My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Summary from GoodReads
The first in a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy duology featuring a scholarly healer and a gentleman assassin, set in an exquisite fantasy world, perfect for fans of The Love Hypothesis and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.
Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, is in dire need of healing. Naturally – such is the grim comedy of fate – the only healer who can help is Aurienne Fairhrim, preeminent scientist, bastion of moral good, and member of an enemy Order.
Aurienne is desperate for funding to heal the sick - so desperate that, when Osric bribes her to help him, she accepts, even if she detests him and everything he stands for.
A forced collaboration ensues: the brilliant Woman in STEM is coerced into working with the PhD in Murders, much to Aurienne's disgust. As Osric and Aurienne work together to heal his illness and investigate the mysterious reoccurrence of a deadly pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction, which only fuels the heat between them.
Romance tropes
Enemies to lovers
High interaction slow burn
Hypercompetent idiots
He falls first and harder
Evisceration as a love language
BUY ON
REVIEW
This book was a delightful surprise, filled with a unique magic system, hilarious moments, and shenanigans. Osric and Aurienne are sword enemies, even opposed by their magic and politics but desire can be found in the most...loathed places.
Osric is dying and what better thing to do than kidnap the best healer in the world and force her to heal him? Easy peasy. There is just a problem, Aurienne is not your everyday healer and she has a big ego to match Osric's own.
As they navigate therapy sessions, hidden political machinations and their own growing attraction, they will have to come up with more ways not to kill each other in the process. I liked the premise, the word feels like middle ages England with a good touch of magic and a system that categorizes it in 'good' 'evil' and....'chaotic'? We'll see because there is so much to explore here.
Osric was so funny in his assurance that he is the best assassin with the best ways to dispose of his enemies it was almost comical. And Aurienne was kind of a snob at start which almost made me not like her but she grew on me. The balcony scene was the best one in the whole book.
Overall this is a good story with interesting worldbuilding and a slow-burn romance.
Also recently, the cover of the second book was revealed!
About the author:
Brigitte writes what she wants to read: enemies-to-lovers romances that put the unresolved back in UST. Her debut novel, THE IRRESISTIBLE URGE TO FALL FOR YOUR ENEMY, is coming out July 2025 (Berkley / Orbit UK).
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