Sword of the Guardian: A Legend of Ithyria

This is such a wonderful, special book. It may be the author's first, and fantasy stories may not normally appeal to you, but this was amazing to me. I completely forgot that this was an "alternative" romance book by a new writer! This is first and foremost a truly exemplary Adventure and Romance novel. As great as any I've read by Eddings, or Zelazny, or Donaldson. And -just- as touching in it's moments of love and heartbreak. (And there are many.) The plot points of spoiled young princess, court intrigue and treachery, a loving Goddess, a dedicated, dashing yet torn young hero, are all old and familiar, yet the story is refreshing and above all, new, despite this. And in no small part because the story is told from the author's heart. I could really tell this story has been cherished by the writer, for a long long time. I started backwards, reading her second book first ("Branded Ann"), and what I said then is doubly true with this, her first book. I really got to care about the two main characters, and I was carried away with their lives. Heck, rumors that I may have gotten teary eyed more than a few times in reading it (and re-reading it) would be difficult to deny. I love books. Yet I can be honest in being critical of books I don't like. I have just started to discover and enjoy the genre of "lesbian romance" books, and perhaps I'm a bit more comfortable than some in reading them with an open mind and heart, but -this- book truly transcends the genre. I wish I was a better writer, so that I could be more eloquent, and somehow convince you how unimportant it is that the -hero- is secretly a -heroin-. (It's important to the plot, yes, but not to the -book- itself.) This story stands head and shoulders above many other popular fantasy books, on it's -own- merits. I won't deny, there are a number of pages of, er... "physical intimacy", enough to -more- than fill the needs of one's romantic, and baser instincts, yet without offending. I honestly think you would enjoy getting to know the people inhabiting this world: Talon, with her self-sacrifice and dedication, and the heartache she endures for the sake of the people she loves; Shasta, shedding her mercurial adolescence, and learning to put her kingdom and the ones she loves ahead of herself; Lyris, overcoming her quiet, shy nature to seek out her destiny serving the Goddess, and in doing so finding a strength she didn't know she had, and; Bria, stumbling through being the youngest sister, and the terrible mistakes she makes. The list of characters goes on, and yet it is not so long as to be confusing. I was delighted to see the author has a website, and to see there that she will return to the kingdom of Ithyria with the book tentatively entitled "Prayer of the Handmaiden". (Wherein I hope to see the return of the irascible chambermaid Erinda, and the woman she lost to the Goddess's service?? Hint? HINT?!) Ok, I'll shut up now.

I read a lot of books - I can't emphasize this fact enough. I read upwards of ten or fifteen books every month, and the fantasy/high adventure genres are my favourites. Speaking as someone who HAS read a very great many stories along similar lines as Sword of the Guardian, I have to say that this book was amazing. It had me wishing I could call out of work to keep reading. Tightly edited, well-written, and absolutely enthralling. The characters are deep and well-thought-out, the world setting is detailed enough to understand without overwhelming, and the storyline has a lot of room for further stories. The only thing that disappointed me was getting to the end, rushing online to look for more of the series, and finding out there weren't any yet!

It seems like I've been reading a lot of books with medieval settings lately. Fortunately, they're mostly quite good. In fact, SWORD OF THE GUARDIAN is better than good. Princess Shasta is the almost-victim of an assassination attempt in which her brother was killed. Narrowly saved by circus performer Talon, the princess is placed under heavy guard. In the meantime, the decidedly masculine and injured Talon is taken into the castle to heal. Finding out "he" is really a "she", the king offers a life in the palace for Talon and her sisters if she'll be the princess' personal bodyguard. There are two conditions. First, Talon must never reveal her true self to anyone. Second, if the princess is ever harmed, Talon's sisters will be tortured or killed. Shasta resents her new bodyguard, particularly when the man is required to share her sleeping chambers. However, a reluctant relationship eventually develops between the two. Shasta, not knowing Talon's secret, repeatedly puts her own life in danger and wreaks havoc at the palace and beyond. The protagonists are likable and lovely. The supporting cast rounds out the story and the final pages reveal the answers to many questions. A great book with the potential for a sequel, GUARDIAN is highly recommended by this reader.

Princess Shasta is a spoiled young teen who's got everything: royal blood, beauty, wealth, power, and influence. But her life is turned upside down when her dashing twin brother - heir to the kingdom - is murdered at a party in front of the royalty, nobles, and others. If not for the quick intercession of Talon, a young acrobat performing at the party, Shasta would have been stabbed, too. The king decrees that Talon be Shasta's bodyguard, not realizing that "he" is actually a she. What follows is a terrific adventure, coming of age story, a romance, and tale of courtly intrigue, attempted assassination, and gender confusion as the young princess learns, grows, and comes into her own. This is a rollicking fun book and a must-read for those who enjoy courtly light fantasy in a medieval-seeming time. Merry Shannon is a bright new voice in lesbian fantasy fiction, and this one's highly recommended. ~Lori L. Lake, Midwest Book Review

Well written and tightly edited epic novel of Medieval Fantasy Politics, danger and warfare abound in this well written and tightly edited epic novel that has a similar flavour of The Mists of Avalon, as it is set in a world populated by castles, swords and horses, Kings & peasants that are guided by goddesses and gods. The writing is detailed and descriptive, that easily allows the reader to experience the characters and place fully. The pace of the novel is lovely and the characters evolve over a two year period allowing Princess Shasta Soltranis to develop into a strong caring person. Her guardian, Talon, is a truly epic hero who is so admirable that you read the novel at a break neck pace needing to know what happens to her. Her love for those under her protection is immense and you keep hoping throughout the book that one day she can enjoy a love of her own. This was a bit of an intense read, I had no idea that fantasy novels were filled with so much violence. In the first half of the novel three young girls are orphaned after their father is murdered and their mother raped than murdered while they cower in a closet. A sixteen year old is murdered in front of his family and a pregnant woman is beaten to death by her owner. A young boy is routinely beaten in lieu of punishment being meted out to the royal children and an 18 year woman's father orders her beaten by 40 strokes of a belt.