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Cover of Trickery (Curse of the Gods, #1)

Trickery (Curse of the Gods, #1)

by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

🌶️🌶️mild·Curse of the Gods #1·✓ Series Complete
4.0 on MoodReads (1 rating)4.1 on Goodreads (43,574)

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Ending

reveal ending

Why Read This?The one-sentence sell. What do you get for showing up to this book, even when it's hard?

Pure fun—Willa's snarky narration and chaotic dynamic with the five Abcurse brothers makes this an addictive comfort read with zero angst and maximum banter.

Synopsis

Willa Knight: Dweller. Slave. Non-magical being. In Minatsol, being a dweller means that you are literally no better than dirt. In fact, dirt might actually be more useful than Willa. Her life will be one of servitude to the sols, the magic-blessed beings who could one day be chosen to become gods. At least her outer village is far removed from the cities of the sols, and she won’t ever be forced to present herself to them... Until one small mistake changes everything, and Willa is awarded a position to serve at Blesswood, the top sol academy in the world—a position that she definitely did not earn. Under the sudden, watchful eye of the gods, she will be tasked to serve the Abcurse brothers, five sols built of arrogance, perfection and power. They are almost gods themselves, and under their service she is either going to end up sentenced to death, or else they are going to ruin her so badly that she will wish for it. Either way, she is in trouble. This is a full novel, 90,000 words. Book 1 of 5 in the Curse of the Gods Series

book details below may contain spoilers. some hidden

At a Glance

Curse of the Gods #1 by Jaymin Eve AND Jane Washington (co-author missing from DB). Spice is closed door/1 out of 5—romance.io confirms minimal heat with only glimpses and kisses. Current DB has 'moderate' which is wrong. This is a lighthearted reverse harem where Willa serves five sol brothers at an academy. The humor and banter carry the book—think snarky Cinderella meets Greek mythology school. Series is 5 books, complete. Ends on a cliffhanger for book 2 but overall series concludes. Audiobook narrated by Vanessa Moyen (250+ audiobooks, YA fantasy specialist). World has a caste system (dwellers=slaves, sols=magic-blessed) which is a slavery/classism CW.

trope onetrope twotrope threetrope four

Book Details

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Goodreads RatingThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.

4.14 ★ (43.6k)

Page CountHow long the commitment is.

388 pages

PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.

2017

Primary GenreWhat type of book this is. Romance? Fantasy? A 400-page therapy session disguised as a thriller?

Romantasy

PairingWho's falling in love? The gender makeup of your main romance. Helps you find your specific flavor of love story.

WHY CHOOSE / REVERSE HAREM

POVWhose head are you in? First person = deep in the feels. Third = watching from above. Dual = emotional whiplash (affectionate).

First Person

Romance PacingHow long until they kiss? Slow burn = 300 pages of tension. Insta-love = page 12 and it's already chaos.

Slow Burn

CliffhangerEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.

reveal ending

AudiobookCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

AvailableCan you experience this book while driving? Washing dishes? Working out while emotionally destroyed? Check here.

Yes

FormatHow fancy is the audio? Standard = one narrator. Full cast = theater kids went off. GraphicAudio = a MoViE iN yOuR mInD.

Single Narrator (female)

NarratorThe voice in your ears.

Vanessa Moyen

Narrator Count

Single

TropesPlot devices and story situations that drive the romance. These are the circumstances that throw characters together or create conflict, not how they personally relate.

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
forced proximityhidden identitycompetition romancereverse harem / why chooseforbidden lovecursed love interestgames/trials romancesecret power
RomanceMagicActionAngstWorld
Theme Constellation

Mood & Vibe

MoodWhat you felt reading this. Swoony? Gutted? Deliciously unhinged? The emotional fingerprint.

playfullightheartedhumorouswhimsicalromanticadventurous

Writing StyleHow the author writes - prose style, dialogue approach, and narrative voice. This is about craft and delivery, not emotional effect.

conversationalhumorouswittybanter-heavywhimsicallighthearted

Story PacingDoes the story sprint or saunter? Fast = you'll miss sleep. Slow = you'll savor every word. Medium = balanced chaos.

medium

Emotional WeightHow much are you gonna cry? Light = fun feels. Moderate = real stakes. Heavy = bring tissues. Devastating = call your therapist.

light

Energy RequiredCan you read this on a Tuesday after work, or do you need a full Saturday and three cups of coffee? Low/Medium/High.

low

VibesOne perfect sentence that captures the essence. Like: 'Fae politics meets forbidden romance with zero chill.'

comfort read vibessnarky heroinefive hot guysacademy shenanigansfound family forming

Characters

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

FMC ArchetypeWho is she? The female main character's core identity/role. Assassin? Healer? General Badass?

snarky/sarcasticoutcast/lonersurvivor

MMC ArchetypeWho is he? The male main character's core identity/role. Your exact flavor of book boyfriend.

morally gray MMCpossessive alphasecretly softferal/unhingedgod/deity

Relationship DynamicsThe interpersonal dynamic between the main characters. How do they relate to each other? This is about character energy and connection style, not plot situations.

grumpy sunshinebantermutual piningslow burnfound family

Spice Details 🌶️

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
🌶️
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Spice Level 2

Spice StyleNot just how much spice, but what kind. Emotional intimacy? Explicit but vanilla? Plot-driven heat? Know your flavor.

closed door

Getting SteamyGentle kinks. Fun but nothing too crazy. The appetizer, so to speak.

teasing controlplayful bantertensionanticipationpossessive/protectivelonging glances

Bringing the HeatFor those who know exactly what they came for. This is where you find your exact brand of chaos. The good stuff.

None
Browse more books by spice level →
This stuff might hit different. No shame in needing to know what's coming. (5)▼
spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal
deathviolenceslaverycaptivityclassism
Browse books by content warning →

World & Setting

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World TypeWhat kind of world are you stepping into? High fantasy = full secondary world. Urban fantasy = magic in modern cities. Portal = starts here, goes there.

high fantasymythologicalacademy / school

Primary SettingWhere does the story physically take place? Court intrigue = palace. Dark academia = campus. Cozy witch vibes = small town. This is about location, not world rules.

academy / campusroyal court / palace

Fantasy CreaturesWhat supernatural beings populate this world? Fae courts, vampire covens, dragon riders, or just regular humans doing their best.

gods/deities

Reading Context

spoiler protected·tap tags to reveal

Emotional PayoffWhat you get for showing up. The catharsis, the growth, the 'I'm a different person now' moment. This is why the hard books are worth it.

addictive readbook boyfriend/girlfriend acquiredferal brain activatedfeel-goodpure joy

Best Time of YearSeasonal mood rings for books. Summer romance reads different than winter gothic.

anytime

When & Where to ReadContext matters. Some books are Beach Trip energy, others are 3am Bedtime spiral-reads. Trust.

bedtimepalate cleanser readsick dayvacationbeach triplazy Sunday

Curse of the Gods

Trickery (Curse of the Gods, #1)

#1 Trickery (Curse of the Gods, #1)

Persuasion (Curse of the Gods, #2)

#2 Persuasion (Curse of the Gods, #2)

Seduction (Curse of the Gods, #3)

#3 Seduction (Curse of the Gods, #3)

Strength (Curse of the Gods, #4)

#4 Strength (Curse of the Gods, #4)

Pain (Curse of the Gods, #5)

#5 Pain (Curse of the Gods, #5)

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Quick Facts

Spice LevelThe heat scale. 0=wholesome, 1=kisses, 2=fade-to-black, 3=tasteful spice, 4=explicit, 5=you need a cold shower. Know thyself.🌶️🌶️mild
PagesHow long the commitment is.388
PublishedWhen this hit shelves. Helpful for tracking vibes by era.2017
GoodreadsThe crowd's verdict. Take it with salt, though. Some masterpieces are polarizing.4.14 ★ (43.6k)
EndingEnding type: HEA = forever happy (you'll cry happy). HFN = happy for now (open to interpretation). Bittersweet = complicated feelings. Know what you're signing up for.reveal ending

SeriesThe series this book belongs to and where it falls in the reading order.

Curse of the Gods #1
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