⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Lightguard
Hayley Turner
This book was such a fun experience. We are introduced to our main character, Corinne, when she takes her Lightguard vows and is assigned a posting at the castle. Lightguards are mage knights trained to serve the Goddess Helaera, sort of like a D&D cleric with less freedom. Their religious order is of the utmost importance and everything else comes second.
Corinne was the top of her class, and finds herself feeling hurt that she’s been assigned to guard the spoiled, insolent Prince after a threat to his life.
Prince Aryel, however, has more to him. What follows is a heartwarming and exciting adventure featuring a cult, a forbidden romance between a guard and her Prince, betrayal, buried secrets, and found family.
Corinne is expertly written based off the author’s own experience with OCD, and the slow deconstruction and re-forming of her faith felt deeply personal to me. I found myself absolutely invested in her inner journey even as the Lightguards worked to gather information and protect the Crown.
Our Crown Prince Aryel is a scoundrel with a huge heart, reminding me vaguely of my own spouse in his wit, destructive behaviors and unwavering loyalty.
TLDR: I related too much with this book 😅
I highly recommend Lightguard for many reasons. Its queer, neurodivergent and religious trauma representation is on point, and the characters feel like a hug. The world building is unique, the magic system fascinatingly political.
I can’t wait for the second installment.
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
Thank you Hayley Turner for the advance readers copy ✨
Lightguard will release on March 24th and can be preordered here. Signed copies with or without printed edges are available for preorder on the author’s Etsy.
The Midnight Review 