DNF Review: The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy (Dearly Beloathed #1) by Brigitte Knightley

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The first in a slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romantasy duology featuring a scholarly healer and a gentleman assassin, set in an exquisite fantasy world, perfect for fans of The Love Hypothesis and Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries.

Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, is in dire need of healing. Naturally – such is the grim comedy of fate – the only healer who can help is Aurienne Fairhrim, preeminent scientist, bastion of moral good, and member of an enemy Order.

Aurienne is desperate for funding to heal the sick - so desperate that, when Osric bribes her to help him, she accepts, even if she detests him and everything he stands for.

A forced collaboration ensues: the brilliant Woman in STEM is coerced into working with the PhD in Murders, much to Aurienne's disgust. As Osric and Aurienne work together to heal his illness and investigate the mysterious reoccurrence of a deadly pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction, which only fuels the heat between them.

Romance tropes
Enemies to lovers
High interaction slow burn
Hypercompetent idiots
He falls first and harder
Evisceration as a love language
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First line:
It wasn't until Aurienne Fairhrim that Osric learned eye contact could hit like a knife.
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Source:
eARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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Publication Date:
 July 8, 2025
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Rating:
 DNF @ 4%
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I couldn't even finish the first chapter on this one. The dialogue wasn't good. And despite having a glossary at the front, none of the words in the first chapter were included (hopefully this gets fixed in the finished copy). 

I know a lot of people have enjoyed this one, but it was a miss for me.



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