Book Club: The Lightning-Struck Heart by T.J. Klune

I read this book during the first half of 2025 and instantly finished the whole series within a couple of months. T.J. Klune's The Lightning-Struck Heart is an unapologetically whimsical, irreverent, and deeply heartfelt fantasy-romance. First published in 2015, it has since become a cult favourite among readers who enjoy queer-centered fantasy that doesn't just bend genre conventions, but gleefully shatters them.

Premise and Worldbuilding

The novel introduces us to Sam of Wilds, a young wizard's apprentice who is more inclined toward sarcasm and inappropriate jokes than scholarly study (and trust me, they are inappropriate). Ryan Foxheart, a.k.a Knight Delicious Face. Together, they're drawn into a quest to rescue a damsel in distress kidnapped prince — a classic fairy-tale setup that Klune twists into something outrageous, satirical, and surprisingly tender.

The world is deliberately over-the-top. Magic, prophecies, kings, and dragons all appear, but Klune treats them less as serious mythopoeia and more as the glittering backdrop to character-driven comedy and romance. The humour is modern, fourth-wall leaning, and often raunchy — yet it works because it's balanced with genuine emotional stakes. I'll promise not to monologue too much.

Characters and Relationships

At the centre is Sam, whose snarky, self-deprecating narration keeps the tone lively while also revealing unexpected vulnerability. His friendship with Gary and Tiggy is pure chaotic joy, giving the book its comedic backbone. But the heart of the story lies in Sam's calamitous wandering through life.

Ryan is portrayed as both the archetypal dashing knight and a nuanced love interest who sees through Sam's defences. Their slow-burn romance — equal parts awkward, hilarious, and sincere — provides the emotional throughline. Importantly, the novel never treats queerness as a "twist" or obstacle; instead, it revels in it, making queerness the very fabric of its humour, affection, and drama.

Tone and Style

Klune's prose is breezy, conversational, and often laugh-out-loud funny. Dialogue dominates, and the book's rhythm resembles that of a comedy troupe bouncing jokes back and forth. Yet beneath the absurdity is a surprising emotional resonance: moments of longing, loneliness, and loyalty that land harder because they arrive amid chaos.

The book's willingness to be simultaneously ridiculous and sincere is its greatest strength. Where some fantasy strives for grit, The Lightning-Struck Heart opts for glitter and heart, and in doing so, it feels more subversive than any grimdark tale.

Themes and Takeaways

• Friendship as found family: Gary and Tiggy aren't sidekicks but integral to Sam's sense of self and purpose.
• Queer joy: Romance here isn't tragedy or angst, but a playful, yearning, celebratory force.
• Love and self-worth: Sam's journey is as much about believing in himself as it is about winning Ryan's heart.

Verdict

The Lightning-Struck Heart is not for readers seeking solemn, Tolkien-esque gravitas. But for those willing to embrace absurd humour alongside genuine romance, it is a delight. Klune proves that fantasy doesn't need to be grim to be meaningful — it can be loud, messy, camp, and still profoundly moving.

This is the first entry in the Tales from Verania series, setting the stage for an epic of love, laughter, and unapologetic queerness that you will never want to put down.

Rating: Fierce/5 — Irreverent, outrageous, and unexpectedly tender. A modern queer fantasy classic.

For more information on this title, check out the Goodreads page.