City of Everlasting Hearts

Angelthene, the City of Everlasting Hearts, is a metropolis where immortals—witches, warlocks, vampires, werewolves, and hellsehers—rule, and humans are second-class citizens. Loren Calla, a human orphan with a mysterious past, tries to keep her head down and survive in a world that barely tolerates her. Her closest friends are Dallas, a powerful witch and her adoptive sister, and Sabrine, a half-witch. As the summer before university ends, Loren is dragged into the city's nightlife, where danger lurks in every shadow and the city's true nature is revealed: beneath the glamour, Angelthene is a place of monsters, both literal and figurative.

Human Among Immortals

Loren's life is defined by her outsider status. She's the only human at Angelthene Academy for Magic, a school that sorts students by magical heritage. She's constantly reminded of her fragility and lack of power, but her friendships with Dallas and Sabrine give her a sense of family. Loren's medical condition—a mysterious blood sugar disorder—marks her as even more vulnerable. Despite her desire for a quiet, safe life, she's drawn into the city's underbelly, where the rules are written in blood and magic, and where her very existence is a provocation.

Nightclub Chaos and Danger

A girls' night at a nightclub spirals into violence when Loren is harassed by a werewolf, only to be saved by Dallas's magic. The incident is a microcosm of the city's dangers: humans are prey, and the peace is kept by force. As the girls try to get home, they're attacked by a warlock and a hellseher—bounty hunters from a mysterious circle marked by a phoenix tattoo. Sabrine is kidnapped in the chaos, and Loren realizes she was the true target. The city's law enforcement is dismissive, and Loren is left with guilt and fear, knowing she's being hunted for reasons she can't understand.

The Devils' Bargain

Darien Cassel, leader of the Seven Devils—Angelthene's most feared Darkslayer circle—takes a job to track down a nameless target for an enormous bounty. Using his hellseher Sight, he discovers the target is Loren. But when he finally confronts her, he's unsettled by her innocence and humanity. Instead of turning her in, he offers her protection, sensing that the forces after her are more dangerous than any he's faced. Their uneasy alliance is forged in blood, and Loren is thrust into the world of the Devils, where trust is a rare commodity and every favor has a price.

Hunted in the Shadows

Loren's life becomes a series of narrow escapes as she's hunted by rival Darkslayers, cultists, and monsters. The city's underworld is a labyrinth of alliances and betrayals, and Loren's only hope is Darien and his Devils. As she's drawn deeper into their world, she learns about the city's criminal circles, the politics of magic, and the cost of survival. The Devils are both her protectors and her jailers, and Loren must navigate their dangerous loyalties while trying to uncover why she's being hunted.

The Devil's Protection

Living at Hell's Gate, the Devils' fortress, Loren is both safe and trapped. She's forced to rely on Darien, whose reputation as a killer is matched only by his unexpected tenderness toward her. Their relationship is fraught with tension, attraction, and secrets. As Loren learns to defend herself and adapt to the world of immortals, she and Darien grow closer, their bond deepening into something neither expected. But the threat outside grows, and the line between protector and captor blurs.

Blood, Magic, and Betrayal

The search for Sabrine and the truth behind Loren's hunters leads to revelations about the city's darkest secrets. The Phoenix Head Society, a cult obsessed with immortality, is behind the abductions and experiments. The Arcanum Well, a legendary artifact said to grant eternal life and magical power, is at the heart of the conspiracy. Loren's bloodline is the key, and her very existence threatens the balance of power in Angelthene. Betrayals come from unexpected places, and Loren must decide who to trust as the city teeters on the brink of chaos.

Academy of Secrets

At Angelthene Academy, Loren and Dallas investigate the Old Hall, uncovering the history of the Phoenix Head Society—a group of mortal outcasts who sought to transcend death. The society's secrets are hidden in riddles, scrolls, and bloodlines. Loren learns that her father, Erasmus Sophronia, was the creator of the Arcanum Well, and that she is its living legacy. The society's experiments have unleashed a new breed of demon on the city, and the line between science and sorcery blurs as the past comes back to haunt the present.

The Phoenix Head Society

The Phoenix Head Society's goal is to use Loren to access the Well and achieve godhood. Their failed experiments have turned missing students into flesh-hungry demons, and the city is on the verge of an apocalypse. Loren's friends and allies are caught in the crossfire, and the true enemy is revealed to be not just the cult, but the city's most powerful figures—vampire queen Calanthe, crime lord Randal Slade, and the Imperator himself. The conspiracy is deeper and older than anyone imagined, and Loren is the key to either salvation or destruction.

Demons in the Dark

As the Well's power grows unstable, the city is overrun by demons—mutated victims of the society's failed immortality experiments. The forcefield protecting Angelthene fails, and the streets become a battleground. Loren, Darien, and their allies race against time to find an antidote, rescue the missing, and stop the Well from destroying everything. Sacrifices are made, and the cost of power becomes clear. The city's survival depends on Loren's choices, and the line between monster and savior blurs.

The Well's Secret Power

Loren discovers that the Arcanum Well is not a place or an object, but a power bound to her very soul. She is the living Well, the only one who can remake or destroy it. Her father's wish, bought from a Nameless god, gave her the ability to save or doom the city. As the Well threatens to explode and annihilate Angelthene, Loren must choose whether to use her power, knowing it will cost her everything. The fate of gods and monsters rests in her hands.

The Price of Immortality

In the city's darkest hour, Loren uses her wish to reverse time and save Angelthene, resurrecting the dead and healing the wounded. But the act drains her power, leaving her mortal once more. Darien sacrifices himself to save her, and Loren brings him back with the last of her magic. The city is rebuilt, but the scars remain. The cost of immortality is revealed to be too high, and the true meaning of life is found in love, sacrifice, and the courage to choose one's own fate.

The City Burns

The Well explodes, destroying Angelthene in a cataclysmic blast. Loren and Darien are the only survivors, and Loren's grief and love drive her to use her wish to turn back time. The city is restored, the dead return, and the demons are healed. But the memory of what was lost lingers, and the threat of the Phoenix Head Society and the Imperator remains. Loren and Darien's love endures, forged in fire and loss.

The Wish Upon the Liar

Loren's wish, granted by Tempus the Liar, rewrites the city's fate. The Arcanum Well is destroyed, the cult's plans are foiled, and the city is given a second chance. Loren's power is spent, and she must learn to live as a mortal once more. The lesson is clear: immortality is not the answer, and the true magic lies in the choices we make and the love we share.

Love in the Ashes

In the aftermath, Loren and Darien find each other again, confessing their love and choosing to face the future together. The city is changed, but life goes on. Friendships are mended, old wounds begin to heal, and the promise of a new era dawns. Loren embraces her humanity, and Darien finds peace in her arms. Together, they are stronger than the monsters that haunt their world.

A New Dawn Rising

As Angelthene celebrates Kalendae, the new year, Loren and Darien look to the future. The city is safe—for now—but new threats loom on the horizon. The Imperator's plans are not finished, and the world of gods and monsters is ever-changing. Loren is reunited with her father, and the promise of new adventures—and new dangers—awaits. The story of the City of Gods and Monsters is only beginning.

Characters

Loren Calla (Liliana Sophronia)

Loren is a human orphan raised in a city that despises her kind. Marked by a mysterious medical condition and a past shrouded in secrecy, she is both vulnerable and resilient. Her relationships—with Dallas, Sabrine, and eventually Darien—are her anchor in a world of monsters. Loren's journey is one of self-discovery: she learns she is the daughter of Erasmus Sophronia, the creator of the Arcanum Well, and that she herself is the living Well, the key to immortality and the city's salvation or destruction. Loren's greatest strength is her compassion and her refusal to become a monster, even when surrounded by them. Her arc is one of embracing her power, making impossible choices, and ultimately choosing love and humanity over godhood.

Darien Cassel

Darien is the leader of the Seven Devils, the city's most feared Darkslayer circle. A pure-blooded hellseher, he is haunted by a traumatic childhood, the loss of his mother, and the abuse of his father, Randal Slade. Darien is a killer, but not without conscience; his violence is both a weapon and a shield. His relationship with Loren transforms him, awakening his capacity for love, vulnerability, and sacrifice. Darien's arc is about learning to forgive himself, to accept love, and to choose hope over despair. He is both Loren's protector and her equal, and their love is the heart of the story.

Dallas Bright

Dallas is Loren's adoptive sister and closest friend, a powerful witch with a rebellious streak. She is fiercely protective of Loren, often acting as her bodyguard and confidante. Dallas's relationship with her mother, Taega, is fraught with resentment and pain, and her journey is one of learning to trust, to forgive, and to accept change. Her loyalty is unwavering, but she must learn to let Loren make her own choices and to find her own path.

Sabrine Van Arsdell

Sabrine is Loren's other best friend, a half-breed who is kidnapped and transformed into a werewolf as part of the cult's experiments. Her arc is one of survival, resilience, and adaptation. Sabrine's experience as both victim and survivor mirrors Loren's, and her friendship is a source of strength and hope. She represents the possibility of healing and the power of chosen family.

Randal Slade

Randal is Darien's father and the city's most powerful crime boss. He is a monster in every sense—violent, manipulative, and dying of the Tricking. Randal's pursuit of the Arcanum Well is driven by fear of death and lust for power. He is both a personal and existential threat, and his relationship with Darien is a study in generational trauma and the cycle of violence. His death is both a liberation and a warning.

Calanthe Croft

Calanthe is the head of the city's vampire covens and a key architect of the Phoenix Head Society's plans. She is brilliant, ruthless, and convinced of her own righteousness. Calanthe's vision of a perfect world is one of control and extermination, and she is willing to sacrifice anything for her cause. Her alliance with Randal and betrayal of Loren and the Devils is a masterstroke of manipulation, and her defeat is a victory for freedom and diversity.

Arthur J. Kind

Arthur is a weapons technician and former doctor, a rare human ally in a world of immortals. He serves as a mentor to Darien and Loren, providing wisdom, support, and scientific expertise. Arthur's arc is one of quiet heroism, risking everything to help the protagonists and standing as proof that humanity has value and strength.

Ivyana Cassel

Ivyana is Darien's sister, a hellseher who shares his trauma and his strength. She is the voice of reason and compassion among the Devils, and her relationship with Darien is a source of mutual healing. Ivyana's arc is about survival, forgiveness, and the power of family.

Maximus Reacher

Maximus is Darien's second-in-command, a formidable fighter and a steadfast friend. He is the emotional anchor of the Devils, providing stability and support. His relationship with Dallas adds a layer of complexity and vulnerability to his character.

The Phoenix Head Society

The Society is less a single character than a collective antagonist—a cult of outcasts, scientists, and power-hungry immortals obsessed with transcending death. Their experiments unleash demons on the city, and their pursuit of Loren drives the plot. They are a symbol of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the cost of playing god.

Plot Devices

The Arcanum Well

The Well is the central MacGuffin of the story—a mythical source of power that can grant eternal life, heal any wound, and create or destroy magic. Its true nature is a mystery, and the quest to find, use, or destroy it drives the plot. The Well is also a metaphor for the dangers of unchecked ambition and the price of playing god. Its ultimate revelation—that it is bound to Loren's soul—reframes the entire narrative and forces the characters to confront the meaning of power, sacrifice, and humanity.

The Sight

The Sight is the unique power of hellsehers, allowing them to see auras, track people, and manipulate minds. It is both a gift and a curse, leading to Surges (magical panic attacks) and the risk of the Tricking (magical disease). The Sight is used for tracking, interrogation, and combat, and its limitations and dangers are key to the plot's tension.

The Blood Covenant

The Blood Covenant is a magical contract that binds Darien to Randal's will, forcing him to pursue the Well for his father. It is a symbol of generational trauma, the cost of loyalty, and the dangers of power. The Covenant's mark is both a physical and psychological burden, and its removal is a moment of liberation.

The Wish Upon the Liar

The wish Loren's father bought from Tempus the Liar is foreshadowed throughout the story, its meaning hidden in riddles and symbols. When Loren uses it to reverse time and save the city, it is both a deus ex machina and the fulfillment of her arc—choosing hope, love, and sacrifice over power and despair.

The Living Well

The revelation that Loren is the living Arcanum Well reframes the entire narrative. She is both the key and the lock, the prize and the player. This device ties together the themes of legacy, choice, and the cost of power, and forces Loren to confront her own worth and agency.

Found Family

The Devils, and Loren's relationships with them, are a central device—contrasting the toxic blood family of Randal with the healing, chosen family of Hell's Gate. This device is used to explore themes of trust, loyalty, and the possibility of redemption.

Dual Narrative Structure

The story alternates between Loren's and Darien's perspectives, allowing for deep psychological insight and the gradual convergence of their arcs. This structure builds tension, reveals secrets, and allows for foreshadowing and dramatic irony.

Analysis

City of Gods and Monsters is a dark urban fantasy that interrogates the meaning of power, the cost of immortality, and the possibility of hope in a world built on violence and exclusion. At its core, the novel is about the search for belonging and the courage to choose love and humanity over godhood and control. Loren's journey from powerless outsider to living Well is a metaphor for self-acceptance and the refusal to be defined by others' ambitions. Darien's arc is a study in trauma, redemption, and the healing power of vulnerability. The novel uses the trappings of fantasy—magic, cults, monsters—to explore real questions about trauma, found family, and the dangers of unchecked ambition. Its ultimate message is that true strength lies not in immortality or power, but in the willingness to sacrifice

Last updated: July 19, 2025