Reviewed by True
TITLE: Portrait of a Killer
SERIES: In the Spotlight
AUTHORS: K.A. Merikan
PUBLISHER: Acerbi & Villani Ltd.
LENGTH: 254 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2026
BLURB:
“You’ve got no idea what I’m capable of, pretty thing.”
– Victor –
Sevastyan is the most beautiful man I have ever seen.
He is also a fraud. No one who looks like the man in his self-portraits would ever choose to live as a recluse. It simply makes no sense.
And I will expose his lies. Because Sevastyan ruined my life with a single exhibition.
Over the years, my loathing has turned into poison coursing through my veins and helped fill my sketchbooks with violent fantasies fixated on one man, who doesn’t even know I exist.
Well, he’ll find out when I break into his home and prove to the world his beauty isn’t real, humiliating him once and for all.
What I don’t expect is that Sevastyan is ready for me. Amused, unafraid, the monster behind the masterpieces traps me before I get to fire a single bullet.
He sees me for the obsessive little freak I am and tells me I’ll never leave. That I will be his toy, his muse, his entertainment, his distraction from years of isolation.
I thought I was the danger.
I was so, so wrong.
◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆
“Portrait of a Killer” is a Dark M/M Romance where a failed artist breaks into the home of the famous painter who ruined his career. He might be an ugly duckling, but soon he becomes his enemy’s prisoner, obsession, and unexpected muse.
Dive in to find out how captivity becomes intimacy, and morally gray desire rooted in power imbalance turns into a twisted romance where fear and devotion blur beyond recognition.
Warnings: see tags
REVIEW:
While these authors write dark stories, and this story was at the core dark, it was kind of sweet.
Victor had it all planned out, after Sevastyan stole Victor’s first exhibition under his nose, he wants to end the man and expose what a fraud he is.
He put on his balaclava and entered Sevastyan’s house on a cliff.
What he couldn’t foresee was that Sevastyan was waiting for him. Amused and ready to abduct him.
After Victor tried to escape, he got hurt, and now he is afraid for his life. Dang, he can’t do anything right!
‘I’m short, skinny, and covered in more freckles than reasonable.
Unwanted. Unseen. Underappreciated.’
Sevastyan is an artist who lives in seclusion; his house is one big trap. With an injured prisoner, he could get used to having someone around.
Someone adorable, cute, and harmless, he should kill him, but he is too adorable.
Victor understands that Sevastyan isn’t who he thought he was. While he is his prisoner, and he knows he could get killed by Sevastyan, there’s an undeniable attraction.
Even though Victor is his prisoner, Sevastyan is pampering him and makes sure he doesn’t get hurt. Because regularly, assassins are coming by who want to kill Sevastyan, and Victor could get hurt while they try.
The story was more sweeter and sexier than dark. I loved the situation they were in and the way the characters handled it.
I would have loved some more hurt comfort. The way the story ended was absolutely smashing!
I loved how these authors write. The story was quite entertaining and original.
RATING: 
BUY LINKS:
