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.

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.