Twisted Pawn

Society of Villains #2

by L.J. Shen

The second book in the new dark and decadent Society of Villains series. More details coming soon . . .

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE NEW SERIES?
Mafia Wars
Taboo tropes
Plot twists to make your jaw drop
One MM book (I told ya' it was coming)
Cameos from your favourite characters (someone said Wolfe and Francesca? Vicious and Millie? And what about the Forbidden Love gang?) . . .

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Romance, Mafia Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary Romance, Spicy

Audible Audio

Expected publication March 31, 2026

About the author

L.J. Shen is a New York Times, USA Today, WSJ, Washington Post and #1 Amazon Kindle Store bestselling author of contemporary romance books.

She writes angsty books, unredeemable anti-heroes who are in Bill Gates's tax bracket, and sassy heroines who bring them to their knees (for more reasons than one).


Keep up with L.J. on all platforms:
Newsletter Sign up ➜ https://bit.ly/3LhsIrb
Instagram➜ shorturl.at/cDJRZ
TikTok ➜ shorturl.at/frw59
Facebook➜ https://goo.gl/fKCSo4
Website ➜ www.authorljshen.com

Reviews

[Can Helin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really hope this is about Tierney and Achilles
!!! I need this so bad! 😭🤍🙏🏻 please

[❥ KAT ❥ Kitty Kats Crazy About Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

📚 𝗔𝗥𝗖 𝗖𝗢𝗣𝗬 📚 [⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 Star Review]...T𝐖I𝐒T𝐄D P𝐀W𝐍: Is the second full length book in the (Society of Villains) series by Author L.J. Shen. Spoken in daul POV's.

📚'𝙼𝚈 𝚁𝙴𝚅𝙸𝙴𝚆 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙾𝚃𝙷𝙴𝚁𝚂'📚 can also be found on my blog:
╰┈➤KITTY KATS CRAZY ABOUT BOOKS

Tropes:
❥ ENEMIES TO LOVERS
❥ SECOND CHANCE
❥ ASSASSIN HEROINE
❥ MORALLY PITCH BLACK HERO (MINE)
❥ OBSESSED ANTI HERO ( YET AGAIN MINE)
❥ SLOW BURN TENSION

This one hits those feels like a mack truck oblibering that beating heart of yours like no other, there was a scene in this (not going to give spoilers) but it broke me, my heart broke for this man watching the woman he loved gaining back control, that control he took from her, I wished it had've been done in a different way. But that's not how this story unfolds. I literally had tears running down my face and it was unbearable to read. Comfort zones may be put to the test. Be prepared.

But it didn't stop me from enjoying this, I loved the too and fro, the fashbacks, the want to kill you but want to have you angst, the darkness of her past, their story wasn't made up of puppy dogs and unicorns farting glitter, it was raw, and it suited their story, their journey, their pasts.

These two met when they were teenagers, he was the boy who climbed through her bedroom window standing in the shadows a strong force keeping nightmares at bay. She was fighting the demons of her past. Their story was one I couldn't wait to get my hands on, that slow burn simmering in the background, Loved him, loved her for him, together they were perfection, two broken souls mended as one.

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[L.J. Shen]

TWISTED PAWN

♙ eBook: https://amzn.to/4sRpnoH
♙ Paperback: https://amzn.to/4sNUpxC
♙ Walmart Exclusive: http://shor.by/bw13
♙ Audiobook (duet narration: Stephen Dexter and Lila Winters, with Corvin King as Tiernan and Lucy Rivers as Lila): https://amzn.to/3N5ROQz
♙ UK/Commonwealth: http://shor.by/RLXz

🚩 Please read trigger warnings if you have any.

[ꜱᴛᴇᴘʜᴀɴɪᴇ ♡]

𝒜𝒸𝒽𝒾𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓈 𝐹𝑒𝓇𝓇𝒶𝓃𝓉𝑒 & 𝒯𝒾𝑒𝓇𝓃𝑒𝓎 𝒞𝒶𝓁𝓁𝒶𝑔𝒽𝒶𝓃 "𝓹𝓲𝓬𝓬𝓸𝓵𝓪 𝓯𝓲𝓪𝓶𝓶𝓪" ??

𝙰𝚖𝚎𝚛𝚒𝚌𝚊𝚗 𝚙𝚜𝚢𝚌𝚑𝚘 & 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚕 𝚝𝚠𝚒𝚗 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚕 - ʜᴀɴᴅꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴅᴇᴠɪʟ

"𝐖𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬?"
𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞. 𝐒𝐡𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐨𝐤𝐞 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐁𝐈 𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐮𝐩𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐡𝐢𝐦 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞.
𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐚 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐚𝐥.

[Matea ☽]

After that L.J. Shen Instagram tease, I need this book ASAP 😭📖✨

[Erica Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

OH MY GOD! This book was everything!!

I really loved how it jumped to past scenes, it truly helped understand Tierney and Achilles’ past with each-other and what led to the present.

She betrays him, TWICE! For starters, after the first betrayal he stalks her, puts security detail on her every move, cameras in her house and unaliv€s anyone she is “with” 🤭

My baby Tierney really went through it 💔 I just wish she would have spoke up and been honest with Achilles! 😭

That plane scene! 🥵

This man truly would do ANYTHING for her. Including something towards the end of the book that really annoyed me!! It was including a “Alex”. If you know you know 🙄

The plot at the end with Tristan really took the ending to another level! I need the next book, NOW!

[Beeg Panda]

Tierney and Achilles’s story.
The term "transgressive" comes to mind?
Darker than dark, I’m sure, if the author continues with them in the same vein as in book 1.
They were merely SIDE characters but I could feel the burn.
I’m not the target audience and shouldn’t read it.
But I have to know.


Auth fb page:
🖤NEW SERIES ANNOUNCEMENT🖤

Coming in hot with a brand new, SEVEN-book mafia series.

Society of Villains will comprise seven interconnected standalones. You'll meet some of the key players in Handsome Devil (including our anti-hero and heroine 👀).

Think if Peaky Blinders and Succession had a baby.

What you can expect:
🔱 Mafia wars
🔱 Taboo tropes
🔱 Plot twists to make your jaw drop
🔱 One MM book (told ya' it was coming)
🔱 Cameos from your favorite characters (Sinners, Boston Belles, ASH, Forbidden Love)
🔱 BEST. COVERS. EVER.

Publishing schedule:
♟ Bad Bishop - Nov 18, 2025
♟ Twisted Pawn - March 31, 2026
♟ Fallen Rook
♟ Corrupt Knight
♟ Heartless King
♟ Wicked Queen
♟ Devil's Gambit

[Melissa]

Aahhhhh Bloom sent me an arc?!?!

This is gonna be MESSY and I’m gonna eat it the fuck up

[Tiffany's TBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enemies to lovers? Yes.
Second chance romance? Absolutely.
Childhood love turned enemies? Inject it straight into my veins.
L. J. Shen truly is a master of emotionally charged chaos. She takes revenge, heartbreak, and unresolved history, tosses them into a glittering pressure cooker, and somehow delivers something addictive and unforgettable. The tension? Immaculate. The angst? Deliciously painful. The payoff? Worth every single page.
And can we talk about the fact that she swoons over Henry Cavill too? Honestly, she was already an auto-buy author for me, but that little detail sealed the deal forever. Amen and hallelujah.
Tierney is an absolute force. A badass with sharp edges and a guarded heart, she doesn't just walk into a scene, she owns it. Watching her navigate revenge, love, and that undeniable pull toward the past was everything.
This book delivers revenge, love, lust, and swoon-worthy spice in perfect balance. If you're craving high tension, emotional warfare, and chemistry that practically crackles off the page, consider this your sign. Your next read is calling.

[Ali | flippin_and_sippin_mn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twisted Pawn
(Society of Villains, 2)
L.J. Shen
Pub: 4/7/26
5☆

He’s an assassin Mafia heir.
She’s his achilles heel.

Since flipping the last page of Bad Bishop I could not wait for the next book. Then when I found out we were getting Tierney and Achilles… well let’s just say I was feral. Luckily my friends over at Bloom heard my cries and sent me this stunning ARC. TYSM for the #gifted copy!

I was so nervous going in because of how much I loved Lila and Tiernan’s story, and wondering could Shen deliver back to back? Friends she DELIVERED in jaw dropping, heart pounding fashion.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨 𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙧 𝙪𝙥 𝙞𝙣 𝙢𝙚? ALL of them.
Oh holy heck did this hit the mark. Over and over again. Tierney and Achille’s were EVERYTHING! Their enemies to lovers story was absolute 🔥in every which way you could imagine. It was dark(er), chaotic, and even more unhinged. The banter, angst, tension, and chemistry between these two… ALL done to perfection and damn if it didn’t radiated off the pages. Shen is an absolute master at writing all things mafia romance and I am SO here for it. Twisted Pawn had me utterly addicted and fighting to put it down.

𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙤𝙪𝙩?
I loved getting a look into their past and the unresolved history/betrayal that led us to the present.

𝙒𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠?
♟️ Readers who enjoy:
♟️ Enemies To Lovers
♟️ Dark Romance
♟️ Mafia
♟️ Second Chance
♟️ Unputdownable Reads
♟️ Sizzling Spice
♟️ Touch Her And ☠️ (Literally)

I don’t know which was greater, it consuming me or me consuming it. Either way, I am already so damn excited and greedy for Fallen Rook.

Thank you again to Bloom Books for the opportunity to be an early reader.

[Sushi ReadsBooks]

ACHILLES and TIERNEY have been living rent free in my head since I read that scene in Handsome Devil where Achilles is literally holding Tierney over the bridge by her heel while negotiating

I just know this is gonna be fire

[Jessica Vishnoi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Im on my knees praying for this book to be Achilles and Tierney. I know for a fact they will serve top tier enemies to lovers and Im of course gonna eat that shit up. CANNOT WAIT FOR THIS BOOK.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I devoured this book in a single day—I couldn’t put it down. The insane chemistry between the characters completely hooked me. The tension felt so good, and I loved how broken both of them are, yet together they find a little peace. I love a good hate-to-love dynamic, so this book really satisfied me.

Achilles was such a great MMC. His reasoning was hilarious because he was such a goner for Tierney. I loved that he never questioned his feelings for her. He has been in love with her since the moment they met, and you could feel his internal struggles so vividly. His family is so damaged, yet they intrigued me so much.

I am obsessed with this society of villains. I love that we got a glimpse of future couples, and I’m shocked about some of them. I also need to know what’s going on with Luca and Sofia—I have so many questions. The third book will focus on another character, but let’s just say these two will surely bring some shockers.

And when is it time for the Rasputins? I need a book for Alex! Seriously, I am so excited for each book in this series—it’s almost embarrassing. After finishing Twisted Pawn, I immediately looked up the next release date. I’m already counting the days.

I also have to mention the wonderful connection between chess and the book titles. Shen really is one of the best writers. Her characters are all broken, yet they have redeemable qualities. They’re more than a bit morally gray, but when it comes to love, they’re completely whipped.

I’m so glad Shen is back in her dark romance era. She truly excels at writing stories that leave you speechless. The banter, the spice, the revelations, the secrets, and the scheming—it’s all perfect, and it makes you crave the next book immediately.

I also want to mention Tiernan, who never hesitated when it came to his sister—it was heartwarming. The side characters fit perfectly into the story and make you excited for their books. I need a book for all of them, and I already fear that seven books won’t be enough for this world. Getting Easter eggs about former characters like the Keatons or Brennans is just the cherry on top of this delicious ice cream.

So why not 5 stars, even though I devoured this book?
There were two things that didn’t fully work for me.
First, the handling of injuries. When characters are severely injured, I expect at least some lasting repercussions. Here, the healing felt unrealistically fast. It was even mentioned that there could be lingering issues like need for physical therapy—but that was never really followed up on. Did that character ever actually have to recover or struggle? It just felt a bit too convenient and took me out of the story.
Second, the final spice scene. While it was undeniably hot, I wasn’t a fan of the reasoning behind it. For me, it would have been more powerful if the character had that moment of freedom and chose that it wasn’t necessary. Instead, the way it played out left a slightly bitter taste.

To conclude: I am obsessed about this series and can’t wait to read the third book. This is exactly the kind of dark romance I absolutely love and has me addicted. While there were a few things I didn’t fully enjoy, I still love this book and recommend it!

[buveurdencre · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stakes are high, but their infatuation runs higher. Depraved, dark, and decadent, Twisted Pawn is the second book of LJ Shen’s dark mafia series Society of Villains and is perhaps one of Shen’s best works yet. Twisted Pawn centers around Tierney Callaghan and Achilles Ferrante. Tierney and Achilles first met when they were fourteen and shared an instant mutual understanding and connection. However, an unfortunate incident causes a reluctant Tierney to betray Achilles, breaking his heart in the process and causing a fifteen-year vendetta to brew between them. A game of cat and mouse ensues when Tierney is betrothed to a Naples mafia don, and Achilles is in charge of delivering her. In desperation, Tierney proposes a trade-off to Achilles in exchange for her freedom. As they spend more time together, the more they realize their devotion disguised as contempt is futile, and coming clean about the betrayal that started their rift all those years ago will determine their endgame. 

Tierney is so resilient, defiant, and admirable. However, she is also vulnerable, traumatized, and guarded. I loved her character growth so much. She could potentially be one of the best and most well-rounded female characters Shen has ever written. But the main star of the book was Achilles, my yearner boy, my pining man. Oh my goodness, how I love, adore, and am enamored by this endearingly brute of a man. Tierney is undoubtedly Achilles’ “Achilles’ heel." This man was disgustingly and desperately down bad for Tierney. He was willing to risk it all: his life, the Camorra, and his position to be the next don, just so he could be with Tierney. Even when Achilles believed Tierney had betrayed him years ago, he still loved her despite it all. His absolute fidelity and resolute belief in Tierney were so genuine and beautiful. Achilles is undeniably one of my favorite male characters Shen has ever written, and they are by far one of my most favorite couples in the Shen Universe. They make me want to cry with how much I love them so much. I am wholeheartedly enchanted with this heart-wrenchingly lovable couple and their bewitching dynamic. Though at times their relationship could be seen as volatile, their chemistry was palpable and fervent, and their passion for each other was ardent and unwavering. Tierney and Achilles understood and saw each other when others couldn’t. They used their vulnerabilities and insecurities as a strength instead of a weakness and encouraged each other to seek out help and treatment. I could read an entire series of just these two, with Tierney being a menacing brat and Achilles being a simpering, besotted man in love.

Brilliantly written and magnificently executed, Shen continues to excel and captivate in her writing. This book is, in simple terms, exquisite and breathtakingly stunning. Although it’s only the second book in the series, Twisted Pawn has already cemented itself as my favorite, not just in terms of the series but also individual books written by Shen. As the series continues, with each book becoming exceedingly more precarious and intense, my excitement cannot be restrained, and I’m already ravenous for the next book.

[RedFireLady · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️
2.5🌶

What's inside:
- Second Chance Romance
- Lovers to Enemies to Lovers
- Dual POV
- Dual Timeline
- Obssessive/Possessive
- Stalker
- Past Trauma & Healing
- Morally Black MMC
- Assassin x Black Cat
- Mafia
- Touch Her and Die
- Spice

term: TWISTED PAWN In chess, the pawn is the weakest piece, and is worth only one point. Historically and culturally, a pawn represents a soldier, a peasant, or infantry. Easily dispensable and widely underestimated.

Twisted Pawn is another amazing dark mafia romance from LJ Shen that gives all the best tropes while also bringing moments of laughter and tugging on the heartstrings. Not only is Tierney and Achilles' story one with pain and depth, it is also one full of history and love.

Achilles and Tierney have a significant past together, which you can explore more of in Handsome Devil.They were high school sweethearts, absolutely devoted to one another in secret, but then one awful night turned them from lovers to enemies, leaving not just physical, but also emotional scars. Though most everything changed that night, one thing didnt - their obsession with each other didnt die, it transformed. It is said, love and hate are just the opposited sides of a very thin coin, and that is definitely the case with these two.

"Don Vello thought Achilles would do well as the don of the Ferrante clan. But that was before.
Before he found out about his son’s mortal weakness.
It came in the form of a copper-haired girl.
The daughter of a mediocre Irish mobster.
A thoughtless, reckless, pointless thing.
Tierney Callaghan.
The twisted little pawn was his Achilles’ heel."

I love Tierney's snark and fire. Her take-no-shit attitude wont allow her to back down or stay quiet, even when it might be in her best interest. We learned some of her past in Bad Bishop and in Twisted Pawn we find out more details and it all helps to explain the character that she is.

Achilles... we know he is a 6'4" mass of muscle, tattoos and a ruthless assassin that doesn't flinch from doing whatever is necessary to earn the title of Don. Torturing and killing people doesn't bother him, but what does? The thought of Tierney touching or loving anyone else.

Both of our MCs experience a lot of growth and development throughout this book. Not only do they learn more about themselves and each other, but they also confront their past so they can discover if they have a future together after all of the hurt they have both inflicted. And, of course, the snark and sarcasm had me laughing a few times as their battle of wills played out.

We also get some long awaited insights. We find out who the Vello’s mysterious "Il prediletto" is. We see some new characters enter into the world and watch some new relationships spark.

I am really excited for Fallen Rook in September! I know for sure which couple this is and it is going to be another hot, must-read story in the Society of Villains world.

Thank you to LJ Shen and to TT, her amazing PA, for an ARC of Twisted Pawn.

[Raquel (BookishRaquel) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ | 4 🌶️ | 5 🎧

RELEASES APRIL 7TH

What to Expect:
- Dark Mafia Romance
- Enemies to Lovers
- Second Chance
- Hunter + Hunter
- Assassin + Girl Who Fights Back
- Morally Pitch Black Hero
- Touch Her and D!e
- Secrets, Lies, and Betrayal
- Slow Burn Tension
- Dual POV
- Duet Narration

⚠️ This is a dark romance, so please check the trigger and content warnings if needed. The full list can be found via the link included at the end of the Author's Note.⚠️

My [SPOILER FREE] Thoughts:
Bad Bishop was one of my top reads of 2025, so I was READY for Twisted Pawn. I LIVE for books like this! Twisted Pawn had me fighting sleep and refusing to put it down. Tierney and Achilles were exactly what I needed and more. Their journey immediately hit me in the feels, and whew, I felt everything. EVERYTHING! Tierney and Achilles' relationship was toxic AF, messy, and intense. Achilles was possessive and completely obsessed with Tierney. I loved his touch her and d!e energy. He would do anything for her, even risk his life and future in his family's organization. Tierney was his 'Achilles' heel INDEED. Tierney went through a lot and was incredibly guarded, but she was a total badass who refused to allow anyone to paint her as a victim.

The palpable chemistry, their passion, the spice, and the love/hate dynamic kept me fully invested. Both of them are broken, completely unhinged, and their love was a battle. Their scenes together were either moments of vulnerability and truth or moments of intense chaos, and I loved every second of it all. Tierney and Achilles were always endgame. The flashbacks added so much to the story, and it was interesting to see how their history with each other and traumatic pasts made them into the people they are in the present. I couldn't help but root for Tierney and Achilles! The plot, emotional depth, twists and turns, character growth, and healing...I loved it all. I'm obsessed with the beautifully chaotic world L.J. Shen has created, and I can't wait to see what comes next in this series.

Narration:
Lila Winters and Stephen Dexter performed this audiobook in duet, with Lucy Rivers and Corvin King returning as Lila and Tiernan. Everyone's performances were phenomenal! Lila and Stephen were perfectly cast as Tierney and Achilles. These amazing voice actors made the characters feel real and believable, and beautifully brought them to life. I was fully immersed in the characters' world and felt every single emotion. They flawlessly brought the angst, tension, obsession, vulnerability, and humor. Lila, Stephen, Lucy, and Corvin truly delivered and made this unputdownable. Enjoying this as an immersive read is the way to go!

Thanks to L.J. Shen, Bloom Books, and Dreamscape Media for the advanced physical copy and the advanced copy of the audiobook. Opinions expressed are my own.

[Stephanie Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

📖ARC & ALC Review🎧⁣
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5⁣
Narrators: Stephen Dexter, Lucy Rivers, Corvin King, and Lila Winters⁣
⁣
𝘛𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘢𝘸𝘯, book two of 𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬, releases April 7th! And it is as L.J. promised - brutal, intoxicating, and beautifully unhinged. ⁣
⁣
This book DELIVERED in every sense of the word, and L.J. made this masterpiece unapologetically intense, thriving on tension and psychological complexity. ⁣
⁣
This dark romance is emotionally charged, built on tension, trauma, and the slow burn of two deeply damaged people who are trying to claw their way towards redemption. The painful unraveling of two people who have been shaped, almost weaponized, by their pasts. Tierney challenges Achilles; she mirrors him, and sometimes, outmatches him. Achilles is the storm - she is his light. ⁣
⁣
Achilles and his counterpart aren't simply "damaged" ... they're shaped by trauma in ways that make every interaction feel like a collision of survival instincts and forbidden longing. Tierney is probably my top favorite heroine that L.J. has ever written. She's sharp, resilient, and despite her traumatic past, layered with a quiet ferocity that makes her impossible to dismiss. Her trauma isn't used as a plot device, but woven into her very identity in a way that feels authentic and deeply human. ⁣
⁣
The audiobook adds an entirely different dimension to this experience. The dual narrators fully inhabited the characters' emotional landscapes; the performances amplify the grit, vulnerability, and simmering chemistry. Their pacing and tonal shifts heightened the darker moments and softened the rarer but impactful tenderness, making the story feel even more immersive. The narrators didn't just tell the story; they deepened it. ⁣
⁣
I loved this book with my whole being. Achilles does have a sense of humor after all. ;) From 𝘉𝘢𝘥 𝘉𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘱, I just knew Achilles would be my favorite; this book cements it. It's going to be REALLY hard to top him. ⁣
⁣
𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬: ⁣
Enemies-Allies-Lovers (Again)⁣
Morally Gray MMC versus Resilent FMC⁣
Trauma Bonding⁣
Forced Proximity⁣
Power Imbalance⁣
Redemption ARC⁣
Found Strength⁣
"I'd burn the world for you" energy. ⁣
Touch Her and Die⁣
⁣
"𝐈'𝐝 𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲." ⁣
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Thank you so much, Leigh and Tijuana, for the ARC and ALC! ⁣
P.S. I have 93 highlights. It's going to take a long while to add them all to the original to save to Kindle. LOL. ⁣

[Lisa (Two Bookish Brits) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh. My. God! I am so here for LJ’s dark villain era, give me all the darkness and chaos, I love it.

Thank you LJ and Tijuana for the eARC of this beauty. I devoured it so quickly for me.

Achilles Ferrante!!!! What a freaking guy!!!

Twisted Pawn is the second book in the Society of Villains series by LJ Shen and whilst it can be read as a standalone I fully advise to read book one to get the full introduction into this world.

If you have any spoilers PLEASE check the trigger warnings before reading because it’s a long list.

Tierney is definitely in my top faves of LJ’s characters. This woman is strong af after everything she has gone through she’s still going strong and let me tell you, it’s a lot. She’s beautiful, smart and extremely witty…her back and forth with Achilles was so hilarious…these two and their banter was so fun to read.

I loved the way the author went back and froth from past to present to give us more of a perspective of Tierney and why she is the way she is.

Achilles..oh my man…when we first met him back in the first book, he was a brick wall and closed off but book two, oh we get so much of him whist still exactly the same. We see what he’s thinking, what he’s feeling and it’s brilliant! He’s cold hearted and uncaring but there’s more than meets the eyes with this man. I can’t even say just how much I loved him.

I won’t go into detail because spoilers but I will say anyone who read Bad Bishop will LOVE this one. Achilles and Tierney are CHAOS

There’s this one scene where my heart just completely ripped out of my chest, my eyes welled up and oh my gosh my heart couldn’t handle it.

And can we talk about that twist??? I did not see that one coming, I may have gasped haha.

I am so obsessed with how feral these characters were and how chaotic their story was, it was perfect for them and Shen did them justice.

I actually can’t wait for the next books in this series.

Twisted Pawn is a dark and delicious mafia romance. It’s phenomenal, it’s sexy and utterly unputdownable. Definitely one of my top reads of 2026 so far!

If you’re a lover of

🐍 hunter x hunter 🐍
🐍 enemies to lovers 🐍
🐍 second chance 🐍
🐍 morally pitch black hero 🐍
🐍 assassin x girl who fights back 🐍
🐍 betrayal x revenge 🐍

you’ll absolutely love this one!!!

[Hailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

You will hate him before you love him 😏🖤

What kind of man can be SO morally black, yet make you swoon in the same breath...ACHILLIES thats who!

My god i thought Tiernan was bad - Achillies is something else and I yet I want to marry him!

He is absolutely unhinged - we know this partly from the previous book but this book! My god! He is absolutely FERAL - and I am not ashamed to say i bloody loved every minute of it!!

The history him and Tierney have is absolutely heart wrenching! We get to see their story from the moment they met as kids and MY GOD did it tug on my heart strings!
The hatred they have for each other and the reasons why broke my heart for them, but deep down the love they have for each other, god it's HUGE!!

10 years of hatred towards each other is absolute madness but so f*cking sad at the same time, the reasons, the time wasted! Eugh!

Achillies obsession with her is like no other, the tattoo - brb crying!

And let's not forget our firecracker of a woman that is Tierney! God she gives Achillies as good as she gets and she is one boss b*tch! What she went through and continues to go through in this book is like no other, what a woman she is! 👏🏼

I don't want to say anything about the story or the plot because you just have to read it.

L.J Shen absolutely smashed it out the park with this one, Tiernan was my number 1 but Achillies has literally sh*t all over that now.
All those red flags and all I see is green baby!

The toxic level - through the roof!
The healing - heartbreaking but heartwarming at the same time
The plot - PLOTTING
The last chapter- perfection
The epilogue - 👀

I can't wait Enzo's book!! I just know its going to be nothing but brilliant! And his love interest 👀!!!!!

The world that L.J Shen has created is nothing less than a masterpiece and I can't wait for it to continue. The world building, the writing, honestly is astonishing - the men - my god! How she makes them utterly Pitch Black but has you falling in love with them is something else!

READ.THIS.BOOK!!

[Sarah (eat_sleep_read21) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, LJ, you've done it again... I cannot fathom how you manage to make me fall in love with incredibly bad men. Seriously, they're bad. You said somewhere that these men you're writing are ones that are all black, and your purpose was to make it hard to care about them. I CARE! A LOT. I am so in love with Achilles Ferrante. It's a problem. I did not expect anything that happened in Twisted Pawn to happen. I didn't fully understand the banter between those two crazies when I was reading the previous books. I didn't understand the man that Achilles Ferrante is nor did I understand the woman that Tierney Callahan is. I understand now... and I FREAKING love them. Congratulations on your upcoming release, and bravo!

Achilles. I believe that he is the most genuine, and possibly the most loving out of the Society of Villains. I just didn't expect it. I love that I didn't expect it. It made my reading experience so much more enjoyable. That man is EVERYTHING! Tierney. Yes, ma'am. She is so much more, and she deserves the WORLD. I adore her, and appreciate the woman that she is. Okay, so. We found out some serious information in this book. Like who the golden child is. I knew from Bad Bishop who I was putting my money on, and oh boy, when it was revealed I literally screamed like a school girl. I was THRILLED, ECSTATIC, and OVERJOYED! Is that the correct way to react? It depends on how you see it... It could be a yes or it could be a no. It's definitely a yes. I just love these characters so much. Achilles and Tierney are both so strong, fierce, loving, and just chelovek. 💋

Leigh, I love you, and I truly wish we were best friends... I guess I'll settle for being on your ARC team. That's honestly a win in itself. I almost sent you a voice note when I was getting to close to knowing who the golden child is, but didn't want to be a weirdo. I sent one to my best friend instead. You're welcome.

Twisted Pawn by L.J. Shen releases April 7th!

[Sarah (eat_sleep_read21) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, LJ, you've done it again... I cannot fathom how you manage to make me fall in love with incredibly bad men. Seriously, they're bad. You said somewhere that these men you're writing are ones that are all black, and your purpose was to make it hard to care about them. I CARE! A LOT. I am so in love with Achilles Ferrante. It's a problem. I did not expect anything that happened in Twisted Pawn to happen. I didn't fully understand the banter between those two crazies when I was reading the previous books. I didn't understand the man that Achilles Ferrante is nor did I understand the woman that Tierney Callahan is. I understand now... and I FREAKING love them. Congratulations on your upcoming release, and bravo!

Achilles. I believe that he is the most genuine, and possibly the most loving out of the Society of Villains. I just didn't expect it. I love that I didn't expect it. It made my reading experience so much more enjoyable. That man is EVERYTHING! Tierney. Yes, ma'am. She is so much more, and she deserves the WORLD. I adore her, and appreciate the woman that she is. Okay, so. We found out some serious information in this book. Like who the golden child is. I knew from Bad Bishop who I was putting my money on, and oh boy, when it was revealed I literally screamed like a school girl. I was THRILLED, ECSTATIC, and OVERJOYED! Is that the correct way to react? It depends on how you see it... It could be a yes or it could be a no. It's definitely a yes. I just love these characters so much. Achilles and Tierney are both so strong, fierce, loving, and just chelovek. 💋

Leigh, I love you, and I truly wish we were best friends... I guess I'll settle for being on your ARC team. That's honestly a win in itself. I almost sent you a voice note when I was getting to close to knowing who the golden child is, but didn't want to be a weirdo. I sent one to my best friend instead. You're welcome.

Twisted Pawn by L.J. Shen releases April 7th!

[Vanessa (When Vane Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I met Achilles and Tierney, I've been dying for their story, and let me tell you, the author exceeded all my expectations and more. The whole touch her and die vibes! It’s MIND BLOWING. I can't stop thinking about these characters and this new world, I'm obsessed beyond words

Achilles, gahhh, he is everything, a psycho crazy asshole, I never thought I would love him as much or more than Tiernan, I love the way he is obsessed with Tierney, how he loves her, how he cares for her, the lengths he will go to protect her. I love Tierney, my poor broken girl, she is so badass, my heart broke for her

LOVE THEM TOGETHER, their scenes together are magnificent, it is the perfect hate-love trope. Their sex scenes are so hot, passionate and intense, they gave me so many Joker and Harley Quinn vibes, both so psycho but so possessive of each other. The tension and banter between them is everything. I cried, laughed, and sighed so much.

I love all the action, the violent scenes, so vividly described that I felt like I was part of them. The unexpected twists are, wow wow the secrets that had me hooked from beginning to end.

The scenes of the past are so sweet, both are so vulnerable, they are so heartbreaking. Loved the cameos. I loved all the other characters, the author is a genius because she leaves us with so many theories and few answers, and that ending left me salivating for the next book.

This book is exceptional, it's extraordinary, it’s sexy, it's addictive, it's angsty, it's dark, it's violent, it's absolutely everything, the author nailed it!
this is one of the best mafia books I've ever read

[Karen Mc · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Show me every jagged, ugly piece of you.”

Oh. My. WOW! I’m shooketh from Twisted Pawn, LJ Shen’s darkest and most delicious romance yet! I devoured this naughty devil; no, it devoured me. My heart is still recovering from the thrashing it took from this book. Twisted Pawn annihilated me! This love story stole my breath, heart, tears, and mind.

Dearest dark romance readers, discard the trigger warnings, buckle up, and prepare for a wild ride. Block out the world and dive into this mafia meets Romeo and Juliet romance. And get ready for Shen’s messiest couple yet. I knew Achilles and Tierneys’ story would be an explosion that detonated everywhere and that it was! These two were toxic but perfect together. I loved Achilles and Tierney so much.

Achilles is a dark demon and walking, stalking definition of unhinged, AKA, my weakness. A mafia king who needed a warrior queen that could give as good as she gets. Tierney, fiery Irish lass, has entered the chat. Two shattered soulmates who are whole together. Each other’s weakness. I reveled in their insane chemistry, intense connection, heated banter, and complex history. A perfect storm.

“There isn’t me if there isn’t you.”

In the end, Twisted Pawn is the tortuous and touching tale of a broken girl and a broken boy—soulmates—who just want to be seen and be loved. My heart shattered and soared for Tierney, Achilles, and their hard fought happily ever after. Twisted Pawn is the kind of love story I fall for … live for … ache for. Explosive. Emotional. Everything. This dark romance is endgame … LJ Shen’s biggest masterpiece yet.

A top 2026, must-read romance!

💋💋💋💋💋💋 but worth all the first and forever kisses

⏩️ https://amzn.to/4uJX3Gv

Reviewed on behalf of Bookalicious Babes Blog

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tierney is badass and full of sass. She has such a traumatic upbringing and it’s shaped her into who she is, showing us just how resilient she turned out to be. She was the absolute perfect match for Achilles, who she’s known since they were teenagers and the flashbacks really pulled everything together as you learn their history. She stomped all over his heart and then betrayed him but he was ALWAYS gone for her. He’s just your average control freak stalker who tracked her every move and unälived anyone who touched what was “his”. NBD. Achilles, as unhinged as he is, would do anything and give up everything for Tierney. His loyalty is unmatched.

Their relationship was toxic and volatile but through it all, Tierney grew leaps and bounds with the help of Achilles. Their chemistry was off the charts and their passion unrivaled.

I knew this book was going to be unhinged but LJ was not pulling ANY punches. I’m still trying to pull my jaw up off the floor from all the deranged shenanigans. Chapter one was just the beginning of the rollercoaster and I never wanted to get off. I can’t say much more without spoiling it but let’s just say there’s a lot of unäliving especially with a war that gets started just for funsies. Each book in this series is just getting better and better and I’m already feening for more.

The ALC was pure perfection with the dual narration and I don’t know how I’ve ever lived without it.

[Michelle Brashars · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so giddy that this book is Achilles and Tierney’s story!!! Ever since Bad Bishop I’ve been dying for it and then I couldn’t believe when the blurb came out and we found out that these two have history!!!! Twisted Pawn takes us through over a decade of these two broken babies loving and hating each other. It’s so incredibly sad!!! Achilles met Tierney not long after she escaped the work camp with Tiernan and came to America. Present day is a few months after Bad Bishop, the two HATE each other, and Achilles is ready to marry Tierney off to someone. We know from Bad Bishop that he’s in charge of who she will be married to. Everyone kind of thinks that marriage will make her settle and keep her out of trouble. But Tierney’s middle name is Chaos and nothing is going to go to plan. SO MUCH happened in this book it was actually crazy!!! I had no idea where we were going, but I was happy to be on the ride!!! This book was completely addictive and unputdownable. Achilles was so much sweeter than I expected!!! I think that was the most unexpected part of this story. Tierney was so much more broken than I knew. These poor broken babies went through hell their whole lives, from childhood on, and fought so hard for their HEA 😭😭😭 No one deserved it more than them.
I’m still obsessed with this series and cannot wait for book three!!!!!!

[Esther Philippe · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I am unwell after reading this book. The emotional damage it did to me… I fear the rest of the series might actually end me. I laughed, I cried—a lot—a LOT—I giggled, and I even got mad at T (which made me realize I would make a terrible FMC). Because there is absolutely no way I’m sacrificing my happiness for any MMC 👀 I would communicate immediately.

But wow… this story was soul-crushing in the best way, and L.J. Shen really knows how to put you in your feelings. My husband says the author needs to pay for my upcoming therapy, and honestly… I agree .

But listen—finding your soulmate young?? Beautiful. Their journey?? PURE SUFFERING. Heartbreak, chaos, emotional damage… and I ate it up. I devoured it. No crumbs.

And if you thought Tiernan was obsessed?? BABY. Achilles said ‘hold my drink’ and took it 1000 steps further and I was RIGHT THERE enabling him 😭

Trigger warnings?? Yes. Sanity?? Gone. Rating?? 10/10. Would emotionally ruin myself again.

Now excuse me while I sit here in silence trying to recover and manifest Alex being next… or Luca 👀 because clearly I haven’t suffered enough.”

[Trish · Rating 5 out of 5]

♟️Mafia
♟️Second Chance
♟️Enemies to Lovers
♟️Dark Romance

“I’m only whole when I’m with you. And if that’s toxic, or unhealthy, then so be it. Because the truth is, there isn’t me if there isn’t you.”

This book was everything I was hoping it would be! The tension and angst were absolutely delicious, and I loved every second of it. Tierney and Achilles’ love is toxic but somehow also so beautiful. The flashbacks added so much depth, showing their vulnerability and the love they’ve always had for one another.

Tierney is a total badass. She’s been through so much, yet she stays strong and is determined to fight for her freedom. Achilles, on the other hand, has been raised to be the monster he is. His possessiveness and “touch her and die” energy are completely off the charts.

This book is intense, emotional, and full of twists that left me begging for the next book! I loved Bad Bishop, but Twisted Pawn might be even better.

[Patricia (Spellbound Stories Trish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The trauma of this book is beautiful in the most dark and twisted way.

Lj has upped the ante with this series. If you’re not a lover of dark then treat lightly because Tierney and Achilles are not for the faint of heart. Their love story is gory is the most gut wrenching way and even though I gasped in shock many times I couldn’t put their book down because Tierney is just that amazing and Achilles love for her is beautifully wild.

The journey these two went through is WOW! My jaw dropped many times and I loved uncovering their secrets and their history. I loved getting to see what made Tierney the fierce heroine she is. The connecting storyline takes on a life of its own in this book and you will find yourself shocked on almost every page. I loved the angst, the passion and the many twists.

I am excited for more in this series and to see where it all goes! Hands down one of the best mafia romances out there!

[jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been anticipating this book since I finished the last one and it did not disappoint! Twisted Pawn is such an intense read with characters that have explosive chemistry. Achilles and Tierney are both characters that have an intensity to them that makes reading their moments very interesting. I felt like the more I read I truly felt for these characters. I absolutely love them together for many reasons, one being how strong they are and their relationship development. Their chemistry is insane and I will never get over it. Tierney is truly one of those characters that you know you will attach yourself to once you read their pov and I will always protect her.

This series so far has been intriguing and I honestly can’t wait for what’s to come with these characters and the storylines. Achilles and Tierney you are so loved by me.

[Blair Burns · Rating 5 out of 5]

These two are unhinged!

LJ Shen is firmly in her villian era and I am here for it. Achilles, whew he is as dark as they come...with good reason. This story is hard. Hard truths.  Hard secrets. Hard earned tears. The way the story unfolds was done masterfully, going from past to present, filling in the gaps. The character development continues and you can't help but love all these bad to the bone men and the people that love them. And the spice in this.....off the charts. Leave your triggers at the door. Top mafia romance read ever...and I have many under my belt. The twists and turns continue through the very last page. Don't miss this one!

I received an advance copy of the for free and am leaving this review voluntarily.