by Dawn Chartier / Released March 14, 2025

I received an ARC of The Fallen Guardian by Dawn Chartier, and I have to admit, I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I did. I picked it up based on the blurb and thought, “Why not?” But it wasn’t until after I finished that I realized this wasn’t a random entry in the middle of a series—it was the first book in a brand-new series. And while that’s exciting, it also posed some challenges as I went through the story.

Plot Summary:
The Fallen Guardian introduces Gracyn, a woman who’s lost everything after a brutal murder takes her family. Living on the streets, she joins a group of vigilantes known as the Inciters. They seek out and dispense their own justice on people who have evaded the legal system.

Gracyn’s life takes a turn when she encounters Lucien, an Angel of Death (also known as a Fallen Guardian), sent to track down and eliminate the Inciters. After a tense confrontation, Lucien doesn’t kill her but instead captures her to bring her to his kind—the Seraphs—to study her. What follows is a complicated and uneasy alliance as more truths are revealed, and Gracyn realizes that perhaps she and Lucien aren’t as different as they thought.

What I Liked:
• I’ll admit, I was hooked right from the start. The concept of a street-smart protagonist joining vigilantes to take down corrupt criminals and encountering supernatural beings along the way was intriguing.
• Gracyn and Lucien’s relationship had a lot of potential. They started at odds, but their interactions were compelling, and I found myself rooting for them as they grew to trust each other. The side character Drake was a standout for me. He was one of those characters who appeared briefly but made such an impact that I’m already hoping he gets his book. There are a lot of interesting characters on the periphery that left me curious for future installments.
• The book kept my attention, especially as the twists and reveals unfolded. I enjoyed the suspense and the unraveling mystery surrounding the Inciters, the Seraphs, and the greater conflict at play.

What Could Have Been Better:
• While the plot had great potential, I felt like the worldbuilding was lacking. We get snippets of the characters’ backstories, but a lot of important details about the world, the Seraphs, and the Inciters were left underdeveloped. As the first book in a series, I expected a bit more fleshing out of this world, and I’m hoping future books will dive deeper.
• I wanted more depth for both Gracyn and Lucien. Their backstories and motivations were revealed through emotional episodes and fragmented memories, but it felt like we didn’t get a full picture of who they truly were.
• At times, the pacing felt a little off. Some scenes dragged on a bit, especially those focusing on emotional moments or backstory snippets. A bit more action or faster transitions between scenes might have kept the momentum going.

Final Thoughts:
Overall, The Fallen Guardian was an enjoyable read with an intriguing premise and potential for future development. While I appreciated the story and character dynamics, I felt the worldbuilding and character depth could have been more robust. With the way the book sets up future storylines, I’m curious to see where the series goes from here. Drake, in particular, seems like a character with a lot of potential, and I’ll be looking forward to learning more about him in the next book.

If you’re a fan of paranormal fiction, vigilantes, and supernatural thrillers, The Fallen Guardian might be a fun pick for you. It’s a solid start to a series, and I’m hopeful that future installments will explore the world and characters in more depth.

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Would I Recommend It?
Yes, with the hope that future books dive deeper into the world and its characters. If you’re into urban fantasy or paranormal thrillers, this might be your next series!