This Monster of Mine

Author: Shalini Abeysekara

Genre: Dark Romantasy – Ancient Rome–inspired, Legal Thriller, Dark Fantasy Romance

Book Rating: ⭐8/10

Spicy Rating: 🌶️🌶️🌶️3/5

Reviews describe a dark, slow-burn romance with on-page tension and some steam, but the focus is heavily on politics, murder investigations, and legal drama rather than constant spice—so solid moderate heat.

Description:
Eighteen-year-old Sarai survived being thrown off a tower four years ago, but her case was closed with no justice. Hungry for vengeance, she returns to the corrupt city of Cisure as a Petitor, a prosecutor whose magic lets her detect lies, and is assigned to work with Tetrarch Kadra—the most feared of the four judges who rule the land and the prime suspect in a series of murders that look just like her attempted killing. By day, Sarai solves cases at Kadra’s side; by night, she secretly hunts for proof he’s the monster who hurt her. But Kadra’s ruthless anger at the city’s corruption, and the way he protects the vulnerable, start to complicate everything—especially when the political conspiracy she uncovers drags her into deadly court intrigue and her enemy’s voice matches the only memory she has of her assailant.

Trope/Mood:
Ancient Rome–inspired city; dark legal thriller + romantasy; enemies-to-lovers / “is he my would-be murderer or my ally?”; ruthless judge MMC; magically lie-detecting FMC; revenge plot; political corruption and murder investigations; very angsty, twisty, bloody, and slow-burn romantic.