Spotlight on the Main Characters: Rowan & Torrin

Kindrie Grove
Dec 18, 2025
3 min read

Decorative element with two swords and a design between them.

Image of maps and leather bound books with a candle and writing implements, images and drawings by Kindrie Grove for The Stone Guardians

I am a discovery writer...

What does that mean?

Well, I guess you could say that I serve as a conduit for the story and characters to come through into our world. I write as I receive it. Scenes arrive through dreams, or visions and artwork that I create, with the characters fully formed and just needing me to describe them.

There must be more to it than that, you say. And you are right, there is, especially in the proofing and revision rounds as I ask myself critically, does this scene make sense?

Essentially though, much of the time, I am pretty much reading the story as I write it.

image of a a drawing of mountains and forests with leather bound books, pencils a candle and a wax seal — Drawing of Rowan, graphite and pencil crayon on toned paper, 9 x 12 inches

The characters of Rowan and Torrin were like real people I have met. They arrived fully formed with backstories, pasts, some of it tragic, and their own hang-ups and issues to overcome.

Much of my process to created these two main characters also came through the process of drawing of their portraits. The two illustrations featured here in this post are perhaps my very favorite of them. The descriptions of their armour and features in the first book came into intensely sharp focus as I began to draw them.

Not only that, but the style for all of the illustrations for the books completely solidified with the creation of these two drawings.

Drawing of the character of Torrin y Kindrie Grove — Drawing of Torrin, graphite and pencil crayon on toned paper, 9 x 12 inches

Rowan

Aside from her skill as a swordswoman, there is a quality at her core that speaks to me most.

Her courage.

Rowan's willingness to move through struggle, and face danger or difficulties, both internally and externally, brought me to tears on more than one occasion as I wrote. Her will to stand up for right relationship and equality is a strength that sends ripples through the world around her, especially in the patriarchal realms of Eryos.

There is nothing of precious, princess energy in her, she is feminine and quite stunning, but is practical and not afraid to get her hands dirty. Growing up as a tomboy myself, with no interest in girl things, this is a trait that I feel a lot of affinity with.

I will be honest, much of the fantasy image tropes of female warriors, clad in wildly impractical armour more suited to the beach than battle, are frankly ridiculous. It was very important to me as the author, artist, and a woman, that Rowan's armour, and skills in battle be both realistic and practical for a warrior who faces opponents who are often stronger and larger.

sketchbooks, leather bound books and drawings. — Drawing of Rowan, Torrin and their steeds, graphite and pencil crayon on toned paper, 9 x 12 inches

Torrin

A tragic past hides beneath the calm, taciturn surface of this man. Torrin's backstory, was not something I thought a great deal about, it was simply a part of him. Through the course of Books One and Two, it represents his biggest challenge. That fear of loss keeps him closed and fortified behind walls, but as cracks appear in that careful protection, it forces him to begin to deal with his past.

What I love most about Torrin is his willingness to look beyond his own preconceived ideas and patriarchal views, to truly begin to see Rowan as the powerful independent woman that she is.

His wounds run deep, and I think would have lasted his lifetime without ever healing, were it not for Rowan. Love and fear of loss war within him as he struggles to find a way to navigate his relationship with her.