First I want to say that for some reason it appears this book is being marked as a romantasy, but while there is a romantic subplot I really don't think that is the right direction to go here. If you go into this book expecting a romance heavy book you are going to be set up for failure. Now don't get me wrong, I love a good romantasy, this just isn't that. Not that there's anything wrong with romantasy, but this is so much more. It's a wonderfully unique fantasy based on ancient Rome that plays with themes of vengeance, justice, morality, crime, and punishment. It's bloody and full of fantastic morally grey characters, and to strip all of that away and stick the romantasy label on it seems like it does a great disservice. Honestly I would put this book up there with Blood Over Bright Haven (which was my favorite read of the last...several years at least), and I'm so thrilled that I took the chance on this because it's spectacular. I think my only real complaint here is that at times this book was a little dense. I will say it took a good 100-ish or so pages to really get into the swing of it, and it's obvious that some people will just not click with it, but for the people who do I think it's poised to be something special. I've already gone ahead and ordered extra copies for my store and have written a shelf talker for it. I can't wait for said copies to come in so I can start hand selling it. I also feel like this COULD be expanded into a series, because there's a seed planted in the epilogue that leaves the door open for some interesting things. So, fingers crossed it does well enough that more books get picked up, but either way it's an outstanding debut that I can't wait to talk to people about. I'll also certainly be curious to see what Abeysekara comes up with next, because she seems like an author to watch.

2.5 stars

This Monster of Mine has an intriguing premise, but many of these interesting concepts and characters were underdeveloped and relied on tired cliches in the romantasy genre. The mystery surrounding Sarai’s attack had me just interested enough to want to see how everything played out. Unfortunately, I can't say that I enjoyed the reading experience.

The world-building in this book involves a lot of interesting ideas that are poorly delivered. A lot of world-specific terminology is delivered at once, creating a disorienting reading experience. Specific, small details are overexplained while the broad picture of the empire—its history, politics, religion, etc.— is left largely undeveloped. Yes, these small details mostly become plot-relevant. However, without a strong basis for the world, a lot of the events in the story feel hollow.

The magic is underutilized and underexplained. We barely see that characters use any of the many runes that are hinted at throughout the story. The magic we do see felt disconnected and inconsistent. Some of the rules to the magic Sarai uses daily contradict themselves. I think the story would have benefited from having a more limited magic system.

The characters were another area of the story that felt frustratingly underdeveloped. I enjoyed Sarai’s arc of feminine rage and vengeance. However, her motivation and attitude towards other characters felt contradictory at times. Kadra’s character doesn't go beyond a cliche dark, bad boy, overpowered fantasy love interest. I would have loved to see more from his character, but Sarai was too busy going in circles trying to hate him despite all evidence pointing to him being a good guy. Cisuré’s character was comically over the top. I understand the idea behind her character but her behavior was so on the nose that it made her friendship with Sarai completely unbelievable.

The reveal around the suspicious Petitor deaths was, honestly, kind of boring. The guilty party could not have been more obvious and I found their motivation disappointingly unoriginal. Especially because there is so much potential with the magic and the politics in this world. Sarai spends more time jumping to the wrong conclusions about Kadra than she does paying attention to the very obviously shady stuff happening around her.

Despite this being a romantasy book, I have very little to say about the actual romance. Somehow there managed to be both too much and not enough romance in this story. The lack of tension and build-up between the two characters made the romantic scenes abrupt.

Nothing about This Monster of Mine feels fully developed resulting in a mediocre, unsatisfying reading experience.

I swooned, laughed, yearned and cried. An amazingly immersive world with characters that quickly creep into your heart. The slow burn between Kadra and Sarai had me at the edge of my seat - brilliant writing by Shalini! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who likes a slow burn fantasy with a hint of murder mystery and Beauty and the Beast vibes!

THIS MONSTER OF MINE by Shalini Abeysekara was an absolutely incredible and wild ride from start to finish. It was absolutely captivated by this debut novel

During the read we follow Sarai who is hellbent on getting vengeance on the person who tried to kill her four years ago. In her attempt she returns the scene of the almost committed crime as a Petitor : “a prosecutor using magic to detect lies” and takes things further by working with Tetrarch Kadra who is known to be the most vicious of the Judges that rules in order to find for herself and others who've experienced similar fates as she was able to escape from.

The writing and plot of this story was absolutely beautiful and unique. I loved learning about politics embedded in this story and the corruption that comes with it. You can tell the author to time and care in her research with this book.

I was also intrigued by the magic system in this story where those who possessed magic had the ability to tap into blood and runes to complete their desires.

The characters were incredible to read and understand. They were all so complex and flawed. They felt so human and real to me with each thought, feeling, dialogue, and interaction they had.

The interactions between Sarai and Kadra were everything. Their chemistry was so good, I loved the pacing of their relationship it kept me on the edge of my seat. Reminded by I love slow-burn romance.

Overall, this book was beautifully written and crafty. It’s was a perfect debut filled with mystery, political intrigue, Ancient Roman influences. So much twist, betrayal, revenge, and emotions found in this read it was hard not to love it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me this e-arc copy.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!
***
"Eighteen-year-old Sarai doesn’t know why someone tried to kill her four years ago, but she does know that her case was closed without justice." Set in a wonderfully developed fantasy world based on ancient Rome, a judge and his unlikely prosecutor must unearth secrets and learn to work together to save their people and themselves.
***
This book was absolutely incredible!! Abeysekara is an author to watch out for in the next coming years. Her world building, character development, fast plot, and intricate details made for such a beautiful journey. This book follows our main character Sarai, who is determined to find answers to her attempted murder. To do so, she must work together with Kadra, a sadistic leader known for his violence. While doing so, we watch their friendship unfurl into something more...
***
Tropes:
~Grumpy MMC
~Slowburn
~Enemies to lovers
~Touch her and you die
~He's only gentle with her
~Strong-willed FMC
~Queer representation
~Mental health and DV representation

___SAME REVIEW POSTED TO GOODREADS, TIKTOK, BARNES & NOBLE

Sarai doesn't know why someone tried to kill her four years ago, but she's hellbent on vengeance. Returning to the scene as a Petitor (a prosecutor using magic to detect lies), and working with Tetrarch Kadra (the most vicious of the Judges who rule), Sarai searches for justice for herself and others who've met a similar fate.

Wow, what a debut!! Shalini Abeysekara came out swinging with this one, and it packs a hell of a punch! I utterly inhaled this book, and it was one of those reads that kept me up late reading and excited to pick up again in the morning.

An interesting magic system, where magic-users tap into blood and runes to complete their wishes. The society Shalini created was really intriguing, and I loved learning the politics of this Rome inspired fantasy setting. This was a story about justice, and what you do when the whole system is rotten from the core. The slow-burn romance was an engaging 'side-plot' and I adored Sarai and Kadra and the intricacies of their relationship with each other.

Shalini had me hooked right from the very start. I could not put this book down and if I didn't have to adult I'd have devoured it in one sitting.
Gothic / dark academia, with a sprinkle of magic and a handful of violent revenge. Throw in a slow burn forbidden romance and you have yourself the perfect murder mystery thriller. What's the genre? This book has everything and I couldn't get enough. Sarai I am soooo glad you got your justice and I loved everything about the way it went down. Many twists and betrayals which had me on the edge of my seat, the unique take on magic with the runes and the Tetrach's of each quarter had me guessing until the very end. Cisure, no spoilers here, but man oh man, do we or don't we trust her?

A fantastically written book. I cannot wait to purchase my shelf trophy of phenomenal story.
Thank you Shalini

The story is cooking on high heat. There is political intrigue, sizzling romance, and a plot brimming with deception and deadly conspiracies. Set in an Ancient Rome-inspired world, it delivers everything you could want: a fierce FMC hellbent on revenge, a dangerously charming MMC, and enough twists to leave you breathless.

Sarai is a force to be reckoned with from the very first page. She is everything I want in an FMC. She is brave, fierce, and confident. The mystery of her back story propels everything forward and pushes her toward her possible murderous enemy. The internal conflict between her desire for revenge and her growing attraction to Kadra is masterfully portrayed. The tension between them is a slow, slow, slow burn. I like a gradual burn because all the longing and anticipation make the coming together more enjoyable. Kadra is ruthless and undeniably alluring, and his morally gray nature keeps you guessing. They have a forced proximity as she can detect lies, and he is a judge who believes in brutal punishment.

The political intrigue is layered and full of conspiracy that will shock and satisfy, proving that nothing in this world is as it seems. The world-building is based on Ancient Rome and is infused with magic; the cruelty and tragedy of Ancient Rome is present. The balance between action, suspense, and romance is impeccable, making every moment purposeful. As a debut novel, it was outstanding. I can’t wait to see where this series goes next.

Thank you, NetGalley and Union Square Co., for the opportunity to review and provide my honest feedback.

I want to start off by saying that I will eat up any and every fantasy book that takes place in a Roman Empire inspired setting, especially if it’s romantasy or has a romantic subplot. This Monster of Mine follows Sarai, who ventures to the capital to find out who was behind her attempted murder four years ago and is thrust into a world of corrupt politicians and a flawed justice system.

I really loved the themes of justice and vengeance, especially coming from the point of view of our main characters who are in positions of power and are the ones who mete out this supposed “justice”. This especially becomes interesting regarding Sarai and how she perceives justice as someone who is considered an outsider and from a lower social class who is put into this position of power.

The relationship between Sarai and her best friend was also beautifully executed, although gut-wrenching to read, and Sarai’s development throughout the story was so satisfying as she learns to navigate this world that honestly just seems out to get her. And the mmc, Kadra? Yeah, smash. He’s absolutely unhinged and I need him very badly.

If you’re a die-hard romantasy fan or just a history girlie who knows a little bit too much about Roman law, then this book is for you. This was a stunning debut and I honestly can’t wait to read more from this author.

WHAT A DEBUT !!!
the book was just incredible from the setting to the main characters, it had me on a chokehold from the very beginning and i couldn't stop read !!! im so so sat for everything else the author writes in the future !!!.

(4.5⭐)
"It is difficult to have to convince others of your humanity. Not just being human but being... worthy of all the accoutrements of humanity."

no words, im in love. (also maybe just totally obsessed with Sarai and Kadra)

okay but seriously i could not stop reading?? i was reading two books at the same time at first and then it just became me completely abandoning my other read BECAUSE I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?? I WAS HOOKED. and im happy to say my suspicions 15% on who was the culprit(s) were correct!! proud moment🙂‍↕️

the magic system & worldbuilding had me completely at its mercy because i just adored it so much!! the relationship between Tetrarchs and Petitors was so interesting?? and how the author wrote the justice system and its flaws within this book hit so hard to real life... truly the amount of lines & scenes i highlighted that were so real (unfortunately🥲). but i love the way the author handled it and seeing Sarai fight against the corrupted system was so well written.

which let me talk about my new fav FMC, Sarai!! I ADORE THIS GIRL HELLO?? her anger and need for justice was so understandable and genuinely every time she was told "stop digging into the past and let it go it's over"... oh my blood boiled like?? insane telling someone who was assaulted and thrown off a tower years ago and now currently doesnt remember how it happened to LET IT GO?? please the way i felt so murderous towards that person😭 literally hated them from the first scene, the amount of times they pissed me off!!!. but anyways back to Sarai! i love how real she felt. was she terrified each time she discovered something and realized just how serious the whole situation was? yes. (and wow did she go through a lot in her investigation) but she still pushed through even when nearly everyone was out to get her and it became more than just finding out the truth about what happened 4 years ago, but also seeking justice for the others who have been killed in similar ways. her defiance towards who wanted to silence her!! from the bribes to the torture and she never gave in, i love her. the way she would constantly stand up for others, especially those who nobody else would stand up for??🥺 oh and every time Sarai got a panic attack, my heart broke I just wanted to give her a hug😭 she seriously deserves all the love in the world.

AND KADRA?? THE MAN THAT HE IS I LOVE HIM. he's so sweet, ruthless, silly, funny, fair and did i mention ruthless?? that moment he had that abusive murderer burned alive!! we love to see it!! and when he murders for her >>> love him. he is also just a literal walking green flag. the way he pushed sarai to trust her instincts and had complete trust in decisions she made. when he'd be there for her panic attacks and helped her breathe and would hold her?? and how Kadra just KNEW the effect he had on her every time he was wearing that damn robe😭 please i was laughing so much. also he really just pushed her so much to grow, but also i love how he made her worse in terms of ruthlessness LOL meanwhile Sarai made Kadra better, so it all worked out😁

the romance was such a slow burn and i was absolutely here for it. like i am not exagerrating on how slow it is which btw honestly the marketing for this being a romantasy doesnt match up imo. it's definitely more of a fantasy with a romance subplot (my fav). there was so much pining though omg?? genuinely was just yelling at those goofballs to kiss already!!! but there were SO many scenes that had me giggling and kicking my feet i am so obsessed with Sarai and Kadra🥹 and can i just say it was absolutely hilarious seeing how much a mood Sarai was when she was trying to fight her attraction towards Kadra?? my fav was during a storm when she wanted a bolt of lightning to strike her so she'd stopped thinking about Kadra please😭 also just the way Sarai felt completely safe with Kadra aka the man she was investigating as a potential murderer when never has she felt safe before in someone's arms??? be still my heart- (i also just couldnt stop looking back at that one fanart commissioned by the artist ugh i love it)

the side characters were also so well written because seriously the way i wanted to murder so many characters???? i genuinely was losing my MIND i hate them so much. meanwhile i need to give a shoutout to Gaius, Telmar, Anek, and Cassandane!! while they may have no appeared too much (id say Gaius appeared the most), i adore them all and i really hope we get to see more of these characters in book 2!

oh and in terms of the mystery surrounding what happened in the prologue--i may have guessed who the culprit(s) was but the way it happened??? i didnt expect that for sure omg and its so insane but makes so much more sense now. and that ending??? that almost scared me😭 it wasnt a cliffhanger and i know this is a duology but had i not known that, honestly this couldve worked out as a standalone. but! there was something at the end that i can see why thered be another book and im so curious👀

overall, this was a brilliant debut! the only reason im giving 4.5 is that im not exactly getting that feeling of '5 stars i am obsessed with this story!!!!' HOWEVER i am still absolutely obsessed with the characters and had so much fun, it seriously deserves all the love! definitely recommend, and im super excited to see where book 2 leads to.


Many thanks to Union Square & Co for sending me an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review!

It’s insane how a book can immerse you so deeply into its world that next thing you know, days have passed and it’s suddenly over. That’s how I felt reading this ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sterling Publishing, & of course the lovely Shalini Abeysekara for an early readers copy of This Monster of Mine!

I feel incredibly lucky to have been among those to read this book before it hits the mass market because I can see how much potential it has. It is one that all Fantasy Romance readers should watch out for in 2025 - in my opinion.

There were SO many things I loved in this book but here are just a few of the highlights:

- The FMC has a tragic past that leads her on a revenge path and ultimately to our Morally Grey MMC.

- The two are forced to work together to solve a string of mysterious deaths and slowly (AND I MEAN SLOWLY) begin to see each other in a different way.

- Not to spoil anything but I despise many characters in this book and you will too by the end.

- The world building was done beautifully, although I did get lost at times but thank god for the glossary at the back of the book 😅

Let’s get to some tropes because I know that’s what y’all care about:

- enemies to lovers
- who did this to you?
- forced proximity
- amnesia (forgotten trauma)
- Roman inspired elements
- slowwwwwwwwwwwwwwww burn
- & a pinch of forbidden romance

I will say that it is dark at times and Kadra, our morally grey MMC, does do some questionable things. So PLEASE !!! check content warnings before diving in !!!

Happy Reading Bookworms 🫶🏼📖🐛
@kiki.book.worm

Dark and brutal, but also with a hopeful core fueled by righteous rage. I loved the lie detector magic and the way Sarai and Kadra's relationship slowly developed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Union Square & Co for the e-arc! All opinions are entirely my own.

Let me start with this, the author’s ability to create intriguing worlds is amazing and I was incredibly excited to read this book due to the concept of it.

I loved how different the world felt from other books I’ve read previously. It truly felt entirely unique and I could feel how much care and effort went into crafting it.
I also loved the determination and overall personality of Sarai, her goals were clear and she stopped at nothing to achieve them.

I liked how the romance was built up and took time to develop. Just as a personal preference, I tend to enjoy reading slower burns than quicker ones and this one was great in that aspect!! They did acknowledge the attraction between them pretty early on but the actual romance took time and I greatly enjoyed being able to read through their experience!

I loved the uniqueness of the world Shalini has created but I would have absolutely loved if there had been more expansions done within the world to fully flesh it out. I felt I was missing pieces of information I needed to fully immerse myself in the story and unfortunately, I just never got there with it.

I also was a bit put off with the “plot twist” being outright confirmed so early on within the story. Perhaps just a personal preference, but I much more enjoy being revealed a major plot twist when the main character experiences it. I find it hard to continue to read through a story where I as the reader know what’s happening and what will happen and the main character doesn’t. I find it harder to immerse myself within stories like this.

Overall, I found this book pretty enjoyable and I’m looking forward to seeing where the author takes it next!! I will look forward to reading more in the future from Shalini!

Sarai’s world is turned upside down after a devastating event, and she’s left piecing together the fragments of the future she once envisioned. With her unique ability to discern lies, Sarai becomes an invaluable asset in the courts of Ur Diny, where she is forced to serve a powerful judge, Kadra—a man she believes to be the source of her suffering.
The novel is a masterclass in blending mystery with themes of justice. Sarai’s reluctant partnership with Kadra as they work together to unravel cases of murder and corruption is central to the story, and the author’s legal background brings an authenticity to the exploration of justice and morality. Throughout, the question of what justice really means to different individuals is woven deeply into the narrative, making the reader constantly reflect on the complexities of right and wrong.
The romance is slow burn and the tension between Sarai and Kadra is palpable, and I enjoyed how it unfolded naturally over the course of the book.

Thank you Netgalley & Union Square & Co. for providing me with this e-arc.

*3.5 rounded down*

This was a fun read that is undeniable, I flew through the book, but there were a few key points I had a hard time looking past (minor spoilers throughout).

There was a clear strong effort at world-building (loved that a unique calendar system was used) however, this was demonstrated almost entirely in the use of world-specific terms which resulted in muddying the first chapter with everything being delivered all at once. Taking more time to dole out that information and explaining the political structures (especially considering this was very much a political fantasy/romantasy) and histories would have helped clarify and strengthen the world. Because this was missing, the beginning once Sarai leaves her town to when she arrives in Kadra's tower (spanning 3 chapters) was rushed. Foundational worldbuilding that could have taken up to 100 pages was packed into 45. While there was a glossary, there still could have been more contained within the story. I also fault the formatting of the ARC as the glossary was at the end of the book and it would have been far more beneficial at the beginning or if there was even a table of contents signalling the reader to it.

Cisuré as a character felt painfully two-dimensional. As someone who's in a key supporting role, she presented as more of a caricature/device causing her friendship with Sarai to seem unfounded. I also found it unrealistic that Kadra, someone who was painted throughout as having strong foresight and planning, didn't catch on to Sarai being the Sidran Tower Girl sooner. The ages of the characters overall felt very young to me. The schooling which was written as if it were a secondary institution could have easily been post-secondary and the story would have still worked. Sarai's fall could have been at 18 instead of 14 and still had the same impact. Aelius probably would have felt more menacing at 32 than at 28. In fact, he could have been even older since the younger characters would have also been aged up. And the way the ending was written unfortunately felt a bit too after-school-special.

The biggest flaw for me was that it felt like an oversight that Sarai's rune for concealment would cover her scars and not allow her to appear to be wearing makeup if she applied any, yet everyone could see the bruises and burns she received throughout the novel. It really just doesn't make sense that one is visible and not the other.

But like I said, I still really enjoyed this book and I think a lot of readers are gonna love it. The fact that we didn't jump right into the romance and eased into it was a great call. The pacing overall for a standalone fantasy was fantastic. I liked the characters and Abeysekara did not shy away from gore and trauma which I loved. I think most readers will be able to look past the majority of what I got stuck on, I just couldn’t get past my final point.

“To the quiet, but dangerous girls who seethe at injustice: may they never see us coming.”

This Monster of Mine is a stunning dark fantasy debut filled with mystery, political intrigue, Ancient Roman influences, and an amazingly slooooow burn (it pays off - promise).

Four years ago, Sarai was thrown off a tower to her death - and she can’t remember why. Now healed and scars hidden from the world, she is back in the city where it all happened, and she is dead set on revenge. Working as a Petitor, a prosecutor who can magically detect lies, she is assigned to work with Tetrarch Kadra, her main suspect in her own murder. Certain of his guilt, Sarai begins a double life: solving cases with Kadra by day and plotting his ruin by night. But as her memories resurface, and evidence comes to light, Kadra just may not be the monster she originally thought he was...

If you have wanted to read something that feels like the Cassandra/mad woman/ I Did Something Bad mashup? Here you go. Do also throw in Dress for a little tension and fun.

🇨🇦 Canadian romantic fantasy legends; Kristen Ciccarelli, Danielle L. Jensen, Nicki Pau Preto, Nisha J. Tuli, Demi Winters - set another seat at the table - Shalini Abeysekara is HERE!

Thank you to Union Square & Co., NetGalley and Shalini Abeysekara for the advanced electronic copy in exchange for an honest review. This Monster of Mine comes out on April 1st.

As always - check trigger warnings prior to reading (provided) and take care of yourself as needed. ♥️

<i>Thank you to Netgalley and Union Square & co. for the E-arc</i>
I almost didn't finish this book. To start off so people are warned the first few chapters of the book are 20+ pages. I pushed forward because I was excited about the premise of the book. Than I fell in love with Sarai, and than Kandra, and than I was enthralled in the book and needed to know what was going to happen next! I wasn't always 100% on what was happening but the story had me hook line and sinker. I needed to know what Kandra was going to do next and how Sarai was going to navigate through what ever he put them through next. The romance was a little quick though it did make sense and I loved it. Honestly one of the better fantasy books I've read this year and I'm so excited to see what the author does next!

This Monster of Mine is an engrossing debut that combines dark fantasy, political intrigue, and a simmering romance. Sarai seeks vengeance against those who tortured her and is forced to serve Kadra, a powerful judge she suspects might be the one responsible for her pain. As a Petitor, she can detect lies, but she’s bound to Kadra, leading to a tense and complicated dynamic.

Shalini Abeysekara’s writing stands out with its rich world-building and unique magical elements, though the romance felt rushed. The shift from enemies to lovers didn’t have enough buildup for me, and some plot twists were predictable. Still, the characters are well-developed, and Sarai’s personal growth was deeply satisfying, especially as a neurodivergent character navigating social expectations.

Kadra’s morally gray nature adds intrigue, keeping the reader guessing. If you enjoy dark, character-driven fantasy with political twists and slow-burn romance, this book is a must-read. Abeysekara’s debut shows immense promise, and I look forward to what she writes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for the ARC!

This Monster of Mine is a new romantasy debt novel filled with plenty of lust, angst, revenge, and forbidden love. Perfect for fans who want a break from dragons and fairies and need a little more shall I dare say "oomph" in the theme.
I'm only rating it 3 stars because it was hard for me to follow and a little bit out of my league for what I wanted but I know plenty who will love this!