Cruel Affections

Seeking vengeance for her murdered family, a teen disguises herself as a boy to kill the daughter of a rival family, only to start falling for her instead, in this thrilling sapphic romantasy from New York Times bestselling author Rachael Lippincott.

Two families. Two branches of magic. One impossible choice between revenge and romance. When arson claims the lives of Viola Montclair’s entire family, her deepest secret becomes her salvation: In addition to the Montclairs’ shapeshifting magic, she can also control the elements like their sworn enemies, the Devereauxs. And now that her dual powers have saved her, she’s determined to use them once more to avenge her family and end this feud once and for all. When Olivia Devereux returns to Avon Academy, she is still grieving her own losses and trying to avoid becoming the next casualty of her family’s enmity. Until distraction soon arrives in the form of a mysterious and magnetic new boy—Cesario Belmont—whose magic calls to her in a way she’s never felt. Transforming into Cesario and getting close to Olivia was the first step in Viola’s revenge plot. Killing her is the finale. But every time opportunity presents itself to carry out the deed, Viola finds herself constructing excuses to see Olivia—alive and well—for just one more day. Will Viola be able to fulfill her promise of a life for a life or will both girls fall into the trap of a heart for a heart?

© 2027 Simon & Schuster Audio (Audiobook): 9781668184578

Release date

Audiobook: 3 August 2027