Thank you NetGalley and Hodderscape for this ARC!

What I loved:
- The premise and world
- Female rage was *chefs kiss*
- Ate up all the moments when the FMC stood up for herself and put people in their places; the way in which these scenes were written was so compelling and emotional
- Political commentary and the shedding of light on the plight of women in any world (fictional or otherwise)

What I didn't love as much:
- General characters and world building was a bit fuzzy to me
- Slow paced but things picked up about the 50% mark
- I just didn't understand the motivations and plot driving this book; maybe if it was dual POV that would have made things clearer but when the reveals happened, it fell flat for me
- Wished the romance was more heavy handed lol, I didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters

Would not read again, however I would be interested in reading another Shalini Abeysekara book - I believe she is a gifted writer and this is a good debut. Just this book didn't hit the mark for me personally (as much as I wanted it to).

Overall rating: 3/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!

Wow...what a fantastic book! This actually blew me away with how well written and fleshed out this was. The world was lush and believable, whilst the characters all felt real and with their own motives.

Sarai is a poor orphan girl from the north, who experienced a horrific incident a few years ago in the capital. She's since been left with extensive scarring and pain, alongside nightmares of the memories she can't quite remember. A prime opportunity allows her to return to the capital, intent on finding out what happened to her and getting her revenge.

She becomes a petitor - someone who is capable of using magic to detect lies, probe peoples minds and literally manifest the memories. Petitors are the right hands of the rulers, the Tetrachs, who run the country and deal with the law and justice. Sarai gets put with Kadra, the Tetrach that nobody likes and who has an infamous reputation - she's also pretty convinced he had something to do with the incident that left her so injured.

Sarai was a great character. She felt believable in their anger at the world felt real, and was very justified. At the same time, she also has a general anger towards the incompetent laws, and how it only benefits the rich and wealthy. We have some real world problems put into this book - the wealthy flaunting the rules because they can afford to pay bribes, whilst the poor suffer and become poorer. Sarai is angry at this, and wants to right the injustices people like her have suffered at the hands of the higher ups. As you might expect, she finds her hands tied by the very law that's supposed to be protecting these people, but instead allows them to suffer.

Despite this, she's loyal and determined, yet also remarkably open-minded. She doesn't remain stuck in one point of view for too long, and is willing to listen and learn.

Kadra is a fantastic character, and I loved how smart he was. He was more similar to Sarai than she'd like to think, and he kept a few paces ahead of everyone around them. Despite his cold demeanour, you could tell he felt something towards Sarai with how he acted around her - romance, or just appreciation? He also never lies to her, and is determined to make her see her own worth. He's surprisingly supportive, and very protective. Honestly, Kadra was probably one of the best 'broody' main characters I've read in a while. He's secretive, but you understand why. He's arrogant, and with good reason!

The relationship between them both was slow burn - very slow burn, but it was great to read.

The side characters were equally as interesting. I loved Gaius, and Anek was a sweetheart. Cisuré....hated her from the start and still hate her. Horrible person.

There's apparently a second book, and I really don't know what that plot will be but I'll be interested to read it! This book was so interesting and well written, the Roman influences were strong and I just...really,r really enjoyed it! I think this would be something that readers of high fantasy might enjoy as a break, as well!

I knew I should have put my kindle down and gone to sleep when I glanced at my watch and saw it was nearing midnight but I couldn't. Coffee exists for a reason. This Monster of Mine is worth the sleep deprivation. It is just so compelling. I'm writing this review at almost 2am because my reading high won't subside. It's terribly frustrating.

If there's no romance in a novel, I'm generally not interested but despite the (admittedly great) slow burn romance, this is one of the few fantasy romance novels that I've read in the past few years that would still be a great novel even if the romance wasn't there. I was so invested in what happened that night four years ago that I would have devoured the novel just to find out. The romance just enhanced what was already a fantastic story. The tension and the yearning between Sarai and Khadra was so executed superbly and the romance was built on a foundation of respect rather than lust and snarky banter even though Sarai had a grudging attraction to Khadra from the moment she glimpses his bare chest. I admired Sarai's character given she was full of righteous anger and embodied strength in a way that more than her deftness with a blade.

This is definitely one of my favourite reads of 2025 so far and given it is Shalini Abeysekara's debut novel, I will be reading more of her work in the future.

4.5⭐️s!

Sarai returns to the city to seek revenge after being thrown off a tower 4 years ago.
She must keep under wraps her true identity to discover the truth.

Wow! What an amazing debut book!

I loved the characters and the premise. I had no idea where this was going and really couldn't predict the ending. It's not often I'm hooked like this and finished within 48 hours!

At the start, there is some unnecessary world building with words switched to a fantasy version for no reason but keep pushing on!! It's definitely worth it!

I can't wait to see what else Shalini writes in the future!

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a copy of This Monster of Mine.

This was an excellent read and I loved the dystopian feel created by the author whilst remaining in a fantasy world. I also loved that the whole story was a slowly unfolding mystery and that the reader was left to figure out which characters (all excellent) to trust and how far the corruption extends.

Fans of Scythe would definitely enjoy this and I would 100% recommend this to fans of darker dystopian fantasy with a strong political plot and unfolding mysteries!

I absolutely loved this book. I've been going through a reading slump, but even during my reading slump I had to read this book everyday, even if it was only a few pages. The FMC Sarai was amazing. She had such a strong conflict of what is right and was never swayed from that path. Kadra is an amazing character who we slowly unravel through the book. I love how he's the only one that really sees how amazing Sarai is.

I'm not a big romance person so I loved the very slow burn. The chemistry between the two main characters was perfect. The main plot was getting justice which I liked.

The book was wrapped perfectly and I will be looking for more books by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, Hodder & Stoughton (Hodderscape) and Shalini Abeysekara for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sarai, the book’s main character, is determined to find out who tried to murder her four years ago, and becomes a Petitor (like a prosecutor, but with magic) to find out the truth - giving her the perfect opportunity to conduct investigations of her own.

This Monster of Mine is very different to other things I have read before - and I have to say, I loved it! The premise was unique (at least for me) and very intriguing.

The world building and the writing generally was very clear and concise, and as a reader, you don’t feel completely lost (which is what can happen in a lot of fantasy books). The magic system was fascinating - using runes to conduct magic (whether that be detecting lies, fire, lightning or healing). I particularly loved the duality of the magic throughout the book - and loved how healing magic was used to hurt others (in a very cool way too!)

I loved the relationship arcs, the high stakes and the plot twists and the story is full to the brim of mystery, conspiracy, social commentary, angst and yearning. It also comments on the relationship between power and obsession, and how power can corrupt you (if you let it). All of the characters felt well-rounded and I enjoyed how relationships between the characters developed - for the good, and for the bad. The main character, Sarai, feels like a real person - she’s flawed, she’s angry (I love feminine rage) and she is learning the same things, at the same time that readers are.

This Monster of Mine is an amazing debut!!

This book is a stunning masterpiece that wraps you in its dark, intoxicating grip and never lets go. The writing is lush and razor-sharp, filled with an almost poetic brutality that makes every scene feel visceral. The romance is a slow, excruciating dance between power and obsession, with Kadra exuding that perfect balance of cold cruelty and undeniable allure while Sarai is a force of fire and fury, torn between her vengeance and the dangerous pull of the man she wants to destroy. The tension between them is electric, simmering beneath every exchange, every stolen glance, every moment of barely restrained violence. The themes of justice, deception, and power play out in a world so richly crafted it feels like stepping into something forbidden. It is the kind of story that leaves you breathless, aching, and utterly ruined in the best possible way.

It's been 48 hours and I genuinely still don't have words for how much I adore this book! I was wary going into it because it was marketed as a spicy romantasy (literally the other end of the spectrum of what I like to read) but my GOD is that an a simplification of what it is! This book was such a brilliant example of plot, character work, relationship arcs, plot twists, high stakes- literally eventing that you want to make a book good, this executed it brilliantly. It had mystery, conspiracy, social commentary, yearning and pining and angst, and so much buildup followed by just as much payoff! The pacing of this book- I really cannot get past how well it was paced and how that laid such a solid foundation for all the messy personal stuff to come down on and build up from.

There is so much trust in the reader going into the first few chapters- we aren't bogged down by info-dumping so it's a little overwhelming and I was confused about the hierarchy and the magic for a few chapters but it's a very smooth transition into it, and I absolutely loved that the pacing (once again) of the story allowed the reader to gently ease into the world. The magic is so bloody cool- the lightening, the healing, the way healing was a double-edged ability that could also be used to hurt?? And the different skills (?) it took to execute both sides of the magic was such an interesting idea, particularly the way it played into our main character's development and character arc. I like the idea of Ancient Rome and it's so interesting to me so that was a big bonus going into it- that being said, I actually don't know much about it let alone the legal side of that society, so getting to read this was so interesting and felt very novel. I think it holds a different appeal to someone who is familiar with the inspiration (they'll be able to appreciate the similarities/deviations) and someone who isn't (it was like a whole new world opened up, and I was gripped!).
There was a lot of social commentary, both subtle and overt, and I'm not usually a fan of the in-your-face commentary, it usually feels clunky and like it was just dumped in the middle of an otherwise flowing scene. That is NOT the case here. I absolutely loved the way Shalini inserted little quips and comments from both the main and side characters on the flaws of their society and laws etc. in a way that made perfect sense in context and also harked to real-life concerns. It felt completely organic, and I found myself aggressively annotating in the margins of those scenes about how much I loved it! One of my absolute favourite bits of dialogue is when Sarai is being told to stop talking about disparity and poverty and she retorts that that is literally what her life has been and continues to be even though she's clawed her way to a higher position. I stopped reading and just, absorbed that because it's so?? It's very obvious and then she says it and you're like- yeah. Exactly. Let's not get into how much I hated her friend- from the very first page I was scribbling in the margins calling her all sorts of names because the rage that that girl incited- genuinely wanted to punch her through the page (even though I may have a tiny shred of empathy because, yeah things worked out the way they did whatever I'm still going to be a hater). I think any author who can make me despise characters to degree I did here with the bad guys deserves some sort of medal because good or bad, I care very deeply about these people. I was *almost* disappointed when the motivations of the bad guys was revealed, not for any shortcoming of the writing (that reminds phenomenal throughout- matter of fact, it gets better with every page turned) but because it was so representative of real life men in power who do all these heinous things for?? Money? Be serious. It's never a shock but also a big fat question mark when you realise that life could be rainbows and dolphins if men just didn't do what they do when they get a little bit of prestige. Anyways. This all to say that to build a whole fantasy world and have these insane plot points and red herrings and conspiracies and keep the reader LOCKED IN and still have people just be people and have that be so far from disappointing as an ending? Yeah, YEAH she did that!!!

Onto Sarai- my girl- I love that girl so freaking much she's on my list of fave FMCs ever of all time in the whole world and all the other worlds. The way she was written, with so much love and grief and anger and tentative hope and longing poured into her- it could've never been anything less than an absolute joy and pleasure to be in her head for those 400 pages and I cannot wait to be in it again for book 2! She is an incredibly complex character- she has so many warring feelings inside her, informed by her memories or lack thereof, by what people are feeding her, what she thinks the law should be, what she is told it is, and what she reluctantly realises it is. There's a bit- multiple- that says something along the lines of how the law is built to serve the rich and powerful and to keep the common people with something to do so they don't throw a fit (this is an extreme power-phrasing I can't find the line because I'm just a girl and I only tabbed the things Kadra said and I have no shame about it ANYWAYS) and it felt like a punch to the face twofold because you're being reminded that this is the truth for us, and for Sarai but she's just been violently shown it after a lifetime of relying on that very law. I felt so so so deeply for her, every moment of doubt, every time she apologised for her rage to the one person she loved most and trusted- "I just believed you" made me throw up- every time she had to drag herself back up and out of the door to do what she believed so deeply that she physically couldn't stand back from dolling it out. Of all the characters I've ever read there are few that I've identified with as much as Sarai and so seeing her become the version of herself that is able to stand in front of a whole stadium of people, bear her scars, and be vulnerable, and be okay with that because she believes in what she's doing was somewhat cathartic. Seeing her get the love she deserved, being validated for her anger and her resentment, being told that she's allowed to make mistakes and be imperfect and keep coming back and still be worth something- I will be rocking up to my therapy sessions with this book as a guideline LOL

Onto Kadra- I have so many words and so few coherent thoughts and as someone from something once said (was it Emma?) If I loved [him] less, I would be able to talk about it more. And tbf that's exactly where I'm at with this man. Exhibits A through O of me sending my friends 10 minutes voice messages just giggling and saying oh my god over and over over the course of this read is evidence of that. Everyone loves a book boyfriend who tells the girl that she's the best thing since sliced bread or since cheesecake but a man who doesn't inflate her ego for the sake of progressing the romance? A man who drills into that that he will not hold her to the same perfection she holds herself to, that she is valuable even when she makes mistakes, that she is strong, that her anger is righteous and valid and justified and that she should wield it instead of repress it???? A man who doesn't declare his intentions to avenge her but who shows her over and over again at the cost of his own security and title, a man who apologises for his faults and who promises to shield her (and then follows through- I'm convinced that if he [redacted] earlier, that shield would have still held up for as long as she needed it to to be safe argue with the damned wall!). "My Sarai" when I say that sent me spiralling, I do not exaggerate. When he said that this was all for [redacted] and then said that everyone involved, HIMSELF INCLUDED, would be [redacted] once he [redacted]. When I say I bawled I'm being painfully literal. And every. Single. Time. He lifted her chin up- particularly the time when he was all bloody- yeah, yeah, I am just a girl after all. I loved the moments where Sarai was ogling him because yeah she's strong and has stuff to do but she's also just a girl and he is a hottie of a calibre untested before now. Also I'm not fully convinced he's fully human, I'm just not. This is based on evidence but is yet to be canon.....yet being the key word.....

I also loved that the romance felt organic! It wasn't rushed or toxic or harmful, it felt real. She spent so much time being so conflicted, and the way she was allowed space and time both by the author and by Kadra to work through those doubts and prove them wrong herself!!! And then to trust him in the way she did because he had proved over and over that he was good- it's really something. I love the pacing of when they got together; that they were able to go from reluctant coworkers to allies to friends and then lovers but in a non-linear way that spoke to real connection and so much thought being put into their dynamic beyond enemies-to-lovers for the sake of it, the obvious consent (even if sometimes it wasn't verbal) in all corners of their relationship. I really hope book 2 explores more of their dynamic and doesn't fall into the trap of now that they're together all is well forever and always and all they do when they're in the same room is shag with no real development of their relationship or individual characters, which so many series do unforch :( (but I trust that she loves these characters even more than I do so I know book 2 will be phenomenal!)

There's honestly so much between these two that would require me trauma dumping to explain why I loved it so much and this is just not the place to do that LMAO but this book was healing in so many ways and forced introspection in the gentlest of ways. It felt (sans the gut wrenching angst and the unparalleled stress that rivalled the stress my anxiety causes me when I have to do a menial task) like a warm hug- one of those that doesn't end till you let go first. You can feel and see how much love and heart the author poured into these characters, this world, the pursuit of justice in all its forms here, and it honestly makes such a difference.

I also loved the side charters- every single one of the ones that weren't evil lol. They were all fleshed out without taking from the main group, they had backstories and lore and separate motivations that all fed into the plot and the way things worked out and how everyone interacted with each other. From Gaius and Anek who got more page time to the nameless people of Kadra's Quarter to the grieving families of the Petitors. They were all so very real and held their own little worlds within them I felt and saw even if they were just side characters. It's so impressive to read a book and feel like you've stepped through a portal into that world and this book did exactly that. It was honestly transportive!

I don't think I have a single complaint for this book except maybe my eye twitched a little when he said good girl- did not love that- but the girlies will eat it up so it's only half a complaint LMAO

I feel that I've written as much as I can, this book is so special to me, and I hold it so close to my heart for many reasons, but I struggle to put all those feelings into words because of how big the feelings are.

From the dedication onwards, this book had me HOOKED! The magic system was really interesting and not something I had read before (it made me wish I hadn’t forgotten so much of the 6 years of Latin I took in school). Going into a new fantasy book can always be “stressful” if it takes you half the book to understand - this was not the case for TMoM and the magic system was just the right amount of intriguing without being too complicated.

The writing, plot, and pacing of the book were well done and kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. And the political commentary was just *chef’s kiss* and so relevant to what is currently going on in the world. 10/10

The characters were well-rounded and I loved Sarai, her female rage and her need for revenge! The relationships between the different characters (both the romantic and platonic ones) were so interesting and I really enjoyed the complicated relationship between Sarai and her friend Cisure. And don’t even get me started on the relationship between Sarai and Kadra -, the slow-burn, the TENSION! - It was just perfection.

A dark and visceral fantasy inspired by Ancient Rome. I loved this! The setting (an Acadamiae surrounded by four quarters with four towers each controlled by a Tetrarch, basically the ruler of that quarter) was fully realised and I felt like I was there. The use of Latin (especially Legalese words) added to the atmosphere and otherworldly feel of the setting. Sarai and Kadra are both such great main characters and I’m fully ok with morally grey characters so I loved them! This is a lot darker than some dark academia/fantasy and I would say it veers more towards horror with quite vivid scenes of violence.

4.5 stars

This Monster of Mine turned out to be darker than I had expected, and you know what? I am so here for that. I was confused by the world-building, especially as we are thrown into the action, and there were a lot of Latin terms, but it started making sense pretty quickly. The world that this book is set in is dark and rife with danger at every corner. The magic felt unique and involves a mix of runes to control specific things - to disguise, to detect lies, to cause fires - which makes for some very tense scenarios in the book.

Sarai, our main character, is determined to find out who was behind her murder attempt from year ago and becomes a Petitor to find out the truth. But in doing so, finds herself assigned to ruthless, deadly and ice-cold Tetrach Kadra, a judge with no mercy and many secrets. One thing about Sarai that I really like was how very determined and stubborn she was; she refuses to back down from finding out the truth about cases and put that truth out there, rather than a version of it. Even though her life is danger, she refuses to give up and continues to investigate dangerous truths and angles in order to find out what happened that night four years ago.

Her dynamic with Kadra is interesting, because at first she is confused by why Kadra chooses her as his prosecutor. Kadra is cold and brutal, and is constantly testing Sarai. Yet Sarai slowly grows a semblance of an attraction towards him, which only makes their dynamic more interesting. This is an intense slowburn and this is slowburn done right. There are also some scenes that fall under the 'who did this to you?' trope and I was obsessed!

As I mentioned in the earlier paragraphs, the book is dark and dangerous. There are scenes full of unbridled violence and because of the gorgeous prose, it is so easy to visualise them, which does get intense. The climax delivers a stunning scene, and the ending is even better. I honestly thought it might have ended on a cliffhanger but I am so glad that it didn't.

This Monster of Mine is a stunning debut and delivers on all fronts. I loved the world-building here and I wouldn't mind more books set in the same world, because I feel there is room to do so much more here. I'll definitely be looking out for other books from Shalini Abeysekara!

This Monster of Mine is so different to anything I've read in a while and I absolutely loved this debut novel. Set against an ancient Roman inspired fantasy world we follow Sarai who at a young age suffererd a brutal ordeal and was left for dead so four years later she gets the opportunity to return to the capital to become a petitor (similar to a prosecutor but with magic) while giving her the perfect chance to investigate and plot her revenge on who attempted to kill her, she finds herself assigned to Tetrarch Kadra (similar to a judge) her no 1 suspect.

The main thing about this book that I loved was the depth and the complexity of each and every character and the extensive worldbuilding, which even though it took me a little while getting used to once I did it was so easy to understand and get lost in. Even though it was a fantasy book it felt so relatable while exploring and dealing with so many different themes and heavy topics that makes it feel all the more realistic.

While also being a murder mystery which again I was enjoying immensely, it does have a really beautiful slow burn romance between Sarai and Kadra which is more of a subplot but let me tell you this romance was so beautifully written from longing touches to lingering looks and I loved it so much, it was perfectly developed throughout the story so when the spice came towards the end it made it so so worth it. I loved their relationship so much their dynamic is filled with so much uncertainty but it left every interaction between them so compelling, the character growth was also done so well and I really enjoyed how the romance didn't take away from the main plot but instead enhanced it.

Please do check trigger warnings though as the author does an amazing job at portraying some rather heavy themes, topics and emotions with vivid writing that can make it hard for some to read.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this before publication.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

I, am flabbergasted, I'm in awe. This was such a devastating debut, Shalini Abeysekara knew she had a story to tell and told it in the most impeccable way. Between the plot, characters and setting there was nothing, and I say nothing, that I did not like.
Plus we're set in a world that is inspired from ancient Rome, and I'm Italian, so I knew it was going to be a good read from the very start.

Kadra and Sarai have climbed their way into my heart, easily claiming the spot between some of my favorite couples. Kadra, all-mighty Tetrarch that seems to know it all, who wears power and manipulation like a glove and Sarai. A fighter, not a quitter, someone that found the courage to change their life after all that's unfair was thrown at heron where forgetting and moving on isn't admitted, not until those who have wronged her- and many other after her- were to be brought in front of a trial.

Trials, another thing this book had plenty of, and that made my interest sky-rocket to the moon. Each trial we had was full of tension (tbh all this book was tension filled and that's once again another scored point) and how Sarai slowly but steadily tore through years of lies and secret hid in plain sight as she researched the truth was so satisfying to read, how she related to each other character (especially our Kadra) was well done. Both her relationship with the remaining of the Tetrarchs and the other Petitors.

AND CAN WE TALK ABOUT THE TENSION BETWEEN OUR CRUEL TETRARCH AND HIS HEADSTRONG PETITOR? THEIR SMALL SNARKY REMARKS AS THE STORY PROGRESSED? OH I'M ALL IN FOR MORE OF THAT.

This is going to be if not the first then the second time where I've actually wanted to buy the book and have it on my bookshelf.
What an amazing read, the only thing that this book misses for now is a map to help the reader picture Edessa. The rest is amazing stunning, give me 15 of these.

5⭐️ 1.25/1.5

This Monster of Mine is very dark, I'd suggest reading the trigger warnings before going into it. To me, the opening was disturbing and set the tone for the rest of the story. I didn't know how brutal it was going to be before picking it up. However, while it didn't work for me due to the dark tone and violence I can see it appealing to people who are after this type of romantasy.

It's hard to create a standalone fantasy book that doesn't feel rushed. However, Abeysekara delivers both great world building and character development. The main character, Sarai, is quiet but fiery. Someone not to be underestimated and very easy to root for. The romance is a slow burn, it truly deliveries on enemies to lovers. Plus, the love interest is all about consent!

If you want a dark romantasy that is is equal parts romance and plot then look no further. While This Monster of Mine wasn't my cup of tea, I would still recommend it as I have no complaints about the world building or romance.

I apologise that this wasn't the book for me, so I will try to give feedback that is useful to readers, who I think it will suit. Please be aware that I was unable to finish the whole book as I couldn't engage, so I cannot comment on the ending.

This monster of mine, is an interesting fantasy, in that the main character Sarai has a dark past, that is motivating her into vengeance. and her love interest Kadra, is equally dark with his own complicated backstory. It's a story of finding love despite the complications, and learning to trust again. The world-building is immense with great detail from the offset, with magic underpinning but not being centre-stage. The world is dark, with complex hierarchy and polities affecting character's lifes.

If you enjoy political fantasy and characters with questionable motives that you end up rooting for anyway, then you'd enjoy this book. There is a lot going on, so it's one of those fantasies where you really do have to focus, but if you are the type of reader, to enjoy being fully immesed in a completely new world, and watch the characters slowly develop alongside the plot, then you will be obsessed with this read! Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay focussed enough to appreciate it, but that reflects on me as a reader, and not on the book's readablity. I'm therefore happy to rate it a 4 star, despite it not being the read for me.

Absolutely devoured this book!! The Ancient setting was amazing and I was hooked from the beginning. Highly recommend as it was an amazing ride!

This entire story had me in a trance, I just couldn't stop turning the pages! The world building was next level and the idea of the magic abilities being tied into the justice system was unlike anything I’ve ever read!

As for the romance, I was obsessed from the very first introduction… Kadra owns my heart and soul from this day forward

I would recommend this for anyone who’s interested in reading romantasy with a hint of crime, it was a unique blend of genres Ive never tried before but I definitely will read again!

Rating - 4.75⭐️

I already knew from the synopsis and the fanart that I was going to enjoy this🙂‍↕️. The plot was intriguing since the prologue, and I also really liked how difficult it was to trust anyone. There’s a lot of injustice and corruption at the heart of the world building that Sarai must fight against.

She wants to seek revenge on who tried to kill her four years ago while cohabiting with Kadra, who is one of the suspects👀👀.

I instantly loved Sarai in the first chapter!! I love all her inner dialogue because it’s so funny to me and entertaining. She’s honestly such a mood to me. I won’t say much about Kadra since it’s better to go in blind and get to know him as you read, but he’s morally grey, strategic, and manipulative👀🤭.

Sarai doesn’t trust Kadra AT ALL and I’d be the same too because that man is so enigmatic😭. They have a great slow burn emotional connection despite Sarai having a strong physical attraction for Kadra. The slow burn was so worth the pay off and the tension was INSANEEE!!! Every interaction they shared made me either go like “😳” or “🥹”. You’ll know what I mean when you read it🙂‍↕️✋🏻.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC copy of this book.

WOW. This book was incredible!

From start to finish it had me hooked, there was no point where I felt like it dragged and I couldn’t stop reading

The enemies to lovers was perfect 👌🏼 following Sarai on this journey for revenge and answers, not knowing what direction it was going to go was a beautifully tragic story and the writing style was top tier.

Kadra 🥵😍 what more could I say?


*side note; I’m glad I read it on my Kindle as I’m not ashamed to say there were a lot of words in there I had no idea of the meaning 😂 it didn’t affect the story though you soon pick up what is meant