Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC (advanced reader copy) in exchange for an honest review. This post may contain spoilers.
I have to preface this review first with the fact that I haven’t read or know anything about the original fan fiction this story has been adapted from, Draco Malfoy and the Mortifying Ordeal of Falling in Love, and I don’t know the discourse behind how this book turned from fan fiction to traditionally published. Also, I cannot comment what the original plot was like and how this may differ to this traditionally published version. That aside I was very exciting to read this ARC from the moment I saw the cover reveal and the marketing of an enemies to lovers fantasy. I went into reading this book blind without any knowledge of the characters, world or plot aside from this originally being a Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger romance (Dramione). I am obsessed with the enemies to lovers trope that has a decent amount of yearning and banter – I had high hopes for this!
Review
The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy follows a Fyren assassin, Osric Mordaunt in dire need of a healer otherwise he could go out of business in the assassination game. The one person capable of healing him is Aurienne Fairhrim… but there’s a catch. She’s from an enemy Order. Naturally, Osric threatens to kidnap Aurienne, and when that doesn’t work he uses bribery. The deadly pox sweeps through the country and Aurienne’s healers are run off their feet. They desperately need funding for the Pox inoculation and research, that Osric reluctantly provides in exchange for her help. This uneasy alliance draws them deeper into each other’s orbit and they soon become entangled in a problem much bigger than Osric’s illness. This is a STEM inspired high fantasy that blends together enemies to lovers with a slow burn romance and banter that jumps off the page.
Brigitte Knightley is very skilled at writing banter that conveys the chaffing between Osric and Aurienne and their interactions are one of my favourite elements of the story. There is no denying that this book is clever and funny with witty dialogue. There were so many occasions that I laughed at the puns and crude humour (which may not be to everyone’s taste). I loved Osric’s character and his backstory. His shadow-walking ability and assassin really juxtaposes with his love for beauty and the rare. I was really engaged with him from the start. Aurienne on the other hand is the opposite to Osric and I liked her stern persona and how Osric begins to become a bad influence. At times her stern nature does interfere in any progression between these two characters.
I did feel at times that the plot was very character driven rather than focusing on the momentum of the narrative. The main issue with healing Osris was secondary and acted more as a vessel for the snarky and witty interactions. I found the world building interesting, albeit a little cramped and suffocated at times. The intense world building didn’t allow the reader enough time to digest information about the Orders, the magic system and it took me a few chapters to understand that this was an alternative version of England rather than a new fantasy world. I did find the world building with the Pox and Aurienne’s medical background engaging and how she conducted herself with this firm and unemotional demeanour. I liked how Osric tried to get under her skin, but they ultimately make a good team. The Irresistible Urge to Fall for Your Enemy has the space and potential for gut wrenching yearning, but hasn’t materialised yet. It has the seed of something, but has yet to bloom into anything. This was one of the reasons I was dissatisfied by the ending. It ending rather abruptly after pages of slow burn and build up in the last 100 pages or so.
Furthermore, the pacing was a slight issue. Both Osric and Aurienne repeat the same thing over and over with meeting to test the degeneration of his power and then failing. As much as this was fun to read, it became a little slow in terms of moving the plot forward. The last 20% gained more momentum and I was hooked to read more – especially as the plot developed at a faster pace and the growing intrigue of an unnamed enemy to Aurienne’s Order and the Pox outbreak. Another issue was the language. In some places it is too much with extensive vocabulary that I’m unsure the ordinary reader would understand. There is a mixture of made up words and obscure language that conveys a formal tone that leans into Osric’s decadency and standing, but becomes too difficult to understand. As much as I enjoy learning new words and the intellectual aspect of the Knightley’s writing, it became heavy going and dense at times. There is no denying that the author is a skilled writer.
Overall, I really enjoyed the slow burn between Osric and Aurienne and how they interact, albeit there is little character development aside from their growing romance. I didn’t realise this was part of a series, it felt as if it was a standalone. I’m intrigued to see how their relationship develops as opposing Orders with blooming affection and how the story unfolds in the next book.
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Amy is a writer and reviewer and is currently querying literary agents with her debut fantasy novel inspired by the magic and adventure of Pirates of the Caribbean and grandeur of Bridgerton. For more content click here to read book reviews, short stories and updates on Amy’s writing journey.
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