Thirty more days. Ten million dollars. A bargain I can’t resist…and a beast I can’t forget.I told myself I’d never return.
But my sister’s life is on the line, and Eva Novak knows it. She drags me back into her world with an offer I can’t afford to refuse.
Forbidden fantasies are waiting in her eyes, in her hands, in the ways she claims me. And she seems to be changing. Softening. Blooming around the thorns.
Every wicked promise she whispers leaves me craving the one thing I should fear the most…
Belonging to her completely.
But loving her doesn’t just risk my heart. It risks my family. It risks my life.
I made a deal with the devil. Now I need to decide if saving her soul is worth damning mine.
***
Her Wicked Promise is the second book in the Devil's Playing dark Sapphic mafia romance series. Reader discretion is advised, and content notes will be available on the Copyright page.
Ahhh this duology, well I guess trilogy now lol is the most disappointing from all of Persephone Black's books. The premise is certainly not new. I have seen many similar plots from other books but thought it would be much better from this author.
I feel like she had this troupe in mind aka some rich person bought someone at an auction then they fell in love and wrote around this plot. The characters were quite unlikeable. I think we are supposed to like Robin. She was this responsible big sister who helped raised all her younger siblings and did her best to provide for them. She had to go back to Eva so that they could have more money since they desperately needed it. It's written that Robin made this huge sacrifice for her family but then she actually really couldn't get enough of Eva herself. I don't wanna make light of this type of human trafficking (even though for Eva and Robin it was kinda consensual). But Robin seemed like she was a totally different person when she was with Eva than with her siblings. Both Eva and Robin were super horny. The too many spicy scenes in a short book didn't add to their non-existent emotional intimacy. It felt like smut and the author insisted that they cared for each other too. That's kind true but again, not written in a way that I could feel that it's true.
I will read the third book when it comes out but at this point I don't expect it to be much better than the two that we have now.
The wait is over! One of my fave ice queens, Eva Novak, is back! And Persephone Black's promise to give us more Eva in the 2nd installment of The Devil's Plaything” !! The sequel continues right after the 1st installment. So, if you haven't read Book 1, "Her Cruel Promise," I urge you to do so before delving into this one. For continuity purposes, you know.
Persephone Black has done it again! Eva's continuing journey to self-discovery, healing and love is further delved into in this sequel. Black's understanding of human duality is why her stories resonate with people. We all have our light and dark sides. It's how we choose to embrace and balance both in our lives without making excuses or denying it that enriches the human spirit. Where there's light, there's darkness. Where there's good, there's bad. At the end of the day, one cannot exist without the other. 2 sides of the same coin. That's how the matrix is programmed - a balance scale.
Humanity is made of duality/polarity. We all have our roles to play, haven't we? It's about choices and different perspectives. One person's hero is another's monster, one person's angel is another's devil. To be able to embrace and reconcile both as one and a part of us is the ultimate growth. I feel like Black is trying to show us just that. That there’s always a reason for anyone to be one way or another. That sometimes bad people do good things and good people do bad things. Root cause - the key to understanding the human condition, which is never straightforward. The answer lies in the in-between.
Eva Novak, Black’s latest ice queen antihero, is the epitome of what the society would brand her as - the monster, the devil, the bad guy. Robin is her polar opposite. The yang of Eva's yin. She's Eva's beacon of light. Their journeys intertwine and that's how Eva and Robin's story came to be in Book 1. In this sequel, Black continues to delve deeper into Eva's state of mind especially with Robin back in her life, whether she can continue to listen to her heart or her head whilst trying to run her empire amidst deadly threats.
I love Black’s narrative prose. I love the dichotomy she crafts between Eva and Robin when it comes to their respective coping mechanisms - upfront vs recoil. This results in endless miscommunication leading to more misunderstandings. The intensity of their precarious situation makes for some good drama and tension albeit at the expense of my own sanity, obvs! But that makes their journeys toward each other THAT more addictive, intoxicating and heart-tugging!
And Book 2 doesn’t disappoint as Black ups the ante in not only their tension but the growing internal turmoil that Eva goes through between her deepening feelings for Robin and her steadfast loyalty to her duties and responsibilities to uphold her father’s legacy in the business that is the main contention between the two star-crossed lovers. The more she tries to push Robin away, the more her true self yearns for her “little bird.” Aww… The writing, the narrative.. It’s almost poetic.
Oh, Eva!! You lovable “monster” or rather, a diamond in the rough, you! And Nik, you were fine in your own world (The Colombo Family Duet) but when you’re in Eva’s orbit, do us a favour and, I want to say this as nicely as I possibly can but...STFU, please. Let Eva be Eva! Let her be her ever-fabulous, closet cinnamon roll self, FFS!
Speaking of Nik, it's always such a thrill when I see familiar faces popping up whenever Black introduces a new story. Nik's not the only one. A few others including from Black's debut story and Bianchi Family Duet made an appearance, too. I just love this camaraderie amongst these badarses!!
This installment ends with a clear path to what comes next. Speaking of, if you’ve read any of Persephone Black’s books, you’ll know that her story always comes in two’s, hence she calls them Duets aka duologies. But lucky me because Eva Novak is one of my all-time fav ice queens, Black has made an exception in this latest “The Devil’s Plaything” series with a 3rd installment!! YAAAAS!! Chuffed to bits, I am! The last words of the final sentence of this 2nd book becomes Black’s 3rd book, “Her Ruthless Heart.” Oh, what a loaded title, indeed!
I simply can’t wait for the final one come October!! Go, Eva!!! Oh, Robin! You’re in for something!
The Devil’s Plaything series is another must-read from one of my favourite authors! Persephone Black writes dark sapphic romance superbly with fantastic, thought-provoking story lines, backstories that will shift your perspectives, characters that you can’t help but love, adore and wanna protect!
Oh, the nature of duality slowly transforming into singularity between two polar opposite MCs, playing out with provocative fervour, is crafted and told with so much heart, you feel the emotions coming from both characters viscerally as they work toward reconciling their hearts, their minds, and their souls each step of the way.
The best thing is to read about what the real human spirit is about. It’s not about whether one is good or bad. It’s about embracing and accepting the truth that the human spirit encompasses all aspects of the human experience which incidentally includes the good, the bad, the ugly, the beautiful, and everything in-between. And the one thing that reconciles and unites them into one cohesive being, the enlightened soul, is LOVE. True love has no boundaries, no limits, no exceptions, no conditions. Love is love.
One more thing...
“I made a deal with the devil. Now I need to decide if saving her soul is worth damning mine."
Poignant and poetic. This quote, my favourite line in the book, says it all about the plight of Eva and Robin's story as they slowly come to terms with what they have of each other...
Book Two In The Devil’s Plaything Was The Calm Before The Storm!
Eva turned Robin away. But after some time passed she was not happy with her decision. When Leon tells Eva that Robin is asking if her money can get put in her account earlier even though Eva sent her home before the time was up. Eva tells Leon to find out why she needs it. When Eva shows up at the hospital where Maisie, Robin’s sister is slowly dying and Robin is distraught holding her sisters hand, Eva makes her presence known. When Robin pulls her aside, asks what the hell she is doing there. Eva makes another offer. Things get heated and Eva leaves. Things take a turn especially in Maisie’s favor. Now Robin is forced to go back, new deal in place. But as hard as Robin is trying to be, Eva is realizing there are feelings. Things are changing and with Eva trying to do better, she has all these surprises for Robin. But things quickly get out of hand again when they are back on Vegas soil. Death and destruction strikes. And again, Eva is forced to let Robin go. But somebody has other plans and Robin is missing. Now Eva only sees red. Can’t wait for book three.
While Robin was gone her sister's condition worsened suddenly and Maisie was hospitalized. Worse, they're getting evicted.
Eva reluctantly returns to Las Vegas, claiming she's not worried about Robin. Then she turns up at Maisie's hospital room. Where she stuns Robin with a new offer: ten mil for another month, five mil up front.
(I know Eva sent Robin off really harshly, but Robin going full 'i hate you' now feels off.)
Back at the castle Eva starts wanting to break Robin, but both are too into each other. They enter a wary relationship again...
Eva finds out Robin has been visiting the local village she protects, and is shocked at how swiftly Robin has been accepted. And she reveals the village respects Eva, not fears her.
They return to Vegas to negotiate a alliance between families to go after the mob that tried to sell off Robin, but Eva gets ambushed again, gets spooked and forces Robin away.
(Again? That was how they broke up in book one.)
Robin and her family start to settle in to a new home.. then Robin gets kidnapped.
Not as pleased with this one. Felt odd that both characters kind of reset to the start of book one, mostly.
Once again we have an incredible story wrapped so beautifully in incredible writing. It swept me along relentlessly through every scene, every page. I love Eva and Robin. Some of the peripheral characters I enjoy hating but there you go, there are villains of every kind around. I like that some issues from book 1 get settled but of course, book 2 also sets up a new kind of issue that just pushed me over the edge, and I will need book 3 SOON please. Oh my goodness the characters that return near the end of this story (from some other Persephone Black stories) are absolutely terrific and I'm thinking they will definitely help "save the day" in book 3. So enjoy some of the other books while waiting for book 3 if you haven't already read them.
Read this one and the first one up 10 days ago and screamed at the end of book two! Now I have to wait - I don't know how long (I don't do Amazon) for the solution, grrr. So Persephone, if you by any chance would be reading reviews on Goodreads, You are a genius, I love your writing, but please make them available on other platforms - (Kobo, for example?) - So I do not have to 'illegally' download them.
Wow this book has the ups and downs but it has The HEAT. Eva sends Robin back but Robin needs the money now not in a few weeks. She calls Leon to get the money but what she gets is far more than what she expects. Eva is trying to change but doesn't know how. Robin wants to give in but she has her family to take care of. These two women are so different but want to make it work. Eva sends her home again but on different terms. Can't wait to read the next book
Loved diving back into Eva and Robin's story, especially after Eva stops fighting what she has with Robin. Really enjoyed getting to see characters from the past duologies, Juno and Hadria especially. Bummed it ends on a cliffhanger but that will just make it that much sweeter when Eva burns the world down in book 3!
This novel, like the author’s previous novels, is a perfect balance of fantasy, adventure and steamy sex. The story continues to be an exciting ride with even more exciting characters. This is building to an amazing finale and I cannot wait!
The cliffhangers are brutal in this series. Cannot wait for the next book in the series!! Robin and Eva are hot together and the story is compelling and there is intensity in both the love scenes as well as the storyline of a mob queen trying to protect the person she won't admit is her everything.
I can read all of Persephone’s book over and over but this new series is by far my favorite! Eva and Robin are 2 people who should never meet or fall in love but sometimes fate steps in to ensure they do! With some cameos from other books sprinkled in along with some very spicy romance-book 2 doesn’t disappoint! Can’t wait for book 3! 5 🌟
Quase bom, gosto de possessividade na medida certa, isso foi legal... Mas outras coisas são um pouco irritantes, as personagens tem dupla personalidade sem ter, não consigo ver exatamente onde elas começam realmente a se gostar (nem aqui, nem no 1o) e tem muita cena de sexo repetitiva, tive que pular essas partes. Não sei se vou ler o 3o, talvez se passar um tempo...
The animosity in this sequel is bizarre. Book 1 worked because the characters cared about each other despite the issues. Book 2 is just Robin repeatedly saying, "I hate you," and then having sex. It's a whole book of two adults throwing tantrums without believable justification. After about Angry-Smut-Scene #14 or #15, I DNFed.
I know Juno is the most powerful of them all, but Eva is the most ruthless but captivating! I think I love her personality, the real Ice Queen! This series is my favorite among all!!! I cant put it down!!
Adore the storyline of the two mains. Excellent series. The character development is wonderful along with the dialogue. Highly recommend to those reading the reviews. The series is a MUST - escape from the daily & enjoy the read.🪄✨📕
I love everything this girl writes. And I am absolutely obsessed with Eva and Robin. They are just so magnificent in their own ways. I am desperate to learn where they go next.
Love this second book in the series can't wait for book 3. If you like mafia queens with a big soft spot for the right lady with plenty of spice then this is the book for you
Devoured this book in one day! Great continuation of Eva and Robin’s story. It was fun to have the characters from the other mafia series pop-up and make me want to re-read their stories.
This could not be happening. I so dont whant Robin hurt in that way. Why oh why.... Cliffhanger after all that was going on between them. A 5🌟 all the way.
I definitely liked this book more than the first one though I found myself skipping over pretty much every spice scene. So many it detracted from the story a lot.
As always 🔥🔥🔥. Anxiously awaiting the final book!!! Highly recommend every book Persephone has written. Count down is on and October cannot come soon enough.