City of Mirth and Malice (Vows of Vengeance, Bk. 2)
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Overview
The action-packed conclusion to the enemies-to-lovers saga set in the post-industrial magical Isle of Lynchaven is here — and the stakes have never been higher.
Nicolai Attano fought his way to the top. Now he controls the Iron Saint Railway, the most powerful seat in the city, and for a man who has always craved power above everything else, that should be enough. It isn't. Somewhere along the way, his wife changed things.
Camilla Marchese was never supposed to matter this much. Their marriage was a transaction — a union of enemies forced together by circumstance. But Nico's carefully guarded ambitions have been complicated by something far more dangerous than a rival faction: feelings.
When Camilla is abducted, Nico's world fractures. The city he controls has been turned against him, and his usual avenues of power are closed off. Desperate, he turns to a disreputable black-market dealer — the only one willing to help. The price of that help is steep. The collateral is his life.
He doesn't hesitate.
Meanwhile, Camilla isn't waiting to be rescued. She's fighting. Trapped in a brutal prison and subjected to relentless trials by her alchemist captor, she's also grappling with a terrifying new power she barely understands — one that may destroy her before her enemies get the chance. The only thing keeping her grounded is the hope of seeing her family again. And the husband she never expected to love.
With two fractured people reaching for each other across impossible odds, City of Mirth and Malice is a breathless, heart-wrenching conclusion that proves some debts — and some loves — cannot be undone.
Series Information
Series Name: Vows of Vengeance Duet
Series Reading Order
This series is best read in publication order.
Book 1 - House of Bane and Blood
Book 2 - City of Mirth and Malice
Topics and Key Themes
Narrative Tropes
Enemies to Lovers
Slow Burn
Touch Her and Die
He Falls First
Marriage of Convenience
Key Themes
Power hunger versus unexpected love — a man who craved control discovers his wife matters more than his empire.
Captive who refuses rescue — Camilla fights her own way out while mastering a terrifying, unstable new magic.
A debt paid with his life — Nico wagers everything to find her, no hesitation, no conditions.
Industrial magic meets criminal power — post-industrial Lynchaven's ruthless factions close every door but the black market.
Two fractured people, one impossible reach — hope and love survive brutal odds, captivity, and shattered alliances.
Who is this book for?
Primary Genre: Romantasy
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5: Spicy
Open-door romance with balance. You’ll find some on-page intimacy with moderate detail, woven into the story. A sweet spot for readers who enjoy both emotional depth and a bit of steam.
Fans of Raven Kennedy and Sarah J. Maas will enjoy the enemies-to-lovers slow burn, action-driven plot, and morally complex characters set in a richly built post-industrial magical world.
About the Author
Alexis L. Menard is a registered nurse based out of Louisiana where she lives with her family. She enjoys long walks through the Renaissance Fair, reading spicy romance into the dark hours of the night, and wine nights with friends.
Similar Authors
Sarah J. Maas, Raven Kennedy, Callie Hart
Reader FAQs
The book leans heavily toward romance. The post-industrial magical setting shapes the plot, but the emotional core — Nico's obsessive devotion and Camilla's fight for survival — drives the story. Readers who prioritize character relationships over world-building will feel at home here.
It shares the enemies-to-lovers tension and morally complex characters found in Maas's work, but the setting is post-industrial rather than high fantasy, the world-building is lighter, and the dual-perspective structure keeps the pacing tight throughout.
City of Mirth and Malice is emotionally heavy. The story centres on a man dismantling his own ruthlessness for someone he never planned to love, alongside a woman enduring captivity without surrendering agency. Internal conflict and longing carry as much weight as the action.
The book contains depictions of captivity, physical trials, violence within a criminal underworld, and a character grappling with an unstable and potentially dangerous magical ability. It carries a spice level of 3 out of 5, indicating moderate to significant sexual content.
The book is written for adult readers. The combination of violence, mature themes, and a moderate-to-significant spice level makes it most appropriate for readers 18 and older. It is not categorised as young adult or new adult fiction.