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The Blood Guard #1
The Blood Guard
When thirteen-year-old Ronan Truelove’s seemingly ordinary mom snatches him from school, then sets off on a high speed car chase, Ronan is shocked. His quiet, nerdy dad has been kidnapped? And the kidnappers are after him, too?
His mom, he quickly learns, is anything but ordinary. In fact, she’s a member of an ancient order of knights, the Blood Guard, a sword-wielding secret society sworn to protect the Pure—thirty-six noble souls whose safety is crucial if the world as we know it is to survive.
Now all those after-school activities—gymnastics, judo, survival training—she made him take, make sense. For suddenly Ronan is swept up in a sometimes funny, sometimes scary, but always thrilling adventure—dashing from one danger to the next, using his wits to escape the Bend Sinister, a posse of evil doers with strange powers. Falling in with two unlikely companions, Greta, a scrappy, strong-willed girl he’s never much liked and Jack, a devil-may-care teenage pickpocket, Ronan is left with only his wits and his mom’s last words of advice: Trust no one.
That’s a lot for an ordinary kid to deal with. But then again, maybe Ronan’s not ordinary at all.
His mom, he quickly learns, is anything but ordinary. In fact, she’s a member of an ancient order of knights, the Blood Guard, a sword-wielding secret society sworn to protect the Pure—thirty-six noble souls whose safety is crucial if the world as we know it is to survive.
Now all those after-school activities—gymnastics, judo, survival training—she made him take, make sense. For suddenly Ronan is swept up in a sometimes funny, sometimes scary, but always thrilling adventure—dashing from one danger to the next, using his wits to escape the Bend Sinister, a posse of evil doers with strange powers. Falling in with two unlikely companions, Greta, a scrappy, strong-willed girl he’s never much liked and Jack, a devil-may-care teenage pickpocket, Ronan is left with only his wits and his mom’s last words of advice: Trust no one.
That’s a lot for an ordinary kid to deal with. But then again, maybe Ronan’s not ordinary at all.
279 pages, Paperback
Published March 4, 2014
494 people are currently reading
2556 people want to read
About the author
Carter Roy
9 books83 followersShort Version: Carter Roy is the author of The Blood Guard and its sequels, as well as a forthcoming novel from Delacorte/Random House Children's Books. He lives in New York with his wife, a spiky cat, and far too many books.
In-Depth Version: Carter Roy has painted houses and worked on construction sites; waited tables and driven delivery trucks; been a stage hand for rock bands and a videographer on a cruise ship; worked as a line cook in a kitchen, a projectionist in a movie theater, and a rhetoric teacher at a university. He has been a reference librarian and a bookseller, edited hundreds of books for major publishers, and written award-winning short-stories for adult readers that appeared in a half-dozen journals and anthologies.
He is the author of The Blood Guard and its sequel, The Glass Gauntlet. He lives in New York City.
In-Depth Version: Carter Roy has painted houses and worked on construction sites; waited tables and driven delivery trucks; been a stage hand for rock bands and a videographer on a cruise ship; worked as a line cook in a kitchen, a projectionist in a movie theater, and a rhetoric teacher at a university. He has been a reference librarian and a bookseller, edited hundreds of books for major publishers, and written award-winning short-stories for adult readers that appeared in a half-dozen journals and anthologies.
He is the author of The Blood Guard and its sequel, The Glass Gauntlet. He lives in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 296 reviews
March 8, 2021
I really enjoyed The Blood Guard! This book reminded me a bit of Percy Jackson, and I would highly recommend it to PJO lovers!
Plot : I really loved the plot! Ronan, a boy who is treating as an outcast in his school, is always wondering why his mom makes him take so many extra-curriculars. I mean who needs to know gymnastics, parkour, ballet, and so much more? But when he figures out his mom is part of an organization called the Blood Guard, everything falls into place. The Blood Guard is an organization for protecting the 36 so-called "Pure" who live in the world. If these Pure are killed, the world plunges into chaos.
There is another organization, and they were formed to do quite the opposite. They have many goals which are just unspeakable, . And for this, they need to capture this Ronan, for reasons unknown.
With his mom's ominous message, he jumps on a train to escape these people. There, he meets Greta a girl from his old school, and the mysterious man Dawkins. Together, they work to escape the organization chasing them and try to figure out a way to defeat these horrid people.
The plot in this book was exceptional! I really enjoyed the story line and there were SO many plot twists like when
Now some of you may be wondering, how does this remind me of Percy Jackson? To answer your question it reminds me of PJO because the main character is suddenly thrown into a magical world when this strange organization starts chasing them, similar to Percy at first being attacked by a demon. The Blood Guard is also a low fantasy, just like Percy Jackson. Even the writing reminds me of Percy Jackson. Amusing and witty.
Character(s) : I really liked the characters! I think the personality of Ronan (The Main character) could have used some work, but otherwise I really loved the other characters' personalities! I also really enjoyed the character growth. I am only going to talk about 2 of the characters, but I really liked all of them.
Ronan: He was an okay character. Ronan's personality is...hmmm a bit bland I guess. He is quite witty and sarcastic which I found amusing but his overall personality, I was not that impressed with. However, at the end when you can really see the conflict in him, which spiced up his character more. So overall, Ronan was an enjoyable character, just not my favorite. I really liked his character growth though. He went from an outcast, to a braver and stronger person willing to risk anything for Greta.
Greta: She was my favorite character! Her personality really stood out compared to Ronan's kind of bland personality. She is bold, brave, smart, and is so sassy and sarcastic. And when it turns out that it really made sense to me and just made me love her even more. She also grew a lot. In the beginning of the book, she was a bit full of herself. But when she met Ronan and they became friends, she became humble and grateful for what she had. Love her!
Writing: The writing was...mediocre. I know I mentioned it being like Rick Riordan's writing, but even I think Rick Riordan's writing is mediocre. I like it, but it's just a bit simple. I don't know if it's me growing up or the writing. It just seemed really simple and there wasn't much word-building. I still enjoyed the writing, I just think the word-building could have improved.
So I took one star off for Ronan's bland personality and the writing.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book though, and I will be continuing the series. Thank you Carter Roy, looking forward to reading the next book!
------------------------------------------
Review to come! :)
Plot : I really loved the plot! Ronan, a boy who is treating as an outcast in his school, is always wondering why his mom makes him take so many extra-curriculars. I mean who needs to know gymnastics, parkour, ballet, and so much more? But when he figures out his mom is part of an organization called the Blood Guard, everything falls into place. The Blood Guard is an organization for protecting the 36 so-called "Pure" who live in the world. If these Pure are killed, the world plunges into chaos.
There is another organization, and they were formed to do quite the opposite. They have many goals which are just unspeakable, . And for this, they need to capture this Ronan, for reasons unknown.
With his mom's ominous message, he jumps on a train to escape these people. There, he meets Greta a girl from his old school, and the mysterious man Dawkins. Together, they work to escape the organization chasing them and try to figure out a way to defeat these horrid people.
The plot in this book was exceptional! I really enjoyed the story line and there were SO many plot twists like when
Now some of you may be wondering, how does this remind me of Percy Jackson? To answer your question it reminds me of PJO because the main character is suddenly thrown into a magical world when this strange organization starts chasing them, similar to Percy at first being attacked by a demon. The Blood Guard is also a low fantasy, just like Percy Jackson. Even the writing reminds me of Percy Jackson. Amusing and witty.
Character(s) : I really liked the characters! I think the personality of Ronan (The Main character) could have used some work, but otherwise I really loved the other characters' personalities! I also really enjoyed the character growth. I am only going to talk about 2 of the characters, but I really liked all of them.
Ronan: He was an okay character. Ronan's personality is...hmmm a bit bland I guess. He is quite witty and sarcastic which I found amusing but his overall personality, I was not that impressed with. However, at the end when you can really see the conflict in him, which spiced up his character more. So overall, Ronan was an enjoyable character, just not my favorite. I really liked his character growth though. He went from an outcast, to a braver and stronger person willing to risk anything for Greta.
Greta: She was my favorite character! Her personality really stood out compared to Ronan's kind of bland personality. She is bold, brave, smart, and is so sassy and sarcastic. And when it turns out that it really made sense to me and just made me love her even more. She also grew a lot. In the beginning of the book, she was a bit full of herself. But when she met Ronan and they became friends, she became humble and grateful for what she had. Love her!
Writing: The writing was...mediocre. I know I mentioned it being like Rick Riordan's writing, but even I think Rick Riordan's writing is mediocre. I like it, but it's just a bit simple. I don't know if it's me growing up or the writing. It just seemed really simple and there wasn't much word-building. I still enjoyed the writing, I just think the word-building could have improved.
So I took one star off for Ronan's bland personality and the writing.
Overall, I really enjoyed the book though, and I will be continuing the series. Thank you Carter Roy, looking forward to reading the next book!
------------------------------------------
Review to come! :)
August 19, 2015
This is a rather odd but often enjoyable story that I could recommend, cautiously, for a variety of middle grade readers and some adults. I'll try to give you some information to help you decide whether it's right for you or a kid you know:
~While there is magic in the story, it's very clearly modern, and there is something about the language, settings, and tone that might really appeal to some readers (I usually hate to stereotype, but I'm going to say this because it is my instinct here -- especially boys) but leave others a little cold. There is not much lyrical prose or wonder to be had here. There are, however, a lot of chases, fights, weapons, action scenes, and stolen cars. Not so much contemplation and emotion. There is a fair bit of humor, as well.
~As a corollary to this point, this is a very fast-paced book. Something is always happening! And then something else is happening! And then something else is happening! And it's probably dangerous!! This is definitely paced a bit more obviously for shorter attention span MG readers than for the adults who like all-ages books. (I did enjoy a lot of it, but it moved so quickly I felt like I was skimming half the time, even when I wasn't.)
~A major element of the plot strains credulity. Ronan has been trained his entire life to be a Blood Guard... without knowing it. Hence all of the random fighting lessons (four different martial arts), weapons training, gymnastics, (competitive) tree climbing, parkour, dancing, unicycling, metalworking (see how this list is rapidly getting more and more outlandish?).... He just thought his mom was "keeping him busy" and making sure he had a good resume for college. So I ask:
a. What 13 year old kid has time to reach a serious enough level of proficiency in all that stuff that it would be useful when face to face with many, many adult bad guys who are professional level at their Bad Stuff?
b. What 13 year old kid would really have gone along with ALL of that with no resistance? And moreover, if forced to go along with each of these things, what kid wouldn't reach some level of questioning and/or rebellion that would have led to a change in circumstance (or his level of knowledge about his mom's/his life) well before the events of this book take place.
~as a corollary to this point, Ronan the Boy of 1000 Skills, meets Greta, the (13 year old) Girl of 1000 Skills, whose thousand include picking the locks on handcuffs, evasive driving, motorcycle driving, hatchet throwing, axe wielding, and using some sort of laser weapon to decapitate an RV. Oh, she also recognizes a modified SG 550 when she sees one.
~as another corollary, Ronan knocks out a bad guy by throwing a hub cap at him like a frisbee. (And yes, Ronan played in an Ultimate Frisbee League. At some point in one of his 10,000 free hours.)
~At one point, an unkillable guy gets his head cut off. His headless body sits around typing out on a laptop everything his head is witnessing, miles away. You may or may not find this funny and cool, as a concept. Roy certainly makes the most of it for comedic effect.
~Overall there is a significant amount of physical brutality directed at children by adults. Way more than in any other MG book I've read. I got uncomfortable with it at times, though it certainly makes it clear how high the stakes are.
~ Jack Dawkins is awesome. This doesn't mean anything to you yet if you haven't read the book; but, I'm just telling you, there is a character who will grow on you with his good looks and charm and daring and quips sort of like young Obi-Won (Obi-Ewan) was supposed to do in the Star War prequel trilogy, or how virtually any character at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters is meant to. Dawkins does it. Roy writes him a little broadly at first. It took me a while to feel like there was any nuance or uniqueness to him. But given time, Roy writes him better and better. The funny is funnier, the cool is cooler, and he's clearly The Guy you want on your side as just the right combination of friend and mentor.
~[This is a bit of a spoiler. Be warned] Although the concept of the Pures is a little bit odd (The idea is that there are 36 pure souls in the world, and that the sum total of their goodness swings the entire balance of the world to Good. The Blood Guard protect them, and God [or god] does not destroy the world or kill off humanity because as long as they live, humanity is redeemable. The Bend Sinister want to bring about the End Times, and think that killing off enough of the Pures that the balance of the world swings to evil is the most expedient way to do it), once you accept the premise, Carter Roy has some pretty neat ideas. The one that interests me the most is that The Bend Sinister are trying to use physics to build a device to trap souls, thus keeping the Pures from being reincarnated -- not having to kill them at all, just holding the souls out of phase with the world and letting God do the rest. As diabolical plans go, I kinda dig it. Mostly because it's a plot I haven't read before, and I genuinely think it's clever.
For believability (yes, even within a genre with magic and fantasy) this book would get about a -30 out of 100. (Yes, that was a minus 30). But! if that isn't one of your major criteria for enjoying this type of story, then everything else is very adventurous, often clever, sometimes thrilling and scary, and even occasionally funny. While I can't say I loved this book, I think it's a very strong choice for a lot of MG readers. Quite possibly especially so for boys.
~While there is magic in the story, it's very clearly modern, and there is something about the language, settings, and tone that might really appeal to some readers (I usually hate to stereotype, but I'm going to say this because it is my instinct here -- especially boys) but leave others a little cold. There is not much lyrical prose or wonder to be had here. There are, however, a lot of chases, fights, weapons, action scenes, and stolen cars. Not so much contemplation and emotion. There is a fair bit of humor, as well.
~As a corollary to this point, this is a very fast-paced book. Something is always happening! And then something else is happening! And then something else is happening! And it's probably dangerous!! This is definitely paced a bit more obviously for shorter attention span MG readers than for the adults who like all-ages books. (I did enjoy a lot of it, but it moved so quickly I felt like I was skimming half the time, even when I wasn't.)
~A major element of the plot strains credulity. Ronan has been trained his entire life to be a Blood Guard... without knowing it. Hence all of the random fighting lessons (four different martial arts), weapons training, gymnastics, (competitive) tree climbing, parkour, dancing, unicycling, metalworking (see how this list is rapidly getting more and more outlandish?).... He just thought his mom was "keeping him busy" and making sure he had a good resume for college. So I ask:
a. What 13 year old kid has time to reach a serious enough level of proficiency in all that stuff that it would be useful when face to face with many, many adult bad guys who are professional level at their Bad Stuff?
b. What 13 year old kid would really have gone along with ALL of that with no resistance? And moreover, if forced to go along with each of these things, what kid wouldn't reach some level of questioning and/or rebellion that would have led to a change in circumstance (or his level of knowledge about his mom's/his life) well before the events of this book take place.
~as a corollary to this point, Ronan the Boy of 1000 Skills, meets Greta, the (13 year old) Girl of 1000 Skills, whose thousand include picking the locks on handcuffs, evasive driving, motorcycle driving, hatchet throwing, axe wielding, and using some sort of laser weapon to decapitate an RV. Oh, she also recognizes a modified SG 550 when she sees one.
~as another corollary, Ronan knocks out a bad guy by throwing a hub cap at him like a frisbee. (And yes, Ronan played in an Ultimate Frisbee League. At some point in one of his 10,000 free hours.)
~At one point, an unkillable guy gets his head cut off. His headless body sits around typing out on a laptop everything his head is witnessing, miles away. You may or may not find this funny and cool, as a concept. Roy certainly makes the most of it for comedic effect.
~Overall there is a significant amount of physical brutality directed at children by adults. Way more than in any other MG book I've read. I got uncomfortable with it at times, though it certainly makes it clear how high the stakes are.
~ Jack Dawkins is awesome. This doesn't mean anything to you yet if you haven't read the book; but, I'm just telling you, there is a character who will grow on you with his good looks and charm and daring and quips sort of like young Obi-Won (Obi-Ewan) was supposed to do in the Star War prequel trilogy, or how virtually any character at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters is meant to. Dawkins does it. Roy writes him a little broadly at first. It took me a while to feel like there was any nuance or uniqueness to him. But given time, Roy writes him better and better. The funny is funnier, the cool is cooler, and he's clearly The Guy you want on your side as just the right combination of friend and mentor.
~[This is a bit of a spoiler. Be warned] Although the concept of the Pures is a little bit odd (The idea is that there are 36 pure souls in the world, and that the sum total of their goodness swings the entire balance of the world to Good. The Blood Guard protect them, and God [or god] does not destroy the world or kill off humanity because as long as they live, humanity is redeemable. The Bend Sinister want to bring about the End Times, and think that killing off enough of the Pures that the balance of the world swings to evil is the most expedient way to do it), once you accept the premise, Carter Roy has some pretty neat ideas. The one that interests me the most is that The Bend Sinister are trying to use physics to build a device to trap souls, thus keeping the Pures from being reincarnated -- not having to kill them at all, just holding the souls out of phase with the world and letting God do the rest. As diabolical plans go, I kinda dig it. Mostly because it's a plot I haven't read before, and I genuinely think it's clever.
For believability (yes, even within a genre with magic and fantasy) this book would get about a -30 out of 100. (Yes, that was a minus 30). But! if that isn't one of your major criteria for enjoying this type of story, then everything else is very adventurous, often clever, sometimes thrilling and scary, and even occasionally funny. While I can't say I loved this book, I think it's a very strong choice for a lot of MG readers. Quite possibly especially so for boys.
June 30, 2016
"When something matters enough to you," he promised, "you'll reach a make-or-break point where HEART comes in. THAT'S what pushes you to do the impossible."
-Mr. Entwhistle
Immediately after picking this book up from the library shelf, I fell in love with the idea of the Blood Guard. Evelyn Ronan Truelove was just a normal boy with an amount of extracurricular activities no one his age undoubtedly has had before. However, as Ronan said, "You don't care as much about being an outsider if you're always busy." This young man was swept quickly into the world that his mother has been engaged in since before his birth, the Blood Guard, an organization set up to protect the Pures that roam the earth. The Pures, those who naturally bring out the good in others, are the only things standing in the way of God flooding Earth again. If a sufficient amount of them die before they can be reincarnated quickly after their appointed death, the world plunges into darkness. Ronan is chased by the Bend Sinister, a group driven to capture and take the souls of the Pure so that they cannot live again.
This book was full of action from the first page, sending you into a story that no one could have spectacularly written but Carter Roy. Not only did this book tackle the action aspect that we all crave in books, but it also talked about finding yourself. Ronan is unsure of himself or if he is good enough to save or even protect anyone. He's just a boy after all. However, sometimes we must make our own decisions and believe in ourselves, like Ronan struggles to do. I always read my books wherever I am and found myself smiling while reading this book at the most inopportune times causing people to stare at me and wonder what in the world I'm laughing at. That's how much I loved this story! I believe that any fan of Percy Jackson will fall in love with this piece of work. They both drew me in with their quick wit, self worth, and action packed pages. Ronan Truelove was a fabulous character that I am so excited to read more about!
This review was also posted on knightingalereviews.blogspot.com
(http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.c...)
-Mr. Entwhistle
Immediately after picking this book up from the library shelf, I fell in love with the idea of the Blood Guard. Evelyn Ronan Truelove was just a normal boy with an amount of extracurricular activities no one his age undoubtedly has had before. However, as Ronan said, "You don't care as much about being an outsider if you're always busy." This young man was swept quickly into the world that his mother has been engaged in since before his birth, the Blood Guard, an organization set up to protect the Pures that roam the earth. The Pures, those who naturally bring out the good in others, are the only things standing in the way of God flooding Earth again. If a sufficient amount of them die before they can be reincarnated quickly after their appointed death, the world plunges into darkness. Ronan is chased by the Bend Sinister, a group driven to capture and take the souls of the Pure so that they cannot live again.
This book was full of action from the first page, sending you into a story that no one could have spectacularly written but Carter Roy. Not only did this book tackle the action aspect that we all crave in books, but it also talked about finding yourself. Ronan is unsure of himself or if he is good enough to save or even protect anyone. He's just a boy after all. However, sometimes we must make our own decisions and believe in ourselves, like Ronan struggles to do. I always read my books wherever I am and found myself smiling while reading this book at the most inopportune times causing people to stare at me and wonder what in the world I'm laughing at. That's how much I loved this story! I believe that any fan of Percy Jackson will fall in love with this piece of work. They both drew me in with their quick wit, self worth, and action packed pages. Ronan Truelove was a fabulous character that I am so excited to read more about!
This review was also posted on knightingalereviews.blogspot.com
(http://knightingalereviews.blogspot.c...)
June 3, 2016
(
I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review
)
Wow.
I've been looking for a book to fill the hole left behind by finishing the Percy Jackson series, and boy oh boy did I find it. Full of action, nail biting adventure and witty banter, I couldn't put this down once I started.
The opening captured me, who wouldn't want to continue when the opening sentence is "It wasn't me who burned down our house". We're tossed right into, dare I say, fire, and the constant suspense doesn't let up until the last word it read.
I love how there was no filler, the story never lagged, and the parents are not forgotten about. Ronan's mom is badass. I don't think I have ever read a book where the parent went all matrix and deflected bullets. Most times the parent is a shadow figure only present for a short while, just enough to let us know that the main propagandist wasn't immaculately conceived. Harsh I know, but very true.
For the first bit of the book she plays a big role, and is never from from Ronan's mind.
Ronan, is a bit wishy-washy, but he does come into his own by the end of the book. I liked that. He wasn't perfect, and wasn't suddenly a hero because the plot called for it. Sure he had all this training from being in every extracurricular activity that's ever been created, but he is still just a 13 year old boy, who been raise to be, well, normal. Being tossed into this traumatic situation, where he doesn't know what up and whats down, would have been terrifying for him.
Through out this book, he has to look within himself to push, to stand up and make the hard choices himself; but most of all, decide for himself what is right.
Our female protagonist Greta, I love her. Well not at first, at first I found her annoying, but she grew on me and proved to be the spark Ronan needed to gets his ass in gear. She may seem like the typical love/sidekick character thrown in to have some type of romance, but that was not the case with this book. Greta plays a big part in the plot, and it was never implied that she is a love interest. She is the second protagonist, on par with Ronan, and without her this story would have been boring.
If you can't tell I'm excited about this series, about where it's headed and most of all, how much I can't wait to read more about these new favorite characters of mine. Th only thing I would say that I didn't like, or picked up on, were a few misplaced words, that to me, made a good sentence sound, off, and weird. That could have been intentional, or it could have well been a formatting issue with my kindle. There wasn't a lot, but enough to make be me go, What? That doesn't fit.
Other then that little blunder, the writing was smooth, the dialogue flowed, it connected and was near perfection. I was surprised with the lack of cheesy lines. Don't get me wrong I love me some cheese, but the was refreshing to read witty banter that was simply, witty.
I highly recommend this book, it is mesmerizing, energetic, and a start to a new incredible world of fascinating fiction fantasy, and adventure.
I would like to thank Netgalley for exposing me to this new stunning world of action, sword play, and refreshing take on saving the world.
Happy Reading
-Emily
Wow.
I've been looking for a book to fill the hole left behind by finishing the Percy Jackson series, and boy oh boy did I find it. Full of action, nail biting adventure and witty banter, I couldn't put this down once I started.
The opening captured me, who wouldn't want to continue when the opening sentence is "It wasn't me who burned down our house". We're tossed right into, dare I say, fire, and the constant suspense doesn't let up until the last word it read.
I love how there was no filler, the story never lagged, and the parents are not forgotten about. Ronan's mom is badass. I don't think I have ever read a book where the parent went all matrix and deflected bullets. Most times the parent is a shadow figure only present for a short while, just enough to let us know that the main propagandist wasn't immaculately conceived. Harsh I know, but very true.
For the first bit of the book she plays a big role, and is never from from Ronan's mind.
Ronan, is a bit wishy-washy, but he does come into his own by the end of the book. I liked that. He wasn't perfect, and wasn't suddenly a hero because the plot called for it. Sure he had all this training from being in every extracurricular activity that's ever been created, but he is still just a 13 year old boy, who been raise to be, well, normal. Being tossed into this traumatic situation, where he doesn't know what up and whats down, would have been terrifying for him.
Through out this book, he has to look within himself to push, to stand up and make the hard choices himself; but most of all, decide for himself what is right.
Our female protagonist Greta, I love her. Well not at first, at first I found her annoying, but she grew on me and proved to be the spark Ronan needed to gets his ass in gear. She may seem like the typical love/sidekick character thrown in to have some type of romance, but that was not the case with this book. Greta plays a big part in the plot, and it was never implied that she is a love interest. She is the second protagonist, on par with Ronan, and without her this story would have been boring.
If you can't tell I'm excited about this series, about where it's headed and most of all, how much I can't wait to read more about these new favorite characters of mine. Th only thing I would say that I didn't like, or picked up on, were a few misplaced words, that to me, made a good sentence sound, off, and weird. That could have been intentional, or it could have well been a formatting issue with my kindle. There wasn't a lot, but enough to make be me go, What? That doesn't fit.
Other then that little blunder, the writing was smooth, the dialogue flowed, it connected and was near perfection. I was surprised with the lack of cheesy lines. Don't get me wrong I love me some cheese, but the was refreshing to read witty banter that was simply, witty.
I highly recommend this book, it is mesmerizing, energetic, and a start to a new incredible world of fascinating fiction fantasy, and adventure.
I would like to thank Netgalley for exposing me to this new stunning world of action, sword play, and refreshing take on saving the world.
Happy Reading
-Emily
January 18, 2014
The Blood Guard
Carter Roy
Amazon Children's Publishing
Two Lions
I don’t often pay attention to the buzz around a book because usually I’m disappointed. This was not the case with the Blood Guard. Evelyn Trueblood, known as Ronan to his friends spends all his free time in an odd assortment of after school activities - everything from gymnastics to fencing. He thinks his mother is just over controlling until she picks him up from school and flee from strange people in a red SUV.
Ronan’s mom has just enough time to tell him that she is a member of an ancient order called the Blood Guard and that he must go to Washington D.C. and to trust no one. She leaves him running for the railway station while she goes to find his father.
The strange people continue to chase Ronan and the pickpocket who is the person he was supposed to meet on the train. A girl from his old school gets caught up in the action as well. The three of them run from people who appear to have powerful magic, but they have resources of their own.
This book grabs your attention and holds it. There is humour and time for reflection, but Carter Roy avoids the traps of young adult adventures and keeps the book focussed on the action. He manages the characterization with an expert hand and reveals only slowly what is really going on and what makes these three people the center of so much activity.
The Blood Guard is the first in a series and I will be watching for the next book. I highly recommend this book to adventure lovers and those who like different twists on their magical mayhem.
Carter Roy
Amazon Children's Publishing
Two Lions
I don’t often pay attention to the buzz around a book because usually I’m disappointed. This was not the case with the Blood Guard. Evelyn Trueblood, known as Ronan to his friends spends all his free time in an odd assortment of after school activities - everything from gymnastics to fencing. He thinks his mother is just over controlling until she picks him up from school and flee from strange people in a red SUV.
Ronan’s mom has just enough time to tell him that she is a member of an ancient order called the Blood Guard and that he must go to Washington D.C. and to trust no one. She leaves him running for the railway station while she goes to find his father.
The strange people continue to chase Ronan and the pickpocket who is the person he was supposed to meet on the train. A girl from his old school gets caught up in the action as well. The three of them run from people who appear to have powerful magic, but they have resources of their own.
This book grabs your attention and holds it. There is humour and time for reflection, but Carter Roy avoids the traps of young adult adventures and keeps the book focussed on the action. He manages the characterization with an expert hand and reveals only slowly what is really going on and what makes these three people the center of so much activity.
The Blood Guard is the first in a series and I will be watching for the next book. I highly recommend this book to adventure lovers and those who like different twists on their magical mayhem.
August 11, 2016
More Than the Sum of Its Parts
This book is awash in most of the conventions of middle grade fantasy/adventure, but each part is just a little bit better than the usual, and it all fits together so nicely that the overall effect is remarkably engaging.
Ronan's father is kidnapped, and just before Ronan's Mom drops him off at a train headed for D.C. she reveals that she is a knight of the Blood Guard and Ronan is destined to be a knight as well. The Blood Guard is sworn to defend "the Pure", 36 noble souls whose existence is what keeps Earth harmonious, peaceful and good. When the "Bend Sinister" assassinates a Pure the Earth drifts into disarray and conflict until a new Pure arises. So, you get a good/evil battle that turns on protecting/harming the 36, (who by the way are not aware of the role they play). There's a little more setup, but that's the basic idea.
The book starts with Ronan and his Mom being attacked, Mom disappearing after a battle, and a deeply disoriented Ronan trying to make his way to Washington on his own. On the way he picks up a sarcastic female sidekick, a goofy/mysterious guide, others helpers and multiple enemies. He has to figure out what the deal is with the Blood Guard, whom he can trust, where his parents are, how he fits into the story, and what his next move is. So, you get the whole innocent in danger who has to figure out the action and make the right moves package. (It's similar in a general way to Hitchcock's "North By Northwest" and has the same sort of "winging it amateur in danger" vibe.)
I'm skipping over some cool plot details, excellent action, nicely paced chase and escape scenes, and the like, because while they are all well done they aren't the stars of this piece. The star is Ronan as a likeable, relatable, reluctant action hero. He is smart, funny, observant and pretty insightful. He does a convincing job of resisting and then coming to grips with his incredible situation. His exchanges with Greta, the girl who gets caught up in the adventure, are priceless examples of deadpan humor and middle grade cluelessness. His growth as the adventure continues is satisfying and is as believable as can be, given the plot.
This is not one of those "junior James Bond" books or "I'm-an-8-year-old-secret-agent" books. It's also not a hyper-real "Hunger Games" type book. It is in the happy middle - it has a clever premise, action, some laughs, engaging characters, no overt bloodshed but lots of peril, and a certain shaggy sort of charm. A very happy find.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
This book is awash in most of the conventions of middle grade fantasy/adventure, but each part is just a little bit better than the usual, and it all fits together so nicely that the overall effect is remarkably engaging.
Ronan's father is kidnapped, and just before Ronan's Mom drops him off at a train headed for D.C. she reveals that she is a knight of the Blood Guard and Ronan is destined to be a knight as well. The Blood Guard is sworn to defend "the Pure", 36 noble souls whose existence is what keeps Earth harmonious, peaceful and good. When the "Bend Sinister" assassinates a Pure the Earth drifts into disarray and conflict until a new Pure arises. So, you get a good/evil battle that turns on protecting/harming the 36, (who by the way are not aware of the role they play). There's a little more setup, but that's the basic idea.
The book starts with Ronan and his Mom being attacked, Mom disappearing after a battle, and a deeply disoriented Ronan trying to make his way to Washington on his own. On the way he picks up a sarcastic female sidekick, a goofy/mysterious guide, others helpers and multiple enemies. He has to figure out what the deal is with the Blood Guard, whom he can trust, where his parents are, how he fits into the story, and what his next move is. So, you get the whole innocent in danger who has to figure out the action and make the right moves package. (It's similar in a general way to Hitchcock's "North By Northwest" and has the same sort of "winging it amateur in danger" vibe.)
I'm skipping over some cool plot details, excellent action, nicely paced chase and escape scenes, and the like, because while they are all well done they aren't the stars of this piece. The star is Ronan as a likeable, relatable, reluctant action hero. He is smart, funny, observant and pretty insightful. He does a convincing job of resisting and then coming to grips with his incredible situation. His exchanges with Greta, the girl who gets caught up in the adventure, are priceless examples of deadpan humor and middle grade cluelessness. His growth as the adventure continues is satisfying and is as believable as can be, given the plot.
This is not one of those "junior James Bond" books or "I'm-an-8-year-old-secret-agent" books. It's also not a hyper-real "Hunger Games" type book. It is in the happy middle - it has a clever premise, action, some laughs, engaging characters, no overt bloodshed but lots of peril, and a certain shaggy sort of charm. A very happy find.
Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.
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March 23, 2021
Well, this book was surely fast-paced! It jumped right from one action scene to another, but because of that, I couldn't really connect to any of the characters. Maybe we'll have more quiet parts in the upcoming books but right now I am not in a hurry to pick up the sequel.
July 2, 2015
[4.25 Stars] So, this novel started off like many, many middle-grade fantasy novels do. A BANG! You're dropped, pretty much, straight into the action as Ronan's life starts spiraling out of control.
At first, I must admit that I had my hesitations. A thirteen-year-old boy sucked into a war he didn't know existed where he's promptly abandoned to probably somehow save the world after uniting with 1-3 other young teens? Heard it a jillion times before, but this book? It took that middle-grade trope and totally killed it. It played on my expectations of stereotypical fantasy of this age group and had me guessing the wrong outcomes. I loved that!
The writing is easy to lose yourself in and fly through the pages. Every chapter ends on a high that makes you yearn to find out what is going to happen next. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought Carter Roy had been writing novels for many years instead of this being his debut!
The characters were probably my favorite part. Ronan (Do Not Call Him Evelyn) is a kind, outsider boy who is just trying to stay afloat as his reality comes crashing down around him. He's resourceful and funny, and he reacts to his situation how kids his age would actually react. Greta is the voice of reason and the skeptic of the group. I enjoyed her thoughts and dialogue throughout the novel. She also had some pretty humorous moments that had me smiling. I really think she contributed well to the novel. These two reminded me of Rick Riordan's characters with their constant sass and ability to keep things upbeat. One of my favorite early parts (being as vague as possible) is when they're sprinting across a parking lot. Instead of focusing on the people who are looking for them, Ronan thinks how they're just getting sweaty and tired while Greta makes a comment about how she's getting sunburned. It made me laugh because I could completely picture the characters in the moment, just utterly spent and whiny. Jack Dawkins was perhaps my favorite. He reminded me of Grandpa Smeadry from the Alcatraz series by Brandon Sanderson a little bit. He's quirky and aloof and just pure awesome.
The action is nonstop, and the plot moves so quickly that I finished this book in a day. It's never boring and it never drags. The reveals that happen are well-placed and make perfect sense after you find out about them. I'm definitely hoping this trend continues in the future books of the series.
I really enjoyed this book and hope to continue on with the series whenever I can! I definitely recommend it for fans of Percy Jackson, Alcatraz, or any of Brandon Mull's works.
Side Note: I did receive a copy of this book through Net Galley for review, but in no way does this have any influence on my rating or thoughts.
At first, I must admit that I had my hesitations. A thirteen-year-old boy sucked into a war he didn't know existed where he's promptly abandoned to probably somehow save the world after uniting with 1-3 other young teens? Heard it a jillion times before, but this book? It took that middle-grade trope and totally killed it. It played on my expectations of stereotypical fantasy of this age group and had me guessing the wrong outcomes. I loved that!
The writing is easy to lose yourself in and fly through the pages. Every chapter ends on a high that makes you yearn to find out what is going to happen next. If I didn't know any better, I would have thought Carter Roy had been writing novels for many years instead of this being his debut!
The characters were probably my favorite part. Ronan (Do Not Call Him Evelyn) is a kind, outsider boy who is just trying to stay afloat as his reality comes crashing down around him. He's resourceful and funny, and he reacts to his situation how kids his age would actually react. Greta is the voice of reason and the skeptic of the group. I enjoyed her thoughts and dialogue throughout the novel. She also had some pretty humorous moments that had me smiling. I really think she contributed well to the novel. These two reminded me of Rick Riordan's characters with their constant sass and ability to keep things upbeat. One of my favorite early parts (being as vague as possible) is when they're sprinting across a parking lot. Instead of focusing on the people who are looking for them, Ronan thinks how they're just getting sweaty and tired while Greta makes a comment about how she's getting sunburned. It made me laugh because I could completely picture the characters in the moment, just utterly spent and whiny. Jack Dawkins was perhaps my favorite. He reminded me of Grandpa Smeadry from the Alcatraz series by Brandon Sanderson a little bit. He's quirky and aloof and just pure awesome.
The action is nonstop, and the plot moves so quickly that I finished this book in a day. It's never boring and it never drags. The reveals that happen are well-placed and make perfect sense after you find out about them. I'm definitely hoping this trend continues in the future books of the series.
I really enjoyed this book and hope to continue on with the series whenever I can! I definitely recommend it for fans of Percy Jackson, Alcatraz, or any of Brandon Mull's works.
Side Note: I did receive a copy of this book through Net Galley for review, but in no way does this have any influence on my rating or thoughts.
December 11, 2015
While this was a pretty fun MG, it also was very hard for me to suspend my disbelief in the plot.
So apparently there are 36 "Pure" souls who keep God from raining down fiery annihilation on the world. These Pure are not saints, or "goody-goodies", but just inherently good people whose very presence make them stand out as being someone special. Also these Pure souls reincarnate at appointed times after normal deaths, and also after being murdered.
The Blood Guard is tasked with protecting these Pure from...
...bad guys aka The Bend Sinister, who think that humanity needs a new start, so they're gonna use a super special machine to capture the Pure souls so they can't reincarnate, effectively bringing about the end of the world. However, they think that they will be humanity's new start; that they will still be alive at the end of this. How they expect to survive God destroying the world, I can't quite figure out.
I don't know. It was just a bit far-fetched. But beyond the plot, it was an action-packed story with some fun characters, Dawkins being my favorite. I'll be checking out the second one.
So apparently there are 36 "Pure" souls who keep God from raining down fiery annihilation on the world. These Pure are not saints, or "goody-goodies", but just inherently good people whose very presence make them stand out as being someone special. Also these Pure souls reincarnate at appointed times after normal deaths, and also after being murdered.
The Blood Guard is tasked with protecting these Pure from...
...bad guys aka The Bend Sinister, who think that humanity needs a new start, so they're gonna use a super special machine to capture the Pure souls so they can't reincarnate, effectively bringing about the end of the world. However, they think that they will be humanity's new start; that they will still be alive at the end of this. How they expect to survive God destroying the world, I can't quite figure out.
I don't know. It was just a bit far-fetched. But beyond the plot, it was an action-packed story with some fun characters, Dawkins being my favorite. I'll be checking out the second one.
November 30, 2019
The Blood Guard is a great novel, but the world, even in the whole series, is slightly under-built. It’s probably because I’m used to trilogies that are a thousand fantasy novel pages (at least, and longer than that in other trilogies), not 780 pages with fewer words.
August 4, 2015
Review:
Protagonist: Ronan Truelove has had a rather tough life, after getting bullied when he was five his mother has enrolled him in a plethora of self-defense and fighting classes, as well as some seemingly miscellaneous other extra-curricular activities. When he was young his house was set on fire and while he didn't do it, there was no evidence leading to anyone else. Now his mom has yanked him from school and reveals, very vaguely I might add, her mysterious past and that he is in great danger. She send him off in hopes of protection, but of course he gets caught up in a whirlwind adventure. I really liked the character of Ronan, even though he's only thirteen, he's still very relateable. He's not a perfect character and that comes through very well, but his heart is always in the right place and he tries to do what he believes is good and right.
World-Building: The world-building of this book is very complex. First off I want to say that this book does use Christian lore for some of the background for the two warring factions. However, it is very minimal and is in no way preachy. In fact I really enjoyed learning about the Blood Guard and the Bend Sinister, however I would love to know more about their origins, why they started doing what they're doing. I'm guessing some of this will be revealed in the next book. While there are still many things about these two factions that remains in the dark the little we do get to know about them is the perfect set up to the rest of the series/trilogy.
Predictability: So on the whole I think there are probably two big twists in this book. One that I did not see coming at all, and one I accidentally spoiled myself on. Ironically the one I hadn't seen coming didn't really shock me that much, it didn't have the same punch as the other twist. I think this may have been do to the fact that it was more or less nonchalantly told to the protagonist instead of him figuring it out for himself, also there wasn't enough foreshadowing to make the twist worth it. On the other hand when I spoiled myself on arguably the books biggest spoiler, I was shocked beyond all belief, though I was far enough along in the book that things still started to click in place and it made sense. There are some smaller twists in here as well, but if you have even a remedial knowledge of MG/YA tropes than they shouldn't be all that hard to predict.
Ending: So the ending was really fantastic, there was everything someone like me could want out of it, great action, a shocking turn of events, secrets unveiled, and even some secrets still kept hidden. The ending was so crazy in fact I constantly kept forgetting that some of these characters, our protagonist especially, are just kids. Greta, Ronan, and another companion they meet along the way are all 13 and under, and yet they're doing some pretty unbelievable things and I don't mind how crazy and unreal it is because that's half the fun.
Rating:
So I debated on this rating for a while, because even though there's really nothing wrong with this book, and I really enjoyed it, it still has that something to it that all books specifically aimed at a MG audience have that make it harder to appeal to an older audience. If I was twelve, than I probably would have given this book 5 stars.
Protagonist: Ronan Truelove has had a rather tough life, after getting bullied when he was five his mother has enrolled him in a plethora of self-defense and fighting classes, as well as some seemingly miscellaneous other extra-curricular activities. When he was young his house was set on fire and while he didn't do it, there was no evidence leading to anyone else. Now his mom has yanked him from school and reveals, very vaguely I might add, her mysterious past and that he is in great danger. She send him off in hopes of protection, but of course he gets caught up in a whirlwind adventure. I really liked the character of Ronan, even though he's only thirteen, he's still very relateable. He's not a perfect character and that comes through very well, but his heart is always in the right place and he tries to do what he believes is good and right.
World-Building: The world-building of this book is very complex. First off I want to say that this book does use Christian lore for some of the background for the two warring factions. However, it is very minimal and is in no way preachy. In fact I really enjoyed learning about the Blood Guard and the Bend Sinister, however I would love to know more about their origins, why they started doing what they're doing. I'm guessing some of this will be revealed in the next book. While there are still many things about these two factions that remains in the dark the little we do get to know about them is the perfect set up to the rest of the series/trilogy.
Predictability: So on the whole I think there are probably two big twists in this book. One that I did not see coming at all, and one I accidentally spoiled myself on. Ironically the one I hadn't seen coming didn't really shock me that much, it didn't have the same punch as the other twist. I think this may have been do to the fact that it was more or less nonchalantly told to the protagonist instead of him figuring it out for himself, also there wasn't enough foreshadowing to make the twist worth it. On the other hand when I spoiled myself on arguably the books biggest spoiler, I was shocked beyond all belief, though I was far enough along in the book that things still started to click in place and it made sense. There are some smaller twists in here as well, but if you have even a remedial knowledge of MG/YA tropes than they shouldn't be all that hard to predict.
Ending: So the ending was really fantastic, there was everything someone like me could want out of it, great action, a shocking turn of events, secrets unveiled, and even some secrets still kept hidden. The ending was so crazy in fact I constantly kept forgetting that some of these characters, our protagonist especially, are just kids. Greta, Ronan, and another companion they meet along the way are all 13 and under, and yet they're doing some pretty unbelievable things and I don't mind how crazy and unreal it is because that's half the fun.
Rating:
So I debated on this rating for a while, because even though there's really nothing wrong with this book, and I really enjoyed it, it still has that something to it that all books specifically aimed at a MG audience have that make it harder to appeal to an older audience. If I was twelve, than I probably would have given this book 5 stars.
December 10, 2015
Istyria book blog ~ A World of Enchanted Books
Last year, I was asked to review The Blood Guard, but I never got a copy to do so, so when the amazing Steph from Cuddlebuggery sent me her extra copy of it and its sequel, I was so happy! Was it worth the wait? Yes it was. For the most part.
The Blood Guard is about Ronan. When his mom snatches him from school one day only to set off on a high speed car chase, Ronan is more than a little shocked. His dad is kidnapped and they're after him too. He finds out his mom is part of an ancient order of knights called the Blood Guard, a secret society sworn to protect the Pure - Thirty-six noble souls whose safety is crucial to the world's survival. Now all his after-school activities make sense. He's then swept up in an adventure, dashing from one danger to the next, trying to escape the Bend Sinister with his two unlikely companions: the strong-willed Greta and Jack, a teenage pickpocket who's part of the Blood Guard. Ronan is left with is mom's last advice: Trust No One.
I want to start off with saying that this book had a few surprise twists I didn't see coming. As usual with these kind of storylines, you expect the story to take a certain road because that's what always happens. But this book doesn't do that, which is a nice change of pace and I liked that. I liked the road it took instead. It also doesn't slow down at all. It's quite fast-paced and it just keeps on going. There are no slow parts with exposition, though I never felt like I missed out on important information. The premise with the Pure and the Blood Guard is also quite original, though also not completely my thing with its religious-y stuff worked in. It's also not the most mind-blowing story, but it doesn't need to be. It's fun and exciting, which is all I ask of a middle grade book like this.
It has a lot of humor too, most of which comes from the fanastic character called Jack. He's my favorite by far. He never really came across as a teenager to me, which is good because he's part of the Blood Guard and actually quite old. He was funny and witty and bad ass. I liked Greta and Ronan, but not as much. Sure, they're good characters, but Jack just stole the show for me. Also, a quick nod to the cover, which is beautiful. That has to be said.
All in all, The Blood Guard is an exciting and fun start to a new series. I will read the second book soon, since I have it here on my shelves (Thx Steph!), if only to find out what Jack will do next. If you love Middle Grade semi-fantasy adventure books along the lines of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, you might want to give this one a try!
Last year, I was asked to review The Blood Guard, but I never got a copy to do so, so when the amazing Steph from Cuddlebuggery sent me her extra copy of it and its sequel, I was so happy! Was it worth the wait? Yes it was. For the most part.
The Blood Guard is about Ronan. When his mom snatches him from school one day only to set off on a high speed car chase, Ronan is more than a little shocked. His dad is kidnapped and they're after him too. He finds out his mom is part of an ancient order of knights called the Blood Guard, a secret society sworn to protect the Pure - Thirty-six noble souls whose safety is crucial to the world's survival. Now all his after-school activities make sense. He's then swept up in an adventure, dashing from one danger to the next, trying to escape the Bend Sinister with his two unlikely companions: the strong-willed Greta and Jack, a teenage pickpocket who's part of the Blood Guard. Ronan is left with is mom's last advice: Trust No One.
I want to start off with saying that this book had a few surprise twists I didn't see coming. As usual with these kind of storylines, you expect the story to take a certain road because that's what always happens. But this book doesn't do that, which is a nice change of pace and I liked that. I liked the road it took instead. It also doesn't slow down at all. It's quite fast-paced and it just keeps on going. There are no slow parts with exposition, though I never felt like I missed out on important information. The premise with the Pure and the Blood Guard is also quite original, though also not completely my thing with its religious-y stuff worked in. It's also not the most mind-blowing story, but it doesn't need to be. It's fun and exciting, which is all I ask of a middle grade book like this.
It has a lot of humor too, most of which comes from the fanastic character called Jack. He's my favorite by far. He never really came across as a teenager to me, which is good because he's part of the Blood Guard and actually quite old. He was funny and witty and bad ass. I liked Greta and Ronan, but not as much. Sure, they're good characters, but Jack just stole the show for me. Also, a quick nod to the cover, which is beautiful. That has to be said.
All in all, The Blood Guard is an exciting and fun start to a new series. I will read the second book soon, since I have it here on my shelves (Thx Steph!), if only to find out what Jack will do next. If you love Middle Grade semi-fantasy adventure books along the lines of Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, you might want to give this one a try!
August 3, 2023
This sated my desire for further Percy Jackson books with a slightly less interesting backdrop (you can't really beat Greek mythology) in exchange for a cleverer and more introspective hero.
Ronan is easy to root for. He's a bit of an outsider, and a lot of that is because of his exceedingly strange skillset (fencing and gymnastics?) and his mother's insistence on dragging him off to every after-school activity you can think of. He takes it all in stride and lets himself get dragged from activity to activity, not realizing that perhaps his mother has plans for him other than to simply fill his time so he doesn't feel so alone.
I liked that he was thoughtful about what kind of a person he was and what kind of a person he wanted to be. Not overly thoughtful--he's a teenage boy in a life-or-death situation, after all, so there's only so much introspection time available--but I felt like there was more going on in his head than one normally sees in a novel of this type, and I enjoyed that. Watching him sort out the mysteries afoot and what on earth is actually going on was fun.
Dawkins was a complete joy. He is probably my favorite character, and I can't wait to see more of him. He plays both the comic relief and the mentor roles with aplomb and panache, and he made the whole journey better in every scene he was involved in.
Greta is a spunky little thing. It is easy to draw the obvious comparison with Annabeth from the Percy Jackson series, and much like her (and Hermione before her), she is often the voice of reason. She is not necessarily the cleverest one, though, and her skillset differs from theirs in quite a few degrees. She could completely kick some ass, and I loved that about her.
The plot starts with a bang and never really lets up. There are moments of levity, but most of the focus is on moving forward and trying to figure out what is going on, with missing parents, multiple secret societies, and an entire system set up to try to prevent the end of the world. It sounds more generic than it is, and a large part is clever plotting and good characterization, which takes this book from decent to great.
I'm not sure how I've never heard of these or why they weren't coming up immediately in my desperate searches to fill the void that Percy Jackson recently left in my life, but if that type of book is even remotely up your alley, you'll love these. I'll be snagging the next one at some point very soon.
This book was provided to me for free by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ronan is easy to root for. He's a bit of an outsider, and a lot of that is because of his exceedingly strange skillset (fencing and gymnastics?) and his mother's insistence on dragging him off to every after-school activity you can think of. He takes it all in stride and lets himself get dragged from activity to activity, not realizing that perhaps his mother has plans for him other than to simply fill his time so he doesn't feel so alone.
I liked that he was thoughtful about what kind of a person he was and what kind of a person he wanted to be. Not overly thoughtful--he's a teenage boy in a life-or-death situation, after all, so there's only so much introspection time available--but I felt like there was more going on in his head than one normally sees in a novel of this type, and I enjoyed that. Watching him sort out the mysteries afoot and what on earth is actually going on was fun.
Dawkins was a complete joy. He is probably my favorite character, and I can't wait to see more of him. He plays both the comic relief and the mentor roles with aplomb and panache, and he made the whole journey better in every scene he was involved in.
Greta is a spunky little thing. It is easy to draw the obvious comparison with Annabeth from the Percy Jackson series, and much like her (and Hermione before her), she is often the voice of reason. She is not necessarily the cleverest one, though, and her skillset differs from theirs in quite a few degrees. She could completely kick some ass, and I loved that about her.
The plot starts with a bang and never really lets up. There are moments of levity, but most of the focus is on moving forward and trying to figure out what is going on, with missing parents, multiple secret societies, and an entire system set up to try to prevent the end of the world. It sounds more generic than it is, and a large part is clever plotting and good characterization, which takes this book from decent to great.
I'm not sure how I've never heard of these or why they weren't coming up immediately in my desperate searches to fill the void that Percy Jackson recently left in my life, but if that type of book is even remotely up your alley, you'll love these. I'll be snagging the next one at some point very soon.
This book was provided to me for free by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 14, 2014
THE BLOOD GUARD was an interesting and engaging middle grade fantasy that begins a new trilogy. Ronan Truelove finds his world shaken up when his mother picks him up from school one day and then takes off on a high speed chase. She soon sends Ronan to meet with someone who will take care of him in Washington DC before going off to engage the enemy.
Ronan soon finds himself immersed in the world of a Blood Guard which protects Pures from the Bend Sinister whose goal is to eliminate all the Pures and bring about a new world order. He learns that his mother is a member of that Blood Guard and that all the weird lessons and after-school activities that she has enrolled him in are part of his advanced training to possibly join the Blood Guard himself.
First of all, Ronan has to elude Ms. Hand and her evil minions and find his way to Washington. He does manage to catch a train where he meets Jack Dawkins and Greta Susterman. Jack is also a member of the Blood Guard and is a unique and entertaining character. He is more or less immortal but also a pickpocket and smart-mouthed fellow. Greta is a former schoolmate of Ronan's. She is also smart-mouthed and, in her own words, a little boastful. She is also excellent at picking locks which comes in very handy.
The story is filled with action and derring do. They have lots of adventures as they try to elude the bad guys, find Ronan's missing parents and find Greta's missing father too. Beyond that, they have to find a way to stop the Bend Sinister from using their new invention to steal the souls of the Pure. If they can trap the souls, the souls can't reincarnate after death and maintain the balance of the 36 Pures who keep life on Earth safe.
Ronan was a great main character. He was smart and creative and brave. I really liked Greta too. I can't wait to read more of their adventures as they try to defeat the Bend Sinister in books two and three of this trilogy.
Ronan soon finds himself immersed in the world of a Blood Guard which protects Pures from the Bend Sinister whose goal is to eliminate all the Pures and bring about a new world order. He learns that his mother is a member of that Blood Guard and that all the weird lessons and after-school activities that she has enrolled him in are part of his advanced training to possibly join the Blood Guard himself.
First of all, Ronan has to elude Ms. Hand and her evil minions and find his way to Washington. He does manage to catch a train where he meets Jack Dawkins and Greta Susterman. Jack is also a member of the Blood Guard and is a unique and entertaining character. He is more or less immortal but also a pickpocket and smart-mouthed fellow. Greta is a former schoolmate of Ronan's. She is also smart-mouthed and, in her own words, a little boastful. She is also excellent at picking locks which comes in very handy.
The story is filled with action and derring do. They have lots of adventures as they try to elude the bad guys, find Ronan's missing parents and find Greta's missing father too. Beyond that, they have to find a way to stop the Bend Sinister from using their new invention to steal the souls of the Pure. If they can trap the souls, the souls can't reincarnate after death and maintain the balance of the 36 Pures who keep life on Earth safe.
Ronan was a great main character. He was smart and creative and brave. I really liked Greta too. I can't wait to read more of their adventures as they try to defeat the Bend Sinister in books two and three of this trilogy.
November 24, 2015
I admit, I wasn't expecting to love this book as much as I do.
Even though it is a middle-grade novel, I went into it with no expectations at all mostly because I didn't know anything about it except for what is revealed in the synopsis. Sometimes, I think it's best to read a book not expecting a lot. Otherwise, you could end up being very disappointed with it.
I think it's safe to say that The Blood Guard not only surprised me in a very good way but also is one of my favorite reads of this year.
The writing itself was very fluid and creative as well, making the story progress in a smooth kind-of way. It wasn't too confusing or too simple and it had a nice amount humour that also helps the reader to get more immersed in everything that is happenning within the plot.
The characters are the highlight of this book, especially both the main ones and the antagonist as well. They show a certain level of complexity that makes them very endearing and others were just hilarious with their humorous and snarky comments towards certain situations/persons/things. *I'm looking at you, Dawkins.*
The only thing that felt a bit off for me was the fact that this book happens within the span of two days. But as I was getting more and more closer to the end, I quickly put those thoughts aside and let myself enjoy the story for what it was.
I seriously need to get my hands on a physical copy of not only this novel but also its sequel (which comes out on August 18th - a few days after my birthday!) :)
Even though it is a middle-grade novel, I went into it with no expectations at all mostly because I didn't know anything about it except for what is revealed in the synopsis. Sometimes, I think it's best to read a book not expecting a lot. Otherwise, you could end up being very disappointed with it.
I think it's safe to say that The Blood Guard not only surprised me in a very good way but also is one of my favorite reads of this year.
The writing itself was very fluid and creative as well, making the story progress in a smooth kind-of way. It wasn't too confusing or too simple and it had a nice amount humour that also helps the reader to get more immersed in everything that is happenning within the plot.
The characters are the highlight of this book, especially both the main ones and the antagonist as well. They show a certain level of complexity that makes them very endearing and others were just hilarious with their humorous and snarky comments towards certain situations/persons/things. *I'm looking at you, Dawkins.*
The only thing that felt a bit off for me was the fact that this book happens within the span of two days. But as I was getting more and more closer to the end, I quickly put those thoughts aside and let myself enjoy the story for what it was.
I seriously need to get my hands on a physical copy of not only this novel but also its sequel (which comes out on August 18th - a few days after my birthday!) :)
May 31, 2015
Far fetched and action packed, Blood Guard reads a bit like Dan Brown's DaVinci Code for middle grade readers. A group of bad guys known as "Bend Sinister" is determined to remake the world in their own warped vision. The Blood Guard are the sworn protectors of The 36 Pure, people whose innate goodness keeps a wrathful and vengeful God from destroying all of creation. The 36 don't know they are anyone special. To know would negate their innate goodness, sort of like sudden wealth or fame can corrupt. The Bend Sinister seek the 36 for their nefarious plans.
The novel jumps out of the gate and never lets up its pace as Ronan, Greta, and Dawkins manage to duck, roll, and swerve every object and obstacle meant to thwart them or trap them. Fans of Roland Smith's IQ series or Conspiracy 365 will undoubtedly enjoy this new series. The violence is tame and despite sword and gunplay no one ever seems to be seriously injured. It seems to me that if the bad guys ever managed to get their way they would quickly realize the folly of their plan because then the wrathful God would indeed wipe the earth clean and start over so the endgame is a questionable plot line. I can't quite decipher if there's an underlying covert or overt Christian theme which would give me some pause. Still a fast read with likable characters.
The novel jumps out of the gate and never lets up its pace as Ronan, Greta, and Dawkins manage to duck, roll, and swerve every object and obstacle meant to thwart them or trap them. Fans of Roland Smith's IQ series or Conspiracy 365 will undoubtedly enjoy this new series. The violence is tame and despite sword and gunplay no one ever seems to be seriously injured. It seems to me that if the bad guys ever managed to get their way they would quickly realize the folly of their plan because then the wrathful God would indeed wipe the earth clean and start over so the endgame is a questionable plot line. I can't quite decipher if there's an underlying covert or overt Christian theme which would give me some pause. Still a fast read with likable characters.
March 28, 2014
You're picked up from school one day by your mother, who looks a bit frantic. She tells you (during a fancy bit of driving) that your father has disappeared and that she is part of a special group of people who protect others. Then, using a cutlass, she demonstrates by taking down a couple of people with guns. She drops you at a train station with orders to get to a specific place - and then she leaves. This is the fast-paced beginning to The Blood Guard, and rarely does it let up from there.
Carter Roy has managed to create a unique beginning to a series that, if it continues on this vein, will be well-loved by kids such as my 12-year-old son. Initially, he was hesitant to read it - he didn't think it sounded very good. After I finished it and recommended it, he decided to try it. Getting him to put it down before he had finished it proved a challenge.
The story is quite interesting, and the characters are fantastic. It's always a bummer when you have what could be a great story, but with characters that detract rather than add. That is not the case here. My son and I are both looking forward to following this series.
Carter Roy has managed to create a unique beginning to a series that, if it continues on this vein, will be well-loved by kids such as my 12-year-old son. Initially, he was hesitant to read it - he didn't think it sounded very good. After I finished it and recommended it, he decided to try it. Getting him to put it down before he had finished it proved a challenge.
The story is quite interesting, and the characters are fantastic. It's always a bummer when you have what could be a great story, but with characters that detract rather than add. That is not the case here. My son and I are both looking forward to following this series.
March 10, 2015
Even after I brought this one home from the library, it took me awhile to pick it up. I'm just a little tired of the "kids fighting bad guys on their own" genre. It was a pleasant surprise.
The lead-in was great and brought me right along: boy going about his normal school life gets picked up by his Mom, who seems in a big hurry. Before he knows it, he is informed that 1) his dad is missing, presumed kidnapped, 2) his mom is leaving to find him, 3)their lives are in mortal danger! and 4)she is a member of an order called The Blood Guard (bet you didn't see that one coming, did you?) Also, 4a)his mom knows some crazy stunt-driving moves and can wield a cutlass like no-one he's ever seen before, and 5)trust no-one.
Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride!
Before he knows it Ronan's dodging bad guys and yes, fighting them too, along with Greta, a girl from his old school, and Jack, who eats as much 4 or 5 people and also happens to be very good at defending them all.
Fast-paced, with plenty of sarcastic teen dialogue to lighten the mood. Okay, Mr. Roy, you won me over. Next please!
No seriously, when is the next one coming out?
The lead-in was great and brought me right along: boy going about his normal school life gets picked up by his Mom, who seems in a big hurry. Before he knows it, he is informed that 1) his dad is missing, presumed kidnapped, 2) his mom is leaving to find him, 3)their lives are in mortal danger! and 4)she is a member of an order called The Blood Guard (bet you didn't see that one coming, did you?) Also, 4a)his mom knows some crazy stunt-driving moves and can wield a cutlass like no-one he's ever seen before, and 5)trust no-one.
Buckle up, it's going to be a bumpy ride!
Before he knows it Ronan's dodging bad guys and yes, fighting them too, along with Greta, a girl from his old school, and Jack, who eats as much 4 or 5 people and also happens to be very good at defending them all.
Fast-paced, with plenty of sarcastic teen dialogue to lighten the mood. Okay, Mr. Roy, you won me over. Next please!
No seriously, when is the next one coming out?
August 11, 2015
REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 12 years, 8 months
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:
Evelyn Ronan Truelove is an ordinary boy with an ordinary family, or so he thought.
One day his mom unexpectedly picks him up from school, tells him that his dad has been kidnapped by evil people, and she is part of a secret society. After a high speed chase involving a car on top of stairs, and his mom having super speed and blocking bullets, she drops him off on a train where he meets another member of the secret society. The secret society is called "The Blood Guard" and Ronan's old schoolmate Greta is part of it as well. Together, they embark on an epic journey with a little help.
My favorite parts are when Greta and Ronan work together. Greta is my favorite character because she is so smart, brave, and resourceful. If you like mystery, action, adventure, and true friendship then you will love this book by Carter Roy.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 and up.
Check out http://5girlsbookreviews.blogspot.com
MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:
Evelyn Ronan Truelove is an ordinary boy with an ordinary family, or so he thought.
One day his mom unexpectedly picks him up from school, tells him that his dad has been kidnapped by evil people, and she is part of a secret society. After a high speed chase involving a car on top of stairs, and his mom having super speed and blocking bullets, she drops him off on a train where he meets another member of the secret society. The secret society is called "The Blood Guard" and Ronan's old schoolmate Greta is part of it as well. Together, they embark on an epic journey with a little help.
My favorite parts are when Greta and Ronan work together. Greta is my favorite character because she is so smart, brave, and resourceful. If you like mystery, action, adventure, and true friendship then you will love this book by Carter Roy.
I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 12 and up.
Check out http://5girlsbookreviews.blogspot.com
February 13, 2014
To be honest I picked up a copy of this book for my nephews. I thought they might enjoy this book. Which I am sure that they will enjoy it probably more than I did. I liked the story fine and there was plenty of action happening in this book, but the characters only drew me in half way. So it was kind of hard to want to stick with them the whole time. However, I was interested in the mysterious Blood Guard. From what I did get from this book, I am sure the second one will be better. The first book is sometimes hard to find that happy middle ground between not giving away too much but not getting the reader bogged down with tons of details.
January 23, 2015
I could not put this book down, literally read it in one day. It's a fast paced adventure that keeps you involved, there were several times when I was going to take a reading break and just could not do it because I had to know what came next. Sort of put me in the mind of The Hound of Rowan only more action packed. Ronan is a great character and Greta is an even better one, the dynamic of those two was terrific. Definitely a page turner with a bit of a twist at the end, I didn't give it five stars because I had sort of an inkling how it would turn out and I was right but it was still a fantastic book and a great adventure.
August 24, 2015
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Both the characters and the plot appealed to me. It kept me turning pages. I didn't want to put it down, and I want to know what happens next to Ronan.
It reminds me of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, but I think it will be more accessible to a bigger audience because it doesn't deal with mythology. It has both magical elements and good versus evil, both of which make a good read.
I think this book will be very popular with upper elementary and middle school students. It would be a good selection for a literature circle. It has ample opportunities to predict what might happen next.
It reminds me of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, but I think it will be more accessible to a bigger audience because it doesn't deal with mythology. It has both magical elements and good versus evil, both of which make a good read.
I think this book will be very popular with upper elementary and middle school students. It would be a good selection for a literature circle. It has ample opportunities to predict what might happen next.
May 7, 2021
WHY WHY WOULD YOU TORTURE AN INNOCENT TEENAGER (WHO IS A BOY) BY NAMING HIM EVELYN?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
But overall, noice.
But overall, noice.
October 1, 2016
Unlike some books who have to try and set the scene and explain everything, this started by grabbing me with a jerk and I was taken on a fast moving adventure that lasted the whole book, easy to read, easy to understand and a joy to be a member of the team trying to stay alive. Great reading for young teens or just the young at heart!
Review copy provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review copy provided by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 5, 2015
Action and crazy adventure from the very beginning of this book make it a fun page-turner that will keep you reading to the end. Two groups of people, the virtuous Blood Guard and the evil Bend Sinister fight each other for the souls of the Pure. If the Bend Sinister win, the world will be destroyed. I can't wait for book number two to come out! For middle grade students, ages 9-13
June 10, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. Once I started it I could barely put it down. There was a lot of action and mystery. And though this book is geared toward teens, as an adult this as a really great read. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received this free from NetGalley for an honest review.
I received this free from NetGalley for an honest review.
August 19, 2015
A really fun mid grade book, thirteen year olds rock! Ronan was a great lead character with Greta as a sidekick. Bend Sinister were a creepy group of bad guys the exact opposite of the Blood Guard, Jack is the perfect foil as an eternal pick pocket. Get ready for a thrill ride, one you cannot put down till done.
February 1, 2014
Great book for middle school and anyone that loves a fun non-stop action adventure. The action doesn't get in the way of the story and surprisingly, the humor. This is the first book in a trilogy and I will continue. More review later.
February 1, 2015
This book was absolutely amazing! I loved reading about the Blood Guard going against the Bend Sinister team. I love the idea of an overseer, some parts in this book my heart was in my hands but I NEED the next book!
July 9, 2015
Thanks to NetGalley and Two Lions for the ARC of The Blood Guard by Carter Roy! This book is action packed and quickly paced. New concept and fun, enjoyable characters. The Blood Guard is an easy read that everyone can enjoy!
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