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Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'
The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
20 reviews
Repetitive banter, minimum world building or plot outside the healing and author writes like she uses a thesaurus to sound smart or fit the desired time period (18th century??) which makes the writing insufferable. Flat characters with no development or depth over halfway through. Is also somehow going to be a duology despite barely having enough plot for one book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Murder
Moderate: Torture
Minor: Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I wanted to love this but I really didn't connect with the main characters. I found Aurienne to be off putting, her cavalier attitude towards Osric dying to be at odds with her Order. At one point she thinks about what a waste her attempts at healing him are when he should just die because he's a blight on the world. I really didn't like her and Osric wasn't a charming arrogant MC, he was just overtly narcissistic.
There was literally zero romantic tension until the last 100 pages. The banter was good but sometimes a bit much. The excessive "dick and balls" jokes and oddly out of place "wank" situations and "penis" appearances were surprising for a book with literally one brief kiss.
I loved the fanfic version soooo much and had really high hopes for this version. I'm ok it was 100% different but it just didn’t hit the same amazing feels and vibes.
There was literally zero romantic tension until the last 100 pages. The banter was good but sometimes a bit much. The excessive "dick and balls" jokes and oddly out of place "wank" situations and "penis" appearances were surprising for a book with literally one brief kiss.
I loved the fanfic version soooo much and had really high hopes for this version. I'm ok it was 100% different but it just didn’t hit the same amazing feels and vibes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Gore, Misogyny, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
funny
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Terminal illness
adventurous
funny
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness, Death, Suicide, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Torture, Violence
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness
Moderate: Child death, Violence, Death of parent
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy by Brigette Knightley
Is Immersive.
We follow two people from juxtaposed magical orders as they both try to come out a winner in what starts out as a transactional relationship, but their relationship soon turns into a quest to understand a deadly outbreak infecting mostly children uncovering those that wish to see it continued. Of course, being beautiful, smart and equally arrogant from being the best of the best, they start to feel attraction for one another. Pursued quickly, as if by a bear, by disgust for one another and themselves.
Some fanfic fiends may know this author and enemies to lovers storyline from Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Being in Love. However this novel stands outside that of the Harry Potter world. Knightley does a decent job world building and finding ways magic can work without wands, Apparition, flow networks and portkeys. They do an even better job to remove the animosity from school yard building and a racist war, by creating magical orders of basically the killers and healers living in a semi dukedom Europe.
All together it becomes a bit muddled at points. We lose the understanding of these characters' inner lives and upbringing, we get lost in the explaining of the world rather than in the quest and romance. All the foundational stuff leaves you questioning. What time period is this, they talk about London, but the use of oil lamps, they seem to have no taboo about sex, women healers, but talk about ball gowns, ankles showing, servants, the nouveaux rich, and unclaimed bastards. It sort of makes one question and thus pulls one out of the story. How do they talk about cream pies and oil lamps or walking as transport at the same time?
Regardless of this shaky world building the story is good, and vastly different that those who enjoyed the fan fic will be entertained. I’m excited for the second novel, as Knightley is a very good comedic writer with a sizzle. Much more haha romance than steamy but still sex positive, and not in a YA off page style, rather full on descriptive scenes even if it was just solo sessions.
This novel is for anyone who is ready for a funny adventure novel, not just those who read the fan fic.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child death, Death, Physical abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Blood, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Terminal illness, Medical content
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thanks to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group UK/Orbit for this eARC
It took me a while to get into the humour of this book, at first I found it a little bit silly, but as soon as I started to get used to the rhythm and flow I couldn’t put it down. Osric and Aurienne are textbook enemies to lovers with the chemistry practically steaming off the page, I ended up loving them both and rooting for their relationship to go somewhere. The worldbuilding is interesting, dark, almost steampunk or gothic in the way it’s portrayed and quite different to anything I’ve read before. I loved the snappy sidekick characters and laughed out loud a few times at their antics. Overall, I really enjoyed my time in the world and that ending?!?! - I will be picking up the sequel the moment it’s released.
It took me a while to get into the humour of this book, at first I found it a little bit silly, but as soon as I started to get used to the rhythm and flow I couldn’t put it down. Osric and Aurienne are textbook enemies to lovers with the chemistry practically steaming off the page, I ended up loving them both and rooting for their relationship to go somewhere. The worldbuilding is interesting, dark, almost steampunk or gothic in the way it’s portrayed and quite different to anything I’ve read before. I loved the snappy sidekick characters and laughed out loud a few times at their antics. Overall, I really enjoyed my time in the world and that ending?!?! - I will be picking up the sequel the moment it’s released.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Sexual content, Terminal illness, Torture, Blood, Medical content, Medical trauma, Murder, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
As a dramione stan, I’m so happy for one of my favorite fanfic’s writer to come out with her OG book. She did not disappoint! Osric is a morally gray heartthrob who will pull you in with his wit, humor, and skills. Aurienne is the logical, analytical, and Earth-sign-coded character who I truly just inspire to be. The supporting characters are all lovable as well.
Honestly, the world building was so interesting and did not bore me at all. The pace is really well done. However, I hate that the plot and the romance had finally hit its peak in the last 4th of the book and then ended with a cliff-hanger! What!? (My fault though, didn’t know this was going to have a sequel). All in all, can’t wait for 2026. Anyone have a time-machine?
I love a he fell first story. I bet she’ll fall harder
Honestly, the world building was so interesting and did not bore me at all. The pace is really well done. However, I hate that the plot and the romance had finally hit its peak in the last 4th of the book and then ended with a cliff-hanger! What!? (My fault though, didn’t know this was going to have a sequel). All in all, can’t wait for 2026. Anyone have a time-machine?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Torture, Violence, Blood, Murder