Her Cruel Empire

The Devil's Plaything, Book 1

Thirty days. One million dollars. A deal with the devil.

I think I've made a terrible mistake…

The auction was supposed to be simple—thirty days of my life for enough money to save my family. What did I get instead?

Eva Novak.

An arms dealer. A coldhearted criminal. The most dangerously beautiful woman I've ever seen.

She steals me away to a castle that belongs to nightmares, where the villagers in the town below cross themselves when she passes by and whisper warnings about women she's made disappear.

Eva's touch makes me forget I should fear her, but she doesn't just want my body. She wants my secrets, my smiles, my stubborn hope that refuses to break even in the darkest places.

And the worst part? I think I'm starting to want her, too.

I came here to save the people I love.

Now I'm not even sure I can save myself.

Her Cruel Empire is the first book in The Devil's Plaything dark Sapphic mafia romance series. For mature listeners.

©2025 Persephone Black (P)2026 Podium Audio

Iciest of the Mafia ice queens.

This book flows well with the mafia series. Has spice and a cliffhanger. Eva is the iciest of the mafia ice queens and there isn’t much about her to like. Robin on the other hand is innocent and sweet.

Possible Spoilers-
It’s not my favorite book from this author. I felt that Eva, though she said she was against human trafficking still bought Robin and “got what she paid for.” Robin was sweet and innocent claiming to not know what she really signed up for. The biggest reason this isn’t my favorite, is because there is no consent. She gets her home and demands sex. Eva claimed to have saved Robin from horrible men at an auction just to turn around and treat her no differently than the men would have. This book didn’t make me feel a connection between the MCs but maybe that’s what book two will bring.

my favorite from this author

I love, love, love the absolute ice queen, Eva. If you're into ice queens, give all this author's books a try, but Eva is truly the iciest. Loved and book and the audio makes it even better. Bravo, Quinn Riley and Allie Shae!

Yes, lots of steamy stuff, but also, a compelling story.

The narration is outstanding. Ms. Black always delivers in the spicy department, but it must be said that this is also a compelling story that harkens back to ghosts of ancient war lords, now living as a modern day arms dealer and head of an organized crime syndicate. I suppose the one thing I missed was rounding out our main characters with more information on their background and more interactions with the side characters that I find so intriguing. So yes, betting this is a series, where all of that will come to life. I would actually love a prequel series too with few surprises that happen to dispel some of the family folklore! Highly recommended.

Loved it!!!!

Can’t wait for the next one to come out on audio!!!! This might be one of my favorites she has wrote so far!

similar to hades but more sub /dom dynamic

I love these series and how they all tie together and the suspense is real