Captured Prey

by Reno R. Mist

I want to be hunted…but not by just anyone. No – it must be by the monster I have secretly craved.

Chase me.
Devour me.
Take what is already yours.

I know I shouldn’t speak these desires aloud, but I’ve longed for this – to be the heroine sprinting through a moonlit forest, breathless and trembling, pursued by something dark enough to unmake me.

When I uncovered the rumor buried in a forgotten academic footnote, I knew I would come here. A secret invitation. An unholy promise. If this is what I want, why not indulge?

I will be the prey.
All I need now is the hunter waiting in the forest.

Captured Prey: A Primal Play Novella is part of the Second Circle Entry series, told in third-person POV. Each story explores desire, inhibition, and awakening in richly sensual worlds. Often pairing mortals with monsters, love and hunger intertwine as things that go bump in the night steal your heart…and possibly your soul.

Seductive. Sinister. What are you waiting for?

Readers who enjoy Scarlett St. Clair, Carissa Broadbent, Allie Oleander, Laura Thalassa, Cassie Alexander, Layla Fae, Sylvia Mercedes, and other dark romantasy authors — especially lovers of high heat chemistry, alpha monsters, and dark fantasy romance — will find themselves right at home.

This spicy, primal novella can be read as a standalone and features a tall, dark, and handsome Slavic deity, a 35+ gutsy academic mortal, and a pulse-racing chase that ends in a sweet and steamy reward for adult readers only.

Genres: Dark Romance, Novella, Dark, Romance, Fantasy, Erotica, Monsters

124 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 27, 2026

About the author

Reno is an aspiring indie author on a mission to fund her cat’s lavish lifestyle. She writes high-heat contemporary, fantasy, and dark(ish) romances that explore kink, desire, and the complexities of love for characters thirty-five and older.

Drawn to the unconventional, Reno crafts worlds where fantasy and passion collide — where gods, mortals, and monsters (both the spicy and unspicy kind) come alive on the page. She has a soft spot for full-body tattoos, tragic villains, and stories that blur the line between sin and salvation.

Wanna see pics of her cats? Sign up for her newsletter!

Reviews

[Stacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

Fear and desire are like two crazy roommates who refuse to pay rent. They're stuck together in this wild ride. Oh man, this is getting intense in an awesome way. Who would've thought someone would have a crush on a Leshy? Now we're running from one in a dark forest - just another Tuesday. Dr. Campbell's all like, 'Demons? Nah, they're just myths.' But then she stumbles upon something that blows her mind, and let's just say it's about to get a whole lot spicier. Can someone turn up the heat, because this book is about to get a whole lot juicier.

Thanks to Book Sirens for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.

[cyd⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

OKKK i never ever thought i’d read a book like this.. but here we are! 4.5⭐️ no less.. (i loved it)

something about this book… i’m in love.
the writing was absolutely incredible!! i had no expectations while walking into it but wow.
i’ll definitely be checking out more books from this author!

thank you so much netgalley, Reno. R. Mist and PoshPangolin Publishers for allowing me to have an early copy of this AMAZING novella!!

(4.5/5)⭐️🪾

[Raegan · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received this book for free through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

4.5 stars

An enticing combination of mythology and complex moral obligations!

“But desire is truth, palomita. The most honest thing you possess. Denying it does not make you virtuous. It makes you hungry”.

The writing was my favorite thing about this book. It was well-thought-out and quotable. The sprinkling of Spanish did take away from the immersion for me, as I had to stop and look up several words. The word-building was interesting, and the spiritual references added a nice layer to the story.

However, I wasn’t a fan of the way Celia’s POV wrapped up, with the direction promised for the next book. I did get Lucifer TV show vibes—specifically the club setting, the "What do you desire?" theme, the temptation, and demons, which I loved. The cover was what initially grabbed my attention. All in all, a spicy, quick, and fun read!

[Larareads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating 3.5 ⭐️

This was great. Short, very easy to read, sweet and spicy!!! Read it in about 30 minutes and had a really great time.

[Nicole is Reading Fantasy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, spicy little read that was surprisingly well-written. I loved that our FMC was in her 30’s, and the contract-angle was a smart way of ensuring consent was honored. I was hoping for a bit more monster elements in the spice, and the insta-love felt a bit out of place and took away from the fantasy element for me. Regardless, this book delivered on its promises, and I would definitely read more from this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Posh Pangolin Publishers for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

[ObscureVi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

Captured Prey had me hooked with it's premise, especially since I haven't yet had a chance to read anything in the monster alley and on top of that I was feeling like reading something spicy for probably two weeks now.

Unfortunately, this one was a miss for me. I'm not sure if it was because of the book itself or maybe the length of the story (77 pages), but it didn't hit that spark for me.

I won't lie, Asmodeus and his club was giving me the vibes of Lucifer played by Tom Ellis and that hyped me up a bit.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the next book in the series, since the idea itself is really good and I'm sure there's a lot of possibilities here, just waiting to be used.

I will definitely check out the author again, especially after seeing the presage of Fated Rebirth in the ending notes.

[Ioana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a short novella that delivered what it promised.

Story:
I really enjoyed the writing style, easy to follow and I liked the world we got to enter (that intrigued me the most). I would definitely give a chance to other stories in this world.

Characters: due to the length of the story I didn’t expect very much character development nor background stories. We got what we needed to know for the story to work and to be easily understood.

Asmodeus: I would read more about him if he wouldn’t use Spanish words just because (it really irks me whenever I find characters that overuse words in othr laguages).
Lahs and Professor Campbell: nice characters, couldn’t get to care for them a lot - not sure if that’s because of the lenght of the book or the lack of story and development.

Romance: too insta-lovey for my taste & all the nicknames thrown around were not to my liking. I don’t expect a 35+ woman to fall for ‘bunny’ as a nickname.

Thank you Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op & Posh Pangolin Publishers for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[✨ Sarah Mariee ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, sweet, and spicy. A great, quick read with great spice. I would love to see this world expanded and get some more background on characters and interactions. Not a ton of plot, but enough to stay engaged.


Thank you so much NetGalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Chrissy MacLaughlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this because I LOVE primal chase scenes, and THAT part of the story like was really great. But this almost read too textbooky for me? Like it was providing information about folklore more than giving me the primal smut I really was looking for, but that very much could just be a me thing. 🫣

3.5⭐️

Thank you to Posh Pangolin Publishers and NetGalley for the arc.

[Isabell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This primal play novella was able to brilliantly blend academic ideas with highly erotic scenes. I found it incredibly engaging and finished it in one sitting. I especially enjoyed how mythology was intertwined with an FMC whose mind is highly factual and academically focused.

Although written in third person, the novella is immersive, allowing the reader to experience the characters’ thoughts and emotions fully. The balance between intellectual exploration and erotic tension is kept exceptionally well, making the story both stimulating and thought-provoking.

The mythological references and the FMC’s analytical perspective add depth, while the descriptive scenes keep the pacing brisk. A few transitions between academic discussion and erotic moments could be smoother, but this is a minor point in an otherwise captivating novella.

I highly recommend this to readers who enjoy character-driven, immersive erotic fiction with both a scholarly and mythological edge.

[Sandra Sanches · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You represent the part of myself I have caged behind books and theories and proper behavior. The part that wants to run barefoot through moonlit forests and feel earth beneath my skin and remember what it means to be gloriously, unapologetically alive.”

Unapologetic dark, primal and smutty

Through her love for occult,lore and myths,Celia gains entrance to The Oubliette,the club owned by Asmodeus .

And a chance to dive into primal inner desires.

Lahs is a leshy and agrees to fullfil the contract she signed .

And the hunt begins….

A short story filled with scorching hot scenes and the promisse of a connection between Celia and Lahs.

Even not having a lot of plot or world building due to be a short novella, the author kept it interesting adding elements of lore and mythology.

[Andrea Perez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arc reader here!
This book had me interested with its premise, mostly because it's my first monster-love-spice one.
Sadly, I dont know how to feel with it. The first chapter with Asmodeus, the bar and the contract really hyped me up. The chase one was also good, but from there it was a downfall for me 😓
Im not sure if the issue was all the spice or that I didn't look at the number of pages and didn't expect it to be that short.
That being said, Ill be patiently waiting for new books of this author since I find the premise really good and really enjoyed the writing style

Ps. thanks to Netgalley and Reno for the arc copy!!💕

[Sally May *✧･ﾟ · Rating 2 out of 5]

✨ Thank you to Posh Pangolin Publishers and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC in exchange for an honest review ✨

This was 1 part erotica + 1 part seven princes of hell romantasy + 1 part monster romance (unexpected), which = not for me

Not badly written at all, but erotic novellas like this are just way too short to truely create any sort of meaningful tension or connection between the MCs and that does nothing for me personally 🤷‍♀️

I would recommend this for anyone that liked the Amazon Scared Sexy Collection of short stories. Very similar vibes.

[Denna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I usually don’t mind short novellas, but this one didn’t quite work for me. The concept is fantastic and has the potential to be an amazing story, but for some reason – maybe the third-person narration, or perhaps because I studied anthropology and the book delves into that kind of environment – it felt a bit too academic, at least at the start.

Later on, the primal aspect of the story really drew me in – it was 🔥. I also appreciated that the “creature” isn’t something you commonly encounter in literature. That said, I feel this story would have been much stronger as a longer novella or even a full-length book. With a longer format, there would be space for world-building, character development, and a chance for the reader to really connect with the story. Packing all of that into a short novella is a tough challenge, and in my opinion, very few writers could fully pull it off.

In its current form, it’s a quick read. You can get through it fast, but honestly, it’s easy to forget. That said, if it were expanded with deeper character arcs, richer storytelling, and some background for the characters, I think it would have enormous potential – and I’d definitely read that version.

[KaleidoscopeLaiReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Captured Prey is a gothic academia quick read that blends dark atmosphere with a primal play dynamic. The premise is strong and immediately intriguing, especially for readers drawn to the primal play and folklore infused romance. However, the chase itself, which serves as the core of the story's appeal could have been developed further. A slower burn would have amplified the intensity and enhanced the primal dynamic. While the academic backdrop adds a distinctive flavor, some of the heavier academia-focused dialogued disrupted the flow of the conversation and it pulled focus away from time to time. Additionally, the frequent use of nicknames occasionally distracted from the darker tones and could have been dialed back a bit.

Overall, the novella is a quick read, stylized in an appealing gothic academia concept and a promising predator-prey storyline. With more emphasis on tension and yearning and longer pursuit it could have delivered a more primal experience. But I do appreciate that the FMC had strong boundaries and never waivered from her hard nos.

Thank you NetGalley and super thanks to Reno R. Mist for approving this ARC e-read.

[Sammiejo · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐

All in all I really enjoyed this novella. The prose is lovely and really places the reader into the story. The setting and the premise of the story are richly detailed and immediately snag your attention. The characters were especially enjoyable.

I fell hook line and sinker for Asmodeus, the proprietor of the Oubliette, the exclusive club where fantasies come to life and the story takes place. The FMC Celia was relatable and I definitely found myself rooting for her. I thought the emphasis on her academic life as a shield against her primal desires was a little overdone, but that's likely just personal preference. And I'm a monster girl to my core, so I was definitely charmed and intrigued by Lahs, the grumpy leshy (a Slavic forest entity that is deeply connected with nature and capable of shapeshifting.)

Shout out for a dominant male character who is also a consent king! I thought the author did a fantastic job of featuring a specific flavor of kink, where the focus is on primal play but without an emphasis on pain. Even between strangers the relationship was built on a trust that is honored from the very first moment.

My only complaint would be that there was a lot of untapped potential here. I knew it would be short going in, but it's almost as if there is too much world-building to justify such brevity. It's too good to be just a novella!

[Betty Waffles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, easy read with spice.

I really enjoyed the author's writing style and will definitely be reading more of their books! 

My favorite parts were the level of consent, the uniqueness of the mythical creature/MMC, and the world building around the club.

I struggled a bit with the amount of academic discussions and the insta-love, both of which pulled me out of the flow of the story. As this is a novella, I wish more time had been spent focusing on one element (spice, world building, character building, academic discussion, etc.) rather than trying to cover it all equally in such a short story.

Overall I am so happy to have discovered this author and look forward to reading more from them.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me early access to this story.

[Jess Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGallery, Posh Pangolin Publishers, and Reno R. Mist for this ARC
This review contains NO spoilers! And all that is said is my honest and non-biased opinion.

I am not going to give spoilers or massive details of what happens in this book. That would be silly and counterproductive!

Release date for this book was 27th January 2026

Rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A superb, short, spicy, kink filled novella.
it is written really well, and the world building is great.

It was a 3 star to start with and through, as I prefer a move complex story and plot, but it was amazing for a spicy novella. Until, the very end and the explanation around the novella, this bumped it up to 4! I absolutely love the idea of custom made novellas made from the readers and for the readers!

Thank you so much again to NetGallery, Posh Pangolin Publishers, and Reno R. Mist

[Brooke · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️4🌶

I, too, am also here for academic research purposes....😅 Let's be real here for a second. we are not here for the world shattering plot line.. but for what it'ss wort, i enjoyed the writing styl. It's quick read and straight to the point with a sprinkle of plot it doesn’t make you read a ton of unnecessary filler.

“Fear and desire live in the same house. They share the same bed.”

Honesty i think this would be a good start to a potential series of short spicy stories bases around Asmodeus's oubliettes and fulling clients different types of desires perhaps that could all be read as standalones, i know i would definitely read it if you did choose to continue this on!

+ just thought it would be funny to add but the whole signing a contract in exchange for a memory was giving me flashbacks to shrek and rumplestilscan ( clearly iv never had to right that name cause my brains lagged out you know who i mean lmao) anyone else?

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️

3.5🌶

Whew, this wicked little novella packs some heat. A club that grant your deepest darkest desire? A demon willing to draw up that deal all for just a copy of a memory?

Celia, our collegiate professor has no idea that her years of academic pursuits and knowledge will come in handy. Especially when the deities and demons she is acquainted with become a bit more intimate.

Fear and Lust are definitely opposite ends of the same coin. If you are a fan of primal play, mythology, older FMC, experimentation, slight BDSM, then don't sleep on this book. A devils bargain that gladly pays off. 😉😈

I received an advanced copy for an honest review.

[Maya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such a fun read! I've never read anything by Reno R. Mist before, but as I was searching for Netgalley for my next read (thank you, Netgalley, for accepting my review request!), I came across Captured Prey, and it seemed right up my alley. I was in the perfect mood for a dark romance, and this one explored themes that I wasn't necessarily familiar with. It was so fun to dive deeper into topics I'd never really explored before, like the God of Sin being a major character.

I think Mist captured the story perfectly. The book was well-written, easy to read, and short enough that it held my attention while making me excited to continue reading. I'm definitely interested in exploring more of Mist's work!

Rating: 3/5

[InMyNestaEra89 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️ rounded up. This was a super quick (71 pages) fun, SPICY read! For only 71 pages it had quite a bit a packed in. I wasn’t sure what to expect and thought this might be a book with all spice and no plot, but there definitely seems to be an underlying plot that is plotting here.. the concept of Asmodeus, literal Prince of Lust from Dante’s Inferno’s Second Circle of Hell, running some sort of supernatural nightclub is fun, and he’s definitely got some ulterior motives going on that will be fun to discover as the series continues. Overall, this was really fun and I’ll definitely continue the series.

[Madison Neil · Rating 4 out of 5]

4/5⭐️
4/5🌶️

Thank you Reno R. Mist and NetGalley for the arc opportunity.

This was a quick spicy novella, if you like primal play with just a bit more ✨pizazz✨ this may be your next read. It wasn’t something I usually go for but I found myself so intrigued I couldn’t stop reading.

Lahs is a forest entity, a creature of Celia’s biggest desires, come to life. When she gets a chance to make a contract with the fantasy of her dreams, she can’t help but say yes. Things heat up after their initial encounter, and well, you’ll have to read for yourself to see how that goes.. I didn’t expect to be this impressed by a monster romance, but here we are.

[Mary Affrunti · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, I want to thank NetGalley, Reno R. Mist, and Posh Pagnolin Publishers for the eBook ARC—this is my honest review!

This book is a primal romance novella centered around a professor who wants to be hunted by a monster (a leshy). As the chapters progress, we learn more about Dr. Campbell and her darkest desires.

If you’ve ever wanted a story about being hunted, desired, and having all your needs met while running through a forest, this book might be for you. It was definitely different from anything I’ve read before, and overall, I enjoyed it.

[Lisa Vieira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well-written novella with strong imagery. Our FMC is fascinating and I love her attempts to rationalize any otherworldly experiences through the lens of her academic expertise.

I was initially wary about Lahs’s strong interest in Celia. He’s been alive for millennia but this is the only being, human or otherwise, that he’s ever been interested in? But when he asked Celia why she chose a leshy, her response was perfect and I understood. She really *is* different.

I like that they’re meeting again after this novella. It’s fun to imagine that they have an ongoing arrangement to be together, one stolen night at a time.

Also, Asmodeus is so smoooth.

Thanks NetGalley for the early access!

[Ashling B · Rating 3 out of 5]

The story had some intense moments 🐾🔥, and I appreciated the gradual buildup of tension ⏳💀, but the pacing felt uneven at times 🐢📉. The characters’ choices were interesting but often confusing 🤔❓. Overall, a decent read, though it didn’t fully capture me 😐📖.

🐺 Hunter × Prey
🕷️ Captor/Captive
🌫️ Slow Burn
⚖️ Morally Gray
🧠 Psychological Tension
🥀 Dark Romance

[Justina Bascombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was really good! It explored the idea of desires and how they are seen among society as we know it today and that there is. Nothing wrong with chasing those desires. I hope there is more to come from this couple or series. I’m interested in reading more.

Thank you Reno for a copy of this ebook!

[Tysha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun, short spicy read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love the idea of a place to experience your darkest fantasies in a safe way, complete with a contract and get-out sigil.

I also really like the fact that the FMC, Celia, is a 35+ academic, and not another young socialite. It was such a refreshing change.

I received an ARC of this ebook via BookSirens, and I'm voluntarily leaving this review.

[Sacha C]

Such a fun and spicy Novella!! Celia Campbell is a professor studying and writing research books on Gothic studies (specifically modern ritual spaces and the intersection of desire and worship) and lets just say/ our girl is a hands on learner

[Ashley Hana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gothic literature, leshy folklore and primal desire come together in this novella, and desire drips off every single page. Raw hunger and need blended with a touch of wholesome. Fantastic read, and I cannot wait to read more on them.