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Because I Killed Him
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.
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.
691 pages, Paperback
Published May 13, 2026
About the author
Edith Birde
1 book127 followersEdith Birde is the pen name for two sisters who have been writing together since their early teenage years. They live in South Africa. For answers to frequently asked questions, please visit the 'About' section of their website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 249 reviews
May 14, 2026
Wowowowowowow.
1920s x dystopian x futuristic… the world building was SO lush!!!!!!!!!! . A class system based on credits, and one of the most original worlds I’ve read in I can’t even remember how long.
The romance had me kicking my feet, and the mystery/story went places I wasn’t expecting.
Ugh. How lucky are we to live in a time where we can just stumble across indie authors and find books this good.
1920s x dystopian x futuristic… the world building was SO lush!!!!!!!!!! . A class system based on credits, and one of the most original worlds I’ve read in I can’t even remember how long.
The romance had me kicking my feet, and the mystery/story went places I wasn’t expecting.
Ugh. How lucky are we to live in a time where we can just stumble across indie authors and find books this good.
May 18, 2026
♾️⭐️
0🌶️
7🧠
One of the easiest 5⭐️s I’ve ever given !!! One of the most creative and original worlds I’ve ever read with INCREDIBLE world building! The caste hierarchy is a typical tenant of dystopian books, but that’s where the similarities end. From the unique roaring 20s but in the future setting, concept of civil credits, flying cars, death duels, entourages and Aegis’. The impacts of technology, isolating from the rest of the world & so many relevant themes were just masterfully done in the most fresh way.
& DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED on the romance!!!! The most real & raw forbidden friends to lovers romance EVER. Both characters are two of my favorites ever. The relationships, character interactions & found family feels so organic and REAL. I just cannot even express how much I love this. THE FREAKING SEASHELLS !!!!!! If you catch me with a seashell tattoo, mind your business !!!
0🌶️
7🧠
One of the easiest 5⭐️s I’ve ever given !!! One of the most creative and original worlds I’ve ever read with INCREDIBLE world building! The caste hierarchy is a typical tenant of dystopian books, but that’s where the similarities end. From the unique roaring 20s but in the future setting, concept of civil credits, flying cars, death duels, entourages and Aegis’. The impacts of technology, isolating from the rest of the world & so many relevant themes were just masterfully done in the most fresh way.
& DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED on the romance!!!! The most real & raw forbidden friends to lovers romance EVER. Both characters are two of my favorites ever. The relationships, character interactions & found family feels so organic and REAL. I just cannot even express how much I love this. THE FREAKING SEASHELLS !!!!!! If you catch me with a seashell tattoo, mind your business !!!
May 13, 2026
➡️ Follow This Link For My Bookstagram!
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!
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!
May 14, 2026
WOW HOLY COW.
Very grateful to the authors for sending me an ARC of this book-I’m so floored on how well executed it all was.
Dystopian, romance, a roaring 20’s vibe, and a splash of academia. Think great Gatsby but with advanced technology and robots that will light your cigarette for you. (And the cigarette doesn’t kill you which is nice). Corrupt political system that segregates its citizens by the color of their blood (green, blue, orange and purple) with a delicious slow burn romance on the side.
The world-building is fantastic, and the pacing and writing style kept me hooked from page one. Well executed twists throughout the book, that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters had depth, not just the main ones but all the side characters too which we LOVE.
Ends on a cliff hanger that will make you scream for book 2. OBSESSED.
Very grateful to the authors for sending me an ARC of this book-I’m so floored on how well executed it all was.
Dystopian, romance, a roaring 20’s vibe, and a splash of academia. Think great Gatsby but with advanced technology and robots that will light your cigarette for you. (And the cigarette doesn’t kill you which is nice). Corrupt political system that segregates its citizens by the color of their blood (green, blue, orange and purple) with a delicious slow burn romance on the side.
The world-building is fantastic, and the pacing and writing style kept me hooked from page one. Well executed twists throughout the book, that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The characters had depth, not just the main ones but all the side characters too which we LOVE.
Ends on a cliff hanger that will make you scream for book 2. OBSESSED.
May 17, 2026
This was SO unique! The world building was fascinating where you have this roaring 20s/prohibition era vibe but it’s also a futurist dystopian world?! People are put into tiered classes based on the color of their blood so you have blues, greens, purples, and oranges. Then throw in pinkies who are robots that serve the other colors. The book was super plot driven and i loved the strong friendships and relationships portrayed throughout.
This book was way longer than I thought it’d be, so there were some down moments for me where I wasn’t as invested as other times. It did start off really strong though, and it jumped right into the plot. And even though it was plot driven you also get a forbidden romance that was so cute. Different blood colors cannot be together, so it made for great romance! I wanted more at times though, and wished there was a little more build up before the characters got together.
Overall, this is the kind of dystopian that gets me excited to read! The world was so well thought out and unlike any other dystopian world I’ve read about! The political intrigue and corruption was well written. I’d say a lot of the twists were predictable. But when the plot was going it was hard to put the book down
This book was way longer than I thought it’d be, so there were some down moments for me where I wasn’t as invested as other times. It did start off really strong though, and it jumped right into the plot. And even though it was plot driven you also get a forbidden romance that was so cute. Different blood colors cannot be together, so it made for great romance! I wanted more at times though, and wished there was a little more build up before the characters got together.
Overall, this is the kind of dystopian that gets me excited to read! The world was so well thought out and unlike any other dystopian world I’ve read about! The political intrigue and corruption was well written. I’d say a lot of the twists were predictable. But when the plot was going it was hard to put the book down
May 5, 2026
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~
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~
May 18, 2026
i feel like i missed something with this one, because of all the amazing reviews.
i love the concept, and it had the potential to be so good. however, to me, it was boring, and the entire plot never elevated. it was dystopian, it had power struggles, a corrupt society, a dangerous academy - and yet, we never saw much of it.
instead, it read like a basic contemporary romance, set in a world that should have been so much more. additionally, the romance didn’t do it for me, and i never connected to it.
and honestly, with all due respect, the ending was not good. the betrayal that wasn’t a betrayal, and conflict that had no reason to be there.
i did finish the book, and for some reason it kept calling to me to read it. i think it was because i kept waiting for something to happen.
i love the concept, and it had the potential to be so good. however, to me, it was boring, and the entire plot never elevated. it was dystopian, it had power struggles, a corrupt society, a dangerous academy - and yet, we never saw much of it.
instead, it read like a basic contemporary romance, set in a world that should have been so much more. additionally, the romance didn’t do it for me, and i never connected to it.
and honestly, with all due respect, the ending was not good. the betrayal that wasn’t a betrayal, and conflict that had no reason to be there.
i did finish the book, and for some reason it kept calling to me to read it. i think it was because i kept waiting for something to happen.
May 5, 2026
WOW … I’m going to need a minute
May 10, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for an early copy.
Because I Killed Him is a dystopian romance with a roaring 20s vibe, set in a corrupt political system divided by blood colour. The world‑building is fantastic, and the pacing and writing style kept me engaged throughout. I loved the slow‑burn romance and the characters felt complex. The twists were executed well, and the ending sets up the next novel perfectly.
Because I Killed Him is a dystopian romance with a roaring 20s vibe, set in a corrupt political system divided by blood colour. The world‑building is fantastic, and the pacing and writing style kept me engaged throughout. I loved the slow‑burn romance and the characters felt complex. The twists were executed well, and the ending sets up the next novel perfectly.
May 14, 2026
Hey so that’s not how it ends, right?? Right??!! I’m unwell.
May 22, 2026
4.2- WOW THIS WAS SOOOO UNIQUE & CREATIVE!!! Huge props to these authors (apparently they are sisters?) for creating something so original 👏👏👏
It gave a Great Gatsby vibe but in the future with robots and flying cars.
This was truly a masterpiece.. Very original storyline, world, plot, characters, etc. Poetic writing. Color me impressed!!
At times, it did feel a little drawn out but that ending… DAMN!!! WHAT. AN. ENDING. 😭
I love both the FMC and MMC so much!!!! Highly recommend this story. The romance is a subplot, but it’s still an amazing little love story that im sure will become a bigger part of the plot as the series progresses
Some good quotes:
“Anyone can claw through day after day to make it to the next. But truly living means choosing something worth fighting for and holding fast, even when the river pulls you under.”
“The difference between comedy and tragedy is perspective”
It gave a Great Gatsby vibe but in the future with robots and flying cars.
This was truly a masterpiece.. Very original storyline, world, plot, characters, etc. Poetic writing. Color me impressed!!
At times, it did feel a little drawn out but that ending… DAMN!!! WHAT. AN. ENDING. 😭
I love both the FMC and MMC so much!!!! Highly recommend this story. The romance is a subplot, but it’s still an amazing little love story that im sure will become a bigger part of the plot as the series progresses
Some good quotes:
“Anyone can claw through day after day to make it to the next. But truly living means choosing something worth fighting for and holding fast, even when the river pulls you under.”
“The difference between comedy and tragedy is perspective”
May 18, 2026
Listen to me people, abandon the TBR for this one. Reading a book, put it down. Shut off the audio book. Take a vacation day. This was exactly what I needed. 6 stars, no notes! Immaculate 👌🏻
May 20, 2026
Easiest 6 stars and one of the best reads of this year! This book was soooo good and I can’t wait for the next book to come out!❤️❤️❤️
May 18, 2026
ugh! i was so bored! the fmc was annoying AF. I think 3 is generous. Struggled to finish it - so more like 2.5.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
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.
May 17, 2026
10/10. I highly recommended this book to everyone. At times it felt choppy where scenes would happen and then move on leaving me with questions but really enjoyed the world and excited for this series!
May 20, 2026
6 STARS!! This was immaculate. Perfection. My top read of 2026 and there's no way that's changing. Wow wow wow.
May 17, 2026
The premise had promise but the writing and execution fell flat. The writing style was juvenile. I wanted to like it but just didn’t.
May 18, 2026
I have such mixed feelings about this book. So much happened but also nothing?
May 10, 2026
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.
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.
May 15, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Okay, so this officially knocked every other book out of the running for my best read of the year. Because I Killed Him by Edith Birde was absolutely unreal. This is a dystopian romance set in the future, but somehow it has these gritty prohibition-era vibes that made the atmosphere feel so rich and addictive. Think smoky back rooms, dangerous politics, class division, secrets everywhere, and delicious tension and yearning.
What you can expect:
— slow burn
— enemies to lovers
— found family
— strong female friendships
— political intrigue
— a unique class system
This story was everything I didn’t know I needed. The plot was SO strong and genuinely stood out. And the uniqueness? Untouchable. I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like this before. It just felt SO FRESH.
If you’re like me and 2026 is your year of dystopian, pick this one up immediately. Check it out and then come scream about it with me because I need to discuss THAT ending!
Okay, so this officially knocked every other book out of the running for my best read of the year. Because I Killed Him by Edith Birde was absolutely unreal. This is a dystopian romance set in the future, but somehow it has these gritty prohibition-era vibes that made the atmosphere feel so rich and addictive. Think smoky back rooms, dangerous politics, class division, secrets everywhere, and delicious tension and yearning.
What you can expect:
— slow burn
— enemies to lovers
— found family
— strong female friendships
— political intrigue
— a unique class system
This story was everything I didn’t know I needed. The plot was SO strong and genuinely stood out. And the uniqueness? Untouchable. I can honestly say I’ve never read anything quite like this before. It just felt SO FRESH.
If you’re like me and 2026 is your year of dystopian, pick this one up immediately. Check it out and then come scream about it with me because I need to discuss THAT ending!
May 18, 2026
Review of advanced copy received from NetGalley.
This book is so good that I kept trying to find reasons to bring it up in conversation. The world is so incredibly unique.
● 1920s vibes
● Futiristic where AI & robots work well and the people are genetically engineered
● Some military concepts that I expect will become more prevalent in future books
● Death duels with sabers are a thing
● Everyone has money and it doesn't really matter
● Society is divided by a class system and is under heavy surveillance
● Violating societal expectations lead to loss of credits that can result in arrest or death by guillotine
The characters are so well done and there are so many little nuggets and paths that you can't wait to explore in future books. This is one where you're devastated it is over while simultaneously being so excited about how much more you know is to come.
And, of course, we can't forget the seashells. There were so many other great moments as the characters fall for each other, but that one takes the cake for me.
Highly recommend to anyone looking for a truly immersive read that sucks you in and refuses to let you go.
This book is so good that I kept trying to find reasons to bring it up in conversation. The world is so incredibly unique.
● 1920s vibes
● Futiristic where AI & robots work well and the people are genetically engineered
● Some military concepts that I expect will become more prevalent in future books
● Death duels with sabers are a thing
● Everyone has money and it doesn't really matter
● Society is divided by a class system and is under heavy surveillance
● Violating societal expectations lead to loss of credits that can result in arrest or death by guillotine
The characters are so well done and there are so many little nuggets and paths that you can't wait to explore in future books. This is one where you're devastated it is over while simultaneously being so excited about how much more you know is to come.
And, of course, we can't forget the seashells. There were so many other great moments as the characters fall for each other, but that one takes the cake for me.
Highly recommend to anyone looking for a truly immersive read that sucks you in and refuses to let you go.
May 20, 2026
WOW, 6 stars…. I loved every part; dystopian, sci-fi, and a hint of Gatsby? The world building was vivid & flourishing. The details of every little thing. Wowowow & the romance ??? DELECTABLE. The definition of stolen moments and genuine understanding/longing. The side characters in this were everything. They were real, they were deep and they were genuinely so important to all parts of this story. And that ending!!!!!! How am I supposed to sleep until a second book is released??
What an absolute treat by an indie author sister duo??? Come onnnnnn - favourite book I’ve read all year by far
What an absolute treat by an indie author sister duo??? Come onnnnnn - favourite book I’ve read all year by far
May 18, 2026
This was such a refreshing read! Not going to lie, slow to start just due to the initial world building and it takes some 🧠 power. But the unique premise, once you catch the vibe, is so fun. It also had me kicking my feet with the romance (eventually! 😮💨), with a side of wanting to punch a wall because of how frustrating the hierarchy of high and low class citizens is (seems familiar lol). The ending and the bigger picture plot ideas throughout truly has me guessing!
May 22, 2026
5/5 STARS
Wow - that was intense!!! Seriously good. Never knew what was going to happen next.
Stop what you’re doing and read this book!!
Set in a 1920’s vibe but also it’s a futuristic dystopian world, so different than anything else I’ve ever read.
Wow - that was intense!!! Seriously good. Never knew what was going to happen next.
Stop what you’re doing and read this book!!
Set in a 1920’s vibe but also it’s a futuristic dystopian world, so different than anything else I’ve ever read.
May 22, 2026
4🌟
Unique world building and such interesting concepts. I really loved the FMC and how mature she was throughout the story. The book itself was such an enjoyable read.❤️❤️
Unique world building and such interesting concepts. I really loved the FMC and how mature she was throughout the story. The book itself was such an enjoyable read.❤️❤️
May 13, 2026
Review of advance copy recieved from NetGalley
20’s aristocracy jazz vibe. The music, architecture and dress all resemble those of the 1920’s, but we are far into the future of today.
Loredana is attending first year student attending Grandmaster University and now considered a Public Person. Her father is a politician who just successfully passed a vote to ban bliss… a highly addictive feel good drug
The strict, clipped formality and structure of interactions is very interesting. Upon meeting the first time two individuals need to be formally introduced. Any deviation can cost credits. Lives are regimented to insure conformity.
There is also a lot of violence. Executions are one example of this. Heretics and those whose credits drop too low are publicly executed by guillotine
This dystopian world is very unique and creative. The world building is fantastic. At times the book can be excessively descriptive. I found myself skimming through sections just to get to more meatier content.
The plot and story is ever evolving! The book follows our FMC Loredana. I liked her emotional evolution as she grapples her first year at Grandmaster University. The side characters are all well written. This was a great book that sets the stage for the rest of the series.
In future books I hope we get more about the world outside the shield, and more about how the blood colors came about.
- People are divided into to classes- High Citizens or Low Citizens
- High Citizens- Blues, their blood is blue. They are the elite, ultra rich with more credits and enhancements that a Low Citizens
- Low citizen- are still very wealthy. But do not have the power and status as do the blue. There are different groups of low citizens- green, orange and purple… all the color of their blood
- Genetic enhancements of Low and High Citizens require daily supplements. All citizens are engineered.
- There is a shield dome for protection over the country of the Civilized World
- Robot (called Pinkies) do all the manual labor
- Once an individual Low citizen is deemed a Public Person they are given 500 credits. Every action is watched and credits are deducted for any infraction if credits drop below fifty- execution (Bloody Sunday by guillotine). High citizens start with many more credits.
- Open Range is the land beyond the girls and Rangers are those who live there. The shield protects the Civilized World and has been up for 200 years. Heretics are a faction of people unsupportive of Blues and the Shield
20’s aristocracy jazz vibe. The music, architecture and dress all resemble those of the 1920’s, but we are far into the future of today.
Loredana is attending first year student attending Grandmaster University and now considered a Public Person. Her father is a politician who just successfully passed a vote to ban bliss… a highly addictive feel good drug
The strict, clipped formality and structure of interactions is very interesting. Upon meeting the first time two individuals need to be formally introduced. Any deviation can cost credits. Lives are regimented to insure conformity.
There is also a lot of violence. Executions are one example of this. Heretics and those whose credits drop too low are publicly executed by guillotine
This dystopian world is very unique and creative. The world building is fantastic. At times the book can be excessively descriptive. I found myself skimming through sections just to get to more meatier content.
The plot and story is ever evolving! The book follows our FMC Loredana. I liked her emotional evolution as she grapples her first year at Grandmaster University. The side characters are all well written. This was a great book that sets the stage for the rest of the series.
In future books I hope we get more about the world outside the shield, and more about how the blood colors came about.
- People are divided into to classes- High Citizens or Low Citizens
- High Citizens- Blues, their blood is blue. They are the elite, ultra rich with more credits and enhancements that a Low Citizens
- Low citizen- are still very wealthy. But do not have the power and status as do the blue. There are different groups of low citizens- green, orange and purple… all the color of their blood
- Genetic enhancements of Low and High Citizens require daily supplements. All citizens are engineered.
- There is a shield dome for protection over the country of the Civilized World
- Robot (called Pinkies) do all the manual labor
- Once an individual Low citizen is deemed a Public Person they are given 500 credits. Every action is watched and credits are deducted for any infraction if credits drop below fifty- execution (Bloody Sunday by guillotine). High citizens start with many more credits.
- Open Range is the land beyond the girls and Rangers are those who live there. The shield protects the Civilized World and has been up for 200 years. Heretics are a faction of people unsupportive of Blues and the Shield
Did Not Finish
May 21, 2026DNF - 30%
I really wanted to like this book. Dystopian fiction is one of my favourite genres. Unfortunately, this story feels like it’s trying to do too much at once, throwing every possible symbol and allegory at the wall to see what sticks. There are heavy-handed references to Nazism throughout (the gold eagle crest, the salute, the obsession with virtue, etc.), and the symbolism is so blatant that it feels less like subtext and more like the author repeatedly hitting the reader over the head with it. Not to mention not to subtle nods to the former president Theodore Roosevelt, the alcohol prohibition from the '20s, etc.
The author’s writing style also leans heavily into purple prose, with overly ornate descriptions and flowery metaphors that often make little sense. One line compares an eagle to a battering ram. How big is a battering ram supposed to be? Do battering rams casually exist in this world as a common point of reference? Another description says someone’s eyes looked like “lonely blue moons.” I think the author tried too hard to inject the story with flowery language and some just didn't really make sense.
Because of the constant overwriting, the story crawls along and completely disrupts its own pacing. I found myself skipping entire paragraphs without missing any meaningful information.
I may pick this up again someday out of curiosity to see how it ends, but the thought of forcing myself through paragraph after paragraph of nonsensical prose feels pretty unlikely.
I really wanted to like this book. Dystopian fiction is one of my favourite genres. Unfortunately, this story feels like it’s trying to do too much at once, throwing every possible symbol and allegory at the wall to see what sticks. There are heavy-handed references to Nazism throughout (the gold eagle crest, the salute, the obsession with virtue, etc.), and the symbolism is so blatant that it feels less like subtext and more like the author repeatedly hitting the reader over the head with it. Not to mention not to subtle nods to the former president Theodore Roosevelt, the alcohol prohibition from the '20s, etc.
The author’s writing style also leans heavily into purple prose, with overly ornate descriptions and flowery metaphors that often make little sense. One line compares an eagle to a battering ram. How big is a battering ram supposed to be? Do battering rams casually exist in this world as a common point of reference? Another description says someone’s eyes looked like “lonely blue moons.” I think the author tried too hard to inject the story with flowery language and some just didn't really make sense.
Because of the constant overwriting, the story crawls along and completely disrupts its own pacing. I found myself skipping entire paragraphs without missing any meaningful information.
I may pick this up again someday out of curiosity to see how it ends, but the thought of forcing myself through paragraph after paragraph of nonsensical prose feels pretty unlikely.
May 22, 2026
2.5-3 ⭐️ This was such a unique concept and atmosphere, it felt like futuristic dystopian mixed with roaring 20s vibes, and the beginning of the book hooked me right away. The idea behind this story is super fascinating, and I can understand why people are hyping it up…..it’s just a really cool concept.
That said… the execution just didn’t fully work for me. The writing felt clunky at times, and the book was way too long for how little actually happened. There’s a huge chunk in the middle where things felt really stagnant, with lots of filler, excessive descriptions, and just a lot of world building. I kept waiting for the story to really take off, but it never fully got there for me….especially the romance. It definitely didn’t land the way I wanted it to. It’s an extremely slow burn, but without enough payoff to make me invested. I just wasn’t sold on the connection between them…..it was all very awkward and strange.
I did appreciate the creativity and ambition of the story, because the concept truly is unlike anything else I’ve read lately. But overall, it felt messy and a little juvenile at times, especially with the FMC.
Not a bad read, just one that had a lot of potential that didn’t quite come together for me. 2.5 - 3 stars.
That said… the execution just didn’t fully work for me. The writing felt clunky at times, and the book was way too long for how little actually happened. There’s a huge chunk in the middle where things felt really stagnant, with lots of filler, excessive descriptions, and just a lot of world building. I kept waiting for the story to really take off, but it never fully got there for me….especially the romance. It definitely didn’t land the way I wanted it to. It’s an extremely slow burn, but without enough payoff to make me invested. I just wasn’t sold on the connection between them…..it was all very awkward and strange.
I did appreciate the creativity and ambition of the story, because the concept truly is unlike anything else I’ve read lately. But overall, it felt messy and a little juvenile at times, especially with the FMC.
Not a bad read, just one that had a lot of potential that didn’t quite come together for me. 2.5 - 3 stars.
May 22, 2026
THIS BOOK DESERVES SIX STARS.
What an amazing debut. I absolutely cannot wait to see what else Edith Birde has in store for us readers as she grows as an author if THIS is what she chose to start us off with.
Let me set the scene. Great Gatsby, roaring 20’s vibes.
Throw in a caste system reminiscent of Red Rising, with differing colors holding different grasps on society.
Add in some tech that rivals with Uglies and Star Wars, with hoverboards and fencing sabers.
Then fold in some harsh societal expectations, with civility and obedience as the most important traits a civilian can exert, putting characters in positions reminiscent of the handmaid’s tale and hunger games.
In short, this book has all the BEST attributes of some of the best dystopian novels of all time. But then it ties in some academia as well as some romance, and BOOM. A new star is born.
Birde’s world building is thick with nuance, all encompassing, and builds a picture so full and vibrant with life and relatable characters.
I began this book thinking it would be nothing more than an amalgamation of the dystopian books I’ve grown up with and loved dearly, but WOW. I ended up hooked, unable to put the book down, and thirsty for MORE.
Because I Killed Him has some of the most compelling aspects of the most popular dystopian novels of the last decade and beyond, but with a compelling romantic aspect, intriguing writing style, and a collegiate backdrop that sets it apart from others in the most compelling way.
I couldn’t put this book down. I DEVOURED it, and without giving away too much, I hope I have given enough details to draw someone into my new obsession while I ✨impatiently✨ wait for the next book to drop.
What a goddamn debut. Bravo, my dear.
Note:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
What an amazing debut. I absolutely cannot wait to see what else Edith Birde has in store for us readers as she grows as an author if THIS is what she chose to start us off with.
Let me set the scene. Great Gatsby, roaring 20’s vibes.
Throw in a caste system reminiscent of Red Rising, with differing colors holding different grasps on society.
Add in some tech that rivals with Uglies and Star Wars, with hoverboards and fencing sabers.
Then fold in some harsh societal expectations, with civility and obedience as the most important traits a civilian can exert, putting characters in positions reminiscent of the handmaid’s tale and hunger games.
In short, this book has all the BEST attributes of some of the best dystopian novels of all time. But then it ties in some academia as well as some romance, and BOOM. A new star is born.
Birde’s world building is thick with nuance, all encompassing, and builds a picture so full and vibrant with life and relatable characters.
I began this book thinking it would be nothing more than an amalgamation of the dystopian books I’ve grown up with and loved dearly, but WOW. I ended up hooked, unable to put the book down, and thirsty for MORE.
Because I Killed Him has some of the most compelling aspects of the most popular dystopian novels of the last decade and beyond, but with a compelling romantic aspect, intriguing writing style, and a collegiate backdrop that sets it apart from others in the most compelling way.
I couldn’t put this book down. I DEVOURED it, and without giving away too much, I hope I have given enough details to draw someone into my new obsession while I ✨impatiently✨ wait for the next book to drop.
What a goddamn debut. Bravo, my dear.
Note:
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
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