The Sorcerer's Guardian by Antonia Aquilante

Antonia Aquilante - The Sorcerer's Guardian CoverTitle: The Sorcerer’s Guardian

Series:  A Tale of Tournai # 4

Author: Antonia Aquilante

Genre: High Fantasy

Length: Novel (310 pages)

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (November 28, 2016)

Heat Level: Moderate

Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.75 Hearts

Blurb: Savarin, the most powerful sorcerer in Tournai, has honed his Talent through years of study and made magic his life. Among the wealthy and noble circles he moves in, no one would suspect the handsome, refined, and arrogant sorcerer’s humble beginnings, which is how Savarin prefers it. Tournai’s princes task Savarin with studying and strengthening the spells that protect the principality from magical attack. They are complex, centuries old, and exactly the type of puzzle Savarin is eager to solve. To his annoyance, the princes insist Loriot accompany him.

Loriot worked his way up the ranks of the royal guard to captain and takes pride in his service. He must obey the princes’ orders to protect Savarin, despite believing his skills would be best used elsewhere. And despite his wariness of magic. UnTalented himself, he has learned not only the benefits of magic but also its potential for harm—and how to counter it. Loriot and Savarin clash during their journey, but there’s another reason for the tension between them, and passion develops into feelings neither expected. But Savarin must still fortify Tournai’s magical barrier, and his only solution endangers both him and the royal family.

ISBN: 978-1-63477-852-7

Product Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/the-sorcerers-guardian-by-antonia-aquilante-7765-b

Reviewer: Shorty 

Review: Savarin is a powerful sorcerer sent on a mission to find the weaknesses in the protection spells surrounding Tournai and determine how they came to be that way. What he does not expect is for the prince to assign someone to go with him as protection. 

Loriat is the captain of the royal guard tasked, much to his displeasure, in protecting Savarin on his journey. The Captain thinks Savarin is arrogant and standoffish. But he is still attracted to him.

The first 100 pages is basically these two men ignoring one another yet expressing their thoughts for the readers. I find I did not connect with either character as the story progressed. The so called strong feelings each expressed I did not believe. Caring for one another yes. But love? No.

I loved the plot of the book. The protective spells that surround Tournai are weak in spots and Savarin is tasked to come up with a way to fix them. The way they are explained was fascinating and complex. I have to admit I cared more about the spells than the characters themselves.

There is a lot of drama and angst in this book between the two MC’s. The mystery surrounding the protection spells and what was happening to them pulled me into the story as I read more. All in all it was a good read.