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The Princesses of Ruin #2
Feral Guardian
A prophecy of ruin binds him to her.
She wants nothing more than to escape.
Lily has never been the delicate flower she was named after. She preferred silly pranks and dirty poetry to needlepoint and politics, which is why the queen sent her off to a “proper” royal academy. Now that her magic is developed and her manners are passable—barely—it’s time for her to return home and attract a powerful man to rule by her side. Except Lily doesn’t want a king or a kingdom. She wants freedom. And nothing feels more freeing than adventuring with her bodyguard, Alastair.
Alastair is an honor-bound knight, tied to a prophecy from his people, and he doesn’t experience desire. At least, that’s what he likes to tell himself. In truth, he wants nothing more than to sweep his ward off her feet and take her away to a dark corner of the world where he can keep her safe from that dark prophecy. There’s just one the prophecy states if Lily doesn’t become queen, the tentative peace in the kingdoms will crumble.
When their journey home from the royal academy lands Lily in the custody of cutthroat pirates, Alastair will stop at nothing to protect his princess. But the biggest danger of all may be Alastair himself, because if Lily doesn't stop trying to make him break his vow of chastity, he may forget about honor and risk everything to have her to himself.
For fans of Rebecca Yarros, Carissa Broadbent, and Sarah J Maas. The Princesses of Ruin is a four-part, standalone series set in a magic-based world with Victorian era vibes, possessive men, powerful princesses, and the demons they have to fight to survive in their grim kingdom. Claim your copy now!
She wants nothing more than to escape.
Lily has never been the delicate flower she was named after. She preferred silly pranks and dirty poetry to needlepoint and politics, which is why the queen sent her off to a “proper” royal academy. Now that her magic is developed and her manners are passable—barely—it’s time for her to return home and attract a powerful man to rule by her side. Except Lily doesn’t want a king or a kingdom. She wants freedom. And nothing feels more freeing than adventuring with her bodyguard, Alastair.
Alastair is an honor-bound knight, tied to a prophecy from his people, and he doesn’t experience desire. At least, that’s what he likes to tell himself. In truth, he wants nothing more than to sweep his ward off her feet and take her away to a dark corner of the world where he can keep her safe from that dark prophecy. There’s just one the prophecy states if Lily doesn’t become queen, the tentative peace in the kingdoms will crumble.
When their journey home from the royal academy lands Lily in the custody of cutthroat pirates, Alastair will stop at nothing to protect his princess. But the biggest danger of all may be Alastair himself, because if Lily doesn't stop trying to make him break his vow of chastity, he may forget about honor and risk everything to have her to himself.
For fans of Rebecca Yarros, Carissa Broadbent, and Sarah J Maas. The Princesses of Ruin is a four-part, standalone series set in a magic-based world with Victorian era vibes, possessive men, powerful princesses, and the demons they have to fight to survive in their grim kingdom. Claim your copy now!
353 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 30, 2024
159 people are currently reading
2199 people want to read
About the author
Ember Holt
28 books248 followersEmber loves all things with heat! A glass of wine, a comfy, oversized sweater, and a spicy book next to a fireplace is her ideal night. She likes to read about powerful heroines and protective heroes, and write about them, too.
When she’s not writing, Ember is a fox in the henhouse, causing all kinds of hell. She enjoys making pasta while listening to big brass bands, taking long walks with her favorite audio books, playing D&D, and painting—but not very well.
Some of Ember’s favorite authors include Laura Thalassa, Shannon Mayer, and Raven Kennedy. Their powerful heroines inspire her daily to get out of bed and to do her best (or stay in it to keep reading!)
~~~
Want a free novella? Sign up for my newsletter on my website!
When she’s not writing, Ember is a fox in the henhouse, causing all kinds of hell. She enjoys making pasta while listening to big brass bands, taking long walks with her favorite audio books, playing D&D, and painting—but not very well.
Some of Ember’s favorite authors include Laura Thalassa, Shannon Mayer, and Raven Kennedy. Their powerful heroines inspire her daily to get out of bed and to do her best (or stay in it to keep reading!)
~~~
Want a free novella? Sign up for my newsletter on my website!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 151 reviews
April 14, 2024
The chemistry is wild. Lily is obsessed with Alastair and I love how she seduces him little by little until he can't resist any longer... Even though he tries everything not to give in to his feelings.
"I need you like the sky needs night and dawn. I am empty without your light and darkness to fill me."
This book is the complete opposite of the first book. Lily and Alastair's story is nearly entirely about the two of them and their journey - very little about answering the many unanswered questions from book one...
The way Alastair is described gives me a bit of a tummy ache - he is a Black man (which is never really mentioned) and I don't know why it has to be him carrying the demon curse?!
His heavy coconut smell is also a bit too much imo 😶
"I need you like the sky needs night and dawn. I am empty without your light and darkness to fill me."
This book is the complete opposite of the first book. Lily and Alastair's story is nearly entirely about the two of them and their journey - very little about answering the many unanswered questions from book one...
The way Alastair is described gives me a bit of a tummy ache - he is a Black man (which is never really mentioned) and I don't know why it has to be him carrying the demon curse?!
His heavy coconut smell is also a bit too much imo 😶
January 31, 2024
Now that's how you make me come back for more!
Lily is heir to the throne and Alastair is the man duty-bound to protect her. When she sent him away four years ago, he was at a loss. With his charge out of his reach, he bided his time until he would see her again. And when he did... he wasn't about to let her out of his sight ever again.
Lily has loved Alastair almost all of her life. Believing that they have no future, she sent him away to get past her feelings. However, when she sees him again, she quickly realizes how foolish and impossible it was to try to wish her feelings away.
I fell in love with everything that was brewing between these characters. I was curious about their secrets, their goals, their choices, and their end. What do the runes mean? Who are the individual gods that power these runes? Who are their true allies? Their foes? And would these two find a way to be together?
After everything the author gifted us with this book, from the danger to the romance to the utter hilarity that was Lily, I want more. I need to read the first book because Lily's older sister sounds like a hoot and I'm utterly fascinated by the unique magic all of these characters possess and wield.
If you love suspense, mystery, love and humour, you'll enjoy this story as much as I did.
Lily is heir to the throne and Alastair is the man duty-bound to protect her. When she sent him away four years ago, he was at a loss. With his charge out of his reach, he bided his time until he would see her again. And when he did... he wasn't about to let her out of his sight ever again.
Lily has loved Alastair almost all of her life. Believing that they have no future, she sent him away to get past her feelings. However, when she sees him again, she quickly realizes how foolish and impossible it was to try to wish her feelings away.
I fell in love with everything that was brewing between these characters. I was curious about their secrets, their goals, their choices, and their end. What do the runes mean? Who are the individual gods that power these runes? Who are their true allies? Their foes? And would these two find a way to be together?
After everything the author gifted us with this book, from the danger to the romance to the utter hilarity that was Lily, I want more. I need to read the first book because Lily's older sister sounds like a hoot and I'm utterly fascinated by the unique magic all of these characters possess and wield.
If you love suspense, mystery, love and humour, you'll enjoy this story as much as I did.
January 11, 2024
"I need you like the sky needs night and dawn. I am empty without your light and darkness to fill me. I find joy and delight in you, wonder and awe. You inspire me to do more, be more."
☑️Cool Magic System
☑️Badass FMC
☑️Hilarious Banter
☑️SPICY Spice
☑️FERAL, Possessive MMC
☑️Action and Mystery
This book had everything that I want to read in a fantasy book. It captivated me from the beginning. I loved Alastair and Lily's interactions with each other. There is some slow burn and mutual pining but once we get to the spice....THE SPICE BE SPICIN! I had to take breaks a few times to cool down.
And Kor'Tar....one of my favorite characters. I love when authors include animals in the story and make them have such amazing and big personalities.
There are some darker themes and incidents in this one and I loved it. I was a bit horrified and unsure at first (I think everyone who has read this knows what I'm talking about) but sometimes we do what we have to and Lily is a badass warrior.
Can I have my own Alastair to follow me around and protect me? He is one of the hottest MMCs I've read in a while and I was immediately in love with him.
☑️Cool Magic System
☑️Badass FMC
☑️Hilarious Banter
☑️SPICY Spice
☑️FERAL, Possessive MMC
☑️Action and Mystery
This book had everything that I want to read in a fantasy book. It captivated me from the beginning. I loved Alastair and Lily's interactions with each other. There is some slow burn and mutual pining but once we get to the spice....THE SPICE BE SPICIN! I had to take breaks a few times to cool down.
And Kor'Tar....one of my favorite characters. I love when authors include animals in the story and make them have such amazing and big personalities.
There are some darker themes and incidents in this one and I loved it. I was a bit horrified and unsure at first (I think everyone who has read this knows what I'm talking about) but sometimes we do what we have to and Lily is a badass warrior.
Can I have my own Alastair to follow me around and protect me? He is one of the hottest MMCs I've read in a while and I was immediately in love with him.
August 29, 2025
4.5⭐️ Plot was interesting & the chemistry was crazy 🔥
January 31, 2024
"Long has my body needed blood and air to survive, but now it needs only you."
And now I only need MORE.
Simply put, this is smut with a plot. If you're looking for a fantasy book full of romance, intricate world building, and highly advanced magic systems, this probably isn't the book for you. However, if you enjoy a spicy story that draws you in and holds you there with just enough plot/magic to give it that extra umph then this is the one.
"Feral" is exactly the word I would use to describe our resident guardian, Alastair. Reading this as a standalone, the longing and banter between Alastair and Lilianna was absolutely addictive, and I will be backtracking to book one so I have a bit more insight into the world and our characters.
I wanted to say a quick thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
And now I only need MORE.
Simply put, this is smut with a plot. If you're looking for a fantasy book full of romance, intricate world building, and highly advanced magic systems, this probably isn't the book for you. However, if you enjoy a spicy story that draws you in and holds you there with just enough plot/magic to give it that extra umph then this is the one.
"Feral" is exactly the word I would use to describe our resident guardian, Alastair. Reading this as a standalone, the longing and banter between Alastair and Lilianna was absolutely addictive, and I will be backtracking to book one so I have a bit more insight into the world and our characters.
I wanted to say a quick thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
January 22, 2024
As per recommendation by Ember Holt, I read the first book in the series before this. Although you can definitely read it as a standalone, reading the first one certainly gives the story much more depth!
I loved the main characters in this, Lily is smart, strong-willed and her dirty jokes were always fun to read. Alastair is the perfect match to her, desperately trying to keep his distance and keep his desires at bay. But Lily is a force to be reckoned with and it’s difficult to not like her!
I cannot wait to read the third book and see how the sisters will come together and how they will execute their revenge!
I received an advanced reader copy from Ember and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you so much and I am excited to see what comes next!
I loved the main characters in this, Lily is smart, strong-willed and her dirty jokes were always fun to read. Alastair is the perfect match to her, desperately trying to keep his distance and keep his desires at bay. But Lily is a force to be reckoned with and it’s difficult to not like her!
I cannot wait to read the third book and see how the sisters will come together and how they will execute their revenge!
I received an advanced reader copy from Ember and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you so much and I am excited to see what comes next!
April 27, 2024
4.5 stars
December 21, 2023
First of all, Thank you to Ember Holt for allowing me to receive an ARC of this book! I am very grateful for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Overall rating: 3.5
World building: 2
Spice: 3.5
Ease of read: 4
PSA: I did not read the first book of this series before receiving this ARC. I will probably go and read that to see if it answers some of the questions I am left with.
The flow of this book was really nice. It was a very easy read and I found myself devouring large chunks of it at a time. I love Lilliana and her dirty jokes. She reminds me a lot of myself in this way. The relationship between Alistair and Lilly was great! I love the playful banter, the pining for each other without knowing, the steamy chemistry. The spice was really good as well. I love the teasing and the spicy scenes were steamy. The spice didn't really pick up until a little over half way through the book and one of the scenes was written in a bit of a confusing way, but it all comes together in the end.
The world-building did feel a bit lacking to me. I don't feel like I understand much about the kingdoms, the magic, or the gods. I don't feel we got enough information around the past of the characters in some ways. There was a great deal of mention about the gods and rune writing, but it seemed so complex in some parts that I really didn't understand the runes and how the magic manifested and how it is used. Some scenes seemed like they could do magic just by manifesting it and others required the rune writing. I would have liked a bit more understanding regarding this piece. I am not sure if there is more of this in book 1, but I do believe that there should be a understanding of these pieces of world building for all books if they are to be considered standalones.
There are bit where Alistair's past and family come into play that provides some significant insight on the upcoming books. I spent a lot of the time with reading wondering more about Alistair, his mother, his home country, and where his demon came from. I was also very surprised to see that Lilly did not know about his demon before he came to pick her up. This book did well in bringing closure to a lot of these lingering thoughts and I know we have not seen the last of Lilly and Alistair.
Despite my concerns with the world building and having to re-read certain parts to understand what is happening, I did enjoy this book. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick read that provides action, romance, fantasy, and playfulness. This book does end with a happy ending and sets the stage for book 3, so I am excited to see what happens with the next sister.
Overall rating: 3.5
World building: 2
Spice: 3.5
Ease of read: 4
PSA: I did not read the first book of this series before receiving this ARC. I will probably go and read that to see if it answers some of the questions I am left with.
The flow of this book was really nice. It was a very easy read and I found myself devouring large chunks of it at a time. I love Lilliana and her dirty jokes. She reminds me a lot of myself in this way. The relationship between Alistair and Lilly was great! I love the playful banter, the pining for each other without knowing, the steamy chemistry. The spice was really good as well. I love the teasing and the spicy scenes were steamy. The spice didn't really pick up until a little over half way through the book and one of the scenes was written in a bit of a confusing way, but it all comes together in the end.
The world-building did feel a bit lacking to me. I don't feel like I understand much about the kingdoms, the magic, or the gods. I don't feel we got enough information around the past of the characters in some ways. There was a great deal of mention about the gods and rune writing, but it seemed so complex in some parts that I really didn't understand the runes and how the magic manifested and how it is used. Some scenes seemed like they could do magic just by manifesting it and others required the rune writing. I would have liked a bit more understanding regarding this piece. I am not sure if there is more of this in book 1, but I do believe that there should be a understanding of these pieces of world building for all books if they are to be considered standalones.
There are bit where Alistair's past and family come into play that provides some significant insight on the upcoming books. I spent a lot of the time with reading wondering more about Alistair, his mother, his home country, and where his demon came from. I was also very surprised to see that Lilly did not know about his demon before he came to pick her up. This book did well in bringing closure to a lot of these lingering thoughts and I know we have not seen the last of Lilly and Alistair.
Despite my concerns with the world building and having to re-read certain parts to understand what is happening, I did enjoy this book. I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who is looking for a quick read that provides action, romance, fantasy, and playfulness. This book does end with a happy ending and sets the stage for book 3, so I am excited to see what happens with the next sister.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 31, 2024
Ok so first of all the first two chapters give a small glimpse into the main characters. It tells a little about the world they inhabit and the worlds around it.
This is such a good book, you will follow Liliana and Alistair. Liliana is a princess and heir to the Throne (not a job she wants) and Alistair is her guard and protector.
I thoroughly enjoyed feeling the sexual tension between them at the start and the love they hold for each other without willingly knowing.
Neither of them know their true purpose or where their journey will lead . You will fall in love with these characters and the stories around their lives that unfold throughout this book.
In regard to this being a spicy book, I would say its a low level spice and more naughty but it will grip you and will make you laugh as you fall in love with Lily and Alistair, im sure many of us will relate to Lily on many levels. I think we all need an Alistair - "you will find out why"!
The only reason I didnt rate this 5 stars was purely on my need for more spice. But i would highly recommend as our spice levels are all very different.
I can't wait for the future books in this series so i can follow their journey !!!
This is such a good book, you will follow Liliana and Alistair. Liliana is a princess and heir to the Throne (not a job she wants) and Alistair is her guard and protector.
I thoroughly enjoyed feeling the sexual tension between them at the start and the love they hold for each other without willingly knowing.
Neither of them know their true purpose or where their journey will lead . You will fall in love with these characters and the stories around their lives that unfold throughout this book.
In regard to this being a spicy book, I would say its a low level spice and more naughty but it will grip you and will make you laugh as you fall in love with Lily and Alistair, im sure many of us will relate to Lily on many levels. I think we all need an Alistair - "you will find out why"!
The only reason I didnt rate this 5 stars was purely on my need for more spice. But i would highly recommend as our spice levels are all very different.
I can't wait for the future books in this series so i can follow their journey !!!
December 10, 2023
There is both action and spice as you follow Lilianna (a strong, brave and beautiful young woman sprinkled with sass) and Alastair (her tall, dark, handsome and 9 years older bodyguard) on their journey back to their kingdom in order for Lilianna to take the throne. Along their journey they encounter traitors, pirates, beasts and even had a pleasant twist towards the end.
Feral Guardian was such an amazing book! It had me ensnared from the first chapter and thoroughly engaged throughout the entire story. I have never really enjoyed altering perspectives throughout a book but Ember Holt did a great job switching between both characters points of view and making each chapter as interesting as the last.
Feral Guardian is the second book in the Princesses or Ruin series. However it can also be read as a stand alone. When I record the advanced readers copy I was not aware that there was a book before it and I never had any confusions about the story, characters or the plot. I will however be reading the first book because I enjoy having the full story of a series and I can’t wait for the other three books to be released!
Feral Guardian was such an amazing book! It had me ensnared from the first chapter and thoroughly engaged throughout the entire story. I have never really enjoyed altering perspectives throughout a book but Ember Holt did a great job switching between both characters points of view and making each chapter as interesting as the last.
Feral Guardian is the second book in the Princesses or Ruin series. However it can also be read as a stand alone. When I record the advanced readers copy I was not aware that there was a book before it and I never had any confusions about the story, characters or the plot. I will however be reading the first book because I enjoy having the full story of a series and I can’t wait for the other three books to be released!
January 30, 2024
Release Day countdown is OVER! 🎉
That's right everyone, IT'S HERE!
The time has finally come for...
•Bodyguard Romance 😍
•One Bed 🛏
•One Horse 🐴 (he's like the horse from Tangled, only this is a grown up book 🦄)
•Prankster Princess (but POWERFUL) 👑
•Stoic Bodyguard (oh, but he's definitely got the hots for his Princess, no matter what he tells himself) 💪
•Unique Magic ✨️
•Adventure Fantasy Romance ❤️
•Chili Peppers have got. that. HEAT! 🌶
Lily is finally out of royal academy and Alastair has been her guard patiently waiting to be reunited with her all this time. Along the journey home they're intercepted by pirates and enemies all around.
His goal has always been to protect his princess and ensure the prophecy is fulfilled. He's realizing in the face of all this danger and travel in close quarters that he's motivated by one other goal. One that aligns perfectly with the fact that Lily has never wanted to be a prim and proper princess; she wants her freedom, freedom to even choose her guard for example...
What do you think will become of them in this riveting story, filled with magic, adventure, and lust? 🤩
That's right everyone, IT'S HERE!
The time has finally come for...
•Bodyguard Romance 😍
•One Bed 🛏
•One Horse 🐴 (he's like the horse from Tangled, only this is a grown up book 🦄)
•Prankster Princess (but POWERFUL) 👑
•Stoic Bodyguard (oh, but he's definitely got the hots for his Princess, no matter what he tells himself) 💪
•Unique Magic ✨️
•Adventure Fantasy Romance ❤️
•Chili Peppers have got. that. HEAT! 🌶
Lily is finally out of royal academy and Alastair has been her guard patiently waiting to be reunited with her all this time. Along the journey home they're intercepted by pirates and enemies all around.
His goal has always been to protect his princess and ensure the prophecy is fulfilled. He's realizing in the face of all this danger and travel in close quarters that he's motivated by one other goal. One that aligns perfectly with the fact that Lily has never wanted to be a prim and proper princess; she wants her freedom, freedom to even choose her guard for example...
What do you think will become of them in this riveting story, filled with magic, adventure, and lust? 🤩
November 30, 2023
Five full-blown stars for Feral Guardian! I love BookSirens because it gives me a chance to meet new-to-me authors, and oh, how happy I am that I have been introduced to Ember Holt! I did not read the first book in the Princesses of Ruin series, YET, but you can bet your butt I’m going to! This book gave me a bit of everything I love in a good fantasy romance, plus threw in some extras on top for good measure! High stakes? Got ‘em. Holy hot dog heat? Yep, she brought the 🌶️ 🌶️ 🌶️ - like, a lot. Humor, heat, magic, heat, evil queens, heat, tears, heat? All of the above. Lily was so fierce and so funny and so uninhibited. Alastair was so HOT and so devoted and so possessive. I love how Lily and Alastair added to each other, rather than overshadow or take away from one another. I loved that Lily killed the bear and saved the day, and Alastair didn’t get all butt hurt about it. And their desperation for each other was palpable. I’m looking forward to reading the first book and definitely the future books.
Thank you kindly to BookSirens and Ember Holt for this advance review copy of Feral Guardian. I received this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thank you kindly to BookSirens and Ember Holt for this advance review copy of Feral Guardian. I received this book for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 1, 2024
Prophesy, magic, demons, and murder, oh my! For me, this book ticks all the boxes for a great romantasy read. Plus, I appreciate that there is a balance between an actual plot and the darker romance moments.
Something that I really found interesting was how the story line transitioned from sister to sister. From a timeline perspective, normally the next book in the installment will start where the last ended. Instead the reader is taken back in timeline and is able to see events from a different perspective. Which is lending itself to a more nuanced plot and some OMG moments as pieces of the puzzle start to come together.
As mentioned in my review of the first book, this is not a standalone read as the overarching plot line does continue throughout the series.
Something that I really found interesting was how the story line transitioned from sister to sister. From a timeline perspective, normally the next book in the installment will start where the last ended. Instead the reader is taken back in timeline and is able to see events from a different perspective. Which is lending itself to a more nuanced plot and some OMG moments as pieces of the puzzle start to come together.
As mentioned in my review of the first book, this is not a standalone read as the overarching plot line does continue throughout the series.
November 27, 2023
i wish there was more world building, but this is the second book of an interconnected series so i can withhold judgment on that front. that being said, for a book that can be read as a standalone, i had a lot of questions about the world and even the simple history of the main characters. i got my smut with plot and i appreciated that aspect but i would have liked to understand the bigger picture more.
i received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
i received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
January 19, 2024
Fun Spicy story about the second princess who’s just trying to live her life even though her mother is an evil queen who will stop at nothing for power, but we’ll get more on that later. This book gives you Lilys backstory & though i felt book one gave you more i did have a lot of fun with Lily & Alastair. I’m really excited for book 3, 4 & 5!!! Keep up the great writing Ember! I’m honestly so glad to be given an arc of this book & I can’t wait for u to publish it on Jan 30!
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February 1, 2024Happy (day after) Release!
Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this book possible, urged me along, inspired me, and challenged me to be better.
I love that Lily and Alastair took the reins from me and told their story how they knew it needed to be told. For that reason, this book ended up being far spicier than I imagined it would be. Kudos to them for knowing what they wanted and going for it <3
I can't wait to share more stories in this universe. Alyse and Kazimir are next!
Thank you so much to everyone who helped make this book possible, urged me along, inspired me, and challenged me to be better.
I love that Lily and Alastair took the reins from me and told their story how they knew it needed to be told. For that reason, this book ended up being far spicier than I imagined it would be. Kudos to them for knowing what they wanted and going for it <3
I can't wait to share more stories in this universe. Alyse and Kazimir are next!
December 1, 2023
A foul mouth impish princess Lily and her possessive protective demon bodyguard Alastair together get the pages burning 🌶 🌶️🌶️🌶️ hot as hell. Ember really pulled out the smut and spice in this edition. I'm totally intrigued by her fascinating imagination levels. Meeting up with Scarlett and two of the sisters are united, a wedding and an ending predicting much more is to come.
I received an advanced review copy from Ember and leave this review voluntary Thank you so much
I received an advanced review copy from Ember and leave this review voluntary Thank you so much
Read
March 7, 2024DNF
I was bored.
I was bored.
June 18, 2024
Great adventure and very sexy
January 31, 2024
This was a surprise. I did not read the first book but overall it didn't change much for me. I thought this was a fast paced and spicy read. It was straightforward and entertaining.
I will say that you should go into the story understanding that there is more spice than world building. Not to say the plot wasn't interesting, there are a lot of things that really have me intrigued but I also have a lot of questions. I will read the other book and see if I'm satisfied with the "completeness" of this book as a standalone and I'll change my rating if needed. What I really want though is a novella of the MMC and the FMC from when they met though.
I received this book as an eARC and am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly
I will say that you should go into the story understanding that there is more spice than world building. Not to say the plot wasn't interesting, there are a lot of things that really have me intrigued but I also have a lot of questions. I will read the other book and see if I'm satisfied with the "completeness" of this book as a standalone and I'll change my rating if needed. What I really want though is a novella of the MMC and the FMC from when they met though.
I received this book as an eARC and am leaving my review voluntarily and honestly
April 22, 2024
{4.25/5}
CW: violence, gore, attempted/references to SA, bodily mutilation, spice, others. Please check all content warnings prior to reading.
Another brutal, bloody installment delivers another viscously marvelous story.
With the disappearance of her older sister, Liliana Hilden became the heir to the throne. It’s finally time for her to return from the royal academy to fulfill her duties, regardless of whether Lily wants to cooperate or not. When a vicious attack leaves Lily and her guard Alastair stranded in foreign territory, the two begin the slow journey home. Feelings between the two have long lurked just under the surface, but both have secrets they’re not ready to divulge.
This is the second installment in the Princesses of Ruin series. While you don’t need to have read book 1, “Brutal Rival,” to enjoy this book, it would help keep things clear as you approach the end of the story. Personally, I would recommend reading both and doing so in order.
One of my biggest grievances against book 1 was the relatively small amount of worldbuilding. It didn’t detract from the overall story, but I wanted to see more because of how much I was enjoying the journey. I have the same issue with this book, although there’s been some improvement in the quantity of information. I loved getting to see more of the magic and getting to see how it works for Lily; it was probably one of my favorite parts of the story, and the only reason I want more of it was because it’s *so* much fun to see. By the nature of the plot (that is, get from point A to point B without dying), we also get to see a lot more of the actual world where the book takes place. It’s still a very background-type feeling, but the author has obviously put a lot into making that background feel real. It provides a wonderful backdrop to the story and helps everything come off the page, so it doesn’t feel lacking. I just want more because the story is so good!
Speaking of the story— somehow this one is both less violent and *more* violent than the last one?! (and I love it) Seriously, “the blood of our enemies makes a beautiful paint” is such a phenomenal line. While the storyline was straightforward and maintained consistently, it never got dull or dragged on, and I think a lot of that has to do with how much fun the characters themselves actually are. Things between the two stayed fun and steamy almost the entire time, which made the journey really entertaining to watch. The only thing that almost derailed it was a lack of communication between the two at one point, which was frustrating since the reader has both POVs so we know why things are the way they are, but it gets worked out and everything picks back up nicely. I should also mention a disclaimer here that, if you haven’t read book 1, the ending may feel a little jarring, but the easy way to fix that is to read both books, which I highly recommend doing anyway.
Of course, no review is complete without discussing the characters. Our MCs are so adorably chaotic, and it’s hilarious. Alastair somehow manages to be both proficiently skilled in protection and also consistently clutching his metaphorical pearls at something Lily’s said. Lily is clever and persistent, a prankster with a good head on her shoulders. Both are fierce and strong, and they make a wonderful pairing. I would have loved to see more of Lily’s pranks along the way, but it also feels right that she wouldn’t have had time to do a lot of that sort of thing since the two are trying very hard to survive the trip home. 10/10 would read a novella exclusively about Lily’s shenanigans if it existed.
This ended up being such a fun, steamy book, and I’m really glad it was just as much a delight as the first. I read the whole thing in almost no time flat because I didn’t want to put it down, but it’s got enough in it to feel like a solid read. If you like spice, protectors, and heroines who can hold their own, this might be a good fit for you! [Please check all content warnings prior to reading, as some material may not be a good fit for all readers.]
CW: violence, gore, attempted/references to SA, bodily mutilation, spice, others. Please check all content warnings prior to reading.
Another brutal, bloody installment delivers another viscously marvelous story.
With the disappearance of her older sister, Liliana Hilden became the heir to the throne. It’s finally time for her to return from the royal academy to fulfill her duties, regardless of whether Lily wants to cooperate or not. When a vicious attack leaves Lily and her guard Alastair stranded in foreign territory, the two begin the slow journey home. Feelings between the two have long lurked just under the surface, but both have secrets they’re not ready to divulge.
This is the second installment in the Princesses of Ruin series. While you don’t need to have read book 1, “Brutal Rival,” to enjoy this book, it would help keep things clear as you approach the end of the story. Personally, I would recommend reading both and doing so in order.
One of my biggest grievances against book 1 was the relatively small amount of worldbuilding. It didn’t detract from the overall story, but I wanted to see more because of how much I was enjoying the journey. I have the same issue with this book, although there’s been some improvement in the quantity of information. I loved getting to see more of the magic and getting to see how it works for Lily; it was probably one of my favorite parts of the story, and the only reason I want more of it was because it’s *so* much fun to see. By the nature of the plot (that is, get from point A to point B without dying), we also get to see a lot more of the actual world where the book takes place. It’s still a very background-type feeling, but the author has obviously put a lot into making that background feel real. It provides a wonderful backdrop to the story and helps everything come off the page, so it doesn’t feel lacking. I just want more because the story is so good!
Speaking of the story— somehow this one is both less violent and *more* violent than the last one?! (and I love it) Seriously, “the blood of our enemies makes a beautiful paint” is such a phenomenal line. While the storyline was straightforward and maintained consistently, it never got dull or dragged on, and I think a lot of that has to do with how much fun the characters themselves actually are. Things between the two stayed fun and steamy almost the entire time, which made the journey really entertaining to watch. The only thing that almost derailed it was a lack of communication between the two at one point, which was frustrating since the reader has both POVs so we know why things are the way they are, but it gets worked out and everything picks back up nicely. I should also mention a disclaimer here that, if you haven’t read book 1, the ending may feel a little jarring, but the easy way to fix that is to read both books, which I highly recommend doing anyway.
Of course, no review is complete without discussing the characters. Our MCs are so adorably chaotic, and it’s hilarious. Alastair somehow manages to be both proficiently skilled in protection and also consistently clutching his metaphorical pearls at something Lily’s said. Lily is clever and persistent, a prankster with a good head on her shoulders. Both are fierce and strong, and they make a wonderful pairing. I would have loved to see more of Lily’s pranks along the way, but it also feels right that she wouldn’t have had time to do a lot of that sort of thing since the two are trying very hard to survive the trip home. 10/10 would read a novella exclusively about Lily’s shenanigans if it existed.
This ended up being such a fun, steamy book, and I’m really glad it was just as much a delight as the first. I read the whole thing in almost no time flat because I didn’t want to put it down, but it’s got enough in it to feel like a solid read. If you like spice, protectors, and heroines who can hold their own, this might be a good fit for you! [Please check all content warnings prior to reading, as some material may not be a good fit for all readers.]
January 8, 2024
Feral Guardian
RELEASE DATE: 30th January 2024
━━ † ━━
⭐️ overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 plot intensity: 📚📚📚
🔥 burn: 🔥🔥🔥
💋 spice: 💋💋💋💋
🍬 sweetness: 🍬🍬
🩵 the feels: 🩵
🤣 humour: 🤣🤣
🩸 gore/violence: 🩸🩸🩸🩸
🍆 peen uniqueness: 🍆
👤 POV: 1st person — dual POV
━━ † ━━
WOW! What a fantastic fantasy novel!! And a great start to 2024! I hadn’t read any of Ember’s books before, but this is really fantastic! I’m a sucker for some good dark, gritty and spicy adult romance so this just ticked all the boxes!
“Feral Guardian” is the second book in a planned 4 part standalone interconnected series and that premise made the world building thorough and very well fleshed out — even though it was also HEAVY on the spice after a bit of a slow burn build up. I will definitely be reading the next two books when they are released in the future!
The characters are rich, deep and flawed which just adds that extra dimension to be able to further get sucked into this world. Lily is a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre as a FMC (and a princess to top things off) — she is independent, fiery, powerful, unashamed and scarred with deep wounds that make her the woman she is. I loved her and her indecent foul-mouth and humour as well as her splashes of innocence. She is a perfect match for Alastair! Who is FIERCELY protective, loyal, utterly monstrous while being tender and playful. His demon side is WONDERFUL…as well as the cuddly side who will do anything for his princess.
And I HAVE to mention Kor’Tar, Alastair’s horse!! He has a hilarious personality (even though he is just a horse haha) and I found him the best little circuit breaker of humour among the more serious moments. I hope for more of him in future books!! (and all the foals he’s sired around the country because the stallion is a randy BEAST! haha)
The romance is delightful and a perfect reward for the slow burn. Without spoiling too much; they’re the perfect match, SCORCHING hot and unbelievably sweet. And the spice is SO GOOD!! Like SO GOOD! There is really a bit of everything in there, including a whole lot of spicy and delicious shenanigans happening inside that tent of theirs! Alastair worships her and she takes it like a QUEEN.
This book IS on the darker side of fantasy and leans HEAVILY towards the adult genre for sure. There are a few note worthy triggers here that I would say PLEASE consider before you read if they are something that makes you uncomfortable. Though not OVERLY descriptive, there is vivid detail with most of these so just bear that in mind!
━━ † ━━
⚔️TRIGGER LIST⚔️
— Explicit sex scenes
— Violence
— Blood & gore
— Attempted sexual assault of FMC
— Body modification of FMC (by FMC)
— Body horror
— Vomit
— Murder (on page)
— Drugging without consent — drug affected FMC
— Parental Abuse
— Virgin MMC & FMC
— Violent depiction of murder and dismemberment
━━ † ━━
“Feral Guardian” is a fantastic adult fantasy that is filled with magic, monstrous brutality, age-gap forbidden romance, steamy SPICE, intriguing plot and a heartwarming romance. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys good dark and gritty adult fantasy with multiple books in the series. 5/5 stars!
━━ † ━━
❗️I received this ARC via sign up and every part of this review is written willingly and genuinely with my own personal feelings/thoughts and is under no conditions or obligations❗️
RELEASE DATE: 30th January 2024
━━ † ━━
⭐️ overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
📚 plot intensity: 📚📚📚
🔥 burn: 🔥🔥🔥
💋 spice: 💋💋💋💋
🍬 sweetness: 🍬🍬
🩵 the feels: 🩵
🤣 humour: 🤣🤣
🩸 gore/violence: 🩸🩸🩸🩸
🍆 peen uniqueness: 🍆
👤 POV: 1st person — dual POV
━━ † ━━
WOW! What a fantastic fantasy novel!! And a great start to 2024! I hadn’t read any of Ember’s books before, but this is really fantastic! I’m a sucker for some good dark, gritty and spicy adult romance so this just ticked all the boxes!
“Feral Guardian” is the second book in a planned 4 part standalone interconnected series and that premise made the world building thorough and very well fleshed out — even though it was also HEAVY on the spice after a bit of a slow burn build up. I will definitely be reading the next two books when they are released in the future!
The characters are rich, deep and flawed which just adds that extra dimension to be able to further get sucked into this world. Lily is a breath of fresh air in the fantasy genre as a FMC (and a princess to top things off) — she is independent, fiery, powerful, unashamed and scarred with deep wounds that make her the woman she is. I loved her and her indecent foul-mouth and humour as well as her splashes of innocence. She is a perfect match for Alastair! Who is FIERCELY protective, loyal, utterly monstrous while being tender and playful. His demon side is WONDERFUL…as well as the cuddly side who will do anything for his princess.
And I HAVE to mention Kor’Tar, Alastair’s horse!! He has a hilarious personality (even though he is just a horse haha) and I found him the best little circuit breaker of humour among the more serious moments. I hope for more of him in future books!! (and all the foals he’s sired around the country because the stallion is a randy BEAST! haha)
The romance is delightful and a perfect reward for the slow burn. Without spoiling too much; they’re the perfect match, SCORCHING hot and unbelievably sweet. And the spice is SO GOOD!! Like SO GOOD! There is really a bit of everything in there, including a whole lot of spicy and delicious shenanigans happening inside that tent of theirs! Alastair worships her and she takes it like a QUEEN.
This book IS on the darker side of fantasy and leans HEAVILY towards the adult genre for sure. There are a few note worthy triggers here that I would say PLEASE consider before you read if they are something that makes you uncomfortable. Though not OVERLY descriptive, there is vivid detail with most of these so just bear that in mind!
━━ † ━━
⚔️TRIGGER LIST⚔️
— Explicit sex scenes
— Violence
— Blood & gore
— Attempted sexual assault of FMC
— Body modification of FMC (by FMC)
— Body horror
— Vomit
— Murder (on page)
— Drugging without consent — drug affected FMC
— Parental Abuse
— Virgin MMC & FMC
— Violent depiction of murder and dismemberment
━━ † ━━
“Feral Guardian” is a fantastic adult fantasy that is filled with magic, monstrous brutality, age-gap forbidden romance, steamy SPICE, intriguing plot and a heartwarming romance. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone who enjoys good dark and gritty adult fantasy with multiple books in the series. 5/5 stars!
━━ † ━━
❗️I received this ARC via sign up and every part of this review is written willingly and genuinely with my own personal feelings/thoughts and is under no conditions or obligations❗️
January 4, 2024
In this second installment of the Princesses of Ruin series, Ember Holt takes her readers on an epic journey, wonderfully written in Holt’s signature writing style – full of action, adventure, humor, and plenty of spice! We meet the second Princess, Lily, who has been sequestered in a royal magic academy for four years, waiting until it was time for her to marry, and become the diplomat her mother the queen wants her to be. The book opens with Alastair, her mysterious bodyguard, coming to collect her from the academy. Alastair was sent to guard Lily many years ago and save the kingdom from a mysterious prophecy, that promises the ruination of the kingdoms if Lily does not become queen. Alastair is everything you want a MMC to be – handsome, loyal, and really good at adult playtime. But Alastair has a secret – he would die for Lily, and not because he’s her charge, but because he is deeply in love with her. So much so it might kill him not to be with her.
Tropes: Fantasy / Touch her and d/e / Alpha Male / Powerful FMC / Magic / Royalty / Spicy / One Horse / One Tent / Long Journey / Hilarious / Bodyguard / Interconnected Standalone / Multiple POV
Characters:
Princess Lily (Lilliana): Mischievous, Sassy, and knows what she wants princess! Ember is great at writing strong women, and Lily is a great example of that. Lily takes no prisoners, and has a great sense of adventure. Lily also has magic, (more than her sister in the previous book), and uses it to help others, as well as play pranks.
Alastair: Alpha Male, touch her and d/e, would literally give his life for Lily. Plus he has a demon that lives inside him, who wants to possess Lily as his own. Alastair doesn’t give over to the demon very often, but when he does, it’s explosive – from the way he takes down his enemies, to the way he has his adult playtime with Lily. (And I mean explosive quite literally!)
Honorable mention to Alastair’s noble steed, Kor’Tar, who just wants to mount all the pretty mares in the kingdom!
Some Highlights:
- This book is a fabulous example of Ember Holt’s ability to weave a story in different books. All of the books in this series can be read as standalone, but there was just enough detail in Feral Guardian that referred back to Brutal Rival. There were also some easter eggs from Brutal Rival mentioned in FG that made me smile!
- Despite having a demon inside of him, Alastair was very easy to be attracted to. His sense of duty and dry sense of humor were fun to read. (So different from Zane, which was fun!). If Zane is the Spider Daddy, we’re calling Alastair the Demon Daddy. (And can we PLEASE get some artwork with both daddies? Maybe with their magic intertwined? Because that would be…just wow).
- This is a 4/5 on the spice meter. Ember Holt knows how to write spice, and make it read and feel good. I liked the sexual tension in Feral Guardian better than Brutal Rival, because the reader was aware of how much Alastair wanted to be with her, and how much the demon wanted her too. That extra layer of the demon gave an extra layer of tension, and it WORKED.
- Overall this book is a 5/5 for me. Ember is the best, and nothing will ever convince me otherwise. Thank you to Ember Holt for the opportunity to be an ARC reader!
Tropes: Fantasy / Touch her and d/e / Alpha Male / Powerful FMC / Magic / Royalty / Spicy / One Horse / One Tent / Long Journey / Hilarious / Bodyguard / Interconnected Standalone / Multiple POV
Characters:
Princess Lily (Lilliana): Mischievous, Sassy, and knows what she wants princess! Ember is great at writing strong women, and Lily is a great example of that. Lily takes no prisoners, and has a great sense of adventure. Lily also has magic, (more than her sister in the previous book), and uses it to help others, as well as play pranks.
Alastair: Alpha Male, touch her and d/e, would literally give his life for Lily. Plus he has a demon that lives inside him, who wants to possess Lily as his own. Alastair doesn’t give over to the demon very often, but when he does, it’s explosive – from the way he takes down his enemies, to the way he has his adult playtime with Lily. (And I mean explosive quite literally!)
Honorable mention to Alastair’s noble steed, Kor’Tar, who just wants to mount all the pretty mares in the kingdom!
Some Highlights:
- This book is a fabulous example of Ember Holt’s ability to weave a story in different books. All of the books in this series can be read as standalone, but there was just enough detail in Feral Guardian that referred back to Brutal Rival. There were also some easter eggs from Brutal Rival mentioned in FG that made me smile!
- Despite having a demon inside of him, Alastair was very easy to be attracted to. His sense of duty and dry sense of humor were fun to read. (So different from Zane, which was fun!). If Zane is the Spider Daddy, we’re calling Alastair the Demon Daddy. (And can we PLEASE get some artwork with both daddies? Maybe with their magic intertwined? Because that would be…just wow).
- This is a 4/5 on the spice meter. Ember Holt knows how to write spice, and make it read and feel good. I liked the sexual tension in Feral Guardian better than Brutal Rival, because the reader was aware of how much Alastair wanted to be with her, and how much the demon wanted her too. That extra layer of the demon gave an extra layer of tension, and it WORKED.
- Overall this book is a 5/5 for me. Ember is the best, and nothing will ever convince me otherwise. Thank you to Ember Holt for the opportunity to be an ARC reader!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 26, 2023
Be sure to check the **TRIGGER WARNINGS** for this book.
An over protective guard with a secret, and a prankster princess with a major crush on her feral guardian.
Princess Lilianna Hilden has spent the past four years attending a royal academy in preparation for her role as the future queen of Fynren. Now, it is time for her to return to her kingdom. Alastair Brunay of Illyan, her personal guard, has arrived to accompany her on the journey. He has eagerly awaited this moment, longing to bring his princess back home. Seeing her again after such a long time has only intensified and deepened his feelings for her.
“…hold me in stillness, for this moment, she’s so beautiful.”
Lily finds her feelings for Alastair didn’t disappear as she hoped when she made her guard stay behind while she went off to school, and instead have heightened and intensified as she’s come into womanhood.
“I thought four years apart would let my heart move on.” She smirks weakly and whispers, “How wrong I was.”
Once Lily and Alastair are reunited, they begin their journey home. However, the trip does not go as planned. Lily's life is threatened, and Alastair comes to her rescue, taking her away from immediate danger and the caravan they were traveling with. Fortunately, they find themselves with plenty of alone time to catch up. As they showcase their new and more developed magical abilities and face the challenges of the wilderness, we witness the struggles of our main characters as their feelings for each other grow. It becomes evident that their relationship conflicts with the lives they were born into and the duties and responsibilities that come with it. These struggles intensify as they look deeper into themselves, only seeing darkness. Lily uses her abilities on herself, altering her appearance, which to her, matches the havoc she wreaks in the world (a behavior constantly criticized as un-princess-like), while Alastair fears the literal monster hidden inside him, suppressing it until it becomes a necessary evil that must be unleashed.
The beauty of Lily and Alastair's relationship lies in the safety and protection they provide for each other. Alastair, a large and monstrous guard, fiercely safeguards his princess with unwavering dedication. At the same time, he offers encouragement when she needs it most. Lily, on the other hand, embraces Alastair and accepts him wholeheartedly, allowing him to reveal his true self in a way he has never experienced with anyone else before.
“Let me feel all your monstrousness. Let me revel in it.”
An over protective guard with a secret, and a prankster princess with a major crush on her feral guardian.
Princess Lilianna Hilden has spent the past four years attending a royal academy in preparation for her role as the future queen of Fynren. Now, it is time for her to return to her kingdom. Alastair Brunay of Illyan, her personal guard, has arrived to accompany her on the journey. He has eagerly awaited this moment, longing to bring his princess back home. Seeing her again after such a long time has only intensified and deepened his feelings for her.
“…hold me in stillness, for this moment, she’s so beautiful.”
Lily finds her feelings for Alastair didn’t disappear as she hoped when she made her guard stay behind while she went off to school, and instead have heightened and intensified as she’s come into womanhood.
“I thought four years apart would let my heart move on.” She smirks weakly and whispers, “How wrong I was.”
Once Lily and Alastair are reunited, they begin their journey home. However, the trip does not go as planned. Lily's life is threatened, and Alastair comes to her rescue, taking her away from immediate danger and the caravan they were traveling with. Fortunately, they find themselves with plenty of alone time to catch up. As they showcase their new and more developed magical abilities and face the challenges of the wilderness, we witness the struggles of our main characters as their feelings for each other grow. It becomes evident that their relationship conflicts with the lives they were born into and the duties and responsibilities that come with it. These struggles intensify as they look deeper into themselves, only seeing darkness. Lily uses her abilities on herself, altering her appearance, which to her, matches the havoc she wreaks in the world (a behavior constantly criticized as un-princess-like), while Alastair fears the literal monster hidden inside him, suppressing it until it becomes a necessary evil that must be unleashed.
The beauty of Lily and Alastair's relationship lies in the safety and protection they provide for each other. Alastair, a large and monstrous guard, fiercely safeguards his princess with unwavering dedication. At the same time, he offers encouragement when she needs it most. Lily, on the other hand, embraces Alastair and accepts him wholeheartedly, allowing him to reveal his true self in a way he has never experienced with anyone else before.
“Let me feel all your monstrousness. Let me revel in it.”
March 4, 2024
༻❥☆☘️☆❥༺
📖🄱🄾🄾🄺•🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆📖
──────☆☘️✨☘️☆──────
📚🧚♀️🌸✨𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒✨🌸🧚♀️📚
☘️𝙵𝙴𝚁𝙰𝙻 𝙶𝚄𝙰𝚁𝙳𝙸𝙰𝙽 𝙱𝚈 𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝙷𝙾𝙻𝚃
☘️𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟸 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙴𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝚁𝚄𝙸𝙽 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂
☘️𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴
☘️𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝙹𝙰𝙽. 𝟹𝟶𝚃𝙷 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
╰┈❥𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄!✨
☘️𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
☘️𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ || 𝟻
──────☆☘️✨☘️☆──────
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to Ember Holt for my gifted eARC of 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧!
This book was an amazingly dark, magical, & spicy read & I loved every second of it! It was exciting, action-packed, & suspenseful while also have the fantasy & romance elements to it. So naturally, I couldn’t put it down!
Lily & Alistair are my new favorite book couple & I couldn’t get enough of them. Lily finds herself at the Royal Academy & is supposed to be learning the proper etiquette to one day take the throne, which she has absolutely no desire to do. After 4 years, Alastair has been tasked with bringing her home from the academy & she’s more than ready to leave. When they are traveling home they are attacked & Lily is kidnapped. Alastair stops at nothing to get her back & bring her home.
I absolutely loved Lily’s personality! She was so witty, snarky, & fierce, & she loves to get under Alastair’s skin. Alastair is a broody & moody demon bodyguard & he’s very loyal to his duty & to Lily. Their interactions made me laugh out loud at times & their banter was just so damn amazing. Their chemistry was absolute perfection throughout the whole book, & while the beginning is a little bit slower on the romance side, once they got together it was super hot & super worth the wait! They are polar opposites but together they just work so well, & really are exactly what the other needs.
This book was such an amazing read. Fast-paced & written beautifully, it was definitely one that I didn’t want to end & yet I couldn’t put it down! It has adventure, romance, magic, suspense, & spicy spice, & it was all integrated so well together. It made for a truly unforgettable read and I definitely recommend!
☘️✨𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄...✨☘️
❥Powerful FMC
❥Demonic Shapeshifting MMC
❥Very Spicy
❥Bodyguard & His Princess
❥Grumpy x Sunshine
❥Satisfaction Agreement
──────☆☘️✨☘️☆─────
📖🄱🄾🄾🄺•🅁🄴🅅🄸🄴🅆📖
──────☆☘️✨☘️☆──────
📚🧚♀️🌸✨𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊•𝐃𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐈𝐋𝐒✨🌸🧚♀️📚
☘️𝙵𝙴𝚁𝙰𝙻 𝙶𝚄𝙰𝚁𝙳𝙸𝙰𝙽 𝙱𝚈 𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝙷𝙾𝙻𝚃
☘️𝙱𝙾𝙾𝙺 𝟸 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙿𝚁𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴𝚂𝚂𝙴𝚂 𝙾𝙵 𝚁𝚄𝙸𝙽 𝚂𝙴𝚁𝙸𝙴𝚂
☘️𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄: 𝙳𝙰𝚁𝙺 𝙵𝙰𝙽𝚃𝙰𝚂𝚈 𝚁𝙾𝙼𝙰𝙽𝙲𝙴
☘️𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐓𝐄: 𝙹𝙰𝙽. 𝟹𝟶𝚃𝙷 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺
╰┈❥𝙰𝚅𝙰𝙸𝙻𝙰𝙱𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙽 𝙺𝚄!✨
☘️𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 𝟻
☘️𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐂𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ || 𝟻
──────☆☘️✨☘️☆──────
✨✨𝑀𝑦 𝑇ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ𝑡𝑠✨✨
Thank you so much to Ember Holt for my gifted eARC of 𝐅𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧!
This book was an amazingly dark, magical, & spicy read & I loved every second of it! It was exciting, action-packed, & suspenseful while also have the fantasy & romance elements to it. So naturally, I couldn’t put it down!
Lily & Alistair are my new favorite book couple & I couldn’t get enough of them. Lily finds herself at the Royal Academy & is supposed to be learning the proper etiquette to one day take the throne, which she has absolutely no desire to do. After 4 years, Alastair has been tasked with bringing her home from the academy & she’s more than ready to leave. When they are traveling home they are attacked & Lily is kidnapped. Alastair stops at nothing to get her back & bring her home.
I absolutely loved Lily’s personality! She was so witty, snarky, & fierce, & she loves to get under Alastair’s skin. Alastair is a broody & moody demon bodyguard & he’s very loyal to his duty & to Lily. Their interactions made me laugh out loud at times & their banter was just so damn amazing. Their chemistry was absolute perfection throughout the whole book, & while the beginning is a little bit slower on the romance side, once they got together it was super hot & super worth the wait! They are polar opposites but together they just work so well, & really are exactly what the other needs.
This book was such an amazing read. Fast-paced & written beautifully, it was definitely one that I didn’t want to end & yet I couldn’t put it down! It has adventure, romance, magic, suspense, & spicy spice, & it was all integrated so well together. It made for a truly unforgettable read and I definitely recommend!
☘️✨𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐅𝐄𝐂𝐓 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄...✨☘️
❥Powerful FMC
❥Demonic Shapeshifting MMC
❥Very Spicy
❥Bodyguard & His Princess
❥Grumpy x Sunshine
❥Satisfaction Agreement
──────☆☘️✨☘️☆─────
January 26, 2024
💚Feral Guardian💚
By Ember Holt
4⭐
“I’m perfectly made to withstand her. I’m perfectly made to please her.”
~~
Omg guys, I am blushing so hard right now 🤭 If you’re in the market for a fast-paced, super smutty read with an incredibly unique magic system, pages and pages of witty banter, and tension so thick, you could slice it with a battle ax, Feral Guardian is exactly what you’re looking for! Please note that it’s the second book in Ember Holt’s Princesses of Ruin series. Although it is considered a standalone, I definitely suggest starting with Brutal Rival to better grasp the high stakes of it all.
Feral Guardian follows Princess Liliana as she journeys home after years at a royal academy. Accompanied by her longtime guard Alastair, they are met with many challenges that put their magic and emotions to the ultimate test.
Lily’s power has been honed into a weapon like no other. This girl had my eyebrows shooting skyward several times thanks to her quick thinking and unmatched abilities. Homegirl is feisty as hell, blunt and outspoken, and I found it so refreshing to watch her take on any task while remaining true to herself.
Alastair, with his stoic demeanor and strong will, is Lily’s total opposite. But don’t let his seriousness that fool you. He may claim to know nothing of poetry but my lawd, does he have a way with words! Alastair’s complete and total devotion to keeping Lily safe had me all squealy. And the tension between these two? Explosive. Utterly explosive.
I do wish there was more backstory to the prophecy but I’m hopeful that we will learn more going forward. Can’t wait to see what Ember has in store for Princess Alyse and Kazimir next!
Tropes:
- Bodyguard & Princess
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Age Gap
- One Horse/One Tent
- Praise & Punishment
Thank you Ember for providing an ARC for my honest thoughts. 🖤
By Ember Holt
4⭐
“I’m perfectly made to withstand her. I’m perfectly made to please her.”
~~
Omg guys, I am blushing so hard right now 🤭 If you’re in the market for a fast-paced, super smutty read with an incredibly unique magic system, pages and pages of witty banter, and tension so thick, you could slice it with a battle ax, Feral Guardian is exactly what you’re looking for! Please note that it’s the second book in Ember Holt’s Princesses of Ruin series. Although it is considered a standalone, I definitely suggest starting with Brutal Rival to better grasp the high stakes of it all.
Feral Guardian follows Princess Liliana as she journeys home after years at a royal academy. Accompanied by her longtime guard Alastair, they are met with many challenges that put their magic and emotions to the ultimate test.
Lily’s power has been honed into a weapon like no other. This girl had my eyebrows shooting skyward several times thanks to her quick thinking and unmatched abilities. Homegirl is feisty as hell, blunt and outspoken, and I found it so refreshing to watch her take on any task while remaining true to herself.
Alastair, with his stoic demeanor and strong will, is Lily’s total opposite. But don’t let his seriousness that fool you. He may claim to know nothing of poetry but my lawd, does he have a way with words! Alastair’s complete and total devotion to keeping Lily safe had me all squealy. And the tension between these two? Explosive. Utterly explosive.
I do wish there was more backstory to the prophecy but I’m hopeful that we will learn more going forward. Can’t wait to see what Ember has in store for Princess Alyse and Kazimir next!
Tropes:
- Bodyguard & Princess
- Grumpy/Sunshine
- Age Gap
- One Horse/One Tent
- Praise & Punishment
Thank you Ember for providing an ARC for my honest thoughts. 🖤
January 31, 2024
Feral Guardian is the second book in Holt's The Pricesses of Ruin series. While related to the first book, this romantasy can definitely be appreciated as a standalone.
The story centers around Princess Lilianna (Lily) Hilden and Alastair Osrick Brunay. Lily has been away at the royal academy for the past 4 years learning proper etiquette required for the heir to the throne. The Queen of Fynren has charged Alastair with retrieving her daughter and selected some of her own men to accompany him. Alastair is keen to see his ward once more, but is apprehensive as he was not permitted to bring his men with him.
Lily is more than ready to leave, but has no interest in taking the throne. She wants to travel the world as a diplomat, discovering new places and meeting new people. When Alistair arrives, she's packed and ready to go. On the way back though, they are attacked and Lily is kidnapped by pirates.
Alastair, 100% devoted to Lily, will do anything to get her back and bring her home. Lily is the same fun-loving, prankster he's always known, but now she's all grown up. Through adventures and forced proximity, their relationship evolves. #spicy
I really enjoyed this book. Lily is a strong, smart and sassy character who knows what she wants and doesn't give up. She is both fun and fierce. Alastair is loyal and stoic. He has a strong sense of duty and there's nothing he wouldn't do to protect his princess. I love how Lily always tries to push his buttons. This passionate prankster is the furthest thing from a prim and proper princess. This book has magic, pirates, beasts, prophecy, adventure and heat! Oh, and an awesome horse named Kor'Tar who has an amazing personality.
I definitely recommend checking out Feral Guardian, but if you have yet to read Brutal Rival, the first book in the series, you should add it to your TBR. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.
The story centers around Princess Lilianna (Lily) Hilden and Alastair Osrick Brunay. Lily has been away at the royal academy for the past 4 years learning proper etiquette required for the heir to the throne. The Queen of Fynren has charged Alastair with retrieving her daughter and selected some of her own men to accompany him. Alastair is keen to see his ward once more, but is apprehensive as he was not permitted to bring his men with him.
Lily is more than ready to leave, but has no interest in taking the throne. She wants to travel the world as a diplomat, discovering new places and meeting new people. When Alistair arrives, she's packed and ready to go. On the way back though, they are attacked and Lily is kidnapped by pirates.
Alastair, 100% devoted to Lily, will do anything to get her back and bring her home. Lily is the same fun-loving, prankster he's always known, but now she's all grown up. Through adventures and forced proximity, their relationship evolves. #spicy
I really enjoyed this book. Lily is a strong, smart and sassy character who knows what she wants and doesn't give up. She is both fun and fierce. Alastair is loyal and stoic. He has a strong sense of duty and there's nothing he wouldn't do to protect his princess. I love how Lily always tries to push his buttons. This passionate prankster is the furthest thing from a prim and proper princess. This book has magic, pirates, beasts, prophecy, adventure and heat! Oh, and an awesome horse named Kor'Tar who has an amazing personality.
I definitely recommend checking out Feral Guardian, but if you have yet to read Brutal Rival, the first book in the series, you should add it to your TBR. I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series.
December 31, 2023
I am always happy to dive into new fantasy worlds, and I am extra happy to jump into those that also have a romance to the story. Due to this, Feral Guardian sounded like it would be the perfect read for me. I was a bit dubious about starting a book that was the second in a series, yet the author assured me it would work as a standalone story. Thus, I decided to jump in.
Sadly, despite how much I wanted to love this, I struggled with the book. At first, I thought it was a simple case that I did not get along with the writing style. It was not badly written, yet it was lacking something to make it stand out. As the story progressed, however, I realised the writing style was not my problem. My problem was that I could not envision anything. A part of it was a lack of worldbuilding – there were so many things that were never explained, treating them as though they were already known, which I think (I hope) reflects the fact that this is the second book in a series – but the bigger picture was that details were never really given about what was happening. Scenes were unfolding and I was unclear on the specifics, only for them to become clearer when they were referred to later in the story. It was very strange to me that I could imagine things (characters included) only much later. It did not work for me, and it made it difficult for me to remain invested in the story. Add in the fact that I never felt a connection between the characters (again, I think this links to the fact that clarity about things appeared too late in the story), and my original plan of rounding this two-point-five-star rating up could not happen.
As many clearly adored this, I am putting it down as one of those cases where I was not the right reader for the story. There were interesting elements within, yet the way the story was told and unfolded meant it did not work for me.
Sadly, despite how much I wanted to love this, I struggled with the book. At first, I thought it was a simple case that I did not get along with the writing style. It was not badly written, yet it was lacking something to make it stand out. As the story progressed, however, I realised the writing style was not my problem. My problem was that I could not envision anything. A part of it was a lack of worldbuilding – there were so many things that were never explained, treating them as though they were already known, which I think (I hope) reflects the fact that this is the second book in a series – but the bigger picture was that details were never really given about what was happening. Scenes were unfolding and I was unclear on the specifics, only for them to become clearer when they were referred to later in the story. It was very strange to me that I could imagine things (characters included) only much later. It did not work for me, and it made it difficult for me to remain invested in the story. Add in the fact that I never felt a connection between the characters (again, I think this links to the fact that clarity about things appeared too late in the story), and my original plan of rounding this two-point-five-star rating up could not happen.
As many clearly adored this, I am putting it down as one of those cases where I was not the right reader for the story. There were interesting elements within, yet the way the story was told and unfolded meant it did not work for me.
January 29, 2024
"Life is like a penis - often hard for no reason"
----------------------—
Story rating: 4.0⭐️
Romance rating: 3.5⭐️
Spice level: 3.0🌶️
Smut frequency: 3.0⏳
----------------------—
Tropes:
👑 Princess x Bodyguard
⬜️ They're both morally grey
🦋 Sunshine prankster princess
👹 Obsessed (and kinda primal) demon guard
🚫 Forbidden love
----------------------—
~ STORY & PLOT 📝 ~
I love a fantasy with a medieval-like setting. They just work so much for me. In this book, it's really well done too, and I'm a sucker for a world-building!! 🙌
The pace is great, and it's so easy to get immersed in the story and the places they visit through their journey. ☺️
PS: the romance can be read as a standalone but the overall story is expanded through the series. Now I need to backpedal to Brutal Rival, because damn, I'm so intrigued. 😩✨
~ ROMANCE & MAIN CHARACTERS 💖 ~
Lily is a mood . She's so funny and lighthearted (which is a miracle given her life) but also the girl is a BADASS! I won't be giving the "strong fmc" tag so easily after her, she really upped the standard here! 😂
Alastair is obsessed, broody, and a man of few words but lots of action, so obviously I love him. 🤷🏽♀️
~ SPICE 🌶️ ~
This book is a slow burn with a lot of build-up to the explicit scenes, but once they get to it they can get enough of each other. The STAMINA is real people! 😂🔥
Nothing too kinky tho, the spice is mostly about them being head over heels for each other and, again, the never-ending need to touch each other 😂👌
----------------------—
This is an arc review. Thanks to the author for the advanced ebook copy 🙏💖
----------------------—
----------------------—
Story rating: 4.0⭐️
Romance rating: 3.5⭐️
Spice level: 3.0🌶️
Smut frequency: 3.0⏳
----------------------—
Tropes:
👑 Princess x Bodyguard
⬜️ They're both morally grey
🦋 Sunshine prankster princess
👹 Obsessed (and kinda primal) demon guard
🚫 Forbidden love
----------------------—
~ STORY & PLOT 📝 ~
I love a fantasy with a medieval-like setting. They just work so much for me. In this book, it's really well done too, and I'm a sucker for a world-building!! 🙌
The pace is great, and it's so easy to get immersed in the story and the places they visit through their journey. ☺️
PS: the romance can be read as a standalone but the overall story is expanded through the series. Now I need to backpedal to Brutal Rival, because damn, I'm so intrigued. 😩✨
~ ROMANCE & MAIN CHARACTERS 💖 ~
Lily is a mood . She's so funny and lighthearted (which is a miracle given her life) but also the girl is a BADASS! I won't be giving the "strong fmc" tag so easily after her, she really upped the standard here! 😂
Alastair is obsessed, broody, and a man of few words but lots of action, so obviously I love him. 🤷🏽♀️
~ SPICE 🌶️ ~
This book is a slow burn with a lot of build-up to the explicit scenes, but once they get to it they can get enough of each other. The STAMINA is real people! 😂🔥
Nothing too kinky tho, the spice is mostly about them being head over heels for each other and, again, the never-ending need to touch each other 😂👌
----------------------—
This is an arc review. Thanks to the author for the advanced ebook copy 🙏💖
----------------------—
January 30, 2024
A huge thank you goes to indie author Ember Holt Writes, for letting me read an early copy of Feral Guardian! This is the second instalment in The Princesses of Ruin series, but I honestly believe you don’t need to have read book one (Brutal Rival) to enjoy this new tale...
It’s been four long years since Lily has seen her bodyguard, Alastair. Having been sent to a royal academy to learn how to be a ‘proper’ princess, Lily’s passed the time by terrifying peers & teachers alike with her pranks. But now it’s time for Alastair to bring Lily home. The only trouble? That means she’s ready to be married. And Lily has only ever wanted freedom. Honour bound to serve as her knight, Alistair is also tied to Lily by a prophecy of ruin. Although he’s tempted to act on their mutual desire, a darkness will befall the kingdom if the princess doesn’t become queen. So what happens when pirates wrench Lily away from her knight? Will Alastair risk the ruin of everything? And what part does Lily’s magic have to play?
Feral Guardian is such a rollicking read! Lily is a sassy, fierce young lady & I absolutely love her resourcefulness. But honestly, this should come as no surprise to me. With every book Ember’s written so far, we get plucky heroines who fight for what they believe in. However, Lily has to do things to survive which I don’t think I could ever stomach. In my eyes? This princess is a warrior in every sense of the word.
In this fantasy romance, you get *super* spice, age gap, forced proximity. You also get only one horse, forbidden romance, mentor/mentee...
*** Want to know more? You can read my FULL REVIEW on my blog via this link: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/feral... ***
It’s been four long years since Lily has seen her bodyguard, Alastair. Having been sent to a royal academy to learn how to be a ‘proper’ princess, Lily’s passed the time by terrifying peers & teachers alike with her pranks. But now it’s time for Alastair to bring Lily home. The only trouble? That means she’s ready to be married. And Lily has only ever wanted freedom. Honour bound to serve as her knight, Alistair is also tied to Lily by a prophecy of ruin. Although he’s tempted to act on their mutual desire, a darkness will befall the kingdom if the princess doesn’t become queen. So what happens when pirates wrench Lily away from her knight? Will Alastair risk the ruin of everything? And what part does Lily’s magic have to play?
Feral Guardian is such a rollicking read! Lily is a sassy, fierce young lady & I absolutely love her resourcefulness. But honestly, this should come as no surprise to me. With every book Ember’s written so far, we get plucky heroines who fight for what they believe in. However, Lily has to do things to survive which I don’t think I could ever stomach. In my eyes? This princess is a warrior in every sense of the word.
In this fantasy romance, you get *super* spice, age gap, forced proximity. You also get only one horse, forbidden romance, mentor/mentee...
*** Want to know more? You can read my FULL REVIEW on my blog via this link: https://www.immersedinbooks.com/feral... ***
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