw, primal, and incredibly intense.
• Arik: We actually met him briefly in Book 1 when Ellia snuck out on her bike and asked him to ride with her. Their instant friendship blossoms into something much deeper here. He is kind, understanding, and incredibly supportive.
• Cedar: A complex tattoo artist who brings an immense amount of real-world weight to the story. He is stoic and serious but drawn to Ellia like a moth to a flame.
When Arik and Cedar step up to save Ellia in book 1, it cements a powerful bond that changes the entire trajectory of the series.
Flawed Characters and Gritty Realism:
This series isn't all sunshine and rainbows, and that is exactly why it works so well. The characters feel incredibly real because they make messy, human choices.
A prime example is Cedar's backstory: he has a girlfriend and a baby but decides to leave that relationship. While you don't always see that in traditional romance novels, it brings an admirable layer of realism to the book. Sometimes, two parents are genuinely better off mentally, co-parenting than staying together and being miserable. Raven handles these complex dynamics with fantastic emotional maturity.
On the flip side, the character growth introduces some intense friction. There is a lot of alpha male posturing in this book, and Jaxon completely rubbed me the wrong way in many scenes. His hypocritical-aggression crossed the line into behavior that felt entirely unwarranted and frustrating. The men are trying to keep Ellia safe—though quite poorly at times—and Jaxon’s attitude definitely makes him hard to root for at times. Ellia also makes silly and rash choices often enough that I would suck my teeth and roll my eyes. I say all of this just to point out that Ashborn Raven did an amazing job at developing her characters to where I found myself yelling at them from time to time as if they were real people with real flaws and of course, positive traits, I was totally immersed.
The Mystery of the Tether:
"That invisible tether. That magnetic pull. That gravitational force." (p. 414)
One of the most fascinating elements introduced in this sequel is the supernatural-feeling link connecting Arik, Cedar, and Ellia. They are all human, and while they all share mutual trauma, this bond goes far beyond a standard trauma bond. It is incredibly tangible; the new guys can genuinely feel Ellia's emotions and instinctively know what is happening with her. Interestingly, the original men admit to feeling it too, just nowhere near this strongly. I kept asking myself, "Are they shifters?!" because the telepathic connection mirrors a fated-mates trope so perfectly. Fortunately, Raven is an author who rewards her readers; several lingering questions from Book 1 were answered in this installment, proving she keeps up with her mysteries. I have high hopes that this fascinating, magnetic tether will be fully explained and explored in Book 3.
Final Verdict: Cinematic and Addictive:
Kill to Breathe is the perfect blend of slow-burn- yet- steady suspense and explosive plots (can we talk about the major plot twist in private because I need talk therapy?). It’s not just constant, mindless gun-blazing; it's the psychological tension of people living their lives in fear and on the run while trying to unmask a killer(s).
The plot unravels beautifully, the pacing is a massive step up from the first book, and the cinematic quality of the writing makes it easy to picture on a movie screen. If you love dark romance, genuine suspense, high-stakes reverse harem dynamics, and authors who aren't afraid to get raw, this is an absolute must-read. Just make sure you clear your schedule (and brew an extra pot of coffee)!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Thank you so much Asbnorne for letting me arc read the second book to this series. Whew where to begin Ellia and her men are back and better than ever. The story was amazing and had me hooked from the beginning. If you haven’t read the first book in this series I highly recommend you do but book 2 ends on a cliffhanger. If I could rate this book higher than 5 starts I would give it a solid 10! I can’t wait to see where the next book goes. Definitely recommend this one for everyone who loves why choose and touch her and die vibes.
Review of advance copy received from Author
If I could give it more stars I would!! 2nd book in the series! Read die alive first!! But damn damn damn what a damn good book. This book takes you on an emotional rollercoaster and you want see the end coming.
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May 15, 2026🔴 This is a poly romance, not a RH 🔴
Review of advance copy received from Author
Absolutely outstanding. The cliff hanger already has me needing book 3 😭😭
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews