Vile & Virtue: The Beginning

by Kathryn Ann Kingsley

A dark tale like no other… I promise, I’d know.Let me tell you about the game I'm playing with a delectable little librarian.Why? Because I’m bored. Oh, don’t give me that look. Darling, you have no idea.

I've been every villain humanity has ever dreamed the Napoleon of Crime, the Captain with the rusted hook, the monster in your closet, and the devil in the details. I've died a thousand deaths and I've killed a thousand more, and frankly?

It's gotten terribly repetitive.

So when I found Sasha Lancaster—mousy little thing, all repressed desires and untapped darkness—I knew I'd discovered something rare.

A plaything with potential.

The rules are simple. I've pulled her and her darling twin sister Sidney into my world of fiction itself with my obnoxiously obstinate twin brother, Virtue. Three rounds. Three deaths. The last woman standing wins her freedom. Of course, there's an tell me a story I've never heard before, spin me a tale truly unique, and I'll let you both go home.

Impossible? Naturally. Entertaining? Immensely.

See you inside, lovelies.

- Vile
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Perfect for fans of dark romance, twisted fairytales, and stories where the villain is just too delicious to resist. From the USA Today Bestselling Author of The Unseelie Prince, The Contortionist, and The Serpent's Bride, comes this unique spin on retelling our favorite pieces of fiction. This one might just be a little more "meta" than most. (But don't worry, I tried to keep him on his best behavior.)

Kindle Edition

Expected publication March 10, 2026

About the author

Kathryn has always been a storyteller. Years of scriptwriting for performances on stage and for tourism in Boston led her to writing romantically dark, fantastical tales, which was an obsession of hers that began once seeing The Phantom of the Opera at a young age.

When she isn’t penning new villainous leads, she works in video game development. There, she has been everything from Creative Director to Chief of Staff, Design Manager, Executive Producer, and Principal Writer for various companies in the industry.

She shares her antique home with three very fluffy animals and one very patient and loving husband.