Butterfly Swords
by Jeannie Lin
On her wedding day, Ai Li flees a marriage to a man she believes is a traitor. Ryam, a foreign mercenary swordsman, reluctantly agrees to escort her home through Tang dynasty China.
At a glance
- Genre
- Historical
- Trope
- Bodyguard
- Heat
- Hot
- Published
- 2010
- Length
- 288 pages
Reading Options
Butterfly Swords
As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
Why You May Love This Book
You may love this if…
- On her wedding day, a woman fleeing an alliance with a suspected traitor is forced into the protection of a foreign mercenary.
- Readers who enjoy historical adventure
- Fans of the bodyguard trope
- Features Bodyguard
- Strong premise
The Romance
Tropes, dynamics, and the chemistry that drives this story.
Relationship Dynamics
Details
Type: Historical Romance
Pairing: unknown
Power balance: Uneven due to the bodyguard/ward dynamic
How It Feels
The emotional landscape you'll move through while reading.
Heat Level
Heat information not available.
Who Is This Book For?
Best for
Recommended audience: Adult romance readers
The Story
Spoiler-Free Synopsis
When Ai Li flees her own wedding to avoid a marriage with a man she believes is a traitor, she is forced to rely on Ryam, a foreign mercenary swordsman, to get her home safely. As they traverse the dangerous landscape of Tang dynasty China, the forced proximity between the disparate pair leads to an unexpected connection.
Central Conflict
Ai Li's need for protection and safe transit while fleeing a political marriage creates forced proximity with Ryam, a man with a vastly different background.
Setting
Tang dynasty China
Strengths
- Strong premise
- Engaging historical setting
Discussion Guide
Questions to deepen your reading experience or spark a book club conversation.
- 1
How does the central conflict shape the relationship between the main characters?
- 2
How does the setting influence the characters' decisions and their relationship?
- 3
How do the relationship dynamics evolve throughout the story?
- 4
Who would you most want to recommend this book to?
- 5
How did the pacing affect your reading experience?
- 6
Which aspect of the story did you find most compelling?
How This Profile Was Created
Eikna uses book metadata and AI-assisted analysis to create structured romance profiles. Public profiles are reviewed and approved by an editor before publication.
- Editor reviewed:
- Yes
- Last reviewed:
- October 13, 2026
- Confidence:
- Moderate confidence
- Profile version:
- eikna-public-book-intelligence-v1
About the Author
Jeannie Lin
What Readers Say
No reviews yet
Be the first to share what you thought of this book.
Publication Details
- Publisher
- Harlequin Enterprises, Limited
- Published
- 2010
- Length
- 288 pages
- Language
- English
- ISBN-13
- 9781426870071
Are you the author? Verify your author profile to manage this book.
This is my book — sign inReading Options
Butterfly Swords
As an Amazon Associate, Eikna earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more.
Want more books like this?
Let Lyra help you discover lesbian romance books that match your exact mood, favorite tropes, and reading style.