Burn of Obsidian

Curse of the Guardians #6

by Taylor Aston White

She's been his from the moment they met... she just didn't know it yet.

Jax is tasked with hunting down the pages connected to a dangerous artefact. The last of his brothers to break his curse, he never believed he’d ever find his mate. Until he met her, his opposite in every way. Thea is impulsive, loud, and brings colour to his world of grey. But with danger lurking and the fate of everything tied to the artefact, Jax must keep his distance and protect her from the shadows.

Until one of the pages is stolen… and he knows exactly who took it.

Thea was content being a petty thief, but with her father’s hospital bills piling up, she needed to earn more. And fast. So when a friend offers her a high-stakes job, she would be a fool not to take it, wouldn’t she? It’s just a page, a simple document, but this quick job spirals into a dangerous mistake. Because others are after the same page, and they’re willing to harm her to get it—everyone except for him.

Thrust into a war she never knew existed, Thea is forced to work with the quiet, cold Guardian to hunt down the remaining pages.

Will they be able to find them in time, or will she lose everything?


Dark Paranormal Romance - Grumpy Sunshine - Found Family - He Falls First - Fated Mates - Stalker

Burn of Obsidian is a deliciously dark paranormal romance containing explicit content, graphic violence, profanity, and topics that may be sensitive to some readers. Full details can be found listed inside the book. Recommended for 18+.

This novel is written in British English including spelling and grammar.

Genres: Fantasy, Dark Romance, Paranormal Romance, Romance, Supernatural, Romantasy, Fantasy Romance

394 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 29, 2024

About the author

Taylor Aston White writes deliciously dark fantasy & romance, where tension burns, secrets break, and love always wins. Based in the UK with her childhood sweetheart and their two children, she's the author of several bestselling series and loves to explore mythology and European faerie tales to create her own, modern twists.

Follow her on Instagram - @taylorastonwhite, and join her newsletter on www.taylorastonwhite.com

Be sure to follow Taylor on BookBub for the latest on sales https://bit.ly/3rNVVlm

Reviews

[Vonn Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first read by this author and even though it’s the 6th book in a series, it can be read as a standalone.

That being said, I still had trouble with remembering all the names and their relationships. And some of the fight scenes were all over the place and I couldn’t figure out who was who in their “beast” forms.

Jax and Thea were perfect for each other and I enjoyed their story.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

His rainbow girl was a fucking flame, and he was the moth drawn to her light, ready to sacrifice everything just for a little of her warmth.

5 stars!

Once Taylor started sharing teasers for Jax and Thea's book, I had a feeling that Jax was going to give Xander a run for his money as my favorite Guardian, and damn he sure did! He was such a brooding, borderline-stalkerish, yet swoony hero, and I honestly loved everything about him. Thea was a great heroine as she balanced Jax's stoic nature so well and dazzled him with her rainbow personality, while Jax struggled to suppress his obsession with his mate.

I did get annoyed with Thea a few times as she has a habit of running off into danger, but let's be honest, we all know Jax is tracking her location and will always save his mate. I loved the little jokes between them as Thea slowly coaxes Jax's emotions out; his sense of humor was so brilliant and had me laughing while swooning. The action in this story is so addictive and literally had me stress-reading towards the end as the drama culminates into an intense face-off with Gideon. This series has been absolutely amazing, and I cannot wait for Lucy's book next🖤

Tropes: fated mates, grumpy/sunshine, obsessed hero, sassy heroine, he falls first, 'touch her and die' vibes, hate-to-love-you, stalker vibes, 'good girl', dark monster romance, 'soft only for her' hero, his Beast is obsessed with her, opposites-attract, slow burn, found family, STEAMY🔥

*ARC provided by the author, and I voluntarily reviewed it*

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is now my favorite book in the series!! I absolutely adore Thea and Jax (he is now my favorite Guardian - sorry, Sythe!). The banter and humor are fantastic. The action with these guys is always so good! I love the world building, and the spicy scenes are swoonworthy! This can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the others first as you get to know the other Guardians. I can't wait to find out what happens next, and hopefully, we'll get to follow Lucy's story!

Some of my favorite tropes from this book:
Dark PNR
Grumpy/Sunshine
Protective MMC
Fated mates
Found family
Hurt/Comfort
Spice

[Andreia Tomaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm still reading this book, but i have to make a review... I really like the series overall, but never have i thought that this would become my favorite book so far...
I just couldn't control my laugh with Ruhne... I just couldn't...
I love Thea, she's a baddie, i love the aperance of Faye.
I just don't five this book 5⭐️ already, because i didn't finish yet.
I'm having a blast.

[Emily Knaus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book in the Curse of the Guardians series is an incredible mix of spice and plot! Jax and Thea’s story is no different and I absolutely devoured it. I was hoping to see Thea again after meeting her in the Sythe & Harper’s book; she is fun fae who met her match with Jax.

I love the way that the characters in this story develop over time, and how their relationship grows. The playfulness and banter was fun between Jax & Thea. Jax knows that Thea is his mate, and has known from the first time they met. Jax is the silent, broody type but still has a sense of humor; he only smiles for Thea because she is his sunshine. Thea is full of energy and life, she is just trying to take care of her family. So it was cute to see someone take care of her and lookout for her. I love that Jax leaves Thea sunflowers and calls her “little thief”. They are just too cute, and their banter is hilarious; they compliment each other so well.

Love the possessive MMC’s and fierce FMC’s that Taylor creates. Jax and Thea are a perfect for one another, and their story is incredibly well written. The two main characters are always written in such perfect balance for one another, and I love reading the mating bond and seeing how each couple finds theirs in their respective story. This is a much slower burn than some of the others, Jax is so incredibly patient. The build up is totally worth it!

This is one of my favorite paranormal romance series! I always recommend it to friends who are just dipping their toes into this genre because I am so happy that I started with the Curse of the Guardians series when I started to explore this genre. I look forward to reading anything that Taylor puts out because it is always an incredible journey! The world building and detailed characters are addictive.

Thank you Taylor for the ARC! I am so grateful for the opportunity to step back into this world and read about Jax & Thea! Can’t wait to see whose story is next… maybe Lucy.

[Anij · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He knew Thea was his mate within moments of meeting..."

I've been reading this series since the very beginning. (Xander & Kyra are still my favorite couple!) And I have complicated feelings towards it. The world-building is unbelievable: complex, detailed and populated by so many amazing and interesting characters. The chemistry between each couple has been scorching and the emotional rollercoaster so thrilling and exciting. The problem is that the longer the series the more I feel like I need a degree to keep up with it all. Taylor tries with indexes in the front but I'll admit I'm beginning to feel a bit overwhelmed. There's just so much! So much plot, so much action, so many emotions... By the time I finished this newest book I admit, I was exhausted! I honestly can't imagine reading this without having read all the other book in the series. I'd be totally lost

Now, about this book. I found Jax to be the least interesting of the Guardians when I started the series. Maybe it's because most of the others were so "large". I was pleasantly suprised at how much I loved him in this book. He was great and I adored him with Thea. They were so different, almost opposites, and really ended up bringing out the best in the other. Despite him knowing from the day they met, there was no rushing in their story. Watching their relationship grow was a delight and I was very invested in them finding their hea. I did sometimes feel like their story got buried in all the action, but it was still complete.

I'm thinking the next book, Dance of Wings, might be the last so it will have to be Lucy's story. He's been a consistent presence throughout the series and I've been looking forward to it for awhile. I just love him.

4 1/2 stars I rounded up because it deserves more than just four.

[Shelves_by_sim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everytime I think Taylor has written the perfect man and there's no way she could do better, she proves me wrong. I am utterly in love with Jax. I love that he's the super quiet, mysterious and broody type. I love that he's personality is all about control. I love that he never tries to deny the mating bond, instead he just subtly keeps watch over Thea, allowing his beast to be near her. Thea is absolutely amazing, she's spunky and badass and loves her family so much I found it truly inspiring.

This book was such a wild ride, and the plot (that carries over from the first book) just gets more and more hectic with each installment in this series. The stakes are high, there's so much risk, so much danger and I just love it. Gideon is a formidable bad guy and at this point, he really does seem invincible. I absolutely ADORED the introduction of Ruhne! He's a cheeky little pixie who provides loads of comic relief and had me cackling like a crazy person at every scene he was in!

As always, I love that the previous characters stay relevant in each Gaurdian's story, because it brings this entire world together, brings the characters I know and love back and it's just amazing. I am so excited for Lucifer's book, throughout this entire series, he has remained my most anticipated! Because everything about him is perfect. He's this ridiculous moron with a sense of humor and an obsession with glitter and he's basically Ruhne, just big and you know, a Daemon - but a good one😉. I definitely recommend this series to EVERYONE because it has everything you could ever need from an urban fantasy/paranormal romance. I love the world building in this story, love the magic system and I love how Taylor Aston White absolutely kills every single book she writes!! 😍

[Littlebookishbirdie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘬𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘩𝘪𝘮, 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘺 𝘢 𝘧𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩 – 𝘣𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭, 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘴. 𝘉𝘶𝘵 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘶𝘨.”

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
🩶 Paranormal romance
🩶 Stalker
🩶 Druid x fae
🩶 Mates
🩶 Dirty talk w some “good girl”
. . . . . .

When I started this series, Jax never really caught my attention much. I was so focused on the big and bold characters - Xavier, Kace, Titus, Sythe. Or maybe the problematic ones, Axel and Lucifer. He was so quiet, just in the background.

But as the series went on, especially at the end of the last one, he suddenly had more of my attention.

This book was amazing. It delivered on so many levels and I love Jax in a way I never thought I would. He is so different from the rest but in a way that almost makes him stand out more to me. He is quiet but his actions speak louder than any of the other voices.

I couldn’t put this down. Thea’s backstory and Jax’s hidden trauma were surprises for me, their banter and sexual tension had me smiling and laughing the whole way through. I love that he was so patient with her but she was so dedicated to him.

And the story itself has got me hooked. I have to know how they will defeat this, how Lucy ends this. I can’t wait. ♥️

𝐀𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐥𝐞 𝐔𝐧𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝
Aʟʟ ʀᴇᴠɪᴇᴡs ᴀʀᴇ ʙᴀsᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴍʏ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴᴀʟ ᴘʀᴇꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴄᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʀᴇ ᴏᴘɪɴɪᴏɴs.

[Kell X · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is begining to be something I just take fro granted. I know I'm going to love the story even before picking it up, and I'm never wrong! 🫠

I love Taylor's writing and world building and her way of making me fall deep withing her story and words. As previously happend, this book was another big hit! 🤯🤯

I loved broody and sulky Jax. Even not being a man of saying much, he had an amazing presence, and all his shell protected a very caring man. Dangerous, but caring. 
He starts by stalking Thea (and organizing her house while doing it... it was funny to know such a a man was a tidy one), but is then forced to make himself present when she is in danger. 
Thea is a pocket full of sunshine. She glows and we can see that through the pages. But don't let this fool you. She is strong sassy and feisty, and can keep Jax on his toes when needed. 
They continue to fight Gideon, and keep trying to get rid of rhe danger that lingers. They have several altercations, get hurt in the process, but manage to pull through. 
As before, the Guardians inner beast is quite primal, but also funny. I turned out wanting him out more oftern. And the side characters, mainly Lucy and their new Pixie friend were top notch!!

I'm counting the days next, to Lucy's story!! Finally it will be his turn 🤗🫠😍

[Alibi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this addition to the series. I didn't want to hit pause ever! Jax is secretly a sweetheart underneath all the grump and dark danger shell and I didn't see that coming- and yea maybe he pulled a little stalker-ish behavior to keep his mate safe before she would give him the time of day but it's a paranormal romance so ya know, comes with a fated mates territory sometimes. But even so, it wasn't overtly invading (in book terms) and it was actually kinda heartbreaking because Thea's presence calmed him even when she didn't realize it. When Jax and Thea ignite- well there comes all the steam with plenty of banter because Thea still wants to deny the connection. And the humor- I do not think I laughed this much in any of the other books of the series. I am smiling now just seeing some of the scenes that made me laugh or melted my heart play out in my head. Of course there is danger and action leading to the over protective alpha Jax and his beast to come out, because Thea is nothing if not stubborn. The narrators did a great job bringing the characters to life.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow do Thea and Jax ever have some chemistry. Jax has felt like a real enigma in this series until now. He’s half celestial and is special in that he can read their writing, something that is uncommon. To prevent Gideon from getting more power, they need to keep the special pages away from him. Thea stole one as part of her efforts to pay for her father’s medical treatments. Unbeknownst to her, Jax and his beast (love that Thea named him Thunder) were stalking her the whole time. Thea is very resistant to the bond, partially because of her fae heritage which causes her to feed on another being’s aura or life force. I loved so many moments in this book. From the cuffs he made, to the “I’m her boyfriend” moment, even the exhibitionism parts were entertaining. They have such an interesting dynamic and like I said a lot of chemistry from all their push back and forth. I’m sooooo curious about Lucifer’s book now and who he really is beyond the glitter.

[Rachael Beckemeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes Yes YES! This one was so good! I think my absolute favorite part of this series is the fact that it IS a serries, but each book is also a standalone. Jax and Thea's story was great from moment one. I loved how Jax new Thea was his but was so scared to ruin it that he turned into the sappy stalker. The Sunflowers!?! I mean, come on! How romantic!?! I could see a lot of myself in Thea. Hyper independent. Loves her family with everything she is but also struggles with being very different from them. She takes on the worlds problems but doesn't want to accept help. Jax's beast and Jax seem to be the most co-dependent but also the most at odds of all the guardians.

Overall, I think this was one of the best of the series so far and can't wait to see how this series closes out --based on me thinking there is only one more book.

[Bookmark Barbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I can express in words how much I love this book! Jax and Thea are my favorite couple from the Guardian's series period! The banter between these two is chefs kiss! Thea is so spunky and such a smartass it made me giggle every time she would give Jax hell! Omg I loved the pillow! Iykyk!! Everything about this book had me giggling like a little kid while reading it and I did not want this book to end. If I could give this story more than 5 stars I would because it absolutely deserves it! It is the perfect balance of smut and plot. I cannot wait to read the next one because this series is the best I've ever read I do believe! I'm so sad that I'm done with the book. Now what will I do lol.I am going to do a reread of the series because it is that good! But this book is my favorite so far!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jax and Thea were wonderful! I loved reading their story! Because Thea is sunshine in the darkness and Jax is a ghost, unfeeling. Thea was a great foil to Jax. She brought out feelings in him that he didn't know what to do with, so cue some minor stalking to keep track of her. Jax has some hidden book boyfriend characteristics that were absolutely adorable!
One thing I did like was how this book differs from the others, with Jax's beast having more of a role in the story, to really showcase how they are two souls stuck in the same body, rather than two sides of the same soul.
This story was incredibly entertaining, with lots of action, morally gray characters, and introduces a character that I hope gets to hang out with Lucy! I am so looking forward to Lucy's book.
There's steamy scenes, lots of swearing, occult references (lots of them), death, and violence (detailed).

This is the sixth book in the series and is technically a standalone, but read the previous five books in order prior to this one so that things actually make sense. This series is also a spinoff of the Alice Skye series and you do not have to read that one prior to this one, but I do wholeheartedly recommend it!

[Barbara Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this entire series.
This is the 6th book in the series and it is Jax and Thea’s story. I have enjoyed the entire series and hope there is more to come. Maybe the next book will be Luce’s story. There are still some unanswered questions.
This book has all the feels. We see love, vulnerability, desire, betrayal, heartbreak, loyalty and unbreakable bonds. The humor and banter between the brothers a is such an added pleasure to the story. The introduction of Ruhne is everything.
Such a great pleasant read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m absolutely loved this book. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the story is full of action, steam, and romance. The plot is also very engaging, and I found myself engrossed in the story throughout the whole thing. I will say that I wish I had read the earlier books in the series before starting with this one, as it would have made it a little easier to follow. There were times that it felt a little chaotic and hard to follow. But even so, I highly recommend this book. I am now going back and starting at the beginning of the series and look forward to the next book.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lexxi Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so far loved every book in this series! This one was no different in that regard. But the Banter and character development in this one was high tier! I loved all the snarky remarks!! Thea and Jax (PERFECTION) and adding in that special glitter bomb 😉 was a great move I loved how everyone knew Lucy would love and that he did! The only thing I feel like is missing from this one compared to the others would be I didn’t catch the next love interest (which would be for Lucy’s book) but that may have been reader error.

Final thoughts: if you like broody quiet guys that are hiding BIG secrets then this one is for you!!

Loveeeee Thea and Jax together!! And you will too!

[Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This can be read as a stand alone but you really dont get all the nuances without reading the earlier books ( I havent but will be finding them as I really felt I was missing out in some parts ) Dark and broody describes the hero but the entire book is dark, with laughter to lighten it and a great story to keep you enthralled but hearts and roses it is not . There is obviously more to come and I will make sure not to miss any further books if they are as good as this one.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Indie · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it !! love this series !! love Jax and Thea... this is their story... a fast paced action packed adventure drama... Thea is a thief...it's what she does... but, the bills are piling up.. she needs to make a lot of money fast.. so she takes a job.. it should be easy... but... now, she's in danger.. bit danger... Jax knew it from the moment he meet her.. but.. he has a job to do.. and well , he will protect her...his little thief... so good !!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Gemstar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series - each of the guardians are such great characters in their own way.
Always well written, with cleverly interwoven plot lines and exciting fast moving action - plus laughs and steamy bits along the way. Absolutely loved Ruhne, the hilariously snarky 8-inch pixie - hope he pops up again.
Must say I did kinda prefer some of the earlier books that had a rounded conclusion to their part of the puzzle, but am hoping Gideon gets his comeuppance in the next instalment.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is intense and fast-paced. Jax is a Guardian in charge of hunting lost pages to a dangerous artifact. Thea has debts from her father's hospital bills and steals to make ends meet. This theft is of one of the pages Jax is hunting for. They are on a crash course into each other. This book contains a lot of paranormal activity and violence. The excellent plot will keep you engrossed until the end.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara]

The sixth story in the Curse of the Guardians and is the first book by this Author that I have read. I now want to read the rest of this series. Guardian Jax and Thea meet when she steals the page he is looking for. There is drama, danger, suspense, swearing, occult references, death, violence and romance. I want to read the rest of this series. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Breen · Rating 5 out of 5]

"So I'm hooked! Eventhough the story was a standalone they were aspects that I felt missing, but more like personally me woukd have love to know and fully understand, but nothing that stopped me from loving the story. We had multiple POVs which where funny, bit chaotic depending on the point of the story, but gave a better understanding of the story. The was plenty of action from the very beginning, mix with passion ans love."

[Kat M · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was another winner in the Curse of the Guardians series, it had what I enjoyed from the previous five books. The characters had that element that I wanted and enjoyed from the world and characters. It was written in a way that worked overall and enjoyed how good Taylor Aston White writes this genre. I'm excited to read more from the author and from this world.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

This dark paranormal romance continues as this time it is Jax’s turn to break his curse and find his mate. Thea is a thief who takes a job and finds herself thrust into a war she did not know existed. They are a great couple, he is broody, silent and cold whereas she is all sunshine’s and smiles and they really do compliment each other so well. Off the charts chemistry with a slooooow burn romance that is so worth the wait, fantastic world building and a storyline that just grabs you.

[Desiree Worth · Rating 5 out of 5]

It still gets me!!

This book…I can NEVER get enough of Taylor’s fun writing style and her characters are ALWAYS my fave! This one was so fun…and I’ll admit I wasn’t a huge fan of Jax UNTIL THIS BOOK! It was so fun and Jax’s internal thoughts were actually kinda fun! And him with our gorgeous FMC Thea…I was squee-ing like a teenage girl! Loved these two together, their chemistry, their banter, just everything was decadent! A serious must read!

[Ruth Mccaleb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this story! The world is magical and scary and involves fully developed characters with history and complex issues. I highly recommend and am looking forward to reading other books in the series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Lulu Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 6 th book in the series I feel it one gets better and better. This book is focusing onThea and Jax . I love the chemistry and spice that builds between our couple. From her sunshine, to bringing out his emotions from his ghost of self. I can’t wait for the next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

God I love these so much. I am never disappointed with a pairing and Thea and Jax are incredible. These books make me feel tension, action, heart wrenched, and moved. I definitely cried reading this. I love how each book still connects the ultimate plot and I am really looking forward to the finale, but I also don’t want these to end 😭

[Krys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whewww was this book hot and spicy! I binge read it last night I was too invested in how great it was! Def recommend this book!