Bloodguard by Cecil Robson

Here is a summary with spoilers of Bloodguard

Leith of Grey has entered the gladiator fights in the Kingdom of Arrow with a single goal: to earn enough gold to save his dying sister and lift his family out of poverty. Winning is his last hope for their survival. A skilled fighter, Leith has even forged alliances in the brutal arena.

Maeve, an elven royal, has far-reaching ambitions. Her father sits imprisoned, accused of murdering Maeve’s grandmother, the late queen. Maeve dreams of freeing him, ending the gladiator games, reclaiming her throne from her treacherous uncle Vitor, and restoring the Kingdom of Arrow to prosperity.

Other Key Players:

• Vitor: Maeve’s cunning uncle and the current king, always scheming to outmaneuver her.

• Giselle: Maeve’s younger sister.

• Soro: Vitor’s ruthless army commander, who is determined to court Maeve.

The story begins with Leith fighting in the arena. Maeve watches from the stands, there to support her fiancé, who is also competing. Leith kills him in the fight, further complicating Maeve’s plans for the throne. Later, Leith is forced to mercy-kill his gravely injured best friend, a decision that weighs heavily on him.

Maeve summons Leith, offering him a deal: she will heal his injuries and align with him if he agrees to marry her after winning the tournament. This marriage, she claims, will give her the standing she needs to reclaim her throne. Reluctantly, Leith agrees, despite his dislike for her.

As Maeve resumes her royal duties, the extent of Vitor’s cruelty becomes clear. He ruins trade agreements, orchestrates gladiator deaths to rig the games, and schemes to marry Maeve off to Soro, a match Maeve despises.

Over time, Leith continues to win his matches, with Maeve healing him after each fight. They grow closer, and Maeve learns about Leith’s family. Wanting to help, she sends supplies to them and delivers letters from his sister, which deepen their bond. Eventually, they fall for each other, with Leith on the verge of confessing his love.

Before Leith can secure a team to rescue his family, Maeve visits his home to deliver more goods. There, she discovers devastating letters from his sister that were never sent: cries for help, news of their mother’s death, and finally a letter from the city reporting the family’s demise. Maeve realizes they’ve been dead for over a year. Enraged, she kills the corrupt merchant responsible, burns his warehouse, and seeks advice from her father (the one not imprisoned). He advises her to keep the truth from Leith, fearing it would shatter his will to fight.

Her father also confesses the truth behind the queen’s death: Maeve accidentally killed her grandmother as a child. He took the blame to protect her and her future.

Leith returns with his team, unaware of what Maeve has learned. That night, he comforts her when he senses her sadness, oblivious to the turmoil she’s hiding.

The next day, while Leith fights in the arena, Soro attacks Maeve, burning her manor and killing her father. Maeve is captured and taken to the catacombs, where Vitor reveals the truth about the games and sacrifices. They are designed to appease the Phoenix (Aurora), a living embodiment of the land’s prosperity, who requires blood sacrifices to maintain balance. Vitor sacrifices himself to the Phoenix, leaving Maeve in Soro’s hands. Forced into a desperate deal, Maeve agrees to marry Soro in exchange for Leith’s release.

Leith, now fighting in a deadly gladiator match, learns of Maeve’s engagement and the truth about his family from Giselle. Though devastated by her secrecy, he resolves to act.

Maeve, meanwhile, learns of unrest in neighboring kingdoms caused by their own sacrifices to the Phoenix. These lands are suffering, and their rulers seek her help to destroy Aurora. Maeve and Leith reunite briefly, reconciling their feelings and strengthening their resolve.

The final gladiator match coincides with Maeve and Soro’s wedding. Leith discovers that the contestants are his friends, who were promised safety. Despite his exhaustion, he enters the fight, and they emerge victorious. Leith becomes a Bloodguard, gaining the status necessary to challenge Soro.

In a public confrontation, Soro accidentally kills a child while aiming for Leith. The enraged crowd turns on him. Leith calls for a final duel, the winner earning Maeve’s hand. Despite his battered state, Leith triumphs.

Epilogue:

Leith and Maeve are married, but their work is far from over. They sneak away during their wedding celebration to unleash the full power of Aurora, freeing the Phoenix from her sacrificial bond. Their hope is to bring prosperity to all kingdoms, ending the cycle of bloodshed once and for all.

The book ends with Aurora released, setting the stage for a new era of peace—or peril.