TL;DR Review: A cozy, heartwarming fantasy story that does a wonderful job of exploring PTSD and finding a purpose in post-military life.
Synopsis:
Embark on a wholesome journey of healing and self-discovery. A cozy fantasy tale of forging new friendships and overcoming fears. A quiet quest of family bonds and budding romance.
From dragon fire to garden flowers …
Felton Holdum spent his entire life training to become one of Galium’s elite dwarven warriors. When a bloody battle leaves him injured, he has no choice but to move into his eccentric twin aunts’ quaint home in the town’s quiet Garome District.
With his life of military service seemingly over, the captain of the city guard gives Felton his only chance at a fresh start in the new life he never wanted.
But when a human woman barges through his front door, the grumpy dwarf starts to wonder if there is more to life than war. The sunshine woman invites him to visit her garden, where Felton gains a new nemesis and a new purpose in life.
Take a walk through the garden and see what magic awaits.
Come enjoy the hospitality of the whimsical Garome District. Meet new friends as you sample new breads at the bakery, play a game of Castle Brick at the tavern, and taste homemade pies during the annual pie baking contest at the Fall Festival.
“Virgin River meets The Hobbit” in this heartwarming, feel-good fantasy.
Full Review:
I’ve read Zac’s Stone and Sky series and thought I was familiar with what the author could do story-wise. Boy was I wrong!
Where Stone and Sky is a classic fantasy adventure, Guards in the Garden is cozy, comforting, and heartwarming.
The story follows Felton, a dwarf sidelined by a leg injury that keeps him from riding his garhawk (panther creature with bat-like wings, a very cool beast type!) or being of much use in the dwarven military. After kicking around aimlessly and feeling useless, he finds himself recruited into the city guard. His beat: the pleasant, quiet Garome District, home to bakers, glassmakers, smiths, and, most importantly, a certain lovely human gardener woman and her adorable daughter.
The story follows Felton’s journey to finding a purpose in his life after the military, falling in love, and building a sense of belonging in his community with people who care for him and are grateful for his service.
Given that it was written by a former serviceman, Guards in the Garden felt like an intensely personal story. The experiences and struggles Felton faced could very well have come from the author’s own past, and because of that, it felt so genuine to the character but also so real to life.
The world was colorful and compelling, the descriptions of food made me very hungry, and I loved getting to meet all the quirky and entertaining characters that filled this book. And I’m not ashamed to say that there were a few moments when I found myself getting choked up because the emotion was so visceral and real.
Guards in the Garden is an excellent story that plants itself firmly as cozy tale with immense depth and a message that deserves to be shared far and wide. I absolutely enjoyed it and can only hope there’s more in this vein to come, because the author’s work absolutely shone bright here.
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