TheWell Bookshop

Series · dark romance

Society of Villains

by L.J. Shen

The Society of Villains series by L.J. Shen has 3 known books (2 published; 1 with an undated publication record) and is best read in publication order, starting with Bad Bishop (2025). The latest book with a fully recorded publication date is Fallen Rook.

Books
3 known books (3 novels)
Published
2
First published
2025
Status
ongoing
Shelved under
Romance
Last checked

Start here: Bad Bishop (2025) — then read straight through in publication order.

Book one

Cover of Bad Bishop

Bad Bishop (2025)

Reading order

The date order of published books and any announced future entries — the default way to read the series.

  1. Bad Bishop

    Novel

    Bad Bishop opens L. J. Shen's newest series in November 2025 at 477 pages, launching a chess-themed secret society of morally compromised men that the author has planned to run to seven total entries.

    View book

  2. Twisted Pawn

    Novel

    Twisted Pawn followed in 2026, the second of the society's members to headline his own book in a series that takes each title from a chess piece or move.

    View book

  3. Fallen Rook

    Novel

    Fallen Rook is scheduled for September 2026 at 448 pages, the third confirmed entry, with four further installments -- Corrupt Knight, Heartless King, Wicked Queen and Devil's Gambit -- announced but not yet dated.

    View book

About the Society of Villains series

Society of Villains is L. J. Shen's newest dark-romance series, launched in late 2025, built around a chess-themed secret society of morally compromised men, each book taking its title from a chess piece or move. Bad Bishop opens the series, with Twisted Pawn and Fallen Rook following through 2026, continuing Shen's trademark mix of anti-hero grovelling, class-conflict tension, and enemies-to-lovers dynamics that built her reputation in earlier series like Sinners of Saint and Boston Belles.

The author's own site lists a total of seven planned entries -- Bad Bishop, Twisted Pawn, Fallen Rook, Corrupt Knight, Heartless King, Wicked Queen and Devil's Gambit -- making this her most ambitious series to date, though only the first three have confirmed publication dates as of this tracking pass.

Frequently asked questions

How many books are in the Society of Villains series?

Seven are planned per the author's own reading-order page, of which three -- Bad Bishop (2025), Twisted Pawn (2026) and Fallen Rook (September 2026) -- have confirmed publication. The remaining four (Corrupt Knight, Heartless King, Wicked Queen, Devil's Gambit) are announced titles without confirmed release dates as of this writing.

What order should I read Society of Villains in?

Publication order: Bad Bishop, then Twisted Pawn, then Fallen Rook, continuing with further entries as they're released.

Is Society of Villains connected to L. J. Shen's other series?

No shared characters confirmed as of this writing; it's a new, separate dark-romance world built around a chess-themed secret society.

Is Society of Villains finished?

No, it's an ongoing series with four further titles announced but not yet released.

Reading order last verified .