Forbidden Mountain

Guardians #1

by Brandon Mull

CHOOSE YOUR GUARDIAN. CHOOSE YOUR DESTINY.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fablehaven and Beyonders series comes an epic new fantasy set in a world where children bond with a spiritual guide—some promising greatness and glory, while others, destruction and death.

**This deluxe hardcover edition features exquisitely designed sprayed edges complete with gold swords!**

Every Anoran child dreams of the day they will enter the sacred bonding hut and match with a guardian—a spiritual guide who grants magically enhanced abilities. A lucky few will bond with Advocates, who promise greatness and glory. Others will be tempted by forbidden offers from the Accursed—dangerous spirits who bring nothing but destruction and a penalty of death to any Anoran who chooses them. But when Mako discovers that the worst of these agents of chaos has returned to spread an ancient evil through the empire, he faces an unthinkable choice: Will he bond with one of the Accursed to gain the power to stop another?

Halfway across the empire, Arden has no guardian and no prospects of adventure…until she infiltrates an underground criminal network to find her missing friend. Relying on her knack for sensing the truth through even the smoothest lies, Arden finds herself at the center of a sinister conspiracy that runs much deeper than she ever imagined.

Soon Mako’s and Arden’s fates collide, and together they must face bandit armies, dark secrets, and untold dangers to fight an enemy who could destroy all they’ve ever known.

Genres: Fantasy, Middle Grade, Fiction, Young Adult, Audiobook, Childrens, Adventure

528 pages, Hardcover

First published April 14, 2026

About the author

BRANDON MULL is the #1 New York Times best-selling author of the Fablehaven, Dragonwatch, Beyonders, and Five Kingdoms series. A kinetic thinker, Brandon enjoys bouncy balls, squeezable stress toys, and popping bubble wrap. He lives in Utah in a happy little valley near the mouth of a canyon with his wife, Erlyn, their eleven children, and three mischievous cats. Brandon loves meeting his readers and hearing about their experiences with his books.

Reviews

[Leiana Day · Rating 1 out of 5]

The setup of the fictional spiritual world is too close to reality in some aspects while being completely inaccurate in others. Yes, there really are many spirits on the earth. And yes... some of them really can grant unnatural power. But God does not mean for us to make deals with supernatural phenomena, evidenced by the sound denouncement it always receives in the Bible by both God and believers. Whether it's Saul consulting a witch or a fortune-telling slave girl ranting about Paul, God condemns it as evil, and we are to have nothing to do with it.

So when you have this fantasy mountain where just about everyone has this "Guardian", or spirit partner, and it's portrayed as not only good but practically a necessary part of their culture, completely normal, without any risk or shade of suspicion that humans are not meant to bond with spirits, no matter how benevolent they may seem, it makes me very uncomfortable. Then multiple evidences seem to insinuate that both human authorities and spiritual good guys are corrupt, and that the only way to stop a powerful evil spirit is to bond with a less powerful evil spirit. It makes perfect sense in the book, but it doesn't work that way in the real world. You can't fight Satan by making a deal with a demon. He'll only have you further under control. Not to mention that dabbling at all in witchcraft—and this is what it is—is spiritually perilous. The whole ages-old idea of trading away your soul, or people being possessed by demons? Not as fictional as the rational Western society would like them to be. All of this to say, it's just a really, really bad idea.

At the risk of repeating myself for the twentieth time: God makes it clear we are NOT to mess with this. Not in real life, not in fiction, and not even inside the bounds of a pretty sprayed-edges first edition of a middle grade book written by arguably one of the best middle grade authors writing today.

And so unfortunately, I am forced to DNF, approximately ten chapters in.





[First reaction before reading: AHHHHHH NEW BRANDON MULL SERIES THIS IS NOT A DRILL]

[Holly (IG Hollys_Book_Musings) · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! This world and story and characters sort of blew my mind!
I started the audiobook and had a bit of difficulty really getting into this new world at first, but once I finally got used to it, I loved everything about it and highly recommend this newest from a favorite author of mine.

The characters and their inner struggles are really well written. I loved watching them battle with themselves and discern between right and wrong. Since this is going to be a series of 3 books, there wasn't much character development yet. We will see that in later books I'm sure.

I loved the rich world-building and the cultures and people Brandon has created in this new series. I was intrigued by the spirit guardian concept, especially the scene in the Guardian Hut where Mako has to choose his guardian and that whole process.

The ending will leave you yearning for book 2, so be prepared mentally for that. I cannot wait to see where Brandon takes this new series and to watch the journey these characters will go on in fighting corruption and evil in an Empire.

I definitely recommend this great start to a new Middle Grade Epic Fantasy series for ages 11 and up. If you or your child loved Beyonders series, you will love this new one. I would say the violence is similar to that series. It is labeled as Middle Grade, but because of the violence toward the end, I would suggest for upper middle grade, meaning grades 6+.

Content Guide:
Language: none
Romance Content: none
Violence/gore: Mild-violence involving swords, characters/people getting shot by arrows, someone is mentioned as having been beheaded (not described or gory), other mild fantasy violence, death/murder
Substance Use: none that I remember, if there is, only the adult characters mildly partake
Prejudices: Some involving cultures (mild and mainly misconceptions)
Religious Content: Spirit Guardians (they aren't worshipped though, just meant as guides and to help enhance and give special abilities to their mortal)
Other: Some mild unkind comments between characters, good vs evil, characters have special abilities that could be viewed as magic

Book info:
Series: Book 1 of Guardians
Genre: Epic Upper Middle Grade Fantasy
Romance Level: None
Release Date: Available Now
Publisher: Penguin Random House Kids
Narrator: George Newbern
POV: Dual Third Person

[Shaun Stevenson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been a huge Brandon Mull fan ever since the first Fablehaven book. I've read every series he's written except for The Candy Shop War books 2 and 3. Otherwise, I'm all caught up on my Mull books!

With all that said, I had a hard time with this newest book, Forbidden Mountain, book one in the new Guardians series. It took me quiet a while to place my finger on what it was exactly that I wasn't connecting with, until I hit on it: for this book, Mull seems to be taking his cues from the Cozy Fantasy genre of books that have grown in popularity lately. This book is much more a slice of life fantasy book instead of the quest, grand adventure to defeat evil, types of narratives he's written in the past. Mull admits in the acknowledgements that this is a new type of fantasy book for him to write and he wanted to push himself as he wrote this one.

This is Mull's first non-portal fantasy book he's written, and with him being away from the typical tropes that have helped him structure his fantasy books: a human narrator who is exploring the new world along with the reader, a quest for the characters to embark upon, or a grand evil slowly emerging throughout the storyline, this new book suffers from trying to find its way.

From amongst Mull's own bibliography, I feel as though this book is most similar to his Beyonders trilogy, but even that book had a killer hook and payoff at the very end of the first book. Forbidden Mountain feels more like a series of episodes with mini-climaxes throughout the story before moving to the next day with something new. By the very end, I could see the setup for book 2, and I think that has the potential for explosive action, a quest, and the typical fantasy elements Mull excels at. This first book felt more like Taran Wanderer, book 4 in The Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander but without the angst which allowed that book to exist in a pedestrian space while exploring deep emotional arcs within the characters. This book, however, has not established the emotional arcs of the characters quite strongly enough yet for that kind of exploration, and it's not a later book in a series after a bunch of action / adventure to give you a break from the excitement.

So all said, this one is a 3 star from me. I'm interested to see where it goes, because I trust Brandon Mull, but for regular fans of Mull, this might not be a win. If you like cozy fantasy, this might be just the kind of book you'll love!

[Gable Roth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was hesitant about this book from the start. Mainly because I was disappointed that he wasn't writing the Patton Burgess Chronicles or a sequel series to the Beyonders. I am not sure if that affected how I felt about this book but I really feel like this was not as good as his other books. It didn't draw me in as much and didn't seem to have the same well developed characters and fun plot points.

It might be because the main characters make some questionable decisions and it wasn't clearly revealed that those decisions ended up working out. This is clearly setting up for a longer series and maybe the other books will help me feel better about this one... I should have waited until the other books were published before I read this one.

[Christian Nicholas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brandon Mull has done urban fantasy and portal fantasy. This is his first work of high fantasy.

The Fablehaven series was one of my first forays into the Fantasy genre around 4th grade or so. It contributed to a lifelong obsession, which has only grown since.

My palate has expanded to other authors since, but I've still followed Brandon Mull's work as closely as I could, and was very excited to hear him as a guest on Brandon Sanderson's podcast Intentionally Blank back in August of 2024. While Mull was visiting, he dropped a hint about an upcoming book that he said was more ambitious than anything he'd done before. This was that book and, honestly, he nailed it.

Sure, there are still some elements of his middle grade background in his writing, pacing, and main characters' ages and perspectives, but the plot has grown beyond anything I've read in his works before. I loved it.

[Kasia | Zapisana w Książkach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zakazana Góra to pierwszy tom nowego cyklu od Brandona Mulla, czyli Opiekunowie. Książkę w Polsce wydało Wydawnictwo Wilga.

Jeśli chodzi o moją znajomość z twórczością Mulla, to znam głównie książki ze świata Baśnioboru. Pierwszy raz usłyszałam o nich jako dorosła i skusiłam się na audiobooki, przez które zakochałam się w tamtym świecie. Zakazana Góra była moją pierwszą okazją, by poznać autora poza światem Baśnioboru i się nie zawiodłam. Opiekunowie zapowiadają się świetną serią.

Zakazana Góra opowiada o dwójce młodych nastolatkach, Mako i Arden. Każde z nich wiedzie zupełnie inne życie. Mako szykuje się do związania z tytułowym opiekunem, by razem z nim służyć Cesarstwu z użyciem swoich specjalnych umiejętności. Z kolei Arden to wchodząca w przestępczy światek dziewczyna, która pragnie jedynie ocalić przyjaciółkę. Nic nie jest jednak takie proste, jak to się może wydawać.

Książka wciąga od pierwszych stron i to tak, że naprawdę trudno jest się od niej oderwać. Czyta się ją naprawdę dobrze – Mull ma przyjemny styl. Co prawda w kilku miejscach zetknęłam się z nieco nietypowym wyborem słownictwa, które miało chyba brzmieć tajemniczo czy magicznie, a wyszło nienaturalnie, ale to drobiazg. Nie wpływały one na rozumienie tekstu.

Mull bardzo dobrze wprowadził czytelnika w stworzony przez siebie świat. Stworzył nie tylko interesujący system opiekunków, czyli duchów dzielących ciało z ludźmi z Anoran, ale również dość rozbudowany świat Cesarstwa. Ekspozycji jest sporo z tego powodu, ale nie przytłacza ona. I chociaż jako osoba doświadczona z fantastyką momentami czułam, że może już jej za dużo, tak dla młodszych czytelników, grupy docelowej, jest to dobrane idealnie.

Fabularnie naprawdę wiele się dzieje. Nie ma chwili dla nudy i każdy rozdział niesie ze sobą mnóstwo akcji. Nie jest to zaskoczeniem, gdy czytelnik śledzi dwa całkiem rozbudowane wątki, które choć w pewnym momencie się splatają, to wciąż istnieją w pewnym sensie niezależnie od siebie. Mimo to nie sposób ich pomieszać, co również jest istotne. Osobiście bardziej wczytywałam się w historię Maka, ale zawsze byłam większą fanką wojowników.

Autor snuje w Zakazanej Górze wiele intryg i widać, że ma ambitne plany na przyszłość. Tom pierwszy to dopiero wprowadzenie, choć samo w sobie porusza wiele ciekawych tematów. Nie ma jednak takiej historii, która zamyka się w tym tomie. W gruncie rzeczy po lekturze w głowie czytelnika kłębią się setki pytań, prawie brak odpowiedzi, za to bardzo, ale to bardzo chce się sięgnąć po kolejny tom.

To wszystko prowadzi do tego, że Zakazana Góra to świetna lektura – zarówno dla grupy docelowej, jak i dla starszych czytelników. Myślę, że odnajdą się w niej nie tylko fani twórczości Mulla, choć jeśli ktoś szuka drugiego Baśnioboru, może go nie znaleźć. Ta historia wydaje się być nawet bardziej ambitna i rozbudowana. Naprawdę nie mogę się doczekać kontynuacji.

[Brandon Stout · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great start to a new adventure with intriguing characters in a whole new universe created by Brandon Mull. I enjoyed this book and I'm excited to see how the story continues in the sequels. There's my own fairly short review. The rest of my review I'm writing in reaction to another review.

Another reviewer felt that this "fictional spiritual world is too close to reality in some aspects while being completely inaccurate in others". You can say that about pretty much any other work of fiction. Every fictional work has some reality, and of course, because it's fiction, it's also "inaccurate". The other reviewer states

... there really are many spirits on the earth. And yes... some of them really can grant unnatural power. But God does not mean for us to make deals with supernatural phenomena, evidenced by...

Then the reviewer gives a couple examples from the bible. You can state almost anything and then back it up with a couple examples from the bible. The bible is filled with "supernatural phenomena" of all kinds, including a man who slew thousands with the jawbone of a donkey, a man that brought plagues to Egypt, and the many miracles Jesus worked. The bible has evil spirits and it has good angels. If people in the bible were not to ever listen to any message from a "supernatural being", then Mary and Joseph, among many others, would be among them. What's more, you can make the case that you, yourself, are a spirit, and therefore a "supernatural being", inside your body, conversing, when you pray, with another "supernatural being".

The other reviewer feels uncomfortable with a fictional culture, where most of the people depend on a union with supernatural beings. The reviewer felt that this book says:

... both human authorities and spiritual good guys are corrupt, and that the only way to stop a powerful evil spirit is to bond with a less powerful evil spirit...

If the message you get from these books is that all conversation with "the supernatural" must be with evil spirits, and that you can only stop evil by collaborating with evil spirits, then you may also want to steer away from this book, and pretty much all fiction that has anything "evil" in it. The other reviewer believed that this was the inevitable result after reading only 10 of 39 chapters, so I have to add that there was a lot of conclusion jumping there. If, however, you look for some other more positive meaning from this book, then you may well enjoy it like I did, and you may actually get a positive message from this book, like most people seem to get from all Mull's other books.

The age old claim that some work of fiction is witchcraft and therefore everyone should avoid it is old. Denouncing a work using a personal interpretation of the Bible and thinking that's how everyone else should see it is equally old. If you want to give this a try, go for it. You might find you like the message you get from the work. Some won't like it, and that's okay too. Personally, I think it was a great read, and it will be on the top of my list for my 300+ books read for this year.

[Veronica - I need a husband, to have a fancy last name]

can we usunąć egzaminy, żebym zaraz mogła wrócić do mojej brandon mull era? 😔

[Rachel MacDonald]

As a huge fan of Brandon Mull, I was so excited to read this book and had very high hopes. He did not disappoint! The story follows two different teens with good hearts, strong wills, unique talents, and sometimes a lack of better judgment. Set entirely in a fantasy world, people have unique gifts and some bond with guardian spirits that can enhance their talents and abilities. Not all guardians have admirable intentions and some are downright evil. With evidence that some of the worst are back in action, Mako, Arden, and their friends have high hopes and slim odds of helping to combat this evil. After the initial exposition, the story travels quickly and is near impossible to put down. Relating to other Mull series, this has feelings most similar to 5 Kingdoms or Beyonders, but it is yet another unique and fascinating world. How one mind can create all of these realms that are extraordinarily detailed and fascinating while remaining believable never ceases to amaze me. So that I don't fan girl too much, I'll leave highly recommending the book and anxiously awaiting the rest of the series. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the early read and allowing me to share my thoughts.

[Zal · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m a HUGE fan of Brandon Mull’s works. LIKE HUGE FAN!

This book was probably his most disappointing work. I would not have finished it if it wasn’t written by one of my favorite authors. The pacing was reallyyyy slow, and nothing happened for like the first half of the book. The characters also didn't meet until about halfway through the book, and even then it was pretty light. There wasn't much conflict between them or much real trust built just kinda like "mm he feels trustworthy even tho he's lying" and "hm she seems nice we're friends". The conclusion was also really weak. I felt like it wasn't building up to any conflict specifically, so when the final conflict was what it was, it just felt meh. Like I didn't really care one way or the other, or feel like the stakes were that high.

In comparison, by the end of Fablehaven, you feel SO invested in the state of the haven and Kendra and Seth. The problems that they could cause were foreshadowed from the beginning, and the stakes felt real. In contrast, everything is pretty abstract in this book. "Oh the Accursed are evil and I can't trust my spirit" but he hasn't really done anything wrong yet you're not getting any closer with him??? And then "maybe it's the advocates who are actually evil" but we never meet one after the first time they threaten Mako, so it feels like there's zero development in that arena. Overall, the characters feel disjointed from each other (no significant relationships are built between anyone) and the stakes feel abstract and the conflicts feel inconsequential/weak.

I liked the last chapter—though I thought it was going in a different direction.

3/10

Honestly might read the next one tho? Idk. Mull is one of my favorite authors, soooooooo.

[Hails · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars.

I’m a huge Brandon Mull fan and one of my favorite things about his writing is that there is always a touch of whimsy that I’ve come to expect. Forbidden Mountain did not have this whimsy. While I was taken aback by the very traditional fantasy storytelling, this did not necessarily take away from my enjoyment. The concept reminded me a bit of a middle grade Wheel of Time, which is right up my alley. The magic, the guardians, the slow build of the group all created a very interesting dynamic that I’m very excited to see continued in future books of the series.

Forbidden Mountain had a very slow start in my opinion. I struggled to become invested in the individual characters or their stories until right before they joined up, which was about 50ish percent of the way in. I did consider DNFing at one point but I trusted Brandon’s storytelling enough to persevere. I’m very glad I did because the last 30-40 percent of the book was incredible. I binged that ending in a few hours after taking nearly a month to read the first half.

Overall, while this might not be my favorite book that Brandon has ever written, I enjoyed Forbidden Mountain and am looking forward to the next installment of the series!

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This built slowly at first, but wow, the conclusion was worth it! The world-building and character development is incredible. This had some interesting elements and was extremely entertaining and exciting. Now I have to wait for the sequel!

[Ellen Little · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little slow to start, but when it picks up , it’s hard to put down.

[Baylie Sorensen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. A lot of set up in this first one, I'm very curious to see where the series goes.

[Maquell canfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first started reading this book, it made me very uncomfortable. I didn't like the entire premise of good and bad spirits being able to enter someone's body…it just felt a little wrong to me. However, my son was really enjoying it, so we kept reading. Over time, I think I became somewhat desensitized to the concept and tried not to overthink it. I'm not sure whether that was the right decision or not, but in the end, I really enjoyed the book.

[Lincoln Durtschi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so good hopefully he can write the next one fast because this trilogy is gonna be the best he's ever written!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nolan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing start of a new series. I can’t wait for the second one to come out!

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

In all honesty... the first 1/3 bored me a bit... but I'm glad I stuck to it. The stories came together and it was well done. An interesting YA read.

[Skye Elder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, is AMAZINGLY AMAZING if that makes any sense.
The characters, the plot, the STORYLINE, it is just perfection!
I definitely enjoyed reading this, and don’t know what to read in the mean time till book 2 comes out.
The writing style kind of reminded me of “Eragon” a bit.
I definitely recommend reading this!

[The Book Nerd's Corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

After twenty years of writing, Brandon Mull final tackles epic fantasy in this thrilling series starter to his "Guardians" trilogy!

In Anora, every child is given the chance to bond with a magical guardian who will help them throughout their entire life. Mako has reached his thirteenth year, and now it is his turn to be offered a guardian. The luckiest will bond with one of the fourteen Advocates. Others will be tempted by the dark power of the twenty Accursed. Mako has a huge decision to make when he enters the bonding hut and learns that some of the Accursed have returned to his world and he may have the potential to stop them. Down the mountainside, Arden lives a simple life, away from magical abilities and dangerous quests. That is, until she finds herself tied up in the realm of street gangs, heists, and a criminal network more elaborate than she ever could have concocted. Eventually, the fate of these two unlikely heroes will intertwine as they try to survive in this dangerous world and help take down the corruption of the Accursed.

When I heard that Brandon Mull was trying his hand at epic fantasy rather than urban fantasy or portal fantasy, I was super intrigued. I considered preordering this one but figured I'd wait until an even better sale rolled around. Well, I ended up with something even better than a fifty percent off book. I entered a giveaway and I got my hands on a signed and personalized copy of this book, which is honestly the coolest thing ever! Having a book signed by Mull is a dream come true! Bonus points that his new series is just as amazing as his previous books!

I must admit that the beginning of this book reads a bit slow, but I found myself having a blast with the slow-paced nature at the start. There was so much lore to learn about this world; I'm glad Mull didn't throw us headfirst into the action immediately. While we are learning about the complex magic system, the kids manage to find themselves in some pretty unfortunate circumstances. Mako somehow finds himself kidnapped in the first few chapters, and Arden is being inducted into a street gang. The stakes are lower, but it does a wonderful job of setting up the rest of the book.

The concept of guardians isn't anything too original, but I still think they are neat. Essentially, anyone from Anora, the community nestled on the forbidden mountain, is able to bond with a spiritual entity that will bond with them and work to better them as they progress through life. At first, this reminded me of Mull's idea behind the "Spirit Animals" series, but the "Guardian" trilogy seems way more intense as I keep reading into it. Guardians can enhance one's natural abilities, such as speed, strength, agility, or even musical talent. They can also nudge their bonded partner in certain directions and in unique cases, even take complete control over them. Mako's guardian is quite the character, and I'm really interested to see how their relationship develops as this series continues.

Mako and Arden are such fun characters. When I first met Mako, it felt a bit like reuniting with Seth in the early days of the "Fablehaven" universe. They both aspire for greatness, are cocky as heck, and have horrible decision-making skills. I am so excited to see the repercussions of all the interesting decisions Mako has already made in this series. Arden's heart is definitely in the right place, but her sense of judgement is also seriosuly lacking, especially for a girl who has the ability to sense people's true motives and emotions. She ends up entangled in a dangerous street gang due to her desire to help her friend, Kita, get out from the gang she previously joined. This leads Arden to be neck deep in horrible situations, which is what eventually has her seeking refuge with the organization that Mako is a part of.

After they get their guardians, young Anorans are sent on a three-year voyage to hone their abilities and serve the empire. Mako lucks out and is sent (alongside his best friend, Tuck) to join the convoy of a renowned warrior, Master Rojan. That is where he meets Arden, and their paths finally cross. I must say that this doesn't occur until around 300 pages into the story, but their individual journeys were so fascinating that I never found myself bored.

By the final portion of this book, these two have truly found themselves in some very dire situations. All the battle scenes are quite engaging, and I find myself rooting for Mako, Arden, and Tuck through the most uncertain of circumstances. The ending is honestly crazy, and I'm so excited to see how things play out in the second book in this trilogy.

Before I go, I just wanted to say how nice it was to be back in a Brandon Mull story. It has been quite some time since I've read any of his books, and I'm still in love with his humor, worldbuilding, and lovable characters. I can't believe that Mull has been writing for as long as I've been alive, but it checks out because he is a fantastic writer. I can't wait to read everything else he pens!

Overall, "Forbidden Mountain" was such an amazing introduction into Mull's new epic fantasy world. The concept of guardians is really fun, and I thought it was cool how deeply the spirit world is brought front and center. Mako and Arden are both extremely likable characters, despite them being young tweens who make terribly decisions at every turn. I love how chaotic Mako is; I'm so excited to see how all his choices pan out throughout the rest of this series! As always, Mull's humor, worldbuilding, and ability to draw me in never failed. I'm hooked on the "Guardians" series and wish I had another 500+ pages to binge read immediately; this one was certainly a long one, but it still ended too soon. I'm so excited to read the next volume when it comes out!

[Brittney Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Rating: 4 stars
Date: 5/5/26 – 5/11/26

When I was in middle school and first discovering the fantasy genre, I found Brandon Mull’s Beyonders series on either my school or local public library shelves (I can’t remember which as I was a voracious reader and read from both to have enough books.). I really liked the series and even got my own copies, but I never read further because I couldn’t find the rest of his books or I forgot. Well, when I did my big clean out of my selves to prepare for the TBR takedown that I am going to do for the rest of the year, I rediscovered him and decided I would add him to my list and finally read the rest of his catalog. Although I haven’t gotten to him yet as he is one of the larger categories and I’m focusing on smaller ones first, I was able to read his newest release, Forbidden Mountain, 1st book of his new Guardians series as soon as my library was able to get me a copy.

Forbidden Mountain is a dual-perspective book set in the fantasy world of Tinoval. Our first perspective is Mako, a young 14-year-old boy living on the mountain of Anora. At the start of this book, he is excited because it is his turn to go into the Bonding hut. On Mount Anora, there is a tradition where 14-year-olds are prepared for and enter the hut. Once inside, they are approached by the spirits of their ancestors and other notable individuals to find a Guardian to bond with. The children get enhanced abilities that allow them to become masters of their chosen fields, and the spirits get a second chance to live. There is a catch, however, in that, everyone wants to have the opportunity to bond to one of the Fourteen, the great heroes of this land, but binding to the Twenty or the Accursed, the great villains of this land, will get you executed. As Mako prepares to enter the hut, he hears whispers that one of the Accursed is back in the mortal realm so when he enters the hut, he is determined to find a Guardian to help combat this potential evil so he can become the legend he always dreamed of, but what happens when his only avenue for that is to bond with another of the Accursed?

Meanwhile, in our other perspective, we follow the young also 14-year-old, Arden. Arden lives in a small town on the edge of one of the great rivers of this realm, and she is trying to join a local gang, the Cat’s Paws, to find her friend, Kita. Kita joined the Cat’s Paws a few months ago and then disappeared, and Arden is very worried about her. However, when Arden joins, she gets way more than she bargained for and becomes inadvertently deeply involved in the internal conspiracies of her realm. Now on the run, she joins a traveling warmaster’s entourage. (In this realm, warmasters or knights travel around on odysseys with their entourage and help and protect those less fortunate.) This is where she meets Mako, who has joined the same entourage as an apprentice or squire. Do the rumors he’s heard have any connection to the conspiracies she uncovered and what does that mean for the kingdom at large?

The thing I liked most about this book was the world as it was clear Mull had thought a lot about and spent a lot of time developing it. (I believe he said 10 years of planning and 2.5 years of writing in the acknowledgements.) It really showed as it felt familiar to a lot of other fantasy books I’ve read while also being unique, and I also really like how complex and intricate it was. He clearly is one of those authors that understands his audience and knows they can handle complex plots and ideas if presented in the right way. This isn’t a trait that every middle grade and young adult author understands so it’s refreshing when I find those books that embrace this fact and I can enjoy them even as an adult. I really hope that we get to explore more in the coming books because we got hints of the deeper world-building and I love learning all the minuscule details of my favorite worlds.

I also really liked the messaging in this book as we explore what it means to be a hero and the fine line that often exists between heroes and villains. What if the ones, we’re supposed to look up to, and trust, don’t know the difference and are actively hiding information from us that would let us make up our own minds? This is a good way to introduce one of my favorite concepts: forgetting our history dooms us to repeat it, a concept that a lot of fantasy books intended for older readers that the audience will encounter deal with, allowing this book to act as the appropriate steppingstone it should be. Again, I hope we delve into this more in later books in the series.

This brings me to the one qualm I had about this book; it is very obviously a set-up book. This didn’t bother me as I am used to reading more mature books, but for the target audience, it might be frustrating as they aren’t used to this style of storytelling. I hope they stick to it, though, because this series has the potential to be one of the best middle-grade series I’ve read in a while. 4 stars and I’m excited to keep reading!

[Marta Bazylczuk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wkraczając w nowy literacki świat stworzony przez Brandona Mulla, zawsze można spodziewać się magii na najwyższym poziomie, jednak to, co autor proponuje w inauguracji cyklu „Opiekunowie”, przekracza dotychczasowe ramy literatury młodzieżowej. „Zakazana góra” udowadnia, że mamy do czynienia z twórcą dojrzałym, który nie boi się porzucić schematów znanych z jego wcześniejszych, kultowych uniwersów. Zamiast wprowadzać nas w ukryte zakamarki naszej własnej rzeczywistości, autor rzuca nas od razu na głęboką wodę, kreując w pełni autonomiczną krainę z własną, skomplikowaną mitologią. To odważny krok, który lokuje tę powieść bliżej epickiego, wielowątkowego fantasy, budzącego skojarzenia z klasyką gatunku i najbardziej ambitnymi sagami dla dorosłych.

Największą siłą tej powieści jest bez wątpienia misternie zaprojektowany fundament świata przedstawionego. Koncepcja Chaty Wiązania, duchowych przewodników oraz dychotomii między Orędownikami a Przeklętymi fascynuje i od pierwszych stron buduje gęstą atmosferę niepokoju. Fabularne poprowadzenie dwóch skrajnie odmiennych perspektyw - z jednej strony Maka stającego przed dramatycznymi, wewnętrznymi wyborami na tytułowej górze, z drugiej Arden infiltrującej mroczne struktury przestępcze - nadaje całości niesamowitą dynamikę. Te dwa wątki, choć przez długi czas biegną niezależnie, doskonale się równoważą: jeden wnosi do opowieści mistyczny, pełen legend klimat, drugi natomiast zaszczepia w niej pierwiastek thrillera przygodowego, opierającego się na spiskach i ciągłym napięciu. Genialnym posunięciem było obdarowanie bohaterów tak specyficznymi, nieszablonowymi zdolnościami, jak choćby dar odróżniania prawdy od fałszu, co generuje mnóstwo psychologicznych intryg.

Stylistycznie książka zachwyca swoją plastycznością i lekkością. Autor ma niezwykły dar opowiadania w sposób obrazowy, niemal filmowy, dzięki czemu opisy przyrody czy potężnego Cesarstwa Anoran nie nużą, lecz budują pełnokrwisty obraz w wyobraźni. Język jest przystępny, co z pewnością przyciągnie młodszego czytelnika, a jednocześnie na tyle bogaty, że starszy odbiorca nie poczuje infantylizmu. Choć miejscami można dostrzec bardzo specyficzne, momentami nieco sztuczne wybory słownictwa, które w zamierzeniu miały zapewne pogłębić magiczny i tajemniczy wydźwięk tekstu, jest to zaledwie drobny niuans, który nie zaburza płynności lektury. Ta potężna objętościowo pozycja, będąca prawdziwą literacką cegiełką, dzięki nienagannemu rytmowi zdań i dynamicznym zwrotom akcji daje się wręcz pochłonąć w kilka wieczorów.

Książka ma jednak specyficzną strukturę, która dla jednych będzie zaletą, dla innych drobnym mankamentem. Ponieważ jest to otwarcie dłuższego cyklu, autor poświęca bardzo dużo miejsca na ekspozycję - pieczołowicie tłumaczy zasady świata i przygotowuje grunt pod przyszłe wydarzenia. Sprawia to, że przez pierwsze kilkaset stron akcja toczy się swoim własnym, nieco spokojniejszym rytmem, a prawdziwa lawina wydarzeń i ostateczne splecenie losów bohaterów następuje dopiero w drugiej połowie tomu. Dodatkowo, ta historia w żadnym stopniu nie stanowi zamkniętej całości. Kończąc lekturę, zostajemy z setką pytań, niemal całkowitym brakiem odpowiedzi i potężnym uczuciem niedosytu.

Brandon Mull stworzył dzieło niezwykle ambitne, które wspaniale traktuje dylematy moralne młodych ludzi, opowiadając o cenie odwagi, zaufaniu i ciężarze przeznaczenia. To opowieść, która w genialny sposób pielęgnuje wewnętrzne dziecko, oferując jednocześnie dojrzałą, pełną mroku intrygę polityczno-magiczną. Z niecierpliwością czekam na moment, w którym przyjdzie mi powrócić do Anoranu.

[Drew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a fan of Brandon Mull's books for 17 years now (so long ago, when I first heard his name!), and was delighted that he was starting up a new series. As I expected, this book was a blast, really setting up the potential for future works of this series.

The book alternates POVs between two 13-year olds, Mako and Arden. Mako lives on the mountain of Anora, a self-governing region within the Tinvali Empire, a place that has heavy connections to spirits. Arden is a girl living in the lowland cities within the empire. Both of them were interesting, neither significantly better than one another, and the transition between the two POVs didn't mess with the pacing. This reminds me of how the author handled the split between the two protagonists of "Fablehaven", Seth and Kendra. Same method, positive results.

Mako's storyline begins with him bonding to a spirit known as a "Guardian", as part of the coming-of-age taking place in his homeland. His selective choice of bonding (regarding the options that he has), sets forth his storyline, with him seeing plenty of blur between good and evil. Arden, with a missing father and an emotionally checked out mother, joins a criminal syndicate in an attempt to track down her close friend. She knows that her friend was involved with them and went missing, so she attempts to cautiously use this opportunity to help bring her back home. Both storylines go pretty well. There are several other complementary recurring characters that readers will grow to care about, and root for plenty too.

I can't talk about Brandon Mull without bringing up the incredible world building that his books have. The setting, races, lore, and dungeons have always been cool features, which continues here, but Mull has found a new avenue to make a mark in- in this case, it is imperial/regional politicking. The political system established is simultaneously complex but understandable, that we readers (including children) recognize what the nation is meant to do for the good of the citizens. The theme of political corruption is a large part of this story, also a parallel in our world, where we hear of instances, past and present, of government officials and agents having actions go unchecked.

The writing style and plot progression works for me. It makes me think of what a middle grade version of stories from authors Brian McClellan and Django Wexler- stories that effectively build up plot, have intense action close to the end, and then end with readers eagerly awaiting what comes next. There's an absence of what I call "deadwood", which is what I regard information and progression not related to the overall story. The storyline is something that can be enjoyed by adults, but also keep the straightforward prose where it appeals for its younger target audience.

I think this series offers a ton of potential. I hope others take notice of this too.

(I received an ARC through Random House Children's Books/Labyrinth Road and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review)

[_daughter_of_boooks_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

,,Opiekunowie. Zakazana góra" kolejna epicka seria spod pióra Brandona Mulla.

Każdy z Anory marzy o dniu, gdy będzie mogło wejść do Chaty Związania i wybrać swojego duchowego Opiekuna. Ten duchowy przewodnik ma sprawić, że niektóre umiejętności właściciel się wyolbrzymią i spotęgują wielokrotnie. Jeszcze lepiej jeśli dziecko połączy się z Orędownikiem, wtedy ma zapewnioną chwałę na wieki. Trzeba tylko uważać na Przeklętych, ci będą kusić i obiecywać ale nie można im ufa, bo są niebezpieczni. Za związanie się z przeklętym grozi najwyższa kara. Kara śmie.rci. Mako dorosł na tyle by móc stanąć w Chacie. Teraz musi podjąć ciężki wybór. Czy chce zostać przy marzeniu i byciu wojownikiem czy obierze całkiem inną drogę?
Arden ma prawie wszystko. Dom, jedzenie, kochającą rodzinę, ale tęskni za ojcem, który wyruszył na misję i nie weocl do tej pory. Próbuje też na własną rękę odnaleźć przyjaciółkę, które zaginęła po dołączenia do organizacji nazywanej kocimi łapami. Dzięki swojej niezwykłej umiejętności potrafi stwierdzić czy ktoś kłamie czy nie. Dzięki temu jest przydatna dla przestępców. Przez ten dar trafia w środek niebezpiecznego zadania, którego wcale nie chce wykonywać.
Losy Maka i Arden się spalają. Razem będą musieli stawić czoła wspólnym wrogą i wielu niebezpieczeństwą jeśli chcą przetrwać. Pytanie czy dadzą radę?


Kocham i ,,Baśniobór" i ,,Pozaświatowców" było więcej oczywiste, że nie odpuszczę sobie okazji by przeczytać i tę książkę. I tym razem się nie zawiodłam.
Co prawda z początku ciężko było mi czytać. Dlaczego? Przez dwie równoległe historię, które czytaliśmy. Na zmianę przeskakiwaliśmy między perspektywą Maka i Arden i o ile lubię gdy książka ma parę perspektyw gutuaj ciągle się gubiłam, bo ledwo przyzwyczaiłam się do jednej historii przechodziliśmy na drugą i tak przez pierwszą część książki. Na szczęście w pewnym momencie losy bohaterów się łączą więc czytanie stało się dużo prostsze.
Z początku też trochę irytowała mnie Arden. Wydawała się być słaba? ciężko mi to określić co odkładanie mnie w niej irytowało, może chodziło o jej naiwność i niewinność? W każdym razie coś mnie w niej gryzło, ale to tylko na początku. Później z każdą stroną zaczęłam ją coraz bardziej lubić i teraz ciężko mi zdecydować, który bohater jest moim ulubionym.
Zaczęłam się też zastanawiać nad tym czy to są książki dla dzieci. Zawsze jak słyszę hasło, że jakaś książka jest dla dzieci, to znaczy, że nie ma rozlewu, kr.wi (albo nie za dużo), czy też raczej lekkie tematy. A tutaj było sporo rozważań. Na przykład między dobrem, a złemz co jest dobre a co złe. Ale również sporo akcji, która może nie była specjalnie krwa.wa, ale ja jako trochę starsze dziecko czytałam to z przyjemnością (jakkolwiek to zabrzmi XDD). Zaczęłam się też zastanawiać, czy Baśniobór też był taki? Że niby książka dla dzieci, ale gdy się głębiej zastanowić to wcale nie było to takie oczywiste.
Pomijając moje wypociny. Książka 10/10 i nikt nie zmieni mojego zdania! Czekam na kontynuację!!

[Mark Buxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

What worked:
The opening prologue introduces the most malevolent, feared antagonist in the book. The Matriarch traps a man who claims to have successfully transported an infant to safety. The Matriarch says his actions have been manipulated and then ruthlessly slays him. The story leaps ahead in time, leaving readers to wonder when The Matriarch will reappear. Characters with special aptitudes bond with spirits, guardians that augment those abilities. Advocates are special guardians with even greater power, while the Accused are evil spirits. All Anorans take an oath that they won’t bond with an Accursed, and violating this oath is punishable by death. Mako is one of the main characters, and he predictably, though not without an internal struggle, chooses to bond with one.
Mako is the infant mentioned above. He wants to become a warrior, but his talent is in musical tones; his ability with a sling is uncanny, too. However, music and slings aren’t the skills of a warrior, so Mako’s prospects for becoming a warrior apprentice are slim. In contrast, his brother has superior fighting skills and beats all challengers during their sparring matches. There is no animosity between the brothers, but the divergence of their destinies is clear. Mako is obsessed with becoming a warrior, which clouds his judgment. He has three guaranteed opportunities to bond with a spirit, but declining those chances does not guarantee a fourth choice. A smooth-tongued Accursed named Narrix and Mako’s desperation will lead to an ill-advised alliance. Readers will foresee the potential for conflict, confrontation, and tragedy.
Arden is the other main character, and she’s desperate to locate a friend who’s joined a street gang. Arden is so worried that she joins the Cat’s Paw gang, too. However, Arden can sense if others are being honest, and the gang’s leaders want to exploit her ability. She discovers the criminal enterprise is more widespread than she thinks, and there’s more danger than she expects. Arden is forced to make a hard decision; does she stay until she finds her friend, or does she leave before she’s asked to kill someone? The criminals are very protective of their secrets, so getting away from them will be the greatest risk she’s ever faced; the risk continues throughout the book.
What didn’t work as well:
The Amazon listing indicates this book is for ages 8 and older, but it’s more appropriate for upper middle-grade readers. Abstract thought is required, and the story is full of intrigue, conspiracy, and deceit. The book employs alternating chapters to follow Mako and Arden, which forces readers to remember details from one story after switching to the other. It can be frustrating when more significant things start to happen in the separate plots. The two stories eventually merge, which makes it much easier to follow.
The final verdict:
The dual plots become page-turners, but for different reasons. Arden’s suspense comes from the treacherous situation she’s gotten herself into, but her role expands beyond what she imagines. Mako’s Accursed elevates his talents, but it creates new levels of questions. Mako’s guilt and internal struggles are always on his mind. I highly recommend upper middle-grade readers give this book a chance.

[Bryan Moosman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not Brandon’s best work. I was excited for a new series, but now disappointed that I’ll need to wait another 4+ years for him to wrap this series up before an opportunity for something good like 5 Kingdoms or Beyonders.

Great world building and concept. More mature and focused on guilt themes and gangs. Terrible pacing and huge lack of story structure and character depth. Many chapters feel like they were either written by AI or edited by AI. As an example, the same guilt trip reminder of “show the stakes” just about every other chapter.

I also really wanted just a few more hints of the torrivors. Much more prominent here - but didn’t drop any real hints. Spirit aspects are interesting, but also seem to overshadow character development and plot. Even the “big bad guy” we have no motive or depth other than “it’s the big bad guy.” Tone and writing style is OK though. Development until the bonding hut was good, but everything after is poor.

*** slight spoilers ahead ***

The main character running around and feeling guilty about a choice for the entire book is a terrible choice for a protagonist. This is especially true when the character is painted in a box that he seemingly can’t escape (only way out is death). No growth felt earned because of the world mechanics. No personal triumph. I spent the entire book wondering when he would move from just a main character to a protagonist. Entire plot of the book is essentially “bad spirits, some are back, they fight in criminal gangs. Young boy makes bad decision and runs around with guilt about it. An entire book later guess what, it was a bad decision and he still feels guilt about it.” He deserves to die if seen from any external perspective. The girl was more interesting and I loved the ability she has, but going from ignorant girl joining a gang to seasoned spy didn’t feel earned or consistent.

I was hoping for some redemptive twist at the end - say the elders are corrupt and the accursed are trying free the land. That kind of got shattered when he doubled-down on some of the darker elements of the accursed and the apparent manipulation at the end.

Overall, feels just poorly planned - and misses many elements that make a book good, too many of the fundamentals. It was hard to listen to and feel engaged. Will I read the next one? Probably. But not if I have almost anything else to read. I’d love to finish this series with the cliff notes instead of reading it.

[swiaty_pomiedzy_stronami · Rating 4 out of 5]

Muszę się do czegoś przyznać... 🙈

Mimo że Brandon Mull jest jednym z najpopularniejszych autorów literatury młodzieżowej fantasy, do tej pory nie przeczytałam ani jednej jego serii. Ani Baśnioboru, ani Smoczej Straży, ani żadnej innej książki jego autorstwa.

Kiedy więc zobaczyłam zapowiedź Opiekunów, uznałam, że to idealny moment, by w końcu sprawdzić, skąd bierze się fenomen tego autora...

...I był to świetny pomysł.

Opiekunowie to pierwszy tom nowej serii fantasy i zdecydowanie czuć, że pełni rolę wprowadzenia do większej historii. Świat stworzony przez Brandona Mulla jest bardzo rozbudowany i interesujący. Początek książki rozwija się dość spokojnie. Jednak gdzieś w połowie historia nabiera rozpędu i naprawdę mnie wciąga. Ani się obejrzałam, a byłam już całkowicie zaangażowana w losy głównych bohaterów - Mako i Arden.

Mako to 14-letni chłopiec mieszkający na górze Anora. Zgodnie z panującą tam tradycją dzieci w jego wieku udają się do Chaty Wiązania, by nawiązać więź ze swoim duchowym opiekunem. Mako marzy o tym, by zyskać potężnego strażnika, który pomoże mu zostać wielkim wojownikiem.

Z kolei Arden to również 14-letnia dziewczynka, mieszkająca w niewielkim miasteczku na nizinach. Dziewczyna próbuje dostać się do lokalnego gangu Kocie Łapy, by odnaleźć swoją przyjaciółkę Kite, która kilka miesięcy wcześniej zniknęła bez śladu. Pomaga jej w tym niezwykły dar pozwalający odczytywać emocje innych ludzi i wyczuwać kłamstwa.

Choć obie perspektywy były interesujące i każda wniosła coś ciekawego do historii, to jednak najbardziej zaintrygowała mnie tutaj koncepcja duchowych opiekunów. To właśnie ten element wyróżnia tę historię i sprawia, że chce się poznać ten świat lepiej.

Bardzo ciekawią mnie dalsze losy Mako i jego opiekuna Narrixa, który od samego początku wydaje się niezwykle interesującą i niejednoznaczną postacią. Zastanawiam się, jakie są jego prawdziwe motywacje. Czy rzeczywiście chce pomóc chłopcu, czy może kierują nim zupełnie inne cele związane z pozostałymi Przeklętymi? Jestem bardzo ciekawa, jak autor rozwinie ten wątek w kolejnych tomach.

Opiekunowie może nie porwali mnie od pierwszych stron, ale ostatecznie zostawili mnie z ogromną ciekawością i chęcią poznania dalszych losów bohaterów. A to chyba najlepsza rekomendacja dla pierwszego tomu serii. ❤️📖

Po tej książce mam ochotę nie tylko od razu sięgnąć po kolejny tom, ale też jak najszybciej nadrobić wcześniejsze serie Brandona Mulla.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Next in a long line of various fantasy series such as The Candy Shop Wars (grades 4-7), Beyonders (older middle grades-YA), the very popular Fablehaven (middle grades-YA) and my personal fav of Mull’s works, Five Kingdoms (older middle grades-YA), Guardians: Forbidden Mountain is filled with unique magic allows gifted musicians to make solids change form, healing skills that are supplemented by special inborn talents, strength and particular prowess in handling weapons, and all these abilities sometimes enhanced by the bonding with the spirit form of a master from the past. Mako is a 14 year old who has bonded with a skilled warrior and hopes that his guardian will help him overcome his small stature in order to fulfill his dream to protect his home, his friends and family, and the country he lives in, however his altruistic outlook may be circumvented by the more controlling and destructive desires of his spirit partner. Arden is not of Anoran descent so she can not bond with a guardian, but nevertheless, she has the gift of sensing a person’s true intent and knows when words are couched in deceit, anger, manipulation, truth, etc. The two come from entirely different backgrounds but with their shared connection to renowned warmaster Rojan, become friends as organized crime begins to seep into the highest places in the country’s government and the leaders in that syndicate seem to be rising to power due to their relationship with an evil spirit being who is part of a unique group called the Accursed. Bonding with these guardians is strictly forbidden as a human-spirit relationship allows the spirit to enter the present world and exert control through their human. Big complication? Mako, in the hopes of doing good things, chose to bond with one of those 20 in order to defeat the most evil of that group who has managed to regain a foothold in the here and now physical world.

Complicated and intriguing in equal parts, the world-building is tremendous and takes a long time to become fully established while also allowing readers to understand the motivations and backgrounds of main characters Alden and Mako and supporting characters Tuck and Kira. To be honest, I had to push through the first third as necessary relationships and experiences were described and while events in both of their lives are exciting, there were times I wanted things to move along a bit more quickly, however, by the midpoint, I was fully invested in their lives and their attempt to disband the syndicate of criminals and defeat the female spirit being Vanderil. I anticipate that Mako’s guardian, Narrix, has not yet begun to reveal his ultimate purpose and expect much conflict between two. Arden is finally seeing a greater purpose for her life and I sense she will continue demonstrating great strength of character and will ultimately help Mako when the expected showdown with Narrix arrives and the identity and goals of this Accursed is revealed.

Recommended for libraries serving those in grades 5-12 who love fantasy, but with over 500 pages and a fairly complex plot, readers of Guardian need to have strong reading stamina and a willingness to allow Mull to set the stage completely with a few slow downs as aspects of bonding, special gifts, the societal groups/classes and the powers of the Accursed are fully established.

Final thought: If there is high circulation in low and high fantasy genres in a library, this may be a fresh, new choice for its readers.

*Profanity: none
*Violence: Lots of weapon training, several small skirmishes with physical wounds and death, and two larger battles with death and destruction. None include gratuitous descriptions of the deaths and all is appropriate to the genre and recommended age group.
*Sexual content: none (No hints of romance between any characters by the book’s end, either.)
*Representation: Race is not emphasized and with this being a completely new world, would not present as we view it. However, there are ruling classes, those who are granted privileges based on their country of origin and gifts, and certainly a wide range of economic levels including orphans and homeless who seem to lean toward lives of crime in order to meet their needs.
*LBGTQ+: none

Thanks for the early look at this one, Labyrinth Road/Penguin Random House and Edelweiss.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mako is a foundling, adopted and raised by an Anoran family. He dreams of bonding with a guardian who will help him achieve his goal of becoming a great warrior like his adopted father and brother. Guardians are spirits without bodies who guide and mentor their bondees throughout life to help them achieve their full potential. Unfortunately for Mako, his body isn't built for warfare, even though his brain is. When he's given the chance to bond, the guardians who want to bond with him are those with musical talents like Mako possesses, not sword fighting talents. After rejecting several offers, the last possibility Mako gets is from one of the Accursed - dangerous spirits who spread chaos and evil. Any Anoran who willingly bonds with one of the Accursed is executed. At first Mako is appalled, but when he discovers that the worst of these evil spirits is already bonded somewhere in the world and looking to destroy everything he holds dear, Mako faces an impossible choice: do the unthinkable and bond with one of the Accursed to seek out and destroy the worst of the Accursed, or live life as an outcast without a guardian.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the empire a young girl named Arden is unsatisfied with what life has to offer her. She seeks adventure and excitement in the dangerous streets of Hollock. When her friend Kita joins a street gang and subsequently goes missing, Arden and a couple other friends seek out membership in the same gang to find and rescue Kita. With her gift of sensing when people are lying, it doesn't take long for Arden to realize that she's in way over her head with no prospect of escape. Eventually Arden's and Mako's paths collide and that's where things really get interesting!

This book is really long for the target audience and the first half is so full of world building and character development, that I found myself frustrated and wanting to skip ahead to the action. (I didn't!) But, once things got going, the book was fabulous! Tough it out for the first half if it doesn't grab you, because the second half is worth the ride and I look forward to the sequel! (This one ends on a cliffhanger).

[Bookstagram Bei · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ta książka to trochę jak powrót do starych fantasy sprzed lat — dużo drogi, dużo świata, spokojne tempo i klimat baśniowej przygody, tylko czy niespieszne tempo nie zanudzi współczesnego czytelnika?

🗺️O CO CHODZI

U Anoran rytuał związania z opiekunem decyduje o Twoim życiu – zyskujesz status Orędownika albo giniesz jako skazaniec powiązany z Przeklętym. W tym bezwzględnym świecie krzyżują się drogi czternastoletnich Arden i Mako, uwikłanych w polityczną intrygę i niebezpieczną misję.

🧙BOHATEROWIE & RELACJE

Arden — sprytna, uparta i posiadająca zdolność wyczuwania kłamstw, co brzmi świetnie… dopóki nie zaczynasz odkrywać, ile osób coś ukrywa

Mako — bardzo chce udowodnić swoją wartość i trochę pcha się tam, gdzie rozsądny człowiek powiedziałby „absolutnie nie”. Ambitny, odważny i momentami desperacko próbujący zrobić to, co uważa za słuszne

Relacja między nimi rozwija się stopniowo i właśnie to jest chyba najbardziej charakterystyczne dla całej książki — Mull nigdzie się nie spieszy. Ani z bohaterami, ani z akcją.

🌌KLIMAT & EMOCJE

Czytanie tej książki momentami przypominało przedzieranie się przez Hobbit — dużo wędrówki, budowania świata i spokojnego rozwijania wydarzeń. Problem w tym, że tempo praktycznie przez całą książkę utrzymuje się na podobnym poziomie. Brakuje tego momentu, kiedy fabuła nagle odpala i człowiek myśli: „okej, warto było czekać”.

To bardzo baśniowe fantasy w starym stylu, które spokojnie mogłabym znaleźć na półce kilkanaście lat temu. I właśnie tutaj tkwi największa siła tej historii — klimat nostalgicznej przygody, ale też i jej wada.

🎯DLA KOGO

Dla osób, które szukają sentymentalnej podróży do czasów młodości i tęsknią za spokojnymi opowieściami drogi. Sprawdzi się też u młodszych czytelników, którzy dopiero zaczynają przygodę z gatunkiem.

⭐ WERDYKT

To rzetelnie napisane, ale bardzo specyficzne fantasy. Mull nie próbuje przypodobać się fanom dynamicznych starć – zamiast tego stawia na powolną, wręcz nostalgiczną narrację. Dla jednych ta monotonia będzie barierą nie do przejścia, dla innych – urokliwym powrotem do literackich korzeni