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Legends of Ithyria #1
Sword of the Guardian
A shocking assassination creates an unconventional bond between a princess and her guardian in a kingdom filled with political intrigue, danger and unexpected romance.
Princess Shasta Soltranis enjoys a pampered life of court dances, elaborate finery, and the occasional secret fencing match with her twin brother, Daric. But in the midst of a birthday celebration, her world shatters when a mysterious assassin takes her brother's life. Shasta, the only remaining heir to the throne, narrowly escapes the assassin's blade thanks to the intervention of a traveling acrobat named Talon.
With the threat of another attempt on Shasta's life imminent, her father declares that the young hero will become the Princess's bodyguard. But what Shasta doesn't know is that her new guardian has a very well-kept secret... he is actually a she.
Talon and Shasta soon grow closer than anyone, especially her father, could have predicted. Will the truth of her guardian's secret change their relationship forever?
Book 1 of The Legends of Ithyria Series
Princess Shasta Soltranis enjoys a pampered life of court dances, elaborate finery, and the occasional secret fencing match with her twin brother, Daric. But in the midst of a birthday celebration, her world shatters when a mysterious assassin takes her brother's life. Shasta, the only remaining heir to the throne, narrowly escapes the assassin's blade thanks to the intervention of a traveling acrobat named Talon.
With the threat of another attempt on Shasta's life imminent, her father declares that the young hero will become the Princess's bodyguard. But what Shasta doesn't know is that her new guardian has a very well-kept secret... he is actually a she.
Talon and Shasta soon grow closer than anyone, especially her father, could have predicted. Will the truth of her guardian's secret change their relationship forever?
Book 1 of The Legends of Ithyria Series
272 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2006
65 people are currently reading
3866 people want to read
About the author
Merry Shannon
4 books134 followersMerry Shannon was born in California and grew up a military brat. Raised in a conservative family, she was not allowed to watch cartoons and moved around so much that she made few friends; and so she turned to books for companionship and entertainment. She fell in love with reading at a very young age, and soon began to write her own stories.
Her love of fantasy and adventure began very early, and at the age of thirteen Merry completed her first novel-length story. She continued to write throughout high school, and graduated college in 2001 with a B.A. in English. Romance is her favorite genre, so most of her work features a blossoming relationship in a fantasy/adventure setting. Her first book, Sword of the Guardian, recieved two Golden Crown Literary Awards in 2007.
Currently Merry lives with her partner and their many assorted animals in sunny Denver. She’s a full time social worker who writes in her spare time. When she’s not writing she enjoys home improvement projects, reading, watching movies, traveling, sewing and crafts, and spending time with friends.
Her love of fantasy and adventure began very early, and at the age of thirteen Merry completed her first novel-length story. She continued to write throughout high school, and graduated college in 2001 with a B.A. in English. Romance is her favorite genre, so most of her work features a blossoming relationship in a fantasy/adventure setting. Her first book, Sword of the Guardian, recieved two Golden Crown Literary Awards in 2007.
Currently Merry lives with her partner and their many assorted animals in sunny Denver. She’s a full time social worker who writes in her spare time. When she’s not writing she enjoys home improvement projects, reading, watching movies, traveling, sewing and crafts, and spending time with friends.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 122 reviews
December 30, 2014
Moderately ridiculous but generally entertaining fantasy lesbian romance. Not going to argue with that, but am going to make snarky comments:
King Soltran: My daughter is being pursued by an assassin, and I must keep her safe. The obvious thing to do is hire an acrobat to be her bodyguard. It's perfect -- the acrobat is secretly a girl, so Shasta's virtue won't be at risk.
Captain Vaughn: I'm teaching the lad -- ha ha -- to be a soldier. I'm one of the only people who knows the boy -- ha -- is really a girl...the only other person who knows is the king. Oh, and the girl's sisters. And the nurse. And the chambermaid...anyway, HUGE secret, but it's fine, because she's the Best Recruit I've Ever Had. (I mean 'he'. Heh.)
Talon: Sounds good to me! I'm cool with putting my sisters up for collateral -- if I fail (even though I have no bodyguard-specific training), they'll be beaten or killed. NBD. I think the princess is a total brat, but I totally don't mind that I only get about one day off per year.
Shasta: *Makes daisy chains*
King Soltran: My daughter's making a fool of herself, throwing herself at her bodyguard, but it doesn't bother me because I know the guard isn't a man. Even if everyone else thinks it's wildly inappropriate and her virtue's at risk.
Bria: I'm Talon's sister. I've never been whipped because I have valuable singing talent (79), unless it's convenient to the story, in which case I have been whipped before (205). But that doesn't matter, because I'm busy throwing myself at the villain. He clearly doesn't love me, but he's rich! And handsome! And my big 'brother' will protect me...unless I make a choice 'he' disagrees with, in which case I'll be thrown into an obviously miserable marriage and written off completely.
Villains: Very conveniently, we're all either so slimy we leave grease marks, or we smell. Or both.
Lyris: I'm the other sister. The holy one, apparently, which means that I have visions and shave my head but am conveniently available every time big 'brother' wants me around.
Shasta: I know I need to learn how to run the country, since I am the crown princess and all now, but I'm just so excited about going sledding. Freeeeeedom!
Talon: Hey -- did I ever tell you why I'm named Talon? No? Well, I guess it's either that my parents knew from birth that I wasn't like other girls or that I picked my name for myself when I was ten. I've been Talon so long that I don't remember if I ever had another name.
Captain Vaughn: This 'boy' has done me proud. I've been training him for like a year and he's already 'an expert in battle theory, in command protocol, in nearly every aspect of a soldier's duties save actual combat experience' (136). That last part isn't important, anyway.
King Soltran: What? Somebody made yet another attempt on my daughter's life? And her bodyguard saved her again? KILL HIM! I MEAN HER!
Shasta: My soldiers deserve better than gruel! Raid all the local farms. I will do right by my people. While I'm at it, by the way, take note: I care more about my lover than the country I'm responsible for, and I will act accordingly.
Villain: Did I mention that, in addition to being greasy and smelly, when I fight it's with 'a squeal that was almost girlish' (373)? It doesn't seem to bother me that this is treated as an insult in a book that's otherwise trying to do some entertaining gender-bending.
Shasta:: Yeah... the villains killed my dad...and my brother...and tried to kill me...but they're still family. That trumps traitorous actions.
Talon: Well, then, that's okay. All's well that ends well.
King Soltran: My daughter is being pursued by an assassin, and I must keep her safe. The obvious thing to do is hire an acrobat to be her bodyguard. It's perfect -- the acrobat is secretly a girl, so Shasta's virtue won't be at risk.
Captain Vaughn: I'm teaching the lad -- ha ha -- to be a soldier. I'm one of the only people who knows the boy -- ha -- is really a girl...the only other person who knows is the king. Oh, and the girl's sisters. And the nurse. And the chambermaid...anyway, HUGE secret, but it's fine, because she's the Best Recruit I've Ever Had. (I mean 'he'. Heh.)
Talon: Sounds good to me! I'm cool with putting my sisters up for collateral -- if I fail (even though I have no bodyguard-specific training), they'll be beaten or killed. NBD. I think the princess is a total brat, but I totally don't mind that I only get about one day off per year.
Shasta: *Makes daisy chains*
King Soltran: My daughter's making a fool of herself, throwing herself at her bodyguard, but it doesn't bother me because I know the guard isn't a man. Even if everyone else thinks it's wildly inappropriate and her virtue's at risk.
Bria: I'm Talon's sister. I've never been whipped because I have valuable singing talent (79), unless it's convenient to the story, in which case I have been whipped before (205). But that doesn't matter, because I'm busy throwing myself at the villain. He clearly doesn't love me, but he's rich! And handsome! And my big 'brother' will protect me...unless I make a choice 'he' disagrees with, in which case I'll be thrown into an obviously miserable marriage and written off completely.
Villains: Very conveniently, we're all either so slimy we leave grease marks, or we smell. Or both.
Lyris: I'm the other sister. The holy one, apparently, which means that I have visions and shave my head but am conveniently available every time big 'brother' wants me around.
Shasta: I know I need to learn how to run the country, since I am the crown princess and all now, but I'm just so excited about going sledding. Freeeeeedom!
Talon: Hey -- did I ever tell you why I'm named Talon? No? Well, I guess it's either that my parents knew from birth that I wasn't like other girls or that I picked my name for myself when I was ten. I've been Talon so long that I don't remember if I ever had another name.
Captain Vaughn: This 'boy' has done me proud. I've been training him for like a year and he's already 'an expert in battle theory, in command protocol, in nearly every aspect of a soldier's duties save actual combat experience' (136). That last part isn't important, anyway.
King Soltran: What? Somebody made yet another attempt on my daughter's life? And her bodyguard saved her again? KILL HIM! I MEAN HER!
Shasta: My soldiers deserve better than gruel! Raid all the local farms. I will do right by my people. While I'm at it, by the way, take note: I care more about my lover than the country I'm responsible for, and I will act accordingly.
Villain: Did I mention that, in addition to being greasy and smelly, when I fight it's with 'a squeal that was almost girlish' (373)? It doesn't seem to bother me that this is treated as an insult in a book that's otherwise trying to do some entertaining gender-bending.
Shasta:: Yeah... the villains killed my dad...and my brother...and tried to kill me...but they're still family. That trumps traitorous actions.
Talon: Well, then, that's okay. All's well that ends well.
March 6, 2017
First of all I have to say that I like the book. I think it is solidly written. The medieval fantasy world is quite detailed and entrancing. I like the characters and I think it is a sweet love story.
However, I have a small problem with this book. Yes there are the inconsistencies other reviewers have already mentioned (Talon being a girl was supposed to protect the princess' virtue, but as this is a secret, it really doesn't. - being just one of them), nevertheless this is not so much what bothers me.
What is the major theme of the book?
Very obviously it is the battle between good and evil. This is supported by the Priestesses and the visions. It is further supported by the princess seeming to have more backbone than her father, so the Goddess wants her to succeed.
Now let us see what is bad about this medieval world, meaning what is the darkness the light wants to relinquish?: We have endentured servitude, slavery, poverty, unscrupulous royalty, outlaws in the forest and some kind of tattooed, stinking, hairy, giant Barbarians, who are somehow worshipping the Godess' antithesis Ulrike.
I have a little problem with these Barbarians. I don't like their depiction. I do understand that it is something that is done in fantasy, to enhance the contrast between dark and light - like in Lord of the Rings - the Elves and the Orcs. But here we had enough evil, we didn't need some foreign dehumanized Barbarians. It smacks too much of the fear of the stranger, of narrowminded racism, of religious crusade.
We also have very rigid male-dominated gender roles (Why else would a mother think her girl child safer as a boy?). We have racism (It is mentioned that people would not easily accept the dark skinned outlander as their king). We obviously have not a very open mindset when it comes to homosexuality or transsexuality (The King mentions that Talon needs to be executed because she dresses as a boy in the beginning. Talon herself, her sisters as well as the princess struggle with the concept of two women loving each other).
And here it comes. I have the feeling that these things should also be included in the struggle of enlightenment. Especially if we consider that the cross-dressing and the love-story is a major plot point. But they are only solved on a small personal, even secret level. In the end they stay in the closet, so to say.
It's strange, but that disappointed me somehow.
Yet again, there is another book in this series. Let's see if I'll get my answers there.
However, I have a small problem with this book. Yes there are the inconsistencies other reviewers have already mentioned (Talon being a girl was supposed to protect the princess' virtue, but as this is a secret, it really doesn't. - being just one of them), nevertheless this is not so much what bothers me.
What is the major theme of the book?
Very obviously it is the battle between good and evil. This is supported by the Priestesses and the visions. It is further supported by the princess seeming to have more backbone than her father, so the Goddess wants her to succeed.
Now let us see what is bad about this medieval world, meaning what is the darkness the light wants to relinquish?: We have endentured servitude, slavery, poverty, unscrupulous royalty, outlaws in the forest and some kind of tattooed, stinking, hairy, giant Barbarians, who are somehow worshipping the Godess' antithesis Ulrike.
I have a little problem with these Barbarians. I don't like their depiction. I do understand that it is something that is done in fantasy, to enhance the contrast between dark and light - like in Lord of the Rings - the Elves and the Orcs. But here we had enough evil, we didn't need some foreign dehumanized Barbarians. It smacks too much of the fear of the stranger, of narrowminded racism, of religious crusade.
We also have very rigid male-dominated gender roles (Why else would a mother think her girl child safer as a boy?). We have racism (It is mentioned that people would not easily accept the dark skinned outlander as their king). We obviously have not a very open mindset when it comes to homosexuality or transsexuality (The King mentions that Talon needs to be executed because she dresses as a boy in the beginning. Talon herself, her sisters as well as the princess struggle with the concept of two women loving each other).
And here it comes. I have the feeling that these things should also be included in the struggle of enlightenment. Especially if we consider that the cross-dressing and the love-story is a major plot point. But they are only solved on a small personal, even secret level. In the end they stay in the closet, so to say.
It's strange, but that disappointed me somehow.
Yet again, there is another book in this series. Let's see if I'll get my answers there.
April 10, 2016
My favorite type of book to read is a really good world built f/f fantasy book. And this is exactly what you get with Sword of the Guardian. This has turned out to be one of my favorites ever just behind the series of Dragonoak, Arravan (Nightshade), and When Women Were Warriors. While being slightly better then the fun series, The Chronicles of Arianthem. If you enjoy these types of books, do not hesitate to read this. You won't be disappointed!
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Due to it's title, Prayer of the Handmaiden, I have a guess which characters from SOTG might be in it. I'm looking forward to spending more time with these characters and in their world.
I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Due to it's title, Prayer of the Handmaiden, I have a guess which characters from SOTG might be in it. I'm looking forward to spending more time with these characters and in their world.
April 30, 2017
This was a really solid, entertaining story. We are introduced to Talon, an orphaned acrobat masquerading as a man and looking out for her two sisters. Because in an act of heroism she saves Princess Shasta, she is assigned as her royal bodyguard.
This tales takes place over approximately four years and, in it, we see Princess Shasta mature from a naive, petulant teenager to a strong, wise young woman. The first 2/3rds of the book are the day to day exchanges between Talon and Shasta. Talon essentially remains the same, noble character throughout the story where the really interesting character development occurs with the princess and Talon's sisters. The story is detailed and drawn out in a way where we really know all of the characters and how they feel about each other over the years. There is no rush into romance so that's where the long, slow burn comes in. The last third of the book is where pacing picks up due to the huge conflicts and battle scenes and the romance finally reaches resolution, hence the bonfire.
I've seen this described as fantasy but it felt more like a historical, medieval type novel with very little fantasy. There weren't strange creatures and it didn't feel otherworldly. In the last quarter of the book we see fantasy elements come into play.
Also, I would say this is more of a pan sexual love story instead of a lesbian romance. Where Talon is attracted to the same sex I didn't get a feeling that a lesbian relationship would ever even occur to Princess Shasta. She falls in love with Talon thinking she is a man and basically lets her love override the gender, accepting Talon for who she is completely.
One note of warning, there are rape triggers in this novel so if you're sensitive to that please be prepared or perhaps look to another book.
There was some predictability in the book for me but there were plenty of surprises and the story was unraveled in an engaging way, regardless. Overall, the author did a great job telling this story and I recommend reading it.
This tales takes place over approximately four years and, in it, we see Princess Shasta mature from a naive, petulant teenager to a strong, wise young woman. The first 2/3rds of the book are the day to day exchanges between Talon and Shasta. Talon essentially remains the same, noble character throughout the story where the really interesting character development occurs with the princess and Talon's sisters. The story is detailed and drawn out in a way where we really know all of the characters and how they feel about each other over the years. There is no rush into romance so that's where the long, slow burn comes in. The last third of the book is where pacing picks up due to the huge conflicts and battle scenes and the romance finally reaches resolution, hence the bonfire.
I've seen this described as fantasy but it felt more like a historical, medieval type novel with very little fantasy. There weren't strange creatures and it didn't feel otherworldly. In the last quarter of the book we see fantasy elements come into play.
Also, I would say this is more of a pan sexual love story instead of a lesbian romance. Where Talon is attracted to the same sex I didn't get a feeling that a lesbian relationship would ever even occur to Princess Shasta. She falls in love with Talon thinking she is a man and basically lets her love override the gender, accepting Talon for who she is completely.
One note of warning, there are rape triggers in this novel so if you're sensitive to that please be prepared or perhaps look to another book.
There was some predictability in the book for me but there were plenty of surprises and the story was unraveled in an engaging way, regardless. Overall, the author did a great job telling this story and I recommend reading it.
November 19, 2012
This was one of two books I purchased when I decided I wanted to give Bold Strokes Books' f/f fiction a shot. Sword of the Guardian was my first choice – when I read that it starred a princess and her cross-dressing guardian, I knew I had to have it. It was a surprise to me that I enjoyed Jane Fletcher's Rangers at Roadsend as much as I did, and I fully expected to enjoy Shannon's Sword of the Guardian even more. Unfortunately, Sword of the Guardian turned out to be a disappointment.
My biggest problem with this book was that I could not believe in the world and its characters. Little things kept throwing me out of the story. For example, only a small number of people knew Talon's gender, and King Soltran specifically chose Talon to be Shasta's guardian because he felt he wouldn't have to worry about her virtue if she was being guarded by a woman. It was common knowledge that Talon even slept in Shasta's room, and Talon and Shasta sometimes went off, alone and unescorted, to practice fencing together. I would have expected more than just the King to be concerned with Shasta's virtue, and yet no one in court ever commented about the impropriety of a man spending so much unescorted time with the princess, even after Shasta began publicly flirting with Talon.
Lots of other things bugged me in this book. When Talon unwrapped her breasts, she had to “accustom her brain to the sudden rush of oxygen” (44) – there was no mention of relief from the discomfort of having her breasts squashed into invisibility. At another point, Talon and Shasta kissed, not long after Shasta threw up. Shasta “tasted of tea and a lingering hint of wine” (113) – no mention of vomit. I couldn't figure out whether homosexual relationships were accepted in this world or not – Talon's reaction indicated that maybe they weren't, but, when Bria found out about Talon and Shasta's relationship, she shrugged off her shock extremely quickly and was soon saying “well, as long as you're happy.”
By the way, absolutely no one who knew Talon's real gender made any mention of concerns about how Shasta was supposed to produce an heir if she and Talon remained a couple – Shannon wrapped this up neatly in the end (a little too neatly for my liking), but I had that question going through my head from the moment Talon and Shasta became a couple. I couldn't understand why not one person wondered what Shasta planned to do. Also, characters occasionally said things that, to my mind, would have fit better in a contemporary-set novel, rather than in a novel set in a pseudo-historical past – yes, this is a fantasy story, and characters can technically speak however the author wishes them to speak, but those moments just added to the list of things that threw me out of the story.
For much of the beginning of the book, I figured that Talon knew she was a lesbian (or perhaps bisexual) and was comfortable with this. I think I got that impression from the way she easily flirted with female audience members during acrobatic performances. I was surprised and confused when Talon started wondering whether it was even possible for one woman to be attracted to another.
I'm still not sure whether this book is better defined as a lesbian romance or as a transgender romance. When Shasta finally learns that Talon is female and sees her unclothed, she marvels at how beautiful she is. Just about everything in the book, however, seemed geared towards making Talon seem as masculine as possible. She didn't just say things – she growled them. She fought better and learned fighting techniques and strategy faster than any other man around. In my head, Talon was either a man who was ludicrously masculine, or a woman trying too hard to be a man.
I didn't really like or dislike Talon, but Shasta came across as a spoiled brat throughout most of the book. I suppose her concern for her whipping boy and the woman she witnessed get beaten to death was meant to make me decide she wasn't all that bad, but it didn't work. If injustices weren't happening right before her eyes, she didn't seem to think of them. Instead of avoiding doing things that would get her whipping boy hurt, she did them anyway and then gave him treats afterward to make it all better. When she got upset with Talon, she rode off in a snit, knowing that there were people around who might want to kill her. As a result, she almost got herself killed, and Talon was seriously wounded.
When Shasta found out Talon's true gender, she felt betrayed – that was understandable, but what was not was her thought that Talon should be executed for treason. She knew that Talon had only been following the King's orders. Thinking that Talon should be executed for that, just because she didn't like the results and was upset that the man she'd fallen for was actually a woman was just...wow, I feel enraged even thinking about it now. Later on in the book, she suddenly morphed into a mature, wise leader (who convinced farmers to part with their entire crop, offering them nothing more than an IOU she couldn't guarantee she'd be able to pay, but whatever). It didn't matter. All I could ever see her as was a selfish little girl who never seemed to understand how much danger she, and by association Talon, was in.
Bria was a moron, somehow thinking that an aristocrat would find her, a nobody, to be a more worthy wife than Princess Shasta. Lyris seemed to only exist as a convenient way to tie the Ithyrian priestesses more firmly into the story, so that they could swoop in when needed and save everyone with the Super Convenient Power of the Goddess. You know, except for the moment when it's decided that it's important for Talon to fight her battle on her own, lest the Power of the Goddess remove all suspense from the story and end things too soon.
I should also mention Erinda. She was one of the reasons why this book wasn't able to work for me as a romance. Prior to Shasta and Talon becoming a couple, Talon had lots of no-strings-attached sex with Erinda. In fact, it was spotting Talon having sex with Erinda that inspired Shasta's crush on Talon. I was never quite comfortable with this, even though Talon and Erinda's relationship ended before Talon and Shasta became a couple.
All in all, this book was not nearly as good as I had hoped it would be. Shannon has one other work published through Bold Strokes Book, Branded Ann, a pirate romance that sounds like it could be a lot of fun. However, I don't see myself taking another chance with this author at the prices that Bold Strokes Books charges.
Other Comments:
The e-book version of Sword of the Guardian had some confusing formatting. For example, some of the chapters began with stuff from the perspective of one of the Ithyrian priestesses. Then, with no visual cues whatsoever, the story switched back to third person, following the actions of Talon and Shasta. It was a little jarring.
(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
My biggest problem with this book was that I could not believe in the world and its characters. Little things kept throwing me out of the story. For example, only a small number of people knew Talon's gender, and King Soltran specifically chose Talon to be Shasta's guardian because he felt he wouldn't have to worry about her virtue if she was being guarded by a woman. It was common knowledge that Talon even slept in Shasta's room, and Talon and Shasta sometimes went off, alone and unescorted, to practice fencing together. I would have expected more than just the King to be concerned with Shasta's virtue, and yet no one in court ever commented about the impropriety of a man spending so much unescorted time with the princess, even after Shasta began publicly flirting with Talon.
Lots of other things bugged me in this book. When Talon unwrapped her breasts, she had to “accustom her brain to the sudden rush of oxygen” (44) – there was no mention of relief from the discomfort of having her breasts squashed into invisibility. At another point, Talon and Shasta kissed, not long after Shasta threw up. Shasta “tasted of tea and a lingering hint of wine” (113) – no mention of vomit. I couldn't figure out whether homosexual relationships were accepted in this world or not – Talon's reaction indicated that maybe they weren't, but, when Bria found out about Talon and Shasta's relationship, she shrugged off her shock extremely quickly and was soon saying “well, as long as you're happy.”
By the way, absolutely no one who knew Talon's real gender made any mention of concerns about how Shasta was supposed to produce an heir if she and Talon remained a couple – Shannon wrapped this up neatly in the end (a little too neatly for my liking), but I had that question going through my head from the moment Talon and Shasta became a couple. I couldn't understand why not one person wondered what Shasta planned to do. Also, characters occasionally said things that, to my mind, would have fit better in a contemporary-set novel, rather than in a novel set in a pseudo-historical past – yes, this is a fantasy story, and characters can technically speak however the author wishes them to speak, but those moments just added to the list of things that threw me out of the story.
For much of the beginning of the book, I figured that Talon knew she was a lesbian (or perhaps bisexual) and was comfortable with this. I think I got that impression from the way she easily flirted with female audience members during acrobatic performances. I was surprised and confused when Talon started wondering whether it was even possible for one woman to be attracted to another.
I'm still not sure whether this book is better defined as a lesbian romance or as a transgender romance. When Shasta finally learns that Talon is female and sees her unclothed, she marvels at how beautiful she is. Just about everything in the book, however, seemed geared towards making Talon seem as masculine as possible. She didn't just say things – she growled them. She fought better and learned fighting techniques and strategy faster than any other man around. In my head, Talon was either a man who was ludicrously masculine, or a woman trying too hard to be a man.
I didn't really like or dislike Talon, but Shasta came across as a spoiled brat throughout most of the book. I suppose her concern for her whipping boy and the woman she witnessed get beaten to death was meant to make me decide she wasn't all that bad, but it didn't work. If injustices weren't happening right before her eyes, she didn't seem to think of them. Instead of avoiding doing things that would get her whipping boy hurt, she did them anyway and then gave him treats afterward to make it all better. When she got upset with Talon, she rode off in a snit, knowing that there were people around who might want to kill her. As a result, she almost got herself killed, and Talon was seriously wounded.
When Shasta found out Talon's true gender, she felt betrayed – that was understandable, but what was not was her thought that Talon should be executed for treason. She knew that Talon had only been following the King's orders. Thinking that Talon should be executed for that, just because she didn't like the results and was upset that the man she'd fallen for was actually a woman was just...wow, I feel enraged even thinking about it now. Later on in the book, she suddenly morphed into a mature, wise leader (who convinced farmers to part with their entire crop, offering them nothing more than an IOU she couldn't guarantee she'd be able to pay, but whatever). It didn't matter. All I could ever see her as was a selfish little girl who never seemed to understand how much danger she, and by association Talon, was in.
Bria was a moron, somehow thinking that an aristocrat would find her, a nobody, to be a more worthy wife than Princess Shasta. Lyris seemed to only exist as a convenient way to tie the Ithyrian priestesses more firmly into the story, so that they could swoop in when needed and save everyone with the Super Convenient Power of the Goddess. You know, except for the moment when it's decided that it's important for Talon to fight her battle on her own, lest the Power of the Goddess remove all suspense from the story and end things too soon.
I should also mention Erinda. She was one of the reasons why this book wasn't able to work for me as a romance. Prior to Shasta and Talon becoming a couple, Talon had lots of no-strings-attached sex with Erinda. In fact, it was spotting Talon having sex with Erinda that inspired Shasta's crush on Talon. I was never quite comfortable with this, even though Talon and Erinda's relationship ended before Talon and Shasta became a couple.
All in all, this book was not nearly as good as I had hoped it would be. Shannon has one other work published through Bold Strokes Book, Branded Ann, a pirate romance that sounds like it could be a lot of fun. However, I don't see myself taking another chance with this author at the prices that Bold Strokes Books charges.
Other Comments:
The e-book version of Sword of the Guardian had some confusing formatting. For example, some of the chapters began with stuff from the perspective of one of the Ithyrian priestesses. Then, with no visual cues whatsoever, the story switched back to third person, following the actions of Talon and Shasta. It was a little jarring.
(Original review, with read-alikes and watch-alikes, posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
June 8, 2017
4.5 stars. The romance was well done I thought. I like how it was years in the making. The plot line was good but seemed to resolve a little too simply for my taste. The whole "wait, we have this cool celestial fire that kills all the bad guys but not the good guys" at just the right moment was too easy. But overall, I enjoyed it and had trouble putting it down.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 19, 2017
So, I enjoyed this one but I didn't love it. The world-building was relatively good and the lead characters were fairly well-established, but their growth felt somewhat simplistic to me, especially in the case of Shasta and Bria. Both characters started with one personality and ended up with another, but I never fully believed the transformation for either of them. Shasta spent literally 67% of the book responding to nearly every situation with a tantrum that placed other people in danger, then suddenly she's a magnanimous, empathetic, giving person? Such changes have happened to people, even in fantasy novels, but I never saw enough to convince me that it was anything but a mandated plot device here. Bria's case was even worse, and far more sudden. Talon, on the other hand, ended the story as exactly the same person she was when it began, which is kind of surprising, all things considered. C'est la vie.
Another problem was the fact that it felt like a chapter or two were just cut from the book immediately preceding chapter 20. There were multiple references to events we hadn't seen that were written as if they were callbacks to something previously stated, rather than as an introduction to new material. While I think the decision to cut those chapters was a good one for the sake of pacing, it felt like a little smoothing needed to be done to make the transition from point A to point B feel more like a time jump and less like a large gap in the story.
Okay, so that was a lot of complaining--what can I say, I was feeling like a grump today. Still, it was an entertaining read and the writing quality was generally fairly high. The author engaged all five senses, constructed interesting sentences that managed to convey a great deal of detail without drawing attention to themselves, and generally got the job done in a professional manner. I probably won't read this one again, but it's an absolute steal at $3, and certainly a good read for anyone interested in fantasy epics with lesbian protagonists. The fictional society is a bit sexist and antiquated in its beliefs, sexual violence popped up more than once (which is more than the zero times that I wanted to see it), but women save the day and get the happy ending.
4 stars.
Another problem was the fact that it felt like a chapter or two were just cut from the book immediately preceding chapter 20. There were multiple references to events we hadn't seen that were written as if they were callbacks to something previously stated, rather than as an introduction to new material. While I think the decision to cut those chapters was a good one for the sake of pacing, it felt like a little smoothing needed to be done to make the transition from point A to point B feel more like a time jump and less like a large gap in the story.
Okay, so that was a lot of complaining--what can I say, I was feeling like a grump today. Still, it was an entertaining read and the writing quality was generally fairly high. The author engaged all five senses, constructed interesting sentences that managed to convey a great deal of detail without drawing attention to themselves, and generally got the job done in a professional manner. I probably won't read this one again, but it's an absolute steal at $3, and certainly a good read for anyone interested in fantasy epics with lesbian protagonists. The fictional society is a bit sexist and antiquated in its beliefs, sexual violence popped up more than once (which is more than the zero times that I wanted to see it), but women save the day and get the happy ending.
4 stars.
June 30, 2022
5 stars
Very good high fantasy.
I liked the MCs, even though princess Shasta was a spoiled brat for a significant portion of the story. But it made sense and it allowed for some nice character development, so I tolerated it just fine.
Otherwise it's quite a typical high fantasy. A detailed world, political intrigue, a mysterious religion, magic and a lot of swords.
I was very happy.
Very good high fantasy.
I liked the MCs, even though princess Shasta was a spoiled brat for a significant portion of the story. But it made sense and it allowed for some nice character development, so I tolerated it just fine.
Otherwise it's quite a typical high fantasy. A detailed world, political intrigue, a mysterious religion, magic and a lot of swords.
I was very happy.
June 12, 2020
I loved the world-building and the main characters were very likable, this is a dynamite combination for me. I am looking forward to reading more books in the series.
May 1, 2025
For a fantasy, medieval fiction, this one wasn't stuffy at all. I loved how the emotional elements were grounded in credulity (ie, the MCs' friendship and the organic way it grew into romantic love).
October 17, 2012
Thank god this book is finished. There were several times I just wanted to stop, but since I'd read over half, it felt like a waste of effort to give up.
Sword of the Guardian has all the ingredients to make an interesting story. I love the whole girl-pretending-to-be-a-boy-so-she-can-play-soldier setup, but was disappointed on the whole. Halfway through, it felt like the book would soon be coming to the end. Maybe it should have.
My problem mainly lies with the characters and their development. I'm left feeling like most of them were either static or a stereotype. Talon, while the most enjoyable character in the book, is static. The girl we meet at the beginning, is the girl we see at the end. Shasta is the one character which the author insists develops so much, but I more felt like I was being told that she evolved, rather than that I saw that she was. It is not for the author's lack of trying. She does show it, but it never quite gels with me. Maybe because the huge turning point is only ever shown in a flashback.
My main problem with Shasta is that by the time the author tries to turn her character around, I already disliked her. She's just too childish at the start of the book. Especially the way she dealt with her crush on Talon when she still believed her to be a boy, had me wanting to throttle her. It was supposed to be funny, but it just came across as annoying. Then there's her reaction to finding out Talon's a girl, and I liked her even less.
I get what the author is doing, I see the steps she's taking to redeem her from these traits, but somehow it just isn't working. It's all there, but I never truly care for it. It doesn't help that the mysterious character change is also the instant realisation that she liked girls. It just feels forced. Add a bunch of clichés and cheesy dialogue that is supposed to show us how wonderful Shasta now is, and I was ready for this book to be over now.
The plot of the story is in itself okay, but fairly predictable. The bad guys are stereotypes and bring nothing new. The romance feels forced and... I admit, I had pedobear squicks in there. The author insisted on describing Shasta as tiny and so adding her childish behaviour and Talon's intention to treat her as a little sister and it wasn't really a romance that spoke to me.
Nice try, but this book falls short in every way.
Sword of the Guardian has all the ingredients to make an interesting story. I love the whole girl-pretending-to-be-a-boy-so-she-can-play-soldier setup, but was disappointed on the whole. Halfway through, it felt like the book would soon be coming to the end. Maybe it should have.
My problem mainly lies with the characters and their development. I'm left feeling like most of them were either static or a stereotype. Talon, while the most enjoyable character in the book, is static. The girl we meet at the beginning, is the girl we see at the end. Shasta is the one character which the author insists develops so much, but I more felt like I was being told that she evolved, rather than that I saw that she was. It is not for the author's lack of trying. She does show it, but it never quite gels with me. Maybe because the huge turning point is only ever shown in a flashback.
My main problem with Shasta is that by the time the author tries to turn her character around, I already disliked her. She's just too childish at the start of the book. Especially the way she dealt with her crush on Talon when she still believed her to be a boy, had me wanting to throttle her. It was supposed to be funny, but it just came across as annoying. Then there's her reaction to finding out Talon's a girl, and I liked her even less.
I get what the author is doing, I see the steps she's taking to redeem her from these traits, but somehow it just isn't working. It's all there, but I never truly care for it. It doesn't help that the mysterious character change is also the instant realisation that she liked girls. It just feels forced. Add a bunch of clichés and cheesy dialogue that is supposed to show us how wonderful Shasta now is, and I was ready for this book to be over now.
The plot of the story is in itself okay, but fairly predictable. The bad guys are stereotypes and bring nothing new. The romance feels forced and... I admit, I had pedobear squicks in there. The author insisted on describing Shasta as tiny and so adding her childish behaviour and Talon's intention to treat her as a little sister and it wasn't really a romance that spoke to me.
Nice try, but this book falls short in every way.
October 1, 2012
This is a very nice fusion of a classic fantasy story with a lovely romance.
It had all of the battles, intrigue, innocence and magic you would expect from a story written by David Eddings or Raymond E Feist, and rather like these books, this is a light and escapist piece of fiction.
The story has (for me) an unapologetic lesbian romance at it centre, which is allowed to evolve and grow throughout the story. Even through the characters might be inherently cliches, the writing drives the story onwards.
The author has created a world that, for this genre, has both interest and obviously much more to come.
It had all of the battles, intrigue, innocence and magic you would expect from a story written by David Eddings or Raymond E Feist, and rather like these books, this is a light and escapist piece of fiction.
The story has (for me) an unapologetic lesbian romance at it centre, which is allowed to evolve and grow throughout the story. Even through the characters might be inherently cliches, the writing drives the story onwards.
The author has created a world that, for this genre, has both interest and obviously much more to come.
March 13, 2017
Ahahahahahaha, this book was ridiculous. It was this lesbian fantasy novel SO OF COURSE I ENJOYED THE SHIT OUT OF IT. Bordered on some trans stuff, interestingly enough. Would happily read any and all sequels to this story. I mean, this wasn't magnificent in terms of writing or plot, but WHATEVS. I LIKED IT, OKAY??? DEAL.
January 4, 2016
I picked this up because the second book in the series just came out and I wanted to read this first. Oh my goodness, I'm so glad I did. Loved the characters, loved the story. The romance is so lovely, and I particularly loved that the book took place over a few years, so I really believed in the relationship (especially with how hard won it is). I'll definitely be reading this one again.
November 15, 2025
Bittersweet sapphic epic fantasy.
Disguised as a man trope.
Enemies to lovers.
Slow burn yearning romance.
Medieval settings.
Lots of action, intrigue, espionage, coups, treachery and deceit, regret and sacrifice, assassination attempts, war and violence, magic and mayhem, killing and maiming, bashing and hacking.
Did I mention killing?
Yes. Kill. Maim. Stab. Hack. Kill.
Disguised as a man trope.
Enemies to lovers.
Slow burn yearning romance.
Medieval settings.
Lots of action, intrigue, espionage, coups, treachery and deceit, regret and sacrifice, assassination attempts, war and violence, magic and mayhem, killing and maiming, bashing and hacking.
Did I mention killing?
Yes. Kill. Maim. Stab. Hack. Kill.
January 11, 2013
I couldn't put it down for the first 3/4 of the book. So much delicious tension between Shasta and Talon! Once the tension between them was gone and the big battle began I still enjoyed it, but it wasn't as addicting anymore.
September 22, 2011
I haven't read any fantasy in a long time. This book was awesome. Great characters, a great plot, realistic love story and the action at the end was very cool. I can't wait for the next installment.
August 27, 2020
“It’s frightening to hand your heart over to someone who might very easily break it. But that’s part of what it means to love.”
Writing and plot-wise, this was sort of a mixed bag, but it had so many of my favourite tropes and such a good romance that I couldn't help but really like it. We've got butch/femme. We've got bodyguard romance. We've got cross-dressing. We've got first times. We've got realising you're not straight. All of that in one romance was enough to make my heart sing. I really really enjoyed Shasta and Talon's relationship, with all its ups and downs, from friendship to romance. The bodyguard element and all the loyalty and protection that came along with it just made everything about this so much better. It was deliciously slow burn too, and even though at times it made me want to shake some sense into the characters, ultimately I think this kind of pacing is what worked best for the book. If there's one thing the author got unfailingly right, it's the chemistry and connection between the characters and showing how they fell in love. It was really good and I liked it so much!
I also liked the setting. It wasn't the most original fantasy world setting that I've ever read, but it got the job done, wasn't confusing to wrap my head around, and was overall fun to read about.
As for where the book (imo) went a bit wrong. There was the POV-switching/head-hopping, of which I'm never a fan. There was the fact that we got a few scenes from the POV of characters other than the protagonists, which I never like either. Except in a few rare cases, I really feel like one or two equal POVs works best, not two main POVs and a couple scenes from other characters. Those characters ended up playing pretty big parts plot-wise, and it felt sort of unbalanced. For example, I liked having Lyris' POV, but the fact that it was so limited meant we didn't get her perspective on a couple very important events, and it felt so flat. There was also some sexism/slut-shaming that I guess is ~accurate~ for the setting that the writer laid out, but it was pretty annoying and disappointing to read, especially as a couple of the instances came from Talon herself, and her apology didn't do enough imo.
As for the plot... a lot of little things didn't make sense, weren't explained, or just weren't written well enough. The events weren't hard to figure out, and you could tell where the book was heading/who was the enemy. Near the end, things just sort of started falling way too neatly into place, and there were a couple instances of what I can only call goddess ex machina that weren't... the best? Imo? Then there's the fact that one of the enemy factions was typical fantasy fare: 'swarthy' (ugh) evil barbarians with little writing behind them other than 'they're bad'.
This is a book that I could see myself being pretty lacklustre about... if it weren't for the romance! I really really enjoyed it. Brought a huge smile to my face. I wish there was more f/f romance like it, and I appreciate getting to read it.
Writing and plot-wise, this was sort of a mixed bag, but it had so many of my favourite tropes and such a good romance that I couldn't help but really like it. We've got butch/femme. We've got bodyguard romance. We've got cross-dressing. We've got first times. We've got realising you're not straight. All of that in one romance was enough to make my heart sing. I really really enjoyed Shasta and Talon's relationship, with all its ups and downs, from friendship to romance. The bodyguard element and all the loyalty and protection that came along with it just made everything about this so much better. It was deliciously slow burn too, and even though at times it made me want to shake some sense into the characters, ultimately I think this kind of pacing is what worked best for the book. If there's one thing the author got unfailingly right, it's the chemistry and connection between the characters and showing how they fell in love. It was really good and I liked it so much!
I also liked the setting. It wasn't the most original fantasy world setting that I've ever read, but it got the job done, wasn't confusing to wrap my head around, and was overall fun to read about.
As for where the book (imo) went a bit wrong. There was the POV-switching/head-hopping, of which I'm never a fan. There was the fact that we got a few scenes from the POV of characters other than the protagonists, which I never like either. Except in a few rare cases, I really feel like one or two equal POVs works best, not two main POVs and a couple scenes from other characters. Those characters ended up playing pretty big parts plot-wise, and it felt sort of unbalanced. For example, I liked having Lyris' POV, but the fact that it was so limited meant we didn't get her perspective on a couple very important events, and it felt so flat. There was also some sexism/slut-shaming that I guess is ~accurate~ for the setting that the writer laid out, but it was pretty annoying and disappointing to read, especially as a couple of the instances came from Talon herself, and her apology didn't do enough imo.
As for the plot... a lot of little things didn't make sense, weren't explained, or just weren't written well enough. The events weren't hard to figure out, and you could tell where the book was heading/who was the enemy. Near the end, things just sort of started falling way too neatly into place, and there were a couple instances of what I can only call goddess ex machina that weren't... the best? Imo? Then there's the fact that one of the enemy factions was typical fantasy fare: 'swarthy' (ugh) evil barbarians with little writing behind them other than 'they're bad'.
This is a book that I could see myself being pretty lacklustre about... if it weren't for the romance! I really really enjoyed it. Brought a huge smile to my face. I wish there was more f/f romance like it, and I appreciate getting to read it.
December 18, 2021
A little dated and cringe at parts but overall a decent romance high fantasy. There were some instances of victim-blaming and "slut" shaming which was not cool. I suspect these comments were supposed to illustrate how the society in the novel would have to sexual assault and rape, however, this doesn't make it any easier to read. The other big cringe part of the book was the age difference between the MC's anytime we start an MC at a teenager level I have a hard time when the love interest is more than 1 to 2 years older. At points, it was awkward but it was also a fantasy book and I was able to suspend belief.
As mentioned, it was a decent romantic high fantasy. The relationship spans over the course of 4 years allowing you to see the characters grow and change and their feelings deepen. In addition, I really liked the lore and appreciate that there is a second book likely focussing on the priestesses and their religion.
As mentioned, it was a decent romantic high fantasy. The relationship spans over the course of 4 years allowing you to see the characters grow and change and their feelings deepen. In addition, I really liked the lore and appreciate that there is a second book likely focussing on the priestesses and their religion.
July 23, 2018
Decently done lesbian fantasy! The writing isn't great, but for the most part the characters are well done, the plot is interesting and not TOO farfetched, and the chemistry between the main characters is 5 stars.
August 31, 2024
Where shall I begin with this book...
Sword of the Guardian is told from two POV's–Shasta, a princess and the sole remaining heir to her kingdom, and Talon, an acrobat-turned-bodyguard. The book begins with a ball, where Shasta witnesses her brother die at the hands of an assassin. I mean literally this happens within the first couple of pages.
This quote constitutes the majority of the description we get of this massively important plot point. This assassination sets up the remainder of the story, so I was quite surprised to see it introduced, described, and dismissed so quickly. Unfortunately, this rushed action is a staple of this book. On the rare occasions that we actually get to see fighting/character interactions that are central to the novel, we almost never get more than a couple of paragraphs.
Now, the culprits behind this attempted coup are kept a mystery until the last third of the book. At least, it seems like the author intends for this to be some sort of twist. In truth, it is obscenely obvious who the antagonists are. Shasta's cousin Kumire, the Chancellor, and his father are described as gross, slimy, generally evil-looking men out to marry Kumire to Shasta in order to become the rulers of the kingdom. So, you know in Lord of the Rings, when we meet Théoden and he is being weakened and manipulated by a mysterious force? And right around the time the King's health began to fail and the kingdom fell into disarray, a black robe-clad slimy weasel of a man with long, oily hair, pale, sickly skin, and a broadly antagonist vibe appeared at his side? And his name is literally Gríma Wormtongue? That is the general subtlety we are getting from the villains in this novel.
We immediately turn to another feast, where Talon, an acrobat in a sort of traveling circus troupe, performs for the princess, king, and court. We are told Talon is not the best at her job, resulting in many beatings for the circus master, but her performance goes off without a hitch–in fact, she even ups the stakes with a special trick. This is another common occurrence in this book. The author tells us that a character is struggling or that the stakes are high, but she never actually makes the characters face any sort of challenge or consequences. You never have to worry about the protagonists, because no matter the challenge, if the plot necessitates it, you can bet they will magically find a solution.
Speaking of which–Talon is a girl, but dresses as a boy. She does this to protect herself and her two younger sisters, Bria and Lyris, also members of the troupe. Now, we are again constantly told that it is crucial that Talon's true identity be kept a secret, but every time it is revealed nothing of consequence happens. More on this later.
The king, having witnessed this street urchin jumping a whole bunch, decides that Talon is the perfect choice to become his daughter's bodyguard. Not his legions of trained soldiers, some of which he is surely much more familiar with. No, this stranger he has literally just met like five minutes ago is perfect for the role. Why? Well, Talon is a girl, and as such he will be able to ensure Shasta's virtue. They're lesbians, Harold.
BY THE WAY–Talon's sisters also get to join her at the palace and become ladies-in-waiting to the princess. I'm all for class equality, but I don't really understand why the royal family would see three poor street performers and welcome them into their inner circle with open arms. This just felt like another example of the author making things magically work solely for the purposes of moving the plot along, without actually considering the plausibility or logic of her writing.
The actual discovery of Talon's sex, caused by the high priestess, Quiturah, examining her after an injury, happens off-screen! Because why would we want to see Talon's panic at being discovered, Quiturah's reaction, and the beginnings of the plan to place Talon with Shasta, when we can just be told of all of this in an off-hand comment?
Talon and Shasta grow close in the following chapters through a series of events that have little to no bearing on the story. At least, I'm told they grow close. I honestly had a hard time sensing any chemistry at all between the two. Now, I'm not saying some little side stories are always unnecessary and bad. If they help establish character growth and relationships, I love me some filler episodes! But if anything, these insights into our two protagonists just made me dislike them more.
Take this one chapter, where Shasta is excited to take part in a ball. She puts on her dress and excitedly shows Talon her outfit for the night. Talon immediately calls her out for the low neckline and criticizes her naivete, claiming Shasta has no idea how predatory men can be. I didn't disagree with you there bestie, but you're just straight-up slut-shaming here.
No better move than calling the actual princess you are sworn to serve a harlot. Now, whenever we get Talon's POV, we can see that is very concerned with protecting her sisters and Shasta from gross perverted men. Like she thinks about this all the time. And as we will see, her concerns are warranted, but about 2/3 of the way through the book her protectiveness turns on its head in a mind-blowingly hypocritical episode. We'll get to that in a sec. For now, Shasta is at the ball with her titties out, as she should, and when an older man leers at her, she runs away in tears. Shasta is clearly struggling with the mixture of shame, disgust, and anger that many of us female-presenting people will unfortunately be familiar with. She apologizes to Talon for not listening to her:
Uhm. No. No apologies to the girl who called you a whore like two pages ago. It sucks that the author chooses to tell us that it really was the fault of Shasta and her low-cut dress by making her apologize to Talon.
Shasta, still believing Talon is a boy, begins to develop stronger feelings for her guardian. Talon, on the other hand, seeks comfort in the arms of a servant girl, with whom she engages in a no-strings-attached relationship. The list of people who know Talon is a girl begins to grow until it includes practically everyone except Shasta. I mean it becomes comedic how many people are in on this secret. Unfortunately, Shasta ends up spying on Talon and the maidservant smooshing, and her feelings become ever more complicated. And if you're thinking, "wait, if she saw Talon having sex, doesn't she know she is a girl?" NO. Thanks to some conveniently placed sheets (and I think Talon just kept her jacket on?) Shasta is none the wiser.
One morning, Shasta leaves the castle secretly to go on a ride, still angry with Talon. Her guardian chases after her, finding her after she has left the palace grounds. The pair are ambushed by assassins, who are able to hit Talon with an arrow. Shasta wants to bring her to a village healer, and after failing to convince her otherwise, Talon is forced to admit that she is a girl and can only be seen by a palace healer who would keep the secret. Talon explains the secrecy thusly:
Now here's the thing. I get the general idea. But Talon is saying this while an arrow is sticking out of her stomach. Because an assassin shot her. This actually already happened once, so by now, with the whole world (except like half the palace) thinking Shasta's bodyguard is a boy, assassins still tried to kill Shasta TWICE. So clearly, the ruse is not having the intended effect, and this reasoning just sounds incredibly dumb.
Now on to one of the most absolutely bat-shit insane plot points. At this point, we've seen a couple of times that Bria, Talon's youngest sister (I believe she is around 15 at this point) has been having an affair with the slimy, evil, aforementioned Chancellor. The one who is in his thirties. And extremely powerful. And obviously the bad guy who has been trying to murder one of our protagonists? Okay, just want to make sure we are on the same page here. Turns, out, Bria is pregnant! The Chancellor refuses to marry her, but she is madly in love with him for some reason and exposes her pregnancy to the king. You may say, "But it is his word against hers! He is so rich and powerful, who would ever believe this circus performer turned lady-in-waiting?" WRONG. You've forgotten that this author has a secret weapon–introducing magical powers for the first and only time whenever it is convenient to the plot. Turns out, the head priestess has paternity test magic. She touches Bria's belly for a bit and then announces that the baby is truly the Chancellor's child! For a moment, I thought we might get some actual suspense and consequences, but turns out the whole thing was resolved within the same page it was introduced.
What happens next, you ask? The king demands that the Chancellor (who, just as a reminder, is an evil, terrible person) marry Bria. The young, powerless TEENAGER who this GROWN ASS MAN is obviously angry with since this marriage will spoil his plans to marry Shasta and become king. You know, the thing he has been murdering people for.
At this point I was thinking, there is no way Talon, this girl's protective older sister, who has done nothing this entire book other than think about how much she desperately needs to protect her sisters and the princess from predatory, violent men, would allow this marriage to go through. Talon, who is constantly criticizing her sisters and the princess because they do not understand the true dangers of men, must surely see the perils of this union. Well, no joke, this is Talon's reaction:
???????????????I beg your actual pardon?????
Bria does marry Kumire and OF COURSE he ends up abusing her physically and emotionally,. Not only that, but when he forces her to turn against her family and friends, they all just blame her and leave her to suffer with Kumire all alone. This poor girl, who is clearly a victim, is thrown to the wolves and treated like a villain. When she comes out holding a white flag, with one side of her face covered in an enormous bruise, Talon has zero pity for the younger sister she went on and on about protecting. Bria is eventually "forgiven" by Talon when they meet one last time, because she dies of her wounds right after. #JUSTICEFORBRIA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back to the story–Kumire's father is upset that their plan to marry into the royal line of inheritance is foiled, and the pair returns to their original plot: kill the last heir, Shasta, thus making Kumire the sole heir. How do I know this? Because these two actual buffoons "secretly" discuss their plot IN FRONT OF THE KING. After the king announces that Kumire must marry Bria, Kumire's father does this:
Discussing treason in front of the actual king and his actual court would be a bad idea if they didn't exist in a world where everyone is stupid and nothing makes sense.
A lot of the dialogue throughout the story is stilted and unnatural, shifting oddly in tone from way too serious (we get a whole, very graphic attempted rape scene) to cringy humor. See, for example, this quote, which I must remind is a line of dialogue spoken from the king to Talon, who is, at best, one of the king's employees, and, more realistically, a commoner who somehow flew through the ranks to become the princesses' guardian:
*cue Seinfeld theme
A lot of unimportant things happen, and then our heroes discover Kumire's plot. This could not have been more obvious, but Kumire praises Talon's investigation:
No it wasn't.
After his legally required villain speech, in which he describes his whole plot (yeah thanks bud, we already figured it out), the King randomly grabs Talon's hand in a gesture that could not have more obviously been him handing her something. He does this directly in front of Kumire. Kumire doesn't notice. Obviously not, as characters are only able to do things if the author decides it is necessary to the plot.
What did the king hand Talon, you ask? A signet ring, the thing that Kumire needs to declare that the ruler, who he has now fatally stabbed, willingly passed the line of succession to him. The gang is able to escape him, running off to the countryside to assemble an army to take down Kumire.
Kumire is often insulted by comparing his general demeanor and actions to those of a girl. This is definitely an interesting choice, seeing as the entire book is dedicated to these two girls doing girl-power things, but upon closer inspection, this thinly veiled sexism actually makes sense, seeing as the two girls are also written with very sexist pre-conceptions (see the slut-shaming described above).
I'm realizing now that I forgot to mention the fact that Shasta and Talon admit their love and get together! Probably because I had absolutely zero stakes in their relationship.
Sword of the Guardian is told from two POV's–Shasta, a princess and the sole remaining heir to her kingdom, and Talon, an acrobat-turned-bodyguard. The book begins with a ball, where Shasta witnesses her brother die at the hands of an assassin. I mean literally this happens within the first couple of pages.
"What happened next took only a split second, yet it seemed like an eternity. The cloaked man threw a knife into the party of dancers, with an aim so swift and deadly that it had to be expert. It flew over Bria’s shoulder, missing her by a hairbreadth, and embedded itself in the chest of the young Prince. Bria screamed, and the hall erupted in chaos."
This quote constitutes the majority of the description we get of this massively important plot point. This assassination sets up the remainder of the story, so I was quite surprised to see it introduced, described, and dismissed so quickly. Unfortunately, this rushed action is a staple of this book. On the rare occasions that we actually get to see fighting/character interactions that are central to the novel, we almost never get more than a couple of paragraphs.
Now, the culprits behind this attempted coup are kept a mystery until the last third of the book. At least, it seems like the author intends for this to be some sort of twist. In truth, it is obscenely obvious who the antagonists are. Shasta's cousin Kumire, the Chancellor, and his father are described as gross, slimy, generally evil-looking men out to marry Kumire to Shasta in order to become the rulers of the kingdom. So, you know in Lord of the Rings, when we meet Théoden and he is being weakened and manipulated by a mysterious force? And right around the time the King's health began to fail and the kingdom fell into disarray, a black robe-clad slimy weasel of a man with long, oily hair, pale, sickly skin, and a broadly antagonist vibe appeared at his side? And his name is literally Gríma Wormtongue? That is the general subtlety we are getting from the villains in this novel.
We immediately turn to another feast, where Talon, an acrobat in a sort of traveling circus troupe, performs for the princess, king, and court. We are told Talon is not the best at her job, resulting in many beatings for the circus master, but her performance goes off without a hitch–in fact, she even ups the stakes with a special trick. This is another common occurrence in this book. The author tells us that a character is struggling or that the stakes are high, but she never actually makes the characters face any sort of challenge or consequences. You never have to worry about the protagonists, because no matter the challenge, if the plot necessitates it, you can bet they will magically find a solution.
Speaking of which–Talon is a girl, but dresses as a boy. She does this to protect herself and her two younger sisters, Bria and Lyris, also members of the troupe. Now, we are again constantly told that it is crucial that Talon's true identity be kept a secret, but every time it is revealed nothing of consequence happens. More on this later.
The king, having witnessed this street urchin jumping a whole bunch, decides that Talon is the perfect choice to become his daughter's bodyguard. Not his legions of trained soldiers, some of which he is surely much more familiar with. No, this stranger he has literally just met like five minutes ago is perfect for the role. Why? Well, Talon is a girl, and as such he will be able to ensure Shasta's virtue. They're lesbians, Harold.
BY THE WAY–Talon's sisters also get to join her at the palace and become ladies-in-waiting to the princess. I'm all for class equality, but I don't really understand why the royal family would see three poor street performers and welcome them into their inner circle with open arms. This just felt like another example of the author making things magically work solely for the purposes of moving the plot along, without actually considering the plausibility or logic of her writing.
The actual discovery of Talon's sex, caused by the high priestess, Quiturah, examining her after an injury, happens off-screen! Because why would we want to see Talon's panic at being discovered, Quiturah's reaction, and the beginnings of the plan to place Talon with Shasta, when we can just be told of all of this in an off-hand comment?
"King Soltran stared at Qiturah, weariness etched into his features. “Are you certain?” “I assure you I could never invent such a story. I have examined the acrobat myself, and…” Qiturah pursed her lips. “Your Majesty, he is not a boy at all. The person lying in that room downstairs is unquestionably female.” She was still astonished by the discovery."
Talon and Shasta grow close in the following chapters through a series of events that have little to no bearing on the story. At least, I'm told they grow close. I honestly had a hard time sensing any chemistry at all between the two. Now, I'm not saying some little side stories are always unnecessary and bad. If they help establish character growth and relationships, I love me some filler episodes! But if anything, these insights into our two protagonists just made me dislike them more.
Take this one chapter, where Shasta is excited to take part in a ball. She puts on her dress and excitedly shows Talon her outfit for the night. Talon immediately calls her out for the low neckline and criticizes her naivete, claiming Shasta has no idea how predatory men can be. I didn't disagree with you there bestie, but you're just straight-up slut-shaming here.
“There’s a difference between looking like a woman and looking like a harlot.”
No better move than calling the actual princess you are sworn to serve a harlot. Now, whenever we get Talon's POV, we can see that is very concerned with protecting her sisters and Shasta from gross perverted men. Like she thinks about this all the time. And as we will see, her concerns are warranted, but about 2/3 of the way through the book her protectiveness turns on its head in a mind-blowingly hypocritical episode. We'll get to that in a sec. For now, Shasta is at the ball with her titties out, as she should, and when an older man leers at her, she runs away in tears. Shasta is clearly struggling with the mixture of shame, disgust, and anger that many of us female-presenting people will unfortunately be familiar with. She apologizes to Talon for not listening to her:
"You were right. And now I’m sick and you’re being so nice…”
Uhm. No. No apologies to the girl who called you a whore like two pages ago. It sucks that the author chooses to tell us that it really was the fault of Shasta and her low-cut dress by making her apologize to Talon.
Shasta, still believing Talon is a boy, begins to develop stronger feelings for her guardian. Talon, on the other hand, seeks comfort in the arms of a servant girl, with whom she engages in a no-strings-attached relationship. The list of people who know Talon is a girl begins to grow until it includes practically everyone except Shasta. I mean it becomes comedic how many people are in on this secret. Unfortunately, Shasta ends up spying on Talon and the maidservant smooshing, and her feelings become ever more complicated. And if you're thinking, "wait, if she saw Talon having sex, doesn't she know she is a girl?" NO. Thanks to some conveniently placed sheets (and I think Talon just kept her jacket on?) Shasta is none the wiser.
One morning, Shasta leaves the castle secretly to go on a ride, still angry with Talon. Her guardian chases after her, finding her after she has left the palace grounds. The pair are ambushed by assassins, who are able to hit Talon with an arrow. Shasta wants to bring her to a village healer, and after failing to convince her otherwise, Talon is forced to admit that she is a girl and can only be seen by a palace healer who would keep the secret. Talon explains the secrecy thusly:
"People just don’t have that kind of respect for a woman. If the assassin who killed your brother ever found out, he might think you’re not well guarded after all and make another attempt on your life."
Now here's the thing. I get the general idea. But Talon is saying this while an arrow is sticking out of her stomach. Because an assassin shot her. This actually already happened once, so by now, with the whole world (except like half the palace) thinking Shasta's bodyguard is a boy, assassins still tried to kill Shasta TWICE. So clearly, the ruse is not having the intended effect, and this reasoning just sounds incredibly dumb.
Now on to one of the most absolutely bat-shit insane plot points. At this point, we've seen a couple of times that Bria, Talon's youngest sister (I believe she is around 15 at this point) has been having an affair with the slimy, evil, aforementioned Chancellor. The one who is in his thirties. And extremely powerful. And obviously the bad guy who has been trying to murder one of our protagonists? Okay, just want to make sure we are on the same page here. Turns, out, Bria is pregnant! The Chancellor refuses to marry her, but she is madly in love with him for some reason and exposes her pregnancy to the king. You may say, "But it is his word against hers! He is so rich and powerful, who would ever believe this circus performer turned lady-in-waiting?" WRONG. You've forgotten that this author has a secret weapon–introducing magical powers for the first and only time whenever it is convenient to the plot. Turns out, the head priestess has paternity test magic. She touches Bria's belly for a bit and then announces that the baby is truly the Chancellor's child! For a moment, I thought we might get some actual suspense and consequences, but turns out the whole thing was resolved within the same page it was introduced.
What happens next, you ask? The king demands that the Chancellor (who, just as a reminder, is an evil, terrible person) marry Bria. The young, powerless TEENAGER who this GROWN ASS MAN is obviously angry with since this marriage will spoil his plans to marry Shasta and become king. You know, the thing he has been murdering people for.
At this point I was thinking, there is no way Talon, this girl's protective older sister, who has done nothing this entire book other than think about how much she desperately needs to protect her sisters and the princess from predatory, violent men, would allow this marriage to go through. Talon, who is constantly criticizing her sisters and the princess because they do not understand the true dangers of men, must surely see the perils of this union. Well, no joke, this is Talon's reaction:
"Part of her was glad that the King had ordered the marriage. If Kumire was going to take advantage of her little sister he should be held responsible."
???????????????I beg your actual pardon?????
Bria does marry Kumire and OF COURSE he ends up abusing her physically and emotionally,. Not only that, but when he forces her to turn against her family and friends, they all just blame her and leave her to suffer with Kumire all alone. This poor girl, who is clearly a victim, is thrown to the wolves and treated like a villain. When she comes out holding a white flag, with one side of her face covered in an enormous bruise, Talon has zero pity for the younger sister she went on and on about protecting. Bria is eventually "forgiven" by Talon when they meet one last time, because she dies of her wounds right after. #JUSTICEFORBRIA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Back to the story–Kumire's father is upset that their plan to marry into the royal line of inheritance is foiled, and the pair returns to their original plot: kill the last heir, Shasta, thus making Kumire the sole heir. How do I know this? Because these two actual buffoons "secretly" discuss their plot IN FRONT OF THE KING. After the king announces that Kumire must marry Bria, Kumire's father does this:
"Fickett gave an angry snort and brushed past the newlyweds. He paused near his son’s ear, and Talon was standing just close enough to hear his words. “As of this moment, we go back to the beginning.”
Discussing treason in front of the actual king and his actual court would be a bad idea if they didn't exist in a world where everyone is stupid and nothing makes sense.
A lot of the dialogue throughout the story is stilted and unnatural, shifting oddly in tone from way too serious (we get a whole, very graphic attempted rape scene) to cringy humor. See, for example, this quote, which I must remind is a line of dialogue spoken from the king to Talon, who is, at best, one of the king's employees, and, more realistically, a commoner who somehow flew through the ranks to become the princesses' guardian:
“And, Talon,” he added, “if I ever doubt your devotion to the Princess again, you have the King’s permission to knock some sense into his royal head.”
*cue Seinfeld theme
A lot of unimportant things happen, and then our heroes discover Kumire's plot. This could not have been more obvious, but Kumire praises Talon's investigation:
"An excellent bit of deduction, boy.”
No it wasn't.
After his legally required villain speech, in which he describes his whole plot (yeah thanks bud, we already figured it out), the King randomly grabs Talon's hand in a gesture that could not have more obviously been him handing her something. He does this directly in front of Kumire. Kumire doesn't notice. Obviously not, as characters are only able to do things if the author decides it is necessary to the plot.
What did the king hand Talon, you ask? A signet ring, the thing that Kumire needs to declare that the ruler, who he has now fatally stabbed, willingly passed the line of succession to him. The gang is able to escape him, running off to the countryside to assemble an army to take down Kumire.
Kumire is often insulted by comparing his general demeanor and actions to those of a girl. This is definitely an interesting choice, seeing as the entire book is dedicated to these two girls doing girl-power things, but upon closer inspection, this thinly veiled sexism actually makes sense, seeing as the two girls are also written with very sexist pre-conceptions (see the slut-shaming described above).
I'm realizing now that I forgot to mention the fact that Shasta and Talon admit their love and get together! Probably because I had absolutely zero stakes in their relationship.
ugh
February 22, 2018DNF - PG 108
Why?
(le sigh, this is the third and final lesbian fantasy I bought at the same time that didn't work out for me.)
Other reviews have noted (and noted better than I could) the flaws in the characterization and world building. I do not deny that they are there. I, however, was ready, willing and able to overlook them because I am so desperate for a good lesbian fantasy story. And, truthfully, I could kind of like Talon and Shasta both, even for all their flaws. (Both intended and not, I'd imagine.)
However, Talon responds favorably to two different women kissing her - women other than Shasta - and even develops a friends with benefits relationship with one of them - because Talon's lust for Shasta needs an outlet.
WTF?
I'm sorry, but I'm a romantic at heart and, even if I realized disappointedly that this is a fantasy story with romance rather than a romance in a fantasy world like I'd hoped, having one of the romance leads sleeping with someone else, even after they realize where their affection lay, doesn't sit well with me.
Added to that is the utter confusion I felt about Talon's gender and sexuality identities (and her own confusion) - and touches of gay panic and what I can only consider crossdressing panic (oh no, I've been dressing like a man so long that I've tricked my body into thinking I'm a man and made myself attracted to women) - and I'm done.
Why?
(le sigh, this is the third and final lesbian fantasy I bought at the same time that didn't work out for me.)
Other reviews have noted (and noted better than I could) the flaws in the characterization and world building. I do not deny that they are there. I, however, was ready, willing and able to overlook them because I am so desperate for a good lesbian fantasy story. And, truthfully, I could kind of like Talon and Shasta both, even for all their flaws. (Both intended and not, I'd imagine.)
However, Talon responds favorably to two different women kissing her - women other than Shasta - and even develops a friends with benefits relationship with one of them - because Talon's lust for Shasta needs an outlet.
WTF?
I'm sorry, but I'm a romantic at heart and, even if I realized disappointedly that this is a fantasy story with romance rather than a romance in a fantasy world like I'd hoped, having one of the romance leads sleeping with someone else, even after they realize where their affection lay, doesn't sit well with me.
Added to that is the utter confusion I felt about Talon's gender and sexuality identities (and her own confusion) - and touches of gay panic and what I can only consider crossdressing panic (oh no, I've been dressing like a man so long that I've tricked my body into thinking I'm a man and made myself attracted to women) - and I'm done.
June 24, 2018
Fantasy. My favourite genre. Cross dressing women. That's a yes. I'm not so much a fan for princesses, but we can't have everything.
There is nothing I didn’t like about this book. The story took me from start to finish with little to stop me in the middle. For a fantasy it is on teh lighter side, but for me it does this well.
There is nothing I didn’t like about this book. The story took me from start to finish with little to stop me in the middle. For a fantasy it is on teh lighter side, but for me it does this well.
July 21, 2022
So very good
I enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next one. I appreciate a great adventure and hope you do to.
I enjoyed this book and can’t wait to read the next one. I appreciate a great adventure and hope you do to.
June 23, 2018
Buckle up, it's going to have to be a long, dot-pointy one again!
-What if cliche, medieval Eurocentric fantasy; only well written and with lesbians? - Merry Shannon, at some point, probably.
-A book of two halves, the first is slow and slice-of-lifey, then it turns into an proper epic in the second half.
-I'm a sucker for the girls-dressed-as-boys-for-political/practical-reasons trope, but probably because we get pretty much no actual transmasculine representation. But hey,
The King regarded her with a curious expression. "You surprise me, Honoured Mother. Isn't dressing contrary to one's sex considered blasphemy against the Goddess? I though such sins were punishable by death."
"Dressing against one's nature is blasphemy, Your Majesty, which isn't quite the same thing..."
So at least we get an acknowledgement that sex and gender ("nature") aren't the same thing. And from the fact that Talon forgets that she isn't a man, it seems that she doesn't really give a toss about her gender identity. And being an acrobat and a soldier, she'd definitely tear the head off anyone who tried to put her in a dress.
- Speaking of Talon, I adore her so much because her gruff, overprotective, down-to-earth personality usually gets put in a huge, bearded man and seeing stereotypes smashed makes me happy. She sort of reminds me of Lada from And I Darken except not as cruel. Oh, and she seems to get stabbed and shot a bit too much to stay alive, but I guess no more so than any other fantasy protagonist.
- I wanted to slap Shasta throughout the whole first half, and couldn't see what Talon saw in her, but her character developed really well and I liked her by the end.
-I wanted the villain to be at least a little sympathetic, and for the one sex scene to be less detailed (or even, not be there) and those are really the reasons I didn't rate it 5 stars.
- Lyris is an awesome character and I wanted more viewpoint from her.
-In the first half, there seem to be no strong, kind, non-toxic male characters. OK, there's Daric, but he get's no lines IIRC and dies after one scene. (This isn't a spoiler, it's in the blurb.) There's Vaughn, and he's decent, but even he consistently underestimates women. But in the second half we get Harnell and Jen and they're both lovely and awesome.
-Lastly - how did Daric's feather not get frayed? Seriously, you can't wear a feather as a necklace, loose for years and have it stay whole. Every time it got mentioned it threw me out of the story because it's so unrealistic.
-What if cliche, medieval Eurocentric fantasy; only well written and with lesbians? - Merry Shannon, at some point, probably.
-A book of two halves, the first is slow and slice-of-lifey, then it turns into an proper epic in the second half.
-I'm a sucker for the girls-dressed-as-boys-for-political/practical-reasons trope, but probably because we get pretty much no actual transmasculine representation. But hey,
The King regarded her with a curious expression. "You surprise me, Honoured Mother. Isn't dressing contrary to one's sex considered blasphemy against the Goddess? I though such sins were punishable by death."
"Dressing against one's nature is blasphemy, Your Majesty, which isn't quite the same thing..."
So at least we get an acknowledgement that sex and gender ("nature") aren't the same thing. And from the fact that Talon forgets that she isn't a man, it seems that she doesn't really give a toss about her gender identity. And being an acrobat and a soldier, she'd definitely tear the head off anyone who tried to put her in a dress.
- Speaking of Talon, I adore her so much because her gruff, overprotective, down-to-earth personality usually gets put in a huge, bearded man and seeing stereotypes smashed makes me happy. She sort of reminds me of Lada from And I Darken except not as cruel. Oh, and she seems to get stabbed and shot a bit too much to stay alive, but I guess no more so than any other fantasy protagonist.
- I wanted to slap Shasta throughout the whole first half, and couldn't see what Talon saw in her, but her character developed really well and I liked her by the end.
-I wanted the villain to be at least a little sympathetic, and for the one sex scene to be less detailed (or even, not be there) and those are really the reasons I didn't rate it 5 stars.
- Lyris is an awesome character and I wanted more viewpoint from her.
-In the first half, there seem to be no strong, kind, non-toxic male characters. OK, there's Daric, but he get's no lines IIRC and dies after one scene. (This isn't a spoiler, it's in the blurb.) There's Vaughn, and he's decent, but even he consistently underestimates women. But in the second half we get Harnell and Jen and they're both lovely and awesome.
-Lastly - how did Daric's feather not get frayed? Seriously, you can't wear a feather as a necklace, loose for years and have it stay whole. Every time it got mentioned it threw me out of the story because it's so unrealistic.
January 7, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. After I got a chance to really sit down and read I could not put it down.
I liked the growth of the characters. No one stayed in the same place. I think Talon is my favorite though. She's come so far. I am disappointed that she and Shasta did not marry at the end of the novel. Hopefully that will be addressed in later books. I can think of no one better to be king.
Shasta I think grew the most out of the girls. She was petty and self centered at the beginning and by the end I really wanted her to be my queen.
I like Lyris alot. I hated Bria. I could see her fall coming, but also knew that she was the type who had to learn her lessons the hard way. I think she deluded herself into thinking that Kumire could be changed. I didn't understand why she still wanted him after her nearly forced himself on Shasta at Shasta's birthday party. She saw what she wanted to see.
I am intrigued by the magic and religions in the book and can't wait to see how it's developed in later works.
EDIT: Having read more since this first reading, I realize that this book deserves a five star. It was, by far, my favorite read that year and one of my favorite reads of all time. Few books have been this fulfilling.
I liked the growth of the characters. No one stayed in the same place. I think Talon is my favorite though. She's come so far. I am disappointed that she and Shasta did not marry at the end of the novel. Hopefully that will be addressed in later books. I can think of no one better to be king.
Shasta I think grew the most out of the girls. She was petty and self centered at the beginning and by the end I really wanted her to be my queen.
I like Lyris alot. I hated Bria. I could see her fall coming, but also knew that she was the type who had to learn her lessons the hard way. I think she deluded herself into thinking that Kumire could be changed. I didn't understand why she still wanted him after her nearly forced himself on Shasta at Shasta's birthday party. She saw what she wanted to see.
I am intrigued by the magic and religions in the book and can't wait to see how it's developed in later works.
EDIT: Having read more since this first reading, I realize that this book deserves a five star. It was, by far, my favorite read that year and one of my favorite reads of all time. Few books have been this fulfilling.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 29, 2012
I really enjoyed how the romance aspect of this book was handled. I thought the author did a good job making it develop naturally, if somewhat inevitably. I was especially impressed by the relationship between Erinda and Talon -- it's common in fantasy novels for the starring pair to never know anyone else, and I appreciated giving Talon prior experience.
However, in other ways, the book struggled. The world is standard issue for fantasy novels with nothing to make it stand out. The plot was also pretty standard issue -- princess heir to the kingdom, doesn't want to be forced to marry, etc. Everything was drawn in very stark black and white terms, with the black hats all unfathomably evil/barbaric. The book toyed with the idea that the princess would be able to set the kingdom aright by imposing her will on recalcitrant nobles felt particularly problematic.
This isn't a niche with a plethora of options, but other than the lesbian theme, there's nothing to distinguish this novel from countless other more unique fantasy books.
However, in other ways, the book struggled. The world is standard issue for fantasy novels with nothing to make it stand out. The plot was also pretty standard issue -- princess heir to the kingdom, doesn't want to be forced to marry, etc. Everything was drawn in very stark black and white terms, with the black hats all unfathomably evil/barbaric. The book toyed with the idea that the princess would be able to set the kingdom aright by imposing her will on recalcitrant nobles felt particularly problematic.
This isn't a niche with a plethora of options, but other than the lesbian theme, there's nothing to distinguish this novel from countless other more unique fantasy books.
April 23, 2019
High Fantasy f/f romance.
Talon is a female acrobat posing as male, part of a travelling troupe with her younger sisters. While performing for the royal family, she saves the princess (Shasta) from assassination. Her gender is discovered as she is being treated for her injuries, and the king decides to retain her as a personal bodyguard for Shasta. Spending so much time together, they develop feelings, all while battling barbarian enemies and allies, prejudices and injustices.
Overall, too angsty and inconsistent for my tastes. Too many times characters contradicted themselves, and those characters are all pretty one-dimensional. I liked the main character Talon, and that might have been it. I generally like fantasy and romance, but with this book, the idea was spectacular, and the execution was lacking. All of the 'fear the stranger' and 'hate those different' sentiment overwhelmed the story, in what could have been a refreshing take on the "nomadic outcast saves privileged royalty and everyone benefits" trope.
Talon is a female acrobat posing as male, part of a travelling troupe with her younger sisters. While performing for the royal family, she saves the princess (Shasta) from assassination. Her gender is discovered as she is being treated for her injuries, and the king decides to retain her as a personal bodyguard for Shasta. Spending so much time together, they develop feelings, all while battling barbarian enemies and allies, prejudices and injustices.
Overall, too angsty and inconsistent for my tastes. Too many times characters contradicted themselves, and those characters are all pretty one-dimensional. I liked the main character Talon, and that might have been it. I generally like fantasy and romance, but with this book, the idea was spectacular, and the execution was lacking. All of the 'fear the stranger' and 'hate those different' sentiment overwhelmed the story, in what could have been a refreshing take on the "nomadic outcast saves privileged royalty and everyone benefits" trope.
March 26, 2012
This book was great, just great. It had drama, suspense, romance, action and some comedy. The story was engaging and entertaining that it was hard for me to let go of the book. It was hard to understand the time lapses, they use moons and winters instead of months and years, but it's fine once you get used to it. The ending was kind of like any other kind of happy ending, but it was still a great, if not, interesting ending. I give it perfect score and if you like this kind of books, then I would recommend it to you.
Read
August 3, 2011I liked this quite a bit. I picked it up because of the similarities in plot to The Rose of Versailles (mainly the woman dressed as a man being guardian to a princess), and in that department it didn't fail me, though it is very different overall. I had no problems with the writing style, it was engaging enough to keep me reading. The language was fairly modern but since it is set in a fantasy kingdom there's no fixed time period it has to adhere to etc.
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