Ruthless Creatures

Nat is the novel’s female protagonist and primary narrator. While Kage also narrates several chapters, Nat’s voice is dominant. The unequal dynamic evokes the stereotype that women are more expressive than men. Conversely, the imbalance gives Nat agency and control of their story. Her name reinforces her power position: Rather than the softer and feminine-sounding “Natalie,” she goes by a monosyllabic and gender-neutral diminutive. 

Nat is playful, earnest, and inquisitive. She begins the novel propelled by the desire to move on after the mysterious disappearance and potential death of her fiancé, David. Despite the encouragement of her best friend, Sloane, Nat hasn’t had a serious relationship since David. She has also put aside her art. Through Kage, Nat rediscovers her capacity for love, sexual expression, and romantic commitment. Vivid sex scenes showcase Nat and Kage’s chemistry, while their conversations about their various traumas—Kage’s violent childhood and Nat’s failed engagement—promote a caring partnership. Eventually, Nat realizes that David “might not have been as good a match” (254), and Kage becomes her true love. She ends up with the man who’s best for her, giving her a “happily ever after.”

Because Kage is part of an organized criminal organization, Nat often describes him as a predator, watching her “like a hunter peering at a doe through the sights of a rifle” (76).