This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara (Hardback)

Eighteen-year-old Sarai survived an attempted murder four years ago, but the case was closed without justice. Returning as a Petitor, a magical prosecutor who can detect lies, she is assigned to work with Tetrarch Kadra, one of the four judges ruling the city. Kadra is ice-cold, sadistic, and the prime suspect in a series of murders mirroring Sarai’s own near-death experience.

Certain of his guilt, Sarai begins a double life: aiding him in investigations by day while secretly plotting his downfall by night. Despite her determination, she cannot ignore the magnetic pull of Kadra’s charm and the wrath he wields against corruption. As she uncovers evidence that embroils her in dangerous political intrigue, Sarai must confront her growing attraction to the man whose voice matches the memory of her attacker.

Set in a vivid Ancient Rome-inspired world, the story is a tense, dark, and twisted romance. It blends high-stakes political intrigue with forbidden love, testing Sarai’s loyalty, morality, and heart. Every choice she makes risks life, justice, and desire.