Few fantasy books address mental illness with nuance and compassion. How would the world’s heroes, living without access to therapy or medication, support those who are struggling and as fallible as the rest of us? How could these heroes support each other through dark times, with so much at stake?

After the destruction of the city of Dalmarask in a fight between the gods Laevin and Defurge, Laevin issues the decree that Defurge will be imprisoned and the other gods must leave the mortal realm. Laevin believes Defurge will never escape his prison, but the Goddess of Fate, Fria, forsees him obtaining his freedom and destroying the world. Together with the God of Souls, Chivas, they concoct a plan to create two champions to eventually destroy the artifact that gives Defurge his power.

This is not the first time the country of Emestria has waged war against its southern neighbor, Rouke. Fifteen years ago, Rouke led an alliance to capture the Emesterian town of Lynnfield using an apocalyptic magical weapon. However, the weapon malfunctioned catastrophically, decimating not only Emestria’s army but also many soldiers from Rouke and its allies.

Bronwyn Amyna, Captain of the Emesterian Guard, is driven by a fierce determination to defeat Rouke for taking her father’s life at Lynnfield and to prove that her abilities are not limited by her gender. When the king commissions her for a mission to find the gods’ legendary artifacts, she eagerly accepts, as it is said that whoever possesses the artifacts could end all conflict between nations. Accompanying her in exchange for her freedom is Clara, a captured spy who claims to know the location of the artifact Alcide’s mantle. Together with Miro, a disillusioned magical scholar, the mistrustful trio also seeks another artifact, the Soul Gem, a ruby that grants its owner the inherited power and madness of the god Defurge.

Similar to the Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson, Miro’s mental illness serves as an antagonist. However, unlike in the Stormlight Archives, where Kaladin’s depression is explored in depth in the fourth book, Miro’s erratic behavior is evident from the start in Magi’s Curse. His companions worry that his increasing obsession with the legendary artifacts may indicate a vendetta behind his cooperation, rather than a genuine desire to help save Emestria. But would he really do anything to stand in their way? While no one’s intentions are as pure as they claim, the trio must work together to save themselves and the world from humanity’s determination to end it all in bloodshed.

The ideas within Magi’s Curse were initially developed for a video game, inspired by the light novel series Legend of the Legendary Heroes by Takaya Kagami and Greek mythology. Originally, the concept involved characters on a quest to obtain powerful artifacts. However, during the COVID pandemic, I experienced a significant manic phase and had to stop taking one of my prescriptions. This experience inspired the idea of a character struggling with mental illness in a world without medication. I took the world-building from the game and crafted a novel that addresses mental illness in a more effective format. Magi’s Curse blends modern dialogue with a world where technological advancement has been stymied by the power of magic. It is similar to Sorcery of Thorns by Margaret Rogerson and The Blacksmith Queen by G. A. Aiken

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