The Blueprint for Quiet Sabotage

by Lorna Tedder

The Payback Archives #2 in The Secret Lives of Librarians Universe

High‑Concept Tagline: Think La Femme Nikita–style covert ops collide with the dark academia spell‑slinging of The Magicians and the snark‑sleuth vibes of Veronica Mars in a book retrieval mission that proves psychological sabotage cuts deeper than magic.

Description: Lilah Burns is an expert at recovering dangerous magical books, but not at guarding her heart.

When Professor Drusilla St. Augustine sends Lilah and her protective partner Raven to Savannah on what feels suspiciously like a romantic setup, they’re promised a simple rare book retrieval and a charming bed and breakfast with one bed. But in a city where history and secrets linger like Spanish moss, nothing stays simple for long.

Someone knows they’re coming. Someone who’s been watching. Planning. Waiting to strike where Lilah is most vulnerable—not with magic or brute force, but with surgical precision aimed at her emotional core. When identity thieves steal their names and credentials, Lilah discovers this adversary isn’t just after ancient texts and artifacts—they’re after something far more personal.

As shadows deepen across the historic district, Lilah must determine which is more dangerous: the external threats circling their mission, or the quiet psychological sabotage happening within her carefully constructed defenses.

Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Suspense, Slow-Burn Romance

Tone: Wry, introspective, emotionally vulnerable, psychologically tense, atmospheric, cathartic

Tropes: 

• Identity theft with emotional consequences
• Strong female protagonist with trust issues
• Secret society witch and empath partnership
• Female villain with insider knowledge
• Slow burn trust rebuilding after betrayal
• Workplace romance in supernatural setting
• Emotional manipulation as villain strategy
• Protective witch love interest
• One bed situation with unresolved tension

Why You’ll Love It: Delivers psychological satisfaction for anyone who’s experienced emotional manipulation while exploring the delicate process of rebuilding trust and learning to recognize genuine care versus calculated sabotage.

Trigger / Sensitivity Warnings: Identity theft and impersonation, psychological manipulation, references to past betrayal and toxic relationships, themes of self-doubt and emotional vulnerability. Characters process trust issues and emotional healing. No graphic violence or explicit content.