Book Review: Guard in the Garden by Z.S. Diamanti

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Genre: ✨ Cozy Non-magical Fantasy | Age: 👩🏽 Adult (17+) | Buy: Bookshop.org | ⭐See star rating


Felton spent his entire life working toward being a warrior. After an accident and an injury that won’t heal, Felton has to figure out how to find meaning in life outside of being a warrior.

👮🏼‍♂ Wholesome and Important

Apart from the introduction, this book is a calm and cozy ramble through a sweet little section of town in need of a district guard. Felton lives with his aunts in this part of town and spends the first part of the book waiting to heal so he can go back to war.

However, he is forced to accept a slower pace of life and find new ways to serve. This is the story of him finding purpose outside the intensity of training and fighting.

Even though this book was at times too slow for my tastes, I kept going because it is an important read. I want to understand the struggles of my fellow humans and this was a great way to understand those who used to find their identity on the battlefield.

👧🏼 The Sweetest Characters

The relationships are the special ingredients of this book.

From the aunts who love to share game-winning strategies to the giant tortoise in the garden to the local shop owners to the little girl who can’t stop climbing trees in the garden, the relationships are what spur on Felton’s growth.

There are also interesting dynamics between dwarves, humans, and halflings. Prejudices are dismantled and community is built in the best ways possible.

🧌 Discovering Blessings

Felton’s journey is really one of counting his blessings. I loved his attitude about life in general and how he didn’t stay stuck in his disappointment.

I love that he found a way to be useful even if it didn’t look like it did before.

I love that through helping others and allowing others to help him, he discovered who he was underneath it all, which was a pretty awesome dwarf.

🦉Who Would Like This Book

You will probably like this book if you like:

  • cozy fantasy
  • slow-burn, squeaky-clean romance
  • animal characters
  • looking at the transition of a veteran from war to civilian life.

I hope you enjoy this one!

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🤖 Always written and edited without the use of AI.

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