The Devil's Plaything

Rogues to Riches #1

by Calla Claire

NOLI IN TENEBRIS CLAMARE
LUCY
I thought my new university’s slogan was an inside joke. Or a charming reference to a time gone by.
I thought wrong.
Now that I live in the towering castle of Ardmore Academy, it's clear that nothing is quite as it seems. The climbing ivy, thick cobblestone, and Victorian greenhouse are a poor orphan’s dream... but in the blink of an eye, it's turned into a nightmare.
Because I thought I’d met every bully imaginable. But I couldn’t have predicted a bully like him.
Dorian is tall. Dark. Handsome. Brooding. He and his cruel cronies are the true people in charge of this place... and absolutely everyone is under their command. Including me.
Dorian isn't just a random bully, either: He's mine.He stalks me from the shadows. He makes me obey. And I’m loathe to admit it, but he does things to my body I can’t control, either...
As I get closer and closer to unraveling the secret of why I’m here in the first place, only one thing is clear: Ardmore’s slogan is accurate. Screaming will get me nowhere.

DORIAN
My latest charge is cute. Too cute.
She’s sassy and Southern, a red-haired ray of sunshine in a place like this. But I have a job to do, and a particular set of skill to do it with. I have to get her through the trials of her scholarship and send her on her way, into the billionaire society she's meant to join.
I should’ve known this wouldn’t be so easy.
See, Lucy has a problem following orders— a big problem. And if she doesn’t get in line soon, I might just have to take her over my knee...
__________________________
The Devil's Plaything is Book 1 in the Rogues to Riches series by Calla Claire. It's a steamy, new adult, college bully romance novel that features alpha males, bullies, bodyguards, feisty heroines, and an enemies-to-lovers dynamic. Each book can be read as a standalone.

HEA guaranteed... if you don't scream in the darkness.

Genres: Romance, Smut, Dark, Enemies To Lovers

433 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 12, 2022

Reviews

[Katie]

This book had some strong writing in different parts. In other parts, it would have benefitted from some rewrites to tidy it up, help clear up contradictions, plot holes and unanswered questions.

I would read the next in the series as there is good potential.

[Rachel Campbell]

Way Too Cryptic

I’m sorry…and I know I’m in the minority, but I did not enjoy this. It was way too cryptic without enough t background or detail.

[Brie_reads]

This book was absolutely nothing like I expected which is why I’m recommending it. It has villains and crime, age-old ideas mixed with modern day problem solving, and most of all, it had romance and suspense.

Reasons I’d Recommend:
1) Lucy is not the suffer in silence type and while she’s willing to bite her tongue, it doesn’t happen often and the fact that she is sassy to Dorian, the guard supposed to watch her every move, makes their romance that much more fun

2) It’s creepy. This college meant to train and marry off young women is full of big time creepy stuff that leaves you with hundreds of questions and

3) What is Adelaide really doing with Ardmore? I definitely want to know more.

Fun, creepy, suspenseful, and smutty.

#briereads #brierecommends #goodreads #instabook #bookworm #lovetoread #idratherbereading #fiction #darkromance #darkcollegebullyromance #callaclaire #thedevilsplaything

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Alicia]

This is book #1 in the Rogues to Riches series and it was a great book. Lucy is a new student at the towering castle of Ardmore Academy. Lucy arrives and has no clue what is going on but she will soon learn. Dorian the guy who is her charge is to help her through her scholarship so that she is ready for the rich society. I really enjoyed this book! It’s a page turner, enemies to lovers and bully college dark romance! So so good!!

[Renee]

This book isn't bad.

It's a lot though.

Interesting storyline and I did like Dorion a lot. I also didn't mind Rosy Posy.

But it felt like I was lost at some points, like I...IDK, it was good and was a solid 3.75 because it was interesting but I'm so hmm...

Maybe I just wanted more because I was interested?

[The Mythical Bookshelf]

Rating and review coming soon!

[Liza]

We love a red headed country protagonist juxtaposed with a mean asshole don’t we? This is spooky, smutty candy for your brain. And now I know 100% more about roses and horticulture than I did before! 🌹

[Sam Allen]

Not for me

I didn't enjoy this, I found it really confusing with lots of implied bits. The male lead was alternately hot/cold and I didn't like the female either. So, sorry - but bot for me.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lili]

This is more than a romance - it is also a mystery and a thriller, the incredible story of 2 deeply wounded, beautiful souls meeting in a strange world and overcoming adversity despite all odds. And the odds are really bad, there really are some twisted and horrifying people in this world...

Yeah, they are battered and haunted, but strong, determined and definitely not broken. It does start dark and painful, but it doesn't end that way - you just have to wait for it all to unravel.

I also very much appreciate it does not end on a cliffhanger, and I look forward to read the next story in this world.

[Charlotte]

The Devils Plaything was not what i expected it to be. Yes it was a bully romance but it wasnt exactly like other books in this genre that id read before. Dorian the so called bully in this book was a bit of a contradiction of a character. Hes both a bully and at the same time somewhat of a protector/anti-hero. You only find out the intention and the full extent of what hes all about close to the end of this book.

Lucy (FMC) on the other hand is given an opportunity that she cant refuse. Only its not as good as it seems to be. She ends up at Ardmore Academy. A place thats chocked full of secrets and lies. The plot twists in this book were pretty good. I really liked this book and im looking forward to getting my hands on more books in this series

[W.L. Brooks]

This falls in the Gothic Romance category for me. It could be considered a "bully romance," but I feel that aspect isn't quite so dark- but check your triggers. The setting was amazing, I'd love to visit the Ardmore Acemdey- though maybe not at night. As the saying goes at Ardmore "Don't scream in the darkness." Looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Maria]

:)

It was kind of a slow burn… a lot happened but also kinda not enough … I liked the story but it was a quick finish at the end and I feel like I wanted more in the actual story and not only like a quick summary in the epilogue.

Overall the book was ok and I liked the writing.

[Tranese]

The devil plaything

First book to be read by the author Calla Claire. It was good, but really hard to enjoy. I love the dynamic of it, but I think the plot is where it fell down hill. I do encourage reads to give this book a read, it just may not have been for me.

[Aisling]

I’m not even sure I should count this as a DNF given I was barely a few pages in, but I couldn’t deal with how it was written. For some reason, the author decided to make every 1/2 sentences their own paragraph. It was annoying as hell.

[Coco.V]

🎁 FREE on Amazon today (4/1/2023)! 🎁

[634]

Upside - when the feeling of dread that you’ve been reading a book about incest hits you out of nowhere but very strongly towards the end, it is confirmed in the epilogue this is not the case.

[Lori Laidlaw]

I enjoyed these characters and the story had good elements of mystery.

[Kay18]

3⭐️ This book definitely had potential! There were some great chapters and moments but there were also some that didn’t make a lot of sense for what was happening. Overall it was good!

[Saundra Wright]

Twisted.

This is pretty slow burn as far as the romance and spicy scenes but has quite an intricate plot. Wonderful characters and great world building.

[Ann Shipp]

I downloaded this book for a couple of reasons the main one being that all the proceeds in May went towards organizations that support women's reproductive rights. And the second being that it is romance and set in a prestigious but very secret school. I wasn't sure if I would like bully romance but I figured I'd give it a try and I love secret society/dark academia books. I absolutely loved the setting and the vibes! It was also kind of slow burn (it's a pretty short book so not super slow burn) and its grumpy sunshine as well as bodyguard romance. However, as I said this is a bully romance so check trigger warnings. It is very spicy! ;)

[Amanda Vernacatola]

Weird

But it was okay. Wouldn’t read it again though. Spice was pretty good and I liked Dorian and Lucy a lot. Just the school plot was bizarre to me.