Fairyloot Adult #39: April 2025
With Fairyloot, it’s never entirely certain when a box will be delivered in the month. Because the March box wasn’t delivered until the end of the month, it felt like the April box was super early, even though it was already halfway through the month when it showed up. Another reason why I was surprised to see this box already, was probably because for the first time in a long time I hadn’t followed what the book was going to be. I had been so focused on the March book, that April had kind of passed me by. Woops.
April’s theme was The Art of Deceit, for readers who enjoy political games, slow burn romance, and unique magic systems.
Yeah, look, with an endorsement like that, I’m not really mad at myself for my absent-mindedness.
The book that should contain all these intriguing elements is This Monster of Mine by Shalini Abeysekara.
Eighteen-year-old Sarai doesn’t know why someone tried to kill her four years ago, but she does know that her case was closed without justice. Hellbent on vengeance, she returns to the scene of the crime as a Petitor, a prosecutor who can magically detect lies, and is assigned to work with Tetrarch Kadra. Ice-cold and perennially sadistic, Kadra is the most vicious of the four judges who rule the land – and the prime suspect in a string of deaths identical to Sarai’s attempted murder.
Certain of his guilt, Sarai begins a double life: solving cases with Kadra by day and plotting his ruin by night. But Kadra is charming and there’s something alluring about the wrath he wields against the city’s corruption. So when the evidence she finds embroils her in a deadly political battle, Sarai must also fight against her attraction to Kadra – because despite his growing hold on her heart, his voice matches the only memory she has of her assailant…
A dazzling Ancient Rome-inspired romantasy debut, This Monster of Mine is a bloodbath of manipulation, deception, and forbidden love.
Ancient Rome seems to be a popular setting for books these days, but honestly, I’m not mad about it. It’s an intriguing backdrop, and that alone would have put this book on my radar. But I do like the other parts of the synopsis, too.
Also, for some reason, after unboxing this book, I felt drawn to read the author’s letter (I forgot to take a picture of it, because it’s just typed text) and the first paragraph immediately doubled my interest: “I had two things in my head as I wrote ‘This Monster of Mine’. First and foremost, Ben Barnes as the Darkling (if his agent is reading this, would he want to play a cold, bloodthirsty judge?). But I was also fascinated by what society considers monstrous.”
Regardless of the content, the fact is that Fairyloot – in my opinion – has once again delivered a true work of art, starting with this unique cover. It’s a completely new design by @imogen.oh and @aeadraws, and although it actually seems quite simple, I find it really beautiful. The choice of colours is gorgeous: a green so dark it’s almost black, combined with bright golden yellow and gold foil. Stunning!
But for those who don’t like this new, unique design, Fairyloot also includes the traditional cover on the back, but in a colour palette matching their edition.
The design of the hardcover itself is also sublime, with beautiful illustrations by @ophelie_mahl. The colours are really beautiful and the illustrations look like they were painted on by hand. Magnificent!
The book block has been sprayed in a matching dark green color, with unique illustrations all around that were not directly taken from the new cover, but were made by the same artist @imogen.oh and therefore fit in perfectly.
The illustrations on the endpapers, again by @ophelie_mahl, also deserve superlatives. Very beautiful and super luxurious with the gold foil.
Furthermore, this book also comes with a bound letter from the author with digital signature and bonus content in the form of an extra chapter from a different perspective.
Yes, again completely impressed by this edition by Fairyloot. Really admirable how three different artists can deliver such a coherent, harmonious piece! Very happy with this edition and also very curious about the book!
Cheers,
Charlotte
