Pageant

Pageant #1

by Lilith Vincent

I’ve been stolen. Paraded. Forced to vie for their crown.

Through a cruel twist of fate, the dangerous life I escaped has seized hold of me again. Three men have snatched my freedom and they’re playing a twisted game, and they’re the only winners.

My captors glitter like diamonds in the dark, each one more handsome and ruthless than the last. Konstantin, the scarred and heartless ringleader, and mastermind of my fate. Elyah, the demon from my past who once craved me and now covets my demise. Kirill, a bloodthirsty maniac with depraved needs who thrives on misery and mayhem.

Sixteen women are forced to compete in their twisted pageant, and one by one we’re eliminated until there’s only one jewel left. My captors’ desire burns as hard as their cruelty, but the true torment only begins when the pageant ends.

Heavy is the crown that glitters on the winner’s head.

Author’s note: Pageant is a standalone dark reverse harem romance with Russian mafia anti-heroes. This book contains captive themes, violence, and a Why Choose romance with ruthlessly possessive men. The story is dark, dirty, and delicious, so please read at your discretion.

Genres: Dark Romance, Dark, Enemies To Lovers, Romance, Why Choose, Mafia Romance, Contemporary

346 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 11, 2022

About the author

Lilith Vincent is a steamy mafia reverse harem writer who believes in living on the wild side! Why choose one when you could choose them all.

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Free CONTESTANT Prologue Novella: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/pnm7hm58b6

Reviews

[Janabookworm · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 SHINING🌟

𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐡, 𝐩𝐮𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐣𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐬. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐧.

I seriously don't know how to begin my rambling here but...HOLY MOLY SHIT!! This book blew my mind away!! All my expectations of the book get feeded with more then I expected!!
I officially declare this book, the best read of mine this month!! Like I finally give a book 5 stars without any hesitation!! Even if it is less too, I could give it 5++ stars!!

I always Wanted to read RH romance, it is something I always crave to read. Author Lilith Vincent is the first author whose RH book I read for the first time. And man didn't she make me a sucker for her books!!
I love the promised in blood trilogy a lot, I give it a 5 too but this book- it just tops everything else! I fell in love with it!!

Like there is not a single moment in the book where I felt bored and wanted to put it aside for a little while! No, if anything I was willing to pull all nighter for this book!! It hooked me to the very start only! I already read the first 5 chapters of the book from the prolong Novella " CONTESTANT" before Pageant was released, so I start from chapter 5! God, I was hooked to the storyline and the characters from that Prolong novella only and boy did this book disappoint me? NOT AT ALL!!

Lilia, I know is a Queen material from the Prolong novella but after reading this book, I want to kiss the floor this goddess walks upon! This enigma of a woman!! I fell in love with her character, For the first time I'm utterly and completely in love with the FL more than the ML here, so much so that I am having a Bi panic here!! Plss marry me queen and make me your servant or whatever you want to make me!! Like i love this girl to no end!! She is a true mastermind!! Cunning and manipulative and intelligent!! She plays her card rightfully and brings three dangerous men to their knees for her, and beats them all in their own game!! Truly, this girl needs to be worshipped for real!! No kidding!!
She is going to be my top most favourite heroine this year along with Queen Monara!!🙇🏻‍♀️🙇🏻‍♀️🤲🤲👑👑.

* Bow down to these women guys*

Let's come to our Heroes- Konstantin, Elyah and Kirill! This all men are fucked up in different shades, don't expect any lovely dovely from these guys ( yet), they will show you twisted mercy and only to manipulate you to do their bidding! The heroes are morally grey and delicious 🥵 although they can't compare to the hotness of Queen Lilia here😏.
Konstantin ( The Pakhan) , Elyah ( The enforcer) , Kirill ( The Psycho killer)!
Sounds like boyfriend materials right! * Winks* *winks*

In prolong Novella, I love Elyah the most, my heart reaches out to him in chapter 4 but in this book Konstantin is my favourite!! It's damn shocking for me! Considering I hate this man's gut at the very end of the book but when I give it a thought about who I like the most, it's definitely Kotsya... I have a Hate-love feelings for him! He is the biggest villain and see I fall for the Villian here.. i Know I'm fucked up, lol!
Don't fool yourself with his gentlemanly gestures and attitude!! That man is really cunning!! He almost catches our Lilia ( keyword: Almost) , but one mistake he makes is that he underestimated our Queen!! She is always 2 steps above these three, she is as observant as he is ( which makes this couple the perfect match 🤩)! He is a Pakhan for a reason, he lets his man do his dirty bidding and observers behind the scenes..You could find him not so threatening even though he is the one who has the rein to everything happening around but at the very end you will get to know his true nature!! 😈.. I like to be caught surprised!! I love and hate his character equally!

Come to Kirill, The man is a true psychopath! At first I'm loving his character more ( don't mind me guys, I have a thing for psychopaths and villains🤧) and thought he could be my favourite among this three untill Konstantin shows his true nature! This man has twisted and Dirty fantasies too😏🔥.

Note guys: I want to specify it clearly here that in Chapter 10 there happened a non-consensual sex and non-consented drug use, basically Somnophilia within Kirill and Lilia here. Lilia didn't know about it yet, it will be revealed in the next part of the book.
No need to worry if you're not comfortable reading this scene, this scene was deleted in Chapter 10, if you wish to read the scene then at the end of the book the author gives a link to that scene where you can download it for free and read it if you wish. It's up to you completely.

Back to my review, I read that scene and damn it was hot indeed!! 🥵🔥. This scene was essential for Kirill and Lilia to form a bond here and Kirill is fascinated with her now.

Comes to my first love Elyah, the man acts all tough and rough from outside but from inside , he is a big softie! He loves Lilia but his misunderstanding fucked up his chance with her. He thought Lilia betrayed him but she never did and it comes to light too until he regrets everything he did to her but man has to do lots of grovelling here and not only him these three all have to grovel harder to get to our Queen haha.
Come to the fact, Elyah and Lilia will have a second chance trope! 😍. Whoever's favourite trope it is, brace yourself things are going to turn for a wild ride in the next book!

Overall I love all three men, but Konstantin is definitely my favorite among these three. 🙈

Comes to the sex scenes, All are damn hot!! Lilia had sex with three of them individually while two other watches!! The gun scene, then the deleted one, the nipple clamps one 😈, and then floor one.. every scences are hot!!🤌💦🥵🍑. Every one of them is good with their Dicks, they know how well to use it🤭😏

The ending was the highlight of the book! My faminist ass was Crazily screaming from the roof top in happiness and delight!! Finally a not so innocent heroine who can't stand on her own and doesn't have a backbone to fight back! The ending literally was the best part of the book!! My heart was literally palpitating and Adrenaline coursesing through my veins in anticipation and what will happen next!! It was absolutely crazy how the tables just turned and Lilia our mastermind truly successfully got all the women and herself free and not only that spite on this assholes face too as a Fuck you to all the sufferings they cause them!! 😈🔥🔥

The Epilogue was another crazy twist and the cliffhanger nearly kills me in frustration! Like WTF BITCH! I NEED MORE, I CAN'T WAIT FOR 2ND PART!! GIMME ME NOW!!
I'm seriously in shock from what the hell just happened From last night after completing the book and needs time to gather my thoughts before I write this review! It's Absolutely Mind- fucking-blowing!!

Now I have to wait for the 2nd book which is Crowned to be released to know what will happen next!! It's damn agonizing Although i brought it upon myself knowing this a duet and will definitely end in a cliffhanger! ( Note: Pageant is a standalone dark reverse harem romance with Russian mafia Anti-heroes, no book needs to be read before this.)
So my suggestion, If you can't handle a deathly Cliffhanger then start this duet after the 2nd book is released or if you can handle it then DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR AND GET YOUR ASS NOW TO READ THIS MASTERPIECE ASAP!!

Ok, i guess I didn't give away much spoilers here, I try hard not to as you should read it yourself to get the full experience of this book! It's dark , Dirty and delicious!! Everything a dark romance lover would want 😍🔥.

Tiggers warning ⚠️: This book contains Captive themes, violence and mild torture and in chapter 4 there is a scene of Miscarriage too, which some reader finds uncomfortable to read so proceed with caution and reads the author notes before starting this book! I already notify you all of the deleted scene which you want you can read by the given link at the end of the book and download it for free.

Another note: the cheater trope haters do not worry, the heroes have eyes, heart and dick only for our heroine here, there is no OW involved. 😘

[Kursed Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lilia Aranova, a Russian mafia widow turned runway model, finds herself kîdnäppėd off the streets of London. When she wakes up, in a cell inside a dank basement with 15 other women, she’s informed by her captors that they are contestants in a twisted take on a dating game show meets pageant. The “winner” will become the bride of Konstantin, the Pakhan of the London Vanavora Bratva.

If you’ve been following my reviews for any length of time, you’ll know that a book that I can’t entirely unravel before the final page, is my holy grail. Pageant is a wholly unique, gritty mafia romance with twists you couldn’t possibly predict and I am here for it. While it was not 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 dark by my standards, Konstantin, Elyah, and Kirill are unquestionably antiheroes. I highly recommend to go in blind unless you have concerns about triggers.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Darkness: 🖤🖤
Heat: 🌶🌶
Ending: Cliffy
POV: Multiple

🗂 Genre: Dark Romance

✨ Tropes: Arranged Marriage, Mafia/Bratva, Kïdnäppîng/Cäptivė, Revėrse Härėm

🫦 Kinks: Somnophilia

⛔️ Warning: This book may cause blushing, squirming, combusting panties, and/or self-care.

⚠️ Safety Squad: VîöIėncë, UnåIïvîng and others. If you have any hesitation, check the warnings before diving in. Otherwise, blind is best!!

📣 Type: Pageant is part of the Pageant series and ends on a cliffhanger.

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

She can have my entire soul. Every last drop of me.

Well now, this was a doozy. And here I am, desperate for more. Am I sorry?? Not even a little.

If you know me or follow my reviews, you already know I love the f*cked up ones. And it doesn't get more f*cked up than these three. Elyah, Kirill, and Kostya was like the unholy trifecta and I was here for every depraved moment of it.

Now going into this book, as with most dark romance, suspend your disbelief. I had to turn off the logical part of my brain that questioned a woman running from her past, 'hiding' in plain sight as a runway fashion model. But then, I just couldn't care less because the story completely sucked me in.

I love when a story catches me off guard and manages to surprise me, and this one did that and more. Lilia was this perfect mix of unpredictable and fierce, and she still caught me by surprise at the end in all the best ways. Here's a woman who gets captured by three psychopaths and forced to participate in a barbaric pageant of a completion that none of the women truly want to win. The crown to belong to the men. But unlike the other women in captivity, she refuses to bow down. She'll go down swinging, even if it costs her everything. She's survived hell before, and she'll do it again. What she doesn't expect is that blast from her past to be one of her three captors and for his fierce hatred of her.

The history between Elyah and Lilia is an interesting one that skated almost a bit on the insta love scale for me, which isn't usually my favorite. But the dynamics of their present was enough to buffer that for me. I did find their back and forth to be quite sudden, but it didn't bother me because the other two men added enough spice to keep it lively.

This book is dark, brutal, and downright depraved. And this girl? Gobbled it right up!


ARC courtesy of author in exchange for an honest review

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[Shaikha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 stars

The Heroes: Elyah, Konstantin, Kirill.

The Heroine: Lilia Aranova.

Tropes:

💎 Vengeance

💎 Mafia romance

💎 Abduction

💎 Hate to love

💎 Reverse harem

💎 Arranged marriage


A little backstory:

Elyah used to work as a driver for Lilia’s old, fat, unscrupulous husband. Every morning she would invite him for coffee and over the course of a month they fell in love— until Elyah discovers that she has sold him out to the feds. When he goes to confront her he finds that she has escaped, and since hell hath no fury like a Russian man scorned he promises to make her pay for her betrayal. 👺

“This pageant is for me, but it’s for these men, too. I want a wife to take back to Russia with me, the most precious jewel I can find. She will be beautiful. Obedient. Self-possessed. She must have a heart as hard as titanium and nerves that can withstand the danger that perpetually circles me. My world is drenched in blood, violence, and money. Identifying the perfect woman from among these sixteen will be performed through a series of tests, just as a diamond or sapphire is tested to determine its value. ”

The first chapter opens two years later where Konstantin (Elyah’s and Kirill’s Pakhan 😐) asks Kirill to hunt down a new model for his pageant and as luck would have it he finds just the right one for his pakhan— Lilia Aranova.

“Elyah takes a fistful of the woman’s hair and wrenches her head back.

“You took me prisoner, Lilia Aranova,” he seethes in her face. “Who is the prisoner now?”

So much for vowing to never read reverse harem ever again… I’m undoubtedly and religiously a MF romance reader I don’t like when there is more than one love interest involved. Sure the idea of three or four men pining for and fucking the same woman is erotic (theoretically) but maybe I’m just a bitter bitch and I begrudge the woman for having very handsome men lusting after her, while I’d be hard pressed to even name one man who has as much as looked at me with something that wasn’t disgust in all my miserable 23 years of life.

But I digress.

The point is reverse harem does nothing for me, but I thought this one might. And it was doing something for me until the heroine started exhibiting her nauseatingly unrealistic pick me behavior!

If you have any doubts about the authenticity of my assertion, behold the scene highlighted below:

“He closes the cylinder, spins it, and points the gun at my head. With his narrowed gaze on me, he asks the room, “Who would like to place a bet?”

Sweat breaks out over my flesh as I stare down the barrel of the gun. A one in six chance to survive. I don’t like those odds. “Elyah. Don’t. This isn’t you.”

“She seems to be forgetting that Elyah nearly choked me unconscious. I grab her hand. “No! That’s suicide. If you start talking back, then you’ll be punished. Just try to fly under the radar while I draw the heat.”

Just a few hours of captivity and she had it all figured out to the tee and she was ready to make all the other girls dance to her tune. Why couldn’t she have been docile and as terrified as the other captives and a bit more realistic? Belonging to the mafia family didn’t give her the blueprint for surviving captivity and the maliciousness of three men. It was a bit pretentious how she just claimed that her chances of survival were zero because Elyah was going to kill her so she would draw their heat to herself.



I hate when she was kept in a cellar how she suddenly donned her mother hen act even though she didn’t know the other girls and they were all almost the same age. Like how the fuck did she think she had a upper hand and why was she sooooooo willing to draw the men’s wrath onto herself when she didn’t even know the other girls nor did she feel any kind of affinity for them. Had Lilia been older I would have chalked it up to her being mature and trying to maneuver helpless, frightened weaklings out of an unpleasant situation. She acted like an overbearing person who meets a celebrity once and acts like they know everything about them down to their potty schedule. Speaking of which, who told the author that it would be a good idea to give the contestants/girl numbers instead of calling them their names? Our sweet Lilia was called Number Eleven and I absolutely died laughing when:

“My name’s Lilia,” I whisper back. Elyah and that unknown, dark-haired man seem to be working together. “Why have they taken the three of us prisoner?”

“Three of us?” says the woman on my left. “There are more than three of us. Everyone, say hi to Number Eleven.”

Sad whispers fill the air. “Hello, Number Eleven.”

“Hi, Number Eleven.”

“I’m sorry, Number Eleven.”

Let us all mourn the loss of the author missing the perfect opportunity of calling Lilia Number Two. Would have been more befitting for her personality, tbh. 😔💩




There were 16 girls running for the pageant and how come all 15 of them were such dimwits and unimpressive that they were not even considered worthy of being Konstantin’s wife? And Elyah, Kirill and Konstantin were only attracted to Lilia? And her defiance. When she talked back and was being sassy, it gave the men an instant hard on, but when some other chick dared speak up for herself she was whipped and shot to death. Like the author could have made the men only have eyes for Lilia without making the other women selfish/bland/vain. It’s just infuriatingly ridiculous that not one of the THREE men would find even 1 woman (besides Lilia😠) attractive out of 15 women!!!!!!!!!! They could have had their fun with any one (or 2 or 3 or 4) of them and it wouldn’t have made Lilia any less of a heroine. I don’t like heroines whose entire personality is bolstered by the lack of personalities of other women.

Since this was a reverse harem I might have swallowed Lilia being gang banged but to think all the 15 WOMEN WITNESSED HER BEING FUCKED BY KONSTANTIN AND ELYAH AND KIRILL GIVING HER ORAL THEN FUCKING HER WITH A GUN THROUGH A TWO WAY MIRROR HAD ME RECOILING IN DISGUST. There was no gang bang involved, though. Only one man fucked her at a time, the other two watched. Than goodness for small mercies.

I LOATHE when an author writes a hero that hates the heroine, but they chicken out when it comes to him actually portraying his hatred. Like if you’re gonna write a wronged hero, make him live up-to his animosity! There was a moment when Konstantin asked Kirill to break a contestant’s arms and Lilia offered to take her place (yeah, pick me behavior at its finest 🫶🏼) and Kirill almost gave me the satisfaction of seeing her in agony UNTILL bloody Elyah asked him to stop! Bloody wussy!

“Elyah throws the baton aside and it hits the wall with a clang and falls to the carpet. As he turns away from me, he says, louder for the others, “If I start now, I will not be able to stop. I want Lilia Aranova to suffer. She is too rotten for quick death.”

Kirill gives his friend a baffled look. “Then let me make her suffer.”

“She is to suffer at my hands,” Elyah snarls, rounding on him”

Maybe Elyah actually hurting Lilia would have sent the readers into a frenzy, terming it as abuse, but I mean when a chick is banging three men at the same time, one of them breaking her arms should be the least of your concerns, no? It would have added a nice dimension to their relationship. Abuse or not.😬😂

Needless to say, he didn’t as much as hurt a hair on her head, at least not in a way that matters (to me 👺), and all their hostility was replaced with love when Elyah was minutes away from hanging her to her death and asked why she had betrayed him AND SHE JUST HAD TO SAY THAT SHE WOULD NEVER SELL HIM OUT TO THE FEDS BECAUSE THEY KILLED HER BABY TO MAKE HIM CONFESS HIS UNDYING LOVE! Um, whatever happened to her being a snitch and a liar!

“I love you, Lilia. I do not deserve anything from you. I should rot away alone forever for what I have done to you. But I love only you and I always will.”

“I love you, too,” she says, her voice cracking and tears spilling over her cheeks. “But it hurts to be loved like this, Elyah. We have to say goodbye.”

Even though she was a total pain in the ass Lilia rid end up setting the girls free and the ending is the reason why this is a 2 star read instead of a 1. What ending, you ask? Oh, Lilia jumped off a cliff into the deep waters. No, she wouldn’t die because this is a duet. No, I’m not happy. No, I wouldn’t read the second book. No, I’m not lying.

[nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read 14/06/25: 5⭐️
SPECTACULAR GIMME 14 OF EM

Re-read 21/11/24: 5⭐️
First of all, I just wanna point out what a funny coincidence it is that I started my second re-read of this book exactly a year later lolz😂 When I read this book the first time around, I remember wanting to strangle the guys. I did soften up towards Elyah first because of their past (his POV was 🥺👉🏽👈🏼) and also because I love an obsessed man who's so tortured by his woman (even with hatred and revenge fantasies) that he can't even look at another woman.

Kirill grew on me as the story progressed - esp when his pyschotic ass solemnly promised Lilia that he'd give her a baby ajsjsksksksk. I'm such a sucker for the breeding kink ahahahha😭🤚🏻 Konstantin was the one I wasn't really sure about and he was the only character that I really warmed up to in the second book.

And as for Lilia? My god, that woman is EVERYTHING. She is everything that I want to see in a FMC. She truly is an icon👏🏽 This book is a prime example of lifting other women up despite some of them being absolute cunts. I mean, I certainly would have slapped someone if I were in Lilia's place but Lilia had such a big heart that she put some of those women to shame towards the end. I adored this cunning and extremely smart woman who manipulated and made three of the most vicious men dance on her tune like monkeys. FUCKING BRILLIANT.

I was a bit confused towards the end when there was a 180 degree change in her character and she gave in to the guys but MY GOD. I should have never doubted my girl. What a clever, clever woman😏 I have nothing but praise for this book and Lilia. Eventhough I didn't enjoy this author's previous RH series (I hated it😅) this duet really changed my mind and made me want to read more of her work. All I can say is that I'm so fucking glad that I picked this up 2 years ago for the first time (it was my first real intro to DARK romance and somnophilia🥰) 10/10 would recommend!!!

safety squad:
- no OW drama (there's a scene where kostya tells elyah to sample one of the contestants but elyah can't go through with it - this is before he meets lilia again after almost 2 years. none of the heroes actually want any of the other women and are attracted to lilia and lilia only)
- no OM drama
- no cheating (not between MCs)
- reverse harem
- revenge/betrayal
- miscommunication
- second chance (for one of the heroes and heroine)
- mafia romance
- gore, violence, domestic abuse, trauma, childhood neglect, death of a parent, miscarriage (on page), mentions of cancer, sex trafficking, violence against women, etc so don't forget to check the TWs!
- cliffhanger, book 1 in a duet

***

Re-read 20/11/23: 4⭐️
A fucking masterpiece. That's what this is. Lilia played these fuckers at their own game and nothing satisfied me more than that. Like YES YOU PRISSY PIECE OF SHIT A WOMAN FUCKING CHECKMATED YOU ALL THIS TIME WHILE YOU THOUGHT YOU'D BROKEN HER HAHAHAHAHA!!! Also, am I fucked up for liking these men despite them being psychopaths and deranged men? Probably. But, eh, who cares?🫣 Onto the next book we go WEEEEEEEEE

4⭐️
Okay. Wow. This was pretty good and I'm glad I gave Miss Vincent another chance haha. 4⭐️ only and only for Lilia because she's a fucking badass...WE STAN😌👑

[warhawke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Genre: Dark Romance
Type: Book 1 of 2 from Pageant Duet
POV: First Person - Multiple
Rating:
4.25 Stars



Lilia Aranova’s life was never a walk in the park despite being born in wealth and status. Determined to guide her own fate, she took a chance in starting a new life. But the ghosts of her past came back and put her on a collision course with three ruthless criminals.



I love dark romance and I love it even more when the heroine can go toe to toe with the hero and not lose her wits (and panties) with one smirk. Lilia was determined, defiant, and stood out among the main characters.

How does she keep turning things around on us when she’s the one locked in a cage?

I’m still not fully decided on the men because the two of them still without much back story. I felt for Elyah, intrigued by Kirill, and Konstantin... well, I just have this strong urge to break him lol! One of my favorite scenes was of course with Kirill and his secrets. I’m hoping the men won’t turn out to be pussies by the end of this duet.

Pageant is a story of survival and revenge. It would appeal to readers who enjoy a dark romance with mafia-based reverse harem dynamics.





✖👑✖. . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC . . . ✖👑✖





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[Darlene I read WAY to many books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got to beta read this book and LORDDD!!! This is not a standalone this is a duet!! So if you wanna wait please do because that Cliffhanger is a dosey!!! Before I start with my review I'm letting everyone know that there is a scene in the book that has Somnophilia but Lilith believe amazon would ban the book so that part is a fade to black.. BUT!!! don't worry you still get to read the full xxx version if you download the optional link!!

Lilia has been on the run for awhile now until she's caught. And is put into a contest she didn't wanna belong in finding a wife for Kon. And that contest happens to have a old lover who thinks she betrayed him so Revenge is tossed in there.. These crazy men Krill and Elyha and Konstantin you'll love them, hate and be confused by them. The things they do to Lilia hurt my heart and made me a thristy hoe... there was one scene I was SCREAMING!! because what a way to have a gun on you!! My messed up mind 🔥🔥🔥
I wont give more away but that cliffhanger leaves me with so many questions.

Low angst, no ow/om drama (nothing happens with the other contestants) no cheating, drama, sexy times, no virgins

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐⭐⭐⭐
Heat level-🌶🌶🌶🌶


Slow-burnish
21h/25H/33Hs
Violence
Push away from all
non-con/dubcon
Captivity
Knife play
Miscarriage
Gun play
Humiliation
Voyagerism
Degradation
blood play
breath play
Somnophilia and other deviant sexual activity.
Cliffhanger

[Valkyrie ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lilia is making it to my top 3 favorite female characters this year. Oh my god, I’m so in love with her. The masterful way in which she manipulated those men, her resilience, strength and bravery saving all those women… she’s pure feminine rage made revenge. And I’m 👏🏻 here 👏🏻 for 👏🏻 it

The same can’t be be said about the men. I’m currently Team Ditch The Romance And Kill Them All. And you know when a romance makes you wish the girl would kill her love interests instead of getting a HEA… it’s bad 😅

First there’s Elyah. He and Lilia had a past together, and he currently hated her because he thought she had betrayed him. So he wanted to kill her. Bit extreme, don’t you think my dude? He refused to listen to her for 85% of the book and then with a small conversation, he was like “AITA? I am 😩” and did a complete 180 and decided he was madly in love and she could never escape him… a bit extreme again. He isn’t the worst male specimen in this book, but I’m still not a fan, let me tell you.

Then there’s Konstantin. The psychopath. He kidnapped 16 models from Milan Fashion Week (the fuck, seriously) and kept them in cages and mistreated them, to force them to play in this sick and twisted version of a pageant, so he could pick one as HIS WIFE. The audacity, the disrespect of this man… I have no words. He thought he was so smart, too. But our girl Lilia played him like a fucking violin. Take that, you little shit. Not a fan of this man, either.

And lastly there’s Kirill (I had never heard this name before and now I’ve read two series back to back with main characters sharing that name. Wtf?) Anyway, Kirill is a rapist. He’s into somnophilia but not the fun kind, where your partner trusts you enough to consent beforehand. Nah, he drugs and abuses women. Because ”I never get anything I want, unless I take it for myself.” So you can imagine I’m not a fan, either.

Why the high rating then? Because Goodreads sucks and doesn’t allow half stars, but also because Lilia was amazing. She blew my mind and I can’t get enough of her. And because this was an insane ride and I can’t deny I was entertained. Even when I wanted to murder the three a-holes with my bare hands. So maybe I’m a masochist, who knows, but I’m reading the next book 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Sydni Donahue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pageant ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A fucking SLAY. Honestly I found this super good it got better and better and better. I love my girl Lilia. Bad ass. You know I was quite mad at her for a moment and I was like girl what the fuck are you doing but then I was LIKE AAAAAAA! That was one of the most bad asserey things ever. She let those men have it and I ATE THAT UP THATS MY FAV. I really hope these men grovel to an excessive level. And become so insanely in love that it’s just amazing. I’m really glad I got more on her background towards the end because it made me like her way more. I will say I do wish the smut we got was more detailed but it was intense and I liked it. I had a damn good time with this and I’m super excited about the next one. I had a feeling she would get preggers at the end. I feel like this author likes that shit. We will see how I feel about that. I don’t love any of the men rn like I fucking hate them but I think that’s the point. I’m super excited to see where this goes tho. Super addicting and very solid. AND SHE WAS SO BAD ASS FOR THAT. What a fun insane concept this book was. Idk how she will forgive them but I hope she makes them literally regret the day they were born or I’ll have some problems ahha. Pissed at Elyah for saying he loves the woman then picking his men over her and torturing her. I wish I got more backstory with the men and more on their thoughts on her and why they felt the need for this pageant and also why they felt like treating women so terribly but I’m very intrigued.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was this duet OTT, completely unbelievable, littered with so many triggers and morally bankrupt men? Yep

Did I devour both books in as many days? Yep

This duet is definitely not something you should read if you have any triggers, there is a long list and the men in this story, especially book 1 are pretty irredeemable, in fact early on I was about to abort mission after a particularly brutal scene but apparently I'm a sucker for asshole heroes and I couldn't stop reading because I had to know how the heroine was going to tame these men because when I say these men are bad I'm not joking at all.

Book 2 was definitely a less dark read and at times was so sweet but I loved that too.

There's something about seeing violent men made (kinda) good because of their love for a powerful and strong woman. I really enjoyed all of their character growth.

Lilia was amazing, she is not who I was expecting and I loved watching her bring these men to their knees.

If you're in the mood for a book that will make you question if you're actually ok in the head then this book is for you.

[Katarina · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was just bad

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

All kinds of fucked up, sexy, intense moments in this book. Gahhhhh!! I don’t even know what else to say. I have been waiting for this book to come out and let’s just say, THE WAIT WAS WORTH IT!!

If you can not handle certain triggers, this book is NOT for you. It’s got somnophilia, miscarriage, drugged induced sex, torture and so forth.

Yeah, it was all kinds of fucked up, but I loved it. I just can’t help but be drawn to the three men. They’re intense, murderous, and all kinds of demented but DAMNNNN. They’re hot, among other things 🥵

Lilia is a Russian mafia widow who has fled to Italy to become a runway model. She’s kidnapped by a Russian mafia man for his boss. She is thrown into a cage among 15 other models. She’s filled in that she will be competing in a evil twist of a “pageant”. The end game is for one to be crowned the winner and ultimately to become the boss’s bride. They’re put to the test through several different games and challenges in front of of three men, one whom she has a spicy history with.

This does end on a cliff hanger. And I can’t wait to see what happens next!!

[Olivia ❦ · Rating 4 out of 5]

★4/5! “Who are you? A little boy who likes to get his dirty hands on what’s not his. You were sent to prison for stealing. You tried to steal me. You’re nothing but a common thief.” LOVE HER SHE IS AN ICON!

holy hell. this book is so messed up oh my god. four starts purely for my girl Lilia and the storyline kept me on edge wanting to know what happened next! the men? hate them, they are in fact disgusting.

Lilia I adore her so much! She has been through so much yet still so fucking strong, the way she plans things out.. yesss amazing

CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS! don’t go into this book thinking you’re going to have amazing men because they ain’t, they need to be locked up ASAP! this felt more horror than dark romance

[Valentina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Let the games begin!

A mafia romance, that when entered blindly is so unexpected, so gripping and inventive, I was throwing my Kindle across the room with its twists, grit, and angst. Lilia, a model, former mafia wife, is captured and held with 16 other women to "participant" in a twisted pageant for a hand in marriage to mafia boss Konstantin. But Lilia is a surprise no one anticipated. She is fierce and coincidently shares a backstory with one of her three captors, Elyha, Krill, and Konstantin, in a game of retribution and survival.

To say I enjoyed this story would be an understatement -- characters, plot, story progression, and tension. It had everything including originality. I've come across only a few similar great reads that were different enough, creative, in fact, to hold my interest the entire story. While it was not dark for my standards (though be sure to check out the story extras), the handsome, strapping antiheroes on the side of villainy gave some pause. And they were well-matched against Lilia. While I would have liked a bit more spice in the first book, even if the story was intriguing, I recognize the reverse harem was still evolving.

Just so good! Can't wait to read part 2.

[pen · Rating 5 out of 5]

a billion out of five stars

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even before I read even a single word from this book I knew I was going to love every depraved, dirty and dark second of it. Dark, reverse harem, mafia books always do it for me. Have the men be Russian and I'm ready to hand over my soul. Lilith Vincent's Pageant is the best RH book I've read so far this year and I'm not exaggerating.

Lilia is a model who was running from her past, until one night she was kidnapped and forced to participate in a competition of a mafia boss, Konstantin, who is looking for a wife. That's the basic premise of the book and I'm going to leave it at that, because if I keep explaining what happens I'll spoil everything.

Lilia was the type of heroine I enjoy reading. She's strong, determined, fierce, doesn't back down easy and also doesn't lose her mind when a hot guy grins at her.

The guys, Konstantin, Kirill and Elyah, won my heart, mind, soul and my you-know-what *wink-wink*. I have a soft spot for unhinged, fictional men and these three are exactly what gets to me.

I can't wait for the next book to come out, because after that twist and that cliffhanger I need answers.

If you love dark, RH books with psychotic men, then this is definitely for you. I recommend it 100% to every dark romance lover. Also, make sure to check the TW.

A more in depth review for the characters will be posted later in the week.

[Meredith is a hot mess · Rating 2 out of 5]

rating & review to come

[NiCoLeTa E. {Addicted To Books} · Rating 5 out of 5]

***5 "Number Eleven!!!" stars***



"Welcome to the pageant...
May the best woman win."

Wow.... Just.... Wow!!!!
Two days after and I'm still speechless...
And what would I do now after this cliffy that left me thirsty for more???
What an original idea was that!!!! A twisted pageant for a mafia King!!!! Wow!!!
This book was dark, raw and very clever...
It had a witty and very strong heroine and three heroes that were unique on their own way.... Sexy as fuck, but so darn ruthless and violent!!!
I freakin' loved this story and I just need more!!!

"The only way out of this to safety and happiness is to earn this crown."

Lilia is running away from her old life, but unexpectendly, she is getting caught by dirty hands that belong in her world too...
She is being forced to a small cell and she is becoming a contestant on a twisted pageant along with fifteen other girls...
Lilia is not afraid... She is used to monsters that are trying to control her life, but she needs to find a way to outsmart them and get out of there!!!
She doesn't want any part on her captors' twisted games... She just wants to live her life peacefully and away from the cruel past....

"I have the pride of a Russian, just like him, and he will never. Never. Hear me beg him for anything."

Konstantin is the mastermind behind this crazy pageant... He needs a bride and that's his way of finding the one that will deserve to be at his side after putting sixteen beautiful girls through some tests and eliminating the ones that doesn't suit him...
Elyah and Kirill are his two closest friends and soldiers and they will do everything to protect him...
These three are playing dangerous and sneaky games with these poor girls, but they are determined to find the one who deserves the crowd and they won't back out on anything...

"When I get out of this cage, I'm going to make your life a living hell."
"I love that you think you can."

As you can understand, our feisty heroine is the one who is catching all three men's eyes, but not always in a good way...
But nobody can deny that these four gave us some electrifying moments in here, even though cruel and unfiltered....
These dangerous men were exciting me and terrifying me at the same time...
Honestly, I don't know what to think anymore about them or our heroine....
The author made me change my mind too many times in here...

"I will burn like acid in your heart every time you think of me."

Lilia was an amazing creature.... Intelligent, sexy, witty, feisty, strong... She was truly a fighter!!!!
If I were a man, it would be impossible for her to not get under my skin... She is so much alluring like a darn siren!!!!
As for the three men??? They were ruthless, cunning, but so freakin' sexy in their own way...
Kirill is kind of twisted and fucked up and he proved it to us over and over again. And don't let me think about that forbidden scene!!! OMG!!!
Elyah was someone from Lilia's past and even though he was seeking revenge, I suppose he seemed to me the more safe of the group...
As for my personal favorite, Konstantin??? OMG!!! This man is the perfect match for Lilia....
Honestly, he is the most alluring character to me because it is impossible to figure him out...

"How does she keep turning things around on us when she's the one locked in a cage?"

The only sure thing is that I really enjoyed this depraved world that Lilith Vincent had created in here and I am so happy that I took a chance on this story...
I am sitting on pins and needles for the second part, especially after everything that had happened in here!!!
I can not wait!!!

"You really thought you could outrun me, Lilia?"

**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**

[Misha · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars DNF 60%

Minispoilers below - in the midst of my rant.

The beginning was good. I loved the premise and the synopsis had me curious - more than curious, actually. I really wanted to love this. I liked the illicit nature of Elyah's obsession with Lilia in the past. The writing is pretty compelling-there were scenes between Lilia and the men that had me riveted.

But...there are multiple things that made no sense to me and in that regard, I can't take the story seriously. Below are only some of the things that made me crazy:

First of all, you can't kidnap 17 models from a fashion show unnoticed. I mean, there are a lot of investors in the fashion - where are the police? After, say the tenth disappearance, wouldn't someone notice that models aren't showing up for work?

Second - it doesn't sound like she's doing a very good job hiding - her face, as a model, would be everywhere. I mean, this is the Russian Mafia and it sounds like her father is pretty powerful. I'm sure he could find her if he made even a mediocre effort.

Kirill violates her while she's sleeping - and she doesn't wake up?! I mean it implies he had sex with her. How deep of a sleeper is she?!

The games make no sense. There is no rhyme or reason to them - I feel like the guys are just winging it.

Also - after the "love" Elyah professes for her in the past, he's OK with someone else touching her? Why is he so angry with her? He had her in the perfect position to find out the truth with a lie detector and he doesn't take advantage? Does he just want to stay angry for no reason?

She has a miscarriage and within a few days, she's intimate with Elyah. I think in the real world, there are ongoing medical issues for weeks afterwards. No one would or should be doing that so soon.

I think the last straw was all of a sudden Konstantin has a thing for her and she's begging him to put his hands on her? I just don't buy it. I'm definitely not a fan of insta-love.

Plus - I hate what a martyr she is - she doesn't know these women. Some of them are pretty bitchy. Why does she put them above her? Plus - she keep promising she's going to get them out of there. She really can't do that - she has no idea what she's doing.

So...overall, a frustrating read. I liked the writing and some of the scenes were pretty appealing but I think the author is asking a lot of the readers to go into this fantasy world where nothing makes sense. I wanted to like the story but I find all the peripheral stuff distracting. I think the writing and storytelling have potential so I might try this author again in the future but just not in this world. On to other more believable fantasy worlds....

[Allia Reads (semi hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

OH MY GAAWD! 🤯

The way Lilia manipulated Kirill, Elyah and Konstatin is mf priceless! She is a badass and i love her fierce character and determination even though the MMCs were horrible to her. They deserved everything she did to them.😤😌

I even cried when i reached the chapter about her past and how horrible her dad and everyone treated her as a 11 year old child…😢 I’m glad that she had her grandmothers support and i hope she reconnects with her in the next book.


Safety info:

- No real OWD. (There’s a brief scene at the beginning where Kirill tells Elyah he has to “sample” one of the contestants and give him a BJ, but he doesn’t go through with it because he can’t stop thinking about Lilia and she is IT for him, even though he’s in denial.)

- No real OMD. (Only flashbacks to Lilia’s past when she was married to her horrible husband.)

- There’s no info about Eliyah’s or Konstantin’s past, but they don’t come across as manhoes.

- I’m unsure about Kirill’s past. He mentioned stalking other women before (probably when he was 16 years old) because he couldn’t talk to them, so he touched them in their sleep? It’s unclear whether he was serious or just messing with Lilia.

- No others after meeting Lilia.

- Elyah has been celibate ever since he first laid eyes on her.

- The guys are entirely focused on the heroine.

- No cheating.

- Ends on a cliffhanger.

[Lilith Vincent]

Coming Spring 2022!

[BLuvsBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Konstantin’s twisted love is even worse than Elyah’s violent adoration and Kirill’s perversion.”

This is a dark read and will grip you from the first chapter.
I read this several weeks ago and continue to think about.
The FMC seems weak however stay with the story and it will be worth it.
The plot is unique and can be disturbing. I did appreciate the author leaving out a scene that you can choose to read via a link depending on your triggers.
It is an RH and I am unsure of any of the men but I love the FMC (a top book girlfriend) and cant wait for the next book.

Dark RH. Multi POV. Many Triggers-listed in note at beginning of book.

[freyleyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

NAH NAH NAH IT SHOULD BE ILLEGAL TO END WITH THAT MUCH OF A CLIFFY!!

i’m dying!!! how could you do this Lilith Vincent?! i love you for this book but brooooo😩just when we had *that* scene too!!!!!!!

tropes! 👇
-mafia (bratva)
-DARKKKK romance
-RH
-possessive alpha men
-the ultimate anti-hero’s
-second chance
-🔫 play (possibly air/breath play but idk)
-literal “i am going to kill you TO i am still going to kill you but i love you”

‼️ FYI ‼️ there is a fade to black scene in this book, but if the author would have included what really happened, it would be ✨banned✨ . so she has the free downloadable chapter linked at the end of the book! you should check it out causeeee🥵

this was so good. i haven’t read a romance this dark in a long ass time, but it was so good! the premise of the plot was so dark and so good, the three men were literal ASSH0LES but i cannot wait to see their redemption.

literally these men were such antihero’s i haven’t read any mafia guys this terrible in forever! this gave enemies to lovers without the actual arch rival, but they literally wanted to kill each other for 80% of the book. the tiny drops of “maybe i love you” were kinda there, but i reallyyyy expect to see that in the second book. i’m so excited for it!

no issues with this really, it was a bit slow and a lil too much hate for me lol.
perfect gothic vibes too, so i can’t wait to read the 2nd book in September!

4.75/5⭐️
3.75/5🔥

[Ketharini · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5 stars till the part I read, and then I gave up. This book was not for me.

[✡Weed Dragon✡]

👹👹👹👹

This was... Definitely something. Wtf.

Do not read if you're sensitive

[Mimiorphee · Rating 5 out of 5]

With this first installment of a new series Pageant, Lilith Vincent blew my mind. I have no other words to qualify the state I was in after the last words of this book.
“Everything is game to you.”
The breathtaking tension had me bitting my nails (and my lip) from the get go. What a thick atmosphere!!!
Lilia is of the most strong-willed and intelligent heroines I got to read. Facing her three abductors, she played the game as if it she were the one who invented it.
"She won’t stop fighting until she’s got nothing left.
Alternating between present and past, the author led us onto a dark path, where head games were as good as the steamy/deviant/thrilling sex scenes.
"His men play the most twisted game of Russian roulette I’ve ever heard of.
Mrs Vincent played with my emotions. I felt for her characters. Guilt, anger, fear, lust, jealousy were palpable while the resilience, the adaptability and the desire to survive raged within me.
If you're in the mood for a gripping and amazingly executed reverse harem, don't wait any longer!
As for me, I'll be feverishly waiting for the next opus, Crowned!

[Florence . · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

Lilia doesn’t have the best life and she is trying to escape it, but she gets kidnapped and forced to compete in a pageant to find a mafia boss, Konstantin, a wife. But he isn’t the only one present, he is with his friends Kirill and Elyah. And they all get into a reverse harem situation.

This. Book. Just. This. Book.

If someone was to pick out the thoughts in my brain when I think of everything I love in a book and put them into a book, you would get this book. It seems like this book was made for me and I loved it, so much.

This book was just such a joy to read for me. This book just worked for me. Everything about this book was things that I love seeing in books and I loved how they all were done in this one. This book was just so much fun to read for me and I had a lovely time reading it.

I loved how dark and gritty this book is. I always love darker moments in books and I loved how gritty this one got at times. I really enjoyed the entire tone of this book, it was super dark and gritty and I was such a fan of that.

I love morally grey characters, expecially when they do the most depraved and violent acts one can think of and I loved how it was the case of the three men in this one. I just loved following along their actions because they’re the exact things I love to read in books. And I loved Lilia, she was such a strong character and she was absolutely lovely. I also love Konstantin, Kirill and Elyah, they are all super lovely main characters and I love their ways of acting so much.

The steamy scenes in this book. Wow. Just wow. I loved them so much. I cannot even begin to try to describe how much I loved the steam in this book. It was just everything I wanted and I couldn’t have asked for more.

This is the start of a duology and the cliffhanger is brutal, but i’m so excited to read the next book and see what will happen next. I’m just so invested in these people’s lives and I must know what happens next.

I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest opinion

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

***AVAILABLE NOW***

4.5 STARS

Ohhhh, boy. Lilith Vincent delivered an RH Mafia romance that had me glued to the pages. This is DARK, so please read the warnings at the beginning of the book before picking it up.

What I loved:
1. Lilia is PHENOMENAL. Her strength and actions in this book are everything I love in a FMC. There are definitely parts of her past that make her vulnerable and garner sympathy from the reader, but it only makes her that much more amazing in my eyes.
2. I really loved the three men of this mafia world. They are villainous, but just the way I like them. I would be terrified of them in real life, but in fictional world, they check all the boxes. Well, maybe Kirill (I’m still up in the air about his particular kink).
3. This story was so good - the head games, the captor/captive situation, and the outcome. That freaking ending. My jaw was on the floor. On. The. Floor. I need book 2 like now.
4 I enjoyed the writing and the steam - Kirill’s kink was a struggle, but most of it is alluded too and off of the page. Lots of Dubcon and noncon surrounding him.
5. I loved seeing the backstory for Lilia and Elyah. It adds a new twist to this story.

What I needed more of:
1. I think I would have liked to see more if the guys together - their dynamics & how the function as a group outside of Lilia since their group dynamic one of. Pakhan and 2 subordinates
2. The background chapters on Lilia and Elyah were long. I needed them to be shorter and maybe more frequent. This is personal preference, though, as I dislike really long chapters

I loved her last mafia series, but this own tops the Promised in Blood series for me. From the guys to the heroine and the story. Just sooooo good.

[CC · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ★



As a young girl, Lilia Aranova learned how to adapt to powerfully manipulative and violent men, yet it didn’t provide any protection or any independence. But now, all the skills and lessons learned are being put to the test as Lilia vies for the crown as Number Eleven.

“People are so easy to manipulate once you discover what they crave and make them believe you’re the only one who can give it to them.”

Narrated in multiple POV, it’s a bizarre twist of fate when Lilia finds herself captive at the hands of the very type of men she’s been avoiding for the past two years. Being the focus of one’s revenge, makes her survival in this game even more difficult, but Lilia is prepared for the consequences.

With the timeline shifting between past and present, there is enough of a foundation created for Lilia and the men, while also leaving some mystery to be later revealed. Lilia’s tenacity was refreshing, especially due to her age, as I was relieved to see she wasn’t a shrinking violet. As for Elyah, Kirill and Konstantin, they couldn’t be more different. I’m certainly interested in knowing how the reverse harem element plays out given their propensities, especially with Kirill in the mix.

Pageant is dark romance about revenge and survival. This book would appeal to those seeking a captive story with Russian mafia characters.


*An ARC was provided in exchange for a review.*


*This was a (F)BR with with Twinsie Hawkey*


For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:

[Lolina ⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

- 3.5 stars -

I definetly liked this one, but I didn't love it. I'm not too sure what to make of the ending, nor the dynamic of the 4 of them, but I'm interested to see where it goes from here.

I did however love the author's note on the things she based the characters on:

'Then, up popped crime daddy Silco in Netflix’s Arcane last November.'

--
* manifesting more Kirill scenes *