FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Martyr
by S. MasserySeries: Sterling Falls Rogues #3
Published by Self-Published on September 18, 2025
SubGenres: Dark Romance, New Adult Romance, Reverse Harem
Format: eArc
Pages: 266
Source: the author
Audience: 18+/Adult
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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.
Martyr concludes S. Massery’s Sterling Falls Rogues Series. While I’m relieved there are no more cliffhangers, this finale felt less satisfying than the earlier books. The pacing felt rushed, especially in resolving the antagonist and some romances. Still, Martyr delivers an action-packed conclusion, and I’m glad Artemis, Saint, Reese, and Kade get their happy ending, especially after all Artemis endured.
What I enjoyed:
- Artemis overcame addiction and returned fiercer than ever. I liked how she handled certain characters, especially Saint. She’s an FMC I’ll remember.
- I enjoyed Reese and Artemis together, even though how they met was dark and emotional. Reese was always protective, and their chemistry grew, making them a great couple.
- Saint may have gone back to old ways with Artemis at the beginning of this book, but once he gains back what he lost, he comes back to the Saint I adored in the second book. He truly changed his ways since book one.
- I appreciated that lingering questions were answered, such as Gabriel, who also had a POV. He wasn’t a romantic interest, but he’s part of the story explained things. He did care for one person in the book, and readers will find out more about that person in this book.
Things that bothered me:
- The story felt rushed, especially with the antagonist. Once their motives are revealed, I felt their demise felt rushed and too mild for me. I was also surprised by who actually took care of the antagonist.
- The poly romance between the characters didn’t fully convince me. While there were scenes exploring these relationships, some of them felt rushed and lacked genuineness, especially between Kade and Saint. Unlike Reese and Artemis, whose connection was clear and well-developed, I didn’t feel a strong bond between Kade and Saint, which made their dynamic less believable for me. I needed more of these two together, especially once Saint gets his memories back. Then there was the whole group as a poly romance, but I’ll go into that reason in the next bullet, which actually made it not believable to me.
- Regarding Kade, I struggled to trust him for much of the book. Although he eventually proved himself, it was hard to overlook some of his earlier actions, which I found hurtful and difficult to forgive. This affected how invested I felt in the romantic relationships involving Kade.
Despite some disappointments, I still enjoyed reading this book. Part of me wished there was a fourth book, but remembering the intensity of previous cliffhangers, I appreciated the closure this ending provided.
Overall, I rate Martyr 3.5 stars. It didn’t fully meet my expectations for a series finale, but I’ll still recommend this trilogy.
Single/Dual/Multi POV: Multi POV.
Would I recommend this trilogy? Yes. I recommend it to dark romance fans and readers of S. Massery’s other books. This trilogy covers heavy, triggering topics, so check TW first.
What to Expect:
✔️Dark Romance
✔️Why Choose
✔️Enemies to Lovers/Hate to Love
✔️Forced Proximity
About 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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