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Book Review: Willing Prey by Allie Oleander

I received Willing Prey by Allie Oleander in a recent subscription box, and I have to admit, I didn't think it would be my cup of tea. The trope set up - a primal, high stakes hunter/prey dynamic seemed a little out there for me, and definitely pushed the boundaries of my usual spicy romance reads.

But sometimes, the books you least expect are the ones that absolutely floor you. This book exceeded my expectations, and delivered one of the most unexpected spicy reads of the entire year. The question remains though: Did I survive the hunt? Let's get into the full spoiler-free review.



Synopsis
Newly divorced and deep in student loan debt, Claire Collins agrees to a high-stakes $30,000 agreement to become corporate lawyer Shane Underwood's private prey in a primal hunt. She sees it as a simple summer arrangement, but once they cross the tree line, Shane transforms into a feral stranger. Claire quickly discovers she can be just as wild, and the line between hunter and hunted blurs with every intense encounter. 

Strengths
There were so many things that worked for me in this story, especially the writing - it was immersive and well-executed. Of course, we have to talk about the spice, which was top-tier and delivered all the steam I was hoping for. I've also always been a fan of the "business arrangement" trope, so I enjoyed watching the calculated deal slowly progress into something much deeper and personal than ever intended. To top it all off, Shane was the ultimate obsessed male lead. There is something so addictive about watching a composed corporate lawyer completely loose his cool and become feral for his love interest! 

I also found myself really loving the side characters. They added so much depth to the story, and I am already crossing my fingers that we get more from them soon. I have a very strong feeling that Shane's brother might be the focus of the next book, and after getting a few glimpses of him here, I'm ready to devour his story!

Weaknesses
While I absolutely ate this book up and left no crumbs, there were a few minor things that kept it from being a five-star read. First, we have to talk about the dreaded third-act conflict. It heavily relied on the miscommunication trope, which, let's be real, is something us romance readers will probably never escape in our books. However, it's still not my personal favorite way to drive the tension. Ultimately, while I had a blast reading Willing Prey, it didn't quite give me that "5-star feeling". It was missing that tiny, indefinable, something that makes a book worthy of becoming one of my all time favorites.

Would I Recommend It?
Yes, definitely! Despite my initial hesitation, I would absolutely recommend Willing Prey for anyone looking for a high-intensity, addictive read. If you are a fan of the trope "he falls first", obsessed male leads, and a primal hunt that leaves you on the edge of your seat, this is a must-read. Plus, the spice was truly immaculate! If you are like me and wanting to step a little outside of your comfort zone, then definitely give this one a try. I'm excited to see what Allie Oleander comes out with next!

Ratings
Overall Rating: 4.75/5
Spice Rating: 4/5
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