Hunt the Villain: A Dark MM College Mafia Romance

Book Review of Hunt The Villain Book 2 in the Villain Series by Rina Kent. This book is part of an interconnected series and set in the world of her Legacy Of Gods Series but can be read as a standalone. I absolutely loved this book it is a 5 star 10 out of 10 read for me I don’t have enough words to say how much I am obsessed with this book. I have been waiting for this book since last March and it did not disappoint it exceeded my expectations. For Vaugh and Yulian it was hate at first sight but for me it was love at first page. It gave me all the feels it had me crying but also laughing and then blushing with all the dirty talk and spice I loved it. I love the flash back chapters and all the twists and suprises it definitely kept me on my toes. I love Yulian so much he is so funny, chaotic, and a ball of energy, he loves fighting and violence but is also so loyal, wears his heart on his sleeve and loves so hard. I love how much he reminds me of Nikolai from Rina’s book God Of Fury. My heart broke for everything Yulian went through I am so glad he got his HEA. I also love Vaughn he is stoic and keeps his emotions hidden he is strategic and always looks calm but I love how Yulian gets under his skin and antagonize him and makes him give in to his feelings, and I love how possessive he is over Yuli. I’m also dying over their Russian nicknames for each other they are so adorable. This is a MM, spicy, slow burn, enemies to lovers, bi awakening, bratva heirs, obsessed mmcs,…

Hunt the Villain completely stole my heart. This is a mafia romance with a tender soul. Beneath the chaos, danger, and obsession is a love story that is achingly sweet, sincere, and quietly transformative. It hits like first love: intense, immersive, and unforgettable. Yulian is magnetic, chaotic, and heartbreakingly vulnerable. His volatility hides a deep fragility that makes him impossible not to love. Vaughn’s growth is subtle and satisfying. He learns to lean into vulnerability, to open his heart, and to love fully without losing himself. Together, their chemistry is electric and balanced, rooted in trust, acceptance, and mutual awakening. The romance evolves naturally, full of tension and longing, but also with quiet, heartfelt moments that pack a punch. Their intimacy is authentic and emotional, a true extension of their connection. The queerness feels normalized in the story, adding a refreshing and moving layer that makes the world feel real and lived-in. Rina keeps the story focused and intimate. The forced proximity, small cast, and layered flashbacks deepen every emotional beat. Even in a dangerous world, tenderness and connection shine through. The audiobook is phenomenal. Teddy Hamilton and Grayson Owens bring Yulian and Vaughn to life with raw emotion, intensity, and sizzling chemistry. The full cast enhances every moment, making it an unforgettable experience. Hunt the Villain delivers danger, obsession, and epic spice, but also softness, growth, and…

I've been thinking a lot about what kind of review I could write about the book. To be honest, I've been putting it off because, in a way, it bothers me that I ended up a bit disappointed. Of course, the book isn't bad, but in some places it feels incomplete and rushed. That's not really typical of Rina Kent's books. 𝗣𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: 𝗬𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻: He's a real bundle of energy - you can't help but love him. His inner monologues and the banter he throws around in his interactions with others made me laugh many times. 𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲: There's a kind of playful power play in the spicy scenes. A huge positive is that neither character is forced into a role. There's no clear "top" or "bottom". Those who read MM books will understand this better. In any case, it's hard to imagine either of them as a bottom, so Rina Kent handled this really well. 𝗥𝗲𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: Their dynamic, the inner conflict, the longing, the denial - all of it is constantly simmering in the background. 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀: 𝗬𝘂𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗻: He's a completely new character, and behind his smile there's a lot of trauma. I didn't feel like the story truly conveyed the depth of his struggles beneath that smile. As for 𝐕𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐧, he's also somewhat of a new character - although we've heard about him in previous books, especially in Kiss the Villain. Still, we didn't learn that much about him. However, since his family and environment are positive and fully accepting, there wasn't much more that…

My Thoughts: Vaughn Morozov is the picture-perfect son and heir to take over his father's place someday as Pakhan of New York. Vaughn is a man of order and routine. Yulian Dimitriev is chaotic and loves to do the most unexpected things. After Vaughn finds out his girlfriend, with whom he had planned his whole life, cheated on him with the enemy, he is quick to compartmentalize and move on with his life. Yulian is determined to ruin Vaughn for anyone else, just like he did to him. Vaughn reminded me so much of his father, Kirill, throughout this story. I loved him and his family moments. Yulian...Yulian Dimitreiv holds a special place in my heart. This man and all his chaotic sunshine self made me feel for him. The struggles of coming from a world where he knows the person he wants to be with the most is frowned upon, never stopped him from being his true self. I loved him so much. He really is a teddy bear at heart. This book gave me Niko x Bran vibes, but these two are on another level, and I loved it. As always, Queen Rina has done it again, another amazing book, and I can't wait for what's to come next. This book has enemies to lovers, dark mafia romance, second chance tension, grumpy x chaotic sunshine, mutual pining, and more. I highly recommend this book.

This book was everything that I expected it to be, and I loved every second of it!!! These two were just perfect; like from the first time they met, it was clear that both had an interest and wonder in one another. These two characters couldn’t be more opposite, but still were drawn to each other in such an intense way. Yulian is such a chaotic character, and I love him so so much. He goes full force for Vaughn. He, as the heir of the Chicago Bratva, had to deal with a lot, and how I despise his father is putting it lightly. Once you get to know more about Yulian, you realize that there is more to him than just an impulsive and chaotic guy. Vaughn is completely different from Y, from his family upbringing and goals as the New York Bratva heir. He tries hard not to fall for Y's antics and all the provocations that come from it, but once he sees that Y is more to him than he ever wanted, oh boy, he goes all in. These two really match each other, freaks, and their more intimate moments were just out of this world. They were able to open and trust each other in a way they both clearly needed. Being loved and being able to express themselves despite the huge obstacle that is the society and organization they both come from was such a beautiful thing to read. Loved every second of this story and can’t wait for the next book in this series!