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Book of Never #9
Blood of the Guardian
Never and Rikeva are stranded.
Defeating the Burnished King has come at a heavy cost. Never and Rikeva find themselves trapped in the time of his ancestors, captured by Amouni Guardians.
Guardians who immediately brand Never as a mongrel – and Rikeva as a worthless, ‘untamed’ commoner. Yet before seeking their execution, the Amouni decide to harvest Never’s blood in order to further the goals of their purity-obsessed empire.
Discovering the hard way that his powers are no longer the peerless advantage they once were, Never is forced to cooperate with untrustworthy allies on a desperate quest to escape and keep Rikeva safe long enough to find their way home… if one actually exists.
Defeating the Burnished King has come at a heavy cost. Never and Rikeva find themselves trapped in the time of his ancestors, captured by Amouni Guardians.
Guardians who immediately brand Never as a mongrel – and Rikeva as a worthless, ‘untamed’ commoner. Yet before seeking their execution, the Amouni decide to harvest Never’s blood in order to further the goals of their purity-obsessed empire.
Discovering the hard way that his powers are no longer the peerless advantage they once were, Never is forced to cooperate with untrustworthy allies on a desperate quest to escape and keep Rikeva safe long enough to find their way home… if one actually exists.
- GenresFantasy
ebook
First published February 22, 2025
4 people are currently reading
18 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Capes
76 books576 followersAshley is a poet, novelist and ex-teacher living in Australia.
He taught English, Media and Music Production, played in a metal band, worked in an art gallery and slaved away at music retail. Aside from reading and writing, Ashley loves volleyball and Studio Ghibli – and Magnum PI, easily one of the greatest television shows ever made.
See poetry and fiction at http://ashleycapes.com/
He taught English, Media and Music Production, played in a metal band, worked in an art gallery and slaved away at music retail. Aside from reading and writing, Ashley loves volleyball and Studio Ghibli – and Magnum PI, easily one of the greatest television shows ever made.
See poetry and fiction at http://ashleycapes.com/
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 3, 2025
Trapped in a long ago past, Never and Rikeva are not welcome in this time. There was one person they may be able to trust - Guardian Min - but even she seemed against them. As the threats and untrustworthy promises saw Never and Rikeva gambling with their lives, Never branded as a mongrel; Rikeva as untamed, a worthless individual, all the while Never's brain was working on plans. He needed to use his powers to free them, but he also needed it to work as they'd only get one chance. And when he was in front of his executioners, the only saving grace was them needing his blood. Would this small piece of time be all he'd need? Or was this final - unable to make it back to his own time with Rikeva?
Blood of the Guardian is #9 in the Book of Never series by Aussie author Ashley Capes and it was fabulous, as is usual for this author's work. I've read all the Never series, and love it; I admire Never and his constant quest to help others; in this one to keep Rikeva safe. A great read and one I recommend.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read and review.
Blood of the Guardian is #9 in the Book of Never series by Aussie author Ashley Capes and it was fabulous, as is usual for this author's work. I've read all the Never series, and love it; I admire Never and his constant quest to help others; in this one to keep Rikeva safe. A great read and one I recommend.
With thanks to the author for my digital ARC to read and review.
August 29, 2025
need another book in this series
December 17, 2024
A time travel. Great characters, good story, some humor, many unique ideas, awesome writing. Very satisfying!
March 24, 2025
I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review: my thanks for this opportunity.
The ninth chapter of Never’s adventures starts where the previous book left off, with Never and his companion Rikeva marooned in the past and looking for a way back home.
As I noted before, each new Never story feels like the next level in an engrossing game, with new perils and new discoveries to be made as the hero moves forward in his quest, but here I found a troubling difference.
While facing past challenges, Never often had to deal with his contemporaries’ suspicion of him, or their open hostility: his “lone wolf” attitude and his peculiar skills frequently put other peoples on guard, but he was just as often able to form friendships and alliances once those he encountered were able to understand his real nature and see the honesty and kindness hidden behind his apparently rude façade.
But here in the past, when faced with his potential ancestors, he’s met with something worse than mistrust: he’s seen as something inferior, a tainted being, a “mongrel”. The Amouni of the past all share a supercilious attitude that makes them look down on Never - not a mystery to be solved, or a descendant to be helped, but a tool to be exploited and discarded. And their opinion of Rikeva is even worse…
It’s an intriguing - and chilling - perspective on the people whose artifacts and marvels are still revered in Never’s present, and a shift in viewpoint that might inform the way the story will move forward. And given the surprising ending of this book, it made me wonder where Never’s path will take him next…
The ninth chapter of Never’s adventures starts where the previous book left off, with Never and his companion Rikeva marooned in the past and looking for a way back home.
As I noted before, each new Never story feels like the next level in an engrossing game, with new perils and new discoveries to be made as the hero moves forward in his quest, but here I found a troubling difference.
While facing past challenges, Never often had to deal with his contemporaries’ suspicion of him, or their open hostility: his “lone wolf” attitude and his peculiar skills frequently put other peoples on guard, but he was just as often able to form friendships and alliances once those he encountered were able to understand his real nature and see the honesty and kindness hidden behind his apparently rude façade.
But here in the past, when faced with his potential ancestors, he’s met with something worse than mistrust: he’s seen as something inferior, a tainted being, a “mongrel”. The Amouni of the past all share a supercilious attitude that makes them look down on Never - not a mystery to be solved, or a descendant to be helped, but a tool to be exploited and discarded. And their opinion of Rikeva is even worse…
It’s an intriguing - and chilling - perspective on the people whose artifacts and marvels are still revered in Never’s present, and a shift in viewpoint that might inform the way the story will move forward. And given the surprising ending of this book, it made me wonder where Never’s path will take him next…
February 4, 2025
While I’m not a huge fan of books that take place in the past, or past-like settings, I have to read about Never who I think I’ve been with since the beginning. He is such a noble character, and in this latest he shines like he always does. He’s always in a spot of trouble, and of course he can get out of his latest one, but it takes time. The books in this series are always an adventure, and this latest is no exception. Fun, wonderful descriptions, and wonderful characters, fans of this series will definitely enjoy this latest. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
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January 21, 2025On track for a February 2025 release - keen to share this book with everyone :D
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews