I was not expecting to get what I got out of this book. Not to spoil but showcasing a hidden desire that is hidden because of society and offering a way that it can safely be explored while also consenting was awesome. The desire that the main character was thoroughly satisfied and left me as a reader wanting to know more about their adventure. I need more and want to know what happens next for the hunter is now going to be chased. Beautiful novella! I would highly recommend.

The thrill and suspense was perfect. The character got what she really desires and so much more. To have your deepest darkest fantasies come true is truly perfect. I really enjoyed this book!!

It is a very good book to explore fantasies. I really love that there is no shame with wanting what the main character wants. I can't wait to read more from this author.

I really liked this book and I honestly want more. I need more of this story and ASAP.

First can I say Thank You for giving us a FMC over the age of 30. While I love all of my romance books I'm getting a bit tired of the barely legal aspect.

I think the novella was really well written and gave us a true insight into the FMC and her personality.

I also want to know more about the MMC since he is a mythical creature that has been alive for quite awhile.

If you're searching for heat, this is the novella for you. I enjoyed the story and found it to be intriguing and very spicy. Mist does a good job of describing the character's wants and desires and then crafts expert scenes around them. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Celia is a repressed academic who specializes in mythological Slavic folklore. She works up the courage to gain entrance to Oubliette, a club owned by a demon named Asmodeus, where she takes the chance to indulge in a dark fantasy of desire with a leshy named Lahs.

I haven't read erotica before, but I really enjoyed this! The novella’s length served the pacing of the story well, and I was still able to get a good sense of the three main characters - Celia, Lahs, and Asmodeus. They felt more alive and rounded than characters in some mainstream novels. Mist's writing style flowed like a modern fairy tale. Celia’s academic knowledge of lore and mythology was incorporated very well. It was never info-dumpy or clunky. The development and promise of an emotional connection between Celia and Lahs added wonderful depth, which I wasn't expecting.

I’d recommend Captured Prey for anyone looking for an entrypoint into the erotica genre.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this ARC.
This was definitely something different for me. I've never really dove into the Gothic academia but I absolutely loved this one! It was spicy and thrilling.

*Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC!*

A short story about a professional woman who just wants one night of total inhibition and raw emotion, ends up being a book i couldn't put down and wanted it to never end! This is exactly what we want, when readers say they want a strong FMC who just wants to be able to turn her brain off and get railed by a deity. I am hoping there is another book continuing their love story because I would absolutely read it!
If you're looking for a novella that checks all the boxes of deity romance and primal play with high emotions, this is the book for you!

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

This is a quick, feral little novella that dives straight into primal play with no hesitation. Celia walks into a fantasy club wanting to be hunted, and Lahs is more than happy to make that contract worth every breath she gives him. It’s fast, filthy, and surprisingly sweet in tiny flashes.
There isn’t much plot because it doesn’t need one. It delivers exactly what it promises: heat, chase, tension, done.

Tropes:
- Primal play
- Fear play
- FMC 30+
- Short and spicy

NetGalley was reason I got this little gem before it came out next year. Perfectly spicy novella with a creature I don’t read about too often in the romance sense(Leshy). FMC felt real while the MMC is a growl-y beast I want hug.This felt like the introduction to a new world and I can’t wait for the author’s next book. Please make sure to check your triggers before before reading if you’re unfamiliar with this type of style

This book made me so sad because why did it have to end so quickly?! I need MORE. This was my first time reading something with a monster element to it and I DEVOURED it in one sitting. Despite how short this was, I enjoyed the characters and felt like I got a good feel for their individual personalities. I enjoyed the writing and how descriptive it was and the spice was *CHEFS KISS*. I also love the fact that the FMC is a woman in her 30's, it was honestly refreshing. I look forward to reading the next book in this series!!!

"You are exquisite when you surrender… not because you are weak. Because you are strong enough to let go."

Intoxicating, phantasmal, and carnal!

Captured Prey is a story of a woman allowing her research to become reckless fantasy — giving her desires just a moment to breathe life. Mist writes a sensual, gothic, and hauntingly beautiful story. A tale of beings of myth and fable come to life to play a role in fulfilling devious fantasy.

And just like Celia, the reader is swept away and surprised by what unfolds within these pages. It was thrilling delicious and unexpectedly emotional. It's short and sweet and if there were more stories in the same world, I'd happily jump back in. Quite simply, I devoured it.

Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing, and Reno R. Mist for the early access opportunity to read and review this novella.

Sinful and sensual and oh so fun. I really enjoyed this novella and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this author. I adore that the FMC wasn't a simpering teenager or early 20-something and that she was an actual adult (30+). I think this was a great exploration of Celia's desires/fantasies and we all get to enjoy the journey with her!

Thank you NetGalley and ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Posh Pangolin Publishers for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a wonderful and quick read. It’s the first I have read by this indie author and thoroughly enjoyed it! It was an interesting concept and different from anything else I’ve read. I look forward to reading this author’s future work.

I enjoyed this read. Dark, smutty, short. Everything I was looking for. Loved that our FMC isn't 18-21. It's nice to see a mature woman being represented.

Captured Prey: A Primal Play Novella is a dark, seductive fantasy romance that fully embraces the thrill of the hunt and the power of chosen desire. Despite its short length, the novella is richly atmospheric, drawing readers into a moonlit forest where myth, instinct, and longing collide.

Celia is a particularly refreshing protagonist — a woman in her mid-30s who is self-aware, curious, and unapologetic about what she wants. Her interest in folklore and primal fantasy adds depth to the story, and her dynamic with Lahs feels intentional and consensual rather than gratuitous.

Lahs, a mythological leshy, embodies the perfect balance of menace and allure, making the predator-prey dynamic both thrilling and erotic. The prose leans sensual and immersive, prioritising mood and chemistry over extensive world-building, which works well for the novella format.

I would recommend this to readers who enjoy monster romance, consensual primal play, and short, high-heat novellas with mature protagonists.

I cannot wait to see what else is to come from this novella. I truly hope we see more of Celia and Lahs as well as other characters and their secret desires.

Please search for the trigger warnings and contents before reading.

This novella is short, sharp, and a little unhinged in the best way. It wastes no time easing you in, launching straight into its premise with full confidence. Celia, a 30+ academic with a carefully controlled exterior, steps into a fantasy club looking to surrender to something raw and instinctual. Enter Lahs: a Leshy, a pagan forest spirit summoned to fulfill her contract - and to unravel her cool, composure entirely.

What follows is fast, filthy, and driven by pure momentum. The focus is on pursuit, power, and desire, with the story moving at a breathless pace that suits its length perfectly. And yet, threaded through the heat are brief, unexpected moments of softness, small glimmers of connection that give the chaos a surprising emotional edge.

It’s a lush little read that knows exactly what it’s doing. Tight, intentional, and unapologetic, this novella delivers heat with just enough heart to leave a lasting impression.

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.

This book was truly remarkable. The concept was not only intriguing but also brilliantly executed, capturing my attention from the very first page. It brought to mind the captivating writing style of Scarlet St. Claire, with its vivid imagery and compelling characters. The seamless blend of creativity and depth made for an unforgettable reading experience.