First published 2020
James Dyer enters the world in the mid 18th century with a rare condition. He cannot feel pain. This strange gift shapes his destiny as a surgeon, allowing him to cut into flesh with precision that others cannot match. His hands never shake. His mind stays cold and calculating. Patients mean nothing to him beyond the technical challenge they present. Dyer travels toward St Petersburg, his reputation preceding him. The journey takes an unexpected turn when he encounters a woman unlike any other. She possesses abilities that defy explanation. Through her intervention, Dyer experiences pain for the first time in his adult life. The sensation overwhelms him. His carefully constructed world crumbles as he discovers what he has been missing. Pain brings with it something he never expected. For the first time, James Dyer begins to understand what it means to truly feel.
Genres: romance, historical-fiction, medical, psychological-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, fish-out-of-water
Setting: St Petersburg, Russia
Period: 18th Century, Mid 18th Century
337 pages · Paperback · Sceptre
Content warnings: medical-trauma