Thrown to the Wolves

The Red Rivals Duet, Book 1

By: Persephone Black

Narrated by: Megan Wicks, Allie Shae

Lyssa can't resist a damsel in distress… but she'll wish she resisted this one.

The ferocious Styx Syndicate enforcer and trainer known as the Wolf has always been the hunter, never the hunted. So when Lyssa sees the gorgeous Scarlett getting harassed by thugs in a dive bar she's visiting for intel, she jumps straight into protective mode.

But Lyssa soon discovers that not every damsel needs saving. And sometimes, wolves wear sheep's clothing…

Lyssa thought she'd buried her past, but now it's rushing back with a vengeance—literally. Scarlett has a score to settle, and she's not going to back off.

The Styx Syndicate wants Scarlett dead. But Lyssa sees potential in her nemesis—and maybe something more. Something Lyssa has never allowed herself to want. Something forbidden.

Can Lyssa persuade the Syndicate to give an enemy a chance? Or will she follow orders like she always has, and destroy the one person who makes her feel like something more than a monster?

Thrown to the Wolves is part one of the Red Rivals Duet, a twisty, steamy contemporary sapphic mafia romance based (very) loosely on "Little Red Riding Hood." For mature listeners.

©2024 Persephone Black (P)2024 Podium Audio

Great story!!

Love all these books! This one was not a disappointment! Can’t wait to read the next installment!

Exciting and Intense

OMG this book was so awesome. I loved listening to the narrators who did a fabulous job. The intensity of the relationships were fantastic. I can’t wait for the next book to come out and see what happens.

Where bodies go, hearts follow, and darkness is radically penetrated by light.

This is a well-written, spicy, girl-on-girl romance with elements of past trauma, life-altering mistakes, psychological manipulation, torture, action/adventure, redemption, and radical forgiveness! This is a 2 book series and can be read as a stand-alone but reading the earlier novels by this author will give you an appreciation for all of the characters and their back stories. Simply put the biggest baddest wolf in the pack is the least likely character that a reader would imagine finding love. And yet… this IS a passion-filled romance novel. What could tame a wolf- perhaps another? In this story, the past haunts the present lives of these two women, and no one can move forward until the ghosts are put in their place. Amid chaos, pain, and trauma, these two hearts have a chance to resuscitate each other and their community. The story and characters are intricately woven together, solving the many mysteries and secrets of this author's tapestry. The narration is excellent! Highly recommended.

Forbidden love & assassins? Sign me up!

I was COUNTING down the days for this book! Megan Wicks is one of my favorite narrators & her talent never ceases to amaze me! Voice is smooth as butter. She captured the exact essence needed to bring Lyssa to life. Her emotion behind the writer’s words had me picturing everything as if I was there. I was gasping, shrieking, & all the things while listening to this book. I cannot imagine anyone else voicing Lyssa. Absolutely beautiful work along with Allie Shae as Scarlett was chef’s kiss.

Fitful Title

You are killing me. This story made me laugh, long for romance, and cry. Couldn't understand Grandmother's reaction to Mrs. G. There has to be something I don't know yet. And when I thought Lyssa killed Scarlet, well the flood of tears started. Darn your hides. For those listeners who have not listened to the story, I will only say that I wish I knew for sure that Lyssa lets her heart rule her decision. If you want to know what happens, please buy the book. You won't be sorry, sad at times, but not sorry.

Great listen

It’s nice to connect characters from a previous storyline. I’m looking forward to the next one !

In my mafia era

I have officially entered my Black Hole Era—and there is no coming back.

Since diving into Persephone Black’s Sapphic Mafia Universe, I’ve been in a state of absolute blissful captivity. These duets—The Underworld Duet, Bianchi Family Duet, Ruby Realm Duet, and Red Rivals Duet—are the kind of dark, deliciously intense, emotionally layered romances that refuse to let go until you’ve consumed every last word. And then? You hit replay.

Each story feels like its own world, richly built with high-stakes tension, devastatingly compelling characters, and a level of sapphic yearning that delivers—hard. Black doesn’t just write mafia romance—she elevates it. There’s blood, betrayal, forced proximity, forbidden love, vengeance, and ICE QUEENS who will freeze your heart before slowly, achingly melting into puddles of longing and love. I mean, YES please.

From the ruthless mercenary who kidnaps a bride on her wedding day, to a street-racing Irish mob daughter begrudgingly falling for her billionaire enemy, to an undercover fed losing herself in the velvet-laced world of a ladies-only mafia nightclub, to two deadly rivals whose passion burns hotter than the bullets flying around them—every duet is an experience.

And let’s talk about the audiobook narrators, because they are next-level phenomenal. Paige Reisenfeld, Aleksi Graves, Avery Reid, Quinn Riley, Megan Wicks, and Allie Shae—these voices are the characters. They don’t just read the story; they breathe it. It’s sultry, cinematic, and completely immersive. I’ve gasped. I’ve clutched my imaginary pearls. I’ve stared into space mid-scene wondering how I’ll recover (spoiler: I haven’t).

The steam? STEAMING. The sapphics? SAPPHICING. The suspense? Suspending.
These duets are gripping, intoxicating, and—quite frankly—addictive as hell.

What I love most is how Persephone Black crafts these complex women—ruthless yet vulnerable, loyal yet fractured, terrifying yet so damn lovable. The romance always lands with deep emotional payoff. The slow burns burn. The character arcs arc. The tension? Chef’s kiss.

I haven’t binge-read (or binge-listened) an author like this in a long time, and I truly cannot stop myself. This universe has swallowed me whole and I’m not asking for rescue. If you’re even remotely into sapphic romance, mafia drama, or morally grey women who love hard and fight harder—start here.

10/10. No notes. Only obsession.

GIMME MOOOOOOREEEEEE!!!!!