As a fan of Lauren Blackwood’s previous books, I knew I wanted to read The Queen’s Bodyguard. This adult debut is a story about power, choice, and surrender. I loved being sucked into this world and political fantasy. Keep reading this book review of The Queen’s Bodyguard for my full thoughts.
Summary
In a matriarchal society with nature-based powers, Queen Theora Umbra is the new, unexpected ruler of the thriving Aranean colony. Her predecessor was assassinated by a rival queen, igniting a year-long war. To finally bring peace, Theora must now grudgingly engage in diplomacy with an unscrupulous enemy.
But peace talks mean no armor or weapons, and Theora has no intention of following her predecessor to the grave. To protect herself, she needs a weapon of a different sort—a bodyguard. But the only way to bring one along without suspicion is to marry one. She quickly selects Argos, a prickly and formidable Warrior with a fearsome reputation, to be her new husband. Once peace is secured, she can easily annul the marriage, and they can go their separate ways.
But like all Warriors, Argos’s ruthless tendencies can only be tempered by dominant will and powerful magic . . . magic that Theora lacks. With the help of a trusted advisor who knows her secret, Theora might just be able to assert her command over Argos and get through peace negotiations alive. But she doesn’t expect to feel so affected by Argos’s protective personality. Pretending to be married and in love is not nearly as difficult as pretending she doesn’t desperately want him—all of him.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
The Queen’s Bodyguard is a story about power. It’s about the heavy weight of ruling, the sacrifices we make that are never right and the demands we can never meet. It’s about the people’s perception and love which can turn on us whenever the wind shifts. The Queen’s Bodyguard explores the imbalance of power in a relationship. A relationship born on commands, but also on surrender, honor, and promises. Blackwood creates a world which explores the lines between our instincts, magic, and free will. Being dual POV is a fantastic and necessary choice for us to witness both Theora’s feelings and Argos’s true thoughts. The flustering, vulnerability which seeps in, and the feelings which begin.
The Queen’s Bodyguard doesn’t only ask us about what we can do for someone, but also the safe refuge, the harbor, and the protection we can offer. It’s not about choices which are made of necessity, but the push and pull of love, protection, and duty. With fake relationships, The Queen’s Bodyguard is a political fantasy. It throws us into a world in which royals use power and influence, have wars where the populace pays the cost – all just for more, for calculated choices, and power moves. The Queen’s Bodyguard explores whether there’s place for softness in a ruler. Can we find someone we really trust to show our vulnerability? To protect the soft places we need to land?
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The Queen’s Bodyguard had an intriguing world building and premise. I enjoyed the character dynamics and the ways their relationship felt interwoven with their character growth. I wish certain elements of the world were deeper, especially the history which was a backbone of some plot elements. It left me with questions I wish had answers considering the politics. Find The Queen’s Bodyguard on Goodreads, Storygraph, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.