The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy

Happy Publication Day to the exceptional 1st book in the Dearly Beloathed duology by Brigitte Knightley, one of the most surprising, and undeniably entertaining enemies-to-lovers.

Read my 5-star review to see why this book will steal your heart.

Osric is a member of the Fyren, an order of assassins who specialize in shadow-walking. He has a degenerative condition with no known cure. The only healer who can help him is Aurienne, member of the enemy order Haelan. He bribes her with funds to research a pox that affects children. Together, they experiment with unconventional healing for him and investigate the mystery of the reappearing deadly virus. In spite of themselves, an attraction is borne between them and the problem of what to do about it.

When the first chapter is named "Irresistible Bastard meets Immovable Bitch" you happily realize what you're in for. The narrative gave me the sense of gliding; that is how good the pacing and companionable, sharp-witted writing were, in a fantastical world with arrogant, full-of-sass hosts. A world where there is a London and a Thames, where electricity is relatively new and there is gas, but also kingdoms and Orders, brands on your palm that help your seith (magic), travel by waystones and animal familiars that materialize to give messages. You will admire how clever it is in the unfurling of the plot with its brilliant mix of danger and quirkiness.

Having mostly quick paragraphs and non-wordy descriptions, this is more of a show-through-the-story than tell-us vibe, except for the very welcome guide at the beginning. There are one-sentence paragraphs, sometimes one after another, that paint the desired image quite effectively, as there are phrases that stand out with their vivid and creative word-enchantment. Sometimes the healer or seith jargon confuses me, but I don't understand all the science jargon the Doctor spouts in Doctor Who either and I still enjoy it. The world is obviously thought out, but the author prefers to spark our imagination and let it roam. She does guide us in the right direction. I really liked that magic is not only an everyday thing but part of their physiology.

The snappy dialogue and the characters' goading each other, the insult throwing, are all the money. I like that they loathe each other, not just cause they have to, due to who they are. He is charming and wonderfully despicable, she is eternally offended, believing in her moral and intellectual superiority. You love them just the same. There is something endearing in his act of putting his faith in her and the glimpses of either protagonist's vulnerability as we breathe in their conflicting and ever-growing emotions. The POVs give such a complete picture of what is going on that we often forget whose POV it is.

There was a sporadic use of parentheses that I know some people will hate, but I think it added a refreshing note to the narrative and was appropriate for the ambiance.

This book shows us that even a single person can shift your world view. The world is not black and white; there is a lot more grey. It makes us think on the nature of faith and hope. The symbolism of the pox leans towards privilege or the lack thereof.

Outrageously funny, saucy in parts, with engaging characters & creatures (including critique crickets), and the sweet taste of slow-burn and forbidden, this is how enemies-to-lovers should be done. I absolutely adored this book.