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Unbound #2
Guardian's Keep
Kol Hildr had spent the last century battling hellhounds and warlocks who sought to usurp his portal's magic. A mighty shape-shifter with the ability to change into wolf form, Kol made accessing the powerful gateway nearly impossible - unless you were a witch of Kelly Shane's talents. She had a score to settle and would do anything to close the portal that led to her unearthly prison.
Though an alliance with her compromised Kol's very purpose, something about the little witch overwhelmed his fierce, battle-worn soul. But when he learned that Kelly's life might be in jeopardy, could Kol put aside the one thing he thought he valued most - the portal - to journey to the other side and save her.
Though an alliance with her compromised Kol's very purpose, something about the little witch overwhelmed his fierce, battle-worn soul. But when he learned that Kelly's life might be in jeopardy, could Kol put aside the one thing he thought he valued most - the portal - to journey to the other side and save her.
288 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2008
31 people are currently reading
270 people want to read
About the author
Lori Devoti
51 books283 followersLori Devoti grew up in southern Missouri and attended college at the University of Missouri-Columbia where she earned a Bachelor of Journalism. She, however, made it clear to anyone who asked, she was not a writer; she worked for the dark sideadvertising. Now twenty years later, shes proud to declare herself a writer and visit her dark side occasionally by writing dark, sensual paranormal romance, urban fantasy and young adult novels.
Lori lives in Wisconsin with her husband, daughter, son, Siberian husky and shepherd/puggle cross.
Lori lives in Wisconsin with her husband, daughter, son, Siberian husky and shepherd/puggle cross.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
September 5, 2015
It's always very difficult to enjoy a book in which the plot is completely driven by the heroine's stupidity.
Kelly Shane is BEYOND STUPID. I hated her when she was introduced in the last book, and I hated her here. She is judgmental, self-righteous, and EXTREMELY gullible - a dangerous combination. I just could not understand why Kol fell in love with her. Not to mention that she hates him, betrays him over and over and over again, and is completely convinced that he's evil for some reason. Even though she is frequently faced with glaring evidence to the contrary.
I was banging my head against the wall in despair as I watched Kelly make horrible stupid decisions over and over again. I can't even count them, they are so numerous. And she is not suspicious AT ALL of any weirdo who comes to her with a bogus sob story, yet won't trust even one word that comes out of Kol's mouth.
Aesa was bent over Kelly's desk, her hand hovering over the stack of papers Kelly had left there. Unease ran down Kelly's spine.
Spotting Kelly, Aesa hed up the empty tissue box. "Do you...?" Her weak smile making Kelly shift from foot to foot. The woman was here for her help. Why did Kelly have to be so suspicious?
Let's NOT question the woman you just caught rifling through your papers.
So there was more to Aesa than she was telling Kelly, but did it matter? Maybe Aesa assumed Kelly knew what she was. Kelly could ask, but it seemed rude somehow, like asking someone's income. And it might shake Aesa's confidence in Kelly if she thought Kelly such a greenhorn she couldn't tell what Aesa was.
Let's NOT ask out new client what type of creature she is. Let's blindly believe everything she tells us. To do otherwise would be RUDE.
Aesa's hand slipped into her coat and reappeared with the same small rectangle of paper in it she'd shown Kelly before. With a sigh, she set it down on the desk in front of her. She pressed one finger to her lips, then to the face of the boy gripping the stuffed rabbit. "Soon, baby. Soon we'll be together." Her eyes glimmering with moisture she looked back up at Kelly.
If anyone cries or tells us a sad story, we will absolutely believe them instantly with no questions asked. To do otherwise would be HEARTLESS.
Actually, there's a scene in the book - picture it. Kelly is in the middle of a battle - BATTLE - with some rogue werewolves. The werewolf she's fighting actually STOPS fighting her and starts telling her about how good the rogue werewolves are, and how their cause is just, and how Kelly should not be fighting them, because fighting them is WRONG, and Kelly actually just lowers her weapon and LISTENS to him, starting to believe him and agree with him and I'm like WTF KELLY??!?!?! Look at your friends, fighting all around you, being killed and stuff!!! Why are you not stabbing this guy?
Perhaps word had leaked out that all you need to do to get the powerful witch on your side was feed her some story about love or righteousness etc. She'll believe anything! Make it as contrived as you want!
I mean, I just can't with this shit. And then trying to believe that Kol loved her and always wanted to help and save her - she betrays him, tricks him, and traps him MULTIPLE times in this novel. Not just once, MULTIPLE times. I couldn't understand why he didn't hate her. It was completely ridiculous.
...
Kol's not exactly perfect himself - at one point he steals Kelly's dowel (magic wand) for no apparent reason. This leaves her more helpless and unable to defend herself. Why? Why would you do that? No reason is given. And if you love a woman - and Kol says he loves her - you don't want her wandering around weaker and less prepared. He was putting her in serious danger and I had no clue why. Not only was it bad form, but it was completely baffling.
...
Okay, Kelly's stupidity aside - I mean, you can't put it aside, but let's just try for a second - the story is strong. Devoti has created this kind of modern-world-based-on-Norse-mythology thing, and it really works. The book sure as heck wasn't boring. That's for sure. We've got werewolves, witches, trolls, giants... very exciting. The plot isn't bad, either - a giant, dangerous werewolf is trapped in another dimension and his bereft wife is trying to free him.
...
How's the sex, Carmen?
Sigh.
Well, it's good, but it could be better. Devoti always gets off to a great start - descriptive, the two start doing fun things - but then always ends it rather suddenly and the actual sex is an anticlimax (no pun intended). She's really starting to frustrate me because it's obvious that with a few tweaks her sex scenes could actually be excellent. As they are, they fall short of the mark.
...
Tl;dr - A great premise and good plot brought low by the stupidest heroine who's ever lived.
THREE REAL STARS, THREE ROMANCE STARS
Kelly Shane is BEYOND STUPID. I hated her when she was introduced in the last book, and I hated her here. She is judgmental, self-righteous, and EXTREMELY gullible - a dangerous combination. I just could not understand why Kol fell in love with her. Not to mention that she hates him, betrays him over and over and over again, and is completely convinced that he's evil for some reason. Even though she is frequently faced with glaring evidence to the contrary.
I was banging my head against the wall in despair as I watched Kelly make horrible stupid decisions over and over again. I can't even count them, they are so numerous. And she is not suspicious AT ALL of any weirdo who comes to her with a bogus sob story, yet won't trust even one word that comes out of Kol's mouth.
Aesa was bent over Kelly's desk, her hand hovering over the stack of papers Kelly had left there. Unease ran down Kelly's spine.
Spotting Kelly, Aesa hed up the empty tissue box. "Do you...?" Her weak smile making Kelly shift from foot to foot. The woman was here for her help. Why did Kelly have to be so suspicious?
Let's NOT question the woman you just caught rifling through your papers.
So there was more to Aesa than she was telling Kelly, but did it matter? Maybe Aesa assumed Kelly knew what she was. Kelly could ask, but it seemed rude somehow, like asking someone's income. And it might shake Aesa's confidence in Kelly if she thought Kelly such a greenhorn she couldn't tell what Aesa was.
Let's NOT ask out new client what type of creature she is. Let's blindly believe everything she tells us. To do otherwise would be RUDE.
Aesa's hand slipped into her coat and reappeared with the same small rectangle of paper in it she'd shown Kelly before. With a sigh, she set it down on the desk in front of her. She pressed one finger to her lips, then to the face of the boy gripping the stuffed rabbit. "Soon, baby. Soon we'll be together." Her eyes glimmering with moisture she looked back up at Kelly.
If anyone cries or tells us a sad story, we will absolutely believe them instantly with no questions asked. To do otherwise would be HEARTLESS.
Actually, there's a scene in the book - picture it. Kelly is in the middle of a battle - BATTLE - with some rogue werewolves. The werewolf she's fighting actually STOPS fighting her and starts telling her about how good the rogue werewolves are, and how their cause is just, and how Kelly should not be fighting them, because fighting them is WRONG, and Kelly actually just lowers her weapon and LISTENS to him, starting to believe him and agree with him and I'm like WTF KELLY??!?!?! Look at your friends, fighting all around you, being killed and stuff!!! Why are you not stabbing this guy?
Perhaps word had leaked out that all you need to do to get the powerful witch on your side was feed her some story about love or righteousness etc. She'll believe anything! Make it as contrived as you want!
I mean, I just can't with this shit. And then trying to believe that Kol loved her and always wanted to help and save her - she betrays him, tricks him, and traps him MULTIPLE times in this novel. Not just once, MULTIPLE times. I couldn't understand why he didn't hate her. It was completely ridiculous.
...
Kol's not exactly perfect himself - at one point he steals Kelly's dowel (magic wand) for no apparent reason. This leaves her more helpless and unable to defend herself. Why? Why would you do that? No reason is given. And if you love a woman - and Kol says he loves her - you don't want her wandering around weaker and less prepared. He was putting her in serious danger and I had no clue why. Not only was it bad form, but it was completely baffling.
...
Okay, Kelly's stupidity aside - I mean, you can't put it aside, but let's just try for a second - the story is strong. Devoti has created this kind of modern-world-based-on-Norse-mythology thing, and it really works. The book sure as heck wasn't boring. That's for sure. We've got werewolves, witches, trolls, giants... very exciting. The plot isn't bad, either - a giant, dangerous werewolf is trapped in another dimension and his bereft wife is trying to free him.
...
How's the sex, Carmen?
Sigh.
Well, it's good, but it could be better. Devoti always gets off to a great start - descriptive, the two start doing fun things - but then always ends it rather suddenly and the actual sex is an anticlimax (no pun intended). She's really starting to frustrate me because it's obvious that with a few tweaks her sex scenes could actually be excellent. As they are, they fall short of the mark.
...
Tl;dr - A great premise and good plot brought low by the stupidest heroine who's ever lived.
THREE REAL STARS, THREE ROMANCE STARS
February 27, 2010
While not quite as good as her previous book Unbound (Silhouette Nocturne), I enjoyed Guardian's Keep, Lori Devoti's second book in her series, but I found the heroine witch Kelly (returning from the first book which starred her sister Kara) a bit frustrating.
Kelly, who is supposed to be the logical of the twins, is incredibly impetious and does some really stupid things. She's the one that got her sister in trouble in the last book and here she goes through a gate to another world, not knowing anything about it, without any weapons, and not knowing how to get back. A damsel in distress is one thing but I prefer my heroines a bit smarter. I also didn't like that she thinks shifter Kol is truly a villian, but succumbs to her hormones and sleeps with him anyway. Fortunately she gets most of the truly dumb stuff out of the way early in the book, and when the action picks up she improves.
I am a shifter freak, so of course I just loved the Hero wolf shifter Kol, who guards a portal between worlds. He in some ways was every bit as spontaneous as Kelly, but somehow with him I didn't find it quite so annoying, maybe because his choices were based on choosing love even when the cost was high.
Despite the sleeping with the enemy stuff, the attraction between the leads here is well done, and for a lightweight paranormal romance there was some interesting action and a cast of otherworldly characters including some 'bad' guys/girls that were really just misunderstood -- bet at least one ends up in the next book. This book works fine as a standalone read, even though Kol and Kelly made appearances in the previous book.
Kelly, who is supposed to be the logical of the twins, is incredibly impetious and does some really stupid things. She's the one that got her sister in trouble in the last book and here she goes through a gate to another world, not knowing anything about it, without any weapons, and not knowing how to get back. A damsel in distress is one thing but I prefer my heroines a bit smarter. I also didn't like that she thinks shifter Kol is truly a villian, but succumbs to her hormones and sleeps with him anyway. Fortunately she gets most of the truly dumb stuff out of the way early in the book, and when the action picks up she improves.
I am a shifter freak, so of course I just loved the Hero wolf shifter Kol, who guards a portal between worlds. He in some ways was every bit as spontaneous as Kelly, but somehow with him I didn't find it quite so annoying, maybe because his choices were based on choosing love even when the cost was high.
Despite the sleeping with the enemy stuff, the attraction between the leads here is well done, and for a lightweight paranormal romance there was some interesting action and a cast of otherworldly characters including some 'bad' guys/girls that were really just misunderstood -- bet at least one ends up in the next book. This book works fine as a standalone read, even though Kol and Kelly made appearances in the previous book.
March 22, 2010
I didn't read book 1 yet so this one introduced some people and concepts that were unclear. Other than that (which, of course, is my own fault), I enjoyed this book. I liked Kol Hildr, the guardian and really liked Kelly, the witch. They were a good match and the verbal sparring between them was very entertaining. The sex scenes were hot and heavy and well written. This was a totally different take on a "demon" gate. This demon gate was the portal to 9 worlds with many different creatures - including trolls, dwarves, shifters and a few I can't remember as they were totally made up creatures (I hope.). The only thing missing from this book were vampires. I'd call this urban fantasy except that it had a HEA and UF usually doesn't.
July 18, 2012
This book was pretty good. I liked the characters, creativity, action, suspense and the steamy scenes. I was pretty confused or 'out of the loop' feeling during most of the book. I would read this again, but more to pass the time. I would enjoy reading the others in this series though and see what happens with some of the other characters. I liked the 'desperates' stand though, that was a really good part, I couldn't stop the smile during that scene. Enjoy
Read
January 11, 2008This is about a shape shifter who can change into a wolf. His job is to guard the portals between Earth and the other worlds. There is a witch who thinks that he is to blame for her friend's death after she went into the portal. She comes after him, discovers he is innocent, and they fall in love. Then then have to battle their enemies and decide if they will trust each other.
March 23, 2010
Werewolves! Witches! Portals!
March 14, 2022
Guardian's Keep is a paranormal romance by author Lori Devoti. The two main characters were witch Kelly Shane and shape-shifter (called a garm) Kol Hildr.
Kol's job is to guard the portal that is located in his bar, Guardian's Keep. It's a position he's held for a century, and nothing and no one will take it from him, not even a beautiful, feisty witch. Kelly has been approached by a female garm who has asked her to travel through the portal at Guardian's Keep to rescue her kidnapped son. Something about Aesa seems off to Kelly, but the thought of a child in danger tugs at her heartstrings. She's willing to do anything she can to save him, even if she has to go through Kol to do so.
Having two opposing goals was not the most auspicious start for a relationship. Indeed, Kelly and Kol spent about half the book in a battle of wills...which lasted until they had sex. Because sex solves everything. Blah. I did not enjoy this story, and I swear my IQ dropped ten points just from reading it.
Spoiler alert!!
- To begin with, this is apparently the second book in an arc. That's fine. What isn't fine is that I didn't read the first one, and I felt lost trying to navigate this one. Do not assume your readers have read the other book(s) in a series. Provide some backstory as you go to keep new readers up to speed.
- Kelly was a monumental disappointment. She's said to be a very powerful witch, but she came across as a teary-eyed damsel in distress. Repeatedly. If she's such a magical powerhouse, she should have conjured a spine for herself. I just cannot with books that state the heroine is a badass but then portray her as a simpering twit.
- Kelly's brain fell into her vagina any time she was in Kol's vicinity. Really? She simply could not control her baser urges when he was near, which was gag-worthy all on its own. I don't mind that she was all "Hubba hubba!" around him, but I would have liked to see her maintaining her self-control and some restraint.
- For being one of the most powerful witches in the world, Kelly sure got her ass handed to her often enough. Badass heroines should not get their asses kicked on a regular basis. Now and then, sure, to keep them humble, but not over and over again ad nauseam.
- Why didn't Aesa go through the portal herself? If someone I loved was trapped on the other side, I'd have been the first one through to get to that person. Sheesh.
- Kol was an asshole. I don't care that he was handsome and buff. He was an asshole. Being handsome doesn't give you carte blanche to be an asshole.
I could literally feel my lip curl while reading this book. Would certainly not recommend it unless you're a fan of bullying men and insipid women. It redeemed itself marginally at the end, thus earning two stars instead of one.
Kol's job is to guard the portal that is located in his bar, Guardian's Keep. It's a position he's held for a century, and nothing and no one will take it from him, not even a beautiful, feisty witch. Kelly has been approached by a female garm who has asked her to travel through the portal at Guardian's Keep to rescue her kidnapped son. Something about Aesa seems off to Kelly, but the thought of a child in danger tugs at her heartstrings. She's willing to do anything she can to save him, even if she has to go through Kol to do so.
Having two opposing goals was not the most auspicious start for a relationship. Indeed, Kelly and Kol spent about half the book in a battle of wills...which lasted until they had sex. Because sex solves everything. Blah. I did not enjoy this story, and I swear my IQ dropped ten points just from reading it.
Spoiler alert!!
- To begin with, this is apparently the second book in an arc. That's fine. What isn't fine is that I didn't read the first one, and I felt lost trying to navigate this one. Do not assume your readers have read the other book(s) in a series. Provide some backstory as you go to keep new readers up to speed.
- Kelly was a monumental disappointment. She's said to be a very powerful witch, but she came across as a teary-eyed damsel in distress. Repeatedly. If she's such a magical powerhouse, she should have conjured a spine for herself. I just cannot with books that state the heroine is a badass but then portray her as a simpering twit.
- Kelly's brain fell into her vagina any time she was in Kol's vicinity. Really? She simply could not control her baser urges when he was near, which was gag-worthy all on its own. I don't mind that she was all "Hubba hubba!" around him, but I would have liked to see her maintaining her self-control and some restraint.
- For being one of the most powerful witches in the world, Kelly sure got her ass handed to her often enough. Badass heroines should not get their asses kicked on a regular basis. Now and then, sure, to keep them humble, but not over and over again ad nauseam.
- Why didn't Aesa go through the portal herself? If someone I loved was trapped on the other side, I'd have been the first one through to get to that person. Sheesh.
- Kol was an asshole. I don't care that he was handsome and buff. He was an asshole. Being handsome doesn't give you carte blanche to be an asshole.
I could literally feel my lip curl while reading this book. Would certainly not recommend it unless you're a fan of bullying men and insipid women. It redeemed itself marginally at the end, thus earning two stars instead of one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 30, 2018
Not sure why this book is listed on here twice, but here’s my review anyway.
I kept hoping Kelly would get hit by a bus. She was THAT STUPID. And for being as selfish as she was, she probably deserved worse than a quick bus hit.
I get annoyed with a female who makes one bad decision after another. It gets frustrating when said female is SUPPOSED to be great. She’s a goddamn investigator who solves cases to help those in need... in theory, but during the book she literally didn’t do that, at all. All she did was make everyone else’s life worse. Through bad choices. And she’s supposed to be this amazing witch, who just comes across as pathetic, weak, and selfish.
Another annoyance of mine? When an entire plot of a book could be solved with a single honest fucking conversation. Kelly refused to do that. For her ‘noble reasons’ she just decided to fuck everything up. All the time.
I put this book down THREE times before I was able to trudge through it. The bummer part is that the other characters were likable. Other than Kol and his unending forgiveness for the stupidity of his mate, the story and side story’s and world building were interesting and enjoyable. Just sucks when a shitty character can ruin all that. So, two stars for the world, and side characters, but only because I’m feeling generous.
I’m gonna read the next one, and fingers crossed the h doesn’t turn out to be a total fucking idiot.
I kept hoping Kelly would get hit by a bus. She was THAT STUPID. And for being as selfish as she was, she probably deserved worse than a quick bus hit.
I get annoyed with a female who makes one bad decision after another. It gets frustrating when said female is SUPPOSED to be great. She’s a goddamn investigator who solves cases to help those in need... in theory, but during the book she literally didn’t do that, at all. All she did was make everyone else’s life worse. Through bad choices. And she’s supposed to be this amazing witch, who just comes across as pathetic, weak, and selfish.
Another annoyance of mine? When an entire plot of a book could be solved with a single honest fucking conversation. Kelly refused to do that. For her ‘noble reasons’ she just decided to fuck everything up. All the time.
I put this book down THREE times before I was able to trudge through it. The bummer part is that the other characters were likable. Other than Kol and his unending forgiveness for the stupidity of his mate, the story and side story’s and world building were interesting and enjoyable. Just sucks when a shitty character can ruin all that. So, two stars for the world, and side characters, but only because I’m feeling generous.
I’m gonna read the next one, and fingers crossed the h doesn’t turn out to be a total fucking idiot.
January 30, 2018
I kept hoping Kelly would get hit by a bus. She was THAT STUPID. And for being as selfish as she was, she probably deserved worse than a quick bus hit.
I get annoyed with a female who makes one bad decision after another. It gets frustrating when said female is SUPPOSED to be great. She’s a goddamn investigator who solves cases to help those in need... in theory, but during the book she literally didn’t do that, at all. All she did was make everyone else’s life worse. Through bad choices. And she’s supposed to be this amazing witch, who just comes across as pathetic, weak, and selfish.
Another annoyance of mine? When an entire plot of a book could be solved with a single honest fucking conversation. Kelly refused to do that. For her ‘noble reasons’ she just decided to fuck everything up. All the time.
I put this book down THREE times before I was able to trudge through it. The bummer part is that the other characters were likable. Other than Kol and his unending forgiveness for the stupidity of his mate, the story and side story’s and world building were interesting and enjoyable. Just sucks when a shitty character can ruin all that. So, two stars for the world, and side characters, but only because I’m feeling generous.
I’m gonna read the next one, and fingers crossed the h doesn’t turn out to be a total fucking idiot.
I get annoyed with a female who makes one bad decision after another. It gets frustrating when said female is SUPPOSED to be great. She’s a goddamn investigator who solves cases to help those in need... in theory, but during the book she literally didn’t do that, at all. All she did was make everyone else’s life worse. Through bad choices. And she’s supposed to be this amazing witch, who just comes across as pathetic, weak, and selfish.
Another annoyance of mine? When an entire plot of a book could be solved with a single honest fucking conversation. Kelly refused to do that. For her ‘noble reasons’ she just decided to fuck everything up. All the time.
I put this book down THREE times before I was able to trudge through it. The bummer part is that the other characters were likable. Other than Kol and his unending forgiveness for the stupidity of his mate, the story and side story’s and world building were interesting and enjoyable. Just sucks when a shitty character can ruin all that. So, two stars for the world, and side characters, but only because I’m feeling generous.
I’m gonna read the next one, and fingers crossed the h doesn’t turn out to be a total fucking idiot.
September 18, 2019
This is the second installment in Lori Devoti's Unbound/Nine Worlds series and it's one I reread regularly. It has all the ingredients of a perfect paranormal romance: great worldbuilding, a formidable (and yet relatable) antagonist, lots of steam and an enemies-to-lovers trope.
Powerful witch Kelly is a flawed, somewhat naive heroine, but her heart is in the right place. Portual guardian and shape-shifter Kol remains a bit of a mystery throughout--we never really learn anything about his past--but once he's recognized Kelly as his mate, he'll do anything to protect her, even give up his treasured portal to the Nine worlds.
Since the David Hasselhoff lookalike of the Nocturne cover has been replaced with this new hoodied hot dude, I can only assume the rights of this story reverted back to the author. So, Lori, if you're one of those authors who read their review, please write more stories in this world! There's tons of other stories begging to be told: Birgit, Vafnir, Sigurd (from Unbound), Terje, the draugr hunters... I would love to read more romance novels in this world!
Powerful witch Kelly is a flawed, somewhat naive heroine, but her heart is in the right place. Portual guardian and shape-shifter Kol remains a bit of a mystery throughout--we never really learn anything about his past--but once he's recognized Kelly as his mate, he'll do anything to protect her, even give up his treasured portal to the Nine worlds.
Since the David Hasselhoff lookalike of the Nocturne cover has been replaced with this new hoodied hot dude, I can only assume the rights of this story reverted back to the author. So, Lori, if you're one of those authors who read their review, please write more stories in this world! There's tons of other stories begging to be told: Birgit, Vafnir, Sigurd (from Unbound), Terje, the draugr hunters... I would love to read more romance novels in this world!
October 3, 2020
A very good read.
Kelly and Kol have an undeniable chemistry that pulls them together and makes them choose each other,despite the several ways the plot implies should make them enemies.
The side cast is interesting as well,with Heather the assistant who joined the rogues to acquire more power and Birgit,the council garm who tries to sabotage Kol at every opportunity.
I will read the other books at a later date.
Kelly and Kol have an undeniable chemistry that pulls them together and makes them choose each other,despite the several ways the plot implies should make them enemies.
The side cast is interesting as well,with Heather the assistant who joined the rogues to acquire more power and Birgit,the council garm who tries to sabotage Kol at every opportunity.
I will read the other books at a later date.
March 2, 2018
Guardian's Keep
This was intense. I've read so many books with the mention of Fenrir and even a book for him alone and every story is intriguing. I loved this book and I definitely wanna read more.
This was intense. I've read so many books with the mention of Fenrir and even a book for him alone and every story is intriguing. I loved this book and I definitely wanna read more.
November 28, 2018
Good
Another good book by this author. I personally didn’t like Kelly that much, she grew on me as the time went on but I felt if she had just been more open about how she was feeling things could have been resolved easier between her and Kol. Look forward to the next one.
Another good book by this author. I personally didn’t like Kelly that much, she grew on me as the time went on but I felt if she had just been more open about how she was feeling things could have been resolved easier between her and Kol. Look forward to the next one.
July 21, 2013
Guardian’s Keep – a portal to other worlds, and the guardian keeper, applies the rules of the portal, keeping balance. Kol Hildr is one portal guardian… tough, independent, garm (wolf shape shifter), and responsible; Kelly Shane is a witch, coming into her powers. Both are manipulated by uber werewolf Aesa, who is working for 200 years to free her mate, Fenrir, trapped on Lyngvi. Aesa plays on Kelly’s distrust of Kol and personal guilt over the death of a friend who went through Kol’s portal; and Aesa plays on the ego/desire of garm who want the responsibility and prestige of being portal guardians, promising, their own portals if they free Fenrir. Ultimately they overwhelm the bar, and take over the portal, letting bad creatures through as they try to figure out how to control the portal. And Kol, repeatedly sacrifices and rescues Kelly – and though they are sleeping together, it takes her a long time to trust him, and to tell him all…
I’m not sure what’s so bad about Fenrir, but to correct her wrongs against Kol, Kelly goes to the bar, declares she is going to help Aesa, and she gets all of the garms to go through to the portal to Fenrir, and joins them… they are under attack, Fenrir is bound hand, foot, and mouth… and Kol shows up to rescue her – but allowing her time to free Fenrir… and they ask permission for Aesa to visit him… when they get back, Kol’s ‘customers’ insist on Kol remaining the guardian… and the council decides to grant it… and to send Aesa to her mate… (and it is implied that Kol is their son –taken when very young to train up right)… and Kol and Kelly are together
Garm Council heather
I’m not sure what’s so bad about Fenrir, but to correct her wrongs against Kol, Kelly goes to the bar, declares she is going to help Aesa, and she gets all of the garms to go through to the portal to Fenrir, and joins them… they are under attack, Fenrir is bound hand, foot, and mouth… and Kol shows up to rescue her – but allowing her time to free Fenrir… and they ask permission for Aesa to visit him… when they get back, Kol’s ‘customers’ insist on Kol remaining the guardian… and the council decides to grant it… and to send Aesa to her mate… (and it is implied that Kol is their son –taken when very young to train up right)… and Kol and Kelly are together
Garm Council heather
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2017
I picked up this book via a 6-book ebook collection from the library.
When snagging random collections the books can be hit or miss. For me, this was more of a hit.
I love when an author can successfully incorporate a traditional mythology into their storytelling. Lori Devoti weaves through the nine worlds of Norse mythology quite well.
The romance portion pulls from the common "fated mate" trope.
As for conflict - It's always enjoyable for me when it is shown that the antagonists are not necessarily evil. The group of garm want to improve their stations, but the cannot do it under the current status quo, hence their need to attack the established system.
When snagging random collections the books can be hit or miss. For me, this was more of a hit.
I love when an author can successfully incorporate a traditional mythology into their storytelling. Lori Devoti weaves through the nine worlds of Norse mythology quite well.
The romance portion pulls from the common "fated mate" trope.
As for conflict - It's always enjoyable for me when it is shown that the antagonists are not necessarily evil. The group of garm want to improve their stations, but the cannot do it under the current status quo, hence their need to attack the established system.
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