Warden

by Delyth Angharad

It's not often that someone gets the drop on Alwyn Jove, Imperial Ranger and powerful magic-wielder, but when he wakes up in a damp, dark cell with nothing but the lump on his head and a dashingly handsome rogue with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes for company, he knows the lump on his head is the least of his troubles.

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Dain Freemantle, Ranger of the Wilds and the most charming dagger-wielder this side of the Weyrich River, was initially grumpy at having been sent to break some no-doubt boring Kingsman from some dark gaol in the middle of nowhere - but being locked in a confined space with this veritable tree-trunk of a man, all dark skin and rippling muscles and brooding eyes, was just the kind of adventure Dain was in need of.

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Warden is a gentle, wholesome male-male romance that doesn't delve into too much sexual detail and is light on violence (barely any human-human violence and what there is never involves killing, some heavier fantasy-monster-violence but not described in gory depth).

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2021

About the author

40-something Welsh woman living in South Africa. When I'm not playing with the lions and rhinos that visit our small urban garden every day, I'm inside playing video games, drawing, or writing.

Reviews

[Shelba · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 18%.

The set up for this makes absolutely no sense. The king sends Alwyn to investigate, Alwyn gets knocked out and taken prisoner, awakes to find Dain in his cell… who was apparently sent to rescue him and bring him back to the king, since Dain knew the townsfolk would throw Alwyn in a cell. But then the king acknowledges Alwyn wouldn’t have needed help escaping… and now they are going to figure out how to investigate the town that assaulted and stole from a King’s man for another crime? I think you already have grounds for just going in, swords blazing.

[Draic inna n-airscél n-amrae (StoryDragon) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked reading Warden. It is quite gentle and lightly written and there is humour! Delyth also uses a lot of nice words in this novella.

There were some words that I have never read before and actually I really love that. There were so much delightful words! I mean, I do not often come across a work where the word 'gaol' is used, so I love it when I see it being used. It might seem old-fashioned, but that is what I like about it.

I really liked the writing style of this novella!

[James Tomasino · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet romance in a fantasy setting. It's a gentle story with a very natural progression of the romantic interest, but there are still some fun thrilling moments of danger and action. I especially enjoyed the harpy encounter.

[Katherine Gordon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! A really well written story which totally drew me into the world. I really hope Del writes more as I’m eager to know what happens next :o)

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly delightful. A sweet romance where I just wanted to get to know the characters more and see them interact

[Wetdryvac · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was utterly, unreasonably lovely.