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Runaways #1

My Revenant: Devil & Rabbit

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"There were demons beneath my skin, and they lived to serve my devil."

Jonah
I’m being hunted.
No matter where I run, the devil always catches up to me. There is nowhere I can go where he can’t reach me. Dex Weller is the devil in human skin, and he calls to my inner demons. I have to run from him and the world of violence he belongs to, because I know if I don’t, I’ll surrender to him completely, and he’ll drag us both into Hell.

Dex
He cannot escape me.
Jonah Hargreaves is mine. He’s been mine since the moment we met. I saw it in his eyes, the way he wanted to surrender everything to me. For a while he did, but now he’s on the run. He’s my prey, my scared little rabbit. It’s only a matter of time before I catch him again, and when I do, I’ll make sure to keep him forever.

What To Expect;
Broken Boys
Hurt/Comfort
First Times
Found Family
Obsessive/Possessive MCs
Morally Gray MCs
Motorcycle Gangs
One-Sided Hate to Love
Bitter Ex-Athlete x Unhinged Delinquent

My Revenant Devil & Rabbit is a dark MM romance book. It is book one (1) in the Runaways series, which is highly recommended to be read in order. This book contains explicit content and deals with some heavy themes. Please check the content warnings.

453 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 25, 2025

428 people are currently reading
2181 people want to read

About the author

Ronan Marlow

2 books112 followers
Ronan Marlow loves to read and write queer romance. He loves creating deep, complicated, and broken characters that find love and healing. While his books may contain dark themes, you're always guaranteed a happily ever after. Ronan lives in Victoria, Australia, with his cat Oni, and is probably reading, writing, drawing, or drinking a ridiculous amount of coffee.

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 382 reviews
Profile Image for Emna .
277 reviews190 followers
January 23, 2026
6 ⭐️
I miss it like a lover who left without warning 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Profile Image for Astra.
175 reviews431 followers
January 10, 2026
I was drowning in this story, it just kept pulling me further and further beneath deep, inky waves, consuming the gentle rays of sun creeping in from the surface.

It was hard to read, these characters tugged on every heart string I have, unraveling my emotions into one large, messy heap. I can’t believe this story is a debut. The writing is simple and clean yet so powerful. And the changes in these characters, their crushing emotions, the way they are conveyed is absolutely stunning.

The plot of this story is very romance based. This may sound a bit cliche but I think the best way to describe Dex and Johna’s relationship is through a rose.

They are the gorgeous, gleaming red petals, of safety, of care, and of beauty. They are also the vicious thorns that lie underneath. Dex and Johna are both very broken characters. Throughout their entire lives they have been torn apart bit by bit, stripped bare of love and left defenseless by the very people meant to stay.
Which in turn leaves them surrounded by haunting whispers of desperation. The increasing itch of fury beneath their skin, and the snapping jaws of attention at their heels.

Johna buries these emotions beneath soil so thick and deep that a person's fingers would crack and ooze before they reach him. While Dex shoves them to the very front of his being, letting them etch a smirk upon his lips and unleash every last bit of pain through fists and split knuckles. When Johna and Dex first meet they clash together, an inferno at the edge of an ocean.

But of course, a rose couldn’t grow without its home and that’s the same for them too. They are the roots and ground keeping the flower in place. Together they are vicious, ugly, and toxic. They leave in their wake so much pain and so much pleasure. But at the same time they are perfect. They are exactly where they are meant to be. Because they are each other's home.

This story is crushing, it grabs hold of your soul and then shatters it right in front of your eyes. But I have to admit I adored every moment of it. I know I will be thinking about these characters for a while.
Profile Image for Drusilla.
1,083 reviews438 followers
December 16, 2025
Beautiful darkness.
Wow, that was an amazing experience. A thoroughly toxic relationship and so much violence and mental health issues. And yet incredibly beautiful.
I felt such intense emotions, the likes of which I haven't felt in a long time. The love between Dex and Jonah is wonderfully deep and inevitable.
I don't read dark books that often anymore, and I don't really like it when the plot jumps back and forth between the past and the present. This one is masterfully done; it didn't bother me at all, and the timing was just perfect every time.
The writing style is also great, and I'm excited to see what else this author will come up with.
The list of triggers is very long, but you really should read it. The execution of all this was wonderfully done.
I don't really know how to describe it, except that every single emotion of these two characters was so vivid, so perfectly written, that I could feel everything myself.
The ending was heartbreaking. When it was finally revealed what had happened, oh man, I cried so hard. A hard-won happy ending and all the more satisfying for it.
Right, I'm going to read something light now.

I didn’t want to follow my dad’s example, not because I didn’t feel the call of the rocks at the bottom of this cliff, or of the waves that promised blissful silence and a watery embrace. A way to wash away my pain. No, that wasn’t why I chose not to stay here forever like he had. It was because suicide felt like proving my mother right, and that was the last thing I ever wanted to do. 🥺🖤🥺

Jonah snarled at me like a rabid dog, fueled by rage, but I was euphoric. Having his body thrashing against mine was so right, even if it hurt. Violence tasted a lot like passion, and I craved Jonah’s passion. 😳🖤😳

I had only ever kissed him, yet I knew that no one else’s lips could ever compare to this. No other kiss would ever be as tender. Tender like a bruise. 🫠🖤🫠

Toxic. Obsessive. Unreasonable. Unfair. All true. And yeah, they absolutely should have been red flags. I knew they were. But the jealousy in his voice, words, and actions? No one had ever wanted me so much that my own fucking touch made them jealous, and it ignited something twisted inside me. 😍🖤😍
Profile Image for Bree | breesoleilreads.
120 reviews36 followers
October 23, 2025
Wow, just wow. What a beautiful debut, full of heart, grit, and emotional moments that will have you bawling (but you’ll enjoy it) Dex and Jonah will have you laughing, crying, wanting to punch them and simultaneously wanting to hug them 🥺

Jonah, sweet chaotic, infuriating Jonah. He’s a character you might not understand, until you do. He’s overwhelmed by feelings he tries and fails to suppress. He’s angry as fuck and he lets that anger take over. But deep beneath the ten foot tall walls topped with barbed wire, is a deeply emotional, traumatized, fragile hearted man that didn’t know how to be cared for because he’d never had anyone be there for him in that way 😭🥺 Just like Dex, you’ll have to give him time to open up, and when you do, his feral devotion and deep well of untapped love will have you rooting for his much deserved HEA

Speaking of Dex, what a man 😍 The patience was on another level. From day one of meeting Jonah, he could read our chaotic bby like a goddamn storybook. His emotional intelligence (even when it was delivered through right hooks 👊🏻) was exactly the kind of force and strength needed to send Jonah’s walls toppling down. Everytime we got to his POV I loved getting to know him more. And not for nothing, he was totally HOT 🥵

Ronan’s immersive writing will pull you into this world and not let you go until the story is done. Poetic prose aside, you’ll relate to these characters, what they go through, and how they’ll do anything and everything to take care of each other. Their stories are haunting and forged with pain, their love story is wild and passionate and raw and sometimes even terrifying but at its core? It’s sweet, loving and eternally devoted, exactly what I love to read in a romance 🤎

I can’t wait for everyone to experience this gorgeous debut for themselves. When you do, come back and tell me how right I was, thank you 🥰
Profile Image for Gaby.
1,373 reviews160 followers
October 29, 2025
I think this book was ok. There is nothing *really* wrong with it, but I think I may not be the right target audience.

Books that are considered dark romance have to make sense for me, and in this case, it felt like they were both morally gray. Dex is super violent and stuff, and there’s all this talk about how he is dangerous, and Jonah is not that far behind with his moodiness and all of his glares. However, for me, they just read more like toxic, red-flag depressed dudes that have had shitty lives and not necessarily dark.

The story was good, and I kept reading because I wanted to know what had happened and why Jonah was running. I do think it’s a bit too long, and the back and forth of the dual timeline felt a bit random, but that may be a me thing. Still, great for a debut.

Thanks to the author for the arc!
Profile Image for Justin.
91 reviews23 followers
October 25, 2025
A debut book that lives up to the hype on bookstagram and is well worth the read.

Two broken boys falling for each other and somehow making everything worse/better? I really loved how these characters were flawed, a product of their upbringing, and aware of how "bad" they were. It felt real, it felt raw and was so emotional. These boys know who they are and they aren't perfect but they are good for each other. I REALLY enjoyed the whole cast of side characters too, like, I know these people. You know?

Switching between past/present timelines was really cool and kept me on the edge of my seat. Will the Devil finally catch his Rabbit?!

Ronan's writing style was magnetic. Conversational, full of snark and angst, poetic when it needed to be, I really enjoyed this one!

Thank you Ronan for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Lola.
200 reviews16 followers
December 2, 2025
5 stars for most of it, maybe 4.25 stars for the latter part

I'm giving this 5 stars, because regardless of the fact that it kind of waned for me by the end, I was absolutely fuckin sat for most of it and I can't remember the last time I felt like I just had to keep reading something, had to know what happened next. For some reason I feel like loving this book makes me a basic bitch but I do. not. care. I was here for it. I haven't read a lot of books with dual timelines, and sometimes the splits felt a little random here but it definitely worked for me overall. There was a bit of a mystery element to this with the "past" timeline showing how Rabbit and Devil fell in love, but the "present" timeline showing Rabbit on the run from Devil and we don't know why.

Both MCs were pretty fucking morally gray/verging on black. Definitely some sociopathy running around - even from the "lesser violent"/non gang member MC. Jonah was an extreme black cat. He was mean, antisocial, introverted, depressed, bratty, and spiky to pretty much everyone except for his friend, Becca (all hail Becca, honestly). Jonah ended up being more deranged than I expected (like, the absolute pinnacle of jealous/possessive). And Dex was kind of a doberman (protective and loyal) but also chaotic and violent and had his own share of mental health issues. If you don't like violence between MCs, skip this one - they were super toxic red flags both apart and together. But I was.... into it? Like.... a lot.

I thought both MC's backstories were fleshed out and their personalities/actions made sense and were consistent. I liked how Jonah's sexuality was handled. I liked the split timeline. I liked their dynamic later in the book (super unhealthy but I also believed they did indeed love each other). The incident that led to Rabbit being on the run was a slight letdown (I mostly liked it but wished it had gone down just a little differently). And I wish Dex had done a little more pursuing in the beginning - it felt like we were supposed to think he was doing the pushing, but Jonah actually did quite a bit of the work and it felt a little off for me dynamic wise. I was very here for the spice even though it was fairly vanilla. And Becca was one of the best side characters I've ever read - she saved Rabbit's life in a lot of ways.

I thought this was pretty awesome for a debut. I had some niggles, some things didn't quite land for me, but ultimately, I enjoyed the hell out of this. I know the next book in the series is about a different couple and I'm a little bummed because I would absolutely read more of these two.

Nicknames: baby, Rabbit, Devil

I obviously tried to stay away from stereotyping, and never assumed anything about anyone. That being said, this guy was an absolute twink.


Becca narrowed her eyes. “I meant what I said before. You can like whoever you want—men, women, neither, both—doesn’t matter, I’ll still love you. But…” She paused and gave me a very serious expression. “You can’t like him.”


Dex Weller fought like he had nothing to lose, and suddenly I was wondering if that was true.


“If this is hell, are you supposed to be a demon?” I responded before I thought better of it. He chuckled, and my chest tightened. “Nah, baby, I’m the devil.”


Jonah was a rabbit. Not because he was weak or pathetic or helpless, like he probably thought I meant when I called him that, but because I could see it in his eyes—the desperation of something hunted, of something living on adrenaline and instinct, as if his constant state of being was a vulnerability he had to hide.


I was burned and he was frozen and neither of us knew how to love at the correct temperature because we’d never known it. It would take time for us to learn how to touch each other in a way that didn’t feel like violence.


“Don’t do that,” I told him, my throat feeling tight. “Don��t be gentle with me.” “Why?” Even his voice was gentle. “I don’t know what to do with it.” But it was more than that. “I don’t deserve it.” “This isn’t something you have to earn, Rabbit. I’m giving it to you. It’s yours.” “What if I get used to it?” “You should. It’s not going anywhere. I’m not going anywhere. It’s safe to let me in.”


When I was in pain, I was mean. I snapped at anyone who got close to me. I got loud and demanded attention because the ones who were supposed to take care of me weren’t there. When Dex was in pain, he was quiet. He made himself smaller, and I had to wonder what that meant about the people who were supposed to have taken care of him.


“So demanding,” I chuckled. “You like me demanding.” “Mmn, close. I like you needy.” Jonah looked ready to protest, so I continued further. “And I like you desperate and whimpering.” He exhaled a shaky breath, pupils dilating. Black swallowing gold. “Then make me desperate.”


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Safety (may contain spoilers)

SA/rape: One of the MCs was raped by his mom's boyfriend from age 13-16. Past, not on page, and no flashbacks. But the MC has nightmares and inner thoughts surrounding it and they do talk about what happened to him (not super detailed but enough to know).

Other person drama: Jonah's asexual and never been in a relationship/had sex and Dex was the first person he'd ever felt sexually attracted to. Dex isn't quite a manwhore but he slept with some people in his gang who he still interacts with. In the beginning he gives a bj to his gang leader (off page, just mentioned) and it turns out they have a standing arrangement (which he cuts off once he's with Jonah). I know it's realistic and Dex is one million percent faithful to Jonah, but Jonah is incredibly jealous and possessive and it's a problem for him. I didn't like it either but it was all before they got together so I just pushed through the discomfort.
Profile Image for Alyssa.
54 reviews7 followers
October 21, 2025
I was lucky enough to get to read an early copy of My Revenant and the following is my honest review:

Ronan Marlow is one of the most beautiful writers I have ever gotten the privilege to read. The way he portrays emotions, connections and the characters he has created are incredible. The fact that he is an artist shows in his writing throughout the entire story. How you can take two severely broken people and make us FEEL their pain and let us watch them heal together is a talent. Every character in this book was relatable and lovable and made you want to know more. I’m so glad this is a series so we can learn more about every single one of these characters.

Not everyone will get it. Not everyone will get the pain and the anxiety and the personalities. But the people who have experienced pain, hurt, being broken…we f*cking get it and we relate. Thank you for writing a character (Jonah, in my case) that I see so much of myself in. To the ones who have been called “a lot”, “too much” “unlovable” “crazy”…we all know how it feels to fight to be just enough. So thank you for writing Jonah’s internal struggles with so much care.

I also love and appreciate that the female characters in My Revenant are likable and badass, as I feel like that is something that is lacking in the world of fiction. If you’re looking for a romance with dark themes, action, and two broken boys who are learning how to love and accept love, this is the one for you. I cannot wait to read future books from Ronan Marlow and I am so impressed by what he has already created here.

Tropes:
Broken Boys
Hurt/Comfort
One-sided Hate To Love
First Times
2X Touch Him & D!3
Touch Starved
Bitter Ex-athlete X Unhinged Delinquent
Profile Image for Books and Gems.
253 reviews52 followers
October 14, 2025
5 🌟

Jonah and Dex 🖤

First of all, I highly appreciate the chapter titles. I feel like it’s been ages since I’ve read a book with them, and I honestly love them.

Ok, now Jonah and Dex. Oooooof. These two both had gone through so much unimaginable pain and trauma. And the people who should have protected them the most let them down over and over. Jonah was broody and prickly and touch starved. Dex was hiding a lot of pain and using violence as a shield.

When these two meet though, they both realize (begrudgingly on Jonah’s part) that there is a pull between them that can’t be denied.

Dual timeline can be hit or miss for me, but this was so well done. I loved seeing them from the beginning while slowly building up to what drove them apart.

I absolutely loved how once Jonah was in, he was ALL IN. The complete obsessive, possessive, MINE mentality both of these boys had is my favorite 😅

The fact that✨ lIfE ✨ kept me from inhaling this is a true crime. A travesty. I just wanted to live in their world forever.

I am so intrigued for the next book! Every side character was interesting and unique, and I can’t wait to see what’s to come. Amazing debut!

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.

.

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‼️⚠️ Potential spoilers ⚠️‼️

Dynamic: MM — strict

Sharing? No

Cheating? No

Breakup? Yes, but not “official” but separated for a year after events happen

Sex scene with OM or OW No, but brief mentions of prior hookups


‼️⚠️ Content ⚠️‼️

— possessive / obsessive MMCs
— broken boys
— first times
— virgin MMC
— pierced and tattooed MMC
— found family
— hurt / comfort
— he gives him a tattoo
— one sided hate to love
— “devil”
— “rabbit”
— “baby”
— rimming
— toys
— cockwarming
— 💦 hands-free


I received an ARC of this book, and this is my honest and voluntary review.


Profile Image for elias.
28 reviews
October 5, 2025
I literally don’t even know where to start with this review. I loved this book so much more than I thought I would and it is most likely going to be my top read in 2025. I finished this book in genuinely like 6 hours because I physically could not put it down.

First things first, this book took all my expectations, crossed them out, rewrote them into something I did not expect at all, and completely left me hanging for more. I expected this book to be a standard run of the mill cat and mouse chase, but it turned out to be a dual timeline story that was done BEAUTIFULLY. Dual timelines are hard to do well, and Ronan Marlow managed to do it in such a perfect way. Getting to know ALL of Dex and Jonah’s story while also getting Jonah’s current actions was done in such a perfect way that I didn’t feel like I was stuck in the past or that I was rushing through the backstory to get to the current timeline. Everything was so well planned out and written that it flowed so smoothly.

Speaking of writing, can we talk about Marlow’s writing for a second?? Because holy hells it is BEAUTIFUL. Everything is done in such a precise and elegant way that it didn’t even feel like I was reading this dark, grisly (at times) story, but that I was watching Dex and Jonah fall in love in such a beautiful way.

Secondly, I just desperately need to gush about Dex and Jonah and how they match each others freak SO WELL. Killing your boyfriend’s abusive mother? Normal. Following your boyfriend into the dark forest so he can show you where he buried his rapist? Let’s have a good cry and go home so I can show you how much I love you. Like oh my GOD where can I find these two irl??

I genuinely think I could talk about this book all day, but I think this review is long enough. All you need to take from this is that this is such a beautiful story that 100% made me cry and that you absolutely need to read as SOON as it comes out.

As always, thank you so much to the author for providing this ARC and I absolutely cannot wait for more of these characters (especially Benny and Harper bc DAMN I need that lore right now).
Profile Image for Laura Lou.
320 reviews21 followers
November 17, 2025
My Revenant is book one in the Runaways series. This MM dark romance story is about Dex and Jonah.

Dex and Jonah went through so much pain and trauma. The more we learned about their upbringing, the more we got to understand why they were the way they were. I do have to say it took me a little bit to warm up to Jonah, especially with him being so angry. But once he was all in with Dex, I loved how Jonah would do anything and everything to protect and take care of Dex. I could not get enough of how obsessive and possessive Dex and Jonah were of each other. It was just so touching to see these broken boys find comfort in one another.

This story kept me on the edge of my seat and I couldn’t wait to see how it was all going to play out. There were so many great side characters I enjoyed meeting, and I hope we will get more of them in the future. This was definitely an emotional story, and it was beautiful to see Dex and Jonah love each other no matter what. I cannot wait for the next book in this series.
2 reviews1 follower
October 5, 2025
GOD THIS BOOK is dangerously good. It has not left my head since I read it !! Will update this with a proper review at a later date; i genuinely haven’t found the right words to accurately describe how much i love My Revenant. I love Dex. I love Jonah. I love the writing. I love the side characters. I love every line. So much so that I don’t know how to put it into words (yet) !! But ~watch this space~
Profile Image for ♡ cal ♡.
768 reviews350 followers
November 24, 2025
Didn’t liked it but I was weirdly fixated. These edgy tragic dramatic teens/young adults are not for me anymore I think.
Profile Image for Sona.
186 reviews10 followers
January 1, 2026
I am soooo madddd !!!!!

Listen. This book had me on an emotional rollercoaster with no seatbelt. I felt everything. Hurt. Rage. Softness. Obsession. Hope. And then… pure, unfiltered disgust. I feel betrayed with how it ended.

Let’s start with this: when I say broken boys, I don’t mean “sad with good cheekbones.” I mean BROKEN. Both of them. Dex (Devil) comes from one of the worst childhoods I’ve read in a while dead father, absolute nightmare of a mother, and sexual abuse by her boyfriend. I physically struggle with child abuse even if it is not on page.

Jonah (Rabbit) is broken in a different way. Running was his whole life. He was winning championships, excelling, being someone and then boom, one hit-and-run accident takes it all away. What’s left? Anger. Bitterness. Zero emotional support. His mom is also awful (divorced parents ), and his father doesn’t really give a shit. he’s shipped off to live with his father, where he meets Dex.

And oh my god, their first meeting? MAGNETIC.
Staring. Staring. Staring. Not looking away. Jonah thinking he’s asexual and then being like, “Wait… why is this man so beautiful?” I was HOOKED. Their connection felt inevitable, like gravity. They didn’t stand a chance.

Here’s the twist though I fully expected Dex, the gang guy, to be the chaotic one. NOPE. It’s Jonah. Jonah is the walking disaster. He loses it at the drop of a hat, flies off emotionally, and keeps throwing himself into situations he absolutely cannot physically handle.

Don’t get me wrong I loved how feral Jonah gets when Dex is threatened. That “I see red if you touch him” energy? Ate it up. But still… boy, THINK.

Now let’s talk about the reason Jonah is on the run.

The book goes through past and present and In the present Jonah is on the run For almost 80% of the book, I’m waiting for this big reveal. I’m bracing myself. What could be the reason. Something tragic but understandable? Someone has wronged him? Broken his heart?

And then we find out.

Jonah ran because he panicked?

Dex was already stabbed by the gang members Jonah walked in on the scene killed the attackers in rage, panicked and shoved Dex then panicked more because Dex wasn’t moving , Dex collapsed bleeding and Jonah RAN. He fucking RAN ???Left him there. In a pool of blood. He Ran instead of calling a doctor or getting help . He just leaves him and goes on the run .


Ewwwww

Dex almost dies. Spends a YEAR recovering, In therapy. Healing. Processing.
relearning how to function, alone.

No Jonah.

Meanwhile Jonah? On the run. Who the fuck are you running from not even caring if your man survived no thanks to you or died .
I’m sorry but NO. Big fat NO!!!


That absolutely ruined the romance for me. I could not get past it. Panic is human, yes but abandoning the person you love like that? And staying gone for a YEAR? Unforgivable. Completely soured everything that came before. If I were Dex I would never ever forgive this shit.

This book could have been a 5-star emotional devastation. And it was till the discovery of the reason Jonah was running. I was ready to crown it. But that reveal? Instant nosedive.

⭐ Final rating: 2 stars

Loved the obsession. Loved the brokenness. Loved the intensity.
Hated the betrayal. HATED the justification.

I’m still mad. 😤💔
Profile Image for Prateekshya.
93 reviews
January 26, 2026
3.5⭐️😌
Unexpectedly good.

When I first started this book, I genuinely thought it could go wrong in every possible way—but surprisingly, it turned out pretty good. After a long time, I finally read a story where a red-flag bottom is paired with a green-flag top, and somehow… it works.

The way they hold on to each other, even after going through so much trauma, was honestly insane in the best way. Their bond felt intense, raw, and emotional, which really pulled me in.

The only issue I had was the length. At certain points, the content felt unnecessarily long and could’ve been trimmed down. Some scenes—and especially the dialogues—started to feel a bit repetitive, which slowed the pacing.

That said, I still enjoyed it and I’m definitely invested now.
Can’t wait for the second book 😊
Profile Image for Seraphina Reads.
476 reviews21 followers
January 15, 2026
My Revenant
Ronan Marlow

Jonah & Dex
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

Broken Boys
Hurt / Comfort
First Times
Touch Starved
Obsessive/ Possessive
Motorcycle gangs
Found family


Wow so this was great. I totally loved this.

This was written so uniquely. Mostly in the past with only a few “in the present” chapters.

We were able to get a full back story with Jonah and why he is running and fearful.

This was so great.

I loved Dex. That sweet sweet hurt man. He handled Jonah and his outbursts, neediness, clinginess and even aggression so well.

The story starts with Jonah running, we aren't really sure from who really. As the story goes on we learn about him and Dex and how they met.

Their relationship really was a whirlwind. Based on hate that I think was just confusion on Jonah's part, then lust turned into obsessiveness and possession and as time went on it was hurt/comfort and protectiveness.

“I’ve got you. You’ve been alone for so long, Rabbit, but you aren’t anymore. I won’t ever let you be again.”

The world they are in is cruel. Both men have been hurt by those who were supposed to love and protect them.

They are able to find peace and safety within each other. They form a beautiful intimacy and super hot connection. At times it was really intense but it honestly worked for them and who they are.

They go through a lot in this book. There's a lot of action and drama.

I loved them. I also am intrigued by so many side characters. Some brought on by their own shenanigans.

These sweet sweet men. I'm so glad they found their way back to each other.

“It’s time to stop running. I think you started running when you were a child, and you haven’t let yourself stop. It’s time to stop now. I know you’re tired of it. It’s okay to stop.”

At the end of the book we learn there will be more books in the future on some of the other characters.

Can't wait for the next books.

I really enjoyed this

So thankful for this arc
Profile Image for areadsbooks.
310 reviews18 followers
October 14, 2025
arc review: 5*

still sitting in my feelings with these characters and how i feel about this beautiful debut by ronan marlow — he absolutely deserves all the screams, love and hype for this story bc it was everything i want from a book.

the complex characters with depth and emotion, an engaging and well paced plot, chemistry between mcs that feels natural and real and lastly the overall thrill and need to know what’s going to happen and how does this all end???? the continuous questions were there and i loved it so much.

the past and present jumps were executed perfectly and made for a intense and memorable read. i loved these characters, i loved dex with my entire heart, what a babe — he took care of jonah aswell as being vulnerable and letting jonah truly take care of him too.

jonah was everything i love most in a character, angry at the world, broody and difficult, a vicious touch starved baby who couldn’t let anyone see him for who he was, constantly running away, constantly hiding. i was very much desperate for both of their heas, these two deeply broken and wounded boys and their friends were great to read and i seriously can’t wait for what ronan gives us next.

thank you for the arc sweet boyyyyy <3
Profile Image for Marjolein (Dutchromancereader).
192 reviews4 followers
January 7, 2026
Well this was intense. What a great debut novel and what a great way to start a new series. Jonah and Dex's story is not an easy one. It is a dark road with badly damaged asphalt, full of bumps and potholes. These boys are both very broken when they meet. Jonah neglected and lovestarved and Dex abused and abandoned. They instantly feel an very intense connection which they have no idea what to do with. They recognize the pain in each other. Jonah fights it, he gives Dex all his rage, but Dex is determined to make his little rabbit his. And once they both give in and truly let all their walls and secrets go, what we get is not pretty. They are toxic, extremely codependent, possessive, jealous, needy, clingy and insatiable. their relationship is NOT healthy. They are heading to an intense collision course which would left them both burned and empty.

Check your trigger warnings on this one, cause there are some dark themes in this book happening, in the past and present. This boys go through great lengths to protect each other so to speak. Despite the harshness and despair, this book is written so beautiful. The writer let us feel all their rage, pain love in lovely sentences. The side characters were great too. In the afterword we get a lot of more stories promised of them and I can't wait. Although it is a rollercoaster in 2 different timelines, I got slightly bored in the middle, hence 4,5 stars. But loved it nonetheless.
Profile Image for handy.hannahbookishrecs.
192 reviews212 followers
December 31, 2025
I’m sorry this was a debut? A debut!? This book was phenomenal. The mental health representation here was absolutely perfection. No notes other than check your triggers prior to reading and to buckle up for this wild ride of Dex and Jonah.

Tropes
-Hurt/comfort
-Broken boys
-Virgin MMC
-Motorcycle gang member MMC & ex athlete MMC
-Obsessive/possessive
-Morally gray MMC
-One sided hate to love
-Abusive parental figure rep
-he tattoos his name on him
-found family
-self harm rep
-nicknames for eachother are rabbit and devil
Profile Image for Magne Einar.
151 reviews13 followers
October 19, 2025
This book was one hell of a journey — it took turns I absolutely didn’t see coming. There were so many ups and downs, moments that were both heartwarming and heartbreaking, and scenes that had my nerves on edge. It’s such an incredible debut novel, and I honestly can’t wait to see what comes next from this author.

And Dex and Jonah! I can’t even count how many times I wanted to pull them both into a hug. They’re the perfect example of two broken boys who found and learned to love each other. They’ve both been through so much, faced the world on their own — but now, they finally have each other.
October 25, 2025
5 Honey-Eyed Inferno Stars
ARC Read: 10/10/2025
I received this ebook for free from the author and I'm leaving this review of my own accord. Thank you Ronan Marlow for this gift. 🥰

What to expect from this book? 🤔
🫶 MM Adult Dark Romance 🫣 🥵🤌
Small-Town Motorcycle Gang
Broken Boys
One Sided Dislike
Size Difference
Bitter Ex-Athlete x Unhinged Delinquent
2x Touch Him & Die
Scowling As A Love Language
Blushing Mess
OTT Jealousy & Possessiveness
Morally Gray MCs
Tattoos Obessed
Mark Me
Touch-Starved
Public Claiming
First Times
Virgin MC
Praise Kink
Bite Kink
Nipple Play
Cum Play/Kink
Edging
Whimpering Begging Mess
Orgasm Denial/Control
Hands-Free
Rimming
Sex Toys
"Good Boy"
Spanking
Pierced Dick (Prince Albert)
Caretaking
Hair Brushing
Showering Together
"So Perfect For Me"
Feral Dogs Seek Feral Dogs
Hand-Rolled Cigarettes
Cloud Gazing Dates
Devil x Rabbit
Hurt/Comfort
Found Family
HEA

Content/Trigger Warnings:

Series: Runaways Series #1
Story: 5/5

What a debut! Wow!!!
The writing was just beautiful.
Dex & Johan's heavy complex feelings, all the heartache from this unforgiving world. It was very touching.
Oh my heart…

What I love more is how this story was constructed, the mystery, the time jumps (a thing I don't like but here it fits perfectly and it helped it was also well written), the struggles, the grief, the pain, emotional and physical, the passion, the romance, the friendship... it was refreshing, it felt real, truthful

Really an amazing story, I love inner dialogues, those tidbits of information... I love meeting these characters, knowing more I wanted to know everything, I need to know

The grumpy and unhinged sunshine was just everything.
I was completely engaged (and unhinged) from start to finish.


Cover: 5/5
Format: Ebook/ARC
POV: Dual – 1st Person
Plot: 5/5

✨✨✨✨Quote✨✨✨✨

Jonah: “Don’t do that,” I told him, my throat feeling tight. “Don’t be gentle with me.”
“Why?” Even his voice was gentle.
“I don’t know what to do with it.” But it was more than that. “I don’t deserve it.”
“This isn’t something you have to earn, Rabbit. I’m giving it to you. It’s yours.”
“What if I get used to it?”
“You should. It’s not going anywhere. I’m not going anywhere. It’s safe to let me in.”
The walls crumbled to rubble at my feet.


✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨



Main Characters:
5/5 - Dexter Ian Weller: 21yo, nicknames: Dex, Coyote, petnames: Devil, Mr. Ice-Eyes, mechanic, unhinged delinquent, in a gang called The Strays.
5/5 - Jonah Joseph Hargreaves: 20yo, nicknames: Bunny, J.J., Jack, petnames: Rabbit, Honey-eyed inferno, a virgin, bartender, bitter ex-athlete.
Side Characters: 5/5
Steam Level: 4,5/5
Romance: High Focus

✨✨✨✨Quote✨✨✨✨

"Jonah: They called him Coyote. It didn’t suit him. Maybe to them he was a wild dog, but to me he was the devil. My devil. My beautiful twisted angel of light. Because that’s all the devil really was—an angel. Fallen, but still an angel. I’d seen the softer side to him, the side that was good, and I wondered if the devil was only ever the devil because he was unloved. Maybe if I loved him, he could be good. Maybe no one had ever given him the chance to be good before."

✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨



Humor: Medium Low Focus
Angst: High Focus
Cheating? No
The Ending: 5/5
HEA/HFN/Cliffhanger HEA

Enjoyment: 5/5
Favorite character? BOTH 😭
This is my 1st book by Ronan Marlow.
This is a Debut!


✨✨✨✨Quote✨✨✨✨

Dex: “Hurry up,” he demanded when long moments passed with me just standing there taking him in, admiring the toned muscle in his back, the firm curve of his ass. Mine. Forever. Always. I let my hand come down on the perfect milky surface, the slap making him jump.
“If you keep mouthing off, I’ll gag you,” I warned, and he groaned, rutting against the bedding to get some friction on his hard cock.
“You like that idea, Rabbit?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
I would gag him. Maybe later I’d make him come in his underwear and then I’d shove them into his mouth and make him taste himself. My cock twitched, approving of the idea. Later.


✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨



Runaways Series:
1. The Revenant - 5 stars
2. The Renegade

!! I don't equate fiction stories to real life. It's a matter of personal taste and what you are willing or want to tolerate in the books you read. We all have different opinions and preferences when it comes to the kind of books we enjoy, so it's important to respect and remember that it's just a book!!

Hope this review was helpful.
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Profile Image for Mal.
560 reviews47 followers
October 25, 2025
I think Rabbit (Jonah)’s rage was exceedingly well done as was his traumatic parental issues informing his coping mechanisms. Devil (Dex) was an interesting character. I liked the confidence in him. I think I struggled in the flow, most of the story being told in the past tense with snippets of the present playing out unrelated in the middle on and off and then the culmination was just so quick. Also, While their dynamic was hot, obsessive and a but unhealthy something was missing for me.
Profile Image for 369Pages.
719 reviews34 followers
October 6, 2025
3.75⭐️
My Revenant is a dark MM romance story between Dex, a motorcycle gang bad-boy, and Jonah, a college guy who’s returned to town. Jonah’s friend Bee warns him not to get involved with Dex—he’s dangerous. Yet there’s this undeniable bull between the two. When they lock eyes, the world stops and they just SEE each other. This pull descends into something more and more dangerous.

What to expect:
-dark themes (violence, unhealthy behaviours, possessiveness, etc.)
-some hurt/comfort (MCs have dark pasts)
-found family (Jonah’s best friend Bee is my favourite!)
-broken boys that make each other worse
-touch starved
-first times
-“mine”
-dual timeline, dual POV

Dex and Jonah’s story was fun to follow. I really enjoyed the tropes in this book, and the author did a fairly good job of ensuring that the story didn’t lag. The hook at the beginning of the story is very good, and though it took me a little bit to get into the story, I enjoyed it for the most part overall.

As for their relationship— I can describe it as fiery, passionate, obsessive, and strongly based in physical chemistry. Though the themes were dark, the way they were with each other was extremely loyal and very caring.

In terms of the characters—Dex I found to be more interesting, and I found that he had more qualities I respected. I didn’t really like Jonah’s personality, and would hate to be friends with him 😂 but his stand-offish nature worked for Dex. This book has a lot of side characters, and most of them have both a name and a nickname. This can be confusing if you’re not keeping track of them, but it turned out that my favourite character was actually one of the side characters! Becca (or Bee), Jonah’s bestie, was full of personality and an absolute delight. I would read a whole book about her story!

For a debut novel, the author did an awesome job!! There was definitely some “fat” that could have been trimmed, but I also know that some readers like that. I think Ronan Marlow is an author that’s going to be really popular with a lot of readers. I will definitely follow up with his next book!
Profile Image for Kim Reads.
255 reviews36 followers
October 18, 2025
This is a darker romance book that deals with some heavier topics, so before you read it, you should check the tw-list 😊 This book is told in duo POV and it is written in two different time-lines, the past and the present, which was amazingly done.

It's very safe to say that this book hooked me from the beginning, had me on the edge of my seat multiple times, and kept that level until the very end 🙈

Jonah and Dex are both so special. They definitely have a lot of heavy stuff going on in their lives, and both of them are so strong. They may have had extremely difficult parts in their journeys, but their unconditional love and (slightly toxic 🤭) need for each other kept them going. It definitely isn't a super healthy relationship, but who needs that at any time, anyway, am I right 😅

I'm very hyped for book two, since there are certain things and a lot of questions that need to be answered. Can’t wait for the series to continue 🥰
Profile Image for ☆Hetty☆.
113 reviews
October 15, 2025
My Revenant by Ronan Marlow – 5 Stars

This book grabs you by the heart and refuses to let go. The dual POV and back-and-forth in time are chef’s kiss — the perfect setup to wring every ounce of emotion from Dex and Jonah’s story.

Hearing from both of them hits deep. You feel the good, the bad, the ugly, the terrifying — every raw, honest moment they share. There’s something so achingly beautiful about the way they’re open with each other, like two souls stripped bare and still choosing to hold on.

And those twists near the end? HOLY MACARONI. I was on the edge of my seat, begging for it all to go the way they deserved. What a wild, emotional, breathtaking ride — and an ending that absolutely delivers.
Profile Image for Esha.
64 reviews1 follower
November 24, 2025
4.5⭐

Jonah and Dex completely pulled me into their world.

Both of them have faced deep pain in their own ways. Jonah is the quiet, guarded type, craving connection but holding back, while Dex hides his hurt behind his strong, tough exterior. Despite their differences, they complement each other naturally, creating a bond that’s both tender and intense.
Jonah is hesitant at first, reluctant to fully let himself feel
but the moment he lets himself go… he’s all in, reckless, obsessed, and completely tangled up in Dex. The obsessive, possessive energy between them was easily one of my favorite things.

What I loved most is how the book shows their pain honestly. Neither of them is the “strong, unbreakable one.” They both hurt,they both cry, they both need comfort, and they both allow each other to see those weak, raw moments. and they both let their walls down, revealing the same depth of vulnerability with each other, and it makes their connection feel so real.
The dual timeline worked so well, showing how everything began while slowly revealing what tore them apart.

The side characters were all interesting, and I’m excited to see where the next book goes.
And lastly, I really loved the chapter titles. It’s been a long time since I read a book that used them, and they added such a nice touch.
Such an impressive debut.!!♥️
Profile Image for Holly.
42 reviews
October 14, 2025
For a debut novel, this was wonderfully written. I was a little worried at first about the story jumping between past and present, but it was done so effortlessly that the transitions just flowed. These two broken boys are so perfectly broken together — their jagged edges fit in a way that makes their story both painful and beautiful. The side characters were also incredibly entertaining, and they’ve left me with plenty of questions I hope get answered in future books. I’m really excited to see what art Ronan creates next.
Profile Image for Ellie’s Paper Garden.
62 reviews4 followers
October 29, 2025
This is Ronan Marlow's debut novel, which is the first book in the Runaways series.

After chapter 2 I was so intrigued and stayed invested for the most part. I so badly wanted to know what kind of trouble Jonah had gotten himself into. I don’t typically like books that switch back and forth between timelines, but I found myself needing the duality of it. Even the parts I wasn’t filling invested in, I kept pushing through because of all the mystery and unanswered questions I had.

I didn’t understand Dex and Jonah’s insta-obsession after Dex had only winked at Jonah. I feel like I would have understood their obsession more if they'd had a conversation or some type of heated encounter that left them curious about one another. Don't get me wrong, I adored these two's unhealthy chemistry, but I felt them dumping coffee on one another was a bit immature.

There were some parts that really captured my attention, especially chapter 44, but then there were others where I was wanting more. Overall I enjoyed reading Dex and Jonah’s journey. I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in store for these two in future novels and hopefully getting some explanations for certain unanswered mysteries.

Also, I would love to see Bee get her own story. She was such an amazing character. It would be amazing to see how she got involved with one of the “BAD ideas” she tried to ward Jonah away from.

3.75/5 ⭐️

What to expect…
😈 I Made Him Worse
🐰 Virgin MC
😈 Broken Boys
🐰 Touch Him & 💀 x2
😈 Obsessive/Possessive MCs
🐰 Hurt/ Comfort


⚠️ If you have triggers, please heed the content warnings listed in the beginning of the book.


Thank you so much Ronan for the ARC 💖
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