Destroyer: Book I
Segarra’s debut, the first in the Guardians of Life series, brings fresh energy and invention to its world of magic, ancient prophecies, political intrigue, and conflict between humans, elves, and dwarves. In the quiet town of Lepersteed, James, a young man unaware of his extraordinary heritage, lives with his stepmother, Eva, a woman deeply connected to elemental magic. John’s peaceful existence is shattered when Radion, a powerful mage, brings grim news of the king’s death and a dark prophecy: James is the prophesied “Destroyer,” destined to either save or doom the world. Segarra skilfully crafts James as a reluctant hero, weighed down by a prophecy he neither fully comprehends nor desires. Accompanied by his protector Eva, the wise and Radion, and his childhood friend Ethan, reluctant hero James must travel to Mount Rocksmear, home of the dwarves, for answers.
Destroyer offers much to please lovers of fantasy epic in the classic vein, blending personal and cosmic stakes, a spirit of on-the-run adventure, and a commitment to imagining the world’s wonders and everyday textures. From the mystical city of Rocksmear to the eerie depths of Miser Forest, Segarra creates lived-in societies shaped by centuries of conflict, grounding the fantastical with a sense of history. Magic is woven into the fabric of everyday life, with elemental forces driving both the action and the moral choices the characters face as James and company encounters dark dangers, from the soul-devouring Shadowlen to skeletal warriors, all while being hunted by the sorcerer Raymul, who seeks to claim the kingdom.
Though the storytelling is occasionally overburdened with descriptive detail, Segarra smartly contrasts grand battles with intimate, character-driven moments. The exploration of balance—between light and dark forces, between personal desire and fate—digs deeper into these concepts than many fantasies. Destroyer is a story about confronting one’s past, forging new paths, and the eternal struggle between good and evil, offering both an adventurous escape and a reflection on the weight of destiny.
Takeaway: Inviting epic fantasy in a classic vein, with a reluctant hero facing darkness.
Comparable Titles: Duncan M. Hamilton, Jeffrey L. Kohanek.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+
Print Date: 12/09/2024
Creator: Book II
“The balance of the elements is shifting again, and we may be standing on the edge of another Great War,” James “Destroyer” Lander is told as Segarra’s second Guardians of Life novel shifts into high gear. Such a proclamation will not surprise fantasy readers, as Segarra again exhibits deep engagement with the genre’s pleasures and history, as well as reader expectations—in a second book centered on a world of “intricate beauty” like Terra, where god-like “Guardians” maintain equilibrium between “Earth, Water, Air, and the darker forces of Void, Ice, and Death,” of course things are going to get out of balance. The good news: how much fun Segarra has expanding the series’ scope, springing surprises like a sudden siege or a wild training sequence, raising the stakes, and even dispatching heroes to the strangest realm yet: Boston Common.
After a slow start of meetings, lore dives, and debates over planning, Lander returns from training with the Guardian of Water. He’s jolted to discover he has been gone for three years—and he somehow has a daughter with the sorceress Eventra, who is not his girlfriend, Abela. From there, the storytelling surges ahead, with Segarra deftly blending the characters’ personal concerns with big-picture mysteries, crises, and quests. Burdened by a heroic destiny, James and his friends and loved ones must fulfill prophecy, restore balance, protect the people and the realm, and face the Creator itself, as worlds bleed into each other.
Cool connections to our Earth and its gods compel throughout. Segarra keeps the pages turning with multiple missions, a varied cast, and close attention to everyone’s hearts, especially James’s acceptance of responsibility and determination to do better than his ancestor, the first Destroyer. Bursting with a wide-ranging mix of folklore, magic, and dangers, this entry casts angels, fairies, witches, ice elves, and terrifying demons. Setting the series apart is how it all grows bolder with each chapter, a fantasy whose connections to the foundational narratives of our civilization are not just metaphorical.
Takeaway: Sweeping fantasy that smartly blends myths, religion, and world-spanning prophecy.
Great for fans of: Jordanna Max Brodsky, Robert Holdstock’s Mythago series.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+
Print Date: 09/14/2026