I struggled with this read. Heavy medical/science made up jargon.. a lot of ballsack, pubic hair, sexual innuendos on a scientific level that fell flat. I struggled to absorb the book I felt like it was everywhere and going nowhere. I still can’t tell you what this was truly about.

*Clutches pearls*

I devoured this book🤌🏻once I started, there was no stopping! Absolutely addictive from beginning to end.

This is a true enemies to lovers with the slowest burn and the most delicious yearning. When I say SLOW I mean SLOW and I LOVE IT. Brigitte masterfully crafts the tension between a healer and an assassin, making every interaction sizzle with intensity.

Osric, our dangerously charming assassin, is battling an illness that threatens his magic. The only one who can help? Aurienne, a brilliant healer. Their orders despise each other, so Osric gives her no choice, either she helps him… or he takes her.

The banter? Sharp. The chemistry? Off the charts. The writing? So quirky and fun mixed with some dark elements which I think worked great! And the humor? It was everything to me. I laughed so hard-maniacally, to be honest. It’s probably the book that has made me laugh the hardest in quite some time. The dry wit, the snark, the absolutely unhinged back-and-forth? Perfection.

Tropes you’ll love:
💕Enemies to lovers (one of the best I’ve read!)
💕Forced proximity
💕Kidnapping (almost)
💕Magic and healing
💕Tension so thick you could cut it
💕SLOW BURN

Osric is swoony, sarcastic, and impossible not to love, while Aurienne is strong, brilliant, and refuses to back down. This is just a must read full stop. Cannot recommend enough!

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC!

DNF’d at 42% This book just was not for me. Not all books are for everyone and that’s okay! I have a friend who absolutely loved this and said it’s the funniest book she has ever read. That’s the beauty of reading, everyone’s opinions are going to differ because reading is subjective.

Thank you publisher and netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are my own.

Unfortunately, I had to DNF this one. I really wanted to love it, enemies-to-lovers is totally my thing, but I just couldn't connect with the characters, The writing style made it a bit harder for me to stay engaged, and the magic system was more complex than I expected. It just didn't click with me, which is such a bummer. But if you're into intricate magic systems and don't mind a heavier writing style, this might be more your vibe.

I want to just start out by saying thank you to Netgalley and the author/publishers for a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

Now I, like many on Instagram I have no doubt, heard that this was an enemies-to-lovers slow romantasy and absolutely ADORED the cover. So obviously I was super hyped when it came to being accepted for the ARC. However, having finished this late on in the evening yesterday (after a somewhat forceable sit-down to make myself get through it), I have sat and pondered my thoughts a little and I'm still just not sure this hit quite where it wanted to. So I've given it a rather sad 2 stars.

Aurienne is a Healer (hard follower of the system, doesn't take well to breaking the rules, etc etc) and Osric is an Assassin for hire (who could not care at all about her systems and rules). The two meet when Osric is facing serious health complications that're threatening to consume his magic and, against her every will and moral desire, Aurienne is force to help him save said magic.

My main struggle with this book was due to the absolutely chaotic nature of the names, language used and non-existent explanation of the magic system. There really was no gentle introduction or world building, it was somewhat of an absolute info-dump and you're expected to understand and follow along.

As well as finding it hard to understand some of the almost olde-English style writing, it was equally off-putting when our MMC and his band of side characters were making very immature and crude jokes. The two styles of language just did not flow together, making it feel very young for what it was.

That said, I do love a witty and banterous character and the MMC was this for sure. His sarcastic and dark nature was a lot of fun to read and did have me smiling throughout. The FMC however was very dry, cold and difficult to connect with. Her (often full page) monologues of just scientific research were often really hard to digest and I did find myself skipping through them. We do meet various other characters throughout, including their 'deofols' which are sort of magic-companions/messengers - these were interesting and I would've loved to learn more about this side of the magic system.

I am glad I managed to push through and avoid DNFing when I wanted to, because as the characters gelled more and a plot was establishing around the 70% mark I found myself softening up to the very slow-burn romance and potential for where the story was going. However I do realise this is honestly too-little, too-late and just left the book feeling very rushed, under developed and lacklustre. A promising idea, but just fell short for me.

DNF at 50%

I just realised that I don't care about the characters at all, and I'm not interested enough to see where the story is headed. On top of that, I didn't like the writing style.

The characters felt flat and two-dimensional to me. Aurienne is a smart, badass healer/researcher, and Osric is a rough assassin—but beyond those characterics, they lacked depth. I think part of the issue is that we almost exclusively see the main characters during their monthly meetings. There is an entire month between the meetings, but it barely gets mentioned. This way, we don't really get to know the characters outside their monthly meetings. These time jumps made the timeline feel a bit weird and unnatural.

As for the writing style, there were several aspects that pulled me out of the story. I could have overlooked them if I were more engaged in the plot, but unfortunately, I wasn’t. A few specific examples:

• Unnecessary capitalisation:
"He was, indeed, Very Good at what he did. The problem was that what he did was Very Bad."

• Overuse of parentheses for 'quirky' commentary:
"He hit her with a grin (devilish) and a wink (suggestive)."

• Redundant, repetitive sentences:
"Aurienne knew that he would have no scruples about murdering all these men. Scruples did not form a part of his composition."

• Use of difficult words just for the sake of it:
An assortment of food was described as having "Lucullan magnificence."

• Inconsistent dialogue formatting:
Most conversation was written like standard conversation (with quotation marks and such), but at times there was a sudden switch to describing the conversation in full sentences:
"Osric said that he was the expert here and that he would appreciate it if Fairhim reserved her pointy opinions for her own areas of specialisation. Fairhim said she was going to review the literature on torture and sharpen her pointy opinions further, and then - metaphorically, of course - puncture him with them. Osric asked why she must be so obstreperous? Fairhim asked when would he stop being a Menace to Society? Osric called her a Self-Righteous Plague. She called him a Foppish Crouton."

• Not my type of humour:
What was intended as witty banter often read more like petty bickering (as shown in the quote above).

I’m disappointed I didn’t enjoy this more, especially since the title and cover initially intrigued me. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend this one.

3,5/5
I love the idea of this one, but my god, the first half was such a slog! It took me 3 weeks to read the first half, and then I read the second half in 2 days. I had no attachment whatsoever to the characters until the last 20%, and just when I felt like it was getting good, it ended, which is so annoying.

It was fun, and I think the second book will be so good. One of my biggest complaints with this is that it felt like the first half of a book. I feel like this would have been better if they just released one long book (like they do with Manacled) instead of splitting it up. But I'm actually so intrigued to continue, and I might try to read the original fan-fic now.

Aurienne is a healer. Osric is an assassin, with an incurable illness. And this is how they cross paths, with some minor background plot in the making.

Firstly I do understand what people like about this book, I get where it could be enjoyable. It just wasn’t for me. I think the what made me slightly dislike this book was that I got bored halfway through. Like yeah yeah we get it you hate each other, you insult each other, for some reason there’s a ton of penis jokes throughout the whole book, can we move it along please.

I don’t mind a slow burn, I actually enjoy them. But I also like a slow burn that has some sort of other plot going on. This didn’t so much feel like a romantasy, than just a romance that has a few magic words thrown in to make it seem like your somewhere else. What is the actual magic system? How do you come into your “order”? Does everyone have magic? Nothing was explained, and the characters were not very fleshed out. And a slow burn is good because they’re slowing falling for each other, even when hating each other. Here, they seem to go from 0-100 in the space of 10 pages.

What saved it a little for me was that while I didn’t understand who Aurienne actually was, I liked that she was a boss bitch and was not sorry for it. It’s nice to have an FMC that doesn’t feel she needs to hide what she’s good at or be modest about it, and it nice for once to not have one meet an MMC and automatically forget how to speak before he’s so “dreamy”.

The continuing plot does seem pretty interesting and if I do decide to pick up the next book then it is because I want to know what going on with the outside plot. I love a conspiracy.

Overall I really enjoyed this but there were a few very key things that let it down unfortunately. The story definitely grew on me; the MCs are fantastic, there are wonderful supporting characters and their relationship was so funny in all the best ways, particularly their back and forth banter but it was let down by the fact it needed much more world building and the pacing felt off. It was like the first half of a book that had been stretched out and because of this the ending felt unsatisfying and the story seemed to drag out for too long.

I’m not sure this translates so well from fan fiction to traditionally published as I think so much of this really relies on the reader already understanding the world and characters which they would in its original form. However, in this version it comes across as confusing at times and the world was not explained well enough.

In saying that, I did enjoy myself and you can’t help but fall in love with these characters. I am very intrigued to see what else the author can do in the traditionally published world.

I would recommend it if you a rivals to lovers vibe, characters you will fall in love with and banter that will have you laughing out loud.

“He leaned back into a stretch that revealed his stomach, upon which he had tattooed, Caution: Choking Hazard, with an arrow pointing towards his cock.”

This quote could honestly double as a trigger warning and be printed at the start of the book. If you’re into relentless poop and dick jokes, this might hit the spot. For me, I spent most of the time worried I’d eye-roll myself into a migraine. I usually love a bad joke, but these completely missed the mark - definitely more appealing to a 14-year-old boy than a reader looking for sharp banter or emotional depth.

Here’s the thing: I went into this one with cautious optimism. Sure, it started as fanfic, but with all the glowing reviews, I figured I’d give it a shot - aka, I get FOMO, okay? I wanted in on the fun. I regretted that choice early. Around the 25% mark, I seriously considered DNF-ing, but decided to stick it out so I could review it fairly.


Let’s start with the positives:
The world-building is accessible and easy to follow, and the plot wastes no time getting into the action. As for the promised enemies-to-lovers slow burn - yes, they are sworn enemies from opposite sides of the moral scale, and the slow burn is there... sort of. It’s less of a tension-filled simmer and more of a slow acceptance that they're going to fall for each other whether it makes sense or not.

I’ll also say: the title? Fantastic. Probably my favorite part of the book.

And despite my complaints, I genuinely think this would make a great book club pick. I even pitched it to my group, because the discussion potential is priceless.


Now, the not-so-great:
The characters felt more like caricatures than well-developed protagonists. I wonder if the book’s origins in fanfic are to blame, since fanfic readers might come in with a built-in understanding of the characters and their dynamics. The side characters were flat—mostly there for minor plot development, but without any real substance.
I already mentioned the over-the-top crude humor, so I’ll skip rehashing that. But I do want to touch on the writing itself: it was jarring. We’d get ridiculously obscure, “look-it-up” level vocabulary side by side with the crassest (I almost don’t want to call them) innuendos. And for an enemies-to-lovers setup, I expected some top-notch banter—not just straight-up bickering.
The FMC is presented as a once-in-a-generation genius, yet somehow misses the most obvious plot clues. Can we please stop dumbing down female leads to make the story - and worse, the romance - work?

And then… plot twist: this is only book one in a series? Yikes. Thanks, but no thanks.
All in all, this one wasn’t for me. But judging by the glowing reviews, I’m clearly in the minority. If this sounds like your kind of fun, go forth and enjoy!


– Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an early copy of this book. All opinions are my own and (clearly) reflect my (maybe too) honest reactions. –


PS: After writing this, I looked up Brigitte Knightley’s AO3. The original fanfic blurb actually sounds a lot more appealing—I might give that a try instead.

DNF, unfortunately really struggled with this story. I didn’t enjoy the writing style and couldn’t bond with the characters at all. Enemies to lovers is one of my favourite tropes but I just found their communication and arguing jarring and not enjoyable. Unable to continue unfortunately.

Enemies to lovers perfection! Like these two actually hated each other, and it was a joy to watch them begin to hate each other less and less.

When Healer Aurienne is tasked to help Osric the assain, neither of them are best pleased. Aurienne because she finds the assassins abhorrent and is being blackmailed to do so, and Osric because he hates to admit weakness.

The wit, humor and chemistry in this book is fantastic. I was HOOKED! It made me actually lol, and it also pulled on my heartstrings.

I’m SO ready for the next book in the series!

Thank you NetGalley and Little Brown Book Group UK for the ARC.

I have several thoughts about this book. First off, I'm a huge fan of the dramoine fanfic by the author and I think its a masterpiece in its own right. In saying that, I was very excited when I got approved for this ARC. I absolutely adored the book. The tension, the yearning, the banter, the hilarious characters was on point. Osric and Aurienne are true enemies to lovers. I loved the fact that their jobs/purposes in life is the exact opposite. One saves life while the other takes it.

The magic system was unique and I absolutely loved the concept of Seith and how it runs through your body in lines. The concept of using ley lines to travel was very interesting too. Even the defouls which are basically patronises of this world were well thought out.

This was a very good read for. The only reason I'm taking one star away is because I felt like in the beginning the book was harder to get into. There was way too much Information being thrown at the reader right off the bat and this put me off a little. But once you get past the world building stuff, this book is exquisite. I already cannot wait for book 2 and book 1 isn't even released yet!!!

i did not like it, i was really excited for it given the plot and cover but it was just overall too bland for me, the characters felt undeveloped and the magic system was barely mentioned, i do believe it had potential but for me the execution falls short.

This book lit up every corner of my romantasy-loving heart. The tension between Aurienne and Osric is pure gold, it’s sharp, crackling, gloriously unbearable in the best way. The world building is lush, the banter is razor-edged, and the emotional undercurrent sneaks up on you until you’re clutching the pages. It’s clever, swoony, and so ridiculously good I’m already mourning the fact that I can’t read it again for the first time. Highly anticipating the next book.

Sinceramente, este libro no es para NADA lo que esperaba. Al promocionarse como un romantasy, pensé que encontraría una historia con una buena dosis de fantasía y romance, pero en realidad es una rom-com disfrazada, con el clásico cliché grumpy (ella) x sunshine pero con backstory lol (él).

La trama gira completamente en torno a la enfermedad incurable del MMC, Osric, y su intento (con amenazas de secuestro y una gran suma de dinero de por medio) de convencer a Aurienne para que le encuentre una cura. Sin duda, es una premisa atrapante, pero me quedé con la sensación de que la fantasía estaba más de adorno que como parte esencial del mundo. Todo lo relacionado con el worldbuilding y la política del Tiendom se menciona superficialmente, sin dar suficiente contexto para entender su impacto en la historia.

El enemies to lovers es un punto fuerte porque la tensión entre los personajes se siente real desde el inicio, y eso me ENCANTÓ. Sin embargo, creo que le faltó profundidad en cuanto al motivo del conflicto: son de órdenes distintas, pero ¿qué significa realmente eso para ellos y su relación? Un poco más de contexto habría elevado mucho más esta dinámica.

Ahora, lo que sí quiero destacar es que Osric es un personajazo. Su personalidad es impecable, y el humor que impregna el libro gracias a él es de lo mejor. Se sale del molde del típico prota seco y torturado. Si te gustan personajes como Cassian (ACOTAR) o Nikolai Lantsov (Shadow and Bone), Osric te va a ENCANTAR.

Y hablando del romance… EL MAYOR SLOW BURN QUE JAMÁS HAYA SLOWBURNEADO. Literalmente el primer beso es en el 96% del libro. Si eres fan de los star-crossed lovers y te gusta sufrir con la espera, este libro es para ti.

Aunque no era lo que esperaba al 100%, lo disfruté bastante y tengo muchas ganas de leer el siguiente!!!!
que lo saquen ya por fa <3

___

This book was NOTHING like I expected. Since it was marketed as a romantasy, I thought I’d get a solid mix of fantasy and romance, but this turned out to be a rom-com in disguise, featuring the classic grumpy (her) x sunshine (him?) trope.
The plot revolves entirely around the MMC, Osric, who is dying from an incurable disease, and his (very persuasive) attempts to get Aurienne to find a cure for him—with threats of kidnapping and a ridiculous amount of money involved. It’s definitely an engaging premise, but the fantasy elements felt more like background decoration than an essential part of the world. The worldbuilding and politics of Tiendom were barely explored, making it hard to fully understand the setting.
Now, the enemies to lovers dynamic? That was GOOD. The tension between the characters was there from page one, and I LOVED that. But I wish there had been a bit more context behind their hatred. They’re from different orders, okay… but what does that actually mean for them? How does it affect their relationship? A little more depth would’ve made it even better.
On the bright side, Osric absolutely stole the show. His personality, his humor, the way he carried the entire comedic tone of the book—chef’s kiss. It’s so refreshing to see a male lead who isn’t just another brooding, emotionally unavailable guy.
If you love characters like Cassian (ACOTAR) or Nikolai Lantsov (Shadow and Bone), you’re gonna ADORE Osric.
And the romance? The slowest slow burn to ever slow burn. The first kiss happens at 96% of the book. If you love star-crossed lovers and enjoy the suffering that comes with it, this one’s for you.
Even though it wasn’t exactly what I expected, I still had a great time reading it, and I’m super excited for the next book!!!!

I’m sorry I don’t think this book is for me! I realise this is a Dramionie retelling and thought I’d love that! I was expecting more of an antsy dark enemies to lovers style but it feels a little too joke-y for me giving the setting.
I had to push through when I read “his cleft chin clefted majestically“
There is no indication to how camp this book is - which is fine when that’s what you were expecting but it’s just not for me!

ARC provided by Little Brown - thank you!
This was a blast. I had no idea how the author was going to make this pairing work. These two hated each other—like, “I would throw you in a volcano if I had the chance” —and yet somehow, Brigitte Knightley managed to pull off one of the most satisfying romantic arcs I’ve read.

The tension? Delicious. The banter? Sharp and dry and made me laugh out loud multiple times. The writing is clever in a way that feels effortless—not trying too hard, just naturally funny, smart, and perfectly paced, with just enough world-building to make the fantasy setting feel real, without drowning in lore.

A standout enemies-to-lovers with actual tension, ridiculously quotable banter! I urge you all to preorder this and read it as soon as it is released.

This slow burn romance is a beautifully crafted story that takes its time building emotional depth, chemistry, and genuine connection between the characters. The pacing allows the relationship to develop naturally, making the payoff feel all the more satisfying. The author excels at creating tension and intimacy through subtle moments and meaningful dialogue, rather than rushing into clichés or instant gratification. The characters are well-drawn, relatable, and emotionally complex, which makes their journey feel authentic. If you enjoy romances where the buildup is just as rewarding as the resolution, this book delivers in all the right ways. A heartfelt and memorable read.

Hmmm.... Impossible not to compare with the OG work published as a fanfiction.

This published version not only is way worse (lack of worldbuilding, trippy first chapters), but it seems like it was written by a completely different person. I barely could keep reading and needed several sittings.
Sorry, but I hated it.