★Abeysekara, Shalini. This Monster of Mine. Union Square & Co. Apr. 2025. 416p. ISBN 9781454958093. pap. $19.99. FANTASY

DEBUT Four years ago, Sarai barely survived her attempted murder. Now, she’s determined to become a Petitor (a mage who can read truth, see memories, and project them to the public) to find out what happened to her and bring the perpetrators to justice. The only voice she recognizes from the night of the attack is that of Kadra, the vicious and cold judge who rules one quarter of the empire—and is her new employer. Sarai now must fight her instinct to trust him while investigating his role in the attack. Abeysekara’s debut fuses romance, fantasy, history, and legal thriller into a uniquely strong combination. The difference between legality and truth, anger as fuel for both violence and justice, the willingness to ignore or embrace the faults in a partner, and the corrupting force of money in politics play just as key a role as the slow-burn romance and the thoughtful magic system. Sarai’s permanent scarring from the attack is both plot-important and handled naturalistically. VERDICT A relentless and beautifully balanced romantasy/legal thriller, offering blood and hope in equal measures. Recommended for fans of any of the genres it borrows from.