What I adore about 'Guards! Guards!' is how it takes fantasy’s grandiosity and rubs its nose in the dirt. The 'lost heir' trope? Carrot’s technically one, but his royal blood is treated like an awkward trivia fact. The 'ancient prophecy'? It’s recited by a bunch of inept cultists who can’t even get the wording right. Pratchett’s genius is in showing how these tropes fall apart when real people—like Nobby Nobbs, who’s probably not entirely human—get involved. The dragon isn’t just a monster; it’s a symbol of human stupidity, and the Watch’s 'heroism' is just them being slightly less terrible than the alternatives. It’s a love letter to fantasy, but one that winks at all its silliness.
'Guards! Guards!' is like watching fantasy tropes trip over their own cloaks. The 'brave warrior' is a drunk, the 'wise mentor' is a manipulative tyrant, and the 'magical Creature' is a bureaucratic nightmare. Pratchett’s parody works because it’s not mean-spirited—it’s like he’s laughing with the genre, not at it. The book’s heart is in characters like Vimes, who’s too tired to be a hero but does it anyway, and that’s what makes the parody so satisfying.
Pratchett doesn’t just parody fantasy tropes in 'Guards! Guards!'—he dissects them with a smirk. The whole 'secret society summons a dragon' plot feels like a bunch of D&D players biting off more than they can Chew, and the dragon itself is less a majestic terror and more a scaly liability. The Watch, especially Vimes, embodies the antithesis of the 'heroic knight.' He’s a cynical, hungover mess who stumbles into saving the day almost by accident. Even the city’s ruler, the Patrician, is a parody of the 'wise old king'—instead, he’s a Machiavellian chessmaster who’d rather outthink threats than swing a sword. The book’s humor comes from how it grounds these tropes in grubby reality, where heroes have bad boots and dragons have contractual obligations.
Terry Pratchett's 'Guards! Guards!' is a brilliant send-up of classic fantasy tropes, and what makes it so special is how it twists them into something hilariously human. Take the 'Chosen one' trope—usually some noble Hero destined to save the kingdom. Here, we get Carrot, a six-foot-tall dwarf (by adoption) who’s painfully literal and thinks rules are meant to be followed. The book pokes fun at the idea of destiny by making him both absurdly competent and utterly clueless about how the real world works.
Then there’s the dragon. Fantasy loves its fire-breathing beasts, but Pratchett turns it into a glorified weapon for a bunch of incompetent schemers. The way the dragon’s arrival exposes the pettiness and bureaucracy of Ankh-Morpork is pure genius. Even the night watch, a bunch of misfits who’d rather drink than patrol, subverts the 'elite guard' trope. It’s not about epic battles; it’s about paperwork, grudging bravery, and Vimes’ existential grumpiness. The book’s magic isn’t in grand quests—it’s in the mundane chaos of people trying (and failing) to live up to the stories they think they’re in.
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With a troubled and broken past, Prince Chris has always felt apart from his family. He feels even more apart when he runs to his mate and finds out a whole other world. A world hidden even within the werewolf community that is so secret.
A slow burn romance with trauma and healing.
LGBT representation. BxB romance.
Disclaimer - The views of the characters do not represent my own, this is a work of fiction and fantasy.
Warning - Depictions of graphic, but tasteful sex. Trauma, discrimination, targeted violence and stubborn characters.
Crown Prince Kieran is a royal disaster—too bold, too wild, and far too scandalous for the throne. Between picking fights with the council, making offensive public remarks, and changing lovers like wardrobe changes, he’s the palace’s greatest headache. But when his reckless behavior earns him a new personal bodyguard, Kieran finds something he despises even more than politics: the cold, silent man who follows his every move.
Commander Adrien Vale is everything Kieran isn't—disciplined, composed, unreadable. He has only one duty: protect the uncontrollable prince. Adrien becomes the shadow of the Prince. But beneath the tension and taunts, Adrien sees something no one else does: a grieving young man who is still not over the death of his brother.
When an assassination attempt shakes the kingdom, the prince is exiled to a remote island for his safety with Adrien. Change in atmosphere cause the masks to slip and the new tension starts to brew between them.
But nothing stays secret in a palace. When their lives go viral, the royal family forces Kieran into an engagement with a foreign princess to save face. Caught between duty and desire, between obedience and love, Kieran must choose: the crown, or the man who’s become his only truth.
Vic, the loyal female bodyguard, harbored two hidden truths. Firstly, she carried an unrequited love for her employer, Martin Cadell - the Chairman of Crimson Corporation. Secondly, she battled a terminal illness, knowing her time was limited. Wrongly accused of a crime, Vic took her secrets to the grave. But fate had other plans as she awoke in the body of Victoria Red - a comatose heiress set to wed her former boss, Martin Cadell. From protector to betrothed, can Vic maintain her facade from Martin, who had just discovered his feelings for his departed guard? Or is it time for her to embrace a new beginning and pursue genuine love?
“We’re equals, remember? And you’re the king.”
He pulled her onto his lap, his right hand gripping her thigh. Their faces were so close, Violet could see the flecks of gold lingering in his irises.
“To me, you’re king, Violet Bellerose.”
***
Violet Bellerose lives in a jealous, elven world where everyone from royals to bounty hunters are after her unique ability to amplify magic to incredible heights. When she saves the Storm King from an assassin, Violet earns a post at his side as bodyguard, unaware they have begun to unravel each other’s secrets.
Forgotten lovers, turbulent powers, and a political marriage push and pull at king and bodyguard. Their bond must strengthen to withstand court rivalries and the enemies at their borders. With only each other to lean on, they face the Blood King together and labor through every obstacle to make it to their coronation.
The Elf King and His Bodyguard is created by Hayden Marlowe, an eGlobal Creative Publishing signed author.
When the world was young, the Lord of the Heavens chose ordinary human beings to guard the knowledge of the civilizations. Three beings were gifted with immense power to protect the Chamber only they know where it was hidden.
But an evil and malicious being was released from his prison and threatened to destroy the world. And a new set of Guardians have to be chosen.
Tivona, Aedre and Parisa were chosen as the new Guardians. Despite their differences, they learned to get along. But...as every person has a past, so is every one of them.
And their pasts may be their weakness or their strength to determine their role as Guardians and keeper of the Chamber of knowledge.
Alec and his best friend Keith are the elite fighters in their village. Swordsmanship has been part of their life since they were children, and now that they've grown up they want to be soldiers.
Their dream will be shattered once Alec mistakes the Mad King for his friend because of their incredible resemblance. The consequence of their unfortunate encounter will lead Alec to be forced to work in the palace, doing anything requested from him in order to escape from execution. But being near the Mad King will open his eyes to a world he's never seen before.
Keith will break the rules trying to save his friend, but stepping inside the palace will bring untold tales, uncovered secrets and bloodbath.
'Kings of the Wyld' stands out by flipping tired tropes on their heads. Instead of young heroes, we get washed-up mercenaries past their prime, struggling with bad knees and worse hangovers while trying to relive their glory days. The book brilliantly mocks the classic 'quest' structure - their mission isn't to save the world, but to rescue a bandmate's daughter, treating it like a reunion tour gone wrong. Monster hunting becomes a joke about the music industry, with creatures treated like groupies and rival bands. Even the magic system gets parodied, with spells treated like overpriced merch and enchanted items that break at the worst moments. The book's genius lies in how it frames epic fantasy as a washed-up rockstar's comeback tour, complete with all the midlife crises and dad jokes you'd expect.