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The Faerie Guardian #1
The Faerie Guardian, Part I
NO LONGER AVAILABLE. This novelette now forms Part I of the novel The Faerie Guardian.
Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamour follows her into the fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.
The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot—and it’ll take all her training to get out alive.
Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamour follows her into the fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.
The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot—and it’ll take all her training to get out alive.
47 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 29, 2012
23 people are currently reading
1661 people want to read
About the author
Rachel Morgan
51 books1,871 followersOnce upon a time, in a land not so far away, a young science graduate named Rachel found that the real world wasn't a place she wanted to inhabit all the time. So she decided to escape into the magical realms that had occupied her mind since childhood.
Armed with a vivid imagination, Rachel spends her days conjuring up fantastical worlds filled with adventure, romance, and plot twists, where readers can escape the real world along with her.
Rachel lives in Cape Town, South Africa, with her husband, two little wildlings, and three fur-babies.
Receive bookish updates directly from Rachel:
Rachel's email newsletter
Armed with a vivid imagination, Rachel spends her days conjuring up fantastical worlds filled with adventure, romance, and plot twists, where readers can escape the real world along with her.
Rachel lives in Cape Town, South Africa, with her husband, two little wildlings, and three fur-babies.
Receive bookish updates directly from Rachel:
Rachel's email newsletter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
September 10, 2012
Free at Smashwords!
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
I loved this from the first two rules and beginning sentence! First rule is to never bring a human into the fae realm and the second rule is to never reveal yourself to a human. "My assignment tonight is cuter than most." Violet is out on assignment to Draven Avenue, doing her duty of protecting humans, when the assignment spots her and follows along back to the fae realm. Well Violet just broke the two most important rules of the Guild. Mr. Draven Avenue, as in human boy Nate, now has to be escorted home and will cause her to be behind in her training. I loved the way she called him Draven Avenue for awhile. This book had such great wit, romance, and action. The perfect combination.
I loved all the characters and their interactions. Violet also has an arrogant classmate Ryn. He was obnoxious but I still found their fighting entertaining as well. Nate was unbelievably sweet, adorable, and hilariously honest. He spoke his mind and I loved it. Violet was slightly annoyed because she is working extremely hard to be top of her class. She loves the thrill of being a Guardian but it is a dangerous job. She lost both her parents and one of her best friends very young. As Violet leads Nate home they are captured. Violet must figure out a way for them to escape and get Nate home safe. Then she must erase his memory of everything he has seen. Will she be able to do it?
I loved Violet and Nate's journey so much and can't wait to see what they will be up to next. Nate cracked me up with all his questions and shock over the fae realm. I want to go on and on about this novella but since it only has 55 pages I don't want to give too much of it away. It was such a fun read, very easy to squeeze into your reading schedule, so just go ahead and check it out for yourselves! I was sad to see it end so soon. I'll be anxiously awaiting the next novella!
"I guess that could make sense. You are far more attractive than any real life girl who's managed to find her way into my bedroom."
"You can't be a faerie. You're way too big."
I lower my hands, my eyes challenging his. "Excuse me?" I've been called many things in my seventeen years, but big has never been one of them. Quite the opposite, in fact.
"Aren't faeries supposed to be, like, really tiny? With wings and a wand and faerie dust?'
"I'm not Tinkerbell!"
"I was your assignment?"
Wow, you catch on fast. "Yes."
He hesitates a moment, then grins. "That's kind of hot."
http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/...
I loved this from the first two rules and beginning sentence! First rule is to never bring a human into the fae realm and the second rule is to never reveal yourself to a human. "My assignment tonight is cuter than most." Violet is out on assignment to Draven Avenue, doing her duty of protecting humans, when the assignment spots her and follows along back to the fae realm. Well Violet just broke the two most important rules of the Guild. Mr. Draven Avenue, as in human boy Nate, now has to be escorted home and will cause her to be behind in her training. I loved the way she called him Draven Avenue for awhile. This book had such great wit, romance, and action. The perfect combination.
I loved all the characters and their interactions. Violet also has an arrogant classmate Ryn. He was obnoxious but I still found their fighting entertaining as well. Nate was unbelievably sweet, adorable, and hilariously honest. He spoke his mind and I loved it. Violet was slightly annoyed because she is working extremely hard to be top of her class. She loves the thrill of being a Guardian but it is a dangerous job. She lost both her parents and one of her best friends very young. As Violet leads Nate home they are captured. Violet must figure out a way for them to escape and get Nate home safe. Then she must erase his memory of everything he has seen. Will she be able to do it?
I loved Violet and Nate's journey so much and can't wait to see what they will be up to next. Nate cracked me up with all his questions and shock over the fae realm. I want to go on and on about this novella but since it only has 55 pages I don't want to give too much of it away. It was such a fun read, very easy to squeeze into your reading schedule, so just go ahead and check it out for yourselves! I was sad to see it end so soon. I'll be anxiously awaiting the next novella!
"I guess that could make sense. You are far more attractive than any real life girl who's managed to find her way into my bedroom."
"You can't be a faerie. You're way too big."
I lower my hands, my eyes challenging his. "Excuse me?" I've been called many things in my seventeen years, but big has never been one of them. Quite the opposite, in fact.
"Aren't faeries supposed to be, like, really tiny? With wings and a wand and faerie dust?'
"I'm not Tinkerbell!"
"I was your assignment?"
Wow, you catch on fast. "Yes."
He hesitates a moment, then grins. "That's kind of hot."
March 13, 2012
**First, I'd like to say a BIG thank-you to author Rachel Morgan for providing me with an ecopy of this to read and review as part of her blog tour!**
Guardian by Rachel Morgan is an incredibly fun, exciting, although somewhat short story that caught me from the very beginning and left me desperately wanting more!
One of the things I loved about this novelette is that Morgan begins the start of her captivating tales pretty much straight away. There’s no prelude or messing around. Violet and Nate meet, get tangled up due to a series of events and their story begins! Morgan’s writing style is fantastic; easy to read, vivid, and perfectly descriptive. The world she has crafted is exciting, although I would have liked a bit more explanation of the workings within it, but seeing as this is the first novelette in a series, I foresee a lot of expansion in future books.
Our main character Violet is an awesome heroine to follow! She’s feisty and independent and well and truly able to take care of herself, despite some of the situations she finds herself in. The girl’s got spirit and flair and her sharp tongue and quick wit had me in stitches at times. Morgan writes her “voice” in such a way that you can’t help by love this quirky and sarcastic guardian.
The interactions between Vi and Nate, the human boy that she accidently returned to the fae realm with, constantly brought a smile to my face. Nate is sweet, with just the perfect amount of personality to be interesting within the story, yet not overbearing. His own wit and outlandish comments entertained me even as they annoyed Violet. His modem day references to films and occasional cluelessness endeared him to me.
There’s a romantic connection between the two of them, but it’s not rushed or forced despite the shortness of the story, but rather a delicious possibility as Violet begins to feel things she’s never before felt. Both Violet and Nate are sweet and although it’s early days I cannot wait to see how Morgan develops and enhances their relationship.
Filled with colourful characters, that personally I want to know more about, and with a feisty heroine, the tone of the story is light, while still being fun. Guardian left me wanting more and I eagerly await the next installment!
Guardian by Rachel Morgan is an incredibly fun, exciting, although somewhat short story that caught me from the very beginning and left me desperately wanting more!
One of the things I loved about this novelette is that Morgan begins the start of her captivating tales pretty much straight away. There’s no prelude or messing around. Violet and Nate meet, get tangled up due to a series of events and their story begins! Morgan’s writing style is fantastic; easy to read, vivid, and perfectly descriptive. The world she has crafted is exciting, although I would have liked a bit more explanation of the workings within it, but seeing as this is the first novelette in a series, I foresee a lot of expansion in future books.
Our main character Violet is an awesome heroine to follow! She’s feisty and independent and well and truly able to take care of herself, despite some of the situations she finds herself in. The girl’s got spirit and flair and her sharp tongue and quick wit had me in stitches at times. Morgan writes her “voice” in such a way that you can’t help by love this quirky and sarcastic guardian.
The interactions between Vi and Nate, the human boy that she accidently returned to the fae realm with, constantly brought a smile to my face. Nate is sweet, with just the perfect amount of personality to be interesting within the story, yet not overbearing. His own wit and outlandish comments entertained me even as they annoyed Violet. His modem day references to films and occasional cluelessness endeared him to me.
There’s a romantic connection between the two of them, but it’s not rushed or forced despite the shortness of the story, but rather a delicious possibility as Violet begins to feel things she’s never before felt. Both Violet and Nate are sweet and although it’s early days I cannot wait to see how Morgan develops and enhances their relationship.
Filled with colourful characters, that personally I want to know more about, and with a feisty heroine, the tone of the story is light, while still being fun. Guardian left me wanting more and I eagerly await the next installment!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 28, 2012
Violet Fairdale is a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet has a new assignment to protect a human boy named Nate. But after fending off an attack of a reptillian something goes terribly wrong. Nate can see her and also saw the reptillian. Then Nate follows her into the fae realm.
Fast paced action will give you a thrill of a page turner that you (at least it was for me) a read you cannot put down until finished.
Fast paced action will give you a thrill of a page turner that you (at least it was for me) a read you cannot put down until finished.
April 12, 2014
I'm not much of a book reviewer, though I do occasionally throw together a bunch of words to try and describe what a book means to me. This time I'm writing a review as part of a book tour - the very first I've ever participated in! It's exciting, especially because I got to review an awesome book (well, novella) that I absolutely adored and would give 50 million stars to if I could. ;) That novella is by Rachel Morgan and is the first in her Creepy Hollow series. To learn what the story's about, check out the Creepy Hollow website.
When I agreed to be part of Rachel's book tour, I didn't really know what I could expect. I'm not too familiar with Rachel's writing, except through her blog, so I was going in blindly (though the blurb had got my attention and interest!). Starting to read GUARDIAN, I was drawn in and delighted pretty much from the first word. First off, I'm a huge fan of first person present tense, which is how this story is told. I love Rachel's beautiful descriptions of the fae world (Can I please visit? Maybe stay a while?), and as I was reading I could already imagine the story as a gorgeously lush movie. Or maybe even a captivating TV show episode!
Not only is the writing beautiful, it's cute and quirky and funny too. Tora, Violet's boss (or mentor, maybe?), has an office lit by a squirming glow-worm on her ceiling! I want to go and pat the little wormy. After Vi leaves Tora's office (post lecture for breaking the two big rules), she finds Nate hanging out with a little tree sprite who giggles and pokes him in the face before fluttering away (CUTE!). People receive "fae text messages" (as I like to think of them) on little amber tablets instead of mobile phones. There are just endless moments of cuteness - the story is littered with them. But they're mentioned in passing, as a matter of course, so they don't draw you out of the story, they just kind of make it sparkle. The writing flows effortlessly, making for a quick and captivating read.
The dialogue is entertaining and realistic, two things I value highly in any story. For example, on page 6, Nate is surprised to learn that Violet's a faerie:
Nate: Aren't faeries supposed to be, like, really tiny? With wings and a wand and faerie dust?
Violet: I'm not Tinkerbell!
And as for plot, well, that part's just cool. It moves fast, drawing us swiftly into the action (and the romance. Which was another very very cute aspect of this story. I basically squeed when...ohh, well, why don't you read it and find out?), and we don't have any moments when we're rolling our eyes going, “Come on, get on with it already!” In short, this was a delightful read and I want to read more. NOW.
When I agreed to be part of Rachel's book tour, I didn't really know what I could expect. I'm not too familiar with Rachel's writing, except through her blog, so I was going in blindly (though the blurb had got my attention and interest!). Starting to read GUARDIAN, I was drawn in and delighted pretty much from the first word. First off, I'm a huge fan of first person present tense, which is how this story is told. I love Rachel's beautiful descriptions of the fae world (Can I please visit? Maybe stay a while?), and as I was reading I could already imagine the story as a gorgeously lush movie. Or maybe even a captivating TV show episode!
Not only is the writing beautiful, it's cute and quirky and funny too. Tora, Violet's boss (or mentor, maybe?), has an office lit by a squirming glow-worm on her ceiling! I want to go and pat the little wormy. After Vi leaves Tora's office (post lecture for breaking the two big rules), she finds Nate hanging out with a little tree sprite who giggles and pokes him in the face before fluttering away (CUTE!). People receive "fae text messages" (as I like to think of them) on little amber tablets instead of mobile phones. There are just endless moments of cuteness - the story is littered with them. But they're mentioned in passing, as a matter of course, so they don't draw you out of the story, they just kind of make it sparkle. The writing flows effortlessly, making for a quick and captivating read.
The dialogue is entertaining and realistic, two things I value highly in any story. For example, on page 6, Nate is surprised to learn that Violet's a faerie:
Nate: Aren't faeries supposed to be, like, really tiny? With wings and a wand and faerie dust?
Violet: I'm not Tinkerbell!
And as for plot, well, that part's just cool. It moves fast, drawing us swiftly into the action (and the romance. Which was another very very cute aspect of this story. I basically squeed when...ohh, well, why don't you read it and find out?), and we don't have any moments when we're rolling our eyes going, “Come on, get on with it already!” In short, this was a delightful read and I want to read more. NOW.
March 7, 2012
Rachel Morgan's "Guardian" Charms the Stars
When I was a kid, I believed in the tooth fairy and that I had a fairy godmother, both of whom, I was sure kept me in penny candy during the day and, later, as my imagination grew, my fairy godmother kept the dreaded Dracula away at night. I'm convinced my fairy godmother had enormous powers. How else to explain her protection after my mother found garlic hanging on the backside of my bedpost? under the bed? under the sofa's cushions in the living room? (In case Dracula entered by the front door.)
However, At LSU (Louisiana State University), I encountered The Faerie Queen and almost fainted. Edmund Spenser, a 1500s rock star, had written one of the longest poem in the English language. My instructor actually expected me to read the behemoth over a long weekend. (He'd obviously never heard of Happy Hour!) Okay, Spenser had a thing for Queen Elizabeth I of England. I got it! So I read a few pages, went to the bookstore, and bought an abridged summary.
My love for faeries returned when I read Rachel Morgan's "Guardian," the first book in her "Creepy Hollow" series. I hadn't a clue this would happen when Rachel asked me be to be a beta reader. "Er, Rachel, I'm into alligators and gumbo. Faeries?"
"Please give the book a try. If you don't like it, you won't hurt my feelings."
"But just send a couple of chapters at first, okay?"
A couple of pages into the first chapter, I e-mailed Rachel for the rest. Yep, "Guardian" hooked me. I fell in love with Vi, a guardian faerie with purple air, magical powers, and a super cool wit. Nate, the gorgeous human the Guild had sent Vi to save, made me think of wine by a cozy fire when hub came home.
Through a clever plot, Nate enters a magical world hidden from humans where pixies, elves, and goblins abound in forests. Trees morph into dwellings. Mushrooms glow from ceilings. Faeries summon daggers from thin air, a good thing, as it turns out. Not every faerie is a good faerie. Jealousy and sinister innuendos abound.
Vi has to outfox adversaries and overcome a failed assignment if she hopes to graduate with the Guild's highest award for a guardian. Nate's human personage presents enormous problems. For openers, Vi wasn't supposed to bring a human into her faerie world, ahem, one of those things supervisors don't like -- and tell you so.
"Guardian" is a page-turner with a super delicious plot and fantastic characters who draw you into their worlds. I hope you enjoy this gorgeous read as much as I did. My rating: 5 stars.
When I was a kid, I believed in the tooth fairy and that I had a fairy godmother, both of whom, I was sure kept me in penny candy during the day and, later, as my imagination grew, my fairy godmother kept the dreaded Dracula away at night. I'm convinced my fairy godmother had enormous powers. How else to explain her protection after my mother found garlic hanging on the backside of my bedpost? under the bed? under the sofa's cushions in the living room? (In case Dracula entered by the front door.)
However, At LSU (Louisiana State University), I encountered The Faerie Queen and almost fainted. Edmund Spenser, a 1500s rock star, had written one of the longest poem in the English language. My instructor actually expected me to read the behemoth over a long weekend. (He'd obviously never heard of Happy Hour!) Okay, Spenser had a thing for Queen Elizabeth I of England. I got it! So I read a few pages, went to the bookstore, and bought an abridged summary.
My love for faeries returned when I read Rachel Morgan's "Guardian," the first book in her "Creepy Hollow" series. I hadn't a clue this would happen when Rachel asked me be to be a beta reader. "Er, Rachel, I'm into alligators and gumbo. Faeries?"
"Please give the book a try. If you don't like it, you won't hurt my feelings."
"But just send a couple of chapters at first, okay?"
A couple of pages into the first chapter, I e-mailed Rachel for the rest. Yep, "Guardian" hooked me. I fell in love with Vi, a guardian faerie with purple air, magical powers, and a super cool wit. Nate, the gorgeous human the Guild had sent Vi to save, made me think of wine by a cozy fire when hub came home.
Through a clever plot, Nate enters a magical world hidden from humans where pixies, elves, and goblins abound in forests. Trees morph into dwellings. Mushrooms glow from ceilings. Faeries summon daggers from thin air, a good thing, as it turns out. Not every faerie is a good faerie. Jealousy and sinister innuendos abound.
Vi has to outfox adversaries and overcome a failed assignment if she hopes to graduate with the Guild's highest award for a guardian. Nate's human personage presents enormous problems. For openers, Vi wasn't supposed to bring a human into her faerie world, ahem, one of those things supervisors don't like -- and tell you so.
"Guardian" is a page-turner with a super delicious plot and fantastic characters who draw you into their worlds. I hope you enjoy this gorgeous read as much as I did. My rating: 5 stars.
March 10, 2012
At first when I found out it was under 60 pages I was suspicious. Buy an ebook with less pages than a small collection of short stories. Novelette? Sure, sure. But as I read more about it online I decided to give it a chance. Plus a little blog and twitter chat with the author Rachel had me sold. She's so nice and after reading Guardian, talented too.
I give this excellent story 5 stars. Why? Because I've been less entertained by full out novels than I've been enraptured by a short ebook of top billings. The characters are unique and engaging and the story line definitely gets your curiousity piqued. As you journey with Violet and the human boy Nate who brings trouble with the intention of good intent, you get attached to them. As the story goes you cheer for them and boo their enemies (unless it's a really intriguing one). And when it's over...you go what? Wait? Ok...I can't wait for the next book!
So I recommend everyone should read this book. I got my copy from Smashwords but it's also available on Amazon. Also check out Rachel's blog and twitter. You won't regret getting to know this author better. And that comes from a book lover, a fan and a upcoming debut novelist. *grins*
I give this excellent story 5 stars. Why? Because I've been less entertained by full out novels than I've been enraptured by a short ebook of top billings. The characters are unique and engaging and the story line definitely gets your curiousity piqued. As you journey with Violet and the human boy Nate who brings trouble with the intention of good intent, you get attached to them. As the story goes you cheer for them and boo their enemies (unless it's a really intriguing one). And when it's over...you go what? Wait? Ok...I can't wait for the next book!
So I recommend everyone should read this book. I got my copy from Smashwords but it's also available on Amazon. Also check out Rachel's blog and twitter. You won't regret getting to know this author better. And that comes from a book lover, a fan and a upcoming debut novelist. *grins*
February 15, 2012
Rachel Morgan’s GUARDIAN delights with a spunky heroine and a cute, sometimes clueless boy.
Violet Fairdale has her life down to a science. She’s near the top of her faerie training to be a guardian until one assignment shatters her ranking, her heart, and nearly her life. Nate, her current assignment, can not only see her, but he also manages to follow her into Creepy Hollow, the fae realm. Vi must find a way to get him back home before she faces expulsion or worse.
GUARDIAN bursts upon the page with magical realms, faeries and other creatures, and a very genuine teen, even if she may belong to the fae realm. Violet’s voice is real and spectacular. She sounds normal, down-to-earth, and right for her age. Nate is adorable. The main characters have great depth to them. The reader glimpses this magical world Morgan has created. The story is fast-paced and filled with unsuspected twists and turns. The touch of romance is sweet and magical in its own right.
GUARDIAN by Rachel Morgan will snatch you into the magical world and hold you enchanted long after. I can’t wait for book two!
Violet Fairdale has her life down to a science. She’s near the top of her faerie training to be a guardian until one assignment shatters her ranking, her heart, and nearly her life. Nate, her current assignment, can not only see her, but he also manages to follow her into Creepy Hollow, the fae realm. Vi must find a way to get him back home before she faces expulsion or worse.
GUARDIAN bursts upon the page with magical realms, faeries and other creatures, and a very genuine teen, even if she may belong to the fae realm. Violet’s voice is real and spectacular. She sounds normal, down-to-earth, and right for her age. Nate is adorable. The main characters have great depth to them. The reader glimpses this magical world Morgan has created. The story is fast-paced and filled with unsuspected twists and turns. The touch of romance is sweet and magical in its own right.
GUARDIAN by Rachel Morgan will snatch you into the magical world and hold you enchanted long after. I can’t wait for book two!
May 18, 2012
A novelette and yet a complete story, this first installment shoves you right into the world of Creepy Hollow, the Guild, the fae and deadly, long kept secrets. Violet Fairdale is a guardian in training. At the top of her class and uniquely gifted, she promises to be unparalleled. Her mission: to protect the human world from mischievous and malicious fair folk, and to keep the humans blissfully ignorant of the magical world that exists just under their noses. And then… one of her assignments goes terribly wrong when her “assignment” follows her through the faerie doorway back to Creepy Hollow, endangering her coveted top position as a guardian trainee and threatening her with expulsion from the Guild. And yet, despite her annoyance with the human who trailed her home, she discovers that perhaps there’s more to him than she originally thought.
Violet isn’t exactly what you might call warm and cuddly. Orphaned, obsessed with earning the highest honors possible in her training, gifted with a singular power, she’s emotionally closed-off from those around her. She’s sarcastic, a bit aggressive, but she’s not completely prickly or made of stone. Once she meets Nate – optimistic, sweet, inquisitive Nate – she’s beginning to realize that she’s lonely… and maybe she doesn’t want to be. The story is told entirely from Vi’s first person point-of-view, giving the reader a look into who she really is, exposing the vulnerabilities, doubts and weaknesses that make her more human… or perhaps relatable would be a better word since she’s actually a faerie.
Nate is in a word, adorable. Once Violet, and he, realize Nate can see through her glamour, he barely misses a beat. Instead of freaking out that reality as he knows it has completely changed, he takes it all in stride, plying Violet with questions about how her world works rather than cowering in a corner. His enthusiasm is infectious. His inquisitiveness is cute, and yet he does comprehend the seriousness of the situation. He’s an easygoing guy, quick-witted, intelligent and kind– the perfect match for Violet’s personality.
The story itself is fast-paced and gripping. For such a short length, a lot is introduced or foreshadowed in this first novelette. It’s impressive how much information the author manages to impart to the reader in Guardian, while never feeling forced or like an information dump. I’m not usually one for stories of the fae, but your typical faeries, these aren’t. I love Morgan’s addition of the Guild to faerie lore and the presentation of the fae in general. The world is simultaneously explained just enough while also being just vague enough but holding a lot of potential darkness and a lot of promise for future world building. There are also elements of Nate and Violet’s individual backgrounds that Morgan just briefly touches on that will hopefully become bigger issues in subsequent stories. The plot and revelations are very well-paced and while satisfied upon reaching the ending, there are a lot of questions Morgan left unanswered that have me excited to start the next novelette, Labyrinth.
Overall, with a reimagined world of faerie, two wonderful main characters, a hint of romance, a story that sucks you right in, and the foreshadowing of all that’s to come, Guardian is a fantastic introduction to the Creepy Hollow series.
Violet isn’t exactly what you might call warm and cuddly. Orphaned, obsessed with earning the highest honors possible in her training, gifted with a singular power, she’s emotionally closed-off from those around her. She’s sarcastic, a bit aggressive, but she’s not completely prickly or made of stone. Once she meets Nate – optimistic, sweet, inquisitive Nate – she’s beginning to realize that she’s lonely… and maybe she doesn’t want to be. The story is told entirely from Vi’s first person point-of-view, giving the reader a look into who she really is, exposing the vulnerabilities, doubts and weaknesses that make her more human… or perhaps relatable would be a better word since she’s actually a faerie.
Nate is in a word, adorable. Once Violet, and he, realize Nate can see through her glamour, he barely misses a beat. Instead of freaking out that reality as he knows it has completely changed, he takes it all in stride, plying Violet with questions about how her world works rather than cowering in a corner. His enthusiasm is infectious. His inquisitiveness is cute, and yet he does comprehend the seriousness of the situation. He’s an easygoing guy, quick-witted, intelligent and kind– the perfect match for Violet’s personality.
The story itself is fast-paced and gripping. For such a short length, a lot is introduced or foreshadowed in this first novelette. It’s impressive how much information the author manages to impart to the reader in Guardian, while never feeling forced or like an information dump. I’m not usually one for stories of the fae, but your typical faeries, these aren’t. I love Morgan’s addition of the Guild to faerie lore and the presentation of the fae in general. The world is simultaneously explained just enough while also being just vague enough but holding a lot of potential darkness and a lot of promise for future world building. There are also elements of Nate and Violet’s individual backgrounds that Morgan just briefly touches on that will hopefully become bigger issues in subsequent stories. The plot and revelations are very well-paced and while satisfied upon reaching the ending, there are a lot of questions Morgan left unanswered that have me excited to start the next novelette, Labyrinth.
Overall, with a reimagined world of faerie, two wonderful main characters, a hint of romance, a story that sucks you right in, and the foreshadowing of all that’s to come, Guardian is a fantastic introduction to the Creepy Hollow series.
May 2, 2012
(3.5)
I didn't realize that this was a novella (I have no sense of page numbers when it comes to ebooks) so you can imagine my surprise when the book ended at about an hour's reading stating ..to be continued. I wanted to hunt down the author and bark, "No you didn't!". I was initially upset as you can see but after browsing through the book's website for some answers, I was pacified. Apparently this is going to be a series of short novellas, an installment a month (started this past March). Never heard of such a thing. As I understand it, it will play out like that of a TV series but in monthly episodes. That's pretty cool! According to the website, there will be at least seven installments.
This was a great start to the series. The story moved along quickly and you were introduced to a whole new fantasy world full of characters, rules, and terms. Simple enough, the top two rules that faerie in training received was: 1) Never reveal yourself to a human and 2) Never bring a human into the fae realm. Of course, Violet ends up breaking those two rules when it came to her assignment to protect Nate. Nate saw the ninja fighting Violet did with the reptiscilla that was to harm him. He also manages to grab onto Violet as she was to return to Creepy Hollow and he passed through unscathed even though humans would not survive such a journey. Looks like there's something special about Nate? And so the story goes with the adventure of Violet returning Nate back home, give him a potion to erase the memory of this other world, and still graduate. Of course, Zell and Drake had to spice things up and this journey was going to be forked. So there we await what will happen next in book two. Oh, did I forget to mention that Violet and Nate kissed twice already? Indeed, an example of the fast pace this book launches the reader into.
This was well written. The story telling was descriptive and entertaining. It was just incredibly too short, so I felt cheated and lost for proper rating. I didn't expect a novella. It affected my experience with the book. My bad for not knowing the conversion to word count! Nonetheless, it got me looking forward to the next installment so that's mighty telling. Overall, this promises potential to be a remarkable series. Great job Ms. Morgan!
If you like twisty, action filled, fantasy story packed in a short time then this book is for you. If you don't like to wait so long for an installment then this is your series. I didn't like the abrupt ending at first but I think I'm warming up to the idea of quick episodes.
*Received copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
Jinky is Reading
I didn't realize that this was a novella (I have no sense of page numbers when it comes to ebooks) so you can imagine my surprise when the book ended at about an hour's reading stating ..to be continued. I wanted to hunt down the author and bark, "No you didn't!". I was initially upset as you can see but after browsing through the book's website for some answers, I was pacified. Apparently this is going to be a series of short novellas, an installment a month (started this past March). Never heard of such a thing. As I understand it, it will play out like that of a TV series but in monthly episodes. That's pretty cool! According to the website, there will be at least seven installments.
This was a great start to the series. The story moved along quickly and you were introduced to a whole new fantasy world full of characters, rules, and terms. Simple enough, the top two rules that faerie in training received was: 1) Never reveal yourself to a human and 2) Never bring a human into the fae realm. Of course, Violet ends up breaking those two rules when it came to her assignment to protect Nate. Nate saw the ninja fighting Violet did with the reptiscilla that was to harm him. He also manages to grab onto Violet as she was to return to Creepy Hollow and he passed through unscathed even though humans would not survive such a journey. Looks like there's something special about Nate? And so the story goes with the adventure of Violet returning Nate back home, give him a potion to erase the memory of this other world, and still graduate. Of course, Zell and Drake had to spice things up and this journey was going to be forked. So there we await what will happen next in book two. Oh, did I forget to mention that Violet and Nate kissed twice already? Indeed, an example of the fast pace this book launches the reader into.
This was well written. The story telling was descriptive and entertaining. It was just incredibly too short, so I felt cheated and lost for proper rating. I didn't expect a novella. It affected my experience with the book. My bad for not knowing the conversion to word count! Nonetheless, it got me looking forward to the next installment so that's mighty telling. Overall, this promises potential to be a remarkable series. Great job Ms. Morgan!
If you like twisty, action filled, fantasy story packed in a short time then this book is for you. If you don't like to wait so long for an installment then this is your series. I didn't like the abrupt ending at first but I think I'm warming up to the idea of quick episodes.
*Received copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review
Jinky is Reading
August 22, 2012
Creepy Hollow #1: Guardian by Rachel Morgan
Source: Purchase
4/5 stars
I have often shied away from reading novellas because there generally just isn’t enough time for the author to completely develop characters and/or the plot. I am certainly glad I didn’t realize (until after I clicked purchase) the Creepy Hollow series is actually a series of novellas otherwise I would have missed out on a (OK four) fun and entertaining read by Rachel Morgan.
Violet Fairdale is a young faerie who is in her last months of training to become a guardian. Violet is an orphan whose family has always served as guardians; guardians are members of an elite group of faeries whose job it is to protect unknowing humans from dark faerie attacks. Humans can’t see fairies and they certainly can’t travel to Creepy Hollow so how is it that Violet finds herself in a heap of trouble after one of her “assignments” not only sees her but hitchhikes his way into Creepy Hollow? Balls!!
Violet and Nate (her hitchhiking human) now have to get Nate back to the world of humans so Violet can go before the Council to receive her punishment for breaking some of her people’s most important laws. Here’s the rub: before Violet and Nate can get anywhere near Nate’s home they are both whacked on the head, kidnapped, and Violet’s magic is bound so she can’t work to save them. Balls again! The kidnappers want two things: 1) Nate’s biological mother whom he has never met and; 2) the name of the faerie with the special ability of being able to locate anyone anywhere.
I found this short read to be quite satisfying as Morgan does a great job of setting up her plot and developing her characters in a very short amount of time. I like Violet! She has purple streaks in her hair (awesome), uses the work wonky (one of my faves!), and takes her skills and her assignments very seriously. Here’s what Violet must do:
1)Get herself and Nate to safety
2)Figure out why a faerie would want a human woman
3)Continue to bury the secret of her super-special skill and
4)Try not to think too hard about how cute Nate is
For Nate, he has to admit that not only does he want to know who his biological mother is but also accept that he is going to need help discovering her identity. The only problem with his plan is the fact that Violet has been tasked with erasing Nate’s memory. To be continued . . .
Source: Purchase
4/5 stars
I have often shied away from reading novellas because there generally just isn’t enough time for the author to completely develop characters and/or the plot. I am certainly glad I didn’t realize (until after I clicked purchase) the Creepy Hollow series is actually a series of novellas otherwise I would have missed out on a (OK four) fun and entertaining read by Rachel Morgan.
Violet Fairdale is a young faerie who is in her last months of training to become a guardian. Violet is an orphan whose family has always served as guardians; guardians are members of an elite group of faeries whose job it is to protect unknowing humans from dark faerie attacks. Humans can’t see fairies and they certainly can’t travel to Creepy Hollow so how is it that Violet finds herself in a heap of trouble after one of her “assignments” not only sees her but hitchhikes his way into Creepy Hollow? Balls!!
Violet and Nate (her hitchhiking human) now have to get Nate back to the world of humans so Violet can go before the Council to receive her punishment for breaking some of her people’s most important laws. Here’s the rub: before Violet and Nate can get anywhere near Nate’s home they are both whacked on the head, kidnapped, and Violet’s magic is bound so she can’t work to save them. Balls again! The kidnappers want two things: 1) Nate’s biological mother whom he has never met and; 2) the name of the faerie with the special ability of being able to locate anyone anywhere.
I found this short read to be quite satisfying as Morgan does a great job of setting up her plot and developing her characters in a very short amount of time. I like Violet! She has purple streaks in her hair (awesome), uses the work wonky (one of my faves!), and takes her skills and her assignments very seriously. Here’s what Violet must do:
1)Get herself and Nate to safety
2)Figure out why a faerie would want a human woman
3)Continue to bury the secret of her super-special skill and
4)Try not to think too hard about how cute Nate is
For Nate, he has to admit that not only does he want to know who his biological mother is but also accept that he is going to need help discovering her identity. The only problem with his plan is the fact that Violet has been tasked with erasing Nate’s memory. To be continued . . .
April 10, 2012
3.5 Stars
Guardian is the first story in the Creepy Hollow series by Rachel Morgan, these short stories will be published as ebooks on a monthly basis with the second story Labyrinth already available. What I really like about this kind of serialised story is that you never have too long to wait for the next instalment. They also make great quick reads for when you don't have the time to get stuck into a full length book and you just want something that you can read in one sitting.
According to Amazon UK Guardian has approximately 47 pages so it doesn't take long to read but for such a short story the author does a good job of pulling you into the world she has created. I don't want to go into too much detail about the plot because it would be easy to spoil it for you but basically the main character Violet is a 17-year-old faerie who is in training as a guardian to protect humans from the dangerous creatures who escape from the fae realm. There are only 2 rules that Violet must stick to - never reveal yourself to a human and never bring a human back to the fae realm - so things go horribly wrong for her when her assignment Nate is not only able to see her but also manages to follow her home.
The story is fast paced and I liked both of the main characters. Violet is spunky and has a great snarky sense of humour plus you can never go wrong with purple hair! Nate we don't know so much about yet but he seems quite cute and I liked his reactions to Violet and the fae realm he suddenly finds himself in. I also enjoyed the banter between Violet and Ryn who is her main competition for top of the class in her guardian training.
Guardian is a great introduction to the series and left me eager to get started on Labyrinth. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next for Violet and Nate.
Guardian is the first story in the Creepy Hollow series by Rachel Morgan, these short stories will be published as ebooks on a monthly basis with the second story Labyrinth already available. What I really like about this kind of serialised story is that you never have too long to wait for the next instalment. They also make great quick reads for when you don't have the time to get stuck into a full length book and you just want something that you can read in one sitting.
According to Amazon UK Guardian has approximately 47 pages so it doesn't take long to read but for such a short story the author does a good job of pulling you into the world she has created. I don't want to go into too much detail about the plot because it would be easy to spoil it for you but basically the main character Violet is a 17-year-old faerie who is in training as a guardian to protect humans from the dangerous creatures who escape from the fae realm. There are only 2 rules that Violet must stick to - never reveal yourself to a human and never bring a human back to the fae realm - so things go horribly wrong for her when her assignment Nate is not only able to see her but also manages to follow her home.
The story is fast paced and I liked both of the main characters. Violet is spunky and has a great snarky sense of humour plus you can never go wrong with purple hair! Nate we don't know so much about yet but he seems quite cute and I liked his reactions to Violet and the fae realm he suddenly finds himself in. I also enjoyed the banter between Violet and Ryn who is her main competition for top of the class in her guardian training.
Guardian is a great introduction to the series and left me eager to get started on Labyrinth. I'm looking forward to seeing what happens next for Violet and Nate.
May 3, 2012
I was lucky enough to receive Guardian from Rachel Morgan after winning a giveaway on Some Like It Paranormal. After more than a month, I finally had time to read it. I read it in just a few hours, so I can't believe I waited so long to read it! But now I can say that I absolutely loved it!! Since it's a novelette, it's pretty short, but that doesn't mean that it isn't good. I felt like a lot happened, considering how short the story is. There was enough action and it wasn't slow at all. I felt like the plot really moved along well and the characters were well described.
I loved Violet and Nate! I especially loved Violet's purple eyes and hair, and the fact that she's fae. She's a strong character, and even though her background wasn't explained in detail (yet!) it's obvious that she's a good fighter and a hard worker. Then there's Nate. I loved his responses to everything Violet told him, and how he coped with their situations by trying to make light of things. I think he was accurately portrayed as a teenage boy who has no idea about the existence of fae or magic. Ryn, on the other hand... It hasn't been revealed what the deal is between him and Violet, but there's just something about him that makes me suspicious.
I can't wait to read Labyrinth and find out more about the characters and the world that Rachel has created. I definitely want to know more about Violet and her special powers, and the reasons behind why she is the way she is. Also, I want to find out more about Nate's mother and her role in the fae realm. Guardian was an awesome beginning to what I'm sure will be a great series!
March 1, 2012
Originally posted @ Book Whales
This is a novelette, only 55 pages. I was really excited to read this book since it involves faeries. I am a sucker for faerie stories. I've read this book while I was eating my breakfast. “Coffee, pancakes and a kindle in hand…Life is good!” I know that this book is a fast read so I took my time reading it.
The Guild rules
1. Never reveal yourself to a human
2. Never bring a human to fae realms
“You can never break the Guild’s two most important rules”
Violet is a guardian, part of the Guild that protects humans from fae. She was given an assignment that didn’t go well as she thought it would be. ……
A story full of adventure and action; this book is a bright and radiant read. The dialogues are funny! I like how Nate takes Violet’s words literally. There were times when I tried not to laugh; given the fact that I have pancakes on my mouth and a coffee in hand. I also love how the author describes, Creepy Hollow. I feel like Alice in wonderland but with boggarts, goblins, kelpies and halflings. A very colorful world where you just want to absorb yourself in.
Overall, Guardian (Creepy Hollow #1) is an enjoyable read. This book is a promising start to the series. I can’t wait too see what happens next.
Rating:
This is a novelette, only 55 pages. I was really excited to read this book since it involves faeries. I am a sucker for faerie stories. I've read this book while I was eating my breakfast. “Coffee, pancakes and a kindle in hand…Life is good!” I know that this book is a fast read so I took my time reading it.
The Guild rules
1. Never reveal yourself to a human
2. Never bring a human to fae realms
“You can never break the Guild’s two most important rules”
Violet is a guardian, part of the Guild that protects humans from fae. She was given an assignment that didn’t go well as she thought it would be. ……
A story full of adventure and action; this book is a bright and radiant read. The dialogues are funny! I like how Nate takes Violet’s words literally. There were times when I tried not to laugh; given the fact that I have pancakes on my mouth and a coffee in hand. I also love how the author describes, Creepy Hollow. I feel like Alice in wonderland but with boggarts, goblins, kelpies and halflings. A very colorful world where you just want to absorb yourself in.
Overall, Guardian (Creepy Hollow #1) is an enjoyable read. This book is a promising start to the series. I can’t wait too see what happens next.
Rating:
Read
March 20, 2017I knew it was a novella, but I still think it was too short :) (That's because I wanted to keep reading). Guess I'll just have to pick up the next ones! I think it's a fun idea that she's putting out a new installment every month, though I'm hoping she'll put together a finished novel with all of them together, since I'd like to have them all in one place on my Kindle, rather than having to open 7 different documents to read the whole book.
Super fun and quick, you get right into the action and things only heat up from there. I wasn't expecting the story to be so lighthearted and quirky, since the cover made me think it'd be a little darker, but I still love the cover too. This book had a sort of Kiersten White vibe to it (very good thing).
I loved the description of the fey realm. All the new plants and animals were very interesting. Overall, fun read and very short, I think I finished it in about an hour!
Super fun and quick, you get right into the action and things only heat up from there. I wasn't expecting the story to be so lighthearted and quirky, since the cover made me think it'd be a little darker, but I still love the cover too. This book had a sort of Kiersten White vibe to it (very good thing).
I loved the description of the fey realm. All the new plants and animals were very interesting. Overall, fun read and very short, I think I finished it in about an hour!
March 1, 2012
What an amazing book! My only disappointment was that it finished so soon. As I turned the last page, all I felt was, NOOOOO!, I want more! I almost turned back to page 1 just to read it all again, and get lost in the wonderment of the world Miss Morgan has created. The characters were unique and interesting, I especially enjoyed the relationship between the two main characters and cannot wait to see where this leads in the next book. Miss Morgan has written a delightful first book. Keep them coming, and quickly please!
June 4, 2012
OK - faeries, elves, halflings: this is just NOT my genre! Absolutely not! So why did I find myself flying through this book on my own rather large set of gossamer wings and loving every minute of it? The treatment is light yet absorbing, the characters are interesting and the dialogue is lithe. The business of guiding the reader into a complex and altered world is accomplished with practised ease by a writer who already lives within it. Unfortunately this is simply not my genre, though, so I won't be reading on - will I?
April 17, 2014
I feel incredibly meh about The Faerie Guardian. It checked all the right boxes but it never really took off for me. That could be because it rounded up a lot of my pet peeves for YA and pushed them into a sardine container of a novella. Maybe it was just too young for me or maybe I need a big break from YA. Or this book just really, really wasn't for me.
That being said it is an Indy book, but if I hadn't known from the buy page on Amazon I never would have known. It was well written, edited, and put together. My problems with it came from a totally different place.
That being said it is an Indy book, but if I hadn't known from the buy page on Amazon I never would have known. It was well written, edited, and put together. My problems with it came from a totally different place.
February 6, 2012
I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this book, and I read it all in one sitting. The characters were vivid and all had unique voices; I felt connected to them from the get-go. I was drawn into the struggles and the stakes. I also loved the world--it was so naturally a part of the book that I felt like I was right there, like all of the odd or unusual things were just a normal part of life. It was a quick read, and I look forward to the next book so I can find out what happens next!
April 4, 2015
“So you don’t have wings then?” he asks, completely ignoring what I just said.
“Sure I do, they’re in my pocket.”
“Really?”
“No!”
Violet :
Man, you are awesome.
I want your skills ;)
Nate :
You. Funniest guy I know.
Please be mine ?
Most hated character :
Oryn: One day I will jab you.
Then slap you,
Then eventually make out with you ;)
Other
I actually liked it, if only it was a novel . .
“Sure I do, they’re in my pocket.”
“Really?”
“No!”
Violet :
Man, you are awesome.
I want your skills ;)
Nate :
You. Funniest guy I know.
Please be mine ?
Most hated character :
Oryn: One day I will jab you.
Then slap you,
Then eventually make out with you ;)
Other
I actually liked it, if only it was a novel . .
March 12, 2012
The reader is pulled right into the action, which I loved. The story is quite short, but a lot happens - and there's a great cliffhanger. I'm looking forward to the next installment!
January 8, 2015
Aranyos kis paranormális, tündés novella.
August 2, 2017
marking this off in place of a short story in this series that hasnt got a goodreads page!
February 16, 2012
First thing you need to know is that the publication date for this novelette, as the author calls it is March 5th. It was 9 chapters on my Kindle and didn't take any time to read at all which was really kind of nice. Sometimes you want a story like that. But this story is far from concluded. It's wrapped up, but you know it's just the beginning of a much bigger story. The author, Rachel Morgan, plans to publish one novelette a month in the series, I'm guessing around the same amount of words.
So, you've got the book synopsis. Basically Violet fights the bad faeries in the human world. So how does she know where to go? The seers have a basic idea of where to go and who to protect. So that's why she's sitting in Nate's room while he lies drooling on his math book. (Bet he'd be embarrassed if he knew she saw that!) Then the reptiscilla shows up and goes after the sleeping Nate and just like that, the fight is on between Violet and the serpent woman. But, of course, Nate is woken up and when all the fighting is over he asks Violet what that was. Violet is shocked. The number one rule of the Guild is Never Bring a Human into the Fae Realm. The number two rule is Never Reveal Yourself to a Human. But she checks her Glamour and its still there so he's just one of those humans who can see through it. She pretty much convinces him he's dreaming and is making a door on the wall to leave when she falls on the Faerie Path only to have him fall on top of her. He's grabbed hold of her shirt and followed her into Faerie. Now, not only does she have a lot of explaining to do, she's got to take him home, the long way around, he may not survive another trip on the Faerie Paths.
That's all the story I can tell you, since it's so short, but I'll tell you this, in nine short chapters, they form a quick bond, not love, but a "we're in this together" type of bond or "I got you into this I'm gonna help get you out". I'm not sure which. And they do go through quite a bit for such a short time so it's action packed. The story is told from Violet's point of view, though I do wish I could hear it from Nate's point of view, too as he's seeing Faerie for the first time. And there are a whole host of characters that we meet in this short novelette and already I don't trust most of them. Not until they've proven themselves otherwise. Morgan has written it so you only know that you can trust Violet and Nate and even people that come to their aide, you're not so sure about.
Character development is a little lean, but again, since it's such a short piece, it's hard to develop the characters. I like Violet, but she has a hard edge to her. She's lost a lot in her 17 years, not just her parents. But she isn't afraid to expose some of this to Nate. Nate seems a bit youngish, but maybe he's just naive not having visited Faerie before so he doesn't know what can happen.
I'm so looking forward to the next installment of the Guardian. There is a lot of information at the website and a blog tour starting March 6th. I'll have Rachel Morgan on my blog for an interview on March 14th. I hope you'll take a look at Guardian when it publishes. I think you'll very much enjoy it!
So, you've got the book synopsis. Basically Violet fights the bad faeries in the human world. So how does she know where to go? The seers have a basic idea of where to go and who to protect. So that's why she's sitting in Nate's room while he lies drooling on his math book. (Bet he'd be embarrassed if he knew she saw that!) Then the reptiscilla shows up and goes after the sleeping Nate and just like that, the fight is on between Violet and the serpent woman. But, of course, Nate is woken up and when all the fighting is over he asks Violet what that was. Violet is shocked. The number one rule of the Guild is Never Bring a Human into the Fae Realm. The number two rule is Never Reveal Yourself to a Human. But she checks her Glamour and its still there so he's just one of those humans who can see through it. She pretty much convinces him he's dreaming and is making a door on the wall to leave when she falls on the Faerie Path only to have him fall on top of her. He's grabbed hold of her shirt and followed her into Faerie. Now, not only does she have a lot of explaining to do, she's got to take him home, the long way around, he may not survive another trip on the Faerie Paths.
That's all the story I can tell you, since it's so short, but I'll tell you this, in nine short chapters, they form a quick bond, not love, but a "we're in this together" type of bond or "I got you into this I'm gonna help get you out". I'm not sure which. And they do go through quite a bit for such a short time so it's action packed. The story is told from Violet's point of view, though I do wish I could hear it from Nate's point of view, too as he's seeing Faerie for the first time. And there are a whole host of characters that we meet in this short novelette and already I don't trust most of them. Not until they've proven themselves otherwise. Morgan has written it so you only know that you can trust Violet and Nate and even people that come to their aide, you're not so sure about.
Character development is a little lean, but again, since it's such a short piece, it's hard to develop the characters. I like Violet, but she has a hard edge to her. She's lost a lot in her 17 years, not just her parents. But she isn't afraid to expose some of this to Nate. Nate seems a bit youngish, but maybe he's just naive not having visited Faerie before so he doesn't know what can happen.
I'm so looking forward to the next installment of the Guardian. There is a lot of information at the website and a blog tour starting March 6th. I'll have Rachel Morgan on my blog for an interview on March 14th. I hope you'll take a look at Guardian when it publishes. I think you'll very much enjoy it!
December 29, 2012
Fae, Faeries, magic and mystery this spellbinding YA story is just wonderful, bringing fantasy to life!!
Part 1 of ‘The Faerie Guardian’ is a brilliant read and one that kept me glued to the pages, lost within an original magical tale that took my breath away. I love all things Fae and this delightful story exceeded all expectations, by also including references to recognizable fantasy elements (i.e. JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit). The stunning cover is just so beautiful and which captures, Violet, the heroine of the story perfectly with her purple streaked hair. This is an introductory story that continues in the full novel, and so this ended on a dramatic cliffhanger with many questions unanswered.
Violet Fairdale is Faerie. Her role is to protect humans. She is desperate to train as a Guardian and so hopes to end her apprentice with high grades…unless something gets in her way.
One evening Violet is watching over a young human when a Reptiscillia attacks and she transports this human into her world; thus breaking the Guild rule number 1 (which is to NEVER bring a human into the Fae realm). The boy is miraculously alive and so she breaks the Guild rule number 2 (which is to NEVER reveal oneself to a human), and so the journey begins.
Nate is different. He is presumed to be human and yet is able to not only see through Faerie Glamours, but is also to survive many other impossible things. As Vi and Nate try to undo what has already transpired, events take a turn for the worst when they are captured and Vi fights for her life. As teenage love blossoms and a new quest begins outside of the Fae realm, Violet must concider what is most important to her – becoming a top Guardian or helping her boyfriend discover the truth…
Full of magic, mystery and fast-paced action this mesmerizing, captivating tale is truly wonderful. I loved various elements within the story that were so inspired, such as ‘the stunner spell’ that is comparable to Harry Potter as well as the wit and humor and moments that made me laugh (mainly Vi and Nate bickering which also reminded me of a Ron and Hermione moment!).
Cleverly crafted, exciting, interesting and truly original this brilliant story was a delight to behold hence I now cannot wait to find out what happens next by reading book 2. Character-driven with a dry sense of humor, a sprinkling of fairy dust and a dash of irony this exceptional, remarkable story is one that I highly recommend. If you love all things YA, fantasy, magic and myth then I urge you to add this to your bookshelf!
Part 1 of ‘The Faerie Guardian’ is a brilliant read and one that kept me glued to the pages, lost within an original magical tale that took my breath away. I love all things Fae and this delightful story exceeded all expectations, by also including references to recognizable fantasy elements (i.e. JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit). The stunning cover is just so beautiful and which captures, Violet, the heroine of the story perfectly with her purple streaked hair. This is an introductory story that continues in the full novel, and so this ended on a dramatic cliffhanger with many questions unanswered.
Violet Fairdale is Faerie. Her role is to protect humans. She is desperate to train as a Guardian and so hopes to end her apprentice with high grades…unless something gets in her way.
One evening Violet is watching over a young human when a Reptiscillia attacks and she transports this human into her world; thus breaking the Guild rule number 1 (which is to NEVER bring a human into the Fae realm). The boy is miraculously alive and so she breaks the Guild rule number 2 (which is to NEVER reveal oneself to a human), and so the journey begins.
Nate is different. He is presumed to be human and yet is able to not only see through Faerie Glamours, but is also to survive many other impossible things. As Vi and Nate try to undo what has already transpired, events take a turn for the worst when they are captured and Vi fights for her life. As teenage love blossoms and a new quest begins outside of the Fae realm, Violet must concider what is most important to her – becoming a top Guardian or helping her boyfriend discover the truth…
Full of magic, mystery and fast-paced action this mesmerizing, captivating tale is truly wonderful. I loved various elements within the story that were so inspired, such as ‘the stunner spell’ that is comparable to Harry Potter as well as the wit and humor and moments that made me laugh (mainly Vi and Nate bickering which also reminded me of a Ron and Hermione moment!).
Cleverly crafted, exciting, interesting and truly original this brilliant story was a delight to behold hence I now cannot wait to find out what happens next by reading book 2. Character-driven with a dry sense of humor, a sprinkling of fairy dust and a dash of irony this exceptional, remarkable story is one that I highly recommend. If you love all things YA, fantasy, magic and myth then I urge you to add this to your bookshelf!
March 13, 2012
After reading what Guardian was about, I was really, really (x500) excited to get started. I just couldn’t wait to start reading because I was sure that Guardian would be addictive—but wait! What is this? It is a novelette?! Well don’t let that get you down because I think that with Guardian being a novelette only made the story better and better. And for those of you who don’t know, a novelette is (and I quote): “a brief novel or long short story”- Dictionary.com.
Back to the review! Alright well first of all, Guardian started with a heck of a lot of mystery. As we watch our main character Violet (which is a kind of funny play on a name because her eyes and hair are purple) examines a handsome young man from outside of his window. Despite how creepy and stalkerish that may sound, the story quickly jumps into some action where we get to see just how powerful our faerie main character is and fights a serpentine woman. However, shortly after encountering the snake woman and after she accidentally ends up talking to the same young man she was protecting—we are thrown headlong into the world of faeries.
Author, Rachel Morgan, describe the world in such vivid detail that I could easily see what a pixie should look like in my mind’s eye or what Violet’s bow and arrow should really look like. In fact, Morgan described and wrote everything at such a nerve-racking and addicting pace that the novelette that only consisted of fifty-five pages suddenly felt longer than it really was. Not to mention where all of the characters felt entirely real, which sounds kind of funny since it was a novel(ette) about faeries.
I do wish I could say more but since this review is spoiler free, I guess the last thing I can tell you about is the budding romance that may or may not take place between Violet and Nate. There were so many moments where his cliché comments had me giggling and Violet’s reactions had me grinning. And as for Violet, she definitely is far from a defenseless character. She’s powerful and reminded me a lot of Rose from the Vampire Academy series.
Through all of the action, romance, and the mystery of why the Unseelie fey want Nate’s mother and who this strange Guardian with the ability to find people, I have got to say that Guardian gave me everything I wanted and more.
Back to the review! Alright well first of all, Guardian started with a heck of a lot of mystery. As we watch our main character Violet (which is a kind of funny play on a name because her eyes and hair are purple) examines a handsome young man from outside of his window. Despite how creepy and stalkerish that may sound, the story quickly jumps into some action where we get to see just how powerful our faerie main character is and fights a serpentine woman. However, shortly after encountering the snake woman and after she accidentally ends up talking to the same young man she was protecting—we are thrown headlong into the world of faeries.
Author, Rachel Morgan, describe the world in such vivid detail that I could easily see what a pixie should look like in my mind’s eye or what Violet’s bow and arrow should really look like. In fact, Morgan described and wrote everything at such a nerve-racking and addicting pace that the novelette that only consisted of fifty-five pages suddenly felt longer than it really was. Not to mention where all of the characters felt entirely real, which sounds kind of funny since it was a novel(ette) about faeries.
I do wish I could say more but since this review is spoiler free, I guess the last thing I can tell you about is the budding romance that may or may not take place between Violet and Nate. There were so many moments where his cliché comments had me giggling and Violet’s reactions had me grinning. And as for Violet, she definitely is far from a defenseless character. She’s powerful and reminded me a lot of Rose from the Vampire Academy series.
Through all of the action, romance, and the mystery of why the Unseelie fey want Nate’s mother and who this strange Guardian with the ability to find people, I have got to say that Guardian gave me everything I wanted and more.
June 26, 2014
**Spoiler free review**
I'm pretty sure I can't say enough nice things about this book. I loved pretty much everything about it. It tells the story of Violet, a faerie training to be a Guardian (the rough equivalent of the police) and the human who can see through her glamour.
I loved the characters, I found them to be consistent, well-developed and yet growing as one likes in a book. There was intrigue, things happened that I didn't immediately understand but I did for most of them and those that were left hanging were hanging in such a way that leads us in to the following books.
From a plot standpoint, I found it to be well thought out and even better, well planned. I really felt like I could lose myself in this story and not worry about what was going to happen, it was going to develop organically.
I marathoned this, I just couldn't put it down, I had to know what happened next. And when it was done, I bought the next two.
I'm pretty sure I can't say enough nice things about this book. I loved pretty much everything about it. It tells the story of Violet, a faerie training to be a Guardian (the rough equivalent of the police) and the human who can see through her glamour.
I loved the characters, I found them to be consistent, well-developed and yet growing as one likes in a book. There was intrigue, things happened that I didn't immediately understand but I did for most of them and those that were left hanging were hanging in such a way that leads us in to the following books.
From a plot standpoint, I found it to be well thought out and even better, well planned. I really felt like I could lose myself in this story and not worry about what was going to happen, it was going to develop organically.
I marathoned this, I just couldn't put it down, I had to know what happened next. And when it was done, I bought the next two.
October 2, 2012
This was a short novelette. The Creepy Hollow series contains 4 short novelettes which will be put together in one book soon enough titled "The Faerie Guardian". Since I really enjoyed the story I will definitely get the compilation of all these novelettes.
This novelette started off right into the action. Violet was on an assignment to keep this human boy safe from the creepy faeries. He accidentally sees her and her cover is blown. Somehow the glamour she uses didn't work, then she lies and tells him it's just a dream. She makes herself a door to the Faerie Realm and the boy follows her there. That's when she believes she will be in big trouble. She broke 2 rules by letting him see her and letting him come into her realm. She's summoned to her mentor to fix the issue... She is to bring him back home from another portal, then give him a potion so he forgets about everything. Nothing goes as planned... on their way to Violet's home they become kidnaped. While they are kidnaped, Violet learns that Nate's real mother was a Faerie who's wanted by others. After much trouble, they find a way to escape back to the human world. Back in Nate's room, Violet finds herself attracted to him... he even kisses her to calm her down! She struggles with the decision to give him the potion to forget about everything, but finds herself happy to have someone to talk to and that listens to her. She makes the bad decision of breaking the Faerie Rules... but something tells me once she discovers the mystery of Nate's real mother everything will change. The Faerie Guardian book will be out in November which i can't wait to read!
This novelette started off right into the action. Violet was on an assignment to keep this human boy safe from the creepy faeries. He accidentally sees her and her cover is blown. Somehow the glamour she uses didn't work, then she lies and tells him it's just a dream. She makes herself a door to the Faerie Realm and the boy follows her there. That's when she believes she will be in big trouble. She broke 2 rules by letting him see her and letting him come into her realm. She's summoned to her mentor to fix the issue... She is to bring him back home from another portal, then give him a potion so he forgets about everything. Nothing goes as planned... on their way to Violet's home they become kidnaped. While they are kidnaped, Violet learns that Nate's real mother was a Faerie who's wanted by others. After much trouble, they find a way to escape back to the human world. Back in Nate's room, Violet finds herself attracted to him... he even kisses her to calm her down! She struggles with the decision to give him the potion to forget about everything, but finds herself happy to have someone to talk to and that listens to her. She makes the bad decision of breaking the Faerie Rules... but something tells me once she discovers the mystery of Nate's real mother everything will change. The Faerie Guardian book will be out in November which i can't wait to read!
June 10, 2015
I received Guardian for review, and since it was such a short novelette, I just decided to read it one night. I thought it was good, nothing particularly special. I am a fan of books about faeries, and I liked how Rachel Morgan created her world and her fey. But, as is the case with most novellas/novelettes that I've read, there could be so much more! I think if the story were full length, or at least twice the size as it is now, that it could be something really fantastic. There is a lot that can be added, and the plot in general can be majorly slowed down. There isn't enough time for the events to unfold.
Plus, there is some pretty major insta-love in here, which is unfortunate, because I really dislike insta-love. I mean, they don't actually say the words, but they just start kissing out of nowhere, and I just sat there while reading saying to myself "Where did that come from?"
It's a pretty short little novelette, it only took me about 45 minutes to read it. It's not a bad read, insta-love aside, I just feel like there was so much room for growth and improvement, and this little novel had so much potential! There was plenty of action though, so I was never bored. I did want to know what would happen next, and I was really curious as to why everyone was after Nate.
I liked Vi and Nate both, I just felt like I didn't get to know them very well. I also really enjoyed the whole Guild set up, and the thing about the fey being guardians for humans. It's an interesting take on fey.
If you want something quick and enjoyable, then definitely read Guardian.
Plus, there is some pretty major insta-love in here, which is unfortunate, because I really dislike insta-love. I mean, they don't actually say the words, but they just start kissing out of nowhere, and I just sat there while reading saying to myself "Where did that come from?"
It's a pretty short little novelette, it only took me about 45 minutes to read it. It's not a bad read, insta-love aside, I just feel like there was so much room for growth and improvement, and this little novel had so much potential! There was plenty of action though, so I was never bored. I did want to know what would happen next, and I was really curious as to why everyone was after Nate.
I liked Vi and Nate both, I just felt like I didn't get to know them very well. I also really enjoyed the whole Guild set up, and the thing about the fey being guardians for humans. It's an interesting take on fey.
If you want something quick and enjoyable, then definitely read Guardian.
January 12, 2015
I really wish this was a longer story! I was surprised to see it was only 31 pages in my Adobe Digital Editions.
However, it being a novelette does not hinder it in any way.
I rather liked being able to read a short fantasy for a change.
There was just enough of everything packed into the pages of Guardian.
The author, Rachel Morgan, did an excellent job of writing a fun and fast paced story that kept my attention the whole way through!
There are many full length books that didn't entertain me as much as this did!
The characters were real and entertaining and had me laughing several times.
"No way, Hobbits are real?!"
"Hobbits?"
"Yea, Hobbits. Halflings. Small...hairy feet...live in the Shire..."
Rachel writes with vivid detail, making the fae world easy to picture while reading.
I loved her description of the mushrooms in the forest;
"..where giant mushrooms are swelling as they soak up the silvery glow of the moon."
I also enjoyed the balance of action and romance.
The bond that forms between Vi and Nate in their short time since meeting is not over the top. Just the right amount to keep me guessing as to what is going to happen.
I will definitely go read more! The end is a great teaser into what the next installment will bring.
Besides, who wouldn't like a cute, purple eyed faerie girl who can kick some serious butt!
However, it being a novelette does not hinder it in any way.
I rather liked being able to read a short fantasy for a change.
There was just enough of everything packed into the pages of Guardian.
The author, Rachel Morgan, did an excellent job of writing a fun and fast paced story that kept my attention the whole way through!
There are many full length books that didn't entertain me as much as this did!
The characters were real and entertaining and had me laughing several times.
"No way, Hobbits are real?!"
"Hobbits?"
"Yea, Hobbits. Halflings. Small...hairy feet...live in the Shire..."
Rachel writes with vivid detail, making the fae world easy to picture while reading.
I loved her description of the mushrooms in the forest;
"..where giant mushrooms are swelling as they soak up the silvery glow of the moon."
I also enjoyed the balance of action and romance.
The bond that forms between Vi and Nate in their short time since meeting is not over the top. Just the right amount to keep me guessing as to what is going to happen.
I will definitely go read more! The end is a great teaser into what the next installment will bring.
Besides, who wouldn't like a cute, purple eyed faerie girl who can kick some serious butt!
June 14, 2012
Violet Fairdale "isn't Tinkerbell." The seventeen year old may not be inches tall nor have wings, but she has magic and competence in abundance and is at the top of her class, leading the way for the next generation of faeries that protect unknowing humans from the nastier elements of the fae realm. But when her latest assignment not only sees her, which he shouldn't have been able to do, but also follows her back home, which he shouldn't have been able to survive, Violet will surprisingly discover the danger to her coveted top spot is the least of her concerns. And to top it all off she has a secret herself...
The world depicted here is wonderful, taking an unusual spin on "urban fantasy" by modernizing the fae world a bit (using styluses to scribble out spells in place of wands, for example). Add in interesting characters and an involving plot and everything gels into an engaging bit of reading. Violet is a likable protagonist facing a sudden burst of strange happenings that will clearly have consequences well beyond the events in Guardian. The story moves at a quick pace, but is well developed and has a good arc that leads to the next piece while still feeling fairly complete on it's own.
Overall an excellent start and I'm really intrigued to see where things go from here.
The world depicted here is wonderful, taking an unusual spin on "urban fantasy" by modernizing the fae world a bit (using styluses to scribble out spells in place of wands, for example). Add in interesting characters and an involving plot and everything gels into an engaging bit of reading. Violet is a likable protagonist facing a sudden burst of strange happenings that will clearly have consequences well beyond the events in Guardian. The story moves at a quick pace, but is well developed and has a good arc that leads to the next piece while still feeling fairly complete on it's own.
Overall an excellent start and I'm really intrigued to see where things go from here.
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