The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy

Book 1 of the Dearly Beloathed Duology

By: Brigitte Knightley

Narrated by: Heather Long, Thomas Judd

Loyalties are tested in this slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy following an assassin and a healer forced to work together to cure a fatal disease, all while resisting the urge to kill each other—or, worse, fall in love.

When Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, falls ill, he realizes he needs the expertise of a very specific healer. As fate would have it, that healer belongs to an enemy faction, the Haelan Order.

Aurienne Fairhrim and her fellow Haelan are inundated by sick children suffering from an outbreak of a long-forgotten Pox. Unable to get the funding needed to launch an immunization program, the Haelan Order is desperate for money – so desperate that when Osric breaks into their headquarters to bribe Aurienne to heal him, she is forced to accept.

As Osric and Aurienne work together to solve not only his illness but the mysterious reoccurrence of the Pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction which only fuels the tension between them.

Got better and better-Really want the second half

It took me a bit to get oriented. And maybe for author to relax into story.
By the middle I was so hooked. The language was a step above and often poetically beautiful. But it was the relationship that really grabbed me. By the end I couldn’t see a way for it to work either, but was believing in the unlikely pair more than any romance I’ve read in awhile. Also, it’s funny.
I was so bummed I couldn’t find anything about second part! No future release date. There has to be a second one so I know what happens. I’m having hard time imagining what they’re going to do and I’m dying of curiosity.
I search hard to find books like this. Both characters grow slowly, and practically against their will since they like their sharply defined rules. My heart was breaking a little at the end, so well was the romance written- and characters haven’t even accepted they care, and it makes total sense! Not contrived so it really does kind of hurt.
Some of the scenes and jokes a little bawdy but so what. The main characters are where it’s at.

Laugh out loud funny

This book was hilarious and entertaining. I enjoyed learning about the magic systems, and seeing how the tension between the Most Perfect Healer and the Most Irreverent Assassin developed throughout the course of the book. Dripping with sarcasm and blood, this book is a dark and comedic romp. I'm looking forward to book 2!!!

Hilariously obsessed

I love everything that is wrong with the both of them. Osric is down baddd and im absolutely obsessed with it all. Super fun and entertaining! Cant wait for part 2

Best book I've read this year!!

While romantasy is my usual, romantasy with a comedic aspect is not, so I wasn't going into this expecting this to become a new OVERALL favorite book. Immediately, I was in love with Osric and his sarcastic mouth, even more so thanks to the narrators. Both narrators absolutely NAILED the reading and personalities of each character, and I found myself laughing out loud way too often. Both MCs quickly became my favorite characters, with dialogue I know I will definitely want to revisit in the future. I cannot wait for book 2 of this masterpiece.

A Unique Standout

Can't wait for next book and continuation of the MCs story. The slowest burn and awakening for these two. Not normally a fantasy lover but character development and world building is gradual. They and their worlds depend on each other.