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A review by literarialuminaria
The Guard of Adriane by Audrey De Leon
3.0
I hardly think of it as a betrayal. It's a stupid rule. After all, you can't help but fall in love with your guard - forced proximity and all.
TWs: disordered eating, body dysmorphia,
The prequel to Audrey De Leon’s The Royals of Adriane series, “The Guard of Adriane," takes us into the world of Adriane, where Eric Sinclair, an orphan with a troubled past, becomes the bodyguard of Princess Diana amid looming threats. Sounds intriguing, right? Unfortunately, while the premise held promise, the execution wasn’t quite as thrilling as I thought it would be. The story introduces a forbidden romance between Eric and Diana, but things get a bit awkward and unrealistic. The characters’ interactions feel forced and almost lack authenticity, and there are some inconsistencies in character development and believability during certain events, leading to moments that feel contrived or unrealistic. Descriptions, at times, verge on excessive, going into unnecessary details that do not significantly contribute to the narrative progression, and the drama occasionally goes overboard. For example, some behaviors and reactions, particularly those of Diana, sometimes seem exaggerated or implausible, impacting the story’s credibility. The pacing? Kind of like a rollercoaster – slow in some parts and then racing to wrap up toward the end. And let’s talk about those intimate scenes… as much as I tried to like them, they just weren’t my cup of tea or fit the flow of the novel. Overall, “The Guard of Adriane” is a good idea with a bit of a shaky delivery, though may be a fun read for those interested in books about royalty, downstairs/upstairs-esque storylines, and forbidden romance.
Bookstagram | Lnk.bio
TWs: disordered eating, body dysmorphia,
Spoiler
death, poisoningThe prequel to Audrey De Leon’s The Royals of Adriane series, “The Guard of Adriane," takes us into the world of Adriane, where Eric Sinclair, an orphan with a troubled past, becomes the bodyguard of Princess Diana amid looming threats. Sounds intriguing, right? Unfortunately, while the premise held promise, the execution wasn’t quite as thrilling as I thought it would be. The story introduces a forbidden romance between Eric and Diana, but things get a bit awkward and unrealistic. The characters’ interactions feel forced and almost lack authenticity, and there are some inconsistencies in character development and believability during certain events, leading to moments that feel contrived or unrealistic. Descriptions, at times, verge on excessive, going into unnecessary details that do not significantly contribute to the narrative progression, and the drama occasionally goes overboard. For example, some behaviors and reactions, particularly those of Diana, sometimes seem exaggerated or implausible, impacting the story’s credibility. The pacing? Kind of like a rollercoaster – slow in some parts and then racing to wrap up toward the end. And let’s talk about those intimate scenes… as much as I tried to like them, they just weren’t my cup of tea or fit the flow of the novel. Overall, “The Guard of Adriane” is a good idea with a bit of a shaky delivery, though may be a fun read for those interested in books about royalty, downstairs/upstairs-esque storylines, and forbidden romance.
Bookstagram | Lnk.bio