The Annihilator Dark Verse #5 (A Dark Obsession Romance)

THIS MAN😩 omfg so good

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

Book Evaluation:
Plot: 🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️🎞️
World Building:🌎🌎🌎🌎🌎
Cover:📔📔📔📔📔
Hero: 🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻🦸🏻
Heroine:🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️🦸🏻‍♀️
Intimacy Level: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Relationship Building: 💒💒💒💒💒
Heart & Feels:💞💞💞💞💞💞
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 😂😂😂😂😂
Page Turner Level:📖📖📖📖📖📖
Narration:🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
Ending:🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Overall View: ✨✨✨✨✨✨

"She could never be anyone else’s. She’d been claimed by a devil in the shadows long before anyone could bring her to light."

First Impressions
The Annihilator is the most recent release of the DarkVerse series by RuNyx. There was something so much different that caused this one to just hit different in comparison to her other books, I am not sure exactly what made The Annihilator so much more impactful, but there is literally nothing wrong with this book and its practical perfection if you love dark romance. It has thrills and edges, passion and heart and its her most flawless writing that I have experienced and once you get into it, I guarantee that you won't be able to put it down.

First Line
Alone.

The Main Protagonists
The Hero: The Shadowman
The Heroine: Lyla

Whatever it was, from the moment her fire had found his, her fate, was sealed.

Summary
Lyla was taken as a child and all she has ever known is a life of slavery and working for those that own he, she is forced to do things for an organization that for her there is literally no escape and no hope for anything good in her life....until her Shadowman showed up into her life and her life was changed forever. The Shadow man and Lyla have a connection and he will always protect her no matter what. But just when Lyla thought there was hope and love happening, she was betrayed and hurt and Shadowman was her saving grace, but can he help her heal from a lifetime of inner scars and turmoil? Will they forge a new path together and find freedom together?

What I Loved
Whew this book was a wild ride of a roller coaster and took me through so many twists and turns that I never expected when it would begin and end. There is such a cloud of mystery around their connection and the way that it is built throughout the story is truly magnificent. My heart immediately went out to Lyla but she does deal with some challenging things and so if you get triggered at all, I would check these for this book. Although if you love dark romance, then you should be good to go.

Lyla resonated so well with, and while I haven't personally had her full experiences, I do understand what it means to be violated and I resonated with her on it. And it really showcases how real human trafficking is and we need more books that show this. The hero was so anti hero alpha male that I fell so hard for him. It was hard seeing what happens between them to cause some conflict, but how he becomes such a caretaker for her and helps her heal totally sealed the deal for me completely. I had no issues with the hero at all, although, I know some readers aren't a fan of Shadowman. But honestly he really worked for me. He was the perfect anti hero and yes he wasn't perfect but I don't want my heroes perfect, he was beautifully flawed and they had such a raw energy that I just connected so easily with.

Love was light, love was beautiful, love was pure. What he felt was dark, obsessive, deviant, and utterly possessive. He would kill for her, as he always had, and he would die for her, if need be. He would slay her demons and give her the sword to slay them if she wanted. He would hold her close and protect her from anything wanting to tarnish her being. She completed parts of him that had been jagged and raw, fitting inside them with softness and fluidity, soothing some latent beast within him. Where she loved him with all her light, he possessed her with all his shadows. That's why she was his.

What I Struggled With
The only thing I would change is the ending, it was slightly rushed. Not enough to affect my outlook on the story, but I do wish we had more couple page time after everything was resolved. But now I need the finale book...where is it RuNyx? LOL

Narration
Powerfully done. Very captivating. The story and narration starts out slow, but once you get hooked, you won't be able to put down the audiobook.

Overall View
The Annihilator is a raw and riveting romance that will take you to the most intense of human experience but throughout the journey will deliver beautiful heart to take your breath away!

He wasn't a believer, but she was his miracle

Book Details (also in my shelves)
Sub Genre: Dark Romance
Character Types: Alpha Anti Hero, Submissive Heroine, Abused Heroine, Assassin Billionaire Hero.
Themes: Mutual Pining, Protector, PTSD
Tropes: Forced Proximity

Book Perspective
Duo POV

Relationship Conflict vs Plot Conflict
A blend

If you like these authors, I recommend This Book
Sebring by Kristen Ashley
Fractured Soul by Neva Alta J
Relentless Hunter by Maggie Cole

Recommendation For Reading Order
Yes I would say doing it in order, but you could read as a standalone if needed, just depends on how easy you catch onto detail.

Steam/Spice Explanations

Steamin' up the room -the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.

Narrators:
Gregory Salinas
Heather Stonewell

4.25/5⭐️ • 3.5/5🌶️

So this was the shortest book in the series (since the first two are the same couple) and I think it was still really good. It didn’t draw out the plot line which I appreciated and enjoyed more. This was by far the darkest book in the series but a book that anyone who has read the series would have wanted. I think these last three books really changed my opinion on the series. The first two I didn’t enjoy as much and worried me about continuing the series but I’m glad I did because I really have enjoyed all of these books and when the last book gets published evenutally I’ll be so excited to read it!

that was such a trip. i had no idea what to expect because of the mixed reviews i read but after going through this book for myself i can safely say i loved it and it was one of my absolute favourites. it was interesting to see their romance with dainn’s incapacity to feel normally and lyla’s obvious issues with trauma. they both developed so much throughout the course of the book. although i can understand why people were apprehensive about the shadowman (that six month wait still leaves me feeling salty and i’m still confused about that greenhouse scene) i still found it impossible not to fall in love with these two. lyla was such a fighter and i loved her for it. the amount of strength you’d need to go through all that and still find it in yourself to heal is unbelievable. now to wait for the final book. it’s probably my most anticipated release of the year. i need to see how lyla and dainn will fit in with the other characters, how the syndicate finally gets taken down and how that mystery caller is dealt with. not to mention how much i genuinely just miss all the other characters and can’t wait to get their final appearances. its going to be a long ride and i’m here for it.

Beginning of January and I have already read my least favorite book of the year. Crazy. If you are going to write a dark romance involving SA and trauma maybe do it right? This could have been written by a mediocre man and I think that is the worst thing that I can feel as a reader. Also Luna’s story had so much potential, it could have been as good as the first two books and make the series better but no. I just don’t understand how you go from writing the first couple to writing this, sorry. It just went downhill😭 If you ask me I’d say read the first two books in the series and then maybe the last one that’s coming out to have closure. The rest are a waste of time, mostly this one.

good one but few chapters are difficult to read however I enjoy it.

they are just so very special to me.

wow. this book is definitely way darker than the others, but I didn't hate it. my heart hurts. pls only wake me up when the final book is finally out. RuNyx, I'm in your walls. This girl. I just want to hug her. to bring her to my house, to have a girls day with her. To take care of her. She deserves it. Shadow man is so bbg. he's literally batman, he's so funny (bro is literally a psychopath) I NEED THE NEXT BOOK. right this second. I won't be able to go on with my life. I have so many questions. Please.

Holy shit- I DEVOURED this book oh my days I love it. THE UNRAVELLINGS WERE CRAZYYY left my jaw-dropped and gasped FRRRR wow just wow. I cannot wait to read the sixth and final book, hopefully it will come out ASAP

And not gonna lie the smut was immaculate- It’s been a small while since I've felt something while reading spice. This one hit the roof of satisfaction.

BUT…

Despite all the good things- There is still something that bothered me though..It’s the moment when she left the club after her OD- Well she didn’t actually leave but he took her away. Okay but like that easily? I mean it’s The Syndicate after all- so like how didn’t they even find her when she was alone in a freaking coffee shop or sum? Yes, The Syndicater called her but like c’mon there could have been a little more you know.

That was the only disappointing part for me.

But overall LOVED IT

★★★★.5

Holy shit! Talk about a book that utterly and completely annihilates you, pun absolutely intended. I mean at this point I’ve read every single book that RuNyx has published and somehow I’m surprised every single time with how amazing, thought out, effortless and heartbreakingly fantastic her work is. I don't think any words I could use to describe her work would give it any ounce of justice. Lyla and the Shadowman are nothing of what I was expecting and I mean that in the best way possible. We have all been waiting for this book to release for what feels like forever, but the wait was so worth it. Since I don't want to give anything away, I'll leave you with this, this book was absolutely amazing in every way possible. It sucked me in from beginning to end and left me breathless. I’m still in awe and probably will be for quite some time. This book is 100% going to be on my top reads of the year list! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

the piercing 💀

** spoiler alert ** This book might have been the darkest, but it was also the softest? LYLA AND THE SHADOW MAN WERE EVERYTHING! I loved the way he always protected her and just was absolutely obsessed with her it was insane.. This book mainly followed Lyla’s healing process and the way she survived the worst possible situation and came out stronger than most people.. She was an absolute angel and deserved the world.. It was very sad that didn’t get my Tristan and Luna reunion was waiting for it desperately.. Now Dainne is her stalking psychopath, but the way he treated and helped Lyla through her trauma was just so wholesome… “They all looked at her but no one saw her, none except the man who watched her like it was his religion.” “The world isn’t ready to see who I would become if this—” his thumb pressed on her pounding pulse “—ever stops.” “Touch her and you die,” he remarked quietly. “Touch her worse, die worse. It’s a simple thing, isn’t it? I don’t know why you didn’t understand it.” “If there was any love in this world of mine, Lyla, it would be you.” “I am darkness. I live it, I breathe it, I am it. There is no redemption, no emotion, nothing for me. Nothing but you. You’re the moon to my dark night, flamma. You’re the only thing in this black sky that can thrive when I swallow everything else whole. The stars don’t exist in this space. Just you and I. You need me to glow and I need you to exist. It’s simple as that.” “You have many wishes left in you, flamma, and I will lay every single one of them at your feet. Just keep fucking breathing, got that?” “You have been, you are, and you will always be my only obsession, Luna Caine.” “Because you’re mine! You’re the only person, the only thing in this entire world that is mine! My killer, my stalker, my lover. The thought of sharing your obsession makes me sick to my stomach.” “Shh. It’s okay, flamma. It’s okay. Shh. You’re safe.” “My beautiful girl, So soft, so vulnerable, so hurt. You hurt, don’t you?” “I will set the whole world on fire before I let anything hurt you again.” “He wasn’t just addicted to her now; he was addicted to her when she was happy, her laughter a new sound to add to the list of his obsessions.” “He wasn't a believer, but she was his miracle.” “Where she loved him with all her light, he possessed her with all his shadows. That's why she was his.”

** spoiler alert ** This book might have been the darkest, but it was also the softest? LYLA AND THE SHADOW MAN WERE EVERYTHING! I loved the way he always protected her and just was absolutely obsessed with her it was insane.. This book mainly followed Lyla’s healing process and the way she survived the worst possible situation and came out stronger than most people.. She was an absolute angel and deserved the world.. It was very sad that didn’t get my Tristan and Luna reunion was waiting for it desperately.. Now Dainne is her stalking psychopath, but the way he treated and helped Lyla through her trauma was just so wholesome… “They all looked at her but no one saw her, none except the man who watched her like it was his religion.” “The world isn’t ready to see who I would become if this—” his thumb pressed on her pounding pulse “—ever stops.” “Touch her and you die,” he remarked quietly. “Touch her worse, die worse. It’s a simple thing, isn’t it? I don’t know why you didn’t understand it.” “If there was any love in this world of mine, Lyla, it would be you.” “I am darkness. I live it, I breathe it, I am it. There is no redemption, no emotion, nothing for me. Nothing but you. You’re the moon to my dark night, flamma. You’re the only thing in this black sky that can thrive when I swallow everything else whole. The stars don’t exist in this space. Just you and I. You need me to glow and I need you to exist. It’s simple as that.” “You have many wishes left in you, flamma, and I will lay every single one of them at your feet. Just keep fucking breathing, got that?” “You have been, you are, and you will always be my only obsession, Luna Caine.” “Because you’re mine! You’re the only person, the only thing in this entire world that is mine! My killer, my stalker, my lover. The thought of sharing your obsession makes me sick to my stomach.” “Shh. It’s okay, flamma. It’s okay. Shh. You’re safe.” “My beautiful girl, So soft, so vulnerable, so hurt. You hurt, don’t you?” “I will set the whole world on fire before I let anything hurt you again.” “He wasn’t just addicted to her now; he was addicted to her when she was happy, her laughter a new sound to add to the list of his obsessions.” “He wasn't a believer, but she was his miracle.” “Where she loved him with all her light, he possessed her with all his shadows. That's why she was his.”

Mmmm I would have liked it more if the story was longer

He is the definition of OBSESSED. but not the stalker creepy way. Its the way of having tunnel vision only for her after meeting her for just a few minutes, and not knowing anything about her but caring about her so deeply. The way he cared for her after her trauma touched parts of my soul. I loved finally seeing “Lyla” and her story. I cannot wait for the last book i’m gonna cry i know it

I won’t spoil anything. But lord, please protect them.

These two mean so much to me, it’s crazy.

I feel so much just imaging what they’ve been through.

Also so many 5 star reads in this series ey?

Nope.

reread: 28/10/2022 – 30/10/2022 no matter how many times I rr I still fall in love with them. first read: 07/07/2022– 07/07/2022 “You’re the moon to my dark night, flamma. You’re the only thing in this black sky that can thrive when I swallow everything else whole. The stars don’t exist in this space. Just you and I. You need me to glow and I need you to exist. It’s simple as that.” She felt like the fire he had needed in the midst of winter on the streets, when he’d been freezing and there had been nothing to warm him. She didn’t know this, but she had been his purpose for six years, all his plans, all his actions, everything centered around her. She was the sun in the endless dark abyss of the universe, a ball of fire so bright she made everything revolve around herself without even trying, and anything that didn’t was lost to float away and die. “You’re the oxygen that feeds my flames—without you, my existence is questionable.” He wasn't a believer, but she was his miracle. this man is a poet. this book was much way better than the other books I loved everything abt it; the writing, the plot, the character, the romance, the development of the story.. every single thing. I started it having no expectations for it bc I was so disappointed with the finisher (I dislike that book ugh) and I didn't want to experience the same brain damage but guess what? IM SO GLAD I PICKED IT UP. I love Lyla so much I want to hug her and tell her everything is going to be alright. I cried everytime she cried cz i got so attached to her character and I rarely do. her story has a special place in my heart. Dainn. I love this man sm and not because he's hot (he is) but because he saved her not only from that black hole but from herself too. everytime he told her why he did what he did I loved him even more than I thought I could. how can I thank a fictional character.. ALSO BOOK 6 "The Syndicater" GONNA HAVE MULTIPLE POVS!!!!!!! WE GONNA SEE LYLA AND TRISTAN REUNION THROUGH BOTH POVS IM SO EXCITED I CANT WAITTTT 😭😭

4.25 SCREAMING, CRYING, SHAKING, THROWING UP, FLOATING, KICKING MY FEET, GIGGLING shadow man and luna literally have my entire heart . the little things he did for her were so precious. luna my best girl, i want to wrap her in a warm blanket and never let her go. she is so immensely strong, selfless, kind and caring, despite EVERYTHING she went through (the caine siblings are both really traumatized). her character was so raw and her thoughts touched me so much. this is the only book in the series where i CRIED. some of luna's thoughts hit a little too close to home. i am so glad she has shadow man who will literally kill for her. speaking of shadow man, he is so hot. i have been wanting to read about him since he showed up in the reaper. i was so intrigued by his thought processes and why he was helping tristanmorana, danteamara and alphazephyr, bc he seems like he only cares about himself. but no. my man was down bad for luna since the moment he saw her. their relationship, overall, was everything to me. him tickling her just bc he wanted to listen to her laugh again??? that scene made me so soft. the plot of this book, though, was so overstuffed. every page we got some new info, some new character, some new plotline, and it got SO confusing. like shadow man's main motives werent even brought up until like 80% of the book. there are also so many loose ends i wish are tied up in the last book. also the lack of the other couples made me so sad, i wanted to see my babies together. i wanted to know how they were doing?? anyway, sill v excited for the last book bc its going to be multi-pov and we will finally get to see tristan and luna meeting, and also we will see all the characters being happy.

Where is the next book!!!? I need answers.

this book broke me like crying and screaming at the book. the author is such an amazing writer I am in awe of how she writes the most captivating storylines with jaw dropping twists! i also appreciate how she manages to make everything connect in such a seamless way!! like thinking about it even the prologues connect to the bigger picture where everything came together! like its all making sense!!! LYLA DESERVES EVERYTHING GOOD IN THE WORLD also WHAT WAS THAT ENDING THOOO AHHHHHHHHHHHH (anyways will add more later, about to board a plane) "i wanna be yours" by the arctic monkeys “If you ever choose another, make sure you kill me first. Because I will annihilate the fucking world before I let you go.” THATS HOT you know the trope "he hates everyone but you", this book is more accurately described as "he feels nothing but feels everything for her" !!!! for a guy who has no emotions, his pov is literally poetry when he's talking about lyla! like Shakespeare who? this book was definitely on the darker side where i started questioning humanity and had to take breaks, but the love between lyla and the shadow man is just so beautiful! lyla's strength throughout this book deserves a standing ovation because oh my god the horrors she endeared brought so many many tears. the way the shadow man was there for her and just understood everything she needed so freaking well!! like he got her MOUNTAINS!!!!!

caine siblings come home!!!!