This is an incredible debut novel. I'll be very excited to see what Shalini Abeysekara writes next.

I did have difficulty getting into the beginning of this book as there was a lot of info dumping and name dropping that did not make sense. It significantly gets better past the 10% mark or so, so stick with it. I LOVE our main characters and their dynamic together with the plot. I thought it was a standalone, but I expect a sequel after reading.

Know going into this one, that it is a darker book. If you're able to handle the trigger warnings I highly recommend it.

Rated 4 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the published for the ARC ebook.

Knew I was gonna fall for Kadra when Ma'am Shalini dropped the art for this. But she had me at the dedication page:

"To the quiet but dangerous girls who seethe at injustice: may they never see us coming"

plot twists, "dark" romance, fantasy, ancient Rome world-building, and political intrigue. All noted from this wonderful debut. Sarai is quiet, vengeful, complex, and compelling. Kadra's brutal reputation yet he is fair and just. Oh and the two of them working together? bless. Not spice-heavy though we do get some near the end; I sensed more tension which I preferred anyway for this kind of novel.

I do think you'll enjoy this if you like revenge, politics, real-world issues, and complex characters. Absolutely give this a read upon release!

4.25/5 for me but that's because I thought the pacing was a bit uneven for me personally but still overall enjoyed the majority of it.

Thank you Union Square and NetGalley for this e-ARC! Can't wait to get the hard copy for my library.

An absolutely brilliant dark, slow-burn romantasy!

To start, the worldbuilding in TMOM is spectacular. We have elements and character archetypes we're familiar with, but with a completely new twist - runic magic combined with truthtelling and memory-searching abilities, a woman out for vengeance despite everyone looking down on her.

Sarai is an immediately compelling main character: the prologue hooks us in with just a glimpse of the Fall, an event that clearly plagues Sarai throughout the rest of the book and drives her story forward. In an incredible spin on the Roman justice system, we start to see a dichotomy play out between Sarai, her potential murderer Kadra, and in supporting characters like her childhood best friend. It boils down to a fight between true justice, and rule of law. Abeysekara does a brilliant job highlighting the grey areas in both: justice can be bloody, but law can be corrupt - so which is the way forward?

I also loved the TRUE slow-burn romance. Kadra is known to be a monster, and Sarai is determined to see him that way. But the longer they work together, the more she realizes that he sees her for who she truly is. It's certainly an internal conflict that Sarai has to fight through, because despite her conviction that her scarred exterior will scare everyone away, he only sees her true strength. There are some heartfelt and swoon-worthy lines between the two of them; the way their banter starts combative but slowly chips away is one of the highlights in the book.

Overall, a stunningly dark and deep debut from Abeysekara, and I can't wait to see what happens next in the world of Ur Dinyé.

1) how is this a debut?
2) HOW IS THIS A DEBUT
3) you have more hidden- gimme 19 of ‘em!!


This was such an amazing, vicious book filled with a good twist- plot, character arc, representation- and female rage. 10/10

(Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me an arc exchange for readings all thoughts and opinions are my own!)

This is an ancient Roman influenced murder mystery about a young woman who survives a brutal ordeal, and four years later returns to the scene of the crime. She is assigned to use her magical abilities to assist the one person she suspects the most of assaulting her. Eventually, she unearthed a treacherous plot that could ruin thousands of lives and realizes that she may have to trust the one man she shouldn’t.
Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square and Co for the opportunity to read and review this book. I really enjoyed this and I am giving this book four stars.
This book is being touted as a romantasy and I don’t necessarily agree with being doubted classification. Yes there is a romance. Yes it is a slow burn and yes, it does have spice but this really is a murder mystery. I really enjoyed our two main characters and smouldering with each other and the slow burn that they go through. While it wasn’t a groundbreaking murder mystery it was still very enjoyable. I will end up purchasing a copy of this for myself, and I will definitely look for more books by this author.

Wow! This book is everything that I wanted and so, so much more.

4 years ago, Sarai was pushed to her death from a tower but she defied all the odds and survived. Since then, she has been on a single-minded quest to become a petitor and gain access to the information that could lead her to her vengeance.

They said this was a slow-burn and they weren't wrong as this book simmers with romantic tension under the surface as Sarai desperately tries to uncover answers until it boils over into an undeniable explosion of passion. It is so delicious seeing these characters orbiting around one another as they fight with warring emotions.

Usually I am not a fan of when a book tried incredibly hard to establish something as fact as it means the reveal will be definitely not being that thing however Abeysekara does this with finesse and the reader can feel themselves feeling all of the conflicting feelings that Sarai feels throughout the story.

This is a book crammed with irresistible feminine rage but it is also a book with a heart of hope. And the finale, THE FINALE! Yes! More of that please and thank you.

By the end of this book, a lot of questions have been answered and the reader feels satisfied however there are enough hanging threads to titillate and excite the reader for where this series may go next and I personally can't wait to see it.

This is one of those books that I feel genuinely so grateful to have been given the opportunity to read and will securely place itself into my favourites of 2025.

Beautiful debut! the tensity, the character development, the themes; everything about this is so artfully done. This is a breath of fresh air in the romantasy genre.

I am not kidding when I say this has now become one of my new favorite books! I was immediately drawn in by the unique world and magic system, but it was the characters who took my breath away. World-building can sometimes get overwhelming to the point where the characters get lost in it, but Kadra and Sarai couldn’t blend into the background of this story if they tried.
I resonated with Sarai’s desperation for answers, revenge, and her ability to hold onto a shred of hope. Sarai’s story really broke my heart. She’s both badass and broken, but while I’m so furious at what this world has done to her and the way it denies justice to so many, it has made me even more invested in Sarai’s descent into her own brand of justice.
KADRA!!! I mean, he immediately made me feel everything! Mysterious, commanding, surprisingly sensitive, and intuitive. Let’s just say there were multiple scenes I had to pause and put the book down because Kadra was such a badass.
Sarai and Kadra made this book for me. The relationship between them was so complex and layered, and I wanted them together even in the moments I shouldn’t.
There is so much complexity in this book, but it never outshines the emotional arcs of the characters. The author weaves religion, a flawed justice system, a unique and intricate magic system, and apocalyptic lightning storms into a character driven engaging mystery with such a deft hand I’m amazed this is only her debut. Even the side characters, are so incredibly interesting, but some of them may make your blood boil.
I have already recommended this book now to just about every person I come into contact with because I will be reading it again and again. I am so excited for the world to read this book.

Please pay attention to the content warnings before reading. This book is brutal and a tough read at times due to the cruelty endured by characters. It is definitely dark in places, but it serves the story and the violence has purpose within the context of the story and characters. But just be aware before reading, there are heavy themes!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you so much Union Square & Co. and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this arc!

This was an amazing dark fantasy set in a brutal world. I really appreciated the tough but important subjects that were covered in this. Sarai is a strong and fearless FMC who was really easy to get behind and root for. Kadra was an enigma for the majority of the story, but so worth seeing him through to the end.
I thought the pacing was great and I’m really impressed, especially for a debut novel.

ARC Review: This Monster of Mine

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of This Monster of Mine, and it absolutely exceeded all my expectations. This book delivers a refreshing and unique take on Roman-inspired fantasy, weaving together rich world-building, a dynamic enemies-to-lovers romance, and a morally black male main character who will keep you hooked until the very last page.

The tension between the protagonists is palpable, crackling with suspense and emotional depth. The morally grey dynamics add layers of complexity that elevate the story beyond a typical fantasy romance. The Roman-inspired characters and setting feel authentic and immersive, pulling you into a world that is as brutal as it is mesmerizing.

What truly stood out was the unique magic system, seamlessly integrated into the story and adding an extra dimension of intrigue and excitement. Every twist and turn kept me on edge, and I found myself racing through the pages, eager to see how everything would unfold.

This Monster of Mine is a standout read that blends suspense, romance, and fantasy in a way that feels fresh and unforgettable. If you love dark, morally complex characters and rich, tension-filled storytelling, this is a book you won’t want to miss. I can’t wait to see what this author does next!

While I can understand the appeal of this novel to some, this one was not for me. I'm not a super big dark fantasy/romantasy fan, and I don't think I realized that this what this book was. I gave it a good college try, but ultimately this is not something I'd want to continue. The book itself was well written and paced (which bumps it up to 3 stars for me), so I think if dark fantasy/romantasy is your vibe, you very well might enjoy this one!

Thank you to Union Square & Co. and NetGalley for the eARC!

This uses the Ancient Rome fantasy romance element perfectly and enjoyed the overall feel of this. I was engaged with the storyline and was glad everything worked with what was happening going on. It worked with the overall feel of this and was everything that I wanted in the description. The characters had that feel that I was looking for and worked with the time-period going on. Shalini Abeysekara has a strong writing style and am glad I got to read this.

I hesitated at first over requesting a review copy of this book. I like romantasy, but a few I've read in recent times have left me feeling cold, with sex scenes taking over the story. Thankfully I decided to try This Monster of Mine, because that was not the case with this book at all; in fact, it was an incredibly strong debut work. The world building was excellently handled, and both that and the well-drawn characters drew me in from the first few chapters. The tale moved at an excellent pace throughout and I kept wanted to read 'just one more chapter'. The slow buildup of the relationship between Sarai and Kadra was expertly written, and by the time we reached the book's single sex scene, it was highly anticipated and impactful, helping to shape the characters rather than being there just for titillation, which is exactly what I have been looking for and struggling to find in romantasy lately. This is a very dark and violent story, which was totally fine by me but will perhaps not be suitable for all readers. However, if that doesn't put you off and you are looking for a romantasy that has character depth and a good plot, I definitely recommend This Monster of Mine. I will be keen to read more from this author in the future and I am giving this book 5 stars.

Sharp, dark and gripping romantasy that really packs a punch. I can go either way on this genre but this landed with me. Great characters and a gripping plot.

THIS BLEW MY FUCKING MIND

I literally don’t know what to even say. This was phenomenal please fucking read this 😭

Huh. That was a little anticlimactic.

I love the FMC, Sarai. She has the kind of strength I admire. What she went through... it was awful and tragic and horrifying.

Brutal is one word I would use to describe this book. Gruesome. Terrifying. But also? Hopeful.

It's scary how much this book reflects reality. Greed bores so much pain. All of one's selfish desires fulfilled through the suffering of others. It's heartbreaking.

I didn't love the romance. I think the story would have been fine without it. The MMC should have groveled more.

pulse-pounding & epic, THIS is more of what i want to see in romantasy. it manages to use tropes effectively while feeling original instead of a retread of a thousand other stories. the plot is twisty and i couldn’t keep my eyes off the page for longer than a few minutes. this is a story about justice and the author really digs deep into those themes. at the beginning, this might be too brutal for some— but stick with it. i PROMISE this one is something special once you give it time to slowly lay out its plot and themes. also i need kadra BAD.

this story is about injustice, and about how far you’re willing to go to put an end to it. to make things right.

I felt so many emotions while reading this. frustration because of every unfairness that took place. anger because the law was protecting the wrong people. sadness because, so often, there seemed no hope for Sarai and Kadra.

I loved the characters and the plot so much, but if I had to choose, I would say I’m partial to the characters. they truly embody some of humans’ best and worst qualities, at the same time. especially Cisuré, Sarai’s childhood friend, who I couldn’t help but despise throughout the story, only to have my heart break for her towards the end. she is a difficult character to read about, but it’s one of the things that makes this book so great.

on the other hand, I had no trouble admiring and sympathising with Sarai. she is strong, determined and always willing to do what’s right - even when it might seem like the wrong, immoral thing. she made it very easy to root for her.

now, Kadra. I didn’t know what to make of him at first. he truly is the embodiment of violence and viciousness, and it was difficult to come to terms with that in the beginning. however, once you truly understand his motives and what he’s fighting for, you can’t help but fall in love with him.

the plot is incredibly engaging and doesn’t lack for a complex setting and an intriguing magic system. the ability to tell whether someone is lying will always make for a captivating plot device. it was also really fun to notice in how many ways characters in this book lied without actually telling a lie.

this book is without a doubt one of the best one’s I’ve read this year, and I’m so happy I got the chance to read it early.

This book was absolutely phenomenal and exactly what I've been craving. It is based on Ancient Rome and I loved the political intrigue, romance, and the plot kept me on my toes. Not to mention, the justice system is so fascinating and expertly done in the story.

The book follows Sarai, who has magical abilities that, among other things, make her able to detect lies. She went to the Southern city 4 years ago and was nearly killed in circumstances that she has little memory of - mutilated and then thrown off of a tower that left her permanently scarred. Seeking justice and explanations for what happened to her, she goes back to the city as a Petitor, who work as prosecutors for the Tetrarchs (judges).

Coincidentally also starting 4 years ago, Petitor candidates began committing suicide in skyrocketing numbers. Some years, the entire graduating classes have ended their lives or fled. Perilous few remain alive, and no one knows why. Sarai is determined that she will live... but are the suicides really suicides?

Sarai is assigned to Tetrarch Kadra, who has a reputation for brutality. His voice is familiar, all of the dead petitors were seen in his quarter before they died-- all signs point to him being the one who tried to kill her. Sarai moves into Kadra's tower as they work together, and I instantly fell in love with those two. Sarai is convinced he was her attacker, but can't resist his allure. Their dynamic is beyond electric and tension sizzles in every scene. Kadra is everything I love in a male character, especially a love interest. The romance in this book is top notch.

I cannot recommend this book enough - it has that perfect balance of a captivating, twisty plot and impeccable romance. Sarai is such a compelling and complex character. I already want to reread this!! Thank you so much to Union Square and NetGalley for this ARC! 📚

Such a mesmerizing tale that swept up my evenings! I loved everything, the settings, the characters, the romance, the injustice side that deals with the society we currently live in. Really good characterization and plotting. 4 stars.