Two New Indie Books Coming May 2026
- Tea&Prose
- Apr 30
- 2 min read
The Fae Guardian -- 5/14/26
Captured by the Vampire Knight -- 5/5/26
Two New Romantic Fantasies.
The Fae Guardian By Elle Thrasher:
Three stars -- this one is a flawed but fun Nordic-Fae romantasy. But sometimes that's all you want.
What's This About?
The plot? A little hazy. Freija, a Nordic Fae princess, is facing some kind of looming threat, needs protection (okay), and is also trying to help her starving (although we never see them) people. It's all a bit nebulous. Enter Halvar -- her guard.
Why This Works:
Despite the hazy plot, this story is completely readable. It has great pacing and engaging characters. The writing flows and the characters deliver. Their banter is refreshing and doesn't feel stale or cringey.
What to be Aware of:
Don't expect a lot of lore, world building or magic systems explained. The fantasy genre is really an afterthought, as the story leans more into its Viking-inspired atmosphere.
Read This If:
You're in the mood for more of a fun romantic fantasy vibe without a lot of world building.
You're into Vikings.
You like the bodyguard trope.
You want fun banter and a low commitment read.
Captured by the Vampire Knight by A.N. Payton
2 stars - -But fans of vampires and witches may still want to give this a shot.
What's This About?
A vampire knight and a witch? yes please. But this one just...never quite wakes up.
It seems to hit all the right notes: supernatural intrigue, a murder mystery, and an enemies-to-lovers trope. But this story has pacing issues. Instead of tension building, it gets stuck in long descriptions that slow everything down, failing to move the plot forward.
What Works?
The final stretch of the book picks up. The pacing tightens and the story finds its groove.
What to be Aware of:
The romance doesn't hit. There's little to no tension building between the characters, then the relationship jumps forward feeling unearned.
Read This if:
You're strictly into vampire and witch vibes, give this a shot.
You're in the mood for a witchy romantasy and want to back an indie author.
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