The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy

"This was a fun read, but it feels unfinished. I understand that it's supposed to be a duology in the future, but I expected them to at least resolve one plot line. The author set up so many things that the next book will probably feel as crowded as this one feels shallow. I enjoyed the interaction between characters and thought the magic mixed with science was neat. I wish we got a little more info about why the characters are the way they are though."

"The tension? Immaculate. The vibes? Perfection <br/><br/>If this isn’t an “alleged” Dramione fanfic dressed in an absolutely stunning high fantasy coat, then someone needs to explain the vibe to me—because I know what I read, and what I read was pure, delicious, enemies-to-lovers magic. And frankly? I was feral for every page of it.<br/><br/>Let’s start with the slow burn: a masterclass. The kind of romantic tension that had me gripping my Kindle like it was a lifeline. Osric and Aurienne are peak hypercompetent idiots—too clever for their own good and too emotionally stunted to admit that all their bickering is just foreplay in disguise. Watching them scheme, outmaneuver, and accidentally fall in love while pretending it’s all strategy? Inject it directly into my bloodstream.<br/><br/>Osric is the “he falls first and harder” poster boy, and I adored every second of his silent, tortured pining. Aurienne is a brilliant STEM heroine with a spine of steel and a perfectly weaponized glare. Together, they are chaos and chemistry personified. The banter? Lethal. The longing? Exquisite.<br/><br/>And can we talk about the worldbuilding for a second?? The critique crickets live rent-free in my head. That’s the kind of weird, wonderful specificity I live for. The magical yet familiar setting feels like someone took your standard fantasy world, threw it into a kaleidoscope, added bureaucracy, sarcasm, and minor eldritch horrors, and then said: “enjoy the ride.” It’s immersive, offbeat, and deeply fun.<br/><br/>Every side character feels like they wandered in from a different genre and decided to cause problems on purpose. The eccentric energy? Off the charts. Honestly, the whole book reads like if Terry Pratchett and “Long Live Evil” had a love child who was morally grey and incredibly likable, and somehow, we’re the lucky bastards who got the manuscript.<br/><br/>If you’re into:<br/>"