The Sequel I Didn't Know I Needed
This Blade of Ours
This Monster of Mine
Fantasy
Hodderscape
June 30, 2026
432
Rebellion was their weapon. Now it's their curse. Sarai believed the worst was behind her. However, months after exposing the government's corruption in what has now been deemed "the Great Unravelling," she faces scorn from citizens who preferred her and Kadra as the underdogs than victors. Worse, eerie omens rock the country: from a deadly plague outbreak to a sweeping madness that leave the afflicted ranting of an approaching reckoning. Accused of angering the gods, Sarai returns to the only place that can clear her name: Ur Dinyé's frozen north. But among the secrets buried in its ice are Kadra's. Cursed with frightening, new abilities, Kadra struggles to protect Sarai against a land at odds with itself. When historical tensions worsen between the north and the south, a powerful religious order seizes control in the chaos, led by a man whose very voice can kill-Noceo bu Kader. Trapped between love and a crumbling country, Sarai and Kadra must outwit a power with roots as deep in fear as in cruelty. But the gods are always watching, and Sarai and Kadra may not escape a second time. The compelling and romantic sequel to the # Sunday Times bestseller, This Blade of Ours is a world of corruption, monsters and intoxicating love.
While This Monster of Mine could strongly stand alone, I’m thrilled Abeysekara gave us even more depth in this second instalment. If the first book was a Fantasy, Roman-esque murder mystery, the second really turns that up to eleven, taking things to a national scale with additional levels of conspiracy.
Sarai and Kadra knew things wouldn’t be simple but assumed they’d settle after they’d purged the corruption from Ur Dinyé’s government. Months later, though, the public’s scorn is only one of the problems they’re facing. People are rioting, a plague is spreading along with outbursts of madness, and the people are listening when the religious order is pointing to Sarai as a scapegoat. Sarai has enough on her plate, but she can tell that their trials may have had more of an effect on Kadra than he’s saying. But what if that’s not the only thing he’s keeping from her?
Sarai and Kadra were already so three-dimensional in This Monster of Mine that I didn’t even realise how much more of Kadra I wanted (get your mind out of the gutter). I recently was reading some reviews of This Monster of Mine, and so many people were begging for a dual POV. Well, they’ll be delighted to know how right they were. Kadra’s chapters help shine light on all the nuances of his motivations and fears, plus the sheer magnitude of his love for Sarai. We’ve already seen what a secretive character he can be and the levels of martyrdom he’s willing to subject himself to, so being able to better understand his choices makes your heart hurt for him. It layers beautifully with seeing Sarai’s understanding of those different parts of him. I want good things for them. 😭
Abeysekara pairs this amazing character work with advancements in world-building. In the first installment we saw how the perception of the North affected Sarai’s perception. Now we’re able to see much more of these regions and how these tensions present. The expansion of the world also gives us lots of new types of magic, providing intrigue in lots of new friends and foes. Previously, we saw Sarai’s hunt for justice for herself; now, we’ll see her hunt for justice in her country. This shift is handled in a way that not only makes sense for her character but also with elegant exposition that doesn’t slow down the action.
When initially reading This Monster of Mine, I thought it was a standalone. While the epilogue provided a hint of what could come next, the story felt suitably wrapped up to make continuing the series an optional endeavor. I simply wanted to spend more time in the world, but I’m so glad I continued. If nothing else This Blade of Ours will help further illuminate the characters, but also brings so much good stuff to the table that it shows that this sequel is a well worth addition to the series.
Gabi grew up moving around the world with her family, making books in English a bit of a luxury that had to be rationed. Nowadays she lives in East London, where books can be read as voraciously as she likes. Fantasy books will forever be her first love, and she’s always looking for the next series to consume both of her brain cells. Her days generally consist of working as a software developer, squeezing in a chapter at her desk, and pining after the Picadilly Waterstones.
