As captain of the king’s guard, Kerric should have laid down his life for the royal family. Now, the king and his heirs lie dead. Kerric deserves death, too, yet the court mage has another punishment in mind. For their failure on the fateful day an enemy invasion killed the king, Captain Kerric and his men will forever guard the castle as gargoyles, both as a curse and as a warning. His one chance for redemption is to put a rightful heir on the throne. How can that happen when there are no living heirs, and he’s encased in stone?
Eron doesn’t remember much about his time before being rescued by notorious highwayman Lord Night and taught to live the life of a noble by day and brigand by night. There’s much more to Lord Night than meets the eye and much more to Eron’s destiny than purses of gold and nightly conquests.
A mysterious mage appears, saying it’s time for Eron to return home, overthrow an evil usurper, and take his rightful place.
You will know Eden Winters by her distinctive white plumage and exuberant cry of “Hey, y’all!” in a Southern US drawl so thick it renders even the simplest of words unrecognizable. Watch out, she hugs!
Driven by insatiable curiosity, she possibly holds the world’s record for curriculum changes to the point that she’s never quite earned a degree but is a force to be reckoned with at Trivial Pursuit.
She’s trudged down hallways with police detectives, learned to disarm knife-wielding bad guys, and witnessed the correct way to blow doors off buildings. Her e-mail contains various snippets of forensic wisdom, such as “What would a dead body left in a Mexican drug tunnel look like after six months?” In the process of her adventures, she has written over thirty gay romance novels, lost count of novellas and short stories, has won Rainbow Awards, was a Lambda Awards Finalist, and lives in terror of authorities showing up at her door to question her Internet searches.
When not putting characters in dangerous situations she’s cosplaying for children's charities or hanging out at the farm being a mother, grandmother, and vegetarian.
Her natural habitats are hardware stores and on the backs of motorcycles.
Eden Winters’ latest novel, Immortal Sentry, is a Swords and Sorcery fantasy adventure featuring a young prince, hidden away after his uncle usurps the throne, and the captain of the guard who is cursed to be a gargoyle – a guard forever - until the true heir to the kingdom returns to take his rightful place.
The story gets off to a running start as ten-year-old Eron, the youngest son of King Lothan of Hisar, is woken in the night by his faithful tutor and hurried away into the care of the stable master, Hentri. Eron doesn’t fully understand what’s going on at first and his fear and confusion are palpable; then he begins to understand, taking in the destruction, the people fleeing in all directions, and the overall chaos, and as he and Hentri make their way into the dense forest, the king’s mage, Miirov, appears and stops them. Hentri is immediately on his guard, but the mage reassures him he means them no harm and, with a few cryptic words about easing pain and dulling horror, erases most of Eron’s memories, saying they will return when the time is right. Eron is told his name is Edry and that he lives in the forest with his father, a woodcutter.
Kerric, the loyal Captain of the Guard, is horrified to realise that his commander has aided Bain, the king’s bastard brother, in his usurpation, but when he and his men refuse to take the oath to the new king, they are sentenced to death. Then the king’s wily mage steps in, explaining that Bain has allowed him to mete out their punishment and they are instead sentenced to a living death, cursed to act as eternal sentinels for Hisar Castle and turned to gargoyles to keep watch from the ramparts forever.
When Bain’s men trace Eron to Hentri’s hut and kill his protector, Eron, who has run away deeper into the forest, is found by the notorious highwayman Lord Night, who takes Eron under his wing and, over the next twelve years, trains him as both accomplice and heir. Lord Night – who is the alter-ego of Baroness Kennestone (Kene) - and his Lordling are the terror of the highway, committing Robin Hood style robberies and giving most of what they take from the wealthy to the poor. Life for the ordinary citizens of Hisar under King Bain has become very hard indeed, and people starve while the castle hosts extravagant parties.
Eron has no idea of his true identity until he overhears Miisov talking to Kene about the need for the rightful heir of Hisar to return to the castle and his take his place on the throne, and it’s only when Kene argues that “his rightful place is here”, that Eron realises they must be talking about him. But – what? He, a prince? It can’t be true. And even if it is, he has no wish to be king. He’s more than happy as he is, heir to a wealthy and noble title, able to live life as he chooses. But if he really is king, he knows he can’t remain in hiding forever.
When Kerric realises he’s been freed from his stone prison he knows it can only mean one thing – Prince Eron has returned. He had believed that his men would all be freed with him, but he is the only one of them to have returned to human form – and it turns out that at the first rays of the sun, he becomes a gargoyle once more.
Immortal Sentry is an engaging story of intrigue, betrayal, and good triumphing over evil. Eron finds himself in the middle of another potential usurpation – this time, to restore the rightful king – aided by several foreign powers and his sister, Lessa, who was married off to a cruel, much older man as part of a political alliance after their father and older brother were killed. The relationship between brother and sister is nicely done, and I liked that Lessa is a force to be reckoned with; no matter what she’s been through, she comes out fighting in more ways than one.
I liked the fantasy/adventure element of the cursed soldier, the eponymous immortal sentry, and the twists and turns of the plotline that sees Kerric and Eron working together to depose Bain and take back the throne. The action scenes are well-written, the worldbuilding is good (although some of the magical shenanigans is glossed over) and the characters are well-drawn and likeable. Kerric is burdened by guilt for failing in his duty to protect King Lothan and his family, and for not realising that his commander was planning to betray them all, while Eron is a jaunty jack-the-lad type who has flourished in his life as lordling and highwayman. The major secondary characters – Miirov and Kene - have depth and complexity, too, as Kene struggles with her destiny while Miirov is running out of time to fulfiil his.
I admit that I’d expected there to be more to the romance in the story, but I was disappointed because it’s peripheral and insta lust-y. Eron and Kerric don’t meet face-to-face until around halfway through, and the chemistry between them is lukewarm at best. Eron – who is now twenty-two – is something of a manwhore (non-discrimatory – he’ll shag anyone if they’re pretty and willing) and yet he decides it’s time to abandon his libertine ways from almost the first time he sees Kerric, and while Kerric certainly finds Eron attractive, he doesn’t see how he can possibly be consort to a king. Plus - and this may be a dealbreaker for some – Kerric remembers spending time with Eron and playing games with him when Eron was a kid. (Kerric was twenty-seven when he was cursed, so he’s technically only five years older than Eron in the present day of the story.) An everyone-gets-what-they-want-and-deserve ending is neatly arrived at, however – albeit a little easily.
If you’re up for a well-done fantasy adventure story with lots of magic and intrigue and a low-key romantic sub-plot (and don’t mind insta-love), then I’d definitely suggest checking out Immortal Sentry. But if you’re after a full-blown fantasy romance, I’d probably look elsewhere.
I love fantasy stories, especially when there is magic involved and we are going with the underdog. So this was perfect for me and I really enjoyed it.
Kerric is captain of the Kings guard, who is betrayed and has to live as a gargoyle till the rightful heir comes.
Eron is the last male heir and was rescued during the betrayal but doesn't remember his upbringing and past
I liked the characters and would have liked to spent more time with them. The storyline was great but for me, the flow of the story was not right And in the end, some things were just a bit too easy.
Nevertheless, this was a well written fantasy story, with an interesting cast which I really enjoyed
This is a well written, gripping tale that will have you feeling every emotion as our various heroes plan their vengeance, reunite with friends and family, discover unexpected allies, fall in love, and make the ultimate sacrifice. There is danger, violence, action, suspense, betrayal, twists, secrets, hidden identities, redemption, loyalty, magic reunions, found family, love, and new beginnings. A devastating betrayal has heartbreaking consequences that last for a dozen years before there is a chance to set things right. There are plenty of secondary characters who play pivotal roles in making vengeance possible and add depth to this story. Our main heroes are Eron and Kerric. Eron's identity was hidden from him while he was trained until he was ready to know who he truly is. Kerric was Captain of the King's guard, he felt he failed his King and was ready for his life to be taken, but a mage with more than a few tricks up his sleeve and a hidden agenda, turned him and his remaining men into immortal gargoyles who would stand sentry - unknown to them, it would only be until the rightful heir returned. When Eron and Kerric meet in person for the first time, they feel a deep draw to one another. It doesn't take long to realize their connection is more than just sizzling chemisty, that they would do anything for one another. Love comes quickly, but genuinely for them, but there are things that need to be dealt with first. Each man is willing to sacrifice himself for their plans and for one another, but in the end they get their hard earned, heartwarming HEA. I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it.
I received an ARC from GRR, this is my unbiased, honest review
I would like to thank GRR for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.
Stg a little Prince on the run, being protected by his servants after a coup kills his entire family, gets me in the feels every single time! Revenge regicide srsly gets my blood pumping because i live for the moment when the heir in hiding retakes their throne, while exacting bloody justice on the usurper king for killing off the true line of succession!
And while this was more plotty than sexy romance, it was still fun and flirty and hot when Eron and Kerric got their throbbing hearts on! Immortal Sentry was really more than just a romance, because the tumult of the past and the ramifications of magic to salvage the royal line in secret, played a huge role in the way this book ended with HEAs that made me happy! Shout out to the royal mage, Miisov, who was pretty awesome, and who bore the heavy cost of wielding magic that ensured Eron's reassuming the right to rule! Just the amount of suffering everyone had to endure, while waiting for retribution to be meted out was pretty sad at times to think about ngl.
So i really enjoyed this, but if you're looking for a sexy read you'll have to look elsewhere! This was a story that was more focused on the fantasy elements and the plot machinations of returning the rightful ruler to the throne. And while Immortal Sentry had some moments that choked me up a few times, and featured a romance that was more of a soft sweet addition than an all out narrative that's heavy on the spice, i thought this was an easy read, and compelling from beginning to end.
Kerric and Eron have a history as a royal guard and a prince. Treachery steals their future, cursing Kerric to a magical life-in-death and sending Eron into hiding. How they end up together after twelve years apart and how they rediscover each other and reclaim the kingdom stolen from Eron's family is the subject of this riveting fantasy. The levels of intrigue, both the good and the evil kind, provide high levels of suspense, and the resolution of the different threads of conspiracy, culminating in the return of the rightful heir to the throne and the breaking of a 12-year curse is a satisfying conclusion to this great story. I love how the affection between them, established when Eron was a boy, is quickly revitalized and built into something deeper, as befitting two men, not a child and a man.
However, I couldn't ignore the hiccup that strained my suspension of disbelief a bit too far. How did Crau know that Kerric was the gargoyle who disappeared at night? We're never given any inkling that he knew which gargoyle was which. Additionally, the sequence of events at the end, beginning with the thwarting of Bain's plan to kill Eron's sister and her children as well as to kill her husband King Selin, and ending with the deaths of Bain and Crau and the abdication of Selin, all feel quite rushed, after the more measured pace of the rest of the story. And I didn't like that Kerric had to give up his job to play consort to Eron. Yes, he said he didn't care, but I don't believe that was reward enough for everything he'd done for his country. It closes the story for Eron but leaves me feeling that Kerric has been sort of cheated out of a real choice.
Kerric was willing to die for his King but was cursed with something worse. Or was it? He has spent the last twelve years standing sentry on the king's castle, watching life go by, wanting revenge for his king and for himself. Help comes from an unlikely source.
Eron is raised as Edry, the heir to Lady Kene. He also masquerades as a highwayman. He steals from the rich and gives it to the poor. He doesn't remember much of his first ten years but he's about to find out who he really is.
Kerric and Eron band together to avenge the king and their fallen friends. They find out who is a true friend and who are the enemies. Kerric is still a sentry during the day and unable to help but at night he becomes who he once was. Others are banning together to help these two in the quest to oust the traitors. Eron is destined to become the next king and Kerric knows he isn't ment to be a king's consort. Will these two find a middle ground? Will they be triumphant in their quest to take down the pretenders?
This is a really good fantasy/romance. The world and character building is really good. The characters have good chemistry. The sexy times are hot! The mystery of the gargoyles is interesting. The story held my interest from page one. The story has all the feels from sad to happy. I can honestly say I shed a few tears. I like the ending and how the storylines where wrapped up. I highly recommend everyone grab a copy and enjoy.
Another great sword and sorcery story from Eden Winters. If you enjoyed Warrior King you don't want to miss this one. It's a very well written fast paced story of loss, betrayal, loyalty, redemption, revenge and love. Eron was saved as a child after the massacre at his father's castle. His family gone, he was raised by mysterious Lord Night and he doesn't remember who he really is. Twelve years later he learned his saviour's trade well - which is robbing the rich and give to the poor. He's content with his life, but glimpses of memories keep coming back and bothering him. Kerric was a captain of the king's guard and was sentenced to a faith worse than death. Along with his men he was turned into a stone gargoyle. He can't move or speak. He's loyal to the core and he feels that he somehow failed his king wich is eating him alive. His only pastime is watching the life go by from the top of the castle, so he's intrigued and somewhat entertained by endeavours of Lord Night and Lordling Night which he's able to observe from his perch. We're talking about imaginative world of course but the setting is historical, maybe you could place it somewhere in 15th century, so I loved the way the author incorporated archaic language and expressions into the story. It certainly adds to general vibe in a very good way.
Good news - the second book in her Warriors series (Warrior King was the first) is coming. Keep your eyes peeled.
I'm going to be honest, upon starting this story I was immediately pulled in by the characters or the story. It just didn't flow smoothly, in my opinion. However, I kept reading because I've read a book previously by the author and enjoyed it immensely so I wanted to really give this story a chance.
I'm glad I kept reading. The pace did eventually pick up and once it did the story flowed smoothly from there. The aspect of Kerric and his men being cursed and forced to be Gargoyles was quite unique, and reading Kerric's POV whilst he was stone was interesting. Kerric is a sweetheart who yearns for him and his men to become humans once more, and to exact revenge on the ones who betrayed them and their king.
Eron is bold, sassy, confident, and talented. You could tell that Knee truly took him under her wing and made sure he flourished under disguise. Eron slowly discovering who he is, and who his family really was, I found to be written well.
I will say that this felt focused more on the plotline of Eron reclaiming the throne and exacting revenge more so than on the romance. There was some romance between him and Kerric but that wasn't a huge component of the story itself. I wish there was more love and more romance, but overall a decent story.
I'm happy Lessa, Kerric, Eron, and Kene ended up happy and where they rightfully belonged.
Eron/Edry, a prince stolen away while his family was murdered. The mage who saved him had an ulterior motive. He was rescued by a woman who became a mother to him (also with ulterior motives). She taught him everything he needed to be the king he would become and also how to be a most adept highwayman.
Kerric was a dedicated soldier. Sworn to protect the king, royal family, and castle. Betrayed in the most evil of ways, he lost everything. Him and his loyal soldiers were turned into gargoyles by the same mage. Placed along the rampart walls for eternity, he was sickened by the debauchery the false king subjected the kingdom too. Helpless, he could do nothing but watch.
I really liked the swords and sorcery aspect of the book. The book was full of treachery, evil characters, and above all the sense of righteous revenge. The author always creates characters that are true to themselves, whether they are good or bad.
While there was romance in the story I didn’t feel it was center stage. Kind of romance light. While the story was about vengeance it centered more on what the aftermath would be.
I would of liked to see more Eron as a highwayman. I didn’t think that part of story got enough attention. That training is what led him back to his former life.
Kerric, as captain of the king’s guard, knew he deserved to die after the royal family was killed through betrayal. However, the court mage cursed Kerric and his men to spend their life as a gargoyle, guarding the castle from the ramparts. The curse can be broken if the rightful heir is restored to the throne. Unknown to him, Eron is his one chance, but he has been living as Lord Edry by day and at night as the apprentice of highwayman Lord Night called Lordling Night. His memory had been altered and he has no clue that he is the heir to throne.
The romance between Kerric and Eron is very low key. They did not get back together until half way through. Kerric was able to leave his Gargoyle self behind at night but returned during the day. The plot, unlike the romance, is very high key. With betrayals at every turn, Bain, Eron’s uncle, became king. Now new changes are afoot to restore the rightful king. Care had to be taken to make sure everything was in order to successfully remove Bain. It was interesting to watch as everything fell into place. The plot and action were well-done. The end solution was perfect. And the romance did come together. For me, this was an enjoyable read and I hope it will be for you as well. I received a complimentary copy of this book. This review is my own personal opinion.
Independent reviewer for GRR, I was gifted my copy of this book.
This book is the very definition of a slow build romance! I mean, for 12 years, Kerric is made to stand guard over the castle, waiting for a true heir to come back to the castle, if they ever do.
Eron was whisked away, while the rest of his family is killed. 12 years is a long time, but he has grown to a young man who can hold his own. Finding out he is the true heir, was a shock. That his life up to now has been part of a long LONG game plan, another shock. Finding out Kerric is the gargoyle on the castle, another! But things have a way of sorting themselves out, and reuniting with his sister was the best thing.
There is a long plan in this book. Eron's life after he leaves the castle is all but to teach him how to be a king, but in ways he didn't realise. I loved how THAT little bit played out, and how that changes things for both Eron and his sister.
The world building is dark and deadly. There is much betrayal and back stabbing here, and it did take me a bit to keep up. NOT because of the book, my brain is fried with a ton of other stuff right now.
I apologise for the late and short review, but I really did enjoy this.
Immortal Sentry is another wonderful sword & sorcery from Eden Winters. Prince Eron barely escaped his father's palace when his Great Uncle Bain overthrew the rightful king. He becomes Edry, and is rescued by the noblewoman who loved his brother. By day, he's Kene's ward and heir. At night, he is Lordling Night, apprentice highwayman to Kene's Lord Night. He's raised to become the weapon to overthrow Bain. Kerric failed in his defense of his king. From Captain of the guard to cursed gargoyle. His punishment by the former king's mage was the only way the mage could protect him and his men. His curse will be broken when he sets the rightful king, Eron, on the throne. This book has it all. Sorcery, sword play, betrayal. Gorgeous, brawny men. Le swoon. All my favorite things. Eron and Kerric just sizzle through the pages. Great secondaries. Excellent worldbuilding. This was a fast read as I was totally sucked into the book's world. I received an advanced copy of this book and this is my review.
4.5 stars An engrossing story with treachery, magic, hidden identities, alter egos wrapped into an intriguing plot.
The story starts with Eron, the prince of Hisar being spirited away after his father (king) and brother (crown prince) are eliminated by his uncle. In hiding with a faithful servant, he is taken in by a colourful character- Kene aka Lord Night. Meanwhile, the soldiers who were tasked to look out for the royal family are punished in a unique way. This paves the way for the rightful heir to the throne to be brought back - it will take 200+ pages to make this happen - but well worth the journey.
When Kerric, a royal guard punished for his failure to protect the family and Eron meet, there is a shift, esp. with Eron, who was bit of a player (ok, a lot of a player 😉) There is a lot that goes on in the story, all is not as it seems, the bad guys get their just desserts and the couple get their HEA. Thoroughly enjoyed it!
Eron is hustled from the castle in disguise as the royal family is being dispatched and replaced. He is living a different life in the care of the Night Lord and is noble by day and a brigand by night. He does not have memory of what happened that changed the course of his life until he overhears. He is not anxious to return to take his rightful place and lead his people but if he does not they will continue to suffer under the counterfeit king. Kerric is a member of the king's guard and because they were not able to protect the royal family they are cursed to be gargoyles who watch over the castle. This story is filled with intrigue because of what happened to the royals, the hiding of the only living heir and his bid to return to the throne to bring better days back to his people. I enjoyed the romance between Kerric and Eron as a part of his journey back to who he was meant to be. This was the first story in a series and was intriguing and left me wanting to read more. I received an ARC from GRR and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is a tale of betrayal, deceit, sorcery, restoration, and love. It is action-packed and well-paced. Eron is a prince who, as a boy, survived the murder and overthrow of his father, the king, and his brothers. Spirited away by loyal servants, his mind was clouded by a mage to help him forget and to allow him time to grow up.
Kerric was Captain of the Royal Guard, who was betrayed by his commander, who was complicit in the murder of the true king. Now, the kingdom is run by an usurper and Kerric is cursed by the royal mage to stand as a gargoyle. Frozen in stone, he watches everything that happens, but can do nothing. His curse stands until the true heir is restored to the throne.
As Eron becomes a man, it is time for his memories to be awakened and for him to follow his destiny. Along the way, he meets Kerric, whose curse is partially lifted only in nighttime hours. Their attraction is strong and their encounters are passionate. Against the odds, can these two find their forever love? I highly recommend this book for anyone who is SFF romance fan.
Immortal Sentry kicks off with a lot of excitement, opening as Eron is being awakened in the middle of the attack on the palace. He is only a child, so he doesn’t really understand what’s going on, but he is being sneaked out to save his life. It is a great start to the book and thrusts us right into the action. We learn about how Eron has grown up and then jump ahead in time to present day, where he is a highwayman along with his mentor, stealing from the rich to help the suffering poor.
One thing I particularly enjoyed here are the strong female characters and I liked how they were showcased. It call comes together nicely for Eron and Kerrick and for the quest to retake the throne. Overall, I found this one had an interesting and unusual set up and it is an appealing fantasy that I think readers will enjoy.
I do love a good tale of swords and sorcery. This is my first Eden Winters book - thank you GRR for the ARC, and I really enjoyed it. This is a tale of betrayal, found family, redemption and magic. Edry/Eron is the young prince rescued at the last moment from his evil uncle, usurper to the throne. Lord Night is the highwayman who rescues the young prince and takes him under his wing. Meanwhile the Captain of the Guard, having failed in his duties to protect the crown has been turned to stone, forever to guard the castle as a gargoyle - or until the rightful king sits the throne. I loved Edry, he is ruthless, irreverent, but also a good soul. Kerric is the hero who believes he failed his king. Throw in an evil King, corrupt and conniving courtiers and mages with an agenda and you have all the elements needed for a ripping yarn. Great world building, excellent characters lead to action, adventures, a little bit of steam and a happily ever after
This is a story about magic, treachery, finding family, and redemption. Edry/Eron is the young prince who narrowly escaped being usurped from the throne by his villainous uncle. The young prince is rescued and taken under the wing of Lord Night, a highwayman. The Captain of the Guard, who was supposed to safeguard the crown but failed miserably, has been turned to stone and will remain a gargoyle outside the castle until the real monarch takes his place. Edry is a wonderful guy who is both merciless and irreverent; I adored him. The hero who feels he let his lord down is Kerric. You have all the makings of a riveting tale when you include a villainous king, dishonest and conspiratorial courtiers, and plotting mages. Action, adventures, a touch of steam, and a happily ever after are the results of superb world building and outstanding characters.I received a copy of this book from Gay Romance Reviews, and this is my honest review.
This was a little slow for me to get into at first. There's a lot of detail with setting the scene for each of the characters individually and we spend I'd say at least half the story with Eron not actually anywhere near Kerric. It didn't have as much of a romantic element as I was expecting but there was plenty happening regarding the wider plot and the fantasy/adventure aspects of the book were strong. I was glad that the secondary characters were well developed and I liked that the story ended happily. It isn't that I didn't like the pair together (because I did), I just didn't quite feel as invested in their romance compared to their task of getting Eron back to his rightful role. It's a good fantasy story but it just isn't heavy on the romance between the pair. If this is more your thing then I'd say to give it a try because it is very well written.
Robin Hood, gets an upgrade. For his and his fellow King's Guards failure to save the King and his heirs, Captain Kerric and his men are, enchanted by the mage as Gargoyles to guard the Castle and serve as a warning. Kerric's redemption lies in finding a rightful heir and ensuring he is placed on the throne. Edry/Eron, has a bit of amnesia before the time he is rescued by Lord Night. He complacently lives the lifestyle of nobility by day and a brigand by night. Then a mysterious mage suddenly appears and tells he has a different destiny and it's time for him to fulfill it. Great adventure story of war, betrayals, punishment, intrigue, redemption, accepting the mission, trust and loyalty. Intriguing reading how the pieces fit together. You spend your time rooting for Kerric, hoping everyone makes the best choices/decisions. Good story, nicely done. I received an ARC and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Young Prince Eron/Edry is woken up in the dead of night to the sounds of battle, and the castle besieged. He's hustled away by a loyal servant and handed over to a family member to flee. As they make their way, they're caught, and he's left alone. Suddenly, a figure appears and spirits him off. He becomes the ward of a notorious highway man and learns the trade. At the time of escape, he was magiced to have hazy memories of his true identity in order to protect him and only to be revealed at the right time. Kerric was one of the king's guard and unable to stop the usurper. He and his men were also magiced to become frozen sentinels, gargoyles able to see and hear. He also must wait for the right time to secure the rightful heirs place on the throne. This isn't a romance heavy story. It's absolutely a redemption arc for both. There's lots of fast-paced action, danger, and drama as these two fight side by side to make things right again.
Immortal Sentry was a great action-packed adventure. Eron's and Kerric's lives were strongly connected, and each was brave and good. The majority of this very interesting story focused on the men separately. We watched as Eron was rescued from a kingdom under attack and raised to be both a noble and a highwayman. Royal guard Kerric was cursed into the form of a gargoyle, trapped in stone until the rightful heir returned to take back the crown. The two eventually got together, and while their romance seemed secondary to their plans to right the wrongs done in the past, they did have some wonderful moments. I enjoyed this story immensely. It was full of bravery, sorcery, humor, and heart. I loved that the women here were as tough and dedicated as the men. While I'd have liked a little more romance between Eron and Kerric, I did find it easy to root for them. I can imagine them enjoying their HEA once the battles were over and done, and they were free to live their lives together.
I’ve been a fan of Eden Winters ever since I first read Duet years ago (still my favorite book by this author). Overall, this was an enjoyable read. I loved the premise and thought it was executed well, if a bit too quickly paced. I would’ve liked to have spent a bit more time with young Eron and him learning to be Lordling Night (perhaps that’s just my love of Robin Hood stories talking lol).
I really enjoyed the female characters in this book, specifically Kene and Lessa. I would’ve loved to have gotten more of them or to even have a bit of their POV.
My only complaint is that I could’ve done without Eron’s memory loss. But that’s my personal preference as I really dislike amnesia and memory-based plots. That being said, it didn’t make me dislike the story.
If you’re looking for a book with plenty of treachery and a lovely main couple, I’d recommend this!
This is a great story of great duty and truest love. Kerric feels personally responsible for the fall of the king and his family. While unfounded as you get to know him more it makes sense that he would take his stance. Our prince is saved to avoid a certain death and to be able to come into his own before taking the throne. In a twist of cruel but also redeeming fate, Kerric and his soldiers takes a new form in order to be ready for the ultimate battle. The Prince and his protector are drawn to one another instantly wanting to protect and right the wrongs in their lives. Soon the sparks of protection become so much more and blossom into a full blown passionate love of two unlikely men. But in order to have their well deserved HEA, they just eliminate the threat and murderer in their midst. Kerric and his Prince make an excellent team in this fantasy action slow burn.
This book was fantastic, it had action and adventure, lots of suspense, and an unusual love story that almost doesn’t work out. Throw in magic-induced amnesia, secret passages – you get the idea. I might be making it sound kitschy and trite, but this book is anything but. It’s a thoughtful exploration of duty and family, honor and loyalty. Eron can’t recall who he is, and Kerric believes he should have died rather than end up a gargoyle. Neither knows whom he can trust, and yet they are drawn together to defeat the pretender. I floundered in my attempts to divine the plots and the bad guys, and that more than anything helped me understand how the main characters must be feeling. It is a very talented writer indeed, who can draw me right into the plot alongside their characters. This will not be the last of Eden’s books that I read!
Immortal Sentry is exciting and well written, with excellent world building and character development. The story sucks you in from the very beginning and keeps you invested until the very end. Prince Eron is forced to run for his life when his great uncle Bain takes over his father's throne. A noblewoman raises Eron as a highwayman for the next 12 years, as the court mage Miisov has dulled Eron's memory temporarily. Meanwhile, the King's guards have been turned into gargoyles until a true heir to the throne returns. Captain Kerric is forced to observe the kingdom and the highwaymen from the battlements. His loyalty to the true royal family and his wishes to atone for failing them lead to him assisting Eron to regain his throne. I liked the way the story was resolved and I would happily read other books by Eden Winters. I received an advance review copy for free, and
This is not my first book with Eden Winters but this is my first fantasy romance and it was nice. From the first page, action, violence, tragedy surrounding Eron gets you wrapped up and you can't turn away. Hoping all will be well...hoping for vengeance for the wrongs done to him will eventually come to play. Well its a journey...12 long years but there is a fantastic conclusion. I will say that this would have been OK as a fantasy story because there was little romance... just enough to make it sweet and spicy and keep it entertaining. Since we did have some romance I wished Kerric had more interaction with Eron and his fellow soldiers in arms as gargoyles...but it's all good...I enjoyed it anyway.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
I loved this world. The book starts with Erin being woken up by his tutor and hustled out of the castle. He is brought to the stables to be taken away to safety by the stable master. When the mage took away his memories of who he was, the stable master took him away to hide him. Then an attack came to the stable master and he was saved by someone else. Kerric is the captain of the guard for his King. When betrayed by his commander, he and his men are turned into gargoyles until the correct time. Fast forward 12 years, Miisov is back and told Kene that Eron must take his rightful place a king. The story starts from there with political intrigue, action, heat and chemistry between the MCs. Great world building and cannot wait to read more from this author.
Eden Winters has done some amazing world building in this story about the royal family of a country being overthrown and Eron, the youngest son’s efforts to get the throne back. The main male couple is Eron and Kerric, the captain of the king’s guard who has been turned into a stone gargoyle as punishment for failing the royal family. There is a lot of interesting politics (not something I normally say) and different plans and plots happening and Ms Winters does a great job of keeping things interesting right till the end of the book. A bit like the blurb from The Princess Bride this book has it all, highwaymen, royals, bad guys, good guys, soldiers, magic and more. Sorry no Dread Pirate Roberts though.
There’s a nice blend here of fantasy, action, intrigue, machinations, and romance. There are familiar tropes aplenty (royal on the run, revenge, rightful rulership, etc) and Eron and Kerric are interesting characters in their own rights and have solid chemistry together. This is definitely a plot-driven story but the romance has its shining moments and it’s easy to get caught up in the narrative, which is enhanced by the author’s clear and readable prose style and solid sense of pacing. There are some strong supporting characters as well, and all in all it makes for an enjoyable read.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.