Bad Bishop

The Society of Villains, Book 1

The first book in the new dark and decadent Society of Villains series, this is a dark age-gap mafia romance . . .

He's deathless. She's trying to find a reason to live.

LILA

My innocence was ripped from me one fatal night under the starless sky, resulting in an unwanted teenage pregnancy and a secret the Camorra must bury. So my father decided to hand me off to the highest bidder.

The lucky winner? Tiernan Callaghan, psychopath extraordinaire.

The Irish mafia prince wants me for all the wrong reasons: Alliance. Money. Prestige. War.

I am but a pawn in his twisted game. The man who sits on a throne of his enemies' skulls thinks I'm a weakling. Little does he know, in this chess game, the underdog wins.

Because the thing about bad bishops?

They protect good pawns.

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?) . . .

READERS ARE ALREADY OBSESSED WITH L.J. SHEN:
'The way this book had me in a chokehold'
'I'm honestly speechless'
'New favourite author! I could NOT put this book down'
'This book was everything . . . GRAB THIS BOOK NOW'
'All emotions covered'
'Five stars all day long'©2025 L.J. Shen

Tiernan & Lila Had Me in a Chokehold !!!!!

I went into The Bad Bishop not knowing what to expect, especially since it’s my first Irish mafia romance… but this audiobook completely blew me away.

The twists? Relentless. Every time I thought I had it figured out, the story pulled the rug right out from under me. I was hooked from start to finish and still thinking about it after it ended.

Tiernan and Tierney really stood out, and their sibling dynamic added so much depth to the story. But I have to say, the chemistry between Tiernan and Lila was everything. Their banter was sharp, addictive, and full of tension, and the slow-burn intensity between them had just the right amount of spice without overpowering the plot.

And the narrators? Absolutely nailed it. They brought so much emotion and edge to every scene, especially those charged moments between Tiernan and Lila.

This is a must-listen. I genuinely can’t believe I almost skipped it. Easily one of my top reads of 2026.

Everything and more

10/10 perfection! Can't wait for the next book. Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Loved how the story develops

Love it beyond words

From the very first pages, this story pulled me in: an age-gap mafia romance with high stakes, twisted power plays, and deeply flawed—but fascinating—characters. We have Lila, whose innocence was shattered and who becomes a pawn in a deadly game, and Tiernan Callaghan, the Irish mafia prince with a throne of skulls and a heart that doesn’t know how to love … until maybe it does. 

What I loved most: the male lead’s relentless protectiveness—even when his delusions and mis‐understandings of life lead him into dark corners. His misguided instincts, his overbearing shield, the way his twisted love unfolds—it’s messy, dangerous, and somehow deeply romantic. He isn’t perfect. He isn’t “safe.” But the way he fights for her is unforgettable.

And the female lead is strong in her own way: wounded, broken, yet defiant, refusing to remain a mere pawn. Her growth, her resistance, her voice—it matters in this story.

But oh… the ending. My goodness. The twist hits so hard. The revelation of how they discover that thing—I won’t spoil it, but it changed everything. The final act rewrote their entire dynamic and elevated the book from “dark romance” to “one of the best finales I’ve ever read”. It leaves you reeling, heart pounding, questioning everything you thought you knew about both characters.

Here’s a quote from the book blurb that gives a hint of the tone (no major spoilers):

“The man who sits on a throne of his enemies’ skulls thinks I’m a weakling. Little does he know, in this chess game, the underdog wins.” 
That line alone set my expectations—and the book soared beyond them.

In short: if you enjoy dark, morally grey heroes, women who fight back, mafia settings where nothing is safe, and an ending that stings and satisfies in equal measure—this book delivers. It might be intense, even brutal in places, so trigger-warning for dark themes. But the payoff? Totally worth it.

⭐ My verdict: A standout in L.J. Shen’s bibliography, with some of her most compelling characters to date—and an ending I’ll be thinking about for a while.