First published 2026
August Black has bonded herself to Virgil, her Monster partner, for life. She found her missing brother, but revenge now drives her. The memory of her forbidden kiss with Virgil haunts their strained partnership as they prepare for the Monster's Ball, a brutal tournament where bonded pairs fight for the Master title. August cannot focus on the competition. She hunts for her mother's killer instead. Her quest for vengeance accidentally creates a second bond with Nolan, a Wild Monster who rejects her completely. Now August must make three partners work as one or face elimination before the tournament starts. She believes killing her mother's murderer will heal her grief. The pursuit of revenge threatens to destroy both her bonds and transform her into the very thing she fights against.
Genres: romance, fantasy, young-adult, dark-fantasy, young-adult-fantasy
Vibes: dark, emotional, gritty, intense, suspenseful
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family, love-triangle, revenge-plot
608 pages · Hardcover · Margaret K. McElderry Books
Content warnings: death, murder, violence