You did not think that my friend, my G10 @runyxwrites could write a book without me reviewing it, did you? Well, if so, you were correct.
Here’s my first, but definitely not my last, review of The Predator. It’s a mix of my reactions and thoughts, it’s a mess, it’s hopefully funny and it’s full of gifs (which do not belong to me, so credits to all the amazing gif makers out there, you’re life savers).
Happy reading.
Preface
Our story begins in Tenebrae City, a town with a very subtle name…
It is a cold, dark, rainy night…
And people are apparently trying to strike a deal. In a cold, dark, rainy winter night. Don’t you know anything about literature, people? Things are about to GO DOWN.
“Two young girls, not more than eight years of age, lay there unconscious” – okay, not what I expected. Poor babies and fuck these people.
Okay, people, color me intrigued and interested. Now, let’s dive into the first chapter…
Chapter 1 - Scenting
=> Wow, knives, a poisonous bracelet… a girl has not come to play.
=> In literature, sometimes characterizing a place or an object, helps characterizing the owners. For example, the Maronis’ house is described as a “beast”. Odd choice of word to describe a house / mansion / castle, very wild and dangerous too. Well, that’s because the people inside the house, the Maronis’ are the wild, dangerous ones. Our girl Morana is in the middle of the lion’s den. The Predator’s den.
My advice?
=> Ah! Tristan Caine’s portrait. Focusing on the eyes’ I see. Eyes and what they do, staring, is important in Runyx’s stories (for those who don’t know yet, you will soon).
=> “They called him the predator. His reputation preceded him. He rarely went on the hunt but when he did, it was over. When he did, he went straight for the jugular. No distractions. No playing around. For all his unruffled attitude, the man was more lethal than the knife cutting into her thigh.”
This I love so much. There is so much flare, so much drama, it makes me want to *nervously let’s be honest* giggle at first. But there’s also this tension transpiring and that kinda makes me want to run far FAR away.
=> “She was going to kill Tristan Caine.”
For someone who is supposed to be smart, Morana you’re an idiot.
=> I don’t know why but the moment when Morana is watching Tristan, the Predator, makes me think of Taylor Swift’s line “I’ve been the archer, I’ve been the prey” and now I’m just picturing Tristan singing Taylor Swift and I’m cackling
(a girl is nervous, allow her to relieve the tension any way she can)
=> “She also wondered if she was being logical in wanting to kill the man.”
HINT
=> “Being a such for dares that she was, she had succumbed.”
Again, for someone who is supposed to be smart, Morana you’re an idiot.
=> “It was when she’d started to track him that she’d discovered Jackson had actually been sent to get close to her by the Outfit. More specifically, Tristan Caine.”
Asshole.
=> “She was screwed. So, so screwed.”
Oh really!?
=> “But innocent people and bystanders didn’t deserve to have their lives destroyed by her mistakes.”
=> “she couldn’t deny the man was attractive.”
PRIORITIES, MORANA, PRIORITIES! Who cares that he has abs? He’s an asshole, remember?
=> “Was she missing something?”
Yeah, the fact that he is much taller, much bigger, stronger and faster than you.
=> “as first meetings went, this one left to be desired.”
Really? Isn’t that how every people in the mafia say hello? By you know, pointing a deadly object in your direction?
=> “You should know not to come into the house of the enemy, all alone, unprotected. And you should know never to sneak up on a predator. Once we catch the scent of your blood, it's a matter of the hunt."
On that point, we agree, Mr. Caine. Also, turn down the drama a notch, please!
=> “I’m no gentleman to give you a free pass.”
Asshole.
Okay, let’s conclude for this chapter:
I love the general atmosphere of this first chapter. It’s a party, but tension is dripping from every word (hence my use of humor to compensate, I’m only human after all).
Now, onto the characters:
I’ll start with Tristan because I don’t have much to say about him. He’s a tough nut to crack.
Tristan is a dramatic asshole. Really Tristan, slowly telling her about all the ways you could kill her, keeping the worst one for the end? NOT. SUBTLE. Also, he really takes this predator thing too seriously. At least, he’s hot. That never hurts and my girl Morana deserves to be well-fed. I have to say, Tristan is not my fave character, hello asshole, after this first chapter, but I know he’ll grow on me eventually.
Now about Morana, my baby angel.
I love her. I was barely one page in and I’d already fallen for her. My girl is a dumbass genius and I love her so much. She’s so brave and so strong -that moment she knocked down the guard, HOTTER than Tristan- I’m in awe of her. She’s also so soft, she feels so much but has to hide it because she lives in a world where feelings are not tolerated… the book may be called The Predator but, in my opinion, she shines the brightest.
And finally, Morana and Tristan.
I love their dynamic and the way they fight for dominance, and my girl Morana gives as good as she gets, so it really is a fair fight. The push and pull has begun, I can’t wait to read more.
hi! just wanted to drop in here and tell you how much i loved the book cover you designed for the predator. i told matty and she couldn't stop gushing about you and i have to agree. it looks stunning i can't stop looking. i love the predator to bit,s, can't tell you how excited that cover got me. it matches matty's story so perfect. you're amazing ❤️ - cinnamon roll anon
OH MY GOD, Dear Cinnamon Roll Anon,
Stop hiding, and let me hug you and love you in the light lmao.
This message is so damn cute, and thank you so much for those compliments. I am so happy you love ‘The Predator’ cover. Just simply doing it, was a dream for me. Never in my mind, I thought that a person as talented as Matty ( @runyxwrites ) wanted me to do her bookcover (especially cause I am not a profesional designer).
Anyway, you telling me that the cover matches perfectly Matty’s story, is the best compliment you make me. Cause my 1st thought was that just by the cover, people see the atmosphere of the book and want to buy it.
Here’s my second review of The Predator by the one and only @runyxwrites. It’s still a mix of my reactions and thoughts, it’s still a mess, but it’s still hopefully funny and full of gifs (which do not belong to me, so credits to all the amazing gif makers out there, you’re life savers).
Happy reading.
Chapter 2 - Colliding
=> “God, she was seriously not supposed to be here.”
Oh so, we’re back to being an…
=> “She was a genius but god, she was an idiot!”
Morana in a nutshell, ladies and gents!
=> “Possibility One: it was a trap.
Possibility Two: it wasn’t a trap.”
Allow me to offer a third possibility: possibility two is a huge pile of crap. Of course, it’s a trap!
=> “Could it be possible that she was being overcautious?”
Girl, you live in a mob world with people being called the Wall and the Predator. You can never be too cautious.
=> “something that had left Tenebrae with her”
Can you pick up a STD without having sex?
=> “She should not be here?”
She really is a genius, isn’t she?
=> “she got ready to aim and fire at the drop of a hat”
Damn…
=> The way Morana keeps appreciating Tristan’s body… calm down, girl! Focus on the gun instead!
=> “Place where I can shoot and harm you and you won’t die.”
Tristan, man, you really need to work on your dirty talk. Also, why is it working on you, Morana?
“The voice that had whispered the ways of murder into her skin like a lover’s caress.”
=> “Why did all men around her behave like nominees for Asshole of the Year?”
=> Atta girl!!! She has just kneed him!!! So badass! Reminds me of a certain movie…
=> “I rather wish it weren’t at all.”
My girl has fire.
Also, I love Dante and his paid for every month smile. Everyone has their weaknesses.
=> “She didn’t know what that said about her as a person.”
Boy used you, lied to you, stole from you, betrayed you twice… don’t worry if you don’t feel bad, Morana. I don’t either. Piece of shit had it coming.
=> “She didn’t trust them worth her pinkie.”
Finally, some common sense!
=> “Out of habit, she pushed her glasses up her nose.”
=> Okay, I’ll admit it, that part when Tristan pins her to the hood of her car:
=> “I have people who are mine. Territory that’s mine. Don’t ever invade it.”
He said, while clearly invading her territory.
Also…
=> “One day, she vowed, she would kill Tristan Caine.”
I guess we’re back to being an idiot, aren’t we? Make no mistakes, I love my girl, Morana, but she doesn’t stand a fucking chance against Tristan. Unfortunately.
Okay, let’s conclude for this chapter:
I loved it! Loved the tension, especially between Tristan and Morana. You can feel it simmer and I’m here for it. Not too disappointed that Jackson died, boy got what he deserved. You shouldn’t have called Morana “babe” (of all the terrible things he did, yes, this is the one I choose to hold against him).
I quite like Dante. I don’t know why, but in my mind, he is this smooth, charming, but 100% deadly guy and that works more for me more than Tristan’s dark blank ruthlessness.
I’m falling more in love with Morana with every word I read. I love that she has flare too (her beretta gun (I had to google this word because I’m not an expert when it comes to weapons) + red mustang.
Now, about Tristan & Morana:
-The push and pull continues. Tristan takes and takes, Morana does too. He thinks he can dominate her.
Morana really doesn’t take any of Tristan’s bullshit, she’s not letting him bully her into submission and that is so fucking refreshing and satisfying.
-The staring and the silent conversations have also started. I’m here for them. I think all the things that go unsaid and are still understood are more powerful, impactful, than anything ever said. Also, it speaks volumes about their connection, the fact that they can already understand one another without having to say anything at all.
-I love how Tristan is called the Predator because he is a hunter, while Morana is some sort of chameleon, regularly dying her hair to change her appearance.
Here’s my fourth review of The Predator by the amazing @runyxwrites. It’s still a mix of my reactions and thoughts, it’s still a mess, but it’s still hopefully funny and full of gifs (which do not belong to me, so credits to all the amazing gif makers out there, you’re life savers).
Happy reading.
=> First thing first, that title does not reassure me. At all.
=> “Morana groaned at the laptop screen, ignoring the crick in her neck from staring at it for too long.”
I feel this in the depths of my soul (quarantine life and long-distance working are getting to me).
=> “she’d been told by her father’s man that he’d had to go out of town”
Me thinks something is up.
=> “for some reasons, he’d caught her off guard”
Okay, so Tristan has Morana’s attention.
=> “someone else had hired Jackson to shadow her and gather intel”
So… Tristan may not be that much of an asshole. And someone else is. Hm.
=> “A mysterious third party, which was never a good thing.”
=> “she inhaled deeply, ignoring the slight shiver than ran down her spine, ignoring the way her heart started to pound…”
Damn girl…
Okay, Tristan has got MORE than her attention.
=> “Who is this?”
She asks, knowing full-well who it is!
=> “Arrogant jerk.”
Yes, but he is hot so we forgive him (but we don’t forget!).
=> “Did I bruise your gigantic ego?”
We have an expression in French which could be translated like this “not shooting blank bullets” and we usually use it when people are not pulling punches in conversations (and I guess not pulling punches is the English equivalent of that expression).
Anyhow, that French expression is extremely appropriate for a mob story, don’t you think? And my girl Morana really isn’t shooting blank bullets. I hope Tristan is wearing Kevlar.
=> “Make me agree with your charming personality? Should have sent Dante for that.”
My girl has fire! Me likey!!
But also, does she not know what’s good for her? Does she have no sense of self-preservation at all???
=> Me, when Tristan climbs up the wall.
P.S. daddy dearest’s security SUCKS!
=> “At least her undercover had been more covert, less show-off.”
There you go Tristan, there’s no need to be so damn dramatic all the time. We know you’re hot and good (at what you do! Because your morals…)
=> Me, when Morana calls him “a reptile”.
Also, I will not make a sex joke about how she wants to meet his snake or anything. Even though it demands to be made. I won’t. (See how you’ve corrupted me, G10?)
=> “the urge to just give a plain hold punch in the face and possibly break his nose acute.”
=> “I’m sure you aren’t here to stare at me, as much as you seem to enjoy that”
And he does seem to enjoy that a lot, doesn’t he? It’s like she’s this cute puzzle he can’t solve (reminds me of that scene in To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before in which Lucas compares Lara Jean to a sexy rubik’s cube Peter can’t quite figure out, yet he still loves trying to. Rant over.)
=> “You broke into my house. I thought I’d return the favor.”
You didn’t have to, Tristan, you really didn’t but I love this line.
=> When Morana gets on top Tristan and puts that knife under his throat, in perfect reversal of what happened in his house where he subdued her and put her knife to her throat:
=> “You assume I have a heart, wildcat.”
Okay, let’s talk about quotes for a second. I follow my dear Runyx on Instagram (if you don’t already, what are you doing with your life?) and I’ve seen some gorgeous moodboards / aesthetics and other fanarts made by fans there. People usually add quotes, such as this one or the one about “whiskey and sin” and other very popular quotes. Don’t get me wrong, these quotes are amazing, there’s a reason they’re so popular, but they’re not my favorites. I like the simpler, quieter quotes better. Such as the one above:
“You broke into my house. I thought I’d return the favor.”
Or the one in chapter 3:
“I haven’t taken any liberties. Yet.”
I think the reason is because quotes like “You assume I have a heart, wildcat” do not allow us to see the real Tristan. They allow us to see the Predator, which I find a little over the top. Of course, since it’s a persona, it’s totally understandable. The Predator has to be feared or else he’d be dead. But the thing is, Tristan is trying way too hard to tell us he is bad and dangerous and lethal. I’m not saying he isn’t, because he very much is, but that’s not all there is to him. Behind the persona, there is Tristan and I love him. I love his strength, his playfulness, his control, his tension.
=> “Now that she had him under her, she didn’t know what to do.”
Now, if I may…
*I got some bad ideas in my head gif*
=> When Tristan blood swears…
=> “But it wasn’t with satisfaction.”
Ah. Morana already regrets not picking up Tristan to be her partner-in-crime. Don’t worry, wildcat, something tells me he won’t be able to stay away from you.
And that’s it for this chapter, folks! I do not have much else to add, Morana and Tristan keep pushing and pulling and testing what this thing between them is. They have a lot of chemistry, it’s dripping from the pages so they better do something about that soon.
Here’s my eighth review of The Predator by the unique @runyxwrites, which I didn’t write yesterday because I was too depressed after that fucking Good Doctor finale.
It’s still a mix of my reactions and thoughts, it’s still a mess, but it’s still hopefully funny and full of gifs (which do not belong to me, so credits to all the amazing gif makers out there, you’re life savers).
Happy reading.
Chapter 8 - Turning
=> I don’t know why but I like that title. Turning makes me think of changes… now, who’s going to join the light side or dark side of the Force?
=> “These things did not happen to her.”
Except they do, honey. Looks like Morana is joining the dark side since she’s going to sleep in Tristan’s apartment.
You could have just stayed in your car, girl.
(or maybe not but humor me I’m still DEPRESSED)
=> “there she was, walking with sure steps that betrayed nothing of her inner turmoil.”
=> “whoever it was would get it. Big time.”
I love that Morana is such a complex and layered character. She’s a girl with a head full of dreams, who longs for belonging and normalcy and most of all, who longs for freedom (remember the scene at the club where she just wanted to dance and enjoy herself) yet she’s also this fierce and badass genius queen who will burn the world to the ground if need be.
That’s how you write a complex female character, folks. You don’t limit her to a couple of clichés, you don’t put her in a box (prom queen, nerd, femme fatale, etc). You make her using parts coming from different boxes. You broaden her horizons.
=> “Morana glanced back, with absolutely no idea of any of his thoughts.”
=> “You’re not afraid of death?”
I think that, even though he calls her “wildcat” Tristan does not yet to see Morana for who she really is. I don’t know what sort of mental construction he has of her, but it’s false. And in moments like there, Morana gives him a real piece of herself, a piece he can use to build a truer version of her, one that actually resembles him, I daresay it.
“You learnt not to be afraid when it sleeps under your roof every day.”
=> “Morana inhaled realizing she’d been holding her breath the entire time.”
=> “You think it’s wise to leave me here alone? In your territory?”
What was Tristan saying the other day? About her invading his territory? Because I think she crossed the borders alright. Just saying.
=> “That was what this room was – warm, inviting, inspiring thoughts of lazy mornings with tangled sheets.”
There, another way of describing someone by describing the place he lives, or in this case sleeps, in.
There too, another underrated quote, one that shows us another side of Tristan. A rather unexpected side, I must confess.
Also, Morana
=> “Tristan Caine walked out, with nothing but a towel hitched low on his hips, his back to her.”
OF COURSE, HE’S COMING OUT OF THE SHOWER WHILE SHE’S SNOOPING!!!
(technically, my first reaction was slamming the book shut with a yelp. Also, ladies and gents, Tristan manages to be a show-off without even trying.)
=> “She should have left while he was unaware.”
OF COURSE, YOU SHOULD!
“But she didn’t.”
=> “What kind of hell this man had been through?”
The kind that fucking sucks, now GET THE HELL OUT!
=> “By now she knew these games of control, and though she shouldn’t, she played them.”
Girl, let me tell you, you’re doing a lot of things you shouldn’t be doing. That can’t be healthy.
=> “finding purchase against the warm, solid muscles of his arms.”
After the staring, here comes the touching.
=> Daddy dearest is calling. Great.
=> “I am not a dog you think you can leash. I’m an independent woman…”
YESSS! You tell him, Morana!!
=> “Your independence is an illusion I’ve let you sustain.”
=> “I will find out who he is. And I will have him killed.”
“Good luck, father.”
Me and Morana are the same (or maybe not, I don’t know shit about computers).
=> Tristan denying he’s anything like her father and Morana telling him like it is, as far as she’s concerned and from her perception of things, which may be wrong, but then again, it’s not like Mr. Caine discusses his actions / feelings much, is it?
=> “Tristan “The Predator” Caine cooked.”
Well, he’s not going to hunt down an innocent rabbit and eat the flesh raw, now is he? The Predator is only a name.
BUT, as much as Tristan is gathering new pieces about the real Morana, Morana is doing the same thing with him. Although, admittedly, it’s a much more arduous task for her. Thank God, she’s a genius.
=> “People had the worst timing.”
Morana, I love you, but show my man Dante some respect, will you?
=> “Morana raised an eyebrow even as his concern seemed genuine.”
That’s my man.
=> One thing I just noticed is that Morana always calls Tristan, Tristan Caine. She never uses just his first name. They haven’t reached that level of intimacy (they have reached no level of intimacy tbh). I can’t wait until she says his name (and he says hers!!).
=> “You won’t come to any harm tonight. Stay.”
Okay, I’ll admit it.
I swooned.
=> “She was all alone. In the room. In the apartment. In her life.”
Damn you didn’t have to hit so fucking hard. I have feelings and they can be hurt!
=> “Her views from her window had ended in manicured lawns and high fences.”
The perfect prison.
=> “And wasn’t that her life. Longing for things she couldn’t reach, things that tried to reach her and came up against a wall.”
…
…
…
(the storm is the perfect analogy for Morana’s emotions (she feels so immensely, so intensely!), which she can’t express so the weather does it for her, hence why, “seeing the tears fall from the sky”. Tears. TEARS!)
=> “And his body, she realized, was more than a weapon. It was a temple of strength. It was a keeper of tales.”
That’s another good quote.
Morana is seeing the man behind the Predator.
The strength and, dare I say, the weaknesses too.
=> “My sister loved the rain.”
There it is.
I won’t call it a weakness, but let’s call this a vulnerability.
=> “My mother loved the rain.”
There comes the mirroring vulnerability in Morana.
They have both loved and lost. Yet, they still have a lot of love to give.
=> “He had made her feel a little less lonely.”
I rarely cry while reading, but I did tear up at this (more than tear up actually so I’ll just end this review here.)
Here’s my tenth review of The Predator by my dear friend @runyxwrites! It’s still a mix of my reactions and thoughts, it’s still a mess, but it’s still hopefully funny and full of gifs (which do not belong to me, so credits to all the amazing gif makers out there, you’re life savers).
Happy reading.
Chapter 10 - Silencing
=> Okay so judging by where we left things off in chapter 9, I except the tension in chapter 10 to skyrocket! And if chapter 8 changed things emotionally for Tristan and Morana (because you know, they opened up their hearts a little), this one will definitely change things, well, uh, physically. Yay to that!
(Also, I can already tell this is going to be a tough one to review. Hence why I procrastinated yesterday. Ugh.)
PART 1 – Morana.
Let’s recap first, shall we?
My baby Morana is all alone in this world. Her father is a jerk who doesn’t love her. He sees her as his property, as an asset, a pawn he can use to serve his own interests. Her mother abandoned her when she was a little child.
Morana is all alone and she grew up in a dark, dark world.
Yet, she remains good. She is light in the darkness. She longs for belonging, she longs for freedom, but most of all, she longs for someone to see her, actually see her. Not just her body, but all of her. Her mind and her heart too. She longs for a connection to someone. But most of all, she wants to mean something to someone (hello Yennefer of Vengerberg vibes). She wants someone to love her, someone who will accept all the love she has to offer.
Morana feels intensely, deeply.
Problem is, Morana has grown up in a dark, dark world, where she isn’t allowed to feel anything, much less show it, otherwise she will die. She has been raised around sharks thirsty for the blood of her (shouldn’t that make them vampires, then?). She is crippled in a way, disconnected from her own emotions. Her light is dimmed and she doesn’t feel alive. Just cold and alone.
That is until she meets Tristan Caine.
Oh, the line between love and hatred has never been thinner than with these two.
Morana hates Tristan with a burning passion and so does he. And, coincidentally, it is what makes them so good for one another. Because, even though it is in a somewhat very unhealthy way, they make each other feel something. They make each other alive.
I think there is a reason why, all jokes aside, the way they stare at each other is so important. The way Tristan stares at her (because he is not so good at communicating, sadly) is important, because he is the one who actually sees her and understands her.
And that profoundly disturbs Morana.
In chapter 9, she’s caught in a swirl of emotions. That rainy night with Tristan has sent her mind reeling. I noticed, in my original review of The Predator (when it was still a ff) that they managed to connect at night, in the darkness, but when light came, it all faded away. Except, it did not fade away. Morana is acutely aware of that and it disturbs her. She’s conflicted because she has sworn to hate Tristan, has sworn to kill him, yet she can’t help but think about him. As much as she wants to detach herself from him, she’s unable to let go.
But Morana isn’t just caught in a whirlwind because of Tristan. She’s caught in a whirlwind because her father has decided to humiliate her, because a man has violated her boundaries and because Tristan, of all people, was the one who notices and does something about it. And what does he do, you will ask me? He dares her to do something, knowing full well she’ll rise to the bait. In that way, he helps.
It is also the last straw for Morana. She gets up and leaves and Tristan finds her in the bathroom where she is emotionally unstable. She has been feeling so much for so long, and has never been given the opportunity to let any of the things she feels out. Tristan coming in after her is like adding fuel to the fire burning inside her. And for a second, things clear in her mind and she is capable of making a rational decision. She can’t get back at her father directly, but she will by fucking the enemy. Plus, she will be able to exorcize all the mixed feelings Tristan has put inside her.
It will be her catharsis.
Part 2 – Tristan.
Let’s be honest, Tristan is a much tougher nut to crack.
In chapter 8 & 9, much to everyone’s surprise, he opens up. First, he refuses to let Morana sleeps at Dante’s, then, he tells her about his sister (whom I assume we’ll hear more of later) and finally, he fixes Morana’s car (and through that, he fixes a piece of her too). That’s a lot in a very short span of time, even more so for a man as secretive as him.
But, what does all of this tell us?
First, he has claimed Morana’s life as much as he has her death. Second, there are chinks in his armor. And third, he does have a heart.
Except, he doesn’t want us and most of all, he doesn’t want Morana, to see it. So, when Amara gives our girl her keys back, what does he do? He looks away.
Here’s what I had to say about that a couple years ago:
“There are a lot of things left unsaid between them, the most obvious one being the reason why Tristan hates her so much. So, how do they talk without actually talking?
Easy.
They stare. They glance. They gaze. They look. Their eyes say more than their mouths. And their eyes don’t lie. Because the emotions they convey are raw, primal and true. So, so true. Their entire dynamic, relationship is built on honesty. It’s a strong foundation, they’ll need that later. I really think that having Tristan look away from her when she gets the thing she loves most back, thanks to him, is not random. It also means a lot. He’s hiding something. The weaknesses in his armor, perhaps? Because honestly, at this point, it’s safe to assume that there is something wrong with his hatred. Does he really hate her? Are his feelings toward her changing?”
This means that, much like Morana, Tristan hasn’t been able to shake off the feelings that rainy night stirred inside him. And just he hasn’t been able to shake off his feelings, he is unable to take his eyes off her at dinner.
I’m convinced that, as much as Tristan disturbs Morana, she disturbs him even more. She never reacts the way he expects her to. He goes out of his way to intimidate her. He tells her he hates her, he tells her he’ll kill her. She never backs down. She may not win all their staring contests, and God knows how many of them there have been, but she doesn’t submit to him in any way. She stands her ground against him, even pushes back. He’s warned her off him, told her not to invade his territory, yet, she still finds ways to etch herself deeper into him, into his skin and into his heart.
And he both loathes and loves it equally.
That leads us to him opening up even more, in a much, much, cruder way and to him admitting to Morana that he wants her.
That brings us to chapter and the sex.
Part 3 – Tristan and Morana.
This sex scene is a perfect summary of their relationship so far. There’s some push and pull. Tristan is his usual blunt self and Morana isn’t having any of it. She almost runs away from him. Morana is always running away from him (remember when she asked to work with Dante instead of him) and he always chases after her, Predator that he is.
But above all, this sex scene is a fight, against each other and against themselves (I will not write down the lexical field of fighting but just so you know, I could. There are plenty instances).
They hate each other, but I think they hate themselves more for wanting each other so. But, why do they want each other so terribly? Where does this all-consuming need come from?
Well, as I’ve been saying, they make each other feel alive. In that dark, gloomy, bloody world of theirs, where neither is allowed to express feelings and emotions, they come alive in their hatred for each other. Together, they’re not so alone anymore (though I’d argue Morana is lonelier than Tristan. He has Dante, she has no one. Literally.) And that is also why they hate each other so, because they’ve found something real with the enemy, with someone that is forbidden.
Morana, in that scene, is desperate to feel something. She is also taking over control of her body again. Her father tried to strip her of that power she holds over herself by letting one of his men grope her. She’s reclaiming that power hard, by letting none other than the enemy fuck her on a granite counter. Morana, who has been used and stared at and preyed on, is finally getting some back. That body people want to own belongs solely to her once more, as it should be. I’d argue this scene is all about her, her pleasure, her power over herself and over Tristan.
Because, try as he might, Tristan is not entirely in control. If you do not believe me, think for one second. The guy followed the daughter of his enemy to the bathroom, fucked her hard and well on the counter, and was almost caught doing so. For all that he holds her neck in a very dominating way, for all that he muffles her, he is the one who has lost it. If they’d been caught… he would have died and probably so would she. And he doesn’t give a fuck about that. Make of that what you wish.
Moreover, Tristan, in that scene, avoids Morana’s gaze. They say eyes are the windows to our souls and it’s even truer in his case. He looks away from because he’s afraid of what she’ll see in his eyes, what she might find out about him. Also, he’s probably a little afraid of what he might see in her eyes too. They are so close, yet so far apart, it makes me a little sad.
What happens after all that?
They hate each other and themselves more. And they’re not satisfied. Why?
Because even though their bodies have been satisfied, even though their bodies are spent, their hearts and minds aren’t. They haven’t fully given in to whatever it is that burns between them. They haven’t touched, haven’t kissed. They haven’t looked the other in the eyes. Until they do, I fear they will never be satisfied.
Here’s another quote of myself (I swear I’m not a narcissist) to shed some more light on this matter:
“They’re not out of each other’s system because they didn’t have sex. He just thrust into her until they both orgasmed. This is not sex. This is… I don’t know how to call it but it’s not sex.
They denied each other what they both wanted, what their bodies were craving: touch, intimacy. They listened to their minds and kept walls of concrete so thick even Hulk wouldn’t be able to destroy them.”
They both wanted more, but neither allowed themselves to take it. Neither wants to be the first to break, to give in. But one of them has to break. One of them has to take that first step.
Part 4 – The aftermath
My girl Morana, strong as ever, braces herself before she walks out of the bathroom, ready to be used and humiliated again.
“Break his arm next time.” Tristan tells her and this is yet again an underrated quote of his. Because this shows, he cares. He would never force himself upon a woman and he cannot stand those who do, especially when they force themselves upon the woman who has, much to his surprise, managed to get under his skin.
But Morana doesn’t see that he cares. She’s ashamed and hurt and angry. So she lashes out at him. And he lashes back.
“Once was more than enough.”
The blow lands where it’s supposed to. But it’s only that, a blow. Because Tristan, who has always been honest, texts Morana again.
“How many notches does that bedpost have?”
I wouldn’t go as far as calling him jealous, but he’s definitely checking the waters. And I bet he wants his notch on her bedpost to destroy all the others.
“Apparently, you’re not out of my system.”
Of course, Morana isn’t out of his system. He is not out of hers either. But for now, she doesn’t have time to linger on any of this. Her father knows something is up and sadly, here ends this review.
Here’s my seventh (SEVENTH!) review of The Predator by the unique @runyxwrites. It’s still a mix of my reactions and thoughts, it’s still a mess, but it’s still hopefully funny and full of gifs (which do not belong to me, so credits to all the amazing gif makers out there, you’re life savers).
Happy reading.
Chapter 7 - Tussling
=> “Secrets were the stones that paved these roads.”
My, my, I love that. That’s really fucking deep.
=> “Morana walked that path to the place she slept in.”
This. This is really well-done. This isn’t the place where Morana lives, this isn’t her home. It’s the place where she sleeps. Her whole relationship to this place in which she grew up, may I remind you, can be narrowed town to a function: sleeping. That gives more resonance to what she says next:
“She was more attached to her appendix than she was to this house.”
The whole thing would have been funnier, and more tragic too, if Morana had added that she no longer had her appendix.
=> “the lights in the corridor leading to her father’s office getting dimmer and dimmer.”
=> Okay time for a confrontation with daddy dearest…
=> “Your men couldn’t get within a mile of the place, could they?”
Morana, baby, I love you, but there is a time to roast men and this is clearly not it! You are obviously facing a man with a very fragile ego, a small dick and a fiery temper. Use that fucking brain of yours and do not provoke him!
=> “You are to remain chaste until your marriage.”
And here I was thinking daddy dearest couldn’t be much more of an asshole…
=> “I choose your husband, Morana. Remember that.”
This is pissing me off so bad!!! Fuck men who think they can control women! Fuck men who want to fuck women all the time but who also want them to be chaste before their wedding! Fuck men who established that a woman’s honor and value live in her vagina!
=> “I’ve ordered them to detain you if you slip the leash.”
=> Morana is reassuring herself by thinking none of her father’s men will kill her because only Tristan can kill her…
=> “or this aloofness that had existed between them forever.”
My opinion? Pick the aloofness. If daddy dearest had loved Morana, then stopped, she would be hurting twice more because the coldness would hurt, but she would also be mourning her loss. Better having never been loved by daddy dearest. That makes him an asshole, but a consistent asshole. Plus, there are some people one just doesn’t want to be loved by. He’s one of them.
=> “she didn’t understand him. Honestly, she didn’t even want to.”
=> “Dante wasn’t picking up. Okay. Time to make the hard choice.”
=> “Morana had half-expected him to gloat that she was asking him for assistance.”
=> Okay, so Tristan loves riding his bike and Morana loves driving her car. Maybe they’re not so different after all…
=> “Why do you hate me?”
Morana is so fucking brave. Asking the hard questions. Never backing down. Tangling with the Predator. She is brave.
=> “the next she was behind a piller, pressed into it.”
Tristan does love pinning her to flat surfaces, doesn’t he?
He be like:
=> And in this chapter we see the Predator in action. And my girl Morana proves once again she’s one of the good ones:
“Her stomach fell to the ground, her hands trembling slightly, the gun shaking in her grip.”
She feels so much, all the time. My baby. The darkness of their world hasn’t swallowed her. I won’t say she’d been touched because no one can grow up in their world, with such a detestable father, and remain unscathed but… the darkness hasn’t swallowed her.
=> “There stood her mustang where she’d parked it with all its tires slashed open.”
WHO DARED????
=> “It was now that she felt violated, now that her eyes moistened.”
The car is so important to Morana because it symbolizes her freedom and her independence, what little of them she has. If she ever so wanted, she could just jump in her car and drive the fuck away. The car is her way out. And it was just taken away from her.
Fuck the bad guys!
=> “I’m worried about my car.”
=> “Looks like you’re staying, Ms. Vitalio.”
DAMN! Runyx knows where to end her chapters. I can’t wait for what comes next! And I don’t have much else to add, so let’s end this review here!
Here’s my fifth review of The Predator by the wonderful @runyxwrites. It’s still a mix of my reactions and thoughts, it’s still a mess, but it’s still hopefully funny and full of gifs (which do not belong to me, so credits to all the amazing gif makers out there, you’re life savers).
Happy reading.
Chapter 5 - Waiting
=> Crimson, Cyanide… why do mobsters’ meeting points have such on the nose names? For people who are supposed to hide their activities, they ain’t subtle at all.
Also, my man Dante is going to grace us with his presence.
=> I love that Morana, unlike many heroines today, isn’t this beauty with the perfect unattainable body we see in the magazines every day. She doesn’t have luscious lips and breasts, a small waist and flat tummy. She has what are considered flaws in our society (in my opinion they aren’t, the human body isn’t what people on Instagram and co want us to believe it is) and these “flaws” make her so pretty, but the regular kind of beauty, the kind we can all relate to. And it is very important for us women, and for everyone in general, to have heroines that are not shaped like a James Bond girl.
(I suppose it helps that Morana wasn’t written by a man, hence not created to fulfill males’ fantasies.)
=> Okay… reading the description of Morana in that dress…
A certain someone is going to completely lose it…
=> “stopping the twinge before it could pinch*
My poor baby girl…
=> “She’d been raised around sharks. And she’d learned not to bleed.”
That’s a very good line. A testament to Morana’s strength, which is infinite. Good luck cracking this nut, Predator.
=> “She never understood why people wore dark shades at night.”
=> “the sheer joy of being away from her house, from her life, so, so, precious, even for a second.”
Morana is like a bird in the cage that is her life.
She longs for freedom, but most important, she longs for something real. She wants to be free to feel as deeply as she already does, free to be vulnerable.
Why do people keep talking about Tristan when Morana is right there and with so much love to give and receive?
=> “The same primitive being cloaked in civilization.”
Another good one.
=> MY MAN DANTE IS IN DA PLACE!
=> “He wasn’t burning a hole in her back with his eyes.”
What’s wrong with Tristan? Did his hand get infected? Does he have a fever?
=> “His eyes were on her.”
There he is. That’s my boy.
=> “May we ask what’s going one between you and Morana?”
Yes, Dante, may WE ask what’s going on with you and the pretty lady?
(Also, I love how Morana has no sense of self-preservation at all. And not just around Tristan!)
=> “Heed your own advice.”
Morana has been roasting men since she was born. I’m so here for it.
=> Of course, the one time my baby girl allows herself one single break, she gets drugged up. Of course.
Me @who dared hurt my girl:
=> “I’m not saving you again.”
AGAIN?
Hm. Interesting.
The role of the white knight in shining armor does not suit Tristan anyway. Even though, in his case, the armor is probably bloodier than it is shining.
=> We all want to understand why he hates you so much, Morana, get in line!
Okay, to conclude with this chapter:
I don’t have much to say, except that I really like my man Dante and I’m very intrigued to see what’s his deal with Amara. Also, loved how he tried to taunt Morana with the Tristan thing and got roasted twice in return.
The plot keeps thickening as does the tension between Morana and Tristan. My girl is still the MVP of this story but Tristan apparently has layers (like an onion! Had to make that Shrek reference #sorrynotsorry). And I think he’s trying to hard to come across had the guy who really hates Morana, who really doesn’t give a shit about her, for it be real. But that’s just my thoughts.
