How I Accidentally Created a Fantasy Romance Trilogy: The Four Horsemen Reimagined as Guardians

JF Monroe
1 day ago
3 min read

From maternity leave to mythology—how one misread Bible verse sparked a world where the Four Horsemen protect instead of destroy.

It all started seven-ish years ago, during maternity leave with my son. Picture this: sleep-deprived, coffee in hand, rocking a newborn while half-watching a TV show that happened to reference the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. But this version had a twist. Each Horseman existed through a human vessel. Something about that struck me. It was one of those ideas that lingers, quietly building a world in the back of your mind before you even realize what’s happening.

That was the spark that eventually became the Legacy of the Four trilogy—a Four Horsemen fantasy romance unlike anything written before.

Falling Down the Rabbit Hole

I’ve always loved mythology and lore, so naturally, I went straight to the source: the Book of Revelation. I wanted to understand these Horsemen, what they represented, what their purpose truly was. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that they only get a few lines. A few lines! These four monumental figures, who’ve inspired centuries of art and fear, were barely given any page time.

But one of those lines, just one, changed everything for me. It created the entire foundation for my trilogy.

Can you guess which one?

Here’s the funny part: my uninformed brain at the time interpreted that line completely wrong. I read it, misunderstood it, and ran with that mistake straight into world-building territory. And honestly? It was one of the best mistakes I ever made.

Building a World from Characters Outward

Once the idea started forming, I did what I always do. I turned to the characters. I’ve said it before: I am huge on character development. I can’t just write around my characters; I have to feel them, understand them, like them. Everything that happens in my stories happens because of them.

Shade came first: fierce, grounded, and deeply human despite everything supernatural about her world. Then Theo followed (my self-sacrificing golden retriever with a dark side). Wyatt, Penny, and Stelladora arrived soon after, each adding a new layer to the emotional fabric of the story.

Laz and Wrath came later, along with the entire concept of The Seven Deadly Sins. That’s when things got deliciously complicated. Angels and demons entered the scene (because honestly, how could I resist?), and with that much chaos, someone had to keep the peace.

That’s when it clicked.

Not apocalypse bringers...guardians.

The Four Horsemen weren’t here to destroy the world. They were here to protect it.

Mythology, Monsters, and a Little Bit of Magic

From there, everything started falling into place like it was meant to be. I tossed in a Greek god, sprinkled in some mythological monsters for good measure, and somehow…it all just worked. It was messy at times, sure, world-building always is, but it was mine. Every late-night writing session, every “aha” moment, every plot hole that eventually found its perfect fix, it all became part of the journey.

The Journey That Keeps Evolving

Looking back, it’s wild to think that this trilogy, this world full of Horsemen, guardians, gods, demons, and deeply human hearts, came from one misunderstood verse and a sleepy day on maternity leave. But that’s the beauty of storytelling, isn’t it? The best stories often start where logic ends and imagination takes over.