Review by Scribe After Five
Nov 4First Impressions:
The sheer entertainment value of this book—my gosh. It felt like watching my favorite duo verbally spar their way through a cinematic battle of wits, while I sat back, popcorn in hand, fully invested. I picked it up solely because I heard it was inspired by the author’s Dramione-fic roots—and since I love a Dramione fic, that was all the convincing I needed. I didn’t read reviews or watch videos beforehand; “Dramione-inspired” was enough.
From the very first chapters, I was hooked. Aurienne and Osric’s banter is everything—sharp, witty, and perfectly matched. Osric radiates Draco Malfoy energy: the language, the mannerisms, the dry, often demeaning humor. Aurienne, on the other hand, has Hermione’s intellect but with extra sass and self-assurance. Their dynamic is electric, and I adored every second of it.
Writing and Atmosphere:
The prose is cinematic and fast-paced, with dialogue so natural it feels like eavesdropping on real people—if those people happened to be lethal, emotionally constipated, and hilarious. Despite the book’s moments of gore and intensity, the tone stays surprisingly light and funny. The banter flows like a well-rehearsed rhythm, and even their deofols mirror their owners’ chaotic chemistry. It’s pure entertainment.
Characters and Relationships:
This story lives and dies by its two leads—and they carry it effortlessly. They’re mirrors of each other, two sides of the same coin, constantly poking and prodding at every flaw, moral difference, and perceived weakness. Their rivalry is perfection. I love that they both convince you they’re flawless, even when they’re clearly not.
When I see “enemies to lovers,” I usually brace myself for disappointment—too often, the “enemies” part is over in a chapter. Not here. This book nails the ratio. Their slow burn is masterfully timed; they don’t even start acknowledging their feelings until around 90% in, which made the eventual shift that much more rewarding. Honestly, I almost didn’t want them to fall in love just so the verbal sparring could continue forever. But the pacing was perfect, and their emotional growth toward the end made me excited for what’s coming in book two.
Plot, Structure, and Momentum:
Not a single dull moment. While they never physically fight, their verbal duels cut deep—and I kept reading just to see who would outsmart the other next. There isn’t a major plot twist that completely floored me, but the reveal about the Pox virus and its potential weaponization by the King was an unexpected, well-placed punch.
The story keeps its focus on Osric and Aurienne’s dynamic, letting their relationship take center stage while the wider conflict brews in the background. It ends on a delicious cliffhanger, and I’ll be honest—I kind of wish I’d waited for book two before diving in. But who am I kidding? I’m weak for this kind of tension. I’ll absolutely be rereading before the sequel drops.
Themes and Emotional Undercurrent:
At its heart, the story wrestles with grief, power, identity, survival, and—eventually—love. The comedic tone keeps grief from overwhelming the narrative, but still gives Osric’s pain weight. Power plays out constantly between them, each refusing to yield. Survival ties them together against their will, while identity and prejudice color their every interaction. And love? It creeps in like a stubborn spark they both try—and fail—to extinguish.
The result is equal parts hilarious, intense, and strangely inspiring. It even made me want to embrace my inner sass and sharpen my own banter game.
Worldbuilding and Setting:
I appreciate when books include a map, though I’ll admit—I didn’t reference it much. The worldbuilding is clear enough that you can follow along easily, but truthfully, I was too swept up in the characters to care much about the geography. Still, the political and societal divisions are well-drawn and make their alliance feel forbidden in all the right ways. Every piece of the world fits neatly into place, serving the story without overcomplicating it.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re a Dramione fan—read this book. It’s sharp, addictive, and full of chemistry so tense it practically hums off the page. Knightley’s writing has that perfect mix of bite and heart, and I’m counting the days until book two drops. I already know I’ll be rereading this one just to relive the chaos, the banter, and that glorious slow burn all over again.
Song choice: Actually Romantic by Taylor Swift
First Impressions:
The sheer entertainment value of this book—my gosh. It felt like watching my favorite duo verbally spar their way through a cinematic battle of wits, while I sat back, popcorn in hand, fully invested. I picked it up solely because I heard it was inspired by the author’s Dramione-fic roots—and since I love a Dramione fic, that was all the convincing I needed. I didn’t read reviews or watch videos beforehand; “Dramione-inspired” was enough.
From the very first chapters, I was hooked. Aurienne and Osric’s banter is everything—sharp, witty, and perfectly matched. Osric radiates Draco Malfoy energy: the language, the mannerisms, the dry, often demeaning humor. Aurienne, on the other hand, has Hermione’s intellect but with extra sass and self-assurance. Their dynamic is electric, and I adored every second of it.
Writing and Atmosphere:
The prose is cinematic and fast-paced, with dialogue so natural it feels like eavesdropping on real people—if those people happened to be lethal, emotionally constipated, and hilarious. Despite the book’s moments of gore and intensity, the tone stays surprisingly light and funny. The banter flows like a well-rehearsed rhythm, and even their deofols mirror their owners’ chaotic chemistry. It’s pure entertainment.
Characters and Relationships:
This story lives and dies by its two leads—and they carry it effortlessly. They’re mirrors of each other, two sides of the same coin, constantly poking and prodding at every flaw, moral difference, and perceived weakness. Their rivalry is perfection. I love that they both convince you they’re flawless, even when they’re clearly not.
When I see “enemies to lovers,” I usually brace myself for disappointment—too often, the “enemies” part is over in a chapter. Not here. This book nails the ratio. Their slow burn is masterfully timed; they don’t even start acknowledging their feelings until around 90% in, which made the eventual shift that much more rewarding. Honestly, I almost didn’t want them to fall in love just so the verbal sparring could continue forever. But the pacing was perfect, and their emotional growth toward the end made me excited for what’s coming in book two.
Plot, Structure, and Momentum:
Not a single dull moment. While they never physically fight, their verbal duels cut deep—and I kept reading just to see who would outsmart the other next. There isn’t a major plot twist that completely floored me, but the reveal about the Pox virus and its potential weaponization by the King was an unexpected, well-placed punch.
The story keeps its focus on Osric and Aurienne’s dynamic, letting their relationship take center stage while the wider conflict brews in the background. It ends on a delicious cliffhanger, and I’ll be honest—I kind of wish I’d waited for book two before diving in. But who am I kidding? I’m weak for this kind of tension. I’ll absolutely be rereading before the sequel drops.
Themes and Emotional Undercurrent:
At its heart, the story wrestles with grief, power, identity, survival, and—eventually—love. The comedic tone keeps grief from overwhelming the narrative, but still gives Osric’s pain weight. Power plays out constantly between them, each refusing to yield. Survival ties them together against their will, while identity and prejudice color their every interaction. And love? It creeps in like a stubborn spark they both try—and fail—to extinguish.
The result is equal parts hilarious, intense, and strangely inspiring. It even made me want to embrace my inner sass and sharpen my own banter game.
Worldbuilding and Setting:
I appreciate when books include a map, though I’ll admit—I didn’t reference it much. The worldbuilding is clear enough that you can follow along easily, but truthfully, I was too swept up in the characters to care much about the geography. Still, the political and societal divisions are well-drawn and make their alliance feel forbidden in all the right ways. Every piece of the world fits neatly into place, serving the story without overcomplicating it.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re a Dramione fan—read this book. It’s sharp, addictive, and full of chemistry so tense it practically hums off the page. Knightley’s writing has that perfect mix of bite and heart, and I’m counting the days until book two drops. I already know I’ll be rereading this one just to relive the chaos, the banter, and that glorious slow burn all over again.
Song choice: Actually Romantic by Taylor Swift
