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Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'
The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy by Brigitte Knightley
37 reviews
adventurous
funny
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:
Yes
Witty, funny, smart, a little spicy, but honestly so enjoyable. A classic enemies to lovers. My only issue is that I have to wait for the second part for I’m not sure how long?!? I’ll be waiting in pins and needles to see this relationship and story line develop more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Cursing
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
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: Death, Gore, Torture, Violence, Medical content, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Child death, Sexual content, Terminal illness, War
Minor: Kidnapping, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Sexual harassment
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
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
I'm a sucker for good enemies-to-lovers slow burn with lots of banter. Also, we stan a woman in STEM who meets a morally grey chaos goblin and instead of thinking " I can fix him," looks at them with disgust and says "let them rot." I absolutely loved this book and I'm going to need book 2 ASAP
Set somewhere in the late 19th century in an AU of the United Kingdom where the country is split into 10 different kingdoms. Within the 10 kingdoms are 8 Orders (Guilds) specializing in a specific skill set (healing, engineering, assassination, etc). An Assassin and a Healer are forced to work together to solve not only his illness but the mysterious reoccurrence of a previously long-forgotten Pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction, which only fuels the tension between them.
Incredibly smart and full of very British dry humor. Honestly, this is one of the only books I've read to make me laugh out loud in a long time. While the humor is very tongue-in-cheek, it also has a lot of crude jokes in it, which might be off-putting for some (especially ch 5)
If you're familiar with Bridgette's fanfiction, you know how she goes above and beyond when doing research for her stories, and this was no exception. I don't even want to know the number of hours she put in doing research on things from Old English to complicated medical terminology.
While ambitious, the world-building was done quite well for a debut novel. Besides the glossary in the beginning, and the basic info on the different Orders (guilds) and a pronunciation guide in the back, most of what we learn about the world and the characters we learn as we go, and are added in as a natural part of the story. Which, honestly, I prefer since I HATE huge info dumps.
The magic system is interesting, love that it's mixing magic with actual science, where it is just a part of the human body similar to the nervous system. Also loved the deofol, which are familiars that are a physical manifestation of a person's magic.
The characters are well thought out, and I liked that you slowly learn more about the main characters as they learn more about each other. However, I wish we got to learn more about Aurienne and her hinted at dark past (hopefully we do in the 2nd book.) Banter was top tier. I genuinely enjoyed the main character's interactions, and it was so entertaining to watch Osric fall first and fall harder but be in denial about it. The way we see them go from instant hatred to begrudgingly mutual respect to love was amazing. Plus the YEARNING?! Ugh, be still my heart.
Also, I've seen people complain about the "random capital letters in sentences". I was curious about it and did a little Googling and found out it's a stylistic choice to show emphasis. To either show that the capitalized word refers to a specific concept, rather than the real meaning of the word, or so that the reader can more dynamically and accurately hear the dialogue. You can see other examples of this in Terry Pratchett's work and even in Winnie the Pooh! So definitely not random but I can understand why some people wouldn't like it.
This is just me being petty, but to everyone complaining about the "made-up nonsense words," if you can learn how to say the names of the dragons in Fourth Wing, you can pronounce deofol and seith. 😒
Set somewhere in the late 19th century in an AU of the United Kingdom where the country is split into 10 different kingdoms. Within the 10 kingdoms are 8 Orders (Guilds) specializing in a specific skill set (healing, engineering, assassination, etc). An Assassin and a Healer are forced to work together to solve not only his illness but the mysterious reoccurrence of a previously long-forgotten Pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction, which only fuels the tension between them.
Incredibly smart and full of very British dry humor. Honestly, this is one of the only books I've read to make me laugh out loud in a long time. While the humor is very tongue-in-cheek, it also has a lot of crude jokes in it, which might be off-putting for some (especially ch 5)
If you're familiar with Bridgette's fanfiction, you know how she goes above and beyond when doing research for her stories, and this was no exception. I don't even want to know the number of hours she put in doing research on things from Old English to complicated medical terminology.
While ambitious, the world-building was done quite well for a debut novel. Besides the glossary in the beginning, and the basic info on the different Orders (guilds) and a pronunciation guide in the back, most of what we learn about the world and the characters we learn as we go, and are added in as a natural part of the story. Which, honestly, I prefer since I HATE huge info dumps.
The magic system is interesting, love that it's mixing magic with actual science, where it is just a part of the human body similar to the nervous system. Also loved the deofol, which are familiars that are a physical manifestation of a person's magic.
The characters are well thought out, and I liked that you slowly learn more about the main characters as they learn more about each other. However, I wish we got to learn more about Aurienne and her hinted at dark past (hopefully we do in the 2nd book.) Banter was top tier. I genuinely enjoyed the main character's interactions, and it was so entertaining to watch Osric fall first and fall harder but be in denial about it. The way we see them go from instant hatred to begrudgingly mutual respect to love was amazing. Plus the YEARNING?! Ugh, be still my heart.
Also, I've seen people complain about the "random capital letters in sentences". I was curious about it and did a little Googling and found out it's a stylistic choice to show emphasis. To either show that the capitalized word refers to a specific concept, rather than the real meaning of the word, or so that the reader can more dynamically and accurately hear the dialogue. You can see other examples of this in Terry Pratchett's work and even in Winnie the Pooh! So definitely not random but I can understand why some people wouldn't like it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Medical content, Murder, Alcohol
Minor: Child death, Terminal illness, Torture, Death of parent
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Violence
Moderate: Medical content, Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Sexual content
adventurous
dark
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content
adventurous
funny
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
I’m trying hard to temper my perspective on this book, because obviously it can’t be (and shouldn’t be) the same as its original inspiration and therefore shouldn’t be judged as such. But DMTMOBIL is so top tier and I’m not sure much could come close.
I didn’t realize this would be a series, I thought it was a standalone. However I like that there wasn’t an overly dramatic cliffhanger, since that’s an ick for me. I also liked that there was some good yearning. This is an authentic slow burn in my opinion and it was done well. I didn’t love aurienne’s character at first. I felt like she became more authentic as the book progressed but at the beginning and in small pockets here and there throughout the story, she was too much of a contrivance and not a human character.
I didn’t realize this would be a series, I thought it was a standalone. However I like that there wasn’t an overly dramatic cliffhanger, since that’s an ick for me. I also liked that there was some good yearning. This is an authentic slow burn in my opinion and it was done well. I didn’t love aurienne’s character at first. I felt like she became more authentic as the book progressed but at the beginning and in small pockets here and there throughout the story, she was too much of a contrivance and not a human character.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Medical content, Murder
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Death of parent
fast-paced
Thank you Brigette Knightley and PRH Audio for the free gift!
A slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers masterpiece brimming with irreverent humor, sparkling banter, and a plot that refuses to let go.
I loved everything about this book. The irreverent humor had me literally laughing out loud! Osric’s smug, self-satisfied inner monologues were absolutely hysterical. He was so hilariously full of himself, and paired with Aurienne’s brilliantly analytical, no-nonsense mind, their every interaction was a delight. Watching these two opposites circle each other was pure enemies-to-lovers gold.
The worldbuilding was rich and immersive, the mystery of the re-emerging Pox kept me guessing, and the slow-burn tension was off-the-charts. I loved how their grudging cooperation to heal Osric and stop the spread of disease slowly, inevitably transformed into something deeper.
Heather Long and Thomas Judd were absolute perfection in the dual narration. They captured each character’s wit, vulnerability, and charm flawlessly. I’m now desperately waiting for the next book in this duology.
If you love banter that crackles, enemies who would rather stab each other than admit they’re in love (until they don’t), and fantasy romances with depth and heart, you need this book in your life.
A slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers masterpiece brimming with irreverent humor, sparkling banter, and a plot that refuses to let go.
I loved everything about this book. The irreverent humor had me literally laughing out loud! Osric’s smug, self-satisfied inner monologues were absolutely hysterical. He was so hilariously full of himself, and paired with Aurienne’s brilliantly analytical, no-nonsense mind, their every interaction was a delight. Watching these two opposites circle each other was pure enemies-to-lovers gold.
The worldbuilding was rich and immersive, the mystery of the re-emerging Pox kept me guessing, and the slow-burn tension was off-the-charts. I loved how their grudging cooperation to heal Osric and stop the spread of disease slowly, inevitably transformed into something deeper.
Heather Long and Thomas Judd were absolute perfection in the dual narration. They captured each character’s wit, vulnerability, and charm flawlessly. I’m now desperately waiting for the next book in this duology.
If you love banter that crackles, enemies who would rather stab each other than admit they’re in love (until they don’t), and fantasy romances with depth and heart, you need this book in your life.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Sexual content, Violence
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I was already half in love with this book the moment I saw the cover—and once I saw it had enemies-to-lovers ? Say no more, I was in.
The plot intrigued me with its mix of magical experimentation of curing Osric’s illness and a mysterious plague sweeping through the city, especially since it’s affecting children. The tension and mystery build with every chapter, and it kept me turning pages.
One of the biggest highlights for me was the slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance.
We’ve got a grumpy, hard-edged healer (Aurienne) paired with a flirty, mischievous assassin (Osric)—and their dynamic is hilarious and chaotic in the best way. Their deoufol (animal familiar) adds even more charm to the mix.
I loved how their relationship evolved over time. What began as a reluctant partnership gradually turned into something far more vulnerable and meaningful.
The writing style felt really different from what I’m used to, and since English isn’t my first language, it took me a bit to fully settle into the flow.
Some of the vocabulary was unfamiliar, but thankfully I read it on my Kindle, so looking things up was easy.
The banter between the main characters was fun, though I’ll admit a few of the dry humor moments didn’t quite land for me—but that’s more of a personal thing.
The world-building is unique, though it would’ve been easier to get into the world if the details were revealed as the story went on, instead relying on a glossary to explain everything upfront.
Still, once I got the hang of it, the story became easier to follow, and I found myself genuinely intrigued by the world.
This is the first book in a duology, and that ending left me curious enough to stick around for the sequel—just to see what lies ahead for Osric and Aurienne.
If you’re into dual POV romantasy set in an alternate England—with enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, he-falls-first, forced proximity, witty banter, and a dash of dry humor—this one’s definitely worth checking out.
I received a review copy through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, Blood, Medical content
Minor: Child death, Death, Torture
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
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
A refreshingly witty, enemies to lovers fantasy that I didn’t want to put down!
From the hilarious, banter-filled interactions (and dialogue) between MCs, Aurienne and Osric, (whose petty remarks, dirty jokes and lighthearted animosity had me absolutely cackling) to the chaotic field trips and eccentric side characters we meet along the way. There wasn’t anything I didn’t enjoy.
I loved Brigitte’s Knighley’s prose, which was entertaining in a fun, unputdownable way that had me hooked. Our MCs vocabulary during their interactions was pretty fun too, and had a Terry Pratchett-esque charm that (in my opinion) only added to the overall whimsy.
But of course, the main attraction was our grumpy x sunshine-esque duo, Aurienne (the scholarly healer who follows the rules) and Osric (the silver tongued assassin who loves to break them.)
They were both incredibly nuanced, flawed and in-depth characters who, (despite their very different moral views) can’t stop the slowburn and gorgeously intense chemistry that simmers between them.
I really liked Aurienne, she’s smart and compassionate with an unwavering drive to do what’s right. But I loved seeing her grow and realise that people (and the choices they make) can’t always be neatly categorised.
I also adored Osric and found his charming, flirtatious personality soo joyfully infectious. Even his interactions with Aurienne’s Deofol and fellow assassin Leofric were hilarious. I’ll also never look at a fork the same way again!
There’s not much else I can say without spoilers. However, with its soft magic system and world-building that focuses heavily on its characters (rather than exposition heavy lore), this might not appeal to everyone.
But, if you’ve read (and loved) Olivia Atwater or Gabby Hutchinson Crouch’s work, then you’ll probably really enjoy this!
Also, a huge thank you to Nazia & Orbit books UK for this stunning finished copy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Sexual content, Blood, Medical content
Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Torture, Death of parent, War