Book Review: Kiss The Villain By Rina Kent
Kiss The Villain By Rina Kent
Book 1 in The Villain Series by Rina Kent.
Tropes: Dark Romance, Enemies To Lovers, MM Romance, Age Gap, Villain X Monster, Forbidden Romance, Professor x Student, Dom x Sub
Summary:
Kiss the Villain is a gripping and addictive MM dark romance from best-selling author Rina Kent. Set in the same universe as her Legacy of Gods series, this standalone delivers a heart-racing enemies-to-lovers story filled with obsession, forbidden attraction, and power dynamics that explode off the page.
Gareth Carson, the golden boy with a dark streak, lives a double life. By day, he’s a law student and the heir to a powerful empire. By night, he craves chaos, something he usually hides. Until a night of reckless indulgence entangles him with a dangerous man whose secrets rival his own.
When that same man 'Kayden Lockwood' walks into his classroom as his new professor, Gareth’s world tilts. Exposing Kayden would mean exposing himself, so instead, he starts a dangerous game of dominance, revenge, and undeniable lust. As their pasts collide and boundaries blur, Gareth and Kayden discover that love, when wrapped in darkness, can be more dangerous than either of them imagined.
🤍 AD -
Is there anything more exciting than a new Rina Kent release? Kiss the Villain absolutely consumed me from the first chapter. I was already obsessed before I even hit the halfway mark!
Let’s talk about Gareth Carson. If Killian had a reincarnation, it would be Gareth—but even darker, more intense, and terrifyingly obsessive in the best way possible. Rina masterfully crafted him as the perfect storm of charm, brilliance, and chaos simmering beneath the surface. And then there’s Kayden Lockwood—the professor, the criminal, the villain—and somehow, the ultimate book boyfriend. He’s dominant, possessive, sharp as hell, and utterly magnetic.
Their dynamic? Utter perfection. The tension between them was electrifying, the banter was unexpected but so funny, and the inner monologues? I was actually laughing out loud. I didn’t expect so much humor in such a dark romance, but it worked so well and made the emotional punches hit even harder.
Seeing characters from Legacy of Gods make cameo appearances—Killian, Nikolai, and even Glyn—was the cherry on top. But Gareth’s growth stood out the most. Watching him surrender to his feelings, lose control, and then fully embrace who he really is? It was raw and powerful.
Rina Kent ate with this one. It didn’t even feel like a standalone—it felt like a continuation of the world we already love. If you love obsessive, dangerous men and chaotic, forbidden love, this book will ruin you—in the best possible way.
“Gareth Carson has the looks of a prince and the personality of a devil.”
💙 AG -
I went into Kiss the Villain with high expectations because... hello, it’s Rina Kent—and I wasn’t disappointed. In fact, I was blown away.
This book had everything I love: forbidden MM romance, intense power struggles, a morally grey professor, and that thrilling “I shouldn’t want you, but I do” energy that Rina delivers so well. I devoured it.
Kayden and Gareth’s chemistry was insane. Their connection was toxic, passionate, dangerous, and somehow still tender. Every interaction felt like a battle laced with desire, and the way they challenged each other mentally and emotionally? Incredible.
The forbidden student/teacher angle added just the right amount of danger. I loved watching their power dynamic shift back and forth. One moment Gareth had the upper hand, the next Kayden had him on his knees, figuratively and literally. 🔥
And let’s be real, MM romance in this kind of gritty, high-stakes world? Yes, please. Rina nailed it. She brought something fresh and raw to her already addictive universe. I’m still not over how obsessed I am with this story.
“Grotesque. Did this motherfucking piece of shit call me grotesque? Me? The best-looking person I know? Maybe I need to rip his pulse the fuck off, after all.”
