The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy

Dearly Beloathed #2

by Brigitte Knightley

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

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 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 Tīendoms. 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.

Genres: Fantasy, Romance, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance, Adult, Fiction, Enemies To Lovers

416 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 7, 2026

About the author

Brigitte writes what she wants to read: enemies-to-lovers romances that put the unresolved back in UST. Her debut novel, THE IRRESISTIBLE URGE TO FALL FOR YOUR ENEMY, is coming out July 2025 (Berkley / Orbit UK).

Instagram: @brigitteknightley
Newsletter signups: brigitteknightley.com

Author illustration by @gingerhuneybee.

Reviews

[Nancy •͙͙✧⃝•͙͙✩ͯ {Comment restriction}]

So apparently they are sending out ARCs. Please let me get one. PLEASE.

******************************************

We have a cover. I REPEAT: We have a cover!
Now all I have to do is wait 8 more months for the BOOK.

Googles How to time travel to the future.

******************************************

I AM SCREAMING.

I WANT THIS BOOK AND I WANT IT NOW. What? I have to wait an entire YEAR for this? F***you. (I'm sorry I'm sorry I don't mean that)

[Angie]

This cover has me FERAL!!! Their hands are touching??? I’m SCREAMING!!! 🤩

PS: If anyone from the publisher or PR team sees this, just know I would die for an ARC. 🙈💕

[DianaRose]

hoorayyy i've got the arc! now i just have to read book one...

--

excited to read this one(despite not reading book one yet 🫣) and the cover is absolutely gorgina!!

[Noi (in & out)]

October 31st: we got a cover!
---------
Jul 28: Love that this is going to be a duology

[y ੯‧̀͡⬮]

drew barrymore laughing smiling in the rain gif

[sonia]

THE COVER THE COVER THE COVER THE COVER

[Dab]

THE COVER! Can we just stop whatever we’re doing for a moment and look at their hands? 😍 Can’t wait!!!

[Yennefer]

Just finished the first one, and yeah, bring it on! Need this ASAP so I can pick up after that ending.

[clicktojointhemafia]

update- have y'all seen the cover??? og my god im going to DIE

book one fucked me side ways and i want it to happen again as soon as possible xxxx

[alysbookclub · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going down as a favorite series for me - I absolutely love an enemies to lovers story, especially with some humor. Such a satisfying end, but I'll always want more!

[Sarah]

I am frothing at the mouth. I need this, there's no way I can survive a year long wait without descending into Madness.

[Dulce Starizny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Delicious. Exquisite. Hilarious beyond belief. This book is an absolute YES from start to finish.

[Natalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This sequel was EVERYTHING I could have hoped for and more. The pining, the banter…perfection. And Osric, utterly, hopelessly in love and freaking tortured by it. This book was nothing short of divine.

The story retains the lightness and humor that made the first book so amazing, but also, simultaneously delivers moments that are genuinely heart wrenching. Brigitte’s writing is brilliant. This book is brilliant. And Osric has firmly secured his place as a new all time favorite. Ugh Osric 😭 the exquisitely tormented soul falling on love for the first time.

“She had become what he could never have, and so became his greatest torment.”

Beyond the romance, the mystery surrounding the Pox adds a a layer of suspense.The balance of humor, high stakes, forbidden romance, aching pining, simmering tension, and self discovery is fan-freaking-tastic. Both characters undergo significant transformations, Osric more willingly than Aurienne I will say, and I devoured every page.

I’m endlessly grateful to Berkeley Publishing Group (Ace) and NetGalley for granting me an ARC of this phenomenal book. Effing fantastic. I will be rereading immediately. And snatching up every special edition copy I can get my hands on. This duology will forever be on my favorites shelf💫

[zoe]

COVER ART???? HELLLLOOO!!!!!!!!!

[hannie 🌷📚☕️🧸]

I have to wait a year?

[Tory]

Is it July 2026 already? 🥺💖 Because I’m not sure I can wait that long!

[Cindy ✩☽♔]

The title, the cover, perfect 🤌🏻✨chef’s kiss 😘💖

[Dominique || dominiquetravels]

➡️ The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️¼

I've been left on a cliffhanger and I need to know more. Who did it? Why did they do it? What will happen in the near future? What will happen to our main characters?

[Camryn Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book! Osric and Aurienne are both such good characters, but I especially loved reading Osric’s POV chapters. Knightley has a way of writing him and his voice that was so clever and funny and evocative. The whole book felt so beautifully descriptive and immersive, I just really enjoyed Knightley’s writing style overall. It sucked me in from the start and I flew through it. I feel like everything I liked about the first book was strengthened and improved in this sequel. It was a really strong conclusion to the story. I liked how the conflict between Osric and Aurienne and their relationship developed in this book. It felt very natural and believable. There were so many funny moments and even more heartfelt moments to balance it out perfectly.

**Thank you Edelweiss for the eARC!**

[Caro]

Osric is going to be drowning in a pool of self-loathing pinning for Aurienne and I’M HERE FOR IT! *cue “Down bad” by Taylor Swift* 🤭

[Aleah]

season depression= cured. suddenly the sun is shining and the birds are chirping. feeling like God’s favorite.

thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for the arc<3

[Milah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endearingly funny. I absolutely love the writing style, in every way, even though I can imagine some would find it difficult but it adds a lot to the charm. I think this book was properly paced in connection to book 1. The characters don't feel rushed and key aspects of the story are well fleshed out and not forgotten. The idea actually feels original overall and the romantasy elements do not feel mainstream in a way that is repetitive. Probably one of my favorite reads to date. Can't wait to listen to it again on release!


Thank you NetGalley and Berkeley Publicity/Penguin Random house for this copy!

[Machaia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was beyond thrilled to get an ARC of this book from NetGalley. I fell in love with Brigitte's writing during her fanfic days, and the first book in this duology was my favorite book last year. I zoomed through this book in one day (one of my favorite things about a travel day is so much reading time!), but after I finished it, I needed a couple of days to consider my review.

To start with, I am so excited to see what Brigitte writes next! I'm thrilled that we are just at the beginning of what I hope will be a long writing career of excellent characters, slow burns, and witty banter. Overall this was an incredible duology and one I will recommend endlessly. Osric and Aurienne were just as lovely and as compelling as they were in the first book and continuing to peel back the layers of the plot kept me intrigued. The world she has created is clever and well-constructed, and I would love to see more stories from her set in the Teindoms. I had a marvelous time reading this, and it kept me engaged from beginning to end.

Now for the reasons it didn't get a full five stars from me like the first book. There were a couple of moments in the plot that didn't have a proper build to them. We got an answer to a question, and we didn't have the context to truly appreciate the answer - it felt a bit out of left field. Furthermore, I appreciate that Knightley was trying to make use of all of the elements of the world she created, but there were a few growing pains associated with doing so that felt a bit forced at times. Lastly, there were a few things about the ending that didn't quite work for me that made me question if Aurienne and Osric would be able to last long-term. That's the spoiler free version. Read on, gentle reader, if you want spoilers.

SPOILERS AHEAD! READERS BEWARE!

The fact that the people behind the Pox Plot were three random monarchs who we had never met didn't work for me. The books never really established much in the way of the internal dynamics of all of these kingdoms, so it didn't really feel like a strong reveal - more like a throwaway when it's something we've been building to for two books. There were also a couple of moments in the story where I felt like Osric (as he has been established over two books) acted out of character. The first being his strong reaction to Tristane being executed and the second his anger that Aurienne didn't leave Swanstone when it was attacked. With Tristane, the story had never established that Osric and Tristane had any relationship beyond terrifying boss and an employee with a healthy respect for her abilities - especially considering how ambivalent he was about killing co-workers. I expected him to be a lot more c'est la vie about the whole thing. It felt like his reaction was written in to manufacture conflict between our couple. The same with his anger towards Aurienne for not leaving Swanstone - it felt like a way to keep the couple apart. I would buy Osric being upset, but his reaction felt like too much. As to the ending, Aurienne and Osric never really had a discussion about if he would continue to be a murderer-for-hire. I do think the book established that Aurienne saw things more from Osric's point of view, but it did not convince me that she would be ok with him continuing to kill people for money. It felt like that element was swept under the rug to end the story. Also, the ceremony at the end where Aurienne announced to everyone that she loved Osric and jumped into his arms and kissed him and everyone cheered did not work for me because the book had spent too much time establishing how deep the prejudices towards other orders ran for me to believe everyone would be on board with this relationship no matter what good deeds Osric had done.

[♡*WithLove, Reesie*♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Haelan and a Fyren walk into a pub. It was the start of a joke.
That the Fyren was a bit in love with the Haelan was the punch line, probably." -book quote 

Probably...But what is definite, is my love for this book, this world, these characters, this author. Bravo!

Book 1 ended with Fyren Osric Mordaunt (assassin), and Haelan Aurienne Fairhrim (healer) conversing under the moonlight perched on a windowsill of Swanstone. Both secretly and potentially coming to an awakening and realization of new emotions for one another. 

Book 2 has Mordaunt and Fairhrim continuing their travels to in-between places for Mordaunt's healing under the moonlight. The Platt's Pox continues to threaten children with its deadly effects and its potential use as a weapon of war; either by starting a war or ending one.

I appreciate "The Story Thus Far" section at the beginning of the book to recap Book 1. Often times when you read a series it is a year or more between books and you forget a lot from the previous book. This recap was helpful.

The language is smart, cheeky, and laugh-out-loud funny, which is utterly refreshing and delightful.

"The sun rose like a lover, languid and sublime, and ambered the sea." -book quote 

"Osric said he wished he had never been born.
'I'm going to nip out to the shops,' said Mrs. Parson. 'Do you want anything?'
'To die and be devoured by worms.'
'Right,' said Mrs. Parson. 'Just the milk, then.'" -This book quote made me chuckle out loud.

I looked forward to reading each sentence due to the unpredictability of the dialog and the creative world building. Some may say the language is Purple Prose (excessive or flowery) however for me this use of language adds to the world building and the way the characters converse. It makes it clear to me when I am reading this series that I am not in our contemporary world but entering The Tīendoms (ten petty kingdoms).

"Love is the slow turn of a knife." -book quote 

I appreciate the slow burn and building of their romance that kept rubbing against their stations in their Orders and their values. Their values and motives grew and changed as their relationship grew and changed. Black and White values became flipped or blurred in their decision making, taking the readers along with the characters personal journey of discovering what all they will give or not give up.

I enjoyed experiencing the magic system within each person (Seith) and what their cost would be (bloody hands, loss of hair, etc). I enjoyed the personalities of their deofols and the distinctive personalities of the supporting characters. 

"Books have a way of outlasting the hands that wrote them." -book quote 

I will read again! I have already been (highly) recommending!

"It's only when the story comes to an end that you feel the real weight of it. Of lessons learned. Of feelings lingering past the last pages."-book quote 

Such true words! I hope this author continues to write and publish. They are now on my auto-buy author list.

"Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again." -book quote 

 “Thank you, Penguin Publishing Group, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.”

[Sarah T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't have to be a diehard Jane Austin or a Dramione fan to enjoy what Knightley has crafted for her readers - a high-stakes adventure filled with animosity, innuendos, sexual tension, and spectacular verbal jousting.

Protagonists Aurienne and Ostric slowly overcome antagonism while twined together in a reciprocally beneficial secret deal. Driven by loyalties to their opposing orders, they clash time and time again and the inevitable fallout at times seemed insurmountable. However, they learn to trust each other and amidst their journey they uncover rancid and terrifying corruption that spans multiple tiendoms that only a singular and unique alliance such as theirs has any chance of combatting.

Knightley's descriptions will paint your imagination and emotions in a breath-taking way that will leave imprints on your heart. On each full moon quest, we visit a unique natural setting and readers are swept along for magical transitions from the mundane ordinary to a fantasy dreamscape as we pursue a space of "in betweens" with our leads. In the vulnerable moments the unsaid things hold so much weight. It's a pleasure to witness worldviews shift by increments. The redemption arch in this adventure is heart-expanding.

Loved the hilarious and loaded conversations with the deofols, loved the light-hearted and intense interactions with the side characters, loved having boundary-pushing mentors and witnessing the fallout. It was an absolute joy to read!

After reading the first book I was most desperate to find out what happens to Aurienne and Ostric. Thankfully, I was approved for a ARC from NetGalley which I consumed in just over a day. I barely left the couch! Let me assure the more impatient readers, when the SPICE comes it is worth it. ;)
I will be heartily recommending this book to any romcom, fantasy, fiction readers I come across.

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! What a conclusion! I am SO happy to say that book 2 of the Dearly Beloathed series exceeded my expectations, and is definitely an even better read than The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy.

Everything was turned up - the plot was tighter, the pacing was perfect, the characters were still delightful but felt more fully drawn, their motivations clearer, the banter was *chef's kiss*, the swoon was SWOONING, and most importantly, in my opinion, the world felt significantly more fully realized to me. In book 1, I did struggle a bit with getting a sense of the place of the story - what kind of world was this? What are the people like, what is the society they are inhabiting? I think Knightley did a great job illumianting some of the bits that were more sketched out in the first book, although I wouldn't say no to even more (spin-off? surprise book 3?)

But you're not reading this review for my quibbles with world-building, are you? On to the writing (ha) - AMAZING, as always, and I expect nothing less from Knightley. Her style of prose feels elegantly complex, and is truly so beautiful that I was highlighting lines on every page. Also, so many witty, hilarious converstations that had me grinning at my ereader til my cheeks hurt.

Okay, okay - the romance. My dudes - SO GOOD. Ugh. So so so good. No spoilers, but wow, the slow burn picked up (nice), and the struggle for both Aurienne and Osric to come to terms with their relationship was incredibly moving. Just enough tension to have me on edge. And the yearning, ye gods - we love to see a blond man suffer (but still get a happy ending). Jokes aside, I cannot wait for everyone to read the second half of this book and scream at these cluless idiots-in-love to just GET OVER IT ALREADY.

I loved this book, and I'm sad to be saying goodbye to these characters. The epilogues were a lovely touch, but I would love to spend more time exploring this world and its magic system. A very swoony 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and Orbit Books for providing a digital arc of this title for review purposes.

[Sara Doyle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and were not affected by the free copy.

Assassin Osric has lost ownership of his heart to Healer Aurienne, but is determined to not accept this. Aurienne is struggling with her feelings while following the creed Harm to None. But as they learn more about the Pox outbreak, they continually get forced back together, and their will to fight is slipping.

Why was this so cute?? The slow-burn was so well done, I so desperately wanted them to accept their feelings, but seeing their actions betray their thoughts was amazing. The growth of each of the main characters was amazing, and I especially loved the insult cricket. He was saying a lot of the things I was thinking, and that Osric needed to hear.

This definitely gives off more cozy fantasy/romance vibes, which worked out perfectly for me, I'm living for the cozy genres right now. It wasn't the high impact, rushing pace that comes with a lot of the fantasy genre, but I never once got bored. I'm hopeful we'll get to see more books in this world, I need to know more about Tristane.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I didn’t love the first in the duology, I am so glad I continued on with this one.

I was finally able to settle into the groove of Aurienne and Osric. Things didn’t feel needlessly drawn out, complicated, or exhausting between the two of them this time. It was sweet and poetic reading the two of them, with Tristane and Xanthe pulling up as favorites behind them. The details felt more concrete.

Instead of rolling my eyes at things, I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the relationships and the plot. It’s not a read that requires much thought or analysis, making it easy to immerse myself in and get through in less than 24 hours.

Watching the noticed details be noticed and worshipped between Aurienne and Osric? Absolutely lovely and sweet, which balances out the severity of the state of things unfolding around them.

I thought about a rating below 5/5 the rest of the night and couldn’t settle on anything. This was so enjoyable; I have to give the credit where it’s due.

Much appreciation to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

[Caitlin Mahina · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5⭐️ rounded up!

"I have nothing to offer you but the devotion of a man who has never been devoted, the love of a man who has never loved-"


I really liked The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy, it was a solid 4⭐️ read for me. I was expecting to feel pretty much the same way about The Exquisite Torment of Loving Your Enemy, but I was pleasantly surprised that I LOVED this book. TETOLYE (because wow, these titles are long) is just as funny and cheeky as TIUTFFYE, but what really blew me away in book 2 were the lovely romantic and intimate scenes. Brigitte Knightley wrote these scenes and the buildup to them with such beautiful, poetic love and care. They were equally moving and downright delicious. If you were on the fence about the first book, PLEASE still pick this second book up, it was absolutely wonderful. I laughed, I cried, and I felt warm and fuzzy inside.

Thank you Netgalley and Ace for letting me read an ARC of this book!

[Fateemah · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first 70% of this book was 4 stars for me but the last 30% brought it down.

I was really looking forward to this after reading the first book last year. This one was wayyy more about the romance between the characters, but surprisingly, that made me enjoy it less. There was a lot of cool politics and mystery going on in this duology, but this book treated the romance as the top priority.

This means that many plot points from the broader story remain unresolved in the end. By the last few chapters, I was actively confused that there was not going to be a third book.

I really appreciated the short recap at the beginning of the book and all the things that were the same from the first book: crazy vocabulary, enemies to lovers, Osric's dramatics.

Overall a good read. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.