God of Lies

Soulless Empire #3

by Sasha Leone, Jade Rowe

I’d do anything to ruin the man who destroyed my family—even date him.Blood red lips. Dark, endless eyes… I’ll never forget those eyes… or forgive them…For the past ten years, Ilya Rykov has haunted my dreams… and fuelled my passion to take down Chicago’s biggest Bratva.The 6’7 foot, tattoo-covered mafia boss is at the head of the operation, after all. All-powerful. Brutal. Untouchable.Before that, though, he was just my older brother’s best friend. This schoolgirl’s forbidden crush.Now, my brother is dead. So is my father. And I hold Ilya responsible. That’s why I became an investigative journalist. To get my revenge.So, when I hear he’s back in town, I promise to do whatever it takes to bring him down. Even if that means giving in to my deepest desires… and fulfilling all of his darkest fantasies.*God of Lies is a standalone Dark Mafia Enemies to Lovers Rivals Forbidden Love Age Gap novel with forced proximity, mature themes and a happily ever after. It is the third book of the Soulless Empire series.

Genres: Dark Romance, Mafia Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Forced Proximity, Dark, Crime

298 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 24, 2024

About the author

Sasha Leone writes dark, suspenseful romance novels about powerful mafia kings and the women who bring them to their knees. Join my mailing list at https://sasha_leone.ck.page/newslette...

Reviews

[Krystal Skye H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's the only book where I've enjoyed the epilogs!

I'm a "always read the epilogs but never like them" kinda girl lol but this one was nice! First one, a week- Second one, six months. A decent, normal amount of time. Some books go crazy..5 yrs. 10 yrs. Psh, come on! I also loved the conversation between Mikhail and Ilya. I enjoy their affectionate/brotherly relationship. I'm excited to see where Mikhail's character goes.

I think it's a solid series, and I enjoyed seeing Yelena, and the group again. I didn't think I'd like this one tbh, I don't typically enjoy betrayal/spying plots, but it had a good balance that kept me wanting to read more.

[Heaven · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was rushed and it's a shame because the characters are great, but the story was incoherent. There are some good parts but overall the story didn't make sense and was difficult to get through.

[Luna ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

»Who the fuck did this to you?«
»Don't be mad.«
»Goddamn it, Kira. I could fucking kill.«

★ ★ ★ ★

❥ 𝑲𝒊𝒓𝒂 𝜗𝜚˚⋆
She is brave, intelligent and wants revenge on Ilya and the whole bratva. I liked her sass and character in general.

❥ 𝑰𝒍𝒚𝒂 ࣪⋆✮
He is such a dark golden retriever and Kira got him wrapped around her little finger. I really liked him.

✥ 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒐𝒌
Another good and entertaining book in this series. It was a quick and enjoyable read and I read the whole book in one sitting. Like the previous one this is full of chliche too but I liked it. Sometimes all you need is a smutty mafia romance. This is no literary masterpiece but a well written book.
Kira and Ilya know each other from their teenage years and their tension was chefs kiss. I liked them together although it was so unnecessary that Kira was a virgin (why?!). Both are funny, brave and are truly in love with each other.
The plot is thrilling with some twists and turns and a lot of secrets. It was entertaining to read.
Overall a solid bratva romance.

𝐰𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐈 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤?
Yes.

𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝟓 ׂㅤ𐙚 ࣪ ⭒
plot: 4/5
spice: 3/5
humor: 3/5
couple/tension: 5/5
world building: 5/5
happy end?: yes

𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 ᡣ𐭩ྀི₊ ⊹
possessive and protective hero, instant attraction, bratva, opposites attract, touch her and die, from different worlds, good girl x bad boy, age gap, he falls first and harder, bratva boss x reporter, childhood friends to enemies to lovers, virgin fmc

𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬
#1 King of Ruin ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#2 Lord of Wrath ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#3 God of Lies ★ ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
#4 Crown of Hate ★ ★ ★
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

God of Lies. A Dark Mafia Romance is the third installment in Sasha Leone Soulless Empire Series. A full-length spicy standalone novel with no cheating or cliffhanger and complete with a happily-ever-after. A interconnected deries with characters from previous books appearing or mention in the story. A spellbounding romance with complex characters and a twisty and revenge storyline that grabs the reader attention from the first chapter and keeps you hooked and on the edge of your seat and turning the pages with it's non-stop twists, mystery, suspense and pulse-pounding action. A fast paced, dark, twisted and decadent story. An absorbing addicting and unputdownable read.
An enemies-to-lovers romance, hate-to-love story, contemporary romance, organize crime story, off-limits relationship, opposite attracts story, rivals forbidden relationship, age gap trope story, taboo romance, dead brother's best friend romance, dark mafia romance, gothic romance, paranormal romance Bratva romance, lust-at-first-sight story, virgin heroine, with forces proximity, scorching hot passion, lust, anger, revenge, revelations, retaliation, hurt, secrets, deception, tension, emotions, losses, trauma, surprises, drama, darkness, spanking, madness, dominance, submission, guilt, dirty talking, consensual intense rough sex, grief, danger, violence, betrayal, enemies, pleasure and pain, menace and kindness, assassin, obsession, threats, attacks, friendship, loyalty, jealousy, steam, bloodshed, blackmail, rivalry, mob war, secret childhood crush, pawn, possessiveness blood and gore, torture, chaos, mayhem, kidnapping, murder old enemies, kidnapped, captivity, hidden agendas and love.
Kira Zhirkov is a twenty-one year old intern at the Chicago Daily who's trying to make as an investigative journalist. She lost her brother and dad to the Bratva and ever since then she has been trying to get revenge on the people who she believes is responsible for their deaths the Zherdev Bratva out of Chicago. She has went as far as to infiltrate a fashion show and cozy up to individuals and befriend them in order to gain information. Kira has been trying to get promoted to a regular staff member to blow wind open the corruption of the Bratva as well as to get revenge. Her lead has led her from one dead end to another and no one is talking. Her editor has only been giving her grunt work and the promotion is between her and person Tate who always seems to be one step ahead of her. Tate brought a lead to their editor of Ilya Rykov of the Zherdev of Bratva after he was caught on surveillance breaking into the Russian consulate. Ilya is a brutal, ruthless and feared man among other factions of Bratva's and her boss found out that they have had a shared past. Therefore, he wanted her on the case to help bring him out. Ilya was the best friend of Kira's older and was her childhood secret crush.
She blamed him for the death of her family, after he convinced her brother to go back with him to Russian and he joined the Russian Bratva and got killed and her dad died from a broken heart because of the loss of his son leaving her alone. She had not known that Ilya was back in Chicago until her boss tells her and blackmailed her with her pass relationship to go undercover and get close to him in order to bring and his Bratva down. Ilya has a thing for beautiful women and her boss plans on using that to his advantage in getting Kira close to him. For the past ten years, Ilya Rykov has haunted her dreams, and fuelled her passion to take down Chicago’s biggest Bratva. He's a 6'7' tatted, handsome, intelligent, and calculated mafia boss. Lev was a ruthless enforcer for the Bratva until he was exiled for reasons unknown. There's an evil assassin in Chicago who has been killing off men in the Zherdev Bratva and Lev spilled his guts to him about classified information on the Zherdev Bratva. Ilya got a tip that he was hanging out in seedy bar inside Chinatown. He tried to get information from about what he had told the assassin but Lev was more afraid of the assassin than Ilya which was a bit surprising. The two tussle and Ilya killed him. Kira was at the bar to meet Lev but she came upon Ilya and him and witnessed him killing Lev. He was shocked to see her after all these years. He kidnapped her and took and take her to his home because she was a witness to the murder.
Ilya has a vendetta against her brother and since he can't exact his revenge on him he doesn't mind taking it out on her. He hates her and attracted to her at the same time. He knew that she had a crush on him when she was younger but she's older now and nothing is stopping him from pursuing something with her now. Kira hates and wants him at the same time. As she gets closer to him the lines started to blur and she forgets her mission. She's still trying to take him down and her boss continues to put her in dangerous situations. Because Ilya had been sabotaging the Russian Bratva operations for expelling him from the mother land Pakhan Boris Gusinsky the biggest Bratva in Russia sends Evgeni Kucherov a.k.a. The Silent Butcher an infamous assassin from the country of the mother land to destroy him and his Bratva. Evgeni is monstrous, vile, evil, twisted and cold-hearted. Kira brother Mikhail and Ilya had teamed up to get rid of the former Pakhan Ivan because he was just plain vile and needed to go.
But Mikhail had teamed up to get with Boris and betrayed him to get expelled from his country and for he had vowed revenge. The staff position is between Tate and Kira but he has been dirty and as been working with Yuri Naidova Bratva who was exiled. Kira has fallen in love and no longer wants to take down Ilya. She meet up with Tate to see if he had any incriminating evidence they he could use against Ilya but he turned her over to the evil Bratva. The Zherdev Bratva men had dropping like flies from the assassin and their warehouse where they kept their weapons had been taken. The Zherdev Bratva didn't know who had been so bold to take on their Bratva, when Ilya found out that it was because of him he wanted to take on the madman by himself but Andrei was right by his side. Evgeni kidnaps Kira to draw out Ilya. It would the fight of their life as Evgeni torture Kira and had a shootout with Ilya. But when it seems like he was out numbered an unlikely ally and a ghost from his past shows up and help him out. Ilya and Kira was shocked when they saw Mikhail alive and in the flesh because he had seen him got shot. However, nothing is as it seems. There were alot of anger and happiness at the same time. I'll leave you here. One click this book and you'll regret it. I devoured every single morsel of this book and wanted more.

I received an advanced copy of this book via Booksprout and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mariam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Badly written and boring at times, but amazing characters and perfect rapports.

[⭐️ B Reads Them All ⭐️ · Rating 2 out of 5]

This series is a hot mess. The characters repeat themselves so much, and the dialogue is terrible, that it makes it a painful read. This story also drags on forever and gets unnecessarily complicated towards the end. Also, there’s very little interaction with characters from the other books and the two characters are just not that interesting to carry an entire book on their own. It’s a skip!

[Coastie Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kira is full of secrets. She is working in the US under an assumed name, had a crush on her brother’s best friend Ilya and is out to take down the Bratva. Given a task by her editor, she must “run into” Ilya and get whatever she can to take him down. Kira knows this will not be easy, but revenge is so strong for her as Ilya is the reason her brother (Mikhail) was killed and her father died. Ilya was exiled from Russia – betrayed by his “brother” Mikhail, he is doing everything he can to bring down the Russian Bratva.

While in the midst of taking care of business, Ilya finds Kira “hiding” and takes her back to his place. Kira tries to fight her attraction to Ilya and while they knew each other as kids, she was always too young for him until now! Kira will use everything she has to take down Ilya – including her body, but will this backfire on her? When she starts having feelings for Ilya, will she be able to go through with her plan, or will she decide to save the man she loves?

Danger, suspense, mystery, betrayal, secrets, truths and one major twist will keep your interest piqued! I really hope there is a follow-up book to this series so the “twist” can have their story!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Cassandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished this book, and I did enjoy it. However I still cannot get very much into these books because I just can't feel any emotion from the characters. Then, there are the editing issues, as well.

Editing-wise, this book was the best of the three. I did find an odd place where a new line started after a comma, but that could just be a formatting issue with the Kindle. I did come across a random underscore in there, too, which wasn't needed. I suspect this book was proofread more than the first two, but there are still some hiccups.

My biggest issue with books is when I can't feel the characters emotions along with them, and this whole series embodies this. I just couldn't feel much from them, and I wish I could.
I did like the action going on near the end, but then the twist came up (which I totally suspected), and after that point the whole thing just got mushy and drawn out until the end.

I did enjoy the stories, at least, but I am glad that I am through these now.

[Leanne Bryson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book in this series has just gotten better and better. Sasha Leone's Soulless Empire books have all been page-turners from start to finish and I couldn't wait for each new book. This was Ilya and Kira's story. Ilya Rykov is the head of a Bratva family and has been Kira's obsession for 10 years, first as her older brother’s best friend and her teenage crush, then as her revenge obsession for the deaths of her brother and father. When he returns to Chicago after a lengthy time in Russia, she makes her plans. But nothing is as it seems. The characters are well-written and compelling, the book is full of action, drama, twists, turns, and a ton of sizzle and steam. Great addition to the series and I look forward to more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dawnmarie Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd book in the Soulless Empire series featuring the deliciously dark age-gap, enemies to lovers, forbidden love, mafia, rivals romance between Ilya and Kira. Kira secretly had a crush on Ilya who was her brothers best-friend then tragedy strikes her brother and her father die. Kira blames Ilya and she wants revenge which is why she becomes an investigative journalist. Kira wants to bring down the Bratva by any means necessary even giving in to her desires and fulfilling Ilya's darkest fantasies. I don't want to say anymore and ruin it for anyone else with spoilers. You really need to read this deliciously dark age-gap, enemies to lovers, forbidden love,mafia, rivals romance to see what happens. I would recommend reading this book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ashley · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh

I love book 1 and 2 and was so excited for book 3 but it had me skipping forward. They're both soo smart like it's repeated so many times and they're out here doing the dumbest things together and independently.
Why didn't Andrei and Valentin get involved sooner??? there's so many questions I have for this third book.... Why is it their places that are supposed to be sooo top of the line stay getting broken into and the girls kidnapped... Why is there no panic room? Why don't they teach the girls how to shoot... What's up with all the girls being virgins idk idk it seems kind of fetishy to me ... They guys are so close but they don't eat family meals together? Why don't the girls know each other.. they only books that link and make sense are the first and second .. I feel like the potential was there but nah y'all just wanted the money of the last ones

[Merilu Keenum · Rating 5 out of 5]

An adrenaline rush of epic proportions from beginning to end! Zira has her reasons for hating Ilya: she just needs to convince her heart, her body, and her mind that she’s right. Ilya and Zira are fire together, whether they’re fighting or loving. There’s a constant tension between them as he tries to figure out her motives.
Sasha Leone brings out all the good stuff: betrayal, secrets, evil assassins, and intrigue in this book. Kira and Ilya fight for each other, have dirty steamy encounters, and unravel a dangerous plot. Ilya knows Zira is his end game, he just has to protect her. I loved the intensity, her resilience, and his perseverance!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Aura S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ilya is everything and so much more. I love him and Kira so much. What I really admire is his feelings for her. I know there is always a point in the story when one have to pour his/her heart out but I felt it more when Ilya was explaining his love towards her. The care he gave her. It was so adoring.

The pain and struggles and the wounds inflicted upon them was all too much and I felt like crying.

Especially when Kira was tortured. I know all the FMC in this series has been through suffering but I think Kira has been through worst of it. Don't want any spoilers here so I won't explain more.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed it and I would be more than glad to recommend 'Soulless Empire ' to anyone with this kind of taste.

[Tc · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 3rd Book in the Soulless Empire by Sasha Leone and what a brilliant addition this book is! I just loved Ilya and Kira's story! You took me on a roller coaster ride with the intrigue and suspense, I found betrayal, loyalty and all you could possibly want in a book like this! You really had me guessing as to what would happen next and the final twist, Very good. From the end of the book it seems to have left it open for another book in the series, I personally hope so as I thoroughly enjoyed the read. Thank you so very much for allowing me to read your wonderful book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars for God of Lies Book yThree of Soulless Empire

Readers should review content warnings but they definitely enhance the excellent storyline.

What readers can expect :

Mafia / Bratva setting
Touch her and die MMC / Ilya Rykov
Smart and snarky FMC / Kira Zhirkov
Great sizzling chemistry
Lies , betrayal
Well written storyline
Happily Ever After

When Ilya is frustrated with Kira he talks to inanimate objects mostly whiskey bottles ! So funny and it happens a lot because Kira really can push his buttons ! Absolutely loved their story !

Great read !

I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Brandy Hollis-Zeigler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reporting lies

A reporter & a Bratva computer hacker with a past that ties them together in more ways than what they think. Illya & Kira may not know the truths about how the past was to each other, but they do have a past that pushes them closer together for the Chicago Bratva & not the corrupt Russian one that wants to put them both down. A dead man walks in & wants to help but remain a ghost no matter what so that all is a little safer, but how safe when he's a behind the scenes pakhan in the old country? I guess we will find out later. This is a good series and as always blood,gore, protection & of course enemies that want they they have.

[Kristie Leaphart · Rating 4 out of 5]

Number 3 in the series.
It's your basic dark Mafia romance, and I'm here for it.
6'7" Ilya Rykov works for the Pakhan of the Chicago Brava. His technology skills are par to none. When he sees Kira, the younger sister to his childhood best friend, he vows to make her pay for her brothers' traitorous ways.
Kira, a news reporter, must get the story to take down the Brava. Even better is the fact that in doing so, she'll be taking down Ilya, the man that caused her brother and father's deaths.
In order to gain the trust of Ilya, Kira must make him believe she's attracted to him ...too bad the attraction is all too real.
With someone after Ilya, he must protect Kira... even if he goes down.

[Priscilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kira is looking to score a big story and Ilya is the one to give it to her if only she can get pass how much she is attracted to him even though he was responsible for brother and father's death. All Ilya wanted to do is keep Kira safe but she his enemies out there are out for him and will be using her to get to him. The plot was good. Kira took a bit to warm up to. Overall it was a nice addition to the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vicki Stephens · Rating 5 out of 5]

God of Lies is an enemies to lovers dark mafia romance between Ilya, the Pakhan of his Bratva, who was Kira’s brother’s best friend, and Kira, who had a crush on Ilya during her teen years until her brother and father were murdered. Now, Kira is obsessed with taking revenge upon him but is it deserved? This intriguing and well written dark age gap romance has complex characters, plot twists, secrets, betrayal, danger, mafia action, and sizzling passion.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sissy's Romance Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

God of Lies by Sasha Leone and Jade Rowe is Book 3 of Soulless Empire Series. This is the story of Ilya Rykov and Kira Zhirkov. Ilya used to be Kira's brother best friend. But more personally to her.. he was her secret crush. Then tragedy happened and her brother and father dies. Kira has turned her hurt to blame which is turned toward Ilya. Kira is a investigative journalist who is out to take down the Bravta with her main goal is Ilya. Enjoyed!

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this incredible series, and this is Ilya and Kira’s story.
This is a well written action packed story, which is emotionally charged, with family, friendships, loss, grief, revenge, forced proximity, forbidden love, undeniable chemistry, tension, danger, suspense, and intrigue, which leads to an entertaining, tragic, unpredictable, twisted, and steamy addictive page turner.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[JessicaA Gonzales · Rating 4 out of 5]

on audible. great listen. the character voices were really good. kept me intrigued. the FMC would annoying at times with all her lies, but i guess that's why the book is called "god of lies". i really did like how the story fell apart and the sexy time scenes were just "perfect". gave me a few shivers. and the accent, i think that just makes it all the more better. i highly recommend this series.

[Faith Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love & death, the Bratva way.

This is a very good entry into a Bratva series. It gives the characters a humanity that is sometimes lacking in the genre. That's not to say that there's some very noticeable plot holes, because there are. Luckily the strength of the characterisation means that a lot can be forgiven. I'm hoping that some of the gaps will be closed in subsequent books.

[Rachell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book, and I love the whole series. The ending feels like there will be more in the future because the story is not done with Mikhail.

Iyla and Kira are perfect together, and I am so glad we got Iyla's story as he was one of my favorite characters from the previous books.

I loved the plot of old enemies and secrets. I still feel there is more to come, though. I highly recommend this series.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiras life changed when her family was ripped away from her and she blames one man, Ilya, know hes back and she plans her revenge on her late brothers best friend and her childhood crush. but is verything as it seems? well written steamy desires, action, twists, secrets and more!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Amanda Grange · Rating 5 out of 5]

This entire series is fire but Ilya and Kira are, by far, my favorite. It was a roller-coaster of twist and turns. Kira and Ilya had so much chemistry together. It was wild and dangerous and so so steamy. Love this so much.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shanynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished the 3rd book in this series.
I will say each book has the SAME EXACT PLOT, from different characters facing different kinds of drama but they all end the same exact way with MMC saving FMC and proposing. Also, the whole each FMC in all three books is a “virgin” thing gave me the ick a bit. I loved the spice and the bad guy vibes.

[Heidi Luhellier · Rating 4 out of 5]

EDIT: WHY? Does Goodreads not list another book that follows this series WITH the books that are listed as works? It says 3 WORKS, NOT 4...?? I had to go to the Authors IG to see there was already a 4th book following this one..... so irritating ....

Out of all 3 books, this one was my favorite. So is there going to be a 4th book? Hmmm......

[Zoe Rudich · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️⭐️⭐️
2.5🌶️🌶️
This was honestly the best one?
Editing was pretty good and the characters didn’t get mixed up except for like twice which was AMAZING.
I think they finally hit their writing rhythm and killed it here (relatively speaking).
Also Kira and Ilya were probably the best park character wise out of everyone.
Idk there was still a lot of big problems but I wasn’t mad at this book.

[Sam Allen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

This book had lots of intrigue, a plot that twists and turns and fab characters. I really enjoyed this.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.