Acts of Cupidity is a quirky, lighthearted take on the afterlife, following cupids working for the Afterlife Agency as they struggle with a series of bizarre matchmaking cases that have ended in catastrophe!

The plot is engaging, with the protagonists attempting to unravel the mysteries behind these failed pairings, only to find themselves caught in something far more sinister. The worldbuilding around the Afterlife Agency was a lot of fun, but I found myself wishing for more depth and expansion on its inner workings! The pacing does feel a little rushed at times, especially as the story reaches the conclusion.

The characters are exaggerated to the point of being almost caricatures, but that works well with Drake’s writing style. I especially loved the dynamic between Erron and Casey! There’s plenty of humor sprinkled throughout, though it leans heavily into slapstick, which may not land for everyone. Personally, I found it a bit much at times, but that’s definitely a matter of taste.

Overall, this is a whimsical tale with high stakes but also a feel-good supernatural feel that doesn’t take itself too seriously. While not without its flaws, it’s a fun easy read!

First I want to thank Netgalley, Zaffre and E.S. Drake for this ebook copy of Acts of Cupidity.

But I LOVED this book, this was so much fun. I was sucked in from the beginning, the storyline instantly got me.

Erron and Casey are my two favourite MMc’s of all time, they were so loveable and funny. The way they are with each other is just perfection.

The plot and writing in this was fantastic. I definitely didn’t see the last 20-15% coming though! That completely caught me off guard.

LOVED it!!

Definitely would recommend this book!

The Good Place meets Supernatural.
For fans of The Love of My Afterlife.
This had so much promise that I got more and more annoyed the more I read and it fell apart for me.

Erron and Casey are agents of Apollo, pinging love arrows to make humans fall in love. Nikita dies and becomes a Cupid trainee learning that there is more to the Afterlife (and fate) than she had thought.

I think the main issue was that this book was trying to do too much. The premise alone was great. The characters were very caricature - bad boy angel, sweetheart angel partners. A young optimistic journalist pursing truth. Etc. However, it was cheesy enough that I could get behind it.

<b>Erron wondered if one day Casey might exude so much charm that he turned into a puddle of pink, glittery slime, around which people frolicked and fluttered their eyelids at him. He put the bizarre thought out of his head and played along.
</b>
But then…
The pop culture references.
The very predictable love story which was slated as this big reveal when it was so obvious.
A mystery with a very clear set up and glaring evil perpetrators despite the cast having seemingly no clue.

The absolute info dumping all the time. I can tell this author has promise and has so much imagination and creativity. Yet, it felt like a mood board word vomit than a story at time.

It didn’t help that there was SO MYCH head hopping. Random thoughts from strangers or side characters that just muddled the narrative and were unnerved most of the time.
Not to mention, this was peak tell instead of show.

Physical arc gifted by Zaffre books.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this earc!

I sadly didn’t love this book as much as I had hoped I would and ended up dnf’ing!

Acts of Cupidity by E. S. Drake is a wonderfully quirky urban fantasy that combines the best of Terry Pratchett’s wit with a dash of romance and a touch of the supernatural. This charming tale takes readers on a hilarious and captivating adventure through London, where two immortal agents of love, Erron Grover and Casey Hart, are tasked with keeping the world’s love life running smoothly.

As Apollo agents, they match up pre-destined couples, ensuring that Fate is fulfilled—until their latest assignments result in a series of bizarre deaths that threaten to unravel the very fabric of destiny itself. With the world on the brink of collapse, and a growing suspicion hanging over them, Erron and Casey must work together to solve the murders and save not just the world, but their favourite jazz bar too. Along the way, they face unexpected dangers, a surplus of geese, and a few rogue soul reapers.

Drake’s writing is quick-paced and utterly engaging, drawing readers in with its witty dialogue, relatable locations, and endearing characters. The blend of urban fantasy with a light-hearted mystery is perfectly executed, making this book impossible to put down. Acts of Cupidity is an absolute delight—a page-turner full of charm, humour and a dash of romance that will keep readers hooked from start to finish.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This is a really fun story. London based urban fantasy following two cupids as their love matches turn deadly.

I enjoyed how different the world and afterlife was, the characters were all engaging, the romance was an organic slow burn, and it was the right level of humour for me.

I did find it a little difficult to get into. The beginning was exposition heavy and quite slow. After that, it gets much better and I'm glad I stuck with it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. - arc & monthly book box pick reviewer

Ahhh I loved it so much!!! One of my all-time favorites! Acts of Cupidity combines everything that my heart needs: longing, queer love, a good mystery, humour, all in a fantasy setting!! It's Good Omens meet The Good Place with the sweetest, most adorable m/m grumpy x sunshine romance ever!!!

We follow Erron (the grumpy) and Casey (the sunshine) as Cupid agent partners. They are supposed to receive their assignments, complete them, and people fall in love. However, their intended victims of love become murder victims, and our guys need to figure out what is going on before everything is balmed on them, and they are literally obliterated from ever living.

Erron has never been in a loving environment. He has only met contempt and hatred, so now when he is an agent of Apollo, as in a Cupid, he doesn't know how to handle all this love that surrounds him. It feels like a mockery of his own suffering. On top of that, he is irrevocably in love with his partner and best friend! ENTER THE PINING OF THE MILLENnIA!!

Casey is a sweetheart. He reads all files so he knows everything about his victims of love. He greets everyone with kindness and sweetness. He is the definition of a sweetheart!! However, he also has his baggage, and he is also pining over his best friend thinking it's unrequited like the big marshmellow that he is.

I loved them as individual characters, and I loved them together! Did I mention PINING OF THE MILLEnNIA? Even though we were really heading to the apocalypse with GEESE (!), Erron and Casey held my heart in their hands. I would do anything for them. I loved the mystery elements, as well! The author kept me guessing on who was really the responsible one, and how the threads were being pulled, and believe me, this is not an easy thing to do.

WORLDBUILDING: 10/10
ROMANCE: 100000000000000000/10
MYSTERY: 10/10

This is one of my all-time favourites, and I will keep rereading it many times over. This will be my safehaven from the world, and I will want to return here time after time. Even now, I want to reread it, and I just finished it.

PS.
It will be a series!!!

ONE OF MY FAVOURITE READS OF 2025 🪿✨️

The storyline is incredibly captivating and has completely drawn me in! I found it impossible to put the book down for even a moment. Set in London, the relatable locations add to the charm, and the urban fantasy elements make this read an absolute delight. It's truly a page-turner!

This hilarious book had me stifling my Cheshire cat grin on the train, making me wish my trips would stretch on forever. As I mentioned earlier, I wanted to linger in the afterlife's whimsical world, but with a lighter touch. The countless times Erron has brought laughter to my day are beyond measure; my 5ft 5 friend definitely deserves a huge shout-out! Nikita was such a vibe throughout the book!! I adored the fact I loved every single POV!

Casey, oh Casey, lover boy who has a heart of gold 💛 To have a friend like Casey is to have a friend beyond life itself. Casey is a hug personified...if that makes sense. He’s genuinely an empath and a croissant enthusiast, but there’s so much more to him beneath the surface. E S Drake masterfully keeps Erron and Casey’s story captivating, leaving you eager for what comes next.

This review can hardly capture the depth of my admiration for this book. The plot, the characters, and the delightful tension between our two cupids exceeded all my expectations. This remarkable debut is truly something special, and I can't wait for everyone to experience it.

Really unique and original, I had a fun time with Acts of Cupidity. The world was so imaginative and well fleshed out. While I didn't connect with the characters very much and it was the slowest of slow burns, I still enjoyed reading this one and I would highly recommend it for someone wanting to get lost in a fantastical world of afterlife. For fans of plot and world-building heavy books.

Really good fun.
The concept of cupids working in the afterlife is refreshingly different.
Loveable characters, cool world building and feel-good.
Enjoyed this one.

Very late review but this book was amazing!

the world building was so good, the characters were likeable (and so relatable). Acts of Cupidity (yes I love the pun there), has a unique twist on the afterlife, as it’s set in the Afterlife Agency; where cupids are assigned their cases.

the plot was so engaging, with the high stakes and mystery. GRUMPY X SUNSHINE TROPE REINS SUPREME, Casey and Erron were my faves.

Acts of Cupidity is an amazing fantasy read and the author struck an arrow through my own heart because i need more!!

Out April 2025!!

A light hearted urban fantasy that reads like a cross between Dead to Me and Good Omens, Acts of Cupidity is a charming offering from E.S. Drake that balances a sweet romance, likeable characters, and a mysterious plot about the afterlife and its executors to largely satisfactory results. Whatever comes next, I'm sure Drake will have a new legion of fans willing to continue on the journey of Casey, Erron, and co.

Cute and cosy urban fantasy - this was lovely and fluffy to pass an evening with, but for some reason I didn't fully click with it, and there were a few niggles that kept me from loving it. I didn't fall fully in love with the characters as all the different POVs felt very similar, and this combined with the head-hopping mid-scene left me confused sometimes about whose point of view we were in. It also edged into self-consciously cute at some points, just in a few overly quirky facets that rubbed me the wrong way - it's being comped as Good Omens meets The Good Place, and it very much fulfils that brief, but imitates their unique styles rather than feeling totally natural. There's also a fair few grammar issues (and a large flaw in the title, which is meant to be a pun but doesn't actually relate to the real word "cupidity" meaning monetary greed!). What I did love, though, was the concept of the agencies, and the more bureaucratic elements, which had a great sense of atmosphere and coziness. Overall, this isn't a perfect read, but it is an enjoyable one.

What a lovely book!!

It was such a sweet read, I love this whole world of beings still working in the afterlife.

It deffo felt like a love letter to London.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book. A gorgeous 4 star read book from me. What an exciting plot, vivid storytelling and relatable, rich characters. I could put this book down – absolutely loved it.

Acts of Cupidity is quirky take on the afterlife, following two cupids working for the Afterlife Agency as they navigate a series of suspicious, bizarre failed cases.
The plot is engaging, with our protagonists facing a string of cases that seem to go awry under strange and suspicious circumstances. As they try to piece together what's going wrong, they uncover a web of intrigue and danger. The world-building around the Afterlife Agency and its celestial bureaucracy is a fun element that I wish there was a little more of.
There are moments of sharp humor that land with ease, making the book feel like a breezy, fun escape. However, at times, the writing can feel a bit rushed, especially when the plot accelerates toward its conclusion.
Despite these occasional hiccups, this is an enjoyable read for fans of whimsical, feel-good stories with a touch of the supernatural. It’s an easy, sometimes silly, but ultimately fun read that doesn’t take itself too seriously.
A charming, if imperfect, look at love, fate, and the afterlife—a perfect read for those in search of a quick, entertaining escape.