The Gargoyle I Curved

by Marcia Black

He thinks she curved him. She knows he left her.

Ten years ago, Victoria Hersh and Kyros Darkmoore lost each other. Now fate throws them back together at Redline Biotech, where distance isn’t an option and the past won’t stay quiet.
Kyros never stopped loving her. Victoria never stopped believing he chose another over her.
She’s here to do her job and keep her peace. He’s here to earn his way back to her.
When danger finds Victoria, silence is no longer an option.

Second chances are messy.

Genres: Paranormal Romance

108 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2026

About the author

I’m a longtime romance reader turned author, writing stories where women choose their own fate and the monsters aren’t always the villains. Paranormal, sci-fi, and fantasy romance keep me fed—and I’ll never say no to a fated mate with dangerous hands and a soft spot for the one they’d burn the world for.

Reviews

[brittany:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had so much fun with this!! 🥹🖤 I love when a monster romance is able to make the characters feel relatable on so many different levels while still giving us all the fantasy goodness. 🪽✨

Of course I love a protective, yearning man with wings… so naturally I ate this up. 😭🖤🪽

The only thing holding this back from being a 5⭐ for me was that I desperately wanted more. Since it’s a novella, there were a few moments that felt rushed, and I would’ve loved more time with these characters and their relationship. I honestly think this would’ve been incredible as a full-length novel.📕

Still, this was such a fun, cozy monster romance and I loved every minute of it. 🖤✨

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second Chance at Love 😘

The Gargoyle I Curved by Marcia Black

A fated‑mates, second‑chance monster romance with the kind of messy history that makes you want to shake both characters and then hug them. Victoria finally lands her dream job she’s thriving, she’s booked, she’s blessed and then boom. Guess who also works there?
Kyros.
Her ancient, stone‑carved ex‑everything who she absolutely did not plan on seeing again in this lifetime.

They both swear the other one walked away years ago, and they’ve been carrying that heartbreak like emotional luggage ever since. But once they’re forced back into each other’s orbit, it becomes very clear that somebody lied, somebody meddled, and fate is over here giggling like, “Y’all gonna deal with this today.”

The chemistry? Immediate.
The tension? Thick enough to carve.
The payoff? Worth every page.

You can read this as a standalone, but reading The Vampire Who Tried It first gives you all the juicy worldbuilding and character connections that make the puzzle pieces snap together.

Perfect for readers who love angst, destiny, workplace reunions, monster romance spice, and exes who were never actually over each other.

[Symone · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ This was a cute and quick lil paranormal romance read. Victoria gets her dream job but things get complicated when she finds out her old boo thang she hadn't seen in 10 years works there too. This story came with a lil crazy twist. And i did find out at the end that "The Vampire Who Tried It" is a recommended read if you want to put more pieces of the story together This was actually my first book by this author. If you want a little sweet palate cleanser with witches, gargoyles, and vampires, check this out.

[Etasha Ruggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes second chances are necessary

I enjoyed this second chance romance. It was a cute and quick read. Kyros and Victoria had a past to overcome and did just that even though Victoria did annoy me a bit.

[Ace · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time with this one. It is a pretty common storyline for the story and it takes place in a universe that I enjoyed reading about in the book, The Vampire Who Tried It. However, the whole book, I could help being uncomfortable with how the MMC constantly violated any boundaries the FMC tried to set. Especially after 10 years and misunderstandings? Why is he so comfortable immediately stepping into her space and saying sexual stuff? Then constantly touching her and making sure she can't debt him access to her? That doesn't feel like tension to me, it feels like harassment. It doesn't feel like he's seeking forgiveness either or to even clear things up. Just because she's attracted to him doesn't make it okay.

Also, when she gets hurt and refuses to seek medical care doesn't make sense at all. She's a professional scientist. She would know she needs to be seen immediately, especially if she's as highly reputable as the story purports. So either she isn't very good at her job, the liability, legal, and also personal ramifications withstanding or she literally didn't seek medical help simply to avoid the MMC, which is damning in a different way.

This story would've been enjoyable if it weren't for the MMC's toxic, controlling nature. I love second chances and the hurt/comfort intimacy of caring for a sick partner, but everything else leading up to it was... Not great.

[Abbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

When the delusions of others interfere in your life

We knew from the jump that miscommunication was the major conflict between Victoria and Kyris. But to find out their separation was planned through the actions of another, who took advantage of a volatile situation that was happening at the time? Wickedness. Imagine being led to believe that your mate and the love of your life no longer wanted you and then to lose 10 years together because the liar was not only convincing but abused their position of trust to ensure that you stayed apart and unhappy. Some people really be making plans for you in their lives when you barely even know they exist.

[Cattera Rune · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a spin-the-block kind of girly, so second-chance romances will always have me seated, and The Gargoyle I Curved delivered exactly what I needed.


Marcia Black captured Kyros and Victoria’s relationship with the perfect balance of angst, humor, and tension. Their story pulled me in and kept me invested from start to finish. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment.


Now I’m about to spin the block myself and go reread Hakeem and Sai’s story in The Vampire Who Tried It, because clearly, Marcia is on a roll.


I’m already looking forward to the next book!

[Lizzie Jenks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adored this book! Victoria is oh, so relatable. She dives into her goals to mend a broken heart, and when the man who broke it shows up at her dream job, that definitely calls for a medicinal evening of wine and chocolate on the sofa. And Kyros. Where to start? He is protective, and powerful, and those horns. And let's not forget that tail. Victoria certainly won't! I loved Marcia Black's first book, and this one is even better!

[Maryanna Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sweet Second Chance Romance

This little novella has me interested in reading more of this bookverse. He's a gargoyle and she's a witch and they have been robbed of 10 years together. Work related circumstances bring them back into each other's lives. Both are hurting and clueless as to why they ever ended to begin with. One thing is for sure, the feelings are still there. This was a well rounded quick story with just the right ratio of plot/action/spice.

[Trescina Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome read!

I really enjoyed this book. I saw you for the first time on TikTok and decided to give your book a try. It was an amazing read. The love that made it through a misunderstanding was awesome. He realized that someone lied and caused confusion so he got to the root of the problem and set the record straight. Read this book and dive into this new author Marcia Black she is awesome.

[BooksChaosandTea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Smooth, Beautiful, and Worth the Read

I loved the growth from the first book. The transitions between scenes were smooth, and I never felt lost or like I was missing anything. I can’t wait for the next book.

The story itself was absolutely beautiful. Second chance romances bring me such joy, and this one hit all the right notes for me.

[April Tate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Quick Read! Highly recommend

I liked that this was second chance romance, the heroine was independen
t but relatable. The hero was possessive but understood boundaries and it was spicy!

[Akira Bonner · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely little appetizer to keep us hooked for the main story! I actually wanted this to be longer and want more of them in book two! Ms. Black has a way of writing INDIVIDUAL characters. No one feels like a repeat of each other. Another fabulous read and I cannot wait for book two! ❤️

[Courtney Courtreads1 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Victoria was trying to put up the pieces from a broken heart while starting a new job, not knowing the man who hurt her is working there too, a gargoyle named Kyros. This second change at love was cute and straight to the point with a little plot twist.

[Erica Marlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

I am loving this new (to me) author Marcia Black. I read black on black fantasy romance ONLY as my desires will always be black love. Marcia delivers the blackness like only WE can. She has a new fan in me and I cannot wait to see what's next!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet my new book obsession

I was in a massive book slump but this might have single handedly cured me. The tension was delicious, the couple was sweet but intense, and their connection was beautiful.

[Sweet Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a light hearted romance!! Kyros was so patient with Victoria. I loved how even though she was hurt, she was bitter to him. I love how that time apart only made their love strong individually.

[Sistaharlem · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mysterious Passionate Novella

This book had the Main characters believing that they each moved on when in actuality there was another entity that kept them away from each other.

[Ash B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyros & Victoria

This was a cute second chance romance novella. I enjoyed the light mystery of what caused the rift. Marcia did a great job at tying everything together

[BlackMeetsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could've Been x HER ft Bryson Tiller