𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲?

I'm not a big sci-fi reader but this book is not an issue because as much as this story is about Guardians with magical powers riding Pegasi (plural for Pegasus), it is also fundamentally about love and soulmates. According to this book, every Guardian has an Arima or a soulmate that completes them. For our protagonist, Luna, who has been waiting to meet hers for ages, discovers that her Arima is somebody disguised as a human. When Luna and Gia meet, they both experience an intense bond shared only between Arimas and it's wonderful. But the heartbreaking part is that Gia refuses to accept fate, rejects being bonded to Luna and instead chooses to marry a human. This causes a lot of angst and I was on the brink of tears reading it.

Lawrence delivered an epic and intense love story and I fell in love with it. I thoroughly enjoyed the soulmate storyline and fell in love with Luna by the end of it because she's a wonderful character. This book discusses the philosophical concept of love and having the free will to choose and I think Lawrence nailed it through Luna. Gia is a different case and I can't say I like her as much. While I understand her motivation for resisting being a conformist, I think her insistence at marry Sean, the human, at the expense of hurting everyone is selfish.

This book is emotionally draining because of the angst level and I was exhausted when I was done. But all in all, it's an excellent book even if I don't agree with some decisions made by one of the characters.

3.25 Stars. I am going against the grain here, and am going to say that I didn't like this as much as a lot of other reviewers. I liked that it played around with forced bonding/ destined pairing trope, even as both Luna and Gia have trouble with this magical bond. But I did think it worked until a major event happened (I wish I could say more, but spoilers) and one of the character has an almost sudden reversal of feelings from one of our leads. Granted, she still struggles with some really, really bad decisions on her path to being more complete as a person. So much so that I actually was looking at the pages left and asking myself if this conflict would have been resolved.

Luna is a Guardian of the gate between her world and ours. Guardians are super powerful giant elf like people who are effectively soul mated to another elf who kind of acts as the Guardian's shield. But Luna, for centuries, has felt the pull of the soul-bond, but hasn't found her mate yet, until one day she is pulled into our world and meets another elf that has glamoured herself to look like a human. Gia has her reasons for presenting as human, but Luna's mere presence just messes with her quiet life. Gia stubbornly resists the bond, even as she is irrevocably drawn to Luna through their bond.

I think it is interesting that the blurb kind of frames the story as Luna's, but it is really Gia's story. She has the character arc; she grows and learns, whereas Luna is pretty fully actualized. Luna knows exactly what she wants, she just doesn't know how to get it. In fact Luna is the one who's the most hurt by Gia's indecision and stubbornness (even Gia's sweet fiance feels the pain, but not quite as literally as Luna). And I think that's where I kind of lost the story - this magical bond forced together a damaged person who was not dealing with her trauma in a healthy way was actively damaging this other person, and not seeing how much she was actively hurting her. Like I don't think Gia is a bad person, but she had a massive problem with actually seeing Luna's perspective, and trying to meet her in the middle. Luna was doing all the bending, to the point where she almost broke. It was decidedly unfair, and I actually didn't like how drawn out it was.

With all that said, it is a pretty well written book - just one that I was very frustrated with. I love the worldbuilding, the magic system and the dimension hopping. While this story is centered specifically around Luna and Gia, and some of the magic is mostly used as a plot device, I didn't mind it as much. Most lighter fantasies only use the fantastical elements as window dressing and not much thought is applied to them. Here, they are crafted well and given enough merit without being most of the focus. It was a nice surprise.

I think I might give it a second look, to see how my perception might change, but I did not like how drawn out the two women's pain was. It took so long to get them to a point where they could accept each other that we didn't really get to read about them healing. It lowered my appreciation of the other aspects of the book that clicked well for me, but weren't central to the story.

Luna is a guardian who has been waiting her lifetime to find her shield, her soulmate. Every guardian is born with a chosen soulmate, but Luna is starting to believe she will have to fight alone for as long as she lives. That is until she feels that pull again, the pull that will take her to her soulmate and when Luna finds her, she is in for a surprise heartbreak, or is she? Gia has live as a human almost her whole life, now with her human fiancé, the last thing she expected was to find her soulmate.

I am very happy I decided to read this book, and didn't judge it by its cover. This book picks up right from the first chapter and takes you to a new world. I really enjoyed reading about this new world the author created and all of the many beings that make that world their home.

Both Luna and Gia were great characters, very real, regardless of them not actually being human. I thought the story was incredibly interesting and intriguing. The love story between both main characters was also well done. It had complexity and depth that other romance books may lack.

Overall, I really liked this book and I can't wait to see what this author will do for her next book.

An ARC was given to me via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The simplistic yet fantastical cover design of Guardian by debut author Jen Lawrence caught my eye immediately. The blurb for the novel was also quite intriguing. I could tell this was a fantasy novel, though, and it’s not a genre I usually read. Thank goodness I did choose it, because this story just blew me away.

This is a very well-written fantasy, but it is paired with an equally well-crafted romance. This tale fits easily under both genres and is probably one of the reasons I enjoyed this book so much. The fantasy elements are easily seen in the setting and plot of the story as well as the two main characters, Luna and Gia. The setting involves two worlds connected by a Veil. Lur Tristea is the world of humans. Lur Ederra is a magical world that Luna and Gia come from. Lur Ederra is filled with beauty, fantastical creatures, and danger. The descriptions of these two worlds, especially Lur Ederra is very well done. The author made both worlds seem very real.

The love story of Luna and Gia really pulled me into the tale. This romance is full of angst between the two characters…just my kind of romance. I fell a little in love with Luna immediately. It took me a bit longer with Gia, but you will have to read her story in the book to understand why. Both the fantasy and the romance kept me reading until the very end and wanting more once I got there. Luckily for all of us, this novel is the beginning of a series with the next book, Fury, hopefully coming soon. I’m very impressed with this debut novel, and I can’t wait to read more in this series.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

Fantastic fantasy novel. Great worldbuilding - parallel universe between a land of magic and that of humans, fated love, destiny and soul mates, and badass women with swords and their partner shields who protect them. I greatly enjoyed this - and have since bought a hard copy (the highest compliment I can give!), and I look forward to reading more from Lawrence set in this Darke world!!

Gia leaves her destiny (and her future soulmate - though they've not met) behind and for a hundred years plus lives on Earth. But eventually, her soul bond draws Luna to her. Luna - an elven warrior tasked with defending their "rift" between the magic kindgom and Earth - is so sweet, but so too is Gia's human fiancé. Can Gia have both or by trying to do so will she hurt everyone?

Bravo!! This was an impressive fantasy. I thought the book was well written. I enjoyed it very much.
Without giving too much away. Luna is a guardian who lives in Ederra and hasn't found her soulmate. She's been alone for a very long time wondering if she would ever meet her Arima.
Gia lives hidden human world know has Tristea wearing a glamor to appear human. She lives with her fiancé Sean and appears to happy. Until she meet her Arima (soulmate) Luna... I recommend. 5 Stars;


Thank you Bella Books and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.25 stars. This was such a good surprise. I’m a fan of fantasy, so I was happy to see this book amongst the releases for this month. While this is set in a fantasy universe, the heart of this story is the romance. This is a debut book and I am impressed with the quality of the writing, I was immediately hooked and I will be reading more by this author.

There are two worlds that exist in parallel and are separated by the veil. One world resembles earth and is inhabited with humans while the other is inhabited with all kinds of magical creatures including the guardians. The task of the guardians is to guard the veil so the parallel worlds remain stable. The worldbuilding was good. It’s not very excessive as the story really focusses on the romance, yet you get enough information to understand the world that is created and more importantly you get to know the guardians. I loved how the guardians do not resemble humans in their appearance, although they can take up a human appearance (one of the two mains looks and lives like a human for most of the book). Another thing that is very different from humans are their relationships. From birth two guardians are destined for each other, although they get to know their significant other (their arima) later in life. I’ve read quite a lot of fantasy and paranormal books with destined love, but this was a bit different from what I’ve read before. I won’t go into detail, because of spoilers, but I liked it, it’s well thought out.

Somebody who doesn’t like this bond is Gia. In fact, she resents it and is about to marry a human. Luna on the other hand, has been pining for her arima all her life, as guardians feel incomplete without their arima. So, when they finally meet and Gia rejects her, Luna’s crushed. Did I mention the level of angst in this book? Well here you have it, there is boatloads. Destined to be together, but rejected nonetheless, left feeling physically and emotionally incomplete. Of course, Gia also has this attraction towards Luna, but she has her reasons to reject it. This is where the book became a bit frustrating for me at times, I understood Gia, but she is so frustratingly stubborn, making everybody miserable (including herself) that I sometimes wanted to smack some sense into her. Luna is a saint, she even becomes friends with Gia’s fiancé, and this made Gia’s behavior even more difficult to accept. However, I found myself wanting to keep on reading and I was happy I did, as in the end, the growth of Gia’s character was worth it.

As a fantasy fan I enjoyed the universe that Lawrence created and could read more about this world and its magical beings, so I was happy to see that there will be a second book in this universe. As for this book, this was an excellent debut full of romance and angst!

For millenniums, every Guardian is paired with her ordained Arima (soulmate) so they can fight alongside each other and protect their assigned Rift (station) and Lur Ederra (home) from the Darke (enemy). Every Sword has her Shield but for Luna, her close to a century wait took a shocking turn when Gia turned up in Human form and was engaged to her fiancé.

For a debut writer, this is an impressive entry in the fantasy genre. Her portrayal of the different realms, their birth and history made every different species of beings convincing and intriguing. As it was so easy to be wrapped up in the book, a lot of hearts will be going out for the patient, pure and tender hearted Luna who has been fighting a lonely battle without her Shield. Gia was indignant in her right to continue in the Human realm, forsaking her destiny and was careless with Luna’s affections. Although it was difficult to condone her wilfulness, Gia took a steep learning curve to find answers and peace with her past and choices. Brilliant effort on the content, characterisations, settings and when you get to the end, it really is just a romantic tale where you would choose the same person/being again, with or without a choice.

I just reviewed Guardian by Jen Lawrence. Thank you NetGalley and Bella Books for the ARC.

I found this book quite engrossing and I'm not really sure why. I didn't like Gia. I didn't even really like her at the end. She was supposed to be Luna's soulmate and did everything she could to avoid it. Her demented mother left her with humans thinking it would save her so she lived her life without knowing her birthplace. I still couldn't like her. She seemed to expect Luna to comply with her wishes but she didn't want to do much to help her. Yet I had to read to the end anyway. Maybe just good writing from the author.

Luna is Guardian from another dimension that’s parallel earth. She and others Guardians protect theirs dimension and earth from evil.


Luna is unique she the only guardian that been alone for a long time she hasn’t found her soulmate. Gia is also a guardian but she living a human life and has a fiancé. When they meet the bond is strong but Gia is against the idea of soulmates that your only destined for that one person she thinks it’s takes away you right to choose your own path and who to love.

I like Luna I like the fact that although she found her soulmate that she was willing just have friendship with Gia also like that she became friends with Gia fiancé who I actually like more then Gia because she was selfish but as you continue to read grew to like her.

I don’t know if I believe there soulmates for everyone but I do think love is messy and that you have to work hard to keep it.


I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

The book "Guardian" by Jen Lawrence is about Gia, who lives hidden in the world of humans with her human fiancé among them. But then the call to her soulmate and from the other world, the Guardian Luna, becomes so strong that the two meet. What will happen next for all involved?

The story takes us into another dimension and shows us another world that exists parallel to ours. In this Guardians protect the connections of their and our world from evil. Our two main characters are faced with the question of how to shape a life in which they are made for each other, but there is already another love in the life of one. We are taken along on the process of finding the life plan for the future.

The book was pleasant to read, but did not sweep me off my feet. For lovers of this genre definitely a reading option.

I received a copy from netgalley in exchange for a an honest review.

First thoughts- When I first read the synopsis of this book I found myself with a tinge of worry. The destined soulmates plot line has existed from the dawn of time and in my prime reading I've read countless of them so much so that I grew a disdain for it. The whole idea seemed dismissive of something I valued greatly which is Free Will. Though after reading this book I can safely say that was not a problem.

This book is so just so good that I find it hard to put it into words. Jen Lawrence was not messing around with this debut and dare I say it... this is the best debut that I have read in so long if not as far as my memory goes.

<b> Review </b>

Guardian by Jen Lawrence takes us on an entertaining and emotional adventure of beauty, heartbreak, freedom and pure wonder as she creates a world of her own. With exquisite writing, lovable characters and an amazing plot this book has quickly found itself on my list of favorite books of 2021.

This story follows that of Luna, a Guardian in a realm parallel to earth, and Gia, another Guardian destined to be her soul mate. Except Gia is not only living a human life but she also has a very human fiancé. Gia is immediately against this soulmate bond, she sees it as taking away her ability of choice and selflessly at the expense of her own happiness, Luna accepts this. This makes her one of the most selfless characters in the book and she forces herself to only limit their relationship to friendship. She even creates a friendship with Gia's fiancé. '

I was not kidding when I said this book had lovable characters either, even the fiancé found himself on my good side. Gia struggled to stay on my good side though as in this book she is a very selfish character however that is only one side to her being. As the book goes on you start to understand her character and can't help but root for her.

Jen Lawrence, as mentioned before takes us into a world of her own and I cannot express just how impressed I am. She did an amazing job of bringing to life this world and it's social order.

Incase you have the same worry I did about the lack of free will with the whole destined soul mate idea, there are several plot details and even one big act in this book that helps this. In the end despite being soul mates everyone has a choice. I fear that my review does not describe just how much I enjoyed this. For a debut this is a really good book and I look forward to the continuation of this series and any other book Miss Lawrence comes out with.

If you're looking for an emotional adventure with an interesting fantasy layer, I highly recommend this book.

However if I had to nitpick for reasons you might not like this book, it is short. Some might even say the book had a predictable nature and while I slightly agree there is a lot of uniqueness to this book.

That's really all I have to say right now. Perhaps when a future reread will bring back to this book but for now, this book was a great debut and a fairly good read.

5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley and Bella Books for the ARC in return for the honest review.