In the first, titled Sword of the Guardian (2006) the masculine acrobat Talon, a young woman who has long been disguised as a man, saves the life of Princess Shasta, soon becoming her personal bodyguard as a result. Life in the palace is difficult as Talon has to keep her secret, while Shasta faces increasing danger, complicated even more with their growing feelings for each other too.

Prayer of the Handmaiden (2015) picks up shortly after the first book left off, but shifts focus to Erinda and Kade. The former is a servant at the palace, the latter a priestess of Ithyris. While they had been lovers in the past and still love each other deeply, the two were drawn apart by Kade's vocation, which entails swearing to remain celibate. However, when Kade is chosen to become Ithyris' Handmaiden, a champion against Ulrike, her evil brother, both are drawn back together and must face not only the threat but the import of their love despite Kade's strong obligations.

Tropes:

• Action Girl: Talon is a very talented acrobat to start, then she learns horse riding and fighting too as bodyguard of Princess Shasta, incorporating her acrobatic prowess into this too. Shasta also learns how to fight with a sword like Talon, and though she isn't as skilled she's capable even so.
• Action Mom: Mardyth fights as the Chosen One of Ulrike even while she's heavily pregnant with his baby, using both her swords and magic.
• Affectionate Nickname:
  • Bria Talon is nicknamed as Brita by her adoptive mother Shasta.
  • Erinda is also nicknamed Rin by her Love Interest Kade.
• Ancient Artifact: The Twelve all left magical items with different abilities behind for people to use a millennium later.
• The Antichrist: Mardyth, a Dangar woman, is chosen by Ulrike to become his champion and fight on his behalf out of many women who fought to the death for the honor first, with her as the last one left.
• Amazon Brigade: The priestesses of Ithyris from all over Ithyria rally to support Shasta at the end in Sword of the Guardian, three hundred told in armor but with no visible weapons. They fight with magic instead.
• Amazonian Beauty: Talon's torso and arms are quite muscular from her constant physical training. Shasta is quite turned on by seeing these while Talon's topless.
• Angsty Surviving Twin: Privately, Shasta is lost and distraught after her twin brother Daric’s murder. She thinks about it as missing part of her.
• The Anti-God: Ulrike is the brother god of the goddess Ithyria, who is good and protective, her utter antithesis in every way.
• Aristocrats Are Evil: The nobles in Ithyria are self-serving, greedy and powerful, walking over King Soltran as he's too weak to stand up against them. Because many are viceroys who rule over the realm's twelve provinces with the power to make local laws, they have considerable autonomy and Soltran isn't reining them in. Princess Shasta determines to stop this after she becomes queen, hating their abuses of the commoners (Indentured Servitude and debt bondage turn out to be practices they allow widely, to horrible degrees). After she's queen they continue fighting with her over proposed reforms that Shasta is pushing that would help the common people, since they don't want to give up any power or wealth.
• Assassination Attempt: Talon meets Princess Shasta as the former saves the latter from an assassin. After becoming Shasta's bodyguard, Talon has to save her multiple more times too.
• Attempted Rape: Shasta escaped Date Rape from Kumire, as he'd provided her with drugged wine, started kissing her and ignored Shasta's refusal while clearly wanting to rape her as well. Talon intervened to stop him. He later nearly rapes her once again when he's murdered her father and is taking over the palace. Loyal royal guards under Captain Vaughn come Just in Time.
• Aura Vision: The priestesses of Ithyris see when enemy soldiers have a hostile intent through a darkness forming on their faces. It lets them target the men before their attacks.
• Awesome Moment of Crowning: Shasta's triumph over Kumire is sealed by her coronoration as Queen of Ithyria, during which she promotes several people as a reward for their services and promises to make things much better in the realm, as had long been her goal, with this being the conclusion to Sword of the Guardian.
• Back from the Dead: Kade brings Erinda back, with her not crossing into the afterlife as she's stopped in the spirit world, using the power she received from Ithyris.
• Bald Mystic: The Daughters of Ithyris are the priestesses in Ithyria. As a sign of their service to the goddess Ithyris, all have their heads shaved on entering the order. During their initiation, priestesses generally have a vision sent by Ithyris. Some also have them other times, though it's rarer. They are also given magic by Her in times of need, and a select few can become The Chosen Many or The Chosen One with frequent visions from her.
• Batman Gambit: It turns out Mondera's prophecy was this. She knew Ulrike's servants would seek it out, and thus give Ithyris' champion a chance to get close so they could be destroyed.
• Battle Couple: Talon and Shasta, after becoming lovers at last, fight back to back when attacked by enemy troops.
• Beard of Barbarism: Dangar men, described as barbarians, all have long, unkempt beards.
• Beauty Equals Goodness: Ithyris is the God of Good and also the most beautiful-looking woman who Kade has ever seen.
• Big Brother Instinct: Talon has protected her two younger sisters for years using every means she can, including passing herself off as their brother to be a more intimidating guardian for them. She's very concerned when Bria marries Kumire that he won't treat her well.
• The Big Damn Kiss: Talon passionately kisses Shasta after both confess their love for each other.
• Bittersweet Ending: Prayer of the Handmaiden ends with Erinda and Kade happily together, while the villains have been defeated. Talon and Shasta are also back together, engaged to be married. However, Ulrike is still there and Ithyris says he'll try again to attack. Mardyth's daughter by Ulrike has been born and it's implied she will grow up inside Ithyria to work on his behalf against them.
• Blackmail:
  • Shasta blackmails Talon, her personal bodyguard, into kissing her by saying she'll tell her father about Talon's having a woman in their chambers.
  • Myka makes Kade take her on the trip through saying she'll tell the high priestess otherwise. Kade wanted to leave without them going, so she reluctantly concedes and takes Myka along.
• Blaming the Victim: Shasta's father blames her partly for suffering an Attempted Rape by Kumire, due to wearing a very revealing gown at the time. While she's outraged, she can't pursuade him to punish Kumire as a result.
• Blood Magic: Mardyth's blood has many magical powers. It can make someone obey her, Feel No Pain or keep going even with mortal wounds when drunk, along with masking their presence and protecting against Magic Fire.
• Bodyguard Crush: Shasta falls for Talon after finding out she's got a girlfriend (unaware Talon's really a woman at the time, flirting with and courting her. Talon definitely tries to resist, despite finding Shasta attractive, because of her secret, but Shasta keeps on going. Before too long she feels this way for Shasta too. Shasta starts feeling attracted to Talon after learning her secret too. Both of them fall in love over time and end up as a couple.
• Bookworm: Panna absolutely loves books, and regularly takes books from Shasta's chambers. Erinda repeatedly has to tell her off and finally forbid it, but says she can access books held elsewhere in the palace.
• Boyish Short Hair: Talon is a skilled Action Girl who's passed herself off as a man for years, with very short hair as part of her as masculine look.
• Broken Bird: Talon became a stoic Action Girl to protect her younger sisters while passing as male, after both their parents were murdered (their mother being raped first) after which the three had been sold into slavery.
• Butch Lesbian: Talon is a short-haired and muscular warrior woman (she's a former acrobat as well) who has passed as a man for years, wearing masculine military garb. She finds herself gradually becoming attracted to other women, confusing Talon at first. Before long though she acts on her feelings, getting multiple girlfriends. She's bifauxnen and widely admired by women in her male guise.
• Cannot Tell a Lie: The Daughters of Ithyris clergy or women Pledged to join their order can't lie after they drink from the Cup of Purification in their initiation.
• The Chains of Commanding: Shasta is increasingly stressed with ruling as queen in Prayer for the Handmaiden, and starts to look older because of it too.
• Chick Magnet: Talon is a young woman disguised as a man who looks very much like a Pretty Boy to many women this way, who pine after her (most unaware of her true sex). She's attractive to a lesbian in the know too, but this is the exception at first.
• Childhood Friend Romance: Kade and Erinda became friends as little girls before growing up to fall for each other.
• The Chosen Many: The Twelve shaa'dins (holy warriors) who were called by Ithyris to serve her. When after this Ithyria formed, each of its twelve provinces was named for one after they saved it from the Dangar barbarians.
• The Chosen One: Kade is chosen to be the next shaa'din (holy warrior) by Ithyris, with the last being a thousand years before.
• Civil War: Once Kumire usurps the throne, the seven northern provinces back him while the five southern ones support Shasta, the rightful heir. She raises troops and matches against him in the capital, saddened that civil war is occurring but seeing no way to avoid it. Her forces defeat his in battle.
• Closet Key: Talon doesn't fully realize she's a lesbian before becoming lovers with Erinda, an aware lesbian in the palace. Shasta later also becomes attracted to Talon again even after learning she's a woman, with erotic dreams about her.
• Collapsing Lair: Kade purposefully collapses Ulrike's temple Rok Garshluk, killing Mardyth and his clergy by doing so, then getting away.
• Damsel in Distress: Princess Shasta is put in danger from murder or rape multiple times and is rescued by Talon, her personal bodyguard, plus other people.
• Dark Action Girl: Mardyth is a formidable female warrior who's The Chosen One of the evil god Ulrike, while heavily pregnant too at the time (with his child).
• Dark and Troubled Past: Talon was orphaned along with her sisters by raiders who sold them as slaves, after murdering their parents, while their mother was raped beforehand too. After they this were forced to perform in a traveling troupe of entertainers. Only the fact her sisters have great talent as musicians prevented them from being pimped out. Talon passes as a man to save herself and look after them.
• Date Rape Averted: Talon prevents Kumire committing this against Shasta by coming over Just in Time so she's able to stop him.
• Dead Guy Junior: Bria's daughter gets given the same name by Shasta after she dies.
• Death by Childbirth: Mardyth dies right after giving birth to her daughter, and it's implied she had lived only long enough to deliver her.
• Dented Iron: Talon is wounded repeatedly while protecting Princess Shasta, and needs to recover. She's also left with multiple scars as a result.
• Devious Daggers: Kumire has throwing daggers as his weapon of choice in surprise attacks from a safe distance, highlighting his treacherous, sneaky nature doing so.
• Divine Conflict: God of Good Ithryis and her God of Evil brother Ulrike constantly fight each other, though not directly-their worshipers do this for them.
• Divine Date: Kade turns into not only The Chosen One of Ithyris, but also her lover in a mystical way, with her touch giving her extreme pleasure. She realizes this also applies to Ithyris' former champions too.
• Divine Intervention: The Goddess Ithyris tells Lyris, her priestess, about an imminent attack against Shasta, saving her life.
• Divine Parentage: Mardyth it turns out is pregnant from Ulrike, the God of Evil she serves.
• Dressing as the Enemy: Myka disguises herself as one of Ulrike's priests to aid Kade in his temple Rok Garshluk.
• Duel to the Death: Mardyth fought other women to the death so she, as the last one standing, could become the champion of Ulrike, their god.
• Earn Your Happy Ending: Sword of the Guardian sees Talon and Shasta go through lots of hardships, including losing loved ones while in great danger, to triumph over their enemies with them finding love together.
• Emotionless Girl: Talon usually keeps tightly controlled and shows little emotion, getting often described as stoic. When she does, something drastic has generally happened.
• Erotic Dream: Shasta starts having dreams about Talon when she's learned Talon's a woman, imagining the two kissing nude. It makes her slowly realize that she wants and loves Talon, despite them both being women.
• Everyone Calls Him "Barkeep": Nurse is only ever called her title, with her name being unrevealed.
• Faint in Shock: Shasta faints when she sees Talon, her bodyguard, has killed the assassin who attacked her.
• False Flag Operation: Kumire has barbarian warriors help him take the palace, then claims afterward to have fought them off with the royal guards who joined his side, while saying the king was killed in the fighting, which helps him try to usurp the throne.
• Fantastic Slur: "Halflander" turns out to be a slur for a person of half Outlander heritage like Bria. Shasta is so infuriated that she slaps a viceroy over his using it for her.
• Feel No Pain: Dangar warriors in the sequel Prayer for the Handmaiden keep on fighting even when gravely wounded. This turns out to be a result of them drinking Mardyth's blood, which confers the effect on them.
• First Kiss: Shasta blackmails Talon into kissing her, wanting her to be her first kiss.
• First Love: Erinda tells Talon of hers, a young woman she was brought up beside, who later became a priestess, which meant a Vow of Celibacy so they couldn't stay together. This woman, Kade, is introduced later and the pair's relationship gets explored.
• First-Name Basis: Queen Shasta asks Erinda, her maid, not to call her "Your Majesty", only by her first name early in Prayer for the Handmaiden. Erinda isn't comfortable with this however.
• Forceful Kiss: Talon kisses Shasta because of her blackmailing her. Shasta later is kissed too by Kumire while she's drunk and trying to fend him off, with him obviously desiring more too before Talon stops this.
• Forced Sleep: Kade puts the entire Dangar army outside Agar to sleep with magic so her forces can escape and get back into the city. Mardyth alone isn't affected.
• Full-Name Ultimatum: Nurse calls Princess Shasta by her full name when ordering her down from the roof of the Temple.
• Gaydar: Erinda, a Lipstick Lesbian, quickly discerns that Talon is a Butch Lesbian due to how she acts and looks at Princess Shasta (along with knowing she's disguised as a man).
• Geas: Mardyth is able to make others do/refrain from whatever she wishes by their drinking her blood when in Ithyria or just willing it when she's within the Dangar Empire.
• Get Out!: Shasta angrily orders Talon to leave when she criticizes Shasta's outfit for being too revealing, saying this makes her look like a harlot.
• God of Evil: Ulrike is the god of flesh, malice and destruction.
• God of Good: Ithyris is a benevolent god who represents spirit, healing, and care.
• Grew a Spine: King Soltran grows stronger and less cowed by his viceroys with his daughter Princess Shasta's encouragement, greatly frustrating them as before they had things their way.
• Hairy Girl:
  • Shasta sees Talon's got black, unshaven curly pubic hair after she's undressed.
  • Erinda has unshaven curly pubic hair, as the reader learns from her last sex scene with Kade.
• Half-Breed Discrimination: Bria, Shasta's adoptive daughter and heir, is Outlander on her late mother's side. As a result, some of Shasta's viceroys are wholly opposed to her inheriting the throne and one insults her with the fantastic slur “halflander”, and Shasta slaps him in a rage for it.
• Handicapped Badass: Fyn, one of the Twelve, became blind due to an injury in battle. Even so, she fought beside her sisters afterward still, with the same fervor though less grace than prior to it.
• Healing Hands: Mardyth is capable of healing people simply with a touch.
• Heel–Face Turn: The Tabin provincial guard fight Shasta at first, but upon being defeated and told the truth, they take her side. Most other defeated enemy soldiers follow suit as well, after being given a pardon by Shasta to reassure them. Bria also switches sides back to Shasta and Talon.
• Heir-In-Law: If Princess Shasta married, then it would be her husband who got to be king. Her cousin Kumire tries to marry Shasta for this purpose, though she refuses.
• Hidden Weapons: Talon arms herself with a visible sword and dagger, but also several hidden knives (down her boots, in her jacket, on her wrist).
• High Priest: Qiturah is one of the twelve Honored Mothers of Ithyria, direct representatives of the goddess Ithyris and therefore the foremost clergy in Her service. Each governs a Great Temple in all twelve provinces of Ithyria.
• The High Queen
• Hot Goddess: Ithryia is the God of Good and also the World's Most Beautiful Woman.
• How They Treat the Help: Princess Shasta is actually quite kind to working class people, and wants to improve their lot after learning about indentured servitude and debt bondage. After getting many very expensive presents for her birthday, she plans to give these away for the poor (only waiting so guests who gave these aren't offended). She also makes sure her soldiers get good food, not just gruel, and eats the latter along with them in solidarity when the better stuff isn't available, saying enjoying better when they don't have this would be wrong.
• I Have Your Wife: Mardyth kidnaps Erinda to draw her true love Kade, and Mardyth's archenemy, off into the Danger Empire. Mardyth has the advantage there, given that she serves its god.
• The Immodest Orgasm:
  • Shasta cries out Talon's name as the latter brings her to climax when they first have sex.
  • Kade and Erinda as they first have sex are both described as climaxing with loud cries. The same goes for their last sex scene as well.
• Important Haircut: Women pledged to become priestesses called the Daughters of Ithyria have their hair cut short, then shaved entirely on being accepted, signifying this commitment. Lyris is shown getting this as she undergoes the rituals for joining them. Kade is as well later.
• Indentured Servitude: This turns out to be very common in Ithyria, with the indentures having onerous terms that let a master viciously whip servants for any mistakes. Talon and her sisters had all signed indentures for survival. Princess Shasta is horrified to learn about this and resolves that she'll change things on ascending the throne.
• Interclass Friendship: Princess Shasta is close friends with a boy who's a servant in the palace named Lairen.
• Internal Reveal: The reader knows immediately that Talon is a woman who's just passing as a man. Princess Shasta only learns about halfway into the book however. She's betrayed and very angry that Talon kept it a secret for so long.
• Intimate Marks: Kade has holy symbols painted on her body for her initiation ceremony when she's become The Chosen One, which includes ones around both of her breasts. They wash off later though.
• Invisible Writing: Shasta writes Talon a letter that's partly in invisible ink when they're both involved in rallying the resistance against Kumire so if it gets intercepted Kumire’s men can't read this.
• Invisibility: Kade gets the ability to turn herself or other beings invisible with magic. This works by affecting people so their eyes can't see them.
• Just in Time: Talon arrives to stop him right before Kumire can rape Shasta in her addled state. Captain Vaughn later does the same thing the second time he tries.
• Karma Houdini: Kumire is let off with only having to apologize by King Soltran over nearly raping his daughter Princess Shasta, as he blames her more for wearing a revealing gown.
• The Kingslayer: Kumire murders King Soltran, Shasta's father, right in front of her. He plans on her being next so he can take the throne himself, but she escapes.
• Kissing Cousins: Kumire is Shasta's first cousin once removed (as the son of her maternal great uncle). He courts her, though Shasta rejects this (not due to their blood relationship, but as he's quite odious).
• Lady-In-Waiting: Talon's sisters Bria and Lyris become this to Princess Shasta even as Talon becomes Shasta’s bodyguard.
• Lipstick Lesbian:
  • Erinda is a petite young woman with long hair who always wears dresses as is the norm, while she's also a lesbian, acting flirtatiously with the Butch Lesbian Talon before the two become lovers.
  • Shasta is also attracted to Talon after finding out she's a woman, and becomes her lover as well after Erinda, while having a feminine style too. In her case she's bisexual however, having liked Talon also while thinking her to be a man.
• Living Lie Detector: The priestesses of Ithyris can tell if a person is lying or not just by seeing them, and even when reading lies, e.g. in a letter.
• Love Confession:
  • Shasta confesses her love for Talon in a letter to her toward the end in Sword of the Guardian. Talon tells her the same the next time they meet.
  • Kade declares that she loves Erinda in Prayer of the Handmaiden toward the end.
• Loved I Not Honor More: Kade wants to be with Erinda deeply, though facing the God of Evil Ulrike and his servants makes her reluctantly delay it until the battle is over.
• Love Triangle: Kade is essentially in one. She deeply wants to be with Erinda, even as she’s basically lovers as well with Ithyria, the goddess she serves. This is resolved when she speaks to Ithryis about it, who's the God of Good, and says she'll release Kade whenever she wishes so she'll be with Erinda. She keeps this promise, with Kade choosing to be with Erinda rather than serve her or be The Chosen One any more.
• Magic Fire: Lyris saves Shasta and Talon when they're completely surrounded by enemy soldiers through hurling blue fire which consumes them. She's astonished, having had no idea she could do that at all. It turns out to be celestial fire, a special rare gift from her goddess. The other priestesses can also use it before too long, which soon turns the tide in the fighting.
• Magic Is Feminine: All the magic users in the story, good and evil, are women. No men are even mentioned to have magic.
• Magic Knight: Mardyth wields two swords, but mostly fights with her Touch of Death.
• Making Love in All the Wrong Places: Talon meets Erinda in the princess' privy chamber to have sex. Later they also have sex in a cellar, where Shasta sees them. Shasta and Talon also later have sex in the stables, as the makeshift headquarters Shasta's forces have during The Siege of the palace.
• Maligned Mixed Marriage: Many courtiers of Queen Shasta oppose her marrying Talon as she (whom they think is a man as a result of her disguising herself as one) comes from the Outlander minority, who many deem inferiors.
• Masculine–Feminine Gay Couple: Butch Lesbian Talon and Lipstick Lesbian Erinda become lovers, secretly having sex around the palace. Talon becomes lovers with Shasta, who's a feminine bisexual woman, after this.
• A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Read: Kade is horrified by reading an enemy soldier’s mind who wants to rape Erinda. She's able to rescue her before he can though.
• The Modest Orgasm: Talon comes silently while Shasta is fingering her.
• Modesty Bedsheet:
  • Bria is described as putting the sheets around her naked body after having sex with her boyfriend Kumire as he leaves the bed to dress.
  • After having sex with Talon, Shasta quickly covers up using the sheet the next morning as Erinda comes in.
• Morning Sickness: Bria vomits on the floor at her sister Lyris' ceremonial induction as a priestess, with it being soon revealed she's pregnant.
• Motor Mouth: Myka talks rapidly and at length, often too fast for others to completely follow.
• Nephewism: Bria is adopted by her aunt Talon and Shasta, her cousin, after her birth parents have both died.
• Nepotism: Kumire is the Chancellor of Mondera province. His father is the Viceroy of Mondero, his superior, who gave him the position (which no one found surprising).
• Never My Fault: Kumire whines after he impregnates Bria, acting like this is all Bria's fault and he wasn't involved with the conception (while they had consensual sex repeatedly).
• No Periods, Period: It isn't brought up at first, but then becomes a plot point when Talon gets her period and has to hastily clean up so Princess Shasta doesn't know she's really female. She notes that Shasta's period is the same time, and them both getting it makes covering this up easier, with sanitary supplies being nearby for this purpose.
• Not What It Looks Like: Talon has to hold Shasta down while she's in the tub getting the yellow mint on her to counteract the poison she got from her dress. It looks like she's harming Shasta as her father the king comes in, who furiously attacks Talon. He later apologizes profusely and promotes Talon after he's learned this saved her life.
• One-Man Army: The priestesses of Ithyris can easily take on many enemy soldiers all by themselves with magic, while also using spells to protect at least a whole squad on their side. It evens the odds as the enemy has twice their numbers.
• Only Known by Their Nickname: Kade is mostly called this rather than Kadrian by other people, and the book's narration.
• Opposites Attract: Talon has black hair, olive skin and a tall, lean muscular build, while she's also very emotionally controlled usually. Shasta's hair is light brown, she has fair skin, while she's shorter, curvier and far more prone to emotional displays. The two become a couple. Previously this also applied to Talon with Erinda, who's blonde, fair-skinned, short, buxom and cheerful.
• The Paladin: Shaa'din, holy warriors serving Ithyris the God of Good against God of Evil Ulrike, her brother. They are gifted by her with magical abilities to do this. Shaa'din also are her lovers too.
• Parental Abandonment:
  • Talon and her sisters are already orphaned when the story starts, as bandits murdered their parents before enslaving them.
  • Shasta's mother is dead when the story starts. Her father is later murdered.
  • Baby Bria loses both her biological parents, though she gets adopted by Shasta and Talon.
• Patron God: Ithyris is the Goddess of Ithyria, whose name is derived from Hers, its benefactor and protector. Her followers were its founders a millennium ago. No other gods are mentioned as being worshiped there beside her.
• The Peeping Tom: Shasta curiously follows Talon and sees her having sex with her girlfriend Erinda, but from behind so that she stays ignorant that Talon's really a woman.
• Pelts of the Barbarian: The Dangar barbarians wear a lot of fur cloaks and other clothing also made from furs.
• Phenotype Stereotype: Talon's people, who are called the Outlanders, all have black hair and olive skin that people repeatedly recognize them by.
• Poison Is Evil: The villain, Kumire, nearly murders Shasta using poison on a dress he leaves for her as a gift.
• Politically-Active Princess: Princess Shasta, on learning about the horrid conditions which many of her subjects live with, resolves to change them, becoming active in meetings with the viceroys and also encouraging her father the king standing against them.
• Post-Coital Collapse: Shasta is described as collapsing after having passionate sex with Talon once when they become lovers.
• The Power of Love: Erinda and Kade's deep love for each other helps to defeat the God of Evil Ulrike. Usually, Ithyris the God of Good who Kade serves can't help them in Ulrike's realm. With the bond their love creates, she's able to assist Kade, her champion, even there.
• Praetorian Guard: Talon joins the Ithyrian royal guards, tasked with protecting Princess Shasta after saving her life earlier.
• Pregnant Badass: Mardyth is heavily pregnant, but it doesn't stop her from being a formidably fighter, mostly as she has a Touch of Death ability.
• Pretty Boy: Talon, in her male disguise, comes off as a slightly androgynous, quite handsome young man with elfin features, black eyes, neat short black hair and dark olive skin whom many women find desirable (only a few of whom know she's really a woman).
• Prophecy Twist: Lyris sees a child of Talon taking the throne in a vision. It turns out Talon's child is her niece, whom she adopts with Shasta, who made the girl her heir.
• Protective Charm:
  • The Daughters of Ithyris priestesses' powers can shield people, and this evens the odds as Shasta's forces battle Kumire's, as they're outnumbered two to one otherwise.
  • Mardyth's blood, when drunk by her fellow Dangars, protects them from the Magic Fire that the Daughters of Ithyris cast against them, and being detected magically too.
  • Kade is later covered by a magical shield which deflects falling debris so she's not harmed.
• Psychic-Assisted Suicide: Mardyth makes an old man cut his throat by magic, and threatens the same for others if Kade won't give her what she wants.
• Puppet King: King Soltran, Shasta's father, is a weak monarch easily led by his viceroys initially. She vows to be different, and with her encouragement he starts growing stronger too, which frustrates his viceroys significantly since they loved having things their way with him.
• Queer Establishing Moment:
  • Talon gets attracted to Elsi, who like most people thinks she's a man, becoming confused afterward and thinking it's a result of her male guise. She is then hit on by a feminine chambermaid, Erinda, who knows Talon's a woman. They become lovers after Talon realizes she only likes women as a result of this.
  • Shasta is also attracted to Talon when thinking she's a man, but still feels the same way after learning, and realizes she likes women too from this.
• Rape as Drama: Olsta, one of the Twelve, was tortured and gang-raped by Ulrike’s followers. It was only the love of her sisters that made her not take her own life afterward, and she never wholly recovered. Kade is horrified to read about what she endured, and it's kept a secret from most in sensitivity toward Olsta.
• Rape, Pillage, and Burn: The Dangar barbarians sack villages when invading Ithyria, killing all the villagers who they can find, burning their bodies on pyres and then setting houses on fire later.
• Redemption Equals Death: Bria redeems herself by pulling a Heel–Face Turn and saving Shasta's life, dying as a result.
• The Red Mage: The priestesses of Ithyris can use offensive and defensive magic equally well.
• Rejected Marriage Proposal: Shasta immediately turns down Kumire's proposal (she never liked him, plus by then he also had tried to rape her, and gotten away with it, but he has the gall to ask nonetheless).
• Releasing from the Promise: Ithyris releases Kade from her vows as a priestess to her, and serving her as The Chosen One so she can be with Erinda.
• Religion Is Magic: The priestesses of Ithyris receive occasional visions from Her, then also magical abilities to fight in Her cause.
• Removing the Head or Destroying the Brain: The Dangars following Mardyth are not affected with what should be fatal or at least debilitating injuries; only beheading will stop them.
• Rotating Protagonist: Sword of the Guardian has Shasta and Talon as the protagonists. The sequel Prayer for the Handmaiden has Kade and Erinda as the protagonists instead. Shasta and Talon are still in the story, though now supporting characters.
• Royal Brat: Princess Shasta is seemingly callous to her servants initially, indulging herself however she likes no matter the cost for them, and haughtily aloof too. She's the most selfish, pampered person in her bodyguard Talon's experience. However, it turns out that Shasta's much nicer than how she first seems, making Talon she'd been wrong about this.
• Second-Act Breakup: The sequel Prayer for the Handmaiden has Talon go off to fight, leaving Shasta behind, believing she's stopping her from marrying and having heirs of her own as the viceroys are demanding no matter how other people plead with her not to do this. They have gotten back together by the end of the book, and intend to marry too.
• Secret-Keeper: Only a few people know Talon's a woman at first, with them being sworn to keep the secret. Princess Shasta isn't aware until around halfway into Sword of the Guardian, despite Talon being her personal bodyguard and them living in very close quarters. She isn't happy it was kept from her, but gets over this. After they become lovers, Erinda is aware and she keeps it secret too.
• Secret Relationship:
  • Talon begins a clandestine relationship with Erinda, as the fact she's a woman is a secret known only to a few that this could reveal. Later she keeps her relationship with Shasta secret too at first.
  • Bria, Talon's sister, is also sleeping with Chancellor Kumire and they keep this a secret too until it comes out when she gets pregnant.
• Seers:
  • Priestesses of Ithyris have visions from Her when they join her order, and sometimes also later, as Lyris does.
  • Mondera, one of the Twelve, was able to see the future, and even predicted when her sarcophagus would be found a thousand years after she'd died.
• Sexy Discretion Shot: Talon meets Erinda in the princess' privy chamber to have sex, with the scene ending right as they start undressing.
• Shotgun Wedding: The king makes Kumire marry Bria immediately on discovering he impregnated her.
• Sibling Murder: Mardyth killed two of her own brothers, she tells Erinda, to establish dominance over the rest.
• The Siege:
  • Shasta's forces besiege the palace toward the end in Sword of the Guardian after Kumire holes up inside there with supplies, and it's impossible to just storm it.
  • Dangars besiege Agar later after they invade as well early during the next book, Prayer of the Handmaiden.
• Single Tear: Talon weeps this way after Shasta shuns her on discovering she's a woman.
• Slipping a Mickey: Kumire gives Shasta drugged wine that makes her addled further (she's already drunk) so he can commit Attempted Rape (Talon thankfully stops him).
• Slut-Shaming: Talon is not happy when Shasta puts on a revealing low-cut gown, saying that it makes her look like a harlot. Shasta grows infuriated by this and orders her to Get Out!. Talon's reason was not actually disapproval of how it looks though, but confused feelings about Shasta being dressed that way, with it appealing to her. Later though Shasta's father blames her for nearly being raped by Kumire while in the gown, letting him off without punishment aside from a forced apology. He later also tries to claim Bria is promiscuous when he's impregnated her and so the child might not be his, but soon caves.
• The Smurfette Principle: Talon becomes the first woman who serves in the Ithyrian royal guards (though only a few know initially) when the king commissions her.
• Storming the Castle: Shasta's forces manage to do this with the walls of the royal palace because they get help from royal guards loyal to her inside who lower rope ladders to let them in and open the gates to the rest. However, this does not get them into the palace itself, which is well-guarded, so they settle down for a long siege.
• Straight Gay: Harneth it turns out is gay, with no signs to distinguish him from straight men.
• Surprise Pregnancy: Bria unexpectedly becomes pregnant by Kumire, which results in a royal-ordered Shotgun Wedding and also his plans changing from marrying Shasta to murdering her so he can take the throne.
• Sweet Polly Oliver: Talon has passed as a man for years when the story begins, to protect herself from rape and help guard her younger sisters too against it by playing their older brother.
• Switching P.O.V.:
  • In Sword of the Guardian, the viewpoints switch between Shasta and Talon.
  • During the sequel Prayer for the Handmaiden it's switched between Kade and Erinda instead.
• Taking the Bullet:
  • Talon throws herself in front of a knife hurled at Princess Shasta, with it stabbing into her stomach, during an assassination attempt. She's tended to and survives.
  • Bria dives before the dagger Kumire throws at Shasta, taking it in the chest, soon dying of her wound as a result.
• Taking the Veil: Women pledging to become priestesses called the Daughters of Ithyria go through a formal ceremony in which their hair is cut short (shaved completely later), they say their vows, and drink from a cup of purification to have a divine vision from Her. Upon being accepted, they also will wear veils as a mark of their status.
• A Taste of the Lash: Beatings with a whip or strap are common punishments in Ithyria. Servants are regularly beaten by their masters. Princess Shasta, as royalty, has her own whipping boy to get beaten instead of her when she misbehaves at first. She's horrified to see a merchant out in the city beating a pregnant woman who's his servant with his whip, who dies as a result. It makes Shasta realize just how horrid conditions are for many commoners, and then resolve she'll change them as queen. She also then refuses to have someone else take her beating next time.
• Technical Virgin: Kade feels herself unworthy to become The Chosen One as she's had sex, having sworn to remain celibate. However, it turns out this didn't count, as she only had sex with a woman, while the priestesses' vow is not to let a man touch them, specifically, and so the high priestess says it's fine.
• Their First Time:
  • Talon and Shasta finally have sex after confessing their love for each other in Sword of the Guardian.
  • Early in the next book, Prayer of the Handmaiden, Kade and Erinda recall how they had sex together the first time too.
• Telepathy: Kade starts to hear humans' or sometimes animals' thoughts as part of her abilities when she became The Chosen One.
• Tomboyish Name: Talon is a tough Action Girl in the guise of a man.
• Tomboyish Voice: Talon passes as a man while being a skilled acrobat (later warrior), with a deep, husky voice that serves to sell the disguise.
• Toplessness from the Back: Shasta stumbles on Talon having sex with Erista, seeing her from the back naked on top. This preserves the secret that Talon's a woman posing as a man to her.
• Touch of Death: Mardyth is able to kill any person or animal just by touching them.
• Tragic Keepsake: Shasta keeps a blue bird feather from her twin brother as a precious memento after his death. Talon, who sees this, puts it in a pendant to making holding onto the feather easier for her. When they part later while fighting against Kumire, Shasta gives it to Talon. She later returns it.
• Translation Convention: Kade isn't aware she's speaking the ancient language with Ithyris in the spirit nexus until this is pointed out to her. The dialogue remains in English for the readers.
• Truth Serums: No one is able to lie when drinking from the cup of purification, so pledged women's statements afterward about the visions this gives them are believed. Afterward, they can also never tell lies again in the future.
• Uptown Girl: Talon's sister Bria, a commoner like her, starts a clandestine relationship with nobleman Chancellor Kumire. Talon herself later becomes lovers with Shasta, the crown princess (and then queen).
• The Usurper: Kumire tries to seize the throne after he has murdered the king and Princess Shasta is missing, with him declaring that she's dead (if so, then he's the rightful heir, being her cousin who's next in line). The viceroys all have to agree and many won't accept it however, so his plan is stalled with Shasta rallying troops against Kumire.
• Vow of Celibacy: Daughters of Ithyria, as the Ithyrian priestesses are called, swear not to marry or have sex to join their ranks (it turns out this specifically applies only to being with men though).
• Warrior Monk: The priestesses of Ithyris march to war on Shasta's side, as ordered by their Goddess, reviving their dormant warrior tradition. In fact they're basically warrior nuns, being celibate and somewhat apart from the laity in temples.
• Warrior Princess: Shasta, while she's a princess, fights as a Battle Couple alongside her girlfriend Talon.
• Work Off the Debt: Debt bondage is a common practice in Ithyria. A person in debt can be forced into working it off. If they're a man though, it's legal to make a relative work the debt off on their behalf, through indentured servitude. Sometimes entire families have to work off a debt together when it's too much for any individual. Princess Shasta, after learning about this, is horrified and vows to change the laws which allow it.
• World's Most Beautiful Woman: Kade is stunned by how beautiful her goddess Ithyris appears, saying her appearance looks perfect, to the point that all other women are measured in comparison with her.
• Would Hurt a Child:
  • In Sword of the Guardian Kumire is not above endangering and threatening his infant daughter when it gets him an advantage.
  • Prayer of the Handmaiden has Mardyth threaten to murder children if Kade doesn't give her the prophecy she's seeking.
• Wouldn't Hurt a Child: Kade hesitates when Ithyris orders her to attack Mardyth, a pregnant women, and targer her child directly (it's the source of her power from God of Evil Ulrike). She does later attack Mardyth by hitting her belly using magic however, knowing that there's no other way to stop her. It turns out this doesn't in fact harm her child though, who is born healthy.
• Wounded Gazelle Gambit: Mardyth pretends she’s been forced to serve Ulrike and is wounded by Kade, who lets her go after she promises not to return. It’s just a ploy, and she soon kidnaps Erinda to draw Kade into following her so Mardyth can attack her again.