Guard in the Garden
Summary
Guard in the Garden is a cozy fantasy novel by Z.S. Diamanti. Felton Holden was an elite dwarven warrior when a battle leaves him severely injured and unable to return to duty. Restless, directionless, and haunted Felton takes a job as the sleepy Garome District’s city guard, where the quirky townsfolk offer him more than simple rest.
Assessment
Guard in the Garden is a lightweight, well-written, and charming novel. The worldbuilding is a straightforward fantasy setting loaded with picturesque imagery and warm hearths that Diamanti paints with an expert hand. The characters are both loveable and relatable as they navigate a simple and pleasant plot involving a grumpy tortoise, a beautiful garden, and a pie eating competition. There is a thread of healing from trauma and mental illness woven throughout the story in a way that makes sense and is fitting for both the novel’s content and purpose.
Theologically, the story has solid messages of Christian themes, such as healing, gratitude (and the role that can play in a healing journey), and love (both romantic, familial, and community-based). Novel is immensely clean, with only a few sweet, romantic moments between characters, some slight action and one or two intense themes. There are some some “fantasy curses” that mean nothing in the real world, but other than that there is no coarse language.
Light-o-Meter
Overall — 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Story: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Prose: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Quality: 6 out of 7 Little Lights
Theological Message: 5 out of 7 Little Lights
Age Appropriateness — Appropriate for intended audiences.
Talk
This has to be one of the sweetest stories I’ve encountered. It is exactly what it claims to be: a cozy fantasy novel about healing from trauma and finding a new purpose in life. While the story might sound a little glurge-y, Diamanti is a master of his craft and writes a story that is both simple and tender without being shallow. Felton’s journey through PTSD strikes a good balance of not being so intense the rest of the story can’t support it, while also not being flippant about it. I really appreciated how the story was set up as a whole, the characters were sweet and funny and the plot was quaint, but not without a little action or drama here and there. The worldbuilding was really excellent; Diamanti did a great job of providing the reader with just enough detail to give them a picture of the Garome District, but without bogging down the story.
While the story doesn’t have a lot in terms of overt theology — there’s a brief reference to the Maker, but that’s about as far as it goes — it does take a stroll through the concepts of love of various kinds, community, purpose, and worth, which I both appreciated and enjoyed. Like the PTSD thread, none of these topics are heavier than the story’s easy plot and setting can handle, but each are looked at with a diligent eye. I think one of my absolute favorite parts of the book was how it valued familial love just as much as romantic love; if not more so.
Where to Enjoy
Z.S. Diamanti Website: Guard in the Garden (Paperback) – Z.S. Diamanti
Barnes & Noble: Guard in the Garden: A Cozy Fantasy by Z S Diamanti, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
Books-a-Million: Guard in the Garden : A Cozy Fantasy by Z. S. Diamanti
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