The Queen’s Bodyguard – Past Midnight Book Reviews & More

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice Rating: 🌶️.5

Title: The Queen’s Bodyguard

Author: Lauren Blackwood

Format: eBook (NetGalley)

Pages: 320

Publication Date: 8/18/26

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Categories: Fantasy, Romance

Disclaimer: **I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to Delacorte Press for giving me a chance to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

In a matriarchal society with nature-based powers, Queen Theora Umbra is the new, unexpected ruler of the thriving Aranean colony. Her predecessor was assassinated by a rival queen, igniting a year-long war. To finally bring peace, Theora must now grudgingly engage in diplomacy with an unscrupulous enemy.

But peace talks mean no armor or weapons, and Theora has no intention of following her predecessor to the grave. To protect herself, she needs a weapon of a different sort—a bodyguard. But the only way to bring one along without suspicion is to marry one. She quickly selects Argos, a prickly and formidable Warrior with a fearsome reputation, to be her new husband. Once peace is secured, she can easily annul the marriage, and they can go their separate ways.

But like all Warriors, Argos’s ruthless tendencies can only be tempered by dominant will and powerful magic . . . magic that Theora lacks. With the help of a trusted advisor who knows her secret, Theora might just be able to assert her command over Argos and get through peace negotiations alive. But she doesn’t expect to feel so affected by Argos’s protective personality. Pretending to be married and in love is not nearly as difficult as pretending she doesn’t desperately want him—all of him.

The Queen’s Bodyguard unleashes a torrent of blazing romance, set against a vibrant fantasy world with webs of corruption and sexy scheming.

Content Warning: power dynamics, violence

+ I thought this was a unique story. Queen Theora needs protection for peace talks that would last 2 weeks and she decides the best way to get that is to marry a Warrior. Warriors are genetically more aggressive that Dociles and even have magic but there is a way to deal with Warriors – through commands which makes for very interesting dynamics between her and her chosen Warrior, Argos.

+~ This is a quick read with light world building so though I got through it quick, I can’t say I connected much to any of the characters. Also because there isn’t much world building I didn’t feel like I got a good grasp of the magic system. I just needed more. It’s an easy read though.

+~ The romance is basically a two week relationship so it is insta-lust and insta-love. Theora is Queen and Argos is a proud Warrior. The power dynamics show Theora in control but there are clearly times, especially when Argos takes control, that makes her feel a type of way, so that was very interesting. There is a hint of maybe a love triangle in the mix with Theora’s best friend Apollo but it’s not anything that becomes a huge conflict between them.

Final Thoughts:

I think the most interesting thing about this book was the power dynamics between Theora and Argos. I would have loved more world-building and even more depth to the characters so I could connect to them. I did like the political intrigue and it’s a quick read.

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