His Prey

by Maddie.C

She wasn’t meant to walk into my world.
Too soft. Too curious. Too innocent for the shadows I live in.
But Ariel didn’t just walk in, she defied me. Looked me in the eye and dared me to break her. And so I did.
Slowly. Completely.
She doesn’t know what I’ve done. What I’ve lost. What I keep buried in blood-soaked silence. My past is a graveyard, and my name is a warning.
But now she’s mine.
To protect.
To punish.
To ruin.

Genres: BDSM

352 pages, Paperback

Published January 26, 2026

About the author

⚜️Author of The Demon Lords series
⚜️Creator of The New Richdale World, where series and stand-alones connect
⚜️Morally gray gentlemen with spice
⚜️Dark Romance
⚜️Dark Fantasy

Reviews

[Gemma · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really really wanted to love this book, and honestly it started off strong!

However some parts were a little meh. I enjoyed the dual POV, though sometimes it crossed over and others it continued to one of the other MC which wasnt too big of an issue.

I really liked the world, the scenes that the story made me picture, and I did like the story itself, though sometimes I was left a little confused by what was happening.

The FMC and the MMC were ok, not overly lovable in all honesty. But they werent bad, though she was a little whiney and gave off mixed signals sometimes.

My main issue was with conflicting parts. For example, one moment she says she finished classes early but then in the next paragraph or so she says that class finished late. So I was a little like, huh?

It was dark, spicy and there was a twist i didnt see coming which i enjoyed. It did feel like your typical mafia romance at times, but by the end I didnt really feel the connection between the MCs.


* I was sent this ARC by bookfunnel in exchange for an honest review. All of the above is my own opinions and feelings on this book *

[caffe.and.books (Aimee) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has good bones and I wish I could have rated it higher but in all honesty I struggled- I actually spent a lot more time skimming then actually reading.

There were a lot of issues with dialogue and timing that make it difficult to follow and the flow of the story itself was messy. The characters were very hard to like. The FMC was weak one second and then “strong” the next, it was all a bit confusing.

[Teresa Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was sent an ARC from the author. This review is my honest opinion.

His prey is a great book, and I would recommend for reading. Reading the trigger warnings are a must before reading the book.
Overall the book was fantastic and I see myself rereading the book in the future. I have two thoughts on the book. 1) The book tends to jump from one scene to the next without completing the first. The storyline has a couple of jumps in it where it leaves you questioning what happened in the moment. 2) I wish the book would expand on what happens after they get back together a little more before jumping right to Epilogues.

Thank you to author for letting me read this book in advanced. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Chiara ♡‧₊ · Rating 4 out of 5]

first of all thank you so so much to the amazing author and her editor for giving me the opportunity to read this arc <3

This is 100% my kind of thing, and even though I'm not a great fan of the name Misha requests to be used for him (I'm sorry overlord ily) he's still INCREDIBLY FINE HELLO. gosh. I want him badly, really.
I love love grumpy characters especially because they deadass make me giggle even when they're not supposed to. Genuinely they be standing there like 😐 and for some reason that's the funniest thing ever to me LMAO.
His development was definitely there, though I appreciate that his dark persona was still there, not erased. Admitting your own feelings is never easy I know I know, next time I'll slap you though 🩷

"Misha's presence is overwhelming. He isn't just a man. He is something else entirely. An entity, a demon, a God.
Something so fucking dangerous. Untouchable."

"I have shown them countless times what it means to be on my side. And that is winning. Always."

Ariel ugh sweet Ariel, my darling really. She's so lovely and extremely strong because of what she went through. Honestly, she's still a very emotional character which I honestly like, especially since I'm very emotional myself. Every reaction and choice that she made I related to, and it's very rare for me so that's a great plus!! I love the academic path that she chose, and I couldn't be more proud than this, really.
She's lovely.

"She is a holy sight. An angel who fell from heaven and landed in my dark and corrupted hell. And I'm not giving her back."

"No one was coming to save me. No one. So I saved myself."

(hell yeah she did🤏🏻🩷)

Let's talk about the real queen here, ADAAAAA. I love Ada so bad, honestly I'll need to have a talk with Simon and steal her when he's not looking cuz damn girl. Such a boss.

ps. I need a book about Kade & Dylan NEOWWWW /hj
okay but seriously I love them so much and they seem such an interesting pair, I would've loved to read more about them for sure <3

A couple of things left me a bit confused regarding some scenes, but I guess I'm just an horror fan so I always seek out more gore than necessary LOL , still, I'm glad some characters got what they deserved 😇

Overall a very enjoyable read, definitely not for readers who don't enjoy smut as it is the main reason why the main characters starter seeing each other in the first place. I wish the contract part and boundaries were handled differently but I'm glad a safe word was there (bare minimum yes I know and I agree, but unfortunately not many people remember this indispensable point so I'm glad it was there <3).

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ariel’s life takes a drastic turn when she escapes her violent father and ends up in a women’s shelter, trying to rebuild from nothing. Her chance encounter with Dylan opens the door to a secretive, elite club reserved for powerful men—where women are selected to serve as their personal “bunnies.” When Ariel is chosen by Misha, she has no idea that this decision will pull her into a world of control, danger, and unexpected connection that reshapes her future entirely.

This novel blends dark romance with both instant tension and a slower emotional unraveling. Themes of power imbalance, loyalty, betrayal, and desire are woven together alongside found family dynamics and a noticeable age gap. The male lead falls firmly into morally questionable territory, and the dominant/submissive relationship is a central part of their bond, giving the story a gritty, anti-hero edge.

Told from alternating perspectives, the dual narration allows readers to see inside both Ariel’s and Misha’s minds. Their reflections on past trauma and pivotal moments added depth and helped explain their motivations and emotional responses. I found myself invested in their individual journeys as much as their relationship.

The growth of both characters felt authentic, and their chemistry developed in a way that made sense given their circumstances. Several plot turns genuinely caught me off guard, and I stayed emotionally invested, hoping they’d overcome the obstacles thrown at them.

That said, the pacing occasionally stumbled. A few chapters ended suddenly and resumed from the opposite viewpoint in a way that felt slightly disjointed, which interrupted the overall rhythm of the story for me. I would have preferred a smoother, more linear progression between perspectives.

Overall, this is a compelling read for fans of darker romance who enjoy high heat, complex characters, and morally grey dynamics. Despite minor structural issues, it’s a book I’d confidently suggest to readers who like their romance intense and unapologetically bold.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quote:
"Misha's presence is overwhelming. He isn't just a man. He is something else entirely. An entity, a demon, a God. Something so fucking dangerous. Untouchable."

His Prey by Maddie. C is a gripping dual POV BDSM dark and spicy romance fueled by intense attraction, an age gap, a morally grey MMC, and possession.

Ariel finds herself living in a shelter after escaping her abusive father. After meeting Dylan, she’s invited to an exclusive, men-only Club where powerful men choose women to be their “bunnies”. Little does Ariel know that being chosen by Misha will set off a chain of events that will completely change her life. You escape one fire just to end up in another.

The story is told through dual POV with plenty of insight into their past _explaining why the characters are how they are. [Which I love!] There is also plenty of character development. The character's chemistry was also well written as it was believable.

The story's vibe (world build) felt dark and full of suspense and emotionally charged. There is a constant push and pull between the MMC and FMC that will have you utterly addicted. You will not want to put the book down between that tension and the constant twists in the story.

The only thing I will say I didn't like was the flow in some areas where the "scene" would end abruptly - it would however pick up from the other's POV but it's not a big deal because the story is enjoyable and you can still keep up with the story.

I recommend this book to readers of dark romance who are into BDSM and like a good level of spice and stories full of danger, obsession, and high stakes emotions.

Thanks to the author Maddie. C for providing mw with an advanced reader copy. This review reflects my honest opinion.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

If any man, except the father of my children, asked me to call him daddy, I’d cringe and run as fast as I could — but for Misha, I think I’d make an exception.

As a last resort to get off the streets, Ariel follows her friend Dylan to a special club. There, she catches Misha’s eye and becomes his to protect, punish, and ruin. But will she be the only one who gets ruined?

To be honest, it took me a while to get into the story. I probably wasn’t in the right mindset when I started reading, because the power dynamics felt a little off, and usually that doesn’t bother me when reading a dark romance. To be clear, I knew beforehand there would be power play, as “ownership” is stated in the trigger warnings, so the off feeling was totally a me-thing and had nothing to do with how Maddie wrote the story. On the contrary, once I got to know Misha and Ariel a little better, I absolutely needed to know where their story was going.

I’m happy Maddie chose to let the MCs grow throughout the story. Ariel slowly builds her confidence, and Misha shows he isn’t the monster everyone thinks he is. It’s beautiful how two people who are so different can find safety and support with each other. Their road is bumpy, but that shows they’re human, and life isn’t a fairytale where everything goes smoothly and everyone is living their best lives. No, the world is rough, unfair, and nasty, but some people can make it better. You just have to be lucky enough to find them (and it totally helps that Daddy Misha is HOT AF and kind of sweet underneath all the grump).

[Ana • Apothecary of Stories · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review: His Prey

[I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author. This review reflects my honest and unbiased opinion]

THE WHAT
Ariel finds herself living in a shelter after escaping her abusive father. After meeting Dylan, she’s invited to an exclusive, men-only Club where powerful men choose women to be their “bunnies”. Little does Ariel know that being chosen by Misha will set off a chain of events that will completely change her life.

THE VIBE
Dark romance, fast & slow burn, found family, age gap, morally grey MMC, family betrayal, dom x sub, anti-hero, possession.

THE HOW
The story is told through a dual POV from both the FMC and MMC. Both characters do share some insight into past experiences and scenes which help the reader understand the characters better.

THE HIT
The character development really worked for me. I genuinely liked both main characters, and their dynamic felt believable. The twists were also well done as there were several moments I didn’t see coming. I was rooting for them.

THE MISS
Some chapters end abruptly and then pick up awkwardly from the other character’s POV, which disrupted the flow at times. I am not a huge fan of these types of transitions and prefer them to go chronologically.

THE REC:
If you enjoy a dark romance with a good level of spice, this one is for you. I would recommend this book to others.

THE OVERALL: Overall, I would rate this book as follows:

⭐️Overall Rating: 4/5

🔥Spice Rating : 4/5

[shadowarc13 · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.” His Prey delivers a gripping dual POV dark romance infused with BDSM elements, intense attraction, an age gap, and a morally grey MMC whose possessiveness drives the story’s tension. The narrative follows Ariel, who escapes an abusive home only to find herself living in a shelter. Her chance encounter with Dylan leads her into an exclusive, men only club where powerful men select women to be their “bunnies.” When Misha chooses Ariel, it sets off a chain of events that irrevocably alters her life, proving that escaping one fire can sometimes lead straight into another.
Told through dual perspectives, the story offers meaningful insight into each character’s past, effectively grounding their motivations and emotional responses. The character development is well executed, and the chemistry between the leads feels authentic and compelling, making their connection believable despite the darkness surrounding it. The world building establishes a moody, suspense laden atmosphere that remains emotionally charged throughout. The constant push and pull between the Misha and Ariel creates an addictive tension, amplified by steady twists that keep the pages turning. His Prey is an intense, immersive read that leaves you craving more long after the final page, a true must read for fans of dark romance.💛

[Asulley4785 · Rating 5 out of 5]

His Prey is a dark, intense, and completely gripping read that pulls you in from the very first page. Maddie C delivers a story that is raw, twisted, and impossible to put down.
The tension in this book is relentless. The dynamic between the characters is unsettling yet addictive, creating a constant push-and-pull that kept me glued to the story. The characters are complex and morally gray, which adds depth and makes the story feel unpredictable rather than cliché.
What really stood out was the atmosphere—dark, suspenseful, and emotionally charged. Maddie C doesn’t shy away from the darker themes, but they’re written in a way that serves the story and heightens the intensity rather than feeling gratuitous.
If you enjoy dark romance with danger, obsession, and high emotional stakes, His Prey is absolutely worth the read. This is not a light romance, but if you’re a fan of darker stories that push boundaries, Maddie C delivers in a big way.
✨️I received a copy of this book via the author/publisher & I'm reviewing it voluntarily.✨️

[Mackenzie Quinn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love a good smutty book. Truly. But His Prey? This one didn’t just understand the assignment, it rewrote it and handed it back glowing. From the very first pages, I was locked in, because the chemistry between these characters is immediate and absolutely feral in the best way.

Misha and Ariel are the kind of pairing where you can feel the pull before either of them wants to admit it. And Misha’s denial? Delicious. No matter how hard he tried to convince himself this was nothing, that he was in control, that he wasn’t already gone for her… he was so far past the point of no return. Watching him fall head over heels before he even realized it was one of my favorite parts of the book.

What really elevated this for me, though, was the representation of aftercare. It was handled with so much intention. Subtle, woven naturally into the story, but never brushed aside or treated like an afterthought. It added emotional weight and care to a book that’s already unapologetically hot, and that balance made everything hit harder.

If you’re looking for a spicy read with instant chemistry, intense attraction, and thoughtful moments layered beneath the heat, His Prey delivers and then some. I devoured this.

🔥 Highly recommend for readers who want smut with substance and characters that consume each other just as much as they pretend not to.

[SinfulReadsByV · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quote 💜: All mine in every way. That's it, f*ck, I'm gonna fill that little mouth up with my c*m.

"My little bunny in silk. My little sl*t who gets wet just because Daddy tells her to spin for him."

Maddie, you’ve done it again. This book was a rollercoaster of messy emotions, accompanied by denials, and packed with drama and a delicious build-up to the spicy moments. Poor Ariel jumps from one fire straight into another, putting herself in view of Misha. (can’t blame her for that) Daddy Misha was deliciously entertaining, and Ariel was the perfect prey for this broody man. Bonus points for a supportive king who truly shows up for his bunny. This was a quick, addictive read & I finished this in one sitting. The steamy moments were a slow burn… thanks to someone 👀. The epilogues were the perfect way to wrap up their story and left me smiling at the end.

*dual pov
*daddy dom
*HEA
*age gap

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up to 3 for goodreads.

Thank you to the author for providing an eArc of the book.

I wanted to love this book, however, it just read as abuse trying to be BDSM. There wasn't real plot until I'd say 80% of the book. And while I did get an eArc copy and hope this isn't the case for the finished copy, there were a lot of editorial errors (incorrect words used - like picked instead of piqued. Clauded instead of clouded).

The flow of the story itself also wasn't great. There were many moments throughout where I had to re-read because I was confused about something. This is mainly because the book jumps to the next scene without completing the first, and early on, it's hard to know who is speaking to whom, or if you're reading thoughts.

That being said, something kept me reading.

Sex Stuff:
- Numerous scenes, which includes spanking, edging, light choking.

[Lucy Gould · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for providing me with a copy. The following review represents my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book! I found Ariel and Misha's relationship to be very well-formed and the side characters are all very vivid. I only had two issues while reading that took me out of the experience: (1) the action tags/beats seemed to be attached to the character reacting instead of the character speaking which confused me because I didn't know who was speaking at times and (2) some of the chapters seemed to end in the middle of a climactic moment and then the next chapter began a new scene which led me feeling like the previous scene was unfinished.

BUT overall, I did greatly enjoy reading and I would still recommend this to people! I will definitely be checking out other books by the author.

[Destiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start off by saying I absolutely devoured this book. If it weren’t for me being in college I would have finished in two days. This book, in my opinion, nailed the plot to smut ratio perfectly. Misha and Ariel’s chemistry is absolutely incredible but never overshadowed the plot of the book. I absolutely loved getting to know and understanding the balance between Misha and Ariel but I also found myself wanting to know more about Dylan, I would honestly read a book about her as well. The author perfectly added in extra characters that created more depth to the plot of the story without ever overshadowing Misha and Ariel. The writing pulled me in from the first few pages and kept me on edge right up until the end. I highly recommend taking the time to read this book!

[Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this for several reasons. 1. I love a Daddy Dom scenario; plus possession to protect drives me crazy. 2. I love a dark underlying plot device centric to a character's motives. 3. I adore a mic-drop moment.

This plot contained classic dark romance themes all arranged in a delightful bundle. I enjoyed the chemistry between the MCs, the development of the FMC and the progressive development of the MMC.

Topped off with an incredibly satisfying ending, would recommend this one for all the Daddy's Girls 😘

[Hannah Hall · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book, the story line and characters were great. I just couldn’t get past certain parts of the writing… scenes tended to counteract each other, lots of grammar errors and it was hard to look past the very formal words. The book overall was a good story line (like I said) it took a while for it to catch my attention and I feel like I forced myself to finish it.

If the writing was a little smoother and things flowed more easily, this would have been a 5⭐️ read for me!!

*I was blessed to be an ARC reader for this book and this is my personal opinion only*

[Ashliegh Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

6/5 Stars!
5/5 spice!
GIIIIRRL this book! ;()
this book is a dark romance so i highly recommend reading the TWs (its like a menu)
Absolutely love this! Amazing writing style, amazing characters. Misha is my new book husband now ;) aswell as how well the character arcs and plot twists. there is such misunderstanding, greif and anger within this book that it aches. Ariel and Misha have been so well written that they feel so real and not like this is a book.
Overall its a must read 3>

[Mallory Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the opportunity to ARC read this. His Prey had a dark, intriguing premise and kept me hooked with its tension and intensity. I really enjoyed the characters and the overall atmosphere, but the story felt a little rushed toward the end. Some scenes had great potential yet felt unfinished, like they could’ve benefited from more depth or development. Still, it was a solid, entertaining read that left me wanting just a bit more.

[Tabytha Boozenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. it sounded so intriguing to me, but I just couldn't get into it. I gave it 3 stars because I feel like the potential was there. There were times when I felt like it was about to tip the scales for me, but it just didn't quite make it over the edge.

Maddie, thank you for the opportunity to read your book. I wish you the best with it!

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll be his prey any day 🔥 this book was dark and twisted. I enjoyed the dark elements and the spice. This book graced me and told me to sit down and enjoy the ride. So I did. And I’d do it all over again. Thx for allowing me to be a user of your ARC team Maddie. I really enjoyed this dark and naughty read.

[Cindy Palmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maddie C. does a great job of telling the story of Misha and Ariel. Misha picks Ariel to be his bunny at an exclusive men only club. This is a dark dual POV which explains the motives and background of both characters. There's exposure to BDSM and a morally grey MMC. He's all in with Ariel and together they find their path forward together. This was a great read.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is DARK and SPICYY with so much suspense and tension. There is no slow burning to be found here and we love it.

I did find some of the formatting hard to follow but the story itself was so good.

[Corduroy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to Read

This desperately needed editing. Not only for poor grammar and tense, but overall writing quality. The premise of the story had promise, which is the only reason I read it through. This was not ready to be published.

[ElainesBookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

EEEEEEEKKKKKK MISHA IS EVERYTHING TO ME!!!!!🤭🤭🤭🤭
I loved this book with a PASSION!!

Xoxo-
Elaine♥️

[Lyssavynora Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was amazing...I couldn't get enough of misha and Ariel to be frank.i would 100% recommend this book
.. pure perfection

[BombshellDanielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's dark and traumatic and sexy and just a great story!

I love Ariel and Misha so much!!!

He's broody and difficult but she's the perfect blend of innocence and sass that can tame him!

[The Baker and the Bookmark Nikki Montalvo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! Intense, spicy, touch her and die vibes. I received this as an advanced read and am voluntarily leaving a review. Great story line, intriguing characters and all the dark romance vibes!!

[AshieNightShade]

dnf