The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy marks Brigitte Knightley’s stunning entry into the romantasy genre, delivering a sophisticated enemies-to-lovers narrative that transcends typical romance conventions. Set within the meticulously crafted world of the Tīendoms, this debut novel establishes Knightley as a formidable voice in fantasy romance, weaving together academic precision, witty dialogue, and emotional depth in ways that feel both fresh and timeless.
A World Built on Ancient Foundations
Knightley constructs her fantasy realm with the thoroughness of a scholar and the imagination of a poet. The Tīendoms—ten petty kingdoms scattered across a North Atlantic archipelago—feel lived-in and authentic, drawing heavily from Celtic and Anglo-Saxon influences without becoming pastiche. The magic system, centred on seith (derived from Old Norse seiðr), operates with internal consistency that never overshadows character development.
The author’s linguistic background shines through in her world-building. From the etymology-rich glossary to the careful pronunciation guide, every element feels researched and intentional. The Orders system—with Bright, Dusken, and Dim Paths representing different magical specialisations—creates a complex political and social structure that serves the plot without overwhelming it. The tācn (palm brands that amplify magical abilities) provide both plot device and symbolic representation of the characters’ fundamental identities.
Characters That Defy Expectations
Aurienne Fairhrim emerges as a remarkably complex protagonist. As a Haelan healer-scholar, she embodies the “Woman in STEM” archetype while avoiding tired tropes. Her dedication to scientific method and evidence-based practice creates genuine conflict when faced with Osric’s request to heal his “incurable” seith rot using folk remedies. Knightley skillfully portrays Aurienne’s internal struggle between rigorous academia and desperate hope, making her eventual collaboration feel earned rather than convenient.
Osric Mordaunt, the Fyren assassin suffering from magical degeneration, could have easily fallen into the “dangerous bad boy” stereotype. Instead, Knightley presents him as a man facing existential crisis—losing his magical abilities means losing not just his livelihood but his life, as Fyren don’t retire, they die. His desperation beneath the charming facade creates genuine vulnerability that makes his eventual emotional breakthrough believable.
The supporting cast, from the caustic Xanthe to the brilliant virologist Élodie, feels authentic and necessary. Each character serves multiple narrative purposes without seeming manufactured for plot convenience.
The Magic of Language and Wit
Knightley’s prose style draws clear inspiration from P.G. Wodehouse and Jerome K. Jerome, masters of British humour she acknowledges in her acknowledgements. The dialogue crackles with wit that feels natural rather than forced. Chapter titles like “Irresistible Bastard Meets Immovable Bitch” and “Sharing Your Tragic Backstory with Your Hot Enemy” demonstrate the author’s commitment to self-aware humour without undermining emotional stakes.
The author excels at balancing register—shifting seamlessly between academic precision when Aurienne discusses medical procedures and informal banter during character interactions. This linguistic flexibility prevents the prose from becoming monotonous while maintaining distinct character voices.
Particularly effective moments include:
- Osric’s internal monologue about wanting to make a “decent first impression” while literally breaking into Aurienne’s office
- Aurienne’s clinical questioning about urination during their romantic dance
- The recurring motif of “evisceration as a love language”
Romance That Earns Its Tension
The enemies-to-lovers progression feels organic and well-paced. Knightley understands that true enemies-to-lovers requires genuine antipathy based on fundamental differences, not mere misunderstandings. Aurienne and Osric’s initial hatred stems from their Orders’ opposing philosophies—healing versus killing—creating conflict that runs deeper than surface-level antagonism.
The slow burn develops through shared adversity rather than forced proximity. Their investigation into the Platt’s Pox conspiracy gives them common ground while maintaining their ideological differences. The author avoids the common pitfall of having characters abandon their core beliefs for romance; instead, they learn to see beyond their assumptions.
The romantic development in The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy excels in several key areas:
- Physical awareness builds gradually, from initial revulsion to reluctant attraction
- Intellectual respect develops through their collaborative investigation
- Emotional vulnerability emerges through shared danger and mutual care
- The payoff feels earned because both characters grow individually
Plot Complexity and Pacing
The central mystery surrounding the deliberate spread of Platt’s Pox adds welcome complexity to what could have been a simple romance. The revelation that infected children might be turned into Dreor (death-knights) provides genuine stakes beyond the romantic tension. Knightley balances multiple plot threads—Osric’s deteriorating condition, the pox investigation, political intrigue—without losing narrative focus.
The pacing occasionally falters during exposition-heavy sequences, particularly when explaining the magical system or historical background. However, these moments serve the larger narrative well, providing necessary context for later developments.
Themes Beyond Romance
Beneath the romantic surface, Knightley explores substantial themes: the tension between tradition and innovation, the ethics of medical research, the nature of identity when core abilities are threatened, and the possibility of redemption across ideological divides. The Platt’s Pox subplot serves as commentary on deliberate harm to vulnerable populations, adding contemporary relevance to the fantasy setting.
The author’s background in academia shows in her thoughtful treatment of research ethics. Aurienne’s struggles with methodology and peer review feel authentic, grounding the fantastic elements in recognizable professional concerns.
Minor Criticisms
While generally excellent, the novel has minor weaknesses. Some secondary characters could use deeper development, and certain plot conveniences feel slightly forced. The investigation sequences occasionally slow the romantic momentum, though they serve important plot functions.
The ending, while satisfying, rushes through some emotional beats that could have used more development. Given this is the first book in a duology, some resolution issues may be addressed in the sequel.
Literary Context and Comparisons
Fans of these works will appreciate Knightley’s approach:
- T.J. Klune’s The House in the Cerulean Sea for its blend of humour and heart
- Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett for academic protagonists in fantasy settings
- Ali Hazelwood’s The Love Hypothesis for STEM-focused romance with wit
- V.E. Schwab’s A Darker Shade of Magic for well-developed magical systems
- Freya Marske’s A Marvellous Light for Edwardian-adjacent fantasy with academic elements
Knightley’s work stands out through its linguistic sophistication and genuine academic sensibility, avoiding both the anti-intellectualism common in some romance and the pretension that can plague literary fantasy.
Final Verdict
The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy succeeds as both sophisticated fantasy and satisfying romance. Knightley demonstrates remarkable control over tone, character development, and world-building for a debut novelist. The book delivers on its promises—enemies-to-lovers tension, academic heroines, slow-burn romance, and “suffering” (as the author puts it)—while exceeding expectations through linguistic skill and thematic depth.
The Irresistible Urge to Fall For Your Enemy establishes Knightley as a significant new voice in romantasy, one who understands that the best genre fiction works on multiple levels. Readers seeking intelligent escapism with emotional payoff will find much to celebrate here.
- Perfect for: Fans of academic heroines, enemies-to-lovers slow burns, sophisticated world-building, and wit-driven dialogue.
- Content considerations: Contains graphic violence, medical content involving children, brief sexual scenes, and emotional intensity surrounding terminal illness themes.
The Dearly Beloathed series promises great things ahead, and based on this stellar foundation, Knightley has positioned herself among the rising stars of contemporary romantasy.
