The Queen's Bodyguard by Lauren Blackwood
Magic, duty, desire, danger, and power collide in New York Times best-selling author Lauren Blackwood’s The Queen’s Bodyguard. This adult romantasy introduces the magical world of Queen Theora Umbra of Aranea, where duty makes following your heart impossible, and where your deadliest enemies may be closer than you think.
It’s been a year since Theora was crowned Queen of Aranea, and she’s still recovering from the devastating war that claimed the life of her predecessor and beloved friend. Aranea and her rival colony, Vaspula, are in the middle of a ceasefire. Queen Pyre of Vespula has proposed that they attend a weapon-free peace meeting to negotiate an alliance. This may be a trap, so Theora plans to bring along a warrior bodyguard (Argos) disguised as her husband.
Aranea is divided into two groups: Dociles, ordinary citizens, and Warriors, who possess superhuman strength and magical abilities. Warriors are trained from childhood to protect the queen and the colony and live away from Dociles because their magic can be dangerous.
As a Docile, Theora needs Ampulexi magic to command Argos to keep his warrior magic in control. Her mentor, Boada, lends her some of her own. FYI, being a magicless queen is a top royal secret. Argos only agreed to this marriage arrangement because he needs Queen Theora to get him closer to the person responsible for his late wife’s death, Queen Pyre.
When Theora and Argos finally meet, they are like fire and ice. She finds him scary, infuriatingly disobedient, yet dangerously attractive, while Argos thinks Theora is a royal brat and is disrespectful toward his warrior rituals. But against their will, their constant bickering turns into attraction, and playing husband and wife starts feeling too real. Can these two still achieve their individual objectives and find their way to each other?
A Royal Romance Fueled by Magic and Danger
The Queen’s Bodyguard was a pleasant surprise. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I loved Blackwood’s vividly visual writing style. There is humor, there is heart, and there is passion in her writing. I appreciated that the world-building wasn’t overwhelming; the magical elements and setting were just sufficient and did not overshadow the plot or the romance.
The story has themes of political power, duty, trauma, identity, and fake marriage/force proximity romance. I also enjoyed the setting; the contrast between the ancient coliseum, the modern and the armor-threaded capitol revealed a society that values its history and its technological and political development. And the forest surrounding the city gives the setting a distinctly natural yet otherworldly quality.
I also appreciated that there was a dual narration. It gives you two distinct views of the characters’ perceptions, intimate thoughts, fears, desires and insecurities, which helped me understand what motivated their actions or behaviors. The writing is visceral during scenes of fear and attraction. So fair warning: there are vividly described intimate and spicy scenes (“shrinking windpipes,” “pounding pulses,” “rising heat”) in this book. And then there are the plot twists: hidden motives, betrayals, and decade-long secrets.
A Queen and Warrior Who Challenge Each Other
I also enjoyed Blackwood’s characters. Theora is a complicated character. Her confidence as a queen often conflicts with her personal insecurities and vulnerability, especially during her interactions with Argos. She’s accustomed to authority and expects obedience from everyone, but Argos repeatedly challenged her sense of control. But thankfully, she slowly realized that being queen does not automatically give her control over a warrior who follows a different set of rituals and values.
As for Argos, he’s an honorable man who values justice and goes to all lengths to protect his loved ones. He also deeply respects his traditions and warrior rituals. He is physically intimidating, fiercely proud, sarcastic, and enjoys challenging his wife’s authority. But he’s also secretly soft. While Theora relies on authority, rules, and rationality, Argos relies on royalty and honor.
Boada is both a mentor and parental figure to Theora and Argos. She’s incredibly wise and strategic, and she knew exactly what she was doing when she encouraged their arranged marriage. Her scenes were fun to read.
So, if you’re a fan of The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen or A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, you’re likely to enjoy Lauren Blackwood’s spicy-hot Adult Romantasy, as I did.
About Lauren Blackwood:
Lauren Blackwood is the New York Times bestselling author of The Queen’s Bodyguard and the Reese’s Book Club Pick Within These Wicked Walls. She’s also a proud Jamaican American who writes romance, gothic horror and fantasy for most ages. When not writing, she’s an avid musician and powerlifter.
