Illuminator: A Gods of Tintar Standalone

by Kara Voorhees Reynolds, Zura Johnson (Narrator)

Helena Tefraine was abducted from her homeland alongside her teenage daughter, her two closest friends, and other women who were in the wrong chapel at the wrong time.

She finds herself in Tintar, the only known country in her world where magic exists. Forced into service as a muralist for a foreign king and bound by an arranged betrothal she did not choose, Helena must also unearth buried parts of herself as she perseveres. Her new role does not just challenge her—it awakens her. As she adapts her old life's skills as an illuminator to paint an enemy's throne room, she begins to recover the divine spark within her that refused to be extinguished.

A poetic return to the friendship, magic, and romance of Priestess, Illuminator is a companion novel written as a love letter to listeners. This is not only a story of survival—it is a story of the soul.

Audible Audio

Published February 10, 2026

About the author

Kara Reynolds is a watercolorist who lives in Florida with her husband and their cats.

Reviews

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illuminator is the companion novel to Priestess, the first book in the Gods of Tintar series, and is best enjoyed having read that one first.

Illuminator follows Helena throughout several points in her life, including her new home in Tintar, and is not just a beautiful extension to Priestess but something completely unique. This is a story of motherhood, what it means to choose your family and how to love yourself unapologetically.

Zura Johnson has done an incredible job bringing Helena to life, she has truly captured everything that makes this character who she is.

Sisterhood is at the heart of this story and is one of the greatest examples of female friendship I have ever read—rooted in respect and non-judgement, these are women that support fiercely, are resilient in the face of adversity yet provide gentle and safe spaces. This is a story where each woman is needed, she has her own depth yet compliments her fellow sisters perfectly.

"Once you bank the fires of youth, you learn there is still ash to sweep from your hearth. I did not even know that I needed friends. I always thought how lucky I was in a lover—how could I ask for more? And then it was just given to me, the lot of you, by some kinder god, I do not know."

Helena's journey of self love is empowering, and Thatcher is such a patient and understanding counterpart. I love how different they are, yet together they undeniably work.

"You climb too far above your station, man. You seek the moon."
The sergeant remained looking at me but replied over his shoulder, "If she is the moon, I will have to use the stars for footholds."

This is not just a love letter to Priestess, but a love letter to women everywhere.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this series!

Definitely top tier for me!

What did I love? Everything from the story, the world building, the characters, and the feeling that I had when I finished. I'm still thinking about all three books (Priestess, Illuminator, and Pilgrimess).

◾yearning
◾banter
◾FMCs of all ages
◾sisterhood
◾practical magic
◾religious trauma

Highly recommend! If you haven't read it, please do so now.

Thank you to the author for allowing me the opportunity to ARC read Pilgrimess in exchange for my honest review! It introduced me to this amazing series.

[Bookishbeach · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a deeply special and meaningful book written by a wonderful Author. The narrator also did a phenomenal job! Absolutely brilliant!