The Predator: A Dark Contemporary Mafia Romance (Dark Verse)

This first entry in RuNyx's Dark Verse series is solid, especially for a first release. It is a bit of a slow-burn, but the writing overall is good (although like with any first-time release by an indie author, this could have used an extra pair of eyes in the editing department to make things a bit tighter and cleaner. But the story itself is where it's at for me, so the small amount of errors isn't enough to dock this book a star).RuNyx really knows how to tell a story, and while her heroines and heroes may not be for everyone, she has a way of writing them in such a way that makes it near impossible for me not to connect with them on some level, and the characters in this story are no exception. Morana, Tristan, Dante, and Amara - I love, am fascinated by, and am emotionally invested in each one of them. In a world of crime and unabashed evil, these four - with their varying shades of gray - fascinated and effortlessly drew me in.Morana Vitalio is our heroine, and her feelings of loneliness and isolation in the face of growing up under a tyrannical and emotionally neglectful (and straight-up abusive) father was especially poignant. You'd think after all she's endured, she'd be subdued or a doormat, but no. This woman - even if she has a tendency to let her hot headedness get her into trouble - she's got a mettle to her that I can't help but admire. She's stubborn, she's got a temper, and the girl just burns hot.Tristan Caine, on the other hand, is the ice to her fire. He's our dangerous, brooding, intense hero/anti-hero, and as is typical for the dark mafia romance genre, he is dominant, stubborn, unrelenting, and intimidating. But underneath all of those layers of frosty anger and a capacity for great violence, we get a good look towards the end at his damaged center: that of a broken boy with a lifetime of trauma that has never had the chance to properly heal.The chemistry between these enemies-turned-lovers is gradual, but the attraction and interest is there from the start, even if it's unwanted by both parties for much of the book. The way these two try to keep an emotional distance between themselves, even when they start to explore their mutual attraction - the romantic in me found that so frustrating, but the enemies-to-lovers trash that I am loved the agonizing tension and yearning. RuNyx captures the explosive heat and passion of their encounters, but also follows it up with a believable lack of satiation that leaves all parties involved (us readers included) wholly unsatisfied and desperate for another go round.The revelation of Tristan and Morana's connection at the climax made so much sense, though, and considering the nuggets of foreshadowing we've been getting, I think I can guess what's to come in The Reaper, but we'll see if I've interpreted RuNyx's hints correctly.Overall, this was a solid story. Definitely more of a slow-burn than anything else - even with the action scenes, the pacing wasn't as fast as I would have expected. Not necessarily a bad thing, just something to note. But I enjoyed it and am looking forward to the follow-up to see where all this leads.

Prior to The Predator, I can honestly say I had no interest in any kind of ‘mafia’ book. Just the thought didn’t sound interesting nor did any sort of synopsis ever appeal to me. But after reading Gothikana, and loving RuNyx’s writing, I decided to give it a chance.Holy hell people.. what have I been missing out on?!I absolutely devoured this book — I absolutely hate the word/phrase, but it’s true. (I also ordered the next two books about halfway through so they’d be here when I finished.) This was a book that a friend and I buddy read together and we zoomed it. We normally set our chapter reads to 5 a day; we finished this in a day and a half — and I consider myself a slow reader!While the story is slow building (this is book one of five, after all), the plot is well established by the end and there’s a lot going on inbetween for you to get wrapped up in it. I loved that there was so many other added factors to this and not just one focal point. This book is so good! And it hits all points for me, but here's a couple off the top of my head: a strong female MC, the brooding male MC that is the literal strong and silent type, mystery, stabbing action, quick witted banter, and some spice sprinkled in.My only annoyance? The amount of times ‘whiskey and sin’ was mentioned.What I absolutely loved? The moment when Tristan and Morana sat side by side looking out the window as it poured down rain. I like to think this was a defining moment between the two.

Idk how many times I have said this but I will say it many times more, RuNyx is 100% a storyteller!! and that is exactly what she does for The Predator. She takes on a whole different spin on the mafia trope we all know and love. Now I haven’t read that many mafia books (so take that and do what you will with it) but I have never read a mafia book like this one here.She gives us that strong, smart and badass heroine, Morana Vitalio (and that name, like damn, I love her name almost as much as I love her character). Then she gives us Tristan “the predator” Caine who is that silent but simmering alpha male that you just can’t help but fall for.I love RuNyx’s writing style, which of course is in 3rd person. Now most of the books I read are from 1st person and I have noticed that when I switch to 3rd, it takes a second. But as soon as I get into it — I AM GOOD TO GO!! And personally, when reading one of RuNyx’s books, i think i need to read more books in 3rd person.