This Monster of Mine

With a delicious forbidden love story, flawless Roman-inspired world building, and a twisty plot that kept me guessing, This Monster of Mine is easily one of my top reads this year. Shalini Abeysekara’s romantasy debut features a murder mystery-turned political thriller, and characters which are complex and often flawed–Sarai’s constant battle of vengeance versus desire had me hooked right away! – Demi Winters, author of The Road of BonesIn a world rife with corruption, This Monster of Mine dares to ask the question: what’s the cost of doing what is right? With sizzling romantic tension, intricate world-building, and an irresistible mystery at its core, this book is an absolute feast for the senses. A dazzling and deliciously dark debut! – Keshe Chow, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Girl With No ReflectionThis Monster of Mine is like a fist around your throat-tense, breath-stealing, and impossible to escape. Teeming with romantic tension and intricate court machinations-it’s of the most addictive reads this year. A trophy among favorites. – Brittney Arena, #1 Sunday Times Bestselling Author of A Dance of LiesAbeysekara’s debut fuses romance, fantasy, history, and legal thriller into a uniquely strong combination. The difference between legality and truth, anger as fuel for both violence and justice, the willingness to ignore or embrace the faults in a partner, and the corrupting force of money in politics play just as key a role as the slow-burn romance and the thoughtful magic system. Sarai’s permanent scarring from the attack is both plot-important and handled naturalistically. A relentless and beautifully balanced romantasy/legal thriller, offering blood and hope in equal measures. Recommended for fans of any of the genres it borrows from – Library Journal (starred review)Skilfully interweaving themes of political corruption, injustice, and grey morality … [a] dark fantasy-romance that fans of the genre will enjoy * Booklist *

Shalini Abeysekara is a neurodivergent woman of color and a former lawyer based in Hamilton, Canada. She enjoys using fantasy as a mirror to interrogate both government policies and the bizarre workings of the business world. She is passionate about depicting other neurodivergent women of color reckoning with themselves and their place in a world that tells them they’re too much or not enough. When not glued to the screen for some escapist purpose or the other, you’ll find her attempting to re-create famous desserts, doomscrolling, or both. She still can’t believe she’s an adult and hopes you don’t either.

This Monster of Mine is her debut novel.

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