Debut author Shen Tao introduces readers to the lush, deadly world of The Poet Empress, a sweeping, epic and intimate fantasy perfect for fans of The Serpent & the Wings of Night, The Song of Achilles and She Who Became the Sun.In the waning years of the Azalea Dynasty, the emperor is dying, the land consumed by famine, and poetry magic lost to all except the powerful.Wei Yin is desperate. After the fifth death of a sibling, with her family and village on the brink of starvation, she will do anything to save those she loves.Even offer herself as concubine to the cruel heir of the beautiful and brutal Azalea House.But in a twist of fate, the palace stands on the knife-edge of civil war with Wei trapped in its center…at the side of a violent prince.To survive, Wei must harden her heart, rely on her wit, and become dangerous herself. Even if it means becoming a poet in a world where women are forbidden to read—and composing the most powerful spell of all. A ballad of death...and love.The Poet Empress is an epic fantasy that explores darker themes, subjects, and scenes that may not be suitable for all readers. Please see the author's content note at the beginning of the book.

William prefers not to think of his insufferable burden of a wife. She’s far too pious and, even worse, painfully meek and submissive – qualities he holds in the highest contempt. But there’s very little he won’t do to achieve his political ambitions and fulfill his duty as the Lord of Ruardean, even if that means marrying this bore of a woman and forcing himself to finally produce an heir with her.Margaret could not be more pleased that her loathsome lord husband thinks her an overly devout fool. She’s worked quite hard to make him dismiss her as little more than a vapid nuisance – a skillful ruse to mask her true intentions to undermine the vast power of the Church and William’s aspirations for a new Crusade. But when he insists that they attend to their duty to provide an heir to Ruardean, she finds her powers of deception are not quite up to the task of pretending to be repelled by his touch.Attraction and affection somehow grow between them, but can their connection withstand the tangle of lies, political intrigue, and lethal accusations of heresy?

'Sworn enemies, dazzling magic and delicious romantic tension make this a witty, wonderful gem' Sangu Mandanna, author of The Very Secret Society of Irregular WitchesIn 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 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 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.Tropes Forced collaborationForbidden loveDenied attractionMajoring in YearnalismSemi-public s*x and other words not in the BibleRated E for E*ting Her OutPraise for Dearly Beloathed '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'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'Knightley is in a league of her own! For those craving an enemies-to-lovers fix, you will find it all here. This is an explosive duology that makes me believe in magic and all things impossible!' Danica Nava, author of Love is a War Song'With the most wickedly delicious banter, Brigitte Knightley is sure to become your next favourite author. This had all the things I love 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.

A slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a scholarly healer and a gentleman assassin, set in an exquisite fantasy world. Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, finds himself in dire need of an expert healer. As fate would have it, that very healer is Aurienne Fairhrim, a member of his enemy Order, the Haelen. Aurienne is desperate for funding to heal the sick, so desperate that when Osric breaks into her office to offer her a bribe for her healing services, she must accept. Even if she loathes him. A forced collaboration ensues: the brilliant Woman in STEM is coerced into working with the PhD in Murders - much to Aurienne's disgust. Despite being enemies thrown together, as Osric and Aurienne work together to solve not only his illness, but the mysterious reoccurrence of a deadly Pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction which seems to only fuel the heat between them. Romance tropes include: Enemies to lovers High interaction slow burn Hypercompetent idiots He falls first and harder Evisceration as a love language

A slow burn, enemies-to-lovers romance featuring a scholarly healer and a gentleman assassin, set in an exquisite fantasy world. Osric Mordaunt, member of the Fyren Order of assassins, finds himself in dire need of an expert healer. As fate would have it, that very healer is Aurienne Fairhrim, a member of his enemy Order, the Haelen. Aurienne is desperate for funding to heal the sick, so desperate that when Osric breaks into her office to offer her a bribe for her healing services, she must accept. Even if she loathes him. A forced collaboration ensues: the brilliant Woman in STEM is coerced into working with the PhD in Murders - much to Aurienne's disgust. Despite being enemies thrown together, as Osric and Aurienne work together to solve not only his illness, but the mysterious reoccurrence of a deadly Pox, they find themselves ardently denying their attraction which seems to only fuel the heat between them. Romance tropes include: Enemies to lovers High interaction slow burn Hypercompetent idiots He falls first and harder Evisceration as a love language

A compassionate and hopeful romantic comedy, Passion Project is a reminder that love is waiting for us to let it in If your twenties are supposed to be the best years of your life, Bennet Taylor is failing miserably . . . with a big emphasis on the miserable. Where’s that zest she keeps hearing about? She’s a temp worker in New York City with no direction, no future, and no social life. And at the painful center of this listlessness is grief over the death of her first love. When Bennet runs into Henry Adams just hours after standing him up for a first date, she makes an alcohol-fueled confession: She’s not ready to date. In fact, it’s been years since she felt passion for something. Not even pottery, or organized sports—not anything. Rather than leaving her to ruminate, Henry jumps at the opportunity for adventure: Bennet needs to find a passion for life, and Henry will help her find it. Every Saturday, they’ll try something new in New York City. As friends, of course. As their “passion project” continues, the pair tackle everything from carpentry to tattooing to rappelling off skyscrapers, and Bennet feels her guarded exterior ebbing away. But as secrets surface, Bennet has to decide what she wants, and if she’s truly ready to move on. With emotional resonance and sparkling banter, Passion Project is a fun, flirty, thoughtful story of finding a spark—and igniting happiness.

A compassionate and hopeful romantic comedy, Passion Project is a reminder that love is waiting for us to let it in If your twenties are supposed to be the best years of your life, Bennet Taylor is failing miserably . . . with a big emphasis on the miserable. Where’s that zest she keeps hearing about? She’s a temp worker in New York City with no direction, no future, and no social life. And at the painful center of this listlessness is grief over the death of her first love. When Bennet runs into Henry Adams just hours after standing him up for a first date, she makes an alcohol-fueled confession: She’s not ready to date. In fact, it’s been years since she felt passion for something. Not even pottery, or organized sports—not anything. Rather than leaving her to ruminate, Henry jumps at the opportunity for adventure: Bennet needs to find a passion for life, and Henry will help her find it. Every Saturday, they’ll try something new in New York City. As friends, of course. As their “passion project” continues, the pair tackle everything from carpentry to tattooing to rappelling off skyscrapers, and Bennet feels her guarded exterior ebbing away. But as secrets surface, Bennet has to decide what she wants, and if she’s truly ready to move on. With emotional resonance and sparkling banter, Passion Project is a fun, flirty, thoughtful story of finding a spark—and igniting happiness.