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A Noble Loyalty (Cornerstone Series, #11): A Wounded Lion Retelling
She's biding her time.
He's looking for answers.
Everyone is hiding something—it doesn't matter who they are.
For as long as she can remember, Bellinda “Bee” Durand has lived behind a mask of smiles and been weighed down by other people’s expectations. As her father's snoop, Bee is given more freedom with travels and experiences among the gentry of the country than she has ever known in the past.
Yet this isn’t what she wants anymore, especially as she learns more about the man and his family who are her most recent assignment. They are so unlike the hard-edged people she’s known since her mother died that Bee begins to wonder if the cynicism her father has fostered in her is worth holding on to.
Elias Reyes is a Knight of the Educacias, the country of Ventosis’ center of knowledge and civil services. His family is not immune to hardships—the ups and downs of building a business, his brother’s disappearance, and a mysterious sickness that has swept through the land also afflicting his sister—but if that’s not enough, the producers that the Reyes shipping company deal with are targeted by unknown scoundrels.
Pressured by his duty to uphold justice and needing answers, Elias strives to connect the dots.
After a chance meeting with a young lady and new friends, secrets come to light that change everything.
Will the truth really set them free or tear them apart?
A Noble Loyalty is a NA Christian Fantasy Wounded Lion retelling.
Book #11 in the Cornerstone Series
He's looking for answers.
Everyone is hiding something—it doesn't matter who they are.
For as long as she can remember, Bellinda “Bee” Durand has lived behind a mask of smiles and been weighed down by other people’s expectations. As her father's snoop, Bee is given more freedom with travels and experiences among the gentry of the country than she has ever known in the past.
Yet this isn’t what she wants anymore, especially as she learns more about the man and his family who are her most recent assignment. They are so unlike the hard-edged people she’s known since her mother died that Bee begins to wonder if the cynicism her father has fostered in her is worth holding on to.
Elias Reyes is a Knight of the Educacias, the country of Ventosis’ center of knowledge and civil services. His family is not immune to hardships—the ups and downs of building a business, his brother’s disappearance, and a mysterious sickness that has swept through the land also afflicting his sister—but if that’s not enough, the producers that the Reyes shipping company deal with are targeted by unknown scoundrels.
Pressured by his duty to uphold justice and needing answers, Elias strives to connect the dots.
After a chance meeting with a young lady and new friends, secrets come to light that change everything.
Will the truth really set them free or tear them apart?
A Noble Loyalty is a NA Christian Fantasy Wounded Lion retelling.
Book #11 in the Cornerstone Series
177 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 7, 2025
4 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 21, 2025
3.5 stars, personally. ✨ Christian Fiction - Fairytale Retelling
About this book:
“She's biding her time.
He's looking for answers.
Everyone is hiding something—it doesn't matter who they are.
For as long as she can remember, Bellinda “Bee” Durand has lived behind a mask of smiles and been weighed down by other people’s expectations. As her father's snoop, Bee is given more freedom with travels and experiences among the gentry of the country than she has ever known in the past.
Yet this isn’t what she wants anymore, especially as she learns more about the man and his family who are her most recent assignment. They are so unlike the hard-edged people she’s known since her mother died that Bee begins to wonder if the cynicism her father has fostered in her is worth holding on to.
Elias Reyes is a Knight of the Educacias, the country of Ventosis’ center of knowledge and civil services. His family is not immune to hardships—the ups and downs of building a business, his brother’s disappearance, and a mysterious sickness that has swept through the land also afflicting his sister—but if that’s not enough, the producers that the Reyes shipping company deal with are targeted by unknown scoundrels.
Pressured by his duty to uphold justice and needing answers, Elias strives to connect the dots.
After a chance meeting with a young lady and new friends, secrets come to light that change everything.
Will the truth really set them free or tear them apart?”
Series: Book #11 in the multi-author series, “Cornerstone”. It does not seem to be connected to any other books, however. A stand-alone novel. Click on the books to be taken to that review: Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, Book #6, Book #7, Book #8, Book #9, and Book #10!
Spiritual Content- God is called “the Author” and Scriptures are called “the Scripts”; A few Scriptures are quoted, mentioned, & thought about; Bee notes that her father had no use for Scripture, especially after her mother died; A brother and sister are moved to tears about being able to read the Script for themselves as they come from a country that banned it; Mentions of the Author (God); Mentions of prayers, praying, thanking the Author, & blessings over food; Mentions of books of Scriptures & reading them; A few mentions of a country that has banned the Script; A mention of a chapel; A mention of miracles; A mention of a mosaic depicting something from Scripture;
*Note: “For Scripts’ sake” is exclaimed once by Elias; There are child-size bears who run a library called the “Ursen” and will trade humans knowledge/help in the library for a small item they want (such as a ribbon or a piece of lace); Mentions of the legend of Basajaun & someone leaving food out for it; A mention of gnomes.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘idiot’; Fictional exclamations include: a ‘light of the suns’, a ‘suns’, a ‘what in the worlds’, and five ‘scribbles’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Some eye rolling; Pain, Injuries, Being kidnapped/held hostage, Being locked in a room, Being grabbed, & Fighting (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); A fire, smoke, & the fear of a loved one being trapped and injured (up to semi-detailed); Seeing an unconscious and injured man knocked around by other men (barely-above-not-detailed); Bee snoops (spies) for her father on his competitors and feels guilt when doing it, but tells herself it’s just until she can be free from her father’s control (this includes her sneaking into offices and looking for information); Mentions of the death of a loved one & grief (Bee’s mother); Mentions of illegal substances (such as a plant that has been made into a sleeping agent when taking a small amount or higher doses and/or prolonged use making people reliant and emaciated); Mentions of criminals, arrests, & exiles; Mentions of sickness (including rashes, vomiting, and paralyzing headaches); Mentions of fires, injuries, & wounds (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a missing family member (Elias’ brother who disappeared years prior) & grief from his family; A few mentions of bandits; A few mentions of drinks at a party (not said to be alcohol or not; both Bee and Elias have some); A few mentions of a pipe & smoking; A couple mentions of lies; A couple mentions of gossip & rumors; A couple mentions of a bully; A mention of something being like a poison; A mention of vandalism; A mention of eavesdropping;
*Note: Bee feels like she isn’t enough and has to earn her father’s attention, but has realized that it doesn’t bring fulfillment and belonging like she hoped it would; *Spoiler* .
Sexual Content- Wanting to hold hands (once); A bit of noticing & staring (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple blushes; A tiny bit of jealousy; A mention of blushes; A mention of half the city’s women being cow-eyed over Elias; Attraction & the emotions.
-Bellinda Durand, age 19
-Elias Reyes
P.O.V. switches between them
181 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
I wasn’t familiar with The Wounded Lion story at all, so I read a quick synopsis of it before reading this book. Needless to say, it follows the path of many other strange and slightly gruesome fairytales and I’m thankful the latter part wasn’t in this retelling. That said, I didn’t really see the connections between that story and this one.
The romance was more of a future possibility between the main characters and kept very light with their emotions in this book, which I liked.
The author combined some unique settings to create this world and once I started understanding all the places and words used, it was interesting! I would have liked to learn more about certain parts—such as the Ursen, which are bears that run a library? I’m not quite clear on those and how that came to be (perhaps because this is supposed to be a non-magical series and the backstory of them would have been nice to know. Were they trained, if not magically enchanted or fantasy creatures?) but it added a different element to the story. The book ends with a very open-ended ending, so I imagine there will be a sequel.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
About this book:
“She's biding her time.
He's looking for answers.
Everyone is hiding something—it doesn't matter who they are.
For as long as she can remember, Bellinda “Bee” Durand has lived behind a mask of smiles and been weighed down by other people’s expectations. As her father's snoop, Bee is given more freedom with travels and experiences among the gentry of the country than she has ever known in the past.
Yet this isn’t what she wants anymore, especially as she learns more about the man and his family who are her most recent assignment. They are so unlike the hard-edged people she’s known since her mother died that Bee begins to wonder if the cynicism her father has fostered in her is worth holding on to.
Elias Reyes is a Knight of the Educacias, the country of Ventosis’ center of knowledge and civil services. His family is not immune to hardships—the ups and downs of building a business, his brother’s disappearance, and a mysterious sickness that has swept through the land also afflicting his sister—but if that’s not enough, the producers that the Reyes shipping company deal with are targeted by unknown scoundrels.
Pressured by his duty to uphold justice and needing answers, Elias strives to connect the dots.
After a chance meeting with a young lady and new friends, secrets come to light that change everything.
Will the truth really set them free or tear them apart?”
Series: Book #11 in the multi-author series, “Cornerstone”. It does not seem to be connected to any other books, however. A stand-alone novel. Click on the books to be taken to that review: Book #1, Book #2, Book #3, Book #4, Book #5, Book #6, Book #7, Book #8, Book #9, and Book #10!
Spiritual Content- God is called “the Author” and Scriptures are called “the Scripts”; A few Scriptures are quoted, mentioned, & thought about; Bee notes that her father had no use for Scripture, especially after her mother died; A brother and sister are moved to tears about being able to read the Script for themselves as they come from a country that banned it; Mentions of the Author (God); Mentions of prayers, praying, thanking the Author, & blessings over food; Mentions of books of Scriptures & reading them; A few mentions of a country that has banned the Script; A mention of a chapel; A mention of miracles; A mention of a mosaic depicting something from Scripture;
*Note: “For Scripts’ sake” is exclaimed once by Elias; There are child-size bears who run a library called the “Ursen” and will trade humans knowledge/help in the library for a small item they want (such as a ribbon or a piece of lace); Mentions of the legend of Basajaun & someone leaving food out for it; A mention of gnomes.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘idiot’; Fictional exclamations include: a ‘light of the suns’, a ‘suns’, a ‘what in the worlds’, and five ‘scribbles’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Some eye rolling; Pain, Injuries, Being kidnapped/held hostage, Being locked in a room, Being grabbed, & Fighting (border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); A fire, smoke, & the fear of a loved one being trapped and injured (up to semi-detailed); Seeing an unconscious and injured man knocked around by other men (barely-above-not-detailed); Bee snoops (spies) for her father on his competitors and feels guilt when doing it, but tells herself it’s just until she can be free from her father’s control (this includes her sneaking into offices and looking for information); Mentions of the death of a loved one & grief (Bee’s mother); Mentions of illegal substances (such as a plant that has been made into a sleeping agent when taking a small amount or higher doses and/or prolonged use making people reliant and emaciated); Mentions of criminals, arrests, & exiles; Mentions of sickness (including rashes, vomiting, and paralyzing headaches); Mentions of fires, injuries, & wounds (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a missing family member (Elias’ brother who disappeared years prior) & grief from his family; A few mentions of bandits; A few mentions of drinks at a party (not said to be alcohol or not; both Bee and Elias have some); A few mentions of a pipe & smoking; A couple mentions of lies; A couple mentions of gossip & rumors; A couple mentions of a bully; A mention of something being like a poison; A mention of vandalism; A mention of eavesdropping;
*Note: Bee feels like she isn’t enough and has to earn her father’s attention, but has realized that it doesn’t bring fulfillment and belonging like she hoped it would; *Spoiler* .
Sexual Content- Wanting to hold hands (once); A bit of noticing & staring (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple blushes; A tiny bit of jealousy; A mention of blushes; A mention of half the city’s women being cow-eyed over Elias; Attraction & the emotions.
-Bellinda Durand, age 19
-Elias Reyes
P.O.V. switches between them
181 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars (and a half)
I wasn’t familiar with The Wounded Lion story at all, so I read a quick synopsis of it before reading this book. Needless to say, it follows the path of many other strange and slightly gruesome fairytales and I’m thankful the latter part wasn’t in this retelling. That said, I didn’t really see the connections between that story and this one.
The romance was more of a future possibility between the main characters and kept very light with their emotions in this book, which I liked.
The author combined some unique settings to create this world and once I started understanding all the places and words used, it was interesting! I would have liked to learn more about certain parts—such as the Ursen, which are bears that run a library? I’m not quite clear on those and how that came to be (perhaps because this is supposed to be a non-magical series and the backstory of them would have been nice to know. Were they trained, if not magically enchanted or fantasy creatures?) but it added a different element to the story. The book ends with a very open-ended ending, so I imagine there will be a sequel.
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
December 17, 2024
This was a fun book and I quite enjoyed it!😁
Characters:
Bee was a good character, conflicted and torn by loyalty, and though I personally didn't connect with her a whole lot, she was a great character with a good amount of growth.
Elias was such a nice guy! I loved that he was bookish but also a knight and not afraid to stand up for justice. That is something that doesn't often go hand in hand with male characters.
All the supporting characters were great as well!
Language:
N/A
Romance:
Nothing but some relationship building that is sweet.
Violence/Gore:
I would be comfortable handing this book to a twelve year old. Nothing concerning. Everything is handled nicely.
Overall:
This was a unique and complex world, I got lost a few times, probably because my mind has been wandering a bit lately... OtherwiseI think I would have kept up fine.
I wanted more of Alba and the man she saved.🤣 The whole time, I wanted more... and I had to remind myself that the story wasn't about them.🤣
This is a great addition to the Cornerstone Series!
Recommend for ages 12+ (though maybe 14+ to keep up with the complex world building and slower plot)
Characters:
Bee was a good character, conflicted and torn by loyalty, and though I personally didn't connect with her a whole lot, she was a great character with a good amount of growth.
Elias was such a nice guy! I loved that he was bookish but also a knight and not afraid to stand up for justice. That is something that doesn't often go hand in hand with male characters.
All the supporting characters were great as well!
Language:
N/A
Romance:
Nothing but some relationship building that is sweet.
Violence/Gore:
I would be comfortable handing this book to a twelve year old. Nothing concerning. Everything is handled nicely.
Overall:
This was a unique and complex world, I got lost a few times, probably because my mind has been wandering a bit lately... OtherwiseI think I would have kept up fine.
I wanted more of Alba and the man she saved.🤣 The whole time, I wanted more... and I had to remind myself that the story wasn't about them.🤣
This is a great addition to the Cornerstone Series!
Recommend for ages 12+ (though maybe 14+ to keep up with the complex world building and slower plot)
January 17, 2025
A beautiful retelling of an underrated and lesser known fairytale.
Read
December 31, 2024Wow what a ride!!
My heart is pounding as I type this—I’m just so thankful! I can’t believe A Noble Loyalty is finished and that it will be out in the world!
Y’all have no idea how much I appreciate every single one of you who decide to take a chance on this book.
I love this story & these characters so much and I hope y’all will too!!
My heart is pounding as I type this—I’m just so thankful! I can’t believe A Noble Loyalty is finished and that it will be out in the world!
Y’all have no idea how much I appreciate every single one of you who decide to take a chance on this book.
I love this story & these characters so much and I hope y’all will too!!
April 16, 2025
4.5 stars (4/10 hearts). I have never read The Wounded Lion, so I'm sure I missed out on references to the original fairytale. (I really should read at least the summaries of those stories before I read these novellas...) However, that didn't stop me from enjoying this tale. I was intrigued by the Spanish-inspired fantasyland with its library bears and complex history. The plot and writing style were a little convoluted and I struggled to keep everything going on straight, but I read this pretty fast, so that's on me. I loved the fact that this story only had the faintest tinge of romance and ended so platonically! Elias was a sturdy, dependable MMC (love his reading/writing bent), and I felt so sorry for Bee. Most of all, though, I loved the two foreign siblings—their love for the scriptures was awesome. And as a bilingual who translates constantly, I can assure you their dialogue was so well written! It's a satisfying story that wrapped up well, and I need a dress in the same colour as Bee's!
Content: someone gets burned pretty bad (I don't remember if there were descriptions; probably not, but I personally found it a little difficult to read about); 2 mentions of smoking; "for Script's sake"; physical and verbal abuse towards a grown woman by her father.
Fantasy level: 3/5 (medium). There are little bears, basically librarians, who work in the school/library building, carrying around food and pointing people towards books they're looking for. They're nonverbal and sometimes act like little children, or like pets; they also have a delightful clothing style!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
Content: someone gets burned pretty bad (I don't remember if there were descriptions; probably not, but I personally found it a little difficult to read about); 2 mentions of smoking; "for Script's sake"; physical and verbal abuse towards a grown woman by her father.
Fantasy level: 3/5 (medium). There are little bears, basically librarians, who work in the school/library building, carrying around food and pointing people towards books they're looking for. They're nonverbal and sometimes act like little children, or like pets; they also have a delightful clothing style!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.*
March 11, 2025
I am not as familiar with the tale of the Wounded Lion, so I'm going to put aside that measure of my review; I will tell you, instead, what I loved about this story on its own merits.
I loved the GIANT library, with lessons for the people, and offices for nobleman and knights.
I loved the reluctant-corporate-spy heroine who grows a conscience, choosing to find her worth in something other than her father's approval.
I loved the noble knight, who's looking for answers.
I loved the little library bears (!!!), who are adorable, helpful, and more than a little mysterious in origin. I would like wee, adorable caretakers of my own personal library, but I don't think that's happening anytime soon.
I loved the beautiful glimpse into the cultures of the world within the pages.
I loved that the scriptures are shown as being not only precious, but personal.
I loved the weaving of the families, so that the characters are connected in more ways than one.
I think this was a very good book. I can't speak to it as a retelling... but it's a good story, and I recommend it!
I loved the GIANT library, with lessons for the people, and offices for nobleman and knights.
I loved the reluctant-corporate-spy heroine who grows a conscience, choosing to find her worth in something other than her father's approval.
I loved the noble knight, who's looking for answers.
I loved the little library bears (!!!), who are adorable, helpful, and more than a little mysterious in origin. I would like wee, adorable caretakers of my own personal library, but I don't think that's happening anytime soon.
I loved the beautiful glimpse into the cultures of the world within the pages.
I loved that the scriptures are shown as being not only precious, but personal.
I loved the weaving of the families, so that the characters are connected in more ways than one.
I think this was a very good book. I can't speak to it as a retelling... but it's a good story, and I recommend it!
December 24, 2024
Prepare to be immersed into a world of Spanish origins, fun sibling banter, hilarious cute moments with Elias and Bee, and a hard but beautiful theme weaved into this tale that explores what is the more noble loyalty.
To begin with, I did not have high expectations for this book at all. (Nice, Faith, it's because you haven't read anything from the author yet! XD) But wow, just the WORLDBUILDING. *heart eyes* I do wish for Olivia Godfrey to write more—this book was too short of a read to properly satisfy me since Elias and Bee were too cute for their story to end here.
A quote that was too memorable for me to not add it (from Elias' POV):
“Would you like to dance, Bee? Uh, Lady Durand. Bellinda.” He wanted to howl—how was it he felt so idiotic around her? Thankfully, she only looked mildly surprised and then gracefully accepted.
(From Bee's POV, near the end of the book. :innocent_smile:
"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
It was from Scripture and may not have been exactly referring to the situation at hand, but it was why she was here. She wanted the truth. She did want to be set free.
More to come to this review.
*FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.
To begin with, I did not have high expectations for this book at all. (Nice, Faith, it's because you haven't read anything from the author yet! XD) But wow, just the WORLDBUILDING. *heart eyes* I do wish for Olivia Godfrey to write more—this book was too short of a read to properly satisfy me since Elias and Bee were too cute for their story to end here.
A quote that was too memorable for me to not add it (from Elias' POV):
“Would you like to dance, Bee? Uh, Lady Durand. Bellinda.” He wanted to howl—how was it he felt so idiotic around her? Thankfully, she only looked mildly surprised and then gracefully accepted.
(From Bee's POV, near the end of the book. :innocent_smile:
"You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
It was from Scripture and may not have been exactly referring to the situation at hand, but it was why she was here. She wanted the truth. She did want to be set free.
More to come to this review.
*FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.
December 23, 2024
I absolutely enjoyed this story! Not super familiar with the Wounded Lion Fairytale, but the story was so good!
Highly recommend it to anyone and everyone! There’s really no other words…I’ve never been able to say much else unless things really stuck out to me…but just saying, it’s an amazing book. These series are amazing! And you guys should go read them and support these amazing authors!
**I received an ARC for this in exchange for an honest review and these are my own words…I mean, you can definitely tell I didn’t copy them! 😂
Highly recommend it to anyone and everyone! There’s really no other words…I’ve never been able to say much else unless things really stuck out to me…but just saying, it’s an amazing book. These series are amazing! And you guys should go read them and support these amazing authors!
**I received an ARC for this in exchange for an honest review and these are my own words…I mean, you can definitely tell I didn’t copy them! 😂
January 15, 2025
My goodness, if you have even the slightest thought of picking up this book I urge you to do it!
I was blessed to have received an arc copy of this book and this book has my whole heart now.
I have never read a book as unique and beautiful as it. I’m a rather picky reader myself, but this book had such a hold on me!
The story itself was brilliant, and the way Olivia writes is so magical. And her writing style gives you just enough information to want to keep going but to also keep you satisfied.
I absolutely adore Bee so much, I adore all of the characters. (Minus someone’s father….) and Elias is my new fictional crush.
Overall this book has such a good message and an absolutely wonderful story to represent it.
I was blessed to have received an arc copy of this book and this book has my whole heart now.
I have never read a book as unique and beautiful as it. I’m a rather picky reader myself, but this book had such a hold on me!
The story itself was brilliant, and the way Olivia writes is so magical. And her writing style gives you just enough information to want to keep going but to also keep you satisfied.
I absolutely adore Bee so much, I adore all of the characters. (Minus someone’s father….) and Elias is my new fictional crush.
Overall this book has such a good message and an absolutely wonderful story to represent it.
April 19, 2025
An average fairytale retelling. Had some good world building moments, but overall not something that really stood out to me one way or the other. If novella-length fairytale retellings are your thing, this is likely to be more enjoyable for you than it was for me.
January 10, 2025
Enjoyed this story a lot! The characters were likeable and the bit of mystery kept me curious about how everything was going to tie together. I was a little unprepared for the light fantasy element specifically in the Ursen (apparently intelligent but non-speaking anthropomorphic bears), but there was nothing magic involved, and I found them rather charming when I got used to them. ;) The details of the different cultures were interesting, and I very much enjoyed spending time with just about everyone. <3
Read
January 22, 2025The second Cornerstone book I've read so far, A Noble Loyalty is a lovely novella for Christian fantasy romance fans. While I never connected that much with the characters, I liked the setting and thought it was fairly unique for the genre. My favorite part had to be the Ursen, friendly bears who help out readers at the Educacias.
July 26, 2025
3.5 stars!
A Noble Loyalty is the first book I’ve read by author Olivia Godfrey. It was a good, suspenseful mystery with a light romance born from deception and tested by truth.
The Christian aspect was woven throughout the book with Scripture references, prayers, and mentions of God as the Author. I enjoyed the imagination and creativity Olivia brought to the story. It felt like I was reading a fairy tale with a hint of sci-fi and a medieval setting.
There was an element of suspense as the story came to an end and the mystery began to unravel. I did have to refer to the cast of characters guide to make sure I understood what was happening at times.
Knight Elias was a favorite character, as he sought justice and truth. His maturity was evident in the face of hardship. He was truly a knight in shining armor.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There was definitely a moment that made my jaw drop! It had a meaningful message about truth, forgiveness, and friendship. While I don’t know much about A Wounded Lion story, I appreciated this book as a standalone.
✨I won a free ebook from the author and chose to review it. All opinions are my own.
A Noble Loyalty is the first book I’ve read by author Olivia Godfrey. It was a good, suspenseful mystery with a light romance born from deception and tested by truth.
The Christian aspect was woven throughout the book with Scripture references, prayers, and mentions of God as the Author. I enjoyed the imagination and creativity Olivia brought to the story. It felt like I was reading a fairy tale with a hint of sci-fi and a medieval setting.
There was an element of suspense as the story came to an end and the mystery began to unravel. I did have to refer to the cast of characters guide to make sure I understood what was happening at times.
Knight Elias was a favorite character, as he sought justice and truth. His maturity was evident in the face of hardship. He was truly a knight in shining armor.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. There was definitely a moment that made my jaw drop! It had a meaningful message about truth, forgiveness, and friendship. While I don’t know much about A Wounded Lion story, I appreciated this book as a standalone.
✨I won a free ebook from the author and chose to review it. All opinions are my own.
December 23, 2025
I really enjoyed A Noble Loyalty. If it wasn't for the subtitle, I wouldn't know it was a retelling. ;) It was nice having the perspective focus more on people who might be side-characters in a regular retelling.
The characters were amazing, the dual-plot was executed well (can't explain for spoiler reasons), and I loved the little bears. <3 The Spanish flair was subtle but awesome. Also loved the sweet romance. It wasn't heavy or the main point of the story. Just enough and slow-burn to be natural. :D
I really love how everything came together at the end. Really amazing for the author to pull off in a novella. I don't think there's anything I'd change in the story. And even the paperback comes with a map and pronunciation guide!! Truly the best things a reader could hope for. :)
Big thanks to the author for a short, sweet, and clean story. <3
The characters were amazing, the dual-plot was executed well (can't explain for spoiler reasons), and I loved the little bears. <3 The Spanish flair was subtle but awesome. Also loved the sweet romance. It wasn't heavy or the main point of the story. Just enough and slow-burn to be natural. :D
I really love how everything came together at the end. Really amazing for the author to pull off in a novella. I don't think there's anything I'd change in the story. And even the paperback comes with a map and pronunciation guide!! Truly the best things a reader could hope for. :)
Big thanks to the author for a short, sweet, and clean story. <3
January 6, 2025
This book was such a joy to read!! The perfect mix of cozy and mysterious, it was a quick but exciting read. I loved each of the characters so much and felt they all added something unique to the story. Well done, Olivia!!
January 15, 2025
This whole series has been such a joy to read and A Noble Loyalty was so much fun. I especially loved the Educacias with its books and bears. ❤️
May 1, 2025
"You will know the truth and the truth will set you free"
It may not have been exactly referring to the situation at hand, but it was why Bee was here. She wanted the truth. She did want to be set free.
If you ever feel the need to pick up a book that feels like cuddling up under a blanket on a late summer/early autumn evening while drinking a cup of tea this is the book you should read.
It is a perfect, cozy fantasy adventure with loveable characters and a beautiful, soft writing voice that I can't wait to revisit many times over.
It may not have been exactly referring to the situation at hand, but it was why Bee was here. She wanted the truth. She did want to be set free.
If you ever feel the need to pick up a book that feels like cuddling up under a blanket on a late summer/early autumn evening while drinking a cup of tea this is the book you should read.
It is a perfect, cozy fantasy adventure with loveable characters and a beautiful, soft writing voice that I can't wait to revisit many times over.
August 19, 2025
Content:
Profanity: None.
Violence: Mild. Sprained ankle, bruises, threats of violence/peril.
Sexual: Mild. Barely exists. Characters are attracted, but nothing happens beyond dancing together, offering an arm to hold, etc.
Triggers: Deals with a type of fantasy drug trafficking. Parental abandonment, and grief.
Really a 2.5, but rounded up for the potential.
Not being familiar whatsoever with the fairy tale "The Wounded Lion" I went into this with zero idea of what to expect. The first half deals with an introduction to our main characters, Elias and Bee, as well as the world created here.
There were too many names.
The world here was a mash of Latin/Spanish and the reader has a dozen names of places thrown at them within the first chapter. It's impossible to keep track of and keep the flow of the story. I had to just hope my brain picked it up as I went, despite the author having a glossary of sorts at the beginning of the book (good job author) which is annoying to have to reference on an e-book. Again, story flow gets halted every time I have to look up what word means what.
It was odd to read, because I kept feeling like this was one of those prequel/in-between books to an author's main series. It had a feel of being thrown into things you ought to already know. It made for a frustrating read. I think, now that I'm through, that the author was attempting to create a tone, but got bogged down in giving all the names of the cities they were passing through, the rivers and countries the caravans pass by, and then the random Latin/Spanish names for things instead. It didn't work for me. I felt that it had a good idea of a fantasy world, but it was vague in some ways, and way too detailed in other ways.
I kept thinking Elias and his family were royalty, but they weren't? I don't know if I missed that, but they all seem to live in the Educacias (a university of some kind with a huge library?) but don't really have control over anything on a city/state level. Though Elias is a knight...of something. And their family owns the caravan? Or has stock in it? I was so confused on how the government system of the city was set up. Vague vague vague.
Then, we get introduced to this drug that people are starting to abuse in the first chapter or two that starts with a 'q', something like quericias or something. Then nothing is said about it for half a book, then that 'q' word came back and I was so lost. I couldn't remember what it was or why it was important. It took nearly the rest of the book for me to get it even with me thinking context in the story would help.
The focus of the book seemed to be on Bee and her allegiance and how her father treated her. It was interesting and the pacing was pretty nice, up until a bit over the halfway point. That first half was all about Bee helping the Skoven people (neighboring country/city?) in the marketplace and getting back to her roots, and Elias getting to know Bee and seeing his attraction to her.
The second half though? ALL the action bits got hurled in there, so much so that the author was forced to scramble, shove, and force things into exposition to get it all crammed in there. There were big jumps between page breaks, and we got told what was happening. I didn't get to experience a solid chunk of how everything played out. It was too much in too short a space. This plot needed a bigger novel. It felt so rushed that there was no chance to see any sort of character growth other than small moments with Bee and Lee.
Lee is a person too that just gave hints at his past and his choices. That needed to be explored, we only got the barest hint of why he up and abandoned his family and what he'd been doing the last ten years?
This entire book was a frustration for me, because it felt like it needed a few more revisions and to really develop the last half of the book so it wasn't a chicken with its head cut off running around the yard of my brain. It had TONS of potential. I'd love to see a spanish fantasy world (but introduce those words/places slower please!) with spanish fairy tales represented.
I really struggled with this book because of technical aspects of the book (there were more typos in the last half than is doable really), and also the lack of polish in the plot/world building. So much potential though. If the author wanted to yoink this book, really revise it, and polish it up, I'd try it again. That last half was like reading the first or second draft. Oof.
Profanity: None.
Violence: Mild. Sprained ankle, bruises, threats of violence/peril.
Sexual: Mild. Barely exists. Characters are attracted, but nothing happens beyond dancing together, offering an arm to hold, etc.
Triggers: Deals with a type of fantasy drug trafficking. Parental abandonment, and grief.
Really a 2.5, but rounded up for the potential.
Not being familiar whatsoever with the fairy tale "The Wounded Lion" I went into this with zero idea of what to expect. The first half deals with an introduction to our main characters, Elias and Bee, as well as the world created here.
There were too many names.
The world here was a mash of Latin/Spanish and the reader has a dozen names of places thrown at them within the first chapter. It's impossible to keep track of and keep the flow of the story. I had to just hope my brain picked it up as I went, despite the author having a glossary of sorts at the beginning of the book (good job author) which is annoying to have to reference on an e-book. Again, story flow gets halted every time I have to look up what word means what.
It was odd to read, because I kept feeling like this was one of those prequel/in-between books to an author's main series. It had a feel of being thrown into things you ought to already know. It made for a frustrating read. I think, now that I'm through, that the author was attempting to create a tone, but got bogged down in giving all the names of the cities they were passing through, the rivers and countries the caravans pass by, and then the random Latin/Spanish names for things instead. It didn't work for me. I felt that it had a good idea of a fantasy world, but it was vague in some ways, and way too detailed in other ways.
I kept thinking Elias and his family were royalty, but they weren't? I don't know if I missed that, but they all seem to live in the Educacias (a university of some kind with a huge library?) but don't really have control over anything on a city/state level. Though Elias is a knight...of something. And their family owns the caravan? Or has stock in it? I was so confused on how the government system of the city was set up. Vague vague vague.
Then, we get introduced to this drug that people are starting to abuse in the first chapter or two that starts with a 'q', something like quericias or something. Then nothing is said about it for half a book, then that 'q' word came back and I was so lost. I couldn't remember what it was or why it was important. It took nearly the rest of the book for me to get it even with me thinking context in the story would help.
The focus of the book seemed to be on Bee and her allegiance and how her father treated her. It was interesting and the pacing was pretty nice, up until a bit over the halfway point. That first half was all about Bee helping the Skoven people (neighboring country/city?) in the marketplace and getting back to her roots, and Elias getting to know Bee and seeing his attraction to her.
The second half though? ALL the action bits got hurled in there, so much so that the author was forced to scramble, shove, and force things into exposition to get it all crammed in there. There were big jumps between page breaks, and we got told what was happening. I didn't get to experience a solid chunk of how everything played out. It was too much in too short a space. This plot needed a bigger novel. It felt so rushed that there was no chance to see any sort of character growth other than small moments with Bee and Lee.
Lee is a person too that just gave hints at his past and his choices. That needed to be explored, we only got the barest hint of why he up and abandoned his family and what he'd been doing the last ten years?
This entire book was a frustration for me, because it felt like it needed a few more revisions and to really develop the last half of the book so it wasn't a chicken with its head cut off running around the yard of my brain. It had TONS of potential. I'd love to see a spanish fantasy world (but introduce those words/places slower please!) with spanish fairy tales represented.
I really struggled with this book because of technical aspects of the book (there were more typos in the last half than is doable really), and also the lack of polish in the plot/world building. So much potential though. If the author wanted to yoink this book, really revise it, and polish it up, I'd try it again. That last half was like reading the first or second draft. Oof.
January 1, 2025
I was very excited to read Olivia's book, and it was such a joy! I loved getting to follow Bee's story as she dealt with navigating family loyalty but also doing what's right, and Elias was such a noble counterpart too. I also really loved the Ursin and I'd love to see more books in this world just to see those lovely little creatures more!
The pacing was strong, but it did take me a little bit to get in to the book, only because I'm really bad at following lots of fantasy names and political tensions. I did get everything pretty quickly though, and it was very nice seeing the threads of the Wounded Lion woven in! It was cool seeing the story from a bit of an outsider's perspective, too.
I loved the faith element (in this world God is referred to as the Author), especially how it applied to Bee finding her way and finding freedom.
I received a free eARC of this book but all opinions expressed are my own!
The pacing was strong, but it did take me a little bit to get in to the book, only because I'm really bad at following lots of fantasy names and political tensions. I did get everything pretty quickly though, and it was very nice seeing the threads of the Wounded Lion woven in! It was cool seeing the story from a bit of an outsider's perspective, too.
I loved the faith element (in this world God is referred to as the Author), especially how it applied to Bee finding her way and finding freedom.
I received a free eARC of this book but all opinions expressed are my own!
January 7, 2025
A Noble Loyalty by Olivia Godfrey was an excellent story! It was so fun to have a “new” fairytale to be retold. I have not read the Wounded Lion, but if it is even half as good as this story, I will need to read it! It took me just a little bit to get the characters straight in my head and how we would be following them in the story but once I did it was enjoyable to watch how their stories intertwined. I found Godfrey’s writing style quite pleasant to read and easy to follow. This was a great, clean, fun retelling that I would happily read again. I did receive an advanced copy of the book and was asked but not required to provide a review. All opinions are my own.
January 7, 2025
This was a cute story based on a Spanish fairytale, the Wounded Lion. I liked that it really was the side characters in the story that had their quests and told the full story, the fairytale was more of a main event throughout the story. I also loved that there were multiple love stories throughout this book, made it extra swoony to me. There were so many amazing storylines going on with things behind the scenes. It was just really well written...definitely a story I enjoyed and will probably read again!
February 14, 2025
I was unfamiliar with The Wounded Lion story, and so went into this book not knowing what to expect. I enjoyed the story and the touches of whimsy, but the fantastical was not truly important to the story. This book focuses mainly on mysteries and searching for the truth. While both plot and emotional storylines were present, I found the plot was the driving force of the story. A Noble Loyalty introduced me to an interesting new-to-me fairy tale that I hope to see again and characters that I hope the author has other adventures for.
August 25, 2025
I'm not familiar with the original fairytale of this retelling. This was too much fantasy for my taste, but the emotions and struggle of the main character, Bee, were very realistic. I appreciated the authenticity of her and her friends. The giant library was intriguing.
December 13, 2024
This book is well-written and has an interesting plot with complex, likable characters. The world-building is very good, and it’s really cool that the fairy tale’s Spanish origins influence the setting here. I did not know anything about The Wounded Lion prior to reading A Noble Loyalty, so I don’t think you need to understand it to read this book. That said, looking up the fairy tale’s synopsis helped me a bit, and it made reading this story even more enjoyable, as I got to recognize which elements of the story paid homage to the original and which were new (Noble Loyalty is a good mix of both). I’ll be honest, at first I had trouble keeping track of all of the characters, even though there’s a helpful list of descriptions at the beginning of the book, so that has more to do with me than with the story or author.
This story is completely clean. There are tiny hints of non-descriptive violence in the story (e.g., a burn from a fire; someone hit on the head during a fight). It has reverence for Scripture and cites some verses, but it’s not too heavy-handed; I think even readers who aren’t Christian could still enjoy it. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys non-magical fantasy and fairy tale retellings.
Thank you to Olivia Godfrey for the free advanced review copy. I post this review with my honest opinions; I was not required to provide a positive review.
This story is completely clean. There are tiny hints of non-descriptive violence in the story (e.g., a burn from a fire; someone hit on the head during a fight). It has reverence for Scripture and cites some verses, but it’s not too heavy-handed; I think even readers who aren’t Christian could still enjoy it. I recommend this story to anyone who enjoys non-magical fantasy and fairy tale retellings.
Thank you to Olivia Godfrey for the free advanced review copy. I post this review with my honest opinions; I was not required to provide a positive review.
January 7, 2025
This book was a fascinating combination of fantasy and fairytale with several twists connecting it to European culture. I loved the way the story built as it went along, so that my understanding grew the more I read! I appreciated the real life feel that had consequences for actions and an implied happy ending, but with the feel of reality and life continuing on.
October 16, 2025
You know, the main trouble with this novel is that it’s too short! I wanted to spend more time in this world. Bee and Elias make a great couple although I have to admit that Bee’s my favorite. I loved the descriptions and I wanted to chew my nails during some of the suspenseful scenes. Definitely an author I’ll be reading again!
February 6, 2025
What an emotional, but beautiful story!
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