The Gift of Guardians by Justin D. Bello
Blurb:
For 1,300 years, the Order of the Guardians has defended the continent of Termain from unimaginable evil. Now, with the coronation of a new and ambitious king, the Order appears poised to turn from its role as protector to dominate those it once kept safe. Meanwhile, after a millennium of lurking in the shadows, the servants of a dark god reemerge to take advantage of the strife. In the face of these dangers and more, unlikely heroes must rise:
Three bookish orphans, raised as brothers, find themselves torn apart by destiny…
An archduke’s daughter, imprisoned in a world of luxury, comes face to face with a deadly assassin…
A middle-aged farmer struggles to provide for his family in a land ravaged by bandits…
The youngest son of a senile king clings to his honor in a century-old civil war…
Will they be enough to bring the dawn and drive the dark away?
Review:
“He strode up to the object dangling in the center of the room, and for the first time, Brigid recognized it as a man. Heavy iron bindings fastened around his ankles and suspended him upside-down five feet above the floor.”
– Justin D. Bello, The Gift Of Guardians
For over a thousand years, the Order of the Guardians has served as the defenders of the continent of Termain. Defending the land and the people from unimaginable evils in the form of monsters and crooks, they operate perfectly. With the crowning of a new monarch, an ambitious and tenacious king, the Order’s goals shift. They no longer want to protect their homeland, rather, they want to control and dismantle those it once swore to defend.
As servants of a dark god emerge after thousands of years of lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to strike, they rise to take the chaotic and malicious opportunity the Order’s altered motives lend them.
The only people who might be able to stop the dark god’s servants and repair the breaking of the Order include three bookish orphans who’ve been torn apart by the lives the world dealt them. An archduke’s daughter, trapped in a gilded cage of luxury, who must confront and overpower an assassin. A middle-aged farmer who has less prospects than the mud on his farm, who’s desperate to protect his loved ones from a homeland brimming with dangers. A son of a crazy, crooked king who still values honor and nobleness despite being amid the throes of a century-old civil war. They’ll have to work together–while apart–to save their world…or lose everything they’ve ever cared about.
I absolutely loved The Gift Of Guardians. I can’t explain how my eyes widened and my mouth dropped open from reading the very first page onward (okay, maybe I can!) This novel was phenomenal, and I absolutely adored everything about it: the magic system, the characters, the worldbuilding–which was incredibly unique, impactful, and relevant to the overall story Bello wrote.
One of my favorite things about this book was how it focused on an older main character rather than just a bunch of young characters trying to save the world. So few novels include middle-aged protagonists for fear of being tuned out by readers, but Bello absolutely demolishes the execution of this manuscript.
With sharp prose, a sprawling world, and characters that readers would go to war far, The Gift Of Guardians is a read I would recommend to every reader. It’s outstanding, it’s fresh, and it’s so well-written that it was addictive and un-put-downable to read.
In The Gift Of Guardians, Justin D. Bello has an expert pen for prose and description that’s clear and precise but not overbearing, and exceptional line-level writing. The concept of this novel is an original and intriguing twist on existing epic fantasy tropes. Containing strong, visceral dialogue and intricate, imaginative worldbuilding, it is a true standout from the list of books I read.
This book is my pick! I absolutely adored what Bello did with The Gift Of The Guardians. It truly sucked me in. It’s the kind of novel that you don’t want to put down after you pick it up, and made me as a reader tear through the (digital) pages to see what happened next. An absolutely phenomenal and well-executed read, I’m thrilled to present this book as my semi-finalist!
