The Blueprint for Quiet Sabotage
by Lorna Tedder
Fiction · The Payback Archives #2 · Secret Lives of Librarians Universe
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
For an occult librarian, identity theft is more than a crime. It’s a weapon.
A simple thank-you mission. That’s the lie Lilah Burns tells herself. The reward for saving the world (again) is a trip to Savannah with her dangerously competent partner, Raven. The objective: retrieve a rare book. The unofficial agenda, courtesy of her boss: a romantic getaway complete with a charming B&B and just one bed.
But the idyllic getaway shatters before it begins. The bookstore is locked. The book is gone. And the owner confesses he already gave it to “Lilah and Raven”—a pair of imposters who knew their names, their mission, and their secret password.
The mission isn’t just compromised; it’s been surgically targeted. Back in their room, the final blow lands: a single crow feather left on the pillow of their shared bed. It’s a calling card from Rune, Lilah’s vengeful rival, a message designed to reopen old wounds and prove that no part of Lilah’s life is safe from her influence.
As the imposters get greedy and their simple theft escalates into a dangerous holdup, Lilah and Raven are forced back into the fray. Lilah must now fight a war on two fronts: one against the thieves threatening to unleash a world-bending artifact, and another against the psychological poison spreading through her own defenses. Can she reclaim her stolen identity and the dangerous book before her past completely unravels her future?
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 Warnings
- Identity theft and impersonation
- Psychological manipulation
- References to past betrayal and toxic relationships
- Themes of self-doubt and emotional vulnerability
Note: Characters process trust issues and emotional healing. No graphic violence or explicit content.
About the Author
Lorna Tedder is a non-denominational minister, volunteer grief counselor, and full-time writer after a long career in public service. She writes fiction that crosses genres — from paranormal thrillers to romantic suspense to speculative women’s fiction — and non-fiction on spirituality, manifestation, grief, and personal growth. She lives in the Florida Panhandle with her family.