The Crack at the Heart of Everything

The Cursed Mage, Book 1

By: Fiona Fenn

Narrated by: Austin Ku

He accidentally cursed himself . . .

When the consequences get him exiled to the land he helped terrorize, can this evil wizard find redemption . . . and love?

Orpheus can't believe it's come to this. After helping his childhood friend conquer the realm by raising an army of hell-beasts, the befuddled dark sorcerer finds himself banished when the price of his magic endangers the palace. Isolated and betrayed, the feared spellcaster isn't exactly thrilled when his irritating and handsome rival keeps stepping between him and certain doom.

Ill at ease in the barren wasteland his powers created, Orpheus slowly warms to the charismatic ex-general's relentless overtures. But as his feelings grow more intense, the former villain struggles with an inconvenient calling towards heroism.

Will dabbling in good deeds get him killed or open the doors to happily ever after?

The Crack at the Heart of Everything is the charmingly swoon-worthy first book in an epic LGBTQ+ fantasy series. If you like character-driven stories, snarky humor, and well-earned redemption arcs, then you'll adore Fiona Fenn's unexpected hero's journey.

©2024 Fiona Fenn (P)2025 Tantor Media

Missed the mark

Such a creative idea and characters with potential. I was hoping for enemies to lover and it was more of an insta relationship. The world building could have used a lot of editing it was super inconsistent. (Simultaneously there are part robots part animals with chips in their brains but also no one knows about computers??) And lastly, TW for death of a loved animal.

What a wild world

This is such a fun book. The MC frustrated me at times (but I think that's because we are similar in certain ways so that is a me thing haha). The worldbuilding was fantastic in this book. I can't wait to read book two. What a fun little romance wrapped into a big fantasy story.