This Monster of Mine

Paperback Published on: 09/04/2026
Price: £10.99
Free UK delivery on orders over £25, otherwise £2.99
In stock
Usually dispatched within 1-2 days
Make and edit your lists in your account
Check click & collect stock near you
Collect today: Pay in shop
In stock
Usually dispatched within 1-2 days
Check click & collect stock near you
Collect today: Pay in shop

Bookseller Reviews

View all
This Monster of Mine
Breath-taking!!
"Because the madman she'd set out to ruin was everything the most desperate, anguished parts of her had always craved" To say I ate through this is an ... READ MORE
Gwen Seward
This Monster of Mine
The perfect book!
This was phenomenal! The perfect political fantasy with a romantic subplot, this had me staying up at all hours of the night needing to know what happened ... READ MORE
Salima
This Monster of Mine
A sickeningly perfect romantasy
This entire story had me in a trance, I just couldn't stop turning the pages! The world building was next level and the idea of the magic abilities being t... READ MORE
Charlotte at Carlisle

Synopsis

***BONUS CHAPTER FROM KADRA'S POV INCLUDED***

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...

The first book in a dazzling and addictive romantic fantasy duology, the #1 Sunday Times bestselling This Monster of Mine is a bloodbath of manipulation, deception, and forbidden love.

Tropes

Enemies to lovers
Slow Burn Romance
Morally grey FMC and MMC
Magical world
Political intrigue
Vengeance
High Stakes

!!SPICE ALERT!!

Join the legions of readers who have fallen hard for This Monster of Mine:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Six stars if I could! This Monster of Mine is a masterclass in fantasy storytelling - combining political intrigue, betrayal, and a rigid class system with a slow-burn romance that keeps you on edge.'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book was absolutely phenomenal and exactly what I've been craving . . . I already want to reread this!!'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book swept me away . . . absolutely fire'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'OMG this book is absolutely incredible and interesting, I loved it so much. This Monster of Mine must be one of the most fascinating and unique books I've ever read . . . I couldn't put it down.'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This Monster of Mine is an incredible romantasy book that I really can't recommend enough'

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I AM FREAKING OUT BY HOW DELICIOUS AND AWESOME AND AMAZING THIS IS!!!!! I am obsessed, I am Kadra's wine glass and Sarai's glower, THIS BOOK IS PHENOMENAL AND I HAVE OFFICIALLY LOST ALL BRAIN CELLS AND COHERENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Dark romantasy perfection, people!!! YOU NEEEEEEEEEEED TO READ THIS!!!

#1 Sunday Times bestseller, 15/04/2025

Publisher information

  • Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
  • ISBN: 9781399732079
  • Number of pages: 448
  • Dimensions: 196 x 130 x 34 mm
  • Weight: 314g
  • Languages: English

Customer Reviews

View all
This Monster of Mine
Amazing Debut!
This Monster of Mine is so different to anything I've read in a while and I absolutely loved this debut novel. Set against an ancient Roman inspired fantas... READ MORE
Clara
This Monster of Mine
The most delicious dark romantasy ever!! CONSENT KING & ANGRY GIRL COMBO! DROP EVERYTHING AND READ THIS!
I AM FREAKING OUT BY HOW DELICIOUS AND AWESOME AND AMAZING THIS IS!!!!! I love the sh!!!t out of it, I am obsessed, I am Kadra's wine glass and Sarai's glo... READ MORE
athenafreyareads
This Monster of Mine
THIS IS NEW AND REFRESHING AND DIVINE
Guys this is going to blow your mind. It has everything I love in a fantasy and this one includes the best romantic scenes! Magic and a new world to explor... READ MORE
Nabeela Boodoo-Uddin
This Monster of Mine
Sarai and Kadra are great together.
Sarai and Kadra are great together. The mystery was gripping and the world building intriguing. This was a fun read. Then add in the relationship betwee... READ MORE
Samantha
This Monster of Mine
Epic Fantasy full of twists, turns and betrayal!
I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book hit all the right spots for me. This is going to be a long review so get ready... READ MORE
Josephine McSorley
This Monster of Mine
Slow burn romantasy debut!
When Assessors arrive in the small, remote town of Arsamea, Barmaid Sarai unexpectedly gets a chance to join the next group of prestigious Petitors, who ca... READ MORE
Rachel Elizabeth
This Monster of Mine
Gripping and intoxicating!
This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara ✨ A dark, politically charged fantasy with an unforgettable romance—this book has me hooked! ✨ As an ARC r... READ MORE
Alamaious_reads on IG
This Monster of Mine
Fabulous debut
Well, this was a wonderful surprise! I'm surprised that this is Shalini Abeysekara's debut novel, the premise sounded amazing, and I really enjoyed it. For... READ MORE
Sam H
This Monster of Mine
Review
A dark and visceral fantasy inspired by Ancient Rome. I loved this! The setting (an Acadamiae surrounded by four quarters with four towers each controlled ... READ MORE
BookishSteph1
This Monster of Mine
Beautiful writing, lush worldbuilding and a glorious romance
I knew when Shalini first started to promote this book that it was one that I would absolutely love. A dark romantasy with political intrigue, a forbidden ... READ MORE
Amirah Mohiddin
This Monster of Mine
I loved it!
She watched with slitted eyes as Kadra crossed the temple's threshold. Catching her perusal, he raised an eyebrow. "They say evil can't pass the High El... READ MORE
Sofia Pa
This Monster of Mine
Amazing debut
Well this was a surprised for me, I didn't heard of it until recently but I'm glad I got the Arc! I really enjoyed this one. The political intrigue, the b... READ MORE
Sandra Macia Vazquez
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
This Monster of Mine
Great
It took me a while to finish this title, but I really did enjoy it so much. The characters and world building were amazing and it makes me smile thinking b... READ MORE
MFLM
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
This Monster of Mine
A must read for any fantasy romance reader
This book came in my Fairyloot subscription, and wow am I glad it did! This Monster of Mine was one of my favourite reads of 2025. This Monster of Mine f... READ MORE
Ashleigh
This Monster of Mine
Half-done robbed MMC, Resilient and vengeful FMC with Magic to detect lies
DAMN. I LOVED THIS BOOK. A Roman Empire-inspired setting? SIGN ME UP. This book was entertaining, intriguing, suspenseful, satisfying, magical, and absolut... READ MORE
Dione
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
This Monster of Mine
"To the quiet but dangerous girls who see the injustice: may they never see us coming." The Plot: A Ruthless Game of Justice & Vengeance. Four years ... READ MORE
Aisha Faisal