'As swoon-worthy and charming as it is funny and irreverent. Sign me up for everything Brigitte Knightley writes' Olivie Blake, bestselling author of The Atlas Six

In this swoony, witty and heart-stoppingly romantic sequel to instant Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy, the stakes are high, the love is forbidden and the slow burn turns steamy.

Osric is a member of the Fyren Order, a guild of assassins who gleefully murder for money. Aurienne is a Haelan, a scholar-healer whose Order's motto is Harm to none. Clear-cut absolutes separate them: good and bad, right and wrong, light and dark - Until they don't.

When Osric first bribed Aurienne to heal him, he never imagined those lines would begin to blur. But every healing session draws the two of them closer together. He finds himself developing unwanted feelings for Aurienne as her capable hands heal his body - and his heart.

Aurienne's perfect life has been flung into chaos in the form of a devastatingly handsome assassin. She should be in her research lab, not illicitly healing a Fyren every full moon - nor wrestling an attraction to him that threatens to slip into something else.

Things go superbly sideways when Osric and Aurienne discover more about the deadly Pox deliberately unleashed through the Tiendoms. The plague may be the work of another Order - an Order far nastier than either of them can handle. As the lines between Osric and Aurienne continue to blur, the balance between peace and war and love and hate trembles, shifts, and hinges on a heartbeat.

Tropes include:

Forced collaboration

Forbidden love

Denied attraction

Majoring in Yearnalism

Semi-public s*x and other words not in the Bible

Rated E for E*ting Her Out

Praise for Dearly Beloathed duology:

'Utterly unique, hilarious, swoony beyond my wildest dreams! This book is an instant classic and a true masterpiece, it took my breath away and made my heart explode' Ali Hazelwood

'Sworn enemies, dazzling magic and delicious romantic tension make this a witty, wonderful gem' Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches

'Brilliant and wildly imaginative, with a delicious forbidden romance set in a fascinating fantasy world. Knightley is a remarkable talent, weaving together witty comedy, slow-burn longing, and heart-wrenchingly poetic imagery' Sarah Hawley, author of A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon

'With the most wickedly delicious banter, Brigitte Knightley is sure to become your next favourite author. This had all the things I love most: a slow-burn romance that hurts so good, truly agonizing enemies-to-lovers, with a twisty mystery at its core' Julie Soto, author of Forget Me Not

'Brigitte Knightley is such a wonderfully talented writer with a unique voice and a real genius for banter' India Holton author of The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love

'The slow burn romance of my dreams. Whip smart, creative, and brimming with banter and wit . . . both the hero and heroine had me laughing and shouting to just kiss already. This one is a rare delight' Isabel Ibanez, author of What the River Knows