The Last Guardian

by Laura Collin

SHE NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING COULD BE A LIE. NOW, EVERYTHING IS.

Alyana lives with a hole where her memories should be since the day her world collapsed—found surrounded by blood, haunted by questions she cannot answer, and unable to remember what happened.

Five years later, a strange mark blooms across her skin. In a realm that has erased all trace of magic, her mark could expose secrets the Empire has buried for millennia.

When she’s attacked and forced to flee on the eve of her sister’s royal wedding, she joins a mysterious stranger bearing a mark like her own. He promises to help her find the truth, if she helps him hunt a creature said to hold the key to stopping the corrupt power spreading across the kingdoms.

Their path will lead them beyond the Empire’s borders, across the sea to forbidden lands where the old magic still breathes, and where the lies of the Empire began.

But the truth she seeks could shatter more than kingdoms—it may destroy Alyana herself.

Genres: Fantasy

Kindle Edition

Expected publication April 15, 2026

About the author

Laura Collin is a French author. She writes dark romantic fantasy. Her story is built on grief and secrets, set in richly layered worlds with invented species, multiple magic systems, and horror-inspired creatures that crawl straight from the Seven Hells. She writes about embracing your own darkness, finding hope in despair, and the messy, complicated nature of love and survival.

She drafts her books side by side with her furry baby, Sheldon the grumpy black cat—her guardian—while drinking tea or coffee all day long.

Reviews

[Delta S · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review (thank you!):
First, I have to say this story took me out of my major romantasy slump. It was easily and quickly devoured, despite the intricate world building.

Fantasy Elements:
- definitely high fantasy, but felt a bit convoluted at times. It all came together by the end though.
- Intricate magic system, multiple species, multiple deities.

Romance Elements:
- Top notch (I mean A+++) yearning and tension.
- Open door spice, not entirely gratuitous - did build on the dynamic of the main characters somewhat.

Characters:
- FMC: I couldn’t tell you anything about her other than how she responds to her trauma.
- MMC: Shadow daddy vibes for those into that. Something felt “off” about him from the beginning to me so I couldn’t get into his character as much as I would have liked
- Supporting characters are likeable and interesting (and IMO more interesting than the main characters)
- GIVE ME MORE NEFELI!! AND DORIAN!!! Even Arthur and Lyra

Themes/plot:
- I did enjoy the exploration of trauma/coping mechanisms/mental health.
- To avoid giving anything away, the *main* twist was predictable, however the very very last scene took me by surprise (and brought me back in as I was beginning to lose interest).

All in all, a solid book. Would LOVE any subsequent books (I presume, given the cliffhanger), to be in a different POV, or multi POV, especially since there are so many excellent supporting characters (who I also think deserve to have their own perspectives/struggles/growth heard).

[Maddy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given the opportunity to read the ARC for this book and it did not disappoint. There was a good amount of world building considering this is the first book in a new world. I loved learning about this world and the characters! I got attached to the main characters quickly and found myself fully immersed in their interactions and backstories.

There was so much action and emotion throughout he entire book, even in the last few chapters. So much happened and it was impossible to put the story down.

I’m so excited to see where Laura Collin takes this story and what’s next in the world of Erath!

[Sophia LB · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit torn between 3.5 and 4 stars.

Firstly, thank you so much to Laura Collin for the ARC.

This was a really good read, I really enjoyed it. The world building is very dense and a bit hard to follow initially, à la Game of Thrones, but once you get past that it's very complex and I can tell the author's spent a lot of time crafting this story. It's got some great political intrigue and really cool imagery. I thought the plot was really interesting, too. I did see pretty much all the twists coming (especially the major one at the end), but I do usually always suspect twists correctly, and it doesn't keep me from enjoying the story. I can't wait to see where the next book leads. I hope we don't have to wait so long for book 2, I'm already being driven insane.

I loved Alyana...mostly. This girl's been through an insane amount of trauma, and she's handling it better than I ever could. I also loved the initial build-up between her and Zaid, I thought their chemistry came off very naturally at first and it almost made me forgive the bone I have to pick with these two towards the middle...but not quite.

Alyana, I love you girl, but have some respect for yourself. She deserves better than to keep throwing herself at Zaid when he's being distant, and I seethed every time she approached him to try to fix things, only for them to have a cute lil moment and then BOOM he's distant again.

And Zaid...my man. Seriously? I loved his banter with Alyana, and as I mentioned before, their relationship was really well built at first, with that great balance between dislike and attraction, but it kind of lost me towards the middle a bit. After learning why he keeps pulling away, sure, I get it, it's a classic move. But you gotta pick, either you keep your distance or you don't. When Alyana calls him out for being distant, he flirts with her. It infuriated me. Especially since it was obvious he was still hiding something from her. So not a new book boyfriend, I'm afraid- not yet, at least. BUT he's a great character otherwise, I was very intrigued by his backstory. And I know that ultimately, I'll be rooting for them.

The supporting characters were also great. I loved Lyra, Dorian, Dax, and Nefeli, and I want to see more Sam and Bennett. Eiryl-something I can't spell her name, sorry, gave me Melisandre vibes. Arthur...frustrated me. And not in the way he frustrates Lyra, I'm afraid. Haedeon was a formidable villain, and I definitely want to know more about him. I'm also excited to know more about the emperor and the whole thing with Brazen, and of course to know more about the Guardian. I do think the king and his abuse were rendered a bit obsolete towards the end, because we don't really get much about him, nor does Alyana really reflect on that abuse throughout except for that one scene in the Void, so compared to other threats he didn't really stand out to me. But hopefully in the next one! And I hope Alyana gives Zaid a much harder time in the next one than she did here.

And I hope Nevan dies a very slow, painful, horrible death <3

(side note: it's the uncle, isn't it?)

[itsliterary_emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Laura for the ARC!
3.75 ⭐️

I was really looking forward to this book because the author drew inspiration from several of my favorite stories and worlds, including The Witcher, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Narnia, Anastasia, and Pirates of the Caribbean. That combination immediately caught my attention, and I was excited to see how those influences would come together in a new fantasy story.

This was an ambitious and intriguing debut that definitely kept me invested. The story follows a princess who slowly discovers that the world she thought she understood is much bigger and far more magical than she realized. As secrets about guardians, magic, and her own identity begin to unfold, the stakes for both her and the continent grow significantly.

One of my favorite parts of the book was the slow-burn, forbidden romance between the princess and the commander. Their dynamic starts with tension and banter and gradually evolves into something deeper as they spend more time together. The push and pull between duty, loyalty, and growing feelings created some really compelling moments.

At times, the writing style took a little getting used to. Some dialogue and interactions felt slightly literal or overly dramatic, and certain scenes could feel a bit choppy. However, knowing that the author is French helped provide some context for the style, and the flow became easier to settle into as the story progressed.

The plot builds toward some interesting reveals involving the Order, the role of guardians, and the princess’s connection to magic. These twists added a lot of intrigue and helped expand the scope of the world as the story progressed.

The magic system itself was occasionally confusing while reading, and although there is a helpful glossary at the end of the book that explains some of the terminology and mechanics, it would be even more helpful earlier if placed in the beginning of the book.

Overall, this is a strong and ambitious debut with an interesting world, a compelling central relationship, and a lot of potential for where the series could go next especially after that cliffhanger ending. I’m definitely curious to see how the story continues in the next book.

[Libby Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review!!!! Thank you so much to Laura Collin for the chance to read this in advance 💜

I absolutely loved The Last Guardian by Laura Collin! The main female character immediately drew me in—being one of many siblings, I related to so much of her personality and perspective. The world-building was captivating, with an interesting magic system and rich backstory of gods and goddesses that kept me hooked. The romance was perfectly paced, and the MMC’s sinfully flirtatious yet sweet nature had me falling for him instantly. I was also pleasantly surprised by the found family elements—they added so much heart, especially woven together with her siblings and friend Lyra. A few parts reminded me of parts of stories I’ve loved before, but it still felt fresh and compelling. I can’t wait to see where the story goes next!

[Yolanda Slik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of advanced reader copy

Omggg this has become one of my favourite fantasy reads this year! The writing was phenomenal and the storyline and characters were fantastic! Alya and zaids storyline had me giggling and kicking my feet! The burn was sloww and the tension and buildup throughout the story was so good 💅🏼
The magic system was unique and I enjoyed the monsters that were in the story too giving it that darkness!
That cliffhanger had me in SHOCK at the end and when I flipped to the next page and it said the end I just about had a heart attack 😩 I cannot wait for book!

[Elle | The Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

I absolutely loved this first dive into The Nur’Thraa Series.

It’s high fantasy so the world building is very heavy in the first quarter of the book, but once you’ve got to grips with the world, the power, and the characters, the story is thoughtful and action packed.

I LOVED the slow burn and tension between the FMC and MMC; the hints at it being a forbidden union interspersed with flirtatious banter made me giddy! But it’s not all light hearted, with some dark themes including lost and stolen memories, brutal trauma, and heart-wrenching betrayal.

The plot is solid, with unpredictable twists, thrilling battles and steamy romance, and overall this was an incredible introduction to an innovative epic fantasy. I giggled, I raged, and I cried, and I cannot wait to hopefully one day to return to Erath for more of this thrilling tale.

[Amanda Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went from overwhelmed to intrigued to obsessed with this book. In the beginning there’s so much going on, fascinating stuff that captured my interest but left me a little confused.Until things started clicking!!! The banter between the characters is spot on. And the slow slow burn! The suspense regarding where scars came from, and why her memories are gone. I HAD to keep reading. It was like watching a train wreck, I knew WHERE we were going but not HOW we were getting there. I was truly invested in most of the characters but not the FMC-at first. As we dove deeper into her back story she definitely grew on me. But that ending!!!! What??? So good. And a cliffhanger.

[Kathleen Herren · Rating 5 out of 5]

“‘You’re too wild for this world…’”

I didn’t want to finish this one, because I just wasn’t ready for it to end. I NEED book two… now! The descriptions in this one are just, “chefs kiss”, so beautiful. I mean come on, “my soul wandered across the black canvas of the night, in the places where stars and dying embers met.” *swoon* C’est très magnifique! The darkness was tense and riveting. The revelations were surprising and addictive. I want more! The way in which Collin kept me invested in this story was superb.
The build up for the guardian?! Be still my heart!

[Meggan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the author for the eARC of The Last Guardian!

It took me a moment to follow along with some of the terms and world building (wasn’t aware of the glossary at the end 😅) but once I felt I had an understanding it was really enjoyable

The pace flows well, the characters are intriguing and kept me wanting to keep reading. I didn’t see the twist of the story coming so that was a bonus!

Really looking forward to book 2 especially after that ending

[ashleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC Review જ⁀➴⋆.˚

(4.75) I am so lucky to have received an ARC of ‘The Last Guardian’ from Laura Collin, which is actually my first ARC ever!

I really enjoyed this novel and everything it contained, including, but not limited to its creative and intricate world building, complex and interesting characters, as well as beautiful writing. I found myself so sad to finish it and I am SAT waiting for the next one.

Plot/storytelling -

I found the plot very engaging; with a good mix of themes I have read in other books being used in new and innovative ways that had a chokehold on me throughout the whole novel. The first quarter had some heavy world building which I thought was a great amount and not too much that it’s overbearing like some high Fantasy novels. I liked that the author left breadcrumbs for me to pick up as the story progressed that allowed me to somewhat guess what was going to happen without it being “predictable”. The world building was so unique and done very well, I can see the authors dedication to crafting this world and its lore. The glossary at the end of the novel was a great tool for navigating this new world at the start of the book, and I wish more authors would put in that effort!

The slow burn romance between Alyana and Zaidkiel was so gripping and progressed at the perfect pace. Their forced proximity, quarreling, witty banter (especially when Alyana began to play Zaids games), as well as necessary collaboration, made for a great slow burn/forbidden love story. I will say, Alyana’s instant dismissal and contempt towards Zaid from the start was a little much since she had just met the guy. They still have a long way to go, especially after the end, and I am all here for it.

Characters -

FMC: Alyana is a complex character with a dense past and traumatic experiences that shaped the way she navigated through this adventure. I enjoyed seeing her character development throughout and look forward to seeing more in the future, especially since she now has a lot of new information to digest and come to terms with. I also really appreciated that she wasn’t overly hard on herself, insecure and insufferable.

MMC: I really liked Zaidkiel as a MMC. He is the right mix of snarky, mysterious, and flirtatious, and well as deep and caring as we get to know him more. I enjoyed learning more about him and his past as the story progressed, and we got to meet more characters directly linked to him, including Nefeli whom I loved.

I loved all the side characters that were introduced throughout, and the ways that they were involved in the story. Dorian and Nefel, I love you omg.

Other -

I think the only thing preventing it from being a 5 star for me is that I would have liked a little more representation of different races, cultures and queer identities, which is something I always look out for in books I read. I would have LOVED a little sapphic subplot between Lyra and Nefel, rooted in a bit of a rivalry with Lyra being Alyana’s old friend, and Nefel being like newfound family.

The book was so beautifully written and I was very impressed from page 1. There are so many quotes that I highlighted because either resonated with me deeply, or were so beautiful I couldn't not.

“All I could do was cry for the girl i used to be, the girl I wished I could have protected”

“Each scar was a chapter in the tale of a princess who had never taken control of her own life”

“I wish if known you have then. I would have clung to you and dragged you towards the light myself – just to prove that life isn't only made of hurt. It can be beautiful too”

“You need to live. To breathe. To love”

[Allie James · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.2/5

Thank you to Laura Collin for the advanced reader copy! The Last Guardian started off a LITTLE bit slow for me, but ended up really surprising and impressing me in several ways.

It follows Alyana, a princess who flees her home after an attack and finds herself with a rebellious commander who bears a similar mark to one that appeared on her shortly before she fled. Zaidkiel, the commander, promises to help her find the answers to some lost memories she has and feelings start to bloom between them.

This admittedly starts out a little similar to other romantasy books (but to be fair, I have read quite a few), but eventually the characters and lore of the world Collin builds begins to really stand out.

Alyana is a tough, but traumatized young girl who always wants to do right by her siblings. She's grieving the loss of her mother and struggling to remember key things that have been blocked out of her memory. She stands up for herself pretty well and her relationship with Zaid is fun to read because there's so much flirting and bickering.

I wasn't super into Zaid at first. I'm not entirely sure why, but maybe it's because it felt like his character didn't really evolve and seem unique until the second half of the book. But after that, I really loved him and his growing infatuation with Alyana.

Sometimes the relationship between Alyana and Zaidkiel could be a little frustrating because he puts so much distance between himself and her, but that also makes the tension palpable and appealing to the reader.

One bonus this story had is the siblings (mainly Dorian and Arthur) and Lyra. I think they really reminded Alyana of what she was fighting for and explained why she had been so stoic in the past. The moments when they're all together just spending time together really shows a lot about who Alyana has been and who she wants to become.

I do feel like I had trouble grasping the entirety of the world Collin built. There are a lot of different creatures from different places and I am honestly horrible with locations so sometimes I forgot where they came from and where they were going. Seriously, I'm horrible with geography of ANY planet.

Haedeon was an interesting villain, but I felt like the part with him towards the end wrapped up very quickly and was maybe just a hair anticlimactic. But I'm expecting there will be more of his story in the next book. And speaking of the next book, I'm really looking forward to getting some answers and seeing how the cliffhangers play out.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and Zaidkiel and Alyana's relationship did stand out to me among other romantasy, and so did the world Collin wrote.

[Marija · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖤 The Last Guardian 🤍
By @authorlauracollin

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
🌶

*ARC review*

My first 6 ⭐ read of 2026!!! Oh the way I was stunned with this book!! I will be thinking of this story for a long time!! It has deeply moved me and sincerely touched my soul!

From the beginning, I was immediately pulled into the story!! With a very strong start, we meet Haedeon, princess Alyana and her siblings. Immediately, the dark feels are there. Immediately, the reader is hit with so many emotions, with grief, hurt and love! The author did absolutely stunning job of making those emotions so touching and real, you feel the pain on a personal level and that is beyond every praise!!

The world building along with the magic and memory loss mystery, and the love story of this book are probably two main axes of the book! The world created is simply unique, quite complicated and above all else rich!! And that I love so much! The author created absolutely mesmerizing world consisting of so many species, monsters and creatures, all that mixed with secrets, political intrigue and magic!! It can be easy to get lost in such complex world, however, this story was written so well. Following everything was not easy, but it was natural and made this book even more authentic!

Now the love story was what melted me, stirred my heart and gave me exactly what my romantic soul needed! Zaid and Alyana's connection was beautifully depicted on the pages, with many hints of destiny and of it being forbidden love. Although, the connection here started blooming, the real deepening of the bond is yet to happen. Their romance starts with banter, angst and inexplicable pull between them. It is incredibly slowburn and longing is felt so deeply!! Again, masterfully done!!

As this story is truly high and dark fantasy with love story at the core of it, I cherish it grately!! It simply is all that I love, and the immaculate writing style made me love it even more!! All I know is I devoured this story, that is so complex, book 1 only scratched the surface, and that I loved it and now all I can think about is book 2!!

I am so grateful that I got to read the eARC version of this book and have the privilege to experience Erath, and Alyana and Zaid's story sooner rather than later!! Thank you @authorlauracollin for giving me the opportunity to feel like I am the one living in Keraneeth!
The Last Guardian releases on April 15th!

Tropes:
▪️high/dark fantasy
▪️lost magic, forgotten species
▪️monsters x men
▪️curses, bloodlines & betrayal
▪️forbidden love
▪️slowburn, banter, yearning, angst
▪️dangerous quest
▪️lost memories, destiny, grief & hope

[Kyra Taracena · Rating 4 out of 5]

* I would like to begin by saying that I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I kindly thank the author for gracing me with a copy of her work before the rest of the world is able to read it!

This story, while it is a tale of lost magic and hidden truths, is at its heart a story of coping with loss and grief, but also finding oneself in the process. There were so many times in this book where I had so much sympathy for Alyana because she was fighting a lengthy internal battle. I think this author did a very good job at spinning Alyana’s past to build this story, and she did an amazing job making this story feel cozy while also making it a grand adventure.

However, I will say that I did have a few qualms with this read. I wish that we would have gotten a little bit more resolution and answers from this first book. At times I found myself asking when the story would begin to pick up- there were a few moments where it would get a little slow and not really contribute to the plot. I also think it got a little too repetitive for my liking. Alyana had a habit of sobbing quite frequently and repeating words and I wished I was able to reach into the book and shake her out of it on occasion. I think also that while I did love the tension between the two main characters, I wish that we had seen just one moment where he chases after her versus her always throwing herself at him. If I were in her position and heard him say 20 times that they shouldn’t be together and he kept keeping his distance, I’d throw in the towel. It sometimes felt like the only reason the two of them were circling around each other was just because of this otherworldly pull that they had around each other.

I ultimately thought this book was good, and it has the potential to blossom into a great series, but I think this first book was a little more foundation building to set up the rest of the series and relationships.

For my fellow readers, please check the trigger warnings out before jumping into this book. Though there was no explicit details and descriptions, r*pe is mentioned in the book pretty often because the main character experiences memory loss and knows that some of those are memories of past abuse. In regard to actual “spice”, I would say it was probably like 1/5 🌶️. The buildup of tension was a little bit of a let down for me, but maybe the rest of the series will be better!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book… truly gave us everything.

It gave us adventure, action, magical creatures (both new and familiar), deadly battles, unique magic, landscapes you can see with your eyes closed… but also something deeper: it gave us passion, slow burn, banter, brotherhood, love, growth
AND plot twists.

Alyana and Zaid.
Two characters that stay with you.

Because beyond the fantasy, The Last Guardian is a story about the pain of loss… and about how difficult —and brave— it is to open your heart again after that.

It’s a story about grief… and overcoming grief.
About love in all its forms.
About what it means to keep going when a part of you breaks.

From the very beginning, it completely hooked me. I couldn’t stop reading.

The worldbuilding is spectacular, rich, detailed, with a unique magic system and lore that feels alive, but what truly captured me were the emotions. This is one of those books you don’t just read… you feel it in your heart.

We see Alyana grow, break down her own barriers, face her pain, and allow herself to feel again… slowly moving closer to her destiny.
And then there’s Zaid, strong, protective, yet deeply human, walking beside her, not saving her, but growing with her as they both evolve.

And that… made it even more special.

The story begins wrapped in secrets, and little by little everything unfolds in a way that keeps you completely hooked. And that ending… that ending left me with only one clear thought:

I need the next book NOW.

I want to go back to the world of Erath.
I want to keep discovering its story and its future.
I want to see how Alya will face what’s coming.

There’s also something really beautiful about the brotherhood and friendships, they feel real, deep and the side characters have such rich stories that I need to see more of them in the next books.

This book is told mainly in first person from Alya’s point of view, and I connected with her from the very first pages. She feels real, vulnerable, human… and that makes everything hurt more, but also matter more.

This book made me feel a lot of things.
And to me, that’s what defines a great story!

My favourite quote:
“What a beautiful thing it was to have so much to lose after all.”
And everything behind this simple sentence feels absolutely beautiful to me.

[Amber Bale · Rating 4 out of 5]

My ARC review of The Last Guardian by Laura Collin — and honestly, I am obsessed.
This book completely pulled me out of my romantasy slump and reminded me why I love this genre so much. From the very first pages, I was hooked, and once I settled into the richly detailed world, I absolutely devoured it. The worldbuilding is expansive and immersive, with intricate magic, multiple species, and layered lore that truly makes Erath feel alive.
And the romance? Absolutely EVERYTHING. The slow burn between Alyana and Zaid is filled with delicious tension, yearning, and just the right touch of forbidden energy. Their banter had me smiling nonstop, and the chemistry between them is undeniable. The spice is beautifully woven in—enhancing their connection and making every moment feel earned and meaningful.
Alyana’s journey really stayed with me. Watching her navigate grief, trauma, and healing added so much emotional depth to the story. Her growth feels raw, real, and incredibly powerful. And Zaid… mysterious, protective, and irresistibly intriguing—he brings that perfect “shadow daddy” energy while still feeling layered and human.
The supporting characters completely stole my heart. Nefeli, Dorian, Lyra, Arthur—they all felt so vivid and compelling, and I genuinely need more of them in future books. The friendships and bonds added such a beautiful layer to the story and made the world feel even richer.
The plot delivers on every level—action, magic, emotional stakes, and twists that keep you turning pages. Even when I thought I had things figured out, the story kept me engaged, and that final scene? Completely unforgettable. I am already desperate for the next book.
But what truly made this story stand out to me was its emotional core. Beneath all the magic and adventure, this is a story about grief, love, healing, and the courage it takes to open your heart again. It’s the kind of book that doesn’t just entertain—you feel it.
I laughed, I cried, I felt everything—and that’s exactly what I want from a fantasy like this.
If you love: ✨ Slow-burn, tension-filled romance
✨ Rich, immersive high fantasy worlds
✨ Emotional character growth and healing
✨ Magic, battles, and unforgettable relationships
You need to read this.

[Miek Muis · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️ rounded up

First of all, thank you to the author Laura Collin for providing me with an ARC!
The Last Guardian can be best described as a dark, high romantasy, with enemies-to-lovers, slow burn with a lot of (denied) yearning, magic, different species, and complex world building (which is part of what I loved about it).

At first, I found it hard to like the FMC, Alyana. She just... wasn't nice to others. But as the story progressed, I learned more about her past (and so did she), and there was definitely some character development going on, and I just came to care about her.
This young woman has been through so much, lived in such an unsafe environment, and now she has to go on this quest with a bunch of strangers.

My feelings towards Zaid, the MMC, are as complicated as he is, haha. He had something about him that made him attractive as well as suspicious. I loved his flirting and banter, but sometimes I just wanted to slap him in the face for being an ass.

As for the yearning between Alyana and Zaid; the tension was sublime, although there were certain points where it distracted me a bit; like when something important happened and Alya and Zaid were busier with yearning for each other than what was happening around them.

The side characters were all amazing. They each had their own personality, and I would love to learn more about them and their backgrounds.
I really don't like Arthur, though, haha.

As for the story itself, I personally loved how characters' traumas and their trauma responses. Definitely check the TWs before diving into this book because it can be pretty triggering to read.
The history and world building were just amazing. The plot itself was a bit predictable, but not in a disturbing way. I kept wanting to read more and more to see if my theories were right. The cliffhanger has me excited for the second book already!

I definitely recommend reading The Last Guardian if you are into dark romantasy with complex world building!

The Last Guardian comes out April 15th!

TW: parental loss, physical and domestic abuse, sexual assault, 🍇

[Gink · Rating 5 out of 5]

An exemplary romantasy read rife with rich settings, characters and world-building. This book reminded me why I love fantasy so much!

At first, seemingly a novel centered on court intrigue, following the story of our main character, Alyana. Rather quickly, we discover that there is a much grander and more sinister plot involving Alyana that sends her on an adventure that will change her forever. I know, so many books promise this change, but it is especially prominent in this one. In a setting where women are too often at the mercy of men in power, Alyana is no exception. She goes through the wringer of terrible men throughout her life, the only exception being her siblings. Throughout this tale, she learns well how to defend herself and harness her own inner strength.

I will warn that there is strong, graphic content related to SA in this book, especially at the start. I'm glad to say that this narrative is centered on the empowerment of those victims rather than just the acts. As a survivor myself, I really liked the way Alyana was written as she finds confidence and even learns to open herself up to romance and intimacy.

Besides the MC, there are many great characters who are distinct and full of life. Most named characters, I found, were unmistakable in appearance as well as personality. I don't mean to harp on the primary characters, but I also enjoyed Zaidkiel, the love interest of Alyana. They had great banter and, despite plot-related conflicts, he seemed to be one of the best masc characters in this book.

I also greatly enjoyed the worldbuilding and magic system! While I feel there were a bit too many lore dumps, that is an issue that is hardly unique to fantasy, especially among books I love such as in Tolkien's works. It's also uncommon to see a magic system rooted in the world itself, rather than as a separate part of that world. It's something I take inspiration from and wish to see more of in the future.

Overall, a top-notch novel that I enjoyed immensely. If you read for slow-burn romance, rich storytelling or interesting characters/creatures, I highly recommend this book!

[Hecate Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow.

This book has ~everything~. Multiple races. (Not just elves and humans) Complex magic systems that vary by race. Even more complex religions. Magical beasts. A tyrannical government and secret rebellion. Plots to destroy the world and even more plots to save it. Literal portals into hell!

Collin has created a fantastic, complex, complicated, ambiguous universe and populated it with interesting, challenging, multi-layered people and I devoured every single page of it.

I find that many fantasy romance books do world building well or do romance well but not both. In this case I found that the romance aspect was handled really well. Often the enemies to lovers trope feels very artificial, like the writer wedges it in there without really being able to come up with a convincing reason for the enmity. Alyana and Zaidkiel aren't enemies, she just finds him really really irritating - and it's clear from the writing that her attraction is no small part of that irritation. All relationships go through their ups and downs, especially in romantasy and the "betrayal" also feels totally organic and a natural plot twist.

The side characters are all really interesting and they have a lot of potential for some interesting character development. If I have a criticism at all I think sometimes Collin is a little heavy handed in how she writes their relationships - for example the constant fighting between Arthur and Lyra. There are other scenes where she shows that she can use a much lighter touch and it works so much better. I'm thinking in particular where Alyana meets Nefeli and can't figure out why this stranger is being kind to her for no reason - it made it very clear that the poor girl has never received unconditional kindness from a non-sibling in her entire life and it's a heart-breaking and really illuminating scene.

Collin has built the basis for what has the potential to be an incredible epic fantasy. I will definitely be watching out for her future books.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW. JUST WOW.
This was fabulous! Thanks to @authorlauracollin for sharing this ARC with me!

This was SO very fun! The world building was so good and the magic system is very intriguing.

We have an FMC, Alyana, who is mourning the loss of her mother while trying to understand what is happening with her memories and specifically a particular situation.

Her and her siblings are all very close but her father is another story. He’s not so great and with her mother gone things are pretty bleak. Magic is outlawed and the high Mages are the kingdoms only defense.

Alyana is attending her sisters engagement ball when she meets a mysterious stranger that she had seen her brother meeting with. Enter our MMC, Zaidkiel.

He’s cocky, brooding, and he pushes her buttons to the point she would stab him. And we love him for it!
A mysterious mark shows up in Alyanas arm and she’s afraid of what it mean bc it moves.

She goes the high mage and all hell breaks lose and her only option is an unlikely alliance with Zaid. This is where the true story begins. He can help her get her memories back if she helps him with his quest and as annoyed as she is, she agrees.

They must work together and the tension is throigh the roof! Don’t get me going on the banter and the yearning but trust me when I say it jumps off the page and smacks you in the face.

I loved this story. The character development was so well done and the twists and turns we took was quite the ride. Alyanas family and Zaid sister flow so well with the story, especially Dorrain.

When we finally get the spice it’s so worth being edged for entire book.

Zaid is a silver tongue devil in all the right ways! It’s been a very long time since I’ve highlighted so many quotes from one character. 😉

The plot twist at the end literally had my jaw on the floor and just staring at the words on my screen. I need book two immediately miss Laura!!

This book is coming out April 15th wherever you get books. Honestly, give it a go. You won’t be disappointed!

[Stella B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of the Last Guardian and I feel incredibly lucky to have been chosen to read it.
Let me start by saying this book was glued to my hand.
I was completely immersed from the very beginning and found myself genuinely invested in the story and its characters.
And that ending… Laura, girl - how could you do this to us?!

The final 20% of the book was easily my favourite, and yes… there is a cliffhanger. I have my suspicions about where things are heading, but I’m still very eager to see how it all unfolds.

⭐ Rating: 4/5

This is definitely high fantasy, with intense world-building and I am one who needs flowcharts and maps to make all the connections - however connections were made (thanks to the glossary too!) and things started to fall into place. There’s a lot at play here: magic (old and new), good vs evil, creatures, languages, it’s a rich and layered setting.
Without giving too much away, I’d definitely recommend checking the content warnings before diving in.
Alyana (FMC) has experienced so much loss and pain, and her grief felt incredibly real and relatable - especially if you’ve experienced loss yourself. I loved her devotion to her friends and family, though when it came to a certain male character, I did find myself wishing she showed a bit more confidence and self-assurance.
Zaidkiel (MMC) - from the moment he graced our pages I knewwwwww he was going to be the MMC. He is a shadow daddy and loves to brood - the book even says so. Although I loved the slow burn tension between him and Alyana - the constant pushing away started to grate on my nerves.

The supporting characters were all fantastic-I’d love to explore their backstories and see more of them in future books. And as for the villains… let’s just say I’m very much looking forward to certain deadly outcomes.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It’s immersive, emotional, and filled with potential, and I’m definitely keen to continue the series.

[Georgia Rippon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to the author for letting me read this ARC!

There’s so much going on here. The world-building is dense and it’s going to be such a high stakes series (I feel it in my soul). While the start is a bit slow but once you know all the things, it speeds up. The slow burn is agonising (but I found the MMC a little frustrating and unfair in the middle). The found family stuff is delightful. The monsters are creepy. I’m also a sucker for anything with dreamscape sequences. There’s also an ‘one bed at the inn’ scene but I can’t talk about it.

On the anniversary of her mother’s death, a strange marking appears on Alyana’s arm. This is another strange oddity to pair with the fact that she has holes in her memories, including about the day her mother died when she woke up covered in blood. She’s also haunted by strange and eerie dreams - a bad sign in an empire that has erased all traces of magic. When she’s attacked the night before her sister’s wedding, Alyana is forced to flee with a stranger who bears a marking similar to hers. She’s forced to learn truths about the world she can never unlearn, and must go on a journey with him if she’s ever to gain back her memories and learn the truth of her past, even if it might destroy her.

The fact that this is a debut is seriously impressive. The amount of time and thought that went into the world-building of this series - amazing. I did need a glossary though - I’m an idiot and didn’t find it til the end. Take the trigger warnings seriously. There’s some really beautiful stuff around dealing with grief and trauma, but it may be triggering for some.

At the end, I had A LOT of rage. Some of it I saw coming, a few things bamboozled me, but other plot points were unclear to me and threads were left untied (I can’t say anything without huge spoilers). I’m assuming the author has everything planned for book 2 and all the things will be explained. I need it asap before I implode.

[Michelle Bridges · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading The Last Guardian felt, at times, like reading the parts of myself I don’t say out loud. Ms. Laura never names the protagonist’s trauma outright, but the shape of it is unmistakable—the way they move through the world with a kind of practiced caution, the way their body remembers danger even when their mind tries to forget. I recognized that more as I read her book.
There’s a moment when the protagonist steps into their inherited role and you can almost feel the walls go up—quiet, instinctive, absolute. Not out of pride, but out of necessity. That’s what trauma does. It teaches you to fortify yourself long before anyone asks you to be strong. It teaches you that safety is something you build alone.

The guardianship in the novel is supposed to be an honor, but Ms. Laura writes it the way survival often feels isolating, heavy, edged with a fear you pretend not to notice. The protagonist doesn’t rise to the occasion so much as brace against it, and that bracing, I know that feeling. The way you learn to carry yourself like a fortress because once, someone breached you. The way you keep people at arm’s length because closeness feels like a risk you can’t afford twice.
What struck me most wasn’t the magic or the mythos, but the quiet truth beneath it: healing isn’t a transformation. It’s a negotiation. A slow, uneven reclaiming of the self. Collin lets her protagonist falter, retreat, rebuild. She lets them be human and in that humanity, I found something like permission. Permission to admit that my own walls were built for a reason. Permission to believe they don’t have to stand forever.

The Last Guardian didn’t just tell a story about destiny. It told a story about surviving what was never supposed to happen—and learning, slowly, painfully, that survival doesn’t have to mean isolation. You are allowed to love and be loved.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is a true adventure. The world building and lore just kept expanding! I feel like I was educated and entertained with this romantasy story in the best way.
The FMC is Alyana. She’s been through literally so much, not the least of which is losing her mother. Pretty quickly we find out that her memories have been heavily tampered with, and a dangerous situation forced her to flee from a really creepy dude in power. She blacks out during her escape and finds herself on what should be an enemy ship. It turns out she’s beginning to be told some actual truth about the world after being lied to her whole life. Her emotions were raw, mercurial, and relatable, and anyone who has endured loss and trauma can really identify with her. She’s royalty, so her character arc begins with some spoiled princess attitude but that dissapates during her education, training, and friendship with Nef and Zaid, the commanders of the ship she’s on. She undertakes a great quest and ultimately gets answers to why she suffers from memory loss and becomes determined and fierce in the process.
The MMC is Zaidkiel and he’s a brooding shadow daddy type with a lot of secrets. He’s drawn to Alyana but is also very serious about not pursuing her as he trains her for her quest. He’s a “burn the world down” guy when he feels deeply for someone. He’s evasive but still a good dude and I’m intrigued by his back story. He’s faced with a choice between his love for Alyana and doing his job and things sort of blow up in his face but I believe in him.
There’s a heavily layered magic system and political system and pantheons of gods and goddesses involved. The slow burn romance and the banter were perfection and I loved the found family feel too. A very intriguing start to the series!

[Candice · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

I very much enjoyed this book, and was glad I was accepted for an ARC! It was the kind of story where I found myself thinking about it when I wasn’t reading, wondering what would happen next. Always a good sign with a book!

This is a high/dark fantasy with a heavy romance plot, and one chapter of real spice. I would say it fits into the romantasy genre, however, there is also a ton of world building with politics, magic, gods, a dangerous quest, mystical creatures and so much more. Yes, the romance is important and a very fun read (yearning! tension! slow burn!), but there is much more to this book.

I loved the world and the characters, although I will say the FMC was annoying and frustrating at times. But I am hoping she will grow as the series progresses. The MMC is a shadow daddy type, so if you love that, you might love him. I LOVED Nefeli (the MMC’s sister) and hope she gets featured more in the other books!

And the ending… so much happens in the last few chapters, so many details revealed! And the book ends on a huge cliffhanger, so here’s hoping we get the next book soon!

I will mention that the book still needs a bit of editing. Some sentences seemed to be missing words, and a few scenes were choppy. But the author has mentioned that English is not her first language, and of course, things do get missed because we’re all human! So I can totally understand. Hopefully her editor can help out more here.

Overall take away: well worth the read and I look forward to the rest of the series! If dark romantic fantasy with a high fantasy plot is your jam, then check this out!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so happy to be reviewing my very first ARC, the Last Guardian by Laura Collin and for those of who love slow-burn, mild spice, world building with new and old magics interwoven together to create the world of Erath with some unexpected twists, then you need to pre-order this book coming out on April 15th. If you have ever experienced tragedy or struggled to understand your place in life, then you will immediately connect with our FMC. She has been navigating the past 5 years after a tragedy struck trying to keep it all together causing her to no longer be the person she was prior to the event but then events begin to unravel causing her to question all that has happened in the past and she is set on a path to find herself again with the help of our MMC. The slow burn, the quip remarks and the pull is delicious. The friendships built along the way make you laugh and the twists make you gasp. Once I started, I couldn’t put the book down having to know what happens next. The imagery used in the world building allows you to feel like you are there with them throughout the different places they travel to. The magics introduced take on a new twist imbuing both light and dark. As in many of our romantasy novels there is a quest and battles, self realization and empowerment by both the FMC and MMC. You get so invested and when I got to the end with of course a cliffhanger in place, I kept turning the pages waiting for more! I can’t wait to see what happens next in this world.

Laura Collin, thank you for entrusting me with your beautiful story of love, loss, survival, strength and finding oneself. I truly enjoyed this journey.

[Ravenwood Archives · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Guardian was a solid 4‑star read for me. I adore a big, sprawling fantasy world I can fully sink into, and this one absolutely delivered. The world feels vast and layered, with so much room for growth, lore, and backstory. I’m genuinely excited to see where future installments take us.

The characters are vibrant, each with distinct personalities, strengths, and beautifully human flaws. I’ll be honest: the first couple of chapters were a bit of a doozie for me when it came to the FMC. Her responses to questions and events felt almost venomous at times but as the story unfolded and we learned more about her, those reactions made sense. Her edges have reasons, and once those reasons surface, she becomes far more compelling.

There were also two moments in the story that moved at breakneck speed so fast that I struggled to fully grasp the depth and trauma of what happened. I found myself wishing the narrative had lingered there a bit longer, letting those emotional beats breathe.

Now let’s talk about the yearning.
THIS. THIS IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN WANTING.
The slow burn, the cosmic pull, the electric awareness of someone else’s presence..it felt like being transported back to younger years when a single glance or brush of a hand could send you spiraling. The tension was delicious, aching, and exactly the kind of emotional rapture I crave in fantasy romance.

I already know I’ll be rereading this. I want to dig deeper into certain characters, revisit the lore with fresh eyes, and really sit with all the information we were given. It feels like we’re only at the beginning of a long, winding journey in this world, and I am buckled in and ready to go.

[Shayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Guardian by Laura Collin Rating: ★★★★☆

“What a beautiful thing it was to have so much to lose after all.”

I went back and forth between a 3.5 and a 4 for this one, but I’m landing on 4 stars. I tend to be a bit gentler with ARCs, and while this didn’t fully hit “favourite” status for me, it set up a series I genuinely want to continue.

This is high fantasy that does not rely on romance to carry the plot, which I appreciated. The worldbuilding is dense in the first quarter, and it took me a bit to get my footing, but once the pieces clicked, the story became thoughtful, cinematic, and action-forward. The pacing also worked for me: fast where it needed to be, slower where it needed to breathe, and the transitions between the two generally felt smooth.

The romance sits in the background at first and builds as the stakes rise, which made it feel more like an actual relationship than an all-consuming obsession. The tension and banter between Alyana and Zaid are strong, though I did find parts of their push and pull a little repetitive in the middle. I also saw the cliffhanger coming well before the end, so while it’s an effective hook, it didn’t shock me.

That said, I’m excited for book two. I’m also fairly convinced the uncle is going to be the long-game villain, and I’m curious to see if I’m right.

ARC disclosure: I received a free copy of this book for an honest review. My opinion is my own, and the fact I received this book for free did not shape my review in any way.

Thank you to Laura Collin for the ARC.

[Erin Masura · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader you know that feeling you get when the story truly resonates something deep inside you well this story does just that. The book is magical and honestly a 6 star read for me. The authors writing style is phenomenal and had me hooked from the first line. The Last Guardian does touch on some dark topics but it is written brilliantly so that it is not a main focus but allows you to understand the characters more.
The main relationship between Alyana and Zaidkiel(aka Zaddy) is one for the ages. He rescues her in more ways than one. Zaidkiel is the epitome of burn the world down for you. I love this man and he too has to make some serious choices between doing his job and his love for Alyana.
Alyana is a force to be reckoned with and I love her attitude. She finally gets answers to her memory loss and it changes her in a good way.
Their first kiss had me squealing. Their banter had me laughing and their touching moments to die for.
The side characters are anything but as they truly help shape this story into the masterpiece it is.
The magic system, runes(marks), character growth, the foreshadowing are all so powerful and well developed.
One of the main topics that stuck with me is how Alyana(the main character) slowly learns to trust and have hope again only to have it ripped out from beneath her and I for one am excited to see how she deals with it more in book two. I am forever grateful for this arc and cannot praise this book enough.

[Yolanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Freaking authors. They are very good about putting trigger warnings at the beginning of their books. Violence, trauma, grief, all carefully listed. But where is the warning for the devastating cliffhanger ending that sneaks up and emotionally body-checks you?

Seriously. Where is the warning for the heartbreak that is clearly coming?

So obviously my recommendation is: do not read this book. Avoid it at all costs. Protect your feelings.

Ignore the fact that the world building is incredible, with a story that centers on saving the entire world, not just a single kingdom. Ignore the layered magic system with both dark and light magic woven into the conflict.

Ignore the characters that make you furious… the ones you think you hate… and then somehow your heart breaks for them anyway.

Ignore the FMC who has survived so much that even my cold black heart started to crack for her. Ignore the MMC who absolutely deserves to be punched in the face at least a few times. Preferably by multiple people.

And definitely ignore the painfully slow burn romance and the banter that had me smirking through half the book.

Because once you finish this story and hit that ending, you will understand exactly why I’m telling you not to read it.

And you will immediately need the next book.