Title: Hunt the Villain
Author: Rina Kent
Series: Villain #2
Genre: Dark Romance
Published: March 24, 2026
Format: eBook
Pages: 546
POV: Dual POV
Spice Rating: 4/5
Tropes: MM, Enemies to Lovers, Bi Awakening, Mafia, New Adult, Angst, Second Chance, Opposites, Grumpy x Sunshine, OTT Heroes, Mutual Obsession, Pining/Longing, Cheating
Hunt the Villain Book Review
Hunt the Villain by Rina Kent is my third MM read—after GoF and KtV—and it features all my favorite tropes. I have read it twice already, and each time the experience was just as intense. After reading God of Fury and Deviant King, this might be my favorite Rina Kent book right now.
NOTE for Spoiler Alert: If you haven’t read the Legacy of Gods series, this review may contain spoilers. Hunt the Villain can be read as a standalone, but knowing the Rinaverse adds to the experience. Also, while you don’t need to read Kiss the Villain first, Hunt the Villain contains spoilers for it.
I was very curious about the elusive Vaughn (our MMC) and the glimpses of him throughout the Legacy of Gods series. I did not love the first book (Kiss the Villain), so I was a little wary about this one. But when this book came out, I decided to go in blind. HtV is MUCH better than KtV – which I thought was a clusterfuck lol.
If you loved NicoBran from the God of Fury (my first MM and a five-star read), you will definitely love Hunt the Villain.
To get this out of the way: After reading all the reviews (the good, the bad, and the unhappy ones), I am happy that Rina decided to go the MM route. Because when you actually read the book, the romance just makes sense. Ultimately, these are Rina’s characters, and Vaughn and Yulian’s story felt authentic to who they are. I genuinely can’t imagine this story working as well any other way.
Я с тобой. (I’m with you)
I do not read MMs, but Rina’s writing style (for the most part) captures me hook, line, and sinker. I feel like she has got the art of writing down mafia, OTT, obsessive, possessive heroes. She knows her readers love the tropes she caters to, and she does that well, which seems repetitive at one point, but I digress.
In LoG, we knew of the two mafia ‘fraternities’ always at war with one another and the elusive white mask that Rina made us guess the identity of till the very end. This book, in a way, wrapped up all that suspense and did it very spectacularly. It also reinforced why Rina remains one of my favorite dark romance authors despite the misses. If you’re looking for more of her books, check out my list of the best Rina Kent books.
Vaughn and Yulian met at a summer camp for the Russian mafia four years ago. Both had opposite reactions to one another; while Vaughn hated Yulian’s chaotic nature, Yulian just wanted to mess with Vaughn, who is wound up way too tightly. They are intensely aware and curious about each other, circling around that confusing attraction creeping up on them.
However, a tragedy strikes – leaving Yulian and Vaughn to drift apart – back to their own lives and responsibilities.
It’s not until years later (the present), when everything is calm, that Yulian crashes back into Vaughn’s life like a tsunami – ready to wreck chaos.
You’re loyal to people who are loyal to you, Vinyoshka.
I didn’t really have anything specific in mind when it came to Vaughn. I expected him to be just like the other RK characters – obsessive, possessive, calculative, loyal – like Kirill.
He met all of my expectations.
Vaughn comes across as stiff initially, a cleanliness freak, super-in-control-of-himself, and powerful. Loyalty is something he abides by completely, unless someone wrongs him. He is very particular about things and always wants to be in control of his surroundings and people.
When Yulian comes back into his life, challenging him, pursuing him, it’s like he brought out Vaughn’s real personality. Vaughn is pretty possessive of Yulian, jealous whenever he eyes up someone else. I liked how utterly devoted he became once he gave in to their chemistry.
Vaughn is the calm to Yulian’s storm. Completely perfect.
I have to stop myself from getting closer and sniffing him. Or biting him. I would totally bite him if given a chance.
Can I have a Yulian in my life, please? Like seriously? I don’t know what it’s like to have someone so devoted to you, but Yulian is one of the best book boyfriends I’ll ever read about.
Yulian is Niko 2.0, a shit-stirrer and embodiment of chaos. I found myself salivating for chapters in his POV because he is so hilarious. He is reckless, and some parts of his personality are only a facade.
I loved how relentless he is in pursuing Vaughn. He is unhinged – and you’ll see it when he decides to mess with Vaughn and his girlfriend. I didn’t know how to feel about it, but man, the way he ended their relationship and that video – and that was just the beginning.
Yulian will do anything to get his Mishka’s attention, and I was lapping all of it up so bad. He is so devoted to Vaughn that he’ll literally do anything for him. I was worried about him being so vulnerable, but Yulian never lost himself in the process. He knew when to stand up for himself, too.
I came for Vaughn, but I left obsessed with how much Yulian loved Vaughn.
I don’t want my life without you. I refuse to have it. And I’m never letting you go again. Not in this lifetime, not in the next.
Vaughn and Yulian’s relationship starts long before the actual romance does. The summer camp is where it all began, their interactions, and the heartbreaking and emotional scene in the cave, where they are struggling to survive. Yulian knew he was bi since the moment he stole a kiss from Vaughn, but for Vaughn, it was an awakening when Yulian started pursuing him.
It’s a slow-burning, explosive romance filled with yearning and longing for four excruciating years. The tension, the chemistry, the push and pull, the banter – picture me as the Korean heroine who punches the pillow, giggling and blushing and cooing.
Their interactions are so funny. Yulian is a BEAST when it comes to Vaughn, and I loved how he tried to make his Mishka open up.
I loved how their relationship matured. Unlike Yulian, who had made peace with his feelings years ago, Vaughn wasn’t expecting this attraction to come roaring back into his life. And I loved how he accepted it without spiraling negatively. He was aware of his actions, but he liked, or rather was obsessed with, Yulian to fall into the relationship.
They are the heirs of the mafia from the opposing groups, with responsibilities lying on their shoulders. Their relationship is forbidden.
Honestly, I felt like Yuli loved Vaughn more sometimes. The drama, the angst, the jealousy, it was all so intense, and you get carried away into their storm, not coming up till reality hits you in the face.
When their secrets came to light, I was dying. Like, how perfect can a couple be?
V is now part of the fun dick alliance as well. Woohoo! I was the blueprint, just saying.
Seeing the cameos of the second generation of Rinaverse – the heathens – and especially Niko, felt like coming back home to my old friends. I LOVED seeing them once more, still so unhinged and tight as ever. Every time Yulian thought of Niko as ‘chaotic’, it made me laugh out loud – like pot calling kettle black.
If you loved the Legacy of Gods and Royal Elite side of the Rinaverse, here are some books like Royal Elite series to add to your TBR.
Kirill and Sasha (Vaughn’s parents) and Anton and Maks (Vaughn’s maternal uncles) were the next best cameo from the Monster Trilogy.
It felt like all of this was a perfect conclusion to the LOG series, with the ending leaving me wanting more of NikoBran crumbs (Sorry YuliVaughn, lol).
I’ll fight for you, kill for you, I’ll protect you from the world with my life, but you’re not allowed to leave me. You make me a better man, baby, and I don’t ever want to see the version of me without you again.
Hunt the Villain completely surprised me in the best possible way.
This book left me hungry for more of the crumbs. I was laughing, giggling, blushing, and on my toes, the entire read. I legit loved this book, and I’ll definitely be re-reading God of Fury again.
I feel like we’re going to be seeing the Chicago side of the Bratva soon-ish. Yulian’s side of the family has so much potential.
Vaughn and Yulian wormed their way into my heart, and I’m still not over them. If Rina drops even a single bonus scene about these two in the future, I’ll be there immediately.
If you’re looking for more romances with that vibe, check out these books like Deviant King (Aiden King is the OG Rina character who tops my favorite RK character list).
Hunt The Villain Blurb:
From the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Rina Kent comes a standalone dark MM mafia rivals romance set in the world of Legacy of Gods.
I’m hunting a monster
The first time I met Yulian Dimitriev, it was hate at first sight.
He’s brash, chaotic, and a violence-junkie.
In short, everything I disregard.
As heirs to two notorious mafia organizations, we were shoved together in an unorthodox setting.
The more I learn about Yulian, the deeper my loathing seeps.
Until I truly see the person within, and something forbidden sparks between us.
But our coexistence is cut short when tragedy strikes.
Yulian and I go back to our respective, parallel worlds that shouldn’t cross.
But they do.
And once again, I’m dragged into the orbit of a man I shouldn’t want.
Two men can’t be together in our world.
But Yulian blurs every limit I thought existed until everything is in jeopardy.
Our hearts included.
Hunt the Villain is a male x male dark college romance. This book can be read as a standalone, but for a better understanding of the world, it’s recommended to read Kiss the Villain first.
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About Rina Kent:
Rina Kent is an international bestselling author of everything enemies to lovers romance.
Darkness is her playground, suspense is her best friend, and twists are her brain’s food. However, she likes to think she’s a romantic at heart in some way, so don’t kill her hopes just yet.
Her heroes are anti-heroes and villains because she was always the weirdo who fell in love with the guys no one roots for. Her books are sprinkled with a touch of mystery, a healthy dose of angst, a pinch of violence, and lots of intense passion.
Rina spends her private days in a peaceful town in North Africa daydreaming about the next plot idea or laughing like an evil mastermind when those ideas come together.
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