You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.85 AVERAGE
3.85 AVERAGE
°˖✧✿✧˖° the predator by runyx °˖✧✿✧˖°
rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
“we've been honest so far, ms. vitalio. i'll be honest now. i despise you but i want you. fuck it, i do. and i want you out of my system.”
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
﹒⟢﹒tropes﹒⟢﹒
⟢ enemies to lovers
⟢ slow burn
⟢ family rivalries
⟢ forced proximity
⟢ found family
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
morana vitalio, a girl raised in a brutal mafia world where alliances shift with the wind and danger is constant, she has learned to survive by relying on her intellect, strength, and a hardened heart. she’s not just another mafia princess—she’s a skilled hacker and strategist, using her hacking skills and her mind to protect herself and navigate the dark waters of her father's empire.
tristan caine, the enemy, the predator. he is dangerous, cold, and calculated—living in the shadows of the criminal world where trust is a luxury he can’t afford. raised in the chaos of mafia power struggles, he’s built a life based on control and power.
and when a stolen code leads morana to tristan, she is ready to kill him to survive. but it all does not work when he catches her and then, lets her go.
"i'm no gentleman to give you a free pass," he spoke quitely. "you are in my debt. and i will collect it one day"
and from that day on, tristan is entangled in her life. he is everywhere. and morana, does not know whether i bothers her or turns her on.
someone is framing tristan, her enemy, for the stolen codes and they need to find out who before a war breaks out between the two mob families. morana is confused because why does she feel safer with tristan and dante and amara then her own father? why is their place becoming a safe haven for her?
∘₊✧my thoughts✧₊∘
the characters : i loved morana so far. she is fierce and strong and i love that. she is smart and knows what she is doing but runyx let my girl catch a break. and tristan caine, the man that you are!!!! i think we barely get what tristan is feeling, the book being in morana's pov, but even then the way he just cannot stay away from morana, craves her, protects her and does not anyone kill her cause she is his to kill? swoons
and the one chapter we get in his pov, my heart breaks for him. he protected her!!! killed her father for her!!! my heart!!!! he suffered so much. and still holds the resentment towards morana but still cannot help but desire her. that push and pull is perfect.
memorable scenes : the shower scene, the rain scene, the star scene, the baby morana scene, the luna scene.
the vibes : with that out of the way, wow. the vibes of this book are immaculate. while you are reading the book you feel like someone is watching you. you feel the tension, the danger, and the looming threat in every corner of the story. it’s that perfect blend of suspense and tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat, making every scene feel like it’s crackling with an electric charge.
the chemistry : the chemistry between morana and tristan is chef’s kiss—it’s intense, charged, and slow-burning, building from animosity to something much deeper and even more dangerous. you can feel the push and pull between them, their constant battle to stay apart, but also the undeniable attraction that simmers beneath the surface.
there’s something about the way they interact—sharp words, heated glances, and unspoken desires—that makes their enemies-to-lovers dynamic so addictive. tristan may be cold and calculating, but his obsession with morana is evident from the moment they meet. and morana? she’s not one to back down, even when every part of her tells her to run. she’s tough, sharp, and resilient, yet she finds herself unexpectedly drawn to him in a way she can’t explain.
"apparently, you're not out of my system, ms. vitalio.”
more of what i loved : there is my most favorite trope ever, the found family. as much as tristan is an enemy, morana starts to feel at home with dante and amara too. and all her interactions with them makes my heart so happy. her feeling safe with them makes me feel. and i cannot wait to read about amara and dante.
“you are safe and comfortable here," he told her in an equally quiet voice, the words heavy with meaning.”
what i did not like : with all of that out, the reason this is only four stars and not five is because of a silly reason but the one that bothered me and felt repetitive.
his eyes. she felt his eyes watching her. oh god, i understand mam that you can feel his eyes watching you, okay? you need don't need to go telling us about it every other second. i was over it in the shower scene when tristan came into the shower. yes, i had to put down my book and just yell, "fine! he has eyes!! we get it!!!!"
my favorite quotes :
"no one else gets to kill you, ms. vitalio," he spoke quietly. "the last face you see before you die will be mine. when it comes to death, you're mine.”
“i don't want to fix him. i want fix me. and he's the only thing that seems to be working.”
“planning to make me go somewhere, mr. caine?"
"on the contrary, i’m planning to make you come somewhere, ms. vitalio.”
“tristan caine terrified her, but it wasn't because of the death he was bringing her slowly, the death he would bring her one day, the death he raised in her. no. it was the life.”
“i'll be honest now. i despise you but i want you. fuck it, i do. and i want you out of my system.”
“always the hunter, never the hunted. he could not be hunted. he could not be tamed. he could not be destroyed. that kind of unbreakable aura was so, so tempting to her.”
“i don’t think anyone can handle you. not if you don’t want to be handled.”
“you ever put a leash on me, i’ll fucking strangle you with it.”
“she existed because of him. she was innocent but he had been innocent too. she was innocent, and yet she was stained with blood. his blood. the blood of his father. the blood he had shed to save her; the blood he had marked her with trying to clean her.”
“one day, i'm going to carve your heart out and keep it as a souvenir. i promise.”
“it was the most beautiful kiss she could have ever dreamed of, the most untainted she’d ever imagined from him, with a softness she’d not thought him capable of. with his intensity, with his blazing eyes, the silent promises had been of devouring. this wasn’t devouring. this was savoring.”
“don't you know not to run away from predators, sweetheart? we like the hunt.”
i had some more thoughts but i forgot some of them and im too tired to continue, so might update later on.
tldr : if you love dark, slow-burn romance with enemies who can’t stop wanting each other, and a plot that’s full of tension, the predator is definitely a book you won’t want to miss. it’s got the perfect mix of suspense, romance, and that chemistry that will make you devour it in one sitting.
rating: ★ ★ ★ ★
“we've been honest so far, ms. vitalio. i'll be honest now. i despise you but i want you. fuck it, i do. and i want you out of my system.”
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
﹒⟢﹒tropes﹒⟢﹒
⟢ enemies to lovers
⟢ slow burn
⟢ family rivalries
⟢ forced proximity
⟢ found family
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
morana vitalio, a girl raised in a brutal mafia world where alliances shift with the wind and danger is constant, she has learned to survive by relying on her intellect, strength, and a hardened heart. she’s not just another mafia princess—she’s a skilled hacker and strategist, using her hacking skills and her mind to protect herself and navigate the dark waters of her father's empire.
tristan caine, the enemy, the predator. he is dangerous, cold, and calculated—living in the shadows of the criminal world where trust is a luxury he can’t afford. raised in the chaos of mafia power struggles, he’s built a life based on control and power.
and when a stolen code leads morana to tristan, she is ready to kill him to survive. but it all does not work when he catches her and then, lets her go.
"i'm no gentleman to give you a free pass," he spoke quitely. "you are in my debt. and i will collect it one day"
and from that day on, tristan is entangled in her life. he is everywhere. and morana, does not know whether i bothers her or turns her on.
someone is framing tristan, her enemy, for the stolen codes and they need to find out who before a war breaks out between the two mob families. morana is confused because why does she feel safer with tristan and dante and amara then her own father? why is their place becoming a safe haven for her?
∘₊✧my thoughts✧₊∘
the characters : i loved morana so far. she is fierce and strong and i love that. she is smart and knows what she is doing but runyx let my girl catch a break. and tristan caine, the man that you are!!!! i think we barely get what tristan is feeling, the book being in morana's pov, but even then the way he just cannot stay away from morana, craves her, protects her and does not anyone kill her cause she is his to kill? swoons
and the one chapter we get in his pov, my heart breaks for him. he protected her!!! killed her father for her!!! my heart!!!! he suffered so much. and still holds the resentment towards morana but still cannot help but desire her. that push and pull is perfect.
memorable scenes : the shower scene, the rain scene, the star scene, the baby morana scene, the luna scene.
the vibes : with that out of the way, wow. the vibes of this book are immaculate. while you are reading the book you feel like someone is watching you. you feel the tension, the danger, and the looming threat in every corner of the story. it’s that perfect blend of suspense and tension that keeps you on the edge of your seat, making every scene feel like it’s crackling with an electric charge.
the chemistry : the chemistry between morana and tristan is chef’s kiss—it’s intense, charged, and slow-burning, building from animosity to something much deeper and even more dangerous. you can feel the push and pull between them, their constant battle to stay apart, but also the undeniable attraction that simmers beneath the surface.
there’s something about the way they interact—sharp words, heated glances, and unspoken desires—that makes their enemies-to-lovers dynamic so addictive. tristan may be cold and calculating, but his obsession with morana is evident from the moment they meet. and morana? she’s not one to back down, even when every part of her tells her to run. she’s tough, sharp, and resilient, yet she finds herself unexpectedly drawn to him in a way she can’t explain.
"apparently, you're not out of my system, ms. vitalio.”
more of what i loved : there is my most favorite trope ever, the found family. as much as tristan is an enemy, morana starts to feel at home with dante and amara too. and all her interactions with them makes my heart so happy. her feeling safe with them makes me feel. and i cannot wait to read about amara and dante.
“you are safe and comfortable here," he told her in an equally quiet voice, the words heavy with meaning.”
what i did not like : with all of that out, the reason this is only four stars and not five is because of a silly reason but the one that bothered me and felt repetitive.
his eyes. she felt his eyes watching her. oh god, i understand mam that you can feel his eyes watching you, okay? you need don't need to go telling us about it every other second. i was over it in the shower scene when tristan came into the shower. yes, i had to put down my book and just yell, "fine! he has eyes!! we get it!!!!"
my favorite quotes :
"no one else gets to kill you, ms. vitalio," he spoke quietly. "the last face you see before you die will be mine. when it comes to death, you're mine.”
“i don't want to fix him. i want fix me. and he's the only thing that seems to be working.”
“planning to make me go somewhere, mr. caine?"
"on the contrary, i’m planning to make you come somewhere, ms. vitalio.”
“tristan caine terrified her, but it wasn't because of the death he was bringing her slowly, the death he would bring her one day, the death he raised in her. no. it was the life.”
“i'll be honest now. i despise you but i want you. fuck it, i do. and i want you out of my system.”
“always the hunter, never the hunted. he could not be hunted. he could not be tamed. he could not be destroyed. that kind of unbreakable aura was so, so tempting to her.”
“i don’t think anyone can handle you. not if you don’t want to be handled.”
“you ever put a leash on me, i’ll fucking strangle you with it.”
“she existed because of him. she was innocent but he had been innocent too. she was innocent, and yet she was stained with blood. his blood. the blood of his father. the blood he had shed to save her; the blood he had marked her with trying to clean her.”
“one day, i'm going to carve your heart out and keep it as a souvenir. i promise.”
“it was the most beautiful kiss she could have ever dreamed of, the most untainted she’d ever imagined from him, with a softness she’d not thought him capable of. with his intensity, with his blazing eyes, the silent promises had been of devouring. this wasn’t devouring. this was savoring.”
“don't you know not to run away from predators, sweetheart? we like the hunt.”
i had some more thoughts but i forgot some of them and im too tired to continue, so might update later on.
tldr : if you love dark, slow-burn romance with enemies who can’t stop wanting each other, and a plot that’s full of tension, the predator is definitely a book you won’t want to miss. it’s got the perfect mix of suspense, romance, and that chemistry that will make you devour it in one sitting.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4 stars, I really enjoyed it. This was a quick read, can’t wait to start the second book!
Okay so first of all i really do love Tristan and Morana, as a couple and individuals.
Morana is actually the third female character I've liked so far in books.
Tristan is the morally gray character that we all love.
About the book, i would say that
1.the story is really really good 5⭐ for the story, the plot but the way it's written is really disappointing.
2. Everything is described to the point that i would skip lines because it would become boring. I don't wanna read about how the male or female character is breathing, walking, talking or flexing muscles.
3. I'm a sucker for banter and shit talking between the male and female characters and let me tell you there was barely any conversation between the couple let alone a banter. Maybe 2 or 3 conversations at max.
I would have given it 4⭐ if there would have been more verbal interaction between the characters rather than just staring contests. But other than that the book was nice, good angst and sexual tension. The plot will make you read the next book for sure. The story is well thought and executed.
I just hope the other books in the series are worth the time and energy.
Morana is actually the third female character I've liked so far in books.
Tristan is the morally gray character that we all love.
About the book, i would say that
1.the story is really really good 5⭐ for the story, the plot but the way it's written is really disappointing.
2. Everything is described to the point that i would skip lines because it would become boring. I don't wanna read about how the male or female character is breathing, walking, talking or flexing muscles.
3. I'm a sucker for banter and shit talking between the male and female characters and let me tell you there was barely any conversation between the couple let alone a banter. Maybe 2 or 3 conversations at max.
I would have given it 4⭐ if there would have been more verbal interaction between the characters rather than just staring contests. But other than that the book was nice, good angst and sexual tension. The plot will make you read the next book for sure. The story is well thought and executed.
I just hope the other books in the series are worth the time and energy.
THIS IS HOW YOU WRITE A GOOD NOT CRINGY-WITHOUT 🍇- DARK ROMANCE
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
4.5 ⭐️ (rr)
Epitome of enemies to lovers is tristanmorana. They are the IT enemies to lovers couple for me. Nothing could ever compare‼️
Morana the nerdytechgoddess is truly the smartest girl ever. She’s such a badass. I love that she’s an FMC who’s not afraid to take control over in a world full of all this toxic masculinity. She was lonely all her life and just wanted to exist to someone
Epitome of enemies to lovers is tristanmorana. They are the IT enemies to lovers couple for me. Nothing could ever compare‼️
Morana the nerdytechgoddess is truly the smartest girl ever. She’s such a badass. I love that she’s an FMC who’s not afraid to take control over in a world full of all this toxic masculinity. She was lonely all her life and just wanted to exist to someone
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Listen this was an OKAY read but the writing was not for me. The writing was very flawed and rudimentary in so many ways, the word milking and NEITHER FOLDS were used and more than once… the story was not resolved and while I realize it’s a series we just got cut off in the middle of the main plot line. I felt like I was reading “your honor” fan fiction for a lot of it. The smut was good. I’ll give the smut a 5. There were just some truly glaring writing flaws I can’t get past, I will not be continuing the series. I just don’t know if mafia romance is for me so if it is for you I totally understand.