This Monster of Mine - by Shalini Abeysekara (Paperback)

About the Book

"Eighteen-year-old Sarai doesn't know why someone tried to kill her four years ago, but she does know her case was closed without justice. Hellbent on vengeance and now a Petitor-a prosecutor who can magically detect lies--she returns to the scene of the crime, assigned to work with Tetrarch Kadra. Ice-cold and perennially sadistic, Kadra is the most vicious of the four judges who rule the land of UrDinye--and the prime suspect in a string of deaths identical to Sarai's attempted murder. Certain of Kadra's guilt, Sarai begins a double life: solving cases with him by day and plotting his ruin by night. But Kadra is charming, and there's something alluring about the wrath he wields against the city's corruption. When she finds evidence that embroils her in a deadly political battle, Sarai must also fight against her attraction to Kadra--because despite his growing hold on her heart, his voice matches the only memory she has of her assailant..."--

Book Synopsis

She knows the taste of death. He'll stoke her hunger for it.
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. Hellbent on vengeance, she returns to the scene of the crime as a Petitor, a prosecutor who can magically detect lies, and is assigned to work with Tetrarch Kadra. Ice-cold and perennially sadistic, Kadra is the most vicious of the four judges who rule the land--and the prime suspect in a string of deaths identical to Sarai's attempted murder.

Certain of his guilt, Sarai begins a double life: solving cases with Kadra by day and plotting his ruin by night. But Kadra is charming and there's something alluring about the wrath he wields against the city's corruption. So when the evidence she finds embroils her in a deadly political battle, Sarai must also fight against her attraction to Kadra--because despite his growing hold on her heart, his voice matches the only memory she has of her assailant...

A dazzling Ancient Rome-inspired romantasy debut, This Monster of Mine is a bloodbath of manipulation, deception, and forbidden love.

Review Quotes

"BEST NEW FANTASY BOOKS OF APRIL 2025" LIST

--Paste Magazine

"BEST NEW SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY BOOKS OF APRIL 2025" LIST

--Book Riot

"This Monster of Mine is a fantastic blend of fantasy, romance, and intrigue...The twists and turns are both shocking and satisfying, leading to a powerful conclusion that leaves an emotional impact."

--The Gloss Book Club

"[This Monster of Mine] blends murder investigations, questions of justice, and swoony tension...I fell head over heels into [it]."

--Utopia State of Mind

"A relentless and beautifully balanced romantasy/legal thriller, offering blood and hope in equal measures."

--Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

"Skillfully interweaving themes of political corruption, injustice, and grey morality... [a] dark fantasy-romance that fans of the genre will enjoy."

--Booklist

About the Author

Shalini Abeysekara (she/her/hers) is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of This Monster of Mine. As a former corporate lawyer, she enjoys using fantasy to interrogate reality, exploring monstrosity--perceived and real--and centering neurodivergent women of color reckoning with themselves and their place in a world that tells them they're too much and not enough. She is passionate about demystifying traditional publishing for all writers. When not writing, she games her life away and tries to make the perfect entremet. Most days though, she can't believe she's an adult, and hope you don't either.

Her debut dark fantasy romance, This Monster of Mine, is an Ancient Rome-inspired bloodbath of manipulation, deception, and forbidden love. A second novel will follow in 2026.