Bad Bishop (Society of Villains #1), by L.J. Shen (softback, english edition)

🇬🇧 This Book Is In English

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

Bad Bishop by L.J. Shen
(Society of Villains, Book 1 of 4)

The first book in the dark and decadent Society of Villains series — a dark age-gap mafia romance with jaw-dropping plot twists and a psychopath who sits on a throne of his enemies' skulls.

My innocence was ripped from me one fatal night under a 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.

Why readers can't put it down:

• 🖤 A psychopath Irish mafia prince who underestimates exactly the wrong woman
• 💔 Dark age-gap romance with taboo tropes and sizzling tension
• ✨ Plot twists that will make your jaw drop — L.J. Shen at her most devious
• 🍮 Cameos from beloved characters across the L.J. Shen universe
• 📚 Book 1 of 4 in the Society of Villains series — with an MM book to come

Perfect for readers who love:
dark mafia romance · age gap · arranged marriage · morally grey MMC · taboo tropes · plot twists · L.J. Shen · BookTok favourites

The thing about bad bishops? They protect good pawns.

🖤 A Girl Sold to the Highest Bidder by Her Own Father
🖤 An Irish Mafia Prince Who Wants Her for All the Wrong Reasons
🖤 A Secret the Camorra Will Do Anything to Bury
🖤 A Chess Game Where the Pawn Has Her Own Strategy
🖤 A Psychopath Who Has Never Met His Match
🖤 A Throne Built on Enemies' Skulls — and One Woman Who Isn't Afraid of It

At Dark Rose, we believe the most electrifying romances are the ones where the villain meets the one person who refuses to be his victim.

👤 Recommended Age: 18+

⚠️ Content Notes:
Violence • Mafia themes • Age gap • Arranged marriage • Dark romance elements • Explicit romance • Morally grey characters • Taboo tropes

✨ Best for readers who love:
Dark Mafia Romance • Age Gap • Arranged Marriage • Morally Grey MMC • Taboo Tropes • L.J. Shen

⚠️ Probably not for readers looking for:
Light Reads • Sweet Romance • Low Steam • Redeemable Heroes from Page One

📚 Format & Details

• Format: Softback
• Pages: 448
• Genre: Dark Mafia Romance
• Series: Society of Villains, Book 1 of 4
• Publisher: Hodder Paperbacks
• Published: 4 November 2025

"The way this book had me in a chokehold." — Reader Review