What is Gharantia, and How Do You Pronounce That?

 Gharantia’s Guardian – Book 1 in Chronicles of the Endless War.

So, you’re curious. Maybe you’ve heard about Gharantia’s Guardian, or perhaps you've just spotted the cover and have realised this is the first book in an unfinished epic fantasy series. Do you take the risk with a new indie author and dip your toe into that hot, soapy water?

Read on, fantasy readers!

Choosing the name of a made-up place for the cover was a risk—but no other title felt quite right. And of course, I had to put my Guardian on the front.

Who is Gharantia’s Guardian?

Criterious Handelan.

On the cover, he stands at the edge of a valley, looking out over the land. The Bleak mist recedes, revealing his home—the tower—beneath a full moon. The atmosphere is brooding and mysterious, though I wouldn’t call this dark fantasy. This is an epic. A story of duty, power, and the turning of fate as a new year begins.

When I worked with Christian Bentulan on the cover, I had a vision. We went back and forth until we landed on the final design, and I love the result. There’s some artistic license, of course—the tower doesn’t sit in a valley, in the story, but atop a flattened hill, beside the palace of Gharantia. But we’ll get to that.

One unexpected detail Christian added was the gold-tinted sword in Criterious’s left hand. I liked it so much that I worked it into the story—he now carries a suntis steel sword.

So, What Is Gharantia?

Gharantia is the city that lies beyond the battlement walls encircling the palace, tower, barracks, stable block, holding cells, and armoury. The blacksmith’s forge is tucked behind them all, and beyond that, the towering Black Mountains—known as the Obsivanta Range. 

Long ago, magic touched this land when a massive slab of stone fell from the sky. It destroyed a man’s home, leaving him and his wife devastated. He became a broken man. 

But as the days turned to weeks, his grief led him to lean against the stone, seeking solace in its cold, unyielding surface. Until, one day, the veins of magic pulsed beneath his fingers. The stone glowed red.

He staggered back, heart pounding.

“You saw that,” he stammered.

His wife, just as shaken, murmured, “I saw.”

That man is the same one we meet later in Gharantia’s Guardian. Now known only as Tower, he has long since forgotten his name—understandable, given he’s thousands of years old. His age is beginning to show, his once-great strength fading. But he remains the original Guardian of the Red Stone—the source of Gharantia’s power—and is said to be the architect of the great tower.

The tower itself rises from the very spot where the stone first fell, standing like a lone, silent sentinel, as if shaped by forces beyond human hands. There are many stories of its construction, but only one man knows the truth—Tower. And he never speaks of it.

His many descendants carry the strange power of the Red Stone in their veins. The Queens of Gharantia wield this power, though none have ever outlived the old man.

Who Rules Gharantia Now?

In this era of the story, Criterious Handelan lives in the tower alongside his wife, Princess Melane.

Her cousin, Queen Velardis, rules from the palace, overseeing the Queendom of Gharantia, which stretches across twelve duchies.

Oh, I forgot to mention—Gharantia isn’t just the name of the city. It’s the name of the entire realm. But don’t worry, I won’t drown you in details right away! I ease you in gently (there’s even a map, if you like to check names as you read).

Meanwhile, Tower, Criterious, and Melane live from year to year, doing their duty—settling lordly disputes, managing trade, and keeping watch over the ancient power that still hums beneath their feet.

Where the Story Begins…

We enter Gharantia’s Guardian through Criterious’s POV. A duty-bound man, also bound to his wife’s power. At the start, we see him unravelling—but I won’t spoil it for you!

Then there’s Pilt. His arrival in Gharantia is marked by a dark event, but that’s for you to uncover as you read. Through these two, we experience the city and the Queendom—until another POV steps in about halfway through. And trust me, you don’t want to miss her story.

Pallemina, the Synatha.

Along the way, there are mysteries to unravel, strangers arriving in the city with hidden agendas, and events that make one thing clear—the Gods’ War is coming.

The Journey So Far…

This is the first book I’ve ever written, and it’s been a wild ride. It’s already a year and four months old, having undergone one editorial revision since publishing.

And, well—I’ve never written a series before either! Honestly, I feel like I’m totally winging this author thing. There’s a lot to learn, but I’m having so much fun creating this world and being part of the indie community. It would be fantastic for you to join me!

I hope you’ll consider adding Gharantia’s Guardian to your TBR.

Check out my Amazon & Goodreads reviews, and if you’re interested, sign up for my newsletter at lmdouglas.com—where you can get Gharantia’s Shadow, the first part of the prequel, for free!

But Before I Go…

How do you pronounce Gharantia you’ve all been wondering?

Gar-an/tee-ah.

Gharantia's Guardian is available in Amazon stores and in KU.