Battle's End, Hearts Begin

Belren, a master thief and fae rebel, finds himself in the midst of a brutal battle, his only focus to save his sister and survive. Amidst the chaos, he's drawn to Lex, a prim, rule-following cupid with a penchant for order and a hidden longing for connection. When Prince Elphar targets Lex with a deadly attack, Belren leaps in front of her, sacrificing himself. In his final moments, he's consumed by regret and longing—wishing for more time with the cupid who's unexpectedly captured his heart. His death is not just an end, but the beginning of a haunting love story that will transcend the boundaries of life and death.

Death, Veil, and Denial

Belren awakens in the afterlife, stripped of memory and substance, processed by impatient angels who urge him to pick a new job and move on. But a persistent sense of unfinished business gnaws at him, especially the memory of a pink-haired, red-winged cupid. His refusal to let go causes chaos in the orderly lines of the Veil, drawing the attention of higher powers. When he finally remembers who he is and why he died, the angels, unable to process such a stubborn soul, condemn him to return as a ghost—anchored to the place of his death, with no purpose but to fade away.

Bargaining with Angels

Belren's resistance to the afterlife's rules leads to a fateful encounter with an archangel. Offered a chance to return, he's warned that ghosts who can't let go are doomed to madness and oblivion. Despite the risks, Belren chooses to go back, desperate to find Lex and his sister, and to right the wrongs that led to his death. But the bargain is a trap: he's sent back as a ghost, invisible and intangible, bound to the site of his demise, surrounded by other lost souls who have already begun to forget themselves.

Ghost Island's Haunting Pull

On Ghost Island, Belren is surrounded by faded spirits, each repeating fragments of their former lives. He clings to his memories, reciting them like a mantra to stave off the madness that claims the others. The pull of his deathplace is relentless, threatening to erase what little remains of his identity. Yet, even as he feels himself slipping, the thought of Lex and his unfinished business keeps him fighting. He resolves to escape the island, convinced that only by finding her can he reclaim his purpose and avoid the fate of the other ghosts.

Escape and the Fading Self

Determined to break free, Belren defies the supernatural pull of his deathplace and sets out across the sky, walking on air toward the living realms. The further he gets, the more his memories and sense of self begin to fade, blacked out by the relentless call to return. By the time he reaches Emelle's home, he's nearly lost everything—his name, his purpose, even the memory of why he's come. Only a fleeting image of pink hair and red wings remains, a single grain of hope in the darkness threatening to consume him.

Lex's Guilt and Return

Lex, haunted by Belren's sacrifice, has thrown herself into her work as a cupid, using perfectionism and quotas to avoid her pain. After years of avoidance, she finally returns to the fae realm and Emelle's home, seeking closure. Surrounded by Emelle's loving, chaotic family, Lex is forced to confront her guilt and the question that's haunted her: why did Belren die for her? The answer remains elusive, but the need for resolution propels her to the site of his death, determined to face the past and find a way to move forward.

Facing the Past's Shadows

At the site of Belren's death, Lex is overwhelmed by memories and unresolved grief. Her search for closure turns to anger—at Belren for dying, at herself for surviving, at the world for moving on. In a moment of desperate resolve, she vows to avenge him by hunting down Princess Soora, the traitor whose actions set the tragedy in motion. This vow, spoken aloud, becomes a catalyst—summoning Belren's ghost to her side, though he remembers nothing of their connection.

Love's Aftermath and Purpose

Lex's shock at seeing Belren's ghost is matched only by the pain of realizing he doesn't remember her. Their interactions are fraught with longing and frustration, as Belren's memories flicker in and out, tied to the intensity of their unfinished business. Together, they hatch a plan to leave Ghost Island behind, using a piece of his deathplace as an anchor. As they journey through the fae realm, searching for Soora, their bond deepens—haunted by the knowledge that time, memory, and fate are all working against them.

The Search for Closure

Belren and Lex's journey takes them from island to island, seeking clues to Soora's whereabouts. Along the way, they encounter eccentric seers, obsessive hearth hobs, and the relentless obstacles of the living and the dead. Each step forward is a battle against fading memory and the inexorable pull of unfinished business. As they draw closer to the truth, Lex is forced to confront her own motivations—realizing that her quest for vengeance is less about justice and more about finding a way to let go of the ghost who's become her anchor.

Ghostly Reunion, Forgotten Touch

The closer Lex and Belren become, the more their connection defies the boundaries of life and death. Moments of physical touch—impossible for a ghost—become possible when Lex lets down her guard, blurring the line between the corporeal and the ethereal. Their intimacy is both a balm and a torment, as each touch risks triggering Belren's fading or pulling him back to his deathplace. The threat of loss hangs over every moment, forcing them to savor what little time they have, even as they search for a way to break the cycle.

Muck, Memory, and Murder Plans

A mishap with the hearth hobs results in the loss of Belren's deathplace muck—the anchor that's kept him from fading. Panic and anger flare as Lex and Belren realize how tenuous their connection truly is. The revelation that Lex herself is the real anchor—his unfinished business—brings both relief and dread. Their journey leads them to Princess Soora, where the truth of Belren's death and the nature of his unfinished business are finally revealed. The choice before them is stark: let go, or risk losing everything to the slow fade of the ghost.

The Seer's Unfinished Business

The seer's prophecy is fulfilled when Belren's search leads him not to vengeance, but to his sister Benicia—the true source of his unfinished business. The reunion is bittersweet, as Benicia's own trauma and Soora's complicated love for her reveal the tangled web of sacrifice and survival that led to Belren's death. The pull that's haunted him is finally stilled, but the cost is clear: to move on, Belren must let go of Lex, the cupid who's become his heart's anchor.

Hobs, Secrets, and Setbacks

Lex's attempt to avoid her fate is thwarted by the hobs' loyalty to Soora, resulting in her capture and forced audience with the ex-princess. Belren, powerless to protect her, is forced to confront the reality of his ghostly limitations. The confrontation with Soora brings all the threads of the past together—betrayal, love, sacrifice, and the true nature of unfinished business. The only way forward is to let go, but neither Lex nor Belren is ready to say goodbye.

The Princess and the Truth

In Soora's hidden sanctuary, the truth of the past is laid bare. Soora's betrayal was an act of love, a desperate attempt to save Benicia at the cost of her own reputation and safety. Belren's unfinished business is not vengeance, but the need to find and forgive his sister, to let go of the guilt that's kept him tethered to the world. Lex, too, must confront her own unfinished business—the need to forgive herself, to accept love, and to let go of the ghost who's become her reason for living.

Benicia Found, Fate Decided

Belren's reunion with Benicia is both healing and heartbreaking. The pull that's haunted him is finally gone, replaced by a sense of peace and completion. But the cost is clear: to move on, he must let go of Lex, the cupid who's become his heart's anchor. The arrival of the Veil Majors—angel, demon, and cupid—offers a solution: Belren can be reprocessed, given a new afterlife, but at the cost of all his memories of Lex and their love. The choice is agonizing, but Lex insists he take it, refusing to let him fade into nothingness.

Goodbye, Ghost—Hello, Heartbreak

The ritual to reprocess Belren is both a blessing and a curse. As the Veil Majors combine their powers, Lex and Belren share a final, tearful goodbye—each promising to find the other again, even if all memory is lost. The light of the ritual swallows Belren, erasing every trace of his ghostly existence and the love that sustained them both. Lex is left behind, hollow and grieving, forced to carry on in a world that feels emptier for his absence.

The Hollow Afterlife

In the weeks that follow, Lex throws herself into her work as a cupid, training new recruits and striving for perfection in a desperate attempt to fill the void left by Belren's absence. The joy she once found in spreading love is gone, replaced by a numb sense of duty. Even as she's offered the role of Head of Cupidity, she doubts her ability to lead, haunted by the memory of the ghost who taught her what love truly means. Yet, with the support of friends and the knowledge that she did the right thing, she begins to find her way forward.

A New Cupid Rises

Just as Lex accepts her new role and the responsibilities that come with it, fate intervenes. Belren returns—not as a ghost, but as a newly processed cupid, his memories wiped clean but his heart still drawn to Lex. Their reunion is both a miracle and a testament to the power of love to transcend even death and oblivion. Together, they forge a new beginning, blending the lessons of the past with the hope of the future. In the end, love is not just a gift to be given, but a force that can rewrite the rules of the afterlife itself.

Characters

Belren

Belren is a master thief and rebel fae, defined by his cunning, wit, and deep loyalty to those he loves. His relationship with his sister Benicia and his growing infatuation with Lex reveal a man torn between duty and desire. Psychologically, Belren is driven by a need to protect and to atone—his inability to save his sister and his impulsive sacrifice for Lex become the twin engines of his haunting. As a ghost, he battles the slow erosion of memory and self, clinging to purpose through sheer will. His development is a journey from denial and anger to acceptance and selfless love, culminating in the ultimate act of letting go for the sake of those he loves most.

Lex

Lex is a rule-bound, goal-oriented cupid whose obsession with order masks a deep well of insecurity and longing. Her survivor's guilt over Belren's death drives her to overwork and emotional avoidance, but beneath her prim exterior lies a passionate, fiercely loving heart. Her relationship with Belren is transformative—he draws out her vulnerability, her desire, and her capacity for self-forgiveness. Psychologically, Lex is torn between the safety of control and the risk of love; her arc is one of learning to let go, to accept imperfection, and to embrace the messy, painful, beautiful reality of loving and losing.

Benicia

Benicia is the heart of Belren's unfinished business—a sister whose disappearance and suffering haunt him beyond death. Her trauma at the hands of the monarchy and her complicated relationship with Soora make her both a victim and a survivor. Psychologically, Benicia embodies the cost of sacrifice and the power of love to heal. Her reunion with Belren is both a resolution and a new beginning, offering forgiveness and closure to them both.

Soora

Soora is a complex figure—once a leader of rebellion, now reviled as a traitor. Her actions, driven by love for Benicia, reveal the impossible choices faced by those caught between duty and desire. Psychologically, Soora is a study in guilt, sacrifice, and the burden of leadership. Her relationship with Benicia and her willingness to face Lex and Belren's anger show a woman seeking redemption, even as she remains misunderstood by the world.

Emelle

Emelle is Lex's friend, mentor, and the heart of the new cupidity. Her irreverent humor and unconventional leadership style mask a deep wisdom and compassion. Psychologically, Emelle represents the possibility of transformation—her willingness to break rules and embrace imperfection paves the way for Lex's own growth. Her support is crucial in helping Lex accept love, loss, and leadership.

Sev

Sev is the wild, sex-positive cupid who provides levity and support throughout Lex's journey. His irreverence and confidence contrast with Lex's anxiety, offering both comic relief and a model of self-acceptance. Psychologically, Sev is a reminder that joy and pleasure are essential parts of life and love, even in the face of grief.

Raziel

Raziel is the stern, rule-bound head of the angels, representing the impersonal machinery of the afterlife. His interactions with Belren and Lex highlight the tension between order and chaos, justice and mercy. Psychologically, Raziel is both an obstacle and a guide, forcing the protagonists to confront the limits of their agency and the necessity of letting go.

Jerkahf

Jerkahf is the head of the demons, embodying temptation, rebellion, and the subversive power of desire. His presence in the final ritual underscores the necessity of embracing all aspects of the self—light and dark, love and loss—in order to move on. Psychologically, Jerkahf is a foil to Raziel, challenging the protagonists to question the rules and find their own path.

Miur

Miur is the obsessive, rule-bound hob whose actions both hinder and help Lex and Belren. Her fixation on cleanliness and order is both comic and menacing, symbolizing the dangers of rigidity and the need for flexibility in the face of chaos.

Stag

Stag is the antlered ghost who haunts Ghost Island, repeating fragments of his former life. He serves as a warning to Belren of what awaits those who cannot let go—a fate of endless repetition, confusion, and eventual erasure. Psychologically, Stag is the embodiment of the fear of being forgotten and the importance of purpose.

Plot Devices

Unfinished Business as Haunting Anchor

The central plot device is the concept of unfinished business—what keeps a soul from moving on, what haunts the living and the dead alike. For Belren, it is first the need to find his sister, then the unresolved love for Lex. This device drives the dual narrative structure, propelling the characters through a series of quests, confrontations, and revelations. The unfinished business is both literal (the search for Benicia) and metaphorical (the need for forgiveness, closure, and self-acceptance). It allows for the exploration of memory, identity, and the ways in which love can both heal and haunt.

Dual Narrative Structure

The story alternates between Belren's and Lex's points of view, allowing readers to experience the emotional arc from both sides of the veil. This dual structure creates dramatic irony, as each character is often unaware of the other's true feelings and struggles. The mirrored arcs—Belren's fight against fading and Lex's battle with guilt—culminate in a shared moment of sacrifice and acceptance, reinforcing the theme that love is both a gift and a risk.

Magical Realism and Afterlife Bureaucracy

The afterlife is depicted as a bureaucratic, rule-bound system, complete with processing angels, pamphlets, and job assignments. This device injects humor and absurdity into the narrative, highlighting the arbitrariness of fate and the struggle to find meaning in a world governed by impersonal rules. The magical realism of ghosts, cupids, and the Veil allows for creative exploration of grief, memory, and the possibility of second chances.

Foreshadowing and Symbolism

Recurring symbols—Lex's pink hair and red wings, Belren's horns and mask, the motif of touch and physical connection—foreshadow the central conflict and resolution. The inability to touch, the moments when touch becomes possible, and the final act of letting go all serve as metaphors for the boundaries between life and death, love and loss, memory and forgetting.

Ritual and Sacrifice

The climactic ritual to reprocess Belren is both a literal and symbolic act of sacrifice. The price of a second chance is the loss of memory—the erasure of the love that sustained both characters. This device forces the protagonists to confront the limits of agency and the inevitability of change, while also offering the hope of reunion and renewal.

Analysis

Sheer Cupidity is a witty, emotionally resonant exploration of love, loss, and the struggle to find meaning in the aftermath of trauma. By blending romantic comedy with supernatural fantasy, Raven Kennedy crafts a narrative that is both deeply personal and universally relatable. The novel interrogates the nature of unfinished business—how the past haunts the present, how guilt and longing can anchor us, and how true closure often requires both forgiveness and self-sacrifice. Through the dual perspectives of Belren and Lex, the story examines the ways in which love can be both a source of healing and a cause of pain, challenging the notion that moving on means forgetting. Instead, the novel suggests that love's true power lies in its ability to transcend boundaries, to rewrite the rules of fate, and to offer hope even in the face of oblivion. In a modern context, Sheer Cupidity speaks to anyone who has ever been haunted by regret, who has struggled to let go, or who has found unexpected connection in the most unlikely of places. Its ultimate message is one of resilience, transformation, and the enduring magic of love.

Last updated: September 26, 2025