Haunted Prey

Unmasked Duet #2

by Lora Darc

Eve

I fell for the one person I should have run from—the one who destroyed everything. My world. My sanity.
He stole my life…and then he stole my heart.
Now I’m broken. Lost. Haunted.
Even hidden away, I can’t escape him. His voice whispers in the dark, his shadow follows me everywhere.
This asylum holds secrets even darker than him. In this place, monstrous deeds don't stay buried. And the devil never lets go.

Emery

I held heaven in my hands, and the world ripped her from me.
Now there’s nothing left of me but obsession and vengeance. I’m a broken man—a dangerous man—with nothing to lose.
Except her. My Eve. My salvation. My undoing.
Even death can’t stop me. Eve is mine. She’ll always be mine.
This time, I won’t just take her back—I’ll burn the world to keep her.
And together, we’ll finish what we started.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Serial Killer, Contemporary Romance, Mental Health

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 17, 2025

About the author

Author of Beautiful Prey: Unmasked Duet.


Find out more here! https://linktr.ee/loradarc


Lora likes the strange and taboo, finding love and desire in dark places.

When she isn’t writing Dark Contemporary and Paranormal Romance, she’s usually mood reading, collecting oddities, role-playing as a vampire with her friends (Tremer and Giovanni – iykyk), or watching her favorite movies (horror and scifi/fantasy). She lives in the states with her family and half a dozen pets, including her blue-tongue skink, and an alligator snapping turtle named Morla.

Reviews

[➦Paulette & Her Sexy Alphas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunted Prey picks up right where the Unmasked Duet left off. Just a quick note: this isn’t a standalone tale, if you haven't read Beautiful Prey, it's a good idea to do that first. If you have, get set for a thrilling experience ahead!
This is a story about those who were lost, those who walked through hell and came out never the same. Whose minds were altered, broken, disturbed, but still found a way to love, even when the odds were against them in every possible way.


Severfalls was supposed to be a luxurious recovery center for the elite. At least, that’s what she had been led to believe, but the truth is it’s a mental health facility, and as if things couldn't get any worse, Eve had no idea what was going on with Emery..
As she grapples with her own struggles, her days blurred together. Eve was completely lost, unable to distinguish between reality and illusion. She wondered if she had finally reached her breaking point. But then to make matters worse Eve realized that they were also running special studies in that place as well.


Eve finds herself entangled in a mystery that seems linked to the secrets of her family and Emery’s history.


Emery has reconnected with figures from his past and is determined to reunite with his Eve, all while plotting his revenge.

There were several instances when I was sitting on the edge of my chair, eager to see how things would turn out…… Now there were times that there was a little bit of overkill on the smutty parts ….. Yep you read that right
Calling this dark enemies-to-lovers romance with a suspenseful twist is an understatement, as it blurs the lines between obsession, love, and revenge



Putting my feelings about this installment into words isn’t a walk in the park. I know I might have confused you with my thoughts in this review, but I had a whirlwind of mixed emotions while reading this Final installment. However, Still, I think the author really nailed the ending.

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐

Book one was incredible, but here everything felt too focused on revenge. I wanted more of the main characters, their relationship felt secondary this time.

[Flor · Rating 5 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[B B loves her books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks again for recommending this one Paulette

[COURTZ · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first book more, I didn’t like how she ended up the way she did.

I received an arc for a honest review.

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This duet hurt me in the best way possible, 5 stars also

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you take any recommendation from my page, let it be this UNMASKED DUET. Absolutely masterful. Criminally underrated. Book 1 tore me apart. Book 2 semi put me back together, but also, more destruction. Go in blind. Covers are gorgeous and will be trophy buys for sure. HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend 🖤

[Page_2_Pen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review: This was a fabulous, page-turning conclusion to this duet! The writing was full of action and very engaging. The twisted love story that is Eve and Emery is crazy but endearing, full of passion as they are determined to save each other from their own demons. I really enjoyed this duet. Great job to Lora Dorc! Many thanks to her and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Summary: We begin book 2 of the Unmasked Duet to find Eve has been placed in Severfalls, a mental facility, to help her cope and heal from the trauma Emery has caused. With Emery dead and her head a mess, Eve doesn’t put up a fight. The days pass and Eve begins medicinal treatment and befriends a group of pregnant women in Severfalls. She loses track of days but slowly notices all may not be as it seems here. Willing herself to get off the meds, she begins investigating circumstances at the mental facility, eventually realizing she must find a way out. Emery has been rescued by a reckless homemade militia of others like him, who are determined to make the scientists and medical personnel behind their insanity pay once and for all. Cue the rescue squad and a devious plan they concoct to wreak havoc on the same demons who’ve wronged them.

[ashlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ending of book one left me in such shambles I ran to book two. This book started exactly where book one left off and kept me in a chokehold. While this book does slow down a bit in the middle, it’s very much needed. It gives you a deeper insight to how Eve & Emory battle their mental health as well as back stories of other characters.

If you love books fills with trauma, revenge and found family, you’ll need to read this duet.

✨ T r o p e s + T r i g g e r s ✨
Past Trauma
Mental Illness
Spicy
Obsession
Touch Her & Die
Revenge
Found Family
HEA

[Alex Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (I said what I said)

RAW. POWERFUL. INTENSE

I’ve been waiting, chomping at the bit for this book. Beautiful Prey ended on one INTENSE cliffhanger and I couldn’t wait to jump in and read the next one! Haunted Prey was a beautiful conclusion to the duet. It was an emotional ride for sure, but we got there and damn was the journey worth the views at the end! You will experience a rollercoaster of emotions, I giggled, I yelled, I gasped, I cried!

The story resumes as Eve is essentially abducted and brought to Severfalls for “treatment” from the trauma she experienced at the hands of the Harper Pointe Killer (Emery). ✨cue 👀 foreshadowing✨ While there, things are not what they seem and it just so happens that Eve has collected some demons of her own. It’s giving very much “I can’t drown my demons, they know how to swim” vibes for sure.

Emery is reunited with people eager to get their revenge and he’s game… as long as they help get Eve back. While apart, Emery has this realization that he has to do better and be better for Eve. It’s such a beautiful moment when someone decides to get better not only for themselves but for their partner as well. Upon their reunion, Emery is disheartened to find out that Eve has similar demons to his now…

This is a story of revenge, of soul deep connections, and of the raw truth and representation of mental health. This has a lot of darker themes and triggers. Please read them before continuing on! Thank you so so much Lora for gifting me this ARC! What a powerful story!

[Alysa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved how this picked up right from the first book when Eve is taken to Severfalls to help her recover from being kidnapped. But as she’s recovering she’s realizing she has developed her own demons and secrets that are going on right in the very walls that are suppose to be a safe place.
Emery is reunited with friends that want to help him and themselves get the revenge and justice they all deserve, while also getting Eve back to him. But as they find there way there are new obstacles they have to hurtle in order to finally heal and be together forever. The adventure and journey these characters go on is so endearing and will make you eat this book up and have you wanting more!

[Jackie Vest · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Haunted Prey" by Lora Darc is a thrilling continuation of the series, and I couldn't have been more excited to dive back into Emery's world! The dark romance elements are expertly woven into the gripping narrative, making it impossible to put down. Her writing pulls you in, as we explore new depths of love and danger alongside Emery. This second installment expands on the already captivating characters and storyline, and it’s truly a must-read for anyone who loves a blend of passion and suspense. With a bit of dark to it lol, ok maybe more than a bit, but you have to read it to find out! I absolutely loved every moment of it!

[Racy_Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

OHmyLanta!!! This was more twisting than book 1 in so many delicious ways. Not only will Lora hold you by the throat against the wall😏 shell pin you to the edge of your seat and leaves your stomach flipping!

Once again Eve and Emery steal my thoughts, heart and sleep! Prey me, Haunt me, Write more for me!!!!

""I was still hard and knew I'd be ready to go again as soon as she returned. But today has been an emotional Rollercoaster, and if she was tired, I'd be a damn gentleman about it.""

Side note I hope we get the twins story next😍🤩

[Irum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don’t know I was just so bored with them in this book 😔

[Makayla Harris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was better than the first book but I would’ve liked a better ending and idk it was just really predictable

[Queenkool6 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good book, I enjoyed the first more (I generally always do) but this was a good conclusion to the first book. It really played on my emotions and made me think about some of the themes of the book. All in all it was written really well and I greatly enjoyed this duet.

[Kaylah O’Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. How you’ve missed this. Haven’t you? Poor little rabbit.🐰
BOOM!! What an absolutely perfect ending the the Unmasked Duet🥀🎭
I’m actually 100% satisfied with the conclusion…

I hadn’t read any books by Lora Darc, until Beautiful Prey that is. I came across a reel looking for ARC readers by chance. I read the blurb and shot my chances. Now here I am, having finished Haunted Prey and officially obsessed with her writing, obsessed with Eve and Emory, obsessed with her dark gothic vibes and fully obsessed with the Unmasked Duet as a whole. Overall I’m thankful to be in the same orbit as these books.

The conclusion of Beautiful Prey (book 1 in the Unmasked Duet) left me reeling, I had no clue where this story was going…Emory, being shot by Liam floated away in a current of the river. Leaving Eve inconsolable, terrified and a complete mess. Mostly against her will she was admitted into a facility, Severfalls for “care”. Little did she know that care would be similar to the torture Emory and his sister underwent as a child. Leaving her with brutal hallucinations, restlessness and the feeling that something was truly wrong.
Would the two ever be reunited after overcoming all that they have?

Emory, brought out of the river, and surviving the gunshots was reunited with the other individuals, who were tortured as children in the warehouse. The warehouse of torture is also ran by the same people who operate Severfalls….the Severfalls where Eve is currently being “treated”. The amount of twists and turns in this book is insane. The interconnections truly kept me on my toes, finding out how everything was connected and played out in the end blew my mind.

This dark enemies to lovers, suspenseful romance, where the lines between obsession, love, and revenge are blurred. Is dare I say, perfect? Yes. There were many moments where I was at the edge of my chair, wondering how this was going to work out. How in the end Eve & Emery would get to finish their story and survive the trauma they have endured.

As much tension, suspense, and unpredictability Haunted Prey has, it makes up with back to back spice. Without ruining the reunion of Eve and Emory for future readers, I will say it’s hottttt🥵 these two have serious chemistry and do not waste time making up for any lost time.
Emory might just be one of my fav masked men of all time. He’s obsessive, dangerous and a bit unhinged. But you get to see the real Emory in this book. You witness him survive his trauma, discover himself and break the leash that his demons have on him. He’s also super protective of Eve, the ultimate lover, and kind of a dark-ish golden retriever.😂

Overall, don’t let this one sit on your TBR for too long! Read it, it will not disappoint.
Thank you Lora Darc for another ARC opportunity, my review is 100% honest in return for reading Haunted Prey.


🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤🧡🖤

Me convincing you to read Haunted Prey:


Dammit Eve, I love you so fucking much. It aches.


She paled. She studied my face now, as if seeing it for the first time. “You won’t go?”
I pulled her to me, pressing my mouth to her forehead, where I noticed she had a Band-Aid, another cut. Oh, my sweet girl. My baby.
“I swear it, Evee,” I whispered against her hair. “I fucking swear it with my life.”


In the beginning. I hadn’t uttered a word in this place. Not one prayer. Now I prayed every night. I never had a God, but now, I had a goddess. So I prayed to her.


His touch grounded me. As long as I felt him, I wouldn’t slip away. I clung to his hand like an anchor as he gently guided me into the main room.


I saw the sincerity in his eyes. “You’ve changed,” I whispered. “You seem different. You seem more… here.”
“I am,” he said. “And it’s because of you.”


I felt like a doll in his grasp, pulled and bent whatever way he demanded as he Fucked me until I saw stars.


“God I can’t get enough of you.” he was still gripping my hair, tilting my head back, so I was forced to look at him. Then he pulled me back out of the water to stand before him. He let go of my hair to take hold of my face. “I love you Evee. More than anything.” He pressed my forehead to his. “Im yours.”


“You know, you inspired me to be better when you came to St. Agnes. I didn’t just want you with me— I wanted to be you. You were everything. So sure of yourself, so bright, so beautiful. You were so fucking brave. I wanted to be just like you.
Before you came, I thought more than once about ending it all. But you convinced me, every single day, to keep going. That was all you Eve.”


I didn’t need to see, only feel. I loved how she fit around me, feeling so tight and hot as it took her without restraint. It was pure fucking bliss as my hips hit against her ass.

[T.L. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Excellent Sequel

I started Haunted Prey (Unmasked Duet Book 2) on the evening of its release and finished it the next night. I’ll do my best to avoid revealing spoilers—I skimmed the book’s reviews, and since others shared that Emery survived the conclusion of book one in this duet, I don’t believe this revelation will spoil the book for readers.

And honestly, I believe readers of the last book expected him to live following the “rescue” in Beautiful Prey.

Author Lora Darc masterfully leveraged tension from the very beginning of Haunted Prey, winding it tighter and tighter. While the label “page-turner” gets tossed about liberally in many book reviews, this book has truly earned it. Like the first book in the duet, I was loathe to put it down. I desperately needed to know what happened next.

Eve’s mental frailty played a significant role this time around. Her captivity and experience with Emery stripped her emotions bare. The intense feelings she’d developed for him, alongside her belief that Emery was killed, fueled her downward mental spiral—further exacerbated by the terrible secrets of the asylum to which she was forcibly admitted. Abuse of the women living in the asylum happens in the shadows, and the creep factor increases as days pass. Eve frequently experiences devastating hallucinations featuring Emery and also engages in self-harm.

In an about-face, Emery is the “healthier” of the two in this installment. While he still fights the demons living in his head, he’s grown stronger, and his fixation with Eve has only increased. When he finally gets a bead on her, there is nothing that will get in the way of their reunion—which is NOT without drama and some unexpected hiccups.

Once Emery is reunited with Eve, his tender treatment of the object of his obsession is weirdly believable. The mentally ill psychopath takes on the role of healer. As we listen in on Emery’s thoughts during an intimate moment with Eve, he tells the reader that he’d do everything he could to make her happy and that he’d “save us (them) from our (their) demons.”

The steam and heat continue. On a 1 to 5 level, I’d say it’s an easy 4. That’s subjective, of course. But fans of such scenes will find what they are looking for in this dark romance.

There is a bit of revenge on those who abused young Emery and others when they were children, but admittedly, there is one death at the end that left me puzzled. I’m not sure who dealt the killing strike…I think this was by design, however. I’m waiting for a friend to finish the book to learn what she thinks.

New characters are introduced alongside known ones. Some are fairly “likable,” while others are certainly not. Lena, a good friend of Eve’s appearing in the first book, is back and finds herself in a hostage situation following a goth rave party. A new character named Leslie, one of the boys who was experimented on alongside Emery in the lab when they were young, menaces Lena. And yet, the tension and interaction between Lena and the now-adult Leslie drew my attention. While I’m not going to share the outcome of their “experience,” I do wonder if the author will circle back to the groundwork laid here and write another dark romance featuring Lena and Leslie.

Like the first book in the duet, Haunted Prey’s ending is surprising and satisfying. Believable? That’s up to each reader. I did walk away satisfied, yet like the first book, mystified at how the dark tale of Eve and Emery sucked me in and kept my eyes glued to the page—and how I could end up rooting for this pair from start to finish no matter what. Author Lora Darc certainly knows what she’s doing, and the praise for this duet is well-earned.

Five stars!

[Stephanie Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a HUGE sucker for the “touch her and die” trope and I loved Emery in this one as he cared for Eve. It was tough watching Eve struggle with the same sort of demons that plagued Emery in book one (especially since it tainted their reunion) but no one was better suited to help her fight them.

I’m glad all the baddies got what they deserved and that the ones they damaged get a second chance at life. Satisfying ending to a great duet.

[Shannon | icedlattesandliterature · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

Haunted Prey is book 2 in the series and is not a standalone. You need to read book 1 first.

Tropes:

🖤 Touch her and die
🖤 Enemies to Lovers
🖤 Knife play
🖤 Serial Unaliver
🖤 Found Family
🖤 Hurt/Comfort


Book 1 was left on such a cliffhanger and this one immediately started with a plot twist. Eve was being exposed to what Emery had went through himself under her family’s name. Despite that Eve and Emery should not be together given the circumstances, their connection is one they can’t ignore and their trauma bonds them in a way that many cannot understand.

She is forced into Severfalls where the shadows haunt her, namely the shadows of Emery. He speaks to her, taunts her, persuades her and now she’s experiencing the ghosts that Emery does. Immediately she senses something is wrong with the recovery centre and she plans her escape even if she has no idea what Emery’s fate has become. They find each other in the most unconventional way and Eve has a hard time distinguishing reality versus her thoughts. The darkness consumes her and she’s lost in herself, in dark corners she never knew existed within herself.

Emery finally has her back in his arms only he realized the darkness that she is in having been there himself. He had been working on himself so he could be better for her but now he’s having to be there for her in all the ways she helped him in book 1. All whilst needing his revenge on the people that created this madness in the first place. Can he do both? Can he save Eve and keep her and get his revenge? Or will he have to choose?

Book 2 had so many twists and turns that weren’t expected and I couldn’t put it down! So sad this is the final book but I love how it ended. It’s not a happy ever after ending but it was a peaceful closure for Emery and Eve. In their own way it was perfect for them. I loved how the author really let us in on the complexities of the human mind and how easy it can be altered and either be an asset or our worst nightmare.

Thank you to Lora for allowing me to be an ARC reader for this book. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Smutty Professor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunted Prey is the perfect conclusion to the Unmasked Duet that delivers a dark, intense, and emotional story that left me in tears. If you’re thinking of diving into this book, stop and read Beautiful Prey first- this is absolutely not a standalone. The journey of Emery and Eve begins in Book 1, and understanding their raw, complicated connection is a must to fully appreciate the depth of this sequel.

What truly sets Haunted Prey apart is the incredible character growth for both Emery and Eve. Emery was haunted by his trauma and consumed by vengeance in the first book, and evolves into a more grounded and emotionally aware character. He shows an unwavering commitment to caring for Eve and proves that even someone as broken as him can find strength in love. Seeing Emery strive to be a better man- not just for Eve but for himself- was profoundly moving. He is the epitome of the expression, "If he wanted to, he would."

Eve’s transformation is just as powerful. Thrust into the horrors of Severfalls, she confronts her own darkness and begins to understand the torment Emery endured. Her resilience and inner strength shine through as she fights to regain her sense of self despite her challenges. Watching her grapple with what’s real and what’s not, all while clinging to hope, was heartbreaking and inspiring.

The relationship between Emery and Eve is unconventional and raw, but their connection is incredible. The way their trauma bonds them is both tragic and beautiful, and their chemistry- both emotional and physical- is simply perfect.

The plot is packed with twists and turns that kept me on edge. From the sinister secrets of Severfalls to the introduction of Emery’s found family, every moment added depth and intrigue. The found family dynamic was such a welcome addition and I found myself wishing for even more from these characters. The tension and stakes were perfectly balanced with moments of heat and tenderness which made the story both intense and rewarding.

I can't say enough about Haunted Prey- just make sure to read Beautiful Prey first so you don't miss out on a single moment of this dark romance duet! I highly recommend!

[Lisa Conant · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ out of 5
🌶🌶🌶 out of 5

🖤Dark Romance
🥺Past Tr@umas
☠️Serial Unaliver(s)
🔪Touch Her and D1e
❤️‍🩹Hurt/Comfort/Healing
🧠Psychosis
💥Revenge

✨️Review
Firstly, this is part of a duet, and takes place immediately after Beautiful Prey, so you must read that first.

Just gonna say off the bat how again I was completely swept away into this gripping thriller/drama/dark romance! Our couple may be separated at the beginning of this, but we embark on quite the journey. We pick up from our nail biting cliffhanger in book one by having Eve placed in a "recuperating" facility and Emery being hospitalized and subsequently "rescued" by his former fellow childhood acquaintances.

Their divide is hard for us because we want them together, but of course this leads to taut tension and a deepening storyline. We see a cunning flip of the coin here as Eve is now subjected to what may be not-so-well intentions by this medical facility. Emery is still fighting his demons but now Eve has her own, due to several factors.

Seeing how she and Emery face their darkness and psychological/emotional fall out is taken to the next level here in what we come to expect and love in a solid sequel. Stakes have been raised, as they question if they can repair what's been broken inside them and if they can live together in this world after all is said and done... along with a revenge mission of Emery's (and his "found family") that's in the works.

I love this couple with all my soul! Seeing how they struggle with what's real and how they fight for their happy ending is nothing short of an electrifying thrill ride; one with interludes of tenderness and heartache. But their fiery spirits to overcome their villains (both seen and unseen), burns like the inferno of their forbidden love...unwavering.

Absolutely mesmerized by this duet and the places it took me! Scarred yet strong and resilient Emery just resonates with me so much! But he and Evie together are endgame! For dark romance, this duet will always be a top fave! Embrace your "dark passenger" and don't miss this!

[Good Booking Girl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Book 2 in the duet. You need to read Book 1 : Beautiful Prey, as this is not a standalone.
It picks up right where book 1 left us on a cliffhanger.

What you can expect:
🖤Hurt/Comfort
💀Enemies to Lovers Touch her and d/e
🖤Serial Unaliver(s)
💀Found Family
🖤Knife Play
💀Primal Play

This is the conclusion to the Unmasked Duet and it did not disapoint. It's dark, gritty, tragic and intense.
Emery and Eve have come together in the most unconventional way. They should not be together, but their trauma bonds them and tether's their hearts to each other.

Eve is plagued by grief and despair. She loses a bit of herself each day that passes, her mind losing touch with reality. She is haunted by shadows and cannot trust herself to know what's real and what isn't. Admitted to Severfalls, a mental institution who prides themselves as being a Recovery and Rehabilitation Centre, Eve finds herself spending her days detaching from the things she once cared about. She is offered medication to help "balance her out", which she accepts. Soon, she finds herself feeling better and motivated. She befriends a group of pregnant women who have their own trauma histories.
Her days are spent walking the grounds, meeting with her therapist, chatting with the other patients. But her nights are plagued by nightmares, uncertainty of what's real and what's not- she walks the halls and property, feeling the shadows following her, tormenting her, telling her to hurt herself so that she can be with them again.

What she doesn't know yet, is that Emery survived. He's alive, and he's coming for her!

With the help of people who you will never expect, he finds her, but can he save her from the darkness that he is all too familiar with?

Lora Darc does an incredible job of showing readers the fragility of the human mind.

I was given an ARC of this book, and this review is my own opinion.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

***ARC REVIEW***
I received this book for free. My review is my honest opinion.

**Check Trigger Warnings**
Oh sweet Eve. Sweet Emery. How my heart broke for you both—but was then put back together. Eve had so much going on and she grew to be even stronger than she ever thought. Emery grew to love and care and grew emotionally strong for Eve—and for himself. Their love for each other may not be conventional and may not make sense to most; but it made sense to them and that’s what mattered. I enjoyed this book almost as much as the first—almost. There was love, heartbreak, revenge, justice. And every piece fit perfectly. This duology will forever be one of my absolute fucking favorites.
••••••••••
After the cliffhanger from the first book—Eve was taken to a “recovery center” but while there she was beginning to see her own ghosts. Her own phantom of Emery. She was struggling to see what was fiction and was reality. But while at the center she felt something was “off”. Something wasn’t right. She needed to escape. Emery, was discovered by people he never thought he’d see again. But he was determined to get back to his Eve. No matter who got in the way. But those people had other plans first. To seek out revenge to those who traumatized them as kids— they want Emery to help, the same way he got his personal revenge on Eve’s family 9 years prior.
••••••••••
Thank you so much @loradarcauthor for creating such wonderful books. Creating characters I grew to love and care so much about. Thank you for allowing me to read both books before release. I’m forever grateful and you have a forever reader. 🖤

[Grace Machuca]

Lora Darc hit it out of the park with this one!!! How could it be possible to fall more in love with Eve and Emery?

Haunted Prey is book 2 picking up where book 1 Beautiful Prey left off. The emotional roller coster I was on throughout this read throughout this duet. I cried, got angry, on the edge of my seat, and so anxious for Eve and Emery to be in each other's arms again.

Eve is taken to a "hospital" to recover from her trauma from being taken by Emery. She falls into a depression thinking she lost him. Through her stay, she finds the facility maybe nice, but something is off. It is supposed to be a facility for women who have suffered from trauma and are pregnant. They are told they would have everything paid for during their stay and will be on a medical trial. Tyler, Eve's friend, had taken her there after being found and handled all the arrangements.

The twist and turns in this read will have you wanting to yell, gasp, and feel sad for Eve and Emery. With every secret revealed, you just want more and more justice for all those who were hurt, especially for both Eve and Emery.

I cried so hard for their lost. I can't say much without any spoilers. So you'll have to read both books. I love the epilougue. I'll be lying if I said I didn't want anymore after that epilougue. Maybe a story about Lena, Lez and Dom, with appearances of Eve and Emery.

I gave this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ++ and the spice, well the love between Emery and Eve, his protectiveness and the fact that both will go through hell and back for each other made each moment they were together even spicer 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶.

[Amber Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Haunted Prey by Lora Darc

I was so excited to get to finally read this sequel to the first wonderful book in the Unmasked Duet, Beautiful Prey! Haunted Prey is book two in the Unmasked Duet. An enemies to lovers dark romance where the lines between obsession, love, and revenge blur.

Eve
I fell for the one person I should have run from—the one who destroyed everything. My world. My sanity.
He stole my life…and then he stole my heart.
Now I’m broken. Lost. Haunted.
Even hidden away, I can’t escape him. His voice whispers in the dark, his shadow follows me everywhere.
This asylum holds secrets even darker than him. In this place, monstrous deeds don't stay buried. And the devil never lets go.
Emery
I held heaven in my hands, and the world ripped her from me.
Now there’s nothing left of me but obsession and vengeance. I’m a broken man—a dangerous man—with nothing to lose.
Except her. My Eve. My salvation. My undoing.
Even death can’t stop me. Eve is mine. She’ll always be mine.
This time, I won’t just take her back—I’ll burn the world to keep her.
And together, we’ll finish what we started.

This sequel had me turning the pages, albeit not as quickly as the first one had. It was definitely interesting to see how different perspectives from past and present victims differed. I definitely enjoyed this book, but not as much as the first one. Still worth reading because it does beautifully tie up the loose ends.
Spice: ⭐️ ⭐️
Overall: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ .5

[Capi_BookLover · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want more! I enjoyed this book like the first one. I'm happy with the way things ended for Emery and Eve. Now, I want more of Lez and Dom! Lez did upset me when he went along with Cassidy and her shenanigans. I can't really say I'm surprised that those two went outside of the plan. I really felt bad for Cassidy because even though she appeared to overcome her past, she was so angry inside to her own detriment. I was not sad when she was unalived (I'm sorry!) because she wanted to take everyone down with her. Lena also got on my freaking nerves! I was happy that she was a great friend to Eve, but she also put partying above everything. I mean she couldn't wait to go out when she knew her best friend was suffering mentally! I want to know her story because I feel like she is hiding or missing something internally. That's why she feels like she has to go go go. I also am curious about Michael. I wonder does he feel seriously guilty about him not suffering as much as the others. Hopefully, we will get other stories about these characters. Lastly, I really appreciate the author not dragging an issue throughout the whole book. I liked how it wasn't close to the end when Eve escaped Severfalls, and I was happy that she went ahead and told Emery about her encounter with his sister. I hate when authors drag issues, that can be easily solved, throughout the whole book or even milk it until the next book!

[Ashley Connors · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review

Haunted Prey

A Dark, Thrilling Sequel That Delivers!

Lora Darc’s Haunted Prey is an emotional, suspense-filled rollercoaster that left me breathless. As the sequel to Beautiful Prey, this book takes everything I loved about the first installment and intensifies it. The psychological tension, the morally complex characters, and the forbidden allure of Eve and Emory’s relationship are all masterfully explored.

Eve’s journey to uncover the truth behind her family’s tragic past while grappling with her growing connection to Emory is heart-wrenching yet captivating. Emory, as enigmatic and dangerous as ever, brings layers of intrigue and vulnerability that kept me hooked. Their dynamic is a fascinating blend of tension and trust, passion and peril.

The plot twists were perfectly timed and left me guessing until the very end. Darc’s writing is hauntingly beautiful, balancing raw emotion with vivid descriptions that make every scene come alive. The themes of redemption, obsession, and the blurred lines between good and evil are handled with nuance, adding depth to the story.

If you loved Beautiful Prey, Haunted Prey is an absolute must-read. It’s a dark, thought-provoking tale that lingers with you long after you’ve turned the last page. Lora Darc has outdone herself, and I can’t wait to see what she delivers next.

[Caged Soul · Rating 5 out of 5]

How much I missed Little rabbit 🐇
This book was so amazing and I loved Eve.
She is amazing.

Rating ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
Spice 🌶 🌶 🌶

Okay.. first of all... Read Beautiful Prey before getting into this book as this book provides conclusions for all the questions left unanswered in Book 1.

The point where book 1 ended, it had me screaming and reeling as I need answers for it. Whyy??

The duet starts with an agenda to seek revenge but soon the lines between revenge, love and obsession got faded.

People are like why we love fictional man more because he will do everything to get back to his queen and that's what Emery did. He is dark but he has all the realisation. I loved him in Book 1 and I loved him more book 2 and nothing can change that.

Author equally maintained the tension, twists and oh god the last chapters. I was so in edge.. I enjoyed the thrill and some moments I had glistening eyes and kudos how well those moments were written

The pace was beautifully maintained. The secrets, the found family, every layers was properly unfurled in this book.

What I loved about this book is that it was not rushed. You will get all your answers with equal depth. I enjoyed the character development and how beautifully Evee's chacaracter was polished in this book. She was intense and impressively written.

This duet is much recommended. ❤️

[Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This duet should have a trigger warning for anyone on psychiatric medication. Got me feeling suspicious about my meds lol.