The Queen's Bodyguard

by Lauren Blackwood

In this sizzling romantic fantasy, a magicless queen intertwines her fate with a fierce warrior to ensure her safety during high-stakes peace negotiations—until their electrifying chemistry ignites an unexpected and perilous new alliance—from New York Times bestselling author Lauren Blackwood.

In a matriarchal society with nature-based powers, Queen Theora Umbra is the new, unexpected ruler of the thriving Aranean colony. Her predecessor was assassinated by a rival queen, igniting a year-long war. To finally bring peace, Theora must now grudgingly engage in diplomacy with an unscrupulous enemy.  

But peace talks mean no armor or weapons, and Theora has no intention of following her predecessor to the grave. To protect herself, she needs a weapon of a different sort—a bodyguard. But the only way to bring one along without suspicion is to marry one. She quickly selects Argos, a prickly and formidable Warrior with a fearsome reputation, to be her new husband. Once peace is secured, she can easily annul the marriage, and they can go their separate ways.

But like all Warriors, Argos’s ruthless tendencies can only be tempered by dominant will and powerful magic . . . magic that Theora lacks. With the help of a trusted advisor who knows her secret, Theora might just be able to assert her command over Argos and get through peace negotiations alive. But she doesn’t expect to feel so affected by Argos’s protective personality. Pretending to be married and in love is not nearly as difficult as pretending she doesn’t desperately want him—all of him.

The Queen’s Bodyguard unleashes a torrent of blazing romance, set against a vibrant fantasy world with webs of corruption and sexy scheming.

Genres: Fantasy, Romantasy, Romance, Adult, Adult Fiction, Fiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published August 4, 2026

About the author

Lauren Blackwood is the NYT/Indie Bestselling author of Within These Wicked Walls and Wildblood.

Reviews

[Lauren Blackwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This goes out to all my women in their 30s & 40s (I'll probably write something more later, I'm just excited to see my girl up on Goodreads!)

[BookishKB]

✨👑 The Queen’s Bodyguard 👑✨

I’ll be sharing my full review closer to publication date.

💫 What to Expect
• Bodyguard x queen
• Magic-less queen
• Political tension
• Fake marriage
• Enemies to lovers
• Warrior rituals
• Forced proximity
_ _ _ _

📅 Pub Date: August 18, 2026
📝 Thank you to Ballantine | Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

[Paige Hull · Rating 2 out of 5]

The description of this book seemed like it would be something that I would enjoy, but I was sadly let down. I did read through this quite fast so I will say that the writing style was pleasant. If there was somehow more development of…everything I would’ve enjoyed this a lot more.
The description and marketing sell this book as a “romantic fantasy” but it didn’t deliver on either. The world felt very unexplored/underdeveloped which I could honestly forgive if the characters are compelling…but they just weren’t. Theora is quite an unpleasant character and I found it difficult to connect with her because although they say that she is a good queen, she couldn’t make a single decision without whining. Besides caring for the Warriors, I can’t think of any decisions she made that were the right choice without heavy influences from Argos.
Argos was more interesting, but still felt one dimensional and cringey. The story was flat and I figured out the “twist” early on. The romance was also underdeveloped and the smut was cringeee…
I’m pretty bummed because I wanted to like it more than I did. :(

Thank you to Lauren Blackwood, Ballantine, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advanced copy! My review reflects my honest thoughts. :)

[Kristen Bolding · Rating 3 out of 5]

Theora is forced into peace negotiations with her enemy. They are not allowed to bring any weapons or guards to the negotiations so Theora comes up with the idea to bring a warrior acting as her husband with her for protection. Argos is a ruthless warrior who was ordered to come along as her bodyguard. The catch they are technically married.

This book is a slow burn romance. Theora and Argos have a lot of chemistry. Theora is drawn to him even though she knows she shouldn’t trust him.

I do think this book needed more world building as I didnt really understand the magic system. The pacing was slow at times but overall I enjoyed it.

What to expect:
Forced proximity
Enemies to lovers
Marriage of Convenience
Political intrigue

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a wild ride. The first half of the book was not great. For me, for any sort of fantasy book to be successful it needs solid world building which I felt this book was missing. I wish there was a more in depth explanation of the magic system. I also would have liked to know more about Aranea, and more about Warriors as a whole. Theora is also not super likeable. She gets better later in the book but in the beginning it’s really hard to root for her in any way. The second half of the book was much better. The dynamic between Theora and Argos became fun and a lot more interesting. And the plot twists at the end were great. The premise of this book is really good, I just don’t think it fully executed.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Sierra · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a little all over the place, but if you're the kind of person who likes to just devour romances without really thinking, then it's not too bad.

Theora is the new queen of a small colony (colony of what nation I have no idea) that has been embroiled in war since the day she was crowned -- which is the same day the previous queen was assassinated. Now, a year since the war started, she has been invited to negotiate peace with her enemy Queen at a neutral location. The issue: no weapons or bodyguards are allowed. Theora's plan is to temporarily marry one of her colony's Warriors (men (and also women??) with unpredictable and violent magic) and bring him along as a bodyguard in disguise.

Argos, the Warrior she marries, is only going along with this plan because he plans to assassinate the rival Queen at the peace talks. And then obviously they both fall in love even though that wasn't in the plan.

I was really excited about this book based on the premise because it has a lot of possibility for angst, specifically angst relating to the dominance/submission magic happening between Argos and the Queen. The Warrior magic is wild and can send Warriors into a sort of bloodlust that is only controlled by very careful training or handlers that can use magic to subdue them. I was looking forward to the tension and trust that comes from being at the mercy of someone with the power to force you to submit when you don't want to or even the beauty of choosing to submit even when you have the power to resist. And on this front I was very disappointed. There really wasn't any dominance/submission until the very end and by then the roles were reversed and Theora was the one submitting to Argos and it wasn't anything particularly compelling. I was also expecting more angst and pining to come from the fake marriage aspect and didn't get it, which was sad and unexpected.

In general, I wasn't too big of a fan of Theora. The text says that the people of her colony love her and that she is a good queen, but I absolutely cannot imagine it. Theora is so stubborn and thinks she knows best about everything. She never listens to anyone else's advice, even her advisors who have significantly more experience than her. She takes any sort of discussion as a personal attack and cannot be persuaded by rational arguments. And she has a massive temper and whines about everything. It's very unclear to me how she has managed to be queen for a year. I did kind of think that maybe she would learn to respect others over the course of the book but apparently that was too much to ask.

The romance is strange and moves very fast (two weeks fast). I also thought this was going to be a marriage of strangers, but it turns out Argos has been listening to Theora's speeches and falling in love with her voice for years? Ignoring some of that weirdness, the romance is pretty cute and you can definitely see them building up trust with each other and falling in love. On the other hand, a lot of the romantic moments felt shoehorned in. There's a very out of no where trip to the fantasy version of the Tunnel of Love amusement park rides in particular that threw me off.

But truly the strangest part of this book is the world-building. It is probably over-complicated for the world and not entirely thought through. There's a couple different types of magic that seem to be entirely segregated based on race/colony/location, which I always just find a bit hard to believe. Also the Warrior magic is mostly just a perverted version of the magic women in Theora's colony have that is said to only show up in men, except there are also woman Warriors. And speaking of the Warriors - they're actually just slaves. They are removed from their parents as soon as they show signs of this bloodlust magic and moved into a military base/prison where they are trained for war. They are not allowed to leave except on missions, they are not allowed to marry anyone other than other warriors, they rarely get their own personal chambers, and before Theora's reign they also had poor food and housing conditions. They are described as "mindless killing machines" "violent war machines" and animals. The implications of this treatment are kind of discussed in the book but only in the most cursory of ways and Theora partakes in this discrimination early on in the book and only grows to correct it on an individual basis for Argos. There is no discussion at all of systematic cruelty inherent in the system.

A couple smaller gripes:
- the authors is clearly trying to describe a very matriarchal society but it falls a bit flat when the only real evidence is that all the colonies are run by Queens and most of the enslaved Warriors are men
- the book mostly reads as a fantasy world but there are a few very strange modern technologies thrown in that completely threw me off. In particular, telephones with switchboard operators, vacuums, alarm clocks, electric fences, and gramophones. I truly could not tell when this book was supposed to be set or why modern real world appliances were included at all when they mostly had no bearing on the book (other than the phones which could probably have been replaced with a modern equivalent)
- the strongest material in the world is silk, but it comes from trees instead of moths for some reason. The silk plays a huge role in the economy and magic of the Theora's colony and gets a lot of world building early on which has almost no relevance to the later plot. There's a huge subplot about Theora's lack of silk magic that gets brushed under the rug in the conclusion.
- even though these colonies are at war, they are barely patrolling their borders and have constructed no defenses along the borders
- Theora wants to keep her fake marriage a secret to everyone in her colony. I do not understand how she thinks this will work when there are other attendees at the peace talks and presumably the other Queen will talk about the fact that Theora showed up with a husband
- literally so many other minor things but I'm trying really hard not to nitpick more than I already have

Mostly this book felt clumsy. I didn't hate reading it because the writing itself was generally pretty solid and the strangeness was more funny than annoying, but I definitely don't recommend this book if you're looking for a solid plot or an angsty romance.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[EKO_TheNeurospicyAfterDarkArchive Oakley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title: The Queen’s Bodyguard
Author: Lauren Blackwood
Genre/Subgenre: Adult Fantasy Romance

Tropes:
- Bodyguard romance
- Arranged/temporary marriage
- Forced proximity
- (sort of) Enemies-to-lovers vibes
- Political intrigue
- Possessive warrior MMC
- Queen x protector

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars (Rounded up for Goodreads)
Spice Level: 3.5/5🌶️

Content Warnings: Political violence, war themes, manipulation, emotional tension, danger, possessive behavior, assassination threats

Synopsis
Queen Theora may rule Aranea, but peace comes with a dangerous price. Forced into negotiations with the enemy kingdom responsible for her predecessor’s death, she refuses to walk into political warfare undefended. Her solution? Argos, a ruthless Warrior with a terrifying reputation, so naturally Theora enlists Argos to pose as her bodyguard husband.

So, what’s the catch you might ask? Their marriage is “technically” real.

As tensions rise between kingdoms, their fake relationship becomes increasingly difficult to separate from real desire. Between sacred Warrior rituals, power struggles, and undeniable chemistry, Theora finds herself dangerously drawn to the one man she absolutely should not trust but does anyways.

The Review
“What if political fantasy was hot?”

Honestly? Mission was accomplished.

This book thrives on tension and intrigue with a slow chemical burn that it is amazing I don’t have 3rd degree burns after finishing this read. And I am not just talking romantic tension, though there is plenty of that, but the constant power struggle, the arguments had between Theora and Argos are packed with unease and burn. Neither of them wants to surrender control, which makes every interaction feel sharp, emotionally charged, and lowkey addictive.

Argos is very much in the “touch her and die” category of fantasy man, but what I appreciated most was that he wasn’t just protective for the sake of being the cliche dominant alphahole commonly experienced in within these standalones. I found his loyalty, rituals, and emotional restraint added a complex depth to the possessiveness trope instead of making it feel shallow or performative.

Meanwhile, Theora absolutely refuses to be overshadowed. She’s stubborn, politically intelligent, and constantly fighting to maintain her autonomy as a queen in impossible circumstances. I felt her character was written well and that she wasn’t emotionally distressed or overly dramatic or the cliche chaotic damsel in distress but she had a level headed maturity from the beginning that is not often displayed in this genre consistently.

And as mentioned prior…the chemistry between Argos and Theora? Absolutely tantalizing filth in the best slow-burn way. Although when I say slow-burn tension…I mean slow-burn spice scenes, etc. If you don’t want to wait, get a bit irritated and live in the packed tension, maybe skip this one.

The fake marriage setup worked well because the emotional unease between the two builds alongside the political danger and subterfuge. Every shared room, every protective gesture, every ritual between them felt packed. The yearning in this book that I felt while reading this book could honestly qualify as psychological warfare.

The fantasy world build itself felt immersive without becoming overwhelming nor confusing. Sometimes fantasy romances get buried under lore dumps or explanations, but this stayed readable and character focused while still giving enough political intrigue and worldbuilding to make the stakes matter. Suffice to say I was greatly appreciative of this because my neurospicy brain can get lost in too many details and lose the characters or story.

My real one complaint, it’s that I wanted more spice, arguing (which was foreplay with these two characters), more world, more books, not just a standalone. Give me more. More political scheming, more Warrior lore, more relationship scenes after the emotional walls started breaking down. I could have happily lived in this tension for another hundred pages. I think I’ve said the word “more” enough now that you get the picture.

What Worked for Me?
• Elite bodyguard romance tension
• Fake marriage + forced proximity = absolute madness of the best kind
• Strong, stubborn queen who refuses to be passive
• Possessive warrior MMC done right!!
• Emotional tension AND physical chemistry that was balanced
• Political fantasy that stayed easy to follow with enough details to make me want more books in
the world as it was easy enough to follow
• Sacred Warrior rituals added unique worldbuilding plus the concept is fairly unique

What Didn’t Work for Me?
• I wanted deeper exploration of the political conflicts or maybe a duology…
• Some side characters felt underutilized (but could definitely be a book 2 option *hint hint*)
• The ending wrapped up a little faster than I wanted because I was fully invested and as I have
mentioned before…I wanted more by the end.

Final Thoughts
If you love fantasy romance with dangerous protectors, fake marriages, power struggles, yearning that could physically kill a Victorian child from 2026, and a queen who refuses to surrender her power, The Queen’s Bodyguard absolutely delivers.

This felt to me like a perfect blend of political fantasy and spicy romantasy without losing emotional depth underneath all the tension. It had balance and that is difficult to achieve.

Neurospicy Rating: “RENT FREE IN MY HEAD, BUT…maybe only for the next year or so.”
My Overall Rating: 4.5/5

Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review with absolutely no sugarcoating, no holding back, questionable grammar and dialogue being all my own. This review is being left voluntarily.

[Sonja · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has a beautiful cover....and that's about all it has going for it. This book was so boring and I cannot even tell you how much I hate hate HATED Theora. The world building was not the best because everything seemed pretty modern but with dashes of magic involved. But that magic wasn't really explained and felt more out of place than anything. I did enjoy Argos when he was all dominating and forceful, but as someone who does not favor male submission, it irked me when he would do what Theora commanded despite how much it dishonored him.

Now, I'll tell you why I hated Theora so much. She was such an arrogant, stupid, spoiled little bitch. She believed her title as queen gave her absolute authority over people and they should be falling at her feet just waiting to fulfill every one of her royal commands. She didn't listen to anyone because she's the queen and she doesn't have to. They have to listen to HER. She acted like such a child when she didn't get her way. And she treated Argos and his warrior customs as if they were no better than dirt when they are something very important to him and his people. We are constantly told how the people just absolutely adore her, but why? What has she actually done for them? She was always meant as a spare queen, but when her predecessor and friend was killed in an attack by their enemies, she was thrust into the role.

The whole premise of this book could have been amazing if it was written better with a much more likeable FMC. Theora has been invited to peace talks with the enemy and isn't allowed any sort of guard or weapons. But she is allowed to bring a husband. And that's where Argos comes in. For whatever reason, some of the people there are born with a warrior gene that can only be controlled by a handler's magic. Or something like that, I really don't know. Anyway. These people are basically locked up for their lives and kept on short leashes, only being allowed out for hunting or missions. They are a weapon themselves. So Argos has agreed to be Theora's husband for this mission and protect her whatever means necessary. The thing is, while the marriage is a complete farce to Theora, it's very much real for Argos. Unfortunately what we get here is most of their interactions being incredibly frustrating instead of fun like they could have been because Theora is such a goddamn prude. How they're supposed to come across as a couple madly in love is beyond me when Theora freaks out over even holding hands. They hardly get to know each other before they get to the meeting place, but at least Argos is good at playing the doting husband. Of course Theora has to make it all awkward though. Not least of which is when she gushes over and clings to her life long friend and real future husband....in front of her current husband. Needless to say the meetings don't go well. There are traitors on both sides and when everything comes to a head is when Theora realizes she has fallen in love with Argos. So yeah. I will say that I did like the new enemy leader. I can't remember her name, but she was a good character. The ending was pretty much what one would expect, with these two getting their happy ending.

[Dotti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rating: 2.5 stars

The Queen’s Bodyguard is a fantasy romance standalone about a vulnerable queen and her bodyguard in a marriage of convenience. The story follows Theora, a newly-coronated Queen trying to embark in peace talks, and Argos, her Warrior bodyguard masquerading as her husband. The two fall in love while trying to stop the war that has been affecting their country.

This book is presented as being fantasy-forward, but it really leaned into the romance elements. The story follows romance timing and beats, spends very little time explaining magic systems or world building, and spends more time in the romance plotline than the non-romance story. The book is very explicit, with multiple scenes of varying lengths and a heavy emphasis on explicit encounters.

I expected this story to be a fantasy novel based on the descriptions and marketing, and was surprised when it was so romance-heavy. The pacing felt slow at the beginning, but the magic system still felt thin. There were a number of interesting conspiracies and mysteries that I was excited to uncover, but the story glossed over the answers in a way that felt unsatisfying. I think I would have enjoyed the book more if it was presented as a traditional romance novel, as the fantasy elements distracted from the story rather than adding anything.

The book is well written, with solid prose and comfortable writing. The book didn’t feel overly complicated, though it did feel slow at times. The pacing followed romance plotting, so the story spends more time on the couple’s relationship than the larger political elements.

Theora is a complex character, but I didn’t find her very compelling or interesting. Throughout the story she does experience some growth, which helps, but it feels like the explicit encounters foster her development more than the romance itself. I think more world building would have helped with creating more explanations to her behavior and characterization.

Argos is a more compelling character, but the story didn’t give enough context to his Warrior experience to ground his behaviors and motivations. I felt like I was coming in on the second or third book in a series, as so many of the world building moments were simple reminders rather than detailed explanations. I would have liked to understand Warrior culture more, as it clearly has complex and varied rules around honor and dishonor, dominance and submission.

Altogether, this story was interesting, but thin. The romance placed such a heavy emphasis on explicit encounters that our characters didn’t develop their romantic relationship much past their attraction, and the worldbuilding scratched the surface without giving enough substance. I think this book had a lot of potential, but needed more depth.

Thank you to Ballantine, Lauren Blackwood, and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy!

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐ Review: The Queen’s Bodyguard by Lauren Blackwood
(ARC — releasing August 2026)

💜 The tropes? Absolutely my jam.
We’ve got:
- Arranged marriage
- Enemies‑to‑lovers (light but present)
- Forced proximity
- Slow burn
- Grumpy protector hero

Argos is peak protector energy , “touch her and die,” brooding, stubborn, and secretly soft. I loved his internal conflict, the way he tried to honor the rituals even when the marriage was supposed to be fake, and the cinnamon‑roll‑under-the-armor moments he kept slipping into. He’s the kind of hero who pretends he doesn’t care while caring the absolute most.

And Theora’s political storyline really worked for me.
She’s a queen who never got to choose her own life literally selected as a child because of her eye color. The book does a great job showing the pressure of leadership, the lack of autonomy, and the weight of being watched and judged at every turn. I’m actually excited to see the character art for this world because the visual elements feel like they’ll be stunning.

The tension between them is real.
It’s a slow burn, but not the kind that drags — more like a steady simmer. And yes, the spice doesn’t show up until about 85% in, but the emotional tension is there the whole time.

💭 Where it didn’t fully resonate for me

This book is very romance‑forward. If you’re expecting deep fantasy lore, layered magic systems, or immersive worldbuilding, this isn’t that. The magic exists, the Warriors have elemental abilities, but it’s all kept pretty surface‑level.

And some character logic didn’t quite add up for me.
Theora is portrayed as highly intelligent she’s been studying these rituals for over a year... so it didn’t make sense that she didn’t understand them when it mattered. Especially in moments of danger. People are actively trying to kill you, and you’re asking questions that feel out of place for someone with her background and training. Those moments pulled me out of the story a bit.

The pacing is slow, and not in a “let me savor this world” way more in a “I’m waiting for the plot to thicken” way. The romance is the main dish, and the political storyline stays pretty light. I also saw the twist coming which isn't a bad thing but just a note.

Spice level: 1 out of 5.
Totally fine — but because the book is so romance‑centered, I think I expected a little more emotional or narrative payoff before the 85% mark.

📚 Final Thoughts

This book wasn’t a miss, it just wasn’t fully my flavor.
But I genuinely think it has an audience.

If you’re a romance reader who wants to dip your toes into fantasy, this is a great entry point. The fantasy elements are gentle, the world isn’t overwhelming, and the relationship is the heartbeat of the story.

[Jaici Rae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am feeling a little torn on this one but it’s a standalone and I finished it in one sitting so I feel like that’s a huge win! I’m not exactly sure what I was expecting this book to be but it went its own way several times I wasn’t expecting and made it unique and interesting and had me wanting to find out more! I feel like it was more of a romantic fantasy as the world building was definitely one of the lacking qualities and the main focus was on the relationship and power struggle and dynamics between the main couple but it did also have some intriguing political motivations. The whole book takes place over the span of a couple weeks also so a lot does happen development wise in that short time and the background and world just isn’t explored much at all.

The main character Theora is a queen of a small colony that has been at war with the other colonies and is one of many in the line of queens always having to watch their back from enemies within their own people and outside of as the colony is ruled by queens but most seem to meet an early death by someone’s hand who opposes their rule. She was originally one of the people and appears to be loved by her people but has still been attacked before and is about to undergo peace negotiations in a neutral territory with the colony and queen that she believes were behind that attack a year prior. She believes the best way to protect herself during the negotiations is by marrying one of the warriors so that he might accompany her as her husband but be more of a bodyguard in disguise. This was the main part of the story that I struggled with because the warriors have some type of magically fueled strengths and gifts that make them somewhat animalistic in nature almost like wolves if I had to describe it? I’m not sure but there was a lot of growling and territory marking taking place.

Argos the strongest warrior is who she chooses and honestly he made the book with his personality and povs and I didn’t mind whatever the power was that made him do certain things my only complaint is just the way Theora sees him and talks to him a lot of the time like he’s less than and beastly even though his thoughts and personality are very intelligent and sometimes instinct based but he was always right on and I just wish she had trusted him more and talked down to him less but by the end I really liked their dynamic. The betrayals and political parts were interesting but I could have honestly had more of that it was a little abrupt and could have been drawn out a little more but overall was good. I’d give it a 3.75 overall rating. Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for the arc read for an honest review!

[Chels · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a bit disappointed because this book was completely different than what I thought it would be 😕 it also felt very rushed and lacked world building as a standalone novel.

This world itself was a bit confusing - I believe it is suppose to be like a modern fantasy. In the “modern” world but with its own magical elements. There are kingdoms ruled be queens with each of their own magical abilities. Our queen Theora is well loved by her people but without any magic of her own. Her country is on the cusp of war and she is desperate to undergo peace talks with the neighboring country in order to avoid this. She decides to have a fake marriage with a warrior as her own personal bodyguard but also acting as her husband. This story follows the events of them trying to undergo peace talks, avoid assassination attempts, and play political games.

My gripe with this world is that the “warriors” get treated like they are animals that need to be tamed and controlled. Which they do have animalistic tendencies BUT being in Argos’ POV shows that he is incredibly intelligent. Instead it makes me feel like Argos can be a “normal” person but all of a sudden has animal urges and instincts. The warriors also have their own culture and social rules. What I also disliked that despite Argos being portrayed as intelligent, he also made some of the DUMBEST choices and his excuse was that he acts in his instincts to please his wife…. I hate that we flip back and forth between animal and man, because which is it??

In addition, Argos is always looking out for Theora and is saving her. But she CONSTANTLY doesn’t believe the things he says, accuses him of being jealous and a liar, when he’s the only one who has her back this entire time. They also have a lot of banter that you would find in any rom com or romantasy. Though I love banter, it once again just feels out of place for her to banter with someone that gets treated like a trained beast.

Much of this book was mainly about Theora’s and Argos’s forced proximity relationship. Don’t expect too much politics, action, or world building. We don’t see Theora doing too much queenly duties, just mainly hopping around arguing with Argos.

An interesting standalone to give you a little bit of spice and a sort of forbidden romance. But don’t expect too much!

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for an arc for me to read and review.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75-ish stars.

Our FMC is 'insufferable' as some comments have suggested because of her title. She's a queen. She was fashioned into a queen herself because her past queen and FRIEND perished. I think that would close off a lot of individuals and make them hesitant to do their queenly duties no matter how much they loved their people. She was brought up in a society that told her how to think, what to wear, what is appropriate and what isn't. Her whole personality has a REASON BEHIND IT and I think readers who fail to note that, aren't reading to the full potential of the book. A character doesn't have to be likeable, I didn't care much for the FMC but there are many reasons why she has her personality.

What I didn't like was the way the Warriors are protrayed. Animalistic, brutal, unloving, not fit for a queen. They have to be given commands to 'cease', otherwise the Warrior magic will basically rip you to shreds. Because of this, you have to be very careful in dealing with Warriors (also let's not forget that other queens have been obliterated by Warriors). HOWEVER, our Warrior was simply charming. He was a great character. Yes, he wanted to kill because of his powers. He was a great counter to our FMC (who was snobby, arrogant, and nervous). He wasn't afraid to love.

The world is muddy, so that's another reason why stars were taken off. They seem to be both in the past and current day timeline with technology and advances. Weapons, cell phones, but no lights in the Warrior area. It was hard to understand the world in that way but very easy to understand the feud between the two queens.

This book took me a bit to finish but I had fun and thought there were some interesting concepts presented (the stingers and claws of certain kingdoms). The romance at the end TOOK IT TO A WHOLE OTHER LEVEL. I will say that the ceremony, the FMC crying because she was loved seriously took that baseline lustful romance into something so incredibly beautiful that many fantasy or romantasy books don't do. It outshines every other romantasy in that end romance part. I loved it.

thank you to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.

[Olivia Host · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was sort of conflicting. I wanted to like it a lot more - the characters and chemistry were there - but the plotline just didn't do it for me. From the start, we're given a little too much confusing political info than I think readers will care about or remember (maybe it's just me). Then our FMC, during this exposition, is describing political practices/courtesies that just sounded like Disney made it up. "Pocahontas" had more realistic politics than this book. It just struck as too simplistic, yet overly complicated for no reason.

Then there's the weird wolf pack type language. Yet, no one is a shifter and no wolves were involved. Immediately at the start of the book, the language/command thing was confusing in a "wait, are they wolves and I missed something" way that didn't serve the story or the readers. It just made it weird. Eventually I realized no, these are humans, and no, there's no point to the wolf/animalistic stuff and I should just ignore it and move on.

The climax and ending felt rushed, especially involving Apollo. It felt glazed over and the final conflict resolved within seconds. It was over so quickly it almost felt pointless to include it. We didn't get to feel any high stakes or resolution, it was just there and done.

But despite these things, I was invested in the romance enough to see where it went. This could be because I'm a sucker for forced proximity enemies to lovers. But it works here & I felt the chemistry enough. I enjoyed that he could sense what she was feeling & it almost could have been played up more TBH. They had a fun dynamic and that is mostly what pushes the plot along imo.

Overall I think this is a 3.5. There were obviously some aspects I thought were lacking but easy to improve. The book has some of the most important parts down - tone, character development, magic system, and setup. It just needed better follow through, pacing, and structure. I was pulled through the story quickly and easily though thanks to the character dynamic and at that's more important to me!

[Charity (Booktrovert Reader) · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one just wasn't for me.

My biggest issue was the world building...or honestly, the lack of it. There was a huge info dump at the beginning, but somehow I still had no clue what was going on. I felt like I was dropped into the middle of the story and expected to just figure it out. I'm never a fan of books that do that.

I kept waiting for more explanations about the warriors, the magic, and why everything worked the way it did, but they never really came. We know the previous queen started the war, but I never felt like we got a good explanation as to why. Since that's basically the whole reason the story exists, I wanted more.

I also couldn't tell what time period this book was supposed to be in. There would be random pieces of technology that popped up, so I'd think, "Oh, maybe this is more modern?" But then I was confused again a few pages later.

There were little details that were mentioned and then never explained. Like...apparently the advisor has fangs? Cool, but why? Is she a different species? Is it connected to the magic? It felt like I was supposed to know, but I didn't.

And one thing that really didn't make sense to me was Argos. We're told these warriors are basically animalistic and really hard to control with magic. So why is he able to wander around enemy territory so easily after being claimed? That just didn't add up for me.

There were definitely some interesting ideas here, and I think the world could have been really cool. I just wish we had actually gotten to explore it instead of trying to piece everything together ourselves. I spent more time confused than invested, and by the end I just couldn't connect with the story.

Advance Review Copy generously provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

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[Em · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Read this in a day, which is probably the nicest thing I can say about it, because the second I stopped to think about anything for longer than thirty seconds I had questions.

I THINK the romance is supposed to read as well-matched, but the FMC comes across as fucking insufferable and weirdly weak for someone we’re told has been a beloved queen for three years. The case for said belovedness boils down to: she gave the warriors more funding. Truly the stuff of legend. She’s established as one thing for the entire book, and then the first smut scene hits and she’s suddenly willing to jump into something with zero hesitation when a guy offers “it won’t count as anything” — which reads less like character development and more like the author needed an excuse to get them together. Jarring and out of place with everything that came before.

The Warriors as a concept are what broke me. Early on they’re framed as borderline-feral creatures who need handlers issuing commands like “cease” and “yield,” and you brace for some kind of mindless-beast-with-a-soul situation — and then the love interest just shows up and is. A guy. A completely normal guy. There’s a ton of buildup about how they hunt, how they view people as prey, how you have to project strength or they’ll snap…and none of it ever pays off. Nobody snaps. He hunts like once or twice. What are they hunting? Unclear. Why does it really matter? Also unclear.

There are also a couple of “reveals” that I think were supposed to land as Big Moments and then the book just… moves on. Never addressed again. Hello?

And the worldbuilding. There are phones. There are also trains… and carriages….apparently, but nobody uses them because the author never bothers explaining why, which just reads as sloppy. Fashion tape is a luxury item used by a queen in a magical world. I genuinely could not tell you what century or planet I was meant to be on, and the inconsistencies kept yanking me out every few chapters.

So. I read it. I finished it. And as someone who DNFs quite quickly, that’s got to count for something.

[Diana Glaser · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn’t like this book. On paper, it seemed like a dream read. It’s a utopia of tropes, including marriage of convenience, forced proximity, enemies-to-lovers, and a bodyguard-and-queen dynamic. It had so much potential, but unfortunately, the execution just didn’t work for me.
 
My main issues come down to the main character and the central romance. Despite being raised as a queen in the middle of a war, the FMC reads quite immature, almost like a YA protagonist. Her reasoning feels underdeveloped, and she is stubborn to a fault simply because it benefits the plot, making her perspective pretty grating to read. For someone we are repeatedly told is a beloved and capable ruler, it felt off that she didn’t understand the cultures and customs of the elite force in her own kingdom. Because of this, her treatment of Argos at the beginning crossed the line into being uncomfortable rather than the fun, witty banter you expect from an enemies-to-lovers story, which ultimately ruined the romance for me.
 
The worldbuilding and pacing also struggled to find their footing. The world felt confusing, largely because information was told to us outright rather than letting us figure it out naturally through the narrative. The warrior storyline in particular felt icky and because no prep work was done for the reader to understand it, it just felt jarring. At only 320 pages, there simply wasn't enough room for the author to pull off everything they wanted to do. As a result, the plot, character arcs, romance, and worldbuilding all felt disjointed. To top it off, the big "twist" wasn't much of a surprise at all; I saw it coming from a mile away, and I am usually terrible at guessing plot turns.
 
Overall, this wasn’t for me. While it had a lot of potential, it’s not a book I’ll recommend or pick up again. But if you are a fan of heavy trope mashups and fast-paced royalty fiction, it might still be something you'd want to check out.

Thank you to Ballentine and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Kali Favino Davenport · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of The Queen’s Bodyguard by Lauren Blackwood in exchange for an honest review, and overall I really enjoyed it. Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for the advanced copy.

The premise immediately hooked me: a politically arranged fake marriage between a queen and the warrior bodyguard who secretly believes she’s responsible for his wife’s death? This is the kind of tension-filled fantasy romance setup makes reading it enjoyable. The dynamic between Theora and Argos carried the story for me, especially with all the distrust, resentment, and undeniable attraction simmering underneath their forced proximity.

Argos was probably my favorite part of the book. He’s gruff, loyal, possessive, and emotionally guarded in a way that made the romance satisfying to watch unfold. The chemistry between him and Theora was definitely there, and while this isn’t an overly spicy book, the romantic scenes that are included felt well done and fit the story naturally.

Theora admittedly frustrated me at times, but honestly, I think that speaks to Lauren Blackwood’s writing. A character that can make you feel strongly, whether it’s irritation, sympathy, or investment, is usually a sign they’re written well. Watching her walls slowly come down with Argos kept me engaged, especially once the emotional tension really started building.

The pacing was a little slow in parts, and I would have loved even more development in the world and political intrigue because the fantasy setting had a lot of potential. Still, it was an enjoyable read with a strong romantic payoff, and I loved seeing the relationship evolve from reluctant alliance to something genuine and heartfelt.

If you enjoy:

fake marriage tropes
bodyguard romances
enemies-to-lovers tension
possessive warriors
political fantasy with romance at the center

then The Queen’s Bodyguard is definitely worth checking out.

[Vi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this blind and it was surprisingly refreshing!
Borderline cosy fantasy. I thought this was a medieval setting but its more of a hybrid modern. I am still a tad confused on each kingdom being called colony. So the build of the world could be better but it seems these colony take on the traits of insects? Silk (spider), stingers (bees), multiple pathways (ants)? Again I am not too sure sure but that is my take on the magic.

Cannot explain the Warrior and Docile aspects.
But basically two different class of people - the Queen (Docile) and her fake marriage to a Warrior.
Two different people who do not get along eventually develop an endearing relationship on the journey to peace talks.

Argos the warrior is cunning and smart but primitive in that he follows the tradition of the Warrior class. He also is gentle and kind in a rough way. Someone who has a vast collection of watches which makes the modern piece so conflicting to the underdevelop world building. He cares for Theora way before she did for him. Its just her naïveté ego that made him distrust her at first but he softens when she shows she is the true queen that thinks of all her people.

Theora, I got annoyed when she was too trusting. Argos clearly knows how to be a warrior and it made me exasperated that she did not trust him. I am glad it did not end up her making dumb decisions but I almost threw my kindle because of it. What was surprising to me was how much of a submissive she is! Kinky queen you go! Spicy!

I do love their bantering and their romantic gestures once the misunderstanding was resolved. The ending was cute!

This story started out as a surprise but I am glad I pushes thru because this is definitely one I would recommend! Minus one star for vague world building and magic system.

[Kathleen Hoffman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. I’m not going to waste time with a synopsis, that’s what book blurbs are for, but skip right to what worked for me and what didn’t.

Let’s start with what didn’t work in my opinion. The world building. Sometimes with romantasy, the world building gets left out. To me, it’s no longer a romantasy, it’s simply a romance. I couldn’t really tell you anything about this world. Then there are the magic systems, which were complex and somewhat confusing. I felt like that could have been explained in greater detail, which would have added to the book.

The villain was a bit anticlimactic. From who it was, to the capture of said villain, it was just… ok. I wanted more I guess. Especially with the buildup.

Now, on to what did work….

The banter between the two main characters. YES! I thoroughly enjoyed the FMC and MMC both as individuals but put them together and their chemistry is off the charts. The sexual tension, YASSSSSSS….. I’m here for it! The witty comments going back and forth, yep, here for that too. I need a regular romance novel like yesterday from this author.

The fact that the FMC is not 19. Ok, I know once our bodies hit 30 and above, it’s more difficult to really picture we’d be these elite heroines who are going to be kicking ass and taking names, but come on. Why does every single FMC need to be under the legal drinking age? Finally a heroine who is an adult! Listen, she wasn’t sitting in this book with a staff, dagger, and wrapped breasts, but she was still just as fierce. We need more of this in the romantasy genre. We are not dead after 30.

Overall, I enjoyed myself and I always appreciate a good standalone. 3 stars.

[Veronica Hawk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC!!

I enjoyed this book! It is a quick read, and has a different vibe then a lot of the other books at the moment.

Queen Theora has been queen for a little over a year, and things are going... okay. The people love her, and her country is doing well, but the war is still not quite over yet. This is the same war that killed her predecessor, and crowned Theora queen.
Luckily, there is a meeting that will solve the war problem, but she needs a bodyguard. This is where the issue lies. Guards are not welcome in the meetings between nations. So she does what we all would do; she marries one. Argos is a well respected warrior of the Aranean people, who have the power to spin silk. Marring him means she opens herself up to a culture that she does follow, and a new life waiting for her.

Queen Theora- I enjoyed her character, though I have to say, she did not feel like she was in her thirties to me, maybe her early twenties. She is a loving person and does right by her people. She tends to be stubborn when it comes to the different rituals that Argos has, and his way of life.

Argos- His character was an interesting one. He is a warrior that must follow the commands of his queen, but tends to disobey at points. He marries Theora because he wa told to, but over time we learn more about his connection to her. I really enjoyed getting to look at the way of life for these warriors and how integrated marriage, rituals, and even voices are to their way of life.

This book might not be for everyone, there is a bit of dominance play, but not much.

Spice- 🌶️.5

[Sarai Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Queen's Bodyguard by Lauren Blackwood was an enjoyable read with an engaging premise that kept me turning the pages. I liked the overall story and was invested enough to see how everything would unfold.

The biggest thing that held this back from being a five star read for me was the worldbuilding. The setting felt a little uncertain about what it wanted to be. At times, it had all the atmosphere of a traditional royal court, but then modern elements like cell phones, running shoes, and trains would appear. I wasn't opposed to the blend of fantasy and contemporary influences, but I wanted those pieces to feel more intentionally woven together. Instead, they often felt disconnected, which made it harder to fully immerse myself in the world.

I also found some of the characters a bit difficult to pin down. Their motivations and personalities didn't always feel as clear as I wanted, leaving me feeling a little disconnected from them.

Even with those issues, I still had a good time reading The Queen's Bodyguard. It's an entertaining story with plenty to enjoy, and I think readers who like royal intrigue and fantasy with a modern twist will find a lot to appreciate.

Received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.
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[Andrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Ballantine for reaching out to offer me an advanced read of The Queen's Bodyguard by Lauren Blackwood. This recommendation was right up my alley!

In The Queen's Bodyguard, Warriors are ruthless, fierce people tasked with protecting Aranea. Which makes the most formidable Warrior, Argos, the perfect fake husband to accompany Queen Theora on her task to make peace with the former enemy colony responsible for killing the previous queen. As Theora and Argos traverse the ins and outs of selling their marriage as real, they're journey is full of heated touches, intoxicating banter, and budding feelings festering within them both.

This was definitely what I would categorize as romantasy as the romance aspect takes precedence over the fantasy depth in their world.

I LOVED THEORA AND ARGOS! They had immediate simmering chemistry that had me blushing before they ever even touched. Theora and Argos are both strong-willed and stubborn and it makes for such a fun read when they have to complete their mission.

There was just enough world-building and backstory to keep me engaged with Aranea as a whole. The magic system was interesting and setup in clever ways. Although if the book were longer there would definitely be room to expand on the history of why the Warriors have their own rituals that seem to not be incorporated into the rest of the colony. I wouldn't say there was a lack of world-building, but just a lot of questions raised with the details given that just make me even more invested!

A great read for fans of heavy romantic tension, possessive mmc, and easy fantasy worlds.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for this ARC. Theora is a new queen. who arranges to marry one of her warriors, Argos. She makes this arrangement as she wants to have someone who can protect her/keep her safe during peace talks. Theora and Argos get off to a rocky start as they are both stubborn and full of pride. They have dramatically different takes on the marriage: Theora sees it as temporary arrangement/facade where as Argos takes his role/vow more seriously. As a result, it creates complications and takes a bit of time for either of them to let down any walls. Little by little they get to know each other and slowly blur the lines. While trying to get peace negotiations established, they start to see who to trust/not trust, and begin to realize how much they mean to one another. This was an engaging romantasy filled with political scheming and a slow burn romance. I think the pacing in the first 20-30% was slow as the author was finding her voice. However, once her voice was established, the story became fast paced and action packed, filled with twists and turns that kept me reading as I needed to know what happens next. I loved Theora and Argos' relationship as it was messy, complex, and tension ridden. Seeing the gradual switch from irritation/hate to yearning/slow burn romance made Argos and Theora's ending satisfying and perfect.

[Tabi Cat Enchanted · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advanced reader copy of The Queen’s Bodyguard from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I genuinely loved this story. It introduced a fresh world filled with political tension, emotional wounds, and characters trying to survive situations far bigger than themselves.
The queen has only known war since being unexpectedly pushed into power after the assassination of her closest friend. During that attack, she was injured herself, leaving her deeply traumatized and terrified of the enemy she is now expected to meet for peace negotiations. The problem? She is forbidden from bringing weapons or even a bodyguard to the talks. Naturally, the solution becomes a “marriage” to a warrior whose role is clearly much more than ceremonial.
Watching her slowly realize that not everything she believed was true—and that she might actually deserve more than fear and survival—was one of my favorite parts of the book. Her emotional growth felt believable and rewarding.
The pacing was excellent, the story stayed engaging throughout, and the writing made it very easy to become invested in both the world and the characters.
Final verdict: four stars. A gripping and emotional fantasy with strong character growth, political intrigue, and a relationship that develops beautifully over the course of the story. Definitely worth reading.

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will be honest... I absolutely was enraged with this book for the first 75%! The FMC infuriated me... and not in the way I normally like. There were plot holes and discrepancies that frustrated me. The timeline was unclear, it seemed an age of way in the past only to move towards a more modern setting in the details.

Theora is an absolute BRAT, a temper tantrum throwing brat! She agrees to things she knows are necessary then completely does the opposite like it isn't her fault at all. She wants a "bodyguard" but then completely dismisses everything he says, like he is ridiculous and she is right... I absolutely cannot with that.

Argos is a Warrior. The first description of him reminded me of the Unsullied. But then animalistic, but with magic, and vampire tendencies. It was too much to try and keep straight (for me). Anyway... he falls first. Great trope. That's about it!

The "peace talks" between Queens turns out to be more of a court hearing, complete with judge and everything. I'm not sure what to do with that...

The betrayals the arise, the allies that are presented, are the only plot twist I didn't see coming. I thought one thing and it wasn't, well played!

Overall, this writing style and the first majority of this book is not my taste. I do appreciate the early copy from Netgalley and wish this author all the best!

[Sophia Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Big thanks to Lauren Blackwood, Ballantine, and NetGalley for the chance to read an advance copy!

I had a good time with The Queen's Bodyguard, but I couldn't help feeling like it was trying to cram a trilogy's worth of story into a standalone.

The premise was right up my alley: a marriage of convenience between a newly crowned queen and her Warrior bodyguard, political intrigue, dangerous magic, and plenty of forced proximity. There were so many interesting ideas here that I kept wanting to dive deeper into.

Unfortunately, the worldbuilding never quite got there for me. The Warrior culture was by far the most fascinating part of the book, but we only scratched the surface. The politics, magic system, and a few major reveals also could have used more time to breathe, which is why I think this story would have really benefited from being a duology or trilogy.

I also expected the fantasy to take more of a front seat, but this definitely leans more toward romance. I enjoyed Argos and the romance overall, though I would have loved to see their relationship develop more outside of the physical attraction.

Even with those criticisms, I flew through this book. The writing is engaging, the premise is unique, and I stayed invested from beginning to end. I just finished it wishing there had been a little more room to fully explore everything the story introduced.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lauren Blackwood delivered in this refreshing take on a romantasy! Queen Theora is always trying to do what is best for her people and spends no time considering what she actual wants for herself. In her quest to attain peace in the kingdom, she decides to make one of the incredibly tough Warriors her fake husband so that he can accompany her as a bodyguard. Argos seems intimidating and fearsome at first, but turns out to be much more thoughtful, compassionate, and funny than Theora expected a Warrior to be. We get to watch as these two reluctantly fall for each other, all while navigating politics, scheming, assassination attempts, betrayals, and friendships that are not what they used to be.

Theora and Argos were both fantastic characters. They had great chemistry that was drawn out over a slowwww burn. Their banter and fake marriage antics made me laugh, while their more private moments were heartwarming. They make for a great couple who challenges each other while also bringing out the best. Fake marriage is not always a trope that works for me, but it definitely did here!

The story got a bit repetitive at times, and the ending had a big reveal that I felt deserved a bit more of a climax. Besides that, this was a solid 4 star read that I think any romantasy lover could enjoy! Thanks go to netgalley for the arc!

[Riniya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own and are given freely.

Star Rating: 4.5

This is the first book I have read by Lauren Blackwood and I have to say I am already such a fan! This book was a breath of fresh air compared to some that I have been reading lately. I thought it was very well paced if a little on the fast side but not necessarily in a negative way. The world building was solid and was easy enough to follow that I didn't feel confused or scratching my head. I do hope that this will be part of a series because the world/setting has so much potential and I can't wait to see what the author does when she has time to expand on it. The pages are filled with loyalty, banter, tension and high stakes that have you on the edge of your seat.

I really enjoyed the dynamic between our queen and her would be husband/bodyguard. If I had any sort of complaint, I thought the Queen was a bit entitled and stuck up. I understand that she was raised from birth with the knowledge that she MAY be queen one day, she had no one to tell her no in her life, but her attitude left a bit to be desired at the start of the book. Of course, her warrior husband had no qualms in challenging her every step of the way and I found myself rooting for him from the start, solely because of this.

Overall, this was a satisfying read and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a forbidden romance and court politics.

[Comebookwithme · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Queen’s Bodyguard is a fast moving, tension filled romantasy that hooked me right away. The blend of political maneuvering, forbidden attraction, and a world built on the divide between Warriors and Dociles makes for a fresh, addictive setup. The pacing leans quick, but in a way that kept me turning pages rather than feeling lost, and the setting has so much potential that I genuinely hope this becomes a series.

Theora and Argos carry the story with their clashing personalities and constant push and pull. She’s sharp edged, proud, and occasionally infuriating, which makes her growth all the more satisfying. Argos, on the other hand, steals scenes effortlessly with his loyalty, defiance, and the way he challenges her at every turn. Their dynamic is full of banter, heat, and that slow burn tension that makes fake marriage romances so fun.

If I had one critique, it’s that some emotional beats and worldbuilding elements could have used a bit more depth, especially toward the end where things wrap up quickly. Still, the story delivers on chemistry, court intrigue, and high stakes drama. A great pick for readers who love dominant meets defiant dynamics, political tension, and a romance that simmers until it finally snaps.