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Guardians of the Word #4
Legend
Dynan Telaerin lives within a shell of his own making, a place devoid of light. Every moment is a struggle to rediscover who he is. After barely surviving the loss of his twin brother, Dynan is forced to run farther and submerge his identity deeper than ever before. Legend is the story of his survival, how he discovers a reason to want to live and where he learns that dreams can be real. But there are no guarantees, for with each action an equal and opposite reaction occurs. There are nightmares to consider and souls to be lost.
To protect him, and give him time to heal, Dynan is sent to a place that is forbidden by the laws he’s supposed to uphold. It’s a calculated risk that he needs the anonymity Cadal can provide. The danger is weighed against the odds he’ll be discovered - by the people of this backward planet, by allies who would use this infraction against him, or by an enemy who would see him dead.
The plans so carefully arranged soon start to unravel when Dynan meets the girl of his dreams – dreams that he doesn’t remember until they walk up to him, living, breathing and beautiful. Preordained by the Gods, their attraction to each other is unstoppable. From the moment of acceptance, the difficulties set before them stand in the way of their desire to be together. There are enemies, known and unknown, lurking in the outer reaches, and one, who as promised, intends to destroy everyone Dynan cares about.
Maralt Adaeryn has plans of his own and none of them end with happily ever after.
To protect him, and give him time to heal, Dynan is sent to a place that is forbidden by the laws he’s supposed to uphold. It’s a calculated risk that he needs the anonymity Cadal can provide. The danger is weighed against the odds he’ll be discovered - by the people of this backward planet, by allies who would use this infraction against him, or by an enemy who would see him dead.
The plans so carefully arranged soon start to unravel when Dynan meets the girl of his dreams – dreams that he doesn’t remember until they walk up to him, living, breathing and beautiful. Preordained by the Gods, their attraction to each other is unstoppable. From the moment of acceptance, the difficulties set before them stand in the way of their desire to be together. There are enemies, known and unknown, lurking in the outer reaches, and one, who as promised, intends to destroy everyone Dynan cares about.
Maralt Adaeryn has plans of his own and none of them end with happily ever after.
- GenresFantasy
548 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2012
2 people are currently reading
125 people want to read
About the author
Jolea M. Harrison
18 books74 followers“I’m a writer, a mother, and manager of chaos. I have two new adult kids, though I’ve yet to experience the sorrows (joys?) of an empty nest, which means I try to do too many things at once, like so many of us, but it all usually works out. I love writing. It’s what I’m passionate about and what I want to do above all other things.”
After reading The Lord of the Rings, the fantasy bug left a permanent mark with the author, which was then complicated by her immediate love of Star Wars, Star Trek, and other works of science fiction. She started her writing career in earnest several years ago when she set out to publish the epic fantasy series, The Guardians of the Word.
“It’s been more than worth it, and I’ve enjoyed every minute, but especially getting to know the incredibly helpful and wonderful people I’ve met because I took a leap of faith.”
She has become a recent and avid fan of the television series, Supernatural, and immediately fell in love with the SPN family community. You can find her on twitter any given day, discussing the show with fellow fans!
After reading The Lord of the Rings, the fantasy bug left a permanent mark with the author, which was then complicated by her immediate love of Star Wars, Star Trek, and other works of science fiction. She started her writing career in earnest several years ago when she set out to publish the epic fantasy series, The Guardians of the Word.
“It’s been more than worth it, and I’ve enjoyed every minute, but especially getting to know the incredibly helpful and wonderful people I’ve met because I took a leap of faith.”
She has become a recent and avid fan of the television series, Supernatural, and immediately fell in love with the SPN family community. You can find her on twitter any given day, discussing the show with fellow fans!
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
August 20, 2012
Book Info: Genre: Science Fantasy Reading Level: Young Adult
Disclosure: I received a free ebook edition of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Dynan Telaerin lives within a shell of his own making, a place devoid of light. Legend is the story of his survival, how he discovers a reason to want to live and where he learns that dreams can be real. But there are no guarantees, for with each action an equal and opposite reaction occurs. There are nightmares to consider and souls to be lost.
To protect him, and give him time to heal, Dynan is sent to a place that is forbidden by the laws he’s supposed to uphold. It’s a calculated risk that he needs the anonymity Cadal can provide. The danger is weighed against the odds he’ll be discovered - by the people of this backward planet, by allies who would use this infraction against him, or by an enemy who would see him dead.
The plans so carefully arranged soon start to unravel when Dynan meets the girl of his dreams – dreams that he doesn’t remember until they walk up to him, living, breathing and beautiful. Preordained by the Gods, their attraction to each other is unstoppable. From the moment of acceptance, the difficulties set before them stand in the way of their desire to be together. There are enemies, known and unknown, lurking in the outer reaches, and one, who as promised, intends to destroy everyone Dynan cares about.
Maralt Adaeryn has plans of his own and none of them end with happily ever after.
My Thoughts: This is the fourth book in the Guardians of the Word series. The author has said: “This was the first book that was written of this series, where the whole idea started, going forward and backward from here. And it ended up being the 4th released. Just a little tidbit.” I’d like to point out that a major plot element of the third book is revealed in this synopsis, so if you haven’t read the previous books yet, you might want to wait until you have to read this review carefully. I will try to avoid retro-spoilers, but it’s hard to give the idea of the book without slipping up and maybe revealing past events.
This book is twice as long as the previous book, as well as being longer than the first two books put together! A lot happens, with both character development and action, and there are a large number of surprises in store in this book. I really like Cadal – not only does it seem like a lovely place, but the people are interesting, too.
One thing that has been bothering me is Maralt. Usually when there is a powerful character, there is someone who can pretty much match him or her, but it seems that there is no one who can even touch Maralt. This seems particularly strange to me when someone is repeatedly shown to be a superior fighter, yet as soon as he or she goes up against Maralt he can’t even seem to hold on to his sword. People who ordinarily can hold their own over multiple attackers are suddenly falling over their own feet, things like that. I don’t quite get why this is so.
I think this is the most satisfying piece of the story so far, probably because things move along smoothly and we see so much character development. There are still some editing errors – mostly along the lines of the wrong homonym – but overall the book is better edited than previous books in the series as well. A strong blend of action and character, in a very nicely done blend of science fiction and fantasy. Recommended.
Disclosure: I received a free ebook edition of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: Dynan Telaerin lives within a shell of his own making, a place devoid of light. Legend is the story of his survival, how he discovers a reason to want to live and where he learns that dreams can be real. But there are no guarantees, for with each action an equal and opposite reaction occurs. There are nightmares to consider and souls to be lost.
To protect him, and give him time to heal, Dynan is sent to a place that is forbidden by the laws he’s supposed to uphold. It’s a calculated risk that he needs the anonymity Cadal can provide. The danger is weighed against the odds he’ll be discovered - by the people of this backward planet, by allies who would use this infraction against him, or by an enemy who would see him dead.
The plans so carefully arranged soon start to unravel when Dynan meets the girl of his dreams – dreams that he doesn’t remember until they walk up to him, living, breathing and beautiful. Preordained by the Gods, their attraction to each other is unstoppable. From the moment of acceptance, the difficulties set before them stand in the way of their desire to be together. There are enemies, known and unknown, lurking in the outer reaches, and one, who as promised, intends to destroy everyone Dynan cares about.
Maralt Adaeryn has plans of his own and none of them end with happily ever after.
My Thoughts: This is the fourth book in the Guardians of the Word series. The author has said: “This was the first book that was written of this series, where the whole idea started, going forward and backward from here. And it ended up being the 4th released. Just a little tidbit.” I’d like to point out that a major plot element of the third book is revealed in this synopsis, so if you haven’t read the previous books yet, you might want to wait until you have to read this review carefully. I will try to avoid retro-spoilers, but it’s hard to give the idea of the book without slipping up and maybe revealing past events.
This book is twice as long as the previous book, as well as being longer than the first two books put together! A lot happens, with both character development and action, and there are a large number of surprises in store in this book. I really like Cadal – not only does it seem like a lovely place, but the people are interesting, too.
One thing that has been bothering me is Maralt. Usually when there is a powerful character, there is someone who can pretty much match him or her, but it seems that there is no one who can even touch Maralt. This seems particularly strange to me when someone is repeatedly shown to be a superior fighter, yet as soon as he or she goes up against Maralt he can’t even seem to hold on to his sword. People who ordinarily can hold their own over multiple attackers are suddenly falling over their own feet, things like that. I don’t quite get why this is so.
I think this is the most satisfying piece of the story so far, probably because things move along smoothly and we see so much character development. There are still some editing errors – mostly along the lines of the wrong homonym – but overall the book is better edited than previous books in the series as well. A strong blend of action and character, in a very nicely done blend of science fiction and fantasy. Recommended.
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June 23, 2012This was the first book that was written of this series, where the whole idea started, going forward and backward from here. And it ended up being the 4th released. Just a little tidbit.
July 28, 2012
After the fast-paced ride of book three, “Myth”, “Legend” is a mixture of 1.) an initial, more “laid-back” look into the aftermath of tragedy, but then 2.) a wild ride to the end.
Written with Harrison’s lovely, poetic language and ultimately beautiful sensory details, Legend follows Dynan and his men into a new world—one very different from their own. We are introduced to a new cast of characters, and a book that is so REAL it simply plays out on the screen of the reader’s mind. Com pads and light boxes and laser guns – all of this seems every day to a reader from the real world! There is just enough mystery in “Legend” to balance what the reader already knows, and then when the twists come, it’s like you let out a breath you’ve been holding for hundreds of pages.
Harrison deals with things normal people know – death, tragedy, love, and worry. There were times during “Legend” that I simply didn’t understand how there could possibly be a resolution because Dynan’s situation is just so hopeless...
And now, I can’t wait to read the next to find out!
Every book of the Guardians of the Word series sucks me in. Between the unforgettable world building and the crazy intricate layers of plot and subplots, this series is akin to the majesty of greats like Tolkien and G.R.R Martin.
Written with Harrison’s lovely, poetic language and ultimately beautiful sensory details, Legend follows Dynan and his men into a new world—one very different from their own. We are introduced to a new cast of characters, and a book that is so REAL it simply plays out on the screen of the reader’s mind. Com pads and light boxes and laser guns – all of this seems every day to a reader from the real world! There is just enough mystery in “Legend” to balance what the reader already knows, and then when the twists come, it’s like you let out a breath you’ve been holding for hundreds of pages.
Harrison deals with things normal people know – death, tragedy, love, and worry. There were times during “Legend” that I simply didn’t understand how there could possibly be a resolution because Dynan’s situation is just so hopeless...
And now, I can’t wait to read the next to find out!
Every book of the Guardians of the Word series sucks me in. Between the unforgettable world building and the crazy intricate layers of plot and subplots, this series is akin to the majesty of greats like Tolkien and G.R.R Martin.
November 16, 2013
It's difficult to say too much about this book because I don't want to give any spoilers. So all I can say is that Legend continues the story of Dynan (and others) and the battle against evil, one that is gaining more and more power, through corrupted means.
Again it's well written and hooks the reader from the first...it has become more of an addiction to find out what happens next. Needless to say that I am already reading #5, Union, and loving being immersed in these 'adventures'.
Highly recommended series.
Again it's well written and hooks the reader from the first...it has become more of an addiction to find out what happens next. Needless to say that I am already reading #5, Union, and loving being immersed in these 'adventures'.
Highly recommended series.
July 13, 2012
I actually liked this book. I am starting to think that the first book of the series (and the beginning of the second) really just don't connect well. When forgetting (or ignoring) those parts of the story, I like it significantly more!
June 22, 2013
I'm glad this one was good because the two before this one were starting to lose me. There was so much going on in this book and I love Marc and Loren.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews