Cursed Beginnings and Blind Dates

Cerys Concordia, a cupid descendant, is cursed to never find love or physical intimacy. Her life is a series of disastrous dates, each ending in magical mishaps—condoms to the eye, beds breaking, and more. Despite her efforts to prepare for every possible disaster, the curse finds new ways to interfere. Her best friend, Soleil, a siren, is the only one who knows the truth. Together, they run Yearning Hearts, a dating agency in Nepos, a magical city where descendants of Roman gods live among humans. Cerys's curse is both a source of pain and dark humor, setting the tone for her journey: a woman of love, cut off from love, determined to break free.

Yearning Hearts: Love and Irony

Cerys and Soleil's agency, Yearning Hearts, is a haven for magical types seeking love. The irony is sharp: Cerys, a cupid, is the best matchmaker in Nepos but cannot find love herself. Their office is a whirlwind of clients—centaurs, ghouls, wraiths—each with their own quirks and heartbreaks. Cerys's magic secretly powers their matchmaking software, making their success rate the highest in the city. New hire Austin, whose type is a mystery, joins the team, adding tension and potential complications. The agency's mission is clear: love doesn't discriminate. But for Cerys, every match she makes for others is a bittersweet reminder of what she's missing.

Nepos Streets and Secret Magic

Nepos is alive with magical descendants—nymphs, mages, demons, and more—each with their own rules and prejudices. Cerys navigates the city's vibrant streets, observing the interplay of magic and mundane. She's forced to use her secret, real cupid magic to unite a true love match between two humans, breaking the law and risking exposure. The city's history is woven into its present: the Roman gods' departure left behind generations of magical descendants, each more diluted and diverse. Cerys's power is rare and dangerous, and she must hide it to survive, even as it aches to be used.

True Love, Law, and Lies

After using her magic on humans, Cerys becomes the target of a law enforcement investigation led by Detective Devereaux Vincori, a brooding, powerful berserker. A sprite witnessed her magic, and the detective is relentless, suspecting Cerys despite the supposed extinction of real cupid magic. The tension between them is electric, complicated by mutual attraction and the threat of exposure. Meanwhile, Cerys continues to help clients—wraiths, ghouls, and more—find love, all while dodging suspicion and maintaining her cover. The law's interest in her is a ticking time bomb, and Cerys must outwit both the authorities and her own curse.

Detective Devereaux's Arrival

Devereaux's investigation brings him closer to Cerys, both professionally and personally. Their encounters are charged with chemistry and suspicion. Cerys is forced to lie and deflect, knowing that discovery would mean ruin. The detective's own secrets—his berserker nature, his vendetta against Nepos's elite families—add layers to their dynamic. As the investigation intensifies, so does the danger: grave-digging of heart elementals, a missing cupid, and a break-in at Yearning Hearts. Cerys's world is closing in, and Devereaux is both her greatest threat and her most compelling distraction.

Witch Hopes and Genie Fails

Cerys's quest to break her curse leads her to Yessa, a witch, and later to a genie. Both encounters are fraught with disappointment and danger. Yessa explains that only the witch who cast the curse—or someone of equal power and opposite emotion—can unmake it. The genie, a con artist, offers false hope and useless information. Each failed attempt deepens Cerys's despair but also her resolve. The curse is revealed to be a product of heartbreak and rage, and only pure joy or love can counter it. Cerys's journey is as much about self-acceptance and resilience as it is about finding a cure.

The Curse's Relentless Grip

Cerys's weekly dates are a gauntlet of magical disasters. She prepares obsessively—bubble-wrapping bedposts, taping rugs, unplugging appliances—but the curse finds new ways to strike. Each failed attempt is both comic and tragic, highlighting her isolation and longing. The curse is not just magical; it's psychological, eroding her confidence and hope. Yet Cerys persists, driven by the belief that love is worth fighting for. Her friendship with Soleil is her anchor, and their shared struggles—Soleil's lost feathers, Cerys's curse—bind them together in mutual support and determination.

Rivals, Break-Ins, and Suspects

Yearning Hearts faces external threats: Fenton, the sleazy vampire owner of rival agency Pick Up, spies and sabotages; the Hucses, Soleil's estranged family, back Pick Up and may be involved in the break-in; and a mysterious figure is digging up heart elemental graves. The break-in at Yearning Hearts is personal and targeted, stealing only the computers. A cupid, Jaeke, goes missing, possibly linked to the crime. The city's elite families, law enforcement, and criminal underworld are all entangled in the mystery. Cerys and Soleil must protect their business, their clients, and themselves from forces that want to exploit or destroy them.

Dangerous Dates and Growing Threats

Cerys is attacked in broad daylight by a masked assailant wielding a Venus trap—a magical cage for her kind. Austin, revealed to be a rare blue phoenix, saves her with his flames. The attack is a wake-up call: someone believes Cerys is a heart elemental and will stop at nothing to capture her. The danger is real and immediate, forcing Cerys to take new precautions and rely on her friends. The investigation deepens, with Devereaux arresting Fenton but suspecting larger forces at play. The threat is not just to Cerys but to all magical descendants in Nepos.

The Heart of Friendship

Through every trial, Cerys and Soleil's friendship is unwavering. They support each other's quests—Soleil's search for her lost siren feathers, Cerys's battle with her curse. Their bond is a source of strength and humor, grounding the story in warmth and loyalty. When Soleil recovers a feather, her power and happiness surge, a mirror to what Cerys hopes to achieve. Their partnership at Yearning Hearts is more than business; it's a mission to bring love to others, even as they struggle to find it for themselves. Their friendship is the emotional core of the narrative.

Attacks, Cages, and Revelations

The attacks culminate in a confrontation in Juno Park, where Cerys is nearly trapped in a Venus cage by her assailant. Devereaux intervenes, revealing his berserker power, and the attacker is unmasked as Duke, the shapeshifter owner of Duke's Dive. Duke's actions are not his own; he is being manipulated or blackmailed by a more powerful, unseen force. The immediate threat is neutralized, but the true enemy remains at large. The revelation that someone is targeting heart elementals—and believes Cerys is one—raises the stakes for everyone in Nepos.

Capture the Maiden

Yearning Hearts hosts the "Capture the Maiden" event, a magical twist on Cinderella, to help a maiden client find her true love. The event is a success, drawing crowds and restoring the agency's reputation after the break-in. Soleil recovers one of her lost feathers, regaining a piece of herself. But the event is also a reminder of the dangers lurking in Nepos: Cerys is nearly attacked again, and her magic threatens to expose her in public. The balance between love and danger is ever-present, and victory is always tinged with risk.

The Truth About Power

Cerys's true heritage is revealed: her father was a heart elemental, making her more powerful than she lets on. Devereaux uncovers her secret but promises to protect it. The curse is not just a magical affliction but a reflection of the pain and loss in Cerys's life. The city's power structures—elite families, law enforcement, criminal syndicates—are all interconnected, and Cerys is caught in the crossfire. The search for Jaeke, the missing cupid, continues, with clues pointing to a larger conspiracy. The cost of magic is high, and the price of love even higher.

The Shapeshifter's Confession

Duke's confession reveals he was coerced into targeting Cerys, but he dies before he can name his master. The true enemy remains hidden, more powerful and dangerous than anyone suspected. The investigation into the grave-digging, the break-in, and the missing cupid converges, but answers are elusive. Cerys is left with more questions than ever, and the sense that she is being hunted by forces beyond her understanding. The city's undercurrents of power, prejudice, and desperation are laid bare, and Cerys must navigate them with courage and cunning.

Choices, Sacrifice, and Hope

Cerys faces impossible choices: to pursue love with Devereaux, risking disaster, or to wait until her curse is broken. She chooses caution, promising to find him when she is free. Their mutual longing is palpable, but the dangers are too great. Soleil's triumph in recovering her feather is a beacon of hope, a reminder that lost parts can be reclaimed. Cerys's letter to Vera Calzane, the witch who cursed her, is a plea for mercy and a testament to her resilience. The story ends with the promise of a meeting—and perhaps, finally, a cure.

Love's Unfinished Business

The narrative closes with Cerys on the cusp of change: a meeting with Vera Calzane, the hope of breaking her curse, and the possibility of love with Devereaux. Yearning Hearts thrives, bringing love to others even as its founders struggle with their own hearts. The dangers of Nepos remain, but so does the promise of joy. Cerys's journey is unfinished, her story one of perseverance, friendship, and the unquenchable desire for love. The emotional arc is one of hope: that even the most stubborn curses can be broken, and that love, in all its forms, is worth the fight.

Characters

Cerys Concordia

Cerys is the heart and soul of the story—a cupid descendant cursed to never find love or physical intimacy. Her role as co-owner of Yearning Hearts is both ironic and poignant: she brings others together while remaining isolated herself. Cerys is witty, determined, and deeply empathetic, her pain masked by humor and relentless optimism. Her secret—real cupid magic inherited from her heart elemental father—makes her a target in a city where power is coveted and dangerous. Cerys's psychological journey is one of longing, self-acceptance, and the refusal to give up on love, no matter the odds.

Soleil Hucs

Soleil is Cerys's best friend and business partner, a siren who left her wealthy, toxic family to build a life of her own. Her drive is matched only by her loyalty; she is Cerys's confidante and protector. Soleil's own quest—to recover the three golden feathers she sold to fund Yearning Hearts—mirrors Cerys's search for love. Her siren nature is both a source of power and vulnerability, and her relationship with her family is fraught with pain and defiance. Soleil's development is a testament to the strength of chosen family and the healing power of friendship.

Detective Devereaux Vincori

Devereaux is the law's blade in Nepos: a powerful berserker with a personal vendetta against the city's elite. His investigation into Cerys is complicated by mutual attraction and his own secrets—his father was the last rhage, and Devereaux struggles with the darkness of his own nature. He is both protector and threat, drawn to Cerys's vulnerability and strength. His psychological complexity—duty, loneliness, and the fear of losing control—makes him a compelling foil to Cerys. Their relationship is a dance of suspicion, longing, and the hope for redemption.

Austin Lanaray

Austin is the agency's new hire, a rare blue phoenix hiding his true nature and the pain of a magically binding betrothal. His quiet strength and empathy make him a valuable friend to Cerys and Soleil. Austin's struggle is one of identity and autonomy, caught between family expectations and personal desire. His intervention during Cerys's attack reveals his power and loyalty. Austin's journey is about finding his voice and choosing his own path, even as he supports those around him.

Fenton

Fenton, owner of Pick Up, is the story's comic villain: sleazy, manipulative, and obsessed with outdoing Yearning Hearts. His rivalry is both professional and personal, as he spies, sabotages, and schemes. Fenton's missing incisors hint at a violent past, and his willingness to cross lines makes him a genuine threat. He represents the dangers of unchecked ambition and the dark side of Nepos's magical underworld.

Duke

Duke, owner of Duke's Dive, is revealed as Cerys's masked attacker, manipulated into targeting her by a more powerful force. His actions are driven by desperation and coercion, and his death is both a resolution and a warning: in Nepos, even the powerful can be used and discarded. Duke's character explores themes of agency, guilt, and the cost of survival in a city where everyone is vulnerable.

Jaeke

Jaeke's disappearance is the catalyst for much of the story's tension. His fate—trapped in a Venus cage, possibly dead—underscores the dangers facing magical descendants. Jaeke is a reminder of the community Cerys belongs to, and his loss is both personal and political, fueling the investigation and the sense of urgency.

Vera Calzane

Vera is the unseen antagonist, her curse on Cerys the central obstacle of the story. Her power is legendary, and her motivations—rage and heartbreak—are deeply human. Vera's role is both villain and victim, and her eventual willingness to meet with Cerys hints at the possibility of forgiveness and healing. She represents the destructive and redemptive power of emotion.

The Hucses

Soleil's family, the Hucses, are the city's elite: wealthy, powerful, and ruthless. Their backing of Pick Up and possible involvement in the break-in make them formidable adversaries. Their treatment of Soleil—disowning her for choosing her own path—highlights themes of class, control, and the cost of independence.

Yearning Hearts Clients

The clients of Yearning Hearts—centaurs, ghouls, wraiths, maidens, and more—are the lifeblood of the story. Each brings their own struggles and desires, reflecting the universal quest for connection. Their stories are woven into the narrative, grounding the magical in the deeply human.

Plot Devices

The Curse

The curse is the central plot device, driving Cerys's actions and shaping the narrative. It is both a source of comedy and tragedy, a metaphor for trauma, heartbreak, and the barriers we place between ourselves and happiness. The curse's origins—a witch's rage and heartbreak—tie personal pain to magical consequence. Its resolution requires not just power but emotional healing, making the journey as much internal as external.

Magical Society and Lineage

The structure of Nepos—descendants of Roman gods, generational dilution of magic, elite families—creates a rich backdrop for the story. Lineage determines power, privilege, and vulnerability. The interplay of types—cupids, sirens, berserkers, witches, shapeshifters—drives both plot and character dynamics. Prejudice, rivalry, and the longing for connection are all heightened by the magical context.

Misdirection and Mystery

The narrative is structured around mysteries: the break-in, the missing cupid, the grave-digging, the identity of Cerys's attacker. Clues are scattered throughout—blur charms, Venus traps, missing notes—inviting both characters and readers to piece together the truth. Misdirection is used to heighten tension and delay revelation, keeping the stakes high and the outcome uncertain.

Friendship and Found Family

The bond between Cerys and Soleil is a recurring motif, grounding the story in warmth and loyalty. Their friendship is a counterpoint to the dangers and betrayals of Nepos, a reminder that love takes many forms. The agency's clients, Austin's support, and the community of cupids all reinforce the theme of found family.

Romantic Tension and Slow Burn

The relationship between Cerys and Devereaux is a slow burn, fueled by mutual longing, suspicion, and the ever-present threat of the curse. Their interactions are charged with chemistry and emotional depth, building anticipation and investment. The will-they-won't-they dynamic is heightened by external obstacles and internal fears.

Public Events and Social Stakes

Events like "Capture the Maiden" and speed-dating nights serve as both plot catalysts and thematic statements. Love is public, messy, and fraught with danger. The agency's reputation, the scrutiny of Nepos's elite, and the ever-present threat of exposure make every victory precarious.

Analysis

Love & Curse Making is a witty, heartfelt, and sharply modern urban fantasy that uses the trappings of magical society to explore universal themes of love, trauma, and resilience. At its core, the novel is about the ways we are shaped—and sometimes trapped—by the wounds of the past, and the courage it takes to seek healing and connection. Cerys's curse is both a literal and metaphorical barrier, a stand-in for the scars left by heartbreak, betrayal, and loss. The story's humor and warmth are balanced by real stakes: the dangers of power, the cruelty of privilege, and the ever-present threat of violence. Friendship, especially between women, is celebrated as a source of strength and hope. The slow-burn romance between Cerys and Devereaux is a masterclass in tension, showing that true intimacy requires vulnerability and trust. The novel's world-building—rich with magical types, social hierarchies, and generational legacies—serves as both a playground and a crucible for its characters. Ultimately, Love & Curse Making is a story about fighting for joy in a world that often conspires to take it away, and about the belief that love, in all its messy, magical forms, is worth every risk.

Last updated: September 26, 2025