First of all, thank you so much to the publisher, little brown book group UK, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Brigitte Knightley understands exactly what enemies to lovers is and does it extremely well. She was able to make her characters see the most awful parts of one another and at their worst but loved regardless. It was an insanely slow burn of a story, but those kind of stories make it so worth while.

I will be honest, it took me awhile bit to get into the story as I found the world building a bit slow, to begin with, and was confused on names of characters for a bit before it all clicked. Once I was into the story and characters I couldn’t put it down. Parts will make you laugh out loud and you’ll find yourself falling in love with the characters. I cannot wait for the next book to continue this story and see what happens with these characters.

I was so excited for this one, but I have to say it left me a bit disappointed. Going in, I knew it was going to be a slow burn, but what I didn’t expect was that the book would be kinda slow. It took until 75% for me to finally feel like there were actual stakes and the plot started moving.

The story just didn’t have enough bite to hook me early on, and so much time was spent on medical and research-coded explanations that I felt like I was reading a patient file. I don’t mind complex magic systems, but this felt clinical, not magical. The worldbuilding didn’t land for me either. Maybe it was meant to live in the glossary, but being dropped into a world and expected to just figure things out on the fly doesn’t work when even the basics are unclear. Honestly, I couldn’t really tell you what the central conflict was until the very end.

That said, I did love the deofol. I would’ve loved to learn more about them: why do they take the shapes they do? Does it reflect their “owner” somehow? That felt like such a missed opportunity to deepen the world.

What also worked for me was the dry humor. Lines like “Did she forget to die?” actually made me laugh. I appreciated the sharp, sarcastic tone in some scenes. I just wish the rest of the book had matched that energy.

Maybe book two will tie everything together, and some readers might really vibe with this kind of weird, meandering build-up. But for me, this one just didn’t hit. Not terrible, just not for me.

Thank you to Little Brown Book Group UK for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Women in STEM meets Assassin for hire in this slow burn romantasy (proper) enemies to lovers dramione fanfic retelling.

They hate each other.
Coming from different Orders, it’s no surprise.
She saves people. He kills them.
She needs funding to help save the people. He has the funds.
He is slowly dying. She’s the only one that can save him.


It took me some time to get into this book, I though the beginning felt too long and a bit dragging, it does pick up towards the end which means I’ll definitely want to read the second one. However I did think the pacing was a bit off until 75% into the book when I was absorbed entirely. I do like the plot and the hate and angst is real, they cannot stand each other. I also loved the magical world it was set in, it did take me some time to get used to all the different words and ways of explaining the magic however it made it unique and I really enjoyed how it was described.


Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for sending me a copy in exchange of an honest review.

You know how sometimes you hear the first 10 seconds of a song and just know you’re going to love it? That’s exactly how I felt reading the first few pages of this book — it was an immediate five-star feeling.

The banter? Absolutely top-tier. It was clever, snappy, and genuinely laugh-out-loud funny. There was a lot of it, and yet I never got tired — I could have read these characters going back and forth for hours. The humor was smart, not forced, and perfectly matched the tone of the story.

The characters were beautifully crafted. Each had a distinct personality, and what stood out most was their self-assuredness. They knew who they were and made no apologies for it. I especially adored Aurienne — a powerful, confident FMC who radiates strength and self-worth. Honestly, I think we could all take a page from her book. Osric, the MMC, was equally compelling. He clearly loves a challenge — especially when that challenge comes in the form of a strong, capable woman. Their dynamic was electric.

The world-building was excellent — original, immersive, and anchored by a unique magic system that felt fresh and well thought out. It added depth without ever overshadowing the characters or pacing.

I truly didn’t want this book to end — and now I will count the days until the next installment in the series. I’m so ready to return to this world and see where the story goes next.

Thank you to Little, Brown Book UK and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this gem!

Brigitte Knightly is so incredibly talented, her prose and her world building and her magic system is beautiful and the banter is UNMATCHED (as I knew it would be). This story had the opportunity to be something ENTIRELY new, and fresh with a magic system that was interesting and unique.

Which is why I simply cannot understand why they have not given this book the opportunity to stand on its own two very deserving feet and market it for the phenomenal experience it is but instead have leaned HEAVILY into the fanfiction and the HP world as a crutch in order to market it.

Actively marketing it this way does so much irreparable harm to the fanfiction community, and even more importantly it keeps JKR and the original HP IP relevant, which ultimately will keep putting money into JKR's pocket so she can continue to fund her hate campaign trying to erase the existence of trans people.

Ultimately I don't think I'll truly be able to properly immerse myself and enjoy any of these DHR turned trad books until they distance themselves from the original IP entirely.

Giving the 5 stars for visibility and because before all this marketing, I did genuinely enjoy the book and I'd prefer for my HONEST review and my thoughts on the matter to be attached to that.

Right off the bat, I want to say that though I have read the "original" version of this, this review is not going to contain references or comparisons -- which is not a dig to anyone who chooses to do so; I am instead reviewing this based on it's own merits and content as, well, it is it's own content now. This is a new story. However, I want to make it clear that I do not engage with the Wizarding World fandom outside of infrequent forays into fanfiction spaces nor do I support she who created that world.

So with that intro aside..

If you're looking for an enemies to more romance set in a fantasy world that's sorta like ours but not at all, heavy on the banter, that's irreverent and also not, you should definitely give this a go. Especially as, unlike some other upcoming releases, this did not feel like something reworked but actually felt like it's own thing.

As for what that world looks like, I'll admit this might've been the hardest part for me to really keep track of, maybe on reread before book two I'll have a better grasp. I would say it's a little light on details though as this is very much a character-driven build of a story. And by build I also mean slowbuild, slow burn, slow evolution of the main characters' dynamic, of their understanding of each other, their acceptance despite everything that would otherwise prevent acceptance and that, well, that was perfection.

Having said that, the strongest part of said worldbuilding was the magic system. And the limits to said magic systems? And then the individualized manifestation of those limits? Brilliant.

I'll admit this may feel like a strange read to some because it has a somewhat cheeky, doesn't take itself too seriously, feel -- particularly with the tone of both characters, different though they are -- but then it will throw you into a dark scene featuring plague ridden children or a mass of murdered bodies or moments of torture. But I was vibing, along for the ride, glad it wasn't too much of one or the other. My one bit of commentary, aside from the worldbuilding (which, again, maybe it was just me) was one of Osric's buddies. His character was definitely supposed to be a bit of comedic nonsense but truthfully this is where it went a bit OTT for me and I was glad we didn't see much more of him. And hopefully he won't play a big part in book two.

Which! Can I say? Not leaving on a cliffhanger was so refreshing. The ending still leaves you wanting more, both in the development of the notyetaromance and also in the plot, but it didn't leave you cursing at the sky or throwing your device across the room. It was a lovely, and rather gentle, moment, full of discovery and realization.

I'm really keen to see where we go from here when it comes to the plot but mostly, mainly!, all the emotional realizations and panic-flavoured romance-specific epiphanies still to come.

This book gave me everything I wanted to and more! A while back when I found out this books was coming out I knew then it was going to be a hit and I wasn't disappointed!

The journey that these two characters went on was a wild ride and I was here for every second of it. The twists and turns kept me hooked - it took me barely any time to read!

This was a fun read and a nice change of pace for me. I really enjoyed the character dynamics and felt they were well-built, robust characters. I liked the two worlds clashing, enemies to reluctant allies to maybe, oh no, whoops, more! I thought it was fun and well paced, and it only took me a couple of days to get through.
I will definitely pick up the sequel when it's released. I look forward to seeing where this story goes. I also look forward to reading more by this author. I enjoyed her writing style, so overall this was a great find for me.

Well I’m not gunna lie I have mixed feelings about this book. It was a fun read in places with some hilarious one liners. With moments when the pace picked up and I was fully invested in the whimsical, intriguing plot with our diametrically opposed main characters.

Then there were times where I was confused about what mystery we were meant to solve. In addition, the burn is slow. I love a slow burn as much as a next person but this was borderline painful in terms of speed.

I think this book reads better in physical form rather than on kindle form. The complex language meant I kept flicking back to the glossary at the beginning of the book (very handy!)

PS for those of you thinking this is a re-imagining of a certain fan fic, it’s not, it’s a new story.

All that being said, I do still want to know what is going to happen next…


3.5 ✨

I struggled to get into this book at first - there was a lot of information to take on board in the first few chapters. The world building was necessary but once you had got through it, I really enjoyed it. I loved the pace of the book.- it kept you engaged throughout especially with the chemistry of the main characters! I would definitely recommend it to those who enjoy the slow burn, enemies to lovers tropes!

This was a 3.5 star read for me. It took me a while to get into, but once I found my flow, I couldn’t put it down.

What I liked;
- it felt refreshing. There isn’t really much out there like this one, and I loved that it felt new and different from every other romantasy or romcom.
- the main characters have undeniable chemistry. Their witty, often sarcastic dialogue is sharp and entertaining, keeping the pages turning even when there was little happening
- the story moves at a solid pace, gradually escalating the tension and emotional stakes. There’s a satisfying arc to the relationship that avoids instant love, which is also refreshing


What I didn’t love;
- the central conflict sometimes felt a bit repetitive, with the same arguments or misunderstandings cropping up more than once
- side characters felt under developed and unnecessary

I did enjoy this one, but I felt like it lacked the emotional punch that I crave from fantasy romance books. I would highly recommend this but it didn’t suit my reading tastes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this early!

This book does not take itself too seriously. I had a fun time reading it and even laughed out loud a few times. I felt like non of the characters was really likable and yet somehow it all made sense within the story. Its not a standalone and the story is not complete yet but there is also not really a cliffhanger.
The romance is enemies to lovers but slow burn (no major action in this one) and I kind of liked it, it was not over the top but just right.
I did not like the pacing, at the beginning its months passing by and then its days, the main focus changes a bit and in the last third I almost feared that the main objective was just forgotten.
Funny, easy read, great for a good time, would recommend to anybody looking for something not too serious (though the plot in the next book might turn out a bit more serious? Curious how that will turn out in the tone of the story)

Thanks to netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for providing me with an ARC for this book

4.25⭐
Aurienne and osric were hilarious. There banter was another level. These two have genuine reasons for their animosity, and watching their walls come down bit by bit was absolutely delicious. I kept wanting to shake them both while simultaneously wanting them to never stop arguing because their chemistry was just that good!
I didn't just love the romance, i love the world building too . There's this whole mystery element that kept me guessing, and the adventure aspects had me on the edge of my seat. But it never overshadowed the romance - everything worked together perfectly.but the beginning was a bit slow. It took me a while to emerse with the storyline. I cannot wait for book 2 though.

"Thank you netgalley for the arc"

I love the enemies to lovers trope, as well as a slow burn and some funny back and forth between main characters, however I am not a big fan of this body of work as a whole. While the concept is great, the execution could be better. It falls flat and becomes redundant, and became a bit boring. I’m not a big fan of the insufferable FMC, I get that she is from a different order and it’s established why she dislikes the MMC but after the first few chapters her attitude and upitty personality just made me want to throw in the towel. Also the world building and magic system was bit confusing. I see the potential overall and although this is not for me it may work for others.

Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced reader copy.

This book is definitely one of my favourite reads. A great romantasy with two amazing main characters. It had a kind of old and modern time feel to it. This had a lot of humour, adventure and some romantic suspense also LGBTQ+ representation. I loved some of the names of places that the author made up. I’ll be honest there were medical terms used that I had no idea what they meant but I either guessed or searched them. I heard beforehand people comparing this to Dramione fanfic and can see some similarities. I definitely think Osric will be a new book boyfriend favourite among others when this is published. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars.

I was really excited to get to read e-arc of this book! I had already heard so much good about it and it indeed was such an enjoyable read. I find myself giggling and delighted so many times with this witty and magical enemies to lovers -romance.

Osric Mordaunt is an assassin of murderous Order of Fyren. When he finds out having a severe, even mortal failure in his magic system, knowledge about a specially experienced healer, Aurienne Fairhrim, gives him hope. Sadly, this scientist healer belongs in opposite Order Haelin, which has dedicated in protecting life.

Osric is desperate for her help, whatever it takes - bribing or kidnapping. After all, Aurienne accepts to try this impossible task for benefit of greater good, as she wants to find a way to save children having a deadly pox.

The specialist healer and gentleman murderer start their reluctant cooperation with mutual loath, but by the time it somehow seems to change into a mutual interest... Will there be a cure - and will there be love? Both seem to be as impossible.

This book really got me hooked from the beginning and kept me happily entertained all the way. The author is famous from fanfiction and even still I haven´t read her works before this, I will definitely keep her in my favourite writer list for future! I loved this setting, magical system and worldbuilding, the folklore and humor. I want this in my own bookshelf!

First off, thank you NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Besides the banter when the characters were together, I didn't like the dialogue.The characters felt almost bland. It felt very forced/ drawn out, as if the author tried too hard to take it away from her fanfic and got lost in the process.

I liked the improvement towards the end, though I felt the book ended in a weird place. It just picked up the pace in the last two chapters and when I finally felt excited to read the next chapter it was fin.

One positive thing that I did enjoy was how the author created a new magic system with a nice twist that every user has its own personal cost to using magic.

Rating: 3.5/5

Settle in for my longest review ever because I loved this story but have a few niggles. Read in one sitting because it held my attention so well I stayed up till the early hours to finish.

Aurienne is highly intelligent, loyal to her friends and not a damsel in distress. I found it a little hard to connect to her emotionally, but she is an ice queen so that is to be expected! Overall, she’s awesome, and more morally grey than she realises. Osric is arrogant, charming, flashy, funny and an unrepentant assassin who kills first and asks questions later. His backstory gives an understanding of his choice to train as an assassin, but doesn’t absolve him of his current actions. Slaughter is his love language.

This book is the definition of slow burn. As a hater of ‘insta love’ I liked how the feelings building between the main characters moves at a glacial pace. The end is very abrupt however and happens just as things get going both with the plot & the romance.

The language used is archaic, I felt that the author was cramming in as many rarely used words as possible and that took me out of the moment a few times. However, I have been told that the author is Nordic so perhaps this is down to the translation and in that case fair enough! Take it as an opportunity to expand your vocabulary. What a lovely literary side effect.

I didn’t know this book was a rewritten fanfic before reading. However, now I know there is a fanfic I will be reading it because I love the world it inhabits (and the idea of revisiting that world without giving more money to its original transphobic author- I think You Know Who).

I felt there needed to be more world building. There is a handy glossary, but more needed to be written as part of the main text rather than just listed in my opinion. I want to find out more about the magic system & world the story is set in, hopefully this is expanded upon in the follow up.

Overall I can’t wait to read the next instalment! There’s a lot that is about to happen and when it does I need a front row seat.

I liked this book a lot more than I was expecting to. I thought both of the characters where well developed and they both had great character arcs. I love the setting of the book and while the world building was a little over explained in areas as opposed to just demonstrated I didn't really mind because it felt like quite a complete world. There are some areas I am hoping we get more clarity on in the coming books but, believe that these where a normal amount of plot holes for a first book in a series.

I really liked the on page chemistry between the FMC and the MMC I like how they both impacted each others character arc, and how their banter with one and other grew with the book.

My only real negative comment was the type of humour its a little crude for me and not really something I find funny, too many jokes pertaining to genitals for my liking. I also thing that the use of these types of jokes and modern slag really took me out of the story at times. It felt a little juvenile for the subject matter talked about in the book. I can see where the author was going with it, but in my opinion it just didn't land.

I had such high expectations for this, especially after seeing the craze online for it. Maybe it just isn't for me, but I found it very dull and very very boring. The characters were really dry and rude, I get that the female lead is meant to be stand offish and full of herself, but she was really looking down on her peers in the POV and it was very annoying. The random sexual jokes and scenes made no sense to me, and I felt like I was reading a messy fan fiction by a 15 year old pretending to be 18.
Such a disappointment!