My heart hates him. My body needs him. My love could save him.
Pushing paper in some forgotten back office is the perfect way to go unnoticed here. This multibillion-dollar corporation tore my family apart, and once I get a job inside it, I have everything I need to burn it to the ground.
Until Caezar comes shattering into my world. He’s the wickedly sexy billionaire CEO of the evil empire I despise. Despite my unimportance, he definitely notices me.
Caezar wants me to be his personal assistant. Day and night, I'm at his beck and call. Before I can bring him down, I have to get close to him. And as it turns out, Caezar likes me close.
He's the architect of all my pain and suffering. His charm only makes me despise him more. The only thing more powerful than my hatred for him is my desire. His lust for me is a wildfire that's quickly losing all control.
Worse, he has enemies more powerful than I ever imagined and a secret that could destroy us both. Caezar is not just a CEO--he's a demon lord, a mafia boss; and I’m his only chance at redemption.
And this is one demon my soul doesn't have the strength to fight.
I enjoyed this start to the Rise of the Demon Lords. Anxious to get the release of book 2 to see what Ortega wants from Lilia, and see what reaction Caezar gives when he finds out Lilia is pregnant. I didn’t realize going in that it ends on a cliffhanger, I normally don’t do them. I prefer to wait for a series to be complete, but I’m glad I did and there’s only a month to wait! I took a star off because I’d like to have seen more sexy scenes with Caezar and Lilia. Hopefully we get that in book 2!
A fun read and good beginning to what will hopefully be an amazing series. Thankfully it is complete. So, despite the cliffhanger ending, there is no table flipping angst involved. Only minor downside is typos but there aren’t more than a few handfuls. If the author makes the series a box set I would hope they have it edited prior to publication.
it was good but i felt like nothing really happened the whole book. the ending was EH and i just wasn't super interested in the plot or any of the twists
This is the first book I read by the author, and I can honestly tell you, I was pleasantly surprised, and I am glad I've found another great author to stalk... ermm... follow 😅
Worldbuilding: Set in today's day and age, this romance takes place in LA (it was nice for a change). The scenes and environments were vivid, and I felt like I was standing there with Lilia. Even though this is the first in a series, and you know that means a lot of information, there wasn't any 'information dump'. Instead, we got the lay of the land pretty early and learned about the specifics throughout the story.
Character development: Lilia Cage, formerly known as Lilia Masters, has one mission in her life. Find evidence that Los Diablos is corrupt and evil and out its boss Caezar. Make him pay for the hurt he has caused. When an interview for the accounting position doesn't quite go as planned, she ends up in a prime position to get what she wants. Our delicious Caezar Vassago, demon lord banned to Earth, has one way to get back to Hell, and he would do everything to get it. When a once in a lifetime opportunity pretty much lands on his doorstep, well, what would you do? I like how the author wrote all the characters, both main and side characters. They all feel alive with their own roles to play and deals to make. As for our two main characters, they grow a lot throughout this first instalment. There are plenty of secrets and games going on, distrust seems to be the name of the game, but little do they know they are perfect for each other. Oh, as a side note, though, Marc and Echo... just saying (and appealing to the author, please make it happen! :D)
Pacing and flow: I had a hard time putting my kindle down when I was reading last night, but I really had to get some sleep. Otherwise, I would have read this book in one sitting. It just kept me entertained and wanting to know how it would continue; even when working, it was always on my mind :D
The book: The book was well written with only a few tiny errors here and there, but as this was an advanced copy of the book, I'm pretty sure they've been taken out before release. There are sexual scenes described (if that is important to you). It has 396 pages, spread over 29 chapters and alternating between Lilia's and Caezar's points of view. Warning though, it ends on a cliffhanger of sorts.
Final thoughts: I voluntarily read an advanced reader copy of this book, and all in all, I liked it! Of course, I still have many questions that I hope the next book will answer for me, but yeah, it was a very good start to the series, and I will for sure read the next instalment! If you like badass demon mobsters, a leading woman who is more than she seems and some lovely romance... pick this one up!
This has so many amazing twists and turns I’ve basically got book whiplash! So much fun to read, I couldn’t put it down. The characters are well fleshed out and have great backstories.
The cliffhanger has me big mad! I need to know ALL OF THE THINGS! Was absolutely not expecting it to end like that and I cannot wait for the sequel(s) (and to see what hell is like?)
Highly recommend if you love a bit of paranormal romance. Lilia is a badass who can hold her own and absolutely does not disappoint as a heroin and Zar is just mouth-wateringly delicious (that’s the nicest and most PG way I can put it).
This is a rather simple plot and the beginning of a series with world building and secondary characters.
The h is bent on revenge on the all mighty owner of Los Diablos casino in LA, who she thinks is responsible for killing her gambling father. Brought up with a rough childhood (no dark descriptions, no abuse, described in very light details that is not triggering at all), she is now a grown up who tries to infilter the casino to gain information that can bring the casino and it’s owner down.
The H, is the owner of the Casino, who is also a demon cast from hell and needing a specific type of demon to love him to break his isolation on earth, believed the key is the h. He needs to make her fall in love with him to do that, only he never anticipated the tables will turn on him.
This had a very promising plot, and a solid beginning to a series.
I found typos and grammar mistakes along the way, which even for me, a non-English speaker were very apparent. Also, I enjoyed the beginning but started skimming here and there. Found the plot predictable, somewhat heavy in parts or underdeveloped in others. The H’s fixation on his previous love, while admittedly a big part of his character and the plot, was over-exaggerated. Knowing that he will end up with h, his obsession about Sophia was frustrating and exhausting. It was a light enjoyable read, and although it ended on a seemingly cliffhanger, it didn’t hold me interest so much to continue to the second book.
This story is fantastic! The characters are fully fleshed out and it’s easy to connect with them. Lilia is the perfect example of a strong but damaged woman who is willing and able to change the world, no matter what it takes, even if it’s not quite how she thought she would. Caezar is a great character in his own right, and certainly meets the dangerous but compassionate bad boy persona that this genre thrives on. I am absolutely going to be reading the next book when it’s available and I am kind crossing my fingers hoping to see Pax and Allesandra as well as and Echo and Marc, cause demons deserve love too, right? Isn’t that the whole point behind the book?
Anyways, I really enjoyed this book, and while it does kinda have cliffhanger, not really because some of the the answers are in the description of the book, you know “ It’s too late for me to escape the cage of power, money and sin I'm trapped in. But the baby growing inside me . . . I hope it’s not too late for her.”
That’s the very first description of the book, so I think it’s safe to assume at least That part of the cliffhanger is answered by the author before we even start this book. Honestly, this description would have suited better for the second book, but eh, whatever.
So, yes highly recommend this book, especially if you love demon romance stories, cause this one is really good.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
So basically this girl goes to work at a casino that she believes is a Mafia establishment so that she can get evidence to bring them down because she blames the owner for her father's death. Sorry for the run on sentence but that's what this book felt like to me. It was certainly not my cup of tea...I hated it, DNF at 60%
So Lilia grew up poor but we are asked to believe that she is very intelligent. So this smart woman thinks that she will be able to bring down, what she believes to be, a mafia business worth billions by taking a job in their accounting department. I would be more inclined to believe that she intended to become Ceazar's personal assistant with hopes of killing him...that would make more sense. On top of that I just hate her. She reminds herself of her father's gambling advice as if he wasn't really bad at gambling, but she takes it a step further by convincing herself it has made her more successful. IDK this book was just filled with a lot of my pet peeves. An MC who blames everyone for her problems except the one person who was actually responsible. As well as her unwavering conviction that poor people are inherently good and rich people are inherently bad.
★ “Interest got people hired. Interesting got them killed.” ★
—>>> “You’re all kinds of risks,” I growled into her ear.”
“She was a fucking mystery. One that I fully intended to unravel. More importantly, she was telling the truth.”
Heartbroken and mourning his wife for the past many centuries, Caezar (Zar) finds himself looking into the very same eyes he had loved once long ago, but this time they belonged to a young woman with much on the line and vengeance in her heart. Lilia finds herself torn about the wild attraction she feels to him and the hate she has been nursing in her heart which has paved the way to this point. The pull Zar feels to her is uncontrollable, so much so that he offers her a job she did not even apply for, just so that he can be near her, and Lilia finds herself hired as an assistant to her enemy.
A secondary cast of characters keeps the story moving at a great pace as they support Lilia and Zar through their challenges, and the questions left unanswered and cliffhanger will leave you wanting to know what will come next, as much more will be at stake for everyone than they had realized. Even demons have to watch their backs…
Talk about a wild ride! From the very beginning, I was pulled into Lilia’s story line, wanting her to succeed despite the rough beginning of her story. I feel her embarrassment when she was heading to her job interview in the casino and I felt the romantic suspense between Lilia and Caezar, reading with bated breath on every page, wondering where their romance was going to go to next.
I was pulled in with the world building and I stayed for the character growth and development. Lilia was a strong leading female character who stuck to her guns and was easy to root for and Zar was a sexy, dark and handsome demon monster who knows just how to get under your skin. Following them through the twists you may not see coming and the turns that help the story grow will keep you reading until the very last page. Yes, there is a cliff hanger, but damn is the book good! And it sets you up for the following book perfectly!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a first for me, new Author new book. And what a great story! Growing up Lilia had every reason to what to take a man, a casino all down. She planned for well over five years to get her revenge and justice. And just like that the day of her interview to get an in to Los Diablos casino, the day went straight to hell in a hand basket. Running late, almost getting killed by an out of control car, showing up to said interview then having her skirt rip. And all this looking up from the floor into the eyes of her desire to destroy. Mr Vassago stood there and offered a jacket to conceal herself. What she didn’t expect was to walk out of the casino that day with an assistant job to the man she was wanting to destroy. How easily things changed from getting vengeance to learning there is a whole other world no human knows about. Everything she trained for to get revenge all went up in a blaze of glory. The truth has come to light and the results aren’t exactly in her favor. Revenge,Love and Lies…..
So this is a story of revenge that turns into love. Lilia has come to the devils own casino thinking she is going to take him down for her fathers death. In the meantime the devil himself Mr. vassago is looking for a way back to hell. Lets start with the world building is almost no existent. The relationship is built on a lie. Lilia is headstrong in one paragraph and then the next she is giving into his charm. She was so wishy washy for me and then when she finally learns the truth, nothing. I felt no buildup, I felt this was just another romance movie but with demons in it. Every cliche you see in those movies, it was in this book. I wanted something different, not the same thing or same book as all of the other PNR. I won't be reading the next one, sorry.
Lots of surprises in this story. Lilia is a strong woman but she's had to be. She's had a tough life. One thing has kept her going. Getting revenge on the owner of the casino she blames for her Father's death. Caezar is not your usual mafia casino boss. surprisingly he does have morals. Of course there's a spark between them but is that more than just lust? I really enjoyed this book & felt so much for Lilia. Ok so I might've felt just a little for Caezar too. You'd have to be made of stone not to see there's a lot of good in him & that he has endured so much pain & suffering. Off to read book 2 & I'm desperate for a happy ending.
What an amazing story it’s about Lilia who goes to a casino for a job interview the point of it all is that Lilia wants to bring down the owner of the casino down Caezar for destroying her father’s life but Leila doesn’t know who she’s playing against because Caezar is a demon and a very powerful one at that. I loved this story and the characters and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.
I really enjoyed this book. It has great millionaire romance vibes embedded in all the enemies-to-loves sequence, and the backstories are intriguing though left a little unfulfilled by the first book - hence my excitement for the second. The characters are likable, the situations believable (which can often not be the case when the paranormal enters the fry) and I am very interested to know what happens next. Thankfully not long to wait.
I loved the twist and turns that started their romantic relationship. The good versus evil plot and the fierce emotional tug of war between all of the relationships kept it fast and intense throughout the whole book. Can't wait to get the next book to read.
I loved this story about Lilia and demon Ceazar. He owns a casino which her father frequented before he was found after falling from its roof. She is determined to find out exactly what happened and believes Ceazar is corrupt. She managed to land a job working as his PA, which grants her access to all his business files. Can she find evidence of wrong-doing? Hot read.
This was a pleasant surprise for me. Not your normal demon story with plenty of angst and mystery making you turn the pages as fast as possible to find out the answer. And that cliff hanger was brutal because I'm dying to find out what happens. The second book can't be released quick enough to find out the answer, watch the demon gravel some more and find out more about our friends in Hell.
I really enjoyed this story. Caezar is a demon with some surprisingly caring characteristics. He reminds me a bit of Lucifer (from the TV series). Their relationship is based on lies but as they get to know each other, they both start falling for the other. Warning: It ends on a cliffhanger that I was unprepared for. But now I am looking forward to the next book.
I was initially unsure if I would like this series or not but decided to give it a try because these authors rarely disappoint and I am SOOO VERY glad that I did!! I LOVED Caesar and Lilia SO HARD!! They frustrate the he%# outta me but GAH do I love them?!! On to Book 2!
This was a great read. Fun and exciting to the end. Loved the characters they exceptionally well written. Gold blood was new and fun,made for some of the funny scenes . Highly recommend book.
I read the first couple of chapters on social media and thought I’d give it a read as was free on KU. Let’s just say I read it in less than a day! Brilliant read and I can’t wait for the 2nd books release.
I did enjoy this book but it was slow. I like faster pace. And repeats a lot. But the story had my gripped. I wanted to find out what was next. I didn’t want this book to end and found out there is another book. Very excited. Can’t wait to read more of caezar and lilias story.
Caesar is a demon.Lilia is human or is she?He needs her to fall in love with him in order to return to hell.The characters are vivid and intriguing.The twists are well written.The end doesn't happen or this would have been five stars.
I am so invested in this story!!! Sucked me in from the very beginning! I absolutely love the storyline, the plot, everything. I need to know the outcome of that test and holy cow, what is Ortega going to do????
I'm already drooling over this one! That cliffhanger has me on edge now though. Zar and Lia need to figure this out fast. The suspense is killing me. I need to know what happens next.
I love Skye's books. They are always so well told and addictive. Such an awesome start to what I know will be a great series. Loved reading about Caesar and Lilia. Looking forward to #2. Amazing narration and characters.
Loved this series. The world the author created is completely believable and the characters are.mostly relatable and likable. The plot twists.hold your interest and the spicy scenes are not overly gratuitous nor do they interfere with the storyline.