Guild of Secrets

Obsidian Queen, Book 1

By: Shari L. Tapscott

Narrated by: Mare Trevathan

If twenty-two-year-old Madeline Bennet knows anything for certain, it’s that she’ll get her desired apprenticeship with the Royal Guild.

After all, her family is well-connected, and she’s all but dating the grand duke’s nephew.

But Madeline does not get her apprenticeship. Instead, she finds herself working with a trio of knight marshals, traipsing around the US, arresting all manner of magical miscreants. If tracking trolls, running from murderous pixies, and stumbling into a dangerous web of criminal activity isn’t enough to keep her occupied, there’s also Gray, Jonathan, and Eric—the knights themselves.

They’re strong. They’re skilled. They’re ridiculously handsome. And they don’t want her on their team.

The four must play nice for six months, but can they even manage a week? What will happen if the knights realize the royal advisor’s daughter isn’t just a prissy girl in heels? She’s harboring a dark secret—one that could prove to be more dangerous than even Madeline imagined.

Guild of Secrets is book one in Obsidian Queen, a spicy-sweet series intended for adult audiences. This contemporary fantasy is full of magic and humor, perfect for listeners who enjoy swoony romance and sparking chemistry. While the books have multiple potential love interests, at the end of the series, Madeline will end up with one man only.

©2023 Shari L. Tapscott (P)2023 Podium Audio

Delightful

Love love love the series and the narrator is fantastic!!! Well worth my money and time 👍👍

Pretty Good!

I enjoyed this book a lot!! The characters are all soo interesting and are introduced in a way where I truly don't know who is interested in who!! The FMC is admittedly a little dumb and annoying, she gives you nieve YA vibes for sure! Overall im excited to keep guessing and continue with book 2!

Humorous and sexy!

I love the characters the writer has created and the storyline. Madeline has a great sense of humor and I laughed throughout the story. Looking forward to the next book.

Fun Banter and enjoyable magic systems

Guild of Secrets: Obsidian Queen had a strong premise and an interesting world, but the execution felt a bit uneven for me.

The standout for me was the main character. Her brattiness was genuinely entertaining and gave the story a lot of personality. She was sharp, sarcastic, and unapologetic, which made her interactions with other characters a highlight throughout the book. The banter was consistently fun and often the best part of the story, adding humor and tension that kept things engaging even when the plot slowed.

The story itself sets up political intrigue, secret societies, and a morally gray lead, all things I usually enjoy. The magic system and power dynamics were intriguing, but the pacing wavered, especially in the middle, where things felt repetitive and dulled the momentum.

Overall, this was an enjoyable listen with clear potential. The characters and dialogue carried it for me, and I am curious enough to continue the series, hoping the next book tightens the pacing while keeping the same sharp banter and strong, yet fun female voice.

Stumbled and fell in love with this series

I have so many books to read, but I went to my wish list to find something and this first book was on there and looked interesting. I got through it so quickly I’m already on book 3 as I’m posting this. The narrator feels perfect.