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This Monster of Mine #2
This Blade of Ours
Not yet published
Expected 30 Jun 26Death isn't finished with them yet.
Sarai believed the worst was behind her. However, months after exposing the government’s corruption in what has now been deemed “the Great Unravelling,” she faces scorn from citizens who preferred her and Kadra as the underdogs than victors. Worse, eerie omens rock the country: from a deadly plague outbreak to a sweeping madness that leave the afflicted ranting of an approaching reckoning. Accused of angering the gods, Sarai returns to the only place that can clear her name: Ur Dinyé’s frozen north. But among the secrets buried in its ice are Kadra’s.
Cursed with frightening, new abilities, Kadra struggles to protect Sarai against a land at odds with itself. When historical tensions worsen between the north and the south, a powerful religious order seizes control in the chaos, led by a man whose very voice can kill—Noceo bu Kader. Trapped between love and a crumbling country, Sarai and Kadra must outwit a power with roots as deep in fear as in cruelty. But the gods are always watching, and Sarai and Kadra may not escape a second time.
Sarai believed the worst was behind her. However, months after exposing the government’s corruption in what has now been deemed “the Great Unravelling,” she faces scorn from citizens who preferred her and Kadra as the underdogs than victors. Worse, eerie omens rock the country: from a deadly plague outbreak to a sweeping madness that leave the afflicted ranting of an approaching reckoning. Accused of angering the gods, Sarai returns to the only place that can clear her name: Ur Dinyé’s frozen north. But among the secrets buried in its ice are Kadra’s.
Cursed with frightening, new abilities, Kadra struggles to protect Sarai against a land at odds with itself. When historical tensions worsen between the north and the south, a powerful religious order seizes control in the chaos, led by a man whose very voice can kill—Noceo bu Kader. Trapped between love and a crumbling country, Sarai and Kadra must outwit a power with roots as deep in fear as in cruelty. But the gods are always watching, and Sarai and Kadra may not escape a second time.
432 pages, Paperback
Expected publication June 30, 2026
20 people are currently reading
2417 people want to read
About the author
Shalini Abeysekara
2 books329 followersShalini Abeysekara (she/her/hers) is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of This Monster of Mine. A former corporate lawyer, she uses fantasy to explore monstrosity, craft cynical MMCs who respect women, and center neurodivergent women reckoning with their place in a world that tells them they’re too much and not enough. When not writing, she games her life away and tries to make the perfect entremet. Most days, she can’t believe she's an adult, and hope you don’t either.
Her debut dark romantasy duology, This Monster of Mine, is an Ancient Rome-inspired bloodbath of manipulation, deception, and forbidden love. The sequel, This Blade of Ours, releases on June 30th in North America, and July 2nd everywhere else.
Follow her @shalini.writes on IG/ @shaliniwrites on Tiktok to be the first to hear about preorder campaigns, bonus chapters and more!
Her debut dark romantasy duology, This Monster of Mine, is an Ancient Rome-inspired bloodbath of manipulation, deception, and forbidden love. The sequel, This Blade of Ours, releases on June 30th in North America, and July 2nd everywhere else.
Follow her @shalini.writes on IG/ @shaliniwrites on Tiktok to be the first to hear about preorder campaigns, bonus chapters and more!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
Want to read
April 25, 2025I thought This Monster of Mine was a standalone but I definitely won’t say no to more Kadra
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was provided to me as an ARC; thank you to Shalini and her ARC team for the opportunity!
5 Stars — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This Blade of Ours completely consumed me. It is emotional, intense, and somehow even more devastating than This Monster of Mine. From the very first chapter, I was pulled straight back into this world and did not want to leave it. This sequel feels deeper, darker, and more emotionally charged, and I loved every painful second of it.
The characters feel so raw here. Every interaction is layered with tension, longing, and unspoken emotion, and it made the reading experience incredibly immersive. The relationships are messier, heavier, and more complex, which only made me more invested. What stayed with me most was how deeply both Kadra and Sarai carry their guilt. There is no sense of emotional reset here, and I loved that. Sarai, in particular, is constantly grappling with the events of the first book, and that lingering weight becomes such an elemental part of this story. Even after the conclusion of book one, the emotions do not fade. The pain, regret, and intensity still cling to them, making their journey feel raw and achingly real as everything continues to unravel.
I also need to take a moment to praise Shalini Abeysekara because her writing is truly something special. The way she captures emotion is beautiful and devastating all at once. Every feeling feels intentional, every moment feels intimate, and there is so much care woven into the story. She has an incredible ability to make you ache for her characters while still rooting for them with your whole heart. Her storytelling feels confident, atmospheric, and deeply emotional, and it is impossible not to get completely swept up in it.
This Blade of Ours doesn’t just continue the story, it elevates it. The emotional stakes are higher, the tension cuts deeper, and the impact lingers long after you finish the final page. I closed this book feeling overwhelmed in the best way, already missing the world and the characters.
If you loved This Monster of Mine, this sequel is an absolute must read. Emotional, immersive, and heartbreakingly beautiful, this book has firmly cemented this series as one of my favourites
5 Stars — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This Blade of Ours completely consumed me. It is emotional, intense, and somehow even more devastating than This Monster of Mine. From the very first chapter, I was pulled straight back into this world and did not want to leave it. This sequel feels deeper, darker, and more emotionally charged, and I loved every painful second of it.
The characters feel so raw here. Every interaction is layered with tension, longing, and unspoken emotion, and it made the reading experience incredibly immersive. The relationships are messier, heavier, and more complex, which only made me more invested. What stayed with me most was how deeply both Kadra and Sarai carry their guilt. There is no sense of emotional reset here, and I loved that. Sarai, in particular, is constantly grappling with the events of the first book, and that lingering weight becomes such an elemental part of this story. Even after the conclusion of book one, the emotions do not fade. The pain, regret, and intensity still cling to them, making their journey feel raw and achingly real as everything continues to unravel.
I also need to take a moment to praise Shalini Abeysekara because her writing is truly something special. The way she captures emotion is beautiful and devastating all at once. Every feeling feels intentional, every moment feels intimate, and there is so much care woven into the story. She has an incredible ability to make you ache for her characters while still rooting for them with your whole heart. Her storytelling feels confident, atmospheric, and deeply emotional, and it is impossible not to get completely swept up in it.
This Blade of Ours doesn’t just continue the story, it elevates it. The emotional stakes are higher, the tension cuts deeper, and the impact lingers long after you finish the final page. I closed this book feeling overwhelmed in the best way, already missing the world and the characters.
If you loved This Monster of Mine, this sequel is an absolute must read. Emotional, immersive, and heartbreakingly beautiful, this book has firmly cemented this series as one of my favourites
Want to read
July 22, 2025Gimme this book right freaking now
arc-tbr
January 7, 2026
Want to read
April 29, 2025How are you telling me I have to wait OVER a year for this Shalini? 😭
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
.☘︎ ݁˖ “Don’t be stubborn. We both want what’s best for the country.”
“But I won’t make the country pay for what I want.”
He spoke over his shoulder. “Then, you’ll pay for what the country wants.”
《 6 stars 》oh miss shalini your brain is the best place ever. in fact can i rent a room there? cause i need to live in ur dinyé despite its flaws, cause it would mean i get to see sarai and kadra live 🤭🙂↕️ oh this sequel is everything a tmom reader could've wanted in life. the lush worldbuilding, the incredibly realistic characters and the character arcs!! this is also one emotional hell of a roller coaster (i was ugly crying at a certain chapter, good luck ^^) and this book beautifully debates about morality, justice, religion and what it means to have power. i have soo much to say. just pls go pre-order it everyone!! its a sequel that will blow your mind ⭐️✨️ full rtc
i don't usually rate a book before i read it, but how does one rate a book 1 star before even reading it?? arcs aren't even out 😭
“But I won’t make the country pay for what I want.”
He spoke over his shoulder. “Then, you’ll pay for what the country wants.”
《 6 stars 》oh miss shalini your brain is the best place ever. in fact can i rent a room there? cause i need to live in ur dinyé despite its flaws, cause it would mean i get to see sarai and kadra live 🤭🙂↕️ oh this sequel is everything a tmom reader could've wanted in life. the lush worldbuilding, the incredibly realistic characters and the character arcs!! this is also one emotional hell of a roller coaster (i was ugly crying at a certain chapter, good luck ^^) and this book beautifully debates about morality, justice, religion and what it means to have power. i have soo much to say. just pls go pre-order it everyone!! its a sequel that will blow your mind ⭐️✨️ full rtc
Want to read
May 12, 2025Just finished TMOM, and I am both elated and devasted to learn there's going to be a sequel. How am I supposed to wait an entire YEAR for more of Sarai and Kadra??? They are so delightfully, beautifully vicious and clever and reckless and ruthless and just, and I am utterly obsessed ❤️
Oh well, guess I just need to reread the first book about 50 more times to sate The Need for more while I wait!
Oh well, guess I just need to reread the first book about 50 more times to sate The Need for more while I wait!
February 25, 2026
I have to say, it took me a long time to really get into this book. At the beginning, there was too much politics and too many philosophical discussions about power and strength – interesting to read, but not adding much to the plot. But somewhere around the 40% mark, when all the key characters finally step onto the stage, I was hooked. Shalini created a truly intriguing and unique world with unusual magic, while also delivering a compelling storyline and a satisfying romance.
I liked both main characters: Sarai, who remains true to herself no matter what, and Kadra, who would lay the whole world at her feet but instead chooses to give Sarai the space to fight her own battles.
Overall, this is a worthy conclusion to their story, and I will definitely be reading the author’s future books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Shalini Abeysekara for the ARC.
I liked both main characters: Sarai, who remains true to herself no matter what, and Kadra, who would lay the whole world at her feet but instead chooses to give Sarai the space to fight her own battles.
Overall, this is a worthy conclusion to their story, and I will definitely be reading the author’s future books.
Thank you to NetGalley and Shalini Abeysekara for the ARC.
to-read-arcs
February 18, 2026I need this right now!!
February 22, 2026
I really enjoyed This Monster of Mine and have genuinely thought about it a lot since reading it so I was excited to dive back into Sarai and Kadra’s story in This Blade of Ours. It picks up a few months after the “Unravelling” at the end of book one and let’s just say… things are not going great for them!
One of the things I loved again reading book two was the strong focus on political intrigue and the wider magic system. The world still feels layered and thoughtfully built. Kadra is the most interesting character (he wears the cloak of moral greyness very well!) and I loved getting his POV this time as this book leans more into his past. Sarai is also still likeable and easy to root for. She doesn’t feel quite as complex as she did in the first book, but that shift makes sense since this instalment gives more narrative space to Kadra’s story.
I’ll be honest it took me a little while to fully settle into this one. The first half felt slightly meandering, and at times the political threads were a bit hard to follow and the structure wasn’t as tight as it could have been. But around the halfway mark, the story finds its stride. The plot sharpens, the action ramps up, and everything starts to click into place.
The writing is still beautifully descriptive, and the world feels immersive. At its core, this is a story about redemption and forgiveness, and that emotional thread carries through nicely. And the ending? Genuinely satisfying, it wraps up the duology in a way that felt very fitting.
Overall, while it takes a bit of time to get going, This Blade of Ours delivers a strong conclusion to Sarai and Kadra’s journey and I’m really glad I got to return to their world!
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the arc.
One of the things I loved again reading book two was the strong focus on political intrigue and the wider magic system. The world still feels layered and thoughtfully built. Kadra is the most interesting character (he wears the cloak of moral greyness very well!) and I loved getting his POV this time as this book leans more into his past. Sarai is also still likeable and easy to root for. She doesn’t feel quite as complex as she did in the first book, but that shift makes sense since this instalment gives more narrative space to Kadra’s story.
I’ll be honest it took me a little while to fully settle into this one. The first half felt slightly meandering, and at times the political threads were a bit hard to follow and the structure wasn’t as tight as it could have been. But around the halfway mark, the story finds its stride. The plot sharpens, the action ramps up, and everything starts to click into place.
The writing is still beautifully descriptive, and the world feels immersive. At its core, this is a story about redemption and forgiveness, and that emotional thread carries through nicely. And the ending? Genuinely satisfying, it wraps up the duology in a way that felt very fitting.
Overall, while it takes a bit of time to get going, This Blade of Ours delivers a strong conclusion to Sarai and Kadra’s journey and I’m really glad I got to return to their world!
With thanks to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for the arc.
Want to read
August 29, 2025What do you mean I have to wait until May 2026 😫
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Thank you to the author and Union Square for the advanced review copy.
4.5 stars!
This was a great conclusion to the duology and I'll miss Kadra and Sarai dearly. Their relationship has been one of my favourites in the romantic fantasy genre and now that they're together in TBOO they somehow manage to yearn MORE? As separate characters they're so well fleshed-out which makes their relationship all the more compelling. There was an interaction near the end of the book that has really stuck with me, and I wish I had noted down the exact phrasing, but Sarai had admitted that she felt the allure of power and Kadra said she only craved its security. They understand each other, and support each other in a way that's incredibly touching.
In general, I loved the character work in this book, especially around Kadra's backstory. His pov chapters were a real highlight. I felt as if he were a bit of an enigma in This Monster of Mine but getting to know his inner thoughts and motivations made me adore him so much more. The introduction of a few new characters was enough to keep it fresh whilst not drawing away from the development of those from the first book. I loved seeing Anek and Cassandane dealing with their new positions, and even Harion surprised me!
Now the antagonist of this story I won't say too much about but Shalini did an amazing job at making him frustratingly unlikeable (except I enjoy flawed characters so much I actually ended up liking him, go figure). But again, he was written so convincingly that it was difficult not to go through a whole range of emotions whenever he was on page, particularly in his interactions with Sarai.
There were so many twists to keep my on my toes, too. The worldbuilding, the tension, the mystery - all superb. The only criticism I have was feeling as if there was so much going on and until the end it felt as if there were two very distinct storylines. Whilst there's a lot of great lore around the Gods, I think I just felt as if there was a lot of untapped potential there! (Maybe I just want another book, to be honest).
There are some strong themes of justice, corruption and oppression that carry on from book one. I think it was darker in many ways, with some pretty gory scenes which I have to say I loved. Overall, a fantastic end to a fantastic duology.
4.5 stars!
This was a great conclusion to the duology and I'll miss Kadra and Sarai dearly. Their relationship has been one of my favourites in the romantic fantasy genre and now that they're together in TBOO they somehow manage to yearn MORE? As separate characters they're so well fleshed-out which makes their relationship all the more compelling. There was an interaction near the end of the book that has really stuck with me, and I wish I had noted down the exact phrasing, but Sarai had admitted that she felt the allure of power and Kadra said she only craved its security. They understand each other, and support each other in a way that's incredibly touching.
In general, I loved the character work in this book, especially around Kadra's backstory. His pov chapters were a real highlight. I felt as if he were a bit of an enigma in This Monster of Mine but getting to know his inner thoughts and motivations made me adore him so much more. The introduction of a few new characters was enough to keep it fresh whilst not drawing away from the development of those from the first book. I loved seeing Anek and Cassandane dealing with their new positions, and even Harion surprised me!
Now the antagonist of this story I won't say too much about but Shalini did an amazing job at making him frustratingly unlikeable (except I enjoy flawed characters so much I actually ended up liking him, go figure). But again, he was written so convincingly that it was difficult not to go through a whole range of emotions whenever he was on page, particularly in his interactions with Sarai.
There were so many twists to keep my on my toes, too. The worldbuilding, the tension, the mystery - all superb. The only criticism I have was feeling as if there was so much going on and until the end it felt as if there were two very distinct storylines. Whilst there's a lot of great lore around the Gods, I think I just felt as if there was a lot of untapped potential there! (Maybe I just want another book, to be honest).
There are some strong themes of justice, corruption and oppression that carry on from book one. I think it was darker in many ways, with some pretty gory scenes which I have to say I loved. Overall, a fantastic end to a fantastic duology.
January 26, 2026
This was so goooood!!! I loved this continuation of Kadra + Sarai! The mystery aspect was great, some small twists that surprised me, and I really enjoyed getting more into Kadra’s backstory. There were some spots of humor that caught me off guard and made me laugh. The politics were done so well- they felt (sadly) relevant to our current political landscape, but it was done in a natural way where I always got the point, but I never felt preached at or lectured to.
I really enjoy a book that shows the after…the characters accomplished what they wanted in the first book…now what? Such a good exploration of power and freedom and how those can work together, the length people would go to for either, how trauma can impact your view of this…I highlighted a lot.
Kadra and Sarai…love following a full, *mature* couple, what a breath of fresh air. He trusts her and leaves her to her choices, even if they’re bad, and she trusts him and doesn’t jump to conclusions.
This lost me a bit with the Kadra and Wrath storyline…I’m not sure I understood the purpose or resolution that came with it. Also quite a few copy edit errors that I’m sure will be addressed before being published, but had me rereading certain parts to fully get what was going on.
Thank you to NetGalley for ARC
I really enjoy a book that shows the after…the characters accomplished what they wanted in the first book…now what? Such a good exploration of power and freedom and how those can work together, the length people would go to for either, how trauma can impact your view of this…I highlighted a lot.
Kadra and Sarai…love following a full, *mature* couple, what a breath of fresh air. He trusts her and leaves her to her choices, even if they’re bad, and she trusts him and doesn’t jump to conclusions.
This lost me a bit with the Kadra and Wrath storyline…I’m not sure I understood the purpose or resolution that came with it. Also quite a few copy edit errors that I’m sure will be addressed before being published, but had me rereading certain parts to fully get what was going on.
Thank you to NetGalley for ARC
February 24, 2026
4.5⭐️
I really enjoyed this monster of mine last year, and this was an unexpected continuation. I am very thankful to Union Square and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!
Sarai and Kadra are struggling with the aftermath of the unraveling. The people don’t trust Serai, and there are strange plagues sprouting up across the country. North blames south, South blames North- everyone is primed for civil war. What Serai and Kadra must figure out is 1) how to keep each other safe 2)what is causing these problems and 3)if all their problems have the same common denominator.
I enjoyed this quite a bit, and while sequels are sometimes notorious for not being as good, this one lived up to the same feel as the first. Learning more about Kadra’s backstory was interesting, as well as learning more about how the north and south operate with each other.
I really enjoyed this monster of mine last year, and this was an unexpected continuation. I am very thankful to Union Square and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC!
Sarai and Kadra are struggling with the aftermath of the unraveling. The people don’t trust Serai, and there are strange plagues sprouting up across the country. North blames south, South blames North- everyone is primed for civil war. What Serai and Kadra must figure out is 1) how to keep each other safe 2)what is causing these problems and 3)if all their problems have the same common denominator.
I enjoyed this quite a bit, and while sequels are sometimes notorious for not being as good, this one lived up to the same feel as the first. Learning more about Kadra’s backstory was interesting, as well as learning more about how the north and south operate with each other.
January 17, 2026
I had a really good time reading this book. It was one of my most anticipated releases of the year and I’m so glad it did not disappoint. It was a very solid sequel — and conclusion to the duology. It was a more fantasy heavy type of romantasy and the fantasy plot was very intriguing and engaging. It kept me interested in the story and I really wanted to know how it was going to end. I did like the female main character more than the male, she was resilient yet soft at times. I highly recommend this duology, starting with This monster of mine. Romantasy is not a genre that impresses me easily, but this duology surely did that.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Thank you to Netgalley for an e-ARC in exchange for a honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
THIS BLADE OF OURS by Shalini Abeysekara shoots up my adrenaline and dives into deeper, underlying themes about patriarchal society, violence and authority, and secrets and betrayal.
Abeysekara paints the world in wider brushstrokes, rich with little to major details that are enjoyable and fascinating. Fantasy elements are new and exciting, and I think of how much Sarai, Kadra, Anek, and the rest of the characters have grown since TMOM.
I enjoy Sarai's "dreams" and although these are words on my screen, the incidents within those scenes feel as though I am experiencing a lucid, bloody journey. The prose is highly atmospheric and immersive and I like the metaphors and similes between body parts and light and setting details.
As for the deeper themes, the commentary about systems of power, capitalism, and greedy guild people is sharp. I appreciate the scenes of Sarai and the others challenging and criticising the guilds.
The major plot lines are mysterious, intriguing, and compelling. I couldn't make any predictions and didn't expect the twists, nor did I expect the messages, subtext, and commentary accompanying the surprises. I appreciate how the new characters are written and how events of and people from their pasts add to the theme of patriarchal systems enabling violence and thriving on it.
I love how the major plot is introduced as if it is a seedling thrown into the soil of the story, and how it grew into an abomination--I appreciate the horror because it reflects the devastating acts of humanity. I see what lurks in Sarai's, Kadra's, and other character's minds, and it is all tied to the abuse of authority, with deep thought put into how each character deals with their trauma. THIS BLADE OF OURS shows how the mind handles and perceives trauma and violence, and takes it up a notch by demonstrating what happens when the gods come out to play with humans' fears and anxieties.
I am going to discuss the new characters, and if you do not wish to know their names, please jump ahead.
The next character that is introduced in this book:
I appreciate his complex relationships with other characters and how the story concludes for him.
My thoughts on Sarai and Kadra:
I enjoy Sarai's development and how she faces her trauma. The scenes focusing on her memories are sorrowful and I appreciate the depth of them. Her character is compelling as always, and I like how realistic her reactions are to trauma. There are several brief lines in the book that reference her past or how she deals with her trauma which I find very thorough and an accomplishment of making her perspective unique and refreshing. I appreciate her experiences dealing with folk who say demeaning things to her and how she stays strong. I am never tired of Sarai!
Kadra's development is very good and I have so much fun reading his interactions with a certain mysterious character. I appreciate the deep exploration of his physical trauma and anxieties. I like that we have his perspective in this book! His experiences from his former family, being with Othus, and being a tetrarch are interesting and I found myself wanting to know more. Ever mysterious, isn't he? The only thing that isn't a mystery is his love for Sarai. I feel as though I earned so much from reading his perspective. When he speaks to other characters, it makes sense why he talks to them in certain speech patterns. I also like his friendship with other characters like Cassandane and Gaius! Finally, the romantic & intimate scenes between him and Sarai are rewarding and I appreciate the emotion in these moments.
Anek, I love you my neutralii. I appreciate every moment they're on the page!
Time for some spoiler-free quotes that I highlighted. These aren't all, just some:
"I perform in public every day, and some asshole with no knowledge of law, economics, or human decency raves that I'm a northern bitch who got the job by spreading my legs."
"You cultivate a new generation of enemies and scapegoats, so that when they fight back and war blooms you can blame history and roar that you have never been at fault."
"Instead, they chose to do as the Clans always have--build walls and shutter the Institute to all but the wealthiest." Hmm, I wonder where I've heard that before! Only the wealthy having access to knowledge in an educational institution? Yep.
"I'm panicking! Let me panic--"
"Some cages aren't so simple."
"I fancy keeping my eyes in their sockets."
Look to the skies... and cry.
Thank you to Shalini Abeysekara and NetGalley for the ARC.
Abeysekara paints the world in wider brushstrokes, rich with little to major details that are enjoyable and fascinating. Fantasy elements are new and exciting, and I think of how much Sarai, Kadra, Anek, and the rest of the characters have grown since TMOM.
I enjoy Sarai's "dreams" and although these are words on my screen, the incidents within those scenes feel as though I am experiencing a lucid, bloody journey. The prose is highly atmospheric and immersive and I like the metaphors and similes between body parts and light and setting details.
As for the deeper themes, the commentary about systems of power, capitalism, and greedy guild people is sharp. I appreciate the scenes of Sarai and the others challenging and criticising the guilds.
The major plot lines are mysterious, intriguing, and compelling. I couldn't make any predictions and didn't expect the twists, nor did I expect the messages, subtext, and commentary accompanying the surprises. I appreciate how the new characters are written and how events of and people from their pasts add to the theme of patriarchal systems enabling violence and thriving on it.
I love how the major plot is introduced as if it is a seedling thrown into the soil of the story, and how it grew into an abomination--I appreciate the horror because it reflects the devastating acts of humanity. I see what lurks in Sarai's, Kadra's, and other character's minds, and it is all tied to the abuse of authority, with deep thought put into how each character deals with their trauma. THIS BLADE OF OURS shows how the mind handles and perceives trauma and violence, and takes it up a notch by demonstrating what happens when the gods come out to play with humans' fears and anxieties.
I am going to discuss the new characters, and if you do not wish to know their names, please jump ahead.
The next character that is introduced in this book:
I appreciate his complex relationships with other characters and how the story concludes for him.
My thoughts on Sarai and Kadra:
I enjoy Sarai's development and how she faces her trauma. The scenes focusing on her memories are sorrowful and I appreciate the depth of them. Her character is compelling as always, and I like how realistic her reactions are to trauma. There are several brief lines in the book that reference her past or how she deals with her trauma which I find very thorough and an accomplishment of making her perspective unique and refreshing. I appreciate her experiences dealing with folk who say demeaning things to her and how she stays strong. I am never tired of Sarai!
Kadra's development is very good and I have so much fun reading his interactions with a certain mysterious character. I appreciate the deep exploration of his physical trauma and anxieties. I like that we have his perspective in this book! His experiences from his former family, being with Othus, and being a tetrarch are interesting and I found myself wanting to know more. Ever mysterious, isn't he? The only thing that isn't a mystery is his love for Sarai. I feel as though I earned so much from reading his perspective. When he speaks to other characters, it makes sense why he talks to them in certain speech patterns. I also like his friendship with other characters like Cassandane and Gaius! Finally, the romantic & intimate scenes between him and Sarai are rewarding and I appreciate the emotion in these moments.
Anek, I love you my neutralii. I appreciate every moment they're on the page!
Time for some spoiler-free quotes that I highlighted. These aren't all, just some:
"I perform in public every day, and some asshole with no knowledge of law, economics, or human decency raves that I'm a northern bitch who got the job by spreading my legs."
"You cultivate a new generation of enemies and scapegoats, so that when they fight back and war blooms you can blame history and roar that you have never been at fault."
"Instead, they chose to do as the Clans always have--build walls and shutter the Institute to all but the wealthiest." Hmm, I wonder where I've heard that before! Only the wealthy having access to knowledge in an educational institution? Yep.
"I'm panicking! Let me panic--"
"Some cages aren't so simple."
"I fancy keeping my eyes in their sockets."
Look to the skies... and cry.
Thank you to Shalini Abeysekara and NetGalley for the ARC.
Read
May 5, 2025I’m so ready to find out more about Kadra!! I have a feeling Sarai and him have similar street rat origins (endearingly)
Want to read
June 18, 2025Absolutely adored TMoM and cannot get my hands on this soon enough
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This review has spoilers for This Monster of Mine, the previous book in the series, but does not contain spoilers for This Blade of Ours.
This Blade of Ours is Abeyaekara’s sequel to This Monster of Mine, following the consequences of Sarai’s takedown of the powerful leaders. The previous book ends on such a hopeful note, but eight months later, tensions are high in Ur Dinyé. Sarai and Kadra have become scapegoats for the instability in the city and religious leaders have taken advantage to gain more power.
This story does an excellent job discussing the ramifications of a major conflict. Most Romantasy book ends with the corrupt leaders defeated and our protagonist in a position of power, but are systems really capable of change? This book posits that most people prefer stability to instability, even if that instability is improving the lives of the marginalized. The premise is engaging and is well done. The story explores the different ways that people engage with power vacuums and the dismantling of power structures, and honestly, I loved it. It’s easy for a book to end with the dictator toppled, but what actually happens with the entrenched power structures? The individual problem may be solved but the systemic problems will continue until the system is reformed from the inside.
I loved the different reflections of class, culture, ethnicity and gender; the first book leaned into these elements, as did the second. The reflections felt very timely given the situation of politics on the world stage.
The romance elements in this book were less developed in this story, mostly because our characters are an established couple. The characters are able to grow and change within their relationship and through external forces. There are two detailed explicit scenes lasting multiple pages, and two smaller explicit scenes with the implication of intercourse.
I was really hoping the magic system would get more explanation in this book, but I think it would have bogged down the story. We got small elements that were explained more but didn’t detract from the plot as a whole. We had one small training sequence, and I would have liked to see more, but it would have felt like a plot diversion given how busy the story already was.
This book switches between multiple perspectives, rather than from Sarai’s point of view alone. It was a little jarring at first; this book treated Kadra as a main protagonist of the story rather than relegating him to a side love interest. Though we do find out a lot about his backstory and history, I don’t know that the different perspectives added anything significant to the story; I think most of the information could be communicated through Sarai’s perspective. There is one exception at about the 60% point that seeing things from anyone other that Sarai was necessary, but I think a quick change at that point would have been appropriate. The story is able to communicate other perspectives through the probing techniques, which was well done in the first book, and I think the other points of view are unnecessary given the ability to flash into people’s minds.
There’s also a moment in the romantic conflict where Sarai is unable to answer questions about Kadra’s motives. She resolves to get answers, but I don’t know that we ever get those details? Certain questions were answered but one of the most prominent wasn’t.
An interesting detail is that our previous best friend, Cisure, does not appear at all in this book. The relationship with Cisure was one of the most frustrating parts of the previous book, but I would have liked more reconciliation for both characters. However, it feels realistic this way.
The story has a major twist at the end that seemed very predictable. I would have liked our character to be a little more suspicious; generally, Sarai is seen as very intelligent, as is Kadra, and missing such an obvious twist seems silly—especially when our characters can identify lies magically.
Altogether, this was a well-done dark Romantasy novel. The political layers within the story really dominate, so if you want straight romance, this probably isn’t for you. However, if you want to explore entrenched systems of class and religion, with an interesting mystery and an engaging romance, this story is just right for you.
Thank you to Union Square & Co and Sterling Publishing for this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This Blade of Ours is Abeyaekara’s sequel to This Monster of Mine, following the consequences of Sarai’s takedown of the powerful leaders. The previous book ends on such a hopeful note, but eight months later, tensions are high in Ur Dinyé. Sarai and Kadra have become scapegoats for the instability in the city and religious leaders have taken advantage to gain more power.
This story does an excellent job discussing the ramifications of a major conflict. Most Romantasy book ends with the corrupt leaders defeated and our protagonist in a position of power, but are systems really capable of change? This book posits that most people prefer stability to instability, even if that instability is improving the lives of the marginalized. The premise is engaging and is well done. The story explores the different ways that people engage with power vacuums and the dismantling of power structures, and honestly, I loved it. It’s easy for a book to end with the dictator toppled, but what actually happens with the entrenched power structures? The individual problem may be solved but the systemic problems will continue until the system is reformed from the inside.
I loved the different reflections of class, culture, ethnicity and gender; the first book leaned into these elements, as did the second. The reflections felt very timely given the situation of politics on the world stage.
The romance elements in this book were less developed in this story, mostly because our characters are an established couple. The characters are able to grow and change within their relationship and through external forces. There are two detailed explicit scenes lasting multiple pages, and two smaller explicit scenes with the implication of intercourse.
I was really hoping the magic system would get more explanation in this book, but I think it would have bogged down the story. We got small elements that were explained more but didn’t detract from the plot as a whole. We had one small training sequence, and I would have liked to see more, but it would have felt like a plot diversion given how busy the story already was.
This book switches between multiple perspectives, rather than from Sarai’s point of view alone. It was a little jarring at first; this book treated Kadra as a main protagonist of the story rather than relegating him to a side love interest. Though we do find out a lot about his backstory and history, I don’t know that the different perspectives added anything significant to the story; I think most of the information could be communicated through Sarai’s perspective. There is one exception at about the 60% point that seeing things from anyone other that Sarai was necessary, but I think a quick change at that point would have been appropriate. The story is able to communicate other perspectives through the probing techniques, which was well done in the first book, and I think the other points of view are unnecessary given the ability to flash into people’s minds.
There’s also a moment in the romantic conflict where Sarai is unable to answer questions about Kadra’s motives. She resolves to get answers, but I don’t know that we ever get those details? Certain questions were answered but one of the most prominent wasn’t.
An interesting detail is that our previous best friend, Cisure, does not appear at all in this book. The relationship with Cisure was one of the most frustrating parts of the previous book, but I would have liked more reconciliation for both characters. However, it feels realistic this way.
The story has a major twist at the end that seemed very predictable. I would have liked our character to be a little more suspicious; generally, Sarai is seen as very intelligent, as is Kadra, and missing such an obvious twist seems silly—especially when our characters can identify lies magically.
Altogether, this was a well-done dark Romantasy novel. The political layers within the story really dominate, so if you want straight romance, this probably isn’t for you. However, if you want to explore entrenched systems of class and religion, with an interesting mystery and an engaging romance, this story is just right for you.
Thank you to Union Square & Co and Sterling Publishing for this advanced reader copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 stars! This Blade of Ours is the epic sequel to Shalini Abeysekara's debut romance-fantasy-murder mystery novel, This Monster of Mine.
If TMOM is predicated on the question of violence being permissible to bring about equality and justice, TMOM must be prepared to answer, "how does a country recover from the aftershocks of such violence?" Abeysekara deftly answers readers' burning questions on justice, legacies of violence, and what can be forgiven.
Sarai's actions from TMOM have thrown Ur Dinyé into chaos as citizens protest her and question her and Kadra's legitimacy as government officials. Though she is desperate to defend her crew and ensure wellbeing for all her citizens, she must contend with a system hellbent on breaking her—and causing an irreparable fracture between the North and South.
Abeysekara clearly writes from a place of longing for a better world. She grapples with the insecurity, fear, division, and violence sown throughout society and the perpetual injustice that rulers are never held accountable for their crimes. While the conflict in Ur Dinyé and the characters' reflections can sometimes feel a little on-the-nose, there has never been a more apt time for readers to digest a fantasy novel wherein their world is so clearly reflected and brought to heel.
What I loved about this book is how TBOO builds on the magical, political and geographical depth of TMOM, giving readers insight to a unique rune-based magic system and the deep sociopolitical history Abeysekara has imagined underneath every region in the land. I especially loved how she explores the North's clans and their lasting impact over a decade after they'd officially "disappeared". She pays careful attention to the dark themes surely to surface from a fractured society: drug use, domestic violence, mental health, lack of personal freedom, and even the ins and outs of food/material distribution.
Of course, my review could not be complete without discussing the relationship at the book's core. TMOM leaves Kadra and Sarai in a fledgling relationship bonded by trust but missing honest communication and true knowledge of one another. While TMOM explores Sarai's background, TBOO is very focused on Kadra's history—mostly his time as son of the most dangerous Northern clan. **humble brag alert** Shalini told me PERSONALLY that the extra smut in the book was based off of my review, so when you read those salacious pages, know who cooked here. She is an expert at sex that suits the tone of her scenes. It's not gentle and soft, and it shouldn't be.
I was slightly surprised at the ending and felt things came together a little too cleanly (or maybe it felt rushed?). I also wish there was more emotional development between Kadra and Sarai because it frustrated me that he still said "I love you" only once in the book!!!! But these drawbacks are minor, and if I imagined myself trying to write an ending to such an impressive and thoughtful duology, I would never be able to tie all those threads together.
This is your reminder that Abeysekara has done something completely NEW AND FRESH in the fantasy space and I will be sitting on the edge of my seat to read whatever she puts out, for the rest of my life. I love her murder mystery-lawyer-dark romance brain and think she is only at the beginning of a legacy akin to Suzanne Collins or Sabaa Tahir.
Thank you to Shalini Abeysekara, Netgalley, and Union Square & Co. for the e-ARC!
If TMOM is predicated on the question of violence being permissible to bring about equality and justice, TMOM must be prepared to answer, "how does a country recover from the aftershocks of such violence?" Abeysekara deftly answers readers' burning questions on justice, legacies of violence, and what can be forgiven.
Sarai's actions from TMOM have thrown Ur Dinyé into chaos as citizens protest her and question her and Kadra's legitimacy as government officials. Though she is desperate to defend her crew and ensure wellbeing for all her citizens, she must contend with a system hellbent on breaking her—and causing an irreparable fracture between the North and South.
Abeysekara clearly writes from a place of longing for a better world. She grapples with the insecurity, fear, division, and violence sown throughout society and the perpetual injustice that rulers are never held accountable for their crimes. While the conflict in Ur Dinyé and the characters' reflections can sometimes feel a little on-the-nose, there has never been a more apt time for readers to digest a fantasy novel wherein their world is so clearly reflected and brought to heel.
What I loved about this book is how TBOO builds on the magical, political and geographical depth of TMOM, giving readers insight to a unique rune-based magic system and the deep sociopolitical history Abeysekara has imagined underneath every region in the land. I especially loved how she explores the North's clans and their lasting impact over a decade after they'd officially "disappeared". She pays careful attention to the dark themes surely to surface from a fractured society: drug use, domestic violence, mental health, lack of personal freedom, and even the ins and outs of food/material distribution.
Of course, my review could not be complete without discussing the relationship at the book's core. TMOM leaves Kadra and Sarai in a fledgling relationship bonded by trust but missing honest communication and true knowledge of one another. While TMOM explores Sarai's background, TBOO is very focused on Kadra's history—mostly his time as son of the most dangerous Northern clan. **humble brag alert** Shalini told me PERSONALLY that the extra smut in the book was based off of my review, so when you read those salacious pages, know who cooked here. She is an expert at sex that suits the tone of her scenes. It's not gentle and soft, and it shouldn't be.
I was slightly surprised at the ending and felt things came together a little too cleanly (or maybe it felt rushed?). I also wish there was more emotional development between Kadra and Sarai because it frustrated me that he still said "I love you" only once in the book!!!! But these drawbacks are minor, and if I imagined myself trying to write an ending to such an impressive and thoughtful duology, I would never be able to tie all those threads together.
This is your reminder that Abeysekara has done something completely NEW AND FRESH in the fantasy space and I will be sitting on the edge of my seat to read whatever she puts out, for the rest of my life. I love her murder mystery-lawyer-dark romance brain and think she is only at the beginning of a legacy akin to Suzanne Collins or Sabaa Tahir.
Thank you to Shalini Abeysekara, Netgalley, and Union Square & Co. for the e-ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital ARC!
I loved the first book of this duology, This Monster of Mine, so I was excited to see there was a sequel and immediately requested it. Thankfully, it was just as good as the first book!
One thing I really love about this series is that Sarai gets to be a fully realised character, with her own fears, pains, and troubles. She's not a perfect character, and that makes her all the better. She's also not 'the Chosen One', but instead is someone who's had to work for everything she's gotten, and most of the things she has gotten haven't made her life any better, to be honest. After the events of the first book, Sarai doesn't have the happily ever after you might have thought. The religious order, the Elsarian Order, is angry at her for summoning a god, and the general public doesn't really think the death of two Tetrarchs has been all that helpful, especially when the people who were benefiting from Aelius were primarily the nobility.
Anyone who's ever had any brains will know how hard it can be to get anything done when the 'upper classes' and people with money decide they don't want to do something. Sarai is the target of their ire, followed closely by Kadra, who is now Magus Supreme and Headmaster of the Academiae. But there are more important things to worry about than the feelings of the nobles and religious zealots; the Guilds are still raising trouble, there's a boil beetle epidemic in the north that's spreading south, and people are suffering strange hallucinations.
Kadra and Sarai have to put aside their hoped-for happy ending and work with their friends and colleagues to figure out what's going on and stop everything from imploding.
Sarai is smart and quick-witted, and might seem weak and vulnerable, but actually isn't. People look down on her and think she's only where she is because she's Kadra's lover, but the reality is that she's exceptionally smart and can see connections before others; many of the realisations come from Sarai in this book. Not only that, but she does a great job of showing that just because she's a woman, from the North, Kadra's lover, and scarred doesn't mean she can't be the biggest problem in the room to those who want to see her downfall.
Which is something I enjoyed about this book. It covers a lot of topics and handles them all well. You have the xenophobia of the Southerners towards the Northerners, who view them as being backwards and savage people. You have the religious fervour against the non-religious, or anyone who simply doesn't believe as much as they do. You have the sexism and the belief that women can't possibly be as smart or powerful as they actually are. And then you have the classism; the poor aren't important, only money and those with money are important.
I'd love to go more in-depth, but I can't without spoiling big plot points. Just know that Sarai is just as badass as ever, Anek is just as snarky, and Kadra is just as quiet and brooding. But now he's more willing to go along with Sarai and let her do her own thing, whilst also struggling with his own issues. The main one is his past, which comes back to bite him squarely. He's the most powerful person in the world we're shown, but he will always bow down to those who are more knowledgeable than him, and he has no qualm about taking orders from a woman. A dream!
I loved the first book of this duology, This Monster of Mine, so I was excited to see there was a sequel and immediately requested it. Thankfully, it was just as good as the first book!
One thing I really love about this series is that Sarai gets to be a fully realised character, with her own fears, pains, and troubles. She's not a perfect character, and that makes her all the better. She's also not 'the Chosen One', but instead is someone who's had to work for everything she's gotten, and most of the things she has gotten haven't made her life any better, to be honest. After the events of the first book, Sarai doesn't have the happily ever after you might have thought. The religious order, the Elsarian Order, is angry at her for summoning a god, and the general public doesn't really think the death of two Tetrarchs has been all that helpful, especially when the people who were benefiting from Aelius were primarily the nobility.
Anyone who's ever had any brains will know how hard it can be to get anything done when the 'upper classes' and people with money decide they don't want to do something. Sarai is the target of their ire, followed closely by Kadra, who is now Magus Supreme and Headmaster of the Academiae. But there are more important things to worry about than the feelings of the nobles and religious zealots; the Guilds are still raising trouble, there's a boil beetle epidemic in the north that's spreading south, and people are suffering strange hallucinations.
Kadra and Sarai have to put aside their hoped-for happy ending and work with their friends and colleagues to figure out what's going on and stop everything from imploding.
Sarai is smart and quick-witted, and might seem weak and vulnerable, but actually isn't. People look down on her and think she's only where she is because she's Kadra's lover, but the reality is that she's exceptionally smart and can see connections before others; many of the realisations come from Sarai in this book. Not only that, but she does a great job of showing that just because she's a woman, from the North, Kadra's lover, and scarred doesn't mean she can't be the biggest problem in the room to those who want to see her downfall.
Which is something I enjoyed about this book. It covers a lot of topics and handles them all well. You have the xenophobia of the Southerners towards the Northerners, who view them as being backwards and savage people. You have the religious fervour against the non-religious, or anyone who simply doesn't believe as much as they do. You have the sexism and the belief that women can't possibly be as smart or powerful as they actually are. And then you have the classism; the poor aren't important, only money and those with money are important.
I'd love to go more in-depth, but I can't without spoiling big plot points. Just know that Sarai is just as badass as ever, Anek is just as snarky, and Kadra is just as quiet and brooding. But now he's more willing to go along with Sarai and let her do her own thing, whilst also struggling with his own issues. The main one is his past, which comes back to bite him squarely. He's the most powerful person in the world we're shown, but he will always bow down to those who are more knowledgeable than him, and he has no qualm about taking orders from a woman. A dream!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📖 Short synopsis
After the events of the first book, Sarai and Kadra must face the consequences of the power they claimed and the choices they made. Amid political games, gods that are real and tangible, a spreading disease across North and South, old traumas, hidden pasts and new threats growing in the shadows, their love is tested like never before.
🔍 Opinion
I have to admit I took my time with the first 40%. The worldbuilding is dense, full of politics and intrigue, and I really needed to slow down and absorb everything, even though I was already familiar with the magic system and social structure from the first book. But once the story clicked, that was it. I devoured the rest in a single day and simply couldn’t put it down.
This book leans much more into fantasy, especially with the presence of the gods, who stop feeling distant or mythological and become something real and tangible, and I absolutely loved that. It added such an epic and intense layer to the story. The disease spreading through the beetles also brought a darker, more unsettling tone that kept me constantly on edge.
The plot is incredibly well crafted, with subtle clues, constant mystery and revelations that slowly build up until that plot twist that completely caught me off guard. I just stared at the page in shock.
I also loved finally getting more of Kadra. Diving into his past, his wounds, his anxieties and the weight he carries made everything feel so much more intimate and emotional. I truly felt like I got to know him for real this time.
And the romance, honestly, even better than in the first book. Much more mature, more conscious, built on trust and difficult conversations. Watching them talk openly about their traumas and pain and trying to grow together was so beautiful. The hotter scenes are rougher and more intense, but at the same time deeply romantic, fitting perfectly with two deeply scarred people finding comfort and love in each other.
This was the kind of book that grabbed my heart and never let go.
❤️ Highlights
Rich political worldbuilding, constant mystery, an unexpected plot twist, a darker and more unsettling tone, deeper emotional exploration, more focus on Kadra’s past, a mature couple who communicate and trust each other, intense and vulnerable romance, and an immersive, atmospheric fantasy from beginning to end.
🎯 Recommendation
Perfect for readers who love denser, more adult and emotional romantasy, with strong fantasy elements, power struggles, intrigue, trauma and a well-established relationship that grows in a realistic and beautiful way.
🌟 Tropes
Sequel, established couple, mature romance, gods, politics and intrigue, trauma and healing, multiple POVs, dark fantasy, emotional slow burn
Thank you to Shalini Abeysekara, Netgalley, and Union Square & Co. for the e-ARC!
📖 Short synopsis
After the events of the first book, Sarai and Kadra must face the consequences of the power they claimed and the choices they made. Amid political games, gods that are real and tangible, a spreading disease across North and South, old traumas, hidden pasts and new threats growing in the shadows, their love is tested like never before.
🔍 Opinion
I have to admit I took my time with the first 40%. The worldbuilding is dense, full of politics and intrigue, and I really needed to slow down and absorb everything, even though I was already familiar with the magic system and social structure from the first book. But once the story clicked, that was it. I devoured the rest in a single day and simply couldn’t put it down.
This book leans much more into fantasy, especially with the presence of the gods, who stop feeling distant or mythological and become something real and tangible, and I absolutely loved that. It added such an epic and intense layer to the story. The disease spreading through the beetles also brought a darker, more unsettling tone that kept me constantly on edge.
The plot is incredibly well crafted, with subtle clues, constant mystery and revelations that slowly build up until that plot twist that completely caught me off guard. I just stared at the page in shock.
I also loved finally getting more of Kadra. Diving into his past, his wounds, his anxieties and the weight he carries made everything feel so much more intimate and emotional. I truly felt like I got to know him for real this time.
And the romance, honestly, even better than in the first book. Much more mature, more conscious, built on trust and difficult conversations. Watching them talk openly about their traumas and pain and trying to grow together was so beautiful. The hotter scenes are rougher and more intense, but at the same time deeply romantic, fitting perfectly with two deeply scarred people finding comfort and love in each other.
This was the kind of book that grabbed my heart and never let go.
❤️ Highlights
Rich political worldbuilding, constant mystery, an unexpected plot twist, a darker and more unsettling tone, deeper emotional exploration, more focus on Kadra’s past, a mature couple who communicate and trust each other, intense and vulnerable romance, and an immersive, atmospheric fantasy from beginning to end.
🎯 Recommendation
Perfect for readers who love denser, more adult and emotional romantasy, with strong fantasy elements, power struggles, intrigue, trauma and a well-established relationship that grows in a realistic and beautiful way.
🌟 Tropes
Sequel, established couple, mature romance, gods, politics and intrigue, trauma and healing, multiple POVs, dark fantasy, emotional slow burn
Thank you to Shalini Abeysekara, Netgalley, and Union Square & Co. for the e-ARC!
February 28, 2026
ARC from Netgalley
I’m heartbroken to be giving this only 3⭐️ because I really wanted to love it. This Monster of Mine was one my favourite reads from last year but this just didn’t hit the same highs.
What worked well about the first book was the FMC. It was single POV and we followed her as she tried to solve the mystery of her past. We knew what she knew and we unraveled the mystery with her. We saw her and Kadra investigate and saw the relationship between them change as she at first respects him then comes to admire and trust him and finally love him, all the while suspecting him of being the one to hurt her in the past.
There’s times she was in real danger, we had friendships and their subsequent dramas, self doubt and a lot of tender moments as well as the budding desire and romance between the two characters. The sequel didn’t have a defining moment for me that I could look back on and say I truly enjoyed. Like from book 1 we had the pleasurehouse, Kadra taking care of Sarai when she’s been injured, her having his back in a fight, the ball, the trial and when he finds everything out at the end. So many moments I loved. I can’t think of one from this book that had me feeling much.
To me, this book suffers from a dual POV. Whilst it was good to get some background and insight into Kadra, the mystery wasn’t there because we as the reader are being told it through the dual POV. There’s a lot going on at the start of the book dealing with the fallout of book 1 and there’s a bit of distance between the two main characters which I liked but again it fell a bit flat because of the shifting POV. What Sarai doesn’t know, we do because we’ve been told in Kadra’s perspective. This means we lack the intrigue and tension of the first book. Keeping it to Sarai’s POV means we could have been with Sarai through her doubt as she tried to unscramble the mystery of Kadra’s past. A past which he doesn’t want to tell her because she will leave him but barely even causes an argument when she does find out. I just needed more emotion of which there was so much more in book 1.
The story itself centres around more political and civil unrest in the country whilst a mysterious plague spreads which all just gets too confusing as we go back and forth between the issues and the characters. There’s also not enough in the way of surprises in the story. We are introduced to so few new characters that it’s pretty obvious who is behind everything.
To be honest it wasn’t a very easy or enjoyable read and I might have given it only two stars had I not loved the first one so much.
I’m heartbroken to be giving this only 3⭐️ because I really wanted to love it. This Monster of Mine was one my favourite reads from last year but this just didn’t hit the same highs.
What worked well about the first book was the FMC. It was single POV and we followed her as she tried to solve the mystery of her past. We knew what she knew and we unraveled the mystery with her. We saw her and Kadra investigate and saw the relationship between them change as she at first respects him then comes to admire and trust him and finally love him, all the while suspecting him of being the one to hurt her in the past.
There’s times she was in real danger, we had friendships and their subsequent dramas, self doubt and a lot of tender moments as well as the budding desire and romance between the two characters. The sequel didn’t have a defining moment for me that I could look back on and say I truly enjoyed. Like from book 1 we had the pleasurehouse, Kadra taking care of Sarai when she’s been injured, her having his back in a fight, the ball, the trial and when he finds everything out at the end. So many moments I loved. I can’t think of one from this book that had me feeling much.
To me, this book suffers from a dual POV. Whilst it was good to get some background and insight into Kadra, the mystery wasn’t there because we as the reader are being told it through the dual POV. There’s a lot going on at the start of the book dealing with the fallout of book 1 and there’s a bit of distance between the two main characters which I liked but again it fell a bit flat because of the shifting POV. What Sarai doesn’t know, we do because we’ve been told in Kadra’s perspective. This means we lack the intrigue and tension of the first book. Keeping it to Sarai’s POV means we could have been with Sarai through her doubt as she tried to unscramble the mystery of Kadra’s past. A past which he doesn’t want to tell her because she will leave him but barely even causes an argument when she does find out. I just needed more emotion of which there was so much more in book 1.
The story itself centres around more political and civil unrest in the country whilst a mysterious plague spreads which all just gets too confusing as we go back and forth between the issues and the characters. There’s also not enough in the way of surprises in the story. We are introduced to so few new characters that it’s pretty obvious who is behind everything.
To be honest it wasn’t a very easy or enjoyable read and I might have given it only two stars had I not loved the first one so much.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This Monster of Mine ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
This Blade of Ours ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of an advance copy received from the publisher.
If you liked TMOM, I believe you’ll love TBOO. I certainly did and I think this sequel is even better than the first book. There are several reasons as to why, but I’ll try not to spoil anything.
Toward the end of this review, I’ve included a one line quote from the book. If you’d rather avoid it, please feel free to skip that part.
First:
The book touches on so much. Power, corruption, love and family. We learn more about the world, the Gods, the characters we loved in book 1 and the ones we hated. All the threads come together to create a unique tapestry that will keep you reading until the end.
Romance:
Sarai and Kadra. Kadra and Sarai. The soft, tender moments between them will absolutely melt your heart. These two absolutely deserve everything. They truly see each other. They choose each other time and time again. We get more Kadra (with and without the robes 😊). He starts to let his barriers down and allows Sarai in. It was wonderful to see their relationship develop alongside their individual journeys.
Sarai…
I have no words to describe how I admire her character. The struggles she faces and the choices she makes to protect people mirror what we see women in power have to deal with in real life.
The best “villains” in books, in my opinion, aren’t purely evil. We get to learn more about their stories, and all I can say is… wow… This one hurt. But in a good way. But also bad. You’ll get it when you read those chapters.
“What if. The worst of questions.”
Spot on.
The last thing I’ll say is that I wish we had gotten more Anek. That’s purely because I’m greedy and I love them. In several scenes, they said exactly what I was thinking. Lol.
I highly recommend you pick up this book. It’s one of my favourite duologies of all time, and I’m so excited to see more stories from this world.
I believe a prequel might exist (YAY!). And could we maybe get just a few chapters from Anek’s POV? (Sorry, I had to try.)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Union Square & Co., for the advance copy.
This Blade of Ours ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Review of an advance copy received from the publisher.
If you liked TMOM, I believe you’ll love TBOO. I certainly did and I think this sequel is even better than the first book. There are several reasons as to why, but I’ll try not to spoil anything.
Toward the end of this review, I’ve included a one line quote from the book. If you’d rather avoid it, please feel free to skip that part.
First:
The book touches on so much. Power, corruption, love and family. We learn more about the world, the Gods, the characters we loved in book 1 and the ones we hated. All the threads come together to create a unique tapestry that will keep you reading until the end.
Romance:
Sarai and Kadra. Kadra and Sarai. The soft, tender moments between them will absolutely melt your heart. These two absolutely deserve everything. They truly see each other. They choose each other time and time again. We get more Kadra (with and without the robes 😊). He starts to let his barriers down and allows Sarai in. It was wonderful to see their relationship develop alongside their individual journeys.
Sarai…
I have no words to describe how I admire her character. The struggles she faces and the choices she makes to protect people mirror what we see women in power have to deal with in real life.
The best “villains” in books, in my opinion, aren’t purely evil. We get to learn more about their stories, and all I can say is… wow… This one hurt. But in a good way. But also bad. You’ll get it when you read those chapters.
“What if. The worst of questions.”
Spot on.
The last thing I’ll say is that I wish we had gotten more Anek. That’s purely because I’m greedy and I love them. In several scenes, they said exactly what I was thinking. Lol.
I highly recommend you pick up this book. It’s one of my favourite duologies of all time, and I’m so excited to see more stories from this world.
I believe a prequel might exist (YAY!). And could we maybe get just a few chapters from Anek’s POV? (Sorry, I had to try.)
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Union Square & Co., for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh my word.... where to begin. I absolutely loved this book. I have been growing tired of the typical "Romantasy tropes" and this keeps a couple of the best ones and then takes you as the reader for a wild ride. There are so many twists and turns in this book that I never knew what was going to come next, and I was *always* propelled forward to keep reading. I had to know!!!
Kadra and Sarai???? Iconic. Name a better duo... I'LL WAIT. Their relationship was so refreshing. Dark, painful, comforting, full of love. And the yearning?!? Gahhhh. This book did such a great job exploring real human anguish but set in a fantasy world... It explores trauma from our past, how to communicate, what we communicate, how we view ourselves, how we view the world because of our trauma, and how we will move through the word as a result. I absolutely loved that Kadra never pushed Sarai and did not do things for her. He let her process and work to better the world around her the best she could.
I truly did not know how the book was going to end or where the plot was going. It expertly unfolded adding in new layers of mystery, political intrigue, agony, and fun new characters in the mix.
This duology is on par with "One Dark Window" and "Two Twisted Crowns". In that duology, the second book was somehow even better than the first and it was the same with "This Blade of Ours".
This quality of writing??? Amazing. Incredible. No notes. NO NOTES, SHALINI! PLEASE KEEP WRITING! I have been (as I said) so tired of the same descriptions, words, approaches to the plot, etc. and Shalini uses beautiful and precise language that absolutely draws you in. It could be the simplest description and I literally would just pause like how does she make this sound so heart wrenching, beautiful, harrowing.... you name it?!
For example... "The morning sun ran adoring fingers over his silhouette, limning a face that was a monument to ruthlessness and a map of severity." I had to stop and text that quote to people. :') Gah.
Now time for a re-read. :D
Kadra and Sarai???? Iconic. Name a better duo... I'LL WAIT. Their relationship was so refreshing. Dark, painful, comforting, full of love. And the yearning?!? Gahhhh. This book did such a great job exploring real human anguish but set in a fantasy world... It explores trauma from our past, how to communicate, what we communicate, how we view ourselves, how we view the world because of our trauma, and how we will move through the word as a result. I absolutely loved that Kadra never pushed Sarai and did not do things for her. He let her process and work to better the world around her the best she could.
I truly did not know how the book was going to end or where the plot was going. It expertly unfolded adding in new layers of mystery, political intrigue, agony, and fun new characters in the mix.
This duology is on par with "One Dark Window" and "Two Twisted Crowns". In that duology, the second book was somehow even better than the first and it was the same with "This Blade of Ours".
This quality of writing??? Amazing. Incredible. No notes. NO NOTES, SHALINI! PLEASE KEEP WRITING! I have been (as I said) so tired of the same descriptions, words, approaches to the plot, etc. and Shalini uses beautiful and precise language that absolutely draws you in. It could be the simplest description and I literally would just pause like how does she make this sound so heart wrenching, beautiful, harrowing.... you name it?!
For example... "The morning sun ran adoring fingers over his silhouette, limning a face that was a monument to ruthlessness and a map of severity." I had to stop and text that quote to people. :') Gah.
Now time for a re-read. :D
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I went into the first book with absolutely zero expectations but a little intrigue over the plotline. The story then proceeded to blow me away, and I finished the book in a day and a half stopping to eat and sleep 😅
So when I heard that book two was coming out, despite my contentment over the first book’s ending, I was sooo excited, so you can imagine my joy at getting early access to this in advance to read!!
Honest review - this book dragged me out of the depths of a book slump I was in. Yes, it has been a while since I read the first book, so trying to remember all the lore, key terms, and the nitty-gritty details from book one was a challenge, so thank goodness for the glossary at the end.
But it was so worth it, as the story picks up pretty much from the end of book one and throws us deep into the political aftermath of book one. Our girl Sarai is an absolute girlboss, as she was from the start of book one, but in this book she honestly has so much development, and it’s so fun to witness.
And let’s not even get started on Kaddy, as we get to uncover his brooding persona and mysterious background all in this book, which was so fun to read and see it all unravel.
Shalini’s writing is magically lyrical, and every sentence feels like it could be a quote in itself, but it’s not overdone. The stakes were high, and the story presented many moral dilemmas, which challenged me as a reader to discern who and what was right and wrong. Fantasy is my main genre, and this series has really set itself apart in the fantasy domain with all of the worldbuilding, characters, magic system and politics. Also helps that I LOVE both the devil judge and S&B, so the story was right up my alley.
Would definitely recommend this underrated gem of a series, and I hope we all accomplish a love like Kadra and Sarai in our lives <3
Thank you to Shalini, the publisher, and NetGalley for early access!!!
So when I heard that book two was coming out, despite my contentment over the first book’s ending, I was sooo excited, so you can imagine my joy at getting early access to this in advance to read!!
Honest review - this book dragged me out of the depths of a book slump I was in. Yes, it has been a while since I read the first book, so trying to remember all the lore, key terms, and the nitty-gritty details from book one was a challenge, so thank goodness for the glossary at the end.
But it was so worth it, as the story picks up pretty much from the end of book one and throws us deep into the political aftermath of book one. Our girl Sarai is an absolute girlboss, as she was from the start of book one, but in this book she honestly has so much development, and it’s so fun to witness.
And let’s not even get started on Kaddy, as we get to uncover his brooding persona and mysterious background all in this book, which was so fun to read and see it all unravel.
Shalini’s writing is magically lyrical, and every sentence feels like it could be a quote in itself, but it’s not overdone. The stakes were high, and the story presented many moral dilemmas, which challenged me as a reader to discern who and what was right and wrong. Fantasy is my main genre, and this series has really set itself apart in the fantasy domain with all of the worldbuilding, characters, magic system and politics. Also helps that I LOVE both the devil judge and S&B, so the story was right up my alley.
Would definitely recommend this underrated gem of a series, and I hope we all accomplish a love like Kadra and Sarai in our lives <3
Thank you to Shalini, the publisher, and NetGalley for early access!!!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
4.5 ⭐
“She carries the weight of a country and the fear that she might have broken it.”
This Monster Of Mine reads as a standalone, so I was contemplating whether I should read This Blade Of Ours or not. But I’m so happy I did!
If you want political intrigues, mystery, Kadra’s past and his secrets - you need to read this.
I couldn’t understand who is the good and who is the evil. Not only because I couldn’t guess who is the villain.
But also because the characters are ambiguous, and you can’t strictly categorise them as the villains or the good ones.
“When does an omission become a lie?”
I didn’t quite enjoy the romance part. And I just skimmed through the spice scenes. Luckily there are no many of them. But relationship development was good. Sarai had to face new secrets of Kadra and to decide whether she’s still loving him.
“I would live through Sidran Tower a thousand times over just to end up here. I love you.”
The book is not easy to get into. I was very confused reading the first half of the book. Because there was so much going on with little to no explanation. But at approximately 50% everything came together. And the second half of the story was amazing.
I loved getting to know more about Kadra, about his childhood, about his trauma. In this book we are getting chapters with his POV.
“Regret can be a dangerous thing for a mortal. It blinds them to the present in favor of what they wish had been possible.”
And my favourite part about this series: I was extremely satisfied by the ending of both books. As someone who always craves justice 🤭
“She carries the weight of a country and the fear that she might have broken it.”
This Monster Of Mine reads as a standalone, so I was contemplating whether I should read This Blade Of Ours or not. But I’m so happy I did!
If you want political intrigues, mystery, Kadra’s past and his secrets - you need to read this.
I couldn’t understand who is the good and who is the evil. Not only because I couldn’t guess who is the villain.
But also because the characters are ambiguous, and you can’t strictly categorise them as the villains or the good ones.
“When does an omission become a lie?”
I didn’t quite enjoy the romance part. And I just skimmed through the spice scenes. Luckily there are no many of them. But relationship development was good. Sarai had to face new secrets of Kadra and to decide whether she’s still loving him.
“I would live through Sidran Tower a thousand times over just to end up here. I love you.”
The book is not easy to get into. I was very confused reading the first half of the book. Because there was so much going on with little to no explanation. But at approximately 50% everything came together. And the second half of the story was amazing.
I loved getting to know more about Kadra, about his childhood, about his trauma. In this book we are getting chapters with his POV.
“Regret can be a dangerous thing for a mortal. It blinds them to the present in favor of what they wish had been possible.”
And my favourite part about this series: I was extremely satisfied by the ending of both books. As someone who always craves justice 🤭
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you so much to Union Square & Co. for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This Blade of Ours is an excellent sequel to an excellent debut dark fantasy series! This Monster of Mine was one of my favorite dark fantasy / romantic fantasy books of 2025. The book ended on a pretty solid ending, with no cliffhanger, so standalone novel lovers can easily enjoy the first book without feeling the need to read the sequel. However, this sequel gave me so many more delicious scenes of Sarai and Kadra, and after falling in love with them in book 1, I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to get more of them in book 2. It was so much fun to back into this ancient-Rome inspired world with characters with special powers, and get thrown into a new mystery that Sarai and Kadra are trying to solve. Plus, Sarai's journey battling sexism in her workplace and among society made me root for her so hard. And her complex (and HOT!) romance with Kadra was also interesting to follow along. I'm so glad that they didn't break up in this sequel for the sake of breaking up, but instead worked through their problems as mature adults.
Overall, as I was reading This Blade of Ours, I felt the book and plot consuming me with every turn of the page. Each chapter had me so hooked into the mystery, politics, dark fantasy, and dry humor. Shalini Abeysekara is really good at peeling back layer after layer of this mystery. I appreciate that she doesn't assume that her readers are dumb and over-explains the mystery in her writing. It made the reading experience more enjoyable, IMO. Each revelation of the mystery had my jaw dropping further and further, although there was one that I predicted that I was very proud of. The end reveal of the true big bad god could have been fleshed out a bit more in my opinion, but I still loved this book so much. This sequel really had me in a chokehold, and I can't recommend this duology enough for dark fantasy and romantic fantasy readers! I'd rate this book 4.5 stars rounded up!
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This Blade of Ours is an excellent sequel to an excellent debut dark fantasy series! This Monster of Mine was one of my favorite dark fantasy / romantic fantasy books of 2025. The book ended on a pretty solid ending, with no cliffhanger, so standalone novel lovers can easily enjoy the first book without feeling the need to read the sequel. However, this sequel gave me so many more delicious scenes of Sarai and Kadra, and after falling in love with them in book 1, I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to get more of them in book 2. It was so much fun to back into this ancient-Rome inspired world with characters with special powers, and get thrown into a new mystery that Sarai and Kadra are trying to solve. Plus, Sarai's journey battling sexism in her workplace and among society made me root for her so hard. And her complex (and HOT!) romance with Kadra was also interesting to follow along. I'm so glad that they didn't break up in this sequel for the sake of breaking up, but instead worked through their problems as mature adults.
Overall, as I was reading This Blade of Ours, I felt the book and plot consuming me with every turn of the page. Each chapter had me so hooked into the mystery, politics, dark fantasy, and dry humor. Shalini Abeysekara is really good at peeling back layer after layer of this mystery. I appreciate that she doesn't assume that her readers are dumb and over-explains the mystery in her writing. It made the reading experience more enjoyable, IMO. Each revelation of the mystery had my jaw dropping further and further, although there was one that I predicted that I was very proud of. The end reveal of the true big bad god could have been fleshed out a bit more in my opinion, but I still loved this book so much. This sequel really had me in a chokehold, and I can't recommend this duology enough for dark fantasy and romantic fantasy readers! I'd rate this book 4.5 stars rounded up!
Follow me on TikTok | Instagram | Twitter for more book reviews & recommendations!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This was a stunning conclusion to the duology. This Monster of Mine was one of my favourite books from last year and this instalment is easily going to be one of my favourite reads of this year as well.
The book builds its world, magic and political environment beautifully, adding an impressive amount of complexity to the overall story. The constant debates around justice, corruption, and morality are handled with so much care, especially with the added layers of religion and the ways it can be twisted to serve certain goals.
The new characters are incredibly well developed and the author truly excels at writing morally grey characters. Every character arc feels impactful, and for some, deeply and emotionally crushing. I especially loved learning more about Kadras’ background. Exploring his past added so much depth to such a mysterious character and was done beautifully.
Sarai is an incredible character. Her compassion and strength are stunning, even when she is facing true horrors. The overall story is so intriguing, as the characters grapple with political fallout while everyone tries to seize power and wealth wherever they can. Despite being a fantasy world, it feels painfully realistic. The gods interfering in mortal affairs was another fascinating element that added even more tension and intrigue.
Overall, this is a dark story, but the love story brings much needed light and tenderness. I adored this book, I love this world so much and it was truly a delight to read.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
The book builds its world, magic and political environment beautifully, adding an impressive amount of complexity to the overall story. The constant debates around justice, corruption, and morality are handled with so much care, especially with the added layers of religion and the ways it can be twisted to serve certain goals.
The new characters are incredibly well developed and the author truly excels at writing morally grey characters. Every character arc feels impactful, and for some, deeply and emotionally crushing. I especially loved learning more about Kadras’ background. Exploring his past added so much depth to such a mysterious character and was done beautifully.
Sarai is an incredible character. Her compassion and strength are stunning, even when she is facing true horrors. The overall story is so intriguing, as the characters grapple with political fallout while everyone tries to seize power and wealth wherever they can. Despite being a fantasy world, it feels painfully realistic. The gods interfering in mortal affairs was another fascinating element that added even more tension and intrigue.
Overall, this is a dark story, but the love story brings much needed light and tenderness. I adored this book, I love this world so much and it was truly a delight to read.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
If This Monster of Mine was Sarai’s book, then I feel This Blade of Ours was Kadra’s.
It didn’t take long for Shalini’s story to grip me once again — darker, more bloodthirsty, and full of secrets. Everything I should expect from Shalini by now!
What I love about Shalini’s writing is the emotion she pours into it — the visceral way she writes through guilt and self-worth and grappling with those emotions. I feel like I understood Sarai and Kadra deeper than ever before. I love her world. I love her characters — and my apologies to said characters — I love the hell she puts them through.
This Blade of Ours definitely cuts deep. From Gods and the past colliding with the present — this book is an abundance of secrets and bloodshed and, yes… some spicy scenes. Very spicy scenes.
I was gripped once more by Sarai and Kadra. Yes, they have an established relationship but, there is so much depth between them that wasn’t explored in This Monster of Mine. This time, we delve into Kadra’s past — unbury his secrets and connect them to the strife happening in the present.
Both Sarai and Kadra have inner battles to fight amongst the new threats facing Edessa. I think those inner battles, the insecurities they faced in each other as well as themselves, made this book so emotionally devastating.
This duet has become one of my favourites and Shalini will be an autobuy author for me always! Thank you to Union Square & Co. for providing me with an e-arc to read and review.
It didn’t take long for Shalini’s story to grip me once again — darker, more bloodthirsty, and full of secrets. Everything I should expect from Shalini by now!
What I love about Shalini’s writing is the emotion she pours into it — the visceral way she writes through guilt and self-worth and grappling with those emotions. I feel like I understood Sarai and Kadra deeper than ever before. I love her world. I love her characters — and my apologies to said characters — I love the hell she puts them through.
This Blade of Ours definitely cuts deep. From Gods and the past colliding with the present — this book is an abundance of secrets and bloodshed and, yes… some spicy scenes. Very spicy scenes.
I was gripped once more by Sarai and Kadra. Yes, they have an established relationship but, there is so much depth between them that wasn’t explored in This Monster of Mine. This time, we delve into Kadra’s past — unbury his secrets and connect them to the strife happening in the present.
Both Sarai and Kadra have inner battles to fight amongst the new threats facing Edessa. I think those inner battles, the insecurities they faced in each other as well as themselves, made this book so emotionally devastating.
This duet has become one of my favourites and Shalini will be an autobuy author for me always! Thank you to Union Square & Co. for providing me with an e-arc to read and review.
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