5 Stars | 4 Spice

Book 2 of the Dark Verse series by RuNyx

RuNyx delivers another masterpiece with book two of the thrilling Dark Verse series! The tension is palpable, the romance seamlessly woven into the plot, and the mystery utterly gripping. Every page keeps you on edge, desperate for answers—only to have the rug pulled out from under you! With heart-pounding twists, deep character growth, and shocking revelations, this book is an absolute must-read.

QUICK REVIEW

Incredible. The underlying plot of this series is immaculately mysterious and deliciously thrilling. Every single second is a wild ride where you are just dying for the secrets to be revealed, for the curtains to be thrown open and the answers to all questions revealed. But...they're not haha, not in book two anyway! Brilliant read, cannot wait to devour book three!

FULL REVIEW

SPOILERS AHEAD ~ SPOILERS AHEAD

Writing & Plot

Once again, RuNyx is the master of tension. This author writes in a way that truly brings you into the pages. The mixed use of short and long sentences keeps your heart pounding in every paragraph. Going from a long descriptive sentence to a short, snappy one makes you as the reader feel like you're constantly holding your breath, waiting for the next shoe to drop as it were.

They way the romance is woven through the main plot line is seamless. It makes the book feel full. I honestly believe that even if you're not a big romance reader these books would still knock your socks off.

I enjoyed how this book was slightly shorter than the first. This had made me even more desperate to read the third book, and it really reflects the pace of the story as a whole. It keeps you wanting more because you're being spoon fed tiny morsels of information, made to feel as though the answers are right at your finger tips, only for the rug to pulled out from under you.

If you can't tell, I'm dying over here not knowing!! It is taking all my strength and will power to not skip to the very last book of the series just so I can know all the answers! But, alas, I'm enjoying myself to much to ruin all the surprises that have me SHOOK.

Truly wonderful, organic and downright clever writing. RuNyx is a word magician.

Characters

Now I will just say, I am going to be way more spoilery in this one because I'm going to assume you've taken my advice and read the first one so you are now as obsessed as I am :)

I loved seeing Tristan slowly open up more. Morana breathes life and light back into him, and allows him to actually feel and realise that the ways in which he feels do deeply are not signs of weakness but of strength. While to those who aren't in his immediate circle (currently consisting of Morana, Dante, and Amara) will likely always see him a stoic, silent, and deadly, as readers, it's nice to see the subtle changes in him; how he always keeps Morana in his sight line, how he brushes her neck, how he he speaks with more than one word at a time. Seeing him grow really makes his character feel like a fully realised person.

Plus, getting a closer look at the dynamic between him and Dante was just perfection. I'm also loving Dante more and more so I'm very excited for his book.

The reveal of Morana's father, NOT being her biological father just smacked me across the face. I honestly thought Gabriel was a piece of shit, which he was, but I thought that's why he was so awful to her. I didn't think it's because she wasn't his daughter and that his daughter was still missing in The Syndicate. LIKE WHAT!

But then... Reaper being her biological dad... Him being a silent presence all her life, watching over her, protecting her, setting things up to bring her and Tristan together later in life... Then dying right in front of her after her only knowing him for what? Less than five minutes... HEART. SHATTERING.

Although, let's just also note how awesome it was that Lorenzo had his throat slit and Dante was just chillin', smoking a cigarette, happily watching his evil father drown in his own blood. Chef's kiss.

My favourite character aspect of this book was Morana. Seeing her really develop as a strong, powerful FMC was inspiring. I also just love that she's a nerd and wears glasses because well, I'm a nerd (although not a genius like Morana haha) and I wear glasses. But, anyway, Morana truly settles into herself and finds a strength that's always been within her, through Tristan.

Both Tristan and Morana make each other the best version of themselves and that's my favourite kind of relationship (romantic or platonic).

Brilliant read. Bring on book three. GIVE ME ANSWERS GODDAMIT!

Book Review ~ The Reaper

5 Stars | 4 Spice

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