Absolutely wonderful and entertaining from the start. The book has everything you’re looking for and probably a few you’re not. The writing is amazing and the story flows smoother than a glass of bourbon.

4.5⭐️ 3🌶️

This was such an interesting dark romance. It had twists that I saw coming and some that I didn’t. The ending was so sad, and not at all what I thought would happen. I loved the relationship that FMC and MMC had. I also really enjoyed the mental health representation.

There were so many trigger warning at the start of this audiobook, I wasn’t sure if I should proceed. There is a lot of steamy sex, but also many brutal scenes of manipulation and control, of “owning” a person body and soul, and of self-harm that definitely made for uncomfortable listening. Lots of murder and killing too. The story felt like a very dark and sexy Superman/Lois Lane, Batman, and The Punisher tale all rolled into one. If that’s your thing, you’ll love this one.
The audiobook is outstanding: both main characters are captured perfectly by the male and female narrators, breathless in passion or distraught in pain. Even the voices of several other characters were distinctive enough.
I had to deduct half a star for the many times these educated characters said “NAME and me” when it should have been “NAME and I”. It kept taking me out of the story (but that’s me, a grammar nerd). And another quarter of a star for Elena pleading poverty and not quitting her sketchy second job right away despite her dad being a world-famous plastic surgeon who would do anything for her. But if that’s what it took to keep the story going, I suppose it worked. I might have expanded on why she wouldn’t take money from her parents to make this more believable. Otherwise, excellent plotting and writing of this long tale.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @DreamscapeSelect, and #NetGalley for access to the audiobook #UnderYourScars for review purposes. It is currently available.

Wow what an emotional roller coaster this book was.
I really was not ready for that ending! I’m so heart broken!
A tragic and emotional story the whole way through!
I can’t explain how much I loved this book ! And I loved it so much more being an audiobook , the narrators did an amazing job!
I would 100% recommend this book but checked the warning as this really is so dark and deep!

I didn't download this title in time before it was archived because I was finishing a different arc but I went ahead & bought it on audible & WOW so glad I did!! This gives Batman & Fifty Shades of Grey…. Not gonna lie the red mask made me think of Nacho Libre for some dumb reason. 😵‍💫 Also super man with the name Christian Reeves… because Christopher Reeves played Superman. Idk I was all over with my train of thought with this one. It was so good though! I loved it! The male narrator was SO good!! Phenomenal performance!!!

The voice actors were amazing. Loved them. That's where all of my positive emotions stop. I tried so hard to finish this, the voice acting was the only thing pulling me through, but I could not finish it.
MAJOR SPOILERS:
FMC working at this sleezy bar as her second job and her boss being inappropriate with her was a wild ride. It's a second job she literally just got, a normal person would quit and find another job at a different place, especially since it's a second job it's not the only job she has. MMC kissing FMC in front of his staff after like 2 days of knowing her is an HR lawsuit waiting to happen, which makes no sense to me because he's supposed to be a lawyer, so you would think he would need to talk with HR before pursuing the relationship further and definitely not displaying it in front of everyone. When he tampered with her birth control I had to stop listening. I thought about another book I enjoy a lot that has birth control tampering as well and was like "eh, maybe I should give it another shot?" I should not have. The way MMC's dual identities was written made it seem more and more like he was manipulating FMC. The way he kept breaking into her house as the silencer and basically scaring her into running into the arms of her boss which is him seemed extremely manipulative to me. Also, why did she not call the police??? She talks about him having a bounty over his head and how poor she is multiple times and that would be the perfect opportunity to make some money, make it make sense. Him saying "I love you" after like a week of knowing her and then him throwing a hissy fit because she did not say it back? Is he 12 years old? Because he sure acts like a 12 year old. I was okay with him revealing his identity with her and her reaction to be kind of running away because she needed time to process everything but the way she went about it I did not like, seemed over the top dramatic. I was thankful the writer wasn't graphic from the initial rape but was disappointed that when MMC came to rescue her it became a graphic display for MMC. Earlier in the book MMC talks about how 'bullet proof' isn't actually bullet proof, it's bullet resistant, but when he is shooting throwing things etc to try and break the glass to get to her and he can't until he takes a like "super drug" left me flabbergasted. Her going home with him from the hospital also through me, but I feel like that's because her father (or his previous family) has some sort of connection with him. I am not sure because shortly after I couldn't take it anymore and gave up. The last thing that pushed me off the edge was FMC saying she was going to go home with her parents and him threatening her with unaliving himself?????????? I just couldn't. I will not be leaving a review on social media because the complaints I have are all spoiler heavy, and even though this is not my bread and butter, I understand that others can overlook my complaints and enjoy the book.

FYI: Stopped at 50%

Wow. Honestly just wow. This book was truly something else. It was dark and twisted and absolutely heartbreaking but I loved every single minute of it.

This was definitely a book best listened to because the narrator’s did such a fantastic job. Joe Arden was absolute perfection. Christian Reeves is one of the most complex characters I have ever read and Joe definitely did him justice.

This book left me unwell. This is one of those books that will stick with me for a long time.

I-I-I- just can’t…

I rated this book 5⭐️ because the writing and the gripping plot deserve it.

But if I could go back and unread this story I would. I thought I was prepared for a story with no HEA. I WAS NOT PREPARED FOR THAT ENDING!!!! Days later and I am still a wreck and having PTSD flashbacks to the story.

So do yourself a huge favor and really closely examine the tw/cw. I personally never ever read the warnings since I have no triggers, well I had no triggers. Now I can confidently say that no HEA is my trigger.

But if that doesn’t bother you and you want a DARK and tragic love story with unimaginable pain and loss… then read this book. It was truly well written and plotted out.

Your mental health matters, please for your own mental health read the triggers

This definitely wasn’t what I was expecting.
I loved the concept but it reminded me heavily of a Batman retelling.

The fmc was insufferable. I did not connect with her in the slightest. I felt her to be childish and put herself in most of the traumatic situations she got into.

Sadly this is a no from me.

Omg!!! Thank you to Netgalley for allowing me to read this before publication date!!
This was a wild ride all the way to the very end!!!
Narration was awesome, the book was awesome just all around loved it!

Under Your Scars by Ariel N. Anderson
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I was granted free access to this audiobook via NetGalley, Dreamscape Select | Blue Nose Publishing, and the author, in exchange for my honest review.

Listen. This book? It is long. But the kind of long that feels necessary—the kind that gives a story space to breathe, build, and fully wreck you. Because whew, that’s exactly what this one does.

The narration by Lee Daniels & Joe Arden was absolutely spectacular! I’ve listened to Joe Arden before, but somehow I forgot just how INTENSE he is—in the best, most soul-shattering way. His performance? 5 stars. No notes. Incredible.

Now onto the story...

“If you're so concerned about my humanity, Elena, then reach into my soul and find it, because I'm not sure I have any left.”

According to the FBI, he's a serial killer. According to me, he's one of the darkest, most layered antiheroes I’ve read this year.
They call him the Silencer. And this is the story of how one angel crying for help pulled the trigger on a whole new kind of violence—and vulnerability.

Trigger/content warnings are extensive and necessary: rape-non-mc, possessive hero, mental trauma, dark themes, abuse (non-mc), disabilities, caretaking, explicit open-door scenes, no HEA, and more. Please, please check them before diving in.

This book will not give you a tidy ending.
This book will not protect you.
But it will consume you.

It’s disturbing. It’s haunting. It’s deeply emotional.
And somehow—somehow—Ariel N. Anderson makes it all so beautifully written that I couldn’t stop listening, even when I needed a breather.

Not for the faint of heart, but absolutely worth it if you can handle the storm.

This one was so good!!


No one told me it would hurt this much
Or to bring tissues

Highly recommended this
Forever

✨B O O K R E V I E W✨

🎧: Under Your Scars
✍🏻: Ariel N. Anderson
🎤: Lee Daniels and Joe Arden
🔥: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

-•-

🖤Dual POV
🖤Dark, stalker romance (please check TWs!)
🖤Billionaire CEO MMC
🖤No HEA

DNF @ 73%

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and Ariel N. Anderson for this copy of Under Your Scars on audiobook.

Before I start, this is a dark, stalker romance - please, please check the triggers and content warnings at the beginning.

Elena Young lives in Meridian City (in a fictional New Jersey). A hard-working, wannabe lawyer, she works for Reeves Enterprises - owned by a handsome CEO with a troubled past. While she makes her way home from work one evening, a gang attack is stopped by The Silencer - on the FBI’s Most Wanted List, Meridian City’s very own serial killer… and now Elena’s stalker.

If Batman were clinically insane and had a baby with The Joker, you’d get The Silencer. Overall, I didn’t particularly gel with Joe Arden’s narration but my God - his performance as The Silencer in his most maniacal moments is haunting.

Lee Daniels is excellent as Elena, but sometimes it feels like she is overpowered by the dominance of Arden’s performance. When that balance gets struck, the dynamic between the two narrators is great; one moment in particular, when Elena has been drinking, and she and The Silencer get into a verbal back-and-forth, stands out as one such moment - unfortunately, there just isn’t an awful lot of them throughout the story, which is a bit of a shame given the narrators’ potential.

The story itself is unnecessary long (lasting over 19h), and the story never really picks up pace; it just meanders along, interspersed with “things”. Bad things. All at Elena’s expense.

Some of the plot points, such as Elena’s second job and what, to me, was a bizarre need to have it in the first place, never mind keep it, seems so unnecessary. I also didn’t understand her or her thought process sometimes: she feels Christian blows hot and cold with her yet, the minute that he buys her a yacht, he’s the best partner in the world.

It’s difficult to go into too much detail of the plot, without giving away spoilers. There is certainly a go at creating a twisty tale but, unfortunately, all of the twists could be seen coming a mile away. I thought the spice was hot, originally - albeit very unnecessary and seemingly just a way to add on more words. However, I got to a point around the halfway mark where the spicy moments became uncomfortable for me. Even what were meant to be tender moments between the MCs just didn’t sit well anymore.

Ultimately, I couldn’t get past what becomes, or what was probably always, a toxic relationship - I enjoy dark romances, so don’t find myself to be a pearl-clutcher when it comes to these kinds of stories, but it became hard to see what could be romantic about a relationship which was so toxic it was emotionally abusive and manipulative.

This book was amazing. The way the book grabbed me in the beginning to the way it kept me until the end. The storyline was fantastic! I could not believe the way the book went through the middle and the way the two ended up together with a family. I loved this book!!

I am a huge dark romance fan and a lot of the time I don’t think books are actually dark when someone says they are. This one was actually very dark. Check your trigger warnings. This was violent and graphic. The characters experience trauma and this was not a light read with a perfect happy ending. I received this book as an ALC and really liked the dual narration. The readers captured the emotion of the characters. Thank you so much for the ALC provided by Dreamscape Select, Blue Nose Publishing, and NetGalley.

This was dark, deep, and emotional! I wasn’t sure what to expect going in and when this started with saying there is no HEA, I thought to myself “what did I get myself into?”
There were so many moments where I was trying to guess what was happening and who the masked stalker was. I honestly couldn’t stand the MMC, he was giving red flags from the jump, and I know that’s the whole point but good grief it was killing me but also kept me coming back. I was not prepared for the ending and let me tell you, I was inconsolable for so long. Highly recommend!

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ALC!
Narrated by: Joe Arden and Lee Daniels

This book wrecked me—in the best, most brutal way.

Under Your Scars is not for the faint of heart. It’s raw. It’s violent. It’s twisted and soul-shattering. But it’s also beautifully written and painfully human in its own dark, bloody way. Ariel N. Anderson takes you deep into the mind of a killer—and somehow makes you ache for him.

Joe Arden is phenomenal as the Silencer. His voice drips with quiet menace and haunted regret, and you can feel every ounce of torment behind each word. Lee Daniels brings Elena to life with a perfect balance of vulnerability and resilience. Together, they deliver a duet performance that’s intense, immersive, and emotionally devastating.

This isn't your typical dark romance. There’s no pretty bow, no fairytale ending. It’s about trauma, morality, and what happens when monsters fall in love with the light they know they'll destroy. The story is unapologetically brutal, but every scar, every broken piece, feels earned.

Grab your tissues. Check your triggers. And prepare to question everything you thought you knew about heroes and villains.
An absolutely unforgettable listen.

Such a great book. I couldn't stop listening to it. Stayed up all night trying to find out what happened. Thank you for letting me listen in advance. Five stars! Loved the narration.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW:
Story: 5 stars Narration: 5 stars Overall: 5 stars

Under Your Scars is a very dark romantic tragedy. Before listening, please read all trigger warnings. The duet narration by Lee Daniels and Joe Arden was absolutely phenomenal.
Lee Daniels performance as Elena was fantastic. Elena’s personality, all of her emotions were so clearly reflected in her voice. Her portrayal of sweet kind Caroline was beautiful.
Joe Arden was spectacular in each and every role. He made each character his own. He truly embodied them. His tone was sweet yet sultry as the wealthy, charismatic Christian. As the Silencer, his tone was eerily appropriate.
These two fabulous voice actors brought this story to life brilliantly. I highly recommend listening to this audiobook. Please beware of triggers.
Thanks to NetGalley and the author for this ALC.

This book offered a refreshingly unique premise and had moments of emotional depth, but overall, it didn’t land for me. The pacing was painfully slow, imagine nearly 700 pages of drawn-out buildup, and as someone who isn’t a fan of slow burns, it felt like a slog. The plot felt thin for its length, and several story elements, especially around the heroine’s decisions, left me frustrated. The FMC, a law student, makes baffling choices!!! Most notably continuing to work at a club run by a known human trafficker despite repeated warnings from the MMC, her billionaire love interest. While I did feel for her during moments of heartbreak, her consistent poor judgment made it difficult to truly connect with her. The twist at the end was predictable, which dulled its impact. While I can understand why others love this book, it just wasn’t the right fit for me.