Why we’re excited
Sofia and Luca Ferrante were pushed into marriage by their families and once swore to wreck the arrangement together. Luca changed his mind and kept her. Now Sofia wants revenge on his Camorra family for what they did to hers, while he decides that losing her is not an option.
L.J. Shen has a large dark-romance following from the Sinners of Saint and All Saints High series. This is book four of Society of Villains and follows its own couple, so new readers can start here. It suits readers who like enemies-to-lovers with real menace and morally grey heroes.
On our most-anticipated list since 21 October 2026. See all the most anticipated books →
What to know about Heartless King
Heartless King is Book 4 in the Society of Villains series. New readers should begin with Book 1, Bad Bishop. The book just before this one is Fallen Rook, also reviewed on The Bookish Elf. 1 of the 4 books in the series have a full review here.
L.J. Shen is a familiar name here: 4 of L.J. Shen’s books have full reviews, averaging 4.0 out of 5. Our favourite to date is Fallen Rook (4★).
It sits at No. 12 on our March 2027 most-anticipated list, which ranks the month's books by how many readers have saved them.
From the publisher
Sofia
Our marriage only had one rule: never fall in love with your spouse.
Easy. Luca Ferrante has no heart to give, and mine has nothing left but revenge.
Once upon a time, we swore we’d sabotage our parents’ arrangement to marry us.
But then Luca changed his mind.
I begged him to set me free.
Instead, he locked me in a gilded cage.
Now, I spend my days shaking the bars until I break free.
When I push, he pulls.
When he breaks, I shatter.
His family destroyed mine, so I’m going to burn the Camorra to the ground or die trying.
Luca Ferrante was built for war.
And I’m the only battle he’ll lose.
Luca
She’s my finest business decision, and I don’t make bad ones.
Sofia Ferrante is lethal with a weapon, gentle with children, and full of secrets she thinks I haven’t found.
The fact that she doesn't want me? Nothing but a mild inconvenience.
I started a war to keep her.
And I’ll do so much worse to win her over.
If she wants to set the underworld on fire for vengeance, then I’d gladly hand her the match.
Anything for my lovely little monster.
Description supplied by the publisher.
We haven’t read Heartless King yet. When our review goes up, it will replace this page.
