Tracing Scars

The KORT Series, Book 3

De: Brandy Hynes

Narrado por: Teddy Hamilton, Avery Caris

Live. Leap. Pretend. Forget.

Drowning in darkness. Sentenced to silence.

Fields and rain. Cathedral to cage.

Crunch. Squeak. Blood.

TY

She’s my never. My fortress. My moon.

Rena Noire—the one I’m not allowed to touch.

As a Cabal leader with a sordid past, hell is all I’ve ever had to offer.

So, I’ve kept my distance from the menacing angel.

But the sand is blowing everywhere, the line growing fainter.

And as danger closes in, all I see is her.

My forbidden. My compass. The forever I’ll burn for.

But it all comes back to one wrong choice.

RENA

As the youngest Noire sibling and heiress of our hospitality empire, I’m destined to be the heart, but never the head.

A princess locked in a bell tower.

That would be fine if Tytan Reynolds would storm my castle, but he’s determined to stay on his side of the moat.

My far-fetched fantasy and my brothers’ friend.

But when my world topples upside down, I glimpse the heat in his gaze.

I run. He chases.

He wants to shield. I belong to the dark.

Once we jump, the abyss with my tortured sailor is nothing like I expected.

Bound and gagged. Bullets of freedom. Time is ticking.

Nothing left to lose.

©2024 Night Bloom Press LLC (P)2024 Night Bloom Press LLC

Obvi Ty’s Story didn’t disappoint

This series is in my top 3 dark romance series - continues to have enough plot and character development to become attached and immersed in their world. Have been recommending it to anyone I feel safe to do so with lol

My Sweet Ty and Wild Rena

As always….another 5 star BANGER from Brandy Hynes!! This book, it got me in so many feels. It is so dark and haunting, but so incredibly beautiful. The world and characters that Brandy creates are next level. There are parts of this book that had me crying and parts that had me SWEATING! If you are looking for mafia, unaliving, morally gray men, bada$$ females, found family, and love-it is all here and then some!

The narrators were AMAZING and did such a good job bringing this story to life. Avery is exactly what I expected Rena to sound like! Teddy took me a little longer to adjust to as Ty’s voice. Once I found the groove, I fell in love with his voice for Ty! They both gave an outstanding performance.

Tytan Reynolds you beautiful human! With a dark and deep past Ty has his fair share of demons. He has been watching Rena from afar never thinking he could be good enough to be hers. Always hiding behind a smile and fighting his demons alone in the dark.

Rena Noire what a firecracker! She’s spent her whole like locked up with five older, protective brothers. Always playing the part of the Noire Princess, sprinkling light and laughter to all of those around her. What they don’t know is all she hides in the dark. She gives our boy Ty a good run for his money and pushes all his buttons, but she also balances him perfectly.

Scars, Strength & Solace

Brandy Hynes delivers another emotional gut punch with Tracing Scars, a gripping story of healing, survival, and unexpected strength. Ty is a tortured soul, weighed down by the demons of his past—survivor’s guilt from his family's execution, years as a POW, and the scars that trauma left behind. Yet in Rena, his "Little Moon," he finds solace, grounding, and light. Rena proves herself to be far more than the sheltered youngest sister of five KORT brothers—she’s a total badass: resourceful, adaptable, and a true embodiment of what it means to be part of the KORT legacy. Her growth and resilience shine in every scene. Narrators Avery Caris and Teddy Hamilton are immaculate, capturing every raw emotion and bringing these layered characters to life with perfection.

Obsessed. Shattered. In Love

Brandy Hynes has done it again—and Tracing Scars might just be her most intense, emotional, and deliciously unhinged story yet. As the third book in this addictive dark romance series, it delivers every single thing fans crave and somehow still manages to raise the bar. This book isn't just a story; it’s a full-body experience. But fair warning: this series must be read in order to truly appreciate the build-up and emotional weight!

🌒 What’s the Story?
Rena Noire—youngest sibling of the powerful Noire dynasty—has always been the one no one takes seriously. But underneath the delicate image is a storm waiting to erupt. Ty—her brothers’ friend, Cabal leader, and walking stormcloud of temptation—has kept his distance… until now. When danger looms and secrets unravel, Ty can’t stay away any longer. And Rena? She’s done waiting. What follows is a gorgeously broken, fiercely passionate, and utterly unforgettable descent into love, lust, and survival.

🔥 What Absolutely Rocked:
✨ Rena & Ty are pure MAGIC – They’re electric. They’re messy. They’re meant to be. Their chemistry is soul-crushingly intense, and the emotional depth? Breathtaking.
✨ TY. GOOD. LORD. – This man’s mouth? Obscene. Filthy. Delicious. The way he talks to Rena will live rent-free in your mind FOREVER.
✨ The Writing = Art – Brandy’s prose is gritty, lyrical, and punch-you-in-the-heart beautiful. Every chapter FEELS like something.
✨ So Much More Than Spice – Yes, it’s 🔥, but it’s also suspenseful, emotional, and layered with purpose. The plot is rich with betrayal, protection, and passion.
✨ It’s Deep. It’s Dark. It’s Devastating. – And you’ll love every second of it.

💎 Tropes You’ll Devour:
✔ Forbidden Love / Brother’s Best Friend
✔ Age Gap
✔ Dark Romance
✔ Forced Proximity
✔ “Touch Her and Die” Energy
✔ Broken Hero x Brave Heroine
✔ Found Family
✔ Slow Burn That Explodes

🎧 Final Verdict:
Tracing Scars is a gritty, emotional, and explosively hot ride through love, pain, and redemption. Rena and Ty don’t just set the page on fire—they own it. This story left me reeling in the BEST way possible, and I already want to start over just to feel it all again.

💬 “She’s my never. My fortress. My moon.” — THAT LINE. That’s the level of FEELS we’re dealing with here.

📚 If you haven’t started this series yet? Fix that immediately. And if you’ve been waiting for Rena and Ty’s book—prepare to be destroyed in the most delicious way.

Little Moon more like BIG Swoon

This hidden gem series was already perfect but Teddy Hamilton took it to another level. Just perfect.

✨ ANOTHER GREAT LISTEN ✨

I liked this listen and it’s 5 star.. however, it’s my least favourite because Rena and Ty were a done deal from the start and I would’ve liked a bit more sexual tension and chemistry build. They were both secretly in love with each other but Ty’s worry over the missing Rena had him following her to Vegas where his possession, purpose and past merge. Both have demons, both would die to protect one another and both will go through the spins and torments of the KORT trials. Good character growth, hot, great pre loved secondary characters from the prior books and awesome duet-style voice acting by Avery and Teddy who were both excellent as they delivered the feels and tone each well-written chapter called for.

Worth a credit? Yes and I’m looking forward to the next book.

Absolutely amazing!

Each story in this series is dynamic and unique and this one is no different. The characters are so true to themselves and it makes the love they have for each other all the more moving. I found myself immersed in the story and wondering what trials and tribulations await them. I absolutely recommend this entire series and look forward to the remaining books.

Emotionally Charged Duet Performance

The KORT series by Brandy Hynes has me in a chokehold, and Tracing Scars was no exception! I couldn't put this audiobook down! Tracing Scars grabbed my attention immediately and didn't let go. Since Brandy Hynes was a new-to-me author until Burning Ivy, I have honestly been consumed with these audiobooks. Truthfully, I don’t know that my house has ever been cleaner. With full custody of my kids back in my hands (and my phone counting down the days until they are back in school 😆), my time to listen to audiobooks has been shortened, but I’ve found the time to listen to each of these books!

Tracing Scars isn't your typical fluffy romance - it's raw, messy, and hits you right in the feels. Ty and Rena's relationship is the kind that makes your heart ache in the best possible way. I found myself completely invested in watching these two broken people slowly learn to trust and heal each other.

And seriously, the narrators deserve a slow clap. They’ve knocked it out of the park! Avery Caris captures everything I imagined Rena to be–fiery, vulnerable, and strong! Rena's the perfect mix of tough exterior and hidden vulnerability; there is just no denying I love Avery’s portrayal of the character. As quickly as I figured out I loved Avery’s portrayal of Rena, it took me a few chapters to adjust to Teddy Hamilton’s take on Ty. And this has nothing to do with Teddy’s portrayal–more of an adjustment, I think, to Ty. I absolutely love all things Teddy Hamilton, so I knew I needed to just keep going and whatever wasn’t jiving would quickly disappear. And I’m so glad I continued to listen because Teddy (and Ty) quickly won me over. By the halfway point, I couldn't imagine anyone else voicing those emotional scenes. Together, they make the romance feel so real and intense. Give me broken heroes, brave heroines, forbidden love, or touch her and ☠️ vibes all day long! It’s heavy in all the right places, and the audiobook makes it even more immersive.

Fellow romance readers, if you love protective alpha heroes, feisty strong-willed heroines who don't take any crap, and relationships that feel earned rather than instant, you need Tracing Scars in your life. Fair warning: It’s heavy in all the right places, and the audiobook makes it even more immersive so keep tissues handy. This one goes deep, but that's what makes it so special. I've loved all the KORT books, but this might be my favorite audiobook in the series yet.

Overall: 4.5⭐
Performance: 4.5⭐
Story: 4.5⭐
Spice: 3🌶️

Genre:
🖤 Dark Romantic Suspense

Tropes:
🖤 Brother’s Best Friend
🖤 One bed
🖤 Trauma/ grief healing
🖤 Cat and mouse pursuit
🖤Mafia/Secret Society
🖤Jealous/Possessive hero
🖤Action/ Suspense
🖤Found family
🖤Touch her and 💀
🖤Morally Gray Characters
🖤Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️
🖤Praise with a sprinkling of degrádat!on

Family

Can’t Wait for the next book. The story of the big guy a.k. a Gage is something I can’t wait to hear.

Falling more and more in love with this series…

Ty has been one of my favorite characters in this series from the very beginning, so I was super excited to learn more of his backstory. And Brandy did not disappoint. Ty and Rena’s journey just made me fall even more in love with this series and this amazing world Brandy is creating.

As one of the top officials in KORT, Ty leads a dangerous life. That is just one of the excuses he makes for keeping his distance from Rena. It’s clear to everyone in his found family that he has feelings for the young Noire princess. But his tortured past is another reason he doesn’t want to make a move and bring Rena into his dark world.

Rena has had a major crush on Ty for years and has been secretly hoping he will one day finally make his move. After a moment of vulnerability from Ty, she starts to wonder if the attraction is not one sided after all. But when she discovers secrets that rock her foundations, she makes a run for it to get some space.

Ty is desperate to find Rena and keep her safe. When she drops some clues he’s ready to chase her no matter what. The danger in their interconnected worlds can no longer be avoided and decisions have to be made fast. Those decisions set things in motion that can’t be stopped. It’s a fight to prove themselves and a fight to stay alive.

Every time I think I know who my favorite couple in this series is Brandy throws me for a loop. So I’m refusing to choose. I loved Ty and Rena’s story so much. They fought their attraction for so long and deserved to be happy and heal. That’s exactly what they do for each other in their own special ways. I love this whole found family and their crazy, fun, and slightly twisted but fiercely loyal and protective dynamic. I just want more and more.

AUDIOBOOK UPDATE: This was another great addition to The KORT collection. I love how well these narrators brought Ty and Rena's story to life. And the duet style narration is so good. Oh I love this series so much!! The audio just brings a whole new element to this world that just enhances how great it is.