Because I Killed Him

by Edith Birde

The wrong ally is deadlier than an enemy.

In the Civilized World, everyone is rich, yet money doesn’t buy safety. It only buys a gold coffin. The real currency is having the right allies. Low-citizens survive by joining high-citizens’ exclusive inner circles, trading loyalty for protection from laws that govern speech, dress, and posture—and punish mistakes with public beheading.

Low-citizen Loredana Waldsten already knows the cost of breaking the rules. Once a rising fencing prodigy, she lost the right to carry weapons after killing a high-citizen in a brutal locker-room attack. The courts erased his death to preserve his family’s honor. Now she’s unarmed, legally defenseless, and enrolled at the elite Grandmaster University, where champagne spills into the gutters and reputations are built on death duels.

When Loredana’s father, a low-citizen politician, publicly challenges the high-citizens, she becomes a target. Some classmates demand her execution. Others hunt her for sport. And by law, she’s forbidden to fight back.

Her only chance of survival lies with Edmund Prew, a charming yet ruthless high-citizen student she’s been warned against. Edmund's family has been locked in a bitter feud with Loredana’s for years, and he wants nothing to do with her until a lost bet forces him to protect her within his inner circle. What begins as a scandalous, strategic alliance turns perilous as they fall for each other.

Because the man Loredana killed wasn’t just a high-citizen. He was Edmund’s cousin.

Loving Edmund means living a lie.
Telling the truth means certain death.

Genres: Dystopia, Fantasy, Romantasy

693 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 13, 2026

About the author

Edith Birde is the shared pen name for two sisters who have been writing together since their early teenage years.

Reviews

[Keke’s Kindle · Rating 5 out of 5]

A SIX ⭐️ GOSH DAMN masterpiece.. I need to gather myself before I write my thoughts but just know this book has consumed me and it’s my new personality.

Releasing May 13, 2026
I am begging you to mark your calendars!

How in the world am I supposed to pick up another book after this one? When I say this story consumed me, I mean I almost read 500 pages in a single day because I physically could not stop.

There’s so much to unpack here, but I’m going to try.

This world gave very strong Great Gatsby vibes. Everyone is expected to be polished, proper, and painfully careful with their words in public. Formal introductions. Perfect posture. Perfect appearances. But behind closed doors, inside their salons and inner circles, people finally speak like real humans. That contrast added so much tension to the story because every interaction felt dangerous.

The story follows Loredana Waldsten, a green low-citizen who already knows exactly what it costs to break the rules after killing a blue high-citizen during a brutal attack years before. Now she’s been stripped of the right to carry weapons, legally forbidden from defending herself, and forced into the elite Grandmaster University where reputations are built on death duels, power, and survival.

From the very beginning, you’re thrown into this massive world where Bloody Sundays exist. Citizens who lose their civil credits are publicly executed, and somehow it’s always the low-citizens paying the price while the high-citizens walk away untouched. There’s also a drug called Bliss woven into the political conflict, and Loredana’s father, a politician fighting to ban it, sparks controversy that puts an even larger target on her back at the university.

Then Edmund Prew enters the story, and EVERYTHING changes.

Edmund comes from one of the powerful high-citizen families, and his family has hated Loredana’s for years. After losing a bet, he’s forced to bring her into his inner circle and protect her, even though being associated with her could destroy him socially. What starts as this strategic alliance slowly turns into something so much deeper, filled with tension, lingering looks, soft touches, and the kind of yearning that actually makes your chest hurt.

What makes their relationship even more dangerous is that Loredana and Edmund are never supposed to be together in the first place. She’s a Green, he’s a Blue, and in their world those lines are not meant to be crossed. Relationships between classes are seen as scandalous, illegal, and a threat to the social order they’ve built everything around. If they’re caught, the consequences aren’t just whispers and ruined reputations. They could literally face the guillotine. So every stolen touch, every secret meeting, and every moment between them feels forbidden in the most terrifying way possible

I’m not kidding when I say I will never look at seashells, mud, or daffodils the same way again. Edmund was written so beautifully it honestly hurt. This man was written by women in the best possible way, and somehow Edith Birde managed to make him feel both impossibly soft and dangerously sharp at the same time. He permanently stamped a piece of this story onto my soul.

The found family in this book was incredible too. The side characters felt real, layered, and deeply important to the story. I adored Dickie and genuinely wish I could be friends with him in real life. And Charlotte… her relationship with Loredana meant so much to me. That scene toward the end absolutely wrecked me once you fully understand what their friendship truly represents.

This book balances worldbuilding, politics, class division, social tension, and brutal survival so well while still delivering a romance that completely CONSUMED me. Every piece worked together perfectly. Every moment between them feels like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode.

Everything felt so poetic and vivid that it played like a movie in my head the entire time I was reading. The descriptions, the tension, the emotions, the dialogue… all of it felt so intentional and immersive. This is not a story you simply read and move on from. This is one that crawls under your skin and stays there long after the final page.

Vibes:
✨ Roaring 20s
🖤 Forbidden love
⚔️ Class divisions
🎓 Elite university setting
🩸 Bloody trials & public executions
👀 Lingering yearning
🔥 Tension-filled romance
🫶 Found family
🎭 Political intrigue
💊 Dangerous drug
📖 Poetic writing
🎬 Feels like a movie in your head
🐚 Symbolism that will ruin you forever
💐 Daffodils that now mean too much
😭 Characters that stay with you
📚 Massive immersive world-building

A HUGE thank you to NetGalley/Booksirens for the eARC!

[Zoë · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!! What a dang good read this was.

I absolutely have to start by saying that the atmosphere in this world was incredible. We’ve got a 20s vibe with the outfits, way people talk, and honestly overall vibes. We’ve got futuristic tech, a shield that blocks out outsiders but also is keeping them in, and a dystopian type of world. We’ve got a political system divided by blood color with unique attributes for each color and power imbalances galore. We’ve got executions for those who fall out of line or fall below a point system.

The pacing never slows down and I never knew what was coming next. Jealous partners, alliances, mysteries everywhere, constant revelations, and duels to the death. The ending was just yet another shock that has me dying for more of this book/series.

Don’t even get me STARTED about the romance, okay?? This was the sweetest, kicking-feet romance I’ve read in a long time and I’m not one to quote books but you bet your bottom I will be adding quotes to this review as soon as this is published because AHHH!

Hiiiiiiiighly recommend this for anyone who loves dystopian, romantasy, plot twists/secrets, and a slow burn romance.


~I received this eARC free from NetGalley. Thank you to Edith Birde for the early copy! My opinions are my own and voluntarily given~

[Brandy Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW … I’m going to need a minute

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a read.

For being a indie (?) read written by two sisters, I really enjoyed this. The world is different but familiar. I like that people bleed colors, and that once upon a time the world seemed to be a version of our own. Then there was the split and 9 Gentlemen ended up fighting against those who were against science and innovation. They sealed themselves up in this shield dome and world continued on in alarmingly fast technology advancements while still keeping with an early 1900's prohibition era. While the world outside has a wild wild west / cowboy attitude.

I loved the characters, I loved the executions, the point system that people have to uphold, the way that duels with swords are a thing. I also love that there was a lot of drama. I also enjoy that the male and female lead went from being adversaries to lovers. It was well done.

The reason I ranked it down a star is that I wanted more about the world outside the dome, the politics and if anybody is conspiring with them. We get attacks here and there from them, and we get attacks from the heretics. So, I'm hoping book two has more about them. I also want to know if any of the studies that they're studying are important? There is a cloning class that the main character is taking and I'm curious if that becomes a plotline in the future. I also don't like the title. I get that it's because she killed someone that her world moves in such a trajectory from that moment... but I feel like it could have a better title than that.

All in all, I liked what I read and had fun in the world with the characters and the drama.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been reading a lot of YA and New Adult fiction lately, especially in the dystopian genre, and I decided to try something new by checking out ARCs on Book Sirens. There were plenty of books to choose from, most of them looking exactly the same. But this book stood out immediately because of its cover, which was completely different from anything else, so I decided to explore further, and after reading the description, give it a try. It’s my first ARC, and it’s a long book, but a quick read. Book Sirens wants a longer review than I normally give, so here goes.

The premise of the book is an authoritarian society divided into four castes by the color of each person’s blood, each caste genetically bred for certain skills and strengths. The “Blues” are the rulers, but the other castes don’t have zero political power, just marginal. The society has extremely rigid rules for personal interactions, etiquette, and honor – even language. These rules are enforced ruthlessly via public executions using a guillotine, which all citizens are required to watch. Public dueling is also a large part of society. When a citizen’s honor is impugned, he can call for a duel, usually with swords. Citizens are judged by a social credit score called “civil credits” and earn more credits by behaving well, while losing credits by taking actions that go against public order. Once a person’s civil credits go below a certain value, they are arrested, or if low enough, executed. It seems much easier in this society to earn civil credits than to lose them, and the civil credit system plays a major role in the story. Despite the authoritarian society, the “Civilized World” is quite wealthy. It’s a dystopia, but not dark, dingy, rainy, and dreary, like Blade Runner, but wealthy, stylish, and, well, civilized, if deadly for people who do not conform.

The protagonist, Loredana, is one of the lower colors (“low citizens”), and before the story starts, she had killed (in self-defense) a “high citizen” who assaulted her. While this type of killing would normally mean Loredana would be executed, even as a child, because the killing is so embarrassing to the family of the person who assaulted her, it is hushed up, and Loredana is not prosecuted. Except, in a society where everyone is armed, and where Loredana was an aspiring fencing master, Loredana is prohibited from carrying a weapon of any sort, making her a prime target for people who have a grudge against her, especially the family of the boy she killed. To make matters worse, her father is a politician who, allied with prominent Blues, pushes a bill to ban a narcotic (“bliss”), which is extremely popular among a certain type of young person. So, when Loredana goes off to college, she is an unarmed target for almost everyone in the school.

Most of the action takes place during Loredana’s first year at Grandmaster University, where she protects herself by, through guts and trickery, joining the entourage of one of the prominent Blue students. Blues collect lower colors in their entourage to show their power and influence, not unlike the clientela system in the Roman Empire. Unfortunately, the Blue she chose as protector, Edmund, is the cousin of the boy she killed, and family is very important in this society.

There are twists and turns, and Loredana and Edmund grow closer as the book evolves, hinting at a forbidden romance between people of different colors. Loredana’s primary concern is staying alive while maintaining a decent civil credit score. She encounters many enemies, primarily those students who were users of (and addicted to) bliss. There are about seven or eight primary characters, each with a unique personality, including both flaws and virtues. The characterization is well done, in that you really do get to know the characters and their motivations as the book progresses. The setting is constrained by being a school story, with classes, professors, and classmates, all the normal things one would expect, but within a world that is both modern in technology and civil credit scores, and ancient in codes of conduct, an honor system, rigid class hierarchies, and instant death for treason. The science fiction elements are very subtle and believable: computers implanted in people’s brains, hover cars, and service robots that perform all the menial tasks. This is a science fiction story grounded in believable future technology, not magic.

The world-building is well done, with just enough hints of a backstory showing how this society evolved to keep you interested, and hints of more sinister things that lie outside the “Civilized World.” The book is long, but it’s easy to read, and there are no wasted scenes. Each chapter progresses the plot and characters. Since told in the first-person present tense, the reader only sees into Loredana’s thoughts. Given that this is the first of a series, I hope the author uses more POV characters in subsequent books, because the reader sometimes needs to see into the motivations of other characters, especially Edmund. What’s best about the world-building, honestly, after reading many of these dystopian novels, is that it’s different from anything else out there, which is quite refreshing. It’s not “romantasy.” And, thank goodness, there are no explicit sex scenes, something I hate in modern genre fiction.

Overall, I liked this book a lot. Don’t be intimidated by the page count, as I read it through in only a week. I hope the author maintains this level of quality and originality in future books in this series, which I will definitely read when they come out.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[iris [updating reviews] · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The length of this book initially intimidated me and I went in with low expectations because I was already on the verge of a reading slump and I thought I wouldn't be able to finish reading but I'm so glad to have been proven wrong. This book was so refreshing for me after such a long period without any sci-fi reads plus it was entertaining as heck. The world-building was well done and most of the characters were likeable [not you, Rosamund and Irene.], even those with their considerable flaws. I highly recommend this book and will definitely be on the lookout for the sequel.

Thank you so much to BookSirens for this ARC.

[Sleepdrops · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Because I Killed Him by accident while browsing online. What caught my attention was the idea of a society built on wealth. Not scarcity, not poverty—but excess. And still, no one is safe. It was a worthwhile concept that spoke to me despite not being what I'm usually interested in. There is a tension between luxury and brutality. Thanks to this chance encounter I had the privilege to receive an advanced copy from the authors. Which is just as well because I would have gone mad without knowing what happens next.

This is my first review, and what a worthy story for it to be! From the first chapter it’s clear the author knows what they’re doing. The writing is confident and deliberate. Scenes are constructed with care. There is a steady narrative pull that makes it difficult to stop reading. Chapters are well structured. It can get addictive. I stayed up to the early hours of the morning a few times, much to the dismay of my professional life.

The strongest element of the novel is its worldbuilding. I loved the world! The setting unfolds gradually, through implication and lived experience. The rules of this society — social, political, and cultural— are revealed in trickles, trusting the reader to assemble them. In this manner the story was quite the page turner. The class system feels rigid and dangerous, yet believable within its own logic. There is history beneath the surface, and it quietly shapes every interaction. The result is a world that feels complete and well thought out. One that's enjoyable to explore and be surprised by.

The atmosphere deserves special mention. Opulence and violence coexist in unsettling harmony. Grand spaces are described with vivid precision, and the contrast between beauty and threat gives the setting a strange elegance. It is easy to get lost in the detail of a single room, a ritual, or a public spectacle. The environment is not just background; it actively pressures the characters. This created a ‘chicken or the egg’ scenario for me; Is it the world that’s so awesome, or how the author describes it?

Tension is one of the novel’s greatest strengths. The story escalates repeatedly, often to chaotic extremes, but it never feels uncontrolled. The pacing is tight. There are multiple crescendos that land with impact, and the narrative rarely gives the reader room to disengage. Scratch that, the pacing was perfect. I was never bored.

The protagonist is steady rather than flashy. I was perhaps too primed by a 2026 aura farming web novel background, yet you quickly get absorbed by her nonetheless. She is not written as an untouchable prodigy, but as someone shaped by her upbringing and guided by a clear moral compass. Her integrity drives the story as much as the external conflict does. While I would have enjoyed seeing more of her in combat, what we do see is handled well.

The supporting cast is well considered. Their motivations are coherent, and their actions align with who they are. I feel this is another part of the charm. The central group dynamic adds warmth and balance to an otherwise high-pressure narrative. The novel also explores competing loyalties—family, friendship, social standing, personal conviction—in a way that feels authentic and layered.

The central romance did not fully convince me at first. In its early stages, it felt slightly sudden. However, as the plot deepened and the characters were forced into increasingly difficult situations, the relationship gained credibility. By the time the emotional stakes peaked, the connection felt earned. Some later scenes were genuinely moving. It’s here where I find it most difficult not to give any spoilers, because there are a few scenes with the romance that were worth sharing.

There are several mysteries threaded throughout the story, and many developments took turns I did not anticipate. Structurally, the book feels purposeful. It stands as a complete narrative, yet easily prepares for future installments, I find. There is a sense that the author knows exactly where the larger arc is heading, which has me hyped.

One especially satisfying element is the use of fencing—not only in action sequences but as a thematic and structural device. It shapes parts of the story in subtle ways that become increasingly rewarding as the narrative progresses. This is another example that the authors knew what they were doing. The fact I had no choice but to trust in them from chapter one, and thus trust was rewarded, was greatly satisfying.

Overall, Because I Killed Him is a tightly paced, immersive, and thoughtfully constructed novel. The prose is clean and direct. The world is imaginative and cohesive. Its tension rarely falters in its execution. While the romance wavers slightly at the beginning for me personally, that is just me stretching my brain cells to find a fault. The book as a whole is compelling and confident, and indeed the romance now lives with me from this day onward.

With regards to intricate social systems, high emotional stakes, and stories that balance politics, action, and character growth, this is well worth the time. This is a world that needs to be explored further. If future books build on what has been established here, the series will likely be picked up for a live adaptation. Well done. I look forward to what's in store for the ladies and gentlemen of the Civilised World.

-sleepdrops

[Mrs.Smolderhalder . · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

I found this book through an Instagram reel and honestly? I didn’t hate it. I also didn’t love it.
This book is the human equivalent of:
“hmm… interesting… anyway”
Like it *was* a good(?) read but not life-altering. No personality shift. No “this changed me as a person.”

Worldbuilding ✨dystopia starter pack✨
We’ve got:
weird slang (pinkies for robots… sure why not), public/private person(pls stop 🤚🤚)
formal speech that makes you feel like you are in the 1800s
oppressive government
class division

Edmund???
Actually memorable??? No recycled bad boy stereotype, no unnecessary attitude problem(maybe sometimes), just a solid character.
I finished the book and still remembered him which is honestly impressive at this point.

Supporting cast (do I care if they die)
Dickie:
name is criminal. straight to jail.
but he has “short anime boy everyone loves” energy
(yes I mean honey senpai from Ouran. I will not elaborate.)

Jack:
who is this man what is his role why is he here
He exists only to:
be Char’s ex
save them once
and somehow be the center of Rosamund’s entire personality

Charlotte:
Dumbass bitch
She makes a continuous string of dumb decisions throughout the book. She might genuinely be the only one deserving the guillotine.

Antagonists (carrying the plot tbh)
Rosamund + Irene were actually fun and added tension. Rosamund’s obsession with JACK was never really explained..
Like girl why???
Ik the author is probably setting her up for a redemption arc with the whole abusive mother angle but right now I have more questions than answers.
Irene though… yeah she’s being saved for future chaos and I respect that.

FMC
Loredana – level headed, not annoying, actually smart
which already puts her above most FMCs recently BUT the earrings

She’s being set up as the next Katniss Everdeen
(selfless acts, symbolic object = lily aka mockingjay moment)
BUT
Instead of:
poor
starving
master archer

she’s:
genetically modified
5’9
fencing champion
rich politician parents who are alive AND loving
and honestly? refreshing.


Worldbuilding issues (respectfully…)
You’re telling me this is a *civilized world* and students can casually *legally* kill each other on Tuesday afternoon??

The civil credits system was interesting (very social credit meme-core) and makes sense with their tech since they can track almost everything
Also the formal speech felt weird at first but works once you realize the government is just deeply authoritarian and obsessed with control and of course the elite don’t follow their own rules
as expected.
the drug thing???
The blues (who run everything) have legalized bliss
which is basically meth
I’m sorry WHAT
This is a society where:
everything is monitored
credits are deducted for small things
behavior is tightly controlled
but ALSO
“yeah let’s endorse drugs publicly”
???
That would be like modern America openly endorsing coke.
Doing it secretly for profit? sure dystopia classic.
Doing it publicly in a hyper-controlled system???

Also how does stumbling deduct credits
if you’re clumsy you’re just done for??? actually wait never mind they probably genetically removed clumsiness too at this point.

blood / color hierarchy - very red rising
BUT the execution here is different enough to still be interesting

romance (because of course) - it was mehh, I just didn't think there was enough build up to actually give a shit about the two..felt kind insta lovey
No dystopia is complete without forbidden love
Colors can’t mix
so obviously
They… mix

Also
WHO goes to a yacht party
in a lake
FULL OF PIRANHAS

Also
You’re telling me an all-powerful blue with access to basically everything cannot access ONE file about his cousin’s death??? and doesn’t know the real reason and not even his mom knew
This is plot convenience.

Final thoughts
I went in expecting something like Westworld
got Hunger Games x Gossip Girl instead
and you know what? I didn’t hate that.
The tattler literally being gossip girl was lowkey iconic.
Also academic setting where students die every year?
I mean Harry Potter did it.

⭐ rating: 3.5 “I have MANY thoughts” stars
Will I read the sequel?
yes.

[Renee Bordereau · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through the authors' ARC program on their blog.
I'm writing from a more Christian standpoint, as I enjoy reading literature that both is interesting, likeable and does not damage my own moral code or views. I am aware my opinions may not be those of others, but I wanted to leave a review that maybe could help others with a similar standpoint help decide if they should read this book or not.
I will be honest, this book is one of the most interesting I've read in awhile! It beautifully draws the reader in with just enough intrigue to make you continue chapter after chapter, yet not anything forced, plot-holed, or predictable. The main character is flawed and relatable, which is something preciously rare in this day and age, and something that helped me to become drawn even more into this book. I'm not a fan of either modern sci-fi or the Roaring Twenties, but the plot, intrigue, flawed and emotionally deep characters were more than enough to keep me reading through this book.
Side characters were also beautifully complex.
I enjoyed the parental relationship of the main character, as it's also rare to have both parents alive and loving in many books of this type! The relationship with her sisters was realistic as well. It felt wholesome.
Also, the enemy to lover romance in the beginning was beautifully crafted. They were literally enemies . The majority of the books or shows I've watched with quasi-enemy-to-lover tropes had in fact a not entirely unlikeable love interest, two stubborn parties, a couple cute quirks that they got over quickly and you could entirely tell from the start of the story that they'd end up with each other, Hallmark style. Not this book. She truly detested him, and so did I, for obvious reasons. Little foreshadowings would pop up that I'd realize later had revealed slightly that he was not as bad as she thought he was, but during reading, he's an arrogant fool with a couple crazy friends that are forced to protect her through a lost bet. Nothing more. It's lovely.
However.
The transition from enemy to lover? I want to be kind to the authors as I know their books are their pride and joy; but the transition was basically mushy. This mysterious man suddenly reveals his love for her and all of his boundaries fall in a way only soap operas can dream of. This girl who gets herself into unforgivable messes and hates anyone of his race, she is somehow perfect, and his caution and knowledge that they can't actually marry each other are thrown to the wind. His character went down the drain to be replaced by a literally "perfect" man who likewise was unrelatable. So perfect, in fact, that when a family member literally rips his skin to shreds, he stands there and takes it, hands behind his back, because of "family". I understand that there are some roots running deep here and more to be revealed, but his entire reaction is illogical and even if it does foreshadow some revelation, it makes the reader completely detach from this character as his reaction is very dehumanized.
One other thing that bothered me for this book, was the use of very foul language throughout, although this doesn't really match with the era they were in or their normal usage of extremely polite manners. I'm Christian which is why it primarily bothered me as I refrain from using it; but it did feel off-putting in another sense of not fitting the world the authors created. Also, there was no explicit smut, but in certain parts the book gets too close for comfort. Likewise I would not recommend this novel for teens because of the language and very descriptive provocative scenes.

Overall, this book was definitely a page turner, and the world-building, prose, logic, suspense, character development, was mostly spot-on. However, halfway through I lost a lot of interest after the sudden evolution of the complicated and deep main love interest into a prince charming stereotype. I also did not enjoy the language or provocative nature of some of the scenes of this book.

[imk629 · Rating 5 out of 5]

There was hype about this book by influencers on instagram so I decided to request an arc. I’m so happy I was chosen because this book blew me away. I went into this book not really knowing anything about it and thinking it would be an interesting read. Now it’s become a favorite of mine.
This book takes place in the Civilized World. Basically a place that is protected from the outside world with a shield around it and all of its citizens are genetically “made”. The story’s POV is told through the FMC. The world is a caste system. Each person is placed by their blood color. There are 4 blood colors…blue, green, orange and purple. And if you’re a blue you’re a high citizen and any other color you’re a low citizen.
The FMC is a green. Which means she is a low citizen. This book tells the story of the FMC Loredana and her journey through life at an academy and her survival. Because of her status she has to endure unfair rules as does every low citizen. So she navigates through many unjust practices and has to learn to survive after leaving her parents’ home for the first time and becoming a public person.
I love how this story combines a 1920’s vibe with a futuristic setting. The way they dress and jazz music is their music genre and tap dancing is huge in the clubs. But there is also advanced technologies such as flying cars and interface chips embedded in their brains that they refer to as bonds. This allows them to speak mind to mind, text and search the internet. What I also found interesting is that fencing is a huge sport and is weaved into the story throughout.
Everyone in the Civilized World is wealthy and that includes low citizens. There is no poverty and technically money isn’t nearly as important as the civil credits each public person receives when they go out into the world. The civil credits is tied to your life. If you don’t follow the rules your credit deducts. There are thresholds and the lower you get you can get arrested. But if you get too low you could become executed.
Every citizen must watch Bloody Sundays every week. It’s basically executions by guillotine which is generally given to heretics and traitors and those with low credits.
I was fascinated by all the unique aspects of this dystopian world. I was always rooting for the FMC. She’s a young 18 year old girl leaving her parents for the first time without much support since her academy was far away. She could only overcome her struggles by being resourceful and not showing fear. She has to not only focus on her studies but also keep herself centered by following the rules and surviving bullies and others who want to kill her. Lots of twists and a big cliffhanger sets up book 2 but also left me wanting more. This book exceeded my expectations and is definitely a 5 star read!!

[Laurynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars. All the accolades. Need to gather my thoughts because I fear I am broken.

Okay. This was excellent. Talk about captivating!!! Yes, it’s long, but I could read several more of these books and never once be bored. It’s a long read but also quick because it’s impossible to put down. I was oblivious to the entire world around me, I was so enraptured by the Civilized World I was immersed in.

There is a caste system based on genetically engineered people with different blood colors, having different strengths, also being separated into ‘high-citizens’ and ‘low-citizens’. The world is nearly entirely revolved around an honor system, where it’s what is deemed honorable over what is deemed moral. There are strict rules that must be followed, and to break those rules could mean execution by guillotine.

So what happens when a high-class citizen and a low-class citizen are sort of allies but definitely fall in love? Nothing good, but everything great (that does make sense I swear). Honestly, the relationship is arguably not the focal point of this book, but DAMN. This love!!!!! I was tearing up several times with how utterly SWEET it is, the love is wholesome and pure, while also being in constant danger, but damn. I love them so much. There’s forbidden love, and then there’s FORBIDDEN LOVE, and this is the latter. Yet, the relationship is so completely satisfying from start to finish.

All of the characters have such depth and fluidity. Edmund Prew, the man you are!!! Loredana, you courageous, wonderful gal! The side characters hold so much personality, even the more minor ones (Sgt Croft, I’m lookin’ at you). The epigraphs add more context into the world itself while also revealing other thought processes, which is a nice little inside look. The villains of this story are so deeply unlikable but the authors do such a great job at peeling back those layers to reveal why the evil underneath exists.

This story is genuinely everything. It’s transporting you to another world entirely, immersive and thoughtful. The crumbs dropped along the way and the foreshadowing that takes place!!! There was such careful planning and that’s obvious throughout. I’m just in such awe of this sister duo, Edith Birde. This book ended on a cliffhanger but was still satisfying as hell. I didn’t feel like there was anything left unsaid.

I will recommend this forever.

-forbidden love
-roaring 20s meets dystopian
-some major political intrigue
-he’d give her the world
-subtle hand touches
-academia setting
-caste system based on blood color
-guillotines

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a slow burn romance for those who love the episodic nature of fan fic. Our characters are placed in circumstances where they are forced to interact again & again. The drama is real! The only way I can think to summarize it is; think of the Black Mirror episode “Nosedive” mix in reality tv & fencing and you’re getting close to the story!

What worked best for me were our core characters! I loved our MMC and his bromance with his friends. The FMC can be a bit single minded/ is pretty sure she’s always right which was slightly annoying. However I loved that she was genetically engineered to be athletic and strong. She enjoys what her body is capable of and never makes herself less to please men. She’s intelligent, curious about the world, has a strong sense of justice and is totally loyal to her best friend.

Next paragraph has spoilers!!!

I am wildly curious about a teacher at the end. Things are set up for a really interesting book two. I wish our main characters hadn’t gotten back together so quickly though. I want them both to explore other people before deciding they were meant to be.

The setting is a strange pairing of dystopian future society founded on genetic engineering with Gatsby level jazz age decadence and cowboys for villains? Characters ride in self driving hover cars to get to a tap dance jazz club where they drink like fish. Although they live in a wealthy society where no one needs to work (except for genetically engineered human/robot servants who I suspect are sentient) if they break the rules of etiquette (like bowing or formal introductions) their civility points get deducted. Lose too many points & your head gets chopped off on Sundays.

So yeah, all of it is kinda crazy but I did enjoy it! I genuinely want to know what happens next! I need them to leave the safety of the shield because I want to know what’s going on outside it immediately!

The reason it’s not rated higher is essentially the length and the title. There’s definitely 200-300pgs that need to be cut. If a book is over 800 pages my expectations grow exponentially. It needs to be a masterpiece to justify that sort of length. The title drives me nuts. It sounds like you’re about to read a murder mystery or suspense novel. While it references events in the plot it doesn’t fit what the book really is about.


People who like Zodiac Academy but are interested in less spice, dystopian society & more world building should give this a try!

[ThianeJansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

In a dystopian society where people literally bleed different colours, the world is divided into strict castes each genetically engineered for specific roles.

The ruling class, the Blues, hold the most power, while lower colours are given limited influence and must carefully maintain their civil credit score to survive. Society is governed by rigid etiquette, honour codes, public duels, and brutal executions all under a polished, wealthy, almost glamorous surface.

Now heading to an elite university, she’s forced to navigate a world where she’s unarmed in a society where everyone else carries weapons, surrounded by people who have every reason to want revenge. Her only real chance of survival is attaching herself to a powerful Blue, who just so happens to be related to the boy she killed. From there, the story unfolds into a tense mix of survival, politics, shifting alliances, and the beginnings of a forbidden romance.

From there, it becomes a story of survival, politics, shifting alliances, and a potential forbidden romance.

✨ Tropes & vibes
🩸 colour-based caste system
⚖️ authoritarian society / social credit system
🎓 elite academy setting
⚔️ duels & honour culture
🚫 forbidden romance
🤖 subtle sci-fi (implants, tech, robotics)
🎭 political intrigue

The concept?? Insane.
People bleeding colours, prohibition-era meets futuristic tech, elite politics, wild west outside the dome… like HELLO??? This had everything I *THOUGHT* I LOVED: dystopian and The Great Gatsby vibes.

The first ~10% especially had me HOOKED. I was so excited.

I also really liked the character ideas there are a lot of distinct personalities and motivations, and you can see what the author was trying to build.

I’m not even going to sugarcoat it… I slogged through this.
After that strong start, it got extremely boring. Like genuinely had to force myself to keep reading.

The biggest issue for me was the execution:

Even when dramatic things happened, they were rushed past so quickly that they didn’t land.

The romance also didn’t hit for me it felt underdeveloped and I just didn’t buy into it.
And while I appreciated how complex and layered the world was trying to be, everything: the politics, the cities, the systems just felt jumbled instead of cohesive.

This is one of those books where the idea is incredible… but the execution just didn’t match it.

I really, really wanted to love this and parts of it (especially the beginning and a bit of the ending) showed glimpses of what it *could* have been.

But overall?

It dragged, it lost me, and it never fully pulled me back in.
Amazing concept.
Messy execution.
And unfortunately… a bit of a chore to get through.

[Dotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars

Because I Killed Him is a gripping gilded-age-inspired dystopian novel. The story follows Loredana, a young woman convicted of killing a main above her station in self-defense, and the many things she will do to survive. Society is separated by blood color; humans have been bred with significant genetic modifications that serve as castes to divide society. Loredana, a Green, is the daughter of an affluent politician, and she finds she must align herself with a high-ranking Blue or be killed. Lore makes the decision to live and forms friendships across blood lines.

This story was gripping and excellent. The world building took a little bit to get into, as there was a lot of information that needed to be communicated at the very beginning, but even through that the story was engaging. The world building was complex and interesting and did exactly what you hope in a dystopian novel. The book is pretty long—almost 700 pages—but I didn’t feel like the pacing ever slowed too much or that the authors wasted time.

The character development is well done, with complex characters and compelling relationships. The romance plotlines are engaging, especially with our main character. The book does not have any explicit scenes beyond kissing.

The story is set in a school but it feels more of a backdrop than an actual academic novel. The story focuses far more on the characters’ social calendar and relational dynamics than the school setting. Occasionally our characters go to class or discuss studying, but rarely do the authors use class time as a way to disseminate information. I do think using class time to explain worldbuilding would have allowed our character to do a little less explaining, especially if we were able to see her own critiques of the teachers’ processes. There is a major storyline near the end involving exam time, which is well done.

My only real gripe is that there’s a major reveal at about the 70% that was disclosed in the book’s description. I assumed it would drop early in the story, as it was in the blurb, but instead it came as a major reveal later in the book. Because I spent the whole book waiting for it, the reveal didn’t have the same gut punch that I think it should have. If the authors are able to remove traces of the spoiler from the many descriptions on the internet, I think the reveal would be able to have the surprised the authors intended.

Altogether, this was an excellent dystopian book that I hope gets the attention it deserves. I really enjoyed the ride the whole way through and hope that the book second book is planned soon (because that cliffhanger was killer!)

Thank you to the authors for this advanced reader copy, provided on NetGalley!

[Ruth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was absolutely bonkers.

First up, 10/10 for the romance because the tension and yearning were absolutely delicious. The authors depiction of falling in love was exceptionally well written.

Next, I would definitely class this book as YA. Not just because there’s no spice but there’s not even a hint of whether it’s closed door or not. They may have been DTD or FMC may still be a virgin, no idea. Hopefully we do at least get an insight in future books - especially since he gifted her the Florence Engine!

My second reason for this being YA is the wild age gaps between characters. FMC is 18, heading into her first year at Uni, as are most of the characters. Altho her 14 yr old sister gets a lot of page time. For reasons unknown, the MMC is a mature student at 22, although his best friends that he’s grown up with are 18 and 15! This is weird to me and gets a bit icky.

Thirdly, the actual “plot” is wild. I can see how the authors are attempting to show us rather than tell us about this world but sorry they don’t execute that well. We’re just meandering from one random yet unlikely situation into the next. I’m not one to dwell on plot holes but it starts to feel a bit like an American TV show with the scenes just being made up as we go along. Disbelief becomes suspended around 85% when I nearly gave up.

I’m not sure if the aesthetic is 1920s or 1930s but you get the idea. This is combined with futuristic technology and a dystopian totalitarian society complete with caste system and genetically engineers citizens. The other major difference is that everyone seems to be absolutely stinking rich. They’re not crazy about having little privacy or control over their lives and the constant threat of execution or worse - prison camps, but at least they’re happy! Interestingly they still believe they’re the “good guys” and The Rangers and The Heretics are the ultimate enemy so I’ll definitely keep reading the series to see more of this.

Overall, a pretty good debut. I just wish the authors had made everyone 21y+ so a grad school rather than high school/college type dark academia.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Readers Copy!

Overall Rating: 2 out of 5
Spice Rating: 0 out of 5

Cons:
- I would have liked a smidge more history or world building surrounding the people. How do you know what someone will bleed after birth in order to color classify them? How was that original system established? A little knowledge to help me understand why such division and standards amongst the colors exist.
- The cities, people, and the politics all felt jumbled to me. Like they're all good ideas individually but for me I couldn't fit them together as a unit very well.
- I felt like all the events and scenarios that occured had no build up. No tension, no previous mentions or even hints to them being a thing. Everything just conveniently happened when the story needed it to happen. And on the flip side, when something dramatic did happen it was glazed over or passed by too quickly.
- I felt like the whole plot had no through line; like events never happened consecutively. I would read a chapter about one event, the next chapter jumps to a different event later, and things mentioned in a few chapters back weren't even revisited until it felt like an afterthought. It really felt more like a story of "this happened, oh yeah and this, but also I forgot to mention this KEY DETAIL until just now and then this happened that resolved it immediately."
- The love connection between two characters wasn't connecting for me. I didn't feel enough happened with them for it to be a thing or progress like it did.

[Mikaela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Edith Birde for the ARC!

This story takes you straight into a dystopian world where the class divide is everything. Loredana, a green blood, must survive a society built on strict rules, credit systems, and a full-on 1920s Gatsby aesthetic with flapper dresses, cigarette smoke, and jazz, all set in the future. The world-building is rich and vivid, though I did wish for a bit more backstory on how this society evolved.

The romance is a slow burn, driven by tension and forced proximity. They don’t want to be close at first, which made it all the more satisfying when trust began to grow. When we first meet Edmund, he’s this blue-blood figure you don’t want to cross, and through Charlotte’s warnings, you really feel that tension. But as the story unfolds, you see his loyalty, his family struggles, and his care for the people around him, so he’s not what you expect. I also loved the found family vibe that develops. Loredana, Charlotte, and the others build a bond that feels earned and full of hope.

For me, the pacing was a bit uneven. I was hooked at the start, and the last part completely drew me in, but the middle did drag a little. Still, the ending really delivered. There’s a lot of emotional payoff and some big twists that left me eager for the next book. I started at 3.5⭐, but that ending bumped it up to 4⭐ for me.

[Lia V · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️
This book pulled me in fast and didn’t let go!

It’s set in a dystopian society that looks wealthy and controlled, but underneath, it’s dangerous and ruthless. The story follows Loredana, a student with low status, who has to navigate a world where survival isn’t about money, it’s about alliances, strategy, and making the right choices at the right time. Every decision matters, and the tension never lets up.

The romance is slow burn and full of tension. It starts from necessity, not instant sparks, which makes every emotional moment feel real and risky.

The worldbuilding is incredible. There’s a blood-based class system, strict social rules, and high stakes at every turn. The society feels structured, controlled, and intensely dangerous, which kept me completely invested.

The pacing is perfect, and the story balances suspense, emotional depth, and strategy so well.

The ending left me absolutely stunned. It’s intense, emotional, and makes you desperate to know what happens next. I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

If you love dystopian worlds with enemies-to-lovers romance, high stakes, and strategic tension, this is a must-read. Release date is May 13. Huge thanks to Edith Birde and NetGalley for the ARC I absolutely loved it!

[kieteldood · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! Because I Killed Him was a wild ride from start to finish. The Civilized World in which the story is set was very interesting and different than any dystopian world I’ve read before. Citizens are grouped according to blood color, with each color representing different genetic modifications that have been introduced. Purples, Oranges, and Greens are low citizens, and Blues are high citizens. While Lore is the daughter of a high profile, wealthy Green, she is still considered a low citizen who becomes targeted at her university because an unpopular act her father has championed is voted into law. I thought the intricacies of the world and Lore’s conflicts within were really well done and had me on the edge of my seat. I could not put this book down! The build-up of her relationship with a Blue was also so well written. I also loved Lore’s found family at university and each character had pulled at my heartstrings by the end of the book.

The makings of a great dystopian series are when the glaring evils of those worlds are based on the underlying truths of your own society, and I think those were explored well in book one and will hopefully expand more as the series unfolds. I can’t wait to read more!

Review of ARC received from NetGalley

[Grace Shaffer · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give this book six stars I would! Did Edith Birde put actual Bliss in this book? It was so addicting I could not put it down!
Because I Killed Him follows Loredana, a first year student at Grandmaster University as she navigates her entrance into public life, friendships riddled with secrets, a political caste system designed to oppress her, and a tumultuous government on the brink of uprise. The vibes are roaring 20s but make it dystopian with fencing, death duals, and public executions. The yearning is top notch and overall the romance was in perfect balance with the plot. Just when you thought there would be a lull in the story something happens that has you in a whirlwind of feelings all over again.
This is quite possibly my favorite book I’ve read all year! I simultaneously wanted to read all the way through to the end while wishing it would never end. I was kicking my feet giggling and gasping and crying. Honestly, I can’t stop thinking about this one and I definitely won’t shut up about it! This was fabulous all the way through! Thank you to Edith Birde and NetGalley for the eARC. I’m anxiously awaiting the next part of Loredana’s story.

[Lacy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This ARC completely consumed me. Because I Killed Him drops you into the Civilized world with a dystopian society with roaring 20s glamour, genetically engineered blood-color, futuristic technology, and a civil credit system where a wrong move can earn you a date with the guillotine.
Loredana is the kind of FMC I didn’t know I needed. She is capable, morally grounded, unapologetically herself. And Edmund….. The slow burn between them is the best kind. The found family subplot hit just as hard. Every character felt layered and real in a world that could have easily swallowed them.
My only note is that the pacing dips slightly in the middle, and a certain major reveal loses some punch if you’ve read the synopsis carefully. But the ending more than delivered and I was genuinely stunned.
If you love forbidden romance, political intrigue, lush world-building, and a story that feels like The Great Gatsby fell into a dystopian thriller, this is your next obsession. Already desperate for book two.

[Laura Rodriguez · Rating 5 out of 5]

5⭐0.5🫑 What was this book?! I cannot get over how awesome this was start to finish. 


I love a unique book when it comes to plot and setting, and boy does this book deliver on both. This world is is hands down one of my top 3 favorite ever - If you don't consider the dystopian part, I'd want to live there. Seriously, it's so cool. 


The FMC in this was a perfect mix of vulnerable and formidable and I was 100% rooting for her every step of the way. The MMC.......I went back and forth with my emotions so many times between loving him and seeing the person he tries to hide to totally despising the scoundrel. On repeat.


A class system based on genetically engineered differences in blood color?! With an academy setting?! Forbidden love and maybe even a little bit of forced proximity?! Roaring 20s feel?!? YES. YES.YES. Seriously this book is incredible. 


I absolutely cannot wait for the next book. 


Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Edith Birdie and NetGalley for the eArc.

I loved this one. Because I Killed Him by Edith Birde is a bold, genre-blending dystopian fantasy that drops readers into a lavish yet brutal “Civilized World,” where citizens are divided by blood color and governed by rigid etiquette, social credit systems, and deadly consequences. The story follows Loredana, a low-citizen stripped of her ability to defend herself after killing a high-citizen, as she navigates the dangerous politics of an elite academy. The originality of the world building is stunning—mixing futuristic technology, Jazz Age decadence, and authoritarian control—as well as the high-stakes premise of survival through alliances rather than strength. The plot weaves together political intrigue, duels, and social maneuvering, with a strong emphasis on tension and escalating danger.

Overall, this is an ambitious and highly immersive debut with standout world building and emotional intensity. Rating: 4/5.

[Sarah Gadsby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishing team for an opportunity to read this ARC before it hits releases on May 13.

I absolutely loved this and devoured this book as fast as life let me. I have a feeling that Because I Killed Him is going to be buzzy and we will see it being recommended by lots of fellow book lovers on social media platforms, all for good reason. This was a bold, daring and very deserving debut by Edith Birdie. The dystopian world that is this book is incredibly interesting with 1920s vibes (kinda felt Gatsby like at times), futuristic technology and a class system where people are divided by blood color. We have a lower class FMC and a high class 'blue' MMC. It's a world where you have to be formally introduced to someone to engage in conversation, can challenge someone to a duel till death and are required to tune in to executions that take place on your school courtyard. It's honestly bonkers to describe but it was so good!

4+ stars overall.

[Race Hochdorf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Because I Killed Him isn’t surface-level hamfisted dystopian fiction. It doesn’t yell its theme at you nor hold your hand through a plot twist you can see coming a mile away. The novel just allows its world to exist, and that’s exactly what contributes to the disturbing feeling dystopian readers always crave but for too long have been deprived of.

Edith Birde has a gift for creating believable atmospheres in her fiction, which (coming from the trenches of being a writer myself) is quite a rare talent among authors. Rather than use flashy technology or dramatic events to draw attention to the story, she uses how the characters speak, the rules that they’ve learned to live by, and the thoughts they’re afraid to finish to create the necessary tension.

If Agatha Christie and Aldous Huxley had ever produced a single story together, it would be very close to something like this one.

[Rach_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC!

OBSESSED!!!! I've read 45 books this year and this is my top read...hands down. The futuristic world with 1920s vibes is so unique and exciting I appreciate a book with high stakes - the executions really add that edge of danger that keeps us readers invested The class system was fascinating with the low-citizens still being wealthy and comfortable. I appreciated how the authors found unique ways to communicate the oppression outside of just wealth. From a mood perspective, I loved all the fancy clothes and getting dolled up for even mundane occasions. I don't mind that we didn't find out much about what is going on the other side of the shield. This is book 1 - we don't need all the information/world building to be complete. I am really looking forward to book 2!

[stargazer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book being talked about on instagram and requested an ARC from the authors, who kindly sent me a copy!
I’m a busy mom and I absolutely gobbled this book up. Because I killed him pulled me in right from chapter one and I’ve been living in it ever since! It is such a riveting storyline full of well-developed characters, each so unique from each other! I found the class system and how each class was genetically engineered to have different strengths really cool. The world was also insanely awesome, the ways in which it was described made me feel like I was there standing in it as I was reading. I loved this story it was so fascinating and truly unlike any story I’ve read. 5 stars all around, I look forward to cozying up with a cup of tea when book two comes out! I’m so invested!! The ending made me need the second!!

[Peek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one immediately hooked me with the title alone, and thankfully the story delivers on that dark, intriguing promise.
The premise is gripping—there’s a constant undercurrent of tension as the truth slowly unravels, and I found myself questioning what actually happened versus what we’re being told. The pacing works well for the most part, especially in the beginning when the mystery is at its strongest and hardest to put down.
Where it lost me a bit was in the middle. Some parts felt slightly repetitive, and I wanted a little more momentum to keep the suspense consistently high. That said, the atmosphere and psychological elements were strong enough to keep me invested.
The characters are layered, though not always likable—which honestly works in this kind of story. You’re not necessarily rooting for them as much as you are trying to figure them out, and that added to the tension.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC!

WOW!!! 6 STARS!!! Loved this book so much! It starts off with a bang and just keeps that tension throughout the book. It sucked me in from chapter 1.

I loved the setting - 20's vibes but in the future / dystopian where people are divided by the color they bleed. The technology is so fascinating, but easy to follow. The found family is perfection. The characters are all flushed out very well. Our FMC is complex and relatable. Our MMC is a book HUSBAND. The romance takes a little while to develop, but once it hits, it hits HARD and doesn't look back.

This will be one of my top books this year for sure. Go read it. Now. Cannot wait for book 2 and this one isn't even published yet! Will be ordering a shelf trophy and rereading in the future.

[Erica Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not sure where to begin, but this was great.

This has easily shot up to an all time favorite book. The writing style immediately draws me in. The world is unique and well thought out. Think: sci-fi, dystopian, steam punk and roaring 20's esque. The pacing is great. How information and secrets are revealed is very satisfying. The characters and relationships are complex and surprising. It is easy to be attached and care about both primary and secondary characters. The themes of morality, humanity, loyalty and self sacrifice make every detail and decision feel like the highest of stakes. This book isn't even published yet and I'm desperate for the next!!



*Received the ebook for free as an ARC through booksirens.