Primal

Deviants #1

by Leila Starling

When he broke into my house, I was expecting him to just steal my stuff, but he wanted so much more…

And so did I.

He wanted me: mind, body, and soul. He wanted to break me, and I was powerless to stop him.

Despite his mind games, his obsession, I still fell for him. I couldn’t get him out of my head, couldn’t stop thinking about the way his hands felt on my body or how his dark desires called to mine.

He came into my life like the darkest storm, and he left nothing but destruction in his wake.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance

202 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 2, 2024

About the author

Leila Starling is a lover and writer of many types of romance: mafia, reverse harem, fantasy, paranormal, dark, and contemporary. She can usually be found in front of her computer writing her next novel (or bingeing a show). You can find her on Instagram and TikTok @leilastarlingauthor.

Reviews

[Allia Reads (semi hiatus) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️

There’s no OWD, some OM (but the H handles it), no cheating, and it ends with a HEA.

Overall, it’s safe for me.

[Devi · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I know I have issues

With that being said, the whole time I was reading this, I was kicking my feet and grinning like a school girl. Why, you ask, well, besides the fact we've already established that I have issues, Zyran is absolutely dreamy.
He is the whole fictional book boyfriend package.Tall, dark, obsessive, and toxic with homicidal tendencies.

What !?!? I told you I had issues

Anyway, Kiara & Zyran are the perfect kleptophilia/chremastistophilia couple, and I'm here for it! Don't wanna Google it. I got you!
Long story short, he REALLY likes to steal stuff, and she REALLY likes to be stolen from.

1000/10 would recommend
Absolutely a great time 🩶

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't get enough of Zyran. If you are a fan of masked stalkers this book is for you. I really enjoyed reading about Kiara and Zyran. I adored Kiara since the very beginning. I love the primal play scene and how protective Zyran was over Kiara. Leila Starling is one of my favorite authors, and I absolutely love her writing style and her characters. I highly recommend reading Primal if you like reading dark romance.

Tropes:
Primal play
Stalker
Touch her & die
Home invasion
Masked MMC
Fear play
Dark romance

[destiny · Rating 4 out of 5]

new kinks unlocked 🔓
I LOVE ME SOME INSTA LOVE 🥰😍

new kinks unlocked for sure because i want zyran so bad like it’s concerning. i went into this blind asf and it turned out to be the best thing ever !!

dark stalker romance, home invasion, insta love, primal play, fear play, touch her and die, toxic, obsession, masked mmc

the way i was kicking my feet and giggling like a fucking school girl … oh my god 🤭 my tummy is fluttering while thinking about it. this man is so protective of kiara !! he’s obsessive and kiara is allll about that. he likes to steal stuff and she likes to be stolen from (currently waiting for my own zyran to pull up).

i have issues. we know this 💀 i would gladly leave my doors and windows unlocked for this man.

🌶️🌶️🌶️

[Ida · Rating 1 out of 5]

02.08.25: Dropping the rating to 1⭐ because after thinking I realized that it was this book that nearly put me off dark romances. Just need to be more selective and not go crazy during Stuff Your Kindle days to then suffer.

It was... something.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am at a loss for words with this one. This is not only my first masked romance but also my first read by Leila and wow! I can honestly say she has hooked me into the world of masked men, and I need more! Her writing just draws you in and keeps you wanting more. She definitely didn't skip on the spice either! 🥵🥵
Okay, now I'm just going to come out and say it, I loved their relationship. That may sound unhinged, but read it, and you will understand.
I especially loved the attitude Kiara gave her masked man, and that no matter what she said to him, he was going to do whatever it took to make her happy.
I am a little sad about Yolanda, and I hope we see her again and she gets her moment.
Lastly, I understand this book won't be for everyone, so make sure you are reading any trigger warnings before jumping into it.

[Cdngurl85 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where do I start!!! Primal is the first book I've read by Leila Starling but it definitely won't be the last!!

Right from the get go my attention was captured by our MMC Masked Stalker. Then you are hit with the spice and it doesn't let up for the rest of the book, and I'm here for it!

The FMC and MMC are both crazy in the best kind of way and I love the way Leila developed them and their relationship. Their dynamic and the way they feed off each other is everything.

I'm just sad that the book is over. I need more of both of them!!

[Mallori ♡ Midnight Book Coven · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF 21% Another masked stalker book that didn’t impress me. 😒 I honestly thought this book was going to be something different from the rest judging by the description. But at last it was not. Same old stalker who sets up cameras and hides in her closet to watch her. The only difference was he robbed her in chapter one and it turned her on to the point of 💦. 🙄 The dialogue in this book feels very forced and not genuine and feels like another book thrown together just for the sake of saying, “hey I wrote a book.”

[Morgan Hopkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author, and omg 🤩

this was amazing. I loved the female main character. The male character🥵🥵

The spice was 🥵 i was instantly hooked. I couldn't put it down. i finished it in one night. i will definitely be reading more by this author

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book may not be for everyone so please read trigger warnings there are quite a few before diving in as usual, the way this book drew me in from page to page honestly was amazing I couldn’t put it down, primal has everything you could want.
masked men ✔️
Tall and dark✔️
Tox!c✔️😂
Morally gray✔️
Youll have to read to find out more.

[Bex · Rating 1 out of 5]

What bothered me is that he left her in the woods? Not to yuck anyone’s yum but that’s not it for me.

Also what is really annoying me is that woods was at least a thirty minutes drive away from her house right:

“About thirty minutes later, we’ve driven so far from my house that I don’t recognize where we are.”

And she walks home in a tank top and tiny shorts AND NO SHOES??!

Do you know how long she would have had to walk? If you are generous and say he drove at 30mph to whole time that’s 15 miles. Do you know how long it takes to walk in a flat straight line normally? FIVE HOURS. Am I really expected to believe she not only could walk for five hours at night with barely any clothes and no shoes on, WHEN SHE ALSO DOESNT KNOW WHERE SHE IS AND ISNT EVEN IN THE CITY ANYMORE? what. Granted she doesn’t find her home herself, but she at least walked enough to be back in the city for the cops to find her?

I get this is a fantasy type thing but that’s too much belief being suspended for me

[KitKat K8 · Rating 5 out of 5]

B͜͡L͜͡U͜͡R͜͡B͜͡

𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑛 ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑟𝑜𝑘𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑠𝑒, 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑎𝑙 𝑚𝑦 𝑠𝑡𝑢𝑓𝑓, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑠𝑜 𝑚𝑢𝑐ℎ 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒… 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑜 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝐼. 𝐻𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒: 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑, 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑙. 𝐻𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘 𝑚𝑒, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑙𝑒𝑠𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 ℎ𝑖𝑚. 𝐷𝑒𝑠𝑝𝑖𝑡𝑒 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑠, ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑏𝑠𝑒𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑜𝑛, 𝐼 𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑓𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑚. 𝐼 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑛’𝑡 𝑔𝑒𝑡 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑚𝑦 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑, 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑𝑛’𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑝 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑤𝑎𝑦 ℎ𝑖𝑠 ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑠 𝑓𝑒𝑙𝑡 𝑜𝑛 𝑚𝑦 𝑏𝑜𝑑𝑦 𝑜𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑤 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑒. 𝐻𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑚𝑒 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑚𝑦 𝑙𝑖𝑓𝑒 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑘𝑒𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑚, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝑛𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑑𝑒𝑠𝑡𝑟𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑖𝑛 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑤𝑎𝑘𝑒.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

* check your 𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖌𝖌𝖊𝖗𝖘 if needed *

𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐲𝐲𝐲𝐲𝐲𝐲. 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐦𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐦𝐩. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐭 𝐮𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠? 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚-𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐲 𝐯𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 ✨𝐇𝐈𝐌✨ 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐨𝐝. 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝓞𝓑𝓢𝓔𝓢𝓢𝓔𝓓 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐲𝐨𝐮? 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐬 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡? 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡. 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐚𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐇𝐄𝐑 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐘𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭’𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞..

def adding Leila to my auto reads list! 😈👏🏽

[Elise Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's definitely a dark book!

If you're into dark but want the stalker to have a moral compass then maybe this isn't for you. I however love a stalker psychopath that is exactly that! Even though he does at times get a real immoral jerk that should be killed its not because he's a vigilante. No, this stalker is obsessed with his prey and everything he does is only for her. However don't expect her to be a virginal innocent. Confused yes, overwhelmed by him absolutely but the spice between these two is so high she's hooked! The book is so well written and its dark romance with a lot of hot and spicy scenes. So, if you're like me and want your stalkers as psychotic and obsessed as I do than you're going to love every delicious word! Great book Leila Starling! You never let me down!

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whhhheeewwwww this book this book this THIS BOOK WAS SO DELICIOUS IT HURT I NEED MORE. I NEED LIKE 8 BOOKS IN THIS SERIES.

I was lucky enough to receive an arc copy from the author and lemme tell you Zyran is my new favorite book boyfriend.

Kiara and Zyran

I love the tropes of the kleptophilia and Chremastitophilia. These two tropes were brand new to me but they are my new favorites I love them so much.

Go into this book blind. Read the tropes and if it’s for you continue to go into book blind it’s so delicious I’m so happy I went in blind.l

I love every book that this author has written so far I can’t wait for the rest of these books in this series.


The spice was 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨👌🏾👌🏾🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ 5/5

The dark vibes: 😈😈😈😈😈😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

Zyran two words: STRAIGHT SIN 👌🏾🙂‍↔️🙈🤣🤣😈

Romance: 💖💖💖💖

Kiara I love you bby girl i definitely saw myself in her in bits and I loved every moment of this book. I would slip this book into everyone’s recommendations 10000%.


I CANT WAIT for other books in the series.

[Cal D · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short, dark, spicy read with a red flag-riddled, obsessed MMC 🚩 that I couldn’t help but love.

THOUGHTS 💭
🔪 Our MMCs breaks into our FMCs home and it doesn’t quite go according to plan… He leaves with some valuables and an obsession with our FMC that changed the trajectory of both of their lives.
🔪 There is this delicious wrongness when the FMC gets turned on by the MMC intruder.
🔪 Why do I love st@lker romances?! I ask myself this every time I read one. I think it’s because of the obsession, the all-in feelings, the protectiveness, and the possessiveness. 🫠
🔪 This book is violent, dark, and has spice that made me question myself a few times. 😅 Check those TWs!

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again Leila ate and left no crumbs. What happenes when he has kleptophilia and she has chremastistophilia? Pure and utter chaos is what happens. The book starts out unhinged and just goes further off the rails as the book continues. I loved all the twists and turns of Kiara and Him's (you'll have to read the book to find out his name) very unconventional love story. Can't wait to see what book 2 will be about!

[Rowena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Masked stalker!

This was really good, it had me in a chokehold. I wouldve read it in one sitting if i didnt need to sleep (heres to starting a book at 11pm). He is a masked stalker and he loves to steal because it turns him on, but then he finds someone to steal from that is just so much better. He went full protective mode straight away! And unalived anyone he needed to. Plenty of intensity and spice, and of course if you like pew pew play its in it!

[Crystal Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check your trigger warnings! This book is dark and delicious.

Zyrannnnn!!!! Oh let me tell you 🥵 The name of the book, Primal, describes him to a T! This was a short and quick read, but it was packed full. A masked man that’s a stalker 🫠 what more can I ask for? Oh and the spice was there and so good!

[Mary Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Zyran, Zyran, Zyran 🥵He is book boyfriend coded to a T, Tall, dark, obsessive, gorgeous, oh yeah and homicidal tendencies. You can’t go wrong!

Kiara & Zyran are a perfect fit!! The banter, the spice, their chemistry is what people wish they had!! I love no matter how much of a headache Kiara is, Zyran will do whatever to make her happy. 5/5read for me!! If you love masked men…READ THIS!!!

[✿ Deanna Lea ✿ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this was amazing....

From the first page I was hooked ... line and sinker !!!

This the perfect dark , sexy , creepy stalker romance . The story is perfectly done and written. It keeps you hooked and reading. I devoured this in one night.

Zyran and Kiara are perfect and so amazing together. The push and pull, the of the charts chemistry . The banter top tier !!!

😍😍

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, Zyran has stalked his way to the top of list of both my favorite masked man and stalker lists. I'm not gonna give away too much as you need to experience his unhingedness for yourself but he does take stalking to the extreme. I really enjoyed the inclusion of both kleptophilia and chremastiophilia in the main characters in this story. It was a very interesting and new-to-me way to bring two characters together. You do not want to miss out on this one, Little Butterfly.

[Heather Beal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg! That was a ride!

I don’t know how to feel right now! These characters made me scream, laugh, cry… at several points, I just wanted to throw my phone and strangle them! I love a book that leaves me emotional whiplashed, so 5 stars in my book! Thank you to the author for recommending this to me! It was a fun time!

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Primal is quick read with short chapters that fit the pacing of the book. This book explored topics I haven’t read about before, making me question some things about myself like all good dark romances do. Kiara and Zyran were made for each other. As the story progresses, we see Kiara grapple with her dark desires. It was hard for her to accept what she wants, but Zyran was ready from the start. Regardless, he waited patiently for his little butterfly, which is a nickname I adore. This story perfectly captures how to accept the dark parts of yourself. Zyran is definitely unhinged and morally grey, a perfect book boyfriend! I love Leila Starling’s writing, and I can’t wait to read more! Thank you Leila Starling for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Triggers:

home invasion, home invasion roleplay, stalking, obsessed love interest, masked man, kleptophilia, chremastistophilia, somnophilia, noncon, dubcon, CNC, choking, primal play (chasing), impact play (odaxelagnia/marking kink, slapping), fear play, attempted sexual assault, rape of a character (not the FMC and not described, only mentioned or alluded to), orgasm denial, forced orgasms, nipple orgasms, use of a knife as a butt plug, gun and knife play, murder, and grandparent death

[Garbage Queen · Rating 1 out of 5]

"You're doing so good, mama."

LADY BONER GONE!!!!!

also, it's time to put the 'getting finger blasted but make it a gun' thing out to pasture.

Besides that, I felt like the story wasn't really fleshed out. It should have been maybe a 70 page erotica. Just another masked primal play story getting churned out.

[Angelou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well that was disappointing, but somehow had to finish it…

[MorallyDarkReadz · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5

Review:
Primal is exactly what the title promises—dark, raw, and ferociously intimate. Leila Starling crafts a story that walks the razor’s edge between danger and desire, with characters that are as broken as they are magnetic. The atmosphere is thick with tension, both emotional and physical, and the wilderness setting adds a layer of isolation that intensifies everything.

The hero is the definition of feral and morally gray, but never without purpose. His actions are brutal, but there’s a depth to him that unfolds slowly—and when it does? It’s devastating in the best way. The heroine doesn’t fall flat either—she’s resilient, complex, and emotionally layered.

This book doesn’t rely solely on spice (though it has its moments); it builds its intensity through psychological depth and a strong emotional arc. The 3/5 spice level feels just right—it’s more about the build-up, the tension, and the why behind every moment, rather than quantity.

If you love dark romance with primal instincts, wilderness survival, and an obsessive hero that blurs every moral line, Primal will absolutely consume you.

🔥 TROPES IN PRIMAL by Leila Starling 🔥
• ✖️ Captor/Prisoner – One of the juiciest dark romance setups. There’s a dangerous power imbalance, but oh… the tension it creates 👀
• 🌲 Forced Proximity – Isolated in the wilderness with nowhere to run. Tension builds with every shared breath.
• 🐺 Primal/Animalistic Hero – He’s not just morally gray—he’s feral. Protective, possessive, and completely untamed.
• 🖤 Obsession/Love on the Edge – This isn’t slow-burn sweet. It’s twisted, consuming, and addictive.
• 👊 Survivor x Protector Dynamic – The heroine has grit, and the hero? Dangerous, but maybe exactly what she needs to survive.
• 🚫 Morality Chain – He doesn’t care about right or wrong… until her.
• 🔒 Touch-Her-and-Die Energy – Classic, but always effective. His obsession turns lethal the second anyone threatens her.
• 🧠 Dark Psychological Themes – Trauma, manipulation, and recovery layered beneath the romance.

[Melody Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

BITCH CHOOSES PSYCHO DICK OVER STABLE FRIENDSHIP !

okay, so this chick Kiara has a friend named Yolanda and this girl has been with her through thick and thin, when both Kiara's grandparents died , when her home was first broken into, when she needs to be cheered up so Yolanda takes her out for a good time, and even when the psycho killer Zyran is hiding in Kiara's house holding her precious locket hostage, Yolanda goes through it headstrong to help her out and in the end she is more loyal to the new man thing than she is her bff and thats fucked up, not to mention she even got r@ped due to Kiara's bullshit.
she even says this herself when she says:
" Maybe I should have chosen her over Zyran, but he makes me feel something that no one else has ever been able to- he makes me feel alive, less alone in this world , with my wicked fantasies that no one understands."

like WTF you mean you feel less alone in this world??!! Yolanda has been with you this whole time but i guess you still look at her as chopped liver...SMH..

then she makes it worse when she says " Hopefully, we can reconcile our friendship in the future, but for now i'm excited to create a new life with Zyran- my soulmate"

LIKE BITCH!!?? You really don't give a fuck about your loyal friend, like you can get dick anywhere but a loyal friend is hard to find.

Over all rating: Book was very entertaining, sometimes the love part was a little cheesy but overall I think it was good enough, i finished it fast enough but I would love to see a part 2 of this book from Yolanda's perspective showing what she went through just trying to be there for Kiara and all her drama. Zyran sounds dangerously HOT and the author did a great job at keeping me entertained. JUSTICE FOR YOLANDA !!!

[Michelle Peralta · Rating 5 out of 5]

**Primal** by Leila Starling is my first read from this author, and it certainly won’t be my last!

From the moment the enigmatic Masked Stalker appears, the story grabs your attention and never lets go. The spice is intense and unrelenting, making for an electrifying read. This book masterfully combines dark romance with a chilling stalker twist, delivering a narrative that’s both gripping and provocative.

Kiara and Kyran are exceptionally well-developed characters whose chemistry is off the charts. Their dynamic is complex and fascinating, with Kyran’s morally grey, unhinged nature adding depth to the story. Leila Starling’s writing captures the essence of their relationship perfectly, keeping readers engaged with its spicy and dark elements.

**Primal** is a fast-paced read with short chapters that keep the story moving briskly. The exploration of themes I haven’t encountered before adds a unique touch, challenging my own boundaries in intriguing ways. Kiara’s struggle to accept her darker desires, and Kyran’s patient and supportive presence, make this story both compelling and thought-provoking.

If you enjoy dark romances with intense, complex characters, **Primal** is a must-add to your reading list. I’m excited to explore more of Leila Starling’s work! 🌟📚

[Dani E. Browder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primal by Leila Starling is a raw and intense dark romance that delves into themes of desire, control, and the untamed side of human nature. With its evocative writing and gripping tension, the book delivers a unique reading experience, though some pacing and character development issues keep it from reaching its full potential.

The novel’s atmosphere is undeniably compelling—Starling has a talent for crafting scenes that feel visceral and immersive. The chemistry between the leads is fiery and unpredictable, creating a push-and-pull dynamic that keeps the reader engaged. The exploration of primal instincts and power dynamics adds an intriguing psychological layer to the story.

However, while the book excels in mood and tension, the character development feels somewhat uneven. The protagonist’s motivations could have been explored with more depth, and the love interest, while compelling, sometimes leans too heavily into tropes without enough nuance. Additionally, certain plot points feel repetitive, making some sections drag despite the overall gripping premise.

Despite these flaws, Primal still delivers a captivating, if somewhat flawed, reading experience. Leila Starling has a strong voice and a knack for tension-building, and while this book may not be for everyone, fans of dark, intense romances will likely find it intriguing. With a bit more refinement in pacing and character depth, this could have been a standout in the genre.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so picture this: someone breaks into your house, and instead of just taking your stuff, they want you. That's where "Primal" kicks off, and trust me, it’s a wild ride from page one. This book dives deep into a super intense connection between a masked individual and the person whose world they just flipped upside down. It's a dark romance that’s all about unexpected desires and how far someone will go when they’re completely obsessed.
The connection between these two is absolutely electric. You can practically feel the tension crackling off the pages as their unconventional relationship develops. It’s written in a way that just pulls you in, making you wonder how these two characters, who start in such a bizarre situation, could possibly find something real. If you're into stories where the lines get seriously blurred and the chemistry is off the charts, this one delivers.
This book is definitely a quick, captivating read that'll keep you glued to the pages. It’s got that perfect blend of dark allure and undeniable pull that makes for an unforgettable experience. If you’re looking for a romance that’s anything but typical and keeps you on the edge, you need to check out "Primal."