The Guide to Petty Revenge

by Lorna Tedder

The Payback Archives #1 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 surveillance mission that proves payback really is a witch.

Description: Lilah Burns isn’t the kind of occult librarian who lets things go. Not betrayal. Not rare magical books. Not the man who left her behind—and definitely not the manipulative new wife who thinks she’s won.

When Lilah and her protective partner Raven are sent on a covert surveillance mission to retrieve ancient texts from her ex-boyfriend’s house, things take a turn. The plan is simple: plant spy equipment, find the stolen grimoires, and get out clean.

But between unresolved feelings, emotional ghosts, and a deeply satisfying round of calculated revenge, Lilah’s about to learn that emotional closure comes with a cost—and so does learning to trust again.

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

Tone: Wry, introspective, emotionally vulnerable, darkly humorous, cathartic

Tropes:

• Covert mission with emotional baggage
• Strong female protagonist with trust issues
• Friends to lovers slow burn romance
• Secret society witch and empath partnership
• Revenge romance with emotional healing
• Found family through dangerous missions
• Workplace romance in supernatural setting
• Emotional hurt/comfort between partners
• Protective witch love interest

Why You’ll Love It: Offers vicarious satisfaction for anyone who’s wanted to get back at an ex while exploring the messy, complicated process of healing from betrayal and learning to trust again.

Trigger / Sensitivity Warnings: Past emotional manipulation and betrayal, references to toxic relationships, themes of self-worth after abandonment. Characters process grief and trust issues with non-confrontational closure. No graphic violence or explicit content.