Becoming the Prey

Midnight & Gold #1

by Ally Patra

Desperate to experience love for the first time, Chloe Lynwood turns to online dating. She’s matched with a man named Marco, and he’s everything she’s ever wanted—handsome, outdoorsy, and loves animals. When he invites her on a secluded and remote hiking trip for spring break, she ditches her coursework to follow him into the mountains. As Chloe chases romance, each step leads her deeper and deeper into the woods.

But this forest is home to something ancient and hungry . . .

When Marco vanishes, the wilderness comes alive with the echoes of his terrified screams. Fighting to escape what lurks in the darkness, Chloe must rely on a mysterious stranger to uncover the truth about her missing date. And if she wants to make it out alive, she has no choice but to place her trust—and her heart—in the hands of her secretive new ally.

Becoming the Prey is the thrilling first installment in the Midnight & Gold series. This new adult paranormal romance series features a college-aged heroine new to love . . . and the supernatural.

Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Dark, Romance, Dark Romance, Paranormal Romance

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 25, 2022

About the author

ALLY PATRA is an author of love, death, sexuality, and all matters most sacred and holy. She is a writer of quantum entanglement of the soul—one who sinks her fangs into a love that aches down to the bone marrow, claws its way from the ribcage, and devours. And when it asks for seconds, she tears it open instead, dissects its innards, and smears its essence across the page.

Inspired by love that is timeless and knows no boundaries or end, but instead enriches and enlivens the tapestry of beauty in which we currently reside—with both its light and its shadow.

Not for the faint of heart. Raw, honest, emotional, and authentic.

From the soul.

Find out more about Ally on Instagram, Facebook, and Tiktok at @allypatraauthor.

Reviews

[ZARIA (Sheldon Cooper lover) · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF
TSTL heroine.....

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Escaping the terror in the woods with? I went into this book thinking I was going to read a completely different type of story - I was expecting a monster romance story with lots of erotic action and what I got was an amazing psychological thriller, horror, romance. The story is so dark and sinister at times, but I really enjoyed the tumultuous journey to get out of the woods. Chloe goes into the woods a trusting, naive young woman who goes through a traumatic set of experiences at the hand of a truly evil being. She'll have to face her demons and try to figure out who she can trust if she wants to make it out alive. If she makes the right choice, she may end up with the love of her life.

[MsV · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review:
I practically inhaled this book. There were some demented, abusive & potentially triggering moments that I felt deep in my soul. But then there were witty, funny and omg hot 🥵 moments. Seriously, where can I find a Alex? I loved how Alex & Chloe interacted with each other. The smartassedness was hilarious. A good portion of the story was the 2 of them wandering in the forest but the plot didn’t drag on to me. It wasn’t super over the top or difficult to follow but did you have to rip my heart out towards the end 😭 It may take me a few days to get my emotions back in order. Touché author, touché 🫡

[APRIL COIL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book suspenseful, riveting kept you on the edge of your seat I cant wait to continue the journey . I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanthale · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is amazing it’s different with a twist of spicy.
I love the ML he begins a bit dark but you just can’t help love him. The story keep you in suspense battling theories and wondering what you think you know is really what is seems. Love this amazing and the writing has a great creative mind

[Deanna Crews · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have not read this yet you are missing out. DOWNLOAD NOW, then buy a physical copy to display on your book shelf and come back to when you are craving a sensual thrill. Remember those books we couldn’t put down as teenagers? The ones with the edgy romance paranormal mystery style twists? THIS is the perfect adult version I have been dying for. I was hooked from start to finish. The thrill and lust with a lovely twist of the paranormal was beautifully intertwined. I love that it wasted no time getting into the story, there was no “oh get on with the story already” parts. There were many elements of surprise that catch you off guard. THE DETAILS, oh the details… I could picture the vivid details in my head. The author paints such a colorful picture that makes you feel like you are physically there. The details that I had thought were small had a huge pay off in the end. It was like watching a movie in the theatre when a huge plot twist happens and the whole audience goes silent. There were multiple times I had that feeling when reading Becoming the Prey. Just read this book okay? Be prepared to have to stay up late and finish it because you will not want to set it down.

[Pabla is petty ♡]

DNF at chapter 5 (page number?)

Wow, I almost didn't make it through the sample. I know several reviews state that the heroine redeems herself from her TSTL decisions at the beginning of the book, but her inner monologue is just as frustrating, so it only adds to my frustration. There were also moments at the beginning where I got "I'm not like other girls" vibes from her, and I just don't have the patience for that immature attitude right now. Is it ridiculous that I'm judging this book so harshly after only reading the sample? Probably. Do I care? Nah.



Eh, maybe I'll be a little nice. I won't rate it poorly... I'm sad I didn't like it though. I really wanted an excuse to get the cute box set, lol.

[Leslie Solomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this book!

I’ve read it as a beta and an Arc and I’m still in love with it!!!

I loved Chloe from the start. Growing up as a sheltered child myself, her awkwardness and thoughts mirrored my own. I was able to relate to her a lot and understand her point of view.

The way the story was woven was intricate and left clues all around. It was a romance story, but suspenseful and had dreamy guys fawning over the main character.

I loved the build up of the relationships and the lore. I can’t wait for more!!!

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun lighthearted read perfect for an afternoon alone. Plot twists I didn't see coming and there's monster boys.
I'm seeing a lot of reviews for this book bashing it for not being this empowering feminist lit. Chill out, it's not that serious guys.

[Sakura · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time reading this author and I have to say... it was great! There was so many twists and turns that it kept me guessing the whole time! Loved it!

[Audrey James · Rating 3 out of 5]

The bones for a good story are there. I struggled with the pacing, the characters, the motivations. It seems like it’s meant to be a sexy monster thriller, but the sexy fell a little flat.

Like I said, the bones are there, it just needed a little polish.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delightfully creepy

This book is a paranormal thriller, with a little romance thrown in. I’m not usually one for the scary books, and this one is pretty creepy, but I’m so glad I made it through! #daddyalex

[Maggie Morgan · Rating 1 out of 5]

So cringe I could not get past the first chapter.

[Kenni Sawyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Are there words...

I dont think there are enough words on the planet to describe how I feel about this book. It was everything I had hoped for when I added it to my KU library from the authors tiktok page. Ally Patra has offically became one of my auto buy authors and as they release more novels I WILL be buying them at the expense of my ever groaning bookshelves. This was beautiful, dark, fantastic, and riddled with suspense, tense moments and I could FEEL the FMCs fear, determination and desperation. Fabulously written and wonderfully crafted story.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, here we go. I'm having a hard time with this review. Why? You ask....well for such an impressive, dedicated student, Mara left her common sense and her ability to reason in the dorm. I know she is extremely sheltered and naive, I get that. But, she drove me nuts. Marco is a horrible being and he treats her horribly, yet she keeps making excuses for him. So much happens and she meets a stranger, who treats her wonderfully. Aaannd she treats him like crap. So, I didn't like Mara. But I had empathy for experiences she suffered before and during the trip. It's so hard to write this and not spoil the book for other readers.
In summary, I really did enjoy the book. It was slow at times, but I didn't want to put it down. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Would I read more books by this author? Definitely. If this is a debut, I think this author has some best sellers in her future.

[Rachel Joi Maples · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A first I wasn't too sure about this book it took a while to get into it because I just wanted to shake Chloe. But after it took off I had trouble putting it down. I do love how Chloe wouldn't give up and was standing up for herself. I was a little disappointed with the end of the book I would have liked to get a little more info on Alex and how their relationship grow and what his family thought of it.

[Sammie Endicott · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's strange, but the book was somehow rushed and too long all at once. It was a long span of time crammed into the story. I felt like it would have been better had it been broken up into two books. More focus on the hike in and then the hike out. It would have allowed for better detail in conversations and information. An interesting concept though.

[Shinez · Rating 1 out of 5]

Annoying weak female character

If you like annoying weak minded female characters that complain about everything and act like a five year old child who constantly throws a tantrum about everything�� then you will love this book.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely captivating. I literally couldn't stop reading it from the get go. I was hooked.
It was a super smooth read, no overload of information or details to set the scene it was honestly very well structured. I am excited to start the second book!

[Deenna · Rating 2 out of 5]

If I was in the mood for creepy it would be good. Need light and fluffy at time of reading though

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chloe meets Marco on a dating app. For the second date, she decides to venture into the woods with him in an multi day long camping trip even though she barely knows him, has zero hiking/camping experience, and acknowledges his multiple red flags.

PROS:
1. Premise. The idea behind the story is fascinating especially with the contemporary context(dating apps, influencers, gatekeepers, socially ethic products mentioned).

2. Marco. While red flags abound, Marco is charming and interesting enough to make the reader acknowledge why women are attracted to him.

3. Alex. Mysterious and fascinating, I didn’t understand how Chloe could be so antagonistic to him especially when she was so lenient with Marco.

4. Minor Characters. We meet multiple people along the hike(Hope, Greg, Becka), and while they are often used as plot devices, they developed pretty well for such short interactions. Hope and Becka have opposing reactions to Marc, and I enjoyed the dynamics.

5. Chloe and Monster interactions were probably the best part of the story. The Monster’s monologues and justifications were peak.

CONS:
1. Chloe. If TSTL was a character, it would be Chloe which pains me to stay. She was naive and needy which can be acceptable if there is character growth. She is incredibly antagonistic to the one character then ridiculously forgiving to the another. She flips back and forth on her stance with things so quickly it’s hard to keep track. Some of her interactions with Alex were entertaining, but I think that was more because of him. Her attachment to Marco after such a short period of time made little sense to me. Flat out, I didn’t like her and it was hard to care if she survived.

2. Pacing. The pacing of the story felt slow in some parts then quick in others. I’m not sure if the author was deliberately using this as a device to throw the reader off, but it wasn’t successful either way.

I began this book to get myself into the Halloween season. The main issue was Chloe. If I can’t find empathy or someone ground with the main character, it’s very difficult to care what happens to her. However, the last thirty pages gave the book that third star.

🌶/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

[Kimberly Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

The cover is creepy and legitimately so. This book actually gave me semi-nightmares. I would round it to 3.5 because it had a good premise and I liked how the supernatural romance was woven in.

However, I was not too much of a fan of the main character. I identified with her in many respects: feels forgettable, feels unaccomplished, feels unattractive, etc. However, she is also a pretty immature 21 yo who remains fairly immature for at least three quarters of the book. So much of her personality seemed inconsistent, too. For a biology major, her journey through the forest and knowledge of wildlife definitely fooled me. She demonstrated no knowledge or skill in that regard. Her desperation for a boyfriend and the experiences that come with him led her to agree to a spring break camping trip with a handsome guy she went on a few prior dates with. As his behavior becomes stranger and stranger, then later creepier and more perverted, she is not as freaked out as I felt she should have been. Yes, she was too far out in the woods and inexperienced to just turn back on her own, but she was less worried about him than she was about the guy who saves her and who actually was helping her to get back home.

She was nastily untrusting of Alex, her hero and we later confirm as (werewolf) mate, and bless his heart he endures it all. Meanwhile, the sadistic Native American demon creature is after her and while she legit does freak out when she finally claps eyes on him, she still harbors some guilt/emotions over the non-existent guy it had disguised itself as! So her stubborn determination to not trust Alex became tiresome and old, long beyond an acceptable time frame before she finally gave in to the tugging bond she has with him.

The climax scene was great, though the ending gives the sense that there should be another book.

Then there was the passage of time. It seemed like they were out there waaayyy longer than 1 week. If not for these issues, I would rate this higher because this was a riveting plot.

[Jenny Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was interesting

This was a perfect mixture of horror, angst, and spice. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was getting myself into with this and it did not disappoint.

Alex and Chloe meet in the middle of the woods where she is on a hike with someone who is something truly evil. I loved the plot development as Chloe tries to keep her survival instincts at the forefront while also coming to terms with the evil her hiking partner has.

Alex reminds me somewhat of a golden retriever, sweet and fiercely protective. He tries so hard to keep Chloe safe as they navigate the perils of the forest they are in but often she fights him. It is some of this fighting of back and forth that does feel slightly repetitive but adds a layer of tension and depth to the characters.

I loved seeing the relationship between Alex and Chloe and loved that she goes all badass once her confidence grows. I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2!!!

[Vonn Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a debut novel and it shows.

Chloe was so naive and gullible, she believed every word her mother, Vanessa, Marco and Alex told her. The first half of the book, I couldn’t stand her. She was innocent and plain stupid most of the time and the author did not convince me that she deserved Marco nor Alex.

The second half or maybe the last 40% are action packed and definitely better with character building.

The whole clumsiness and tripping throughout the book was over the top and it was added to the last part of the scene. Chloe was a walking and talking (insert foot in mouth type) damsel in distress and sadly a unlikable heroine for me personally.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Krystal Spooner · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is why I don’t go out into the woods 😅Alex was my favorite part of the entire book. The gaslighting coming from Marco at the beginning was a lot. In the grand scheme things I can understand the point of it in the story…… but it wasn’t for me. When Alex reveals what he is it gave me twilight flashbacks. All I could imagine in my head was that whole scene where Edward was coming forward but not 😂

I’m a werewolf fan - always team howl at the moon. Alex was the only reason I was able to make it through.

Also - the rabid deer were horrifying. I went down a whole rabbit hole of how a whole herd of deer can end up with rabies.

Overall - 2.5 ⭐️
Spice - 🌶

[Jennifer Bartow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this book, and for me it just didn’t get there. The premise was great: girl stuck in the woods with evil do-ers, add in a splash of supernatural and a splash of romance, and I’m like “yes, please…”

However, I just could not stop rolling my eyes at Chloe, she was such a terrible “needy” girl, and a lot of her dialogue made me cringe. I disliked her so much it became hard for me to root for her at the end. I’m still giving three stars because this is the authors debut novel and her overarching story was interesting.

[Paxton Evers · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story of a young woman lost in the wilderness with only a hott man to save her is right up my alley. I love shows like "These Woods are Haunted" and enjoyed Patra's descriptions of the forest, mountains, and skies.

I related to the MC's conflictions to please others. The desire for acceptance can take us on dangerous paths and personal experiences can make it difficult to connect with others. For those who seem to think Chloe's behavior is less realistic than a werewolf or a wendigo, I urge you to reconsider. Chloe is, after all, only 21 years old.

[Chels · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this. Ignoring the few spelling errors, this was a great story. Wendigo, werewolves, soulmates/fated mates, I ate this book up in one sitting. I loved the twists, the turns, the emotions. This book had me irritated as much as it had me falling in love and wanting to kick some demon ass.

Some parts were difficult to get through, such as the verbal abuse, the self hate Chloe feels. The girl has it rough with how everyone treats her and talks to her.

Amazing story, definitely going on my favorites list.

[lene bean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay so I didn’t know I felt about this book in the beginning but once it got past 20% I was HOOKED. you can tell this is a debut novel but it was good. Also. WHY WOULD YOU EVER GO ON A HIKE IN THE WOODS WITH THIS DUDE YOU JUST MET YOU ARE ASKING TO BE MURDERED. anyways. Kind of really enjoyed this book.

Also someone in a review said this was a lighthearted romance and I’m like ????? Lighthearted where??? PEOPLE GET MURDERED IN THIS BOOK AND ITS DESCRIBED ON PAGE.