To understand the allure of Layla Fae’s work, one must first understand the creature at the center of the story. Unlike the ubiquitous vampires or werewolves of Western fiction, the Vodnik (also known as Vodyanoy) is a water spirit rooted deeply in Slavic mythology.

Layla Fae takes this legend and turns it into a steamy, slow-burn romance. Guarded By the Vodnik follows the story of a woman who flees her mundane life only to stumble into the territory of a Vodnik. She expected to find a monster. Instead, she finds a guardian.