James Dreadful and the Beast of Jengwa: Book 3 (The Dreadful Series)

He's the son of a Dark Lord. She's the spy with fire in her blood. And the ogre-king who enslaved them might be the only one left with a soul. When James Dreadful and his sidekick, Catwyn, are captured by ogres and dragged into the slums of Old Logres, they find a city where ogres live in chains beneath the wizard empire. Their ruler, Drool, is a brute—and a genius. Instead of demanding ransom, he orders James to teach him to read. But Drool isn't after fairy tales. He wants strategy, rebellion, and the language of power. Enter Qadira: a fire witch posing as a healer, hunting a forbidden artifact sealed in Drool's vault, and working for a goblin crime boss. She enlists James to help her steal it, offering escape in return. To mask their conspiracy, they fake a romance. The problem? Their feelings aren't fake. And Drool is watching. By day, James teaches his captor the art of war. By night, he plots to steal a dangerous secret with a girl who could incinerate him just as easily as kiss him. When the heist goes sideways and the city teeters on the edge of revolt, James must choose: betray the monster who trusts him—or lose the girl who's stolen his heart. Enemies-to-lovers meets political uprising in a morally gray fantasy where love burns hotter than magic—and loyalty cuts deeper than chains. View Less