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Guardian
The one who destroys cannot create. This is balance.
Sannir is a kingdom of magic—the only one that remains in the realm of Vellichor.
Kyler Weylyn, a soldier of Sannir and skilled alchemist, has sworn his life to protect his kingdom and its magic. For a thousand years, the elves of Sannir have thrived, blessed by the god Adoni and guarded by the dragons of old. But when the former general disappears, Sannir’s peace is threatened by Orisis, the god of destruction.
Kyler joins the new general, Novah Ellison, on a mission to uncover the secrets of Orisis, and finds that the history of Vellichor is stained with destruction. Despite what Kyler once believed, the hand of Orisis was never far from the elves of Sannir.
Sannir is a kingdom of magic—the only one that remains in the realm of Vellichor.
Kyler Weylyn, a soldier of Sannir and skilled alchemist, has sworn his life to protect his kingdom and its magic. For a thousand years, the elves of Sannir have thrived, blessed by the god Adoni and guarded by the dragons of old. But when the former general disappears, Sannir’s peace is threatened by Orisis, the god of destruction.
Kyler joins the new general, Novah Ellison, on a mission to uncover the secrets of Orisis, and finds that the history of Vellichor is stained with destruction. Despite what Kyler once believed, the hand of Orisis was never far from the elves of Sannir.
480 pages, Paperback
Published November 16, 2024
26 people are currently reading
1133 people want to read
About the author
Kate Korsak
4 books99 followersKate Korsak has loved fantasy for as long as she can remember. Born in Arlington, Virginia, she spent much of her childhood waiting for Peter Pan and hunting monsters in the woods. Her love for fantasy grew as she did, and it wasn’t long before she was writing stories of her own.
In addition to writing, Korsak is also an accomplished fantasy mapmaker. Her maps have been featured in numerous fantasy novels and are often used in table top role playing games. Her passion for world-building is evident in her work, and she takes great care to create detailed, believable worlds that readers can fully immerse themselves in.
Korsak now lives in Tampa, Florida where she spends her time building LEGO with her husband, playing D&D and Zelda, and collecting swords.
In addition to writing, Korsak is also an accomplished fantasy mapmaker. Her maps have been featured in numerous fantasy novels and are often used in table top role playing games. Her passion for world-building is evident in her work, and she takes great care to create detailed, believable worlds that readers can fully immerse themselves in.
Korsak now lives in Tampa, Florida where she spends her time building LEGO with her husband, playing D&D and Zelda, and collecting swords.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
August 11, 2025
What can I say? I see something shiny, Imma want it. I found out about Guardian through an Instagram reel a few months ago about the ranking system, saw cool jewelry to go with it, and was immediately hooked!
Now obviously, the fun, shiny ear cuff is one thing but the book itself slaps. I had such a fun time reading this and learning about the world of Vellichor. The premise is sick and I loved the characters — mostly. Kyler, our MMC, starts off being pretty insufferable (on purpose) but by the end of the book I was kicking my lil feetsies with excitement!
I had a great time with Guardian and I am (im)patiently waiting for the sequel. 🙂↕️
Now obviously, the fun, shiny ear cuff is one thing but the book itself slaps. I had such a fun time reading this and learning about the world of Vellichor. The premise is sick and I loved the characters — mostly. Kyler, our MMC, starts off being pretty insufferable (on purpose) but by the end of the book I was kicking my lil feetsies with excitement!
I had a great time with Guardian and I am (im)patiently waiting for the sequel. 🙂↕️
October 29, 2025
~ 2.5 ~
This book was really fun but I have a few complaints--
First, with the bad-
In the beginning, I could hardly stand Kyler, and while I know that was purposeful, it made it difficult to fully enjoy the book. I also feel like his redemption arc was less a slow change of mindset and more of an overnight realization.
... Where were the female characters? There were 3, total. In a fantasy book with an enormous cast, this was wild to me. I felt at a loss, especially because there wasn't a reason for there to be an overly male cast. There also wasn't any diversity in this book, really. I don't remember there being a single POC or queer character, which was really disappointing for me personally. Overall, there didn't feel like a lot of representation, which is something I care for a lot in books.
The enemies to lovers was really interesting! I felt like Korsak did the enemies part relatively well- although it felt really one sided and I needed Novah to humble Kyler- but the almost-lovers part fell flat for me. There didn't feel like there were too many reasons to root for them other than that the author wanted you to, and I found Korsak spelling it out for me several times how their relationship was supposed to make you feel.
On to the good!
I LOVED the worldbuilding. The character names, the kingdoms, the magic, the history- it was all incredibly fascinating! It wasn't too heavy, and it was easily understandable, yet I felt entirely immersed! I adored it!
The enemy. They didn't feel like "pure evil", they felt like real, flawed people. Bricru is such a fascinating character, you can see his strengths and weaknesses and how he's being manipulated and how maybe he'll have a redemption arc. Orisis himself was incredibly interesting, and I loved the dynamic between the god of destruction and his "sons".
The writing! It was simple but genuinely lovely. A solid mix of poetry and easy prose. It pulls you into the world and makes sure you're able to understand, but you can tell Korsak doesn't think you're stupid.
Overall, I found it really entertaining! A good debut!
This book was really fun but I have a few complaints--
First, with the bad-
In the beginning, I could hardly stand Kyler, and while I know that was purposeful, it made it difficult to fully enjoy the book. I also feel like his redemption arc was less a slow change of mindset and more of an overnight realization.
... Where were the female characters? There were 3, total. In a fantasy book with an enormous cast, this was wild to me. I felt at a loss, especially because there wasn't a reason for there to be an overly male cast. There also wasn't any diversity in this book, really. I don't remember there being a single POC or queer character, which was really disappointing for me personally. Overall, there didn't feel like a lot of representation, which is something I care for a lot in books.
The enemies to lovers was really interesting! I felt like Korsak did the enemies part relatively well- although it felt really one sided and I needed Novah to humble Kyler- but the almost-lovers part fell flat for me. There didn't feel like there were too many reasons to root for them other than that the author wanted you to, and I found Korsak spelling it out for me several times how their relationship was supposed to make you feel.
On to the good!
I LOVED the worldbuilding. The character names, the kingdoms, the magic, the history- it was all incredibly fascinating! It wasn't too heavy, and it was easily understandable, yet I felt entirely immersed! I adored it!
The enemy. They didn't feel like "pure evil", they felt like real, flawed people. Bricru is such a fascinating character, you can see his strengths and weaknesses and how he's being manipulated and how maybe he'll have a redemption arc. Orisis himself was incredibly interesting, and I loved the dynamic between the god of destruction and his "sons".
The writing! It was simple but genuinely lovely. A solid mix of poetry and easy prose. It pulls you into the world and makes sure you're able to understand, but you can tell Korsak doesn't think you're stupid.
Overall, I found it really entertaining! A good debut!
February 25, 2025
4.25✨
I loved Kyler and Novah! This world is definitely filled with rich lore and fun characters. I’m looking forward to reading the next book for sure!
I loved Kyler and Novah! This world is definitely filled with rich lore and fun characters. I’m looking forward to reading the next book for sure!
February 17, 2024
A daring entrance into the world of Vellichor. Kate Korsak, a master of plot and worldbuilding, effortlessly takes you on an action-packed journey of epic proportions in this classic fantasy series.
4.5⭐️Rounded to 5
Pros:
I LOVED that the main character was a male! Haven't read me a good fantasy MMC for a while and Korsak nailed it. I loved that he was arrogant, hot headed and a little flirty. His character really grew and changed while still being true to his witty core personality.
The enemies to hesitant lovers was PERFECTION. They kept their snarky banter but developed respect AND they're yet to be officially together or proclaim feelings. Slay.
The worldbuilding was immaculate and the main driving point of the story for me. I absolutely kept reading just to see how the worldbuilding was gonna snake in and out of the plot.
UM BRICRU IS MY CHILD AND I LOVE HIM
Cons:
It just wrapped up so fast that of course I need book 2 rn 👀 and it's not out yet. So that's a crime.
Though the characters were very three dimensional, I personally didn't relate to them much or get overly attached to any of them. But this does feel much more like a plot driven book so this personal opinion of mine didn't affect the books quality whatsoever.
Yall definitely need to add this to ur tbr if u have an itch for fantasy that feels traditional and classic, but reads in a very modern way.
4.5⭐️Rounded to 5
Pros:
I LOVED that the main character was a male! Haven't read me a good fantasy MMC for a while and Korsak nailed it. I loved that he was arrogant, hot headed and a little flirty. His character really grew and changed while still being true to his witty core personality.
The enemies to hesitant lovers was PERFECTION. They kept their snarky banter but developed respect AND they're yet to be officially together or proclaim feelings. Slay.
The worldbuilding was immaculate and the main driving point of the story for me. I absolutely kept reading just to see how the worldbuilding was gonna snake in and out of the plot.
UM BRICRU IS MY CHILD AND I LOVE HIM
Cons:
It just wrapped up so fast that of course I need book 2 rn 👀 and it's not out yet. So that's a crime.
Though the characters were very three dimensional, I personally didn't relate to them much or get overly attached to any of them. But this does feel much more like a plot driven book so this personal opinion of mine didn't affect the books quality whatsoever.
Yall definitely need to add this to ur tbr if u have an itch for fantasy that feels traditional and classic, but reads in a very modern way.
February 22, 2025
My friend recommended this book to me and I absolutely loved it.
August 18, 2024
Guardian | 5 ⭐️s
“𝔐𝔢𝔫 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔪𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔰 𝔲𝔫𝔩𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔴𝔢 𝔪𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔪 𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔲𝔠𝔥 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰.”
This action-packed journey in the world of Vellichor has the bones of a classic fantasy series, with the addition of incredible world-building, lovable characters, and the perfect amount of banter. The story follows the MMC Kyler Weylyn, a soldier and alchemist of Sannir as he reluctantly joins the new general Novah Ellison to discover the secrets of the god of destruction, Orisis.
I was extremely excited to receive this ARC, and it did NOT disappoint. I found myself constantly wanting to jump back into the action with Kyler. I don’t typically find myself connecting with male MMCs, but I adored this sassy boy so much. The cast of characters is loveable and their connections feel so genuinely crafted. Don’t even start on the bits and pieces of slow burn I got in Guardian, I was literally kicking my feet.
When reading Guardian you can expect:
🧝🏻♂️A male MMC who has just the right amount of sass
🤍Slowburn subplot
⚔️Epic Fantasy
🗺️10/10 worldbuilding with the most beautiful map
✨Playful banter
Guardian comes out November 16th and preorders are available now! I suggest you snatch a copy up ASAP because this is one you have to add to your TBR
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Kate for the opportunity to read Guardian early! ♡
“𝔐𝔢𝔫 𝔞𝔯𝔢 𝔫𝔬𝔱 𝔪𝔬𝔫𝔰𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔰 𝔲𝔫𝔩𝔢𝔰𝔰 𝔴𝔢 𝔪𝔞𝔨𝔢 𝔱𝔥𝔢𝔪 𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔬 𝔰𝔲𝔠𝔥 𝔱𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔰.”
This action-packed journey in the world of Vellichor has the bones of a classic fantasy series, with the addition of incredible world-building, lovable characters, and the perfect amount of banter. The story follows the MMC Kyler Weylyn, a soldier and alchemist of Sannir as he reluctantly joins the new general Novah Ellison to discover the secrets of the god of destruction, Orisis.
I was extremely excited to receive this ARC, and it did NOT disappoint. I found myself constantly wanting to jump back into the action with Kyler. I don’t typically find myself connecting with male MMCs, but I adored this sassy boy so much. The cast of characters is loveable and their connections feel so genuinely crafted. Don’t even start on the bits and pieces of slow burn I got in Guardian, I was literally kicking my feet.
When reading Guardian you can expect:
🧝🏻♂️A male MMC who has just the right amount of sass
🤍Slowburn subplot
⚔️Epic Fantasy
🗺️10/10 worldbuilding with the most beautiful map
✨Playful banter
Guardian comes out November 16th and preorders are available now! I suggest you snatch a copy up ASAP because this is one you have to add to your TBR
I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you Kate for the opportunity to read Guardian early! ♡
October 7, 2025
DNF -- I really really tried. I love Kate and I think she's awesome. I also love classic fantasy and elves and dragons. I loved the potions, cool military, and the premise of the story. But this book did not hook me and after 130 pages, it wasn't getting any more interesting and I really just couldn't continue. It just fell kind of flat for me and as another reviewer said, there were no high stakes -- nothing to keep me interested. The writing was also quite difficult for me to get by as I felt the description was more distracting and confusing than actually helping the story along and I would get so lost in the words and have no idea who was who and what was happening.
Having said that, I may try this again at some point, but there are other books I'd rather read right now :)
Having said that, I may try this again at some point, but there are other books I'd rather read right now :)
September 21, 2024
You know a book is going to be good when the prologue is phenomenal!
I loved the world-building and the characters in this book, and the slow-burn was one of the sloooooowest slow burns, but in the best way possible!
At the start of the book, Kyler was, interestingly enough, an unlikeable MMC, as he was arrogant, prideful, and stuck-up. But by the end of the book, I had fallen in love with him.
Anxiously awaiting the second book...
--I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.--
I loved the world-building and the characters in this book, and the slow-burn was one of the sloooooowest slow burns, but in the best way possible!
At the start of the book, Kyler was, interestingly enough, an unlikeable MMC, as he was arrogant, prideful, and stuck-up. But by the end of the book, I had fallen in love with him.
Anxiously awaiting the second book...
--I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.--
January 12, 2025
Rating: 5.00 ⭐️
Age Rating: 13+
Spice: none.
Wow. This is quite literally the best book I have ever read. Kate Korsak, I am shook.
Do you like dragons, elves, Zelda, D&D, and sassy boys with white hair? I hope so, because this story is all of those and more.
Guardian is enriched with realistic characters, detailed world-building, and a glorious plot. In all my reading, I have never been able to say with confidence that I liked each part about a story. That is…until now.
Set in the captivating realm of Vellichor, the novel follows Kyler Weylyn, an arrogant yet determined commander in the land of Sannir—the only remaining kingdom of magic. When their home is threatened, Kyler sets off with the new general, Novah Ellison, to uncover the secrets of Orisis, the god of destruction.
I went into this story with high expectations. Guardian promises a unique tale, and it carried through. We don’t have to travel far into this world to know it is well crafted. The settings are vivid, and description smooth. So many elements aid to the originality of this world, leaving me yearning to sink further into Vellichor.
We see wonderful character development, with even the minor characters being fleshed out. Not only that, but they were believable. I related to their doubts and struggles. Whenever decisions had to be made, their actions aligned with their design, which is exactly as it should be.
Our protagonist, Kyler, is HIGHLY enjoyable. He is filled with depth and charisma, and I never grew tired of him. Yes, he begins as insufferable, but that lays the groundwork for the perfect character development. You will not forget Kyler Weylyn OR Novah Elison, whom I also favor. She is fierce and puts our commander in his place.
Guardian is an epic fantasy, not a romance, but the attraction between characters was VERY well done. The author herself has stated that this story doesn’t have spice not because she specifically wrote it that way, but because that’s simply not how these romances are. These characters weren’t created for the sole purpose of attraction, but instead to carry the story forward. Their attraction toward one other develops as they do, a perfect example of skilled writing.
And the best part? We don’t need romance to be a core aspect to be hooked on this story. Guardian’s plot is CAPTIVATING. There’s instances at first that might feel slow, but like any well-written story, once things get going, they don’t stop. The pacing superb, with scenes flowing just as they should. I genuinely enjoyed the writing style, as it feels unique and polished.
Not only this, but one of my favorite things about reading is humor. I know I won’t be the last to say that Guardian is actually funny. The tease and banter between characters feels natural and enjoyable, and I often laughed through various scenes just by simple one-liners.
As a reader, I loved this book, but as a writer I adored it. There are many stories I’ve liked, but there’s always something stopping me from eagerly calling it my favorite. Either the characters feel flat, the romance is repetitive, or the writing is mediocre. That’s how it typically is with popular books now, isn’t it? But Guardian isn’t this way in the slightest. As a writer, I’m pleased to say this book impressed me. If you’re a fan of genuine writing, I beg of you to pick this up.
Finally, the god system was phenomenal. Adoni, the god of creation, and Orisis, the god of destruction, are used to represent God and Satan. As a believer, I can confidently say this was extremely well done. I admit, I was hesitant to read this at first for fear that Adoni, who represents God, would be poorly articulated. But no. It was the opposite. Guardian did a spectacular job of showcasing the difference between good and evil; light and darkness. This story teaches strong morals through the successes and failures of our characters.
I am thoroughly impressed with this book and will boldly recommend it to all. I can’t wait to see Guardian get the love it deserves and will be reading all of Kate’s future works.
She might just be the next Brandon Sanderson.
Age Rating: 13+
Spice: none.
Wow. This is quite literally the best book I have ever read. Kate Korsak, I am shook.
Do you like dragons, elves, Zelda, D&D, and sassy boys with white hair? I hope so, because this story is all of those and more.
Guardian is enriched with realistic characters, detailed world-building, and a glorious plot. In all my reading, I have never been able to say with confidence that I liked each part about a story. That is…until now.
Set in the captivating realm of Vellichor, the novel follows Kyler Weylyn, an arrogant yet determined commander in the land of Sannir—the only remaining kingdom of magic. When their home is threatened, Kyler sets off with the new general, Novah Ellison, to uncover the secrets of Orisis, the god of destruction.
I went into this story with high expectations. Guardian promises a unique tale, and it carried through. We don’t have to travel far into this world to know it is well crafted. The settings are vivid, and description smooth. So many elements aid to the originality of this world, leaving me yearning to sink further into Vellichor.
We see wonderful character development, with even the minor characters being fleshed out. Not only that, but they were believable. I related to their doubts and struggles. Whenever decisions had to be made, their actions aligned with their design, which is exactly as it should be.
Our protagonist, Kyler, is HIGHLY enjoyable. He is filled with depth and charisma, and I never grew tired of him. Yes, he begins as insufferable, but that lays the groundwork for the perfect character development. You will not forget Kyler Weylyn OR Novah Elison, whom I also favor. She is fierce and puts our commander in his place.
Guardian is an epic fantasy, not a romance, but the attraction between characters was VERY well done. The author herself has stated that this story doesn’t have spice not because she specifically wrote it that way, but because that’s simply not how these romances are. These characters weren’t created for the sole purpose of attraction, but instead to carry the story forward. Their attraction toward one other develops as they do, a perfect example of skilled writing.
And the best part? We don’t need romance to be a core aspect to be hooked on this story. Guardian’s plot is CAPTIVATING. There’s instances at first that might feel slow, but like any well-written story, once things get going, they don’t stop. The pacing superb, with scenes flowing just as they should. I genuinely enjoyed the writing style, as it feels unique and polished.
Not only this, but one of my favorite things about reading is humor. I know I won’t be the last to say that Guardian is actually funny. The tease and banter between characters feels natural and enjoyable, and I often laughed through various scenes just by simple one-liners.
As a reader, I loved this book, but as a writer I adored it. There are many stories I’ve liked, but there’s always something stopping me from eagerly calling it my favorite. Either the characters feel flat, the romance is repetitive, or the writing is mediocre. That’s how it typically is with popular books now, isn’t it? But Guardian isn’t this way in the slightest. As a writer, I’m pleased to say this book impressed me. If you’re a fan of genuine writing, I beg of you to pick this up.
Finally, the god system was phenomenal. Adoni, the god of creation, and Orisis, the god of destruction, are used to represent God and Satan. As a believer, I can confidently say this was extremely well done. I admit, I was hesitant to read this at first for fear that Adoni, who represents God, would be poorly articulated. But no. It was the opposite. Guardian did a spectacular job of showcasing the difference between good and evil; light and darkness. This story teaches strong morals through the successes and failures of our characters.
I am thoroughly impressed with this book and will boldly recommend it to all. I can’t wait to see Guardian get the love it deserves and will be reading all of Kate’s future works.
She might just be the next Brandon Sanderson.
November 4, 2025
Guardian: 4.5/5⭐️ Arc Review*
"Men are not monsters unless we make them into such things."
OH MY GOSH. THIS BOOK. where to even start, there's so much to talk about! This is gonna be a long one so be prepared lol.
World first. I LOVED the world. It gave off classic fantasy vibes with dwarves, elves, medieval knights and kingdoms and DRAGONS. It has been a WHILE since I've read a fantasy that felt like classic fantasy and can I just say, I LOVED IT. like this book was so bloody refreshing and amazing and unique compared for tons of the fantasy that's being published this day. If you love Zelda and LOTR/the hobbit, I think you will LOVE this world. I know I did. Kate did such a fantastic job with the worldbuilding, it didn't feel like there was any info dumping, and it wasn't Brandon Sanderson esc where you felt everything was do confusing because of all these new plants and animals and religions and cultures and whatnot. But it also didn't feel underdeveloped. In fact what I loved is that even though we, again, didn't get a Brandon Sanderson level of worldbuilding it still FELT like she had put so much thought and care into building the world off page. That then when she included little details it felt like there was SO much more to the world and it truly felt fleshed out even though we didn't see a ton of it.
Two of the things I loved about the worldbuilding was #1 the potions! I think having potions in your book is such a fun idea! And can really make it feel like a unique magic system because there's so much you can do with it! And the potions also gave me Zelda vibes lol. And then the second thing is a little less prevelent yo the plot but for some weird reason I just LOVED IT. idk why I jus thought it was such a cool detail. And that would be the dragon scales the soldiers of sannir wear on their ears which showcase basically what level they are. They're like the equivalent of medals in the military. So new soldiers have barely any, while commanders and generals have tons.
Ok off worldbuilding, onto the prologue. Ik ik, why am I devoting part of my review to just a couple of pgs? Because it was MASTERFUL. THATS WHY. I truly don't think I've ever read a better prologue. I'm not joking. Most of the time I dread prologues because they're usually only in epic high fantasy and they're like 30 pgs long and either info dump a million things to the point where you remember nothing, or they talk about some random character who encounters like the big bad or whatever and then ends up dying immediately but that's how the villian is like introduced. Ya know? But Kate did not do any of that. For one I think it was only like 5 pgs long, and for another she gave just enough worldbuilding info to where you got enough history and backstory so you weren't going in blind, but not enough to feel like info dumping. It was the perfect amount and introduced us to the god of destruction without having a useless character who you never see again. Also it IMMEDIATELY hooks you. So yeah, best prologue ever.
Ok characters now. KYLER. OH MY GOSH. if you are over the dark haired, broody, morally grey love interest that is in every single book these days because they all just start feeling like a carbon copy of eachother, then LET ME TELL YOU, Kyler is like a breath of fresh air. He's brown haired, he's a good guy who truly does want to preserve the realm and doesn't just spend the entire book lusting after a girl, he's sassy, flirtatious (he'd flirt with a rock if he thought it was a girl), and can be quite arrogant at times. 😂 But he cares deeply about his comrades, and yeah he's not perfect. But he feels way more human and real then say xaden riorsan who let's be honest, had no real personality. I said what I said. I'm not saying I don't love those kind of mmc's every once a while. Rhysand and Lorcan will always have my heart. But sometimes you desperately want something different. And Kyler is different. And I LOVE HIM. OK. He made me laugh and giggle and I LOVE HIM.
Bricru. I am SO intrigued with him and so curious to see what happens with him in book 2. I feel like there's so much about him that we have yet to learn and I really want to better understand him and his motives! I loved how Kate wrote him because he didn't feel necessarily like a villian, but he also wasnt a good guy. HE was your morally grey character. And I truly felt really bad for him at times and found myself caring for him even though I barely knew him.
Ok now Kyler and novahs relationship because AHHHHH 🤭 if you're like me, who is tired of the MC's in fantasy series getting together in book 1 and it feels rushed and you don't care about them or their relationship, and you're just sitting there in confusion wondering "why do you two love eachother?" If you're like me who misses and yearns for a good multi book SLOWBURN that is very much a sideplot/subplot, to where the plot can still stand on its own and be phenomenal BUT the slowburn just adds the PERFECT amount of romance that makes it that much better without completely taking it over, then uh yeah this book is for you. I ATE up every little crumb Kate gave us. I was giggling and kicking my feet and being like "THEYRE SO DARN CUTE!" I actually understood why Kyler was falling for novah and felt their chemistry, and UGH. PERFECTION. I can't WAIT to get more of them in book 2. And guess what, spoiler alert, they didn't kiss in book 1. Nope. And you know what? I loved it. Because when they (hopefully) do kiss (THEY BETTER) I just know I'm gonna be screeching and actually feel like it's deserved. Instead of them immediately meeting and being like "you're hot." "You're hot." "I love you." "I love you too." And I'm just sitting over here like "uhhh why? Because he's hot? IS THAT IT? GIVE ME SUBSTANCE. GIVE ME REASONS. PLEASE IM BEGGING YOU." Well, Kate gives you reasons. 🤭 And I just want to thank her for that. 😂
Ok ok, I've yapped enough about Kyler and novah. Onto the plot and overall story. I can't talk too much about without giving spoilers, but I really liked it! Ive always loved the good vs evil trope, ik it's cliche and a super popular trope, but it's one I'll never tire of. 😂 Idk why, I just always like it. And let me just say, there were 2 plottwists in here that had me going, WHAT? WAIT WHAT? Like I did not see them coming. The ending has me needing book 2 immediately, and uh well let's just say the good side isn't gonna win easily. 😬😂
Oh also random sidenote, I loved the way she described things. Like idk she described them in such a good way to where it wasn't overly flowery or poetic or prose heavy, but you could still perfectly capture the image and vibe it gave off. Like idk, but how she described things just really stood out to me.
Overall I loved this book and it was honestly torture reading it while we moved because I didn't have much time to read it and I just constantly wanted to pick it up and read it undisturbed for hours. The world, characters, and vibes if this book were so refreshing and well written and unique. Kate crafted such a fun world and I can't WAIT for the 2nd book to come out!
So um yes, I 100% reccomend this book. Go read it. Well you can't yet, but when it comes out, go read it! 😂 November 16th everyone.
"Men are not monsters unless we make them into such things."
OH MY GOSH. THIS BOOK. where to even start, there's so much to talk about! This is gonna be a long one so be prepared lol.
World first. I LOVED the world. It gave off classic fantasy vibes with dwarves, elves, medieval knights and kingdoms and DRAGONS. It has been a WHILE since I've read a fantasy that felt like classic fantasy and can I just say, I LOVED IT. like this book was so bloody refreshing and amazing and unique compared for tons of the fantasy that's being published this day. If you love Zelda and LOTR/the hobbit, I think you will LOVE this world. I know I did. Kate did such a fantastic job with the worldbuilding, it didn't feel like there was any info dumping, and it wasn't Brandon Sanderson esc where you felt everything was do confusing because of all these new plants and animals and religions and cultures and whatnot. But it also didn't feel underdeveloped. In fact what I loved is that even though we, again, didn't get a Brandon Sanderson level of worldbuilding it still FELT like she had put so much thought and care into building the world off page. That then when she included little details it felt like there was SO much more to the world and it truly felt fleshed out even though we didn't see a ton of it.
Two of the things I loved about the worldbuilding was #1 the potions! I think having potions in your book is such a fun idea! And can really make it feel like a unique magic system because there's so much you can do with it! And the potions also gave me Zelda vibes lol. And then the second thing is a little less prevelent yo the plot but for some weird reason I just LOVED IT. idk why I jus thought it was such a cool detail. And that would be the dragon scales the soldiers of sannir wear on their ears which showcase basically what level they are. They're like the equivalent of medals in the military. So new soldiers have barely any, while commanders and generals have tons.
Ok off worldbuilding, onto the prologue. Ik ik, why am I devoting part of my review to just a couple of pgs? Because it was MASTERFUL. THATS WHY. I truly don't think I've ever read a better prologue. I'm not joking. Most of the time I dread prologues because they're usually only in epic high fantasy and they're like 30 pgs long and either info dump a million things to the point where you remember nothing, or they talk about some random character who encounters like the big bad or whatever and then ends up dying immediately but that's how the villian is like introduced. Ya know? But Kate did not do any of that. For one I think it was only like 5 pgs long, and for another she gave just enough worldbuilding info to where you got enough history and backstory so you weren't going in blind, but not enough to feel like info dumping. It was the perfect amount and introduced us to the god of destruction without having a useless character who you never see again. Also it IMMEDIATELY hooks you. So yeah, best prologue ever.
Ok characters now. KYLER. OH MY GOSH. if you are over the dark haired, broody, morally grey love interest that is in every single book these days because they all just start feeling like a carbon copy of eachother, then LET ME TELL YOU, Kyler is like a breath of fresh air. He's brown haired, he's a good guy who truly does want to preserve the realm and doesn't just spend the entire book lusting after a girl, he's sassy, flirtatious (he'd flirt with a rock if he thought it was a girl), and can be quite arrogant at times. 😂 But he cares deeply about his comrades, and yeah he's not perfect. But he feels way more human and real then say xaden riorsan who let's be honest, had no real personality. I said what I said. I'm not saying I don't love those kind of mmc's every once a while. Rhysand and Lorcan will always have my heart. But sometimes you desperately want something different. And Kyler is different. And I LOVE HIM. OK. He made me laugh and giggle and I LOVE HIM.
Bricru. I am SO intrigued with him and so curious to see what happens with him in book 2. I feel like there's so much about him that we have yet to learn and I really want to better understand him and his motives! I loved how Kate wrote him because he didn't feel necessarily like a villian, but he also wasnt a good guy. HE was your morally grey character. And I truly felt really bad for him at times and found myself caring for him even though I barely knew him.
Ok now Kyler and novahs relationship because AHHHHH 🤭 if you're like me, who is tired of the MC's in fantasy series getting together in book 1 and it feels rushed and you don't care about them or their relationship, and you're just sitting there in confusion wondering "why do you two love eachother?" If you're like me who misses and yearns for a good multi book SLOWBURN that is very much a sideplot/subplot, to where the plot can still stand on its own and be phenomenal BUT the slowburn just adds the PERFECT amount of romance that makes it that much better without completely taking it over, then uh yeah this book is for you. I ATE up every little crumb Kate gave us. I was giggling and kicking my feet and being like "THEYRE SO DARN CUTE!" I actually understood why Kyler was falling for novah and felt their chemistry, and UGH. PERFECTION. I can't WAIT to get more of them in book 2. And guess what, spoiler alert, they didn't kiss in book 1. Nope. And you know what? I loved it. Because when they (hopefully) do kiss (THEY BETTER) I just know I'm gonna be screeching and actually feel like it's deserved. Instead of them immediately meeting and being like "you're hot." "You're hot." "I love you." "I love you too." And I'm just sitting over here like "uhhh why? Because he's hot? IS THAT IT? GIVE ME SUBSTANCE. GIVE ME REASONS. PLEASE IM BEGGING YOU." Well, Kate gives you reasons. 🤭 And I just want to thank her for that. 😂
Ok ok, I've yapped enough about Kyler and novah. Onto the plot and overall story. I can't talk too much about without giving spoilers, but I really liked it! Ive always loved the good vs evil trope, ik it's cliche and a super popular trope, but it's one I'll never tire of. 😂 Idk why, I just always like it. And let me just say, there were 2 plottwists in here that had me going, WHAT? WAIT WHAT? Like I did not see them coming. The ending has me needing book 2 immediately, and uh well let's just say the good side isn't gonna win easily. 😬😂
Oh also random sidenote, I loved the way she described things. Like idk she described them in such a good way to where it wasn't overly flowery or poetic or prose heavy, but you could still perfectly capture the image and vibe it gave off. Like idk, but how she described things just really stood out to me.
Overall I loved this book and it was honestly torture reading it while we moved because I didn't have much time to read it and I just constantly wanted to pick it up and read it undisturbed for hours. The world, characters, and vibes if this book were so refreshing and well written and unique. Kate crafted such a fun world and I can't WAIT for the 2nd book to come out!
So um yes, I 100% reccomend this book. Go read it. Well you can't yet, but when it comes out, go read it! 😂 November 16th everyone.
November 7, 2024
Can I just start by saying I was OBSESSED with this story.
This book follows our MC Commander Kyler. After working hard to get to the top he is faced with a reality he will surely try to fight. Right when he thought things couldn’t get worse, they do. After an attack happens that leaves everyone in shambles, a group top ranking soldiers must go on a mission to find more out about Orisis, and what he has planned for Sannir.
OKAY HERE WE GO!!
I LOVE KYLER. Even at the beginning I loved him, BECAUSE I saw his potential for a character arc. I admire Kate for writing a character like him. If I was Novah I would have slapped him silly at the beginning. She is a badass who stood her ground and knew her stuff. Novah was my favorite character. The other characters were also solid. They all added to the story in a way that encouraged things along, but didn’t overpower the main leads. I am looking forward to getting to know bricru more!!
I feel there was a lot hinted at in this book that makes you ache to read the next book(even though it is not out yet. Then again while I am reviewing, this book isn’t either). The world building was easy to follow and set up very well. You weren’t overwhelmed by too much information being spewed left and right. THE TWISTS IN THIS WERE SO GOOD!! I was genuinely shocked.
Aaaaaaaand ROMANCE!
I love how it was not the whole point of the book. When first hearing about Guardian(A WHILE AGO), Kate said that it wasn’t the main plot. That made the story even more attractive to me. Though I will say I am very happy with what was included. Did I squeal on the tube in London? Yes. Did everyone look at me? Also, yes. I DONT CARE I LOVED IT. Will let the reader find out for themselves what type it is;)
The only thing I wish we would have had more of is the history of the dragons, and more of a look at the pass since it was a huge part of the story. I also wish we had more backstory to the other characters. Did I love them all, yes, but I think it would have given the characters more depth. Maybe that was saved for book 2? I’m okay with that
When I wasn’t reading the book I was thinking about the book. Thank you, Kate, for allowing me to read one of your ARCs. I have definitely enjoyed!!
4.25⭐️!
This book follows our MC Commander Kyler. After working hard to get to the top he is faced with a reality he will surely try to fight. Right when he thought things couldn’t get worse, they do. After an attack happens that leaves everyone in shambles, a group top ranking soldiers must go on a mission to find more out about Orisis, and what he has planned for Sannir.
OKAY HERE WE GO!!
I LOVE KYLER. Even at the beginning I loved him, BECAUSE I saw his potential for a character arc. I admire Kate for writing a character like him. If I was Novah I would have slapped him silly at the beginning. She is a badass who stood her ground and knew her stuff. Novah was my favorite character. The other characters were also solid. They all added to the story in a way that encouraged things along, but didn’t overpower the main leads. I am looking forward to getting to know bricru more!!
I feel there was a lot hinted at in this book that makes you ache to read the next book(even though it is not out yet. Then again while I am reviewing, this book isn’t either). The world building was easy to follow and set up very well. You weren’t overwhelmed by too much information being spewed left and right. THE TWISTS IN THIS WERE SO GOOD!! I was genuinely shocked.
Aaaaaaaand ROMANCE!
I love how it was not the whole point of the book. When first hearing about Guardian(A WHILE AGO), Kate said that it wasn’t the main plot. That made the story even more attractive to me. Though I will say I am very happy with what was included. Did I squeal on the tube in London? Yes. Did everyone look at me? Also, yes. I DONT CARE I LOVED IT. Will let the reader find out for themselves what type it is;)
The only thing I wish we would have had more of is the history of the dragons, and more of a look at the pass since it was a huge part of the story. I also wish we had more backstory to the other characters. Did I love them all, yes, but I think it would have given the characters more depth. Maybe that was saved for book 2? I’m okay with that
When I wasn’t reading the book I was thinking about the book. Thank you, Kate, for allowing me to read one of your ARCs. I have definitely enjoyed!!
4.25⭐️!
April 21, 2025
An adventure-packed, banter-slinging, heartfelt magical journey with perfectly balanced world building, characters that leapt straight off the page and into my heart, and a plot that kept me guessing right up until the end.
I saw a LOT of buzz around Guardian when Kate started her marketing, and I admit, I was worried the story might not measure up to the hype. BOY WAS I WRONG. I'm lining up with the rest of them to sing its praises and you better bet I'll be smashing that preorder button when book 2 comes out.
I don't know how long Kate's been writing, but if this is her debut, she's incredibly skilled and talented. The prose felt immersive and meaningful, the dialogue snappy and engaging, and I genuinely enjoyed her style from first to last page. I'm a sucker for third person narratives, and this one was done just right. *chef's kiss*
Even though the world is built really well and the exposition feels seamless, I still have a lot of questions about how it all works. I'm guessing those will be answered throughout the rest of the Vellichor epic, and I'm eager to see where all the pieces fall.
Overall, I just enjoyed the heck out of this book and adore it to pieces. It was such a satisfying blend of classic fantasy and modern writing. The plot twists had me audibly gasping multiple times, and the sweet romantic subplot (very sub) had me giggling and kicking my feet. All I can say is, get your passport and hop the next ship to Sannir. You won't regret it.
I saw a LOT of buzz around Guardian when Kate started her marketing, and I admit, I was worried the story might not measure up to the hype. BOY WAS I WRONG. I'm lining up with the rest of them to sing its praises and you better bet I'll be smashing that preorder button when book 2 comes out.
I don't know how long Kate's been writing, but if this is her debut, she's incredibly skilled and talented. The prose felt immersive and meaningful, the dialogue snappy and engaging, and I genuinely enjoyed her style from first to last page. I'm a sucker for third person narratives, and this one was done just right. *chef's kiss*
Even though the world is built really well and the exposition feels seamless, I still have a lot of questions about how it all works. I'm guessing those will be answered throughout the rest of the Vellichor epic, and I'm eager to see where all the pieces fall.
Overall, I just enjoyed the heck out of this book and adore it to pieces. It was such a satisfying blend of classic fantasy and modern writing. The plot twists had me audibly gasping multiple times, and the sweet romantic subplot (very sub) had me giggling and kicking my feet. All I can say is, get your passport and hop the next ship to Sannir. You won't regret it.
November 17, 2024
There is not a single cell in my body that is chill about this book.
This book is a masterclass in worldbuilding immediately immersing you into the world without any of the clunky verbiage that typically accompanies intricate worlds. And not just is it well done, but it's a place you want to be. I found myself wanting to be apart of Vellichor, apart of the crew, apart of their life and politics. It's a true fantasy world with a fleshed out magic system and political hierarchy - you get dragon politics along with the politics of those in Vellichor. There is not a single morsel of this book that is not intentional and thoughtfully placed.
The characters are no different - each one is carefully curated and purposeful. You feel like you *are* the character which only adds to the feeling of immersion within this world. Each character feels real, with flaws, pasts, and hurts yet with clear direction and motivations.
The dynamics between each member of our main crew is so honest and real. You get every side of the story, of the character, of their relationships. They're a believable cast and you find yourself even pulling for each of them, even our sneaky, morally grey boy. You see undeniable love, friendship and brotherhood within this group complete with the most delicious tension between our two MCs.
Kate does something truly remarkable with this story. She sets the scene with hopefulness, quickly burns all hope to ash, and then slowly rebuilds it through immaculate storytelling and worldbuilding. But she doesn't stop there. She ends with a climactic Sanderson-esque finale filled with battles, intrigue, and even more questions that are begging to be answered in its sequel.
Don't miss this book. You'll hate you did.
Less formal review:
omg the banter, the tension, baby boi Bricru, THE DRAGON POLITICS, why am I getting Narnia x Crescent City vibes, why is this the BEST BOOK OF ALL TIME?!? I'm obsessed and I will never speak to you again if you don't read this.
ANYWAYS. Thank you, Kate, for allowing me to read this story early, for sharing your light and life and creativity with us. You rock. I'll be your biggest fan till the day I die.
This book is a masterclass in worldbuilding immediately immersing you into the world without any of the clunky verbiage that typically accompanies intricate worlds. And not just is it well done, but it's a place you want to be. I found myself wanting to be apart of Vellichor, apart of the crew, apart of their life and politics. It's a true fantasy world with a fleshed out magic system and political hierarchy - you get dragon politics along with the politics of those in Vellichor. There is not a single morsel of this book that is not intentional and thoughtfully placed.
The characters are no different - each one is carefully curated and purposeful. You feel like you *are* the character which only adds to the feeling of immersion within this world. Each character feels real, with flaws, pasts, and hurts yet with clear direction and motivations.
The dynamics between each member of our main crew is so honest and real. You get every side of the story, of the character, of their relationships. They're a believable cast and you find yourself even pulling for each of them, even our sneaky, morally grey boy. You see undeniable love, friendship and brotherhood within this group complete with the most delicious tension between our two MCs.
Kate does something truly remarkable with this story. She sets the scene with hopefulness, quickly burns all hope to ash, and then slowly rebuilds it through immaculate storytelling and worldbuilding. But she doesn't stop there. She ends with a climactic Sanderson-esque finale filled with battles, intrigue, and even more questions that are begging to be answered in its sequel.
Don't miss this book. You'll hate you did.
Less formal review:
omg the banter, the tension, baby boi Bricru, THE DRAGON POLITICS, why am I getting Narnia x Crescent City vibes, why is this the BEST BOOK OF ALL TIME?!? I'm obsessed and I will never speak to you again if you don't read this.
ANYWAYS. Thank you, Kate, for allowing me to read this story early, for sharing your light and life and creativity with us. You rock. I'll be your biggest fan till the day I die.
April 15, 2025
I struggle to get my thoughts about this book coherently, so hear me out. I've settled on 4 stars because I did enjoy this story quite a lot, but first... there were some things I liked less.
It took me a while to get into the story because I really disliked Kyler's attitude (though I knew it meant for character development later) and the prose was a little clunky (so many mentions of capes snapping in the wind and scales on ears). Then the character development itself seemed to delay for a long time... and then happen very quickly all at once.
HOWEVER, once I started reading faster, I got into the story more for its own merits and enjoyed the plot and character dynamics more. And the second half of the book I enjoyed quite thoroughly, hence my four stars rating. It was a fun fantasy adventure and I'm probably going to give the second book a go.
Let's be honest here though, the cover is fantastic and I love it and I bought it mostly because of that hahaha
It took me a while to get into the story because I really disliked Kyler's attitude (though I knew it meant for character development later) and the prose was a little clunky (so many mentions of capes snapping in the wind and scales on ears). Then the character development itself seemed to delay for a long time... and then happen very quickly all at once.
HOWEVER, once I started reading faster, I got into the story more for its own merits and enjoyed the plot and character dynamics more. And the second half of the book I enjoyed quite thoroughly, hence my four stars rating. It was a fun fantasy adventure and I'm probably going to give the second book a go.
Let's be honest here though, the cover is fantastic and I love it and I bought it mostly because of that hahaha
October 18, 2025
I had a fantastic time from beginning to end with this book. It was a fun fantasy adventure that pretty much anyone could enjoy.
I loved the characters. Kyler was lots of fun and he grew a lot throughout the book. Novah was also great and I hope she'll get a POV in a future book. Their slow-burn romance had me grinning while reading. Plus, there were tons of fun side characters.
Kate puts a lot of thought into her worldbuilding, and it shows (in a good way). The world felt lush and well developed. I would love to see more of it in future books.
There was so much more I could talk about, but I'll just end by saying you should go read this. If you like clean epic fantasy with a lot of adventure and a dash of romance, you'll enjoy this book.
I loved the characters. Kyler was lots of fun and he grew a lot throughout the book. Novah was also great and I hope she'll get a POV in a future book. Their slow-burn romance had me grinning while reading. Plus, there were tons of fun side characters.
Kate puts a lot of thought into her worldbuilding, and it shows (in a good way). The world felt lush and well developed. I would love to see more of it in future books.
There was so much more I could talk about, but I'll just end by saying you should go read this. If you like clean epic fantasy with a lot of adventure and a dash of romance, you'll enjoy this book.
March 28, 2025
4 ⭐
Loved the writing, the characters and their arcs, the villains, the world building/history/magic and I'm sure the will only expand in book 2. Liked the slow burn as well but at the end I hoped it would've progressed further (bit too stuck at the same level).
I didn't really like the part between where they go back to Sannir and the final battle. It was like such a chance of pace/adventure which made it a bit boring for me?
All in all enjoyed it!
Loved the writing, the characters and their arcs, the villains, the world building/history/magic and I'm sure the will only expand in book 2. Liked the slow burn as well but at the end I hoped it would've progressed further (bit too stuck at the same level).
I didn't really like the part between where they go back to Sannir and the final battle. It was like such a chance of pace/adventure which made it a bit boring for me?
All in all enjoyed it!
Want to read
April 19, 2024I can't wait to read this!!!
Read
January 22, 2025Dnf @ 10%. I really thought the author was joking when she said not to read her book because she didn’t know what she was doing but I guess she was being honest which is pretty admirable but confusing.
The marketing is really good & the merch is cute!
The marketing is really good & the merch is cute!
September 26, 2025
I think this might just be my new favorite read of the year. 10/10 GOOD SOUP!!
October 11, 2025
Honestly, I didn't love this book at first.
It took me a bit to get into it, it seemed like the "heroes" were always running away, and there was a slow-burning predictable love interest.
However, after about 50%, I loved it. It made me appreciate the first half of the book as it set up the world and lore.
Must read for fantasy fans.
It took me a bit to get into it, it seemed like the "heroes" were always running away, and there was a slow-burning predictable love interest.
However, after about 50%, I loved it. It made me appreciate the first half of the book as it set up the world and lore.
Must read for fantasy fans.
August 4, 2024
Welcome to the Year of Guardian!⚔️Intricate world-building, dynamic characters, and a high-stakes quest filled with twists and turns, this epic fantasy—with a dash of romance—this wildly compelling story will keep you glued to each page.
Be warned: once you enter the realm of Vellichor, you’ll never want to leave!
Be warned: once you enter the realm of Vellichor, you’ll never want to leave!
January 10, 2026
I was really hoping to love this book. Kate obviously loves her world and has put a lot of effort and time into it, but when it came down to the story and prose I found myself wanting more.
But first with the good, because this certainly wasnt a bad book.
1. The world feels old. This is always one of the most important things in a fantasy novel and it worked here. There's history and lore and legacy that impacted why certain structures (societally and literally) are in place.
2. Corbin and the other side characters are great. Mostly really good friends and supporters of Kyler and Welyn, with some good humor to lighten the rapidly darkening tone of the book.
3. Dragons (although I expected them to be much more prominent)
4. The potion making was awesome, probably my favorite bit of the whole book. It felt like Kyler actually had studied and knew stuff, and we weren't just making up rules on the go.
5. I liked the implications of gallot and blood that will obviously have huge ramifications in Son of Saints. That felt like a natural way to lead into a fix to their problems, and also made the world feel bigger than Sannir. And the letter from Evander at the end where he mentions it was a good cliff hanger.
6. I liked the concept of Tophet and all the dust and cold thst comes with it whenever in contact with it. Ash is a great symbol of destruction AKA Orisis.
Onto the rest. A lot of my thoughts were that there needed to be a little bit more or a little bit less, and what's good about that is that Kate will undoubtedly become a better writer as she goes on, so there's plenty of expectancy for the quality to keep rising. In no specific order, here we go.
1. Details - i felt like I read about dangling scales and capes swirling and leaves crunching under boots a hundred times. And while it can set the mood and scenery, a lot of.time it would be at the end of a sentence and really not have any effect? It was like artifacts left over from previous drafts.
2. There was a fair bit of repetition when it came to descriptions and information, usually within a few paragraphs, and it felt on the nose at times. The prose is very digestible so being told so much so directly felt like the reader wasn't trusted. But on the flip side...
3. I didn't really understand why Orisis worked the way he did. He somehow manages to attack Sannir in the beginning, but then leaves for no reason that's ever given. The afi were vaguely described in that assault and I really wasnt sure if they were regular looking people or creatures or what?
Then Orisis becomes obsessed with the portals and I was again confused. No one had been looking for him. Couldn't he juat sail to Sannir? And what exactly is his plan? it's hinted he wants more than to destroy Sannir.
4. Why are Ophir/Bricru and the young prince working with Orisis? What did he offer them? For how much we seem them their motives felt weak. And for that matter, why cant they just kill Kyler or at least drain his blood? I feel like it might very been mentioned that he had to give it willingly but it didn't stick with me.
5. KYLER. I get that he's supposed to have a redemption arc, but for 150 pages he is a PRICK. 0 redeeming qualities about him. He's mean to his friends, he's openly insubordinate many times, and he drinks too much. He has no good reason either as he's surrounded by great people like Corbin and Aeron and Zale. If I hadn't bought the book I probably would have set it down.
He also never apologizes much, and I was shocked to see him basically not even think about the princess who he just yelled at and then left.
6. Novah. She's cool. That's about all we get. She's a bit uncertain of her leadership but for someone who lives among the dragons I would expect a bit more arrogance OR confidence.
7. Speaking of: we barely see the dragons, and despite the Temple being a big plot point, we get nothing in terms of spirituality that I would think a race endowed with Adoni's magic would have. We never see prayers or song or worship or anything like that. Adoni himself is rarely mentioned.
8. Overall, when it comes to characters, I didn't feel great connection or growth. The enemies to lovers ish comes really fast on the switcheroo part, I guess cuz Kyler sees Novah hurt? But there is a lack of personal motivations besides "save Sannir". And with how Kyler undermines Kyler I dont understand how or why she suddenly is cool with him just because they had a life or death experience (which was mainly all brought on by Kyler disobeying her orders about half a dozen times).
Near the latter half of the book Kyler reels himself in a bit, and the Ophir switch heightens the tension. I still think Uriah being Kyler's dad was a weird secret, and while i like how it connects Kyler to the story, I thought it was a strange thing to hide but then reveal *before* we know why it's so important to the story.
There is some good setup for book 2, and I appreciate a contained anthology. I expect Kate to get better and the world to get fleshed out more. We shall see.
But first with the good, because this certainly wasnt a bad book.
1. The world feels old. This is always one of the most important things in a fantasy novel and it worked here. There's history and lore and legacy that impacted why certain structures (societally and literally) are in place.
2. Corbin and the other side characters are great. Mostly really good friends and supporters of Kyler and Welyn, with some good humor to lighten the rapidly darkening tone of the book.
3. Dragons (although I expected them to be much more prominent)
4. The potion making was awesome, probably my favorite bit of the whole book. It felt like Kyler actually had studied and knew stuff, and we weren't just making up rules on the go.
5. I liked the implications of gallot and blood that will obviously have huge ramifications in Son of Saints. That felt like a natural way to lead into a fix to their problems, and also made the world feel bigger than Sannir. And the letter from Evander at the end where he mentions it was a good cliff hanger.
6. I liked the concept of Tophet and all the dust and cold thst comes with it whenever in contact with it. Ash is a great symbol of destruction AKA Orisis.
Onto the rest. A lot of my thoughts were that there needed to be a little bit more or a little bit less, and what's good about that is that Kate will undoubtedly become a better writer as she goes on, so there's plenty of expectancy for the quality to keep rising. In no specific order, here we go.
1. Details - i felt like I read about dangling scales and capes swirling and leaves crunching under boots a hundred times. And while it can set the mood and scenery, a lot of.time it would be at the end of a sentence and really not have any effect? It was like artifacts left over from previous drafts.
2. There was a fair bit of repetition when it came to descriptions and information, usually within a few paragraphs, and it felt on the nose at times. The prose is very digestible so being told so much so directly felt like the reader wasn't trusted. But on the flip side...
3. I didn't really understand why Orisis worked the way he did. He somehow manages to attack Sannir in the beginning, but then leaves for no reason that's ever given. The afi were vaguely described in that assault and I really wasnt sure if they were regular looking people or creatures or what?
Then Orisis becomes obsessed with the portals and I was again confused. No one had been looking for him. Couldn't he juat sail to Sannir? And what exactly is his plan? it's hinted he wants more than to destroy Sannir.
4. Why are Ophir/Bricru and the young prince working with Orisis? What did he offer them? For how much we seem them their motives felt weak. And for that matter, why cant they just kill Kyler or at least drain his blood? I feel like it might very been mentioned that he had to give it willingly but it didn't stick with me.
5. KYLER. I get that he's supposed to have a redemption arc, but for 150 pages he is a PRICK. 0 redeeming qualities about him. He's mean to his friends, he's openly insubordinate many times, and he drinks too much. He has no good reason either as he's surrounded by great people like Corbin and Aeron and Zale. If I hadn't bought the book I probably would have set it down.
He also never apologizes much, and I was shocked to see him basically not even think about the princess who he just yelled at and then left.
6. Novah. She's cool. That's about all we get. She's a bit uncertain of her leadership but for someone who lives among the dragons I would expect a bit more arrogance OR confidence.
7. Speaking of: we barely see the dragons, and despite the Temple being a big plot point, we get nothing in terms of spirituality that I would think a race endowed with Adoni's magic would have. We never see prayers or song or worship or anything like that. Adoni himself is rarely mentioned.
8. Overall, when it comes to characters, I didn't feel great connection or growth. The enemies to lovers ish comes really fast on the switcheroo part, I guess cuz Kyler sees Novah hurt? But there is a lack of personal motivations besides "save Sannir". And with how Kyler undermines Kyler I dont understand how or why she suddenly is cool with him just because they had a life or death experience (which was mainly all brought on by Kyler disobeying her orders about half a dozen times).
Near the latter half of the book Kyler reels himself in a bit, and the Ophir switch heightens the tension. I still think Uriah being Kyler's dad was a weird secret, and while i like how it connects Kyler to the story, I thought it was a strange thing to hide but then reveal *before* we know why it's so important to the story.
There is some good setup for book 2, and I appreciate a contained anthology. I expect Kate to get better and the world to get fleshed out more. We shall see.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 1, 2024
Holy hell. (Full review in the morning bc I am wiped)
(still wiped, but excited about it)
First of all, thank you so so much to Kate for selecting me to receive an ARC of this book! I have been following along the journey of its creation and writing process for 2 years on instagram and actively awaiting its arrival and holy moly did it pay off!
Kate found her way onto my instagram feed as a creator of maps and I can confidently say she's cemented herself as a creator of worlds. The world building in this novel was unbelievably detailed while also feeling subtle and not like a chore (as so many other fantasy books are, at least for me). There's nothing I love more than being introduced to a new world in a way that feels organic, intentional, and beneficial to not only me but the plot as well. Think less history book, more plot driving information. That alone was like "oh man this book is gonna be awesome."
It's been a long while since I read a book with a MMC and I found myself actively enjoying it. Watching Kyler's character and personality evolve through the pages from "ugh such a man thing (derogatory)" to "ugh such a book man thing (affectionately)" felt authentic and real and it was visible and well paced. I enjoyed getting to know him, getting to know his motivations, and watching as he learned and grew as a character. Another character related thing that I was blown away by was the depth and intrigue that the side characters had despite when they're brought into the story. I will always praise authors for being able to write side characters that are as well developed and given as much personality as their mains while not overpowering them and when that's done correctly, my heart simply sings. However...... it also made my heart hurt even more so, sad face.
This also included one of the best antagonists (???) that I've read in a while, but out of fear of spoiling even slightly, I will keep my lips sealed!! If you're anything like me, you'll know in your heart who I'm referring to at the conclusion of you reading this.
And finally, I know my brand is mostly romance, so to my friends and followers reading this review, don't pass over it because it's not romantasy I beg!!! While this is a fantasy to its very core, the romance sub plot was actually so beautiful and tension filled and paced in a way that had me clawing at my eyes. And while it's not the primary focus of the story, and believe me I'm happy it's not--because that plot (!!!), there's still that light dusting that was simply perfect. (And again, written from the MMCs POV so like !!!)
Overall, this was absolutely fantastic. It felt fresh, like it didn't follow the cookie cutter fantasy factory that's been going around recently. I felt like I hadn't read this before in terms of content, but it wasn't hard to get into. ALSO DRAGONS!! But like in a fun and new way!! And elves, specifically not fae fae which was a wondrous discovery for me and my fae-tigue. I am begging everyone to read this please and thank you!
(still wiped, but excited about it)
First of all, thank you so so much to Kate for selecting me to receive an ARC of this book! I have been following along the journey of its creation and writing process for 2 years on instagram and actively awaiting its arrival and holy moly did it pay off!
Kate found her way onto my instagram feed as a creator of maps and I can confidently say she's cemented herself as a creator of worlds. The world building in this novel was unbelievably detailed while also feeling subtle and not like a chore (as so many other fantasy books are, at least for me). There's nothing I love more than being introduced to a new world in a way that feels organic, intentional, and beneficial to not only me but the plot as well. Think less history book, more plot driving information. That alone was like "oh man this book is gonna be awesome."
It's been a long while since I read a book with a MMC and I found myself actively enjoying it. Watching Kyler's character and personality evolve through the pages from "ugh such a man thing (derogatory)" to "ugh such a book man thing (affectionately)" felt authentic and real and it was visible and well paced. I enjoyed getting to know him, getting to know his motivations, and watching as he learned and grew as a character. Another character related thing that I was blown away by was the depth and intrigue that the side characters had despite when they're brought into the story. I will always praise authors for being able to write side characters that are as well developed and given as much personality as their mains while not overpowering them and when that's done correctly, my heart simply sings. However...... it also made my heart hurt even more so, sad face.
This also included one of the best antagonists (???) that I've read in a while, but out of fear of spoiling even slightly, I will keep my lips sealed!! If you're anything like me, you'll know in your heart who I'm referring to at the conclusion of you reading this.
And finally, I know my brand is mostly romance, so to my friends and followers reading this review, don't pass over it because it's not romantasy I beg!!! While this is a fantasy to its very core, the romance sub plot was actually so beautiful and tension filled and paced in a way that had me clawing at my eyes. And while it's not the primary focus of the story, and believe me I'm happy it's not--because that plot (!!!), there's still that light dusting that was simply perfect. (And again, written from the MMCs POV so like !!!)
Overall, this was absolutely fantastic. It felt fresh, like it didn't follow the cookie cutter fantasy factory that's been going around recently. I felt like I hadn't read this before in terms of content, but it wasn't hard to get into. ALSO DRAGONS!! But like in a fun and new way!! And elves, specifically not fae fae which was a wondrous discovery for me and my fae-tigue. I am begging everyone to read this please and thank you!
September 1, 2024
I could seriously never express how much I loved this book!! My reading profile has wandered from Harry Potter to Percy Jackson to now being a college student and reading Brandon Sanderson books. Guardian matched up very well with the genres of these books that I have enjoyed reading in the past! As a reader, most importantly I love lore and deep story telling. Guardian does not miss a beat with its intense background and lore concepts that drew me in during the prologue. I also really enjoyed the magic system of the world which includes incredible descriptions of alchemy and how the main character creates potions. The magic of alchemy was very important to the entire plot of the book and though it was intense and detailed I was never lost or confused with how the magic worked! Next off, I love deep intentional characters with growth development and wow does Guardian meet that! Specifically with the main character Kyler; it’s very fun to watch him grow and develop. Without saying spoilers, go read it so you can watch how he develops in an emotional way!! There are so many more characters that I absolutely cherished in this book and I can’t wait to see how they grow even more in the next book! Finally I love the author’s world building and map! It was incredibly easy to understand where locations were, which is sometimes very difficult when reading other fantasy adventure novels. Guardian has a beautiful world including sharp colorful mountains, busy towns, loud taverns, homey soldier cabins, stunning castle grounds, and so much more!! All of the names of places, characters, and locations matched and flowed together which made the book feel whole and real. Overall, I highly recommend supporting the author of this book by purchasing this novel and giving it a read! You will not be disappointed if you love well written characters, beautiful scenes of adventure and fantasy, and deep cohesive lore behind the plot of the whole book.
January 12, 2025
I'm writing this review immediately after I finished reading. I went to talk to my husband about it and I couldn't calm my heart beat and I was in a blank stare because what I read was felt so deeply. Like, I just walked out of battle scene. I was looking for an epic fantasy story that really would make a huge impact on me and one I would be thinking about for a long time, and this was IT.
The story is fluid and purposeful. The author did a great job with the battle scenes, the relationship building, showing good vs evil so clearly, introducing fantasy creatures like dragons, satyrs, and elves! The magic elements were not overly done but just right to where it felt natural in that world. There was a slow burn (clean) light romance which was very much a subplot, with lots of banter. I was happy to have found even a bromance was in there, which was fun to read.
Even though this is an epic fantasy, it was not overly difficult to read! It's accessible to all readers who may be intimated by fantasy worlds. The names of the characters and cities were unique but not annoyingly hard to pronounce and also easy to remember. (ps there is a pronunciation key, too!) It's one of those reads where it won't flee your mind or you won't forget what happens after you've read it. Honestly, you won't be able to even if you tried ✨️
I want to keep this spoiler free, but it's SO DIFFICULT because I want to talk about everything. So just read it. I promise you'll be happy 😊
What to expect:
⚔️ War between Gods
🍃 Third person pov
⚔️ Good vs Evil
🍃 Fierce FMC
⚔️ Witty MMC
🍃 Political intrigue
⚔️ Clean Romance subplot
🍃 Mythical creatures
⚔️ Zelda Inspiration
🍃 Alchemy
The story is fluid and purposeful. The author did a great job with the battle scenes, the relationship building, showing good vs evil so clearly, introducing fantasy creatures like dragons, satyrs, and elves! The magic elements were not overly done but just right to where it felt natural in that world. There was a slow burn (clean) light romance which was very much a subplot, with lots of banter. I was happy to have found even a bromance was in there, which was fun to read.
Even though this is an epic fantasy, it was not overly difficult to read! It's accessible to all readers who may be intimated by fantasy worlds. The names of the characters and cities were unique but not annoyingly hard to pronounce and also easy to remember. (ps there is a pronunciation key, too!) It's one of those reads where it won't flee your mind or you won't forget what happens after you've read it. Honestly, you won't be able to even if you tried ✨️
I want to keep this spoiler free, but it's SO DIFFICULT because I want to talk about everything. So just read it. I promise you'll be happy 😊
What to expect:
⚔️ War between Gods
🍃 Third person pov
⚔️ Good vs Evil
🍃 Fierce FMC
⚔️ Witty MMC
🍃 Political intrigue
⚔️ Clean Romance subplot
🍃 Mythical creatures
⚔️ Zelda Inspiration
🍃 Alchemy
December 14, 2024
Guardian by Kate Korsak is an absolutely fun read. It has everything you may look for in a fantasy story. Gods, elves, magic, dragons. But it also has more. The story is very engaging and the way Kate writes makes reading the story very easy.
Kyler is our main character who can be temperamental and hot headed at times but he is a very likeable MC. Novah our other MC is a badass female who clashes with Kyler over reasons you'll soon find out. But it is the friendship and more they form that keeps you locked in with every banter they have. Even the side characters are entertaining and well written. Now, while the villains don't truly make their appearance until the second half of the book once they show up the story heats up.
A quick note on the magic system. The main magic is in the form of alchemy and potions which I absolutely loved. You do not see that often in magic systems for fantasy so it was almost like a breath of fresh air.
The story takes twists and turns while moving quickly but also slows down at the perfect time just to ramp back up. The final 11 chapters were so engaging I read them all in one sitting, I just could not put the book down and had to continue through the end to see what was going to happen next.
Overall this is a fantastic novel that anyone who enjoys fantasy should read. I cannot wait for the next book to see where things go.
Kyler is our main character who can be temperamental and hot headed at times but he is a very likeable MC. Novah our other MC is a badass female who clashes with Kyler over reasons you'll soon find out. But it is the friendship and more they form that keeps you locked in with every banter they have. Even the side characters are entertaining and well written. Now, while the villains don't truly make their appearance until the second half of the book once they show up the story heats up.
A quick note on the magic system. The main magic is in the form of alchemy and potions which I absolutely loved. You do not see that often in magic systems for fantasy so it was almost like a breath of fresh air.
The story takes twists and turns while moving quickly but also slows down at the perfect time just to ramp back up. The final 11 chapters were so engaging I read them all in one sitting, I just could not put the book down and had to continue through the end to see what was going to happen next.
Overall this is a fantastic novel that anyone who enjoys fantasy should read. I cannot wait for the next book to see where things go.
January 12, 2025
This was an absolute adventure.
Guardian delivers a fast-paced, high stakes adventure that pulls you in. The characters are realistic and diverse. The world is intriguing and the magic/lore is unique. There were a few twists and surprises that caught me off guard too.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t too sure about Kyler at first. He’s arrogant, full of himself, and has a massive ego. When things didn’t go his way, he started challenging every decision the General made and just blatantly ignored orders, which in the long run caused some major issues. But, the more I got to know him, and the things that really make him tick, the more I liked him. The experiences he goes through force him to look inwards and really see himself. He learns to accept his role and to humble himself.
I loved Novah. She is spunky and smart, but also really struggles with self doubt and that to me is so relatable. She knows that everybody is just waiting for her to mess up and she puts so much pressure on herself to be perfect. And man when she finally finds her voice, she uses it. I can’t wait to continue watching her grow into her own as this story continues.
Bricru and Corbin are some more favorites. You could always count on Corbin to call out Kyler on his attitude and he was often the voice of reason and guidance. Bricru is an enigma. While he works for the God of Destruction, it felt like there were moments of hesitation. I wonder how his character will continue to shape the story going forward. Will he stay on the side of destruction or will he have a change of heart. I don’t know, but I love how he is the perfect foil to Kyler. Oh, and I absolutely love the way Kate describes his shapeshifting.
I loved the deep themes of light vs. dark, creation vs. destruction that wove through the world. And sometimes the world isn’t as black and white as we would like it to be. And then what happens when a god decides they want more? How does that affect the world as it functions? Guardian explores these ideas so beautifully.
Guardian delivers a fast-paced, high stakes adventure that pulls you in. The characters are realistic and diverse. The world is intriguing and the magic/lore is unique. There were a few twists and surprises that caught me off guard too.
I’ll be honest, I wasn’t too sure about Kyler at first. He’s arrogant, full of himself, and has a massive ego. When things didn’t go his way, he started challenging every decision the General made and just blatantly ignored orders, which in the long run caused some major issues. But, the more I got to know him, and the things that really make him tick, the more I liked him. The experiences he goes through force him to look inwards and really see himself. He learns to accept his role and to humble himself.
I loved Novah. She is spunky and smart, but also really struggles with self doubt and that to me is so relatable. She knows that everybody is just waiting for her to mess up and she puts so much pressure on herself to be perfect. And man when she finally finds her voice, she uses it. I can’t wait to continue watching her grow into her own as this story continues.
Bricru and Corbin are some more favorites. You could always count on Corbin to call out Kyler on his attitude and he was often the voice of reason and guidance. Bricru is an enigma. While he works for the God of Destruction, it felt like there were moments of hesitation. I wonder how his character will continue to shape the story going forward. Will he stay on the side of destruction or will he have a change of heart. I don’t know, but I love how he is the perfect foil to Kyler. Oh, and I absolutely love the way Kate describes his shapeshifting.
I loved the deep themes of light vs. dark, creation vs. destruction that wove through the world. And sometimes the world isn’t as black and white as we would like it to be. And then what happens when a god decides they want more? How does that affect the world as it functions? Guardian explores these ideas so beautifully.
May 16, 2025
Guardian Review
⅘ stars
Okay, this review is a bit overdue haha. I picked this book for my April read and it was actually the very first ebook I've read so it was a bit of a different experience than I'm use to, but I thoroughly enjoy this book. I've been following Kate Korsak for a while now and watched as she published book one and now am in so much anticipation for book 2, so its safe to say i knew what i was getting into when picking up this book.
Lets start with the things i liked. I really really liked the characters, i loved how different they all felt and it was very easy to keep them all separate in my mind. Kyler (the main character) was so well written. I know when a book starts off with a character who’s kind of an asshole, its going to be good and im going to learn to love them haha. I feel like Kyler's growth throughout the book is realistic and i love that he makes mistake after mistake and he isnt this perfect main character. I like that he fails and we see that. Other than characters i enjoyed the world, though i feel like i could have wanted more but with book two coming soon im sure we will get more in there. I also really like how you can tell how much Kate loves this story and these characters. It might just be me but i felt like i could feel the passion and love for this world while reading and i feel like shes written this story so well.
Overall i did enjoy this book, i dont have many gripes or things i didnt like, but lets get to the those anyway.
So one thing i didnt like was that the stakes didnt feel high to me. While reading i didnt feel like i was on the edge of my seat, nervous about what was going to happen. Im not completely sure why i feel this way, i cant really pinpoint an exact reason, but i feel like its worth mentioning anyway. I just felt like it went from one thing to another and the big stakes didnt feel really big to me. And that could just be a me thing, i could just be in a reading slump but again, wanted to mention it anyway. I feel like most of my weird feelings about the book will go away once reading book two since the whole story isnt really told in book one, so im going to wait until i read book 2 to fully get my thoughts out.
My final thoughts:
This book was very fun to read and i enjoyed it very much. If you’re looking for a nice fantasy novel written and published by an amazing indie author, i cannot recommend Guardian enough. It was such a breath of fresh air to read a fantasy book that FEELS like fantasy. So if youre looking to read Guardian, do it! I enjoyed it so much i HAD to buy a physical copy to have sitting on my shelf (plus the gorgeous cover is another bonus lol)
(its been a minute since I finished this book and a bit since I've written a book review so this might be all over the place lol)
⅘ stars
Okay, this review is a bit overdue haha. I picked this book for my April read and it was actually the very first ebook I've read so it was a bit of a different experience than I'm use to, but I thoroughly enjoy this book. I've been following Kate Korsak for a while now and watched as she published book one and now am in so much anticipation for book 2, so its safe to say i knew what i was getting into when picking up this book.
Lets start with the things i liked. I really really liked the characters, i loved how different they all felt and it was very easy to keep them all separate in my mind. Kyler (the main character) was so well written. I know when a book starts off with a character who’s kind of an asshole, its going to be good and im going to learn to love them haha. I feel like Kyler's growth throughout the book is realistic and i love that he makes mistake after mistake and he isnt this perfect main character. I like that he fails and we see that. Other than characters i enjoyed the world, though i feel like i could have wanted more but with book two coming soon im sure we will get more in there. I also really like how you can tell how much Kate loves this story and these characters. It might just be me but i felt like i could feel the passion and love for this world while reading and i feel like shes written this story so well.
Overall i did enjoy this book, i dont have many gripes or things i didnt like, but lets get to the those anyway.
So one thing i didnt like was that the stakes didnt feel high to me. While reading i didnt feel like i was on the edge of my seat, nervous about what was going to happen. Im not completely sure why i feel this way, i cant really pinpoint an exact reason, but i feel like its worth mentioning anyway. I just felt like it went from one thing to another and the big stakes didnt feel really big to me. And that could just be a me thing, i could just be in a reading slump but again, wanted to mention it anyway. I feel like most of my weird feelings about the book will go away once reading book two since the whole story isnt really told in book one, so im going to wait until i read book 2 to fully get my thoughts out.
My final thoughts:
This book was very fun to read and i enjoyed it very much. If you’re looking for a nice fantasy novel written and published by an amazing indie author, i cannot recommend Guardian enough. It was such a breath of fresh air to read a fantasy book that FEELS like fantasy. So if youre looking to read Guardian, do it! I enjoyed it so much i HAD to buy a physical copy to have sitting on my shelf (plus the gorgeous cover is another bonus lol)
(its been a minute since I finished this book and a bit since I've written a book review so this might be all over the place lol)
March 17, 2025
Guardian is an exciting epic fantasy adventure filled with loveable characters, plenty of action, magic, budding romantic tension, and beautiful Christian symbolism. I was hooked from the start by the high stakes. The protagonist, Kyler, is arrogant and has a journey where he learns to be humble, yet his flaws gave him depth, and I found myself rooting for him the entire time. I loved the use of alchemy and potions in this story. With alchemy being the protagonists’ hobby, the care and skill in which he makes his potions gives him another dimension and makes him more realistic. Additionally, his potions are functional throughout their quest, and they are important to the plot, adding a mystery element to the story. There is also great representation of strong female characters, which I loved because the women showed different kinds of strength! They were skilled fighters, but they were also strong leaders, showing vulnerability as they struggling with their responsibility. They were graceful and feminine and also intelligent and curious! This book's theology is a respectful reflection of Christian theology, tackling difficult moral questions and situations, and I found myself intellectually and spiritually inspired.
I highly recommend Guardian to anyone who loves epic fantasy, enemies to lovers, and the fight of good vs. evil. If you’re a lover of classic high fantasy like Lord of the Rings but are looking for something more contemporary, this is the book for you!
I highly recommend Guardian to anyone who loves epic fantasy, enemies to lovers, and the fight of good vs. evil. If you’re a lover of classic high fantasy like Lord of the Rings but are looking for something more contemporary, this is the book for you!
September 3, 2024
Classic fantasy with all sorts of banter, a world STUFFED with lore and magic and everything from flora to fauna to fill out the backdrop of an intense plot. Seriously I loved the worldbuilding! I loved how the history of the world played such a central role in the story.
The characters are so fun too! The banter is absolutely beautiful and made me snicker almost every time. xD It takes you a minute to like Kyler (MMC), but even his particular charms grow on you. Novah is a BOSS QUEEN and I loved seeing her strength, even when she has her own inner turmoil we don't see as deeply.
The VILLAINS THOUGH. ACK. I loved the interactions between the villains, and the way they were presented. It was creepy and twisted and Ima need Bricru to be okay.
I loved watching the characters all warm up to each other when thrust into situations where they had to work closely together (when I got the feeling their individual parts of the army didn't often cross paths). Even the side characters had their own voices and mannerisms.
I'm super grateful to have received an ARC (for an honest review). <3
The characters are so fun too! The banter is absolutely beautiful and made me snicker almost every time. xD It takes you a minute to like Kyler (MMC), but even his particular charms grow on you. Novah is a BOSS QUEEN and I loved seeing her strength, even when she has her own inner turmoil we don't see as deeply.
The VILLAINS THOUGH. ACK. I loved the interactions between the villains, and the way they were presented. It was creepy and twisted and Ima need Bricru to be okay.
I loved watching the characters all warm up to each other when thrust into situations where they had to work closely together (when I got the feeling their individual parts of the army didn't often cross paths). Even the side characters had their own voices and mannerisms.
I'm super grateful to have received an ARC (for an honest review). <3
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